Honesty is the Best Policy.. (The Gizmo - Paul Jennings)

Member Name: Mitnik

Product:	The Gizmo - Paul Jennings
Date:	19/08/02 (298 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Witty and Inventive, Colorfull and Amusing

Disadvantages: Bit Short, but then it is only a short story.

So once again, I have gone in search of the Forgotten books of yesteryear, unloved and
unreviewed, and in a desperate attempt to bring them the recognition they deserve, I bring you the one review to bring them all and in the darkness bind them.

Firstly let me point out that in this review, there will be no Monty Python Quotes, Not One, Not even a little one, nope this Review shall be Monty Python Free, There will be no references to Dead Albatrosses, Dead Parrots, Violent Old Grannies or anything else vaguely Monty Python Related and with that polite notice out the way, "And Now for Something Compelety Different.."

(and so I lied (for those of you lucky enough not to know, that was infact a Monty Python Quote)) Which in itself is strange, What`s even stranger is the fact I`m sitting here in my wife`s bra and panties, Why? I hear you ask.. Well it`s because I stole a Gizmo.. and each time it beeps I change clothes with the person nearest to me. and that dear friends is the idea behind this short story by Paul Jennings. Australia's bestselling childrens author.

The Gizmo is the first book in a series of four, and in my opinion the funniest of the lot, the book itself is aimed at 5 to 9 year olds, but My daughter (Just 9months old) Loved it, especially the large colorfull illustrations that follow the action throughout the book, the story revolves around a young lad named Stephen, He`s stolen a Gizmo on a dare from his friend Floggit and now he can`t get rid of it.. everytime he tries it just keeps on coming back. Even after throwing it under a train the Gizmo somehow ends up back in his pocket. And when the Gizmo is turned on it causes him to instantly change clothes with the nearest person to him, causing him many problems, with the funniest scene`s involving a wedding dress and a bikini.

Like most of Jennings Stories it is written in the first person, and moves with all the speed of the nightmare that young St
ephen has gotten himself into, and like the most horrific of bad dreams becomes more and more flustrating and embarashing with each new twist of fate.. But the story does have a happy ending with everyone involved learning an important lesson about the inevitability of having to live with our deeds.

Summary: