Not bog standard and other peculiar stories by Mark Pardoe
Omnibus, 2012. ISBN 978 1 86291 863 4.
This book is great fun. The stories have a twist and there are not
always happy endings. Mark Pardoe will undoubtedly be compared to
Paul Jennings as the format and stories are reminiscent whilst still
being highly original. They have more of a darker flavor such as Message
in a bottle and Fish out of water, both of which show
the consequences of bad choices. Others have almost a supernatural
element such as Clairvoyant canine and Get lost.
My favourite is Flu past about two boys who live in the same
house on a farm but are separated by about ninety years. Hopefully
there will be others to follow as they will appeal to readers who
want variety in their stories and especially primary school boys.
David Rayner