View source for The Chicken Nugget Ambush by Mark Lowery

{{infobox
|title=The Chicken Nugget Ambush
|sort=Chicken Nugget Ambush
|author=Mark Lowery
|reviewer=Tony Taylor
|genre=Confident Readers
|summary=A hilarious story of a Year 6 residential trip; you'll think differently about chicken nuggets from now on!  
|rating=5
|buy=Yes
|borrow=Yes
|pages=212
|publisher=Piccadilly Press
|date=June 2016
|isbn=978-1848124844
|website=http://www.marklowery.co.uk/
|video=
|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1848124848</amazonuk>
|amazonus=<amazonus>1848124848</amazonus>
}}

Roman Garstang and his class are embarking on their school residential trip to Farm View Outdoor Survival Centre. Events leading up to departure day mean than Roman is not all that excited about the visit - mostly due to the jam doughnut incident which in turn leads to a solely chicken nugget diet prescribed by his doctor. Well, not exactly prescribed by his doctor, but this was the message his mum chose to hear.  A typical school residential setting provides the backdrop for exploring children's relationship when they are away from home.  Some of his class mates are fully prepared for the trip, others shudder at the thought of a bit of mud in their finger nails and a stereotypical survival 'expert' in Mad Dan leads the children on their adventure.

I picked this book up and read the first page to get a flavour of the style.  What a brilliant start, I wanted to read on straight away.  We are instantly introduced to Roman and his thoughts on chicken nuggets as ''little ninjas in breadcrumbs''.  This story is incredibly funny - hilarious in fact and a laugh out loud book throughout.  From reading the first page I decided to read the whole story to my seven year old son who had just returned himself from a school residential trip. Without any exaggeration he was rolling on the floor with laughter and tears cascading down his cheek within the first two minutes - I have never read a book to him which had quite this effect. Some of the references are a bit old for my son but that did not spoil his enjoyment.  It is probably aimed more towards a reading age of 9+.

The conversational writing style means that it reads aloud with ease and the characters are easily recognisable too, especially when it comes to Kevin 'Pukelear Missile' Harrison - there is always one child who is sick just at the thought of a bus journey.   At the start of the story I wondered if it could continue and maintain this humorous style to this high standard throughout and let me tell you that yes, it does.  

As a Primary School teacher, who takes children on residential trips every year, I loved the real feel of the story and children will enjoy this too.  Yes, there are some madcap moments towards the end but they just added to the hilarity of their adventure.  I have been searching for a story to read to my class on our next 5 day residential and The Chicken Nugget Ambush will be my book of choice as I know children will absolutely love it.

For further reading, I would highly recommend [[Socks Are Not Enough by Mark Lowery]].

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