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The Great Granny Hunt ISBN: 9781523281305
Sullivan, Jenny
Published by CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform, 2016
In this wonderfully zany follow-up to 'The Great Cake Bake', we meet again Aled, who is dyslexic, his best friend Jac, and shy Ellie, who has real problems in believing in herself. Aled's dyslexia doesn't figure as prominently in this story as it did in the last, but we do hear about it from time to time. Aled's mum is about to marry her boyfriend Geraint when the story opens, and they are all to move into a lovely new home. Everything in Aled's life seems to be going swimmingly because he really likes Geraint, and the feeling is mutual. Aled's own problem with self-esteem has got much better since he has discovered talents in himself, and Geraint has much to do with this. However, he would very much like to have a Granny; his classmates talk about their grans all the time, and a granny sounds like such fun. As neither his mum nor Geraint has a mother living, he feels a bit short-changed. First, though, there is the wedding, and when mum and Geraint announce that they want Aled to give the bride away and be best man too, he is 'tickled pink' - quite literally! And being the thoughtful lad he is, he suggests to his mum (who doesn't have anyone to be a bridesmaid) that shy Ellie (who would love to be one) is invited to take part. All through the story it is Aled's caring and thoughtful nature that comes through so splendidly. When he comes up with the idea that his classmates might like to share in visiting the old people's home he has taken on as surrogate grans, this comes through particularly well. The wedding goes swimmingly, and he does find his own special, particular gran. But towards the end of the book, when mum becomes pregnant, Aled's newly-won self-esteem comes under serious threat. He does not want this baby - no way! He and mum and Geraint are such a happy trio, and when the baby comes, mum and Geraint won't want him any more. He really is convinced of this, and it makes him do something totally stupid that could have had very serious consequences. However, Aled being Aled and basically a lovely and loving kid, all comes well. Aled really is a winner. In spite of his dyslexia, he becomes Head Boy in year six - and gets on the rugby team as well! Life in Wales doesn't get much better than that! As always with Sullivan, her jaunty tone and humorous approach to life as it is lived come over strongly, and Aled and all his friends are depicted with great understanding and amusing dialogue. Kids will love it! A Kindle edition is available, which could be very useful for dyslexics.
Age: 9+