Jen Banyard (text), Tracey Gibbs (illus.), Riddle Gully Secrets (Riddle Gully #3), Fremantle Press, 30 May 2016, 224pp., $14.99 (pbk), ISBN 9781925163957
Youth reporter for the local newspaper, Pollo di Nozi is on the look-out for a juicy story. Her good friend, Will is keen to help although he is very much the apprentice when it comes to investigating suspicious activities in the town. When they both happen upon some campers hidden away in the bush, a whole lot of trickery and surprises come to the surface.
Riddle Gully Secrets is the third book in this highly successful series by author, Jen Banyard and it isn’t hard to see why young readers love these stories. Every page is full of intrigue, secrets and hideaway locations which cause all sorts of fuss and dilemmas for the children to unravel.
This is a delightfully light-hearted book with lots of fun adventures to make every child wish they could be part of this keen team of sleuths. I remember the thrill and excitement of reading and re-reading Enid Blyton’s Famous Five series in my childhood and imagining myself in their adventures. Now a new generation of children will have the same treat of mystery solving and friendship within the more familiar context of the Australian bush.
Riddle Gully Secrets is a lively accessible adventure book for young independent readers as well as an interesting book to read to pre-readers who like an engaging story. The chapters are short which makes it a great bedtime read and the range of characters gives everyone the opportunity to find themselves (or someone they know) in the text. The Riddle Gully series of books offers children that luscious sense of anticipation about what will come next for reporter, Pollo di Nozi and her delightful gang of keen sleuths. I hope it won’t be long before Jen Banyard gives us Book No.4 of the series.
Teaching Notes can be found on the Fremantle Press website.
Reviewed by Jennifer Mors