Mighty Fizz Chilla

by Philip Ridley

Milo Kick is no longer Mum's little 'angel'. Five months ago something happened - something only Milo knows - that changed him into a 'monster'. Unable to cope, Mum sends him to stay with Cressida Bell, an old family friend, who lives by the sea. Gradually, Milo becomes obsessed with stories about wild Captain Jellicoe who lives in a nearby cave and who, in turn, has his own story to tell. It is a story that will change Milo's life forever. It is the story of Mighty Fizz Chilla.

Genres: Childrens, Young Adult, Fiction

416 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2002

Reviews

[Figen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book when I was around the age of 9-10 and yet I still remember it but in fragmented sections to this day. I think it was a great read, a great story for my blossoming, imaginative mind. I remember wildly eccentric characters and great locations. The ending was spectacular too.

I think it's time I took a look into my old box of books and take this one out for a good re-read. Definitely worth my time and I think it'd be worth your time too.

[Tayla · Rating 4 out of 5]

*Read for the OWL's readathon 2020- Herbology prompt*
This is a book that I vividly remember reading multiple times through my local library when I was younger. I couldn’t remember what it was about, I just remembered the cover. About a year ago, I looked on past loans and found the title - brought a copy & naturally it sat on my shelf since. Until now....

The book: (spoilers because I got excited while reading)
• Opens with milo in a car with Dee who’s driving him from London to Cornwall. Seems that his moms sent him away there to spend a week due to his behaviour. Milo describes the anger as fizzy wasps in his mind that take over and after an outburst in the guest house, shows how scared he actually is. Milo keeps mentioning something happened five months ago which is why he’s like this.

• Milos vocabulary seems to involve innit at the end of every sentence. Kind of annoying at first but seems to lessen as you read on.

• Milo follows the captain and tries to talk to him. Suddenly it seems that Milo is linked to an ancient prophecy that the captain had been waiting for. While telling the captain about his life to see if he can see any clues that might lead to the floating island of heart, he mentions Trixie but when the captain tries to press further, milo gets angry again. Could she be a part of the situation five months ago that’s led to him being sent away for a week? Could the event be something that helps the captain if he tells it?

• We learn that the wooden Phoenix Cressida owns is part of one of the methods to find the island linked to the prophecy and MFC.

• The more the captain & milo learn about each other, the more they seem to have in common.

• We learn how captain met the MFC & the trouble he believes it caused. Question: why would you even buy some creepy ass hybrid of an animal as a gift for a loved one?!

• The way the characters tell stories to milo is like it’s happening to them rather than a past story but so good!

• Ok I did not expect/remember the twist(s) with Jay Dee Six! There were two in the last third of the book & damn! My jaw dropped!

• Dee’s dad/Alzheimer’s mention :( A powerful reminder that even the smartest people can lose everything to this awful disease.

• the way the Dee & Cressida’s stories have linked up is very clever. Is the captain going to be Griff & link in as well & be milos dad? (Partly true for Griff, but the captain!?!).

• So the captain was all a ruse to get Milo to admit what was really wrong: being abandoned by his dad which he was reminded of because of his friend Mojo. Very clever! Got him calm, motivated, happy & talking.

• The final ‘story’ shows what happened between Milos mom and dad & how Cressida became blind - domestic abuse/violence mentioned.

• His dad leaves him the floating island of heart? Still end up burning the Phoenix (Milo is the key to opening the secret compartment). They follow the smoke within the cave as the prophecy said - at the back of the cave is a second space which his dad piled rocks into the shape of a heart in the middle of a ‘puddle’. The secret special item kept in the Phoenix was something his dad had made after smashing up the glass animals in the guest house - the mighty fizz chilla!

* I love the illustrated dotted throughout the book: really adds to the experience. Also the fact that the chapters are split into small sections makes it really quick and engaging to read. *

Overall, I throughly enjoyed this book & I now understand why I was obsessed with this when I was younger. (Honestly, probably read this 5-6 times at least back then). I kept getting almost a deja vu feeling while also not remembering the plot twists at all. It’s so clever and I personally don’t feel like it’s got anything problematic that kids (8+ maybe idk) wouldn’t enjoy/ shouldn’t be shown.

[emetem · Rating 4 out of 5]

LOL it‘s been so long since i read this but i remember liking it a lot, so 4/5 ig

[☆ Driti ☆ · Rating 5 out of 5]

A gripping read! The format of the book was unique though with those fragmented sections. Nevertheless, the weird characters and great locations vividly appeared in my mind through Ridley's writing style, including the voices of these characters. Another reason why I enjoyed this book so mach was because it had many stories part of a bigger picture, allowing the reader to piece up the tales along with Milo Kick. A lot of unexpected twists the book had and what a great message: imagination and telling stories gives you strength. I am definitely going to read more of Ridley...

[Viktoria · Rating 5 out of 5]

fantastic!!! again, great and wierd characters and every one of them has his own way of talking. this is just a lot of fun to read and something to read when you feeling down. philip ridley will make you laugh! a lot of unexpected twists, too. and what a great message: imagination and telling stories gives you strenght. i`m definitly going to read more of ridley.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is storytelling at its best. Thirteen year old Milo Kick is angry, very angry. To try and help him his mother sends him to stay with Cressida Bell, her dear friend who lives in a house with a moat on a cliff by the sea. There he learns about the tale of the Mighty Fizz Chilla and how it relates to his own life. A wonderful read.

[Alessandro Margheriti · Rating 5 out of 5]

Un ragazzino inquieto e ribelle viene spedito dalla madre in Cornovaglia per una settimana di vacanza.
Verrà ospitato da personaggi un po' stravaganti ma che lo incanteranno con le loro storie, vere o inventate...che si incrociano tutte tra loro fino a comporre la più incredibile delle storie: la SUA!

[Bettie · Rating 1 out of 5]

Weekend Big Toe is my slumming treat but this tale didn't make my goose bump so much

[Izzyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book when I was in year six! I had to keep re-borrowing it! :)

[Maija · Rating 2 out of 5]

Started out as interesting, and it had its brief touching moments, but in the end it was pretty disappointing.

[Mariam K · Rating 5 out of 5]

I would highly recommend this. I read it when I was 11 and it was pretty life-changing for me.




not read in 2015

[Olivia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really imaginative. My favourite author as a kid

[Georgina · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really want to read this book I only read it when I was young please let me .