Adele Broadbent's Blog, page 11

Jo and the No

When out and about one day, Jo is faced with something in their way.

After trying to figure out what it actually is, they try to push it out of the way. This thing won’t go. It is Jo’s No.

Dodging it doesn’t work. Climbing it doesn’t work either.

The longer Jo’s No stays in front of them, the bigger it grows. Jo’s No is going nowhere.

After a while, the No is part of Jo – Giving shelter, and safety. Or does it? Jo decides if they are going to do anything of the things they have dreamed of, they will have to take the No too.

The braver Jo gets, the smaller the No becomes – until Jo realises what the No really is….

Nothing.

 

This beautifully illustrated hardback picture book portrays a wee bird creature named Jo overcoming adversity gradually but with positivity and persistence. The No is a block or an obstacle that prevents Jo from doing all they dream of, just as we all have our personal No’s. 

A No may be an outside No, from people telling you that you can’t do something.

A No may come from within, insisting you aren’t good enough, strong enough, clever enough or brave enough to do something.

But No’s are essentially nothing. A word spent in anger, envy, or coming from someone else’s inner No’s.

JO and the No is a simple but clever tale about taking control, being brave, facing fears and finding your personal path.

 

Author – Kyle Mewburn

Illustrator – Judy Watson

Picture Book

 

 

 

(2025, Dirt Lane Press, West Words, NZ Author, Resilience, Building Self Confidence, Breaking down Barriers, Keep Going, Something New, Something Different, Overcoming, Problem, Adversity)

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We Who Hunt The Hollow

Just like the rest of her family, Priscilla is a monster hunter. She has been raised by her mums and powerful grandmother to be a hunter of the hollow creatures that tear through into their reality. Priscilla’s older sisters are very accomplished hunters, and her niece is about to complete the ritual of receiving her power and familiar.

This is a rite of passage at age 13, and Priscilla has been disappointed and left feeling guilty ever since she went through hers. There is no doubt she loves her tiny but wise familiar, Mouse, but she wishes for a much more useful power than she manifested. Knowing who is at the door before anyone else doesn’t feel very useful at all.

She tries to make it up to her family by making sure everyone is organised, well fed and happy, not realising that her seemingly simple power hasn’t shown it’s true self yet. Always feeling ‘less than’ the rest of her family, she hides this secret. When she meets a handsome fan at a Hunter / Norm (normal person) meet and greet, she can’t deny she loves all the attention he is giving her. Her self inflicted battered self esteem begins to pick itself up off the floor, and she is increasingly intrigued by this guy called Bastion.

He also helps to put aside the hurt of her girlfriend leaving months before, for a job opportunity straight out of university. Priscilla knew she could have gone too, but her stubborn nature refuses to let her remember that possibility. Why bother when Bastion is so interesting?

But there are things she doesn’t know about Bastion, about her power, and about her family. Suddenly everything is about choices to be made, hearts to break and lives to save. Can she finally become the Hollow Monster Hunter she has dreamed of being?

 

The 1st part of a thrilling duology, I’m so glad I finally got to read this book. I have had it on my radar for a while, and now I have to get my hands on the second book.

Although the characters live in a futuristic fantasy world of hover cars and monsters, it was such an easy world to inhabit as I read. Main character Priscilla is very family orientated, and the family dynamics are superb! Coming together for a coming of age ritual, then again for a battle of their lives, We Who Hunt The Hollow is for anyone who loves kickass female characters, love stories of betrayal and redemption, and Monsters!

The rituals and world building is effortless, and Priscilla’s arc of self discovery is brilliant.

Looking for a copy of We Who Are Forged In Fire now!

 

Author – Kate Murray

Age – 13+

 

Book #1 in the Hollow series

– Shortlisted for the Ampersand Prize
– Shortlisted for the Readings Young Adult Prize
– A CBCA Notable Book
– Shortlisted for the Aurealis Award for Best Young Adult Novel
– Winner of the Victorian Premier’s Literary Award for Young Adults

 

 

 

 

(2022, Hardie Grant Children’s Publishing, NZ Author, New Zealand, Romance, Family, War, Secret, Magic, Fantasy, Action, Betrayal, Series, Monsters, Tears, Powers, Rituals, Sisters, Fight, Weaponry, Guilt, Loss, Familiars, Mouse, Fox, Imps, Hovercraft, Future Fantasy)

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Twenty-Four Seconds From Now

Right now…

Neon is nervous. Aria, his girlfriend of two years is in the next room waiting for him to come out of the bathroom. He is ready, and Aria has told him she is too. They haven’t rushed this, wanting it to be perfect, and their journey to this moment has been a long one.

24 seconds ago…

Neon is wondering what would be happening if it was a movie – not his real life.

24 minutes before…

Standing at Aria’s front door, Neon is facing the hand made door knocker her family are famous for crafting. He has Aria’s favourite snack of chicken tenders for her, and marvels once again over the colour of the house and the reasons for it. He himself helped paint Aria’s home, two years before.

24 hours before…

Neon is in school with Aria and his friends. They are joking around about getting ‘together’ with one friend claiming to be the very best at the art of love. Later, Neon’s big sister Nat gives him more useful advice.

24 days before…

Spending time with his Grammy on her daily walk to the cemetery to visit his grandfather’s grave, Neon listens to Grammy’s tales of her married life. Grammy is wise, funny and her wisdom freely shared. Neon respects her enough to listen. At his age, and after being with Aria for nearly two years and in their senior year of high school, Nee’s mum decides it’s time for him to also hear her advice.

24 weeks before…

It’s Halloween and Neon is working at his dad’s business – a popular bingo hall. Being connected to the place where many gamble more than they should, has brought Neon problems – both physical and mental, but he’s learnt how to handle them. Dad has always told Neon and his sister, “Don’t bring any babies home, unless they can count money.” (He needs an accountant more than another mouth to feed). Neon knows what he means and knows to be prepared if he and Aria take that next step.

24 months before…

Neon meets Aria…

 

Another beautifully written novel about growing up, dealing with challenges, taking on other’s views and advice on the world, and making your own choices.

Twenty-Four Seconds From Now is a love story, but in this novel, the reader is taken back through time and a budding relationship between two seniors in high school. Neon tells the story in his own words, and he made me smile, laugh out loud, cringe at his embarrassed moments, and feel for him in his anticipation and anxiety as he and his girl Aria decide they are ready to take their relationship to the next level.

What I love most about this book is that Jason Reynolds gives the reader answers to questions they may have, non preachy advice from older characters, and authentic characters to fall in love with.

 

Author – Jason Reynolds

Age – 14+

 

 

(2025, Faber, Love, Romance, Growing Up, Inter generational Relationships, Family, Friends, School, Advice, Humour, Bingo Hall, Decisions, Tale told backwards, Multi Award winning Author, America, African American, Black, Authentic Characters)

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Shadow and Tide

Now that Mira has made a bargain with the enigma that is Lord Elijah Tresillian of Ennor, her vow for vengeance against those who killed her father is even more fierce.

It’s only when her enemies attack her island of Rosevear, killing members of her village; that Elijah appears in her life again. With no home left standing, Mira travels with Elijah through the shadows to his castle home.

She learns that despite his grand home and title, Lord Tresillian is well-liked and respected and kind to his people. Saving many from her island home, she is in his debt. Not that he reminds her of it. In fact, she begins to see and admire this other side to him.

Mira is still struggling with her Siren heritage, especially after summoning a storm to save her island, then again in a dream. She feels she has little control over this power and is desperate to know more. Learning that Elijah has his own troubles with his past and power, brings them closer together.

Tension is rising however as Mira’s enemies have put a hunter on her tail, vowing what’s left of her island will be sacrificed if she doesn’t hand herself in. Elijah and his family and friends vow to fight for her and her people, knowing The Watch, Captain Renshaw and a Monster Hunter from a powerful witch coven must be stopped.

Mira increasingly struggles with her rising powers, her constant fight training and her feelings for Elijah whom she now calls Eli. But her island must always come first.

 

The 2nd in this trilogy after Compass and Blade, Shadow and Tide allows us to learn more about Mira’s powers and her past, and Lord Tresillian’s struggles with his own problems. The building tension between them is sizzling and the battle scenes exhilarating.

There are many characters to keep track of, but worth doing so as loyalties bend and snap, and the body count builds. I feel this falls in the ‘necessary middle book’ category for a series because besides the many battles and creatures leaping off the pages, the plot starts and finishes in the same place – vowing vengeance, albeit with new forces on their side.

Much looking forward to the conclusion novel though. If Shadow and Tide is anything to go by, it will be a powerful, angst ridden, racing romance, battle scared, monster screaming read!  

 

Author – Rachel Greenlaw

Age – 14+

 

 

 

(2025, Harper Fire Books, Fantasy, Series, Magic, Romance, Love, Family, Murder, Crime, Ocean, Sea, Sirens, Witches, Kraken, Monsters, Battles, Shadows, Revenge, Hand to Hand Combat, Fight, Fires, Arson, Monster Hunter, Loyalties, Choices)

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Away

Ashanti – Is excited that her mum has said yes to a sleepover at her friend’s house. The truth is Ashanti and her two friends are planning a sleepover all right, but in an empty apartment of her friend Maddie’s grandmother. They plan a night of staying up late, eating junk food and watching old black and white movies together. She can’t believe her bad luck when she comes down with a stomach bug.

Freddy – Lives with his grandmother who wants him to concentrate on his schoolwork more than his passion of film making. Both film aficionados, she understands how he sees everything as a film and constantly compares real life to film scenes or scenarios.

Harmony – Still reeling from her father’s betrayal, she focuses on her dream of being a journalist instead. Her media studies class is her favourite and its teacher the same. Helping her mother as much as she can since her dad left, she also cares for her little sister Pax.

Grandin – is from a ranch where he is his father’s right hand man. He loves nothing more than working the land, looking after animals and impressing his dad.

These four meet at an evacuation facility after they are ordered to leave their homes and belongings due to an imminent threat. At first it’s frightening and they do exactly as the soldiers say. Grandin’s father however won’t toe the line and when he vanishes from the crowd, Grandin is left worrying about him.

Ashanti wants to help her mother with patients requiring medical treatment and follow her dream of becoming a doctor herself.

Harmony decides to record everything that’s happening – even if it has to all be by hand, and Freddy is filming as soon as the evacuations begin. But as the days, weeks , months and finally years pass, they are questioning the entire process. Is there a threat or not?

 

The sequel to award winning Alone, Away shows the other side of the story. Alone is one girl being left behind as her entire state is evacuated, and Away portrays Maddie’s friend Ashanti and others piled onto transports and whisked away to a guarded facility.

Less of a survival story like Alone, Away is more about young teens asking questions to learn about what is happening to them. At first they believe what they are told about a contamination threat, but then things don’t add up. The adults around them are just trying to build interim lives while they wait to go home again, allowing this small group to plan for their real futures.

Away is a verse novel in different points of view.

 

Author – Away

Age – 11+

 

 

 

(2025, Aladdin, Sequel, Duology, Companion Novel, Verse Novel, Mystery, Crisis, Survival, Mass Evacuation, Friendship, Discovery, Questions, Answers, Lies, Truth, Puppy, Colorado, Conspiracy, Military, Martial Law, Film maker, Journalist, Medical student, Compound, Under guard, Impending Threat, Loss of communication, Series, Secret)

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The Tractor Has a Wobbly Wheel

The farm animals have a problem! Their tractor has a wobbly wheel! They need to fix it fast!

But wait! Now it’s a knobbly wheel. Bits of rubber are falling off!

The fix doesn’t quite go to plan and now it’s a…

 

thumpy, knobbly, wobbly tractor wheel.

 

The farm animals do their best to fix the wheel, because the tractor is needed for so many things. But Goat, Chick and Pig all have the same problem with the wheel. Now it’s shaky too. Is it going to fall off? What can they do?

An eel and a seal join the mix, and the problem wheel just gets worse. Will they ever solve their wobbly wheel problem?

But wait! Here comes a ewe named Drew….

 

A funny, bright, picture book from an award winning author of adult poetry and non-fiction titles. Wee ones will love the rhyme and repetition of this NZ story, that will be loved by young animal lovers everywhere.

Illustrated by the winner of the NZ Best Picture Book Award 2023, listeners will love pointing out all the animals and repeating the phrases with the reader.

 

Author – Tim Saunders

Illustrator – Carla Martell

Picture Book

 

 

 

(2025, Allen & Unwin, Humour, Transport, Farm, Funny, Tractor, Animals, Problem, Rhyme, Repetition)

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Moonboy

The last thing Letty wants to do is go into the rest home when her Grampa lives, with her Nan. It’s hard for Letty to see Grampa now as his dementia has taken over, and he doesn’t even recognise her anymore. He spills his food, knocks things over and rarely says a word. This is not the Grampa that Letty knows and loves and who she used to spend a lot of fun times with.

Nan is patient and firm however, and Letty visits grudgingly. She can’t wait until her parents return from their work trip and rescue her. On a phone call to her dad he suggests looking for a hidden box of treasures in the room she’s sleeping in, which was Gramps’ room when he was a boy.

When she finds the box it has a jumble of marbles, paper clippings and an old football jersey. This discovery launches Letty back in time to 1969, when Gramps is a boy her age, and the world is excited about the very first moon landing. Gramps is called Moonboy by everyone as he is fascinated by the upcoming event.

Being able to move between times also allows Letty to break through Gramps’ dementia and reconnect with her grandfather, all while making a new friend, learning about the moon landing and its trials and tribulations along the way.

Not all runs smoothly however, as Letty realises the possible flow on effects of everything she does back in 1969.

 

This story would make a great fiction resource for any middle grade study of the 1969 moon landing as it shows the excitement of the landing itself and also things that didn’t go quite as planned.

Time travel is a personal favourite, and travelling back to 1969 was fun. The background for this time was taken from interviews with family members with their memories providing all the interesting details of living in a Milk Bar (Dairy).

In the rear of the book are more interesting facts about the moon landing, given young readers even more information to use in projects or enjoy for their own interests. 

My favourite theme in the book is the intergenerational relationship between Letty and her grandfather, and how she broke through his dementia with items from his childhood.

 

Author / Illustrator – Anna Cidor

Age – 7+

 

 

 

 

(2025, Allen & Unwin, Time travel, Family, Grief, Adventure, Love, Secret, Grandfather, Grampa, Rest home care, Dementia, Connections, Friendships, Grandparents, Time jump, Moon landing, 1969, Memories, Memory, Historical)

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You Can’t Pat a Fish

A child asks for a pet and can’t believe all the amazing animals around her in the pet store.

A parrot or a chameleon? A rabbit, kitten or puppy. What about a rat or a lizard!

But no. They leave with a plastic bag full of water and a small orange FISH!

Everyone knows – “If it’s wet, it isn’t a pet!“

Unimpressed, this child imagines all the things she can do with other types of pets that she can’t do with a fish.

She could “Play with a puppy, cuddle a cat, snuggle a rabbit, and pat a pet rat.“

But a fish? None of that.

She stares and glares into the fish bowl, imagining all the things she is missing out on with any other kind of pet. But the more she watches her new pet, the more she sees. Maybe she has misjudged this tiny orange creature after all?

 

Ruth Paul is a masterful picture book writer and illustrator, and her many awards prove it. You Can’t Pat a Fish is yet another treat for young readers and listeners. A joy to read aloud with easy flowing rhyme and rhythm and all the animals children could ever wish to love, this is going to be a favourite in the classroom and at bedtime.

Many young readers will sympathise that a fish doesn’t compare to a kitten or puppy, but Paul proves us all wrong with a wee fish that inspires the imagination in a little girl’s world.

I’ll be looking for this one in awards line ups! 

 

(2025, Walker Books Australia, Harper Collins NZ, NZ, Aotearoa, New Zealand, Fish, Pets, Animals, Funny, Humour, Rhyme, Award winning NZ author & Illustrator, Pet store, Imagination, Wonder)

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Ride North

Folly is the only one who sees the shimmer of her mother’s spirit. Since her mum died, Folly has kept to herself and her school friends drifted away from her. At least she still has Tooth – her best friend in the whole world, who just happens to be a horse.

Just like her mum’s shimmers, no one would believe she can have conversations with Tooth. Tooth says all horses can talk, it’s just that most people aren’t listening. Tooth was the one Folly talked to the entire time her mum was sick, and through all the difficult time afterwards. And Tooth is the only one she shares her plans with about leaving.

Her dad’s girlfriend Audrey is around more and more, and Folly’s little brother really likes her. But Folly feels like she is being disloyal to her mum’s memory if she lets Audrey take over things. When Dad has news for her about Audrey and their future, Folly is unhappy about it.

Taking her mum’s ashes, packing a bag and the supplies she will need, Folly saddles up Tooth, and sets off on a journey. She’d learnt about a special place at the top of New Zealand. A special place she could take her mum’s ashes. Sure in her plan and angry at her father, Folly is determined to reach it with Tooth.

Her plans go awry here and there, she meets interesting people, and gets caught up in a dangerous drug deal, but Tooth remains at her side, no matter what.

 

If you see this book cover (isn’t it gorgeous) and think horse story, Ride North is so much more than that.

There is a horse in this New Zealand tale, but not as you would think. Tooth is a horse with a special bond with his 12 yr old girl and best friend, as they talk to each other. Tooth is wise, funny, clever and incredibly loyal. So loyal in fact it brought tears to my eyes in the exciting finale of this middle grade novel.

Main character Folly tells the story of her and Tooth’s adventure and quest, to take her mum’s ashes somewhere meaningful. Folly shares her journey and the time before it, explaining why she is setting off alone with Tooth, without even leaving a note.

Folly is an authentic 12 yr old on the page, making me smile and wince in equal measure throughout their adventure. The characters she meets along the way are all interesting people, portraying different ways of life, personality and nature.

Ride North will make a perfect Read Aloud in the classroom, at bedtime, and for animal lovers all over the world. 

 

Author – Maria de Jong

Age – 9+

 

 

 

(2025, Andersen Press UK, Harper Collins, Animals, Adventure, Family, Growing up, Crime, Grief, Humour, Horse, Bond, Trust, Courage, NZ, Aotearoa New Zealand, Beach, Ninety Mile Beach, Cape Reinga, Northland NZ, Journey, Trek, Drug dealers, Danger, Kidnap, Gun, Mum passed away)

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Eye of the Dragon

Thomas is out on the beach with his dog Lucy when she begins to act strangely. She runs off and he finds her barking at the opening of a small cave. Venturing inside, he discovers what looks like a real live dragon!

He can see it’s injured and isn’t sure what to do, but leaving it hurt isn’t an option. Telling someone he trusts about what he’s found is just as difficult, and with a few well placed questions to his vet stepdad, he knows what he must do.

With his secret safe and hopefully getting well with his help, he breathes a little easier. But that doesn’t solve the bigger problem in his life. Thomas is the target of a boy called Eddie. Ever since Thomas was in an accident, he has developed a stutter. This gives Eddie reason to tease him. Going to the same school and living in a small seaside town, it’s hard to avoid Eddie, but he does his best. But Eddie won’t leave him be. When Eddie blames Thomas for the loss of his cellphone, Eddie steps up his bullying campaign.

Keeping his new dragon friend a secret, avoiding Eddie and wondering when he’ll see his dad again, Thomas has a lot on his plate. But with friends, both human and magical, Thomas finds solutions to not only his problems, but his entire town’s safety too.

 

At only 120 pages and the striking cover of a taniwha on the cover, young readers will definitely snap this off the shelves. Susan Brocker has many fans, and this new book will capture animal lovers, dragon lovers and those who love an authentic kiwi read.

Bullying is the main theme within Eye of the Dragon, with both children and adults as perpetrators. Imaginations will fire as readers dream of finding their own dragon or taniwha in a hidden cave, then bonding with them to aid in every day problems.

Secrets, dragons, a cute wee dog and rising tension throughout will keep even reluctant readers reading Eye of the Dragon.

 

Author – Susan Brocker

Age – 10+

Publisher – Scholastic NZ

 

 

 

 

(2024, Scholastic NZ, Blended Family, Action, Animals, Fantasy, Friendship, Greed, Environment, Aotearoa, New Zealand, NZ, Bullies, Secret, Beach, Cave, Dog, Bully, Threats, Bullying, Taniwha, Dragon, Injury)

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