The Second Hand Boy

LoveReading4Kids Says

True-to-life and sprinkled with life-changing magic, Jennifer Lane’s The Second-Hand Boy sees a young carer overcome bullies and find his way in the world through friendship and living out his astronomical dreams. A sure-fire winner for readers who love books featuring books, it comes recommended for its empathetic portrayal of mental health struggles, loneliness, and the power of friendship.  

Billy’s life takes a downward turn when his only friend in the world moves away, leaving him at the mercy of school bullies, with no one to help him ease the burden of taking care of his mother, who “wasn’t like other mums”. That said, Mum loves Billy to the moon and back and tries to help him feel less alone by gifting him a second-hand copy of Tom’s Midnight Garden.   

After being drawn into the story, and enjoying the funny annotations made by its original owner, Billy finds himself pulled into a bizarre parallel universe in which he alone can see and hear someone special, though their identity remains a mystery for much of the book.   

At the same time, Billy befriends a bright star of a girl from his class and explores the idea of parallel universes in a special science project, for he longs for “a parallel universe in which anything was possible — people didn’t leave, or get ill, or have to stay in bed all day because they were sad. Why did these things happen in the real world?”   

While there are no easy answers or quick fixes to Billy’s big, poignant question, The Second-Hand Boy shows how recovery and happiness are possible through the darkest circumstances, not least when you find a friend, and follow your dreams.

Joanne Owen

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