This delightful children’s book has everything a budding or reluctant reader could wish for – a gripping plot, stuff to relate to, cool illustrations, realistic characters, dark stuff to overcome and a mixture of the mundane with surrealism and silliness.

NNF-Front-Cover-smA major draw is the unlikely protagonist, 12-year-old Nicholas Appleby or Nicky. Partially deaf, with different colour eyes, he couldn’t be further away from the Harry Styles pop culture that’s typically blasted at kids today.

Plus, he has a hard time in life: no mum; a dad facing death threats and in need of a bone-marrow transplant; an uncle in prison and bullies on his back to top it all off.

The plot revolves around a sinister plan to kidnap Nicky in revenge for the actions of his father – an animal welfare campaigner who has managed to stop endangered animals performing in circus acts.

Disgruntled performers aim to take revenge, by turning Nicky into a freaky monster show and, when a magic spell is cast, his eyes, ears, mouth and nose become separated from his face, and develop their own arms, legs and minds, enabling them to act independently. They end up running free and wild and being of no help to Nicky, who has to sort himself out in order to save his dad. Things are going against him, and time is running out to save himself and his father.

Although Nicky No Face & The Face Critters has a quirky and far-fetched plot, what is not to love? It’s great fun – who wouldn’t love their ears to wander off on their own for a while? But, most importantly, it deals with important themes such as a boy’s love for his father, and the fact that it's OK to be different from other people. Strangely, it was only by losing control of his senses that Nicky realises the true power of love and importance of individual identity.

Kids will love the no-nonsense prose, the fast-paced plot, the short chapters and text speak. There are also great illustrations by the author that don’t patronise or babify the book, but instead enhance it and make it stand out.

The characters are all a bit off-the-wall, from their names (Ruby Tang and Tonton Cheroot) to their characteristics – Nicky’s hobby, for instance, is spotting planets through his telescope. And although the book has mostly male characters, it clearly appeals to girls as well as boys.

Its crazy twists and turns will make kids smile, and any adult that is reading along with them, while at the same time getting across the anti-bullying message that everyone is different and that children should love what makes them unique.

Imaginative, enchanting and bizarre, this is a magical-mystery tour and a fantastic children's book that will quickly cast its spell over kids aged eight and over.

Nicky NoFace & The Face Critters: The boy who lost his senses by Vimal Vaz is available now from Amazon as a Kindle ebook, priced £1.79. For more information visit www.nickynoface.com