A review by Emma Streeton
A review by Emma StreetonThink of the COOLEST, FUNNIEST, most HANDSOME kid in school, times it by a gazillion and you get DEREK DILBERT DOOL. At least he thinks so . . . Pity he’s the only one.
Life’s tough when your name’s Derek. You’re destined to be uncool. But Derek is determined to find something – anything – that will change that. He’s sick of being picked last in PE, of not being invited to parties, and of all the cool kids using his freckles as dot-to-dot challenges. Derek is going to find something that will make him SUPERCOOL and nothing is going to stop him.
This is the first book in Adrian Beck’s latest series and is sure to be devoured and thoroughly enjoyed by primary school aged kids. I read this aloud to my two bookworms. There were a lot of laugh out loud moments and, although my girls would never admit it, I think they both have a soft spot for Master Derek Dool… and they’re not the only ones!
Relatable characters
Derek is a kid who is decidedly not perfect. The hilarity comes from the fact that all those around him can recognize this, but Derek is blissfully ignorant to it! The magic and charm is humor that can be related to. It’s a humor for kids who can sympathize and adults who remember. In every school there is always a class clown, a cool kid, a lovable nerd and other general misfits. This book allowed me to reminisce on my own school days with nostalgia and share my own funny stories with my bookworms.
Lovable Heroine
I fell in love with Derek’s female sidekick Big Denise. She is warm and funny, can see Derek for who he really is and accepts his quirks unconditionally. Big Denise is another school misfit and I think we can all think back and remember someone like her from our own school days; kind, sensible and clever but left out of the crowd because of their size. I love that Big Denise becomes the heroine of the book when she steps up and reveals herself as a secret rap star in order to help Derek.
Simple Illustrations
My bookworms are still at the age where they love books with drawings but they also appreciate a good comical story. Derek Dool offered them just this. For them, the pictures made it especially engaging and enjoyable to read. The sketches enabled them to connect better with the main characters of the story. Scott Edgar is the illustrator and his illustrations look like quick pencil drawn sketches. They connect really well with the flow of the story and were another element to provide a fair bit of giggling.
Conclusion
If your child appreciates a good story and a good laugh – I confidently recommend Derek Dool Supercool: Bust A Move. I look forward to what else Adrian Beck produces in this series and how his lovable rogues Derek, Big Denise and Booger develop. 3.5 out of 5 stars. If you enjoy this book you will love anything from The Diary Of A Wimpy Kid series and of course The Storey Treehouse collection.
Book details
Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars
ISBN: 9781760892951
Imprint: Puffin (Penguin)
Format: Paperback, 256 pages
Published: 3 March 2020
Category: children, comedy, fiction