Boy Under Water

by Adam Baron

★★★★★

Overview 

I was pleasantly surprised by how much I loved this book and have since bought the rest of the Cymbeline Igloo series. 

This story is packed full of honesty, adventure and an insight into the life of a young boy who has never been swimming. As we journey alongside Cymbeline, we learn about his childhood and how his traumas have shaped his life and experiences. 

I absolutely adored this story and was hooked from the very first few pages. Written in first person, this story is full of childish humour, excellent pace and hilarious commentary. My favourite thing by far in this book is the wonderful narration by Cymbeline. Adam Baron has a real talent for writing from a child's point of view and making such a serious subject so accessible and engaging for young readers. The humour sprinkled throughout the storyline is absolutely brilliant and I found myself chuckling out loud a few times as I read. 

Despite the brilliant humour, Boy Under Water also contains some devastating events that are often avoided in children's fiction. These include loss of a parent, child abuse, divorce, family separation, metal heath crises and death. However, Baron presents each with care and a beautiful subtlety that enables younger readers to pass straight over these events without much thought, simply enjoying the fun, humour narrative. However, these themes are also evident enough for more mature readers to notice, understand and discuss as each event occurs.

I cannot recommend this book enough - it is totally amazing! 

Dive Deeper

Key information 

Author: Adam Baron

Illustrator: Benji Davies 

Release Date: 1st June 2018

Book type: Chapter, 256 pages, paperback

Reader level: Growing reader + (content 8+)

Overview

Cymbeline Igloo (yes, really!) has NEVER been swimming

Not ever. Not once.

But how hard can it be? He’s Googled front crawl and he’s found his dad’s old pair of trunks. He’s totally ready.

What he’s not ready for is the accident at the pool – or how it leads his mum to a sudden breakdown.

Now, with the help of friends old and new, Cymbeline must solve the mystery of why his mum never took him near water – and it will turn his whole life upside down…

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