When I met Portico in Stuntboy In The Meantime, he was developing his skills as the newest superhero in the building, alongside his best-friend, Zola. Whilst his parents fought over their belongings in their divorce, Zola helped Portico with his frets.
In book 2, Stuntboy In-Between Time, Portico has been living in his mum's new apartment for 6 days but has to spend the following night at his father's apartment two floors below. The whole thing seems to be bringing Protoco's frets to his dreams as well as his waking life. He is supposed to head straight to his dad's place but gets diverted by Zola and their new friend, Herbert. When Herbert tells them he's found an empty apartment on the top floor that's open and they head up and it proves to be the perfect hangout for them. But can the apartment prove a big enough distraction for Stuntboy?
Like book 1, In-Between Time was funny and a great read; I loved the combination of illustrations/graphic novel style that married perfectly with the written story (as do the commercial breaks which I loved!). The plot is fast-paced and engaging as well as visually a joy to look at which I know will appeal to readers; it would be especially good for those who find novels more daunting.
In amongst the humour in both books, there are strong messages about issues that children regularly face: anxiety, parental separation, friendships and bullying. It is clear that both Jason and Raúl understand what many children experience and have been able to write this in a relatable way that will allow children to know they are not alone. They wrap the issues into the comedy so that readers will absorb the messages without realising they are doing so.
Stuntboy In-Between Time is a captivating read about a character that every child needs in their lives.
No comments:
Post a Comment