Millions (novel)
 Front cover of first edition | |
| Author | Frank Cottrell Boyce |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
| Genre | Children's novel, comedy and screenwriting |
| Publisher |
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Publication date | 6 February 2004 |
| Publication place | United Kingdom United States |
| Media type | Print (hardback and paperback) |
| Pages | 250 pp (first edition, UK) |
| ISBN | 978-1-4050-4736-4 ISBN 978-0-06-073330-8 (US) |
| OCLC | 440864983 |
| LC Class | PZ7.C82963 Mi 2004[1] |
Millions is a children's novel published early in 2004, the first book by British screenwriter Frank Cottrell Boyce. It is an adaptation of his screenplay for the film Millions, although it was released six months before the film (September). Set in England just before British adoption of the euro (a fictional event) the story features two boys who must decide what to do with a windfall in expiring currency.
Cottrell Boyce won the annual Carnegie Medal from the British librarians, recognising the year's best children's book published in the UK[2][3] Millions was an integral part of the annual Liverpool Reads campaign in his home city.[4]
Plot
The novel is set in Widnes, England, just as the euro is about to replace the pound sterling. Damian and Anthony Cunningham are brothers who have recently suffered the loss of their mother. Because of this tragedy, Damian becomes obsessed with saints and eventually hallucinates about them. When brothers Damian and Anthony unwittingly come into possession of the proceeds of a train robbery, they find themselves with millions of pounds to spend in the next 17 days. Damian believes the money comes from God and should be used for doing good, but Anthony has different ideas. Meanwhile, the robbers are looking for their money... but will they eventually catch them?
Awards and nominations
Beside winning the Carnegie Medal from the British librarians,[2][3] Millions made the shortlists for the Guardian Children's Fiction Prize and the Branford Boase Award.
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References
- ^ "Millions" (first US edition). Library of Congress Catalog Record. 30 July 2012.
- ^ a b (Carnegie Winner 2004). Living Archive: Celebrating the Carnegie and Greenaway Winners. CILIP. Retrieved 29 July 2012.
- ^ a b "Press releases for the 2004 Awards, presented in 2005 ". Press Desk. CILIP. 18 August 2012.
- ^ Liverpool Reads ... Millions homepage. Archived 5 July 2008 at the Wayback Machine
External links
- Millions in libraries (WorldCat catalog) —immediately, the first US edition
- "In the Frame for Writing Millions" – an interview with Frank Cottrell Boyce
- ITC Esprit Book, the font used in Millions – Fonts.com [clarification needed]