Changes

Both main characters, boy genius Jack and hi-jacker hijacker Ross, are well-drawn and immediately engage the reader. It’s an unusual friendship so it’s all credit to the author that we never question the bond they quickly form and the lengths they are willing to go to help each other. The minor characters are equally well-developed. It’s impossible not to feel for Jack’s down-trodden dad and for the frustrated Detective Inspector Taunton. Without a doubt, however, the character that steals the show in this book is Jack’s mum, Leonie. She’s overpowering and ambitious with an unmoving determination to protect her son from the evils of fast food, sugar and mobile-phones. She drives the police to distraction. Yet, despite all this, we can’t help liking her when she climbs out of a toilet window to attempt to rescue her son unaided.

I’ve not read any of Ali Sparkes’ other books but I’ll certainly be putting that right in the coming weeks. ''Car-Jacked'' isn’t great literature. But it isn’t pretending to be. What it is, is a cracking great read that middle -grade readers – and adults like me – will thoroughly enjoy. We also enjoyed [[Dark Summer by Ali Sparkes]].