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The Haystack
Maggie torments the boy down the road, sets fire to the dunny, helps with half the district to build a haystack, and sees the tragedy of unemployment. Along the way, Maggie makes new friends, and receives kindness and help in learning what a girl needs to know. Vintage Jack Lasenby tale set in Waharoa, the same town and Depression years as the setting for Old Drumble, and featuring some of the same characters. this time the protagonist is Maggie, a young girl being raised by her widowed father, with the help of the whole village. the whole of Waharoa is also banding together to beat the weather and bring in the harvest and build the haystack. Warm, witty, delightfully poignant story with fun, mischief, the burning down of a dunny, and ultimately a tragedy as seen through the eyes of a child.
- GenresChildrens
256 pages, ebook
First published March 5, 2010
1 person is currently reading
17 people want to read
About the author
Jack Lasenby
37 books12 followersJack Lasenby was an editor and writer of children's books. From 1969 to 1975, Lasenby edited the School Journal, which had previously been edited by the poets James K. Baxter, Alistair Campbell, and Louis Johnson. His work with School Journal brought him into close contact with leading authors and illustrators of children's books. Lasenby has been honored many times, receiving the Esther Glen Award for distinguished contribution to New Zealand literature for children and young adults in 1987 for Mangrove Summer. He also received the 1993 AIM Children's Book Award Honour Award in Senior Fiction for The Conjuror. In 1996, his book, The Waterfall, received the AIM Children's Book Award for Senior Fiction. Lasenby also received the New Zealand Post Children's Book Award in 1997, 1998, and 1997 for The Battle of Pook Island, Because We Were the Travelers, and Tour, respectively.. His latest books, Old Drumble and The Haystack, were, respectively, winner of and finalist for the NZ Post Junior Fiction Award.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
September 14, 2013
I decided to read this book because I had read another book that the author had written called Old Drumble. Old Drumble was an award winning book so I wanted to read another one of his books because I liked it so much.
This book completes the category "A book written by a New Zealander". This book was set in the 1930's in a town in New Zealand called Wahoroa. Not only was this book relatable because of the weather, the farming and the cities and towns mentioned, but I also learned about what it was like growing up in New Zealand in the 1930's, which really interested me.
A character I enjoyed reading about in the book was Maggie. This is because of her wild imagination. In the book she torments Freddy jones with stories about Shere Kahn the tiger from the Jungle Book and how he was going to eat him, as well as the more pork gang who would set fire to your dunny. While you were still inside. These things that Maggie would say would keep the book interesting.
A quote I found intriguing in the book was "he has no right, bringing up a daughter on his own". Mrs Dainty says this to Maggie and her farther. Maggie's Mother died and so her father had to bring her up on his own. What I find interesting about the quote is the fact that Mrs Dainty says that Maggie's farther doesn't have the right to bring up his daughter on his own because he is a man, and Maggie needs a woman to show her how to do things. I disagree with Mrs Dainty because Maggie's farther is doing all that he can and bringing his daughter up the right way. I believe Mrs Dainty is the one who has no right in interfering with the up bringing of someone else's child.
I didn't learn anything in particular from this book. This is because the book was set in the 1930's and the things that I could have learnt from this book had I been brought up in the 1930's, has no relevance to me in the 21st century.
This book completes the category "A book written by a New Zealander". This book was set in the 1930's in a town in New Zealand called Wahoroa. Not only was this book relatable because of the weather, the farming and the cities and towns mentioned, but I also learned about what it was like growing up in New Zealand in the 1930's, which really interested me.
A character I enjoyed reading about in the book was Maggie. This is because of her wild imagination. In the book she torments Freddy jones with stories about Shere Kahn the tiger from the Jungle Book and how he was going to eat him, as well as the more pork gang who would set fire to your dunny. While you were still inside. These things that Maggie would say would keep the book interesting.
A quote I found intriguing in the book was "he has no right, bringing up a daughter on his own". Mrs Dainty says this to Maggie and her farther. Maggie's Mother died and so her father had to bring her up on his own. What I find interesting about the quote is the fact that Mrs Dainty says that Maggie's farther doesn't have the right to bring up his daughter on his own because he is a man, and Maggie needs a woman to show her how to do things. I disagree with Mrs Dainty because Maggie's farther is doing all that he can and bringing his daughter up the right way. I believe Mrs Dainty is the one who has no right in interfering with the up bringing of someone else's child.
I didn't learn anything in particular from this book. This is because the book was set in the 1930's and the things that I could have learnt from this book had I been brought up in the 1930's, has no relevance to me in the 21st century.
August 11, 2013
I decided to read this book because i got given the book for Christmas a couple of years ago. i have read it a numerous ampnt of times are really enjoyed it.
the category this book fits into is a book written by a new zealander. i found this category interesting because i think that it is important to read books written by people who are where you come from as this tells us that even someone from nz can make it.
my favorite quote from the book is "milly and aggie looked at me. I laid my finger on my lips, and the three of us giggled until we turned red in the face and had t think of sucking our sour lemons, or bursting out laughing". i like this quote/paragraph because the sour lemons have a significance all through the book and it is also the last paragraph in the book.
something new i learnt from this book is that even some girl from small town nz can make a difference no matter how big or small they and the town is.
a setting that was interesting in the book was the padlock where the haystack was. it is where majority of the book is set and where most of the key events happen and where Maggie (the main character) begins to develop and grow.
the category this book fits into is a book written by a new zealander. i found this category interesting because i think that it is important to read books written by people who are where you come from as this tells us that even someone from nz can make it.
my favorite quote from the book is "milly and aggie looked at me. I laid my finger on my lips, and the three of us giggled until we turned red in the face and had t think of sucking our sour lemons, or bursting out laughing". i like this quote/paragraph because the sour lemons have a significance all through the book and it is also the last paragraph in the book.
something new i learnt from this book is that even some girl from small town nz can make a difference no matter how big or small they and the town is.
a setting that was interesting in the book was the padlock where the haystack was. it is where majority of the book is set and where most of the key events happen and where Maggie (the main character) begins to develop and grow.
March 31, 2018
Great young people's book.
Read
November 28, 2016really really good
March 15, 2012
tHIS IS A COOL AS BOOK!!!!!!!!!
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews