Kids into books: Shadrach Girl

Author: Joy Cowley

Illustrator: Dexter Fry

Publisher: Puffin Books $15.95

Age Group: 9-12 years


He didn't look up. He was writing his name across the top of the page: Sky, Sky, Yks, Ysk, Syk, Kys, Look here a minute. This name doesn't have any vowel in it. A, E, I, O, U have nothing to do. And you know why? I'm just Sky with a Y.

He put the pin in his mouth and was about to chew it when he remembered it was Andrea's.

'I don't know why we have to do a family history,' he moaned. 'What's the use? There's only a week of school left.'

'Typical end-of-year stuff,' said Andrea. 'Supposed to keep the kids quiet while the teachers plan their holidays.'

'It's all relative,' said Hannah, thumping the iron down on the board.

'When you've got School Certificate exams you'll look back on this year and wonder what you were complaining about.'

Sky snorted. 'Yeah, yeah, yeah. Fine for you, Hannah-Spanner. Your school finished two weeks ago.'