Elsie loves to sit and fish off the Lyttleton jetty, her feet dangling high above the tide. Mr James is fishing too, with one eye on his line and one eye on Elsie as she dozes in the Autumn sunshine. She knows he is making sure she is safe and that she doesn’t nod off and fall in.

A year before in April 1883, two boys were fishing off the same jetty. When Elsie arrives to fish, she introduces herself and learns that they are Archie 8 and Davie 10, nearly 11, the same age as her. They’d walked over the Bridle Path in the hills between Christchurch and Lyttleton, keen to come fishing for the day.

The end of the day brings promise of bad weather and the boys set off home again, with Elsie wishing they lived in Lyttleton so they could be friends. No one knew the terrible mistake the boys were about to make.

Now, a year later, Elsie knows she has to face her fears. The Bridle Path is just that. A path. Up and over, and she’ll be safely at her aunt’s place on the other side, in outer Christchurch. With Archie and Davie in her thoughts, she bravely sets off…

Based on true events, this NZ story is short at 79 pages, but perfectly formed. Snippets of local newspapers from the time are interspersed throughout the story, revealing the true plight of two young boys who go missing in the Port Hills back in 1883. Maori myth and places names have been deftly woven into the story, adding a layer of mystery too. (From another text approved by local kaumatua.)

The story mentions memorial pillars being inserted along the track for the boys, their names inscribed on brass plates. These pillars remain today, and a short Author’s Note in the rear of the book supplies easy instructions on how to find them.

A snippet of early Lyttleton life, a young girl’s courage and a ghost story all rolled into one. Great NZ fiction from an experienced writer for children and teens.

Author – Bill Nagelkerke

Age – 8+

See Teachers Notes here

Find a Look Inside link here

(The Cuba Press, NZ, New Zealand Author, Lyttleton, Fishing, Adventure, Bad weather, Fears, Historical 1883, Christchurch, Patupaiarehe, Port Hills, History, Fears, Fog)