Tuesday 1 September 2015

Danny Dread by Ben Davis


Book Review: "Despicable Me meets Diary of  a Wimpy Kid" says the description of this book "Danny Dread". The Diary of a Wimpy Kid element is because it follows Danny Dread who is a bit of a wimpy kid, "wouldn't even hurt a fly", and the Despicable Me element because of the villainous, comical scheming that goes on through the book reminiscent of Gru attempting to steal the moon.

Danny Dread is a boy, "the latest in line of the dastardly Dread clan of super villains". The only problem is he doesn't want to be a super villain, he dreams instead of being a superhero. And so the book follows him at "Demento's Academy for Young Evil Geniuses" where bullying isn't frowned upon, it's encouraged, and where Danny fails every subject. From there his secret desire to be a superhero is revealed, but what is his superpower? To mimic voices? And so he calls his alter-ego Mynah boy (after the Mynah bird), not to be confused with Minor Boy (which it is on multiple times in the book for comic effect).

What makes the book great is the comedy. First there is the situation, Danny Dread stuck in the Dread lair with his dad trying his bestest to get his son involved in his evil schemes, when all Danny wants to do is stop them. Then there are the characters and the relationships between them. For example there is Dad Dread's Gollum-like assistant Malevolo with his attempts to out Danny whilst being devoted to his master but also having his own hidden agenda. Then there is Danny's own chum Earl, the talking lab-rat who has a human ear on his back and who is forever foiling a hungry pelican who just wants to eat him. And the Lionhearts, the superhero family who are "the only thing keeping the world from destruction" with their daughter Crystallina, Danny's secret crush.

Other comedy is derived in the ridiculous schemes and ridiculous machinery involved such as over-sized jets with massive winches ideal for picking up world leaders far below.

What's more this book isn't just a series of jokes put together into a narrative. It also has a fully-formed plot. All-in-all then this book is perfectly executed and is a blast right from beginning through to climatic ending.

Book published by Oxford University Press: www.oxfordchildrens.co.uk
Publication date: 6 August 2015
Available on AMAZON

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