Sunken Forest by New Zealand author, Des Hunt, is an intriguing adventure with a touch of mystery and a wonderful sense of place. Set initially in an urban setting, Matt is falsely accused of theft. Disgraced, he is sent to a camp with a strict teacher and a couple of bullies.
He develops a bond with a giant eel and forms a few other friendships. The story comes to a head with a natural disaster. Hunt weaves together many stories within the novel, including a lost Swiss watch and an ill-conceived plot to get justice. There are themes of friendship and bullying. Des Hunt, once a science teacher, educates as he writes, threading science and environmental issues into his tales.
In this story, I enjoyed learning about how Lake Waikaremoana was formed and visualising the sunken forest. I loved the descriptions and education about Lake Waikaremoana. I may never be up for the great walk, but I definitely want to go there one day, and like Loch Ness, I won’t be able to help but keep an eye out for Elsa the giant eel!
Perfect for year 5/6 up. Another exciting NZ adventure from Des Hunt.
Review by Kate - Librarian
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This is a put-up zone :)