This is a classic I had heard lots about but never read. It is a lively detective/adventure story and the blurb says that "those in their early teens still enjoy it without wanting to disguise the fact.", despite being a fair way past my early teens I feel no need to disguise that I enjoyed it. I would hope that attitudes have moved on significantly to encourage more ages to read children's books but I am not sure they have. Sometimes when writing this website because I want to pull out interesting themes I think more about the book than I would otherwise. In many ways that is great but I think it does perhaps support the idea that adults enjoy children's books in a different way to children. I mostly really enjoyed this book because it is a great story full of excitement and adventure.

I love how the boys, I am sure it would be much more diverse if written today, are torn between the seriousness of trying to recover what is a lot of money to them and the sheer joy and excitement of having an adventure. I really enjoy the Professor (One of the boys who helps Emil) becoming frustrated as hundreds of boys turn up to be part of the adventure. It feels very much in the style of an Ealing comedy and I am keen to watch one of the film addaptations. I also like that the lack of money has made Emil and his mother closer together, and very protective of each other. The conversation between the Professor and Emil on pages 78-79 of the Puffin first edition is masterfully done and one of my favourite things I have read this year. It is a wonderful discussion of how their families are different and is full of important and interesting ideas movingly put.

Here they are so you can read them yourself.

The ending is brilliant and really fits with what to me is the theme of the book, belonging and feeling part of something. I look forward to reading the sequel. I didn't particularly like the art style although I do enjoy the captions and really like the picture of little Tuesday in the big chair.