Danny, the Champion of the World (Paperback)

by Roald Dahl (Author) "WHEN I WAS four months old, my mother died suddenly and my father was left to look after me all by himself..." (more)
Key Phrases: hundred raisins, roasted pheasant, bumpy track, Doc Spencer, Sergeant Samways, Captain Lancaster (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review
"My father, without the slightest doubt, was the most marvelous and exciting father any boy ever had." Danny feels very lucky. He adores his life with his father, living in a gypsy caravan, listening to his stories, tending their gas station, puttering around the workshop, and occasionally taking off to fly home-built gas balloons and kites. His father has raised him on his own, ever since Danny's mother died when he was four months old. Life is peaceful and wonderful... until he turns 9 and discovers his father's one vice. Soon Danny finds himself the mastermind behind the most incredible plot ever attempted against nasty Victor Hazell, a wealthy landowner with a bad attitude. Can they pull it off? If so, Danny will truly be the champion of the world. Danny is right up to Roald Dahl's impishly brilliant standards. An intense and beautiful father-son relationship is balanced with sublegal high jinks that will have even the most rigid law-abider rooting them on. Dahl's inimitable way with words leaves the reader simultaneously satisfied and itching for more. (Ages 9 to 13) --Emilie Coulter --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review
"David Wood's ingenious adaptation... the rapture shown by Dad and Danny when they succeed is lovely to behold." Jeremy Kingston, The Times "... as fine a piece of theatre for young people as one could hope to see... moving, uplifting, funny and fast-moving... captures the spirit of Dahl's work in a highly persuasive and heartwarming manner." www.theatrewales.co.uk" --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9-12
  
• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: Puffin (June 1, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0141301147
• ISBN-13: 978-0141301143
• Product Dimensions: 7.6 x 5 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (98 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #474,192 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Best, June 20, 2000

By	kennedy19 "kennedy19" (wakefield, ma USA) - See all my reviews

"Danny the Champion of the World" is a masterpiece. For my money it is Dahl's best book, (though "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" and "Fantastic Mister Fox" come close.) I think that although the intended audience of kids is sure to enjoy it, adults too would appreciate the tale. It is not only a ripping good adventure story, about a boy and his father who attempt to poach pheasants from a wicked landowner, but an atmospheric one as well - we can feel the palpable thrills in the early fall air as the characters plot the fine art of poaching for the pure private pleasure of it, like any great artists. As with all of Dahl, this book has moments of great comedy as well as a love for food and freedom, all of which appeal to its audience. There is also the subtly tender relationship between Danny and his father that add depth to the story. Well, we could go on. All I can say is that anyone who can read, adult or child, will thank themselves for reading this one.

15 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best book I've ever read., October 8, 1999

By A Customer

Danny, the champion of the world is an awesome book. The book leaves you hanging at the end of chapters. It is full of suspense. It's about a boy whose mother died, and lives with his dad in a old gypsy wagon. His dad is a nice guy. He and Danny do lots of things together. Danny lives a good life until school comes and worst of all he finds out his dads deep dark secret. Then comes Hazels woods. Danny gets an ides that is very good. Then his father and him go on an adventure. Read the book to find out if his dads secret is good or bad? I really enjoyed the book. I've read it 8 times. I think you should read it because it has a little bit of humor a little bit of sadness and a little bit of action. So READ THE BOOK!!!!!!!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This is the BEST book!, December 10, 2005

A Kid's Review

"Danny Champion of the world" was a great book. If you like Rold Dahl, you will like this a lot. This book is about a boy and his father who live in a gas station in England, with their land bordering Mr.Victor Hazel's, a mean rich man who owns a beer brewery and is a rotton mean old man. Danny finds out about his father's deepest secret-he is a poacher. He does this to get back at Victor Hazel. Danny discovers the spectacular world of poaching, and he and his father have a blast together. You should read this book!
by: Hannah Age 11