The Super Miraculous Journey of Freddie Yates

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Pub Date 30 Apr 2020 | Archive Date 4 Jan 2021

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Description

Shortlisted for the Costa Children’s Book Awards. 

Freddie Yates likes facts. Just not the one staring him in the face – that his secret plan is not, in fact, secret. 

Because Freddie's journey wasn't meant to involve Big Trev and the onion-eating competition or the loo-exploding pear-and-potato turnovers. And Freddie definitely didn't expect to end up, with his two best friends, on national television in a supergirl costume. 

But journeys never take you where you think they will. And for Freddie, that fact might just have to be enough...

The super funny, heart-warming adventure of three boys, one summer holiday, and a few miracles along the way.

Black and white illustrations throughout by Rob Biddulph. 

Shortlisted for the Costa Children’s Book Awards. 

Freddie Yates likes facts. Just not the one staring him in the face – that his secret plan is not, in fact, secret. 

Because Freddie's journey wasn't...


Advance Praise

“A big-hearted comic journey about friendship, family, and a miraculously well-timed seagull.”

David Solomons, author of My Brother is a Superhero

“This sleuthing-trip-cum-crime-solving spree has all the fizz of Jeremy Strong.”

The Observer

“One of the funniest books you'll read this year, with bundles of heart to boot.”

Fiona Noble, The Bookseller

"I couldn’t stop laughing out loud. Each time I finished a chapter I didn’t want to stop reading." Thea, 10

"The book was AMAZING! I laughed out loud…it sucks you in and makes you want to read more!" Harry, 10

"It was SO funny! I kept laughing out loud, especially the part where Freddie thought his Grams had guacamole in her eyes!" Emily, 11

"I belly laughed, cried and experienced every emotion in between." Grace, 12

"Fun, factual and a little bit naughty."  Becky, 11

“A big-hearted comic journey about friendship, family, and a miraculously well-timed seagull.”

David Solomons, author of My Brother is a Superhero

“This sleuthing-trip-cum-crime-solving spree has all...


Marketing Plan

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Average rating from 19 members


Featured Reviews

A genuinely funny page-turner, with a lot of heart. I could imagine reading this out loud to a class of 9 year olds, or as a bed time story where you're constantly asked for just one more chapter.
I loved the ridiculous escapades of the three boys, which get progressively more and more ludicrous, but are written so well and with so much comedy that you are happy to suspend your disbelief.
I was (pleasantly) surprised but how moving this book was, tackling big subjects like grief and family breakdowns with sensitivity and honesty.
I'm quite sad to let these characters go, but I'll definitely be keeping an eye out for more from this author!

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Adored this book. Packed with suspense and adventure. Absolutely hilarious but heartwarming and touching at the same time. Makes you think about the important things in life. About family, but also about friends. Those friends who would follow you anywhere, even to Wales to find your biological family.
Reminded me why I enjoy kid's literature so very much,so happy I gave it a read.

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This was a fun adventure book for children which held my attention throughout and was really enjoyable.

I can see this being a favourite with the younger end of the 9-12 readers that this book is aimed at.

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Freddie Yates is about to have a summer holiday he will never forget

Freddie Yates loves facts but when he learns a fact about his own life he sets of on a secret mission to Wales with his two best friends in tow. Of course, things don’t quite go to plan and he is soon wishing he packed more than one pair of spare underpants!

Freddie’s journey wasn’t meant to involve Big Trev and the onion-eating competition or the loo-exploding pear-and-potato turnovers. And Freddie definitely didn’t expect to end up on national television in a Supergirl costume.

The Super Miraculous Journey of Freddie Yates is the debut novel of Jenny Pearson who is regarded as the ‘Best Teacher in the World’ according to the six mugs she has received from her students. And it’s not hard to see why her class enjoyed her lessons. Freddie Yates is one of the funniest children’s books I have read in ages.
The story flows effortlessly from one mishap miracle to another yet underneath the fun there is a heart-warming message about the true nature of family and friendship. The author tackles some big emotions but with sensitivity and humour. You will giggle out loud at the trio’s escapades and shed a tear as Freddie learns what is really important in life.

Fans of David Walliams and David Solomons, both children and their parents, will love this new young accidental hero.

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The end of Year 6 is supposed to be exciting – the start of a new adventure – but for Freddie Yates, a sudden turn of events causes him to question everything he knows. For someone who loves facts, this is very unsettling. He decides to set off on his greatest adventure to find a father he’s never known with his best friends by his side. Through a series of mishaps, best intentions and almost unbelievable miracles, Freddie finds far more than he ever expected.

This story is funny from the start. My 10-year-old son and I were giggling to ourselves as we followed Freddie, Ben and Charlie from one haphazard antic to the next. As a long-time Year 6 teacher, I recognised the fallible logic, misunderstandings and blurting out random thoughts that is so typical of these big kids – so charming in their desire to be grown-up even though they still have so much to learn. Freddie and his friends are no different. They are determined to journey all the way to Wales to find Freddie’s father with no real idea of the challenges they will face. The result is the ultimate pre-high school adventure with one hilarious mishap after another!

Amongst all the funny moments, a touching message about dealing with grief and supporting one another through tough times shines through. Freddie learns a lot about family, friendship and miracles. It is clear that the journey through life never takes us where we think it will but that is what makes it all the more special.

Jenny Pearson has truly captured the humour and sense of adventure of Year 6 children. With the help of the fantastic Rob Biddulph, this story leaps off the page for readers to devour. We journey with the boys, willing them on and watching with a smile as they discover the truth and learn a whole lot more about themselves along the way.

Thank you to Usborne Publishing and NetGalley for this fantastic book which was published in April 2020!

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Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with this ebook.

What a wonderful middle grade book this turned out to be! I particularly enjoy middle grade books as this was the point in my life that I fell in love with the magic of reading.

I loved the way this book handles topics of grief and family with humour. It made me laugh and cry. A brilliant adventure that addresses what miracles are are how things can seem so different depending on your perspective.

A fantastic adventure and the situations Fred and his friends find themselves in are so funny because they are so believable and well written by an author that clearly knows her audience very well (I discovered at the end of the book that she’s a primary school teacher so that explains it!).

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This book is great for any young reader, funny and full of adventure it’s definitely a book that I’d recommend to customers at work.

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A lovely relatable quirky adventure story with a surprisingly emotional heart. An easy recommend for fans of Walliams...

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This was a funny book which would really appeal to confident readers in year 5 and 6. Freddie is a hilarious main character with two friends who he persuades into hunting down his biological father after the death of his grandma. Surprisingly moving and dealing with some big themes, I would recommend this to particular children who enjoy funny books (toilet humour and silly situations aplenty!) But can also deal maturely with details of grief and bereavement. Freddie is dealing with the loss of his mother and grandma, and ends up discovering that his biological father is also dead. This, along with a few offcolour jokes would make it a tricky choice as a class novel, but some kids would absolutely love it.

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This lovely warmhearted tale of Freddie and his quest to find his 'real' dad will have you grinning from ear to ear all the way through. When he and his 2 best mates set off on a road trip, they find themselves in various sticky situations, all resulting in what appears to be them performing minor miracles - gaining them celebrity status across Wales. But this is a problem for the three boys when they are also known to a renowned Welsh criminal with a gun who they have stolen from. Will they make it to find Freddie's dad in time? It is a very amusing, but very poignant tale about family and friendship, but also about perspective and belief. Fans of Frank Cottrell-Boyce in particular will love it!

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While some children collect pokemon cards or stickers, Freddie Yates collects facts. He has a fact on hand for any conversation topic, and loves to share his facts with his best friends, his Dad and his Grams... Until one day he can’t share them with his Grams anymore. As Freddie comes to terms with his loss, he is given a letter from Grams containing a secret which has been kept from him his whole life—the name of his biological dad. With his friends roped in and a very ill-thought-out plan, Freddie heads to Wales to track him down. Along the way, Freddie, Charlie and Ben take part in Barry’s famous onion-eating competition, perform heroic deeds and even witness a miracle or two! With such an early loss in the book, my heart went out to Freddie, and the description of his feelings and grief are real and relatable. It’s so important that readers have the opportunity to experience and practise these emotions through books.

Their enthralling escapade is a laugh a minute, but there are also touching moments of sincerity, including a poignant moment where the issue of body image and self esteem are discussed, and many moments considering the meaning of family and the stresses and strains that families can experience. Including these very relevant issues gives readers the opportunity to think about their own experiences. I’ll be whole-heatedly recommending this to my Y5 children, but could be shared with all of KS2. Perfect for fans of David Walliams, fans of funny books and fact fans! Grab your superhero costume, pack yourself a pear and potato turnover and buckle up for a summer like no other!

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This was such a heartwarming read that had me laughing and crying. The journey Freddie goes on is full of disasters that have you chuckling, but the overall reason for his journey is quite heartbreaking. I couldn't put this book down either and found myself reading it in one sitting.

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The Super Miraculous Journey of Freddie Yates is the kind of story I would devour if I was a kid, and have devoured now as an adult.

A contemporary mystery and an adventure story, this book is pitched perfectly to middle-grade readers, without being patronising or relying on humour over substance or storyline. There is humour here, and lots of it, but done so naturally that it adds to the story, rather than detracts. Pearson also deals deftly with tricky subjects, like grief, family changes and body image - this is a subtly complex book, and that makes for a fantastic read.

Jennny Pearson has created such recognisable, dimensional characters here, and their relationships feel so real too. What is particularly nice is the relationship between the three main boys - it is both humourous and heartfelt, flawed and feeling. MG needs more of these kinds of friendships, especially between boys.

In short, it deserves a place on every child's shelf (and on grown-ups' ones, too). A really excellent book.

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