Doncaster: Discover the Spirit
A Bit of a Hero
by Gervase Phinn
Shortlisted
So far we have received 60 reviews of A Bit of a Hero. You can read them below.
Hayley from Year 8, Don Valley School and Performing Arts College:
This is about a boy called Tom whose Dad had died. After this
he stopped enjoying his hobbies, like football. Then a bully
comes to his school and he has to stand up for himself. Tom was
my favouite character because he showed a lot of emotion about
his Dad dying. I like how he becomes brave and sticks up for
himself. I would give this book three stars because its a very
nice story but yet a sad one. It might be better for adults
because its sad.
Sasha from Year 7, Don Valley School and Performing Arts College:
I liked this book because it was a nice story. I liked when
Tom thought back to when he and his Dad were togetr and had a
really really good time. I liked when he scored a goal, and
when he and his Mum were close. I didn't like the sadness when
he was told about his Dad. I think it is a good book, really
romantic and a little bit sad.
megan from Year 7, Doncaster Road Junior School, Mexborough:
This book is about a boy called Tim whose dad died tragically
in a house fire trying to save a young girl and to make things
worse there is a bully at school. His mum decides to get a job
to take her mind off things but one day Tim came home from
school and found a man sitting where his dad used to sit!
Zack from Year 7, Don Valley School and Performing Arts College:
Everyone said to me that this book was ace, the whole shaboom
type of thing, and I thought I was going to really love this
book. But once I had read it I thought to myself 'Is that it!'.
This book tells the story of a young boy who's father has just
recently died. And now a bullie has now a main target. This is
a tragic story for anyone who is into really sad and dramatic
storys. This book did make me well up though. It could'nt be
more realistic. This book is not the right book for me.
Bronia from Year 6, St Peter's Catholic Primary School:
I found this book very exciting and sad . Once I started
reading this book I couldn't stop reading it . I would recomemd
this book to to all age groups .9/10
Katie from Year 6, Saltersgate Primary School:
A Bit of a hero was a a really good book to read. Once I
started it I couldnt stop! At times it got a little confusing
,so that was why it only got 8 out of 10.I liked Tom because he
was dealing with a real live problems that lots of children
have to deal with. I would reccomend this book to 9-14 year
olds because 15 year olds might find it boring. I would
strongly reccomend this book to to readers who like real life
problems.
Laura from Year 7, Don Valley School and Performing Arts College:
My favourite character was Tom because I feel sorry for him
losing his father. I mean that could happen to anyone but as
well as that he's being bulled at school and he doesn't know
how to stop it.
I really liked this book because Tom is kind of the same as me
in his situation. I haven't lost my dad but I don't see him
anymore and I really miss him just like Tom misses his dad.And
I really think this is a great book for people with problems.
There is nothing that I don't like about this book.
I would recormend this book because it's a brilliant book for
people with problems.
Thomas from Year 8, Ridgewood School:
I thought this book was very interesting and it relates to some
people in everyday life. I also thought that some parts were
quite sad where toms dad has died and he is being bullied. Tom
finds another friend but he also dies in the army. This makes
this book very sad but it becomes happier in the end when he
beats the bully.
I would recommend this book and would give it 10/10
sophie from Year 6, Hayfield Lane Primary School:
I thought this book was really good it was a really enjoyable
book to read and i would love to read it again i thought it was
quite sad when his dad died but got better and better.
ellie from Year 6, Saltersgate Primary School:
This story is based on a boy called thomas,who unfortuntley
lost his dad.To make matters worst theres a bully in
school.Hopefully you will find a important message in the book
and enjoy the book just as much as i did.
Nathan from Year 7, Hall Cross School:
A bit of a Hero is a quite sad book about a boy whose dad is
killed in a fire. The book is about how he copes with this and
the bully at school. It is a good read but may upset younger
readers.
Theresa from Year 6, St Peter's Catholic Primary School:
I couldn't put this book down. It was sad but exciting to read.
I give this 10/10!
ella from Year 6, Sunnyfields Primary School:
It was very sad when his dad died i started to cry and now he
has to face the bully at school. It was very detailed and I'd
like to read it again some time, it was a very good book so
other people should have a go at reading this book some time. I
really woulld like to read it another day!
charlie from Year 6, Adwick Park Junior School:
It was very good in a bit of a heoro
holly from Year 6, Owston Primary School:
this book was so intresting because the writer (gervase phinn)
is a really great . he has a really imaginative with his books
after i finished the book my mum wanted to read it
Courtney from Year 8, Don Valley School and Performing Arts College:
This book is about a boy called Tim whose dad died tragically
in a house fire trying to save a young girl and to make things
worse there is a bully at school. His mum decides to get a job
to take her mind off things but one day Tim came home from
school and found a man sitting where his dad used to sit! My
favourite charactor was Tom because he showed a lot of emotion
. What made made me read the book was because the front cover
stood out and I like people who are heroes. I recommend this
book to older people as it is emotional. This book was a
fantastic story !
Vicki from Year 10, Don Valley School and Performing Arts College:
This book was a good book but was a bit sad and I felt sorry
for the boy in it as his dad has died. Tom's (who is the main
character in this book) dad has died and he is really missing
his dad, in the story he gets a new boy in his class called
Martin who turns out to be a bully who is taking the mess out
of quite a few people in the class, including Tom. Tom has to
put up with that and his interfering auntie all after the shock
of his dad dying. I thought that this book was quite realistic
in some ways, it was interesting and once I got down to reading
it I read it quite quickly. I would recommend this as it was a
good book even though it got a bit emotional in it. Even though
I did enjoy it I didn't think it was that brilliant and that is
why I gave it a 7.
Holly from Year 7, Ridgewood School:
This book is one of the best I've ever read. It has it all,
bags of emotion, triumph over adversity and really believable
characters. It was a joy to read.
Tom, the main character, is struggling to come to terms with
the sudden death of his father. He died a hero, trying to save
someone from a house fire but Tom feels tremendous anguish over
his loss. He also finds himself being continually bullied at
school. To cap it all his mum has befriended another man, Roy
an American soldier.
The book leads us through the rollercoaster of Tom's emotional
journey and his grief. It compels you to read right to the end
and despite it's tearjerking ending, I found it a brilliantly
uplifting story.
Paige from Year 7, Don Valley School and Performing Arts College:
This was a really sad story, I really enjoyed this book. The
thing I liked best were the characters, I liked the way they
were described. My favourite character was Tom. I liked him
because even though his Dad is dead, he gradually manages not
to think about it so much. There was nothing I disliked about
the book. I would recommend it because if you have lost
someine you will want to read this book
connor from Year 7, De Warenne Academy:
i thought it was quit sad the boy lost his dad and to make
things worse he keeps getting picked on at school. His mum
keeps dating diffrent men but the boy wants his own dad back.
The big question is can he stand up to the bully and pull
though life. Will he find the same courge as his dad. I felt
quiet sad when i read this book. there are some funny bits in
but im not going to tell them. i'm going to say don't let all
the bits put you off your book.
Mary from Year 7, Rossington All Saints School:
An emotional roller coaster for young lad, Tom. His heroic
dad's dead, school life's rubbish, now that Martin, the bully,
has started attending his school and Aunty Rita isn't making
life much easier... I sure wouldn't like to be in Tom's
position! At first, I wasn't so sure about this book, but it
was a good read. Just because it is a sad story, it doesn't
mean the book isn't good. Congratulations, Gervase, a great
story. So, will Tom ever stand up to Martin and set him
straight, or will he choose to be a coward? And will there ever
be a happy ending for Tom and Mum, or will they continue to
live in the past?
Harriet from Year 6, Adwick Park Junior School:
The book was sad when his dad died but it gets beter .I didn't
like his aunty or the teacher but I thouht Roy was nice .It was
sad when Roy died and didn't get the bit when he let the ballon
go but it was good.
Bethany from Year 6, Saltersgate Primary School:
I liked this book beacuse it showed how some familys are like
in real life. Mainly this book was about a boy whos father
died.Tom is proud of his dad beacuse he died a hero saving
someones life. Also Tom gets bullied at school but he faces
his fears and tells the teacher about him.My favorite person in
the book was Tom beacuse he faced his fears. I would recommend
this book beacuse its brilliant i couldnt take my eyes of it!
Charlotte from Year 7, Ridgewood School:
This is a good book but I found it sad which turned me away.I
found that because it was very realistic it stopped me
thinkinbg it was only a story. It is about a boy called Tom who
recently lost his father tragically and then loses interest in
the things he loved most because it makes him remember his dad.
As if things were not bad enough a bully then starts out at
school and makes tom feel worse in the end tom stands up for
himself and things get better.I would recommend it to others
even though it does not appeal to me because it is a nice read
that is why I gave it a 7.
alice from Year 6, Adwick Park Junior School:
I think the book is great. I like the best when the boys mum
meets a soilder and at the end he die's. Like the dad when the
soilder was alive there was a bully and the bully was picking
on the boy and then the soilder came and the bully ran away.
Charlotte from Year 6, St Peter's Catholic Primary School:
This book is fabulous but sad as tom has lost his dad but it
has been a year and he is still upset.
Later Tom's mum gets a job working at the supermarket. There
is a american guy that comes in every friday for a while
because he is in a camp in the army. he is going to fight in
Iraq.
Tom doesn't like the fact that his mum is friends with him
and is going places with him for the night. So he just ignores
him but later his mum says life does go on. tom understands
that and begins to like the american guy who's name is Roy and
Roy buys tom a lot of gifts.
he also buys tom a box kite and promises that he will fly it
with him when he comes back from fighting in Iraq.
Unfortunately for tom he has to go and fight but tom is still
happy because roy is speaking to him through letters.
Until one day when tom comes back from football to find an
american truck outside his house and thinks that it is roys car
but unfortunately it isn't.
It is one of the sergents cars and he had come to say
unfortunately roy had died by going to save someone but died as
he was doing that.
Tom is very dissapointed baecause he had lost two people he
really liked and was very upset for days
But while roy had been away he managed to face his worst
enemy MARTIN ROADHOUSE who was the new boy but a big mean
bully.
Untill Tom faces his fears and Martin falls into the river
and Tom is happy but then remembers what his dad did and saved
a girl from a fire but died although Tom knew he could swim and
he wouldn't die so he saved Martin but from then Martin stopped
bullying everyone and Tom was back to him normal self until he
found out roy had died and his life was a misery again.
Tom went to fly his kite on his own to remember his friend
roy and hoped his life would get better in the next few months.
This book is great i recomend it to all ages 10/10
READ IT! IT IS GGGGGGGGRRRRRRREEEEEEEAAAAATTTTT !! :}
FABULOUS !!!
Keeley from Year 8, Don Valley School and Performing Arts College:
This book is about a boy called Tom whose dad died in a fire so
he and his mum live together. Auntie Rita(Tom's mum's
sister)comes to stay and tom hates her. At school Tom gets
bullied and has to face the bully.
I liked reading this book it was very exciting.
My favourite character is Tom because he is very honest.
I dont dislike anything in this book.
I would recommend this book to yr7s and yr 8 starters.
Rochelle from Year 8, Don Valley School and Performing Arts College:
This is a story about a boy called Tom whose dad has died and
he has to be brave but can't because of the new bully in
school. Tom is my favourite character. I like how he becomes
braver and learns how to be more like his dad and sticks up for
himself and can defeat the bully. I give this book 3 1/2 stars,
I think this book would be better for teenagers because it is a
very sad and emotional book.
Holly from Year 6, Montagu School, Mexborough:
i loved this book! I pretended i was writing to Tom, here's
what I would say.
Dear Tom,
I am very sorry about your dad. I can't get my head round the
bully. He is so mean but when the teacher comes he's your
friend. I heard about when you pushed him into the mucky water.
You were so brave. Roy and you had like a father-son
relationship going on. I'm sorry about him too. Anyway, just to
say well done.
Love Holly
The book was emotional in places and I think gervase phinn did
an fab job.
Will from Year 5, Owston Primary School:
this book is an emotional book which is why i didn't like but
apart from that it is a good book.
alice from Year 6, Hayfield Lane Primary School:
I think this book was. I like it when the boys dad dieds and
him and his mum start crying because they are really sad.His
mummeets a solider and near the end he die's when he was
fighting. there was a bully and the bully was picking on the
boy in the park then the solider came to the park the bully
said they were friends. but they want so the bully ran away.
tyler from Year 5, Owston Primary School:
I would recommend this book to people that are being bullied
because his dad is died and he gets bullied.
chloe from Year 7, Ridgewood School:
I gave this book 10 out of 10 because it is very good. It's
about a boy called tom and his mum who lost his dad. Toms mum
is finding new male friends but tom does not like it. all tom
want's is his dad back. I think the best bit is where tom and
his mum look back at the hoilday they had in whitby in a spooky
cottage with a mouse that poked his head out the skirting board
and where tom swallowed a marble.
lewis from Year 6, Hatfield Manor Junior School:
This is a good book but some bits i dont understand
Jordan from Year 6, Hatfield Manor Junior School:
A Bit of a Hero is a fantastic book because it has a nice
conclusion where everything is better. It tugs on your heart
strings as you feel how the characters feel. I would well
recommend this to anyone.
melissa from Year 8, Rossington All Saints School:
it was a very sad book to begin with but it is all about
standing up for yourself and learning to face your fears.
i loved it.
suzannah from Year 9, Rossington All Saints School:
a bit of a hero was a great book and it gets you a bit
emotional and especially in one part of the book and its one
of those books that makes you not want to put it down and its
just makes you want to laugh and cryAt the same time and its
just so great it features adventure and sadness and happiness
and it makes you feel all worm inside and when you read it it
just says to you read me until the end
chloe from Year 6, Edenthorpe Hall Primary School:
i have read abit of it and it sounds realy good at the ending.
Its funny at the start and i love it so far.
Ethan from Year 6, Sunnyfields Primary School:
A bit of a hero is quite good and i feel sorry for tom. 1
because his dads died. and 2 because his horrible antie rita
has to stay over and shes really mean to tom.
so im giving this a 8 out of 10
ethan =)
Abby from Year 7, Don Valley School and Performing Arts College:
This book is about a boy whose father dies and now he has to
deal with everything happenening at school and at home. I loved
this book it tugged at my heart strings and at the end I cried
my eyes eyes out, i loved everything about it. My favourite
character was Aunt Rita because she was always so smug and when
Tom's mum annouced her promotion it really threw Aunt Rita off
the tracks. This is the best DBA book. I have read so far and i
would give it 10/10!!
Abby from Year 7, Don Valley School and Performing Arts College:
This book is about a boy whose father dies and now he has to
deal with everything happening at school and at home.
I loved this book, it tugged at my heart strings and at the end
I cried my eyes out. i loved everything about it.
My favourite character was Aunt Rita because she was always so
smug and when Tom's Mum announced her promotion it really threw
Aunt Rita off the tracks. This is the best DBA book i have
read so far and I would give it 5 stars!!
Abie from Year 8, Don Valley School and Performing Arts College:
This book is about a young boy called Tom and his dad sadly
died and he really misses him. When Tom goes back to school
there is a new boy Martin. Martin turns out to be a bully and
it only makes things worse for Tom. Martin is taking the mess
out of other people as well as Tom. Tom also has to put up with
that and his annoying, interfering auntie all after the trauma
of his dad dying. I really like this book and I thought it was
quite emotional. I think somebody that does get bullied can
relate to that character and they could even have had a family
disaster like that. I give this book a good 9/10 as I really
enjoyed it!!
Callum from Year 6, Montagu School, Mexborough:
I engoied the book very mutch, I like the bit were Tom and
Martin Roadhouse are down at the libry, and Martin Roadhouse,
grabs the book about flowers and he's shoked at what book he's
pick out.But Tom's scared half to deth, because Martin
Roadhouse grabed the book next to the pures.
ebony from Year 7, Ridgewood School:
i think this book was a good book. i liked how it was set on
what people have to face in real life. but i didn't like this
book because it was really sad because his dad had died.
Adam from Year 7, Danum School Technology College:
I like this book because it talks about the boys feelings about
his dad. I also think that it's a bit sad because the boy's dad
died.
Caitlin from Year 7, Don Valley School and Performing Arts College:
I like A Bit of a Hero because it has lots of information and
emotion in it. Tom goes along in life, but everything changes
when his Dad dies and his Mum makes new friends. Tom doesn't
like this and just wants his old life back. He starts to get
bullied and tries to be strong like his Dad and stand up to the
bully. Because he lost his Dad he stops playing football as
well.
Jasmine from Year 10, Ridgewood School:
The book is about a boy called Tom who gets a terrible shock
when his dad is killed saving a girl in a fire. Things start to
get worse when a new bully joins the school. 'Martin
Roadhouse'. Tom doesn't know what to do, should he let it carry
on, he might stop, or should he do something. Meanwhile his mum
starts a new job and meets a very kind gentlemen who tom later
finds out that he is in the army. Tom grows close to him and
eventually builds up the courage to get revenge on the bully.
Unfortunately, when things are on the bright side, the man
dies. Everything turns out ok in the end.
I feel the book takes a while to get into but after that its
like your glued to the story. You just want to read it all.
This book is my favourite so far.
Holly from Year 6, Saltersgate Primary School:
This is an amazing story which is about a young boy called Tom
who loses his father. The story was set a year since Toms dad
had died. He started to feel a bit better that is before Martin
Roadhouse, who is a bully,joined the school.Tom got very
frightened about the bully when he came onto him. My favourite
character was Tom because he figured out how to stand up to the
bully and to face his only fear. Toms Mum started dating again
and met a man called Roy who was an american soldier but Roy
died in Iraq so it had happened twice to Tom and his Mum now. I
did not dislike anything about this book because it was
brilliant. I would recommened this book because it is a good
family story which a think some people could relate to but
eventhough i couldn't i still gave this book a 10/10.
THIS WAS AN AMAZING BOOK AND I THINK EVERYONE SHOULD READ
IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Rebecca .S. from Year 7, Rossington All Saints School:
I loved this book although it was sad in some parts, I loved
the bit where we were reminded about the marble
George from Year 8, Adwick Park Junior School:
This book I thought would be girly but it's not it's fantastic
!!!!!!
Alisha from Year 6, Bentley High Street Primary School:
I loved the book, it was superb. Whilst reading the book a
crystal tear came to my eye. I recommend this book to everyone.
I was so upset when Roy died (the American soldier.) He was so
kind and willing to help his country. Well Done Gervase Phinn,
A bit of a hero deserves to win!
Becky from Year 9, Danum School Technology College:
After the death of his Dad, Tom has lost interest in his
football and trumpet playing. He is getting bullied by a boy at
school called Martin Roadhouse. And his Mum is getting friendly
with a solidier called Roy. But, all Tom can think about is his
Dad. Now Tom has to find his courage to face up to the bully,
and be brave like his fireman Dad. I enjoyed this book, because
it was emotional and it made me cry.
Georgina from Year 7, Ridgewood School:
I loved this book so much I may buy it myself in the future. I
think the author must have spent ages writing this. The reason
I didn't give it 10 marks was because at the end it really
spoilt it as his best friend Roy died. To make the book better
I would have put him coming back rather that dying. Overall
this is one of my favourite books.
Shannon from Year 8, Danum School Technology College:
I found this book good. It was written in a way that made you
want to carry on reading it.The author used flashbacks from the
past and the present and the story line was really realistic
which fitted the story well. It was quite an emotional book and
had some humour in it too.The main themes of the book were
about:
coping with tragedy
bullying
being honest
and moving on with your life if something bad happens.
The main event in the book that you find out in the first
chapter is that Thomas's (who is the main character) dad
dies.This acts as a cause to make everything else in the book
worse. A bully moves in to the school and causes a lot of
trouble. There are a few incidents between him and thomas.
Towards the end of the book something really bad happens just
as you think Thomas's life has taken a turn for the good.
Abbie from Year 6, Montagu School, Mexborough:
I really enjoyed this book and would love to read it again.
Gervase Phinn has showed true emotion.
It also proves that life is not all easy, and that you have
your ups and your downs, and that whatever position your in,
there's always someone, somewhere, worse off.
Gervase Phinn kept me interested because the emotion behind the
story line is eternal.
Amy from Year 7, Don Valley School and Performing Arts College:
This book is about a boy who lost his father and how he
struggled through. What I liked most about it was that it
brought back happy memories of my great grandma. My favourite
character was Tom. I liked him because he was like me a year
ago, struggling to get through life after a relative had passed
away. There was nothing I disliked about the book. I would
recomend it to anyone because it helps you to get through life
if it is a struggle.
amy from Year 7, Ridgewood School:
This book was about a boy called tom who had lost his father
and had to put up with the school bully called martin
roadhouse.I like the way tom show a lot of emotion.Also i like
the way the book is written how someone is dealing with a real
life SITUATION.I gave this book a 10 because i thought it was
amazing but sad.
charlotte from Year 7, Ridgewood School:
i have just been to the racecourse for the doncaster book
awards.
i love this book as it will feel like the rest of your family
is a hero.
you are very good at your work Gervanse phinn.
thankyou
charlotte
elise from Year 7, Ridgewood School:
I have been to the doncaster racecourse today and i thaught
that gervase phinn was really good explaining and anwsering the
questions that people asked him even though he only had 10
minutes but i am still glad that he came today to the doncaster
racecourse i love his book called a bit of a hero it is fun to
read and very clever about the way he wrote it.
Natalie from Year 7, Ridgewood School:
I though this book was extremly good i would definately
recomend it.
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