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Just Jack by Adele Broadbent
 Napier-born
author Adele Broadbent has always been interested in the 1931 Napier
Earthquake. When her grandfather began sharing his memories of the
event, it sparked the ideas for creating Just Jack, and the main
character is loosely based on her grandfather.
The main character, Wee Jack Baines is an apprentice jockey in
Hastings in the 1930’s. He never shows promise in anything apart
from caring for horses and has always lived in his big brother’s
shadow. He sees becoming a jockey as his chance to shine, and to be
called just Jack but he soon finds his dreams shattered.
Jack soon finds that his harsh and unforgiving boss sees the
apprenticeship as nothing more than a way to get a cheap
stable-hand. Then there is the vindictive stable-mate and the
back-breaking drudgery. There are mysteries too. Who is the
mysterious William, Mr Mac mentions in his sleep and why doesn’t Mrs
Davis use the front room? It is certainly not the life he was
expecting. It is certainly not the life he was expecting. But then a
terrible natural disaster strikes and everything is thrown into
turmoil. Will Jack have the courage and the luck to survive?
Just Jack not only gives readers over nine a personal account of one
of New Zealand’s worst natural disasters, but an insight into a
world that most will not be familiar with, working as a farm hand
for a racehorse trainer. It also shows how much different life was
in the 1930’s. At an age where children are now still at school, in
1930 they were expected to be taking an apprenticeship or working
also minimum wage rates didn’t apply. It is a book that once started
is difficult to put down
RRP $19.99
Published and distributed by HarperCollins Publishers
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Too Many Secrets by
Adele Broadbent
 Rebecca ‘Becs’ Harris is a strictly
urban, feisty, selfish 12 year old drama queen who has made a deal
with her mother. If Becs spends a few months in the country helping
her new step-family renovate an old mansion to resell, then her
mother will be able to afford the expensive school fees to send Becs
to the same private school as her friends are all going to.
Becs wasn’t completely giving her full attention to the details of
the deal though and didn’t realise that the family won’t be living
in the mansion while renovating it, but in a run-down shack in the
bush. She has to cope with no electricity, no cellphone coverage,
and a revolting long-drop. She also thinks she will die of boredom,
but then discovers a secret that will change her life.
Too Many Secrets is about being part of a family whether it is
traditional or blended and no-matter what size. Becs has always had
things her own way but is put in a situation where she must share
with her mum and not only accept but also respect others for their
differences. She also learns to slow down and take in the beauty of
New Zealand. It is an intriguing, humorous, believable (and
sometimes sad) story about a twelve year old girl who is taken
completely out of her comfort zone, and adjusts to a situation she
is sure she will hate. She discovers not only friendship but also a
tragic secret that has been hidden far too long.
RRP $19.99
Published and distributed by HarperCollins Publishers
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