Stories written in verse are a brave undertaking but Malorie Blackman pulls it off triumphantly in Cloudbusting. Written as a first person narrative, Blackman captures the progression of Sam’s friendship with Davey starting with Sam’s feelings of dislike and how they change to recognising that the two of them together can have a lot of fun. When tragedy strikes, Sam is left to deal with his tangled feelings which include acknowledging the power of their friendship and his guilt about his bullying behaviour. Blackman writes with great insight.
Despite his Mum's insistence, Sam doesn't want to be friends with Davey, he thinks Davey's a first class, grade A, top of the dung heap moron. But one day Davey saves Sam's life and a bond is formed between them. Sam is still embarrassed to be seen with Davey, but little by little he has to admit, when it's just the two of them, Davey is a lot of fun. But then something terrible happens to Davey. . . Told in verse, in first person, this is the touching story of an extraordinary friendship, that changes two boys lives for ever. An uplifting tale that truly sings out.
