A Friend in Paradise

Description

When Robbie Walker's father dies of cancer, he takes out his anger on anyone near. In the hope of saving what remains of their family, Robbie's mother sends him off to spend the summer holidays on Uncle Jim's farm where his father grew up. There, in a hidden valley called Paradise, Robbie discovers a new friend - a creature thought extinct. But others also visit Paradise: wildlife thieves whose only interest is to get rich through this new animal. Soon Robbie is caught up in a dangerous adventure that takes him to the steam fields of White Island volcano - a place where death is always close at hand. Robbie must use all his knowledge, courage and wit to save his new friend.

Des Hunt was a science and technology teacher for many years, interspersed with periods of curriculum development both in New Zealand and overseas. During this time he had several textbooks published to support the New Zealand curriculum. In recent years he has looked at other ways of interesting youngsters in science, creating computer games and writing non-fiction and fiction with scientific themes. After living in Auckland for much of his life he moved with his wife, Lynne, to Matarangi on New Zealand's Coromandel Peninsula. He retired from the classroom in 2007 to concentrate on writing fiction for children. He continues his aims of fostering young peoples' natural interest in the science of their surroundings by visiting schools and libraries where he runs workshops and presentations.