Eating Chips with Monkey

by Mark Lowery

Ten-year-old Daniel is never happier than when he is eating chips. Especially during his family's annual Chip Shop Championships, the highlight of his year. And especially when he can also eat chips with Monkey, his beloved soft toy and trusty companion. But one terrible November day, the lives of Daniel and his family are changed forever when an accident renders Daniel a shadow of his former self. As Daniel retreats into himself, his family slowly begin to fall apart, without this bright boy at the heart of their lives.

When an impromptu trip to a chip shop seems to briefly engage Daniel with the real world, the family decide to revisit their Chip Shop Championships, on a quest to find the best chip shop in the country. Along the way, as they attempt to rebuild their family and regain Daniel, they must contend with hungry giraffes, nouveau cuisine, the loss of Monkey, the theft of Grandma, and lots of chips.

Genres: Disability, Middle Grade, Fiction

240 pages, Paperback

Published April 2, 2020

About the author

Mark Lowery is the author of seven books for children and young adults, including "Charlie and Me - 421 Miles From Home" and the Roman Garstang Adventures.

Both of his first two books - "Socks Are Not Enough" and "Pants Are Everything" - were shortlisted for the Roald Dahl Funny Prize. "Socks Are Not Enough" was longlisted for the Branford Boase Award, and also won the Leeds Book of The Year Award and the Calderdale Book of the Year Award. "The Jam Doughnut That Ruined My Life" was shortlisted for the Children's Book Award.

He is a primary school teacher and lives near Cambridge with his young family.

Twitter:
www.twitter.com/hellomarklowery

Website:
www.marklowery.co.uk

Reviews

[TheAuDHDTeacher · Rating 1 out of 5]

Good story line and well developed characters. Unfortunately the narrative surrounding Daniels autism did come across as quite negative. Not a book I would therefore recommend as there are many better books on the market with autistic characters.

[Reema · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this was absolutely brilliant. The cover caught my eye but the story and emotions were what kept me reading.

I loved each and every character. It was so interesting to read about someone in the spectrum and how intense things get in their minds. Hated Monkey though (weird that i hate a stuffed toy)

Sharp writing, really intriguing, highly recommend!

[Lyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I haven’t quite read anything like Eating Chips with Monkey before.

“Being with him’s like watching a video on a really bad Wi-Fi signal - one minute the picture’s crystal-clear HD. The next he’s frozen and you don’t know when he’ll stop buffering.”

It brings us into the mind of a boy with autism, who had recently been in a car accident. Although the Doctors say there has been no brain damage, the trauma has altered him, seemingly irretrievably.

The book alternates between his view and the heart-wrenching view of his forgotten teenage sister (like Wonder, everything in the parents’ universe revolves around the Son). All neuro-typical siblings of special needs kids seem to have such a fierce love for their siblings, even though they often bear the brunt of the pain and fallout.

I found the monkey somewhat diabolical, but my 9 year old did not find him creepy at all. I am not sure if this accurately depicts what goes on in the mind of an ASD child, but it does seem very overwhelming.

This is one of the first books where tensions between a couple who still love each other are well depicted, lending realism and comfort to the average child reading it.

If you are a Fish and Chips fan, you’d love this book; its irreverent British humour lends a dash of vinegar onto the delicious contents.

[The Quill Hand · Rating 4 out of 5]

When ten-year-old Daniel suffers a terrible accident one night, he loses all memory of his life before the incident and becomes a shadow of his former self, speaking to no one except for his toy Monkey. His family try to help him by using one thing that they know he loves: chips. Eating Chips with Monkey follows Daniel’s family on a drive around England to find the best fish and chip shop in the country. The family experiences many amusing mishaps and adventures along the way, such as Grandma’s encounter with a very hungry giraffe.

Lowery employs a great amount of tact in his representation of Daniel, who has autism, and the journey that Daniel and his family embark on, making good use of humour to tell a story that is both light- hearted and endearing. Within Eating Chips with Monkey, autism spectrum disorders are portrayed in a way that is respectful while also being educational and entertaining. The narrative, told from the perspective of Daniel’s sister Megan, carries the message that those on the spectrum are more than just their disability – Megan notes, more than once, that her brother is a wonderful, multi-faceted boy.

At its heart, this is a narrative about unconditional love and the close-knit bond of family. Eating Chips with Monkey is a touching novel and a must-read for parents and children – with one small disclaimer: this story will have your stomach rumbling!

Thank you to Children’s Books Ireland for providing me with an advance review copy of this book.

This review was originally published in Inis Magazine Issue 60 (July 2020).

[Sophie Crane · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is really easy to read as its split on a page to the sister, Daniel and the family in different bits.
Daniel is an autistic boy. The usual weekend involves chips from his favourite chippy, but sadly the chippy closes and Daniel's routine changed which sends his life into chaos due to change in his routine. The dad promises to try a different chippy instead every week to try to find one just as good. The book revolves around trying to find a chippy that matches, then Daniel has an accident and becomes withdrawn using his monkey to protect him. The family set about trying to get the old Daniel back by the only way they know chips and with a hilarious Grandma in toe things don't go to plan. A brilliantly written book, that's so different, sad and extremely funny. I would definitely recommend this to everyone especially relatives of autistic kids.

[Katie Hazel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Told in the perspective of Megan (the main character Daniel’s older sister) with interludes of Daniel’s thoughts, the little 200 pager explores the world of the aftermath of a car accident and, fish and chips.
Daniel has always struggled with life, especially with school - it stresses him out. To find comfort, he talks to his toy monkey, and he and his family love trying all the fish and chips shops in Preston every Friday night.
Despite me not being in the target age range for this book. I really enjoyed it. It served as a quick and easy read while I was finishing uni deadlines for the year.

[Alderwasley Hall School · Rating 5 out of 5]

Daniel is autistic and really loves his fish and chips. However, when he is involved in a road accident, his recovery is complicated. This is a brilliant, funny book that shows the impact of trauma on the whole family. It's good to hear from different perspectives within the family, as it promotes empathy for all characters. The humour carries the story forward through some challenging circumstances, where family dynamics are well-portrayed in all their complexities. You cannot read this book without fancying fish and chips!

[Daniella Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic book

I loved this book, it made me laugh and cry. Uplifting. A brilliant book showing how families have to give up things for their Autistic son but they have adapted and see it as a every day thing. When the fish and chip shop closes that they go to as a routine every Friday, it changes and upheavals everything, but by trying to find an alternative shop which soon becomes a challenge.

[Laura Mitchell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very insightful. Fans of 'The A Word' (BBC) are sure to enjoy this.

[Sara Rothery · Rating 5 out of 5]

A warm heated story about an autistic boy and how he copes in his way after being ran over. A family read where everyone can take something with them. We'll worth a read.

[EdenB15 · Rating 4 out of 5]

a really emotional but enjoyable short and easy read. It was my first book of marks and i defo want to read some of his other works. The title really intrugied me so it was part of the reason i picked up the book. It is about a boy called daniel who getd in a accident and then finds himself unable to communciate. Its told from both his sister prespective and daniels. It defiently putt me in the mood for chips after and you will have to read and see why

[Wolf · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really interesting book about a boys journey to independence.