What do you think?
Rate this book
Unexpected Twist
An original story by Michael Rosen, inspired by the Charles Dickens classic Oliver Twist. Shona is moving house because her dad's lost his benefits. At her new school, she finds that keeping out of trouble isn't easy - just like for Oliver Twist, in her English class readings. After Shona is unexpectedly given a mobile phone, she begins to suspect there's something dodgy about the boys she's met. Some gifts, she comes to learn, aren't exactly free.
199 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 6, 2018
4 people are currently reading
25 people want to read
About the author
Michael Rosen
593 books536 followersMichael Rosen, a recent British Children’s Laureate, has written many acclaimed books for children, including WE'RE GOING ON A BEAR HUNT, illustrated by Helen Oxenbury, and I’M NUMBER ONE and THIS IS OUR HOUSE, both illustrated by Bob Graham. Michael Rosen lives in London.
Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.
Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
January 1, 2020
I found this book quite boring but ok in some places.
November 29, 2021
Michael Rosen is one of a select bunch of men who I actually love. Him, David Attenborough, Rory Kinnear and Thomas Hardy. Admittedly, I've never met any of them, and in the case of the last one on the list, could only ever have met over the thoughtwaves transmitted through time via his books.
Anyway...the point is, I could be a bit biased in my review here, because even before I turned to the first page, I was thinking 'this is going to be good...because it's Michael Rosen!'
A modern story involving teenagers is cleverly interwoven with excerpts from the original Dickens text, in such a way that the plot of the modern story parallels that of Oliver. It is possibly one of those books more enjoyed by teachers than their pupils, but there again, reluctant readers might actually enjoy reading this within lessons at school. Indeed, I think that is the ideal mode of reading, so that a teacher can explain the tricky bits, and other parts might spark discussion.
Rosen decides to use unadulterated Dickens in the excerpts from Oliver Twist. This means that the reader gets the chance to appreciate the language of Dickens, and his humour. On the other hand, it does mean that some passages may be incomprehensible to contemporary teenagers without a bit of help and translation.
I particularly liked the way the book shows how the themes from a novel written in 1837/8, as Victoria came to the throne, are still highly relevant today; namely the vulnerability of poor, innocent youngsters to exploitation by criminals. This fact can lead to the rather depressing conclusion that nothing has changed, and never will. However, hope lies with those characters that stand as beacons of kindness and trust - Miss Cavani in the modern part of the book, and Mr Brownlow in Oliver Twist.
Overall an enjoyable read, but might prove difficult for some teenagers. Ideal for use in the classroom to introduce Dickens to reluctant readers.
Anyway...the point is, I could be a bit biased in my review here, because even before I turned to the first page, I was thinking 'this is going to be good...because it's Michael Rosen!'
A modern story involving teenagers is cleverly interwoven with excerpts from the original Dickens text, in such a way that the plot of the modern story parallels that of Oliver. It is possibly one of those books more enjoyed by teachers than their pupils, but there again, reluctant readers might actually enjoy reading this within lessons at school. Indeed, I think that is the ideal mode of reading, so that a teacher can explain the tricky bits, and other parts might spark discussion.
Rosen decides to use unadulterated Dickens in the excerpts from Oliver Twist. This means that the reader gets the chance to appreciate the language of Dickens, and his humour. On the other hand, it does mean that some passages may be incomprehensible to contemporary teenagers without a bit of help and translation.
I particularly liked the way the book shows how the themes from a novel written in 1837/8, as Victoria came to the throne, are still highly relevant today; namely the vulnerability of poor, innocent youngsters to exploitation by criminals. This fact can lead to the rather depressing conclusion that nothing has changed, and never will. However, hope lies with those characters that stand as beacons of kindness and trust - Miss Cavani in the modern part of the book, and Mr Brownlow in Oliver Twist.
Overall an enjoyable read, but might prove difficult for some teenagers. Ideal for use in the classroom to introduce Dickens to reluctant readers.
July 26, 2021
Michael Rosen cleverly intertwines the Dickensian world of Oliver Twist with 21st century Britain. The story follows a young girl called Shona, who’s circumstances parallel those of Twist. The topics of loss, poverty, social care and crime are cleverly discussed in class X10’s extracts of Oliver Twist, whilst the same themes are simultaneously mirrored in Shona’s own life. The book also raises interesting discussion points, such as around the theme of antisemitism and society’s treatment of the poor.
The book would be appropriate for confident year 5 readers—complementing history lessons about the Victorians, by introducing modern day contrasts to foreign concepts (such as workhouses).
The book would be appropriate for confident year 5 readers—complementing history lessons about the Victorians, by introducing modern day contrasts to foreign concepts (such as workhouses).
February 20, 2019
Two-pronged Oliver story, using the original alongside a modern school setting.
Rosen inserts extracts of Dickens into a school story of a new girl having trouble keeping out of it. Shona has moved to a new school, and is very sensitive about her home life and family, her Dad's benefits have been stopped. As she meets people and must decide whether to trust them or not, her class reads parts of Oliver Twist which interact and mesh with events in the real world.
It's a great way for readers to access the classic, making it an adaptation that uses the text, shortened, but keeping the story pretty much intact.
I've read Oliver Twist, but a while ago, so some of this seemed unfamiliar. It could be understood by fairly young readers though, top end of primary school won't have trouble with the language of the extracts selected.
Shona is sympathetic, though I didn't really feel anyone else stood out as a character in school. I was most interested in this to see the connections between the Dickens and the school story. Great idea, and it worked well. Would hopefully be useful in classrooms for KS2/3 lessons on PSHE, Victorians, Dickens.
Rosen reads the book himself, and as a well-practiced speaker, he's an engaging narrator. Oliver Twist works when read aloud, as the narrator of this is also talking direct to audience at times.
With thanks to Nudge Books for the sample Audible copy.
Rosen inserts extracts of Dickens into a school story of a new girl having trouble keeping out of it. Shona has moved to a new school, and is very sensitive about her home life and family, her Dad's benefits have been stopped. As she meets people and must decide whether to trust them or not, her class reads parts of Oliver Twist which interact and mesh with events in the real world.
It's a great way for readers to access the classic, making it an adaptation that uses the text, shortened, but keeping the story pretty much intact.
I've read Oliver Twist, but a while ago, so some of this seemed unfamiliar. It could be understood by fairly young readers though, top end of primary school won't have trouble with the language of the extracts selected.
Shona is sympathetic, though I didn't really feel anyone else stood out as a character in school. I was most interested in this to see the connections between the Dickens and the school story. Great idea, and it worked well. Would hopefully be useful in classrooms for KS2/3 lessons on PSHE, Victorians, Dickens.
Rosen reads the book himself, and as a well-practiced speaker, he's an engaging narrator. Oliver Twist works when read aloud, as the narrator of this is also talking direct to audience at times.
With thanks to Nudge Books for the sample Audible copy.
xx-dnf-skim-reference
March 19, 2024Tried the ebook. Brilliant idea, but too grim & bleak for me. Also, rather too British, I think. I can't imagine an American school being so mean to Shona; our parents are over-protective and have established a culture that makes the teachers fearful of them.
dnf March 2024
dnf March 2024
January 19, 2020
A great introduction to Oliver Twist. I'm adding Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens to my 'to read' list and wish list!
June 22, 2020
This book is very contemporary,it didn't feel like an Oliver Twist story to me.The one positive think about it though is I didn't expect Lorraine to show up or Nan to be involved in the gang's.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews