Nelson City Council

Reviews of 3 finalists for the 2009 New Zealand Post Book Awards 

by Sheila Alley

Five and a Bit Days in the Life of Ozzie Kingsford by Val Bird

A very funny tale about a boy who is haunted by forest sprites (rather like leprechauns) who are out to make his life 'interesting' and get him in as much trouble as possible! But it seems he's not the only one to suffer their jokes. Can 'hauntings' run in the family?

Enemy at the Gate by Philippa Werry

This is such a good book! How would you cope if your school closed down and you had to stay at home? Mum wants your help with the chores and looking after your noisy little brother and sister. Then there's your older sister in an isolation hospital with some awful disease that no one will talk about and everyone's worried she might die. You can't play with your friends because children aren't allowed to get together in case they catch it, and you still have to do your school work... This is the story of the infantile paralysis epidemic that spread through New Zealand in 1936 and how families coped. It's a gripping read, yet despite the grim subject will leave you satisfied at the end. If you like books by Michelle Magorian ( Good Night Mr. Tom) then this is similar and a must for you.

Chronicles of Stone: Scorched Bone (Volume 1) by Vince Ford

This epic tale in 3 volumes is set in the Stone age - the story of a brother and sister and their long journey across a hostile land in a time where people lived in clans and anyone outside the clan was an enemy. Trei has heard a clan far away has developed a weapon for killing big animals. If he can learn how to make the weapon he can bring the knowledge home and save his clan from starvation. Very different from Vince Ford's usual books, this will make you want to read well after lights out