Nothing to be Afraid of

Mice behind the skirting boards and dry rot in the attie are problems that might one day be solved but a newel post that walks is another matter! It is a problem that Martin did not know how to solve and just one of the many mysteries in Jan Mark's book of short stories. In hardback this has been a very popular book with top Middle school children and has been eagerly received in the new paper back version, There is a black humour in many of the stories which are not so much about ghosts as about the cruel tendencies of children and the gruesome fantasies they sometimes have. One story however carries a salutary message for those audits who gain satisfaction from dividing children's loyalties. Many children may recognise their own predicament in The Choice Is Yours where Brenda must choose between the hockey XI and the choir, Jan Mark has an uncanny ability to recognise the unspoken relationships between teachers and children. The final sentence of this story should send shivers of recognition through many a teacher. 'Brenda went and sat in the junior cloakroom, which was forbidden in lunch hour, and cried. There was no rule against that.' A story to discuss with the class if you have the courage! The collection offers much for reading aloud and those who are already fans will gain a new perspective on this much admired author.