Bootleg

by Alex Shearer

No more chocolate! What? It is the new century and the government in power is called the Good For You Party. Do they really know best when it comes to health policies, closing down all the burger bars and chip shops in the country?

Through the introduction of so-called healthy snacks and re-education programmes, the Good For You Party is striving to build a happier and healthier population. But when it comes to banning chocolate it seems they may have gone a step too far, and Huntly and his friend Smudger find it hard to abide by the new laws. Together with local shopkeeper Mrs. Bubby, the boys devise a cunning plan to restore freedom, justice and chocolate for all ... with amazing results!

Genres: Young Adult, Childrens, Teen, Fiction, Audiobook, British Literature, Futuristic

352 pages, Paperback

First published July 4, 2003

About the author

Alex Shearer started his writing career as a scriptwriter and has had great success in that field. His credits include The Two of Us, the 1990s sitcom starring Nicholas Lyndhurst. More recently he has started writing for children. His Wilmot stories have been adapted for TV by Yorkshire television, and his children's novel, The Greatest Store in the World, was screened as a feature length TV film on Christmas Eve 1999 by the BBC. Alex's recent novel 'The Speed of the Dark' was shortlisted for the 2002 Guardian Fiction Prize

Alex Shearer lives with his family in Somerset. He has written more than a dozen books for both adults and children, as well as many successful television series, films, and stage and radio plays. He has had over thirty different jobs, and has never given up trying to play the guitar.

Reviews

[Thibault Busschots · Rating 4 out of 5]

I absolutely loved the BBC miniseries as a kid. So I wanted to check out the original story.


“If a law was unfair and downright wrong, would you be willing to break it?”


The Good for You Party rises to power and its main goal is improving the health of the nation. Fruits and vegetables become compulsory, while sweets and chocolates become banned. When two boys find an overlooked stock of cocoa and sugar, they secretly start to make and sell chocolate. And their business starts to boom quite fast, as many people share their love for chocolate. But the rising popularity of their illegal chocolates also comes to the attention of the authorities.


It’s like a children’s version of the prohibition era, inspired by the rising health concerns regarding people in general consuming too much sugar. It also subtly touches on some other important themes like totalitarianism, in such a way that children can easily understand it.


It’s a rather lighthearted and short story, but very fun, heartwarming and memorable. And simply to lick your fingers off delicious, especially if you’re a fan of chocolate like I am.

[Esther Filbrun · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very fun story. I’m not the kind of person who typically eats a lot of chocolate at once, but while reading this book, I wondered what it would be like if chocolate were banned—I think I would miss it! Watching the boys in this story become bootleggers and help people with their addictions was probably more fun than it should have been, but I found myself cheering for them every time they managed to keep their business a secret. Watching them work together against an oppressive regime (that banned sugar and all kinds of sugary treats) was fascinating.

Even though I enjoyed the story, I don’t know that I can fully recommend it. I found it slightly disturbing that the boys never told their parents what they were doing, and even though they had other adults in their lives to guide them, I thought it was sad that they had to do it behind their parent’s backs.

Overall, this was a relatively short, quick book, and I’m glad I got the chance to read it. This feels like one that could easily be a classic in a few years.

[Roda · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was one of my favourite books when I was 11/12. I thought the concept of the government outlawing sugary treats outrageous and terrifying. Need to re-read my childhood favourites at some point, I just know I really enjoyed Alex Shearer's works.

[Heather W · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my absolute favourite books, this is a re-read. I think it is a funny and well written book, that has a good plotline and characterisation throughout. I love the characters and find it an easy read.

[Skye Des · Rating 4 out of 5]

Chocolate? Check. Illegal stuff? Check. Revolutionary theme? Check. Aweome cover (there's a "best before" date at the back of the book... so real, right?) Check. Therefore, this is an awesome book.

[Jeremy Nelson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would say a 3½ stars were it allowed by the system. I loved this book. I loved the originality of it. Oh, the thought that Chocolate should be banned? Outrageous! But that is what this book is; outrageously fun!

I didn't like how easy it seemed in parts. Like when the Inspector was arrested at the end, he simply shrugged and complied to going into a prison cell. Anybody who had power of the same calibre as this character would certainly have NOT gone down as easily as he did... this is just an example. It happens a few times I feel. And some scenes were too short for it to have any impact as well.

Other than these little issues, the plot was so much fun. :)

[S A · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a chocoholic I looooved it! The poems in there are so catchy and I just found the entire book ingenious and hardly surprising,relatable.A must read ,whacky book.OK-kinda don't remember the specifics in this book,but still a must re-read.

[Scotty Bell · Rating 5 out of 5]

i borrowed this book from a friend as it sounded funny and it really was i enjoyed it immensely.
it was a very light read and had a very interesting plot.

[Cheryl Hall · Rating 3 out of 5]

I vaguely remembered a BBC serial based on this book that screened around 10 years ago and so sought out the novel.

It was quite an enjoyable read for a children's book.

[Ayano · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wanted to read this book for a very long time. I didn't know there was a book until I saw an ANIME! Yes, boys and girls, there is an anime about this book. It's slightly different like the character's name and physique. But the overall story is the same, they banned chocolate. But oh boy, the book was fun to read. It shows the struggles of making chocolate from scratch with the little resource you have and it has to be hidden at all times. Distributing the chocolate was difficult as well, having a lookout, etc. a whole operation without detection was just an excellent job for a teenager! I enjoyed it so much and it will stay on my shelf for a very long time.

If anyone curios, the anime is:
Chocolate Underground: Bokura no Chocolate Sensou

[Lyz Russo · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a fun read! Dystopian situation with the health-fanatic "Good For You Party" in power. Amazingly, they were elected democratically via the process of apathy! So now the kill-joy party (reminding in a slightly sinister way of certain health trends today that claim moral high ground and then push people about) has outlawed everything sweet, everything full-cream, everything that could bring a little bit of relief to the stark, tasteless "Good For You" diet and policies.

Want to know what happens if you put a whole nation on a diet?

Fast-paced and well-written.

[Ariel George · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Good For You Party won the election and is now forcing everyone to eat what is good for them. So they outlaw chocolate. Two teen boys decide to make and sell their own chocolate after stumbling across a book with chocolate recipes in an old bookstore. They conspire with the local convenience store operator to sell it covertly there. Very British, yet hilarious take on how prohibition of widely consumed items leads to a black market.

[Crystal · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a book I wish I hadn't borrowed from the library - because I wanted to highlight the choice phrases that came up so often! I was right near the end when I got off the train and just had to keep reading, so I read on the walk to school leaving my page-turning hands bright red!

[Isabelle Withers · Rating 5 out of 5]

I may have read this when I was 10 but I tell you what, it is a hilarious story but feels oddly significant. Adults and children alike would appreciate this book.

[Hassaan · Rating 5 out of 5]

MEH

[Emma Madden-Krasnick · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favourites growing up.... The perfect nostalgia read

[Lj · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very "Sweet" young readers book. I highly recommend it, even if you only like vegetables.

[Jim Mc · Rating 4 out of 5]

Whilst I enjoyed the story, I'm afraid I enjoyed the television miniseries a little more from a pacing and plot surprise point of view.

[Emily Wrayburn · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was fun, and a good way to pass time on a long walk, though ultimately nothing too amazing. I did like the idea behind it, and thought it was a good way to introduce kids to ideas behind democracy, voting and protest/resistance. I did get a smile out of the ending, with people taking to the streets to bring back chocolate.

[Kathryn · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really wanted to enjoy this book more than I did. I thought the concept was great - I just had some suspention of disbelief issues. It seems totaly unrealistic to me for modern day Britain to vote in a political party whose biggest selling point is getting rid of sugar. Its not just that - the Good For You party was inconsistant. Why is fruit, which is loaded with sugar ok, but natual honey isn't? It makes no sense.

I think that had the story begun with a different pretense I would have been behind it all the way, the characters were very likable and I did grow attached.

It would have been better for my suspention of disblief problem is there had been some terrible world event and and people had to focus on farming or something. Then, over time, the Good For You party is in charge and everyone is happy with that - they don't even know what they are missing. But then, the boys discover some long lost chocolate and the receipe. It could go from there. I don't know, maybe I've been reading too many dystopian society books recently.

I think that this would be a fantastic book for teaching children about being responcible with voting and leadership and what not.

[Somerandom · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ahh the innocence of youth. Back when the worst thing imaginable was having no chocolate and having people treat it like prohibition liquor or hard drugs seemed appropriate if it were banned.

I don't really remember the book that much, but as a child I did eagerly watch all episodes of a mini series based off it. I could never figure out if it was a British show or an Australian made show. It was filmed in London, with one or two British accents, but most of the cast were Australian. Odd.

In any case, the book is a light read, tackling issues like Government control, free will and justice, but in a kid friendly sort of way.

Both bring me right back to childhood, when reading/watching Bootleg whilst eating a bar of chocolate seemed like the most rebellious thing in the world.

A good lighthearted, relatable children's dystopia.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

What would life be like if the new government made it against the law to eat chocolate?

Forcibly improving the health of the citizens of Britain, the newly elected Good For You Party bans chocolate and makes the consumption of fruit and vegetables compulsory. Then best friends Smudger and Huntley find a hidden stash of ingredients to make chocolate. Their underground chocolate-making business flourishes.

Then one of them is arrested.

I have been thinking of making a new shelf for this book: Chocolate.

[Amreen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was fantastic! It was hilarious and I totally loved the characters. One of the main reasons why I connect with this book so much is because I have a major obsession to chocolate.. so when I read the chocolate was being banned I was really angry. I could really relate to the characters moods and feelings and I felt like that it was me in the story instead of them. A major plus point is that the book is really funny and you'll laugh out loud (I swear!) while reading it!! xx

[Georgia · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an amazing book! I loved every minute in reading it, and I recommend it highly to EVERYONE!!! It's about a world where chocolate and sugar are all banned and you face time in prison by having it with you or by eating it. The officials have this radar that can detect chocolate. So what happens when two boys get up to mischief by making their own chocolate, and secretly selling it to the public? Read the book!

[Khairul H · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kinda Funny at times because it is kinda stupid to band chocolate.i wouldn't survive without chocolate. This book would probably describe what would happen to you if you didn't have any chocolate. Definitely i would recommend this book to people who couldn't survive without chocolate.Very Good even if your an adult

[Book Reviewer's · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great book. I found out about this book through a novel study at school. I absolutely loved it! This book inspired me to write books of my own. Back to the review. I rate this 4/5. The start is great but the end is a bit too politicy. If you know what I mean. Anyway great book, I would recommend this to people who love chocolate, are addicted chocolate and ARE CRAZY FOR CHOCOLATE.

[Sydney · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's a great book of what I remember the last time I read it... When i found the book again I tried reading it but was confused.... It was a great book but I hadn't finished it :( now I gotta start all over again

[Neriah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Childhood favourite! Ah, the days when I thought the worst thing in the world was having no chocolate oh wait I still do oops recommended for a cute story about chocolate being treated as meth by twelve year olds.

[Hannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked Bootleg. The story is set in a time when chocolate and sugary things are replaced with disgusting, healthy alternatives. Two boys Huntly and Smudger along with Mrs Bubby start to work as bootleggers, making and selling chocolate. I had to stop halfway through to get some chocolate.

[Samantha cook · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just imagine living without chocolate!! what would you do??
find out how they do it without being caught!!