Dylan Thomas feels incredibly guilty. His close friend Beth has just lost everything to a house fire, and despite it being ruled as due to ‘Faulty Wiring’, Dylan blames himself. Even though Beth is trying to be brave and positive about it all, Dylan can see how losing all ‘her stuff’, has affected her.

He is soon determined on making it right again, and the only way he can do that is with money. His family aren’t rich by any means, and he has only 8p in his own pocket. Where will he get the money to help Beth?

Dylan’s dad is a movie buff, and when he’s not working likes nothing more than to sit in front of one of his favourites, more often than not, asking Dylan to join him. Using movie plots and characters as a reference, his dad gives him life advice. At only 15, Dylan is only focused on Beth (who he thinks looks like movie star Emma Stone), how he can fix things for her, and maybe even get her to see him more than a friend. The movies do give him an idea though. He needs to rob a bank.

Thus begins, multiple ideas and plans that do little to add to his required sum, but do give him life advice:

eg. He gets his first job and how a little white lie (huge) helped with that.

How a cash machine works.

Finish your homework.

His big sister isn’t really all that bad.

Be careful to never get locked in a toilet.

How to catch a pigeon and just how much they can poo when stressed.

…and last but not least – how little white lies can come back to bite you.

This is a refreshing and funny story about how to impress a girl. Dylan is immediately likeable as he tells his story, sharing his thoughts on his quest to rob a bank. Each chapter begins with a short sentence of advice for any potential bank robbers who may be reading his story, and with one disaster after another, (some small, but one including the fire brigade), he achieves his goal… sort of.

Author – Tom Mitchell

Age – 11+

(Funny, Humour, Get the girl, Family, Growing up, First job, Plan, Movies, Lycra, Work mates, Money, Fire, Guilt, Blame, Worry)