Beetle Boy (Battle of the Beetles Book 1): a bug-tastic series from the author of Adventures on Trains and Twitch

Description:

About this item:

The first book in the bestselling BATTLE OF THE BEETLES series – perfect for fans of Roald Dahl!

Winner of the Branford Boase Award 2017
Shortlisted for the Waterstones Children's Book Prize 2017
Shortlisted for the Books Are My Bag Children's Book Award 2016
Chosen for the Tom Fletcher Book Club

'Truly great storytelling.' MICHAEL MORPURGO

'Funny, exciting and genuinely eccentric' PHILIP REEVE

'Roald Dahl meets 101 Dalmatians in a rollicking ride, full of adventure with vivid characters' EXPRESS

'By the end, you'll think beetles are the coolest creatures on the planet' TOM FLETCHER

Darkus can't believe his eyes when a huge insect drops out of the trouser leg of his horrible new neighbour. It's a giant beetle – and it seems to want to communicate.

But how can a boy be friends with a beetle? And what does a beetle have to do with the disappearance of his dad and the arrival of Lucretia Cutter, with her taste for creepy jewellery?

  • The first book in MG Leonard's acclaimed trilogy, followed by Beetle Queen and Battle of the Beetles!
  • Featuring exotic beetles, a daring quest, a mixture of bold male and female characters and a truly venomous villain
  • Includes brilliant illustrations by Julia Sardà
  • From the author of Twitch and the Adventure on Trains series, co-written with Sam Sedgman

Review:

4.8 out of 5

96.36% of customers are satisfied

5.0 out of 5 stars Simply brilliant

A.R. · 16 May 2018

Beetle Boy was a fantastic middle grade novel that will certainly appeal to fans of Roald Dahl. It takes its readers very seriously as it proved to be a surprisingly educational novel that introduces young readers to just how wonderful beetles are. All the species mentioned in this book are real and Leonard went to great lengths to highlight interesting features about them. The book even contains a glossary that explains all the technical terms in a way that makes them easy to understand. I think that this is really it's strongest point as it really builds a sense of discovery, showing young readers that insects are fascinating and not something to be afraid of.The plot is fast paced and provides a double-adventure for the young characters. On one side is Darkus's investigations into his father's disappearance and on the other is a mission to save the inhabitants of "Beetle Mountain" from being killed by a greedy collector. Both plots are really engrossing and very easy for a young reader to follow, containing nice amounts of tension and being creepy and gross in places but never in a way that felt inappropriate for the target audience.The novel also ends really well. While it leaves a lot open for the the sequel, it still ties up this stage of the plot quite nicely. I felt that this is really effective as it made me want to read on to find out what the evil Lucretia Cutter's master plan is, and how Darkus and his friends will combat it.The characters in the novel are all really strong and well rounded. The four young protagonists - Darkus, Virginia, Bertolt and Novak - all have very distinct personalities and work very well together. The themes of teamwork and friendship are very important within the story and it was fun watching the group planning the rescue of the beetles. However, its the beetles that truly steal the show. Baxter is especially lovely, proving to be both a gentle giant and fiercely protective of Darkus. It's amazing how much character he can show and I loved how the book showed that, even though he looked intimidating, he was really harmless.The villain of the piece is also suitably terrifying. Lucretia Cutter is a bit like the Cruella De Ville of the entomology world but proves to have some dark secrets as the story progresses. I get the distinct impression that we'll be seeing a lot more of her in future books and I'm kind of glad about this. While she does exist to be evil, she is incredibly memorable.So, in short, Beetle Boy is definitely a story I'd recommend. It's funny, action-packed and filled with strong characters and fascinating facts about beetles. This is definitely a must read for any young reader.

5.0 out of 5 stars Loved by my Year 6 class!

A. · 3 July 2020

Beetle Boy – 5 Stars – review by Aeryn Y6This is my new favourite book. The story is both intriguing, sad and funny which makes it a great read. The illustrations were also amazing. I could not have been more excited when the book took a good turn. I am 10 and my teacher read this to me. She picked the best book possible.Beetle Boy by MG Leonard – review by Poppy Y6This book made me laugh and shocked me and everything in between. I always liked Beetles but I never realised how much! There is a lot of scientific information about beetles within the story and I definitely learnt more about Beetles. I recommend this to anyone in KS2.Beetle Boy – review by Anna Y6This book is intriguing right from the start. I have learnt so much about beetles that I thought I would never know. The mystery of Darkus’s missing father is central to the strory which embarks on a fascinating adventure of beetles, friends, evil and pranks. It is quirky in a hilarious way - I didn’t want the book to end! It was page turning, a new mystery and more clues on almost every page. The adventure reeled me in and I can’t wait to read the next books in the series. I recommend this for age 8+.

4.0 out of 5 stars Fun, warm and beetletastic

L. · 10 March 2021

My 8yr old son and I have been reading this book for the past few nights, it is fun, relatable and we couldn't put it down.I cant wait to find out what has happened to the main characters Dad, who goes missing from a locked vault! Baxter the beetle is adorable, my son is now obsessed with getting one for a pet.Will definitely be reading the other books in the series.

5.0 out of 5 stars My daughter loved it, I mean really loved it

E. · 17 May 2017

This book is fab! My daughter loved it, I mean really loved it, we are going to call our new cat Darkus (after the main character!) But as an adult, I really enjoyed it. The writing is superb, really clever with wonderful descriptions and Dahl-like throw away lines. It is very original and funny, and I laughed out loud a lot, but I also loved the adventure and mystery, and the more emotional side to the book, particularly the way MG Leonard managed the way children cope with trauma and relationships. I loved the beetle! What a wonderful character. Every book should have a beetle! What was lovely as well was my daughter tends to like girlie books with fairies and unicorns etc. so this was really refreshing and different. I would highly recommend this book. I had to read it to my daughter cos she's only five, and it's perfect for older, independent readers. But if you're a grown-up, read it too! We are definitely going to read Beetle Queen! Five stars!

5.0 out of 5 stars Must read - a fantastic talent providing fantastical characters, heartwarming plot and a hint of other worldly- ness!

A.C. · 16 March 2016

My 9 year old daughter has just finished reading this book. She absolutely loved it - apparently it is her favourite book of all time, even better than Harry Potter!! She was so moved by it that she wants to write to the author and was so excited when I told her there would be a follow up book. She is currently creating some Top Trumps cards based on the book for a school homework so the enjoyment continues.I bought this at my local Waterstones as the cashier had read the book and caught me looking at it at the check out. She explained that the author was originally local (Hemel Hempstead). She went on to say that the content was a mixture of Roald Dahl - esque fantastical ideas with JK Rowlings' touch of magic and "other world". Well she sold it to me - as you can see my daughter loved it and I have just bought the Kindle edition to read myself!

5.0 out of 5 stars There’s a glossary of beetle related scientific terms at the end .

S.L.W. · 6 January 2019

Using the Christmas break to scout for great book to share with my year 5 class, I read this with fervour and enjoyed it tremendously. I know the kids will be drawn in quickly by the quirky characters and the down to earth dialogue. It’s a great story, full of mystery and threat (with wit and humour to help you along) a bit like the Series of Unfortunate Events - but original and refreshing nonetheless. I loved learning more about beetles ; the glossary at the end is helpful although I did a lot of googling as I was curious . Loved it .

Great Adventure Story

B.G. · 2 June 2023

At first I wasn't sure I would continue read the book. But, the further I read the more interesting the story became. After that, I looked forward to picking up story and continue reading. It was a great adventure story that I recommend to anyone regardless of age (I'm 75 years old).

Five Stars

L.c. · 16 June 2017

Very nice book and imaginitive. Recommended for boys and girls. Find your love for insects.

Beetle boy

J. · 2 May 2017

It was amazing I absolutely loved it at the last three chapters I couldn't stop reading it was that exciting.

Good one

R. · 25 October 2018

Kids favorite

Good read for boy

B. · 4 September 2021

Well written and exciting book for young boys interested in insects and technology, but a chapter book for advanced readers.

Beetle Boy (Battle of the Beetles Book 1): a bug-tastic series from the author of Adventures on Trains and Twitch

4.6

BHD6849

Quantity:

|

Order today to get by

Free delivery on orders over BHD 20

Return and refund policies

Product origin: United Kingdom

All product information listed on the site are from 3rd party sources, including images and reviews. bolo.bh is not liable for any claims or promotions mentioned on the product description or images with textual content. For detailed product information, please contact the manufacturer or Bolo support by logging into your account. Unless stated otherwise during checkout, all import taxes and duty are included in the price mentioned on the product page. bolo.bh follows the rules and regulations of sale in Bahrain and will cancel items in an order that are illegal for sale in Bahrain. We take all the necessary steps to ensure only products for sale in Bahrain are displayed. Product stock and delivery estimate may change with the seller even after placing the order. All items are shipped by air and items marked “Dangerous Goods (DG)” by the IATA will be cancelled from orders. We strive to process your order as soon as it is finalized.

More from this brand

Similar items from “Animal Sciences”