Word Nerd

When Ambrose Bukowski's over-anxious mum decides to home-school him, it means her working every evening and leaving 12-year-old Ambrose to his own devices.

Lonely and bored, Ambrose seeks out the company of his Greek landlords and their son Cosmo - who Ambrose gets to drive him secretly to a Scrabble club every week.

To protect his mum from worrying, he ends up telling her a series of lies that get completely out of control.

Ambrose's voice is so authentic, endearing, kind and deliciously funny that he is totally believable. Readers will be swept up in his story and rooting for his success.

One of those books that makes you sob heartily because it's ended - and packed full of lessons on why you should be yourself.

There is a minor amount of pretty innocent sexual content (noticing another character's big boobs and having an untimely pre-teen erection), but nothing that it is going to shock most children aged 10 and over.