Review:
The ice-cream man by Jenny Mounfield
Ford St.
2008 ISBN
978187642680
(Age 11-14) What a great thriller. This book kept me on the edge of my
seat wondering if Marty, Rick and Aaron were going to stay alive as the
ice-cream man decides to come after them because they hassled him for
not stopping to sell them an ice-cream. After all, why wouldn't the
ice-cream man be annoyed because he got the fright of his life when a
kid in a wheelchair flashes in front of him on the road, and when
another kid writes 'Freak' on his van. When Aaron receives a
threatening email from the Grim Reaper the boys learn that it is not a
good idea to play stupid games. The stalking continues and Rick is
terrified when he sees the van parked outside his house in the middle
of the night. A weird phone call on his new mobile (and no one is
supposed to know the number) has Marty getting worried. Then Rick
disappears and the tension mounts.
Add a wonderful mix of characters who are each coming to terms with
difficulties in their lives to the thrilling story and the book is a
winner. Marty is a great character. He has cerebral palsy and he
uses his wheelchair to demonstrate that he can do all sorts of things
and leaves the reader breathless with his dangerous escapades. Aaron
faces constant beatings from his bullying stepbrother, while Rick is
trying to keep it all together after the death of his father, while his
mother drowns her sorrows in drink.
I found this book hard to put down and would recommend it as a good way
to get readers hooked on the thriller genre.
Teacher's
notes are available.
Pat Pledger
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© Pledger
Consulting, 2007