Stewart Foster The Bubble Boy 4 Book Set Check Mates, The Bubble Boy & more

This four-book collection brings together stories by Stewart Foster: Check Mates, Perfect Parent, Bubble Boy and All the Things That Would go Wrong. Across the set, each book is told by a young narrator describing the pressures and relationships that shape everyday life, from school expectations to family dynamics and the need to be understood.

The titles explore different situations and viewpoints. Felix shares how ADHD affects his concentration and schoolwork, while another child sets out a list of “must-haves” for the ideal parents. Elsewhere, Amir offers observations from inside a hospital, and Dan’s anger after his brother leaves collides with Alex’s difficulty leaving the house due to severe OCD.

Included titles

• Check Mates
• Perfect Parent
• Bubble Boy
• All the Things That Would go Wrong

Key details

• Four-book set by Stewart Foster
• Includes Check Mates, Perfect Parent, Bubble Boy and All the Things That Would go Wrong
• Check Mates follows a school experience shaped by ADHD
• All the Things That Would go Wrong references severe OCD

Synopses

Check Mates

Felix is finding school difficult. His ADHD makes it hard to concentrate and his grades are slipping, yet people around him tell him to try harder without understanding his struggle. When his mum suggests spending time with his grandfather, Felix cannot imagine anything worse.

Perfect Parent

A child lists “things my perfect parents must have”, from a mega mansion like footballers live in to a garage wall with a basketball hoop, plus no gerbils and holidays to Disneyland.

Bubble Boy

Amir describes a hospital and questions how someone he considers “crazy” could be allowed in. He imagines different explanations for who the person is and where they might have come from.

All the Things That Would go Wrong

Dan is angry and life has not felt the same since his big brother left. He takes it out on Alex, who is struggling with severe OCD that makes it difficult to leave the house, especially with Dan and his gang waiting at school.