Felix Unlimited

Wr. Andrew Norriss

Pub. David Fickling Books

Age Range - 9-12 years

Felix is no ordinary boy. With the help of his friends, he's started his own business, and he soon has thousands of pounds stashed under his bed. But it's not all smooth sailing... especially because he hasn't told his parents yet! Friendship troubles, family drama, finances and fast cars - it's a lot for one boy to cope with. But this is Felix...and he's not going to let anything hold him back.

"...a simple story, told artfully."

Felix Unlimited is one of those novels that you read effortlessly in a single sitting. Sometimes that's because the drama and excitement keep you turning pages well into the night. Othertimes, it's simply because the writing is so tight and the story so enjoyable that you simply keep going. In the case of Felix Unlimited, it's the latter.

Without knowing much about the plot, I spent the first half waiting for Felix's business to come crashing down around him. I expected there to be some fly in his ointment; perhaps there would be an intellectual property rights uprising from the children whose illustrations formed the bedrock of his greetings cards venture; or perhaps the HMRC would come calling, dressed in grey pinstripe and with spectacles on the ends of their noses, shining anglepoise lamps in Felix's eyes and demanding to know where his CT600 is. But by the midway point, I realised - this isn't a book full of drama and twists.

This is a simple story, told artfully. At times, it feels as much a young business person's manual as it does a novel. It's funny, it's engaging, and it's a solid reminder that, actually, that's enough. You don't need to feel like you can't trust anyone, or that things are about to go south. Sometimes, you just need a good yarn. Strong characterisation, an enjoyable plot, steady pacing, satisfying payoff. And Felix Unlimited has all those things.

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themes in the novel

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These are some of the themes I was drawn to.

• Friendship. Felix works with his friends whilst starting a business. There is some tension along the way, but a positive conclusion.

• Family/Sibling Rivalry. There's some tension between Felix's father and uncle, which is resolved happily enough, but is a reminder that parents lead complicated lives.