Brilliant - Softcover

This book lives up to its title. . . told with Doyle's characteristic humour. * Tracey McHardy, NetGalley User & Waterstones Bookseller * A lovely, hopeful story. Took me a while to decide on the target audience and then realised: everyone. * Caroline Fielding, Librarian and 2014 Chair of the CILIP YLG London * An uplifting book with lots of fine Doyle wit -- DAILY TELEGRAPH * DAILY TELEGRAPH * A profound story about the effect of despair on society is touched with magic and humour by best-selling Roddy Doyle. -- Julia Eccleshare * LOVEREADING4KIDS.CO.UK * Quite simply, the greatest children's book I have ever read. -- Dubray Books * Dubray Books * In a word? Brilliant! Of course. * NetGalley * A sensitive and excellently written portrayal of depression and the effects on not just the individual but those around them. Would be great paired with Levi Pinfold's Black Dog and used as a discussion point. * NetGalley * This novel is simply brilliant, without wanting to say that I had to say it. Roddy Doyle's trademark dialogue with some really great, entertaining characters for children works wonderfully. . . I expect nothing less from one of Ireland's finest and am so pleased his children's fiction is as wonderful as his adult's. * plasticrosaries.com * The children of Dublin battle a terrible malaise through the use of a special word, and a good dose of magic realism. * The Bookseller *

Gloria and Rayzer must save their Uncle Ben. The black dog has got him. At least, that's what they heard their granny say. And she says it's taken Dublin's funny bone too. As Uncle Ben's Dublin business fails, it's clear to Gloria and Rayzer that something is wrong. He just isn't his usual cheerful self. So when the children overhear their granny saying that the Black Dog has settled on Ben's back and he won't be OK until it's gone, they decide they're going to get rid of it. Gathering all their courage the children set out on a midnight quest to hunt down the Black Dog and chase it away. Gloria and Rayzer are really brave, but the black dog is really scary - and soon they realize that they can't fight it alone. Before long loads of other children are searching for it too, because the Black Dog is hounding lots of Dublin's adults. Together - and with the help of magical animals, birds and rodents - the children manage to corner the Black Dog . . . but will they have the courage and cleverness to destroy the frightening creature? Roddy Doyle's 'brilliant' Brilliant is a wonderful, heartwarming middle grade tale of friendship and family.