Just Keep Going (No.1)
Reviewed by Amelia Mackenzie
| Author & Illustrator: | Donna Blaber |
| Publisher: | Light House Media Group |
Reviewed by Amelia Mackenzie
Opening sentence
A story of determination, patience and friendship, Amelia Mackenzie
August 15, 2022
Filled with drama and action, Just Keep Going is a thrilling story about a brave, young girl with a strong will to succeed, adapting to life in a new country without her Mum. This story also includes a persistent dolphin, a magical stone, marine pollution and new friendships.
Becky and her Mum move from the U.K. to New Zealand. Becky flies to New Zealand by herself and stays at her Dad’s while her Mum stays back to try to sell their house. Becky always loves visiting her Dad, but now he’s had a baby with Becky’s new stepmum, and EVERYTHING has changed! What makes it even worse, is that her beloved windsurfer hasn’t arrived yet. So there is nothing much for her to do but wait for her Mum who is stuck overseas because she is unable to get a spot in MIQ.
Becky’s luck changes when she finds a strange magical stone at Whale Bay and makes new friends, who encourage her to join their environmental group. She also encounters a friendly bottlenose dolphin who simply won’t leave her alone. Is it sick? Is it trying to tell her something? And who are the people who have the nerve to be poaching fish from the marine reserve and dumping their nets in it?!
I think the message Blaber was trying to send with this book was that no matter how hard things get, everything will eventually work out. Sometimes you just have to be patient. You should also be grateful for the people in your life and show them that you appreciate them.
I love Blaber’s realistic characters; they are described in a way where you can picture them so clearly that it makes you feel like you are part of the book. That they aren’t perfect makes it easier for anyone to relate to them and their pasts. It’s not only the way the author describes the characters that make you feel this way but how she describes the scenery of New Zealand, which makes a Kiwi feel at home.
The thing I liked most about this exciting, action-packed book is that it is short and easy to read. This is not a negative thing – in fact, I think it is good – it does not drag on, but gets straight into the action and drama. Then again it could also be a negative thing because it is such a good book and I wouldn’t want it to end.
I think it is one of the most amazing books I have read. It is a motivating and inspiring story and a definite must-read for those who are going through hard times. It will remind them that no matter how hard things get, everything will eventually work out. Someone who cares for animals and the environment will also enjoy this book.
Amelia is 12 and lives in Whakatane.
Filled with drama and action, Just Keep Going is a thrilling story about a brave, young girl with a strong will to succeed, adapting to life in a new country without her Mum. This story also includes a persistent dolphin, a magical stone, marine pollution and new friendships.
Becky and her Mum move from the U.K. to New Zealand. Becky flies to New Zealand by herself and stays at her Dad’s while her Mum stays back to try to sell their house. Becky always loves visiting her Dad, but now he’s had a baby with Becky’s new stepmum, and EVERYTHING has changed! What makes it even worse, is that her beloved windsurfer hasn’t arrived yet. So there is nothing much for her to do but wait for her Mum who is stuck overseas because she is unable to get a spot in MIQ.
Becky’s luck changes when she finds a strange magical stone at Whale Bay and makes new friends, who encourage her to join their environmental group. She also encounters a friendly bottlenose dolphin who simply won’t leave her alone. Is it sick? Is it trying to tell her something? And who are the people who have the nerve to be poaching fish from the marine reserve and dumping their nets in it?!
I think the message Blaber was trying to send with this book was that no matter how hard things get, everything will eventually work out. Sometimes you just have to be patient. You should also be grateful for the people in your life and show them that you appreciate them.
I love Blaber’s realistic characters; they are described in a way where you can picture them so clearly that it makes you feel like you are part of the book. That they aren’t perfect makes it easier for anyone to relate to them and their pasts. It’s not only the way the author describes the characters that make you feel this way but how she describes the scenery of New Zealand, which makes a Kiwi feel at home.
The thing I liked most about this exciting, action-packed book is that it is short and easy to read. This is not a negative thing – in fact, I think it is good – it does not drag on, but gets straight into the action and drama. Then again it could also be a negative thing because it is such a good book and I wouldn’t want it to end.
I think it is one of the most amazing books I have read. It is a motivating and inspiring story and a definite must-read for those who are going through hard times. It will remind them that no matter how hard things get, everything will eventually work out. Someone who cares for animals and the environment will also enjoy this book.
Amelia is 12 and lives in Whakatane.
| Author & Illustrator: | Donna Blaber |
| Publisher: | Light House Media Group |
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