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Help Around the House

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About this listen

 Ludo helps other people. It’s how he was brought up. When Dad is elected to Federal Parliament, Ludo grabs the chance to make Australia an even better place. But he soon discovers it’s not the homeless of the national capital who most need his help – it’s the rich and powerful.©2018 Morris Gleitzman (P)2018 Bolinda Publishing Growing Up & Facts of Life Literature & Fiction Heartfelt

Critic reviews

'He is one of the finest examples of a writer who can make humour stem from the things that really matter in life.' (The Guardian)
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4.5 stars.

I've loved Gleitzman since 'Once', and I've listened to most of that series narrated by the author. Listening to this in the same way, I could hear Felix in my head as Gleitzman told me another tale of a moral young man caught up in events outside of his control.

Ludo is moving (for a while at least) to Melbourne with his dad, a new member of the Federal Parliament. His mum has died, but he tries to keep her memory alive but living up to her ideal of helping others. So it's confusing for him to see his father seem to care more about the large house they are to live in, the perks of the role, than the homeless people they see on the streets.

Joining a new Boy Scout group, he makes friends that encourage him to continue to make a difference. Little does he know that the night they find a homeless man shot will give them a chance to help not just one man but a whole country...

Ludo is at times, maybe made more obvious by the audio narration, a rather pious Scout (tries to give his Business Class plane seat up to help others who might need the space), but he and Henry together make a better team, they create their own humour and likability.

There's an appealing mystery to solve at the heart of this, and some home truths about politicians that children might find shocking, but I thought the introduction to the political system was going to be useful and raise questions.

Gleitzman always makes a personable narrator, and he brings child protagonists to life with ease. It was a short and easy listen, a chatty style from Ludo makes it eminently suitable for the age range. I would want to encourage readers to look up political terms that they may not understand.

A read for ages 9-13.

With thanks to Nudge Books, for providing a sample Audible copy.

Boy Scout makes a difference.

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