Two Wolves (Tristan Bancks, Random House)

Ben Silver wants to be a detective when he grows up, solving crimes and sending criminals to jail. One day after school the police come to his house looking for his parents. Then his mum and dad arrive home just after the police leave and insist they are taking Ben and his little sister Olive on a holiday. With no time to pack or change out of their school uniforms. As his parents become more evasive, and their actions more inexplicable, Ben realises that something must be seriously wrong. His parents are in trouble. But what have they done? And what will Ben do if he figures it out? Tristan Bancks has crafted an exciting tale of family secrets and misadventure. He deftly captures the sense of betrayal children feel at being deceived by those they trust. Ben is a memorable character. He makes bad decisions sometimes, but he is more resourceful and resilient than he appears at first, and he is constantly torn between family loyalty and doing the right thing. This is a good book for upper-primary and lower-secondary readers.

Heath Graham is a teacher and former bookseller

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Category: Reviews