Kids into Books: The Kids From Quiller's Bend

Author: Marle Gibson

Illustrator: Linda McClelland

Publisher: Shortland Publications, $8.95

Age Group: 10-12 years


Albert smirked at us and made sure he didn't wipe away his tears. He turned those same tears on for his mother. Almost every week, she called my mum to tell her how the kids in Quiller's Bend had hit Albert and called him names.

She'd wanted to send him to St Peters, a private school on the other side of town. But Baker Street had been Mr Perkins' old school, and he wanted his boys to go there.

"We don't hit him. He hits us!" I kept telling Mum. But she didn't believe me. It wasn't fair! Mrs Perkins believed everything Albert told her, but my mother thought anything I said was a lie.