Bodyswap: the Boy who was 84

Where did Lesley Howarth go? (And what’s all this L P thing?) I know her as author of Maphead, one of the most fascinating and mind-boggling books ever, and I know since then she’s ventured around that whole teen-novel area from which I am mercifully preserved, but reading Bodyswap I realised we’d missed her bizarre and original ideas. Then I discovered this book didn’t really contain one. Then I realised it was the better for it.

Boy swaps body with old man. If you’ve read Vice Versa, seen Big or even remember Big John, Little John you know the score – but not like this you don’t.

Will Dudgeon swaps places with the ghoulish Hornbeam, who preys upon the young in this way, robbing them of youth. The story that follows is narrated with a pace that makes it readable, but it’s the gentle combination of danger and humour that makes me realise how much we’ve missed Ms Howarth. The frustration of a pensioner’s life, the quest for pension, the attitudes of others form one strand of the tale. On the other hand, Will remains an old man making or being unable to prevent, small enough changes to character that will keep readers fascinated with the awful prospect of suddenly being 84.

It’s an old idea, with no stunning new twist – but thanks to clever storytelling, well crafted scenarios and likeable characters, this ancient and creaky storyline has new blood in it and, as a result, a liveliness that will surprise those who encounter it.