Solomon Macaroni and the cousin catastrophe by Ashleigh Barton

Solomon Macaroni and the Cousin Catastrophe by Ashleigh Barton is the first novel in what promises to be a great new series. This brand-new adventure turns traditional thoughts of vampires on its head. Filled with adventure, emotions and action, this story has a little of everything!

Protagonist, Solomon Macaroni is a gentle and thoughtful boy whose favourite food is tofu bolognese. His real age is five hundred and fifty-two years – approximately the equivalent of a ten-and-a-half-year-old and he lives with his parents Mama and Papa Macaroni in Rome. However, Solomon is not feeling gentle and kind, he is actually feeling very angry. His parents are off on a one-hundred-year holiday and he has to stay with his uncle, Count Dracula, and his cousins in Transylvania. To top it off, his cousins are always mean and play nasty pranks on him, except for cousin Lucy. She is the only one who is nice to him. How is he ever going to survive!

Begrudgingly he goes to stay with them, as he doesn’t want to spoil his mum and dad’s trip. But, as predicted his cousins are still mean, and even though Count Dracula is trying to make him feel very welcome, he decides to escape back to Rome until his parents come home. Unfortunately, his plans get turned upside down when he is lured into the forbidden forest, Wildwood by Lucy who needs help. But does Solomon have the true courage to help her and what if the old magic returns?

Kooky, captivating and charismatic! 

A good read, that can be a little slow paced at times, but builds to an exciting crescendo towards the end. One for those who love something a bit out of the ordinary…. expect the unexpected! Teacher's notes are available.

Themes: Supernatural, Adventure, Family, Fantasy, Problem Solving.

Michelle O'Connell