A little Scandinavian story about how one can fall under the influence of a stranger, lose one’s mind and willpower, do some foolish things, but still shake off the obsession and return to normal life. And this is not about falling in love at all.
A new student joins Ulf's class. Percy is bold and eccentric, but he's also agile, strong, and acts like a tough guy. It turns out it's all about his grimy sneakers; they are what give him magical power. Ulf, on the other hand, is a klutz, and he too would very much like to be cool, so he is ready to give anything for Percy's sneakers. And he does. He gives away things from home, and not just his own...
This is a story about growing up and how parents' behavior affects children, because the influence of the family cannot be avoided here.
In our opinion, this book is exclusively for independent reading because—oh, horror!—it has "boobs" and "naked chicks" (literally, black on white: "boobs" and "naked chicks"!). It feels a bit awkward to read something like that aloud to your child, but otherwise, there is nothing mega-strange about this topic appearing in a book for teenagers (especially in a Scandinavian book for teenagers). The topic is not explored, but merely present in the form of a stack of magazines in an older brother's closet and peeping at sunbathers. Nothing more than that, no erotic details.
"My Friend Percy's Magical Sneakers" by Ulf Stark for children 12+.
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