The Boy Who Made Everyone Laugh (Hardcover)
Staff Reviews
Helen Rutter’s sparkling debut – The Boy Who Made Everyone Laugh – is a heartwarming and yes, laugh out loud contemporary middle grade about 6th grader Billy Plimpton who dreams of being a comedian. He has a few roadblocks in his way – mainly his stutter and inability to get past his own anxieties. Working through these blockades with him, he has a great support group – his lunchtime friend Skyla, Mr. Osho his homeroom teacher and musical mentor, his grandmother Granny Bread, among others. However, his relationship with friends and a bully named Blackmore give this resilient, and ultimately self-aware young man the courage to be himself. Readers will be rooting for Billy through the last page of this uplifting tale. Terrific!
(Contemporary Novel, ages 9+)
— From Staff Picks by Maureen
Billy Plimpton has a big dream: to become a famous comedian when he grows up. He already knows a lot of jokes, but thinks he has one big problem standing in his way: his stutter.
At first, Billy thinks the best way to deal with this is to . . . never say a word. That way, the kids in his new school won’t hear him stammer. But soon he finds out this is NOT the best way to deal with things. (For one thing, it’s very hard to tell a joke without getting a word out.)
As Billy makes his way toward the spotlight, a lot of funny things (and some less funny things) happen to him. In the end, the whole school will know --
If you think you can hold Billy Plimpton back, be warned: The joke will soon be on you!
Praise for The Boy Who Made Everyone Laugh:
"Very funny, very touching, very truthful -- a total delight to read." -- Jacqueline Wilson, internationally #1 bestselling author
"This incredible debut tugs at your heartstrings and makes you laugh out loud." -- Lisa Thompson, author of The Goldfish Boy
"Amazing!" -- Noel Fielding, comedian and co-presenter, The Great British Bake Off
"It made me punch the air with delight. Billy Plimpton is my hero." -- Marcus Brigstocke, acclaimed UK comedian
Praise for The Boy Who Made Everyone Laugh:
"Very funny, very touching, very truthful -- a total delight to read." -- Jacqueline Wilson, internationally #1 bestselling author
"This incredible debut tugs at your heartstrings and makes you laugh out loud." -- Lisa Thompson, author of The Goldfish Boy
"Amazing!" -- Noel Fielding, comedian and co-presenter, The Great British Bake Off
"It made me punch the air with delight. Billy Plimpton is my hero." -- Marcus Brigstocke, acclaimed UK comedian
