A warm, whimsical and imaginative tale of an unusual little boy struggling to be accepted for his differences, by the bestselling author of The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas.
There's nothing unusual about the Brockets. Boring, respectable and fiercely proud of it, Alistair and Eleanor Brocket turn up their noses at anyone strange or different. But from the moment Barnaby Brocket comes into the world, it's clear he's anything but normal. To the horror and shame of his parents, Barnaby appears to defy the laws of gravity - and floats.
Little Barnaby is a lonely child - after all, it's hard to make friends when you're three feet in the air. Desperate to please his parents, he does his best to stop floating, but he just can't do it. Then, one fateful day, Barnaby's mother decides enough is enough. She never asked for a weird, abnormal, floating child. She's sick and tired of the newspapers prying and the neighbours gossiping. Barnaby has to go . . .
Betrayed, frightened and alone, Barnaby floats into the path of a very special hot air balloon. And so begins a magical journey around the world; from South America to New York, Canada to Ireland, and even a trip into space, Barnaby meets a cast of truly extraordinary new friends and realises that nothing can make you happier than just being yourself.
A funny, inventive and warm-hearted story from the internationally bestselling author of The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas.
About the Author
John Boyne was born in Ireland and is the author of seven novels for adults and three for children. His first novel for children, The Boy In The Striped Pyjamas, won two Irish Book Awards, was shortlisted for the British Book Award and was made into a film. His novels are published in over 40 languages. Oliver Jeffers is an internationally acclaimed author/illustrator. His first picture book, How to Catch a Star was published in 2004. Since then he has created a further five picture books to much critical acclaim. He has won the Irish Book Award (where he first met John), the Blue Peter Book of the Year and the Nestle Children's Book Prize as well as a host of shortlistings, including the prestigious Kate Greenaway Medal.
Industry Reviews
"Mr and Mrs Brocket live an obsessively normal life in Sydney - until their third child, Barnaby, is born. Because Barnaby floats, like a helium-filled balloon, unless he is weighted down. Embarrassed and frustrated by their son's inability to be normal, they cut him loose at the age of eight, and Barnaby floats away on a series of adventures ... Boyne's previous children's novels (The Boy In The Striped Pyjamas, Noah Barleywater Runs Away) have dealt with serious, life-changing themes and his deftness of touch is equally evident in this uplifting celebration of otherness" -- Sally Morris Daily Mail "Delightfully quirky ... with a delightful cast of characters, this books celebrates and acknowledges difference" -- Vanessa Lewis The Bookseller 20120525 "It's unashamedly and often delightfully whimsical. It's lovely to look at ... It has much of the pell-mell what-the-hell-happens-nextness of Dahl and Ibbotson" -- Mal Peet Guardian "A whimsical, warm-hearted adventure ... beautifully illustrated by Oliver Jeffers" -- Fiona Noble The Bookseller 20120525 "This funny, warm, but poignant story has a thought-provoking message about the importance of accepting difference and being true to yourself. Barnaby makes for a hugely likeable hero, and this story is full of fantastic characters, from eccentric contemporary artists to a villainous ringmaster to Barnaby's beloved dog, Captain W E Johns. Booklovers will enjoy spotting the numerous references to books from Heidi to Around the World in 80 Days in a book which is in part a tribute to the power of the imagination. Surreal and quirky in the tradition of children's writers like Roald Dahl, there are some moments of darkness here too, but although the final resolution is bittersweet, this is ultimately a deeply uplifting story. Oliver Jeffers' beautiful illustrations add the perfect finishing touch" Booktrust
