The Terrible Thing That Happened to Barnaby Brocket

Main Ideas

• The theme of otherness and self-acceptance runs throughout the story of Barnaby Brocket, a boy who floats above the ground in defiance of gravity, embodying both a child’s dream and a parent’s fear.
• The pressure of family expectations and societal norms is explored through Barnaby’s relationship with his parents, for whom his uniqueness is a source of shame and anxiety rather than pride.
• Barnaby’s journey becomes a metaphor for finding one’s place in the world, with each character he meets reflecting different ways of being oneself and accepting others.
• The book calls for compassion and tolerance, encouraging readers to see strangeness in others not as a threat, but as an opportunity for friendship and understanding.
• The author explores both the fragility and strength of individuality, showing that true happiness is only possible when a person stops being ashamed of their uniqueness and finds those who can love them for who they are.