Awa is back staying with his grandparents on the East Coast of New Zealand. After spending time with them before, he knows the lay of the land, how
to help catch and collect the kai (food), and can now spend more time on his own on the beach and in the tree hut he found on his last visit.
His favourite activity is hanging out with his bird buddy, Carrot. Carrot is a parrot owned by the Rumbles who live closer to the beach, making ends meet by collecting and selling the seaweed that washes up on the beach. This time he gets to spend time with the Rumble’s son too. He is the one who built the tree hut many years before, and now he has made it even better in Awa’s absence.
There are others he hasn’t met before. A tribe of magpies seem to have no fear of him and the bright colours of Carrot. There are large sea mammals lazing on the beach, and despite their lazy looks, Awa discovers how fast they can move. Other people have been in the area too – the only things leaving clues who they might be are tyre tracks in the sand and a hastily fixed fence they broke on the way.
Awa is left wondering whether the magpies will let them be, the sea creature will finally leave, and who left the tyre tracks and why?
Another laid back tale of life in historical New Zealand living on the simple things of life. Family, love, nature, friendship, and a boy’s adventures with his parrot friend named Carrot.
Awa has adventures with Carrot, sleeping in a tree hut, catching and cooking his own food, and helping solve more than one mystery. The ghost theme of the previous novel continues in this episode, along with Awa’s pranking uncle.
Awa is more self sufficient in this novel, experiencing and learning things on his own, then being able to share it all with his younger brother.
Awa’s adventures are authentic adventures for kiwi kids to dream about having themselves.
Author – Fraser Smith
Age – 8+
(2019, Huia Publishers, NZ, New Zealand Author, Aotearoa, Northland, Parrot, Funny, Beach, Sea Leopard, Magpies, New Zealand, Adventure, Action, Animals, Family, Ghost, Mystery, Historical, Humour, Secret, Tree Hut, Series, Grandparents)