Adele Broadbent's Blog, page 3

Keith and the Kitten

Keith may be small, but underneath he is fierce. Big dogs are no match for this feisty fiend on four legs.

At home he is treated like a king with lots of pats and cuddles and even sleeps in his human mum’s bed. When mum brings him a present, he’s excited to see what it is?

Until… a fluffy, black kitten emerges from the box. What! An invader!?

This kitten not only steals cuddles and time that was once all Keith’s, it finally goes one step too far. Keith’s mission plan of attack and blame suddenly backfires!

 

A funny, rhyming picture book about a spoilt chihuahua, and a cute, fluffy, black kitten. Keith has had everything his way until he has to share. Bad behaviour is his solution, but it has the exact reverse results he’s after.

Perfect for a new baby in the house or a change where children (or existing pets) have to do things a little differently from now on.

 

Author – Elaine Bickell

Illustrator – Minky Stapleton

Publisher – Scholastic NZ

Picture Book

 

 

 

(2025, Scholastic NZ, Aotearoa NZ, New Zealand, NZ Author, NZ Illustrator, Kitten, Dog, Selfishness, Sharing, Blame, Attention, Change)

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Dracula & Daughters

When Mina’s plan to steal a body goes terribly wrong, her entire life changes. The body in question was a famous actress, and Mina’s idea was to steal her from the Temstown Cemetery, to impress her employer.

She works for a doctor who is always looking out for corpses to dissect for his lectures. But by the time she sneaks in under darkness and spends too much time avoiding the night guards, the body has already left the grave – on its own!

20 years before, there was a terrible outbreak of vampires in Temstown, and it looks like it might be happening again. They were vanquished by the Guildmaster Mr Helsing, and there has been an uneasy peace since. Now that peace is shattered as it seems a vampire has risen from the grave once more.

Mina’s friend Varney is caught up in the vampire’s escape that fateful night at the graveyard, and she blames herself. After all, she convinced him to help her try and steal a body. Mina soon learns that one of the town’s richest residents is in fact a close relative, and she and her sister have a cousin named Bella. There is more to learn about their family roots which brings the girls surprising powers.

Can they work together to try and save Varney, along with their city? They must prove that they can heal the bitten and there will be no need for culling with wooden stakes!

 

A step away from the historical event novels we love from Emma Carroll, Dracula & Daughters is just as entertaining. An eerie graveyard setting begins the tale, and three courageous, strong-willed and capable cousins discover the shocking but exciting truth about their family.

Family secrets revealed also bring forth the dastardly dealings of their city authorities. The stakes rise, and the tension bites.

Dracula & Daughters is a tale to get your teeth into. As a Dracula fan, I love the twist Emma Carroll has brought to the classic, whilst also keeping to what we know about the fanged fiends.

Just as in her other novels there is action, adventure, family bonds strengthened, and a satisfying and nail biting conclusion.

This is the first book in the Dracula & Daughter series.

 

Author – Emma Carroll

Age – 9+

Publisher – Allen & Unwin NZ

 

Find other Emma Carroll Book Reviews here

 

If you liked Dracula & Daughters, you might like The Swifts here

or

The Beast and the Bethany here

 

 

 

 

(2025, Allen & Unwin NZ, Family, Series, Action, Adventure, Betrayal, Crime, Historical, Greed, Horror, Mystery, Vampires, Vampire Hunters, Lies, Secrets, Body Snatchers, Graverobbers, Sisters, Cousins, Undertakers)

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Omnibird

Omnibird is ultimately a guide on investigating the amazing bird life around you in a multitude of ways, and to remind you how incredible all birds are.

Full colour illustrations on every page help show you how to be a bird sleuth, and determine what birds are around you, above you, or have left clues for you to follow. Cross the science of bird study – Ornithology, with bird watching or observing birds around you, and you have Omnibird.

Full of information about all types of birds, whether in your backyard, or extraordinary birds you’ve never heard of, this hardback guide will make your jaw drop one moment and laugh out loud the next.

From bills to beaks, plumes and feet, you will learn, ‘What makes a bird a bird.’ ‘New birds and old birds’, and nests or night birds, are all part of this fascinating study of everything avian.

Learn about starlings and seabirds, corvids and chickens and many birds in between. Learn how to pick up a chicken, how to help a frightened bird escape from inside, and see the world from a bird’s point of view.

Did you know that some birds have more neck bones than a giraffe, or when male turkeys are showing off, they can change the shape and colour of their face? We might call someone a bird-brain if they’re being silly, but can you make a nest with only your mouth, or turn off half your brain to get some sleep – while you’re still flying?

 

Think you know birds? Omnibird will delight and surprise you. I laughed out loud throughout this large format, full colour, hardback book, as Giselle Clarkson’s signature cartoon style captures birds in all their glory.

Just like her award winning book The Observologist, Omnibird is chocka full of illustrations and funny speech bubbles too.

I absolutely LOVE this book!

 

Author/Illustrator – Giselle Clarkson

Age – 8+

Non-Fiction

 

 

(2025, Gecko Press, NZ, New Zealand, Aotearoa, NZ Author, NZ Illustrator, Birds, Ornithology, Birders, Bird watchers, Twitchers, Avian Investigators, Humour, Funny, Investigations, Study)

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Beneath Our Feet

The Christchurch earthquake changed many lives. But it saved Alfie’s. As Christchurch rocked, Alfie’s failing heart all but gave up. He’s rushed to hospital and receives a donor heart from someone who wasn’t so lucky. He’s been waiting for a donor and at only 17 he knows he’s been given a miraculous second chance. Still, watching his rugby team play without him, and having to take things slowly, is hard.

Dani is facing something even harder. The cancer that took her grandmother and her mum, is back. Dani’s beaten it before when she was younger, but this time it’s terminal. Only her father knows, as she needs time to come to terms with it on her own.

One day at school, Alfie sees her crying and asks if she is okay. Alfie finds her prickly but is glad to go with her that day into the Christchurch sealed-off city cordon. Dani’s favourite place is among the broken buildings and behind the fences, but they find a way in – and after a couple of times going there together, discover something incredible.

It’s a place they get to know each other, have fun and fall in love. It’s a place where time means nothing, Dani feels amazing, and Alfie knows he wants to be with her every moment. Moments are finite however, and they must find a solution to be with each other – Evermore.

 

Set in 2011, Christchurch NZ, Beneath Our Feet is a gorgeous love story. Alfie has got another chance at life, and Dani’s life is going to be cut short.

Jack Hartley has summoned realistic teenagers onto the page – boy banter, parties, alcohol and larks in the mix, and a staunch nearly-18-year-old woman with loss in her life, and her own mortality staring her in the face.

Told in two viewpoints, a moment of kindness brings these teens together to become something tentative, fun, and finally, beautiful. I challenge you not to have tissues nearby as you read their story.

The author was fifteen when the Feb 2011 earthquake struck, so personally knows the horror of that time, and the emotions that it triggered among the people of Christchurch. He has captured them within the struggles of two teens facing things far beyond their years.

Creating a place where they can just be together is the sunshine in this novel. The truth outside of it is well written and heart wrenching.

Time stops – to live and fall in love.

 

Author – Jack Hartley

Age – 14+

 

 

 

 

(2025, Scholastic NZ, First Person, New Zealand, NZ Author, Aotearoa Love, Romance, Grief, Loss, Secret, Real Life, Fantasy, Historical, Courage, Christchurch, Earthquake, Cordon, Time, Making the most of life, Heart transplant, Cancer, Friendship, Growing Up, Firsts, Two viewpoints)

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The Last Wish List

Nadia is lost without her best friend Lizzy. It’s been a year since she lost her, and no-one gets how broken Nadia still feels. Her family are the worst, her mother particularly so. Nadia is so frustrated that everyone wants her to move on, keep busy – in other words, get over it.

Her sorrow constantly consumes her still, and it’s not until she finally snaps at school that she is given an opportunity to do something to try and ease her grief.

Lizzy left her a list. It was supposed to for them to do it together, but Lizzy changed it to things Nadia can do alone. Some things on the list are simple, some almost impossible. Almost.

Nadia is soon flying out of London and heading to the US to get Lizzy’s PJ’s signed by their favourite popstar. The craziest thing on Lizzy’s list.

She knows she is going to be in serious trouble with her strict Russian mother when she returns home, but luckily there are others in her family who know she needs to get away for a while. With tickets to a concert, Nadia finally has something to focus on besides her aching heart – until the well laid out plans fall apart.

But she knows she will never get another chance if she doesn’t stay in the US for a little longer. Gathering all her courage, and determination to see this through, she finds so much more in small town USA. A boy, a way to honour Lizzy’s list, and how to sooth her broken heart along the way.

 

If you’re looking for a novel to make you laugh, cry and cry some more – The Last Wish List is it.

A devastating loss, a mother who just doesn’t understand, and a teen who is falling apart. The grief is so raw on the page, I wanted to step inside the book and give main character Nadia the hugs she needs to get through her days. The loss of her friend has taken so much from her, and her grief continues to creep up and swamp her and give her nightmares at night.

But just when you think she will never get through this wall of pain, somewhere and someone new, crack through. He has his own pain, but between them they discover another way of being. His determination holds true when hers sags, and she is the catalyst for discovering the truth about a loss in his life.

If you’re not reaching for the tissues during their road trip, you will be by the beautiful ending.

A simply gorgeous novel.  

 

Author – Jacqueline Silvester

Age – 13+

 

 

 

(2025, Simon & Schuster, Family, Friendship, Grief, Love, Real Life, Road Trip, Loss, Grieving, Russian, Mexican, Popstar, Understanding, Escape, Ticking off a list)

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RUNT (2) and the Diabolical Dognapping

Upson Downs is a much happier place now that the rains have been, leaving the farms lush and busy again. The town villain was washed away in the resulting flood, and his property is to be the venue for another worldwide dog competition – The Tournament of Champions.

Annie Shearer isn’t sure about being in that much spotlight with her canine star, Runt again, but soon has a bigger worry. Runt has vanished! One morning they find his doghouse empty, a fish lying in the dirt, and a small, dirty rag nearby.

The world is shocked at his disappearance, but no more than the Shearer family, especially his best friend, Annie.

Her brother Max is keen to investigate, even joining a newspaper office team in town. A new girl in town named Verity makes this all the more exciting, as she is the newspaper’s photographer. Max is quite taken with the quiet shy daughter of the new newspaper owner.

Between Max and Verity they discover more about Runt and his past before Upson Downs, but not who his kidnapper might be.

As the Tournament of Champions approaches, the blame game for Runt’s whereabouts is flying around town, with neighbour against neighbour. Annie isn’t listening to them however. All she wants is Runt, and she knows she must compete in the Tournament to get him back. But how can she if she doesn’t have her furry friend and star?

Max’s research and two unlikely heroes come to Annie’s rescue, and bring the truth about her beloved dog. Along with his past, his disappearance, and his now.

 

Just like the 1st blockbuster book and movie, Runt and the Diabolical Dognapping is simply wonderful!

With a cleverly constructed plot, hilarious, corny characters, and more mysteries than you can shake a bone at, this sequel left me with warm fuzzies from top to toe.

There are stories within the story which are wonderful themselves, which are then effortlessly woven into the heart wrenching finale.

I think I love this sequel even more than the first, but I know that without the phenomenon of Runt (1), I wouldn’t have enjoyed it so much. A circle I’m quite happy to go round and round in, until I read it all over again.

 

Author – Craig Silvey

Age – 8+

 

Find a review for the 1st multi award winning book here

 

 

 

(2025, Allen & Unwin, Animals, Series, Family, Humour, Betrayal, Mystery, Dog, Dancing, Competition, Tournament, Dog napper, Kidnapping, Kidnapper, Truth, Newspaper, Friendship)

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Murray and Bun (3) Murray the Pirate

Murray is woken one day by his best friend Bun sneezing loudly. So loudly and strongly that Bun is flying around the kitchen. When he wakes up properly, Murray can see Wizard Fumblethumb has been practising his (rubbish) magic again, and the kitchen is filled with grass and flowers.

Bun’s hayfever is rife and another giant sneeze propels them both out of Murray’s cat flap….

Pa-Pooof!

They find themselves in a seaside village market. Smells of fish fill Murray’s nose, and before he knows it, a villager is giving him a lovely big breakfast. Another villager approaches with something yummy, then another and another! He can’t believe his luck!

Murray has wonderful manners and thanks them all with wonder, not realising they think he is someone else. Before he can even take a bite of his juicy, fresh fish, he and Bun are bundled into a bag and kidnapped!

When finally emerging from the sack, they are face to face with fierce pirates, who are mortified that the villagers thought Murray was one of them. Especially after all the polite things he said as he received his tasty gifts. It will NOT do! He and Bun must walk the plank!

But Bun is a special bunny, and soon the tide has turned. Murray and Bun are soon helping hatch a plan to please the pirates. This involves, gold, other treasures and a monster called Margaret.

 

Just as in the 1st two books in the series, Murray the Viking and Murray the Knight – Murray the Pirate begins with an introduction of Murray, Bun and a rubbish wizard called Fumblethumb.

The new adventure soon begins with Murray and his tiny sticky rabbit friend, zapping back in history. Murray is a calm kind of cat, and not much fazes him, except maybe an empty tum. Bun is always on hand to help, and I love the way he says his one word, ‘Bun,’ and how Murray interprets it.

As always there are laughs aplenty during this piratey adventure, with the illustrations often telling the story on their own.

One of my favourite funny junior chapter series.

 

 

Author / Illustrator – Adam Stower

Age – 7+

Publisher – Harper Collins

 

See more in the Murray and Bun series here

 

 

 

(2025, Harper Collins UK, Animals, Magic, Historical, Series, Humour, Funny, Pirates, Cat, Rabbit, Sticky Bun, Rubbish Wizard, Magic Cat Door, Monster, Treasure)

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Let the Light In

Leah stepped up when their dad passed away. At 17, she is the oldest of the three siblings and as their mother fell apart, Leah held them all together. Now, she is charge of their meagre finances, making sure they have something to eat, and the bills get paid. Once a good student, the pressures of keeping things afloat, making sure her little sister is picked up from school, and checking on her younger brother Charlie; are piling up. Schoolwork is taking a back seat.

She doesn’t resent their mother being holed up in her room all day. Leah knows it is pure grief at losing the love of her life, and she tries to protect her mum by being strong for them all. But there is one thing Leah has for herself – Alex.

He makes her feel like a goddess, and she can’t stop thinking about him. He’s handsome, owns an Art gallery, and makes her feel alive. So what if he is older than her? And married. With a baby.

 

Charlie wants to help Leah more at home. He can pick up their little sister from school, but whenever he tries to cook something, it’s a disaster. He’s worried what life will be like when Leah goes to university in Edinburgh. How will they cope without her? He marvels at the way Leah seems so strong and capable after their father’s death, when all he could do was hide in his wardrobe, or under his duvet.

Charlie’s escape from his own grief is in drawing. He’s a talented artist, and pours himself and his feelings into his sketchbook. But drawings aren’t helping anyone at home. He longs to feel more in control. When a stranger offers to help, Charlie is wary at first. Soon, it seems that this is all he needed. In fact, it was the worst possible solution.

Each with their secrets, things begin looking up for Leah and Charlie. Or so they think. The secrets find each other and the result is heartbreaking for all.

 

Written in two viewpoints by two separate authors, the essence of the characters is raw on the page. A brother and sister, still grieving for their father, and without the guidance of their devastated mother – try to navigate the world around them the best they can.

An inappropriate affair, and a deepening spiral of debt threaten to swallow them whole as they keep their secrets close their chests. There is so much heart in this novel as the characters try to do their best by their loved ones, and try to tackle their worries alone.

Let the Light in, refers to so many threads of this story. Mental heath, relationships, money worries, being young carers, and grief, consume these young characters, and it’s only when they let others around them know what is going on, that help can arrive.

Beautifully written and with a positive future for all, Let The Light In is a powerful read.

 

Authors – Louis Hill & Jenny Downham

Age – 15+

 

 

 

 

(2025, David Fickling Books, Bullies, Conflict, Crime, Real Life, Family, Grief, Growing up, Love, Romance, Secret, Older guy, Panic Attacks, Anxiety, Art, Drawing, Loan Shark, Community)

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Mum’s Busy Work

A young child wakes, wondering what day it is.

Learning it’s Monday and a daycare day, she stomps her feet. Mum says, sometimes she doesn’t feel like going to work either.

The child talks about her week to the reader as the days pass. Dad is fun to jump on in bed, and Mum takes her to day care. Some days, Mum is home early and they play hide and seek. Some days Mum has her big, giant briefcase on the table.

But there is always time for fun when Mum is home. Dancing, reading, or just loving.

 

Based on chats with her young daughter Neve, Mum’s Busy Work is also written from Neve’s point of view. The author had the top job in Aotearoa, New Zealand, but this full colour, hardback picture book is telling the story of many busy mums.

It’s the little moments in a busy week that can mean the most and be cherished in a busy household. A game. A story. Or just a hug. This is shown with both Mum and Dad, along with household jobs.

Ruby Jones’ illustrations share the love in this family across the pages, with humour and vibrancy of a young child.

 

Author – Jacinda Adern

Illustrator – Ruby Jones

Picture Book

 

 

(2025, Penguin Random House, NZ, Aotearoa, New Zealand, Prime Minister, Working Mums, Busy Moms, A Child’s View, Love, Family)

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When We Were Monsters

An elite boarding school with a murder in its past continues with the traditions that caused it. One is called ‘Jan Term’, where eight students are hand picked to attend a few weeks with a celebrity author, screen writer or other literary figure. They will slowly be eliminated from a competition which will leave the winner with a lucrative cheque, and possible contacts and connections for a bright future.

Effy, her best friend Nessa, wealthy Isaac and a troubled boy named Arlo are among the chosen. In fact, all of them have something in their past that they don’t realise is the reason they’ve been chosen. These problems aren’t exactly secrets but are kept just under the skin, in order to try and protect themselves.

This year’s mentor is Meredith Graffam – an author, a playwright, actor, film maker and a survivor of an attack that left her friend dead in another school tradition called The Hunt, many years before in the forest around the school.

Murton Wood is now nicknamed ‘Murder Wood,’ and the students avoid it, but they know all about Meredith’s past. Meredith Graffam however, is too famous not to be excited about, and they settle into their rooms, ready to learn from her.

Her teachings are a little unusual, and then downright dangerous, as she draws their fears, passions and truths from them all in the name of creativity. She comes and goes from their writing retreat, holds parties for the rich and famous and behaves strangely.

As the eight students are whittled down for all sorts of obscure reasons, the final four begin to question Meredith’s teachings. Effy and Arlo slowly reconnect after a painful parting, Nessa struggles with her all consuming insecurity, and Isaac continues to perform the ‘I’m so rich and life is brilliant’ facade to all.

But Meredith is breaking through their hard shells of protection and starting to poke their raw insides, building them up, pulling them down and beginning to twist what they believe about each other.

When the final four begin to question Meredith’s methods, they discover much more than they ever imagined. Is the famous Meredith Graffam a monster? Is the only way to fight back to become monsters themselves?

 

From the author of All the Bright Places and Breathless, When We Were Monsters falls into the Dark Academia genre – a genre the author admits to devouring as a teen.

The prose is quite poetic and often flowery, which is beautiful, but took off the edge I enjoy in a psychological novel. The teens are all troubled by their past for different reasons, and this is explored in much depth with Arlo and Effy especially, who warily come back together in the novel after a past relationship.

The teacher, Meredith Graffam is quite bonkers and it’s really interesting how the characters do as she asks for the sake of a competition, and because she’s famous. Many of the requests were exceedingly dangerous, but most of the students never questioned them. The fact that she already knew that they were all so desperate to win, meant she could push them to do anything.

I enjoyed this novel but thought it was a little too drawn out to be thrilling. Cool end though. 

 

Author – Jennifer Niven

Age – 14+

 

 

 

 

(2025, Penguin UK, Betrayal, School, Conflict, Murder, Family, Grief, Friendship, Love, Mystery, Revenge, Secret, Dark Academia, Teaching Methods, Literary Devices, Poetry, Confusion, Writing)

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