The Double Life of Ted Amos

Edward Amos is in Year 7 and unfortunately he is known as ‘Bin Juice Boy’ to all but one person – his friend Archie. Together, they dress up in Star Wars outfits, hang out, and write each other silly notes. But everyone else bullies Edward.

So when Edward's parents split up and he goes to his dad’s house at weekends, it’s a chance to reinvent himself. Goodbye, Edward, hello Ted. Ted is cool. Ted is in a band. Ted does triathlons... Ted is telling a lot of lies to a lot of people.

But what happens when his new cool friends – and worst of all, Archie – discover he’s been lying to them all? 

This is funny and real. Readers in both primary and secondary will recognise the pressure to be ‘cool’ and the longing to stop any bullying. The situations Ted gets himself into are funny and embarrassing, but he is ultimately a normal, relatable kid.

As with all of Simon James Green’s novels, there are excellent life messages woven throughout the hilarious, very readable narrative. This life-affirming story is about working out who you are, and also shows the importance of being yourself, despite the haters.