Roald Dahl fans and kids who revel in the grotesque will enjoy this lively book in which a London boy aged ten gets money - but not if his mother can make off with it first. JOHNNY NOTHING tells of Johnny MacKenzie who, though he didn't know his rich, mean, businessman uncle, attends the old man's funeral. The repulsive reading of the will over, the few relatives are dismayed to be given very little. Johnny is given a cash card and PIN by Mr Dark the solicitor, enabling him to draw out up to a million English pounds. Of course, his mother Felicity's eyes light up and she snatches the goods 'for safe keeping'.

This is no ordinary mother. Care for her child has not come first in her priorities. Care for her husband has not been near the top either, it's safe to say. One brief spending spree later, the account is reduced by ten thousand pounds. The family plan a world tour holiday. Only, by the terms of the will, if Johnny can return in a year and show that his account has grown over a million pounds, he's going to be given ten million. Interest alone would do that... but not if the money keeps being spent faster than it accumulates.

I didn't much take to the early chapters, after which the author Ian Probert returns frequently to the theme of unpleasant smells, bodily odours and functions. He seems to think that all children are obsessed by or interested in such matters. I wasn't. Johnny's impoverished state is much like a Dahl book without the implicit kindness, but this family is seen to have chosen a grotty Council flat lifestyle by being 'allergic to work'. Nor are they making sensible choices, renting expensive hotel rooms instead of buying a house. A bleak future faces Johnny, with no time, thought or wealth spent on him and the instant gratification threatening to do away with his promised largesse. Children may read this as a fun story or may absorb lessons from the actions and consequences.

When Johnny decides to fight back, after nine months, what happens? What can someone so young possibly do? And has he left it too late? Lurking under the surface of JOHNNY NOTHING you'll discover ironic humour, suspense, strong characterisations, just desserts and life lessons, along with advice not to smoke or drink. Ian Probert has written several other novels and this is his first young people's book for some years.