Books for Keeps. Imagine being called Pablo by your art-crazed, culturally aloof and snobbish parents. No wonder our hero underhandedly sneaks off to his 'normal' mates' houses to eat fast food and watch rubbish TV programmes. His parents find his lack of artistic promise a grave disappointment, little knowing that their son can draw cartoons that predict the future, which is the very thing that leads to his kidnap to Spain by some keen followers of horse racing!
This is a fast, truly amusing read and Pablo a most engaging character. The other characters around him are suitably cartoonish and events unfold a little bit surreally like the best animations.
I plan to get it into the hands of as many fun-read lovers as possible. DB
Amanda Craig's Children's Books for Easter, The Times. Fiona Dunbar's fourth novel, is a comedy about a boy who discovers that he can predict the future when he draws cartoons. Pablo (named after Picasso) has a superbly pretentious pair of artist parents, straight out of Private Eye's It's Grim Up North London. But Pablo's talent causes him to be kidnapped by gangsters bent on a bookmaking scam, and he needs brains and luck to escape alone across Spain to safety. Fresh, funny and captivating, it is a really stimulating read for 11+
'Crazy Madcap Fun', Amazon reader's review. Pablo has a really unusual family - but that's not always a good thing, as Pablo knows. His parents are artists and are convinced their son will be too, if only he can 'unblock his juice box'. Unfortunately for them, Pablo's talent turns out to be something slightly less Damien Hirst and slightly more Jim Davis - he can draw cartoons.
Only somehow, Pablo's cartoons predict the future. Don't ask him how - I mean, did he ask for this? But before too long (and it does all happen very quickly) Pablo realises he hasn't been very discreet about his new clairvoyant talent, and he's kidnapped and bundled off to Spain, where some nasty men want him to predict the winners of horse races.
My favourite bits of the story were when Pablo's cartoons (which are included in the book) started to come true - I liked trying to guess what the cartoons were going to mean. I also loved the narrative voice - Pablo isn't stupid but he's endearingly naive, and towards the end you know he's in trouble when he starts talking to his favourite cartoon character, which pops up offering sage advice whilst munching on various bits of food.
Needless to say, this is not a serious book at all (unless you want to read something into it about parents allowing their children to develop their own talents) and is mad, silly, escapist fun. And what's wrong with that?
If you loved the racing Minis in The Italian Job, the humour in this book will definitely appeal to you. Kids will love it.
