Public speaking is something Edith (Eddie) McGrath will avoid at all costs. When she wins a competition to work with her local MP for a day to find a community issue she can work on, she turns down the opportunity. If spending a day with strangers isn’t bad enough, the prize culminates in meeting the Prime Minister in Parliament after delivering a speech about her chosen community project. That is NOT going to happen.

Fallout from turning down the prize is swift. Eddie’s sister Beth has written a piece for the school magazine and is livid she can’t print it. Beth applies even more pressure reminding Eddie how disappointed their older sister Claire will be. Claire is studying politics and is fervent about woman’s rights.

Eddie a self-confessed introvert, would rather hide up in her home’s turret studio with a favourite book and her adored cat Olaf, than even think of public speaking. Pushing this possible nightmare aside, Eddie intends to carry on – life as usual.

Her friend Liam asks her to sneak out one night to rescue some chickens. When he admits he was the one who stole them in the first place, things get messy, and that’s without mentioning the inevitable chicken poop. This rescue mission soon reveals a runaway, harbouring her own chicken friend. This runaway has a problem Eddie just might be able to remedy. But it involves yet another speech.

When Eddie’s dad has an accident and tells her he will be back on his feet in time for her speech at Parliament, she knows she has to do it. How can she deny him?

The chickens, a small dog with clicky hips, an elderly runaway, and Eddie’s friends all help her face her fears, save some SPCA cats, improve many lives and finally – deliver her speech.

Set in Wellington NZ, this is a story of a young kiwi teen overcoming her introvert personality in order to deliver a speech. The easy way out was to say no, but family life has other ideas. Eddie has an interesting family, and quirky friends and I enjoyed the dynamics between the many characters.

Eddie is a believable bookaholic, diving deep into her many literary heroine’s actions to find her own courage. She’s kind and funny, but is no pushover either. Her love for her dad is the real reason she perseveres, just as his pride and love for her helps him with his own goal.

Sometimes what you fear isn’t so bad after all – and if you can do it once, you know you can master it again and again.

Author – Brigid Feehan

Age – 10+

See Teacher’s Notes here

(2021, Onetree House, NZ, New Zealand Author, Capital, School, Family, Druids, Chickens, SPCA, Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, Foster animals, Cats, Dogs, Animals, Retirement homes, Democracy, Voting, Community, Fears, Public Speaking, Speeches)