Adele Broadbent's Blog, page 12

The Horrible Bag of Terrible Things

Zenith Maelstrom’s day isn’t going well. Being grounded for his scientific curiosity seemed a little harsh, but causing an explosion in his kitchen was at least exciting while it lasted.

Bored and under the supervision of his big sister Apogee, Zenith is intrigued by a bag left on his doorstep. It looks strange. It looks old and tired, and weird sitting on his front doorstep alone. At first Zenith wonders if Apogee knows something about it. There is definitely no sign of anyone dropping it off, and it has no name or sender note with it.

Zenith looks closer. It seems to be stitched by hand, and not neatly either. Bits of animal skins have been patched haphazardly together making it the ugliest bag he’s ever seen. Is it a prank? His nemesis from school could’ve sent it, or Apogee could be in on it. Zenith still hasn’t forgiven either of them after he required his own stitches over a year before.

His anger making him feel braver, Zenith considers opening it. And then it yawns open with a groan all on its own. Zenith snatches up his baseball bat to attack whatever is about to come out of the bag. Even armed, he is far from prepared when something does actually appear. Not only does it escape him and his weapon, it kidnaps Apogee in front of his eyes! How is that possible?

In denial that his entire sister can fit in the bag along with the creature that snatched her, he ventures in to save her. What he finds is the land of GrahBhag, where the sky is a weird green, and the sun an angry red. The creatures that live there are just as terrifying as the skittering, black, hairy and many-legged thing that snatched his sister. Gargoyles that trade in earwax, a giant patchwork man, and a ruler of slimy proportions are just some of the obstacles in Zenith’s way to rescue Apogee.

 

A middle-grade horror story of creepy creatures, imaginative world building, and discovering the truth about yourself.

Think Jim Henson and David Bowie’s Labyrinth and you are getting a little closer to the land of GrahBhag and its malevolence. Sibling rivalry is present throughout as Zenith tries to save his sister, who keeps telling him she has it all under control.

This is far from the truth however, as she doesn’t realise what this menacing land plans for her. Far from who they were when they began this horrifying adventure, Zenith and Apogee know their terror is far from over – promising more in this series.

Book 2 is The Twisted Tower of Endless Torment and Book 3 The Cursed Cloak of the Wretched Wraith is on its way!

 

Author – Rob Renzetti

Age – 10+

 

 

 

 

 

(2024, Penguin Publishers, Horror, Family, Growing up, Series, Mystery, Creepy, Eerie, Monsters, Creatures, Siblings, Kidnap, Rescue, Quest, Whichway Woods, Gargoyle, Earwax, Negotiation)

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The Ballad of the She-Pirate Mouse

There is a mouse in a house, who isn’t quite like her many siblings. They follow their mother’s guidance into all things nice mice do, but she dreams of so much more.

Action, adventure, ships and treasure fill this wee mouse’s sleeping hours – until one day she follows her wish. Hiding in the hold of a ship, she emerges to discover not sailors, but pirates! She hasn’t waited and wished all her mouse life to be captured! This mouse dispatches the crew quick-smart, making the ship her own.

Now a pirate herself, she knows she needs a sidekick. A parrot will not do, but what will? A tiny creature presents itself – but is it evil enough?

A test is soon on the horizon as her piratey ways are under attack. One thing’s for sure – this mouse is now a pirate through and through!

 

With perfect rhythm and rhyme, The Ballad of the She-Pirate Mouse is an action packed and funny rollicking read. It’s one of those rare picture books that will be a joy to read over and over, and if you like to sing to your little listeners, there’s songs to enjoy too.

This little mouse is a courageous wee thing, facing challenges to her new life without a blink and enjoying every moment along the way. Humour is here too, in both the text and in the distinctive illustration style of Lisa Allen.

The Ballad of the She-Pirate Mouse is for all those young dreamers of adventure and treasure hunting on the high seas, or anyone who loves to laugh and sing.

 

Author – Emma Vere-Jones

Illustrator – Lisa Allen

Picture Book

 

 

 

 

(2025, Bateman Books, Action, Adventure, Animals, Mouse, Mice, Ship, Pirates, Perfect Rhyme, Sea, Ocean, Swash buckling, NZ, Aotearoa New Zealand, NZ Author, NZ Illustrator, Song, Singing, Fun, Funny, Humour)

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SILVER

This is what Cadet 39 had worked so hard for. All the learning, conditioning, the studying of the founder’s mantra, the tests and defeats of other cadets. She is the first pioneer of their kind to kickstart their mission Project Ultima to find a new planet. The chosen planet is called Earth.

She lands in the snow, her skin Silver against the white. But there are humans in this place, and she is seen. She must hide. Become one of them. Report back to the founders. Cadet 39 finds a teenage girl, scans her mind and inhabits her body. This girl is named Syliva, and is about to meet a local family to become their live-in pet sitter. The family is made up of three humans. Stella, the adult human, Doodles, a young girl human, and Finch who is a boy human the same age as the girl she is inhabiting.

Determined to do well, Cadet 39 studies the family, learning the human ways. It’s a struggle to understand some of the things they say, and what they require of her. She is to report back to the founders on the local hill where they shield themselves and wait for her progress reports.

Her mission is also difficult as she begins to like these humans and feels guilt at inhabiting one. She is instructed to inhabit each of the family members in order to learn as much as she can, but that is difficult too. She has been taught not to feel. But as a young cadet and even earlier on her ship, she felt different to her peers, caring for them when she shouldn’t.

She has been taught to fear human touch, as it will damage her. But the more she gets to know humans, she wonders about her mission, the mantra she has lived by and her own sense of self.

 

A love story like no other. Silver is sci-fi, romance and the story of a family all rolled into one. Each chapter begins with a quote from The Mantra – something this tribe of aliens live by, which helps the reader understand the main character, Silver.

But she is an anomaly among her kind, which puts a spanner in the alien’s planned takeover of the Earth. This difference in her is woven into a twist for readers, but only once you have fallen in love with her falling in love, with a human boy named Finch.

Other characters are just as likeable, whether it be Finch’s neuro divergent little sister, Betty the old lady next door, or a homeless man named Three Fingers. Silver is a wonderful study of what it is to be human, our quirks, sayings and social rules, and how an alien (albeit an empathetic one) views them.

I really enjoyed hanging out with this family, and didn’t want to leave them behind at the end of the book.

 

Author – Olivia Levez

Age – 13+

 

 

(2025, Bonnier, Hot Key Books, Animals, Sci Fi, Friendship, Romance, Love, Secret, Humans, Body snatcher, Spaceship, Aliens, Planet search, Doctrine, Control, Identity, Lies, Freedom)

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Astrid and the Space Cadets (1) Attack of the Snailiens

Astrid has a secret. After her bath, book and climbing into bed, she is not planning to sleep. When the clock strikes 12, she takes off her pyjamas to get ready. She’s wearing her Space Cadet uniform underneath, prepared for action! Climbing into her wardrobe (Intergalactic Transport Pod), Astrid is keen to meet up with her Space Cadet friends for another adventure.

On board their ship, they are soon given instructions by The Chief – their intergalactic boss. With the promise of another gold star for their achievement chart, they are asked to go and clean up a messy part of the Milky Way. They are all hoping that the prize at the end of a full star chart will be something yummy like donuts, so they set off on a clean-up mission.

The job turns out to be so much more than imagined, but a distress call from another planet interrupts them. Giant Snailiens are eating everything in sight. Can Astrid and her alien Space Cadet friends stop them?

 

The first book in this series for emerging chapter books readers, Astrid and the Space Cadets is not only full of exciting adventure, the interior design of the illustrations, action-packed fonts and chapters draw the reader in even more.

These Space Cadets mean well, but things go wrong, and then very wrong, then incredibly wrong, building the tension to a thrilling climax. Giant Snailiens are a real challenge, but all is not lost.

Would make a great bedtime read as it ends with Astrid climbing back into bed, putting her pyjamas on over her Space Cadet uniform, and falling asleep.

 

Author / Illustrator – Alex T Smith

Age – 7+

 

 

(2024, Pan Macmillan, Adventure, Action, Aliens, Humour, Funny, Giant Snails, Mission, Clean-u, Rubbish, Milky Way, Planets, Galaxy, Cadets, Teamwork, Gadgets, Space, Secret, Series)

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Hover Car Racer

With the invention of hover car technology available to anyone, a new breed of brave appears –

“Part Race Car Driver. Part Fighter Pilot. All Superstar. The Hover Car Racer.”

Brothers Jason & Bug Chaser are a young, talented, hover car racing team. With Jason’s driving skills and Bug’s exceptional navigation prowess, they hope one day to be in the Pro Racing Circuit. Already in the regional championships, they know they have what it takes. But racing isn’t always smooth, and a chance slips away.

Fortunately, someone was watching their final race in the championship, and confirm to the brothers and their parents that they are skilled enough to attend the International Race School. They can hardly believe it.

Things are exciting and new, but far from smooth with fierce rivalries from every direction. But they do make firm friends with the only female driver, Ariel Piper and their very own mech chief, Sally McDuff. Sally’s skills lie in the use of the tech available for pit stops in every race and soon proves to be a valuable part of their team of three.

Race by race, the brothers and Sally inch towards hover racer stardom, but it seems the better they do the more dangerous it gets on the track. The rivalry has intensified, with more than race points to fight for. Now, money, status and futures are on the line and even their lives.

 

You don’t have to be a race fan or a car nut to enjoy this thrilling, action stuffed graphic novel! I felt like I was in the hover car with the Chaser brothers as they battled in every race against older drivers and newer cars.

Their team of three, driver, navigator and pit stop whizz, had everything stacked against them from the start, but their courage and mantra of Never Give Up drives them through every obstacle and dastardly dealings along the way.

Family support, good friendships and loyalty are an underlying theme of the story, and the good guys achieving their goals despite all the pitfalls of international sport also makes Hover Car Racer an engaging read. But it’s far from easy and each trial just builds the stakes more and more, pinning me to the page as they raced.

 John Hanna’s illustration style captures the incredible pace of the racing, and also the emotions of the characters as they meet famous racers, make new friendships and loyalties and face each hurdle thrown at them.

Riveting read indeed!

 

Author – Matthew Reilly

Illustrator – John Hanna

Age – 10+

Graphic Novel

 

 

 

(2024, Pan Macmillan, Action, Betrayal, Bullies, Conflict, Courage, Family, Future, Science, Cars, Hover Cars, Mechanics, Technology, Magnets, Skulduggery, Cheating, Trust, Siblings, Brothers, Friendships, Racing, Exciting, Gripping Races, Speed, Guts, Loyalty, Team)

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Glasgow Boys – March

Now – Finlay is dark-eyed, quiet, shy and awkward, but now he’s at university with a scholarship under him, he knows he must step up and be the adult he’s expected to be. The scholarship is the only thing holding him up however, as he has no family support or friends to speak of. The nursing training he’s about to embark on is part of a dream of who he wants to be.

Banjo is red haired, fiery and full of energy. His last year of school yawns ahead of him – not easy, as he is the new kid. Again. His foster parents are kind, give him the space he needs and the things for school. He’s grateful for that at least. Banjo is a runner, and is good at it. He’s found over the years it is an easy way to expend some of his pent up energy and often boiling anger. If he runs, he doesn’t hit anything. He knows all about hitting.

Finlay grew up with his mum, and never knew his dad. He believed she did the best she could, until she couldn’t.

Banjo remembers his dad the most from his parents. He was the one who dished out the harshest discipline – just for being in the way.

Three years ago – When Finlay and Banjo ended up in a boy’s home at the same time becoming room mates, they are both wary and unsure of each other. But it’s not long before a brother-like-bond is forged, one day, and one act of loyalty at a time. But suddenly that bond snaps and they lose the only security they have.

Now – Building new lives and fledgling relationships, both Finlay and Banjo still struggle to trust other’s smiles, friendships and even love. There is school, university, work to follow and futures to find. But both know there is something missing. Someone. The most important person of all.

 

This astonishing debut novel is so many things. It’s a coming of age novel. It’s a tale of two boys surviving parental neglect and the foster care system. But it’s essentially a story about love. Finding it, trusting it and accepting you are worthy of all kinds of it. There are uni friendships, work friendships, There is romance, both straight and gay, and the brotherly bond forged between two very different boys who met by chance in a boy’s home.

Glasgow Boys has both toxic masculinity, and kind, empathetic, understanding, masculinity woven through the narrative, which brings confusion and character struggles of where it all fits within them. These teens have been through a lot, alone and together, and their stories are told in alternate chapters. Within these chapters there are jumps back in time to three years ago when they first met.

Written seamlessly, I particularly loved the voice of Banjo, hearing his strong Scottish accent from the page.

Glasgow Boys is simply… beautiful.

Tissues required.

 

 

Author – Margaret McDonald

Age – 15+

 

 

(2025, Faber, Foster Care, Grief, Family, Friendship, Conflict, Growing up, Love, School, Suicide, Understanding, Boys Home, Crohn’s disease, Hospital, Loyalty, Cafe work, Dishwasher, University, Nursing, Study, Elderly Care, Tender, Emotions, Anger, Anxiety, Scottish, Coming of Age Tale, Ageing out, Acceptance)

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Darkest Night, Brightest Star

It’s only men in Morgan’s home. His dad, his big brother Mitch and his 13 year old self. When he was 8 he asked his dad what happened to his mum. Dad was in the bedroom Morgan shared with his brother, which rarely happened – so he thought he’d ask the question that often bothered him. Learning his mum left when he was only 2 and never came back only brought more questions. Not that he dwelled on them much.

As he’d grown, Morgan learned that there were things you just didn’t bring up – to avoid angry outbursts by his father. He also learnt that not doing as he was told wasn’t wise either. This knowledge included doing everything he’s instructed to do with a football. Dad is his coach and training is relentless. He is determined to make Morgan a star.

Life is small for Morgan, with no friends to speak of at school, his big brother’s nickname of Moron around his neck, and high expectations at home. Things begin to change when he meets Gray. Gray is clever, kind and funny, not minding Morgan’s lack of chatter and constant answers of a shrug with a ‘Maybe’ thrown in in their mostly one sided conversations.

Finally joining a football club opens up Morgan’s life a little, with Dad on the sidelines in training and matches. When his mother appears back in town and is keen to get to know him, Morgan isn’t sure what to think. One thing he’s sure about is not telling his father.

With another unlikely friendship in the mix, teachers who care and his dad’s way of thinking taking a huge knock, Morgan begins to learn who is really is, and wants to be.

 

I’m a huge fan of Barry Jonsberg and gobble up each and every novel he writes. Darkest Night, Brightest Star is yet another treasure he has given us, especially for readers aged 12 – 18, particularly boys.

The characters are so believable, and outcomes authentic that readers will be left with the feeling that they know these people personally. Toxic masculinity is the key theme of Darkest Night, Brightest Star. But the worst perpetrators of this are also true on the page, giving the reader some understanding of how it evolves and also how it is possible to be undone with kindness, patience and time.

Relationships are many and complicated in this novel, between Morgan and his dad, his brother, and his returning mum. He also makes friends with characters young and very old, with each one helping guide him to a new future.

This opinion could read as light and fluffy which is far from the truth. There is violence both at home and in public, homophobic behaviour and consequences for crimes committed by both Morgan and his father. This of course also adds to the authenticity of this novel and Morgan’s character development.

Loved it.

 

Author – Barry Jonsberg

Age – 12-18

 

 

 

(2025, Allen & Unwin, Australian author, Toxic Masculinity, Relationships, Brothers, Siblings, Football, School, Violence, Caring teachers, Homophobia, Understanding, Kindness, Elderly woman, Plants, Gardening, Family, Crime)

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Hands

Trev is a mess. All was okay until his stepdad hit his mum. Trev can remember a time in their lives where everything was fine. He and his sister, mum, step sister and stepdad were all happy. But all that went out the window when his mum called the cops.

His stepdad was super angry, yelling and blaming Trev’s mum for everything. He tossed threats about what he was going to do, and now Trev can’t think about anything else.

Once, his stepdad told him to always protect his sisters. Being the youngest, Trev asked how, not expecting to be shown two fists.

Now he might have to step up, he is torn inside. Luckily now twelve, Trev is big for his age, and he is ready to keep his promise. Every moment he can, he is building up his body, his stamina and his confidence. But deep down, he’s jelly. Constant nightmares plague him, and he keeps falling asleep in class. It gets worse the closer it gets to his stepdad’s release date.

When his extended family draw out what is troubling him, they all want him to put his fists away. To use his hands for his talented drawing, studying and making something of himself. Trev can’t decide.

 

A perfectly sculptured book – short chapters, punchy plot line, and a boy caught between a promise made, and his own future. Trev believes the easy way to protect his family is with his fists, but it’s his family that has to convince him otherwise.

A powerful story boys will relate to, with strong friendships, things to prove and standing up to bullies. Slick with slang, the authenticity is brilliant, showing a boy who looks and acts tough on the outside, but is actually full of turmoil.

There are two taster chapters from this authors books Tight & What Lane in the rear of the book.

 

 

 

 

(2024, Blended Family, Conflict, Crime, Family, Friendship, Growing up, Penguin Kids Publishing, Boxing, Fists, Fight, Domestic Violence, Confusion, Protection, Extended family, Community, Guilt, Promise, Respect, Drawing, Illustration, Setting an example, Violence)

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Bad Jelly

Tim and Rose live with their parents and animals on the edge of a forest. One day, when the siblings realise their beloved cow Lucy is missing, they set off to look for her. They stand shocked at the sight of a giant hand reaching down for Lucy. It snatches her up from a field and disappears into the Dark Forest. Tim and Rose know this is a dangerous no-go zone, but with hardly a blink, they dash after their cow.

Inside the Dark Forest are plants to distract and deceive them, tree goblins and all manner of strange creatures. Luckily, most are friendly not foe and are pleased to help Tim and Rose on their quest.

Through the forest, across a shark infested river and into the terrible cold of snow capped mountains go the siblings. Just when they think all is lost, they are saved – only to be in even more danger! Will they ever see their parents or Lucy the cow again?

 

Bad Jelly the Witch is a much loved story by Spike Milligan – never more so than in NZ. This story was always my favourite on the children’s radio show on Sunday mornings when I was a child, and I know it was my friend’s favourite too. Apparently listening in on Sundays has made kiwi kids the biggest fans of this classic children’s spooky adventure story, and now it’s back in animated and new picture book form.

This rhyming story is a brilliant retelling, whilst keeping all of the fun and deliciously scary things kiwi kids loved back in the 1970’s & 80’s. The illustrations are full of action, emotion, courage and of course callousness on behalf of the very famous witch herself – Badjelly.

The language in this rhyming picture book is more sophisticated, so will appeal to those reading it and older children listening or reading it themselves. After 7 years in the workings, Mukpuddy Animation have now given a new generation of kiwi kids the thrills and cheers of Tim, Rose, Binklebonk, Jim the Eagle and Mudwiggle, as they save Lucy the cow and come up against Badjelly!

 

Author – Ryan Cooper

Illustrator – Róisín Kelly

Picture Book – For all Bad Jelly the Witch fans, no matter how old.

 

 

 

(2025, Duckling Publishing, Action, Adventure, Animals, Courage, Family, Fantasy, Humour, Magic, Classic story, Companion to TV show, Witches, Giant Eagle, Giant, Rusty Lion, Thrilling, Danger, Mukpuddy, Goblins, Shark)

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No Place Left to Hide

Brooke Goodwin has it all. A wealthy family. A powerful father. Good looks and good friends and the chance of even more if she gets accepted into a top university. She’s worked really hard for years to get in and is nervous about the upcoming deadline. After all, the pressure is on from her parents who are both high achievers and have instilled in her the Goodwin values and requirement to be perfect in every way.

The only thing she doesn’t have is the interest of a guy called Dylan at school. She has admired him from afar for years, and it’s the possibility of him being at a party that makes her break the rules to attend.

She has been banned from parties ever since a terrible accident claimed the life of her ex best friend Claire at her parent’s lake house. Being connected to the tragedy is the last thing her parents want, especially when her father is close to becoming a judge. Brooke has tried to forget about the death and details after it was ruled an accident by the local authorities, and worked even harder to please her parents but give herself an escape from them via university.

But someone doesn’t want her to forget. Someone has slashed her tyres, left hundreds of voicemails, texts and threats about Claire’s accident. She can’t tell her friends or the police because she doesn’t want anything upsetting her plans. Her parents are still mad about the lake house incident, so telling them is impossible.

Her school friends want to celebrate the end of senior year and all the university acceptances – knowing she will 100 percent get hers too. The thought of finally being free of her pressure cooker parents, leaving the threats and texts behind, and seeing Dylan, makes her decide to go to the party.

Despite her misgivings, Brooke enjoys the party. But her parent’s enforced midnight curfew is approaching fast and she and her bestie need to leave. This is when everything goes terribly wrong.

A Bronco (4×4 Truck) begins to follow them. They get closer and closer, blast Brooke with their headlights, and even nudge Brooke’s bumper. Has her stalker decided the phone threats are not enough?

 

Empathy for main character Brooke is easy in this novel. She works hard, tries to do the best by her parents and is loyal to her friends.

Flicking back and forth between the present and before and accident that claimed a life, No Place to Hide builds gradually to tension filled twists that will make readers question everything about Brooke, her stalker and her friends – and an ending that leaves you reeling.

Who can you trust? First impressions can be sooo misleading.

 

Author – Megan Lally

Age – 14+

 

 

 

(2025, Source Books, Action, Roadrage, Action, Family, Crime, Murder, Secret, Mystery, Friendship, Betrayal, Judge, Revenge, Plan, Denial, Lies, Truth, Twists, Trust, Tension, Thriller)

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