Endorsements

“Lousy Thinking is a hilarious book with a great storyline in which a boy called Jake - a normal boy who doesn't seem that clever - is bitten on a major nerve cell in his brain by a head louse. The head louse has never thought ANYTHING apart from, 'food/have babies'. Now it's tapped into a schoolboy's thoughts and can also talk to the boy in his head! Jake gives his confused little friend the name of Brad. Although, in fact, Jake is more confused than Brad as he doesn't know who it is that's actually talking to him and screams "Who the hell is this?", when he first hears the voice. It's such an imaginative book, it doesn't remind me of any other book that I've ever read. I find it quite easy to find my memories in my brain but Jake in the book didn't, not until he met Brad. I don't want to give any giveaways, but I'll put it like this - Jake changes at the end. This book has been written by a teacher but you can't really tell - or at least this seems like it would be a funny teacher who is always making jokes. I think the book is a really good idea - and will also help kids understand that there is more to their brain than they think. Which is quite a good lesson to learn! There's no author I can really compare him too. The book is as good as the Mr Gum series. I'm especially impressed as this is the writer's first book and I hope he writes another one, I'll definitely read it and it will probably be even better.” The Guardian Childrens Books

“Whoever would have thought that a child could form an alliance with a headlouse? Quite by chance, Brad the louse manages to hit the one part of Jake's brain that enables him to tap into Jake's thoughts, and thereby begins a curious partnership that helps Jake to see things in an entirely new light. Of course, that's not the only thing that happens, because Jake has the rest of his class to contend with, not to mention certain tests taking place in May of Year Six... and then there is the matter of the class bully. Davies has a sure eye and ear for classroom happenings, and the story rings true on many counts. Well worth reading as many teachers will be sympathetic to the plot and children will be affirmed in their thoughts. I am definitely looking forward to its sequel, due in the New Year.” Books for Keeps

“Jake is a nice boy, navigating the later years of primary school with varied success. He has a secure home, a nice mum and dad, and plenty of friends with whom he enjoys energetic playtimes. But Jake isn't realising his full potential in lessons. He tries to listen, really he does, but his attention keeps wandering. And his performance in tests is more than a little disappointing. With SATs looming, Jake really should buckle down to some work. But, try as he might, buckling down isn't Jake's strong point. And then, one day, Jake picks up head lice. Again. And one of them accidentally bites down on a nerve that leads directly to Jake's brain. Astounded by what it finds, the louse - Brad, it decides to call itself - makes contact with Jake. And as Jake's final year at primary school progresses, Brad encourages Jake through all the challenges the year presents - how to succeed in class, how to cope with bullies, how to go out with a girl. Brad has discovered that Jake has an amazing brain, if only he cared to use it. But can he convince Jake to make the changes? I thought this story was funny and inspirational. It shows schoolchildren, especially boys, that achievement doesn't necessarily equal geek and social pariah status, that knowledge is a good thing. It also invites children to empathise with others. Walking a mile in another man's shoes is not a common impulse when you're at primary school, but if you can do it you might better understand why other people don't always behave in a pleasant way. It's calm and reassuring about all sorts of different types of relationship - parent and child, teacher and child, bully and bullied, even proto-romance. And it even discusses death - head lice don't live for long you know, and so Bart can only ever have a temporary influence on Jake. There's a lot of worthiness in this book. But it is still great fun to read so it strikes a lovely balance. And the basic, rather icky, premise of a head louse as a central character will appeal to all children who like lavatorial humour. That's all of them, then! I'm looking forward to book number two in this series, Lousy Behaviour, which will be out next year. You might also enjoy Hate That Cat by Sharon Creech, which is about poetry - bear with us! - and is just as funny and inspirational. But if it's brain invasions that appeal, then look no further than Henry Tumour by Anthony McGowan - it's about a brain tumour, not a head louse!” The Book Bag