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The Super Miraculous Journey of Freddie Yates

Jenny Pearson

Usborne Publishing Ltd

ISBN 9781474974042

Freddie Yates likes facts. Just not the one staring him in the face - that his secret plan is not, in fact, secret. Because Freddie's journey wasn't meant to involve Big Trev and the onion-eating competition or the loo-exploding pear-and-potato turnovers. And Freddie definitely didn't expect to end up, with his two best friends, on national television in a supergirl costume. But journeys never take you where you think they will. And for Freddie, that fact might just have to be enough... The super funny, heart-warming adventure of three boys, one summer holiday, and a few miracles along the way.

The first children's fiction book written by teacher Jenny Pearson is a fabulous story of family and friendship.

The Super Miraculous Journey of Freddie Yates is a truly heart warming and hilarious story of three boys on the adventure of a lifetime across Wales. I have to point out here, Freddie and his pals all live in Andover, which is where the story starts. As someone who lives and works not far from here, it made this book particularly special.

Having lost his mum when he was much younger, when Freddie's Gram dies unexpectedly, it leaves just Freddie and his Dad. However much Freddie may love his Dad, his Dad is currently 'laid up' with a broken leg and at the best of times seems lost in his own grief. So when Freddie finds out that his Dad is not his 'real' Dad, he recruits his best friends to go on a journey in search of his biological father, Alan Froggley (who abandoned his mother before Fred was born).

This brilliantly engaging story will have you laughing out loud while the tears stream down your face. Onion eating contests, compromising clothing issues, valuable heirlooms, naked scarecrows and superhero miracles. This story makes for a highly entertaining read, while tearing at heart strings as it explores the importance of family, friendships, and understanding that it is those things we sometimes take for granted that really matter.

This is definitely a must-read for younger readers who love funny books or anyone with a good sense of humour. An ideal book for for a class read aloud or whole class discussion text, it will no doubt be flying off the shelf in any lower KS2 (middle grade) classroom.

304 pages / Ages 8+ / Reviewed by Sam Phillips, teacher

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