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Duncan Versus the Googleys
Unceremoniously left by his parents at Arthritis Hall to stay with his Great Aunt Harriet, Duncan expects his summer holidays to be very dull. Instead, he finds himself at odds with a criminal group of octogenarians intent on worldwide thievery.
When he meets Ursula, the caretaker's daughter who knows every hidden route and secret passageway in the building, things get even more dangerous, as the two get dragged into a creepy plot involving goggles, knitting house-breakers and some bizarre inventions. Duncan could never have imagined the summer holidays would turn out like this!
When he meets Ursula, the caretaker's daughter who knows every hidden route and secret passageway in the building, things get even more dangerous, as the two get dragged into a creepy plot involving goggles, knitting house-breakers and some bizarre inventions. Duncan could never have imagined the summer holidays would turn out like this!
- GenresChildrensMiddle Grade
224 pages, Paperback
First published February 6, 2020
1 person is currently reading
26 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
January 15, 2022
Reading this book was like watching a movie inside my head: vivid and adventurous!
The characters are so alive and kicking!
The writing style is just amazing: fun to read and funny enough to last till the last page!
Ah, and the illustrations in between the pages! Totally got me.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. It's fast paced and so satisfied my nerdy senses and I feel it will really go well with the audience target because (just look at that chaotic, nerdy cover!) the content, the story, the characters and the 'tech-y' plot all seem relevant and they will be able to relate to both the characters as well as the plot.
The diversity of the characters as well as their representation is strong and done well. My favourite has to be Ursula. Ah, she just gives me the me vibes. Damn, she reminds me of my embarrassing childhood days (in a good way though, teehee!). There's this spooky element hung around her and I totally get that feeling.
The involvement of the adult characters is strong (which is not so common and done poorly in middle grade/young adult/children's fiction) and done well.
This book gave me all the Dr, Suess and Roald Dahl vibes.
The author nailed it! This book is so fun to read!
Thank you #NetGalley for the book #DuncanVersusTheGoogleys
The characters are so alive and kicking!
The writing style is just amazing: fun to read and funny enough to last till the last page!
Ah, and the illustrations in between the pages! Totally got me.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. It's fast paced and so satisfied my nerdy senses and I feel it will really go well with the audience target because (just look at that chaotic, nerdy cover!) the content, the story, the characters and the 'tech-y' plot all seem relevant and they will be able to relate to both the characters as well as the plot.
The diversity of the characters as well as their representation is strong and done well. My favourite has to be Ursula. Ah, she just gives me the me vibes. Damn, she reminds me of my embarrassing childhood days (in a good way though, teehee!). There's this spooky element hung around her and I totally get that feeling.
The involvement of the adult characters is strong (which is not so common and done poorly in middle grade/young adult/children's fiction) and done well.
This book gave me all the Dr, Suess and Roald Dahl vibes.
The author nailed it! This book is so fun to read!
Thank you #NetGalley for the book #DuncanVersusTheGoogleys
definitive-tbr
March 20, 2020March 20, 2020: I don't usually read Children's fiction but this one is hyped by and for adults too so why not? Who doesn't want a quirky and humorous story to read? Thank you, Sterrforth Press for the digital review copy via Netgalley!
April 25, 2020
‘Bad people in chaotic situations are not always very fair’.
Oh my goodness, what a gorgeously topsy turvy and brilliant story from Kate Milner! There is absolutely nothing ordinary or boring about this book – kids will love it.
Meet Ursula who from the very beginning, we realise is not living an ‘ordinary’ life. We learn that she sleeps in a cardboard bed with newspaper blankets and shares only one room with her father, Mr Meager who is the caretaker for the most amazingly named retirement complex ever: Arthritis Hall. Whilst he works, Ursula explores. On the face of it, you’d think Ursula would be rather down in the dumps but there is nothing sad about this story. Ursula, like every other child in this world, covets the latest toy craze – robotic pets called Poo-Chi Pets…
Ursula’s story runs alongside that of Duncan who owns a Poo-Chi pet called Gizzmo. He also has the Poo-Chi Pet app on his phone – Poo-Chi Planet – and he plays it ALL THE TIME along with various other children from around the world: Zhang from Shanghai, coding expert Kobe from Kenya and Ratboy Ryan from Australia. At the start of the story, he is travelling to Arthritis Hall to stay with his Great Aunt Harriet. Harriet is no gentle old lady leading a quiet life. Far from it. She is a rather mad inventor whose previous successes include a mechanical armadillo and a robot postman!
As you may already have worked out, Arthritis Hall (with its executive helipad on the roof) is no ordinary retirement complex. It is managed by the tiny but terrifying Linoleum Grunt (yes, really!) who makes it abundantly clear that children are not welcome. ‘You will be required to stay in one place at all times and make no noise whatsoever’... As well as Linoleum and Harriet, it is also home to Mrs Pettigrew who turns out to be a world class computer game player and Pork Pie the cat.
But things at Arthritis Hall are not destined to just chug along peacefully. A new robotic toy is hitting the shelves. Will Googleys prove more popular than Poo-Chi Pets? There are people out there that will make damn certain of it…
‘Duncan could not help feeling that the whole world was a bit more mad than he could cope with’.
I loved the craziness of this story and read it in one sitting. Stylistically, it is different to any other kid’s book I’ve read and there is so much within it that children today will identify with that they are sure to be sucked in. Highly recommended.
Page count: 224
Age group: 8 - 10 years
I would like to thank both Net Galley and Pushkin Press for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Oh my goodness, what a gorgeously topsy turvy and brilliant story from Kate Milner! There is absolutely nothing ordinary or boring about this book – kids will love it.
Meet Ursula who from the very beginning, we realise is not living an ‘ordinary’ life. We learn that she sleeps in a cardboard bed with newspaper blankets and shares only one room with her father, Mr Meager who is the caretaker for the most amazingly named retirement complex ever: Arthritis Hall. Whilst he works, Ursula explores. On the face of it, you’d think Ursula would be rather down in the dumps but there is nothing sad about this story. Ursula, like every other child in this world, covets the latest toy craze – robotic pets called Poo-Chi Pets…
Ursula’s story runs alongside that of Duncan who owns a Poo-Chi pet called Gizzmo. He also has the Poo-Chi Pet app on his phone – Poo-Chi Planet – and he plays it ALL THE TIME along with various other children from around the world: Zhang from Shanghai, coding expert Kobe from Kenya and Ratboy Ryan from Australia. At the start of the story, he is travelling to Arthritis Hall to stay with his Great Aunt Harriet. Harriet is no gentle old lady leading a quiet life. Far from it. She is a rather mad inventor whose previous successes include a mechanical armadillo and a robot postman!
As you may already have worked out, Arthritis Hall (with its executive helipad on the roof) is no ordinary retirement complex. It is managed by the tiny but terrifying Linoleum Grunt (yes, really!) who makes it abundantly clear that children are not welcome. ‘You will be required to stay in one place at all times and make no noise whatsoever’... As well as Linoleum and Harriet, it is also home to Mrs Pettigrew who turns out to be a world class computer game player and Pork Pie the cat.
But things at Arthritis Hall are not destined to just chug along peacefully. A new robotic toy is hitting the shelves. Will Googleys prove more popular than Poo-Chi Pets? There are people out there that will make damn certain of it…
‘Duncan could not help feeling that the whole world was a bit more mad than he could cope with’.
I loved the craziness of this story and read it in one sitting. Stylistically, it is different to any other kid’s book I’ve read and there is so much within it that children today will identify with that they are sure to be sucked in. Highly recommended.
Page count: 224
Age group: 8 - 10 years
I would like to thank both Net Galley and Pushkin Press for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Read
May 14, 2020Duncan Versus the Googleys is a Dahlesque treat that feels both modern and timeless. Featuring a technologically advanced criminal conspiracy, outrageous characters with equally outrageous names like “Mrs. Linoleum Grunt,” and a highly suspicious knitting circle, this rollicking story is sure to delight kids who enjoy a good caper. Simultaneously wacky and menacing, the book’s propulsive sense of adventure and wry observations on human nature make it a sophisticated, winning middle grade mystery.
Forced to spend his vacation at the oppressively dusty and boring Arthritis Hall while his parents jaunt off to Japan, Duncan runs into all sorts of trouble. The owner (the aforementioned Mrs. Grunt) detests children and tries to confiscate any of his belongings that might make the summer bearable. His Great Aunt Harriet wants nothing more than to get rid of him, either by locking him in a spare room or by forcing him to stay with the poor caretaker and his feral urchin of a daughter, Ursula. And a horrible monster is roaming the walls, trying to get its claws on anything that moves! As Duncan and Ursula wonder how they’re going to survive the summer, they uncover a mystery that threatens the entire world and realize that they’re the only people who can prevent the calamity.
Debut novelist Kate Milner has a knack for capturing the nasty side of humanity in a hilarious way that can best be described as hopeful pessimism. Roald Dahl’s influence on her writing is obvious, especially in her adult characters, who at best are cowardly and ineffectual and at worst are casual sadists with an irrational hatred of children. (Though, in true Dahl fashion, some of her younger characters aren’t much better.) Her ironic humor keeps the story moving briskly, though, without ever descending into despair.
Any story that relies on technology as heavily as this one does runs the risk of becoming out of touch before it’s even been published. Milner avoids this problem through some kind of alchemy whereby she combines current technological obsessions and worries with a classic storytelling style and a timeless sense of childhood chaos. The lunacy and dark humor of her plot make this high-tech throwback work; the story feels like it should go off the rails at any moment, but it never does. With a riveting narrative, memorable characters, and plenty of ironic wit, Duncan Versus the Googleys is a wild ride and a refreshingly cynical book that announces an intriguing new voice in middle grade fiction.
Forced to spend his vacation at the oppressively dusty and boring Arthritis Hall while his parents jaunt off to Japan, Duncan runs into all sorts of trouble. The owner (the aforementioned Mrs. Grunt) detests children and tries to confiscate any of his belongings that might make the summer bearable. His Great Aunt Harriet wants nothing more than to get rid of him, either by locking him in a spare room or by forcing him to stay with the poor caretaker and his feral urchin of a daughter, Ursula. And a horrible monster is roaming the walls, trying to get its claws on anything that moves! As Duncan and Ursula wonder how they’re going to survive the summer, they uncover a mystery that threatens the entire world and realize that they’re the only people who can prevent the calamity.
Debut novelist Kate Milner has a knack for capturing the nasty side of humanity in a hilarious way that can best be described as hopeful pessimism. Roald Dahl’s influence on her writing is obvious, especially in her adult characters, who at best are cowardly and ineffectual and at worst are casual sadists with an irrational hatred of children. (Though, in true Dahl fashion, some of her younger characters aren’t much better.) Her ironic humor keeps the story moving briskly, though, without ever descending into despair.
Any story that relies on technology as heavily as this one does runs the risk of becoming out of touch before it’s even been published. Milner avoids this problem through some kind of alchemy whereby she combines current technological obsessions and worries with a classic storytelling style and a timeless sense of childhood chaos. The lunacy and dark humor of her plot make this high-tech throwback work; the story feels like it should go off the rails at any moment, but it never does. With a riveting narrative, memorable characters, and plenty of ironic wit, Duncan Versus the Googleys is a wild ride and a refreshingly cynical book that announces an intriguing new voice in middle grade fiction.
July 10, 2020
Duncan’s parents are off to Japan so he’s staying with Aunt Harriet.
What a super book for children. There’s everything that appeals in a fast paced, exciting story that is the kind of adventure any child can relate to. I’d love to see Duncan Versus the Googleys taken up as a children’s television series as there’s so much episodic action that it would lend itself perfectly. Those episodes are also perfect for young independent readers because a small chunk of text can be read containing so much going on that readers of any age are hooked immediately. The structure is quite complex at times, until all the elements are brought together, and I think this will really appeal to stronger independent readers, but those requiring more help or having the story read with, or to, them will love it all the same.
The setting is wonderful in Duncan Versus the Googleys. There’s very much an inclusion of traditional haunted houses but with a fresh and modern update through the theme of technology and cyber-pet crazes. Creepy Arthritis Hall has secret tunnels, curious inhabitants and something dangerous lurking, making for an imaginative and engrossing narrative with just the right amount of scariness.
I thought the characters were so good too. There’s a smashing balance between Duncan and Ursula so that the story will appeal to male and female readers. I liked the way their backgrounds and personalities are so very different but that they still manage to forge a friendship and alliance anyway. This is an important lesson for children. Including peripheral characters in other parts of the world broadens young minds at the same time as entertaining them too.
However, setting and character aside, the entire story of Duncan Versus the Googleys is so engaging. Ursula and Duncan face peril and danger and yet there is humour too. Villains and crooks, wildlife television programmes, megalomaniacs, knitting, monsters and children’s toys lead to a most imaginative narrative that I thought was wonderful.
Duncan Versus the Googleys is absolutely crackers, brilliantly written and so entertaining that children of all ages will adore it. I loved it.
What a super book for children. There’s everything that appeals in a fast paced, exciting story that is the kind of adventure any child can relate to. I’d love to see Duncan Versus the Googleys taken up as a children’s television series as there’s so much episodic action that it would lend itself perfectly. Those episodes are also perfect for young independent readers because a small chunk of text can be read containing so much going on that readers of any age are hooked immediately. The structure is quite complex at times, until all the elements are brought together, and I think this will really appeal to stronger independent readers, but those requiring more help or having the story read with, or to, them will love it all the same.
The setting is wonderful in Duncan Versus the Googleys. There’s very much an inclusion of traditional haunted houses but with a fresh and modern update through the theme of technology and cyber-pet crazes. Creepy Arthritis Hall has secret tunnels, curious inhabitants and something dangerous lurking, making for an imaginative and engrossing narrative with just the right amount of scariness.
I thought the characters were so good too. There’s a smashing balance between Duncan and Ursula so that the story will appeal to male and female readers. I liked the way their backgrounds and personalities are so very different but that they still manage to forge a friendship and alliance anyway. This is an important lesson for children. Including peripheral characters in other parts of the world broadens young minds at the same time as entertaining them too.
However, setting and character aside, the entire story of Duncan Versus the Googleys is so engaging. Ursula and Duncan face peril and danger and yet there is humour too. Villains and crooks, wildlife television programmes, megalomaniacs, knitting, monsters and children’s toys lead to a most imaginative narrative that I thought was wonderful.
Duncan Versus the Googleys is absolutely crackers, brilliantly written and so entertaining that children of all ages will adore it. I loved it.
June 8, 2020
A Swell Adventure
This book has an edgy/amusing Roald Dahl vibe, and that's always a good thing. The kids are all stalwart, feisty, and smart, while the adults are all creepy, (the villains), clueless and careless, (the parents), or nasty, (villains again). One or two previously quiet adults show up at the end to help out, though, again in classic Dahl style. The atmosphere is equally menacing and antic, with both silly humor and some very amusing dry and deadpan bits.
You can have fantasy adventures, mystery adventures, magic adventures, outdoorsy adventures, or space adventures. This book falls into that newish category of tech/computer adventures. There's coding rigmarole, and some of the kids participate through the internet, and the villainous parts involve tech and surveillance and various gadgets, and of course the requisite conflicted robot heavy.
We start out with the grim spectre of our hero Duncan being stuck in an old folks home with his Great Aunt, and after being introduced to the bad guys, he teams up with Ursula, the resident caretaker's daughter. The two meet cute, bond, and then proceed to save the world. The hero duties are evenly balanced, and both heroes pull their weight. There is a lot of lurking and snooping, with congenial hero banter, punctuated by some nice action scenes, and then some techish scenes. It's all paced well, and has an engaging slightly acidic humorous undercurrent throughout.
I liked the book immensely, and while it gets a little antic and over the top robotish toward the end, I don't think that will distress younger readers at all. A nice find.
(Please note that I received a free advance ecopy of this book without a review requirement, or any influence regarding review content should I choose to post a review. Apart from that I have no connection at all to either the author or the publisher of this book.)
This book has an edgy/amusing Roald Dahl vibe, and that's always a good thing. The kids are all stalwart, feisty, and smart, while the adults are all creepy, (the villains), clueless and careless, (the parents), or nasty, (villains again). One or two previously quiet adults show up at the end to help out, though, again in classic Dahl style. The atmosphere is equally menacing and antic, with both silly humor and some very amusing dry and deadpan bits.
You can have fantasy adventures, mystery adventures, magic adventures, outdoorsy adventures, or space adventures. This book falls into that newish category of tech/computer adventures. There's coding rigmarole, and some of the kids participate through the internet, and the villainous parts involve tech and surveillance and various gadgets, and of course the requisite conflicted robot heavy.
We start out with the grim spectre of our hero Duncan being stuck in an old folks home with his Great Aunt, and after being introduced to the bad guys, he teams up with Ursula, the resident caretaker's daughter. The two meet cute, bond, and then proceed to save the world. The hero duties are evenly balanced, and both heroes pull their weight. There is a lot of lurking and snooping, with congenial hero banter, punctuated by some nice action scenes, and then some techish scenes. It's all paced well, and has an engaging slightly acidic humorous undercurrent throughout.
I liked the book immensely, and while it gets a little antic and over the top robotish toward the end, I don't think that will distress younger readers at all. A nice find.
(Please note that I received a free advance ecopy of this book without a review requirement, or any influence regarding review content should I choose to post a review. Apart from that I have no connection at all to either the author or the publisher of this book.)
June 11, 2020
Children vs. Old People... plus monsters.
I was reminded a little of Anthony Horowitz's brilliant book 'Granny' while reading this - about a sadistic grandmother hellbent on using young people for her own nefarious ends. Children's books have often given us the age-old battle between brave and resourceful children and experienced and loathsome grown-ups (think Dahl's Matilda and most David Walliams' efforts), and readers take delight in putting themselves in the shoes of the protagonist as they battle superior power.
Here, the targeted loathsome ones reside in a retirement community. Duncan is left at Arthritis Hall to stay with an elderly relative while his parents visit Japan. And Ursula lives there as the caretaker's daughter. When they meet, both are aware of some strange and scary goings on, involving noises in the walls, creatures that don't seem alive, and plots involving some very cute electronic pets - Poo-Chis.
It's all rather bonkers, with some laughably odious old ladies (some playing distinctly against type) and a plot that young people will relate to - the Poo-Chis have their own planet, accessories and many obsessed fans in a shared online world.
I really liked the occasional black-and-white illustrations and the chapter headings which harked back to very old books and the chapter information that told you what the content of the forthcoming pages would be.
The story will hold the interest of primary-aged readers, and there's lots here to amuse and entertain. I enjoyed the use of electronic pets as integral parts of the story, very contemporary. And Duncan and Ursula made a good pairing, if a little conventional (on Duncan's part particularly) most of the time.
For ages 8-12.
With thanks to Pushkin Children's Books for providing a sample reading copy in exchange for an honest review.
I was reminded a little of Anthony Horowitz's brilliant book 'Granny' while reading this - about a sadistic grandmother hellbent on using young people for her own nefarious ends. Children's books have often given us the age-old battle between brave and resourceful children and experienced and loathsome grown-ups (think Dahl's Matilda and most David Walliams' efforts), and readers take delight in putting themselves in the shoes of the protagonist as they battle superior power.
Here, the targeted loathsome ones reside in a retirement community. Duncan is left at Arthritis Hall to stay with an elderly relative while his parents visit Japan. And Ursula lives there as the caretaker's daughter. When they meet, both are aware of some strange and scary goings on, involving noises in the walls, creatures that don't seem alive, and plots involving some very cute electronic pets - Poo-Chis.
It's all rather bonkers, with some laughably odious old ladies (some playing distinctly against type) and a plot that young people will relate to - the Poo-Chis have their own planet, accessories and many obsessed fans in a shared online world.
I really liked the occasional black-and-white illustrations and the chapter headings which harked back to very old books and the chapter information that told you what the content of the forthcoming pages would be.
The story will hold the interest of primary-aged readers, and there's lots here to amuse and entertain. I enjoyed the use of electronic pets as integral parts of the story, very contemporary. And Duncan and Ursula made a good pairing, if a little conventional (on Duncan's part particularly) most of the time.
For ages 8-12.
With thanks to Pushkin Children's Books for providing a sample reading copy in exchange for an honest review.
March 25, 2020
Well this can only be called great fun. A lad is packed off by his know-better parents, not to Japan, but to the home for retired old biddies where his Great Aunt resides. That's not a huge problem for him, though, he thinks, as he has his other existence in an on-line game, and the robopet form of his game avatar to keep him company. Little does he know that he's going to be deprived of his in-game existence, and forced to swap it for a real hell hole, of cobwebs, mystery boxes, weird old women being weird and doing weird things, and only the one friendly-seeming girl to keep him away from the thing that makes a noise in the walls at night…
With some of the oddball child-friendly gothic of the likes of Ribblestrop, and a heck of a lot of the chatty, fourth-wall-breaking style of, well, a lot of books that don't pull it off as well as here, this is a joy to read. It's oh so eminently quotable, whether that be the bizarre happenings, the bizarre authorial interventions comparing this lark to real life, or the even more bizarre word play and weird choices of phrasing, kind of like non sequiturs but also kind of like just odd juxtapositions. No, not all of that is sustained across every page, but this still counts as a joyous hit. What also stands out, even more than the narrator's invention, is the way it clashes the old – truly old-school captioned illustrations, and so on – with the new, represented by the whole moral of the piece and the way the game-players from around the world get to feature. Going down a treat, this is one I'd really jump to recommend - coming here expecting very little and knowing less, I loved it. At least four and a half stars.
With some of the oddball child-friendly gothic of the likes of Ribblestrop, and a heck of a lot of the chatty, fourth-wall-breaking style of, well, a lot of books that don't pull it off as well as here, this is a joy to read. It's oh so eminently quotable, whether that be the bizarre happenings, the bizarre authorial interventions comparing this lark to real life, or the even more bizarre word play and weird choices of phrasing, kind of like non sequiturs but also kind of like just odd juxtapositions. No, not all of that is sustained across every page, but this still counts as a joyous hit. What also stands out, even more than the narrator's invention, is the way it clashes the old – truly old-school captioned illustrations, and so on – with the new, represented by the whole moral of the piece and the way the game-players from around the world get to feature. Going down a treat, this is one I'd really jump to recommend - coming here expecting very little and knowing less, I loved it. At least four and a half stars.
March 27, 2020
Duncan has the adventure of his life in this weird, wacky, yet wonderful book! From unpredictable Aunts to monsters living in the walls, Kate Milner has gone above and beyond to create a summer like no other. The book teaches about friendships, trust and helping those in need, as well as how to stick up for yourself. This children’s story is easy to read with a great writing style and splashed with humour in all the right places. Would definitely recommend!
I wrote a more in-depth review over on my blog: https://aquintillionwords.com/2020/03...
I wrote a more in-depth review over on my blog: https://aquintillionwords.com/2020/03...
March 12, 2020
Duncan Versus the Googleys by Kate Milner is such a treasure of a book, I've honestly never read anything quite like it! So quirky and original in its plot, Milner's debut middle grade book is a deliciously madcap, riveting read that I gobbled up in one sitting.
May 25, 2020
This was a hit with my nine year old daughter, she said it reminded her of the classic Roald Dahl books she has read time and time again. There was a real quirkiness to the story and that made it stand out from others she has read recently.
January 13, 2023
A fizzing adventure.
I particularly enjoyed the refutation of the post hoc ergo propter hoc fallacy, which involved Santa Claus, elephants, and custard.
I particularly enjoyed the refutation of the post hoc ergo propter hoc fallacy, which involved Santa Claus, elephants, and custard.
November 5, 2021
The timing I picked this book up coincided with something in the latest news, which was quite strange, to say the least. I will not say any more for fear of spoiling one or two of the twists in the book. It is a tale for children and would work better for them, although it was quite decent for adults.
Duncan is the hero mentioned on the cover, but the real 'hero' of the tale is Ursula, who knows what's going on and can do something about it! This story is filled with over-the-top villains and irresponsible parents. Duncan is left at the mercy of a family member he does not know, and once there, he is plunged into the chaos of the first order. The story builds in bursts, with a deepening sense of danger. That is interspersed with some lighter moments, which did make me smile.
There is a lot happening in the background, which took me a long time to assimilate with the main plotline. It does come together nicely to justify me reading it all the way through.
I would recommend it to preteens and younger children because they seemed to be the target audience.
I received an ARC thanks to NetGalley and the publishers but the review is entirely based on my own reading experience.
Duncan is the hero mentioned on the cover, but the real 'hero' of the tale is Ursula, who knows what's going on and can do something about it! This story is filled with over-the-top villains and irresponsible parents. Duncan is left at the mercy of a family member he does not know, and once there, he is plunged into the chaos of the first order. The story builds in bursts, with a deepening sense of danger. That is interspersed with some lighter moments, which did make me smile.
There is a lot happening in the background, which took me a long time to assimilate with the main plotline. It does come together nicely to justify me reading it all the way through.
I would recommend it to preteens and younger children because they seemed to be the target audience.
I received an ARC thanks to NetGalley and the publishers but the review is entirely based on my own reading experience.
August 9, 2020
Duncan plays Poo-Chi Planet almost all the time. So when the game disappears, he is sad/angry. This story explains how Duncan and Ursula make Poo chi planet come to life.
Want to read
February 1, 2020Note: I accessed a digital review copy through Edelweiss.
December 24, 2019
Duncan Versus the Googleys by Kate Milner is a super read, full of good humour, fantastic feats, and friendship. These are children you wish you knew and were friends with. Deftly weaving social issues in a rip-roaring tale of heroic tweens and villainous seniors. Pleased to see the black and white illustrations at the beginning of chapters in this Kindle edition.
My thanks to Edelweiss and Pushkin Children's Books for an advanced review copy in exchange for a candid review.
Full review to follow in January 2020
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My thanks to Edelweiss and Pushkin Children's Books for an advanced review copy in exchange for a candid review.
Full review to follow in January 2020
Blog | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews