First off this is not a book written for someone my age. I’m 46 and do not have children (of any age). Its target audience is 9–12-year-olds. The book was largely predictable but that might be due to my age/experience. I saw the ending coming a mile away and the journey there was almost as predictable.
That shouldn’t stop anyone from reading it. I thoroughly enjoyed the book. It’s well written and fun to read. There is good character development and the interactions between the kids and the kids and grownups feel real.
The book takes place in Australia, therefore there are some expressions I didn’t understand, as I live in the United States. I visited Australia when I was 12, and some things, like the mention of a Vegemite sandwich, brought a smile to my lips. Also, I have to wonder if the phrase, “The yowie ate my baby” may have been a throwback to a real-life story I heard about when I was young. If you don’t know the reference, I’m not telling you. The possible reference made me laugh, but then, I have a dark sense of humor.
The book, as stated, takes place in Australia. It’s about Jacinta and her hunt for a yowie, a creature that is reminiscent of Big Foot. She is searching for it in the hopes of helping her detective mom so that they can move back home to Sydney. Along the way, she makes friends with kids her age. There is betrayal, a ‘mad scientist’, accidentally evil parents, and good parents as well.
Give it a read. I highly recommend this fun book. You can find it here.
Cat Stark 