What is Ana & Frog about?
Cousins Ana and Frog discover a much-loved horse is missing from her paddock. They begin an investigation around their small rural town, learning about other residents as they go.
The sleuthing points them to classmates, to other cousins, into town and out again.
Plot summary of Ana & Frog (No Spoilers)
When cousins and best friends Ana and Frog arrive to ride Whaea McCready’s horse Minty, they immediately know something is wrong. Minty is a 25 year old horse and she is not in her paddock.
Days pass and the police have been, but there is still no answer. Where is Minty?
The cousins soon learn that other horses have gone missing in the area. The mention of a local dog-food factory makes their minds spin. They know they must start looking for Minty themselves.
The girls are led one way then another as they follow the clues and soon the police are involved, but not for the right reasons. Will they ever find Minty?
Review
A purely kiwi yarn, with close cousins hanging out, using their reo in day-to-day events and allowing kiwi kids to see themselves in print.
The tension of a much loved horse rises as days pass, but plenty of humour is also present throughout, as the cousins investigate. They are close but very different, complimenting the exciting plot. The story leads the reader through a fun-to-read mystery with a surprising but satisfying ending.
Book Style
151 pages / 14 Chapters / Some full page illustrations sprinkled through story by Story Hemi-Morehouse.
FAQ’s
What age is it for?
8+
Where & When is it set?
Small town Aotearoa New Zealand
What is the Point of View / Tense of the novel?
Third person / Past Tense
Is there Violence?
No
What genre is Ana & Frog?
Middle Grade Mystery
Themes
Family / Mystery / Friendship / Animals / Determination / Cooperation
Is it part of a series?
No
Author
Shelley Burne-Field
Publisher
Allen & Unwin NZ
(2026, Allen & Unwin NZ, Rural town, Small town, Aotearoa, New Zealand Author, Animals, Horses, Mystery, Cooperation, Friendship, Bullies, Dementia, Crime, Humour, Funny, Real Life)