How Hedley Hopkins Did a Dare, robbed a grave, made a new friend who might not have really been there at all, and while he was at it committed a terrible sin which everyone was doing even though he didn't know it

Hedley Hopkins has a few problems: he is the new kid at school, straight off the boat from England in the 1950s. The only friends he has made are the kids at the Loony Bin especially bald headed, long armed Victor. But if he could just fulfil a dare and dig out the hideous skull hidden in a grave in the sand dunes, he could impress the bullies at school and become their friend. But Hedley is not so sure. Weird things are happening to his body. Is he being punished for his terrible actions? And if his uptight parents ever found out what he was up to, they might blow up.

Full-moon murderers, an open grave, religious conversions and sexual awakening meld sometimes poignantly, sometimes hilariously in this riveting, stunningly original account of growing up in 1950s Australia. This coming of age tale is Paul Jennings at his very best!

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How Hedley Hopkins Did a Dare . . . is the first full-length novel from Australia’s bestselling children’s author Paul Jennings.  Congratulations to Paul for making the Children’s Book Council of Australia Awards Short List for Book of the Year – Older Readers.  

Media queries can be directed to Anyez Lindop at Penguin. Email:  Julia.Ferracane@au.penguingroup.com