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Snake Surprise!
It's a boring wet day on Hazard River until Jack Wilde and his friends find a note on an abandoned boat. The message is damaged but they can all read the words HELP ME. The gang must find out who needs help and why. But as they get closer to the answer will they be the ones who need help?
92 pages, Paperback
First published August 1, 2010
About the author
J.E. Fison
9 booksJ.E. Fison is an Australian writer. Her first series for young adventure lovers was inspired by a family holiday on the Noosa River. Her sons teamed up with friends and spent the summer exploring sand bands, building camps and dodging stingrays. She had to write about it. The result was the Hazard River series - about a gang of kids who encounter all sorts of dangers while holidaying on Hazard River. The books are page-turners with short chapters - perfect for reluctant readers, and young wildlife lovers. J.E. Fison has many other books for tweens and teens as well as a play. You can see her full list of books by visiting Julie Fison.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
February 4, 2013
In book two in the Hazard River series we find the kids holed up playing board games one rainy day when they spot an untethered houseboat surging down the river on a collision course with Mimi’s parents’ yacht. What else can the flummoxed foursome do but spring into action?
Convinced the boat’s owner has been poisoned by a rotten-toothed glass eye-wearing villain and that there is treasure to be found, Ben insists on searching the abandoned craft. They find is a note bearing the words: HELP ME and what follows is more mystery, mayhem and, as its title suggests, a snake.
While 10 year old narrator Jack comes across as being a little too mature at times--and some of his expressions are truly corny—he is a character readers will relate to. So, too, are his dead critter collector brother, Ben, daredevil Lachlan and level-headed Mimi. Written in a light, humorous style with covers that are bright and busy, short chapters, snappy dialogue and plenty of action, these books with attract even the most reluctant reader. With two more titles to come: Tiger Terror and Bat Attack, I can I can see this series being popular with action-seeking kids 7+.
Jenny Mounfield, author of The Ice-cream Man (Ford Street)
Convinced the boat’s owner has been poisoned by a rotten-toothed glass eye-wearing villain and that there is treasure to be found, Ben insists on searching the abandoned craft. They find is a note bearing the words: HELP ME and what follows is more mystery, mayhem and, as its title suggests, a snake.
While 10 year old narrator Jack comes across as being a little too mature at times--and some of his expressions are truly corny—he is a character readers will relate to. So, too, are his dead critter collector brother, Ben, daredevil Lachlan and level-headed Mimi. Written in a light, humorous style with covers that are bright and busy, short chapters, snappy dialogue and plenty of action, these books with attract even the most reluctant reader. With two more titles to come: Tiger Terror and Bat Attack, I can I can see this series being popular with action-seeking kids 7+.
Jenny Mounfield, author of The Ice-cream Man (Ford Street)
April 12, 2013
Snake Surprise by JE Fison
ISBN: 9781921665127
(Other details as above)
In book two in the Hazard River series we find the kids holed up playing board games one rainy day when they spot an untethered houseboat surging down the river on a collision course with Mimi’s parents’ yacht. What else can the flummoxed foursome do but spring into action?
Convinced the boat’s owner has been poisoned by a rotten-toothed glass eye-wearing villain and that there is treasure to be found, Ben insists on searching the abandoned craft. They find is a note bearing the words: HELP ME and what follows is more mystery, mayhem and, as its title suggests, a snake.
While 10 year old narrator Jack comes across as being a little too mature at times--and some of his expressions are truly corny—he is a character readers will relate to. So, too, are his dead critter collector brother, Ben, daredevil Lachlan and level-headed Mimi. Written in a light, humorous style with covers that are bright and busy, short chapters, snappy dialogue and plenty of action, these books with attract even the most reluctant reader. With two more titles to come: Tiger Terror and Bat Attack, I can see this series being popular with action-seeking kids 7+.
ISBN: 9781921665127
(Other details as above)
In book two in the Hazard River series we find the kids holed up playing board games one rainy day when they spot an untethered houseboat surging down the river on a collision course with Mimi’s parents’ yacht. What else can the flummoxed foursome do but spring into action?
Convinced the boat’s owner has been poisoned by a rotten-toothed glass eye-wearing villain and that there is treasure to be found, Ben insists on searching the abandoned craft. They find is a note bearing the words: HELP ME and what follows is more mystery, mayhem and, as its title suggests, a snake.
While 10 year old narrator Jack comes across as being a little too mature at times--and some of his expressions are truly corny—he is a character readers will relate to. So, too, are his dead critter collector brother, Ben, daredevil Lachlan and level-headed Mimi. Written in a light, humorous style with covers that are bright and busy, short chapters, snappy dialogue and plenty of action, these books with attract even the most reluctant reader. With two more titles to come: Tiger Terror and Bat Attack, I can see this series being popular with action-seeking kids 7+.
March 8, 2013
This review by Angela Hall, Bug in a Book:
Jack and his friends find themselves on another exciting adventure at Hazard River, only this time they didn’t go looking for it.
When a flood sweeps an old houseboat dangerously towards Mimi’s boat, they find themselves being swept into a mystery while attempting to prevent the crash. Where is the driver and why did he leave a ‘Help Me’ note? The crew end up, up to their necks in homeless koalas, mud, eccentric rich men and cabbage soup (and its after effects).
Having to overcome their fears and be braver then they feel in order to save the day, Snake Surprise is all the excitement and adventure you can expect from J.E Fison’s Hazard River Series.
With the underlying conservation issues the true backbone of the story, you can be assured your young readers are getting a great, thrilling read and an important education (but they probably won’t notice).
I may be repeating my last review of Shark Frenzy but I have to say the characters are enjoyable to follow, Jack has a great sense of humour and I can see many a tween sniggering behind the pages of this book and series.
Jack and his friends find themselves on another exciting adventure at Hazard River, only this time they didn’t go looking for it.
When a flood sweeps an old houseboat dangerously towards Mimi’s boat, they find themselves being swept into a mystery while attempting to prevent the crash. Where is the driver and why did he leave a ‘Help Me’ note? The crew end up, up to their necks in homeless koalas, mud, eccentric rich men and cabbage soup (and its after effects).
Having to overcome their fears and be braver then they feel in order to save the day, Snake Surprise is all the excitement and adventure you can expect from J.E Fison’s Hazard River Series.
With the underlying conservation issues the true backbone of the story, you can be assured your young readers are getting a great, thrilling read and an important education (but they probably won’t notice).
I may be repeating my last review of Shark Frenzy but I have to say the characters are enjoyable to follow, Jack has a great sense of humour and I can see many a tween sniggering behind the pages of this book and series.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews