BobLand by Matt Lucas

Which middle schoolers don't adore theme parks?  Better yet, who doesn’t like an underdog to succeed despite never being truly included by a single other person - other than the unconditional love of his own family?

Enter Bob. Bob is a contender in his own way for the sublime protagonist contest of children’s literature – think of Diamond in George McDonald’s At the  Back of the North Wind or Charlie made famous by Dahl’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.  Bob is continually knocked down until we readers can no longer bear his misery. He hasn't once experienced the exhilaration of the local theme park before he is banned for life. 

At his lowest point, of course there’s a breakthrough driven by those who know him best. The Grubb family band together to build a theme park in Grandpa’s scrap yard behind the house. Soon they are joined by school chums, whose own status and opportunities have also been stifled. The villains are the anointed town millionaire and current theme park owner, Arthur Happey and his equally obnoxious granddaughter and school bully, Maisie.

Luckily in his loneliness, Bob drew dozens of blueprints for theme park rides and it is from this creative resource and a bottomless well of resilience that "Bob Land" quickly takes shape.  Along the way, the neighbouring Happey World owned by the Happey family and priced beyond the reach of working families, becomes so threatened and vindictive they try to destroy Bob’s dream – several times in fact. However Bob has the uncanny ability to flip any situation and soldier on, which only frustrates greedy Arthur Happey more. There’s never a dull moment with sabotage, kidnapping, impersonation, a royal visit and an old family secret brought to light.

Scrapbooked by letters, tickets, cartoons and several illustrations, Benona Fernades Corbalan provides visual information of plans, action objects and the characters themselves.  Bob has an inexhaustible well of thrilling theme park ride designs. Not only is Matt Lucas’ dialogue believable but he’s left space for readers to design their own rides.  Phil & Linda (Bob's parents), Miss Taneja, Laszlo, Jayden and Jordan and Max the dog; all have specific skills and endless work ethic to co-create Bob Land. Will it be enough to negotiate a truce with the Happey dynasty.  This story has everything middle schoolers relish.   218p. 

Themes: School, Family, Friendships, Perseverance, Recreation, Bullying, Crime.

Deborah Robins