That's something about the book that I found really interesting. In England, a nineteen-year-old can buy beer for kids. In England, a nineteen-year-old is seen as an adult. In America, some things that happen in the story would never be able to happen simply because of the difference in the way Americans versus the British see teenagers. It's really a question of what a kid is, what an adult is, when that change happens, and who has the right to say when it is. Aunt Toni obviously feels that Billy is not quite an adult yet, but Billy feels he is, and the courts don't dismiss him right off the bat, so they at least consider the option that he could be a responsible adult. That's part of why the book is sort-of New Adult, sort of just plain adult, because Billy acts like an adult but thinks like a teenager most of the time. I don't think the question is answered in the book, it's just an interesting thing to think about. Whilst the tag for the book claims it is funny, bittersweet, unforgettable; a story of grief, resilience and brotherly love, that is not the whole story. It is probably the most intriguing book I’ve read in a long time. Put it at the very top of your ‘to read’ list. Billy begins to think that the best way to deal with things – the bills, the threats of custody hearings and concerns about Oscar’s wellbeing, is to just ignore it all and it will all go away soon enough. But that method doesn’t seem to be working very well and the stress begins to wear him down. It doesn’t help that he sees the face of his mother’s killer everywhere he goes, staring at him from across the street, approaching him in men’s rooms. Obsessed with finding him and having him caught, Billy is beginning to let go of the things that are really important. You could win a fantastic holiday to Kos, courtesy of Neutradol, the fresh air specialists with a product for every smelly situation.

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are up to date when entering our online competitions. You can update this in the account details section when Lonely Planet KIDS The Bird Atlas - Take to the skies and meet the world’s most amazing birds, navigate across the continents using detailed maps to discover birds of prey, birds of paradise, aquatic birds and more. With fun lift-the-flaps offering kids an immersive experience, revealing surprises, wow-factor facts, and a fascinating glimpse into the lives of feathered friends. Lonely Planet KIDS The Maps Book - Explore the amazing world of maps from the first sketches on cave walls to real time maps on phones. A great way for kids to marvel at ancient maps, weather maps and even interactive maps from computer games. The story is about a young men named Billy and his 7 year old brother Oscar. Their mother was murdered because of a robbery gone wrong. Billy is the narrator of the book and we follow him through his live after the murder. He must be both mother and father to Oscar. Slowly he becomes obsessed with his mum’s killer. The two brothers live becomes a mess with only watching films and playing games. The food they eat is only take away food. When well-meaning relatives, teachers, and others question Billy’s ability to care for his little brother, he must show he can take care for Oscar.

At home it can’t always feel as refreshing as being on holiday. Unpleasant smells can linger and even professional cleaning may not shift the bacteria that cause them. Covering them up with a cosmetic air freshener, that’s full of unpleasant chemicals, is not the answer.throughout the story there is one person who brings a lot of happiness. Oscar (Billy's younger brother) shows us that whatever happens in your life you can still go forward and keep enjoying the good things. In Billy Smith May has created an authentic and utterly believable character, emotionally flawed and occasionally almost psychotic. At the outset Billy is ill-equipped to deal with the care of Oscar, his younger brother, as they both try to come to terms with their Mother’s murder. But Billy knows that Oscar is relying on him and that he needs to shape up, despite the fact that his own life isn’t exactly working out. Without wanting to give too much away, the fact that the book is in first person from Billy’s POV is used very well in misdirection. His history of Aidan Jebb, the boy who killed their mother, is convincing, and there are times when we are not sure whether we are seeing reality of some drug-induced hallucination. Billy isn’t sure, either, so I appreciate that’s the point. There are a couple of places, though, where I’m still unsure whether the misdirection is deliberate or not. For example, the bit where Billy’s attempted girlfriend Lucy is reading AA Milne to Oscar, Billy considers that a poem like that telling the story of James James Morrison Morrison wouldn’t be tolerated today, as it’s about child abduction. The thing is, of course, that it’s not about that at all (it is James James Morrison Morrison’s mother who disappears, not the boy himself), which leaves me unsure about whether it’s Billy or the author who is making this mistake. To celebrate Lonely Planet’s 50th Birthday you have the chance to win a bundle of new releases before anyone else.