Exchange
By Paul Magrs
Published by Simon and Schuster Children's Books
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Children's Book review
Recently bereaved Simon lives with his Grandparents in a small bungalow crammed with books2. He and his Gran are great readers, relishing the escapism that stories bring to their ordinary lives. One day Simon and his Gran discover The Great Big Book Exchange, a treasure trove of books2, which members can buy then exchange once they are finished. They are seduced by the Exchange and all that it offers; befriending the people that work there, little knowing it will change their lives. Simon's Grandfather is suspicious of his family's attachment to the Exchange and hates the "dirty old books2" that they bring home. Soon his anger reaches boiling point and he extracts a terrible revenge. A tale of the power of reading, and a reminder that it is the story rather than the book itself that matters most.
Reading age: 11+
Interest level: 12+
