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Age group: ECE Junior Middle Secondary Adult

Genre: Action Adventure Fantasy Fiction Historical Memoir Non-fiction Poetry Science fiction Sports Thriller Young Adult

author/illustrator: Adele Jackson Alison Robertson Barbara Else Brian Falkner Craig Smith Coral Atkinson Darryl Torckler Dawn McMillan Deborah Burnside Des Hunt Diana Bridge Dinah Priestley Don Long (D.S) Elizabeth Pulford Fifi Colston Fleur Beale Gavin Bishop Gillian Torckler Helen Lowe Janice Marriott John Parker Johanna Knox Kathy White Keith Tonkin Kyle Mewburn Lorraine Orman Mark Sommerset Mandy Hager Maria Gill Melinda Szymanik Nina Rycroft Ngareta Gabel Nikki Slade-Robinson Penelope Todd Pip Desmond Philippa Werry Raymond Huber Ross Kinnaird Ruth Paul Stacy Gregg Susan Brocker Sylvie Haisman Tania Roxborogh Tina Makereti Vince Ford Whiti Hereaka

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Search our database of participating authors and illustrators. You can search by preferred target audience for your session, by the genre of the authors published work or by the name of the author or illustrator.

Latest BookTalks News

Once again the Storylines Festival was a great success around the country, featuring many contributions from BookTalks authors and illustrators.

Two BookTalks sessions were held during the free family day in Wellington, giving adults and children the opportunity to talk with authors Mark Sommerset and Fleur Beale about their work.

Author Johanna Knox also attended Storylines in Wellington, sharing her new book The Flytrap Snaps, the first in a series called The Fly Papers. This is a mystery adventure series about mutant carnivorous plants and judging from the audience reaction, is destined to be very popular.For a great review of the book check out Bobs Books Blog http://bobsbooksnz.wordpress.com/. Johanna is also our newest addition to BookTalks so check out her profile page for more information.

Look out for the latest arrival from Mark and Rowan Sommerset of Baa Baa Smart Sheep fame. Two Little Bugs tells the story of Little Bug Blue and Little Bug Red. Together they find out that getting what you always wanted is sometimes just the beginning. Find out more by visiting www.dreamboatbooks.com

Congratulations to Mandy Hager whose book Into the Wilderness was named a Notable Book in 2011 by the Storylines Trust and was shortlisted for the Julius Vogel Awards 2011.

Mike Lupica - Million-Dollar Throw

Lupica, the author of other young-reader installments including “Travel Team”, “Heat” and “The Big Field” brings to life the story of 13-year-old Massachusetts quarterback, Nate “Brady” Brodie, and his opportunity to win one million dollars during halftime of a New England Patriots contest.

Everything about Brodie revolves around his love of football, the New England Patriots and his idol, Tom Brady.


While Brodie appears as a can’t-miss quarterback for his Valley squad, his family is struggling. Their house is up for sale after his father lost his job. Before the story concludes, both parents are working two jobs before more bad news befalls the family.

Despite the loss of his father’s job, a promise was made by Brodie’s parents to support him halfway to the gift of his dreams, an autographed Tom Brady football at the local sports store. After Brodie shells out his $500 purchase he becomes eligible to enter a drawing for the million-dollar throw.

Lupica takes the reader through Brodie’s journey, losing his throwing touch during the playoff run with his Valley team, getting benched, finding out about his close friend Abby’s plans to move away to a school for the blind and more. It is a story of life, highs, lows and setbacks with a gridiron utilized as a backdrop.

This is a feel-good story from Lupica, avoiding any negative mature subjects and allowing Brodie to get his million-dollar shot along with the potential glory that could go with it.