Mr Gum and the Secret Hideout (8) Paperback – July 1, 2015

I really like and admire Andy Stanton's Mr. Gum books, but I fear that the series has run out of steam. If you are new to these books I urge you to look at one of the first two or three books, (say, "You're a Bad Man, Mr. Gum", or "Mr. Gum and the Biscuit Billionaire"). In those Stanton does a wonderful job of describing Lamonic Bibber and its citizens, including especially Polly Lovely, Alan Taylor and Friday. Those books have a manic energy and a contagious charm. The books are full of surprises, word play and devilish energy. By this volume eight, though, the series is tired. All of the same characters are here, but they seem to be just going through the paces. Worse, if you haven't read the earlier books and if you haven't already been introduced to them, then they will seem sort of flat and pointless in this book. And a lot of the non sequitur word play feels familiar. In a way the series is running backwards. The first books are all characters and wordplay, with practically nothing in the way of plot. You really just sort of visit with these cuckoos. In these later books, and especially this one, there is a strong coherent plot and very little personality to the characters. It feels just like the last episodes of the last season of a long running sitcom, where there is nothing new to do and we're all just recycling past highlights. I know this all sounds a little mean, so don't get the wrong idea. The first books are great, and well worth finding. After all, "The Truth is a Lemon Meringue".

I have read all the Mr Gum books to both of my kids over the last few years. They are hilarious. I am probably more excited about bedtime stories than the kids when we are on a Mr Gum book. They are so refreshing and just completely whacky. There are times when I have to stop reading as we are in such fits of laughter. We will certainly mourn the day when there will be no more books. It sounds a little premature but I am now looking forward to day I can read these to the grandkids. Shabbame whiskers!

Taught a class that loved comedy but I was getting slightly bored of Walliams and Dahl. Bought this and tried it and the children loved it. Within a few week all the desks were peppered with books from the series. Easy to read, full of randomness and silly! I would recommend for 6-12 year olds but immature adults will enjoy it too!

I like the book because it made me laugh out loud and my favourite character is Frides and Mr Polly. My dad’s Favourite character is granny. From Me aged six.

I love all the mr gum books and one of my favourite part in this book was the whole thing because it's amazing and I thought it was funny when Friday on Leary sharpened his tie with an electric pencil sharpened . I have also read mr gum and the cherry tree, your a bad man mr gum and mr gum and the biscuit billionaire I thoroughly enjoyed all of the and they all made me laugh out loud !!!!I would recommend this book to everybody as it is fantastic and highly funny a huge pat on the back to Andy Stanton !!!!!

Just love this series so much. A joy to read to my boy. Andy Stanton is a mad genius !