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mumabear50's review
adventurous
funny
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Keen to read more by this author - Ross Welford! 👏👏
katykelly's review
5.0
From strength to strength - intelligent and thoughtful writing for young people that covers big issues.
From time travel and dead parents, to invisibility and bullying, now to a long life and issues of not dying.... Welford doesn’t shy away from offering primary and secondary readers a wealth of adult issues through pre-adolescent protagonists.
Like a juvenile ‘How to Stop Time’, Welford’s main character is not ageing (at all). He and his mother, in the times of Viking invasion, both used a mythical ‘pill’ that stopped them ageing, and barring accident - stopped them from dying.
Fast forward ten centuries and they continue to live on in the twenty-first century, and we pick up the story when Alfie meets two children curious about him and his isolated home in the woods.
With an exciting plot that sees a possible old enemy after Alfie, the book gives plenty of time over to letting Alfie tell us about his experiences and how he feels about living on past his natural lifespan.
I loved this, as I have with Welford’s previous two novels for children. It doesn’t talk down to the audience, these books always contain dark aspects (death and bereavement, loneliness and isolation). I did feel the lack of Alfie’s frustrations over never growing up (like Claudia, the young vampire in Interview with a Vampire), but for the audience, it wouldn’t be something they would consider as important.
Alfie talks like an old man in a boy’s body, he’s funny. His new friends Aidan and Roxie feel like real people with backstories and families. The story does become an adventure tale, and will be one book club members or students in school will want to come in and talk about.
One for ages 9 and above.
With thanks to Netgalley for the advance e-copy, sent for review purposes.
From time travel and dead parents, to invisibility and bullying, now to a long life and issues of not dying.... Welford doesn’t shy away from offering primary and secondary readers a wealth of adult issues through pre-adolescent protagonists.
Like a juvenile ‘How to Stop Time’, Welford’s main character is not ageing (at all). He and his mother, in the times of Viking invasion, both used a mythical ‘pill’ that stopped them ageing, and barring accident - stopped them from dying.
Fast forward ten centuries and they continue to live on in the twenty-first century, and we pick up the story when Alfie meets two children curious about him and his isolated home in the woods.
With an exciting plot that sees a possible old enemy after Alfie, the book gives plenty of time over to letting Alfie tell us about his experiences and how he feels about living on past his natural lifespan.
I loved this, as I have with Welford’s previous two novels for children. It doesn’t talk down to the audience, these books always contain dark aspects (death and bereavement, loneliness and isolation). I did feel the lack of Alfie’s frustrations over never growing up (like Claudia, the young vampire in Interview with a Vampire), but for the audience, it wouldn’t be something they would consider as important.
Alfie talks like an old man in a boy’s body, he’s funny. His new friends Aidan and Roxie feel like real people with backstories and families. The story does become an adventure tale, and will be one book club members or students in school will want to come in and talk about.
One for ages 9 and above.
With thanks to Netgalley for the advance e-copy, sent for review purposes.
char_s's review against another edition
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
lmb24's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
mollyj099's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
hopeful
informative
lighthearted
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
lc200's review against another edition
4.0
My son and I read this as his bedtime story. I finished it tonight, because I had to know what happened; I'll read him the end tomorrow. A beautiful story about friendship, with interesting historical overtones and an absolutely cracking plot.
pallavi_sharma87's review
5.0
5 stars
"The 1,000-year-old Boy" is a children's fantasy novel. The book tells the story of Alfie Monk, a boy who has lived for over 1,000 years because of a magical life pearl. He regrets taking it now. He wants to grow up. Alfie is forced to keep his age a secret and has to keep moving to avoid suspicion. He meets Aiden and Roxy Minto. And his life changes forever.
The plot is unique and imaginative, blending elements of fantasy and adventure seamlessly. The characters are well-developed. A very engaging and immersive read.
Happy Reading!
"The 1,000-year-old Boy" is a children's fantasy novel. The book tells the story of Alfie Monk, a boy who has lived for over 1,000 years because of a magical life pearl. He regrets taking it now. He wants to grow up. Alfie is forced to keep his age a secret and has to keep moving to avoid suspicion. He meets Aiden and Roxy Minto. And his life changes forever.
The plot is unique and imaginative, blending elements of fantasy and adventure seamlessly. The characters are well-developed. A very engaging and immersive read.
Happy Reading!
artisticbookworm's review
5.0
The 1,000-Year-Old Boy is a unique and fast-paced tale that kept me engaged. The chapters are short and the book splits between 2 points of views: Alfie, the main character and Aidan who is Alfie's friend. The characters are realistic, and my favourite is Roxy, a friend of Aidan and Alfie. She is confident and fun, and is not afraid to speak her mind.
terranovanz's review against another edition
3.0
A sweet story. but Alfie was frustratingly stupid. After 1000 years he should be smarter than this!