Unreal (short story collection) facts for kids
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First edition (publ. Penguin Australia)
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| Author | Paul Jennings |
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| Genre | Short story collection |
| Publisher | Penguin Australia |
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Publication date
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June 6, 1985 |
| Followed by | Unbelievable |
Unreal is a fantastic collection of short stories by the popular Australian author Paul Jennings. It was first published on June 6, 1985. This book is the very first in a series of exciting story collections that Paul Jennings wrote. It's filled with funny, spooky, and sometimes surprising tales that will keep you turning the pages!
Contents
Exploring the Amazing Stories in Unreal
This book features eight unique and memorable stories. Each one takes readers on a different adventure, often with a twist you won't see coming.
Without a Shirt
Meet Brian, a boy with a funny speech habit. He says "Without a shirt" every time he finishes a sentence! Brian and his family move to a new house right next to a cemetery. This happens because his dog keeps digging up the yard. While living there, Brian discovers some old bones. He soon realizes these bones might be connected to his unusual speech. To break the spell, he must complete a special task involving the bones and a shirt. This story was later turned into an episode of the TV show Round The Twist, though Brian's phrase was changed to "without my pants" for the show.
The Strap-Box Flyer
This story introduces Giffen, a tricky salesman. He sells a super-strong glue that promises to stick anything together. However, there's a big secret: the glue only works for four hours! After tricking many people into buying his product, Giffen quickly leaves town in his truck. He wants to escape before anyone realizes they've been cheated. On his journey, he meets a man who has invented a special box that can make people fly! Giffen decides to try it himself, leading to a huge and unforgettable mistake.
Skeleton on the Dunny
Bob has to live with his aunt after a sad family event. The only toilet at his aunt's house is an old outhouse in the yard. To make things even spookier, this outhouse is haunted! It's said to be home to the ghost of a man who passed away while looking after the house. This chilling tale was adapted as the very first episode of the famous TV series Round The Twist.
Lucky Lips
Imagine a boy who has never been kissed. One day, he finds a magical lipstick. When he puts it on, it makes nearby girls want to kiss him! But there's a hilarious catch: the lipstick works on any female, even animals! This leads to some very funny and unexpected situations. This story also became an episode of Round The Twist.
Cow Dung Custard
Greg's dad is a passionate gardener. He grows enormous vegetables thanks to all the special fertilizer he uses. Some of his creations are truly wild! One batch of vegetables doesn't smell at all but attracts swarms of flies. Another batch smells incredibly bad, causing trouble with the neighbors, but it also magically gets rid of flies. Greg and his father often find themselves in funny predicaments because of these unusual plants. This story was adapted into an episode of the TV show Wormwood.
Lighthouse Blues
A young boy travels to a remote island to help an old lighthouse keeper named Stan. Every Friday night, strange music fills the air. The boy suspects it has something to do with Stan's ancestors, who were once part of the lighthouse's history. Stan, being the son of a captain, cannot hear the music himself. The boy discovers a hidden room where the music seems to come from, but he cannot see the ancestors. He shares some important news with the invisible spirits: the old lighthouse is going to be replaced. The ancestors, though unseen, seem to listen intently, hoping to protect their beloved lighthouse. This story was also adapted for Round The Twist.
Smart Ice-Cream
There's an ice-cream seller who creates amazing, magical ice creams. These special treats can do all sorts of things: make people happier, shorten noses, remove pimples, and even make people smarter! A very smart boy, who is always at the top of his class, starts to feel jealous. He never gets any of the magical ice cream, and one of his classmates suddenly becomes just as smart as him. In a fit of jealousy, he tries to ruin the ice-cream business by destroying all the ice cream. He only leaves the one that makes people smarter. He eats it, hoping to become even smarter, but discovers a surprising secret: that particular ice cream actually makes people less smart!
Wunderpants
A boy receives a pair of unusual underpants. They look a bit silly, which makes him worried about being teased by the school bully. However, these underpants give him superhuman strength! During a cross-country race, he's far ahead of everyone. He decides to take a quick break. But then, the underpants start to shrink! The bully catches up and, seeing his chance, steals the rest of the boy's clothes. The boy finds himself in a very embarrassing situation, having lost his clothes, which leads to him being grounded. Later, he enters a mouse race with a $50 prize. He cleverly uses the magical pants to help his mouse win! This story was also adapted as an episode of Round The Twist.
