Bumface

Bumface (ISBN 9780140387971) is a children's novel written by Australian author Morris Gleitzman^[1] for readers age 10-12. First published in 1998 it has won several awards and is regularly named in polls as a favourite children's book in Australia.^[2]

Plot summary

Angus wants to be Bumface, a pirate character he has created. Bumface is brave, bold, wild and free. He stars in the stories Angus tells his younger brother and sister.

Instead, Angus is just plain tired from having to change his sister Imogen's nappies and scrape food off the walls. He has to look after his siblings while his famous soap opera actress mother works and chases men.

His father and stepfathers don't have time to look after their own children.

Angus doesn't want to be mum's Mr Dependable or dad's Mr Reliable he just wants to be an ordinary boy.

In the end, Angus gets his own back.

Reception

Kathryn James discusses Gleitzman's playing with social roles in that Angus acts as an adult by shouldering the responsibilities of looking after his siblings, whereas his mother is largely absent and his father leaves the work to Angus.^[3]

Awards

• 1999 Bilby Award^[4]
• 1999 COOL award^[5]
• 1999 YABBA award^[6]

See also

• Parentification

References

1. "When the facts of life are too close to home". Birmingham Post. 22 May 1999. Retrieved 2009-01-17.
2. "Good books and bad reactions". District Administration. 1 April 2007. Retrieved 2009-01-17.
3. James, Kathryn (December 2004). "Subversion or Socialization? Humor and Carnival in Morris Gleitzman's Texts". Childrens Literature in Education 35 (4): 367–379. doi:10.1007/s10583-004-6418-x.
4. "Previous Winners". Bilby Awards. Children's Book Council of Australia. Retrieved 2009-01-17.
5. "Past Award Winners". COOL Awards. ACT Public Library. Retrieved 2009-01-17.
6. "PREVIOUS YABBA WINNERS". The Children's Choice Book Award in Victoria. Yabba Council Inc. Retrieved 2009-01-17.