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The Terrible Thing That Happened to Barnaby Brocket

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The Terrible Thing That Happened to Barnaby Brocket

By: Oliver Jeffers, John Boyne
Narrated by: Richard Goulding
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About this listen

Brought to you by Penguin.

There's nothing unusual about the Brockets. Normal, respectable, and proud of it, they turn up their noses at anyone strange or different. But from the moment Barnaby Brocket comes into the world, it's clear he's anything but ordinary. To his parents’ horror, Barnaby defies the laws of gravity - and floats.

Desperate to please his parents, Barnaby does his best to keep both feet on the ground – but he just can't do it. One fateful day, the Brockets decide enough is enough. They never asked for a weird, abnormal, floating child. Barnaby has to go . . .

Betrayed, frightened and alone, Barnaby floats into the path of a very special hot air balloon – and so begins a magical journey around the world, with a cast of extraordinary new friends.

© John Boyne 2012 (P) Penguin Audio 2020

 Action & Adventure Fiction Adventure

Critic reviews

Mr and Mrs Brocket live an obsessively normal life in Sydney - until their third child, Barnaby, is born. Because Barnaby floats, like a helium-filled balloon, unless he is weighted down. Embarrassed and frustrated by their son’s inability to be normal, they cut him loose at the age of eight, and Barnaby floats away on a series of adventures . . . Boyne’s previous children’s novels (The Boy In The Striped Pyjamas, Noah Barleywater Runs Away) have dealt with serious, life-changing themes and his deftness of touch is equally evident in this uplifting celebration of otherness (Sally Morris)
Delightfully quirky . . . with a delightful cast of characters, this books celebrates and acknowledges difference (Vanessa Lewis)
It's unashamedly and often delightfully whimsical. It's lovely to look at . . . It has much of the pell-mell what-the-hell-happens-nextness of Dahl and Ibbotson (Mal Peet)
A whimsical, warm-hearted adventure . . . beautifully illustrated by Oliver Jeffers (Fiona Noble)
This funny, warm, but poignant story has a thought-provoking message about the importance of accepting difference and being true to yourself. Barnaby makes for a hugely likeable hero, and this story is full of fantastic characters, from eccentric contemporary artists to a villainous ringmaster to Barnaby's beloved dog, Captain W E Johns. Booklovers will enjoy spotting the numerous references to books from Heidi to Around the World in 80 Days in a book which is in part a tribute to the power of the imagination. Surreal and quirky in the tradition of children's writers like Roald Dahl, there are some moments of darkness here too, but although the final resolution is bittersweet, this is ultimately a deeply uplifting story. Oliver Jeffers' beautiful illustrations add the perfect finishing touch
This light and amusing story still manages to tackle serious issues around difference and conformity . . . the message is that you cannot change your family, but you can love them all the same. A book to be enjoyed by children either as an adventure or a thought provoker, with lovely illustrations by Oliver Jeffers
Very entertaining reading . . . This is a book very much on the side of the child, operating rather in the same way that, for example, the children’s novels of Roald Dahl operate. But Boyne’s humour is much gentler and subtler than Dahl’s, even occasionally taking young readers into areas (such as New York’s art world) where they might miss some of the slyly satirical subtext. Oliver Jeffers’s black-and-white illustrations, nicely complemented by their pithy, “handwritten” captions, capture both the wit and pathos of Boyne’s text
A fast paced and warm-hearted story for any age - with an important message
All stars
Most relevant
Lovely story beautifully read. Had me captivated from the start. I completely recommend this for all ages.

Completely absorbing

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Charming tale about acceptance and tolerance from Irish writer, John Boyne. An all-ages, Dahl-esque fable about a floating child cast adrift by his parents, this book sees the titular Barnaby Brocket 'Little Prince' his way around the globe in a series of quirky adventures whilst learning valuable lessons in kindness and compassion. Yes, it's broad and rather sentimental, but it's also sweet and funny (I particularly liked his dog being called 'Captain W.E. Johns'); you'd have to be a sour old soul to object to Boyne's intentions.
Full praise due to Richard Goulding's narration: it was completely delightful and made this audiobook a real pleasure. His voice for Barnaby's mum especially tickled me (although, oddly, he seemed to forget how to do it upon her reappearance at the end) and is a credit to his repertoire.

Q. Are We Not Men? A. We are Devo!

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I read this so that I could recommend to my students at school, and I will! It was such a lovely performance, a great celebration of diversity.

Wonderful fun, dry humour, heart melting

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This is a nice book. Easy read with a good moral to the story. Light hearted, I found enjoyable but may not be to everyone's taste, you have to read it with a bit of imagination.

Light hearted, easy read

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I liked how throughout the book Barnaby met a wide range of unique individuals who were all like him - turned away from their families but achieved success on their own terms. Celebrating that it's good to be different.

I was however, disappointed with how it finishes. He escapes from the hospital........ the end. It leaves it open for a sequel but only really because this book, in my opinion, does not have any sort of ending.

It's good to be different

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