"A life-affirming coming of age novel about a boy in a very unusual situation"
June 2024 Book of the Month
Twelve-year-old Frankie has a long list of worries, from skin cancer and disease, to fire ants, to terrible things happening to his family. A nighttime chat with his mum generally has the effect of calming him down and this ‘10pm question’ is a regular part of their routine. But as the story unfolds, we realise that Frankie’s mother hasn’t left the house in nine years, that she’s unable to do so. The stress that this is putting on Frankie, who feels responsible for his mum, grows and grows, and he becomes concerned that he will turn out the same.
Things reach crisis point when his new friend Sydney announces she is leaving. Sydney’s mother, in contrast to Frankie’s, can’t stay in any place for more than months at a time, which is equally problematic for her daughter.
Frankie’s eccentric but lovable relations and his friends are depicted with immense skill in this extremely engaging, often very funny story. In addition to his other problems, Frankie also has to cope with the usual challenges facing twelve-year-olds and this is also warm, sensitive and credible portrait of a young boy in a unique situation.
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The 10pm Question was a beautiful and funny book, it was touching and heart-warming, hilarious and sad.
The 10pm Question was a beautiful and funny book about anxiety, mental health and just life in general. It was touching and heartwarming, hilarious and sad. From dogs called Ray Davies to late night conversations with skulls this book really has everything a reader of any age could want. I would recommend this book to pretty much anyone. I loved this book and thought it was really well written.... Read Full Review
I loved reading this very intriguing book. It was full of interesting and hilarious characters, who made me laugh out loud. I found Frankie really fascinating, with complicated thoughts and feelings, and I got to really like him. The book made me think about what goes on in other people's lives. Once I started reading it I could not put the book down, and was desperate to know the ending, and what would happen to Frankie and his Ma.
Every night at 10pm Frankie hears what he calls a rodent voice, telling him all the things he's scared of. Every night he goes to Ma's room and she listens to all his fears, and reassures him that everything will be ok. The one thing he doesn't say is that he's worried about Ma, who hasn't left home in nine years. A new girl comes to school, funny, eye-bulging Sydney, and they become friends. He likes to talk and ask questions and he discovers he likes to talk as well and all at once life feels better. I loved reading this intriguing book. It was full of interesting and hilarious characters, who made me laugh out loud. I found Frankie really fascinating, with complicated thoughts and feelings and I got to really like him. The book made me think about what goes on in other people's lives.... Read Full Review
The 10pm Question strikes me to be an immensely innovative, realistic and witty novel as it thoroughly explores the ideas behind the conventional experience of one understanding or adapting to life’s complex and intricate ways.
The 10pm Question strikes me to be an immensely innovative, realistic and witty novel as it thoroughly explores the ideas behind the conventional experience of one understanding or adapting to life’s complex and intricate ways. Frankie is a sensible, thoughtful and intelligent young character whose every waking second is invaded by worries about whether the batteries in the smoke alarm are working, if “The Fat Controller” has enough cat food or if the world will explode due to the rising cases of bird flu. Most of the people that Frankie’s world seems to revolve around seem to keep untroubled, whether that is his irritating sister, his adventurous brother or his fat whiskey-swilling aunts, it is only his beloved Ma that handles his never-ending persistent questions.... Read Full Review
