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Some
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A book like Some of the Kinder Planets can expose the often-arbitrary nature of categorization. This collection of young adult short fiction is a 'must read' for any age group. Tim Wynne-Jones' simple, straightforward prose makes these stories accessible to younger readers while his adept ability to weave a fascinating tale makes this collection equally engaging to adult audiences. The stories in this collection are funny, touching, poignant and sometimes a little sad. Wynne-Jones' tackles subject matters such as death and chronic illness with sensitivity and compassion. Stories featuring school bullies and despotic teachers are lighter fare but just as engaging. The Hope Bakery, Tashkent and The Clearing will tug at the heartstrings, while Night of the Pomegranate and Some of the Kinder Planets will fill the reader with mirth. Some of the Kinder Planets explores the multi-faceted world of childhood with humour, reverence and sensitivity.
Tim Wynne-Jones' main characters may be young, but they have universal appeal. His characters are often eccentric. Fletcher, from the story Tashkent is a great example of eccentric behaviour. After recovering from a chronic illness, Fletcher covers himself with small pieces of paper bearing the names of cities from around the world which he intends to visit. However, it is their eccentricities that bring Wynne-Jones' characters to life and give them depth. He has a unique gift for rendering the world of a child with all its anxieties and delights. However, he never sentimentalizes characters or creates stereotypes in his stories. The parents, teachers and friends who populate these tales are all unique individuals who enhance this charming collectiong.
In Tweedledum and Tweedledead, Tim Wynne-Jones introduces Julia Peach, a precocious young girl who opens her friend Tobias' eyes to the subtleties and complexities of Alice in Wonderland. Julia attempts to convince Tobais that there is more to Wonderland than Disney has portrayed. Tobais begins to appreciate Julia's perspective on the story, as his reconstruction of the time-honoured tale gets him in to trouble with various authority figures.
The stories in Some of the Kinder Planets are just as engaging as the characters that populate them. Every story in this book leads the reader through a series of unusual and often whimsical events. With Tim Wynne-Jones, one never quite knows where the story is going, however getting there is always fun. In Save the Moon for Kirdy Dickus, a young man finds his way through the forest to a glowing geodesic dome after his father's truck breaks down on the highway. This simple country boy blindly stumbles into the futuristic home of the Mori's on Christmas Eve just as they are settling in for they're traditional It's A Wonderful Life screening. The young man, disoriented by the cold and somewhat inebriated, mistakes the modern home for a flying saucer. He thinks the Mori's, decked out in red pajamas, are aliens. After he escapes from the clutches of these 'invaders' he sells his story to the tabloids.
Tim Wynne-Jones is a master storyteller, flawlessly weaving the odd, surreal and fantastic into the everyday life of a child. He truly creates stories that will captivate readers of any age. His collection of stories exemplifies the idea that stories written about children do not speak exclusively to a young audience. Excellent writing and good old fashion storytelling can be enjoyed by any age. Tim Wynne-Jones has expressed the offbeat and often surreal world of childhood in a language that any reader can understand.
Click here to view Tim's bibliography and a list of other awards he has won.
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