Millions

As a child I would have read and enjoyed this several times, for the simple adventure once, and then a reread for figuring out the mysteries and puzzles and the how-to of economics, and then a nostalgic reread would have given me a chance to appreciate Damian's obsession and visions. As an adult, I think I want to reread it so I can appreciate the simple adventure, because upon this (first ever) read I was wrapped up in Damian and in his r'ship with his father and brother and couldn't quite fully just enjoy the book, as it was so poignant.

Anthony's character is easier to appreciate, and the humor comes through loud and clear to all, too.

A true gem that should be more widely read.
---
Also a Carnegie (UK) medal winner. Also not available show more in any of my current libraries. show less

All the blurbs about this book focus on these two brothers who happen upon a boatload of cash (a bit under 300,000 pounds, actually - not the millions the title would lead you to think), and how they have to spend it all in 17 days, but ignore what I thought was the most fun part: the main boy's obsession with saints and saintly acts. That and his brother's weirdly extensive knowledge of the financial world make for a unique story that could otherwise have descended into a cliched "what if you had a million bucks" daydream. I was disappointed to learn that "totallysaints.com" doesn't actually exist (anymore, at any rate), but all in all this was a very fun - and funny - book.

Damian and Anthony live with their father, and the three of them cope the best they can with their mother’s death. Damian seeks solace in memorizing facts about various saints—the more obscure, the better—while Anthony is a financial maven in the making. So when Damian finds a bag stuffed to the brim with cash, he and Anthony have an interesting conundrum. Do they return the money? It’s all old money destined to be incinerated when the UK joins the euro. If they keep it, how can they spend it all? They have only a couple of weeks left in which to spend it.

This was a light, entertaining story apparently set in a parallel universe where the UK was going to join the euro. I’ve read a later Frank Cottrell Boyce book and this one show more isn’t quite as zippy, but it was his first book. I found the setting amusing as well, because it was the early 2000s: a time before smartphones and when Sunny Delight was what the cool kids drank :D show less

Damian’s got a dead mum. As his slightly older brother Anthony demonstrates, if you tell people this, you always get a result. Usually they give you something. Damian has become very interested in saints, and, trying to pray one day, tells God about his mum. So Damian is not completely surprised when a bag containing 229,370 pounds sterling falls out of the sky. The trouble is, what can Damian and Anthony (whose passion is real estate) do with all this money?

Damian always really tries to do what his Dad tells him. So one of his goals is to “be excellent”, but this is not always a straightforward assignment. For example, Damian considers it excellent when he is able to explain to his art class about St Sexburga, and his teacher show more says thank you three times, whereas Anthony interprets this as Damian making himself conspicuous.

But to get back to the money… Damian is quite adamant that the story should not be just about the money. In fact, it takes him a shorter time than most to recognise that the money is something of a burden, and not as wonderful as everyone always assumes such a windfall might be.

Damian’s plan is to use the money for a good purpose, to help him climb as many rungs as possible of the ladder to Heaven. But of course it is difficult for two young boys to resist the temptation to buy a few special treats for themselves along the way. There is also the matter of whether or not they should tell their father (who “never notices anything”) about the money. Finally, there is the question of where the money really came from, and who it should actually belong to.

Throughout the story, Damian is visited by a number of saints. Some give him advice, some complain about their current jobs, and some enjoy reminiscing about their own saintly experiences. None of them seem to have heard of a Saint Maureen, who Damian is always asking after. In addition to these visions from the past, there is also a community of Latter-day Saints living in the same neighbourhood, though Damian finds that even they are not always as admirable as he would like them to be.

The characters in this book make full use of the range of technology available to them. I still feel surprised when I read of young characters using the Internet, because I couldn’t when I was their age, but of course it is an inescapable part of modern life. Even this advancement poses a problem for the story’s heroes, as their money is all in cash, and Internet transactions require a credit card.

This book is really funny, but also has its sad side, as the author examines the nature of greed and corruption. I would recommend it to all modern children, but perhaps especially to anyone whose family or school have ever thought they were “bonkers”. show less

This book had me actually laughing out loud. Damian is hilarious, albeit not consciously. He's so utterly sincere, and takes everything so seriously, so literally. And the book never seemed to patronise him. He's not an object of pity. In fact, he's fascinating and impressive.

Damian's brother Anthony is a bit more complex really, and most authors would have made the book about him. I wonder why Boyce decided to give us the story from Damian's point of view? Perhaps it would have been too painful (not to mention no where near as funny) from Anthony's. Damian's actually quite simple. Anthony is tragic, and it's starting to make him nasty.

So, this is a book about money, bereavement, and saints. The way Boyce, through Damian, weaves those show more three themes together is truly wonderful. I felt that the book started to lose momentum towards the end, which is why I didn't give it the full 5 stars, but the first half is some of the best writing I've read for a good while. show less

This delightful book was both the first kids' story I've read that successfully and naturally integrated "our modern world" - internet and Harry Potter ringtones and that - without it seeming gimmicky, and, more impressive and significant, the first that integrated a Christian element without it being detrimental or preachy. All those Victorians could learn something. I also love the way the kid talks, even if he does say "unenlightening" a few too many times by the twisty end.

“Millions” is narrated from Damien’s point of view as he deals with grief from his mother’s death and tries to be good. Without meaning to be humorous, Damien’s narration is in fact funny. The author has created a very likeable main character. The supporting characters are well-drawn, and have distinct personalities. There is excitement as the ending draws near and the brothers’ secret is known. The book will provoke discussion about the evils of money. Recommended for grades four through eight.