If only Amorangi had done his homework. On the way to school he remembers the classroom treat for doing this homework and he doesn’t
want to miss out. Surely popping back in time to grab something old to please his teacher will only take a minute?
Arriving in a time with any technology absent, horse and cart or walking the only transport, and trees towering over them, someone takes offence at their bright clothing. Amorangi’s Pokemon shirt and Millie’s cat print leggings certainly stood out, but being called “Devil children,” was a bit much.
It’s only another moment when they are back where they belong – with something missing from their neighbourhood. A huge Rimu tree. Little did they know that the loss of this tree caused havoc back in time too.
A girl named Rawinia saw the two brightly dressed children appear then shortly vanish into thin air. Were they patupaiarehe – the tree fairies her family spoke of? Soon this is the last thing on her mind as her family is thrown into chaos.
Amorangi and Millie know they must put things right again, travelling back into time to work out what happened to the Rimu. Time travelling however is much more mixed up than before. They arrive on a ship, just as it is sinking! They are separated and experience different times as they try and find each other.
Millie makes a good friend in Rawinia who still believes she is fairy folk, as they flee the beginnings of a NZ land war. Meanwhile, Amorangi makes an unlikely friend while they dodge flying, flaming rocks being spat from an awakening volcano!
They work out what they must do, but it seems impossible. If only Amorangi had done his homework!
The second in this series, Rimu: The Tree of Time is even more gripping than the 1st!
With a little confidence taken from their first trips back in time, siblings Amorangi and Millie believe they know what they are doing. It’s not long into the story that they realise they have made a terrible mistake, with horrifying consequences.
Not only have they changed their surroundings in real time, a life lost steps up the stakes. The tension steadily rises throughout this episode, whilst taking readers back into Aotearoa NZ history. Arriving on a lurching, sinking Wahine is a terrifying experience for the characters and a glimpse of how frightening our worst maritime disaster was for those on board in 1968.
The gradual build up of tensions between Māori and British Forces is written well, culminating in whole papa kāinga (villages) forced to move under threat of gunfire. In another time, earthquakes are the ringing bell for one of the characters as Mount Tarawera begins to erupt.
These historical events that shaped Aotearoa’s NZ’s history are expertly woven into the narrative, giving not only an exciting read, but an open door into classroom activities and study.
An added terror for the characters is the feeling they are being rubbed out – never to exist. Had they doomed not only others in the past but themselves too by popping back in time to fetch a homework item?
I much enjoyed this episode of Amorangi and Millie’s Adventures. The gripping plot, and a face-paced read kept me turning pages right until the fascinating Historical Note at the end from the author.
Author – Lauren Keenan
Age – 8+
(2024, Huia Publishers, Aotearoa, New Zealand, NZ, Historical, History, Siblings, 1860, Pekapeka Block, NZ Wars, Māori, Pakeha, Tension, Taranaki, New Plymouth, Settlers, Colonists, Colonialism, Wahine Disaster, 1968, Sinking, Tarawera Eruption, 1886, Volcano, 1860, Series, Family, Friendship, Time Travel)