Changes

The story opens when Alfie is 11, and sent out to earn money to buy food. He comes across a demonstration by a scientist who claims to have discovered a 'luck gene' and has bred it in a very special chicken. In a somewhat unlikely series of events, Alfie ends up with this chicken, which he cooks and eats. Now Alfie is, in theory, the luckiest boy in the world.

Naturally , the doctor wants his gene back, and the Prime Minister - who is having bad luck with a spaceship programme - would also like her share of luck. Alfie's aunts want him back as their slave, since they can't even get out of the bath without his assistance. So the main part of the book is about Alfie repeatedly escaping from various people who want him, dead or alive. It's quite a clever ploy: the book is full of the most unlikely coincidences and last-minute rescues, but these are all explained by the good luck gene working to protect him.

Anyone who enjoyed this would almost certainly love [[George's Marvellous Medicine by Roald Dahl|George's Marvellous Medicine]], or anything else by [[:Category:Roald Dahl|Roald Dahl]]. We also enjoyed [[Boom! by Mark Haddon]] which reminded us of Dahl.