Anne Fine's acerbic take on life often assumes a level of sophistication in her young readers. Insights into the emotional lives of grown ups can appeal to children and the misunderstandings that surround Harry and Tristram's trip create comic situations that make the readers, for once, the knowing ones

Family relationships come under close scrutiny in this book, which is ideal for the summer holidays

A lively, witty, rain-drenched tale full of big beards, from one of our best children's writers

This is a most enjoyable book

This is Anne Fine at her hilarious best

It's a controlled riot of invention, with a plot that embraces everything (or so it seems) from pork pies (some on sticks) to man (boy)-made floods . . . A laugh on virtually every one of its 180-odd pages

Bursting with silly situations and hilarious antics

A real delight

The perfect book to provoke a smile.