Three

by Justin D'Ath

Three friends: a boy, a girl and a baboon that can talk. One will be orphaned, one will be shot and one will die. How can there be a happy ending? An edge-of-your seat thriller from the author of the internationally best-selling Extreme Adventures. [from blurb]

269 pages, Paperback

Published January 1, 2016

About the author

One of twelve children, Justin grew up on a farm in Otaki, New Zealand. He wrote his first book, a ten page cartoon about his pet turtle, Bubble, when he was nine years old. His next cartoon was about Moriarty, his guinea pig, and filled a complete exercise book. When he was eleven, Justin began writing his first novel, but conked out after 35 pages.


Justin D’Ath is the author of over 30 books for children and young adults, including the hugely popular Extreme Adventures series. Other books include Astrid Spark, Fixologist, The Skyflower, Robbie and the Dolphins, Infamous, and Why did the Chykkan cross the Galaxy?


Justin says: ‘My main message is, Enjoy reading

Reviews

[Charles Churchward · Rating 5 out of 5]

Three, by Justin D’Ath, is a story about the exhilarating journey of three characters who, despite their differences, become the closest of friends. Justin D’Ath is an author who writes for children and young adults. Along with being an author, he used to be a miner and worked in laboratories. Justin D’Ath’s thriller is set in a fictional country called Zantuga, which the reader is led to believe is in Africa. The main character of the novel, is Sunday Balewo. Sunday is the child of the country’s president. Tragically, his parents are killed intentionally by someone Sunday used to be very close to. Once his parents are killed, the only person left to kill to become president is Sunday. So, suicide brids are sent out to murder him. Brids, in the context of this novel, are scientifically created creature that are configured and programmed to act in specific ways. But after Sunday saves the brid sent to kill him, the brid, Three, no longer wants to kill him. Sunday explains to him that everything that he had been told was a lie and that he had been brainwashed. Together with Holly, Sunday’s girlfriend, he is able to tend to Three’s wounds. But how can there be a happy ending when one of the three will be shot, one killed and one orphaned?
This action-packed novel explores themes such as corruption, the meaning of life and nature and love. This book was released in 2016 at a time that corruption was very prominent throughout the world. This allows people to relate more easily to the book, which makes them engage with the book more. The sequence of twists and suspense releases a lot of energy but still remains easy to follow and keeps the reader hooked from start to end.
There are a variety of characters in the novel but the main three are Sunday, Holly and Three. Sunday is the son of the president and is dating an American girl, Holly. Holly’s father works for the man who killed Sunday’s parents although they do not know that. Three looks like a baboon but is actually a talking brid. He was created by Holly’s father for the purpose of becoming a suicide bomber. But despite their parents division towards each other and Three being created to destroy Sunday, they are still able to become close friends. If like me, you like suspenseful and exhilarating adventures, then D’Ath has succeeded in producing this sort of book. You are so unsure about the ending and because the blurb has told you the fate that each of them may face. The blurb states ‘How can there be a happy ending?’. This makes the reader want to read more and want to know how there actually can be a happy ending.
Personally, this book was amazing, and I would definitely recommend it to anyone. The whole book was amazing. From beginning to end and it just kept me wanting to turn the pages and read more. The more I read, the more I wanted to read. The only thing I am not too happy about is the way it ends. It ends on a bit of a cliff-hanger and I was disappointed to find (after searching everywhere online) that there wasn’t a sequel, although hopefully there will be one released in the near future.

[Paul Collins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Three is an explosive page-turner about three friends: a boy, a girl and a talking baboon. Set in a small African country, Sunday Balewo, a professional footballer and the son of the assassinated president is targeted by the same intelligent baboons that killed his father. Befriending the baboon sent to kill him, Sunday, with his girlfriend Holly, work together to stop the man behind the abominating baboons.

One of the three friends will be orphaned, one will be shot and one will die. This action-packed, fantasy will be a story that every reader is guaranteed to enjoy.
I loved the fast pace of the story which kept me wanting to keep reading. Also the story is written in the first person, this allowed me to get a great insight into the character, Sunday and his relationship with the baboon.

Recommended for readers 11+ to get the most out of this amazing story.
Rating 9/10

Reviewed by Ashley Curry

[Sean Harding · Rating 4 out of 5]

Engaging thriller written in such a way that you can suspend belief over certain matters, and forgive other issues that you may question. A good yarn that actually leaves you wanting more.

[Aurelia · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is the best book ever!

[Tia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Title: Three
Author: Justin D’Ath
ISBN: 9781925272277
RRP: $18.95
Publisher: Ford Street Publishing
Reviewer: Ashley Curry

Three is an explosive page-turner about three friends: a boy, a girl and a talking baboon. Set in a small African country, Sunday Balewo, a professional footballer and the son of the assassinated president is targeted by the same intelligent baboons that killed his father. Befriending the baboon sent to kill him, Sunday, with his girlfriend Holly, work together to stop the man behind the baboon bombers.

One of the three friends will be orphaned, one will be shot and one will die. This action-packed, fantasy will be a story that every reader is guaranteed to enjoy.

I loved the fast pace of the story which kept me wanting to keep reading. Also the story is written in the first person, this allowed me to get a great insight into the character, Sunday and his relationship with the baboon.

Recommended for readers 11+ to get the most out of this amazing story.
Rating 9/10

[Jennie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a terrific read for adolescents. An action-packed adventure set in a small African country (not real but representative of many in the news over recent times) where the government is overthrown through a military coup. Sixteen year old Sunday is on the run, trying to escape from a baboon with a bomb, and avoid capture from the new military government. The plot combines political intrigue, friendship issues with religion and culture at odds, and the ethics of genetic engineering in an Islamic country. Justin D'Ath has raised some challenging issues which will encourage readers to dig beneath the adventure it contains to consider a range of issues around politics and political influences, gender equality, religious beliefs and responsibilities and animal rights through the misuse of scientific engineering for profit and power.

Highly recommended.