Finn's Epic Fails - Phil Earle

Finn is eleven and is trying desperately to navigate life without too much embarrassement; however, he doesn't factor in his siblings, his lycra-loving father, school and his teachers into this equation. With only his friends Google and Laszlo for support, can Finn successfully navigate Year 7 without too many epic fails?

Phil Earle is a master when it comes to writing gripping war-based novels and his books are hugely popular in school (as well as with me!). Finn's Epic Fails is a very different genre but definitely shows Phil's diversity as a writer. From the start, the book is laugh out loud funny (that first scene in the school swimming pool had me howling!) and the laughs just keep coming. 

The fail-o-meter at the start of each chapter gives you a hint as to how how disiasterous the event is going to be for Finn who is a brilliant character that readers will be able to relate to.  The middle child, he is battling a younger and an elder sibling, both with their own unique ways to torment him. Elder brother Jonah seems to love himself as much as he hates Finn, and will do anything to make life miserable for him (sharing a room together just adds to Finn's misery!).  Younger sister Maisie seems to like Finn ... but loves unicorns far more and will do anything to make her life more unicornified (clearly not a real word but it seems to fit!). Then you add in Finn's dad whose love of cycling since the divorce has lead to a worrying obsession with lycra ... poor Finn doesn't stand a chance!

This is a chatty, first person novel that is a whole heap of entertaining.  Phil's observations on school life had me giggling away to myself ... I just hope they don't give any of the students at my school any ideas!

With a diary-style font and illustrations by Al Murphy which perfectly compliment the plot, Finn's Epic Fails is a book that is going to be hugely popular. Publishing 29th January, it's going to be the perfect pick-me-up for those January blues when the weather is grey and miserable.  The start of a new series, I'm already excited to see what's in store next for Finn.