Jack is determined to find his missing father and tracks him down to the seamy side of town and an underworld that has no place in modern society. A second thought-provoking book from this lively new author. A wonderfully original story to follow this author's debut as a children's author with Wipe Out. As in Wipe Out, the book follows a child through a difficult journey but humour and hope spreads through the novel, giving it that feel-good factor at the end. Jack decides to track down his father when his mother announces she is to re-marry. Jack is a bit of a geek --he's a whizz-kid into nutritional values of food and goes to a school for gifted children. It's this that introduces the element of humour to the novel, through his friendships at school with other equally gifted kids. During Jack's search, he befriends a homeless Big Issue seller, plus dog, and a Black soul singer. The two men try to dissuade Jack from finding his father, since they know he lives with the a 'no-good bunch of hobos' who live on the streets, funded by crime and even child abuse. Written in Mimi Thebo's distinctive voice, this second novel is sure to attract attention.

 

There are 160 pages in this book. This book was published 2004 by HarperCollins Publishers .

An American of Cajun descent, Mimi Thebo works as a lecturer at Bath Spa University, and is the author of several adult books. Mimi lives with her family aboard the Crinkly Starfish, a narrow boat on the River Avon. Jess Meserve is a designer and has recently started illustrating children's books. She lives in Canada.