Siggy and Amber by Doug MacLeod

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Puffin, 2009. ISBN 9780143304388.
(Age 13+) Recommended. Siggy wants to meet a girl who he hopes will be 'smart and amazing.And funny and probably not blonde.' At a dance at the Samsara Youth Club, he meets Amber, who may be the girl of his dreams. However he vomits on her shoes and he decides that the only way he might get to know her after that fiasco is to take her ghost hunting. He has seen something strange at Tallis Point and wants to investigate.
The book is peopled with a wide array of unusual characters all of whom add to the fun of the story. There is Siggy's friend Fergus who leads a double life as Highland Dancing Man, a sister who makes sculptures out of bits of shrapnel, a shop owner who sells vampire costumes and finally Amber who lives with her two mums and who has goldfish. Add to that witty dialogue that is side-splitting and you have a book that is sure to appeal to everyone who picks it up.
If you are after a humorous book for your library then this would make a delightful addition. It would also be a great read aloud and would be sure to engage reluctant readers.
Pat Pledger

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