This collection of young adult short fiction is a 'must read' for any age group. Tim Wynne-Jones' simple, straightforward prose makes these stories accessible to younger readers while his adept ability to weave a fascinating tale makes this collection equally engaging to adult audiences. The stories in this collection are funny, touching, poignant and sometimes a little sad. Wynne-Jones' tackles subject matters such as death and chronic illness with sensitivity and compassion.
Stories featuring school bullies and despotic teachers are lighter fare but just as engaging.
The Hope Bakery , Tashkent and The Clearing will tug at the heartstrings, while Night of the Pomegranate and Some of the Kinder Planets will fill the reader with mirth. Some of the Kinder Planets explores the multi-faceted world of childhood with humour, reverence and sensitivity. Tim Wynne-Jones' main characters may be young, but they have universal appeal. His characters are often eccentric. Fletcher, from the story Tashkent is a great example of eccentric behaviour.