Millions
by Frank Cottrell Boyce
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Book Summary Information
Author: Frank Cottrell BoyceEdition: Hardcover
Format: Bargain Price
Published: 2004-08-01
ISBN: N/A
Number of pages: 256
Publisher: Macmillan Children's Books
Book Reviews of Millions
Book Review: If I had a million dollars I'd buy you a fur coat (but not a real fur coat, that's cruel)
Summary: 4 Stars
I think I should begin this review by explaining to you that I'm not exactly an unbiased reader of this title. To be frank, the minute I heard the premise of this book I knew that I would love it. Author Frank Cottrell Boyce could have filled the pages of "Millions" with an unbroken stream of consciousness (appropriate for young readers, of course) and I STILL would have thought this book bloody marvelous. As it happens, "Millions" is well-written in spite of my unrepentant love. Sure it has its ups and downs and there is one plot element that doesn't make a lick of sense, but on the whole Boyce has come up with something truly smart and funny here. As its hero Damian would say, "Quality".
What would you do if you found 229,370 in cash? If it just came falling out of the sky and into your lap, what would you do? If you're like Damian, you've a moral dilemma on your hands. Do you give the money to the poor or do you dig wells in Africa? If you're Damian's older brother Anthony then you're trying to decide whether or invest in real estate or just buy a house upfront. This may all sound like idle speculation, but for Damian and Anthony it's a problem they have to face right now! You see, our story takes place mere days before England is just about to make the change from a pound based system to that of the new Euro. That means that the money that came flying at Damian in a duffle bag thrown from a train has to be spent as quickly as possible before it becomes worthless. Damian's goals tend to be goodhearted, partly because he's obsessed with saints and sainthood. Anthony, however, is more inclined to want to spend the pounds on making more dough. He's a businessman at heart. Whatever their intentions, though, it soon becomes clear that having a lot of money is more difficult that either of them could have anticipated. Especially when the people who threw it from the train in the first place want it back....
Boyce's book is one of the rare children's novels that never hit it big in America but that still got made into a movie. The book has a particularly contemporary feel to it. The gadgets and games mentioned in it (such as plasma televisions) on first glance may date the novel in several years' time. However, when you consider that this is basically a period piece anyway (it takes place at a very particular moment in history) then such excesses are more than justified. Also, Damian constantly mentions a website that you should check out if you get a chance. I wasn't personally able to figure out the games on that site, but it's still worth a chuckle. Where else could you send a friend a saint's ear?
The magical realism in "Millions" (Damian is visited frequently by saints of all types) works well within the story. It rarely jars or falls flat. The sole exception to this, to my mind, was the last visitation Damian receives. I don't want to give anything away, but the moment is unnecessary and reminded me a bit more of that awful movie "Casper" than I would have liked. Another problem with the book comes in the form of the character of Dorothy. A potential girlfriend to the boys' father, she switches back and forth between good and bad without any logic. One moment Damian's having visions of her on a train and the next she's waltzing into the house, clearly not on a train. It's not only confusing, but downright weird and done without much in the way of explanation.
Still, the book's a gem. It's hard to create a likable character like Damian who is so very very good without turning him into an annoying freak of some kind. It is exceedingly easy to write a mean or nasty character. To write a good one can be an excessive challenge. Damian, however, is perfect the way he is. You never resent him and you're always on his side. "Millions" also shows the evils of money as clearly as possible. Consider pairing this with "The Toothpaste Millionaire" by Jean Merrill for some alternating views of children and excessive wealth. Just make sure you read this book first. Though I was pretty certain that I'd love it right from the start, it's probably got more fans out there than anyone could suspect. Incredibly fun.
Summary of Millions
It was a one-in-a-million chance. A bag crammed with cash comes tumbling out of the air and lands right at Damian's feet. Suddenly the Cunningham brothers are rich. Very rich. They can buy anything they want. There's just one problem -- they have only seventeen days to spend all the money before it becomes worthless. And the crooks who stole the cash in the first place are closing in -- fast.
A funny, brilliantly clever and utterly thrilling debut novel that is, quite simply, unforgettable.
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