Unreal

Unreal is a collection of short stories by Australian author Paul Jennings, first published in 1985. The book contains several standalone tales featuring young protagonists facing unusual situations. Each story combines everyday childhood experiences with elements of fantasy, horror, and humor. The plots revolve around common themes like family relationships, school life, and growing up, but take unexpected turns into the supernatural or bizarre. The stories feature distinct characters dealing with unique challenges - from speech impediments and haunted outhouses to magical objects and peculiar inventions. Some of these stories were later adapted for the television series Round the Twist. The collection explores childhood anxieties and family dynamics through a lens of magical realism, using supernatural elements to examine real-world experiences of young people.

Parents and young readers describe Unreal as a collection of surprising short stories with dark twists and bizarre endings. Many readers note they first encountered it in primary school and still remember specific stories decades later. Readers highlight: - Stories stay with you long after reading - Appeals to reluctant readers - Hooks kids with quirky premises - Balances humor with creepy elements Common criticisms: - Some stories feel dated - A few endings seem abrupt - Content may disturb sensitive children Ratings: Goodreads: 4.2/5 from 2,832 ratings Amazon: 4.7/5 from 127 ratings Reader comments: "These stories made me a lifelong reader at age 10" - Goodreads "My students beg me to read these stories" - Teacher on Amazon "Still gives me chills thinking about certain endings" - Goodreads "Too weird and unsettling for my 8-year-old" - Parent on Amazon

Wayside School Is Falling Down by Louis Sachar A collection of interconnected stories follows the students of a peculiar school where impossible events occur and logic turns upside down.

The Last Kids on Earth by Max Brallier A thirteen-year-old boy faces monsters and zombies while navigating a post-apocalyptic world with his friends.

My Life as a Cartoonist by Janet Tashjian A middle-school student experiences surreal encounters and unexpected twists while pursuing his dream of creating comics.

The 13-Story Treehouse by Andy Griffiths Two friends live in a treehouse filled with outlandish inventions and bizarre happenings that lead to misadventures.

The Enormous Egg by Oliver Butterworth A boy's life changes when his hen lays an egg that hatches into a prehistoric creature, leading to scientific chaos and government intervention.

★ This collection was Jennings' first book, written while he was still working as a speech pathologist and teacher in Australia. ★ The stories in "Unreal" inspired episodes of the popular TV series "Round the Twist," which aired in over 70 countries worldwide. ★ Paul Jennings struggled with reading as a child due to dyslexia, which later influenced his writing style to be more accessible to reluctant readers. ★ The book has sold over 1 million copies in Australia alone and has been translated into 15 different languages. ★ One of the book's most famous stories, "Without a Shirt," was inspired by Jennings' real-life experience of accidentally going to school without his shirt on.