Artie and the grime wave written and illustrated by Richard Roxburgh
Allen and Unwin, 2016. ISBN 9781760292140
(Age: 9+) Highly recommended. Ok, so Richard Roxburgh is a talented
actor and director in both theatre and screen and of course the star
of 'Rake'. Now he's added writing and illustrating to his portfolio
in a very successful way. I mean to say, he's good looking as well?
Talk about take out a jackpot! Anyway, I digress, so on with the
review.
For your kids who love the rambunctious humour of the likes of Andy
Griffith, Tristan Bancks, or Aaron Blabey and get the hysterical
giggles over a few fart mentions this is perfect.
Artie and his friend Bumshoe are not the most popular kids in town.
One is skinny, has lost his dad which has sent his mum into a deep
depression, and the other is a chubby one-of-many in a pretty
'relaxed' family.
When these two discover a Cave-of-Possibly-Stolen-Stuff they realise
that the dodgy Mayor Grime is somehow involved with this gang of
thugs. There have been so many thefts around town that everyone is
on high alert yet no one wants to believe the two boys. Artie in
particular is determined to rescue his lovely neighbour Gladys' pet
tortoise which has apparently been pet-napped with many other
creatures. But the two boys lack a serious amount of luck when it
comes to finding a solution to the problem and end up in all sorts
of trouble - including being almost eaten! An eccentric old lady who
dabbles in high-tech inventions although continually coated in talc,
a mum who rouses herself into tigress mode at exactly the right time
and the stalwart support of good friends and neighbours saves the
day.
Artie is no hulking hero but he stands up for what he believes and
stands up to the bullies - and that's an important message for any
reader.
Any kid will love the part when one of the thugs has his bum bitten
by the gang's savage guard dog while enduring the world's worst
wedgie and will certainly love Aunty-boy's invention the Fartex
120Y.
Highly recommended for readers who like to laugh out loud - from
around 9 years old upwards.
Sue Warren