Books For Keeps
  • Home
  • Reviews
  • Articles
  • Past Issues
  • Latest Issue
  • Authors and Artists
  • Latest News
  • Search
  • Menu Menu
May 1, 2009/in I Wish I'd Written /by Richard Hill
This article is featured in BfK 176 May 2009
This article is in the I Wish I'd Written Category

I Wish I’d Written: Sophie McKenzie

Author: Sophie McKenzie

Sophie McKenzie on a book that is both humorous and heart-breaking…

The Cartoonistgrabs you on the first page and never lets you go. It’s a slight plot – but a gripping story. I love it for the naturalness of its dialogue and the effortlessly deft characterisation, from Alfie’s TV-fixated Mom, who idolises her absent son Bubba at Alfie’s expense, to his responsible and understanding sister Alma.

The story manages to be both humorous and heartbreaking. My nine-year-old son, a highly reluctant reader at the time, listened transfixed as I read from cover to cover.

Alfie lives to draw cartoon strips. Through these – through the development of his own creativity – he finds a home, somewhere he can be himself. The physical space where this happens is the attic of his family’s house – the only place where Alfie can draw and think in peace.

And then this special place comes under threat as Mom decides to move the favoured older brother back home. There are no fireworks here. The story ends without a big climax – but it is all the more convincing for that, as Alfie learns to come to terms with his lot. This is what growing up really feels like – the sense of yourself as apart and alone – but also the realisation that you are free to develop your own hopes and dreams as well. Brilliant!

The Cartoonist by Betsy Byars is available via Amazon.

Sophie McKenzie’s next book is The Set-up, the first part of ‘The Medusa Project’, published by Simon & Schuster (978 1 84738 525 3, £6.99 pbk).

Share this entry
  • Share on Facebook
  • Share on Twitter
  • Share on WhatsApp
  • Share on Pinterest
  • Share on LinkedIn
  • Share on Reddit
  • Share by Mail
http://booksforkeeps.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/bfklogo.png 0 0 Richard Hill http://booksforkeeps.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/bfklogo.png Richard Hill2009-05-01 09:15:002021-11-21 15:48:25I Wish I’d Written: Sophie McKenzie
BfK 254 May 2022 Download BfK Issue BfK 254 May 2022
Skip to an Issue:

Related Articles

I Wish I’d Written: Derek Keilty
BfK 253 March 2022
I Wish I’d Written: Elys Dolan
BfK 252 January 2022
I Wish I’d Written: Daisy May Johnson
BfK 249 July 2021
I Wish I’d Written: Cath Howe
BfK 248 May 2021
I Wish I’d Written: Em Norry
BfK 247 March 2021
I Wish I’d Written: Alex Wheatle
BfK 246 January 2021
I Wish I’d Written: Sarah Lean
BfK 245 November 2020
I Wish I’d Written: Joseph Coelho
BfK Poetry Special October 2020

About Us

Launched in 1980, we’ve reviewed hundreds of new children’s books each year and published articles on every aspect of writing for children.

Read More

Follow Us

Latest News

Shortlist for the 2022 SLA Information Book Award

June 23, 2022

2022 Yoto Carnegie Greenaway Winners Announced

June 16, 2022

UK Nominations for IBBY’s List of Outstanding Books for Young People with Disabilities 2023

June 14, 2022

Contact Us

Books for Keeps,
30 Winton Avenue,
London,
N11 2AT

Telephone: 0780 789 3369

ISSN: 0143-909X (this is our International Standard Serial Number).

© Copyright 2022 - Books For Keeps | Proudly Built by Lemongrass Media - Web Design Buckinghamshire
Good Reads: St Osmund’s C of E Middle School BfK News: May 2009
Scroll to top