Nissa can’t stop thinking about it. She may have been famous at home and school for a while, after surviving alone in the rugged bush of Fiordland (NZ), but all
she really wants… is to go back.
The need to be back there with her secret friends is all consuming. Now deemed “….weird” by many of her classmates because of her constant practice with a slingshot and fascination with Fiordland, Nissa tries to hide her thoughts.
When she finds one of her small, flying friends far from Fiordland with an urgent message, she knows she must get back to the rugged bush of The Green and find out what’s wrong.
Her parents are very wary of returning to the place that hid their daughter for a month. But along with her best friend Tama, Nissa hatches a plan.
What she finds is terrible, and she wracks her brain to find a solution. The Sparks are looking to her for help, except for one who refuses to trust any human.
Nissa will do anything to prove him wrong, but what can her and Tama do up against wealthy and powerful people, keen to destroy the Spark’s home?
Discovering there is even more to hide from mankind than she ever imagined, her mind is in overdrive to do something. But what?
As the repercussions of other humans build, the tension mounts for Nissa and Tama. Not only do they need the trust of their tiny forest friends, they need to trust each other.
Is her bond with The Green strong enough for her to help? Can she convince those around her that Fiordland is far too precious to allow free access for humankind?
The Secret Green is the sequel to Sonya Wilson’s award winning book, Spark Hunter.
Main character Nissa, must not only find a way back to the rugged NZ Bush that claimed her for an entire month, but also find a solution to save it.
The tension builds deliciously throughout this novel as Nissa and her friends realise what they’re up against.
The description of this real life wild NZ setting is beautifully portrayed, taking readers deep into the bush with Nissa. This rich realism mixed deftly with fantastical fairy-like characters, effortlessly continues the immersive story of Spark Hunter.
Like Spark Hunter, The Secret Green is constructed with Before (diary entries from early NZ explorers) and Now sections of the story. Emails happening behind the scenes make the tale even richer for readers as they worry along with main character Nissa about all the problems she faces.
The Secret Green is a compelling read. I loved it as much as Spark Hunter, and it left me wondering what wonderful things or creatures are hiding deep in Fiordland – where they’ve always been, and where they should remain.
Author – Sonya Wilson
Illustrator – Pippa Keel Situ
Age – 8+
See the 1st exciting book in the series here
(2025, Allen & Unwin Aotearoa, NZ, New Zealand, Fiordland, Untamed bush, Wild, Nature, Trees, Fantasy, Sequel, Series, Sparks, Tramping, Environment, Development, Social Media, Extinction, Tension, School project)