The Many Worlds of Albie Bright – Christopher Edge

Sometimes I read a book which just blows me away and ‘The Many Worlds of Albie Bright’ by Christopher Edge is one of them. It was the stunning front cover by Matt Saunders which captured my attention and when I read the blurb I knew this was a book I needed to read. I started reading it last night thinking just half an hour before bedtime the next time I checked the clock it was midnight and I had nearly read the entire book. Forcing myself to put it down I went to sleep only to eagerly pick it up upon waking and having to read to the end before anything else could get done today. For me this is a sign of a brilliant book one where you want to stop time just so you can totally focus on enjoying the story,

When Albie’s mum dies he starts to wonder where she has gone, is she in heaven, does heaven exist? Both of his parents are scientists so Albie is naturally inquisitive and is used to them having all the answers to his questions. His Dad who is burying himself in his work in attempt to stave off his grief attempts to pacify and comfort Albie. He uses quantum physics to explain that there is a possibility that we live in a world with lots of parallel worlds and explains this means in theory there is a parallel world in which Albie’s mum never got cancer and she is still alive today. Far from pacifying Albie this opens up a whole realm of possibilities to him and armed with a box, his mum’s computer and a rotting banana we discover just how far he will go to change his world when he sends himself through time and space to find her.

I found this book totally fascinating not only is the story deeply compelling but it makes you look at science in a whole new way. Having never had an interest in science I found myself being drawn into this world and it made me look at life from a totally different perspective. It manages to explain really complicated physics in a way that opens up your imagination to the possibilities that exist in our world. I can imagine children becoming totally engrossed in this idea of different worlds which now feel entirely real because they can be explained scientifically which for me makes the story even more exciting.

We go through this emotional journey throughout the book with Albie who is desperately trying to come to terms with his grief. Feeling ignored by his Dad, he is determined not to let anything to get in his way in his quest to see his mum again. But will Albie find the answers to the questions he seeks and if he finds this parallel world will it restore his happiness, you will have to read it to find out more. This book is such a delight it made me laugh out loud, took my breath away and made me cry it truly is a wonderful story which I loved reading.

‘The Many Worlds of Albie Bright’ is released on January 14th 2016.

Thank you to Nosy Crow for sending me a copy of this book to review.