You're Amazing Mr Jupiter

This worthy Whitbread nominee charts the difficult waters of religious faith in an entertaining and instructive way. Mr Jupiter is the recipient of China Lee’s eager attention – he is the elderly person whom school has selected as her project and she plunges into this commitment with the same degree of enthusiasm she brings to everything else in her life – including her friendly battles with her much-loved elder sister, Rose.

Mr Jupiter proves to be an unexpected source of inspiration, with his decrepit machines which can unexpectedly perform miraculous tasks – Earth Destruct and Ten Years Ahead need no further explanation! His mythic appearance and obliquely wise pronouncements convince China that she has found proof positive of the existence of the God she always felt was present in her life.

When Mr Jupiter effects a change of heart in the villainous Nick who has been moulded by his miserable childhood, it is clear that Rose’s support is also a crucial factor in the equation. Rose’s lack of religious faith is counterbalanced by her compassion and so the story gently and memorably completes the allegory – there are many roads to goodness and none is worthier than the other.