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The Impossible Boy

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What to expect

Believe in the impossible this Christmas - a magical story celebrating the power of imagination, from the bestselling author of STORIES FOR BOYS WHO DARE TO BE DIFFERENT.

Oleg and Emma entered their den to find a cardboard spaceship standing exactly where they usually sat. Slowly, the front door opened and out stepped a boy.'My name's Sebastian Cole,' he said. 'But you already know that.'

When Oleg and Emma invent a new classmate called Sebastian, they are amazed when he appears - very much real - in their secret den.

Sebastian isn't like the rest of their classmates. He's never eaten pizza, he's not sure what goose bumps are, and he has a satchel that seems to hold an endless supply of hot ice cream.

But as the three friends begin their adventures, more impossible things keep happening, from a runaway goat at school to a sighting of some snowwomen on the move. They are soon pursued by the mysterious Institute of Unreality, who want to capture and erase Sebastian, to restore order to the world.

With the help of a cowboy gardener, an imprisoned scientist, and the rest of their class, can Emma and Oleg protect their new friend and keep the magic of the impossible alive, just in time for Christmas?

After inspiring countless young readers with tales of extraordinary people in the world around them, Ben Brooks' first children's novel is a magical adventure that celebrates friendship, the power of imagination, and ice cream.

Critics Review

A must read for all children (big and small) aged 7+ and to any who love a laugh out loud book that pushes all senses of the imagination to their limits. It is a masterpiece of creativity and empathy rolled into one big feelgood tale.
The Reading Zone
A fast-moving, quirky, adventure story.... Great fun!
Carousel
Brilliant, brilliant, brilliant.....A true gift for a reader
Just Imagine Website
A satisfying mix of quirky humour and all-action adventure in a tale about the power of friends
The Sunday Express S Magazine
A magical and festive adventure with an extraordinary cast of characters. It is full of empathy, friendship and fun.
South Wales Evening Post
A magical festive adventure celebrating the power of friendship and the imagination.
EVENT Magazine - The Daily Mail
This is an interesting story whose real value lies in the difficult subjects it touches on - broken homes, overcoming anxiety and facing an uncertain future being three of its central themes.
Publishers Association
This is an unusual, gripping story full of 'edge of the seat moments'.
Primary Times
It's one thing to invent a friend, quite another when he actually appears. With Sebastian around, impossible things keep happening, and the Institute of Unreality wants to know why.
The i newspaper
This is an interesting story whose real value lies in the difficult subjects it touches on - broken homes, overcoming anxiety and facing an uncertain future being three of its central themes. Brooks gently but effectively negotiates these subjects through a story that is quirky, amusing and fun.
Woman's Way
Author Ben Brooks, illustrated by George Ermos
Narrator Matt Addis
Duration 5 hours and 50 minutes
Release Date
ISBN 9781786541024
Format x-book®
Publisher Hachette Children's Group
Genre Children’s / Teenage fiction: Humorous stories, Children’s / Teenage personal and social topics: Friends and friendships
Availability AU, GB, IE, US

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