The Boy with Big Decisions
Helen Rutter
Fred doesn’t get on with his parents. He loves art and hates sport. They make all the decisions for him and he finds it hard to change schools at 11. He has 2 choices “Gains” or “Browtree” Parents favour Gains. Fred hates Gains, he likes Browntree “It has a great art room” The parents choose Gains!! On the 1st day he stands at the bus stop in his Gains uniform, there are 2 buses lined up. One for each school. Can he decide which bus to get on? The reader has to make the decision and from there on further choices have to be made as a consequence of the first decision. Each choice has consequences. Truth, honesty, bullying, feelings and relationships are all explored. Many things go wrong depending on the decision made.The book progresses with 8 possible scenarios and their outcomes, each resulting in an ending, all of which carry a message of hope and determination.
This is a great book, offering the opportunity to make decisions safely in a fictional setting but that can be applied to the readers’ life. Each synopsis has a positive ending resulting in an understanding that getting things wrong helps you see the right way. Lots of opportunity for discussing the consequences of actions and seeing that truth and honesty make life easier.
Published by Scholastic, 2025 (337 pages)
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