The Bubble Wrap Boy

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His first job was as a care worker in a children's home, which inspired him to train as a drama therapist.

After a couple of years in the care sector, Phil chose the more sedate lifestyle of a bookseller and now spends his time writing children's books as well as selling them for a publisher. Phil lives on a hill in south-east London with his family, and writes on the bus to work. No one has used this as an excuse to pinch his laptop.

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The Bubble Wrap Boy

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Who HQ and Jim Gigliotti. Jim Gigliotti and Who HQ. Soul Looks Back in Wonder. Save Queen of Sheba. Pigs Aplenty, Pigs Galore! Judith Byron Schachner and Judy Schachner. Mirette on the High Wire. As an exception there isn't any love-story in this YA book. The relations are between Charlie and his parents, and between Charlie and his only friend, Sinus.

The second relation maybe the more interesting in my point of view.

The story is What I prefered in this book was the sens of humor, given by the author to his main character, Charlie. The story is good, funny and wise, but a bit too much evident and educational for my adult tastes. I also had some difficulties with the sunny disposition of Charlie. He's frequently saying that his life is hard, and from the reader point of view, it really is, but he never seems really affected. I don't say that he should have cried and anguished more about his life, just showed more depths.

I also couldn't believe that Charlie, who's easy going, clever and fun, didn't have any friend just because of his shortness. His winning personality should have have get him some friends as all pupils can't have been such jerks. Another point made me fret a little: For instance Charlie goes as school but he never seems to have classes really, this part of his life is a blur. As another example apart from Simus and briefly two older boys, there aren't any individuals at school. The pupils and teachers are just a concept, acting as a whole. Nothing really important in itself, but it gave me the impression of a theatrical setting more than a realistic one.

But I'm splitting hairs, as usual! A very good read: His mother is very overprotective and won't let him do anything. Needless to say, Charlie's newfound love of skateboarding would not meet Mom approval so he hides it from her. He soon learns that his mother has been hiding one heck of a secret from him. Will the discovery of secrets bring this family closer together or tear them apart? This is an excellent book for middle schoolers. I received this book from the Amazon Vine program in exchange for a honest review. Dec 27, Michelle Fluttering Butterflies rated it really liked it Shelves: I thought it was fun, funny and also really emotional and heart-wrenching.

I've been a fan of Phil Earle's right from the beginning and even aimed at a slightly younger audience and with less edgy content, this is still an incredible book filled with characters and relationships that I really connected to on an emotional level. I started this book, I have to admit, a little bit unsure. The other three books I'd read by Phil Earle have all been favourites of mine and they've all been pretty serious and emotional books.

The Bubble Wrap Boy, by Phil Earle: review

And I heard this book was meant to be more funny rather than edgy and I was feeling less confident in this change of direction. I was silly to worry. Because the same beautiful writing style and great voice that accompanied the author's previous books is still present and shining throughout The Bubble Wrap Boy. This is Charlie Han's story, this small teenage boy who is a bit clumsy and kind of an outsider who is slightly smothered by his well-meaning but over-protective mother.

Charlie's mother is a character who at first seemed really over the top and kind of a caricature of a mother and I really couldn't help but laugh at the extreme lengths she goes towards keeping her child safe, especially at the humiliation of her son.

The scene where Charlie is delivering takeaway on a trike wearing every protective gear possible including being lit up in neon in broad daylight actually made me roar with laughter. But it isn't until a rather horrible scene occurs between Charlie and his classmates that I fully began to realise how awful it really must be to be in Charlie's position.

It's just that he took it all in such a positive way towards the beginning of the story that had me fooled. But despite being small in stature, Charlie has a big heart. And while he knows his mother wouldn't approve and that his dad won't stand up to his mother for him, Charlie starts pursuing his dream of being a talented skateboarder. I really loved Charlie as a character. I love how hopeful and positive he is about everything that gets thrown at him and I especially loved his best friend, Sinus, who along with his big nose carries around some pretty special secrets of his own.

This book was really very good. I loved how much the book is about friendship Charlie and Sinus are the best! It's also about not worrying about what other people think and doing your own thing and I loved seeing Charlie grow in confidence and into himself. I really loved the realisations that he comes to about himself and his family and his friendships. Besides that, he just made me laugh! Highly recommended from me.

Jun 27, Juwi rated it liked it. Nov 06, Laurel rated it liked it. Charlie Han is a 14 year old, oddly small, clumsy, loser. At least thats what the kids at school think. He only has one friends, a boy named Sinus Sedgely, who has a huge nose, and is almost weirder than Charlie himself. Charlie also has troubles at home, because his mom is a control freak, suffocating him and watching over everything Charlie does.

Charlie's dad lets his wife run the house, so he isn't any help to Charlie. Charlie's parents own a Chinese takeout restaurant by the name of Special Charlie Han is a 14 year old, oddly small, clumsy, loser. Charlie's parents own a Chinese takeout restaurant by the name of Special Fried Nice. His dad mostly runs it, while his mother spends her time taking classes on anything and everything. When Charlie finally convinces his mom to let him help with deliveries and to get him a bike, Charlie is stunned.

Maybe things are looking up for him! Well, Charlie's mom doesn't get him a bike, she gets him a trike that you can walk at a slow pace faster that what is goes.

She also makes him wear a huge helmet and safety pads every time he goes out. Now instead of being a cool kid like he had hoped, he becomes the laughingstock of the neighborhood. The food is cold by the time he gets to the house. One day, while delivering, Charlie sees some kids skateboarding and is fascinated. He sets his sights on skateboarding, which to Sinus seems like an impossible goal, seeing as he can't walk without tripping, and his mom won't even let him ride a bike.

Charlie starts practicing in secret, and eventually gets befriended by a bunch of cool skateboarders. This makes Sinus mad, as now he doesn't have a friend. Sinus and Charlie cook up an elaborate plan to make themselves popular, using Sinuses hidden graffiti skills, and Charlies skateboarding skills. Along the way, Charlie discovers that there is a hidden reason to his mom's paranoia and learns more about his dad too.

Will Charlie fix his family, become popular, and convince his mom to let him skateboard? I liked this book because I am also clumsy, so it made me laugh! It also was a nice easy read, and taught good lessons about being yourself and if you try your best you can do anything. I didn't like the way the author put so much emphasis on being popular though. Popularity, in my opinion, doesn't necessarily mean that you are happy.

I recommend this books to preteens, teens, and young adults who like realistic fiction. Charlie is a teenage, Chinese boy whom lives his life as his parents only child, but overly protected still by his mum, the way she sneaks off and goes to evening classes all the time arouses suspicion in Charlie over where she really goes. He wants to skate though despite knowing his mum would disapprove and he is very clumsy as well and when she finds out, the skate park kids and his best friend Sinus end up dubbing him bubble wrap boy after an incident.

Eventually, Charlie's mum's secret is out Charlie is a teenage, Chinese boy whom lives his life as his parents only child, but overly protected still by his mum, the way she sneaks off and goes to evening classes all the time arouses suspicion in Charlie over where she really goes. Eventually, Charlie's mum's secret is out by accident and Charlie finds out why his mum is so overprotective of him and he can't blame her but he does want to help her as well as perform at the skate park event coming up.

The book deals with the effects of growing up in school and fitting in loosely while focusing on family secrets and parenting a lot. Charlie stands up for himself to prove to his mum mostly but his dad too that he can't always be protected from bad stuff that will happen as it's inevitable really to never expect it to happen. It's uniqueness sells it to me as I truly enjoyed it and the developing mystery as you read on and untangle it!

Aug 14, Deb Sheridan rated it really liked it. The Bubble Wrap Boy is a realistic fiction about a Chinese boy named Charlie Han and the troubles he faces socially and within his own family. We learn quickly that Charlie's daily life is difficult at best, and he regularly struggles to avoid humiliation. He feels extremely alone since his only friend is a boy named Sinus who is also treated like a social outcast.

The author does an excellent job of creating empathy for the main character. Although I found the beginning of the story slow to deve The Bubble Wrap Boy is a realistic fiction about a Chinese boy named Charlie Han and the troubles he faces socially and within his own family. Although I found the beginning of the story slow to develop, particularly since it repeats the same theme in various situations, the introduction of a family secret captured my attention and reignited my interest in the plot line. The final message of the book is beautiful as it centers on the power of true friendship, overcoming seemingly insurmountable obstacles, and the importance of strong family communication.

The author also did a good job of character development with Charlie's parents and his best friend, Sinus. This is a great choice for 6th and 7th graders, and possibly struggling readers in 8th grade. Sep 26, Kim rated it really liked it. Charlie is a small Chinese teenage boy who is struggling to fit in and has an overprotective mother who isn't considerate of his feelings. He finally discovers skateboarding and meets new people. I enjoyed the book and the literacy devices throughout the book.

I did struggle when the boys wrapped him in plastic bubble wrap, he couldn't move, and had difficulty breathing. I thought that was a little much, but it will keep young reads intrigued. I appreciated Charlie's determination and perseveran Charlie is a small Chinese teenage boy who is struggling to fit in and has an overprotective mother who isn't considerate of his feelings.

I appreciated Charlie's determination and perseverance to achieve the half-pipe challenge with his one true friend, Sinus, to support him. Jul 26, Sarah Wence rated it it was amazing. This was a great book! I loved the complexity of the characters, and how their relationships entwined. The author does use a couple foul words here and there, but mainly just the word "ass".

I thought the themes were beautifully expressesed. Overall, I would definitely recommend this book to 6th and 7th graders. Oct 02, Helena rated it liked it. Charlie Han is being smothered by his mother - not allowed to do anything on his own. Charlie discovers his talent for skateboarding and is passionate about it, but must hide this from his mother. Sinus his friend stares at walls A story of friendships and overcoming bullies and challenging beliefs.

The conflict is very simple yet the impact of it is very powerful! Mar 06, Mrs M rated it really liked it.

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