Although difficulties arise, none of them are insuperable, and all works out for the best in this gentle novel. Despite their more contemporary setting, Masson’s books have a faintly nostalgic tone, somewhat reminiscent of Robin Klein’s All in the blue unclouded weather. Perhaps this comes from the way they revolve around the activities of a close-knit family, upon whom the problems of the contemporary world seem to have little impact.

The second of these books is in a completely different format, and one which has been rather frowned on by lots of parents and librarians in the past. Unlike his other books, John Marsden has chosen a ‘Choose your own adventure’ format for Creep St, indeed the subtitle is ‘you make it happen’. Lots of children love this format, and it is perhaps especially good for reluctant readers as it is accessible, with each strand of the story or ‘adventure’ being quite short. The book is in the present tense, a device which is necessary to give immediacy to the adventures and to-invite the total involvement of the reader. The stories are based around the large, somewhat derelict house which has just been bought by the parents of the main character (the reader) – always addressed as ‘you’ by the writer. It is, however, a house which holds many secrets and everything is very far from what it seems! Depending on which path you choose, you may meet the ghost of Elvis Presley in a derelict pink car with big fins, or a monster who is no longer a threat when he falls in love with King Kong on an old movie re-run; and who is Stacey really, the girl next-door or something much more sinister? There are seventy-five chapters in this book, so there are lots of secrets to uncover. Although these are ‘horror’ stories, the endings are not horrific. Marsden has many fans at different reading ages; those who have enjoyed his earlier books for younger readers will enjoy these stories too. Perhaps they are Marsden’s answer to the ‘Goosebumps’ series? However, I suspect that many of his older fans will also enjoy the zaniness of Creep St.