A hilarious, touching and extraordinary new fable from the author of The Boy in the Dress and Mr Stink. Joe has a lot of reasons to be happy. About a billion of them, in fact. You see, Joe's rich. Really, really rich. Joe's got his own bowling alley, his own cinema, even his own butler who is also an orangutan. He's the wealthiest twelve-year-old in the land. But Joe isn't happy. Why not? Because he's got a billion pounds! and not a single friend. But then someone comes along, someone who likes Joe for Joe, not for his money. The problem is, Joe's about to learn that when money is involved, nothing is what it seems. The best things in life are free, they say -- and if Joe's not careful, he's going to lose them all!
Money can buy you happiness... or can it??? This is the latest book by David Walliams and he has written another cracker! I loved it, full of humour but still had an important message to give its readers.
The first thing i noticed about this book was the change of illustrator. Quentin Crisp illustrated the first two books but this latest book is illustrated by Tony Ross. The illustrations are just as good though.
The main character in the book is Joe Spud, son of Mr Spud, the man who invented and manufactured 'Freshbum' and made his billions. Joe wanted for nothing, top school, expensive presents, his own racetrack with his own formula one racing car. Except Joe did, he wanted love and attention and to be able to go about his every day life where no one knew he was the son of a billionaire.
Joe transferred to the local comprehensive school and enjoyed the anonymity, which lasted until his father used his private helicopter to drop Joe's forgotten homework into school for him. As soon as the school realised who Joe really was, he was being asked for money constantly. However, Joe made another mistake, thinking he could buy his friends friendship, to stop bullies, to make friends and to clear up any problems with people. Mr Spud also used to money to solve problems, to hire friends for a party, to get a teacher who put Joe on litter duty the sack and to buy an actress to be Joe's new best friend.
However, the end of the story showed them both the error of their ways.
I really enjoyed this book and found it a great read. The book is geared towards the 9+ readers and I think children of this age will love it. It will give them the message that money isn't everything.
Walliam's style of writing is one which is very like him. The book is full of humour and wit as well as humorous lists of lists of lessons at Joe's posh school and a list of names teachers should not have!
I thoroughly recommend it to adults and children who want a light read along with a few giggles.
Thank you to Michael from MyChild forum for sending me this book to review.
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