Diary of a Real Kid: The Stranger Than Weird Story of How Billy Smudge Turned Into a Goat

tired of being a wimp? Try being a goat! Welcome to Raybury Village where corn is king and strange is normal. Billy Smudge and his best friend Shamus McNutt are about to have an adventure they will never forget. Someone is experimenting on animals in a secret laboratory and Billy is convinced that HE is one of the experiments! But the trouble is double when the boys find out that the mad scientist is someone they thought they knew and trusted!Diary of a Real "Kid" pokes fun at the multitude of "diary" books available in a light and humorous way. Twelve-year-old, Billy Smudge is a wannabe writer with a passion for "Stranger Than Weird" magazine. Billy's well-fed imagination takes a wild leap though when he wakes up one day and discovers that he is turning into a goat. Yep, a real "kid." Along with his best friend, Shamus McNutt, the boys navigate a series of misadventures on their way to discovering what caused the mysterious transformation. There is plenty of fun, a sprinkling of light sarcasm, friends, teachers, siblings and even a mad scientist. Everyone learns something about the 'power of suggestion' and how it might just be possible to become what you 'think' you are. It's a wild escape with lots of visual cues. Cartoon characters further the plot and make funny commentary. As the story is written from Billy's point of view, the comics mimic his narration and allow deeper insight into his feelings. Educators and parents will find this book suitable for most readers in the 7 - 10 year- old range, including reluctant readers. Diary of a Real "Kid" was written with the intent to amuse and entertain but a great deal of thought and attention has been given to the responsibility of writing for young people. J.M. Macdonald is an award-winning author with 3 grown children.visit amazon.com/author/janicegardenmacdonald for more about the author.