Wednesday 10 August 2016

Horace - Chris d'Lacey

Horace
Chris d'Lacey
Penguin Random House
RHCP Digital
ASIN B005E87VUK
ISBN 9780440864455
eISBN 9781446480830


In under a year now I have read 12 books by Chris d'Lacey. I have now read from four different series and two standalone books. With each new book I read I am more impressed with Chris's skill, talent and mastery of the art of storytelling.  His books are written towards the middle grade and young adult audience but I have loved all of his books that I have read. My only real regret is so many of them are not available electronically, for as a dyslexic that is now my preferred method because of being able to change the font, and color of the pages to make them easier to read.

This story has a bit of everything, friendship, the beginning of relationships, police officers, a family struggling financially, and a stuffed bear that is much more than meets the eye. However the main element of the story is the bear Horace 012 a very old bear that young Joel wants to buy from a thrift store but because it has not certification tags they need to throw it out. Joel wants to bear to draw it, so he makes a donation to the thrift shop, and then waits for them to pitch it so he can get it. His younger sister falls in love with it. And the troubles really begin when he takes it to school to have it appraised. Soon one lie about where the bear came from leads to another and another until the police show up at Joel's house. Joel's best friend fancies Joel's older sister, Joel's younger sister fancies this friend. And Joel gets set up on a sort of kind of blind date. Joel's date is a Sikh girl what a more traditional father. And we also have an attempted robbery. 

It is a lot of action for such a short book. And the action in this story takes place over a few short weeks. At points the story is very touching and often moving; especially Joel's concern about the bear, where it came from, its true value and where it really belongs. Also his concern for his family and the financial struggles they are having and also finding a way to help the family with them. Overall this was a very surprising read and I truly enjoyed it. 

This is a great read. I look forward to reading it with my children as they get a little older. I wish my grandmother was alive still for she would have loved it also. It is an excellent read and I cannot emphasize enough what a good read it is.

Books by Chris d'Lacey:
Dragons of Wayward Crescent
Gruffen (2009)
Gauge (2008)
Glade (2009)
Grabber (2010)

The Erth Dragons
The Wearle (2015)
2. Dark Wyng (2016)
3. The New Age (2018)

The Last Dragon Chronicles with David Rain
The Fire Within (2001)
Icefire (2003)
3 Fire Star (2005)
4 The Fire Eternal (2007)
5 Dark Fire (2009)
6 Fire World (2011)
7 The Fire Ascending (2012)
Rain and Fire: A Guide to the Last Dragon Chronicles (2010)

The Unicorne Files
1 A Dark Inheritance (2014)
2 Alexander's Army (2015)
3 A Crown of Dragons (2016)

Fly, Cherokee Fly Series
Fly, Cherokee Fly
Pawnee Warrior

Other Books
Henry Spaloosh! 
Horace
Shrinking Ralph Perfect
The Snail Patrol
The Table Football League
Riverside United
Lofty
From E to You
Scupper Hargreaves, Football Genie
The Salt Pirates of Skegness
Falling for Mandy
The Prompter

Picture Books:
A Hole at the Pole
Juggling with Jeremy
A Break in the Chain
Read With Bubble and Float
Dexter's Journey
Frankin's Bear

Contributed to:
On Me ‘ead, Santa
Nice One, Santa
The Usborne Book of Christmas Stories
Heroes and Villains
In the Frame
Midnight Feast

Author Profile and Interview with Chris d'Lacey.





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