MAPHEAD

MapHead #1

by Lesley Howarth

Twelve-year-old MapHead, a boy with strange powers from an alternative world, travels to England in search of his human mother.

Genres: Science Fiction

159 pages, Paperback

First published October 3, 1994

Reviews

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Teenage fiction, so an easy read. Charming characters and a sweet story, but I wanted a bit more somehow. 7 out of 10

[Tahmin Nessa · Rating 3 out of 5]

MapHead, (I guess the title says it all), is a story about an alien called Booth (MapHead) who can show a map of any place across his head. This story centers around two aliens, a father (Powers) and a son (Booth) who comes to Earth in search for Booth’s Earthling mother.

When Booth and his father arrive on Earth they live on a tomato and often find the modern society quite bewildering as he struggles to understand rhymes and idioms used by the humans.

As the story proceeds Booth finds out that one day a lady was hit by lightning, but fortunately for her she was saved a gold suited alien, who happened to be Booth’s father. This woman and the alien begin to have a relationship and go on to travel across the universe, however she soon starts to miss Earth and wishes to return. As Power is desperately in love with Booth’s mother, he wipes away her memory and allows her to return to Earth.

I remember having this book read to me during story time and could not help myself but fall asleep, however once I re-read this book as an adult, I could not help but feel a sense of sadness that I could not enjoy this story as a child. It contains various aspects of humour as well as dealing with abandonment issues. Having said this, I feel that children will still find it hard to engage with this story as I felt the beginning of this was very slow.

[Lynda · Rating 4 out of 5]

"MapHead" by Lesley Howarth is an intriguing fantasy. Twelve year old MapHead is conceived of a human mother, who was rescued from death by lightning bolt by his alien father, Powers. Powers has reared MapHead alone, but now they have returned to the English town where MapHead might find his mother. This warm-hearted tale unfolds tenderly, and somehow reminded me of Louis Sachar's "Holes". Written in a refreshing, original style, it's a story that takes quite a bit of concentration, and would be enjoyed by avid readers seeking a challenge.

[Robert Day · Rating 3 out of 5]

At one point, late on in the book, I wondered what the youth of today would turn out like if they continue to read stories like these - of aliens, magic, subtle creatures that mess with people's heads and other things that might exist but probably never do. I still think the same way after having read the book.

[Tarmia · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great read even though it was a book aimed at a younger audience. It had an original story and interesting ideas and characters alike. I recommend it to anybody wanting a good but quick read.

[Bex · Rating 3 out of 5]

A weird story of a boy out of place. Is he alien, gypsy, advanced human, robot? Who knows? This left me with an unfinished unsatisfied feeling. With a bit extra it probably wouldn't work but still I'm not sure how I feel about this book now I'm finished.

[Nisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

'One thing children don't like is uncertainty'. Well that's right because I don't, even now. Being trapped in uncertain situation is the worst.

Following MapHead's mission on reuniting back with his human-mom is a bittersweet journey. Longing for a mother's touch and love, he's trapped between bringing back his mom into his life with Powers (Maphead's dad), which will make her suffer, or just let her live her new life on Earth, meaning that MapHead just have to accept the fact that her mom belongs there. There are still some parts that are questionable and I rather think the story deserved longer elaboration but overall I'm happy with the book. Great bedtime story for kids too!

[N.L. McFarlane · Rating 1 out of 5]

The benefit of having kids at school is extra books to read once they've finished with them XD. This is a combination of two books in one. I can't say I really got into this book, the story line was so uniquely created and the characters out of this world. At times I found it hard to understand or follow it, once I understood what was happening, it really was a one of a kind story with good potential, I just didn't find myself gripped with it at all. This may appeal to anyone who is inclined towards sci-fi and alien style stories. I would have enjoyed a bit more padding in the way of bridging gaps and deeper explanations.

[Wren]

DNF @ ch2

I just couldn't with the writing. It was trying to make it super obvious that the main character is an alien, like I get it you don't have to keep convincing me of how weird they are. Also the kid liquified a cat then drank it, no thank you.

[Evelyn · Rating 1 out of 5]

Compulsory reading in Secondary 1
Absolutely hated this book.

[Drishti · Rating 3 out of 5]

Book one was good
Couldn't say the same abt book 2
Lost me in the beginning

[Sofiya · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love it! The storyline is funny and cute. Look how innocent MAPHEAD is 🤭

[Lykha · Rating 3 out of 5]

Weird, gives off the same vibe as Earthlings iykyk

[Beth Bonini · Rating 2 out of 5]

Here's the deal: two aliens, father and son, come down to Earth (normal English town) to find the boy's mother. When a young woman is hit by lightning, the gold suit wearing alien saves her -- and obviously some sort of intimate relationship ensues. After travelling the Universe a bit, the Earthling mother wants to return home; after that request is granted, her memory is wiped. This is all explained later, but what we start out with is the two aliens hanging out in a tomato grower's greenhouse.

It's a sweet story, inventive in places, well-enough-written, but I just didn't enjoy reading it all that much. I don't have a good feel for whether or not it would be a kid-pleaser.

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

Want to come closer to understanding how it feels to be truly alien? Track down this novel (or its sequels--I think there are two or three), about a resident of the "subtle world," of which our mundane one is but a part, who subsists (OK, not all the time, but once is enough) on a diet of salad dressing and liquified cat.

[Nicholas Wong · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was OK, but it was actually kinda hard to start off. All in all, it was a good book, and I enjoyed it.

[Ben · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good read. Funny and thought provoking at times. I'd have liked it to be a tad more complex, but it is a children's book after all.

I'd definitely recommend it. :)

[Rob · Rating 3 out of 5]

bizarre, enjoyable, but generally not memorable. ie, I finished it about 2 years ago and remember barely anything about it.