The Real Facts Of Life
Geoff Havel

Fremantle Arts Centre Press 2001

117p pbk $14.95

1-86368-321-6  

The Real Facts of Life is a novel about a young boy named Max, and the thoughts, or views he has on the world. He tells people facts of life, and what to look out for. For example, FACT- the weekend starts five minutes after the end of school on Friday- thanks to all the other kids.  Beginning Friday afternoon, he tells what happens on his weekend, and I guess, what happens in any household. On Saturday, he plays the computer, like any usual kid, and then goes next door for a barbecue.  Throughout the book he goes to his grandparents house and does other interesting things. The special or different thing about this book is that it has facts about life, something to make you look at how these facts are part of your life too.

I thought the pictures in this book were well done, and not too detailed, although, maybe some more of them would give the book more life.  It is a fiction book, full of facts and would be good for a year five student, of either sex, even though the boy, Max hates his older sister.

Rating: 6.5 (a bit too young for me)

Alex, aged 13, Canberra, ACT

Max notices his parents are starting to act weirdly. His mother is eating a lot more and his father starts telling the children to be a lot quieter. His sister is trying to get him into even more trouble. What is going on?

This book was easy to read with simple language and the climax was funny. The characters had their own personalities, even the grandparents who began behaving mysteriously.

I would recommend this book to children 9 years and over as it is hilarious and easy to read.

Kara, 10, Glenwood NSW