Mary-Anne Scott

This was a quick and really engaging story set on a New Zealand farm. It is a simply written story with relatable characters. I did think our main character, Phil, was written slightly younger than a 15 year old but it fitted in well with how vulnerable he felt with his father unwell and the unsettling experience of finding his feet in a new environment. It contains some strong themes relating to families dealing with difficult situations, and it also briefly touches on the issue of how farming impacts the environment. The last 1/4 was pretty gripping. I thoroughly recommend getting a few copies for your NZ intermediate and high school libraries as it is a good piece of NZ fiction with a male protagonist (like hen's teeth these days!).… (meer)

Finn Fletcher is 16 and lives in a small coastal town with his hardworking, harangued mother and his drug addled father lives within the community. When his father is accused of a hit and run, Finn (reluctantly) accepts his grandmother's offer of sending him to boarding school in Auckland, as she is aware that he is going nowhere fast. It is at this stage that you begin to think did Finn have a role to play in this hit and run that has caused death. Scott does a good job of bringing out Finn's character as he is a nasty, disrespectful boy to his parents and grandparent. In Auckland he meets and falls for Mia, a rich Italian girl who also has lost sight of what is real in life as she is very materialistic and spoilt rotten. Mia's mother cannot stand Finn and Eddie (school bully) is out to get him also as he is also in love with Mia. Eddie knows Finn's secret about his dad beign up for manslaughter adn drug use ...Blackmail and lies ...will Finn ever face the truth? It's not until disaster (drowning of his mate) befalls one of his friends at an illicit after-ball party that Finn learns what is most important in life - Honesty will prevail.… (meer)

A hit and run in Finn Fletcher’s small town of Waimea has resulted in death – and Finn’s druggie father is about to stand trial for it. Finn is sent off to boarding school to escape the speculation and gossip. There he makes new friends and starts dating the girl who sits next to him in the symphonic band – and who just happens to be the most popular girl in school. When his secret is uncovered by a bully, Finn becomes rattled and the weight he is carrying about with him threatens to overwhelm. Blackmail, lies and bad decisions culminate at a banned after-ball party with tragic results.

This is a good book for teenage boys, dealing with contemporary issues and turning points in people's lives.… (meer)

Finn's druggie father is about to stand trial for manslaughter after a hit and run incident and so his grandfather uses his connections to have Finn accepted into an exclusive boarding school. Boarding school life is quite a change for Finn but he makes some friends and acquires a very popular girlfriend. Unfortunately he also makes an enemy - someone who knows his secret. Things come to a head at an after ball party and life will never be the same.
This a great read for teens that tackles some gritty contemporary issues. Finn is very well portrayed being both believable and likable and the problems he faces are not unique to upperclass boarding schools.… (meer)