Striking Out – Ian Wright and Musa Okwonga

Full disclosure, the boy and I are both massive Arsenal fans so we were probably always going to feel favourably about a book co-written by Ian Wright. I idolised Wrighty when he played for Arsenal in the 90s but I tried not to let that inform my opinions of the book too much.

The story centres around Jerome Jackson, a 13-year-old boy with an exceptional talent for football and a dream to make it to the very top. Jerome doesn’t have the easiest life and is struggling to get noticed for the right reasons until a chance encounter with Ian Wright sets him on a path to future stardom. It’s not all plain sailing for Jerome, but his mum, Wrighty and other members of his community are there to support him when he needs it most.

As a kids book about football it’s very good. The action described on the on the pitch is exciting and believable and the coaching advise that Jerome (the main character) is given is insightful and genuinely useful. Despite his faults, the reader really wants Jerome to do well as he progresses along his footballing journey.

However, Striking Out is much more that just a kids book about football. The story also addresses some substantial issues in a child-friendly way that opens the door for important conversations at home or at school. Domestic violence, racism, bereavement and peer pressure are among that issues raised in Striking Out which led some great conversations with my son.

Music also plays a key role in the book. Ian’s frequent cameos in the story often come with a musical recommendation for Jerome and the reader. Personally I’ve recently discover the music of Kirk Franklin and I Smile has become a singing assembly song, thanks to this book.

Tom, age 10, says: “This is different to other books I’ve read because it’s about a boy who has a very different life to me and about how hard it is for him. It’s interesting because it’s about Jerome’s journey to become a footballer and how he’s seen by scouts and seen as having potential. I like the way they describe the football in particular. I liked it when Ian first saw Jerome score a goal at Hackney Marshes and another favourite part was when he got accepted into St Joseph’s.”

Discover more brilliant books for Key Stage 2 children below…

I nearly didn’t write this post because there isn’t really anything that hasn’t been said about this book, so I’ll keep it brief.

Holes is a classic. Far more significant people than me have loved and recommended Holes, not least Malorie Blackman (on the cover) and Phil Earle (who wrote the forward for this edition). However, for what it’s worth, I am offering my – admittedly, very late to the party – thoughts.

If it’s possible to have a ‘hot take’ on such a widely adored book, mine is this…it reminds me of Catch-22. Both deal with dark subject matter with great humour. Both jump forwards and backwards in the timeline of their stories. Both are exceptional examples of the written word and are to be considered classic works of literary art.

Holes is magnificent and is well worth a read, regardless of your age. As mentioned in the forward by Phil Earle, ‘It tackles themes so meaty that Shakespeare would be jealous: crime, punishment, curses, revenge, retribution, redemption…the list could go on and on.’

If you fancy checking out some other books written for Key Stage 2 children (but enjoyed by all) check out the page linked below.

Roz is the only surviving robot when the cargo ship she is being transported on sinks during a storm. She adapts to survive and learns to thrive on an island uninhabited by humans (or other robots).

As great as this book was to share as a bedtime story, it’s even better for sharing in school. The learning is everywhere. From exploring and learning about the natural world, along with Roz, to the greater life lessons that can be taken from the robot’s approach to discovering new things and building relationships with new creatures.

Charm and good manners don’t come naturally to Roz (well, nothing comes naturally to Roz as she’s a robot) but she soon learns the benefits of being kind and friendly. Roz needs to adapt to her surroundings and finds out that her chances of survival are significantly improved when she is helped by the, initially reluctant, animals who inhabit the island.

The Wild Robot is a great book for many reasons and for many children, but it’s particularly poignant for neurodivergent readers. They may relate to Roz’s struggle to understand the world around her and how she feels the need to ‘act’ to conform with the norms of those around her.

We were thinking this book would make an excellent film, then we learnt that it has been made into one and it’s due to be released in October 2024. Here is the trailer, it looks wonderful.

The Wild Robot is a heart-warming, epic adventure and a bit of an emotional rollercoaster. Sort of everything you’d want in a book for 7-11 year olds, really.

Tom, age 11, says: “I enjoy the adventure that Roz goes on. I really like the message about the importance of family and friendship and helping each other. My favourite bit is the dramatic robot battles at the end when all the animals come to help Roz. My favourite character is is Chichat because she chats a lot, like me.

Discover more brilliant books for Key Stage 2 children below…

The Invention of Hugo Cabret is a novel come picture book come graphic novel come historical fiction. It’s inspired by the films of early French cinema pioneer, Georges Méliès, and he (and some real aspects of his life story) features in the book.

After Hugo loses his father to a fire, he goes to live with his uncle at a train station, where his job is to keep all of the clocks at the station running to the correct time. The uncle goes missing and Hugo keeps the clocks running on his own by sneaking around the station, evading the attention of the station master so he doesn’t become homeless. The novel is the story of how Hugo restores an old machine that his father had previously worked on and discovers the secrets that it holds.

The Invention of Hugo Cabret is a beautifully illustrated book with the hundred of pictures helping to tell the story. It’s a really intriguing mystery with loads of twists and turns along the way and we really enjoyed making predictions about what was going to happen.

I’m not entirely sure if the invention the title refers to is the mechanical device that he salvages and mends, the magician he becomes or simply Hugo himself. I guess it could be all of them.

Tom aged 10 says… I really liked this book. I enjoyed the adventure side of it and the mystery of what was going to happen and everything that Hugo had to go through. I also liked that it was recounting things that happened in real life. My favourite part was when it all cam together and the automaton drew the picture and signed the name. My favourite character has to be Hugo because he’s a good engineer and he’s clever in what he decides to do.