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Weird Weirder Weirdest: A collection of quirky tales
Come this way, just beyond the here and now.
Come travelling through these tales and...discover who is pushing notes through the peculiar crack that appeared in the desk...see how things change when Ryan realises his watch can stop time...follow the whispering cat into the cake shop for some treats that will do the trick... meet Dylan, who has a magic pen that spells trouble for anyone who writes with it... find out what happens when children choose to disobey the law to become friends ...see if Beth's enchanted running shoes will help her become a winner or a loser...join the patch-work girl's search for the magic that will make her real...
It's not too far, just beyond the here and now.
Come travelling through these tales and...discover who is pushing notes through the peculiar crack that appeared in the desk...see how things change when Ryan realises his watch can stop time...follow the whispering cat into the cake shop for some treats that will do the trick... meet Dylan, who has a magic pen that spells trouble for anyone who writes with it... find out what happens when children choose to disobey the law to become friends ...see if Beth's enchanted running shoes will help her become a winner or a loser...join the patch-work girl's search for the magic that will make her real...
It's not too far, just beyond the here and now.
71 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 9, 2017
1 person is currently reading
3 people want to read
About the author
Martii Maclean
10 books11 followersMartii Maclean lives in a tin shack by the sea, catching sea-gulls which she uses to make delicious pies, and writing weird stories for young people to enjoy. She likes to go for long bicycle rides with her cat, who always wears aviator googles to stop her whiskers blowing up into her eyes as they speed down to the beach to search for mermaid eggs.
Or how about this?
Martii Maclean is a teacher and teller of weird tales. She has shared the wonderful world that kids travel to via books for more than 25 years. Now, after developing her craft through studies in children’s writing at The Australian College of Journalism and The Queensland Writers' Centre, she is creating weirdly adventurous stories for children and young adults who want to read something a little different.
Or how about this?
Martii Maclean is a teacher and teller of weird tales. She has shared the wonderful world that kids travel to via books for more than 25 years. Now, after developing her craft through studies in children’s writing at The Australian College of Journalism and The Queensland Writers' Centre, she is creating weirdly adventurous stories for children and young adults who want to read something a little different.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
August 2, 2018
Kids love weird stories. They like to make them up, hear them, and talk about them with their friends.
Weird, Weirder, Weirdest has some, well, weird stories. They're quick and often have uncanny endings. Some were amusing and funny, while others left me scratching my head. Some have interesting concepts that make one think, and still others that are far-fetched and almost ridiculous.
I reminded myself that these were for kids (middle grade and under) but I found myself really wishing they had a point. Perhaps an underlaying message that could be taken away from the fable-like tales, but if there were any hidden messages, they were hidden awfully well because I couldn't find them.
There is one story that I thought might confront the issue of bullying (titled: Just Desserts), but instead of there being an example of how to properly handle the situation, the story ended with the main character feeding the bullies magic cake that made them instantly fat and after they returned from the hospital, they were magically nicer.
I like silly stories, I really do, I just like the silly stories to illustrate truths that the readers can learn from. Especially kids who have to deal with bullies in their own lives.
So, I did enjoy some of the short stories contained in this collection (the one called Hands Free was especially intriguing to me), but others I wasn't pleased with. I'll be giving Weird, Weirder, Weirdest 3 stars out of 5 and recommend it to older kids who might grasp some meaning from the stories that I may have missed.
I received this book from the author for the purpose of this review. All comments and opinions are entirely my own.
This is a LiteratureApproved.com Review.
Weird, Weirder, Weirdest has some, well, weird stories. They're quick and often have uncanny endings. Some were amusing and funny, while others left me scratching my head. Some have interesting concepts that make one think, and still others that are far-fetched and almost ridiculous.
I reminded myself that these were for kids (middle grade and under) but I found myself really wishing they had a point. Perhaps an underlaying message that could be taken away from the fable-like tales, but if there were any hidden messages, they were hidden awfully well because I couldn't find them.
There is one story that I thought might confront the issue of bullying (titled: Just Desserts), but instead of there being an example of how to properly handle the situation, the story ended with the main character feeding the bullies magic cake that made them instantly fat and after they returned from the hospital, they were magically nicer.
I like silly stories, I really do, I just like the silly stories to illustrate truths that the readers can learn from. Especially kids who have to deal with bullies in their own lives.
So, I did enjoy some of the short stories contained in this collection (the one called Hands Free was especially intriguing to me), but others I wasn't pleased with. I'll be giving Weird, Weirder, Weirdest 3 stars out of 5 and recommend it to older kids who might grasp some meaning from the stories that I may have missed.
I received this book from the author for the purpose of this review. All comments and opinions are entirely my own.
This is a LiteratureApproved.com Review.
September 27, 2018
I received a MOBI.file copy of this book from the author through a giveaway she recently had on LibraryThing, and the following is my honest opinion.
As I began reading this book, my inner-child took over as it reminded of my younger days going to school and reading those marvelous stories by William Sydney Porter, who was better known by his pen name of O Henry.
I can remember, those stories, like the ones written here by the author, Martii MacLean, had been rather quirky with each having a surprise ending. And even though it’s been over fifty years since I’ve read them, I still can remember the gist of what some of the stories had been about.
As my inner-child, I loved the imaginative stories which Ms. MacLean has written here, like the one about the pen who writes what it wants to and not what the pen’s holder want to write, especially when Dylan’s disbelieving teacher began using the pen himself.
And what young girl hasn’t imaged that her dolls were a real person. What boy has never imagined about time traveling or even stopping it. With stories like these, any child should enjoy reading this book
My inner-child, seems to be telling me that Ms. MacLean in writing this book has used her inner-child to write it. And giving me, my inner-child, and her readers this enchanting, amusing reading experience, I’m giving her 5 STARS.
As I began reading this book, my inner-child took over as it reminded of my younger days going to school and reading those marvelous stories by William Sydney Porter, who was better known by his pen name of O Henry.
I can remember, those stories, like the ones written here by the author, Martii MacLean, had been rather quirky with each having a surprise ending. And even though it’s been over fifty years since I’ve read them, I still can remember the gist of what some of the stories had been about.
As my inner-child, I loved the imaginative stories which Ms. MacLean has written here, like the one about the pen who writes what it wants to and not what the pen’s holder want to write, especially when Dylan’s disbelieving teacher began using the pen himself.
And what young girl hasn’t imaged that her dolls were a real person. What boy has never imagined about time traveling or even stopping it. With stories like these, any child should enjoy reading this book
My inner-child, seems to be telling me that Ms. MacLean in writing this book has used her inner-child to write it. And giving me, my inner-child, and her readers this enchanting, amusing reading experience, I’m giving her 5 STARS.
September 14, 2018
Each story features a new character who gets into a fantastical situation and is changed forever.
As with all short story collections, some stories are more memorable than others. "Hands Free," a science-fiction tale where friends bond over reading across dystopian social classes, was particularly strong. "The Crack," though only a few pages long, was an entertaining mind-bender. "Fashion Victim" had believable characters and provided the book a strong finish.
"Just Desserts" begins as an interesting story about bullying, but the magical solution was a little too pat. "The Patchwork Girl" was a fairy tale with an appealing horror twist but slow delivery, and the message was heavy-handed. There were also some formatting errors in my version throughout, mostly stray HTML popping into the text here and there, but nothing too obtrusive.
There was more to like here than not, and the book was a solid 4th grade/5th grade read. The reading level would also be simple enough for advanced readers in earlier grades. I know I would have enjoyed it when I was in elementary school; curious, vaguely supernatural stories were just what I was always looking for.
As with all short story collections, some stories are more memorable than others. "Hands Free," a science-fiction tale where friends bond over reading across dystopian social classes, was particularly strong. "The Crack," though only a few pages long, was an entertaining mind-bender. "Fashion Victim" had believable characters and provided the book a strong finish.
"Just Desserts" begins as an interesting story about bullying, but the magical solution was a little too pat. "The Patchwork Girl" was a fairy tale with an appealing horror twist but slow delivery, and the message was heavy-handed. There were also some formatting errors in my version throughout, mostly stray HTML popping into the text here and there, but nothing too obtrusive.
There was more to like here than not, and the book was a solid 4th grade/5th grade read. The reading level would also be simple enough for advanced readers in earlier grades. I know I would have enjoyed it when I was in elementary school; curious, vaguely supernatural stories were just what I was always looking for.
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September 25, 2018The book opens with a story that will make you giggle and smile, if not laugh out loud.
The boys play games at a carnival, thinking they are rigged so no one wins. When Dylan finally earns a prize he finds he must take the one he is given. No one believes him when he says what results is not his fault!
The second story has a Dystopian flavor while being reminiscent of how things were in the past. Hopefully it makes you think about equality and how you can do something to make the world a better place.
Story number three also has some social aspects to it but told in a magical way that will satisfy you.
When the new girl at school can't make friends and wants to change the bullies ruling the playground, she finds help in an unexpected place. The fitting in theme continues in additional stories.
The Patchwork Girl has all the elements of classic fairy tale.
Remember, they are not all sweetness and light.
Very well done.
The final two stories deal with consequences. Wanting things is fine, but what you do to get them matters. Life isn't all it can be when you are focused on the wrong things.
Overall I enjoyed this collection and think it would be great to start conversations with groups.
The boys play games at a carnival, thinking they are rigged so no one wins. When Dylan finally earns a prize he finds he must take the one he is given. No one believes him when he says what results is not his fault!
The second story has a Dystopian flavor while being reminiscent of how things were in the past. Hopefully it makes you think about equality and how you can do something to make the world a better place.
Story number three also has some social aspects to it but told in a magical way that will satisfy you.
When the new girl at school can't make friends and wants to change the bullies ruling the playground, she finds help in an unexpected place. The fitting in theme continues in additional stories.
The Patchwork Girl has all the elements of classic fairy tale.
Remember, they are not all sweetness and light.
Very well done.
The final two stories deal with consequences. Wanting things is fine, but what you do to get them matters. Life isn't all it can be when you are focused on the wrong things.
Overall I enjoyed this collection and think it would be great to start conversations with groups.
September 14, 2022
This is my go to book to gift to middle graders! Quirky and fun with a whole lot of heart.
July 27, 2018
My daughter Belinda (age 8) says:
I think it's hilarious and full of quirky stories that you wouldn't find anywhere else. My favourite story was "Special Dessert" because it has a good message about bullying. If you bully then bad things will come back to you. I would recommend it for girls and boys about my age.
I think it's hilarious and full of quirky stories that you wouldn't find anywhere else. My favourite story was "Special Dessert" because it has a good message about bullying. If you bully then bad things will come back to you. I would recommend it for girls and boys about my age.
March 18, 2017
A great book for reluctant readers.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews