The Day My Bum Went Psycho
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Author | Andy Griffiths |
|---|---|
| Illustrator | Terry Denton |
| Country | Australia |
| Language | English |
| Series | The Bum Trilogy |
| Genre(s) | Children's novel |
| Publisher | Pan Books |
| Released | 2001 |
| Media type | Print (Paperback) |
| Pages | 221 pp |
| ISBN | ISBN 0-330-36292-5 |
| Followed by | Zombie Bums from Uranus |
The Day My Bum Went Psycho (2001) is a novel by Australian children's author, Andy Griffiths.
The book focuses around a boy called Zack Freeman who has to seek the help of some Bum Hunters to catch his Bum, after he learns it is actually the leader of a band of renegade Bums determined to control the world. It is illustrated by Terry Denton.
The book is also published under the title of The Day My BUTT Went Psycho!
Contents |
[edit] Plot summary
Zack's bum is constantly detaching itself from his body and running off. One night, when he follows his bum, he learns the horrible truth - there is a plot by bums to take over the world. Specifically, the bums plan to create a huge, world-wide fart by building up a massive quantity of methane gas in what they call the Bumcano. When the Bumcano blows, all humans will be knocked out. While they are unconscious, the bums will seize their chance and switch places with their heads.
Fortunately, Zack meets the Bumcatcher and his daughter, Eleanor, and is introduced to the realities of life in a world where bums are constantly a threat. To prevent the Bumpocalypse, the friends enlist the help of the Kisser, the Kicker and the Smacker - a crack bumfighting team - and Ned Smelly. The characters encounter a variety of bum-related places and things, including the Great Windy Desert, flying bum squadrons, Stenchgantor the unwiped bum and the Great White Bum.
Naturally, every possible opportunity for toilet humor is milked in this book for kids, which won a number of Children's Choice awards in Australia.[1][2]
It is followed by Zombie butts from Uranus (2003) and Bumageddon: The Final Pongflict (2005).
[edit] Characters
- Zack - A twelve year boy, who has to put up with his crazy bum. One night Zack follows his bum, who appears to be the leader of bums.
- Zack's bum - a small, pink bum, utterly psycho and very rude and annoying. Always embarrassing Zack, his owner, and likes to detach itself and run away. Appears to be the leader of bums, but really only takes recruits. Although very annoying, Zack's bum helps stop the true leader, the Great White Bum, and it, Eleanor and Zack become a team.
- Eleanor Sterne - a fierce bum fighter in her own right, Eleanor is determined to kill the Great White Bum after it killed her mother in a surprise attack on a family picnic when Eleanor was only five. Daughter of the legendary bum fighter, Silas Sterne. Eleanor is a friend of the B-team.
- Silas Sterne - the bravest and most talented bum hunter in history. Founder of Silas Sterne's Bum Fighting Academy. His wife was killed when he, her and his formidable daughter Eleanor were on a family picnic, after the Great Bum Uprising. Silas Sterne has hunted and captured some of the most dangerous bums ever. Silas was once a member of the famous B-team.
- Kicker - a violent bum fighter, highly skilled in the art of foot to bum combat. Member of the famous B-team. Kicker is always wanting to kick bums, rather than smack them or kiss them. He and the Kisser usually fight. Kicker is a huge man with a thick beard and the biggest feet ever. He wears footy shorts, and footy jumper and boots.
- Smacker - a bum fighter, highly skilled in the art of hand to bum combat. Member of the famous B-team. Smacker is the most sensible member of the B-team, and good friend to Eleanor. She is a huge woman with black hair tied in enormous buns, and has huge hands like baseball mits. She wears an orange floral dress with short sleeves.
- Kisser - a charming bum fighter, highly skilled in the art of lip to bum combat. Member of the famous B-team. Kidnapped by rogue bums, and became a secret bum-sympanthiser, who not only tried to sabotage the B-teams plans, but also attempted to kill the other members while climbing up the bumcano. Last seen being dragged down by giant maggots in the brown lake.
- Ned Smelly - an ex-bum fighter, who got his name after his run in with Stenchgantor, the great unwiped bum. Lives in a shack in the Great Windy Desert, feeding on needleweeds and stinkants.
- Captain Brown - a bum-shelter manager.
- Stenchgantor - also known as the great unwiped bum, Stenchgantor was the ugliest, wartiest, hairiest, stinkiest bum ever, until it was outstenched by Zakc's stinky bumcatcher socks. The only bum to have a nostril, rather than an eye. Lives in the Brown Forest, completely blind, it relies on its sense of smell to catch victims.
- The Great White Bum - an enormous bum, the evilest bum in history. Some say the Great White Bum was a mutant bum created by a side effect of a nuclear bum laucher. Others believe it was around for years. In his book, Chariots of Bums, Eric Von Dunnycan claimed that it was a space traveller. It was destroyed by Zack Freeman, who sent it blasting into space.
[edit] Trivia
- The word bum is mentioned 1243 times in the novel.
- Andy mentioned on the August 2, 2006 broadcast of Get This that he had optioned the film rights to The Day My Bum Went Psycho. He then said that he expected it to be done "Pixar-style", until one of the presenters insisted it be live action. It remains to be seen whether Andy was kidding or not.
[edit] References
- ^ http://www.yara-online.org/main_pages/awards.htm YARA Older Readers' Award 2001
- ^ http://home.vicnet.net.au/~yabba YABBA Older Readers' Award 2002
[edit] External links
- Authors homepage - The Day My Bum Went Psycho
