The Terrible Thing that Happened to Barnaby Brocket
Readers rate it 3.5 (10 on Hardcover)
290 pages · Released 2012 · Random House
Content report card
The Terrible Thing that Happened to Barnaby Brocket parent’s guide: what’s inside
Language
Sexual content
LGBTQ+ themes
Substance use
What it offers
A note for parents
This is a whimsical fantasy adventure with a fantastical premise (a boy who floats) that explores themes of acceptance, belonging, and found family. While Barnaby's parents reject him early on, the story is fundamentally about overcoming adversity and discovering that differences make you special rather than shameful. The emotional stakes are real but handled with warmth and humor appropriate for middle-grade readers.
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From the publisher
The Brockets are normal, boringly normal but from birth, Barnaby has been anything but normal - for starters, he defies gravity and floats. One day, the Brockets decide they've had enough, Barnaby has to go. Betrayed and frightened, Barnaby floats into the path of a special hot air balloon and begins a magical journey... The Brockets are normal, boringly normal but from birth, Barnaby has been anything but normal - for starters, he defies gravity and floats. One day, the Brockets decide they've had enough, Barnaby has to go. Betrayed and frightened, Barnaby floats into the path of a special hot air balloon and begins a magical journey around the world.
Shelved under
- Juvenile Fiction
- Adventure stories
- Irish
- Fiction
- Family
- Children
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ISBN 9780857531469 · Random House