Tins

by Alex Shearer

Fergal is a self-confessed nerd with an eccentric tin collecting. He likes the lucky dip aspect of buying tins that have their labels missing - after all, you never know what might be inside. It’s Fergal’s idea of living dangerously. That is, until the day he innocently opens up a tin to find... a bloodied human finger. Everyone thinks it’s a joke. But not Fergal - and when his next tin discovery is a note with the word ‘Help’ scribbled on it, he feels compelled to track down the factory responsible for these mysterious and macabre products. Fergal might be hungry to play detective, but has he opened a can of worms... ? This Dahl-esque black comedy will have readers squirming on the edge of their seats. Funny, frightening and totally gross - Alex Shearer taps into the repulsive-but-appealing tradition of urban myths that are perennial playground fodder.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Young Adult, Middle Grade, Childrens, Chapter Books, Juvenile

262 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2006

About the author

Alex Shearer started his writing career as a scriptwriter and has had great success in that field. His credits include The Two of Us, the 1990s sitcom starring Nicholas Lyndhurst. More recently he has started writing for children. His Wilmot stories have been adapted for TV by Yorkshire television, and his children's novel, The Greatest Store in the World, was screened as a feature length TV film on Christmas Eve 1999 by the BBC. Alex's recent novel 'The Speed of the Dark' was shortlisted for the 2002 Guardian Fiction Prize

Alex Shearer lives with his family in Somerset. He has written more than a dozen books for both adults and children, as well as many successful television series, films, and stage and radio plays. He has had over thirty different jobs, and has never given up trying to play the guitar.

Reviews

[Travis · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you’re anything like me (and I suppose you probably are - I mean, we’re both into books, right?) you look at the bargain bin at your local supermarket with mistrust. Questions may start to pop into your head upon glimpsing this oddest of grocery store curiosities:

“Why are all those things in there? Baby food AND cologne on the same shelf? They shouldn’t be that close. An what’s with that bag of off-brand Oreos? They look fine … I wonder what’s wrong with them?”

But these are just passing thoughts. Likely, you continue on with your shopping and don’t think about it much more. Well, if you’re anything like Fergal Bamfield, your preoccupation doesn’t end there.

Fergal collects a specific type of can. Label-less. To him, the bargain bin might as well have a sign over it that says “Coolest and Most Interesting Products in the Store Found Here”. The idea of buying bare cans appealed to his adventurous, risk-taking side that had been unattended to. That is, if you consider buying a tin can risky. After his collection begins to grow, Mr. and Mrs. Bamfield begin to worry about Fergal’s alarmingly all-consuming hobby. Maybe they’re right. Exhibit A? The contents of a recently opened can: one human finger.

Talk about a conversation-starter. Only, Fergal doesn’t really have any friends to conversate with. And he definitely does not want to bring this topic up with his parents, who already think he’s slowly going crazy with his can obsession. As thoughts of how, why, and who fill his mind, our hero meets someone who shares his hobby.

However impossible, Charlotte loves cans just as much as Fergal. And, oh yeah, she also has a gruesome souvenir to share. Together they uncover a mystery that has been shipped piece by piece to a bargain bin near you.

I’m not sure that this is a title that youngsters will be clamoring for, but for a kid who appreciates the off-beat, a solid selection.

[Jen · Rating 1 out of 5]

I just didn't buy what this book was selling. It couldn't decide whether it was serious or quirky/funny, and most of the plot "twists" were so contrived I either saw it coming from a mile away or didn't believe that it would ever happen. It seems like lately the publishing industry puts all their energy into interesting cover images and cool titles.
And the reasoning behind the finger ending up in the can by itself was so ridiculous! It was obviously something that the editor picked up on at the last minute and told the writer that he had to explain it away somehow.

[Zajycheese · Rating 2 out of 5]

Okay the writing wasnt even that bad
The only reason why its only like 250 smthing pages is because its made to be fast and i love it when its fast like DONT GIVE ME A 500 PAGE BOOK AND HAVE HALF OF IT BE ABOUT THE PROTAGANIST BEING SAD OR ABOUT SOME RANDOM BULIDING PLEASE
But i like the plot (expect for that one bit where the pen COINCEKDENTALY fell out like mmm sure buddy thats not suspiciously lucky at all) and I like the concept like if my short story was longer it would have tuerned into something like this (the canned sardines/children) -its also probably why i have a bias to it
I also liked how like kinda funny it was
I would haveliked it if they died honestly
I also liked how it js kidna suggested something but didnt say it like how he suggested that the can the dad opened a- SORRY THE TIN THE DAD OPENED- had the owners in them like oh?

Definitly for like 8-10 year old but it was still fun so (^-^)

Kind of scared of finding things in tins that rattle like uhhhhh
I want to read the other books now too lokwy

[Raina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Funny, funny, funny book. The first half of this is full of hilarious depictions of a boy in England. Fergal (yes, that's his name) is thought to be clever. Primarily because of how he looks -

"His unruly hair stuck out at all angles and could never be tamed, not even with a pot of gel. And then there were his glasses, which not only enlarged his eyes, but somehow had the effect of making his very head (and by implication his brain) seem bigger than it really was... The general rule seemed to be that he who looks like an eccentric genius must be an eccentric genius."

Anyway, the narrative voice is hilarious, and for some intuitive reason, Fergal decides to start collecting cans. Without labels.

Shearer coulda just kept on with this storyline and I woulda been happy. And I do appreciate the unusual setup for a mystery. I felt like the story lost something when the actual plot came calling. The story became much more earnest, the parents stopped being funny and became rather neglectful, and the twists in plot became a little less believable. But the story is dominated by dialog, and the whole thing is not even 250 pages. Pair this accessibility with the great cover (extra points for the nutrition information on the back), and we get a killer booktalk. Overall, this is an unusual story with an awesome setup. The ending will make you cringe.

[Addie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Canned is a wonderful book about a boy named Fergal Bamfield who lives in England and collects cans. Yes, unlabeled, silver cans from the bargain basket at his local supermarket. His collection started with one can and ended up with fifty cans! (His mother got very annoyed with his hobby more than once in the story!) Fergal finds some very gross, creepy, and weird things in the cans that he opens. (I won't tell you what he finds because that would ruin the story!) While at the supermarket with his Mum one day, Fergal saw a can in the bargain basket he wanted. When he got there, another girl about his age grabbed for the can at the same time Fergal did. They fought over the can in the bargain basket but soon found out that they both do the same thing: Collect unlabeled, silver cans from the bargain basket. They figured out that they lived only 10 or 15 minutes away from each other also. Their mothers were both very happy that they could talk to someone else about their chid's "interesting" hobbies as they describe it. Fergal and Charlotte, (that's the girl's name) become great friends thanks to their hobby and together find that the things they have found in their cans go together. They find something very interesting in a can one day which leads them to have to go on a major can search which ends up getting them in trouble while trying to help someone else in trouble.

[Mary · Rating 1 out of 5]

This juvenile mystery starts out on an interesting note: Young Fergal Bamfield - who people describe as clever - has decided to collect cans as a hobby. Not antique cans or cans with foreign labels; rather, Fergal collects label-less cans from the bargain bin at the grocery store. After opening one particularly light can, Fergal discovers within an earring. Several more interesting, but disgusting, findings follow. Fergal also discovers a friend who collects the same type of can. Here the story goes awry. The two piece together an outrageous mystery involving tyrannical adults, child slavery and dogfood - nuff said. The story becomes so implausible that it is no longer enjoyable. Some who can suspend their belief a bit further than this reader might enjoy the whole story, but for me it went downhill after page 131.

[Lucas]

(review written from the perspective of an 8th grader in 2013)

Fergal's just another odd kid who collects cans -unlabeled cans- instead. But as he collects a can, he finds a message. Then a bodypart, a finger. Mysteries overflows him and wondering sensations circles around him. It's a great modern mystery book with unique characters. And yes, the plot twist. The plot twist in the end, and the discoverance of the mysterious meanings really just thrilled me. I rate this book 5/5 and it deserves so.

[Kstewart5362 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Snappy, quick British read which would appeal to those who love books like Millions, by Frank Cottrell Boyce. Here, Fergal is an odd sort who stumbles upon an interesting hobby--collecting cans--which leads to an interesting chain of events including meeting a girl, Charlotte, with a similarly unique interest in cans. If you read this, you'll never look at cans without labels in quite the same way...

[Alison · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was definitely a book of two halves: the first awful, the second much better. I so very nearly abandoned this, in fact I stopped and read another book part way through. To say the storyline was dull and slow to start with is an understatement. I read fairly fast and if that was my experience, heaven alone knows how a younger reader, who perhaps reads more slowly, would ever get to the second half of this book. Whole pages describing a shopping trip to the supermarket with mum - tedious! I realise this was partly an attempt to show what an ordinary life the main character leads but there seemed to be page after page of it.

The story definitely improved once the main character found a friend but the dialogue was stilted throughout the book. There was no flow to conversations and some of the choice of words was bizarre - who uses a pantry these days?! Having said all that, the storyline picked up pace in the last section of the book and it was certainly different. In short, a good idea for a story but, sadly, poorly executed.

[wilbur · Rating 1 out of 5]

Never heard of this book. However, I have heard of Tins and it seems as though this is directly stealing it's entire plot line and giving it a different name.

Not sure what this is all about.
#BringBackTins2021

[Christine W · Rating 2 out of 5]

Was round at the parents looking for a book from my childhood when I found this one. It was one that had always intrigued me, but wasnt mine to read. But seeing it there now, I though 'why not?' and used it as a quick pallet cleanser.
Can say, it was not worth it. Being a pre teen book, the writing wasn't great and the plot a bit absurd, but could see how a kid may enjoy it. I can now say I know what happens... but (from my adult pov) it wasn't quite worth the time spent

[Jaden Hackett · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really good book, someone parts were a little wired, but most of it was good. I found it very interesting. Its about 2 kids that start collecting cans, named Fergal and Charlotte.

[Hannah · Rating 1 out of 5]

Interesting concept of a boy who starts collecting cans in order to preserve his reputation as a quirky genius... and then finds more than he bargained for when he discovers an earring and then a finger. Eww. It was at this point that the story started to take a turn that felt all wrong tonally... the book started feeling like it was going to be a coming-of-age story, a bit tongue in cheek and a bit of adventure, and then this macabre twist comes out of nowhere, without the tone of the story really changing with it. I kept reading because I wanted to know where it was going, and while I appreciated that the book raised the issue of modern-day slavery and trafficking, it felt like it was using this as a plot device rather than to really help readers understand this complicated and tragic occurrence. I was bothered by how the children who were stuck in the factory were swept off stage-left without so much as a second thought once the plot resolved and Fergal was rescued (them being "taken away and looked after" isn't a very satistfying resolution for such a traumatic experience)... and how it seemed like, though Fergal was bothered by his experience being trapped in the factory and forced to work, he cared little for the other kids who went through a similar ordeal... Also, while I was glad that the ear and finger in the cans Fergal and his friend discovered didn't come from the children in the factory, it seemed a bit strange and contrived that they would come from the factory owner, Mr. Dingle-Smith, and his wife... if you lost part of an ear or your finger, wouldn't you at least think to check where they went in your canning factory, maybe to get your finger sewn back on, perhaps?

The most infuriating thing for me about this book was how persistently the adults in the story just didn't listen to Charlotte and Fergal. I know this was mainly just so the plot could move forward with Charlotte and Fergal having to handle things on their own, but the adult-not-listening with Charlotte's mother and the police was so unlikely and so frustrating that it was hard to bear. It also felt like, even at the end of the book when Charlotte and Fergal suspect that the other children pushed Mr. Dingle-Smith and his wife into the machinery(?!?! Again, super macabre), they still don't trust adults to actually listen to them or believe them, even if they have information on a crime! I think this bothers me so much because, as a teacher, I'd like to think that adults will listen and help kids at least most of the time... and as a student, I saw how damaging kids thinking they have to handle everything "all by themselves" can be.

Ultimately, a book that went in a lot of unexpected directions, but not one that I'd recommend.

[Amiera · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found it so INTERESTING!! 👏🏻
I enjoyed the storyline even though I’m hoping that Mr and Mrs Dimble-Smith had been caught up by the police but the ending in the mixer was much more satisfying.
Kudos to the writer for bringing suspenses, enjoyment, sadness, relief and some other emotions that I could not describe more. 💯
If only the parents belief in them maybe things will get easier. I literally cry and scream alone by myself “Why wouldn’t you trust your child?!” when I’m reading this. 😭

All the opening tin session, breaking the codes, the investigation, the sixth sense on finding the ‘right’ tin, rescue session and some other scenario were extremely important and I glad the author describes it well in this book.

As for the character i could not complaint anything because they were so brave in solving those mystery. I may be not brave as them but I want to take their brave spirit to myself too later.
But I could not see the bargain tins as same as before after reading this book. 😂

[Addison Children's Services · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fergal's mother insists he get a hobby. So Fergal begins collecting cans, the kind the grocery store puts in the bargain bin because they have no labels. His parents are not too pleased with this hobby, especially when he never opens them, but prefers to savor the mystery. After Fergal's parents issue an ultimatum �?? no more cans until he opens some �?? and Fergal finds a can that feels empty save for a soft rattle he decides to open one up. A gold post, from an ear. The next can he opens holds a finger. Where are these cans coming from? Another book where the children, this time children with perfectly present parents, nearly die to save, well not the world but some other children.

[Menna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice and such a light read but it was too childish for me

[CarolineDearman RDNG4130 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting read; not really my type. This book is about a boy who collects cans without labels from the bargain bin at the supermarket. One day he opens one can with nothing in it but a gold earing, and another can with a real human finger. He meets a friend named Charlotte who also collects cans. Charlotte has a can with an engraved ring, and someone's ear. They eventually open a new can together and it has a note with "help" written on it. They speculate about someone having possibly been murdered. They conduct a little investigation, then Fergal goes missing while Charlotte is away on holiday. Fergal ends up finding a clue, and finds himself working in the horrible can factory where they abduct and abuse kids! He finds a way to get the message to Charlotte- writing on the inside of can labels. Charlotte tries to tell many people but they don't believe her so she goes to the factory herself and rescues Fergal. I don't think anyone was actually murdered- if I remember correctly, the ear and finger were from the owners of the factory. But in the footnote, the readers will be glad to know that the owners got what they had coming!

[Nur Amiera · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found it so INTERESTING!! 👏🏻
I enjoyed the storyline even though I’m hoping that Mr and Mrs Dimble-Smith had been caught up by the police but the ending in the mixer was much more satisfying.
Kudos to the writer for bringing suspenses, enjoyment, sadness, relief and some other emotions that I could not describe more. 💯
If only the parents belief in them maybe things will get easier. I literally cry and scream alone by myself “Why wouldn’t you trust your child?!” when I’m reading this. 😭

All the opening tin session, breaking the codes, the investigation, the sixth sense on finding the ‘right’ tin, rescue session and some other scenario were extremely important and I glad the author describes it well in this book.

As for the character i could not complaint anything because they were so brave in solving those mystery. I may be not brave as them but I want to take their brave spirit to myself too later.
But I could not see the bargain tins as same as before after reading this book. 😂

[Christi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this book with my 10 year old son. I found I REALLY wanted to know how a body parts ended up in cans. Although at times is was a little challenging for my sone due to the use of different words we do not use in the states. We figured out what each word meant. It was a fun book. My son said he would recommend to everyone (unless you are squeamish). Interesting concept for sure a great read! Even the ending was a little bit of a surprise. We enjoyed this book! I don't know if I would have liked it as much reading it without my son. However talking and guessing with him was part of the fun! As an adult read it is a bit on the youngish side. If you are a teacher this was would be a fantastic class read aloud! ohhhh..... the writting assignments you could do with this book.... (might be a teacher!)

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

A boy finds a one-word message -- HELP! -- sealed in a tin can and is sucked into a thrillingly gruesome adventure.

Fergal Bamfield doesn't collect stamps like normal kids. He's an oddball (his mother prefers to call him "clever"), and his collection is as strange as everything else about him. Fergal Bamfield collects tin cans.

Then one day he finds a can without a label. What could be in it? Peaches, soup, perhaps revolting spam? But instead it's something else...it starts with an earring then gets much more gruesome. Fergal and his friend Charlotte are knee-deep in an adventure, and they're about to learn something horrible: Everybody has an expiration date.

[Dave Robert · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book is awful. The two main characters have the exact same personality and are cardboard cut outs of each other. There are only four locations in the entire book and it barely scrapes the surface of this weird story is even taking place. If you ask me that is extremely lazy and leaves you asking lots but you don't want to find out because you would have to read another terrible book. The book has good suspense but it builds you up to let you down. The beginning is the only part that isn't absolute garbage. Not enough of a story is told and it's a bore from start to finish.

[Ethan Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Canned, written by Alex Shearer, is a mystery book about a kid named Fergal who finds random things in multiple cans. Fergal decided he wanted to start collecting cans. When he picked up a can from under the bin he shook it around and it was heavy. He brought that can home and then he opened it and was astonished to find something very disgusting. I did enjoy the book because it built up a lot of suspense before they finally told you what was going on with the items in the can. By Ethan Smith

[Benjamin Uy · Rating 4 out of 5]

If there are two things I like in a book, it is unique characters and a great plot. Alex Shearer's Canned fits with this description as it has two of their characters, Fergal and Charlotte, (oddly enough) sharing a hobby of collecting cans. The book becomes even more interesting as both Fergal and Charlotte discover human parts inside cans, and from further investigation, the book progresses into a deeper, darker plot...

[Noah]

I think that the book has a interesting story line and I think that’s what made me want to read it.
I find it’s story line interesting because on how the boy finds weird/different things in the tins , the boy Fergal enjoys the lucky dip of randomness of the lableless tins and what you may find, where in OneNote instance he found a note saying “help” and also a finger
I learned that you shouldn’t jump to conclusions to quickly or it may just trick you or be true

[Kat!e Larson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quirky, mysterious, and morbid. I loved this book as a kid and enjoyed it as an adult. My only real complaint is that Shearer's writing is so redundant it makes me want to tear my hair out. He uses a half dozen similies to describe one simple thing, repeats information, and rambles like crazy. It feels like this book was written stream-of-thought and never edited.

[Codyburk · Rating 5 out of 5]

i would recomend this book becasue he trys to make room for more cans but his arents tell him he cant and he does prove his parentss wrong. one part in this book that i like the most is that he keeps going out and looking for more cans. the genre is mystery, I really like mystery becasue like it says all the stuff in the book is a mystery and they have to find like who did it or what happend who took the item all that stuff seems intresting for me.

[Jennifer Plested · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed it, at some points couldn't put it down. A couple of daft moments/ things which made me shout at the book, but the love of tins really came across, great characters and interesting journey with the characters.

[Christine VanHalder · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this book in a Little Free Library in North Portland,Oregon. Action, solving a mystery, saving children, this story has it all. Very well written. I'm an adult and was hooked from the first page. Highly recommend to read.

[Emily Rennie · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of my student's was reading this, and told me it was something I may like - so I did, and she was right! It's for younger readers so I did whizz through it; it's fun, thrilling, and a good level of tension. I think it's a fun intro to horror and suspense for kids.

[Haley Craig · Rating 4 out of 5]

A thrift store find! Only in the UK, it's called 'Tins'.

Thrilling, unexpected and utterly bizarre at times, it also gives us an important message, to listen to the children in our lives. Sometimes even the most outlandish things are true!