DUNG LOVE
I thoroughly enjoyed this book because it was unusual and really hilarious. As the story develops more characters are introduced but Doogie (the main character), is definitely my favourite. That’s because he showed a lot of independence and strength for his family and friends. He played a vital part in moving the story on as he stood up to the Dwellers (he is a Roller). Now I know why dung beetles are so important in places like the savannah.
This book didn’t get boring at all; in fact, every line made me laugh! I would recommend this book to everyone aged eight upwards as it is about dung beetles and anybody younger might not get the format of the story. I would rate this book a ten out of ten and hope that the writer will do more children’s books as good as this one.
Reviewed by Lily Warren
ALL DUNGED UP
This is a fast-paced short novel about a group of adventurous dung beetles. It’s a unique idea and well written because it has characters with strong personalities, along with word choices and actions that relate to their role in the story. The author’s decision to use dung beetles as the main characters is fascinating, since they’re an insect regarded by the public as disgusting because of their lifestyle and food choices. However, Sharif Islam has given them personality and made them easy to love characters with almost human personalities and reactions. This makes the book work in a way that would be hard to change without ruining the concept.
When the main character (Doogie) bravely decides that he is fed up with the Dwellers stealing the hard-earned dung he shares with the Rollers, he stands up to the General Proctor. This attempt at stopping the Dwellers from stealing their dung, while impressing the General’s beautiful daughter Hoya, ends with Doogie getting beaten up. A wide range of descriptive vocabulary allows the audience to picture the environment as well as learning new words, meanings and how dung beetles are important in the Savannah (clearing up the dung of larger animals). It also explores and explains the complex food chains in a way that even young children can comprehend and use in their own stories.
The many types of personality shown in the story allows it to connect with lots of individual readers: Doogie is brave and adventurous, Hoya is caring, the General is protective, Clinker is ruled by his stomach and Brownie is smart and logical. Using a variety of different characters, the story can connect to a wider audience.
To make this adventure story more appealing to its audience (7-12-year olds), the cover would have to be made exciting as well as being relevant to the setting. The yellow of the cover matches the story’s setting but it’s not a very attractive colour or style; it comes across as rather plain and that means it could be passed over by younger readers who are more likely to respond to the style and colour of a book cover. To be a success it would need to have more going on and to have two or three main colours as well as or instead of the plain yellow.
Even though the front and back covers could do with a make-over the story inside more than makes up for that with its excitement. The perfectly balanced use of toilet humour also makes this story hilarious for younger readers who may be transitioning into reading harder literature.
Doogie relates well with the audience, sharing his many qualities and characteristics with the appropriate age group. As this age group is just on the cusp of romance, the subtle relationship between Doogie and Hoya works well. It adds more texture to the adventure and believable reactions to the situations The Rollers find themselves in. Many children will enjoy this story because it’s full of action, adventure and humour; these qualities balance each other almost perfectly and totally bring the reader into the story.
Reviewed by Erin Cook
Click on the link to find out about Doogie and the Pyramid of Dungalore, the sequel to Doogie and the Rollers.
