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Our Rating
 3.5 stars

Author: Michael Wagner & Illustrated by Gus Gordon  

Target ages: 7+

Themes & values: Family, friendship, trampolines and lawyers with no sense of humour

When you become pregnant lots of people warn you that babies don’t come with handbooks, and then they usually offer some sort of advice (be it helpful or not). So I’m wondering if there's a secret book that mums don’t know about, that new fathers are discreetly given whilst Mum is otherwise occupied, or if out-of-work comedians take them aside and give them some tips. Does the sleep deprivation do something to a man’s sense of humour?  How else can we explain the phenomona that is the ‘dad joke’ Those groan-inducing funnies that dads feel they just have to share and repeat because they only get better with repetition. Lame and cheesy is how you’d describe them.

And that’s probably how I would describe the humour of the Undys books. Josh Undy lives with his dad Phil (short for Philmore Undy  – you see what I mean) in a public housing flat. Josh and his dad have a very close relationship, Josh refers to his dad as ‘Pops’ or sometimes ‘Butthead’ and Phil calls his son ‘Joshyboy’. They have a jokey, blokey kind of camaraderie going on which involves egging each other on in challenges and races, the more outlandish the better. This is not what you would call a typical father-son relationship; but then, their friends and family aren’t exactly run-of-the-mill either.

From their scary Aunty Faber with her strongman boyfriend Oscar, to their multicultural neighbours in the surrounding flats, Josh and his Dad have a warm, unorthodox ‘family’. That’s one of the things I like about this book. Behind the lame cheesy jokes and games there is a real warmth and a description of relationships that is as far removed from the vanilla idea of nuclear families as can be.

Even though stern disciplinarians would disapprove of Phil’s parenting style (i.e. those of ‘they are your children not your friends’ school of thought), there is an absolute affection between the two. Past struggles are lightly touched on: these are the things that have brought Josh and his Dad so close together. So, while some would question his parenting skills, I think you have to admire any Dad that can make moving house not only fun but turn it into a race.

As the book begins Josh and his Dad have just received a letter notifying them that they have to vacate their flat as their income has increased. The increase in income is due to a very successful ‘mannying’ business that they run. I never did work out what ‘mannying’ is but as this is the sixth book in Michael Wagner’s series I’d recommend reading the others to find out.

Josh is upset about having to move and leave all his friends but his Dad explains that there are other people that need their apartment more. Josh cheers up when his father suggests that they might live in a house with a yard and maybe even a trampoline. They inspect quite a few places, play some more games and have a run in with some potential neighbours. Finally they settle on a house and prepare to move. With Josh and Phil playing games instead of packing they find that moving day arrives and they are not ready. That’s when their extended family group steps in to help them and their help is rewarded when they find themselves the owners of  much needed furniture that the Undys no longer need. Everyone pitches in and they are soon on their slightly unorthodox way.

The Undys is great fun and while some of the jokes or situations that the Undys get themselves into are sort of lame and cheesy, it's all part of the charm. Josh and his dad are really likeable characters, as are their friends. The competitions that Josh and Phil undertake are hilarious and sometimes gross and are bound to appeal to boys. Another thing I really liked, is that each chapter ended with an end of chapter reward like a maze or a quiz, just the thing to keep reluctant readers going. And for those that enjoy them the good news is that there are more on Michael Wagner’s website.

ISBN: 9780143304135
Publisher: Penguin Books Australia
RRP: $14.95
Pages: 136

Other books by the same writer:
The Undys: Itching for Action
$14.95
ISBN: 9780143302506

The Undys: Let the Games Begin
$14.95
ISBN: 9780143302797

The Undys: Let's Get Physical
$14.95
ISBN: 9780143302490

The Undys: On the Move
$14.95
ISBN: 9780143304135

The Undys: One Wacky Week
$14.95
ISBN: 9780143304128

The Undys: Wet and Wild
$14.95
ISBN: 9780143302513

And also the Maxx Rumble footy and cricket series

If you like this, you'll also like:
Anything by Andy Griffiths or Paul Jennings, or why not read the rest of the Undys series?

Resources:
http://www.michaelwagner.com.au/ for more games, info and your free undys rewards!