KPE Episode 461 "The Horse and His Boy"

Makerita and Shoal continue sharing their reading journey on KPE with one of C. S. Lewis' great works, "The Horse and his Boy"

KPE Episode 458: "Traitor"

Darius interviews Shoal about a book called "Traitor" by  Andy McNab and  Robert Rigby.

Boy Soldier is a series of novels written by Andy McNab with the cooperation of Robert Rigby. It tells the story of a boy named Danny Watts and his grandfather Fergus, apparently a rogue ex-SAS soldier.

Darius and Shoal are Year 8 students in Room 21 at Pt England School.

Danny Watts' grandfather, Fergus, was a Deniable Operator in the SAS before he was betrayed, imprisoned, and falsely denounced as a traitor. Now Fergus has escaped, but the real traitor is determined to silence Fergus and Danny for good. Together Danny and Fergus are forced to go on the run in an against-the-odds battle for survival. As they try to clear Fergus' name, Danny learns all the military field craft, trade skills, and covert operations techniques that are second nature to his grandfather. When Fergus is recaptured, Danny must put those skills to the test and rescue Fergus before it's too late.

KPE Episode 455: "The Adventures of BeanBoy"

The Adventures of BeanBoy by Lisa Harkrader is reviewed by Darius and Shoal, who are both Year 8 students in Room 21. 

Never underestimate the power of the bean. Tucker MacBean has been drawing comic books almost as long as he’s been reading them. When his favorite comic has a contest for kids, he hopes he has finally found a way to fix his family—all he has to do is create the winning superhero sidekick . . . Introducing “Beanboy”—the first comic book character to truly harness the power of the bean for good. He is strong, he is relentless, he can double in size overnight (if given enough water). 

Tucker MacBean is in middle school. He's not unpopular, but he's not popular either. He does all that he can to just be invisible, especially from the school bully Sam. Tucker rushes home everyday to make sure he takes care of his special needs brother because his mother works and goes to university. Tucker and his brother love comic books. In the latest issue of his favorite comic, he notices an advertisement for a contest to develop a new sidekick for the superhero. The prize is a full university scholarship. Tucker immediately decides to enter to get his mum the scholarship so she can stay home and not have to work so much, but he knows that he can not work on his sidekick drawings at home while also babysitting his brother. To solve this issue, Tucker asks to join the after school art club.

Shoal from Room 21 has been reading "Anywhere but Here" by Ella West and her friend and classmate, Rita, interviews her about this book. This is the second book in a trilogy that began with "Thieves".

Nicky, Jake, Shelley, Paul and Tina can all “travel”, in other words if they have a point of reference they can go there instantly. They have been exploited by a group called the Project to do some good deeds but also to steal secrets from Companies etc. In Thieves they escaped from the clutches of the Project and in this book they are loose in Los Angeles enjoying freedom and each other. Sooner or later they are going to have to face the Project as they have papers and discs from the last job they did before they escaped. This provides the drama and action in the book and sets up the third book in the trilogy, Real Life.

KPE Episode 412: "Meet me by the Steelmen"

Shoal reviews a book she read while she was in Room 17 last year, and Brooklyn - our KPE Podcaster of the Year in 2011 - interviews her.

 

 

This book is called "Meet me by the Steelmen" written by Teresa Tomlinson. A girl named Jenny, along with her mother and brother, is at a mall called Meadow Hall. Meadow Hall Shopping Centre used to be the famous Steelworks in Sheffield. Jenny’s little brother can’t take his eyes off these towering statues of steelman from the Hadfields Steelworks that used to be standing where the mall now is built. Steve and Jenny get involved in an exciting journey in time in "Meet Me by the Steelmen", when they find something strange about the three great steel statues in Sheffield's Meadowhall Shopping Centre. Jenny and her brother Steve somehow go back in time when they meet by the bronze statues of three steelmen.

 

KPE Episode 410: "Kaimanawa Princess"

This is Litia's final podcast for Korero Pt England as she is going to St Cuthberts College in 2012.  She has chosen to review "Kaimanawa Princess by Dianne Haworth and Shoal is her interviewer.   This book is based on a true story. The main character is an eleven year old girl, called Becky, who lives in the Bay of Plenty in NZ and at the beginning she is choosing her first horse. But these aren’t just any horses, they are wild Kaimanawa horses that are use to living in the mountains, and roaming free. They had been rounded up and were getting sold.

     Inspired by a true life story, Dianne Haworth has woven a moving and inspiring story of love and courage, and the bond between a young girl and her pony.  When the department of Conservation announced plans to cull the wild Kaimanawa herds, some unlikely bedfellows found themselves locked into a desperate fight to save the horses.  When a young girl stood beside the desert road in protest, her inspiring stand moved hearts and changed her own life, when a shy black and white mare looked to her for help - and paid back her debt in love and devotion.

KPE Episode 408: "Lucky"

Shoal interviews Vivienne about "Lucky" by Ellen Miles.

Charles and Lizzie Peterson love puppies, especially Buddy, their adorable pet. But there are a lot of young dogs that need love and proper care. The Petersons act as a foster family, helping to find puppies a perfect forever home. Charles is on a backyard camping trip when he discovers a lost puppy by the stream. Lucky is scared, dirty, and hungry. It's up to Charles and his new friend David to bring this dog to safety. Will they be able to find Lucky's home?

KPE Episode 407: "EJ12 Girl Hero"

 

In this podcast Litia interviews Shoal about a book she has been reading.

This book is called "EJ12 Girl Hero" and is written by Susannah McFarlane. Emma Jacks is an ordinary girl. She is also a gymnast. She's competing in a competition and wants to be able to do big jumps onto the beam for the routine that she is doing but she doesn't believe she can. But actually, she is NOT so ordinary as you will find out when you listen to this podcast...

KPE Episode 383: "Sniwt"

Vivienne from Room 17 interviews Shoal about "Sniwt" by Justin D'ath.

You will have guessed that this is TWINS backwards. The main characters in this story are twins called Sally and Olly. These twins are kidnapped by aliens, and as the story goes along there is a lot to get your nodz around! Two zzziplas, one pair of twins, a blinding pink flash and then - ffzzzzzpwt! - goodbye Sally and Olly, hello Solly and Ally. Twins become sniwT. And only the Chykkans can fix-up the mix-up.

Tell us what you think....

 

KPE Episode 381: "Attacked"

Shoal and Ashleigh have been reading "Attacked" by G Brassi.  

This is a very popular book with Pt England kids and you will discover why when you have heard this podcast.

Attacked is the story of a fishing adventure which takes place around the islands near Whitianga. Livvie goes fishing with Jack and his dog, Serge. When Jack is attacked, Livvie has to overcome her own fears, not to mention engine problems, to get them all back to shore in one piece...

KPE Episode 364: "No Half Measures"

"No Half Measures" by Dunedin author Judy Knox this is the story of a camping holiday in the wilds of South Westland that goes horribly wrong. 

Litia has been reading this book and is interviewed by Shoal.  You will enjoy this podcast and the fabulous animation Litia has included as part of the images accompanying the podcast.

Mitch is on a tramping trip with his bossy twin sister and their uncle when his uncle is badly injured, his sister twists her ankle, and Mitch realises it is up to him to go for help.

He heads into the wilderness, hoping to meet someone, but he finds himself in the middle of a ring of desperate criminals with no apparent way out.

Mitch is a strong character, and makes a nicely plotted development from laziness and uncertainty to tenaciousness and courage by book's end.

KPE Episode 344 :"Go Girl! Sleepover"

Rita and Shoal present "Go Girl! Sleepover" by Rowan McAuley for their first podcast in their new class, Room 17. 

Olivia is having her first sleep over ever at her friends house. But she is being teased by her friend Ching Ching's brothers. Will Olivia be okay? Will her Mum have to come and get her before the sleepover? 

KPE Episode 274: "The Archway Arrow"

Shoal and Ashleigh from Room 15 share their latest book in this podcast : "The Archway Arrow" by Margaret Beames.

"Stefan and Colin have a problem. They want to enter the raft race and win a thousand dollars and prove that the kids from Archway School don't always come last."

KPE Episode 254: "Fish Tale"

Shoal and Ashleigh

"Fish Tale" by Lorraine Orman is a VERY popular book at Pt England School.  

Ashleigh and Shoal from Room 15 have chosen to share their thoughts about it for their very first podcast. 

Take a listen and if you have read this book, why don't you tell them which is YOUR favourite part of the story!