AustLit

A few days at the beach, camping with your family. Sounds like a good time, right? Maybe, but don't forget to factor in: * the motobike riding bogan * an older sister in love * a tent which is suffering a spiritual crisis * a surfer named Gnarly who's idea of fun involves exfoliating sparkplugs! For Nathan Nuttboard, this could be an interesting few days.

Abstract via publisher, UQP

'Nathan, Gnarly and the Nuttboard family are back again in a sequel to Eaton's popular Nathan Nuttboard: Hits the Beach. Narelle as difficult as ever; Dad still technologically challenged; Mum her usual assertive self; little sister Nadine intrusive and Nathan and friend Gnarly continuing their happy-go-lucky sure to miss-fire antics. What IS new is the arrival of a little known grandfather from Scotland, Fergus McCraigh.

'Self-centred, overbearing, canny, rude, Fergus makes life miserable for all the members of the family. Narelle, the only one of the children to remember a visit to Scotland where she was accused of spoiling Fergus's sporran, already dislikes the man before he dobs her into her parents for being at a pub instead of studying; Nathan is forced to give up his bedroom for Fergus and to share Nadine's together with her thousands of stuffed toy animals. Neither is too happy with the situation. Mum has a history of not getting on with her father, and Dad, well Fergus never forgave him for marrying his daughter and taking her off to Australia.' (Publication summary)

'Grade 7 is not going well for Nathan Nuttboard. First, he is publicly dumped by Sally-Anne Anderson, the most popular girl in the class with whom his classmates forgot to inform him he was even going out. Then his teacher, Mr Hart, announces that this year for the school concert the Grade 7 class is going to do something different - a surfing adaptation of Romeo and Juliet written by Mr Hart himself. To make matters worse, Mr Hart assures the students that he has written it specially to guarantee that there is a part for every one of them.

'Remembering previous concerts with humiliating outcomes, Nathan determines to make his audition piece so bad that Mr Hart can't possibly cast him in the play. Yet his best, or worst, efforts completely backfire as Mr Hart loves his natural performance and he finds himself cast as Romeo opposite Sally-Anne's Juliet. This horrifies the pair of them, especially when they realize that the nature of the love story requires them to kiss on stage. It also infuriates Nathan's friend, Markus, who wants the part of Romeo for himself. In desperation, Nathan attempts to find a solution to the kissing problem, but when he nearly pokes Sally-Anne's eye out, in front of the Headmaster, Mr Stoat, Mr Hart has no choice but to recast the play, making Markus Romeo. At first Nathan is delighted and relieved by this turn of events, but slowly and unwittingly he realizes that he is in fact jealous of Markus. When, at the dress rehearsal, Nathan wishes Markus good luck instead of telling him to break a leg, Markus does just that and Nathan finds himself again promoted to the role of Romeo. He and Sally-Anne manage to make up their differences ensuring that the play is a success and solidifying their own relationship.'

(Publisher's blurb)