The Quigleys at Large

by Simon Mason

Book Overview

NOW AVAILABLE IN paperback, the Quigleys return in this second collection of stories. Funny and instantly recognizable from their last adventures, this time the family goes camping in France. Mum... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0385750226
• ISBN13: 9780385750226
• Release Date: October 2003
• Publisher: David Fickling Books
• Length: 148 Pages
• Weight: 0.78 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 6.3" x 9.3"
• Age Range: 8 to 11 years
• Grade Range: Grades 3 to 6

Customer Reviews

Truly a joy.

The Quigleys are back, and we have four more deliciously funny and decidedly unexpected stories to enjoy.Mum has had her wisdom teeth out and Dad has decided that she is not allowed to do anything. Not only do Lucy and Will have to be quiet all the time, Dad won't let poor Mum have any fun. Even when the family goes to the local village fete at the school, Mum is told that she must not do anything boisterous. In other words, she can't participate in any of the games. In typical Simon Mason fashion, things get turned upside down and Mum ends up having her fair share of fun after all.Dad also has an adventure, but he doesn't even have to leave the house. In fact he is barely awake, yet still manages to create a state of chaos. Meanwhile, Will wanders off into dreamland and finds himself locked in his school. The question is, can he get himself out before his parents find out?As for Lucy, well, she probably takes the prize. She surprises us by turning out to be an extremely thoughtful and generously spirited person. While on holiday in France, she takes it upon herself to examine the question of friendship. Lucy likes to have friends about her, someone to do cartwheels with and the like. The problem is that in France, the other little girls speak French. So, she rationalizes, she cannot have a friend. However, this does not stop her from finding friends for her brother and father. With simplicity that is so refreshing in the very young, Lucy cuts through all the nonsense that older people seem to build around themselves and quietly but firmly sets up her father and brother with two charming people. Now, all she has to do is forget about the language barrier and get a friend herself.Mason seems to know how to take a simple situation and turn it into an engaging and amusing story. In THE QUIGLEYS AT LARGE he also touches on the ability of children to recognize the important things in life, such as friendship and reaching out to each other. It is truly a joy to share yet another slice of Quigley life. --- Reviewed by Marya Jansen-Gruber (...)