Rosanne Hawke

This great story is set in the Barossa Valley area in South Australia. When Jenefer and her family move away from the city to this small town and into an old family home, built in the 1850s, Jenefer is sure she is going to be miserable. She is not at all prepared for the fascinating journey she embarks on after discovering a secret room in the house and a box filled with intriguing hints about the life of her triple great grandmother. Nor is she prepared for the relationship which developed show more between her and Caleb, whose mother was one of the stolen generation and whose indigenous background has set him apart from much of the local community in ways that Jenefer finds disturbing.
Rosanne Hawke really captures all the intrigue of family history research in this story; the mystery, the possibilities, the excitement of discovery, the images of past lives, the thrill of walking where ones ancestors have walked. The truth unfolds at a great pace – not too much at once and plenty of anticipation about what’s ahead.
The issues around Jenefer’s relationship with Caleb are also explored sensitively and provocatively. Caleb’s background and his character help the reader to consider what it truly means to be Australian, and to reflect on how to deal with prejudice against indigenous Australians. The love that develops between Caleb and Jenefer is touching and powerful.
I found Rosanne’s writing style engaging, her characters believable and likeable, the issues she raises compelling and inspiring. I believe this story will appeal to readers who enjoy history, family intrigues, romance and current issues around prejudice and acceptance. I look forward to reading other stories by Rosanne Hawke. show less

How does one address the horrors of child slavery in the sex trade for teen readers? Tactfully, honestly and implicitly as the author does quite well. Nothing gratuitously graphic (the squirmiest line for me was when a man tells Razaq he does it "better than the girls") but this is definitely better aimed at teens who can grasp the injustices of child slavery and be moved to act.

Where do I begin? A harrowing tale of survival that is gut wrenching and when everything seems absolutely hopeless finally has light at the end of the tunnel.

Here is a Good Reads REVIEW SUMMARY:
Radaq is a young man who loves his life in the mountains. He works hard to support his family and although only 15, he is looking forward to marriage to the girl his parents have chosen. This is the way life should be. Then the mountain is shaken by an earthquake and his whole family is killed. Alone show more and in shock, he is easy prey for a man who claims he will provide him free transport to the city to find his uncle. The transport is free all right, but instead of his uncle, a life of slavery is ahead. First he is sold to a man running a tea shop, but very quickly his good looks catch the eye of another adult and he is sold on and trained in the art of massage, and ‘whatever’.

Awful truth about those who prey on children left vulnerable by terrible disasters is not for the faint-hearted. This is almost an adult novel but older teenagers who live in affluent countries need to know this happens so they can try to do something to prevent it.

I adored the character who lived at the tip and cared for a number of disabled kids abandoned on the streets - he was an excellent foil to the other dregs of humanity and helped keep your faith about human kind as you read about the other low lifes.

A hard read but a must read - this stuff really happens. We cannot pretend it doesn't. show less

Adventure with a touch of magic allows travel through time and space to create a lovely read and fun mystery.

Pepper (a cat) is still underway with Zam (a human boy) on a magical carpet, which leads them to various places as it drags them along on its quest...whatever that might be. They're hoping that it will return them home, at one point. This time, the carpet takes them to a town, which has just been through an earthquake. Buildings are destroyed and everyone is trying its best to recoup show more from the disaster. The two friends meet a princess, who lives in a houseboat, and wants to introduce them to other town members, who might be able to help them with their journey. But then, Pepper gets animal-napped!

This is book five in a series, and it works best if the entire series is read, one after the other. The adventures are part of a journey and build on Pepper and Zam's hope to return home to Australia one day. The author does, however, give a quick summary of the adventures up to this point, so readers, who haven't visited the series yet, won't feel completely lost. And this works well enough, too.

There's a lot of goodness in this read. First off, Pepper makes a lovely main character, especially with Zam right on the side. Zam understands her, and the two work together very well. Both are curious and help where they can, but the longing to return home is what pulls at the heart strings. Still, they are very open to the culture and people they meet. This allows historical and cultural goodness to flow in through the story as readers discover everything right along with the pair. I also enjoyed the addition of an earthquake struck area, since this adds an original aspect not often seen in chapter book literature. So, there is tons of information slipped into the scenes, which flows naturally right into the story.

The text is fitting to those readers, who are sure of their words, but simply need more practice before diving into larger reads. The vocabulary not only supports growth but also adds some foreign language knowledge along the way...just a little bit. The font is larger to add to reading ease, and the illustrations support readers as they discover they tale.

It's a quick-paced read, which keeps things flowing. Despite the cultural goodness, the descriptions are actually kept at a minimum. So, boredom isn't really a danger. There's a nice mystery aspect and enough tension with a little danger to make it exciting. Plus, with an adorable cat as the main character, this is a tale to be enjoyed...oh, and let's not forget the touch of magic carpet fun. show less