The Great Ferret Race
Paul Collins

Lothian Books: Takeaways 2001

158p pbk $12.95

Paul Collins is a Melbourne author and Australia’s most prolific short-story writer in science fiction/fantasy. He has appeared in many magazines and anthologies and he has also edited many science fiction and fantasy collections. This book is for young people and has nothing to do with science fiction/fantasy. His last book intended for young people was The Dog King.

Kazuo is a 12 year old boy who is always late for everything. When his grandma runs over his pet ferret, Ferbie (Ferbie happens to be a really fast ferret that Kazuo was going to enter into a ferret race), Kazuo builds a remote controlled ‘ferret finder’ in the shape of a ferret, and calls it Ferbie number 2. Mayhem follows, involving two new ferrets, Ruff and Tumble, and some raspberry cordial.

The Great Ferret Race is a book for all ages and the large type and generous spacing between lines makes it an easy book to read for learners.