This is a wee gem of a book with something to appeal to all types of readers, especially Intermediate age Kiwi kids. Fourteen year old Melissa and eleven year old William are looking forward to spending their summer holidays in Queenstown and are devastated when, due to financial problems, their parents cancel the holiday. Instead Melissa and William are to go with their elderly (and decidedly odd) grandparents to the old family bach in Marlborough Sounds. Not only is the bach run down, it doesn't have electricity, an indoor toilet...or cell phone coverage! The siblings only reluctantly agree to go when they are told they will each be paid $1000 if they help their grandparents fix up the bach. In chapters narrated alternatively by Melissa and William we are entertained by the challenges they face as the two city kids adapt to life without all the "mod cons" and their struggles to relate to their grandparents. But just when they are starting to enjoy themselves, a storm brings down the telephone line to the isolated bach and one of the family suffers a serious accident...
"Dunger" would also make a great read aloud.
Mrs Boniface.
"Dunger" would also make a great read aloud.
Mrs Boniface.