The Demon Headmaster and The Prime Minister's Brain |
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Gillian Cross
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Pages: 192 (Paperback)
ISBN: 019275372X
Pub: OUP Oxford
Pub date: 2004-06-03
Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 51470
Reader Reviews:
Another pretty good pre-teen kids story - tense & interesting rather than scary (3/3 people found this helpful)
This is the sequel to the 'Demon Headmaster', and is the second book in a series of six. To make sense of the storyline, you should read book one, 'The Demon Headmaster', before this book. First published in 1985, 'The Prime Minister's Brain' also reads a bit like an Enid Blyton's secret seven novel, although the entrancing computer game storyline is far more modern - and it hasn't dated at all over the last twenty years, it still seems futuristic. Dinah Hunter has just been adopted by her foster home where the incumbent boys (particularly younger brother Harvey) have now grown used her. Their school is now perfectly normal since the old Headmaster has left, but during the holidays the school computer club members are becoming increasingly engrossed in a new computer game. Intrigued Dinah decides to have a go on the game herself............
My son (10) is really enjoying me reading this book to him at bedtime (at 191 pages it took a while). My son, a poor reader, happily reads a few pages as well. We were disappointed that, unlike the Puffin versions of Demon Headmaster, this book has no illustrations, despite being aimed at preteens. But the story reads well enough without line drawings, and we have now bought all the other five books in this series : The Demon Headmaster, The revenge of the Demon Headmaster, The Demon Headmaster takes over, The Demon Headmaster strikes again, and Facing the Demon Headmaster.
Some of the language seems dated, mainly Lloyd's food related exclamations, which make it read very much like a 1950s Enid Blyton book (no bad thing, and my son laughs at Lloyds expressions). But as with the original book, it's a well crafted story that kept my son's attention throughout, and, although tense in places, it's surprisingly non-scary considering the plot-line. The storyline is very different to the first book, and my son is insisted we read it straight after the first one. Unlike his favourite AstroSaurs and Captain Underpants books, this book is probably more girl friendly as well. Just a shame the excellent TV series isn't available on DVD at the moment to compliment this very good book (aimed at 7-12s I would say). We are now well into book three, the slightly more sinister 'Revenge of the Demon headmaster'.
It gave a good descripton of all the characters. (1/3 people found this helpful)
The prime minster did not seem to be mentioned enough. Dinah got mentioned to much. It was a very good book. But a bit over done. And the game octopusy sounded good.
Similar Products
The Revenge of the Demon Headmaster
The Demon Headmaster Strikes Again
The Demon Headmaster Takes Over
Facing the Demon Headmaster
The Demon Headmaster
Categories
Amazon.co.uk places this book into the following categories:
Books -> Subjects -> Children’s Books -> Fiction
Books -> Subjects -> Children’s Books -> Authors & Illustrators -> C -> Cross, Gillian
Books -> Subjects -> Study Books -> Schools -> Key Stages 1-4 -> Key Stage 2 -> All Titles
Books -> Special Features -> Search Inside!
Books -> Refinements -> Language (feature_browse-bin) -> English
Books -> Refinements -> Age (feature_two_browse-bin) -> Ages 9-11
Books -> Refinements -> Format (binding_browse-bin) -> Paperback