 Ned Kelly's Helmet Published by 179pp., pbk., 12.95
|
Ned
Kelly's Helmet is
a very appealing book for children of about 12 years of age. It is full
of mystery, excitement and danger. Ned
Kelly's Helmet is
a story in which information about Ned Kelly is mixed with fiction.
Younger readers might find this book boring or difficult to understand
but I wouldn't try to stop younger readers from sharing this book as the
subject of Ned Kelly is guaranteed to hold their interest in the end. The
style of Ned Kelly's Helmet maintains
the readers interest as it switches from past to present and the
characters move from one exciting dilemma to the next. Although, the
book is written in a way that can help the reader understand when it
changes from past to present. The
plot tells the story of a group of children who for an assignment at
school decide to go back in time to steal Ned Kelly's Helmet. The
projects from Ms Brackers history class result in a bushranger epidemic
in the local town and no one is safe. The
language used in Ned Kelly's
Helmet is appropriate for the suggested age. The print is easy to
read and well spaced. This book is one that could be enjoyed privately
but would be excellent for a teacher to read aloud to a class. It would
certainly stimulate interest in learning about bushrangers. Reviewers:
Laura and Madison, 12, Sunshine Coast |
|
|
Ned Kelly's
Helmet by Paul Stafford, and published by Pants on Fire is a
really
great book. I enjoyed it lots.
Ms Bracker is a teacher who loves two things. One of them is history and the other thing is basketball. When she starts teaching history in a small country town with no basketball court she needs to try to find a way to combine her love of teaching history with fundraising for a basketball court.A the first months theme of Ancient Rome, during which Ms Bracker explained to the class the horribleness of slavery, she planned the great slave auction. The class were to be auctioned off as 'slaves' for a day, the funds to go towards A BASKETBALL COURT! Ms Bracker is making history come alive for her class, with a little trade off. $500 was the most paid for any slave, and people were amazed. It was paid for Robbie McGoogly by Mrs Frezzle, a widow who the kids all thought was a witch. She had a spooky reputation among the McGoogly boys and it is with major doubts that Robbie arrives for his day's slavery.Betcha, wondering how a book that starts off with slaves and witches gets to be about Ned Kelly's helmet! Mrs Frezzle has a crystal ball and it is when Ms Bracker's next theme is bushrangers that history comes alive for Robbie, his brother Andrew and a girl called Frances.Reviewer Shane, Age 11, Maddington, WA |
