Here's a selection of recent reviews of some of my books.
(Booktrailers 4Kids and YA)
Joseph St George begins his story as a school boy in Berlin before the beginning of World War Two. His ordinary world is turned upside down when his British father is arrested as a spy. Joe and his mother escape Berlin but when they become separated Joe is sent to New Zealand. His return sometime later, sees him caught up in a world at war and his search for his parents sees him infiltrate the Hitler Youth movement. His loyalty is all a lie, of course, as it becomes clear that in order to find his parents he must become a spy. This puts him in constant risk of being found out and life becomes more and more dangerous. Survival becomes everything.
Joe's orders are to get closer to Hitler and this works well. He begins moving in the same circle as Hitler. Indeed, Hitler sees him as his protégé. Joe then makes connections to the best and worst of the people surrounding and protecting Hitler. Joe's order is huge, absolutely dangerous and will be life-threatening if caught. There is always the question about who to trust. Who are the good guys, and who are the bad? As he draws closer to Hitler he becomes aware that someone is watching him but he has no idea who. He also finds himself attracted to Sofie, a fellow Hitler Youth member, but their friendship could ruin everything. As his feelings for her grow, it puts them both in danger.
Joe does things that go against his natural kindness and caring. He struggles at times with guilt, and the realisation that some of the things he does, no matter how abhorrent, are actually necessary. War brings out the best and worst of people.
The suspense is palpable. I could almost hear the bombs in the background and feel the fear. This is a solid, gritty read and at times, quite confronting. While Joe's story may be fiction, many of the events and people are real. This makes the series more realistic, more believable. Joe grows as a character, but he also retains a vulnerability, especially around people he cares about, which makes him more likeable. His flaws and strengths are real.
I loved the first two books and have been hanging out for the third for ages. I was hooked from the moment I sat down to read. I couldn't put the book down. I sat on my bed reading instead of getting ready for work. I was in danger myself, for being late as I just wanted to know what was going to happen next in Joe's world.
Like the previous books in this series, there is action, suspense, danger, history, a bit of a romance and a few surprises too. I've said it in previous reviews of this series, but this really has everything. Great writing, great story, from a great writer.
There are a number of photos in the back of the book of the real people in this narrative, which provides interesting details.
Totally recommend this YA series. I would love to see these books as a movie or TV series. An audio version would also be great.
(Hooked on Books)
Cassie Clark: Outlaw, written by Brian Falkner, is an action-packed novel full of shocking plot twists and exciting thrills. This book is about a teenage girl on a mission to find her father, a prominent figure in the government, who has disappeared. The newspapers say he ran off with a news reporter, but Cassie will not, cannot believe it. She follows leads around the country, brushing with death on multiple accounts. Above anything, this journey tests her judgement, her courage, her strength, and her loyalty as a daughter and a friend.
What I really liked about this book was that even though Cassie experiences everything abnormal and unlikely, she is an entirely relatable character! She is a teenage girl struggling with her emotions, finding it nearly impossible to decide who to trust, and is put through the ultimate test of bravery when forced to make crucial decisions on her own. She must work out who she is and how she fits into the world, and it's an incredible journey to embark on with her.
The supporting roles in this book are fantastic. Her mother, sister, friends, love interest, enemies and allies all added depth to Cassie's character, while giving the reader a rollercoaster ride of emotions. Cassie has her flaws but learns to make them strengths with the help of the people around her, whether they are trying to save her or destroy her.
One of my favourite relationships in this book was the one between Cassie and her younger sister. You can instantly tell they have had their ups and downs, and maybe not always gotten along. They have opposite personalities, and don't understand one another, but throughout the book their relationship develops and strengthens; a true lesson in sistership and resilience.
Cassie Clark: Outlaw is the perfect read for people who love teen fiction, action, coming of age, and drama genres. The storyline and characters are a strong reminder of our own lives, while giving us the unexpected and unknown in the form of life and death situations and hierarchy, which is what makes it impossible to put down. Falkner certainly knows how to tell a good story.
(Hooked on Books)
It's 1941. World War Two is raging and Germany has taken over almost all of Western Europe. Russia still stands, but Germany plans to invade any day.
Now Hitler's unofficial heir, Joe St George is still in Berchtesgaden – a small town in the Bavarian Alps. His previous mission of infiltrating an elite Hitler Youth programme is complete, and he's become a part of Hitler's trusted inner circle. But unlike the rest of this select group, he's a spy. And not Hitler's spy. He's a spy for MI5.
Now MI5 has a new job for Joe. They want Hitler dead. And they want Joe to be the one to kill him.
Under suspicion from the Gestapo and the SS, Joe must navigate a precarious and potentially fatal path between the rivalry and politics of Hitler's right hand men, the dangers of his new mission, and his own feelings and opinions. Make one tiny mistake and everything's over.
Wolf's Lair by Brian Falkner is an emotional rollercoaster, with a perfect blend of excitement, romance and suspense. After reading the first two books in the Katipo Joe trilogy I had high hopes for the finale and I wasn't disappointed.
As I raced through page after page I was on the edge of my seat. The tension and conflict felt so real – nobody is safe and anyone could die. Throughout the read my thoughts were a cycle of what's going to happen next? and will everything turn out all right? As you can probably tell, I didn't get much done that day – apart from succeeding to read the whole book!
Compared to Blitzkrieg and Spycraft, Wolf's Lair really amps up the action – which is saying something, as both the previous books were also totally gripping and fast-paced. I think this is partly due to having Hitler at the forefront of the story. Falkner has included Hitler as a ‘living, breathing character' as opposed to ‘only seen from afar', and it certainly adds to the tension and terror to have Hitler looming over everything.
Another reason is character growth. Joe definitely matures over the course of the book, but it is his girlfriend, Sofie, who I thought changes the most. From a shy, timid girl who refuses to play any part in Joe's missions, she becomes the driving force behind a plan to assassinate Hitler.
The setting also influences the mood of the novel. Though the story starts in the sunny hills of Bavaria it soon moves to the creepier and more eerie Wolf's Lair – the seemingly impenetrable Nazi headquarters which is protected by dense forest, three security zones, guards and a minefield.
‘It feels more like the setting for a Gothic horror story. A tale of vampires and demons, and monsters that live in the shadows.'
Wolf's Lair is the last book in the Katipo Joe series, but I felt like there was the potential to have more. I would have loved this! The epilogue does leave the reader hanging and it could have elaborated further on what happened after the war (did Joe keep working for MI5? Did he go back to New Zealand? What happened to Sofie?) Mind you, maybe I'm just trying to find reasons for the series to go on a bit longer!
All in all, Wolf's Lair is a great end to the Katipo Joe trilogy, and if you're looking for a riveting spy story, I highly recommend it.
(Kids-bookreview.com)
Despite having had Brian as a visiting author at both of my last schools, and I might add, you would never regret doing so yourself – this guy has even the most blasé of senior boys eating out of his hand! – I hadn't got around to reading either of the first Katipo Joe novels. I'm not only grateful for the opportunity to review this third in the series but will now go back and read the earlier ones.
I think anyone in a school library will admit that frequently there can be a dearth of really gripping, exciting fiction that will engage the interest of older boys, those reluctant readers who will stick to the same adventure series they read back in upper primary simply because they can't find anything else. Therefore, you need to order this series and book talk it up big to your chaps, both boys and girls.
Joseph St George raised in Germany by English spy parents is the perfect candidate for MI5 to infiltrate Hitler Youth and carry out top secret missions. The first two have been fraught, dangerous, and exhausting and Joe has little stomach for a third, but his parents, especially his mother, are in danger so his protests are quickly shut down.
Falkner really has a gift for building superb tension in his plot and his skill with ‘show don't tell' is now on my agenda to share with Year 9 English students, many of whom are struggling with this aspect in their current short story writing.
Joe is detailed to replace and impersonate a boy selected as one of the candidates for an elite competition, conceived by the Nazi elite. As you can well imagine, the prize offered for the successful entrant is dazzling, however the cost of failure is torture – even death. The other contestants are, by turns, likeable and loathsome and, overall, my reaction was the realisation of just how successfully Hitler manipulated the youngsters of German to become, essentially, a living arsenal. The virtual tour, as it were, of such infamous settings as the Eagle's Nest provides a chilling backdrop to the non-stop action. A really clever device Brian employs, are the extracts from (adult) Joe's memoirs scattered throughout, which allow the reader insight into the character's thoughts and emotions.
“I have been accused of whitewashing the Nazi leadership in my memoirs. Some people say I make them seem human. But therein lies the problem. I saw these men up close. They were human. If we think of them only as monsters and demons we may lose sight of the fact that they were very much like you and I. They had the same number of eyes, ears and limbs. If we forget what humans are capable of, we risk it happening all over again.”
There is not one of us that could deny this, in my opinion, particularly given the terrible events happening across the world right now.
Every bit as thrilling, and yes – often implausible – as Anthony Horowitz' Alex Rider stories, this will capture the imagination of even the most jaded teen. Set squarely amidst real historical events, with chilling insights into key figures and attitudes of the Nazi regime, this exciting tale of heroism, intense action, a little romance and devastating tragedy will have your older readers wanting more. Needless to say, Brian is already on my list of intended authors to visit, hopefully, this year.
I strongly suggest you order this series immediately, just as I will be doing for my new library [which is in dire need of zhushing} and recommending it your older readers. Naturally with the wealth of historical fact woven throughout, it also makes an excellent choice for ‘read around your topic' for those students of modern conflicts.
(Bob's Book Blog)
The epic conclusion to this action packed spy thriller about Katipo Joe, a teenage spy during WW2 whose skill and intellect outwitted the Nazi enemy.
In book 1 he escaped Nazi Germany with his mother, witnessed the Blitz and was trained as a spy to kill a leading Nazi in France. In book2 he penetrated the Hitler Youth Movement and was accepted to compete with other leading German youth to become Hitler's successor at the Eagles Nest in the Austrian Alps. Both books are great action stories and are reviewed elsewhere on this blog.
Wolf's Lair is Hitler's hideout and strategy fortress in East Prussia from which he masterminded Operation Barbarossa or the attack on Russia.
Joe is ensconced as Hitler's youth successor under the name of Jurgen and he travels to Wolf's Lair on Hitler's special train Der Fuhrersonderzug and the action and tension is plentiful. His mission is to kill Hitler and we know from the start he is going to fail.
Arrival at Die Wolfsschanze (Wolf's Lair) with his German youth classmates Thomas, Heike and Sophie is tense as they witness the invasion of Russia, the persecution of the Jews and Poles and the cruelty of the SS.
The highlight of this final episode is the personification of Hitler and his Nazi cronies Himmler, Goring Goebbels and Bormann, the biggest challenge Brian Falkner had with this novel. I think he succeeds but you the reader can decide for yourself.
The series as a whole has been the best action writing I have read from a New Zealand writer and rivals any overseas novelists. Don't miss this one or the whole series, it is riveting.
Needless to say all the loose ends and side stories are sorted out as is Joe's future. There is a couple of moving characters in Sophie and Polish girl Felka. If you miss this you will kick yourself.
(AustCrime)
The winner of the 2021 Ngaio Marsh Award for Younger Readers, KATIPO JOE is an almost pitch perfect vehicle for older kids (12+) to get some insights into the reality of war, and how identity can come with consequences, and loyalty is hard.
A 12 year old New Zealand boy living in Berlin in 1938, Joe's parents are diplomats, and they all watch as the Nazi's rise in power, and the mistreatment of local Jews escalates. Discovering his parents are actually spies causes a big enough shock in Joe's world, but when is father is arrested by the Gestapo, Joe and his mother manage to get out of Germany, by the skin of their teeth. Joe's mother heads for London, but sends him home to the safety of New Zealand at the same time, although by 1941 Joe has stowed away, heading for London, in search of his mother. By then it's 1941, he arrives in the middle of the blitz, bombs falling all around, only to discover the addresses on his mother's letters don't exist. A brief sighting of her outside Churchill's War Rooms becomes the last he knows of her, as he finds out that she's then presumed dead in a bombing.
His presence has been noticed however, and he's recruited by MI5 on the most dangerous of missions - to infiltrate the Hitler Youth movement, and assassinate a prominent Nazi general.
Styled very much as an adventure novel, this reads like a rip-snorting thriller, but, even if you've not read the blurb, there's an underlying sense of truth in this story, with historical accuracy and authority. Joe's such a believable, sympathetic, tricky character he leaps off the page, whether he's reeling from the mistreatment of Jews, determined to get out of the safety of New Zealand to be with his mother where he believes he belongs, or taking up such a dangerous and deadly mission. Arriving in London at the height of the blitz his fear is palpable, as is his determination, and his sense of right and wrong - which takes a battering and somehow returns time and time again.
If, as the blurb puts it, the story of KATIPO JOE is "Inspired by true events, ... a story of incredible heroism, unlikely friendships and unbearable tragedy, set against the backdrop of World War II." then we need more Joes in this world, and a lot less war. Here's hoping a lot of young people get a chance to read books like this, and to work through the challenges it raises.
(Booktrailers 4Kids and YA) ▼
Joseph St George begins his story as a school boy in Berlin before the beginning of World War Two. His ordinary world is turned upside down when his British father is arrested as a spy. Joe and his mother escape Berlin but when they become separated Joe is sent to New Zealand. His return sometime later, sees him caught up in a world at war and his search for his parents sees him infiltrate the Hitler Youth movement. His loyalty is all a lie, of course, as it becomes clear that in order to find his parents he must become a spy. This puts him in constant risk of being found out and life becomes more and more dangerous. Survival becomes everything.
Joe's orders are to get closer to Hitler and this works well. He begins moving in the same circle as Hitler. Indeed, Hitler sees him as his protégé. Joe then makes connections to the best and worst of the people surrounding and protecting Hitler. Joe's order is huge, absolutely dangerous and will be life-threatening if caught. There is always the question about who to trust. Who are the good guys, and who are the bad? As he draws closer to Hitler he becomes aware that someone is watching him but he has no idea who. He also finds himself attracted to Sofie, a fellow Hitler Youth member, but their friendship could ruin everything. As his feelings for her grow, it puts them both in danger.
Joe does things that go against his natural kindness and caring. He struggles at times with guilt, and the realisation that some of the things he does, no matter how abhorrent, are actually necessary. War brings out the best and worst of people.
The suspense is palpable. I could almost hear the bombs in the background and feel the fear. This is a solid, gritty read and at times, quite confronting. While Joe's story may be fiction, many of the events and people are real. This makes the series more realistic, more believable. Joe grows as a character, but he also retains a vulnerability, especially around people he cares about, which makes him more likeable. His flaws and strengths are real.
I loved the first two books and have been hanging out for the third for ages. I was hooked from the moment I sat down to read. I couldn't put the book down. I sat on my bed reading instead of getting ready for work. I was in danger myself, for being late as I just wanted to know what was going to happen next in Joe's world.
Like the previous books in this series, there is action, suspense, danger, history, a bit of a romance and a few surprises too. I've said it in previous reviews of this series, but this really has everything. Great writing, great story, from a great writer.
There are a number of photos in the back of the book of the real people in this narrative, which provides interesting details.
Totally recommend this YA series. I would love to see these books as a movie or TV series. An audio version would also be great.
(Hooked on Books) ▼
Cassie Clark: Outlaw, written by Brian Falkner, is an action-packed novel full of shocking plot twists and exciting thrills. This book is about a teenage girl on a mission to find her father, a prominent figure in the government, who has disappeared. The newspapers say he ran off with a news reporter, but Cassie will not, cannot believe it. She follows leads around the country, brushing with death on multiple accounts. Above anything, this journey tests her judgement, her courage, her strength, and her loyalty as a daughter and a friend.
What I really liked about this book was that even though Cassie experiences everything abnormal and unlikely, she is an entirely relatable character! She is a teenage girl struggling with her emotions, finding it nearly impossible to decide who to trust, and is put through the ultimate test of bravery when forced to make crucial decisions on her own. She must work out who she is and how she fits into the world, and it's an incredible journey to embark on with her.
The supporting roles in this book are fantastic. Her mother, sister, friends, love interest, enemies and allies all added depth to Cassie's character, while giving the reader a rollercoaster ride of emotions. Cassie has her flaws but learns to make them strengths with the help of the people around her, whether they are trying to save her or destroy her.
One of my favourite relationships in this book was the one between Cassie and her younger sister. You can instantly tell they have had their ups and downs, and maybe not always gotten along. They have opposite personalities, and don't understand one another, but throughout the book their relationship develops and strengthens; a true lesson in sistership and resilience.
Cassie Clark: Outlaw is the perfect read for people who love teen fiction, action, coming of age, and drama genres. The storyline and characters are a strong reminder of our own lives, while giving us the unexpected and unknown in the form of life and death situations and hierarchy, which is what makes it impossible to put down. Falkner certainly knows how to tell a good story.
(Hooked on Books) ▼
It's 1941. World War Two is raging and Germany has taken over almost all of Western Europe. Russia still stands, but Germany plans to invade any day.
Now Hitler's unofficial heir, Joe St George is still in Berchtesgaden – a small town in the Bavarian Alps. His previous mission of infiltrating an elite Hitler Youth programme is complete, and he's become a part of Hitler's trusted inner circle. But unlike the rest of this select group, he's a spy. And not Hitler's spy. He's a spy for MI5.
Now MI5 has a new job for Joe. They want Hitler dead. And they want Joe to be the one to kill him.
Under suspicion from the Gestapo and the SS, Joe must navigate a precarious and potentially fatal path between the rivalry and politics of Hitler's right hand men, the dangers of his new mission, and his own feelings and opinions. Make one tiny mistake and everything's over.
Wolf's Lair by Brian Falkner is an emotional rollercoaster, with a perfect blend of excitement, romance and suspense. After reading the first two books in the Katipo Joe trilogy I had high hopes for the finale and I wasn't disappointed.
As I raced through page after page I was on the edge of my seat. The tension and conflict felt so real – nobody is safe and anyone could die. Throughout the read my thoughts were a cycle of what's going to happen next? and will everything turn out all right? As you can probably tell, I didn't get much done that day – apart from succeeding to read the whole book!
Compared to Blitzkrieg and Spycraft, Wolf's Lair really amps up the action – which is saying something, as both the previous books were also totally gripping and fast-paced. I think this is partly due to having Hitler at the forefront of the story. Falkner has included Hitler as a ‘living, breathing character' as opposed to ‘only seen from afar', and it certainly adds to the tension and terror to have Hitler looming over everything.
Another reason is character growth. Joe definitely matures over the course of the book, but it is his girlfriend, Sofie, who I thought changes the most. From a shy, timid girl who refuses to play any part in Joe's missions, she becomes the driving force behind a plan to assassinate Hitler.
The setting also influences the mood of the novel. Though the story starts in the sunny hills of Bavaria it soon moves to the creepier and more eerie Wolf's Lair – the seemingly impenetrable Nazi headquarters which is protected by dense forest, three security zones, guards and a minefield.
‘It feels more like the setting for a Gothic horror story. A tale of vampires and demons, and monsters that live in the shadows.'
Wolf's Lair is the last book in the Katipo Joe series, but I felt like there was the potential to have more. I would have loved this! The epilogue does leave the reader hanging and it could have elaborated further on what happened after the war (did Joe keep working for MI5? Did he go back to New Zealand? What happened to Sofie?) Mind you, maybe I'm just trying to find reasons for the series to go on a bit longer!
All in all, Wolf's Lair is a great end to the Katipo Joe trilogy, and if you're looking for a riveting spy story, I highly recommend it.
(Kids-bookreview.com) ▼
Despite having had Brian as a visiting author at both of my last schools, and I might add, you would never regret doing so yourself – this guy has even the most blasé of senior boys eating out of his hand! – I hadn't got around to reading either of the first Katipo Joe novels. I'm not only grateful for the opportunity to review this third in the series but will now go back and read the earlier ones.
I think anyone in a school library will admit that frequently there can be a dearth of really gripping, exciting fiction that will engage the interest of older boys, those reluctant readers who will stick to the same adventure series they read back in upper primary simply because they can't find anything else. Therefore, you need to order this series and book talk it up big to your chaps, both boys and girls.
Joseph St George raised in Germany by English spy parents is the perfect candidate for MI5 to infiltrate Hitler Youth and carry out top secret missions. The first two have been fraught, dangerous, and exhausting and Joe has little stomach for a third, but his parents, especially his mother, are in danger so his protests are quickly shut down.
Falkner really has a gift for building superb tension in his plot and his skill with ‘show don't tell' is now on my agenda to share with Year 9 English students, many of whom are struggling with this aspect in their current short story writing.
Joe is detailed to replace and impersonate a boy selected as one of the candidates for an elite competition, conceived by the Nazi elite. As you can well imagine, the prize offered for the successful entrant is dazzling, however the cost of failure is torture – even death. The other contestants are, by turns, likeable and loathsome and, overall, my reaction was the realisation of just how successfully Hitler manipulated the youngsters of German to become, essentially, a living arsenal. The virtual tour, as it were, of such infamous settings as the Eagle's Nest provides a chilling backdrop to the non-stop action. A really clever device Brian employs, are the extracts from (adult) Joe's memoirs scattered throughout, which allow the reader insight into the character's thoughts and emotions.
“I have been accused of whitewashing the Nazi leadership in my memoirs. Some people say I make them seem human. But therein lies the problem. I saw these men up close. They were human. If we think of them only as monsters and demons we may lose sight of the fact that they were very much like you and I. They had the same number of eyes, ears and limbs. If we forget what humans are capable of, we risk it happening all over again.”
There is not one of us that could deny this, in my opinion, particularly given the terrible events happening across the world right now.
Every bit as thrilling, and yes – often implausible – as Anthony Horowitz' Alex Rider stories, this will capture the imagination of even the most jaded teen. Set squarely amidst real historical events, with chilling insights into key figures and attitudes of the Nazi regime, this exciting tale of heroism, intense action, a little romance and devastating tragedy will have your older readers wanting more. Needless to say, Brian is already on my list of intended authors to visit, hopefully, this year.
I strongly suggest you order this series immediately, just as I will be doing for my new library [which is in dire need of zhushing} and recommending it your older readers. Naturally with the wealth of historical fact woven throughout, it also makes an excellent choice for ‘read around your topic' for those students of modern conflicts.
(Bob's Book Blog) ▼
The epic conclusion to this action packed spy thriller about Katipo Joe, a teenage spy during WW2 whose skill and intellect outwitted the Nazi enemy.
In book 1 he escaped Nazi Germany with his mother, witnessed the Blitz and was trained as a spy to kill a leading Nazi in France. In book2 he penetrated the Hitler Youth Movement and was accepted to compete with other leading German youth to become Hitler's successor at the Eagles Nest in the Austrian Alps. Both books are great action stories and are reviewed elsewhere on this blog.
Wolf's Lair is Hitler's hideout and strategy fortress in East Prussia from which he masterminded Operation Barbarossa or the attack on Russia.
Joe is ensconced as Hitler's youth successor under the name of Jurgen and he travels to Wolf's Lair on Hitler's special train Der Fuhrersonderzug and the action and tension is plentiful. His mission is to kill Hitler and we know from the start he is going to fail.
Arrival at Die Wolfsschanze (Wolf's Lair) with his German youth classmates Thomas, Heike and Sophie is tense as they witness the invasion of Russia, the persecution of the Jews and Poles and the cruelty of the SS.
The highlight of this final episode is the personification of Hitler and his Nazi cronies Himmler, Goring Goebbels and Bormann, the biggest challenge Brian Falkner had with this novel. I think he succeeds but you the reader can decide for yourself.
The series as a whole has been the best action writing I have read from a New Zealand writer and rivals any overseas novelists. Don't miss this one or the whole series, it is riveting.
Needless to say all the loose ends and side stories are sorted out as is Joe's future. There is a couple of moving characters in Sophie and Polish girl Felka. If you miss this you will kick yourself.
(AustCrime) ▼
The winner of the 2021 Ngaio Marsh Award for Younger Readers, KATIPO JOE is an almost pitch perfect vehicle for older kids (12+) to get some insights into the reality of war, and how identity can come with consequences, and loyalty is hard.
A 12 year old New Zealand boy living in Berlin in 1938, Joe's parents are diplomats, and they all watch as the Nazi's rise in power, and the mistreatment of local Jews escalates. Discovering his parents are actually spies causes a big enough shock in Joe's world, but when is father is arrested by the Gestapo, Joe and his mother manage to get out of Germany, by the skin of their teeth. Joe's mother heads for London, but sends him home to the safety of New Zealand at the same time, although by 1941 Joe has stowed away, heading for London, in search of his mother. By then it's 1941, he arrives in the middle of the blitz, bombs falling all around, only to discover the addresses on his mother's letters don't exist. A brief sighting of her outside Churchill's War Rooms becomes the last he knows of her, as he finds out that she's then presumed dead in a bombing.
His presence has been noticed however, and he's recruited by MI5 on the most dangerous of missions - to infiltrate the Hitler Youth movement, and assassinate a prominent Nazi general.
Styled very much as an adventure novel, this reads like a rip-snorting thriller, but, even if you've not read the blurb, there's an underlying sense of truth in this story, with historical accuracy and authority. Joe's such a believable, sympathetic, tricky character he leaps off the page, whether he's reeling from the mistreatment of Jews, determined to get out of the safety of New Zealand to be with his mother where he believes he belongs, or taking up such a dangerous and deadly mission. Arriving in London at the height of the blitz his fear is palpable, as is his determination, and his sense of right and wrong - which takes a battering and somehow returns time and time again.
If, as the blurb puts it, the story of KATIPO JOE is "Inspired by true events, ... a story of incredible heroism, unlikely friendships and unbearable tragedy, set against the backdrop of World War II." then we need more Joes in this world, and a lot less war. Here's hoping a lot of young people get a chance to read books like this, and to work through the challenges it raises.
