Would the Real Stanley Carrot Please Stand Up?

This is a truly funny story about the misadventures of Stanley as he tries to show his new-found mum how cool he is. Stanley is different from the rest of his family, with his red hair and widely different interests. He was adopted at birth and has wanted to find out more about his birth mother for many years. Then on his 13th birthday he receives a card from her and life gets really complicated. He is worried that he will be a disappointment and comes up with a plan to provide a stand-in who will be better than him. As with any wild plan, things do not happen the way he wants and Stanley has to try and sort out the mess. Events are not helped by life at school, where Stanley is the target of bullies and has been asked to recite a poem during the school concert. How will he resolve all of his problems?

This is a heart-warming book about the trials that a young boy goes through in trying to grow up. The characters are believable and we really care about what is going on in Stanley’s life, both at school and at home. The story is told from the hero’s point of view and gives a believable insight into the issues facing a young teenager, particularly if he does not fit in with the rest of the crowd. There is a really good flow to the story and it would no doubt make a good series on TV, especially with the humour and interaction between the main characters. The author has dealt with a very serious topic, but with a light touch that takes into account the feelings of all the parties involved. Hopefully this book will find a place helping those people in a similar situation.