Squish

Natalie Jane Prior (author)

Janine Dawson (Illustrations)

Hodder Children's Books, Australia: 2002; 77pp

ISBN: 0733614833

Genres: adventure, fantasy

Issues: family, stereotypes

Nicholas is struggling to think of a suitable birthday present for his spoilt little sister, Bronte, who is turning five.

 He and his cousin, Liam, are playing cricket in the front garden when a flock of Lorikeets flies overhead - only one of them bangs into the front window. Going to its rescue, the boys are astonished to discover that what flew into the window is not a bird at all, but a fairy! What a perfect present for Bronte, who is going to have a ‘fairy' party - except that this is no picture-book creature. This fairy is rude, ungrateful, mean and plain nasty. When it gets loose in the house, it seems that nothing is safe - what are the boys going to do?

Definitely a fairy story with a difference, this is a book for all those readers who, like Natalie Jane Prior, are ‘sick of dumb books full of fairies waving magic wands and sitting on spotted mushrooms'. Squish is a story that will appeal to both boys and girls - and a few adults, as well!

Wickedly funny.