WINNER: Joe Perry, Napier
Writing about Jennifer Beck’s The Bantam and the Soldier



Dear Jennifer,

My name is Joe, and I loved your book The Bantam and the Soldier. I think it is very inspiring, and I think it tells everybody about war and its hardships.

Your books made me think how bad the war was in the trenches, and anywhere else they fought. It must have been hard with limited food, but I think the soldiers were pretty lucky having Betha to lay eggs for them. It also made me think about courage and hope, especially how Bertha could hold so much of it. I think everybody should have that in their lives. I also thought it took a lot of heart for Arthur to take Bertha places he didn’t have permission to take her. I think ultimately the bantam saved the soldiers mentally and physically through the grueling battle.

I think it was a good idea to have the soldiers go from bullying Arthur and the bantum, to respecting them and pleading for Bertha to come back with them, because they helped them live through the battle.

It was interesting knowing that is what might have happened to your great-uncle Arthur. I also thought the end papers in the book are interesting; especially the letter that Arthur write in the story which is actually a copy of what he wrote in real life.

My Great-Grandad was in the war. He got conscripted and had to leave his family’s farm and all his jobs would’ve been shared out with his family. It made me think how lucky he was to survive with little more than an injury, when some families had lost their loved ones. My Great-Great-Grandparents must have been very relieved to have their son back.

Best wishes for your next book. I hope it is great.

Yours sincerely,
Joe Perry

RUNNER UP: Dean Hammond, Papamoa
Maurice Gee's Under the Mountain



Dear Mr Gee

I recently read your book Under the Mountain because my Mum told me she read it when she was my age and how excited she was that the movie was coming out. My Dad also remembers watching the TV series a long time ago.

I think Under the Mountain is a wonderful fiction story. I loved the way the Matheson twins stuck together and Theo wouldn’t go anywhere even to save his planet without his sister Rachel. Many books are either for girls or boys but I think Under the Mountain is amazing as both Rachel and Theo share equal power over whether or not the world is taken over by gian worms and slugs a.k.a. their scary neighbours that are strangely interested in read headed twins: the rubbery, sluggy Wiberforces.

I was absolutely dragged into this book, especially the parts when the twins came face to face with the slug-ducks and I had to draw back out then dive back in. When Theo pretended he was inside his rock made of pure power by the Jobsons millions of years ago I felling as well seeing seven sides and faces staring back at me, tiny versions of me and the Matheson twins.

Rachel is an amazing character and I think she is very brave to carry on after placing her stone. Theo was also great fighting for his sister to go with him to place the stone. Their cousin Ricky was great to fight off a fake police officer to stand up for Rachel with all his friends. It gave me shiver to think of two innocent eleven year olds having to be so brave. Thank you for your book which I finished in less than one week. I can’t wait to read your next book.

Your friend
Dean Hammond