Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #110357 in Books
• Published on: 2007-02-05
• Binding: Paperback
• 304 pages

Synopsis
Following the death of his parents, 16-year-old Simon moves into his grandparents' claustrophobic bungalow, which quickly becomes a refuge from his bullying peers. United by their voracious appetite for books, Simon and his grandmother stumble across the Great Big Book Exchange - a bookshop with a difference. There they meet impulsive, gothic Kelly and her boss, Terrance - and the friendships forged in the Great Big Book Exchange result in startling and unsettling consequences for all of them.

Customer Reviews

A book shop I wouldn't mind visiting
Simon is an outsider, he's moved to live with his grandparents after his parent's death. His grandparents live in a small bungalow and the already cramped space is filled by books, most of them his grandmother's. He feels at home with the books, they provide him with an escape from the humdrum, his pain and his feeling of being a misfit.

When Simon and his grandmother find the Great Big Book Exchange they enter into an Aladin's cave of choice, both of books and of life paths. This place changes their lives forever.

It's a good read, I really did empathise with the characters and their situations. I can imagine myself surrounded by books like Simon's Grandmother and could see myself being a bit like her in my future. The secrets and motivations were interesting and the book flowed very well. There were some very touching moments that were handled very well.

Really thought provoking novel for teenagers
I enjoyed this novel very much. The characters are well drawn and the way the writer describes the atmosphere and rooms at the grand parents' house is really evocative. It reminded me so much of my own grandparents. You can't beat the opening page - a 16 year old boy taking a shopping trolley to the local shops - he is asking for trouble, isn't he?!

Questions about books...
This book tells the story of Simon who now living with his grandparents following the death of his parents, stumbles upon The Great Big Book Exchange Shop. He and his grandmother are great readers and this shop provides them with books and lessons in life. Really, the story is about Winnie, Simon's grandmother, and her reconnection with herself, her past and a lost friend. Through her journey Simon grows up and comes to terms with changes in his life. He exchanges a home with parents, a pre-pubescent life, and insecurity with a life now with his grandparents, adulthood, and confidence. All with the help with this wonderful book shop.

Winnie and Simon also are forced to contemplate life without books, if books are more 'real' than life and if characters in books can be more intimately valued in your life. Lots of questions we readers think about from time to time.

As enjoyable as this book was there was something lacking. Maybe the ending is a little flat following the build up - I don't know, but it's a good read nonetheless. And you don't have to be a teenager to appreciate it - I still remember being a teenager and the issues that Simon deals with aren't exclusive to teenagedom.