Shortlisted for The Roald Dahl Funniest Book Prize 2010 for Children aged seven to fourteen.
It comes possibly as no surprise that Jamie Rix is a massive Roald Dahl fan for his writing his probably more reminiscent of Dahl than any other author writing today. Readers will find it riotously funny and for kids there are plenty of really rather nasty adults whilst Pluck is full of courage and yet is also the unluckiest boy alive. The plot line is completely mad but will keep the reader riveted to the page; what does a prime minister, a chicken dropped from a skyscraper window, a bully called Fox and an alien invasion have in common? Read it to find out. Deservedly on the Roald Dahl Book prize shortlist for it’s quirky, hilarious, crazy and fun all at once.
What do a worried prime minister, a chicken dropped from a skyscraper window, a bully called Fox and an alien invasion have in common? All are ingredients in Jamie Rix's riotous new stand-alone novel for the 9-12 age group. Alfie Pluck is the unluckiest boy alive - until he unwittingly eats the chicken which contains the highly-sought-after luck gene. Once his secret is exposed, no end of people want the gene for their own devious deeds and crackpot schemes. And Alfie is on the run. But there's more than one kind of luck, and Alfie's escape from his pursuers is an hilarious roller coaster of good fortune and bad.
'Rix's book about a boy who eats a lucky chicken is one of the funniest adventures I've read for some time. It's a tale that has elements of the picaresque and the shaggy dog, and its crazy twists will make children of 9+ laugh a lot' - The Times
We're firmly in eccentric territory here with the unfortunate Alfie...young readers will find more than enough giggles in this frenetic adventure that manages to suggest that all good fortune has a darker side too' - Daily Mail
'Consistently funny but with occasional Dahl-esque moments of cruelty to keep readers on their toes, Jamie Rix's The Incredible Luck of Alfie Pluck is a real find' - Independent on Sunday
'Rix is a fan of Roald Dahl and that is clear in the adult characters who are mainly stupid, greedy, cruel or all three. There's plenty of action to keep young readers interested and lots of knowing nudge-and-wink asides for parents and teachers too' - Write Away
'Fast, funny and off-beat, making it ideal reading for older primary-phase boys' - Booktrust
'Funny, scary and fast-paced and bound to be enjoyed by boys and girls' - The Teacher
'Alfie is a lovable and inventive hero and his roller-coaster adventure is a hilarious romp, with enough dark humour and clever twists and turns to make it a super read for grown-ups as well as the younger generation' - Lancashire Evening Post
'Fast paced with plenty of scary twists and turns' - Woman’s Way
'Hilariously absurd and great fun. Plenty of excitement to keep young readers enthralled' - Carousel
Author
About Jamie Rix
After two years at The Royal Court Theatre in London, Jamie Rix moved into television in 1986 as a director, writer and producer. He has worked on a wide variety of programmes - the BAFTA nominated Alas Smith and Jones, British Comedy Award winning Faith in the Future and the superhero BBC sitcom My Hero.
