The Boy Who Swallows Flies
Michael F. Stewart
Publication date: February 15th 2018
Genres: Middle-Grade, Mystery, Superhero
Winner of the Claymore Award!
Warning – Rated Kids-Only for Bug Violence
Jarrod can view the memories of any bug. He just has to eat it. It’s not the tastiest of superpowers and, let’s face it, fly memories aren’t all unicorns and rainbows. Eating insects also doesn’t net him many friends, and Bug-boy is an unavoidable nickname. But Jarrod’s ready to prove that he and his bugs are worth more than ridicule.
When he swallows a fly while biking, he’s in for a shock. The bug saw a room stacked full of sick dogs and puppies in crates. It’s a puppy mill, and Jarrod needs to save the animals. But the flight range of the common housefly is five miles. Even if the police believed him, with no evidence, they can’t help. It’s up to Jarrod.
Trained cockroaches survey neighborhood basements. A fly taped to a window makes an excellent sentry. Every beetle, mosquito, caterpillar—don’t eat the fuzzy yellow ones—spider and centipede is his edible sidekick.
Will Jarrod save the dogs? Or is it all too much to swallow?
MY THOUGHTS: This book was just so much fun to read and I recommend it to anyone who has a child even vaguely interested in reading. While it appears that it is geared toward boys (the whole bug thing) I liked it and I'm and adult AND female so I say it's a good solid read for anyone.
Jarrod, the MC, has these "moments" which doctors cannot explain. During these "moments" he passes out but when he comes to, he remembers seeing different things, but a lot of dog poop. Jarrod eventually discovers what is going on, which is a good thing because his parents make him wear a helmet all the time in case he passes out ad it isn't winning him any popularity contests. Apparently when Jarrod eats a bug, he can visualize it's last moments. In doing so, Jarrod learns that there is a puppy mill somewhere in his hometown and he takes it upon himself to save the dogs!
"The Boy Who Swallows Flies" is a fun book but it's also a book about bully and friendship. While Jarrod's parents are very present during the book, they do some pretty appalling things - like using Jarrod's "moments" for their own personal gain.
I really enjoyed reading this wonderful middle grade tale and if you can get past the fact that Jarrod ends up eating bugs (lots and lots of bugs) then you should pick it up and give it a go.
MY RATING: 4 PAWS
Author Bio:
Michael F. Stewart is winner of both the 2015 Claymore Award and the 2014 inaugural Creation of Stories Award for best YA novel at the Toronto International Book Fair.
He likes to combine storytelling with technology and pioneered interactive storytelling with Scholastic Canada, Australia, and New Zealand’s, anti-cyberbullying program Bully For You. In addition to his award winning Assured Destruction series, he has authored four graphic novels with Oxford University Press Canada’s Boldprint series. Publications of nonfiction titles on Corruption and Children’s Rights are published by Scholastic and early readers are out with Pearson Education.
For adults, Michael has written THE SAND DRAGON a horror about a revenant prehistoric vampire set in the tar sands, HURAKAN a Mayan themed thriller which pits the Maya against the MS-13 with a New York family stuck in the middle, 24 BONES an urban fantasy which draws from Egyptian myth, and THE TERMINALS–a covert government unit which solves crimes in this realm by investigating them in the next.
Herder of four daughters, Michael lives to write in Ottawa where he was the Ottawa Public Library’s first Writer in Residence. To learn more about Michael and his next projects visit his website at www.michaelfstewart.com or connect via Twitter @MichaelFStewart.
Michael is represented by Talcott Notch.
I can't! I cannot even look at the cover. I have goosebumps on my arms RIGHT NOW. Ugh, BUGS. Yes, I will scream for help if I encounter something even mildly buggish.
ReplyDeleteHe actually eats the bugs?? WHY? You know what, I don't think I want to know, lol. I'm glad you really enjoyed it!!
Do You Dog-ear?
When he eats bugs, he can see what they saw. He's trying to locate a puppy mill in his neighborhood. The bugs are his best friends and it actually upsets him to kill them.
Delete*dies laughing* OMG, I hate bugs, but the cuteness factor is just off the charts!!
ReplyDeleteIt is a super cute read. Who would have thought I'd have ever said that about a book with a boy who eats bugs!
DeleteI think I'll give it a miss! I'm not a fan of children at the best of times!
ReplyDeleteI can handle them in small doses - and when they're fictional!
DeleteI enjoyed this one too! I admit the eating bugs was a bit gross. LOL But this was such fun:)
ReplyDeleteEspecially the kitchen scene where he eats 100!
DeleteSuch a weird concept, but it sounds like a story with big heart that deals with important issues. Hey, anything that will get kids to read, I say!
ReplyDeleteI agree!
DeleteI read this one too and loved it. Michael F Stewart can sure spin a tale that makes young and old enjoy it.
ReplyDeletesherry @ fundinmental
I think so too. I'm going to have to check out some more of his books. I may even buy a copy of this one for my niece.
DeleteGreat review, Barb! This sounds like a really entertaining read and I like that it also brings up important topics.
ReplyDeleteThanks, I really enjoyed reading this one.
DeleteThis sounds like a book my son would love!
ReplyDeleteYes, I would recommend it to all boys!
DeleteI just read about this on another blog! It sounds so fun!!
ReplyDeleteIt was.
DeleteEating bugs lol- now THAT is a unique premise and one that I can see appealing to kids. Well some anyway ha ha. Looks fun!!
ReplyDeleteYea and it was a lot of bugs in some places.
DeleteWell that's... interesting!
ReplyDeleteThat's one word for it.
DeleteThis sounds really good.
ReplyDeleteIt was!
DeleteThis sounds like a whole lot of fun. Interesting concept. I am so glad you enjoyed this one.
ReplyDeleteI really did!
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