Description Share Post Finn’s Epic Fails Phil Earle, illustrated by Al Murphy (Simon & Schuster) Finn’s life seems to be one epic fail after another. Newly arrived as a Year 7 pupil at ‘big’ school, he is plagued with boring lessons. Meanwhile, his teachers are either ‘evil’ (in his view) or useless (also Finn’s view). Matters are much worse at home. His unicorn-obsessed little sister Maisie causes him an enormous, humiliating embarrassment at school, while his muscle-bound, vain older brother Jonah seeks him out for further humiliation. Furthermore, his Dad, who, since the divorce, is now permanently clad in Lycra. It’s impossible to live with his family. Respite for Finn comes in the form of his two best friends, Google and Laszlo. Google, so-named because she is the font of all knowledge, and Laszlo, preoccupied with his appearance and falling in love, provide Finn with his only sanity. The three of them are determined to negotiate life at school without any issues. Of course, this is a hopeless cause when you are prone to one epic fail after another. This is until the unexpected arrival of Trouble the dog provides Finn with some shelter from the avalanche of fails. Can Finn finally triumph over adversity? Phil Earle’s brilliantly comic novel is full of laughs. Readers are bound to recognise the likeable and awful characters that abound in the story. Some of the set piece fails are epically funny. Finn wants to improve his life and rise above his eccentric and dreadful family and every reader will be urging him on.
