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Unmentionable!
Once again Paul Jennings makes you jump into the unknown. There is no turning back. You have to keep going. A weird and wacky world awaits. And at the end? Well, expect anything and guess what you like. The author of "Round the Twist" and "Unreal!" fools you every time.
107 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1991
6 people are currently reading
260 people want to read
About the author
Paul Jennings
279 books360 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author by this name in the Goodreads database.
Paul Jennings was born in Heston near London, and at the age of 6 emigrated to Melbourne, Australia on a boat. He was on the boat for 5 weeks with his family. He attended Bentleigh West Primary School and Caulfield Grammar School.
After graduating from school, he went to Frankston Teachers College (now part of Monash University) and became a teacher. He taught students at Frankston State School, Kangaroo Flat State School, the Turana Youth Training Centre, and the Royal Children's Hospital State School in Mount Eliza. He later went on to study at the Lincoln Institute of Health Science (now part of LaTrobe University) and became a speech pathologist, then worked as a Lecturer in Special Education at Burwood State College (now part of Deakin University). In 1979 he became Senior Lecturer in Language and Literature at Warrnambool Institute of Advanced Education (now part of Deakin University).
In 1985, Jennings' first book of short stories, Unreal! was published, during which he worked as a lecturer and wrote part-time; in 1989, he made the decision to devote his full time to writing. Many of his short stories, published between 1985 and 1991, were also adapted into the first and second series of the popular Australian television show Round the Twist.
Winner of the Dromkeen Medal (2000).
Paul Jennings was born in Heston near London, and at the age of 6 emigrated to Melbourne, Australia on a boat. He was on the boat for 5 weeks with his family. He attended Bentleigh West Primary School and Caulfield Grammar School.
After graduating from school, he went to Frankston Teachers College (now part of Monash University) and became a teacher. He taught students at Frankston State School, Kangaroo Flat State School, the Turana Youth Training Centre, and the Royal Children's Hospital State School in Mount Eliza. He later went on to study at the Lincoln Institute of Health Science (now part of LaTrobe University) and became a speech pathologist, then worked as a Lecturer in Special Education at Burwood State College (now part of Deakin University). In 1979 he became Senior Lecturer in Language and Literature at Warrnambool Institute of Advanced Education (now part of Deakin University).
In 1985, Jennings' first book of short stories, Unreal! was published, during which he worked as a lecturer and wrote part-time; in 1989, he made the decision to devote his full time to writing. Many of his short stories, published between 1985 and 1991, were also adapted into the first and second series of the popular Australian television show Round the Twist.
Winner of the Dromkeen Medal (2000).
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
January 23, 2016
It's a cool book.
December 24, 2025
can we all agree that Little Squirt is truly wild for a concept? I remember thinking that as a kid and it remains the same today. a great time nonetheless. Also Eyes Knows had fully left my memory so that was a pleasant surprise!
March 30, 2022
This book is amazing, I loved the comedy and the mysterious stuff in this book. There are 7-8 stories in this one book and some or a lot have some unexpected twist in the story. I'm looking forward in reading some more of Paul Jennings book :)
September 17, 2013
1. Why I decided to read this book:
I decided to read this book because I am not quite happy about my wide reading because I thought I still had the holidays to do it and really wanted to get to merit if I couldn't make excellence so I decided that it was an easy read and that I would be able to finish it in time before the wide reading had finished
2. Which category on the bingo board this book completes:
You should comment on the category too – why was it interesting (or not)?
The category that this book completes is 'my own choice'. This is good category but not for the purpose that I used it for which was an easy read. I really enjoyed the stories but I found that they were just a little short an would have been better if they were longer but in saying that it was a way better short story book than the first one that I had read and commented on.
3. Describe a character you found interesting and explain why:
The character I found interesting is not named in this book but he is the main character in the story 'Ice Maiden'. I found him interesting because he was such a hypocrite. He absolutely hated kids with red hair... because in his previous school he was constantly bullied because of it. In the end he falls in love with a girl and out of the colours she has red hair as well.
4. My favourite/most interesting quote from this book (and why):
'The sludge in the tanker was the stuff of nightmares. My nightmares as it turned out'. This is my favourite quote because in this story a boy try's to get a teacher back and needs one earing to do it, the earing he ends up getting is cursed and rubbish becomes attracted to him. he thinks it is the sludge that has caused it and when you find out it is the earrings it is a great surprise and he just figured out how to get the teacher back.
5. Something new I learned from this book, or something that I thought about more deeply about because of this book is:
Would be not to miss use other peoples stuff. this girl gets a harmonica and wants to use it for longer but in the end it just ends up backfiring on her. Not to miss use peoples stuff.
I decided to read this book because I am not quite happy about my wide reading because I thought I still had the holidays to do it and really wanted to get to merit if I couldn't make excellence so I decided that it was an easy read and that I would be able to finish it in time before the wide reading had finished
2. Which category on the bingo board this book completes:
You should comment on the category too – why was it interesting (or not)?
The category that this book completes is 'my own choice'. This is good category but not for the purpose that I used it for which was an easy read. I really enjoyed the stories but I found that they were just a little short an would have been better if they were longer but in saying that it was a way better short story book than the first one that I had read and commented on.
3. Describe a character you found interesting and explain why:
The character I found interesting is not named in this book but he is the main character in the story 'Ice Maiden'. I found him interesting because he was such a hypocrite. He absolutely hated kids with red hair... because in his previous school he was constantly bullied because of it. In the end he falls in love with a girl and out of the colours she has red hair as well.
4. My favourite/most interesting quote from this book (and why):
'The sludge in the tanker was the stuff of nightmares. My nightmares as it turned out'. This is my favourite quote because in this story a boy try's to get a teacher back and needs one earing to do it, the earing he ends up getting is cursed and rubbish becomes attracted to him. he thinks it is the sludge that has caused it and when you find out it is the earrings it is a great surprise and he just figured out how to get the teacher back.
5. Something new I learned from this book, or something that I thought about more deeply about because of this book is:
Would be not to miss use other peoples stuff. this girl gets a harmonica and wants to use it for longer but in the end it just ends up backfiring on her. Not to miss use peoples stuff.
September 30, 2015
Unmentionable is a collection of rib tickling short stories by Paul Jennings. Jennings has written numerous amounts of books filled with short stories, with Unmentionable being the sixth in these collections.
As well as being hilarious and entertaining, these stories are sharp, quirky, at times creepy, gross and incredibly bizarre, culminating with clever twists and endings.
In “The Velvet Throne”, a man becomes locked in a public toilet where the graffiti starts to come true; and “Sloppy Jalopy” finds a young man suddenly turned into a magnet for garbage.
These stories can be read out during carpet time by the teacher to KS2 children as a treat to make them laugh, cringe and shudder.
The stories are set in Australia, linking in with Geography, giving pupils an understanding and knowledge of Australian culture and the unfamiliar terms that they use; such as “dunny” (outdoor toilet) and “Sheila” (woman).
This book could also fuel their imagination and inspire them to think and write creatively, mirroring Jennings’s unique style.
December 31, 2018
It was so amazing diving back into the amazing mind of Paul Jennings. I read this collection when I was probably about 9 or 10 and the memory of the water sculpture girl has stayed with me ever since. I enjoyed reading this as much as I did as a child, which I think is testament to Paul Jennings' writing and imagination. I definitely want to read more of his stories soon, for both the enjoyment and the nostalgia.
July 6, 2025
Ice Maiden
2.5/5
Basically a story about getting your tongue stuck to a pole during winter, except more embarrassing here because the protag was making out with an ice sculpture. A fun little story, though the ending is weak.
Birdman
4/5
Another fun folklore kinda tale, this time about a magic cat hat that opens its eyes and makes the wearer do whatever it sees someone else doing. A blessing or a curse depending what it sees. Typical gross out ending where the bully gets it.
Little Squirt
2/5
About a literal pissing contest, the main thing about this story is misdirecting the reader about what the ending is going to be. It gave me a chuckle but overall it's pretty weak.
The Mouth Organ
4/5
A darker story about someone to trying to right a wrong, but messes up when trying to make two wrongs into a right and accidentally curses a town and themselves. This is another one that uses the magical power of music, which I like. A bittersweet little story.
The Velvet Throne
3/5
A story about enchanted toilet graffiti! A fun one.
Cry Baby
2.5/5
I saw the end of this one coming from a mile away, but still enjoyed it overall, mainly because it taught me about water-holding frogs and the way they were summoned was clever even if it was really obvious what was going to happen.
Ex Poser
1/5
A boring one where a guy accidentally embarrasses the girl who has a crush on him, but it turns out fine in the end.
Sloppy Jalopy
2.5/5
Another one where I saw the ending from a mile away. It also grossed me out since it's about a kid who suddenly starts attracting rubbish, and I have OCD! Cool idea but not much interesting is done with it.
Eyes Knows
4/5
About a kid with a parents getting divorced, and lets a toy robot make choices for him. This one was really good, it's about the dangers of not thinking about choices and forcing them onto someone else.
2.5/5
Basically a story about getting your tongue stuck to a pole during winter, except more embarrassing here because the protag was making out with an ice sculpture. A fun little story, though the ending is weak.
Birdman
4/5
Another fun folklore kinda tale, this time about a magic cat hat that opens its eyes and makes the wearer do whatever it sees someone else doing. A blessing or a curse depending what it sees. Typical gross out ending where the bully gets it.
Little Squirt
2/5
About a literal pissing contest, the main thing about this story is misdirecting the reader about what the ending is going to be. It gave me a chuckle but overall it's pretty weak.
The Mouth Organ
4/5
A darker story about someone to trying to right a wrong, but messes up when trying to make two wrongs into a right and accidentally curses a town and themselves. This is another one that uses the magical power of music, which I like. A bittersweet little story.
The Velvet Throne
3/5
A story about enchanted toilet graffiti! A fun one.
Cry Baby
2.5/5
I saw the end of this one coming from a mile away, but still enjoyed it overall, mainly because it taught me about water-holding frogs and the way they were summoned was clever even if it was really obvious what was going to happen.
Ex Poser
1/5
A boring one where a guy accidentally embarrasses the girl who has a crush on him, but it turns out fine in the end.
Sloppy Jalopy
2.5/5
Another one where I saw the ending from a mile away. It also grossed me out since it's about a kid who suddenly starts attracting rubbish, and I have OCD! Cool idea but not much interesting is done with it.
Eyes Knows
4/5
About a kid with a parents getting divorced, and lets a toy robot make choices for him. This one was really good, it's about the dangers of not thinking about choices and forcing them onto someone else.
November 2, 2018
Unmentionable!
By Paul Jennings
This book is very good for those who don’t have time to read an entire book. At first when I started, I was so confused because I thought the chapters are about the same story. But I was wrong. Every title initiates a DIFFERENT short story. You can finish one in a 10 min at most. And the stories are also separated into a lot of small chunks. It was actually so enjoyable for me that I finished in one day!
Lia@
By Paul Jennings
This book is very good for those who don’t have time to read an entire book. At first when I started, I was so confused because I thought the chapters are about the same story. But I was wrong. Every title initiates a DIFFERENT short story. You can finish one in a 10 min at most. And the stories are also separated into a lot of small chunks. It was actually so enjoyable for me that I finished in one day!
Lia@
April 13, 2019
Not the best collection of the series...
December 12, 2021
I read this book as an adult and enjoyed it quite a bit. I'm mostly giving it 5 stars for the mark it left on me when I read it as a child. This was one of the books that opened my mind and eyes to the world of reading and great imagination. These stories are OUT THERE and so so weird and fun. I highly encourage you to get any of your young readers out there to give this book a crack. As a child, this is one those rare stand-out books that I still have not forgotten about to this day.
May 31, 2017
i am an eight year old boy from kingston primary school and i am reviewing unmentionable.
i liked it when in ex poser david kept interrogating sandra with his lie detector and later ended up blushing.
i reccomend this book for ages 7 to old age.
i liked it when in ex poser david kept interrogating sandra with his lie detector and later ended up blushing.
i reccomend this book for ages 7 to old age.
July 21, 2021
Wanted to give the young server at our fish and chip shop some books to read between orders so thought I'd better re read it first just in case. Well worthwhile, funny and always with that little twist.
October 4, 2017
childhood favourite
April 25, 2019
This book was really interesting and enjoyable though I like to read more realistic books. If you’re someone who likes reading short stories and enjoys them then go for it and read it!!
June 5, 2021
So creative. My favourite during my youth and still a great joy to read.
September 26, 2021
Classic Paul Jennings, funny stories, very silly, really enjoyed it.
February 28, 2022
A childhood classic.
February 14, 2023
Gotta love the underdog! Silly, funny, magical, sweet.
Read
August 17, 20231995 edition, probably toms
December 15, 2023
Another nostalgic read - my favourite of all the Paul Jennings books.
April 22, 2024
Comforting. This is something I'm actually always re-reading. It's my childhood book. The peculiar stories make me feel like I'm home.
January 10, 2010
There are nine more short stories in this book, and I was definitely not disappointed with Jennnings imagination and creativity! I continue to enjoy these refreshingly different little tales.
Ice Maiden: This was a funny story to me. We've all had a crush before, but this crush is not exactly normal!
Birdman: What a wierd story!! I mean, I loved it, but where does Jennings come up with this stuff?!
Little Squirt: This is a pretty funny story, but every mother will have reservations about her sons reading it. I let you embelish this title of this story with your imagination and you should be able to figure out why. Even so, I'll probably let my son read it, but only because he doesn't have any brothers to test the idea out on.
The Harmonica: This story I probably won't have my son read on his own. If I read it to him it would be easy for me to skip over a few sentences. When the boy is playing music on the harmonica, people listening start to act out the music. So for example, he played kukaburra sits in the old gum tree, and the entire group of people listening start swinging from tree branches and eating bananas. Well, he starts playing a striptease tune and eventually all the people are in their underwear. But like I said, it would be easy to skip over those couple sentences. It's an interesting story other than that.
The Velvet Throne: Ha Ha!! This is another terrific story! Jennings always puts the most unexpected endings!
Cry Baby: I'm not sure I completely understood this story. It starts out with a boy getting in trouble at school for pulling his pants down, sitting on the xerox machine and pressing the copy button. I guess that could be cause for concern... we don't want our children getting any stupid ideas! So this story is not my favorite, but mostly because I felt like it ended too soon. Usually the endings are the crowning piece of the puzzle, but this one was very anticlamactic.
Ex Poser: This title is a bit of an eyebrow raiser, but the story was completely harmles. It was very cute actually, although I don't think it fits the normal target audience. My son would think it was dumb because it was about puppy love. The story is very short and quite clever.
Sloppy Jalopy: This is such a great story!! Once again... I LOVE THE ENDING!!!
Eyes Knows: This story has a pretty sad beginning. A boy is told by his parents that they are getting a divorce and that he must choose which parent he will live with. He goes a little nuts and begins making decisions based on the random eye color of a little toy robot. It's not Jennings best...but other than the tense family situation, there's nothing offensive.
Ice Maiden: This was a funny story to me. We've all had a crush before, but this crush is not exactly normal!
Birdman: What a wierd story!! I mean, I loved it, but where does Jennings come up with this stuff?!
Little Squirt: This is a pretty funny story, but every mother will have reservations about her sons reading it. I let you embelish this title of this story with your imagination and you should be able to figure out why. Even so, I'll probably let my son read it, but only because he doesn't have any brothers to test the idea out on.
The Harmonica: This story I probably won't have my son read on his own. If I read it to him it would be easy for me to skip over a few sentences. When the boy is playing music on the harmonica, people listening start to act out the music. So for example, he played kukaburra sits in the old gum tree, and the entire group of people listening start swinging from tree branches and eating bananas. Well, he starts playing a striptease tune and eventually all the people are in their underwear. But like I said, it would be easy to skip over those couple sentences. It's an interesting story other than that.
The Velvet Throne: Ha Ha!! This is another terrific story! Jennings always puts the most unexpected endings!
Cry Baby: I'm not sure I completely understood this story. It starts out with a boy getting in trouble at school for pulling his pants down, sitting on the xerox machine and pressing the copy button. I guess that could be cause for concern... we don't want our children getting any stupid ideas! So this story is not my favorite, but mostly because I felt like it ended too soon. Usually the endings are the crowning piece of the puzzle, but this one was very anticlamactic.
Ex Poser: This title is a bit of an eyebrow raiser, but the story was completely harmles. It was very cute actually, although I don't think it fits the normal target audience. My son would think it was dumb because it was about puppy love. The story is very short and quite clever.
Sloppy Jalopy: This is such a great story!! Once again... I LOVE THE ENDING!!!
Eyes Knows: This story has a pretty sad beginning. A boy is told by his parents that they are getting a divorce and that he must choose which parent he will live with. He goes a little nuts and begins making decisions based on the random eye color of a little toy robot. It's not Jennings best...but other than the tense family situation, there's nothing offensive.
December 12, 2022
It took me six weeks to do my reread of this, which perhaps suggests that I'm tiring a little of my Paul Jennings retrospective. The most memorable and enjoyable stories in this collection are the first and last: 'Ice Maiden' and 'Eyes Knows'. The rest are the usual Jennings mixture of poignancy ('The Mouth Organ'), grossness ('Sloppy Jalopy'), family drama ('Cry Baby') and school antics ('Ex Poser').
November 8, 2016
This is a quick and quirky read. Typical of Paul Jennings, I love his kid’s view of the world.
These nine stories cover a range of nightmare scenarios that kids growing up might find themselves in. Or would they? Would a boy become obsessed with an ice statue? So much so he kisses it and gets stuck to it, in Ice Maiden! In Birdman, a magic cat hat could save the day for Sean, so he could fly like a bird, so that he could beat Buggins? My favorite story was The Mouth Organ, a cross between beautiful then terrible and poignant. The Velvet Throne was a sad tale with a happy ending for the ever repressed Mr Simpkin. Cry Baby was about a boy who kept getting into trouble, even though he tried not to. Eyes Knows is about a boy who can’t make decisions without help from his little robot toy. He finds out some things do need to be left to grown-ups.
All the stories are clever and in kids language. No wonder Paul Jennings is a hit with his target audience.
These nine stories cover a range of nightmare scenarios that kids growing up might find themselves in. Or would they? Would a boy become obsessed with an ice statue? So much so he kisses it and gets stuck to it, in Ice Maiden! In Birdman, a magic cat hat could save the day for Sean, so he could fly like a bird, so that he could beat Buggins? My favorite story was The Mouth Organ, a cross between beautiful then terrible and poignant. The Velvet Throne was a sad tale with a happy ending for the ever repressed Mr Simpkin. Cry Baby was about a boy who kept getting into trouble, even though he tried not to. Eyes Knows is about a boy who can’t make decisions without help from his little robot toy. He finds out some things do need to be left to grown-ups.
All the stories are clever and in kids language. No wonder Paul Jennings is a hit with his target audience.
March 27, 2016
Paul Jennings is definitely one of the very few authors who really stuck with me since my reading years in primary school. I remember heading straight to the J section every time we had reading classes. His writing style is just captivating in each short story (and I don't know how he does it in those few pages but your eye balls are just glued until the story is over) and the quirky twists and ending that make you squirm in your seat or laugh are just the cherry on the top. Definitely one of the authors I will make my kids in future read, so they don't get robbed of some awesome childhood experience haha.
October 24, 2012
Story 1: Ice Maiden
A boy walks past a shop and sees an ice maiden inside Mr.Mantolini. The boy is in love with the ice maiden. His friends make fun of him and one day, when Mr.Mantolini wants to throw the ice maiden out, the boy rescues her and just kisses her. He is also unable to let go of the ice maiden until he jumps into the water and the ice maiden melts.
A boy walks past a shop and sees an ice maiden inside Mr.Mantolini. The boy is in love with the ice maiden. His friends make fun of him and one day, when Mr.Mantolini wants to throw the ice maiden out, the boy rescues her and just kisses her. He is also unable to let go of the ice maiden until he jumps into the water and the ice maiden melts.
April 8, 2013
Very witty and gross but yet again a great read.
Unmentionable? sure
but I'll try to tell you anyway.
The sludge in the tanker was
the stuff of nightmares.
My nightmares as it turned out.
Some things you just can't talk about...
Locked in the loo.
Kissing a cold. cold. kid.
Being a little squirt.
Burning your behind.
Unmentionable? sure
but I'll try to tell you anyway.
The sludge in the tanker was
the stuff of nightmares.
My nightmares as it turned out.
Some things you just can't talk about...
Locked in the loo.
Kissing a cold. cold. kid.
Being a little squirt.
Burning your behind.
June 9, 2014
Quirky tales for Paul Jennings. These books got me through a few of my awkward years I tell you. Even kids in these stories is the underdog or the want you want to cheer for. There is often twists and turns in every story and he also has a way with coming up with a killer ending. For 7 to 13 year olds.
April 29, 2009
* Ice Maiden
* Birdman
* Little Squirt
* The Harmonica
* The Velvet Throne
* Cry Baby (the frog? :D)
* Ex Poser
* Sloppy Jalopy
* Eyes Knows (favourite)
* Birdman
* Little Squirt
* The Harmonica
* The Velvet Throne
* Cry Baby (the frog? :D)
* Ex Poser
* Sloppy Jalopy
* Eyes Knows (favourite)
October 15, 2009
Funny AND gross. What tween could resist?
Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews