Back in their own home, brothers Awatea and Tai miss having adventures at Mangokuri with their grandparents, and their parrot friend Carrot.
They begin to ‘work’ on their parents to allow them to go back, suggesting how much help they could be for their ageing Nan and Pop, and finally they are allowed to go – even before the school term ends for the holidays.
They are soon back eyeballing the Magpie King near the Kawa HQ tree hut, laying out the crayfish pots, stacking wood for Pop and teaching Carrot new funny words.
The Rumbles (neighbours) are going to come and stay in Mrs Carol’s house next to Nan and Pop, so it’s decided to give it a good clean out. Awa and Tai decide to check out old Mr Carol’s shed as they’ve always been intrigued about Uncle Kim’s song about him being drowned in the rain barrel by Mrs Carol.
They find all manner of treasures, but Awa finds something special and knows there is only one person it belongs with. It might even explain the sudden disappearance of Mr Carol all those years before.
The third episode in this series, Awatea’s Secret touches on more serious topics of illness, a disappearance, and fallout and effects from the second world war on its soldiers.
It’s still full of laughs as Carrot learns new words and seems to know just the right moment to use them, and brothers Tai and Awa have new adventures. Their younger brother is growing up too and wants to join them.
Mrs Carol’s ghost is still part of the story and so are the boy’s pranking uncles.
This series shows how it was back in rural East Coast Aotearoa New Zealand, where children were given more freedom and could have small adventures without hovering caregivers. The brothers always know there is adult help not too far away, but also enjoy being able to do things and learn about their world for themselves.
Without any technology of any kind, these brothers enjoy Nature, the birdlife, their ageing parrot friend and helping their whanau.
A wonderful way to see how it once was.
Author – Fraser Smith
Age – 7+
(2024, Huia Publishers, Series, Brothers, Family Whanau, Beach, Adventures, Animals, Parrot, Magpies, Ghost, Helping, Mystery, War, Memories, Tree Hut, Fishing)