Marv loves football. He and his mate Jimmy are constantly shooting goals on the pitch, off the pitch and on their gaming screens too. Life is simple. Life is good.

He doesn’t take much notice of the moving van in his street. It was no interest to him at all. But when a new girl walks into his classroom the next day, he wishes he took more time to look.

“I swear the second Carly appeared I didn’t feel like a rug had been pulled from under my feet. The rug had been set on fire. With me still standing on it.”

Marv is swept up in feelings he’s never had before. He can’t think straight. His entire being is consumed with thoughts of Carly. Jimmy can’t understand it, asking him if he’s okay on the way home. Something’s weird because Marv is too quiet.

But Marv can hardly answer as he doesn’t understand it himself. What the heck was happening to him?

At home, his dad is playing one of his old records. He’s a little down as sales are down in his record store, so he’s playing one of his favourites from the King of Soul – Otis Redding.

Usually, Marv escapes from his dad’s cringy music, but somehow the guy singing knew exactly how Marv was feeling since laying eyes on Carly. How could he possibly know? After hours of more Otis Redding, Marv is at his wit’s end, calling out for help.

A ghostly visit is the lastly thing he expects, but at least now he can share his thoughts about Carly, and have some help in how to get to know her.

A laugh out loud read for anyone who has been struck by Cupid’s bow, fallen in love at first sight, or head over heels for someone. 14 yr old Marv feels like he’s been hit by a train full of fireworks after laying his gaze on the new girl at school, who is also now living in his street.

Some spectral help is welcome at first. It’s not like he can talk to his Croc-and-sock wearing dad or his best mate Jimmy. Too embarrassing. His new ‘friend’ suggests all sorts of chat up lines, plans and schemes to woo Marv’s crush, with funny, dorky and disastrous results. 

The King of Soul really should have stayed on the records Marv’s dad plays, and not come to Marv’s aid. Marv vows never to play that singer again. There is always other music, and maybe even another girl….?

I really enjoyed this tale of first love, epic fails and growing up. Loved the ending too.

Author – Phil Earle

Reading Age 8 – Interest Age 11+

Dyslexic Title

(2024, Barrington Stoke, School, New Girl, Crush, Music, Otis Redding, Love at first sight, Football fan, Funny, Laugh out Loud, Dyslexic, Dyslexia, Friendship, Humour, Ghost, Music, Growing up, Secret, LPs, Vinyl)