The Gospel According to Larry   by Janet Tashijian Puffin, 2004, 215 pages, ISBN 0141318341

How easy was it to get stuck into this book?
Probably not the most grabbing book for younger readers. If you are 14 to 17 you will probably get more stuck into this book. The twisting plot and the way it's written mean that it is a hard book to put down. On the down side, there are far too many annoying footnotes and the font is irrritating to say the least.

Who are the main characters?
The main character is a hyperactive teenager called Josh. He leads an ordinary life in an ordinary American city with school and hobbies taking up most of his time. Burning underneath all of this is his desire to change the world for the better and he sets up a website fighting consumerism, putting his name down as Larry. The cumulative effect is a website set up to voice his opinions against the huge companies that market thousands of products made by foreign workers in appalling conditions. There aren't too many other characters to worry about apart from Josh (and his alter ego Larry) and best friend Beth who is unaware of his secret identity.

What's the storyline?
The whole story is centred around Josh's website - it's become a phenomenal success and for once Josh feels that he has done his bit to help the world. There is only one small problem, he can't let people know that he is the fabled Larry who posts his opinionated sermons on the website on a regular basis. People are dying to find out who is behind it all. The question is not, can Josh keep himself anonymous, but for how long?

How's it written?
The book is really well written, and very hard to stop reading and the ending is excellent and it blows you away. Especially good is the way that you can't predict the twists and turns of the story.

Other books by the same author that Chris knows about?
None

The overall verdict is
A cool-read

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