David Hill: The high winds blow

By MARGIE THOMSON

Hill's wonderful ability to devise an exciting story while cunningly including heaps of factual information is again demonstrated in this story about Adam, an 11-year-old astronomy buff who wins an essay competition to watch the launch of the satellite Polewind.

At the Mt Doubtless Satellite Launch Station, set amid the tussock-covered hills of Central Otago, Adam joins three other children and an assortment of kindly and dedicated scientists.

What he doesn't realise is that he's landed right in the middle of an international conspiracy by God's Soldiers to thwart by any means possible further space exploration.

Central Otago is suddenly centre stage and Adam, his new friends and the planet are in grave danger. This story is a great starting point for debate about the ethics of space exploration, the origins of the universe, and even issues around space education.

Hill has all points of view covered, yet his characters are vitally alive and extremely likable.

Puffin

$15.95