Longlisted for the 2016 Man Booker Prize for 'Serious Sweet' AL Kennedy has teamed up with illustrator Gemma Correll for this children's adventure story. A young badger finds himself dumped in a sack and then a cage by the McGloone sisters, who hold animal fights on their family's farm. The rest of the McGloone family are equally unpleasant. Farmer McGloone, his wife Myrtle and brood of children are to animal welfare what the Squeers family in 'Nicholas Nickleby' were to children's education; another Dickens touch is the summary at the start of each section (chapter) of events to come - which helps to mitigate the scarier scenes.
While having a serious underlying theme concerning animals welfare the tale is told in a light, silly (very silly) tone. Uncle Shawn is an amusing and likable hero and there are lots of broad comedy set pieces and terrible jokes. ( )