The Rollercoaster Boy

Todd and his father move frequently due to his dad's work, forcing Todd to constantly start over at new schools. Their latest relocation brings them to a seaside hotel where his dad has a temporary job as manager. At the hotel, Todd experiences anxiety and worries, particularly about his father's erratic mood swings. He meets a girl named Laurie who becomes involved in investigating strange occurrences at the hotel. The story combines elements of mystery and family drama as Todd navigates his new surroundings, makes connections with other young people, and tries to understand the changes in his father's behavior. This middle-grade novel explores themes of mental health, friendship, and the challenge of finding stability amid constant change. The hotel setting serves as both an escape and a catalyst for confronting difficult truths about family relationships.

Readers highlight the book's sensitive portrayal of anxiety and mental health in young people. Parents and teachers note it helps children understand parents with mental illness. The mystery elements keep kids engaged while dealing with serious themes. Liked: - Balance of humor with heavy topics - Relatable main character Todd - Educational without being preachy - Good representation of OCD and anxiety Disliked: - Some found the mystery plot predictable - A few readers felt the ending wrapped up too neatly - Younger readers (under 10) struggled with mental health concepts Ratings: Goodreads: 4.2/5 (382 ratings) Amazon UK: 4.7/5 (89 reviews) Amazon US: 4.5/5 (42 reviews) "Perfect for opening discussions about mental health with middle grade readers" - School librarian review on Goodreads "My 11-year-old devoured it in two days and it helped him understand his sister's anxiety better" - Parent review on Amazon

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🎢 Todd and his dad move frequently due to his father's quest to find the perfect hotel job, making The Palace Hotel their twelfth home in just a few years. 🧠 The book thoughtfully addresses anxiety and panic attacks through Todd's experiences, helping young readers understand and relate to mental health challenges. ✍️ Author Lisa Thompson worked as a broadcast assistant for BBC Radio 2 and BBC Radio 4 before becoming a full-time children's writer. 🏨 The Palace Hotel, where much of the story takes place, is inspired by grand Victorian-era seaside hotels that were popular holiday destinations in British coastal towns. 🔍 The mystery element of the story involves the disappearance of a young guest named Scarlett Sterling, whose grandmother was once a famous movie actress who stayed at the hotel.