Beetle Boy by M.G. Leonard

Sometime after Christmas I was searching the bookshelves in Waterstones, Christmas gift card in hand. I enjoy reading and sometimes read 'adult' books just for me, but mostly I read children’s books. This is because as a teacher I like to keep up to date with new books, as well as discovering well established books, so that I can recommend books to pupils in my class that I know they will like. So unsurprisingly I was searching the children’s section.

This books Beetle Boy by M.G. Leonard just jumped out at me. I love the cover and the way the page edges are coloured to show bugs crawling up the outside of the book. It was on a stand being promoted at Waterstones recommended read. I had a read of the blurb (bit on the back cover) and then the first page. It made it straight into the 'buy it/ coming home with me' pile, under my arm.

It's been a little while since I've written on this blog, but I was thinking it can be hard to find out about 'new' books. I say 'new' because it doesn’t have to be published recently to be 'new' but instead just 'new' to you. I thought it might therefore be useful to write little reviews of books I've read to share with others. So, here's what I think of Beetle Boy:
I think boys in particular will love this book, that’s not to say girls won't to because I think lots of them would love it, as there is an almost equal balance of male to female characters.

Age Range: KS2 mostly I think.
Themes: Bugs, friends, science, investigation and mystery.
Publisher: Chicken House Ltd
Published: 2016
Break Down: 24 Chapters, ranging from about 7 pages to about 20 pages. Good font size making it easy to read. 318 pages, including an Entomologists Dictionary.Brief synopsis: The main character is Darkus, a 13-year-old boy who lives with his dad after the loss of his mum several years earlier. One day his dad, a scientist, goes missing and Darkus is sent to live with his Uncle. No one can figure out what has happened to Darkus' father or even how he might have disappeared. Darkus isn't about to sit back and accept his father’s disappearance.
Without giving too much away, the story involves; a surprise discovery, some pretty awesome and talented beetles and one scary scientist lady.

This is definitely one I will be keeping on the bookshelf as I'm sure my pupils will love it.