Review

Oswald and the End of the World

By Andrew Strong

Published by Scholastic

Oswald lives a vagabond life with his wayward, portent-seeing father. Hauled from the sea the pair arrive on the island of Idlegreen, where life is lived on near-feudal lines – dominated by the powerful, buffoonish, thieving Judge Butterworth.

Oswald's arrival coincides with a comet in the sky and his father foretells the end of the world. Some think Oswald is Idlegreen's saviour, but Oswald struggles to keep such superstition at bay and rely on facts.

This is a refreshing, entertaining, original story. Several themes flit temptingly through the book, but this is a story to be enjoyed straight – for its fully realised world peopled by appealing and memorable eccentrics.

The portrayal of Oswald's amusing, tender and exasperating relationships with the islanders and his father, is also enjoyable.

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Reading age: 8+
Interest level: 8+