Jess Butterworth

Publisher's blurb:
"Our land is sinking. It's disappearing into the water. And no one knows how to save it.
Twelve-year-old Eliza and her sister Avery have lived their entire lives in a small fishing village on the coast of Louisiana, growing up alongside turtles, pelicans and porpoises. But now, with sea levels rising, their home is at risk of being swept away.
Determined to save the land, Eliza and her younger sister Avery secretly go searching in the swamp for the dangerous, wolf-like show more loup-garou. If they can prove this legendary creature exists, they're sure that the government will have to protect its habitat - and their community.
But there's one problem: the loup-garou has never been seen before. And with a tropical storm approaching and the sisters deep, deep in the swampland, soon it's not just their home at risk, but their lives as well..." (Booktopia)

My comments:
In the Louisiana swamplands there is a mysterious creature like Yeti that Eliza doesn't believe exists. Her sister believes that if they find it and prove it exists their homes will be saved by the government. To humour her, Eliza and the sister and a friend go looking right before a hurricane is due...and then suddenly, her sister disappears and there are huge footprints in the place where she was last seen.
Part mystery, part environmental and part coming of age drama set in a wild area that the author brings vividly to life in the story. show less

Tash's father is part of the secret resistance in Tibet. After a man self-immolates in protest of the Chinese government, there is a crackdown on Tash's village. In the confusion of soldiers raiding their home, Tash escapes but her parents are arrested. Tash knows that the Dalai Lama can help so she and friend Sam decide to escape to India. It's a treacherous journey through the Himalayas for two kids with yaks and they must deal with storms and encounters with soldiers and other strangers. show more Who can they trust? Kids may need the context of Tibetan history to fully appreciate this book. Aside from that, readers will enjoy the suspense of Tash's journey and appreciate the fears involved. show less

Tash's community in Tibet is occupied by Chinese soldiers. When the soldier's come for Tash's family, Tash grabs her best friend Sam and flees across the mountains. Blizzards, nomads, hunger, and thirst are only a few obstacles they face.

I thought this was a great book for pre-teens. It is an adventure story that also shares a different culture and perspective. Overall, well worth picking up.

In a Nutshell: A thrilling jungle adventure for middle-graders. Covers everything children will enjoy, and then some more!

Story Synopsis:

When twelve-year-old Lark accompanied her mother to Cambodia for a research trip, she never dreamt that she would be stranded on a deserted island with nothing but the clothes on her back and a notebook. All she has for company is a baby gibbon, whom she names Goldie. Lark has no idea how to survive in a tropical jungle. She uses her notebook to pen down

show more

her thoughts, her misgivings, and her daily tasks & adventures, hoping that the notebook would one day save her.
The entire story is written in the first person perspective of Lark writing her thoughts in the notebook.

Think back to your childhood. If you had to enjoy a jungle adventure story, what would you have liked the book to include? show less