Michael Hardy is a normal boy, really. Just wants to have fun, snag the girl of his dreams and stay out of trouble. But his chances of staying out of trouble seem pretty remote when he gets together with his mate, Woody Decker. In just a few short weeks the school library catches fire, the principal is knocked unconcious, the school play turns from tragedy into a tragic comedy and a replica catapult puts a brick through a church window and wrecks a wedding.

A Fine Mess is a story which truly lives up to its title - it is superbly chaotic. There is plenty of action and loads of laugh out loud moments.

Norman Jorgensen is best known for his two recent picture books - In Flanders Fields which won the CBCA Picturebook of the Year Award in 2003 and The Call of the Ospery (2004). A Fine Mess is vastly different from these two, but what shows through in all three is Jorgensen's passion for the written word.

A Fine Mess is a great read, recommended for kids aged 11 and up.

A Fine Mess, by Norman Jorgensen
Fremantle Arts Centre Press, 2004

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