Charlie and the Great Escape

Charlie

by Hilary McKay

Charlie's fed up of his family always picking on him - it's just not fair. So he's decided to run away ...all the way to Henry's house. That will show them! Now they'll be sorry! But there's a life as a runaway means being horribly, impossibly quiet...

Paperback

First published June 4, 2007

About the author

Hilary McKay was born in Boston, Lincolnshire and is the eldest of four girls. From a very early age she read voraciously and grew up in a household of readers. Hilary says of herself as a child "I anaesthetised myself against the big bad world with large doses of literature. The local library was as familiar to me as my own home."

After reading Botany and Zoology at St. Andrew's University Hilary then went on to work as a biochemist in an Analysis Department. Hilary enjoyed the work but at the same time had a burning desire to write. After the birth of her two children, Hilary wanted to devote more time to bringing up her children and writing so decided to leave her job.

One of the best things about being a writer, says Hilary, is receiving letters from children. She wishes that she had written to authors as a child, but it never occurred to her to contact them

Hilary now lives in a small village in Derbyshire with her family. When not writing Hilary loves walking, reading, and having friends to stay.

Reviews

[Alexis Lopez]

Siento que Carlos no tuvo una lección al final sintió que todo lo que hacía era bueno y no hay una lección real no me encantó la vrd

[Mehrin Ahmed]

Haven’t we all wanted to run away at one point or another during our childhood? The frustrations of feeling unappreciated and unwanted as a child are compellingly depicted in this page-turning story book. Seven year old Charlie is sick and tired of being the black sheep in his house. The good intentions behind his helpful (yet annoying) actions are completely ignored and not to mention his parents love his older brother more. One morning after being sent to his room Charlie has enough and decides to run away- ‘That will show them! Then they’ll be sorry!’ he mistakenly assumes. So he packs his valuable things and embarks on his journey- although he doesn’t get very far. Charlie soon discovers the highs and lows of running away when he learns that his family are actually pleased he no longer exists.

Simplistic narration from a child’s perspective entwined with adult irony makes this an enjoyable book for all. Perfect for literacy lessons where children can predict what happens next, discuss Charlie’s feelings and develop their speaking and listening as well as written communication skills.

[Ullrich Franke]

Charlie läuft weg und erlebt: Nichts. Warum die Autorin das Kind unbedingt Playstation und Fernseher mitnehmen lassen muss, weiß ich nicht. Wahrscheinlich nur, damit der Lütte nicht weit kommt und die Geschichte sich so pädagogisch "entfalten", wie sie es leider tut. Auch Aussagen der Eltern, wie "endlich ist Charlie weg" finde ich trotz aller psychologisierter Rechtfertigung durch die "Handlung" eher problematisch.
Schlicht keine schöne Geschichte.

[H.]

Found this in an old box of books under my sister's bed. I had absolutely forgotten about it! Has to be one of the first books I had ever chosen to read outside of school! Memories.