Year 6 Joe is sick of being average, ordinary, BORING. Inspired by an online video, he determines that he will be Average Joe no more, instead he will start secondary school as a somebody. And when a Bigfoot-like creature is spotted in local woods he thinks he’s found the perfect solution – catch the beast and become a star. Equipped with little more than a vague hope and dragging his best-friend, Tiago, along for support, Joe sets off for the woods.
With Jenny Pearson’s trademark humour, and fun illustrations from Aleksei Bitskoff, this is a perfect comic adventure. As the intrepid twosome deal with wilderness wees, smelly bogs and foraging for food (minus slimy slugs – yuck!) readers will cheer them on, whilst possibly realising the truth about “Bigfoot” long before they do. Joe in particular has a depth of character that readers will love and very possibly recognise in themselves, whilst doggedly determined to complete his quest he remains distinctly lacking in self-belief, more willing to believe a mythical creature has set up home in his local woods than he is willing to believe in his own worth.
Published in Barrington Stoke’s typically accessible format, this is a delightfully fun adventure story, with just the right level of peril for young readers.
Jo Average takes to the wilderness to track down Bigfoot and become a school legend in this brilliantly funny adventure from Lollie Award winning author Jenny Pearson.
Joe is tired of being called average and feeling completely forgettable at school. So when he hears that a Bigfoot-like beast has been spotted in some nearby woods, he senses an opportunity. Surely capturing Bigfoot will make him stand out from the crowd and bring him the popularity he longs for?
With no real plan or survival skills, Joe and his best friend Tiago set off on what turns out to be an unforgettably hilarious quest with some very unexpected results!
Particularly suitable for readers aged 9+ with a reading age of 8.
Jenny Pearson's debut children’s novel, The Super Miraculous Journey of Freddie Yates, won the Lollies 2022 and was shortlisted for the Costa Children’s Book of the Year 2020, Waterstones Children’s Book Prize, the Bradford Boase and the UKLA Book awards.
When she’s not writing, Jenny enjoys inspiring young writers in her classroom and looking after her family and their many animals.
Jenny loves her job and is inspired by the children she has taught. She says, "If you're writing for children, it helps to know what they like but also what they're like. The characters I write are based on many children I have taught over the years and the friendships I have witnessed."
