Books with author Paul Jennings

Hedley Hopkins has a few problems: he is the new kid at school, straight off the boat from England in the 1950s. The only friends he has made are the kids at the Loony Bin especially bald headed, long armed Victor. But if he could just fulfil a dare and dig out the hideous skull hidden in a grave in the sand dunes, he could impress the bullies at school and become their friend. But Hedley is not so sure. Weird things are happening to his body. Is he being punished for his terrible actions? And if his uptight parents ever found out what he was up to, they might blow up. Full-moon murderers, an open grave, religious conversions and sexual awakening meld sometimes poignantly, sometimes hilariously in this riveting, stunningly original account of growing up in 1950s Australia. This coming of age tale is Paul Jennings at his very best!

This title presents another collection of wacky and varied short stories, stories to be read and enjoyed at a sitting. They're about a boy who is able to grow new fingers, but not always in the right places; the dead dog that isn't quite what it seems; the last request of a grandfather; a man-eating ghost; a parrot that teaches unpleasant lessons and much more.