![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.steve-ince.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/Worrybot-cover-204x300.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n\nThe blurb on Amazon:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cJosh is such a worrier. He worries about everything. Water slides. School. Global warming. Sleepovers. But he knows something is really wrong when his mum and dad begin to act strangely…<\/p>\n\n\n\n
His family is moving to Brighton and he must start a new school with new teachers, new pupils and new everything! He used to have his own Worrybot – a home-made cardboard robot which was supposed to eat up his worst fears if he wrote them down on bits of paper and posted them into its mouth. It did help a bit … but now Josh is terrified that his anxiety will return when he starts at his new school.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He is more than a bit surprised to discover that there’s a robot in his new class – a real-life learning robot which sits on the desk next to his and allows classmate Charlie to join lessons remotely. Soon Charlie becomes Josh’s best – perhaps his only – friend. Will Charlie’s friendship help Josh overcome his fears, or will it just give nasty Noah more reasons to make fun of him? Why won’t Charlie come to school anyway?\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
In spite of my shaky start in reading the book, it quickly grew on me and I quickly enjoyed reading about the characters, even Noah, who makes a perfect school student antagonist. However, the real villain of the piece is Josh\u2019s own fear, which appears to battle his thoughts, emotions and physical being at every twist and turn.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But Charlie, through the learning robot, encourages Josh to address his fears and the two begin an unexpected, slightly strange friendship. This in turn is put under strain by fear and the unpleasantness of Noah.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The book builds to a great climax with a few great twists along the way and the story threads pull together very nicely.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I can imagine lots of children getting a great deal from this book, particularly those who have their own worries and fears to deal with \u2013 there is a lot to identify with in the two main characters. But even those kids without such issues will gain an insight into the problems of those who do.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Very definitely recommended.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
With illustrations by Lucy Mulligan After the first couple of chapters I wasn\u2019t sure if I\u2019d like this book, but I\u2019m so glad I stuck with it as it\u2019s a really good read. The blurb on Amazon: \u201cJosh is such a worrier. He worries about everything. Water slides. School. Global warming. Sleepovers. But he knows … <\/p>\n