A pleasant enough book but when the narrator is only a child I’m constantly thinking whether or not the narrative is true to the age. That’s my problem I know but finding on some occasion I wasn’t convinced did spoil the book slightly for me.

Huxley is a very precocious young boy. His forté is understanding words by re-spelling them in his head. The fun in the story is his occasional misunderstanding of the meaning and the resultant chaos resulting from this error. His vocabulary is very advanced for his age group. However, in school he is often corrected by his teacher who recognizes his attempted faux pas, and he wonders why his jokes are curtailed.

He has difficulty making friends. One of his friends is Leonard, a senior invalid in a wheelchair. Leonard understands his jokes and is often good for a small piece of chocolate. The adults in the school community take umbrage to his hanging around the school yard and giving candy to the children.

The innocence of youth runs headlong into the wisdom of parents. He is told not to talk to Leonard or go near him. He is confounded by this directive and hurt by his fathers’ lack of understanding. Many of the other parents, especially the fathers, take it upon themselves to correct the situation.

The story is replete with suspicion and innuendo. The ending is satisfied when the situation with Leonard is fully understood. The author visits the situation from both the innocence of youth and the suspicion of the parents involved.

The manipulation of words by this young wordsmith makes the reading fun and amusing. I highly recommend it. 5 stars - CE Williams

Highly recommend.
Copied and pasted review here but if you'd like a full read on my website please see below for link.

To begin - I received this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Rating & Review - 5 *****

Ok let's get to it. First, sorry for the long delay but I was on a much needed vacation. I didn't get as much reading done as I had hoped but in the end it was great to just be in the moment. However, I did get through this book within a couple of days.

During the first few pages, I majorly contemplated why on earth I had asked for this book. An entire book voicing seven year old boys mind. What in the heck was I thinking? But I kept going because 1) it was an ARC and I made a commitment 2) it actually wasn't boring or anything negative...just unfamiliar. So I put it down for the night and tried again the next night. It captivated me within another chapter. Suddenly, I was not only rooting for Huxley but salivating on what was going to happen next.

I would sometimes think about my own two children during some of these antics and conversations between characters and look at the similarities. Huxley gets in trouble at school and has to write an apology letter but he gets angry and sad and cries on it. He flaps it to dry it and tries to write again and tears a whole in it! Then he tries to push the wet pieces back together and it smudges, making him all the more upset. I could visualize an almost identical situation with my own young one. It was as if Gail herself, had been morphed back into a child for a month to really dive into this character.

One of the many things I wondered and stewed over with this book is the maturity level. I naturally assumed that just because Huxley is seven, I must have years of wisdom on him. Turns out I'm a bit presumptuous and ageist? HAHA. Huxley was not immature, maybe even wise beyond his years, certainly beyond mine. Sometimes, simple thinking makes for simple answers that are exactly the correct solution. Do not fear that this book will be full of childish simpering and whining but instead know that it's full of childlike wonder and possibility.
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It's British. This caught me off guard because I had no idea. This didn't really change anything, everything was still perfectly understandable but there are very English references to things. Such as tea for lunch...I think it's lunch...that or snack time? I don't know, they seem to eat with tea okay! Though it seems to be a semi rural or smaller British town as they know their neighborhood and ride bikes to school. Walking near stores and seeing Leonard everyone hints that it is a tight knit community. ​
Being an adult, obviously. Or as my oldest would say, practically a dinosaur at the ripe ole age of...31, I did read this as a mother and adult as well. No spoilers here but as much as I winced at the assumption of dangers to their children, I did understand the mothers/fathers in this story. I definitely thought "the specific situation" was all a bit dramatic and unreasonable but all the same, identical fears plague my mind constantly as a parent.

This story is such a beautiful, novel, and insightful way to explain how our world looks to those "below" us. Kids are always watching and listening. This is what we're told and in this story (and the real world) it turns out to be very very true. Huxley is always around the corner watching interactions through no lens. As adults, we already have bias before even speaking let alone listening to others. Children do not have this. They see the world in such a simple yet true way that Gail really captures. I enjoyed looking at life through the eyes of Huxley and felt many of the emotions he did. This story also elicited some small sadness as I realized that Huxley would grow up and no longer think this way or see things the way he does now. I guess that's just life, you grow up.

All in all, this book was fascinating. I always wanted to keep reading to see what else Huxley got into, learn more about who Leonard really was, the drama between Lucy and dad, and Huxley learning friendship and social interaction with others. I even enjoyed "watching/experiencing" Huxley entertain himself and play games. It gave me a small feeling of nostalgia that left me both wistful and grateful for my life.
So final verdict. I gave it the five stars but would I recommend this?
To read for free? Yes
To buy? Yes
Hardcover? Yea actually.
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This is a great story told in a unique new perspective. The writing is engaging and easy. Quick read that makes you think. This stops you in your tracks and evokes beautiful feelings. Highly recommend.

Most books written in the voice of a child are intended for a young readership. This one, unusually, is for adults and I have never read anything quite like it before. Seven year old Huxley sees the world in his own unique way. From bullying to parental tiffs to making an inappropriate friendship, we see life through the innocent eyes of one who may not fully understand but still gets to the heart of what really matters. There is no strong plot or real page turning moments, but as a gentle character study it works well. Written with insight and humour.

I’m seven years old and I’ve never had a best mate. Trouble is, no one gets my jokes. And Breaks-it isn’t helping. Ha! You get it, don’t you? Brexit means everyone’s falling out and breaking up.

Huxley is growing up in the suburbs of London at a time of community tensions. To make matters worse, a gang of youths is targeting isolated residents. When Leonard, an elderly newcomer chats with Huxley, his parents are suspicious. But Huxley is lonely and thinks Leonard is too. Can they become friends?

Funny and compassionate, This Much Huxley Knows explores issues of belonging, friendship and what it means to trust. Will keep you reading and enjoying right to the very last page… and will desperately want more, loved every minute of the story… I couldn’t put this down…

Adorable! Just a feel good, happy and sweet book. Precious having it written in (Huxley), the 7 year old’s voice. Sometimes we just need to sit back and enjoy a light, yet meaningful read. This one fits the bill for sure!