![]() ![]() ![]() There were moments when I sniggered aloud – particularly at the reaction of the human scientists when they realise there is actually a spaceship headed their way. If I have any grizzles, I felt Terra was just a bit too calm and up together, given that she is always the exception and oddity – but it wasn’t a dealbreaker. It isn’t a long book and the pace motors along at a good clip, which is what you want for younger readers. What caught me was the poignant passage about Mr and Mrs Bradbury right at the start of this book, which contrasted starkly with Lbbp’s take on what is going on, and leads to him taking the baby home with him. That goes for adults as well as children. I think that fiction is very good at demonstrating that the world is frequently a violent, messy, unjust place to be – and maybe offering some coping strategies, or clear warnings. And it doesn’t necessarily offer any comforting answers, which is fine by me. This is far from being a cosy read – it deals very directly with prejudice on all sorts of levels, guilt, regret and loss. But it is also shot through with a wry humour, which is handy in diffusing the horror of some of the more shocking scenes in this book. I enjoyed Benn’s writing style, which is direct and confiding with slices of omniscient viewpoint, which tends to happen in children’s fiction. ![]()
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