The Bubble Boy

Winner of the 9+ category of the Sainsbury's Children's Book Award and shortlisted for the Branford Boase Award.

What would you do if you could never leave your bubble? A poignant, heartwarming tale from inside the hospital walls that teaches children the importance of treating people with kindness and empathy. Perfect for fans of Wonder and The Boy At The Back of the Class.

Amir is mad. He’s crazy. But the hospital wouldn’t let a crazy person in. They must have interviewed him and checked his qualifications. But maybe he didn’t even meet them? Maybe he hasn’t even come from India. He might have arrived on an alien spaceship and snuck in here in the middle of the night.

Eleven-year-old Joe can't remember a life outside of his hospital room, with its beeping machines and view of London's rooftops. His condition means he's not allowed outside, not even for a moment, and his few visitors risk bringing life-threatening germs inside his 'bubble'. But then someone new enters his world and changes it forever.

The Bubble Boy is the story of how Joe spends his days, copes with his loneliness and frustrations, and looks—with superhero-style bravery, curiosity, and hope—to a future without limits. Expect superheroes, super nurses, and a few tears from this truly unique story.

‘Poignant, hopeful and heartbreaking’ Fiona Noble – Children’s Editor, The Bookseller

'Deeply moving and utterly gripping . . . Stewart Foster carries off an astonishing feat of storytelling in this exceptional book' Julia Eccleshare, lovereading.co.uk

‘A gripping and deeply moving book’ Jamila Gavin, author of Coram Boy

'One thing we know about good books is their amazing ability to inspire empathy in the reader; to explore ideas and viewpoints that arise from experiences that are out of our own realm. The Bubble Boy does this with warmth, quirkiness and a light-hearted touch' The Guardian