Review Blog

Jun 15 2012

Doctor Proctor's fart powder: The end of the world Maybe by Jo Nesbo

Simon and Schuster, 2012. ISBN 978-0-85707-389-1.
(Age 8-11) Recommended. This is the third book in the Doctor Proctor Fart Powder series and any title that contains the word fart will have an appeal to the younger audience. Jo Nesbo is certainly having fun writing these stories, a far cry from his dark murders.
Doctor Proctor has invented a fart powder which when swallowed can give the consumer a rocket type lift off which comes in handy when you need to escape or arrive somewhere very fast. The diminutive red headed Nilly and trombone playing Lisa are the Doctor's friends. They work as a team trying to solve the puzzle of the invasion of the fearful moon chameleons, creatures that can take on any shape and love to eat humans.
The story is set in Oslo, Norway and contains lots of local references and funny word play such as the Norovision Choral Throwdown, (Eurovision) BABA (ABBA) and De Beetels (The Beatles). I'm not sure children will understand all of these but it won't affect their enjoyment of the book.
It is a long read, 458 pages and I lost interest well before the end of the story but I am not the intended audience.
The books have bright and eye-catching covers and will appeal to children 8 to 11 years old who have reading stamina.
Jane Moore