A Boy, a Bubble and a Whole Lot of Trouble by LM Jesse
Bubble gum. What kid doesn’t love a bubble gum contest? And what if the prize for winning the contest was a new mountain bike? This is the very simple idea for a gently humourous book.
Terry Gatsby is proud of his bubblegum blowing skill. And he figures that with a week’s regular practice he can win this contest easily. However, his father has other ideas, and when the bubblegum ban is proclaimed, Terry is devastated. (And you have to laugh at the restaurant scene that precedes the ban.)
Enter Eleanor and her magic bubblegum. Terry discovers that when he blows a bubble with these gumballs any wish he makes is instantly granted. First lesson, be careful what you wish for. Second lesson, plan your wishes and don’t get carried away. Third lesson, sometimes winning isn’t the most important thing.
Learning is never easy, and this book is filled with funny ‘learning’ experiences for Terry. The humour is much more gentle than the slapstick of Paul Jennings or Andy Griffiths. Terry gets himself into trouble, but then has to successfuly extricate himself. The bubbles also put him into some situations where he needs to make important decisions, so the book isn’t completely silliness.
I have never heard of Lola Jesse as a children’s author, and I can find no reference to her on the web, so I will make the assumption that this is her first novel. But here I believe she has created a gentle read that may never win any prizes or awards, but it will amuse children everywhere.
