Perijee and Me, Ross Montgomery

Pages: 233

Publisher: Faber and Faber

Release Date: 3^rd March 2016

Edition: UK paperback, review copy

Other Titles by this Author: Alex, the Dog and the Unopenable Door; The Tornado Chasers

When 11-year-old Caitlin discovers a shrimp-like alien creature on the shores of her island home, she takes responsibility for teaching it about the world. Mostly, this just involved stopping little Perijee from eating everything! Caitlin becomes increasingly close to her alien friend, treating him like a brother.

There’s only one problem – Perijee won’t stop growing.

Then the authorities try to hunt him down and through his fear, Perijee disappears and stars causing trouble. Caitlin must leave home and travel across the country to try and convince Perijee to stop destroying everything before it’s too late.

I was introduced to Perijee and Me at the Faber blogger event last Saturday and I had to read it immediately.

Caitlin broke my heart. She’s ten-years-old and lives on Middle Island with just her mum who spends all day working on her computer, and when he’s not away on book tour, her dad and her only friend is Frank who takes her to the mainland to school everyday. They’re both super successful scientists and they just can't understand how Caitlin struggles to grasp reading and writing; her dyslexia isn’t understood and so she hides it. I just wanted to wrap her up in a big, warm hug.  

Finding Perijee and teaching him all she can about being a human captures all of her energy and Caitlin finally feels like she has a friend, someone who loves and understands her completely. I loved seeing them go their adventure, finding friendship and mischief along the way. I loved how wonderfully naïve and innocent Caitlin is and the way that contrasted with Fi – I would love to know Fi’s story! They make a brilliant pair and I'm very glad they found each other.

Perijee and Me is a sweet, life-affirming adventure about friendship, family and home.

Thanks to Faber for the review copy.

Sophie