Two of Everything

Cole tackles many controversial subjects, to the liking or not of her many readers. Here, in her typically zany and forthright manner, she presents the sensitive theme of incompatible parents who separate and divorce. Demetrius and Paula Ogglebutt are two perfectly well-behaved children, but their problem parents play appallingly nasty practical jokes upon each other. To discover if others at their school suffer from difficult parents, the children set up a meeting, and 'loads of kids turn up'. As a result, they all agree it is NOT the fault of the children if parents behave like five year-olds. The solution in this book is an 'un-wedding', in which all jubilantly celebrate the parents' separation. Reading about other children with problem parents may offer opportunities to talk about families facing about what is happening. This particular book treats the subject in a somewhat trivial manner, with the solution here presented being far from that experienced by many children facing this situation.