Having previously read and thoroughly enjoyed David Walliams’ The Boy in the Dress, Oscar (aged 10) was looking forward to reading Mr Stink.

The story centres on 12 year old Chloe who has an annoying younger sister named Annabelle, a domineering mother and a sympathetic but ineffectual father. She’s unpopular at school and a bit lonely. She meets Mr Stink, the local tramp who really smells and resides on the local park bench. She eventually works up the courage to approach him and to chat. She’s very curious to hear his story.

They become friends. She tells him her stories and eventually hears his.  Her mother is preoccupied with appearances and is running for a parliamentary seat. One of her election promises is to rid the town of the homeless.  So Chloe invites  Mr Stink to live in the family’s garden shed.

Whilst Oscar did enjoy this book, he didn’t find it as funny or entertaining as The Boy in the Dress. Mr Stink bathing in a pond and on Question Time were funny scenes. Raj the shopkeeper was a great character. He did race through the book and finished reading it within a day so the plot definitely was gripping.