I think it would make a great read-aloud for upper primary, funny and suspenseful with end-of-chapter cliffhangers, a rollicking pace and a wonderfully engaging tone. Here is a link to the first couple of chapters in The Guardian so you can start it and judge for yourself.
But perhaps to get a real feel for the book, listen to Lissa Evans herself describe why you should read and review it - 3 compelling reasons - and 2 of them are true ! http://www.theguardian.com/childrens-books-site/video/2011/jul/08/lissa-evans-small-change-for-stuart-video
This shows Lissa sitting on the sofa with her big dog next to her, its head on her knee, as she gave reasons about reading and enjoying the book and sharing it etc, plus the bonus, as attested eagerly by her canine companion, that on page 42 there is a wonderful aroma of salami, and on page 97... the dog just couldn't get its nose out of the book !
Check out this review on The Bookbag blog.
It is also a beautifully produced book - the edition I have is from Doubleday, an imprint of Random House - in hardback, with elegant font and design, and cover and chapter heading illustrations by Temujin Doran which have a hint of Edward Gorey about them - detailed, black and white, and slightly gothic. Here is a post on Frances McKay's Illustration blog about how he drew them : "Most of the drawings I did whilst I was working at my part-time job; sat on the roof of the cinema I work at. Or if not there, then it was in the café of the Barbican Centre, where I would make one apple juice seemingly last 6 hours...." Shades of JK Rowling!
This is one of my favourite young reads of 2011 - highly recommended!
