Blog Archives

Boys’ own journey, Chris Szekely

Posted on March 17, 2019 by NZ Books

The Top Secret Undercover Notes of Buttons McGinty
Rhys Darby
Scholastic, $18.00,
ISBN 9781775434979

Between
Adele Broadbent
One Tree House, $20.00,
ISBN 9780995106420

Slice of Heaven
Des O’Leary
Mākaro Press, $25.00,
ISBN 9780995109247

I reckon I had the best summer break in ages: lots of sunny days, lots of sleep-ins, and a trio of junior-fiction books to read for pure pleasure. At the beach, on the couch, under a shady tree, it felt like the school holidays for a grown-up.

Tagged with: Adele Broadbent, Autumn 2019, Chris Szekely, Des O’Leary, Issue 125, Mākaro Press, One Tree House, Rhys Darby, Scholastic
Posted in Children, Literature, Review

History lessons, James Norcliffe

Posted on August 31, 2015 by NZ Books

Monkey Boy
Donovan Bixley
Scholastic, $16.50,
ISBN 9781775431862

Trouble in Time
Adele Broadbent
Scholastic, $19.00,
ISBN 9781775432265

Monkey Boy opens with a prologue designed, no doubt, to catch its intended audience of younger, and not so young, boys. It’s 1804 and our hero, Jimmy Grimholt, needed “to do more than pee. He was full to busting, so that he was afraid he would muck himself if he didn’t go soon”.

Tagged with: Adele Broadbent, Donovan Bixley, Issue 111, James Norcliffe, Scholastic, Spring 2015
Posted in Children, Fiction, Literature, Review

Boy germs, Eirlys Hunter

Posted on June 1, 2012 by NZ Books

The Flytrap Snaps Johanna Knox and Sabrina Malcolm (illus) Hinterland Press, $22.00, ISBN 9780473179960 Just Jack Adele Broadbent HarperCollins, $19.99, ISBN 9781869508869 Super Finn Leonie Agnew Scholastic, $19.50, ISBN 9781869439996 The Puffin Books of my childhood carried…

Tagged with: Adele Broadbent, Eirlys Hunter, HarperCollins, Hinterland Press, Issue 98, Johanna Knox, Leonie Agnew, Sabrina Malcolm, Scholastic, Winter 2012
Posted in Children, Literature, Review, Young adults

Saving their world, Diane Hebley

Posted on June 1, 2011 by NZ Books

Just Jack Adele Broadbent HarperCollins, $19.99, ISBN 9781869508869 The Peco Incident Des Hunt HarperCollins, $19.99, ISBN 9781869508968 The Travelling Restaurant: Jasper’s Voyage in Three Parts Barbara Else Gecko Press, $24.99, ISBN 9781877467776 Nina Questor: The Battle Has Begun Ken Catran…

Tagged with: Adele Broadbent, Barbara Else, Des Hunt, Diane Hebley, Gecko Press, HarperCollins, Issue 94, Ken Catran, Winter 2011
Posted in Children, Fiction, Literature, Review

No holds barred, Joan de Hamel

Posted on September 1, 2010 by NZ Books

Too Many Secrets Adele Broadbent HarperCollins, $19.99, ISBN 9781869508562 Smiling Jack Ken Catran HarperCollins, $22.99, ISBN 9781 869508128 The Haystack Jack Lasenby HarperCollins, $19.99, ISBN 9781869508524 Into the Wilderness Mandy Hager Random House, $19.99, ISBN 9781869793296 Adele Broadbent is an…

Tagged with: Adele Broadbent, HarperCollins, Issue 91, Jack Lasenby, Joan de Hamel, Ken Catran, Mandy Hager, Random House
Posted in Children, Literature, Review, Young adults