The Boy on Fire

New from the Klaus Flugge Prize shortlisted Sarthak Sinha, The Boy on Fire bursts with movement and emotion from the very start, the illustrations are vibrant and brilliant, particularly when gold and yellow images are placed in scenes of deep, rich blues. It’s the story of a boy named Til, who ‘was always on fire’. The fire gets bigger when things upset him, and his fiery temperament makes him an isolated figure at school. Angry and lonely, he runs away and shouts his frustration into the night sky. He shouts so loudly that a star comes swooshing down – a kindred spirit? Soon the two are playing together in the night, their glowing light making everything magical. With a friend, Til isn’t angry anymore and being different is no longer an issue. It’s refreshing that Til’s fire doesn’t represent rage, instead it’s just who he is. With a friend, loneliness banished, he can control the fire and then what makes him different makes him special too. The final spread should all the children from his class dressed as stars. Rather than deliver a moral message or advice on control, this is an ultimately joyful celebration of individuality and the glorious impact of bright light on darkness. A book to leave you glowing, just like Til!