The Double Dare Gang stories are based on adventures I had with a group of friends when I was 10-13 years old - although the characters and settings take place in the modern day. When I was a kid I lived in the Welsh mining valleys and the DDG`s favourite playing place was out on the bracken-covered hills.
I`ve told my DDG tales for years, to thousands of children at scores of schools I`ve visited. They usually go down well, because the kids in the stories are just ordinary kids, getting up to mischief but never really hurting anyone. And the point is that while they play, so they `rehearse the world`, learning to be the kind of people they must be to flourish when they are adults.
One of the stories tells of how the gang dare themselves to pinch some fruit from Old Man Jones`s Allotment up the lane. He catches them of course, and teaches them an important lesson. In the past, when I`ve tried to get the collection published, some editors have returned the book saying they couldn`t possibly print it, because one story shows children stealing things. I point out as patiently as I can that the story shows children learning the consequences of stealing things. That`s the point, and that`s why I begin the book with the saying -
We are defined by our choices
Anyway, I hope you like the two stories I`ve included. The illustrations, by the way, are by a talented young artist called Jamie Egerton. Email me if you want his details...
Go To The Double Dare Gang Code Of Conduct -
Go To The Bravery Test -
Go To Wise Guy -
The stories have recently been updated and published in two books -The Allotment Ghost and The Frankenstein Steps -together with a book for teachers called ALPS StoryMaker.Click to view.
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