Cloud Busting
by Malorie Blackman
Interest age: 7+
Reading age: 8+
Published by Random House, 2005
About this book
Narrated in verse, Cloud Busting, which was shortlisted for the 2004 Nestlé Smarties Book Prize (age 6-8 category), is an exploration of an unlikely friendship between two very different boys. Sam is the Class Bully and he makes Davey, who is imaginative, instinctive - a born poet, in fact - the Class Idiot. But gradually a close relationship develops between them as Davey opens Sam's eyes to a whole new world: one that is alive with words, rhythm, music and colour, and the boys become Best Friends - but only in secret.
Sam's reluctance to acknowledge Davey and to protect his privacy has terrible consequences for them both. But in the bittersweet conclusion Sam realises that though he has lost Davey, he has also gained something incredibly precious.
About the author
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