Sometimes feeling bored is just the beginning…
Hi, I’m Milo, and right now I’m chasing $105 as it flies down my street. The wind is blowing it towards Evie Watson’s house, which is very bad news. It’s also making for some pretty awkward running.
My neighbours, Rocco, Luisa and Zak, must be laughing their heads off. And who knows what’s happening with the new kid next door. His name is Frog and he’s invented his own type of martial art, which he’s not very good at even though he made it up.
Finding this much money should have been a good thing, but it’s turning into a disaster!
Matt Stanton is a bestselling children’s author and illustrator. His middle-grade series Funny Kid debuted as the #1 Australian kids’ book and has legions of fans across the globe. He has also published bestselling picture books including There Is a Monster Under My Bed Who Farts, This Is a Ball and Pea + Nut! Now, Stanton is back with Bored, a hilarious new series about the complicated business of being a kid.
I’m a huge fan of Stanton’s Funny Kid and The Odds series, so I had high expectations for Milo Finds $105, and it did not disappoint. This novel has quickly become my favourite middle-grade read of the year so far. The story is simple yet keeps you on the edge of your seat.
A standout of the novel was how well Stanton could portray excitement and intrigue in the mundane. What starts off with Milo having a regular day, so bored that he is following an ant around, turns into an exciting adventure when he finds $105. The book then takes an interesting turn of events when everyone in his close-knit cul-de-sac suddenly has a claim on the cash.
Milo is an interesting, quirky protagonist who tugs right at your heartstrings. He seems somewhat anxious, with a yearning for his older brother who’s in the army. When we first meet Milo, he doesn’t have many friends but his blossoming relationship with his new neighbour, Frog, is a heartfelt representation of friendship, courage and staying true to yourself.
Ideal for middle-grade readers aged 8+, Stanton includes a small introduction to each of the residents in the Turtle Place cul-de-sac, told in Milo’s voice. It’s a clever way to introduce the readers to each character and to Milo as a protagonist. The chapters’ short and punchy style will also appeal to reluctant readers.
This page-turning and hilarious new series is an instant standout, and I can’t wait to see where the cul-de-sac’s adventures will lead in book #2… the backmatter reveals that it will be Frog telling the story next!
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