Michael Pearson (7) (1951–)

Firstly I feel that I must admit to not being a real petrol head preferring as I do two wheels to four. As far as I'm concerned a car is just a means of getting from A to B rather than some sign of masculine virility as such this is not the sort of book that I would normally bother with.

Now right from the outset there are problems with this book namely it feels amateurish and self published. The general formatting, layout and grammar are all desperately in need of tidying up . Too often the characters feel that they are talking over one another. Also too often it slips from a work of fiction into a sort of journalism. On top of this there seem to be some continuity issues. The book is set in the mid-1950's but I feel that the author has tried to compare with how things are today rather than really research the period and what was available. For example did people really drink lager and was it available in cans to take home? The main character Mike Brookes is likeable willing to risk his business as well as his father's home to follow his dream but too many of the other characters, predominantly male, are testosterone filled and one dimensional.

Saying all that this is a boy's own tale where you have to suspend credulity and cheer on the underdog so the book races along at a fairly breathless pace through a few chicanes on the way to Sicily before reaching an extremely unsurprising conclusion. This book may work in the male teen category but lacks an overall appeal but then is not the worst book that I've ever read either.… (plus d'informations)