Adele Broadbent's Blog, page 6

Ninja Girl (1)

Niki Dawson didn’t mean to do it. She was playing with her friends at school when she landed in a bush. The school caretaker isn’t happy at one of his well cared for plants being trampled, but what lies under it changes everything.

Niki has found a strang purple rock in the dirt uner the bush. Alerting the caretaker brings a specialist from the local museum to check it out and trasport it to where it can be studied more closely.

When Niki starts feeling weird, and her cat begins acting strangely, she is perplexed.

But there is much more to come for Niki, her school and her parets. The strange gem attracts a super villain and much mayhem is about to follow with extraordinary results.

A new series from Anh Do – Ninja Girl is in full colour and packed with intrigue, fun, action and super powers.

Not only are there strange things happening at home, at school and in town – Niki discovers a secret her parents have been keeping, that might just explain what’s been happening to her.

 

Author – Anh Do

Illustrator – James Hart

Age – 6+

 

 

 

(2025, Scholastic Aust, Super Powers, Adopted, Animals, Cat Humour, Funny, School Trip, Evil Villain, Rats, Series)

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The Romantic Tragedies of a Drama King

Patrick or Patch as he now prefers,  has a plan for the coming year. Prom is in the plan, and his creative side has him as head of the decoration committee.

His new name is part of reinventing himself, from the uncool, nobody knows who he even is at school, to something cooler. He believes that ‘Patch’ is so much cooler then Patrick.

The main goal of the year ahead is to find a boyfriend. 16 and never been kissed applies to Patch, and he is desperate to change that.

He has had boyfriends before, but even he must admit that Fred from Scooby Doo and others he has imagined kissing don’t really count. But this year is going to be different. Along with his best best friend Jean, and her advice from her own relationship (albeit only 5 weeks long) he is going to finally be in a real relationship.

He can’t believe his luck when two new boys attend the first meetings of Drama Club. Choosing between them is hard, and even harder when things go terribly wrong.

Suddenly without even Jean by his side, Patch has to switch from looking from a boyfriend to looking at himself. Maybe his way of doing things isn’t the right way at all.

In the fallout of friendships, confidence and apologies, Patch’s life is suddenly looking way better than he’s even dreamed.

 

This book is HILARIOUS. I laughed out loud so many times, as I got to know Patch in his day to day dramas and life. And Patch really knows how to make everything into a DRAMA!

He overthinks everything, from what to say, how to enter a room, what to wear and what to do in just about every situation he is thrown into.

His only ‘safe place’ is his rock and bestie, Jean. But when she isn’t at his side, he is lost – adding even more drama.

Well worth a read if you love to laugh.

 

Author – Harry Trevaldwyn

Age – 13+

 

 

 

(2025, First Ink, Pan Macmillan UK, Humour, Funny, High School, Aged 16, Friendships, Relationships, Family, Sibling squabbles, Drama Club, Overthinking, Expressive, Creative, LGBTQ+, Gay, Bi, Boyfriend, Romance, Romcom)

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SOLO

Blade was named after a Marvel Super Hero, but that doesn’t surprise him.

His father is Rutherford Morrison, an ageing but still recognised in public, rock star.

Also an accomplished musician, he has passed his talents onto both Blade and his sister Storm. Storm is keen to follow in her father’s footsteps, but is struggling to make the same impression her father did on the world.

Blade loves music and song writing but his dreams lay in the near future with his girlfriend Chapel and their life together at College. He is keen to be away from the glitz of Hollywood and the blitz of media – and every time his father screws up again.

Even since Blade’s mum died, Rutherford has needed rehab over and over, but to Blade’s dismay, he never sees it through.

When Rutherford epically embarrasses him at an important event, Blade has had enough. Pile on a breakup and a family secret hidden for too long, and Blade finds himself flying SOLO in his life with no anchors to keep him sane.

He knows what he must do, not knowing what the fallout may be.

 

This verse novel is yet another marvel of story writing from Kwame Alexander & Mary Rand Hess.

SOLO is a beautiful story of family, relationships, rage and forgiveness. It is a tale of excess and alcohol, patience and kindness, and a quest for meaning in a young man’s life.

As always, wisdom shines from the verse, bringing smiles and nods as I read, and reason and understanding to main character, Blade.

 

Author/s – Kwame Alexander / Mary Rand Hess

Age – 12+

 

 

(2017, Harper Collins, Los Angeles, LA, Rock star, Music, Song, Love, Family Secret, Relationships, Truth, Verse novel, Siblings, Alcoholic, Excess, Wealth, Redemption, Forgiveness, Understanding, Search)

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Sunrise on the Reaping

Haymitch Abernathy is in two minds as he wakes on his 16th birthday.

As he wonders what might await him from his Ma and little brother Sid, he’s already planning to duck any chores for the morning and see his girlfriend Lenore Dove.

He’s sure he will have time to help his mother before the other event on his mind for the day. This is also the Day of the Reaping.

He and Lenore have avoided being drawn to fight in the Hunger Games for their District, but every time Haymitch has received extra rations since his father died, his name appears again in the reaping – ever increasing the chance of his name being drawn. To make matters worse, it is the 50th anniversary of the games (2nd Quarter Quell) and double the names will be drawn. 2 girls and 2 boys.

Just when he thinks he and Lenore are safe, their worlds are torn  apart and Haymitch is on his way to the Capitol and the preparation for the Hunger Games.

He soon learns that what they see every year on the screens the Capitol provides, is not what really happens. Much of the footage is edited and manipulated to mean something else – ultimately hiding more deplorable truths from both the Districts and Capitol citizens.

Haymitch must decide who is friend and who is foe as he and his District 12 tributes travel by train, to prepare to fight to the death in the arena.

He’s not sure who to trust as he discovers there may be those inside the Capitol who want to bring the Hunger Games down almost as  much as he does. But a run-in with the evil President Snow himself leaves Haymitch in no uncertain terms of his future. He will die.

Accepting his fate helps him make his decisions, only to realise when his life is on the line, his dreamof being with Lenore Dove is too strong to ignore.

But the games do not finish when he is the victor. President Snow’s saying, ‘The snow alway falls on top,” is truer than Haymitch can ever believe.

 

The fifth book in ths YA adult series that has ben published in more than 50 languages around the world – had me gripped fromthe first page.

After loving the previous novels all made into blockbuster movies, this is Haymitch’s story.

Sunrise on the Reaping instantly grabbed me. Knowing the setting, how the Hunger Games work and key characters like Effie Trinket, Haymitch (initially as an adult), President Snow and Caesar Flickerman, the stage is instantly set in reader’s minds for this episode of Suzanne Collin’s epic dystopian world.

Throughout the horror of choosing teens to die, training them for wealthy people’s disturbed entertainment and the slaughter itself in the arena, there are beautiful poems and songs as part of the narrative.

From Edgar Allan Poe, William Blake and the author herself, these songs are beautiful, macabre and important to Haymitch to remind him of home and bring some tiny kernel of peace amongst the evil that swallows him whole.

Haymitch was just as real to me as the girl he mentors later in life and the series.

Loved it.

 

Author – Suzanne Collins
Age – 12+
Publisher – Scholastic

 

 

(2025, Scholastic, Series, Dystopian, Hunger Games, Capitol, Fight to the Death, Violence, Control, Lies, Courage, Manipulation,  Entertainment, Fighting Back, Plan, Love, Friendship, Comrades, Teamwork, Allies)

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Flight of the Fantail

A bus that has seen better travels, winds its way through a river gorge. Full of high school students and their teacher, it suddenly swerves and plummets over the side…..

Plunging into the river below, student’s are tossed like confetti inside and outside the bus. The few that make it out of the water are in shades of shock, disbelief and horror at what’s happened.

Unlike on the bus and at school, the levels of popular and not – are wiped clean and survival skills become king (or queen).

Most students are at the complete mercy of nature while they hope for rescue.  The least expected of them holds the knowledge to keep them alive. But it’s not only nature or the terrible tragedy affecting their physical and mental well being.

Others are scrambling to find them and control the outcome of everything – the waiting parent’s expectations, the teen’s lives and a long hidden secret.

 

Steph Matuku is an accomplished author across multiple genres and also a multi award winning NZ author.

Flight of the Fantail has long been on my list and I’m glad I finally dived into this page-turning genre-crossing YA novel.

Matuku has captured the many faces of teenagers in this novel. Popular and not. Bully and victim. Wealthy, spiteful, leader, follower, gay, straight, friend or foe.

But these personalities and pecking orders, either perfectly cultured throughout school years or forced upon them by their peers – is upended along with the camp bus they are travelling in, smashing apart in a deep river gorge.

Survival is key, but added complications beyond any of their imaginations steps this novel up another level of gripping, into thriller territory.

Loved it.

 

Author – Steph Matuku
Age – 12+

 

 

(2018, Huia Publishers, NZ, Aotearoa New Zealand, Accident, School Trip, Popular, Bullying, Survival, Survive, Grief, Secret, Corporation, NZ Bush, Maori, Relationships, Friendships, LGBTQ+, Cover up)

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The Beck

Kyle dreads staying at his grandfather’s house, even if it is only for two hours – as his parents promise. There is a running joke in the family about Grandad’s past as an Elvis Impersonator – mainly to do with his wig. It’s black and resembles a dead animal, but he still insists on wearing it.

Grandad is just the same when he opens the door, but he has a surprise up his sleeve. Kyle is amazed at what has been at the bottom of Grandad’s garden his entire life. Amongst the trees is a small stream. Grandad calls it a beck, and it holds many wonders.

For once, Kyle enjoys his grandfather’s company and all there is to learn about The Beck. He soon spends more and more time there, meeting a new neighbour his own age. The beck helps Kyle forget about other things in his life that are troubling him, and he understands Grandad’s love of it.

There are others however who do not share their wonder or respect of this piece of nature. Kyle is quickly alongside Grandad in his plan to make them understand too.

 

Once again, Anthony McGowan has written a perfect story, effortlessly making me wonder, laugh out loud and hold my breath as I read.

I always enjoy intergenerational stories and The Beck is a fantastic read. Perfect for reluctant or especially boy readers, the humour woven through Grandad’s Yorkshire character and an authentic portrayal of 13 year old Kyle is brilliant.

Dealing with feelings of embarrassment at his grandad, fear in an ongoing bullying situation and shyness at meeting a girl is all perfect on the page and the exciting but heartbreaking conclusion made me want to start reading it all over again.

The Beck from Barrington Stoke is another great read aimed at Dyslexic Readers, but as always their books can and will definitely be enjoyed by all. I read it in one sitting.

 

Author – Anthony McGowan

Illustrator – David Wardle

Age – Reading age 9+ / Interest age 11+

Dyslexic Title

 

More brilliant reads by Anthony McGowan here

 

 

 

 

(2025, Harper Collins, Barrington Stoke, Animals, Bullies, Family, Friendship, Growing up, Humour, Love, Secret, Grandfather, Grandad, Poppa, Stream, Funny, Inter generational relationships, Dyslexic, Dyslexia, Reluctant Readers)

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Deep Dark

Cassia Thorne misses her home and life in India. Returning to London with her father has only gone from bad to worse, ending up with them living in Fleet Street Debtor’s Prison. She may come and go, but her father remains locked up and descending into mad ravings about who was responsible for the sinking of his ships and his business along with it.

Still, Cassia has made some good friends on the streets of London. Sure they may be poor and live by their wits, but Cassia finds them friendly, fun and honest (mostly). Cassia tutors children for a few coins, which helps her and her father survive. She’s more worried about the street children who seem to be going missing. When a friend’s brother vanishes, the family search relentlessly but with no luck. Cassia is desperate to help.

Asking her father’s lawyer for help only brings more heartache with the truth of her father’s chances of ever leaving prison, but it does bring an ally. Felix is wealthy and keen to help Cassia find out what is happening to the children of London. He has a strong sense of doing the right thing, and with his help and knowledge, they dive into a mystery below the streets of London and then even deeper again, into the Deep Dark.

Their discoveries are horrifying, and the fact that no one will believe them, even more so. Cassia must draw on all she has learnt on the streets of London, everyone she might think will help them, and summon her courage like never before.

Her father, the wealthy, and a strange tune that flits through the streets, are all part of a mystery ages-old that lies deep in the ocean. Cassia will do anything to stop them.

 

Cassia Thorne is an intriguing character – born in India into a wealthy shipping family, but now living in London’s Fleet Street Debtor’s Prison, until someone bails out her cash strapped father.

This prison was actually built in the 1100’s and still in use in the 1800’s as in this story. Fiction is a brilliant way for children to learn about history whilst enjoying a cracking good story – and Deep Dark is definitely that.

Deep Dark has a brave but kind heroine, with wealthy and street savvy friends at her side. The contrast between the wealth and the abject poverty is also clear, bringing empathy for the street children, no one seems to care about. Add ruthless adults spinning strange rhymes, and something lurking deep below the London streets, even lower than the abandoned crypts – and the story’s intensity slowly builds.

With an explosive ending and the thought that all could be lost after all, Deep Dark had me hooked to the last page.

 

Author – Zohra Nabi

Age – 8+

 

 

 

(2025, Simon & Schuster, London, Street Children, Missing Children, Mystery, Urchins, Fleet Street, Prisons, Poverty, Friendship, Courage, Historical, Adventure, Action, Music, Wealth, Greed)

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The Last Journey

Pusskin has always been told he is special. His mother even called him a Prince, telling him he was destined for leadership and great things. Pusskin however, is quite happy living with his eleven year old owner Lottie in their comfortable cul-de-sac home.

Living in a cul-de-sac provides a safe space to get to know all the other cats that live there, and he makes close friends of Coco, Daisy, Freddie and Toffee. There are two other cats in their close-knit neighbourhood, who don’t fall under Pusskin’s natural grace and charm.

Monster has an owner but lives like a feral, beating up any cat he can ambush, and Cleopatra is a cat only spoken of in hushed tones. She is said to live in a wardrobe in her human’s home and she never leaves the house, let alone speaks to anyone. It is claimed she is a seer and as wise as the Egyptian cats of old.

Life is fairly peaceful in the cul-de-sac until a new human government begins to enact a new law upon the cat population. Bird numbers are declining rapidly, and cats are made the villains. Feral cats are first to go, but when domestic cats join the cull list, Pusskin knows he must do something. With a well thought out plan and then some faith in his mother’s words breathed long ago, Pusskin leads his friends from the only homes they’ve known and out into an adventure.

 

The Incredible Journey was one of my favourite novels as a child, and The Last Journey instantly grabbed my attention.

The Last Journey however is not just a journey made by animals. Instead of pets making their way back to their family as in Sheila Burnford’s classic, these cats are leaving all they know and love behind as a panicking authority rules that cat’s must be culled to save birdlife.

What follows is an exciting adventure with both loveable and flawed cat characters as they look for a new home. Despite the title, the journey is only part of the tale, and the reader gets to see what happens well after they reach their destination, allowing even more investment in the cat characters.

Feline action, adventure, love and friendship, with a thought provoking environmental theme underpinning the tale – The Last Journey will be loved by cat fans and animal lovers across the world.

 

Author – Stacy Gregg

Age – 8+

 

 

 

(2025, Simon & Schuster, Animals, Adventure, Courage, Environment, New Zealand, Blended Family, Cats, Journey, Special, Prince, Island, Cull, Blame, Loss of Animal Diversity, Escape, Teamwork, Kittens)

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The Kid Who Fell Through Time

Angus hates History. It’s so booooring. And pointless! Who cares what happened 100s or even 1000s of years ago? His History teacher has given them homework and Angus doesn’t know where to even begin. Maybe something will come to him, while he takes the family dog for a walk.

Their dog, named McQueen, is a serial escape artist, and any chance to escape his leash and he’s off! While chasing after McQueen, Angus is swept up by a speeding shopping trolley and sucked back in time. He finds himself, along with the cheese lady from his local supermarket, in the year of AD212. In shock, Angus can hardly speak, but luckily, this is no ordinary shopping trolley. It is armed with futuristic technology that will help him cope in this very strange place.

But Marge (the cheese lady) doesn’t even blink at the armed Roman soldiers as she enters a market – shopping for, you guessed it. Cheese! Angus follows in awe, especially when Marge barters in toilet paper. The Romans can’t get enough of it! They are soon back in the trolley and racing towards home where Angus has no problem completing his history homework.

His teacher and parents are so impressed, Angus wants to do well again, and pesters Marge at her cheese counter to take him again. But too much of a good thing is never wise, and like the saying goes – the wheels (literally) fall off his plans. We’ve all had a wobbly-wheeled shopping trolley. They are bad news if you’re trying to push one, but relying on one for time travel is much, much worse.

Angus, Marge, McQueen and and unlikely passenger are soon in a fight for their lives and for the entire world, as a megalomaniac ruler from the future has annihilation in mind. Can they stop him with a little help from famous people throughout history?

 

These two authors never fail to make me laugh, and The Kid Who Fell Through Time is a cracking good read.

I love the way the authors add bits in along the way (from themselves as authors), an annoying Fact Pig who can’t help showing off, and the publisher’s own Puffin who turns up in the story to tell them to hurry up and get on with the story! Hilarious!

The time-travel component has tons of action, a laser beam arm, a bespectacled genius scientist, some kick-butt women, and explainers when things get messy. It’s not only main character Angus who learns about history as readers will pick up some interesting facts along the way too.

Chocka with illustrations capturing the action and fun fonts throughout, readers will keep turning pages.

Another entertaining, hilarious read from James and Smith.

 

Authors – Greg James & Chris Smith

Illustrator – Erica Salcedo

Age – 8+

 

 

 

 

 

(2024, Penguin Random House UK, Time travel, Humour, Friendship, Courage, Animals, School, Action, Adventure, Funny, Cheese, Ancient Egypt, Shopping Trolley, Runaway Dog, Secret, Exchange Student)

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Alice With A Why

Alyce has been named after her grandmother, but with a Y. She never thought it would be a problem until one day she is thrown into an adventure that defies all imagination. The first thing she realises is that her grandmother was telling the truth the whole time. All her stories when Alyce was younger, about a Mad Hatter, White Rabbit and bottles of shrinking potion were all true!

It all begins when Alyce receives an invitation. Well, more like gets slapped in the face with it. It’s wet and blows in from who knows where? It’s also a plea for help, and at first Alyce isn’t sure what to do.

Life has been difficult the past few years. She lost her beloved father in the war, and her home was turned into a hospital for soldiers for some time. Most of Alyce’s time is spent alone now, so she makes a decision herself….

The Mad Hatter is not actually happy to see her. Alyce is not the Alice the invitation was meant for. His friend (a giant Hare) also seems perplexed, but the Dormouse with them looks as if it’s going to fall asleep on the spot.

The strange world Alyce has found herself in is ruled by a King and Queen – they rule the light and the dark but are squabbling. Night and Day changes constantly, leaving everyone discombobulated and upset. The Mad Hatter and Alyce’s grandmother’s old friends decide Alyce will have to do, and she must convince their King and Queen to stop fighting and sort something out.

Alyce finds this strange world confusing, frustrating and entirely illogical, but she does the best she can with illegal potions, contrary characters of her grandmother’s past, sinking tubs, a sad stripy cat and a pipe smoking caterpillar. All the while she is worried about how she will ever get home again.

 

This (sort of) sequel to the classic Alice in Wonderland is equally peculiar, funny and filled with clever word play, and of course – a little bit bonkers!

The reader is invited into the curious way of Wonderland thinking, by the way the author introduces the main character Alyce, to them. This is entertaining and fun and gives the reader an insight of what to expect once Alyce slips into the curious world of Wonderland.

I often laughed out loud at the way the author flipped conversations on their head – following the distinctive style of the original Alice in Wonderland.

Readers will recognise all the characters of the original classic. In fact, the language of the original (1865) is a little difficult for young readers, so beginning with this book might allow a doorway, backwards so to speak – into Wonderland, as reading skills develop.

Either way, Alice with a Why is a great read and I can imagine it being a great bedtime read aloud. It will certainly kick off wonderful imaginations!

Will you accept the Invitation and explore Wonderland for yourself?

 

Author – Anna James

Illustrator – Matthew Land

Age – 7+

 

Find other great reads by Anna James here

 

 

(2025, Harper Collins, Alice in Wonderland, Peculiar, Bonkers, Word Play, Curious, White Rabbit, Mad Hatter, King & Queen, Cheshire Cat, Adventure, Wise Caterpillar, Grandmother, Not the right Alice, Fox, Paper Boats, Adventure, Humour, Animals, Fantasy, Family, Courage, Historical)

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