The Terrible Thing That Happened to Barnaby Brocket

Boyne’s previous children’s novels have dealt with serious, life-changing themes and his deftness of touch is equally evident in this uplifting celebration of otherness * Daily Mail *Charming, uplifting and perfect for any growing child who might be feeling a little different * Independent *It’s unashamedly and often delightfully whimsical. It’s lovely to look at … It has much of the pell-mell what-the-hell-happens-nextness of Dahl and Ibbotson – Mal Peet * Guardian *A whimsical, warm-hearted adventure * The Bookseller *Very entertaining reading … This is a book very much on the side of the child, operating rather in the same way that, for example, the children’s novels of Roald Dahl operate. But Boyne’s humour is much gentler and subtler than Dahl’s … Oliver Jeffers’s black-and-white illustrations capture both the wit and pathos of Boyne’s text * Irish Times *A fun and thought-provoking story of self-discovery, and the humour and gentleness with which Boyne delivers his message make it both unforgettable and delightful * Publishers Weekly *

John Boyne (Author)

John Boyne is the author of sixteen novels for adults, six for younger readers, a picture book, and a collection of short stories. His 2006 novel The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas has sold more than 11 million copies worldwide and has been adapted for cinema, theatre, ballet, and opera. His many international bestsellers include The Heart’s Invisible Furies and A Ladder to the Sky. He has won four Irish Book Awards, including Author of the Year in 2022, along with a host of other international literary prizes, including most recently both the 2025 Prix Femina Étranger and the Prix du Roman FNAC in France for The Elements. His novels are published in sixty languages.

Oliver Jeffers (Illustrator)

Oliver Jeffers is a visual artist and author working in illustration, painting, collage, and sculpture. His critically-acclaimed picture books have been released internationally and translated into over thirty languages. His artwork has been exhibited at institutions including the Brooklyn Museum in New York City, the Irish Museum of Modern Art in Dublin, the National Portrait Gallery in London, the Ulster Museum in Belfast, and the Palais Auersperg in Vienna. Oliver has been the recipient of numerous awards, including a New York Times Best Illustrated Children’s Books Award, Irish Book Award, Texas Bluebonnet Award, and United Kingdom Literary Association Award. He will release his fifteenth book as author and illustrator in late 2016. Oliver grew up in Belfast, Northern Ireland; he currently lives and works in Brooklyn, New York.

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