Specky Magee & the best of Oz

Specky Magee #8

by Felice Arena, Garry Lyon

THE CROWD ROARED AS THE BALL ROCKETED INTO THE BACK OF THE NET.
SPECKY COLLAPSED ON THE GROUND FEELING USELESS AND HUMILIATED.
HE HAD NEVER FELT SO OUT OF HIS DEPTH ON A SPORTING FIELD . . .

Specky has been selected to represent Australia in International Rules, taking on the Irish in a two-test competition in Ireland. Can the boys learn to play with a new set of rules and perfect their skills with the round ball before the Irish team wipes the field with them? And is someone trying to sabotage the Aussie team's chances of winning? The pressure is on, and to make matters worse Specky has some serious decisions to make about his future before he returns home . . .

This trip to Ireland is no holiday and Specky will have to dig deep to face the biggest challenge of his life!

I wish Specky would hurry up and get drafted.
The Tigers would love to have him . . .
Matthew Richardson

204 pages, Paperback

First published February 23, 2011

About the author

Popular and prolific Australian children’s author Felice Arena is the creator of many best-selling and award-winning children's books for all ages. Some of these include the acclaimed middle-grade historical novels The Boy and the Spy, Fearless Frederic, A Great Escape, and The Unstoppable Flying Flanagan – the bestselling Specky Magee series, the junior series' Sporty Kids and The Besties, and the joyous read-aloud picture books Pasta!, Cheese! and most recently My Big Secret - also illustrated by Arena.
www.felicearena.com Instagram.com/felicearenabooks

Reviews

[Melissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

This installment of the Specky Magee series sees Specky and his mates on the All Australian team travel to Ireland to play in the International Rules series. It looks at issues they have of being fish out of water - dealing with a round ball, media reports, and being far away from home. Specky is also trying to decide what to do about the offer from Manchester United that was given to him at the end of the last book, as well as the two girls in his life.

This was another great story, though there was a lot of football here, and I missed Specky's mates that we'd come to know over the last few books. Seeing the young players, who are the top of their field back in Australia, put in a position where they aren't the best and looking at how they dealt with this was great. It was dealt with sensitively and productively, giving a good message to kids reading this book.

I'm quite sad this series has come to an end, I hope that one day a book will be written that will let us know whether Specky makes it to the AFL, and if Gobba does get to commentate while he plays.

Even if you're not into football, AFL, or any sports, this is a great series to read. I have thoroughly enjoyed the entire series.

[Ben Reid · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like football
So this book is good.

[Liam · Rating 5 out of 5]

good and enjoyable to read

[Alexander W. · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is great!!!! Because it is so full on and exciting!!!

[Lewis Stephens · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a free flowing book. The storyline was easy to follow and the characters pretty life like. I like how felice arena incorperated Gary Lyon in the writing of the book.