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Story and artwork make enjoyable read

24/2/2020

Coco Crab’s Lagoon
by Robyn Panther
Illustrated by: Thomas Hsieh

What an unusual premise: an overgrown and unattractive, rejected, lonely coconut crab in some far away tropical island lagoon becomes a small boy’s best friend. By association the crab, Coco, finds he soon gains other friends too. These characters are well drawn and colourful, and suit the island life well.
The boy and the giant crab devise a secret form of communication known only to them, through a series of clicking and tapping. And Todd, the boy, explains the meanings of simple words the crab has no understanding of, words we take for granted.
When the island has a carnival, instead of being fearful of such annual events, the crab is involved. Here we are taught about sharing and teamwork. There are quite a few life-lessons to be found in this story: new adventures, water safety, caring and inclusion, friends and not-friends. Loneliness and exclusion.
It’s a good read, which I found enjoyable. The story is told well, and moves along at a good steady pace. But editing and proofreading are sadly missing. The BOLDtype shouts unnecessarily. The overuse of !!!s and …..s make for disjointed reading. And if Coco the crab doesn’t understand about water paintings and life jackets, how can he appreciate the shape of a pyramid? Even with his description of the tree, I still cannot imagine what shape it is.
I am impressed with the artwork, by Thomas Hsieh. It is simple and appropriate; it doesn’t intrude or take over the book, but subtly enhances the storyline.
With some very necessary editing and proofreading, this book has the potential to win children’s hearts.

Review by Susan Tarr

Title: Coco Crab’s Lagoon
Author: Robyn Panther; Illustrations Thomas Hsieh
Publisher: Witchetty Press NZ
ISBN: 978-0-473-48404-0
RRP: $18.00
Available: McLeod’s Bookstore Rotorua, Books for Kids Hamilton, or direct from Witchetty Press NZ, 169 S H’way 30, Tikitere, RD4 Rotorua

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Hospital thriller has good plot

5/2/2020

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Code Me Missing –
A Hospital Thriller
by P.M.A. Hayes

This book is described as a 'Hospital Thriller'. The main characters work in a hospital clinical coding department that analyses critical statements, and assigns codes for a multitude of data for any disease, condition or circumstance that occur to hospital clients. This information may be a surprise to those who did not know that every conceivable condition in hospital has to be coded. However, this is the only department featured in this story and I was expecting more of a medical scenario and hospital drama.
The story begins when the main character, Julie, goes to work as usual on a Monday morning to find that her work- mate, protege and best friend, Keely, fails to appear for her shift, and a creepy message is left on her computer.
The characters are well described and the reader can quickly form a picture of the different personalities; and one character provoked my dislike! Which is a compliment to the author!
The plot makes for a good story with a few twists and turns, highlighting the destructive elements of jealousy and the importance of good friends.
It is a murder, mystery story, but does lack a bit of excitement and suspense to keep the reader gripped. I prefer a more intricate story that keeps the interest going, and guessed the perpetrator of the crime early into the plot.
I found the style of writing rather simplistic and would probably recommend it to readers of early teens. Or – an easy book for a poolside holiday, quickly read, uncomplicated and easy to follow. There is very little gruesome detail and no sexual content that would make it an adults-only book.

Review by Fran Hartley

Title: Code Me Missing – A Hospital Thriller
Author: P.M.A. Hayes
Publisher: PMAH Books
ISBN: 978-0-473-50211-9; Mobi E-Book Amazon ASIN B07YCWB6S6; E-pub 978-0-473-50212-6
RRP: $25.00
Available: Paperback copies from Publisher/Author email: parthwayes@xtra.co.nz;Onekawa Books and Gifts Napier; Writers Plot Readers Read Book Shop Upper Hutt

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Story and artwork make enjoyable read

Hospital thriller has good plot

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