Boy in the Tower - has anyone read it?

[MaCosta]

DS1 ordered this book with his book tokens and it arrived today. He is desperate to start it but I'm wondering whether it might be a bit intense. He's 9, nearly 10.

I might have to read it first but I don't really have the time!

I have and it's great.

It's quite dark though. The plot line is about a young boy who lives in a tower block with his mother who is agoraphobic. The area in which he lives is invaded by alien plant life and many of his friends and neighbours die.

The story does not deal with how the plants arrive etc. It concentrates on how the young boy copes with surviving and his relationship with his mother.

It's a mix of horror, Sci - fi and real life and is very well written (in fact it's just been shortlisted for the Waterstones Children's Book Prize). The content is aimed at 9-12 year olds but it does depend on the maturity of the child. If he's quite sensitive it might be worth leaving it for a bit.

Hope this helps.

Thanks that is really helpful. I think he will probably be ok, he is sensitive but is also mature for his age. He's read the Tripods series and is getting into sci-fi. I'll let him give it a go and see what he thinks!