The Story
Since he was two months old, Joe has lived in his bubble, a London hospital room he has never left. Joe was born without an immune system. If he ventures outside his hospital room he could catch any disease and die.
Eleven years on, Joe spends his days watching TV, pretending to be Spiderman and sleeping. His parents died in a car accident when he was six, which gives him recurring nightmares. His elder sister Beth is going away to Edinburgh University, leaving Joe without any family nearby. Joe’s friend Henry in Chicago, who may have the same disease and also lives in a bubble, is a great buddy on Skype, but otherwise life is isolated and lonely.
One day Amir, a new nurse, arrives. Amir is crazy! He believes that aliens are going to land outside the hospital as soon as some construction works are completed. However Amir actually turns out to be one of the kindest few people Joe has ever met. Amir makes Joe a cinema with several screens and links each up to a different CCTV camera around the hospital. Joe suddenly becomes very knowledgeable about everything that is going on.
Amir has a plan to make Joe happy, broaden his world and show him things that he has never seen before. But the plan is risky. Will it work?
My Thoughts
When I heard about this book I wasn’t really sure if the storyline would work and whether it would be gripping enough. However it was amazing! It is a very unique story which makes you appreciate the daily freedoms you take for granted and the horizons you have before you.
