Lowly’s Book Blog

Does it sound awful if I said I had read this before? OK maybe not these words in this order, but I am sure I have read it many times before.

David McRobbie has been writing books for young adults longer than I have been working in libraries. His first Wayne series was ‘old’ in the 90s, and now suddenly Wayne Wilson is back.

The book is actually a collection of anecdotes about young Wayne Wilson’s daily life. No detail is too small or insignificant to be included. It is generally funny, warm and a very light read.

But my question is why? There are literally hundreds of this kind of book being written by very mediocre writers and published every year.

Is McRobbie trying to tie into the Boys and Reading trend? Well perhaps 10 or 12 stories about Wayne would have done. None of my reluctant readers would be seen opening a 400 page book. It simply is not in the image. Someone might think you were a nerd.

But then maybe there were some bills that needed paying, and revisiting an old friend in an old formula is a great way to publish quickly. Sorry McRobbie, but I have read much of your work that was far better.