Fire Island

by Jenni Francis

Keri Walker is 12 years old and is in a bit of strife. She has been on the end of some bullying from The Gang of Five and she’s keen to make herself scarce when they are around. However, she can’t help but step in when she finds a much younger child being bullied.

The Gang of Five thinks she snitched on them. On a school camp, they start a serious campaign. The camp is on an island, and there are plenty of exciting activities to look forward to; yachting, confidence course and orienteering. Keri loves a challenge and she is keen to do well. In addition, if Keri stays out of trouble, her mother will allow her to visit her cousin in Sydney over the summer holiday. She is determined to stay out of trouble.

Unfortunately, the gang has a different agenda.

This story is set in New Zealand, and will appeal to girls who love a challenge and an adventure.

134 pages, Paperback

First published September 9, 2014

About the author

Jenni Francis was born in London, England and moved with her family to New Zealand when she was eight years old, for which she will be eternally grateful. Jenni has trained as a teacher, and a teacher of deaf children, as well as completing a degree in education. She began writing after her first grandchild was born, and has continued writing novels and short stories.
Having had a wide range of different life experiences, including living and working on a dairy farm for two years, Jenni has much to draw on to fill out her novels. Skiing, beach holidays, school camps and school life are part of the background to her novels.
She has been involved with children in her capacity as a teacher, a mother and a grandmother, and now as an author of children’s books and has always enjoyed interactions with children. She intends to keep writing for children until she runs out of ideas, which won’t be anytime soon! Jenni lives on five acres with an orchard, a pond a stream and a neighbours sheep. She has eleven grandchildren and she lives with her husband, a dog and a cat.

Reviews

[Jenni Francis]

Fire Island by Jenni Francis – Jenni lives in Matakana and is heavily involved in many community activities.  This is her second children’s book and is a story about a young girl’s courage in the face of bullying.  Keri Walker is twelve and is being consistently bullied by ‘The Gang Of Five’.  Her mother’s advice encourages her to walk away from any sort of drama and Keri is hoping this will help.  However, on school camp, things start to escalate.  The camp is on an
island with lots of new and exciting activities and Keri is loving the challenges these pose, but when the bullies start to push her too hard and there’s nowhere to escape to, Keri has to decide whether to play it safe, or stand up for herself.  There are many interesting scenarios in the story and some will be familiar to the reader.  Teachers don’t always see the full story behind children’s actions and it can be hard for children to make the right decisions under this kind of pressure.  This is an excellent story that will appeal to girls from the age of 9 and will hopefully encourage a dialogue between children and parents on the topic of bullying behaviour and tactics and mechanisms to deal with it.  

Reviewed by Tracey Lawton ‘The Village Bookshop’, Matakana and published in Local Matters,
3/09/2014

[Jeanna Rodgers]

Another great topic for discussion with teenagers. Those bullies are so awful!