“A funny, tender, poignant debut with a believable,sympathetic protagonist.” - The Guardian“Tender, truthful and touching.”- The Times“A really lovely book,so tender and truthful.” - Jacqueline Wilson, bestsellingauthor of The Story of Tracy Beaker“Foxwrites with great warmth and humour: his triumphis to turn this story of modern domestic strife into an upliftingread, with plenty of surprises en route.” - Daily Telegraph“An urgent, nuanced book...[James Fox writesa] deceptively breezy tale of austerity and mental illness withdeft compassion; would that real kids in Solo's battered shoe shouldbe so lucky” - Observer“Addressingcomplex real-world issues (the cost-of-livingcrisis, mental health, friendship problems...) with honesty, clarityand compassion.” - Teach Primary“Expectto have your heart broken and mended in onereading of this must-read novel.” - Belfast Telegraph“Atender, moving story beautifullycapturing life in all its light and shade” - HannahGold, author of Waterstones Children's Book Prize Winner TheLast Bear“It is a beautiful, heartfeltgem of a book, I loved it.” - Tom Vaughan, authorof Hercules“This story is fullto the brim with heart” - Helen Rutter, author of TheBoy Who Made Everyone Laugh“Honest, funny and touching, Solo's story willstay with you long after the last page.” - Lisa Williamson“Amoving...and thought-provokingstory” - Cath Howe, author of Ella on the Outside“Heart-wrenching and heart-warming.”- Editor's choice, The School LibrarianIt's not easy to fit in when you're the boy in the suit...Ten-year-old Solo - embarrassingly, that isn't short for anything- just wants to be normal.He wants a name that doesn't stand out. He wishes he had a properschool uniform that fitted him. He dreams about a mumwho doesn't get the Big Bad Reds, like his mumMorag.But most of all he longs to stop crashing funerals for the freefood.But when Solo and Morag crash the funeral of a celebrity and getcaught, the press are there to witness their humiliation. Thenext day it's splashed across the papers. Before Solo knows it, hebecomes a viral sensation, and life may neverbe normal again.Solo's uphill pursuit of security, community and connection willbreak your heart and then mend it. Page-turning, moving, but ultimately life-affirming, this storyis perfect for fans of The Boy at the Back of the Class, TheGoldfish Boy, Wonder and Jacqueline Wilson.A sensitive, empathetic, timely portrayal of a family strugglingduring the cost of living crisis.This extraordinary debut will make you laugh and cry.
