There is something special when an elderly person befriends a teenager. It can be a beautiful bond. This story is about Callum, a 15-year-old boy, who is bullied at school, doesn't know his father, and his mother is married to a man who is verbally and emotionally abusive.

One day in the woods, Callum meets Potts, a WWII veteran, who enjoys a reclusive life, while dealing with PTSD.

The characterization in this book is strong. I was cheering on Callum every time he talked to his love interest, Lucy. I was cheering on Potts, who just wanted to be left alone, but found that he really wanted company more than he thought. I wanted to punch his abusive stepfather, and I wanted to shake his mother who stayed in the home. The bond between Potts and Callum was just beautiful. Everyone should have a "Potts" in their life when they are young.

I enjoyed the story and gave it four out of five stars. I was given this book for my honest review.

This book was thought provoking and, at times, disturbing. This is about a teenage boy with a difficult life who manages to overcome some of his problems in a world that does not make this easy. I think that the reason for four stars and not five is two fold. One is that the beginning of the book was hard to get into. The book definitely picked up steam at the end and by the time it reached the conclusion, it had me screaming noooooo! Two is that this is a characterization heavy story and it was fairly good but I think there were a few missed moments to bolster the reader's picture of the mother, the girlfriend and the adult in the boy's life and all were extremely important characters. Finally, there was an underlying motif in the story of music that could (and should have) been used prominently. The boy and his girlfriend loved punk rock which seemed to be a little incongruent with the characters. It could have been because that was what was prevalent in that time in England, where the novel takes place, but it would have been helpful to understand. I also wanted to see how this motif played out but it didn't really and while the motif could have been taken out, I think it was something that could have made the book even stronger than it was if more had been done with it.
Nonetheless, it was a good solid novel, with compelling characters that conjured up strong emotions, both good and bad (the stepfather was someone you just had to hate, but it was very satisfying) and a very poignant ending. I will be waiting for future novels by this author.

The world is a bleak place for 15 year old Callum. His father died in a car accident and his mother remained shortly afterwards. His step father is a heavy drink and is both verbally and physically abusive. He is an outcast at school and has no friends. His live interest, Lucy, seems to be involved with someone who bullies Callum.

One day, Callum takes a walk in the woods, running from a humiliating experience. at school There in the woods he happens upon a much older man, Potts, living in isolation with onlyn three beloved hens for companionship. Potts was a soldier in WWII, who has a sullied reputation. He also has no friends.

In this beautifully told story, Callum and Potts bond, become friends and change each other’s lives. The author has so clearly drawn each character in this emotionally charged novel, that I found myself reading past bedtime. Whanslaw sets his tale in 1978 in a seaside town in England where no one’s business escapes the neighbors. It is essentially about the meaning of friendship and love pitted against the harsh realities of loss, loneliness and abuse.

This thought provoking and heart wrenching book is simply written in short chapters that make for easy reading. Despite the need for some editing, it captured my interest and my heart and I fell in love with both Callum and Potts. Five stars for this one and a big thank you to NetGalley and Acorn Publisher who gifted me a prepublication copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

After the death of his father and his mothers near immediate marriage to an abusive stepfather, 15 year old Callum withdrew into himself, preferring the company of books to people. By chance, he meets and strikes up a friendship with Potts, a reclusive WW2 veteran. “The boy who changed his world” follows the unlikely friendship between these two loners. Under Potts influence, Callum’s confidence increases, however his stepfathers escalating violence threatens not only Callum’s self esteem, but his life and his mother’s life as well.

Phew this was an emotional rollercoaster. Whanslaw was an expert storyteller, with beautifully vivid descriptions. I picked up the book and immediately felt as though I was among the characters. There is something to be said about the short, easily digestible chapters as well. I never felt like the story dragged, and I was surprised when a couple hours into reading, I realize I’m already halfway through the book.

One of my favorite details of the storytelling was the lead up to the climax, because of Whanslaw’s ability to subconsciously increase the anxiety of the reader. Most of the story is told from Callum’s point of view, with a couple of sections per chapter on another character POV, for example his mother or his step father. When leading up to the climax, Whanslaw subtly increases the speed in which we switch character POV, with each POV becoming increasingly shorter until BAM the Big Event happens. It provided a very uneasy reading experience where I knew something bad was going to happen and I was on the edge of my seat waiting for the pin to drop.

I would like to provide my thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley, for the free digital ARC in exchange for my honest review- this was a very delightful reading experience, and I was surprised that I shed a few tears.

A story set in 1970’s Whitstable revolving around Callum, the leading protagonist, and Potts. We meet Callum, a young lad who is trying to make his way through life, at every turn he faces another challenge, both in his home life and at school, until he meets Potts. With this new found friendship Callum finds the weight of the world on his shoulders becomes easier to carry.
Potts, it appears has his own challenges to overcome, these challenges become apparent during the flashbacks to World War II running alongside Callum’s story.
Can this unusual friendship heal or lighten the load of the other traumas of life.

I really enjoyed reading this one, it had the most captivating first chapter I’ve come across.
The topic of bullying and domestic abuse is raised and this writer has done a great job with covering there topics with tact and care, minimising the trigger points.

I felt like I could really feel the scenes being set around me, so much so that I’d love to take a trip to Whitstable now to eat fish and chips on Tankerton Slopes.
To come away from a story feeling this way is so rare, I would certainly recommend this book.

Thank you NetGalley for the advanced reading copy.

Every so often, you come across a book that makes you forget you're reading, pulling you so deeply into its story. "The Boy Who Changed His World" is undeniably one of those books. The narrative revolves around Callum, the central protagonist, and his relationship with Potts. While Callum wrestles with numerous challenges in life, it's Potts who most captivated me with his complexities.

Running concurrently, two distinct narratives unfold within the book: one tracks Callum in the contemporary backdrop of 1978, and the other traces Potts through his formative years and wartime experiences during World War II. The exploration of the story raises numerous thought-provoking questions and, upon completing the book, leaves you contemplating the concealed layers of meaning beneath its prose.

To be frank, I initially hesitated to pick up this book due to its portrayal of bullying and domestic abuse—topics that didn't fit with my usual reading preferences. However, I'm genuinely thankful that I decided to read it, as the book addresses these themes with a subtlety that allows readers to engage without feeling overwhelmed.

In summary, this was an exceptionally entertaining read, and I wholeheartedly recommend it.