Walaupun di puluhan halaman pembuka aku merasa bosan dan mulai memupuskan ekspaktasi besarku pada novel ini, tapi akhirnya terjawab dengan munculnya bagian kisah baru dari kehidupan Budi ini. To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. His dream is to a pro footballer but he has some condition which makes him bleed loads which could lead to death. I think Johnson tries to cover it up with comparisons to football but as an adult reading this, I can see past it. I feel that the themes of this book are really important and that it would be a worthwhile class read!

Keluguan dan kepolosannya membuat dirinya berani bermimpi bahwa suatu hari dia bisa bermain bersama pesepak bola idolanya di Madrid- Kieran Wakefield. Buddi is a really optimistic character, so despite the hardships that he has in his day-to-day life and the emotional journey that this story follows, the general tone of this book is light-hearted and uplifting. I just hope that Amnesty can continue to work with authors to put out children's fiction covering such important themes as there really aren't many stories out there like this one! Apart from the quote, there are barely any hints there to do with the themes it discusses in terms of Indonesian poverty and the ridiculous justice system there (this book goes into really great detail on those points! But one unlucky kick brings Budi's world crashing down, because now he owes the Dragon, the most dangerous man in all Jakarta.Keputusan tepat MJ— lebih nyaman memanggilnya begitu HEHE— mengeksekusi konfliknya secara perlahan dan menyenangkan, tak ada kesan terburu-buru di bagian manapun, hanya saja karena di puluhan halaman pembuka seperti yang kupaparkan di review sebelumnya— tepatnya penghantar konfliknya bisa kubilang sangat membosankan, karena itu 3. He’s going to play for the greatest team on earth, rather than in the square behind the factory where he works. The first few chapters of this story focus on Budi's life as a factory worker living in a poor district of Jakarta.

We are right there with them, through the horrors they face, but there is humour, and warmth, and a wonderful relationship between the main two children. As a reader, you are carried through the book by a real compassion for Budi and also the author’s humour, which acts as light-hearted relief in the story and doesn’t distract from the matter in hand. It is a stunning debut novel, one that should be read by as many children as possible – not just football fans. He then grows far more confident as a person and that story also teaches Budi to look past all his difficulties - in terms of being poor and having his blood condition - and follow his dreams if that is solely what he wants to do and it will pay off.Also Budi is a budding (excuse the pun) footballer and plays football whenever he can, commentating on his play in his head. The Dragon demands that Budi steal a pair of football boots for his nephew from the factory in recompense. Family and friends always coming first, it is arguably a bit cliched, but I like the message it gives. We've been considering whether to put this into our Year 6 spine to support a topic on "Global Trade" and have made the decision that it's too good a book to miss.