Available:*
Library | Call Number | Status |
|---|---|---|
Searching... R.H. Stafford Library (Woodbury) | J FICTION MOL | Searching... Unknown |
Searching... R.H. Stafford Library (Woodbury) | J FICTION MOL | Searching... Unknown |
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Summary
Summary
David's new town is boring until he discovers a big drainpipe that looks perfect for skateboarding. He can't resist exploring the huge cement tunnel. Then he hears something odd. Someone else is inside the tunnel, in the darkness, where no living person should be.
Author Notes
James Moloney was born in Sydney, Australia, on September 20, 1954. He was a teacher for many years before becoming a full-time writer. He writes fiction for young adults and children.
Moloney's titles include Dougy, Gracey, Crossfire, The Pipe, The House on River Terrace, The Book of Lies, Touch Me, and The Love That I Have. In 1996, he won a Children Book of the Year Award for Swashbuckler and A Bridge to Wiseman's Cove also won a Children's Book of the Year Award in 1997 in addition to the Children's Literature Peace Prize and the Family Award. In 2015 his title Disappearing Act made the shortlist for Australian Book Designers Association Award.
(Bowker Author Biography)
Reviews (2)
School Library Journal Review
Gr 3-6-Three fantasy titles meant for struggling readers. Each book introduces a main character who is grappling with unknown circumstances. There is little or no character development, but the easy style and appealing subjects may interest the target audience. In the first volume, JP is sucked into his video game and must use his superior gaming knowledge and skills to make his way to the final stage. In Trapped, David finds a drainpipe that looks like a perfect spot for skateboarding, even though he has been warned about a tragic accident that took place there just the year before. In Haunted Playground, Gavin encounters some very strange children at a playground while using his metal detector to find lost treasures. This narrative has a few awkward phrases and transitions that can lead to confusion even for advanced readers. The spooky atmosphere in each book is established rather quickly with suspense that lasts until the very end. While there is little literary merit to these books, they are suitable additions for libraries searching for hi/lo materials.-Bethany A. Lafferty, Las Vegas-Clark County Library, NV (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Booklist Review
As his family drives through their new town, David spies an enormous concrete-lined drain pipe with obvious skateboarding potential. His dad mentions that when the wet season begins, the drain can fill up in seconds, and the local kids warn him away with a hushed reference to Simon and Justin. But David soon returns to the spot with his board and a flashlight. The story quickly ratchets up from benign to scary to downright spooky as David ventures into the pipe and encounters Simon and later Justin, while overhead, rain begins to fall. Offering the winning elements of skateboarding, a ghost, and danger, the book delivers a good, straightforward adventure with a surprise ending. First published in Australia in 1996, this was written by the author of The Book of Lies (2007). Appealing and accessible to an unusually broad range of readers, the book features short words, brief sentences, large type, plenty of white space, and many effective black-and-white illustrations by Tan, the creator of The Arrival (2007).--Phelan, Carolyn Copyright 2007 Booklist
