Raz Beri

Billy is beyond excited when new classmate Mia reveals that her uncle is his footballing hero Danny Cash. What’s more, Danny has agreed to visit their school.

But on the day, class bullies ambush Billy, nearly preventing him from meeting his idol. Then, to top it all, Billy is disillusioned to discover that his hero is actually far from likable.   

Billy (who has cerebral palsy) and Mia are both wheelchair-users. This humorous yet hard-hitting book highlights some of the prejudice and inequality that still exists amongst individuals, schools and society.

Particularly nasty are the disability-related terms of abuse used by the bullies, vile insults that are hopefully very much disappearing (or being reclaimed, as Billy does here). Almost as uncomfortable as the physical and verbal bullying is the indirect discrimination we see – and people who insist on trying to ‘help’ Billy or coo over him as though he’s a cute pet.

However, the discomfort is cleverly balanced out by Billy’s wonderfully wise and witty commentary on events. And the reader will delight in witnessing Billy’s triumph over the bullies and his blossoming friendship with the delightfully outspoken Mia.