aka J.D. Kirk
Last year before reading this I encountered the works of J.D. Kirk I also discovered that Kirk publishes children’s books as Barry Hutchison, and other adult fiction as Barry J. Hutchison. I have read 25 stories published under the Kirk Name and am now branching out to the ones under the Hutchinson names, this is the 18th under that name. He has written over 200 books across the three pen names, and many unattributed. If I had known that or I might not have picked up this first one. But I am very thankful I did. Friends call me a ‘completionist’ in that when I find an author I like, I try to read everything they have published. I have enjoyed all I have read from his pen and this one was no different.
The description of this story is:
“Beaky still can’t tell a lie and life isn’t getting any easier. When he somehow manages to land a lead part in the school play, Romeo and Juliet … but with Aliens , Beaky is put in the spotlight. Playing Romeo to Evie’s Juliet makes his crush on her even harder to disguise. And now Beaky’s old lying ways are coming back to haunt him – his dog Destructo has been chosen to appear on TV’s Most Talented Pets because he can ride a bike. Only problem is … he can’t."
This story is an early chapter book. Or middle grade read. It is in a series that currently has four titles:
The World's Greatest Liar
Worst School Trip Ever
Super Creepy Camp
Weirdest Show on Earth
It appears that some of the four are also available in French and German. After Beaky was forced to tell the truth, the whole, truth, and nothing but the truth things went from bad to worse. But there is hope in that his sister has found online records of the Madame Shirley’s Marvellous Emporium of Peculiarities, the bad news is they are all over the world. Always look the same and appear empty and abandoned at some point. Not they just need to find her. And that is proving a difficult task. But back to this specific story. The chapters in this story are:
1 – Casting Call
2 – The Telly People
3 – The Other Machine
4 – The Enemy
5 – Rehearsal #1
6 – Rehearsal #2
7 – Betrayed
8 – Experimenting
9 – Devious Schemes
10 – The PTA Thing
11 – TV Day
12 – The Distraction
13 – Show Time
14 – Dog Fight
15 – The Bombshell
16 – Aftershocks
17 – The Play’s The Thing
This is a great story. And it does a great job of wrapping of the series. In this story Beaky and Evie are in the school play together, a monstrosity concocted by the drama teacher of Romeo and Juliet in Space, as Romeonulan and Julietraxis as aliens. They are also both to be contestants on TV’s Most Talented Pets. Beaky finally tracks down someone else who had been impacted by Madame Shirley, he stated:
““I spent the first few weeks trying to track Madame Shirley down, just like you,” Leon said. “I hated her for what she’d done to me but after a while … I dunno. I’m a better person for having been in that machine. She changed my life. I suppose if she walked in here now I’d thank her.””
Beaky at the time did not feel the same way, his response was:
““I’d rugby-tackle her to the ground and tie her up,” I said. I blew out my cheeks and shrugged. “Well, this was completely pointless, wasn’t it?””
During the play Dylan decides to break the fourth wall. He does so, so that he can apologizes to Evie, for telling the whole truth can sometimes not give the context. And after hurting her he really wants to make things right. He starts off with:
““My name is Dylan Malone and I cannot tell a lie,” I announced. “Don’t believe me? Let’s see… Here, how about this? If my big sister annoys me, I sneak into her room when she’s out and fart on her pillow.”
“What!” screeched a voice from near the back of the hall.
I smiled. “Hi, Jodie!”
More laughter, but this time not at my expense.
“I’m going to get you for this, Beaky!” Jodie shouted.
“She won’t,” I said. “Because I’ve read her diary and know all her secrets.” I pointed to a boy in the audience. “She likes your legs, by the way, but thinks your face is a bit like a tomato.””
Later he states:
““The point is, I can’t lie,” I said. “But I don’t always tell the whole truth, either, and sometimes that’s even worse.””
And he says to Evie:
…
Oh you will have to read the book to find that one out!
This book marks the 43rd offering from Hutchison I have read in the last year and a bit, under the three names he publishes under. They have all been entertaining reads. Some have been excellent. This story was a very entertaining read, and does an amazing job of wrapping up the quadrilogy. It is a great book and series especially for younger readers and even reluctant readers. I can see school children loving these books and laughing out loud time and time again. It is a good read from the pen of Barry Hutchison, aka Barry J. Hutchinson aka J.D. Kirk!
Books by J.D. Kirk:
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DCI Logan Series:
Robert Hoon Thrillers:
DI Heather Filson Series:
Contributed to:
Everyday Kindness: A Collection of Uplifting Tales to Brighten Your Day
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Books as Barry J. Hutchison:
Dan Deadman Space Detective Series:
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Space Team Series:
The Search for Splurt
Song of the Space Siren
The Guns of Nana Joan
Return of the Dead Guy
Planet of the Japes
The Time Titan of Tomorrow
The King of Space Must Die
Sting of the Mustard Mines
Sentienced to Death
The Hunt for Reduk Topa
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A Lot of Weird Space Shizz: Collected Short Stories
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Sidekicks Initiative Series:
The Bug Books Series:
Episode 1
Episode 2
Episode 3
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Complete Season One
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Other Books:
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Children’s books as Barry Hutchison:
Invisible Fiends Series:
The Crowmaster
Doc Mortis
The Beast
The Darkest Corners
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Afterworlds:
The Missing Remote of the Apocalypse
The Book of Doom
...
Benjamin Blank Series:
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Beaky Malone Series:
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Generator Rex Series:
Other works:
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