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Millions
After their mother dies, two brothers find a huge amount of money which they must spend quickly before England switches to the new European currency, but they disagree on what to do with it.
250 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2004
193 people are currently reading
1835 people want to read
About the author
Frank Cottrell Boyce
77 books263 followersFrank Cottrell Boyce is a British screenwriter, novelist and occasional actor.
In addition to original scripts, Cottrell Boyce has also adapted novels for the screen and written children's fiction, winning the 2004 Carnegie Medal for his debut, Millions, based on his own screenplay for the film of the same name.
His novel Framed was shortlisted for the Whitbread Book of the Year as well as the Carnegie Medal.
He adapted the novel into a screenplay for a 2009 BBC television film. His 2009 novel Cosmic has also been shortlisted for the Carnegie Medal.
He is married and the father of seven children.
In addition to original scripts, Cottrell Boyce has also adapted novels for the screen and written children's fiction, winning the 2004 Carnegie Medal for his debut, Millions, based on his own screenplay for the film of the same name.
His novel Framed was shortlisted for the Whitbread Book of the Year as well as the Carnegie Medal.
He adapted the novel into a screenplay for a 2009 BBC television film. His 2009 novel Cosmic has also been shortlisted for the Carnegie Medal.
He is married and the father of seven children.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 508 reviews
May 4, 2013
Jedna od meni dražih dečjih knjiga (u kojima mogu da uživaju i odrasli), koja je zabavna, duhovita i... ekranizovana... Dosta sam se "borila" s izdavačem da ugleda svetlost dana i toplo je preporučujem... Ovo je pisac na koga treba obratiti pažnju... Šteta što ga je izdavač zanemario...
December 21, 2010
I think this was meant to be a feel-good family drama about the effects of money on individuals and society, but is just felt negative and wrong--I never felt that the taking of the money was right or justified in any way and to have every character attempt to justify it and take and spend it without any consequences was just something I couldn't get past. The Mormons, specifically Mormon missionaries, played a role in the story and while the bit that seemed to have been copied directly from a source like Wikipedia about the beginnings of the religion were technically accurate the behavior of the missionaries was so wrong--missionaries going out alone, 3 living together in a brand new house, the missionaries purchasing 2 large-screen TVs for personal use, lying in order to accept a large sum of money, not celebrating Christmas--as to be nearly silly if it all couldn't have been so easily checked had the author cared to do so (I didn't get the feel that it was maliciously intended--just a filler for the story). All that said, what really bumped the story down from solid 3-star rating to a 2 star was having the boys look up underwear models on the Internet in order to look at their nipples. Just so simply not appropriate in a Junior book intended for readers as young as 9.
Want to read
July 15, 2017Putting this on hold after 27% because I just cant seem to get into it .....
November 3, 2022
Well and yes indeed, with regard to Frank Cottrell Boyce's 2004 Carnegie Medal winning middle grade novel Millions (which is basically a story about a fifth grade boy finding a fortune in cash and then having to face and tackle the moral dilemmas regarding what he, what Damian should be doing with his windfall), I do very much appreciate that textually, Cottrell Boyce always manages to retain a humorous and engaging narrative throughout Millions even whilst considering some potentially heavy-duty topics, and not just about and concerning the discovered money (and which is in fact a load of British Pounds Sterling scheduled to be destroyed since the UK is in Millions about to switch over to the Euro), but equally and just as much regarding questions of loss and mending fraught family relationships. A fun story is Millions, with a lot of gentle and very British type humour that in particular my inner child has massively and totally enjoyed reading, but I certainly do wish, or rather my older adult self does wish that Frank Cottrell Boyce would make in particular his three main characters in Millions a bit more developed and nuanced, that Damian were less a goody-goody wanting to give all of the discovered Pounds Sterling to the poor, that his older brother Anthony would be just a trifle less mercenary, less spend-happy, less selfish, and that the father would not be depicted by Boyce as so massively clueless (and in many ways often functioning rather like a plot device, like a textual tool).
And furthermore, and finally, albeit I certainly do kind of wonder if I might be reading just a wee bit too much into and below the surface for Millions, as someone who was closely following the political and economic debates happening both in England and elsewhere in Europe (from around 1990 to 2006) regarding the adoption or not of the Euro and the fiascos this actually ended up creating for many member nations, both that Millions was published in 2004 (when the Euro had only recently been adopted as the common currency on the continent and when there was a very heated and often volatile debate in the UK regarding this) and that the entire (fictitious) scenario of the United Kingdom switching to the Euro is definitely being shown by Frank Cottrell Boyce as really being rather negative, this does definitely make me increasingly consider Millions to be Cottrell Boyce's warning fable against the Euro replacing the British Pound Sterling (and while I definitely think that this is interesting, it is also something I do tend to find more than a bit uncomfortable, as it gives Millions a between the lines political and economic message I as an adult reader find quite annoyingly problematic).
And furthermore, and finally, albeit I certainly do kind of wonder if I might be reading just a wee bit too much into and below the surface for Millions, as someone who was closely following the political and economic debates happening both in England and elsewhere in Europe (from around 1990 to 2006) regarding the adoption or not of the Euro and the fiascos this actually ended up creating for many member nations, both that Millions was published in 2004 (when the Euro had only recently been adopted as the common currency on the continent and when there was a very heated and often volatile debate in the UK regarding this) and that the entire (fictitious) scenario of the United Kingdom switching to the Euro is definitely being shown by Frank Cottrell Boyce as really being rather negative, this does definitely make me increasingly consider Millions to be Cottrell Boyce's warning fable against the Euro replacing the British Pound Sterling (and while I definitely think that this is interesting, it is also something I do tend to find more than a bit uncomfortable, as it gives Millions a between the lines political and economic message I as an adult reader find quite annoyingly problematic).
September 22, 2022
As a child I would have read and enjoyed this several times, for the simple adventure once, and then a reread for figuring out the mysteries and puzzles and the how-to of economics, and then a nostalgic reread would have given me a chance to appreciate Damian's obsession and visions. As an adult, I think I want to reread it so I can appreciate the simple adventure, because upon this (first ever) read I was wrapped up in Damian and in his r'ship with his father and brother and couldn't quite fully just enjoy the book, as it was so poignant.
Anthony's character is easier to appreciate, and the humor comes through loud and clear to all, too.
A true gem that should be more widely read.
---
Also a Carnegie (UK) medal winner. Also not available in any of my current libraries.
Anthony's character is easier to appreciate, and the humor comes through loud and clear to all, too.
A true gem that should be more widely read.
---
Also a Carnegie (UK) medal winner. Also not available in any of my current libraries.
December 15, 2015
I was looking for a new Christmas set novel to read and Robison Wells recommended this. I've seen the movie, but didn't know that it was a book. Apparently they were written at the same time, as Frank Boyce was originally a screenwriter.
The verdict?
What a delight!
Damian's voice is so clear and pure that I couldn't stop smiling and reading. I was immediately concerned for him, for his father, for his brother, and wanted them to "win." But how they would win, and what the answer was, I didn't know until the last, very satisfying, page. It's a bit different from the movie, which made it a surprising ending, and I actually liked the book ending better. This is a wonderful read for all ages, and thought not super Christmassy, I am still adding it to my December repertoire.
The verdict?
What a delight!
Damian's voice is so clear and pure that I couldn't stop smiling and reading. I was immediately concerned for him, for his father, for his brother, and wanted them to "win." But how they would win, and what the answer was, I didn't know until the last, very satisfying, page. It's a bit different from the movie, which made it a surprising ending, and I actually liked the book ending better. This is a wonderful read for all ages, and thought not super Christmassy, I am still adding it to my December repertoire.
April 28, 2012
This is one of those children's books that seems to be operating on two levels. Although I do think it would appeal to the more intelligent readers in the 10-13 age group, a lot of the humour and commentary is probably aimed more at an adult level of understanding. (The real estate and financial commentary of the protagonist's older brother, Anthony, is one example that comes to mind.)
There are two major plot points: Damian (the protagonist) and Anthony are trying to cope with the recent death of their mother, whilst simultaneously trying to figure out how to spend a rather large sum of money that has come their way. The money has an expiration date, because it is actually a "retired" currency. (Although the book is set in England, the premise is that the English pound is being switched over to the euro.) The boys quickly learn some lessons in basic economics: for one thing, how difficult it is to spend a large amount of cash (particularly when you have to keep it a secret). There is also an interesting lesson in inflation in the school yard, not to mention several good examples of the corrupting influence of money.
As contrast to all of that filthy lucre, Damian is obsessed with the ideas of goodness and excellence. One of the focuses of that obsession has become an interest in saints -- the lives of which populate both his imagination AND several of the key scenes in this book. (It is a mostly realistic book, but there are a few "magically realistic" scenes: for instance, when the "real" Joseph takes Damian's place in the nativity play; when Peter explains how the loaves and the fishes story really took place; when Damian speaks to his dead mother.) Overall, it is a very quirky book -- in terms of voice, style, content, pretty much everything. I loved the poignant humour in it, and I thought that there was an unexpected amount of philosophical depth.
There are two major plot points: Damian (the protagonist) and Anthony are trying to cope with the recent death of their mother, whilst simultaneously trying to figure out how to spend a rather large sum of money that has come their way. The money has an expiration date, because it is actually a "retired" currency. (Although the book is set in England, the premise is that the English pound is being switched over to the euro.) The boys quickly learn some lessons in basic economics: for one thing, how difficult it is to spend a large amount of cash (particularly when you have to keep it a secret). There is also an interesting lesson in inflation in the school yard, not to mention several good examples of the corrupting influence of money.
As contrast to all of that filthy lucre, Damian is obsessed with the ideas of goodness and excellence. One of the focuses of that obsession has become an interest in saints -- the lives of which populate both his imagination AND several of the key scenes in this book. (It is a mostly realistic book, but there are a few "magically realistic" scenes: for instance, when the "real" Joseph takes Damian's place in the nativity play; when Peter explains how the loaves and the fishes story really took place; when Damian speaks to his dead mother.) Overall, it is a very quirky book -- in terms of voice, style, content, pretty much everything. I loved the poignant humour in it, and I thought that there was an unexpected amount of philosophical depth.
December 31, 2017
Dễ thương quá chừng luôn, khép lại năm 2017 bằng một cuốn sách viết về vấn đề làm mình đau đầu nhất năm 2017 là tiền bạc nhưng mà cách tiếp cận cuốn sách đáng yêu, nhân vật dễ thương, cốt truyện cũng hài hước nữa, kiểu như tiền bạc là gánh nặng thật sự (theo đúng nghĩa đen nhé).
July 16, 2022
اولش حرصم در اومد از دست این پسره انقد تو نخ
قدیسها بود، واقعا نمیتونستم کتابو تحمل کنم! بعدش که پول پیدا شد کمکم بهتر شد 😆
قدیسها بود، واقعا نمیتونستم کتابو تحمل کنم! بعدش که پول پیدا شد کمکم بهتر شد 😆
August 26, 2019
pointless. don’t bother
April 6, 2012
A wonderful, sweet story told by a 5th-grade boy who just happens to see long-dead saints everywhere he looks.
Damian and his brother, Anthony, have recently lost their mother, and their father is doing all that he can to raise them well. Damian’s coping mechanism for his mother’s death is to read everything he can about the lives of various saints. Anthony, however, becomes a bit of a financial guru. When a huge bag stuffed with more than 200,000 quid comes flying out of the sky and into Damian’s cardboard “hermitage” (i.e., hideout), the story begins.
Anthony searches for ways to make the money grow, and devises some pretty sneaky schemes. Damian, on the other hand, feels the “weight” of the money on his shoulders, and constantly looks for needy people and good causes whom he can help out. Of the added stress that the money ends up bringing into his and his brother’s lives, Damian says, “[The bag of cash] was heavy and we were nervous that something would happen to it. And that’s the thing. We thought the money was going to take care of everything but we ended up taking care of the money. We were always worried about it, tucking it in at night, checking up on it. It was like a big baby.”
Because the story is told from the sweetly naive perspective of Damian, it is filled with many silly but poignant observations. It is a quick and delightful read, and is nearly identical to the movie. Not to mention that it’s a great way to catch up on your lack of education about the saints!
Damian and his brother, Anthony, have recently lost their mother, and their father is doing all that he can to raise them well. Damian’s coping mechanism for his mother’s death is to read everything he can about the lives of various saints. Anthony, however, becomes a bit of a financial guru. When a huge bag stuffed with more than 200,000 quid comes flying out of the sky and into Damian’s cardboard “hermitage” (i.e., hideout), the story begins.
Anthony searches for ways to make the money grow, and devises some pretty sneaky schemes. Damian, on the other hand, feels the “weight” of the money on his shoulders, and constantly looks for needy people and good causes whom he can help out. Of the added stress that the money ends up bringing into his and his brother’s lives, Damian says, “[The bag of cash] was heavy and we were nervous that something would happen to it. And that’s the thing. We thought the money was going to take care of everything but we ended up taking care of the money. We were always worried about it, tucking it in at night, checking up on it. It was like a big baby.”
Because the story is told from the sweetly naive perspective of Damian, it is filled with many silly but poignant observations. It is a quick and delightful read, and is nearly identical to the movie. Not to mention that it’s a great way to catch up on your lack of education about the saints!
September 5, 2011
Saw this film a few months back, and knew the screenwriter Frank Cottrell Boyce as the author of Cosmic, which I adored. The film was good, if a tad unapproachable. I totally understood Damian's obsession with saints after his mother passed away, and his need to be pious and excellent. It's a little weird, don't get me wrong. Some kids have an obsession with baseball stats and others can name every species of frog, so... yeah.
Damian, his dad and his older brother Anthony move to a new house. Damian, who makes his hermitage by the train tracks, encounters a bag stuffed with millions and millions of pounds, about to be destroyed as Britain (in this book's universe) is about to convert its currency to the euro. When Anthony finds out, Anthony--who has an interest in real estate and financial affairs more than any 11 year old boy should--thinks up as creative ways as he can in order to spend it, much to Damian's dismay. The pious, excellent Damian would like to give it to African aid relief.
It's mostly funny though sometimes sad, watching Damian struggle to be a good person while providing a nifty commentary about money, inflation, economy and investment (completely implausible, but still great!). However, the humour is pretty British, so if you don't get British humour you will just find it weird. I stand by my earlier assessment that Frank Cottrell Boyce is the UK's 21st-century Roald Dahl.
Damian, his dad and his older brother Anthony move to a new house. Damian, who makes his hermitage by the train tracks, encounters a bag stuffed with millions and millions of pounds, about to be destroyed as Britain (in this book's universe) is about to convert its currency to the euro. When Anthony finds out, Anthony--who has an interest in real estate and financial affairs more than any 11 year old boy should--thinks up as creative ways as he can in order to spend it, much to Damian's dismay. The pious, excellent Damian would like to give it to African aid relief.
It's mostly funny though sometimes sad, watching Damian struggle to be a good person while providing a nifty commentary about money, inflation, economy and investment (completely implausible, but still great!). However, the humour is pretty British, so if you don't get British humour you will just find it weird. I stand by my earlier assessment that Frank Cottrell Boyce is the UK's 21st-century Roald Dahl.
October 3, 2016
Millions is a fun book, full of wild and also touching emotion. The main character, Damian, is fascinated with saints. Boyce does a nice job of balancing the serious elements of grief with bits of humor that add up to a compelling tale of coming-of-age and growing up. The book also raises issues of the best way to help the poor. Throughout the story, Damian is troubled with how to give and where to donate money. He turns to his saintly visions for guidance, and his heart is always in the right place. Boyce expresses how giving money accumulates to good deeds, which signify rungs on the ladder to heaven, just like the saints on their way to canonization. Even with all the fun and twists that transpire as one grand scheme leads to the next, Boyce also conveys the message that, indeed, money can be a burden. This idea is voiced throughout with grace and skill as Boyce shows the problems that money can cause. This is a noteworthy book with a truly deep and emotional side to it that perfectly combines fun, adventure, and humor into the sensitive issues. Boyce’s book will certainly capture the interest of its target audience of upper school-age and middle-school readers. The characterizations are strong, and the plot builds with tension, intrigue, and curiosity. This book will find appeal and bring about discussion on many topics, particularly the correct way to deal with money.
July 31, 2012
I saw and loved the movie before I read and loved the book. The clerk at Bank Street Bookstore promised that if I didn't mind Damian's constant musing about religion and saintliness I would love the story, but warned me some people are bothered by seeing so much religion in a kid's book. I thought it was fascinating to have saintly visitations happening alongside a heist adventure. Damian's obsession with "being excellent" made him an unusual and memorable main character whose circular, well-intentioned and slightly batty attempts to make sense of adult worry-logic and comfort himself with it would resonate with anxious conscientious young readers. I read some chapters aloud to my younger sister (who is cool as a cucumber by temperament) and she laughed out loud to hear his antic reasoning, proving that for those who don't identify, there is much pleasure to be had from visiting Damian's corner of kook for a while. The writing was very well-paced for a television generation, since the author wrote Millions first as a screenplay it maintains a highly visual and plot-driven style. An edge of my seat read that would be enjoyed by upper elementary and middle school kids, if ever I could get it past the censors.
January 4, 2017
... دیوار را میبیند؛ دیواری که سراسرش پوشیده از پولهای قدیمی بود. راستی، خیلی خوب هم چسبانده نشده بودند و بعضی از قسمتها باد کرده بودند، طوریکه انگار پولها از دیوار بالا میخزیدند. ... وارد آنجا میشود و با ناباوری، پولها را از نزدیک میبیند و به آنها دست میکشد. ...
-میدانید که روی 70 درصد از اسکناسهای بریتانیا رد کوکائین وجود داره. روی 40 درصد آنها هم رد باروت. باروت اسلحهها. همهشان اینجا هستند. فقط باید بتوانید ببینید، اما اصل موضوع اینجاست که نمیتوانید. این اسکناسها! چه کسانی عرق ریختند تا اینها رو دزدیدند، چقدر دوستشان داشتند و حسرت اینها به دلشان ماند. حالا این اسکناسها به چه دردی میخورند؟هیچی...
*
- ... دامیان، تو که میدانی پول چه چیز پیچیدهایست؟ بله، مردم از آن هم پیچیدهترند. تو هر چیزی رو یا خوب میبینی یا بد، اما چیزها پیچیدهاند. باید یادت باشه که تقریبا همیشه آنقدر چیزهای خوب دوروبرت هست که بتوانی به زندگی ادامه بدهی...
**
گاهی پول از دست شما میرود، مثل آبی که از لولهای روی زمین داغ میریزد و خاک زمین تشنه آن را در خود جذب میکند و تا شعاع چند کیلومتری آن نقطه، گلوگیاه میرویاند و تمام تخمها و ریشهها و زندگیهای مرده و خشکیدهی داخل آن زمین میشکفند و آب به تمام آنها زندگی دوباره میبخشد.
-از متن کتاب-
-میدانید که روی 70 درصد از اسکناسهای بریتانیا رد کوکائین وجود داره. روی 40 درصد آنها هم رد باروت. باروت اسلحهها. همهشان اینجا هستند. فقط باید بتوانید ببینید، اما اصل موضوع اینجاست که نمیتوانید. این اسکناسها! چه کسانی عرق ریختند تا اینها رو دزدیدند، چقدر دوستشان داشتند و حسرت اینها به دلشان ماند. حالا این اسکناسها به چه دردی میخورند؟هیچی...
*
- ... دامیان، تو که میدانی پول چه چیز پیچیدهایست؟ بله، مردم از آن هم پیچیدهترند. تو هر چیزی رو یا خوب میبینی یا بد، اما چیزها پیچیدهاند. باید یادت باشه که تقریبا همیشه آنقدر چیزهای خوب دوروبرت هست که بتوانی به زندگی ادامه بدهی...
**
گاهی پول از دست شما میرود، مثل آبی که از لولهای روی زمین داغ میریزد و خاک زمین تشنه آن را در خود جذب میکند و تا شعاع چند کیلومتری آن نقطه، گلوگیاه میرویاند و تمام تخمها و ریشهها و زندگیهای مرده و خشکیدهی داخل آن زمین میشکفند و آب به تمام آنها زندگی دوباره میبخشد.
-از متن کتاب-
November 22, 2010
All I can tell from Frank Cottrell Boyce based on his jacket info is that he looks like Alan Cumming's brother and he has 7 kids. But seriously, who IS this guy? I love his books.
I saw the movie of this one years ago and kind of forgot about it. Damian and Anthony are brothers and they've just moved into a new neighborhood. Damian is obsessed with saints and builds himself a little hermitage to live in down by the railroad tracks. Then a big bag of money falls off a train and as he and his brother struggle to spend it wisely and hide it from their Dad the book unfolds.
The characters are so sweet and I loved Damian and his obsession with saints and their lives. And the saints that appear to him periodically - that killed me. Only bad thing was their Mom is dead and the boys are obviously sad about that. Normally I won't touch a book with a dead parent and sad kids with a 10 foot pole, but this book was worth it.
Awesome, sweet read. I still liked "Framed" better, but this one is pretty dang good.
I saw the movie of this one years ago and kind of forgot about it. Damian and Anthony are brothers and they've just moved into a new neighborhood. Damian is obsessed with saints and builds himself a little hermitage to live in down by the railroad tracks. Then a big bag of money falls off a train and as he and his brother struggle to spend it wisely and hide it from their Dad the book unfolds.
The characters are so sweet and I loved Damian and his obsession with saints and their lives. And the saints that appear to him periodically - that killed me. Only bad thing was their Mom is dead and the boys are obviously sad about that. Normally I won't touch a book with a dead parent and sad kids with a 10 foot pole, but this book was worth it.
Awesome, sweet read. I still liked "Framed" better, but this one is pretty dang good.
April 3, 2012
I don't read children's fiction very often, but this one was recommended to me so I thought I'd give it a whirl.
It's a story about 2 brothers who are each dealing with the loss of their mother in different ways, and a father who reminds them to be excellent. The younger brother (and narrator) Damian tries his best to be excellent and to do good work every day. His heart is in the right place, but sadly the execution doesn't come off like he thinks it will. His older brother, Anthony, focuses on the almighty Pound/Euro, and is an excellent liar. Dad is just trying his best to keep a roof over their heads and teach the boys to be excellent.
This was a really cute story about growing up, and learning about how great (and burdensome) money can be. Some parts were a little outlandish, but that's often the case with children's books so it didn't bother me. I think most kids would like this book.
It's a story about 2 brothers who are each dealing with the loss of their mother in different ways, and a father who reminds them to be excellent. The younger brother (and narrator) Damian tries his best to be excellent and to do good work every day. His heart is in the right place, but sadly the execution doesn't come off like he thinks it will. His older brother, Anthony, focuses on the almighty Pound/Euro, and is an excellent liar. Dad is just trying his best to keep a roof over their heads and teach the boys to be excellent.
This was a really cute story about growing up, and learning about how great (and burdensome) money can be. Some parts were a little outlandish, but that's often the case with children's books so it didn't bother me. I think most kids would like this book.
April 13, 2014
Millions is an interesting story about two young brothers who stumble upon a bag filled with thousands of pounds and must try and spend it before the currency is changed to the euro. Anthony and Damian Cunningham are two English school boys and together with their combined knowledge of saints and money they must overcome many obstacles. Their story shows the true value of money and family, and that a little kindness can go a long way.
Although this book isn't something I would usually read, I did enjoy it and found it funny yet heart warming. I would definitely recommend this book.
Although this book isn't something I would usually read, I did enjoy it and found it funny yet heart warming. I would definitely recommend this book.
September 23, 2016
The novel Millions takes place in the early 2000s in the suburbs of London, England and is about two young brothers in middle school and their father. The book is about how money doesn’t measure happiness, wealth or a good life, wealth is measured by your relationships with friends and family and the bonds you make throughout life. The book is about a young boy named Damian who is obsessed with catholic saints and his older brother Anthony and the problems they get into after Damian finds a bag of pounds, north of two-hundred and thirty thousand pounds to be exact. Damian and Anthony must spend all the money before the U.K. switches to the Euro while still keeping the fact that they have so much money a secret from their father and eventually from thieves who stole the money in the first place. The boys encounter many problems throughout the story and when all the money is gone they both realize that no amount of money will amount to the family they have and love they share for each other. The story is told in first person from Damian’s point of view and the language he used is mostly your every vocabulary except for Damian’s extensive vocabulary. The author also used a lot of symbolism and figurative language throughout the story representing things like family, the boys’ mother and greed among other things. The story started out very slow but after finding the money, the story became very fast and many events occurred over a short time which made it hard to pick up every little detail and most of the important aspects of the story were hinted at by those little details. Most of the novel was upbeat and cheerful because the boys were doing a lot of good deeds with all of their money and there weren’t that many major problems throughout the majority of the book. There were also many sad parts of the story including the boys’ dead mom, losing all their money and being robbed because all of those problems in the story were negative. Damian stood out as a character in the book because he had such an outgoing and big personality that couldn’t be contained. He was always optimistic and his happiness was very contagious for me as a reader and his personality and point of view for the story was very different from any other first person book I’ve read. The book was not very relatable because the circumstances and topics in this book aren’t very commonly seen in my life personally and I haven’t had any real life experience with any of the event in this book. However I think that making the characters younger helped me to relate to them a little bit and I’m sure other people experience some of the situations that are touched upon in this book.
My favorite part of the book was the ending. I liked the ending because I thought it was very eye opening and that the theme was a very important lesson to learn. The end showed how throughout the whole novel the boys’ went through so much for their money and that showed a lot about how greed can control you. The end also helped me as a reader to see that money isn’t all it’s cracked up to be and that the relationships you make throughout life are much more important. In the book the boys’ realize their dad is what makes them most happy and that money can’t buy love. My least favorite part of the novel was when the boys’ do not accept Dorothy into their home to make dinner. The boys’ are scared she is going to replace their mom when Dorothy makes lasagna from scratch just like their mom used to and they don’t want a new mom. They’re scared to admit that Dorothy’s lasagna is better because they feel if they do they will lose their old mom. I disliked this part of the book because the boys were acting juvenile and I think that they were too concerned with their hatred for anyone that threatens their mom’s place that they didn’t realize what a nice person Dorothy was. I don’t think I would make any major changes because there wasn’t much wrong with the book however if I had to change something it would be to build suspense and add action because I found the book very bland and not very exciting. I think the theme of the story was conveyed very well by the ending of the novel because it stressed how greed can change people and make them a lesser version of themselves, this was shown by Damian, Anthony, their father, Dorothy and the actual thieves. I think this story worked because the book showed both before and after the characters gained all the money and it made me see that the characters were more likable in the beginning of the novel. I liked the theme of the story and I thought it told a very important lesson that everyone should learn, however I was indifferent about the book as a whole. I thought the story was ok because it was touching but not to the point of other stories that are out there. I did also like the relationship between the boys and their father because it showed how family is one of the most important, if not the most, important aspects in a person’s life. The way the story and theme was told was very bland and boring to me though. I think that if the book included more action and events occurring then it could be better but the book didn’t take any big unexpected turns and didn’t include anything adventurous or out of the ordinary which is what I didn’t like. I probably wouldn’t recommend this book to anyone because I think that it’s just very boring and that there’s no real climax in the entire story. However I do think the theme is very important but I think there are other book that can give the same messages but in a more interesting way. I thought the book was overall mediocre but there were aspects that I did like and I could see why people would like the novel but personally I didn’t.
My favorite part of the book was the ending. I liked the ending because I thought it was very eye opening and that the theme was a very important lesson to learn. The end showed how throughout the whole novel the boys’ went through so much for their money and that showed a lot about how greed can control you. The end also helped me as a reader to see that money isn’t all it’s cracked up to be and that the relationships you make throughout life are much more important. In the book the boys’ realize their dad is what makes them most happy and that money can’t buy love. My least favorite part of the novel was when the boys’ do not accept Dorothy into their home to make dinner. The boys’ are scared she is going to replace their mom when Dorothy makes lasagna from scratch just like their mom used to and they don’t want a new mom. They’re scared to admit that Dorothy’s lasagna is better because they feel if they do they will lose their old mom. I disliked this part of the book because the boys were acting juvenile and I think that they were too concerned with their hatred for anyone that threatens their mom’s place that they didn’t realize what a nice person Dorothy was. I don’t think I would make any major changes because there wasn’t much wrong with the book however if I had to change something it would be to build suspense and add action because I found the book very bland and not very exciting. I think the theme of the story was conveyed very well by the ending of the novel because it stressed how greed can change people and make them a lesser version of themselves, this was shown by Damian, Anthony, their father, Dorothy and the actual thieves. I think this story worked because the book showed both before and after the characters gained all the money and it made me see that the characters were more likable in the beginning of the novel. I liked the theme of the story and I thought it told a very important lesson that everyone should learn, however I was indifferent about the book as a whole. I thought the story was ok because it was touching but not to the point of other stories that are out there. I did also like the relationship between the boys and their father because it showed how family is one of the most important, if not the most, important aspects in a person’s life. The way the story and theme was told was very bland and boring to me though. I think that if the book included more action and events occurring then it could be better but the book didn’t take any big unexpected turns and didn’t include anything adventurous or out of the ordinary which is what I didn’t like. I probably wouldn’t recommend this book to anyone because I think that it’s just very boring and that there’s no real climax in the entire story. However I do think the theme is very important but I think there are other book that can give the same messages but in a more interesting way. I thought the book was overall mediocre but there were aspects that I did like and I could see why people would like the novel but personally I didn’t.
May 15, 2023
We read this as a family. Very funny, thought provoking, interesting, and all around a good book.
We loved his obsession with saints and sainthood. That his room was a hermitage was hilarious.
We loved his obsession with saints and sainthood. That his room was a hermitage was hilarious.
June 12, 2025
I really enjoyed seeing the different ways the brothers chose to spend their money. Anthony wanting to invest in a house and Damien wanting to give it to charity. This is a heartwarming book about the meaning of money and learning that true wealth is family.
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November 19, 2011 Millions
Author: Frank Cottrell Boyce
Reviewer:Cierra Kitt
Damian and his brother Anthony move in with their father because their mom died. Ever since Damian’s mom died he always believes in saints because he thinks it will get him closer to his mom. I think he is still shocked about it because he always says “My Mum’s dead”. Everyone always tells him that “She’s is a better place” (pg. 39). Damian goes to the hermitage (a place he likes to go to pray about his mom). While he is there a bag full of millions of dollars falls from the sky right in front of him. He thinks it is God answering his prayer. The problem is that Damian only has seventeen days to spend all the money in the bag because the money system was changing to a new one called “Euros”. Damian and Anthony spend some of his money on the things they like such as toys and cars. Then they give some of the money to the poor and the saints. Damian doesn’t want anyone to steal the money so he hides the rest of the money in a sand box. Then the next day when they come home from school they realize that crooks stole the rest of the money that was in the bag! So Damian and Anthony set out to find the thief. They think of two different suspects but eventually they find their money and end up with 20,345 Euros. At the end, Anthony says, “And so they failed to make proper use of their once in a life time investment opportunity and they all regretted it ever after.” (pg. 246)
One of the main characters is Damian Cunningham. He is loses his mom because she died and he spends a lot of time praying, and talking about saints. I think he does this because he thinks it will bring him closer to his mom. Damian seems adventurous because he explores around the town to find the saints he is looking for and the crooks who stole the money. Damian is not selfish and he is always wants to help other people. Another main character is Damian’s brother, Anthony Cunningham. He is the opposite of Damian. Anthony is very greedy he really only cares about the money. He also seems intelligent because of the way figures out where to hide the money.
The conflict in the book is for Damian and Anthony to find a way to get rid of the money in seventeen days because it is in the old form of money and the money system is changing to a new one( Euros). They solve the conflict by Damian saying “what if we find some saints and give some money to them then let’s donate some to the poor”. The next day they try and find where the saints and the poor live, but before they can get to the house where the saints live they see a saint walking past them so they gave him some money from the bag. At the end of the story they were able to change the leftover money at the bank for Euros.
I do not like the book because it doesn’t have enough excitement and suspense in it. All of my favorite books have lot of suspense. I also do not like the fact that Damian’s mom dies. I know it is not a true story but that makes me sad and feel bad for Damian and his brother!
Author: Frank Cottrell Boyce
Reviewer:Cierra Kitt
Damian and his brother Anthony move in with their father because their mom died. Ever since Damian’s mom died he always believes in saints because he thinks it will get him closer to his mom. I think he is still shocked about it because he always says “My Mum’s dead”. Everyone always tells him that “She’s is a better place” (pg. 39). Damian goes to the hermitage (a place he likes to go to pray about his mom). While he is there a bag full of millions of dollars falls from the sky right in front of him. He thinks it is God answering his prayer. The problem is that Damian only has seventeen days to spend all the money in the bag because the money system was changing to a new one called “Euros”. Damian and Anthony spend some of his money on the things they like such as toys and cars. Then they give some of the money to the poor and the saints. Damian doesn’t want anyone to steal the money so he hides the rest of the money in a sand box. Then the next day when they come home from school they realize that crooks stole the rest of the money that was in the bag! So Damian and Anthony set out to find the thief. They think of two different suspects but eventually they find their money and end up with 20,345 Euros. At the end, Anthony says, “And so they failed to make proper use of their once in a life time investment opportunity and they all regretted it ever after.” (pg. 246)
One of the main characters is Damian Cunningham. He is loses his mom because she died and he spends a lot of time praying, and talking about saints. I think he does this because he thinks it will bring him closer to his mom. Damian seems adventurous because he explores around the town to find the saints he is looking for and the crooks who stole the money. Damian is not selfish and he is always wants to help other people. Another main character is Damian’s brother, Anthony Cunningham. He is the opposite of Damian. Anthony is very greedy he really only cares about the money. He also seems intelligent because of the way figures out where to hide the money.
The conflict in the book is for Damian and Anthony to find a way to get rid of the money in seventeen days because it is in the old form of money and the money system is changing to a new one( Euros). They solve the conflict by Damian saying “what if we find some saints and give some money to them then let’s donate some to the poor”. The next day they try and find where the saints and the poor live, but before they can get to the house where the saints live they see a saint walking past them so they gave him some money from the bag. At the end of the story they were able to change the leftover money at the bank for Euros.
I do not like the book because it doesn’t have enough excitement and suspense in it. All of my favorite books have lot of suspense. I also do not like the fact that Damian’s mom dies. I know it is not a true story but that makes me sad and feel bad for Damian and his brother!
April 10, 2014
Millions is about two young brothers who come across millions of pounds and their decisions on what they do with it. There is selflessness and selfishness throughout the story and what is right and wrong becomes tested. We follow Damian and Anthony (brothers) through everything they do with the money before the day when the pound gets changed for the Euro.
Conflicts arise throughout their family as the burden becomes to much to bear and secrets are becoming harder to keep. How will these two troublemakers fare with people watching at every turn?
They way Frank Cottrell Boyce describes the events that unfold, to me, seems detached. Even though the novel is written in Damian's perspective, it seems like their is still this barrier between the emotions and what is actually happening. Many good novels are good because of how they make a reader feel. Millions doesn't give me any types of feelings; it's more of a retelling of a story that happened with someone else- like the person telling the story can't show the emotions of the characters because s/he wasn't there and therefore didn't experience it. Other than that I think Millions was well written, and the characters were portrayed in different interesting lights. The author unravelled the mysteries and tied any loose endings very well.
I would recommend this story to anyone above the age of ten, for there is some difficult language that would be hard for children to understand. It is good for a school novel study and also for anyone wanting a quick simple read during their free time. I highly recommend it.
Conflicts arise throughout their family as the burden becomes to much to bear and secrets are becoming harder to keep. How will these two troublemakers fare with people watching at every turn?
They way Frank Cottrell Boyce describes the events that unfold, to me, seems detached. Even though the novel is written in Damian's perspective, it seems like their is still this barrier between the emotions and what is actually happening. Many good novels are good because of how they make a reader feel. Millions doesn't give me any types of feelings; it's more of a retelling of a story that happened with someone else- like the person telling the story can't show the emotions of the characters because s/he wasn't there and therefore didn't experience it. Other than that I think Millions was well written, and the characters were portrayed in different interesting lights. The author unravelled the mysteries and tied any loose endings very well.
I would recommend this story to anyone above the age of ten, for there is some difficult language that would be hard for children to understand. It is good for a school novel study and also for anyone wanting a quick simple read during their free time. I highly recommend it.
May 1, 2008
I actually listened to the audiobook, which was even more hilarious than the book, due to the great voice of the narrator. (Being American, I wouldn't have been able to imagine the sound of the annoyed protagonist telling his older brother that his cardboard hideout isn't a den, but "an hermitage.")
Damian has visions of saints, who all have their own personalities (and are hilarious). When he prays for guidance and a giant bag of money falls out of the sky, he figures God has sent it. His older brother doesn't quite believe that, but he definitely believes in money. And he has plenty of ideas what to do with this money, all of which end up not at all what he intended. Can Saint Joseph save the day? How about Saint Peter? Will inflationary pressures ruin the elementary school economy? And who is the mysterious man with the glass eye? Heartwarming and hilarious, this is a great story.
Damian has visions of saints, who all have their own personalities (and are hilarious). When he prays for guidance and a giant bag of money falls out of the sky, he figures God has sent it. His older brother doesn't quite believe that, but he definitely believes in money. And he has plenty of ideas what to do with this money, all of which end up not at all what he intended. Can Saint Joseph save the day? How about Saint Peter? Will inflationary pressures ruin the elementary school economy? And who is the mysterious man with the glass eye? Heartwarming and hilarious, this is a great story.
November 13, 2012
Damien is a fourth grade student in England on the brink of the (imaginary) Pound/Euro currency changeover. Obsessed with the lives and demises of saints since the death of his mother, Damien attracts a great deal of negative attention and warranted concern around his community. Millions focuses on what Damien and and his brother choose to do with a great deal of money that suddenly falls in their laps.
While I adored Damien's saint-fixation and his brother's promiscuous obsession with finance, I felt the book ending with some moral ambiguity. I don't mean that I wanted a specific answer one way or the other on how the boys use the money. Rather, I wanted the author to take any sort of stand instead of leaving the issues of responsibility, charity, and honesty so murky.
While I adored Damien's saint-fixation and his brother's promiscuous obsession with finance, I felt the book ending with some moral ambiguity. I don't mean that I wanted a specific answer one way or the other on how the boys use the money. Rather, I wanted the author to take any sort of stand instead of leaving the issues of responsibility, charity, and honesty so murky.
March 24, 2010
I have enjoyed every book I have read by Frank Cottrell Boyce. He writes fast moving quirky stories with lots of heart. This book reads like a mad cap comic adventure/mystery/coming of age tale but is also a study in childhood grief and as is usual for this author the father son relationship is central to the plot . Damien's literal take on life, his pure heart, and his obsession with the lives of catholic saints is classic Cottrell Boyce and is both hilarious and poignant.
GREAT book for middle grade boys.
Another book which makes me wish goodreads allowed me to use 1/2 stars because this book is worthy of more than three but less than four. So by default I give it three.
GREAT book for middle grade boys.
Another book which makes me wish goodreads allowed me to use 1/2 stars because this book is worthy of more than three but less than four. So by default I give it three.
April 11, 2014
Millions was a complicated novel based on a interesting character Damian. I rated this novel a 3 out of 5 because although the novel had a great message in it the story itself was confusing at times. This novel how ever was very detailed and interesting. Damian had an addiction and Money and house prices were Anthony's.The boys are still in primary school. Through this novel The brothers are facing a newer, harder challenge everyday and as the saying goes "what goes up must come down" this is the perfect description of the Cunningham brothers journey, The money is giving them everything but it is also losing everything good they had especially when glass eye comes along.
April 11, 2014
An interesting read. I enjoyed the innocent, younger tone of the narrator paired with the more, sophisticated topic. The structure of the novel is neat and clear, simplistic vocabulary is used and the variety of characters is pleasing. However, I personally found the sequencing of the invents a little confusing, with more and more problems rising in the plot where least expected.
Other than that, though, Millions was a good read, and I recommend it to people looking for a fairly challenging book.
Other than that, though, Millions was a good read, and I recommend it to people looking for a fairly challenging book.
April 7, 2014
The book millions was interesting. I never thought a seven yr old boy would ever be obsessed with saints but then again anything is possible. I enjoyed the book because it shows us that money really cannot buy happiness or love, and sometimes it just causes trouble. Millions is a good book with twists and turns that you don't expect.
April 9, 2014
Well written book. Millions addressed some interesting topics, the main one being what would you really do with that much money? Some bits seemed unclear and aspects could have been more explained, but overall it was an interesting read. Would recommend it to anyone who enjoys an semi-challenging read.
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