The Lightning Catcher
Reviewed By Ian Banks June 9, 2021
Author Claire Weze
Distributor: Bloomsbury Children's Books
ISBN: 9781526622174
Publisher: Bloomsbury Children's Books
Release Date: May 2021
Website: https://www.bloomsbury.com
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Taking the magic of storytelling a long way, Claire Weze and her character Alfie rewrite what it is to have a great adventure in The Lightening Catcher, a tale of when science and reality clash with often pyrotechnic flashes and hilarity.
Somewhat disjointed in parts, the main story of Alfie and his friend setting out to discover just what is causing the weather in the town of Folding Ford, to be so erratic is intriguing. Now Alfie and his family have not lived in Folding Ford for all that long, and both Alfie and his sister Lily discover they really don’t seem to fit in their new community.
For a start their Dad is black and their mum is white and their Dad works away a lot. Lily has been badly bullied and is having trouble trusting people in the new town and school. Alfie is naturally curious and the weird weather is just too tempting. He and his new best friend set out to investigate what is happening, but in their investigations they accidently set loose a somewhat mischievous light form they call Mr Whizzy that gets them, mostly Alfie, into some serious trouble.
The Lightning Catcher is a story that also subtly looks at bullying, racism, the many aspects of community and the strength of family when things begin to go wrong. Written in a form of diary and first person, much is going on as the adventure becomes seriously problematic, but will anyone notice Alfie is getting into some serious issues before they lend a helping hand.
The plot could have been split into several books for younger readers which would create an excellent series, but overall The Lightning Catcher is perhaps a story on many levels which address a number of the issues faced by younger children within their schools.