The First Boy in Space cover art

The First Boy in Space

Skipping School Amongst the Stars

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About this listen

The year is 2050. The climate is in chaos, Barnsley is a broken town, and the Lightnings are eating from food banks.

Lucy lost her hairdressing job to a robot, and her 12-year-old son is being bullied at school.

So when science geek, Alfie, gets the chance to join an LA-based space mission, it doesn't take Lucy long to agree to join him.

This is a fast-paced, comedy-adventure, that is both down-to-earth and literally out of this world!

Embarrassing incidents, mind-blowing science, teenage love, crime, and a terrifying alien adventure, The First Boy in Space makes social media look like your grandmother's meeting!

WARNING: Contains a sweary mother, a sweary grandad in a string vest, and an alien that gets his head blown off. 13+

©2024 Mr Paul M White (P)2025 Mr Paul M White Coming of Age Literature & Fiction Science Fiction & Fantasy Geeky
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Listener received this title free

A wonderful performance of Alfie’s story. A refreshing standalone, that will give you giggles and, at the same time, highlights some very important issues. Super listed.

Excellently funny, with a message for us all

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Listener received this title free

This book was more than just about a 12yo going into space. With real life issues such as global warming and the effects it has on the planet, you can see this was clearly well researched.

The book is also extremely funny, a bit like a sitcom, and I really enjoyed the relationships between Alfie and his mom and all of their travelling companions.

More than just a boy in space

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Listener received this title free

I've spoken with Paul a handful of times on social media and he's always seemed like a lovely guy. Reading (or listening) to something by an author you know, even a little bit, adds a new dynamic because you want to enjoy the story even more.

Luckily for me, The First Boy In Space is brilliant! The characters are deeply layered which is impressive considering there's quite a few, the story is scarily believable and the humor always lands. Alfie as a main character has plenty of northern grit but also a childlike innocence that makes him impossible to hate.

Also, great work on the "science" side too, Paul! I have no doubt you had to stretch it at times but it's obvious how much work went into the planning for this novel, you smashed it!

What a blast (yes thats a rocket pun)

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Listener received this title free

This is funny! I found the characters relatable and funny, especially Lucy and Alfie, who are fantastic, especially considering Alfie’s Yorkshire roots. I really enjoyed the believable and relatable bond between the group of characters that go together on their space journey.

As a young adult read, I can see many teenagers loving it. It tackles important themes like puberty, mental health, public speaking, and even includes little science facts; thanks to Alfie’s love for the subject.

However, I found some aspects a bit convenient. For instance, when they arrive on the new planet and Alfie doesn’t understand them, they resort to brain surgery and implant a language chip. I have questions: how did they obtain these chips? They’ve never had aliens visit Earth before, so why did they need this chip?

It’s a minor issue, and I think if you weren’t prone to overthinking, you’d likely accept it and move on.

The book also looks at climate change, which is the main theme of the book, government leadership, and emphasises the crucial importance of caring for our planet, as it’s the only one we possess. The book is set in the future, a realistic future, with a slight nod to AI and robots and their potential impact on humanity—financial concerns and job losses. I absolutely love the futuristic atmosphere; it felt very authentic.

Overall, it’s a fun and light-hearted read that I highly recommend. It felt incredibly relevant to current events.

Funny, authentic and relatable!

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Listener received this title free

This is a great story. It’s an adventure that will excite you with characters you’ll fall in love with. Funny moments, educational current affairs mapped in, in a genius and relatable way, and a touch of romance. A book to take you on a rollercoaster through imaginary places with fantastic futurist ideas. Buy this book I can’t recommend it enough. Go and relax into a world where Alfie is definitely going to be your new hero.

What a brilliant story!!

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