Game of Pets: The Boy Who Knew Too Much by Aaron Blabey – at a glance
The School Reading Lists’ five word review: Environment, fantasy, animals, heroes, space.
Children’s book title: Game of Pets: The Boy Who Knew Too Much.
Children’s authors: Aaron Blabey.
Genre: Children’s fiction.
Published by: Macmillan Children’s Books.
ISBN: 9781035098903.
Recommended for children aged: 7-9.
First published: Hardback October 2026.
This children’s book is ideal for: solo or group reading for those who enjoy illustrated, humorous books and chaotic events. It can also be used as a starting point for discussing the environmental impact of global warming and the steps needed to help alleviate the dangers to our planet without being overly scary or doom-laden.
To see the latest price or order, click on the book cover image. As an Amazon Associate, schoolreadinglist.co.uk earns from qualifying purchases.
Our review:
Griff wants a pet. He’s been saving his money for ages, and now it’s time to choose. Unfortunately, that choice is limited because Griff is pretty much allergic to any type of animal skin, as well as being absolutely terrified of those he isn’t allergic to! There is one animal the pet shop owner thinks would be OK, and that’s how he finds himself the proud owner of… an axolotl!
Delighted with his purchase, Griff heads home. Along the way, to his surprise, he discovers something pretty amazing and not at all scary (it actually is!): his pet can talk to him! The things he learns, however, mean that Griff’s life is about to change completely, all because of an intergalactic game show taking place light-years away. The objective of the show is to destroy the Earth and, apparently, Griff is the only person who can save the planet, although he’s not really sure how or why! With help from the pet shop owner and her monster truck, it’s time for the most unlikely superhero to begin his first-ever adventure!
Our verdict:
Game of Pets: The Boy Who Knew Too Much is a funny, socially and environmentally relevant novel for younger readers, this is an easy read that gets the message about global warming and pollution across in an understandable way.
The storyline shows Bob, the axolotl, giving Griff the ability to understand what any nearby animal is thinking and how they project those thoughts towards their owners. These suggestions are all related to environmental issues, and they make the wrong choices seem appealing because an intergalactic quiz show with contestants from places such as Planet Bird or Planet Fish are competing to see who can destroy Earth first. They play using avatars, which are actually our pets, whose job is to increase the environmental destruction of Earth by subliminally suggesting actions such as not recycling and continually wasting water. Griff is tasked with saving the planet somehow, but, as with our real-life environmental issues, this is easier said than done.
As book one in a new series, it ends on a surprising plot twist, and there is no suggestion of whether Griff’s plan, whatever it is, will succeed.
Teaching points and book club discussion ideas:
- Not everyone has a pet, but most people know someone who has. How would you like to have a telepathic connection with a pet, like Griff does?
- Griff has allergies but desperately wanted a pet. What other pets could he have chosen if he hadn’t been terrified of them?
- In a cross-curricular art activity, design a poster for the next series of the intergalactic quiz show. How would you encourage would-be contestants to sign up?
- There is a big plot twist at the end of the book. Did you see it coming, or were you surprised?
Many thanks to Macmillan Children’s Books for the review copy.
To order a class set of this book, please click below to order via uk.bookshop.org, an organisation that supports local bookshops, or Amazon.co.uk.
Buy from UK.Bookshop.Org Buy from Amazon.co.uk
Disclosure: If you buy books using the buttons above, we may earn a commission from Bookshop.org, whose fees support independent bookshops; as an Amazon Associate, schoolreadinglist.co.uk earns from qualifying purchases.
Browse our Books for Year 5 list.
