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Six Seconds: The Newcastle Earthquake
Growing up by the beach in Newcastle in 1989 means footy, sandcastle competitions and school. Michael's dads a journalist and his small world gets bugger as he starts to pay attention to the news. His interest turns into anxiety and obsession as Michael begins to see the world as a dangerous place that is fast collapsing around him. When the Berlin Wall comes down, most are it as a sign of change and freedom but Michael isn't convinced. But when an earthquake hits his home town, Michael discovers that the worst that can happen is not always as bad as your fears.
208 pages, Paperback
Published March 1, 2021
10 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
April 24, 2021
This is a middle grade historical narrative about the Dec 1989 Newcastle NSW earthquake. It would fit nicely with a NSW Stage 3 natural disasters science unit.
The story starts slowly. Micheal, who is about to go into Year 6, loves making sand sculptures. He enters a local competition. He moves through the first heat and semi final, and eventually comes first, winning the bike of his dreams. At page 44 the story moves to Michael's friend Anil being bullied at school for wearing a patka (Sikh turban). Anil delivers a talk to the class about his patka. Micheal talks to the class about his scrapbook; it's where he keeps cuttings of bad things he reads about in the newspapers (bus crashes, disasters). He worries about these events a lot. His parents become concerned as Michael spends more time indoors on his Nintendo and stops riding his new bike or catching buses out of fear that he might get hurt. Then comes the earthquake (page 119). Michael is home alone as his house starts to collapse around him. He grabs his bike and heads to the local club where he crawls through rubble to rescue his grandma (who had gone there to play Bingo). He walks home past his school which is damaged. Michael and his family temporarily move in with Anil's family. In the last 20 pages, both families go to the school to see if they can help out. They work with the Deputy Principal to organise a protest and persuade the authorities not to bulldoze the 100 year old school.
The book includes lots of detail about the Newcastle earthquake. Michael's anxiety adds an interesting dimension to the story.
The story starts slowly. Micheal, who is about to go into Year 6, loves making sand sculptures. He enters a local competition. He moves through the first heat and semi final, and eventually comes first, winning the bike of his dreams. At page 44 the story moves to Michael's friend Anil being bullied at school for wearing a patka (Sikh turban). Anil delivers a talk to the class about his patka. Micheal talks to the class about his scrapbook; it's where he keeps cuttings of bad things he reads about in the newspapers (bus crashes, disasters). He worries about these events a lot. His parents become concerned as Michael spends more time indoors on his Nintendo and stops riding his new bike or catching buses out of fear that he might get hurt. Then comes the earthquake (page 119). Michael is home alone as his house starts to collapse around him. He grabs his bike and heads to the local club where he crawls through rubble to rescue his grandma (who had gone there to play Bingo). He walks home past his school which is damaged. Michael and his family temporarily move in with Anil's family. In the last 20 pages, both families go to the school to see if they can help out. They work with the Deputy Principal to organise a protest and persuade the authorities not to bulldoze the 100 year old school.
The book includes lots of detail about the Newcastle earthquake. Michael's anxiety adds an interesting dimension to the story.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 25, 2021
Six Seconds is fun and punchy, it is a Middle Grade work that is easy to get swept up in. Michael's innocence gives the book an edge, giving the reader a different perspective on world events and the importance of sand sculptures.
The addition of newspaper articles and Michael's drawings add to the feel of this book. It perfectly encompasses growing up in an Australian Summer.
I enjoyed how Six Seconds looks at anxiety and how children perceive worries. It shows that everyday things that adults brush off can stay with children and cumulate into anxieties. I liked how it was talked about and worked on within this book. It is so important to show younger readers that it is okay to feel worried, and it's okay to talk to people about your worries.
The book may have centred around an earthquake, but it felt more than that. It shows the strength of character that Michael has as he helped all of his town folk, how he faced danger to help his nan and how he faced his own fears and overcome his anxieties.
Six Seconds is a fun, fast paced and easy to read. It is a Middle Grade work that has an important message, as well as having a wonderfully Australian vibe throughout.
Thank you to Scholastic Australia for sending me out a review copy of this title. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
The addition of newspaper articles and Michael's drawings add to the feel of this book. It perfectly encompasses growing up in an Australian Summer.
I enjoyed how Six Seconds looks at anxiety and how children perceive worries. It shows that everyday things that adults brush off can stay with children and cumulate into anxieties. I liked how it was talked about and worked on within this book. It is so important to show younger readers that it is okay to feel worried, and it's okay to talk to people about your worries.
The book may have centred around an earthquake, but it felt more than that. It shows the strength of character that Michael has as he helped all of his town folk, how he faced danger to help his nan and how he faced his own fears and overcome his anxieties.
Six Seconds is a fun, fast paced and easy to read. It is a Middle Grade work that has an important message, as well as having a wonderfully Australian vibe throughout.
Thank you to Scholastic Australia for sending me out a review copy of this title. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
March 2, 2021
Thank you to Scholastic for sending me a review cop!
CW: ptsd
This is the story of a young boy whose interests turn into an obsession, resulting in the development of an anxiety of the unknown.
Our main character, Michael, is that young boy. This story talks of the lead up to the Newcastle Earthquake and how he overcame one of his severe anxieties.
It was emotional reading how Michael's interests had turned into a raging obsession and seeing it change him along the way. His parents were there for him every step of the way, including his school teacher.
Once the earthquake hits, Michael ends up taking heroic actions, one right after the other to overcome his fears. At that point I actually got emotional because a scene came close to home for me and the build up to all of these events was done so well.
CW: ptsd
This is the story of a young boy whose interests turn into an obsession, resulting in the development of an anxiety of the unknown.
Our main character, Michael, is that young boy. This story talks of the lead up to the Newcastle Earthquake and how he overcame one of his severe anxieties.
It was emotional reading how Michael's interests had turned into a raging obsession and seeing it change him along the way. His parents were there for him every step of the way, including his school teacher.
Once the earthquake hits, Michael ends up taking heroic actions, one right after the other to overcome his fears. At that point I actually got emotional because a scene came close to home for me and the build up to all of these events was done so well.
July 27, 2021
I read this, in parts, to my kids during the recent school holidays and they loved it.
I was around the same age as Michael, the protagonist, when the Newcastle earthquake hit and I remember the news stories clearly- the wreckage, the rescues and the devastation it caused.
Michael is around 10 years old and it's summer in the NSW coastal town on Newcastle. He's an only child and back in 1989 things were simpler and kids had a lot more freedom. While both parents are working, Michael spends his days making sandcastles (and winning sandcastle competitions) and worrying about world news events (t the point where he develops a strong anxiety and is reluctant to go outside).
One day, when Michael is at home, the earthquake happens and he needs finds out that he is brave after all. I won't give it away- it's worth the read (even if it is a little far-fetched!).
I was around the same age as Michael, the protagonist, when the Newcastle earthquake hit and I remember the news stories clearly- the wreckage, the rescues and the devastation it caused.
Michael is around 10 years old and it's summer in the NSW coastal town on Newcastle. He's an only child and back in 1989 things were simpler and kids had a lot more freedom. While both parents are working, Michael spends his days making sandcastles (and winning sandcastle competitions) and worrying about world news events (t the point where he develops a strong anxiety and is reluctant to go outside).
One day, when Michael is at home, the earthquake happens and he needs finds out that he is brave after all. I won't give it away- it's worth the read (even if it is a little far-fetched!).
March 18, 2024
Glad I read this, written similar to the our Australian Girl series, suited for boys aged 9-12, set during the 1989 Newcastle Earthquake.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews