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Itch
Itch | Simon Mayo
5 posts | 7 read | 2 to read
'A great debut. You'll be itching to read more.' Anthony Horowitz Meet Itch - an accidental, accident-prone hero. Science is his weapon. Elements are his gadgets. All-action adventure perfect for fans of Alex Rider and Young Bond. Itchingham Lofte - known as Itch - is fourteen, and loves science, especially chemistry. He's also an element-hunter: he's collecting all the elements in the periodic table. Which has some interesting and rather destructive results in his bedroom. Then, Itch makes a discovery. A new element, never seen before. At first no one believes him - but soon someone hears about the strange new rock and wants it for himself. And Itch and his family are catapulted into a breathless adventure with terrifyingly high stakes . . . The debut novel from BBC radio presenter Simon Mayo.
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rockpools
Itch | Simon Mayo
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Pickpick

This was recommended by one of our young readers, so I thought I‘d give it a go. As a grumpy old boot, it‘s a pick - but with BIG reservations.

Itchingham Lofte is a 14-year-old element hunter - he‘s trying to collect all of the elements in the periodic table. This can lead to problems (explosions, poisoning, being chased by international bad guy corporations, that sort of thing…)

Huge props for making chemistry and geology

rockpools exciting and edgy. I loved the idea. Itch is an awkward, obsessive teenage boy and, with his cousin and younger sister who are considerably more socially savvy, they do make great characters.

But (old grump bit ahead! I guess the OTT horror-movie-style greenhouse-vomiting bit was there for entertainment. The graphic descriptions of death and sick kids by radiation poisoning (vomiting every
10mo
rockpools other page) more about ramping up the tension. A warning about playing with ☢️ rocks? I don‘t know. I found it hugely uncomfortable - I guess the line between entertaining nonsense and real life consequences didn‘t sit in the best place for me.

I still love the idea, and may or may not give book 2 a chance.
10mo
39 likes2 comments
review
IamIamIam
Itch | Simon Mayo
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Pickpick

Finished up my May #doublespin and I was totally impressed! Itchingham Lofte is an element collector and comes across something nobody has ever seen before. Naturally, chaos ensues. Very smart and sciencey but well constructed characters made me really care about the outcome. Not sure if I'll continue the series but I enjoyed this! @TheAromaofBooks

TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!! 3y
27 likes1 comment
blurb
IamIamIam
Itch | Simon Mayo
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Break time reading, starting with my #doublespin for May!

review
Rainbowcakes
Itch | Simon Mayo
Pickpick

Not the type of story I usually go for but it keeps you wondering where it‘s going and what‘s going to happen. Definitely worth the read. 4/5

review
Bookboss
Itch | Simon Mayo
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Pickpick

Any Wittertainment fans out there? I love the Kermode and Mayo Film Review podcast, and the Simon Mayo Confessions podcast. Although I don‘t read much YA, I was curious about the YA series that Simon Mayo had written. I love it! It‘s an adventurous tale of a boy named Itch who is obsessed with the periodic table. The book has delightful characters and a compelling plot while explaining some science. Excellent!

Bookzombie 💕🐱 6y
53 likes2 stack adds1 comment