The Accidental Rock Star

by Tom McLaughlin

It should never have happened, but somehow-with the aid of a recorder, keyboard, and very disturbed cat-Hector and Ollie have made a hit single. And now everybody wants a piece of them. They may have always dreamed of fame, but is life on tour all it's cracked up to be?
Follow a rollercoaster of rock star antics in this hilarious new story from Tom McLaughlin.

240 pages, Paperback

Published July 4, 2019

About the author

I write pictures and doodle words for Bloomsbury, Puffin, Oxford University Press, Simon & Schuster, Scholastic, The Guardian, Disney, Nickelodeon. After leaving art college in ’97, I spent nearly 10 years as a political cartoonist for The Western Morning News before going freelance.

I’ve been published both as a writer and an illustrator for a number of publishers, had my books translated across Europe and South America. Apart from publishing, I’ve also spent time script writer and a character designer for several animation channels.

I live in Devon, spend most of my days drinking tea and dreaming up new stories.

Reviews

[Sarah Ahmimed · Rating 5 out of 5]

As Hector and Ollie claim themselves to be a band without a song. One day they realise they must do a song and Hector says to share it we should put it on facebook. band rehearsed As the band rehearsed Hannah appeared out of nowhere and let go of Nigel (their cat.) As he ruined there music and their mum said " kepp the voice down mixed with "yeah baby " from Hector Nigel mixes the music and as they godown Hannha clicks the post button naming htme the Twerpz and putting a picture of them in a robin and batman costume. At the end they admit Nigel did it and Nigel gets famous. Thye were pretty sad but they did it themselves at their house. After all who needs fans hen you have got yourselves.

[Eve L-A Witherington · Rating 4 out of 5]

After Ollie's sister leaks his and friend Hector's disastrous first attempt at a music track after their cat ruins it on to YouTube as revenge for showing her up at school none of the family are prepared as overnight they become sensations despite only having the one song and get record label interest from groovy record owning granny Doris.



Can they handle the pressure of the limelight on them as a family?



This was a funny book I can only imagine our pets getting famous for making music! It was a great concept and will have kids hooked and probably trying to get their pets to become musical geniuses too maybe?!

[Alice · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book took me by surprise. I hadn't heard of it before and was a bit skeptical as there wasn't much information online. However, this book was a great read and will be great to explore with my Year 3 class. Children could delve into drama using hot setting to explore characterisation and perspectives as well as putting themselves in the characters shoes. Children could also uses freeze frames and then bring the scene to life. A great activity to introduce the children is through inference. What can the children infer from the front cover of the book. I will definitely be using inference with the children when exploring this book.

[Salma · Rating 5 out of 5]

The accidental rock star was an amazing book. It was about a boy called Ollie and his best bud Hector making a band together. ollie embarrassed her sister so now she is getting revenge. Ollie's cat, Nigel started walking on the computer and he mixed their song together. Then Ollie's sister (Hannanh) grabbed the computer and sent their song on youtube for revenge. The song was called Cat Attack. Then, he lets Nigel be in the band and gets forced to offer his whole family. Everyone said yes but not their dad. I just love it in the series how each person does it by accident.

[Daniela · Rating 5 out of 5]

Opeens rockster

[Charlie · Rating 3 out of 5]

2022: Junior Book Group. I loathed pretty much every minute, but it wasn’t written for me 🤣 Kids thought it was ok and we had a half decent discussion about fame and/or talent afterwards.

2024: Junior Book Group. I didn’t dislike it quite so much this time round (“loathe”? wow). Just a fairly light hearted read. Will have to see what this group of kids makes of it.