A Pack of Lies facts for kids
First edition
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| Author | Geraldine McCaughrean |
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| Cover artist | Robina Green |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
| Genre | Children's novel |
| Publisher | Oxford University Press |
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Publication date
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December 1988 |
| Media type | Print (hardcover, paperback) |
| Pages | 168 pp (first edition) |
| ISBN | 0-19-271612-3 |
| OCLC | 17982275 |
| LC Class | PZ7.M4784133 Pac 2009 (paperback) |
A Pack of Lies: twelve stories in one is an exciting children's novel. It was written by Geraldine McCaughrean and came out in 1988. The book is special because it has stories inside a main story.
The main story is about a family's old antique shop. A new salesman there tells amazing historical tales. He uses these stories to help sell the old items. The stories he tells are all very different and interesting.
Geraldine McCaughrean won two big awards for this book. She received the annual Carnegie Medal. This award is for the best children's book by a British subject. She also won the Guardian Children's Fiction Prize. Only a few books have won both of these important awards.
Contents
What is "A Pack of Lies" About?
This book uses an old way of telling stories. It has many separate tales hidden inside a bigger, main story. Think of it like the Arabian Nights or Canterbury Tales. Each small story in A Pack of Lies is linked to a different piece of furniture. These are items found in the antique shop.
The big question in the book is: Are these stories just made up? Or could they actually be true? And what would it mean if they were true?
The Mysterious Salesman
The main story begins when a young man named MCC Berkshire shows up. He follows a girl named Ailsa home from the library. He then talks his way into an unpaid job. This job is at Ailsa's mother's old antique shop. All he asks for is a place to sleep and books to read.
MCC is very good at understanding customers. He makes up amazing pasts for the furniture. He changes his accent and even his own history. He does this to fit the story he is telling. His stories often come from the book he just finished reading.
Ailsa's mother, Mrs. Povey, once told him he was telling lies. MCC replied, "Not lies, madam. Fiction. That's what people want."
Doubts and Discoveries
Ailsa and Mrs. Povey are thankful for MCC's help. They enjoy having him around. But they often wonder about him. Ailsa's uncle, Clive, visits and really dislikes MCC.
Later, the Povey family's money problems suddenly disappear. This happens in a very strange way, almost like it came from a book. After this, MCC gets ready to leave. In the last part of the book, Ailsa figures out a shocking truth. The reader then realizes that Ailsa's own world might also be one of MCC's stories.
Who Are the Characters?
Here are some of the main people you'll meet in the book:
- MCC Berkshire: A mysterious stranger who loves to read. He is very good at making up exciting tales.
- Ailsa Povey: A schoolgirl who helps out in her mother's antique shop.
- Audrey Povey: Ailsa's mother. She owns the antique shop, which is a bit run-down.
- Clive Povey: Ailsa's uncle. He is Audrey's brother-in-law. He is a bit bossy and grumpy.
- Mr Singh: The owner of the newsagent's shop next door to the antique shop.
- Mrs Millet: The Deputy Librarian.
The Stories Inside the Book
The stories MCC tells are very different from each other. They cover many topics, from love to pirates. They are told in different styles, like a detective story or a poem. The settings also change a lot. Some are in early 1900s Ireland, others in ancient China. Most of these stories also teach a lesson. They often show a human weakness, like being too greedy or too proud.
Here are some of the stories you'll find:
- The Clock: A Story of Superstition
- The Writing Box: The Story of a Liar
- The Plate: A Question of Values
- The Table: A Story of Gluttony
- The Harpsichord: A Story of Honour and Trust
- The Umbrella-Stand: A Story of Temper
- The Mirror: A Story of Vanity
- The Roll-Top Chest: A Question of Whodunnit
- The Wooden Chest: A Story of Betrayal
- The Lead Soldier: A Story of Pride
- The Bed: A Story of Horrors Unspeakable
