By: David Almond
Illustrated by: Oliver Jeffers
Stanley Potts lived with his aunt and uncle after his parents had died. His aunt and uncle had been so good to him but then things went really crazy when his uncle started a fish canning business. The craziness didn’t stop, and soon it got all too much for Stanley and he runs away. Stanley joins the fair and works on the hook-a-duck stall. He finds a place and new home, and then he meets Pancho Pirelli, the man who swims with piranhas and Pancho offers him a job.
This is a wonderfully woven tale that simply sweeps you along. Stanley is a boy with a big heart and a gift for dealing with fish. He is willing to do what he has to to survive and in his own way stands up for what he thinks is wrong (even to one of the people he cares most about in the world). The fair is a colourful backdrop to a story of adventure and discovery. The elements of humour and it’s subplot of DAFT give a fairytale feel bad guy to the story. This is a wonderful tale that shows even as a child you are capable of achieving things others say can’t be done. There is something touching here; truth, whimsy and encouragement of a a child’s belief in self.
Highly recommended.
Publisher: Walker Books Ltd
Published: 05 September 2013
Format: Paperback 256 pages
Categories: Fiction
ISBN 13: 9781406337464
Purchase: here or use Booktopia link on side of page
TheKylieVerse 
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