The Boy Who Disappeared and Other Stories
Ellis is annoying Isla... but suddenly he isn’t there...
Oscar’s written what he thinks about everyone... and left the paper in a library book...
Fletcher becomes a hero to Suzie...
Tessa takes action when her school bans hugging...
Holly Class wind up Pine Class on Transition Day...
Paul really doesn’t want to go to big school...
Myra hates her new school... until she meets Shane...
And more...
A brand-new collection of short stories from award-winning children’s and YA author Rob Keeley.
Includes Guess What? – shortlisted for Best Short Story 2022 at the Searchlight Writing for Children Awards – and two new Liam and Justin stories. Suitable for the 8-12s, and with primary and secondary school stories, this collection is fast, funny and packed with twists and turns.
“Charming, well-written stories for middle readers, set in a contemporary world of school and friendships... These are realistic situations and pleasing stories which entertain and amuse.” Rubery Book Award Judges on The Dinner Club and Other Stories
Published 28 March 2023.
‘Rob Keeley has a wonderful grasp of the world as inhabited by children and a great knack of presenting realistic settings in a humorous way. His stories are playful and engaging and full of a positive outlook, but they are always authentic. And they will always make you smile. It's wonderful to see him back in this format. We need more writers offering short stories to children. Not only are they fun to read but they're also inspirational for children's own creativity. You can read Rob's stories, immediately recognise them, talk about them, and maybe write one of your own. Knowing Rob, he would love that!
Recommended.’
- Jill Murphy, The Bookbag
‘This is a totally entertaining collection of short stories for younger readers (8-12's), but I'm slightly (!) older than that and I loved it too so it really does cross all the age boundaries! It's perfect for children to read by themselves, or to read with an adult and share memories of schooldays!
The author has done a great job of making the stories really relatable, and even ventures into lockdown situations so that readers can connect with the stories they are reading as they've probably experienced very similar situations! It includes stories about the last day, interactions with teachers, meeting a new teacher, making friends, rumours spreading - it really does encompass all the school experiences, along with home and family life too!
These stories really bought back memories of my own school days so it was lovely in that aspect for me, and they're easy to read and fun and can be read one a night - or more if you're like me and just wanted to binge read them! I love the idea of short story collections for children and this is a wonderful book for them to add to their bookshelves!’
- Karen Mace, blogger
‘Rob Keeley's latest book, The Boy Who Disappeared and Other Stories, is delightful, sweet, and funny. Am I surprised? Not one bit. At this point, I'd be surprised if I read a Rob Keeley book that was anything less than that.
Written for a middle grade audience, all but one of the stories center around school in one form or another: whether it's making friends, standing up to bullies, breaking ridiculous rules, covering ridiculous blunders, or just dealing with the whole messy tragicomedy of growing up…
…I smiled my way through this humorous and heartwarming collection of stories, sure to delight both the young and young-at-heart.’
- The Wood Between The Worlds blog
‘My favourites were Guess What?, Onward and Upward, and The Real David Ashwood. These stories made me laugh out loud and The Real David Ashwood made me gasp and then smile at the clever twist!
Highly recommended for 8-12 year olds (middle grade readers), especially those who enjoy short stories. I think this would make a fab Easter present if you’re trying to avoid chocolate!’
- Secret Library Book Blog
‘This is a fabulous book for all children, especially those 9-12 who are facing the transition to high school. The stories are funny and heartwarming, sharing some of the worries of this age group about moving on. My two favourite stories were The Midnight Feast and The Hero. It’s well written with relatable characters and stories. I highly recommend it. There should be a copy in every classroom and library.’
- Book Addict
‘The Boy Who Disappeared and Other Stories is a lovely collection of tales that is bang up-to-date and the reader can choose to dip into it whenever they have a few minutes spare or read it in one sitting. Whichever way they choose I can assure them that they will be getting a fabulous and engaging read that will make them think and put a smile on their faces.’
-Whispering Stories blog
