THE COPPERHEAD is awesome

This review for THE COPPERHEAD was handed to me yesterday. Thank Ellena I'm so pleased you like my book! Watch out for THE BUSHFIRE BRUMBY, also featuring Rachel, coming out early in 2008.

"I think that THE COPPERHEAD story is an awesome book for children. It's about a girl named Rachel who always gets into trouble when she is actually trying to help out. When her brother is in danger can Rachel help him?"

Ellena, aged 10 years

WHEELS shortlisted for SAKURA AWARD, JAPAN

My novel for teenagers, WHEELS, has been shortlisted for the SUKURA AWARDS in Japan. This award has been created by librarians of international schools in Japan and will be decided next year. To look at the short list of middle school novels check out the link below. I was honoured to be selected and you'll find WHEELS is in excellent company.


> http://www.issh.ac.jp/download/Sakura%20Medal%202008%20-%20MS%20Books.

On another note my new book with AUSSIE AUSSIE AUSSIE is ready to be printed soon. I received the proofs this week and was delighted with Tom Kurema's depiction once again of characters Rachel and Tim. The brumby he created was also lovely. It is an exciting story that reflects last years summer of drought, bushfire and storms and tries to capture the hardship experienced by farmers as well the animals, domestic and native, who share farm life.

You can find out more about the wonderful AUSSIE AUSSIE AUSSIE series at Blake Educations website.

Merry Christmas everyone!

Delwyne

Aussie Reviews - The Copperhead

Children's Book Review: The Copperhead, by Delwyne Stephens

Reviewed by Sally Murphy http://www.aussiereviews.com/

Part of the Aussie School Books series.


"Rachel was scared, too. She was so scared she could hear her heartbeat thundering in her ears. She knew what type of snake it was from the colour. It was a copperhead. Copperheads were deadly."

Rachel is always getting into trouble for not thinking before she acts. When she and her brother Tim go searching for blue-tongue lizards, she is determined not to get into any more trouble. But when Tim grabs hold of a snake's tail, thinking it’s a lizard, Rachel knows she must stop and think before doing what needs to be done.

The Copperhead is an easy to read chapter book for primary school aged readers. Set on a country Australian farm, and featuring one of Australia’s most dangerous animals, it will appeal to Australian kids. Part of the Aussie School kids series, The Copperhead is 48 pages long and has plenty of illustrative support for readers new to the novel format.

Good stuff.

The Copperhead, by Delwyne Stephens, Aussie School Books, 2007

Australian Family Therapists' Award for Children's Literature

WHEELS was listed as a recommended read in the Australian Family Therapists' Award for Children's Literature. I was thrilled because WHEELS was one of ten 'recommended reads' from a strong field.

The winners in the older readers catergory were Sue Lawson for "Allie McGregor's True Colours" (Black Dog Books) with highly commended going to "Destroying Avalon" (Kate McCaffrey, Fremantle Arts Centre Press) and "Ten Things I Hate About Me" by Randa Adel-Fattah published by Pan Macmillan.

Also, hello to the students from the remote Western Australian High School who wrote me some wonderful letters last week. It was fabulous to hear what you thought about WHEELS. I'm so pleased you liked it. Delwyne :-)

Just Kidding Magazine

May, 2007: Check out this months edition of JUST KIDDING magazine. JUST KIDDING is a sensational magazine for primary school children distributed to schools throughout Australia. Packed with colour and useful information (plus the latest 'cool' stuff) kids love it. And, the best bit is THE COPPERHEAD is featured in this months mag! You can see THE COPPERHEAD in the mag, plus if you are eligible (ie a school kid) you can enter a prize to win one of five signed copies. Good luck! The web address for JUST KIDDING is www.justkidding.com.au.

Delwyne

Rachel from the UK loves The Copperhead!

I received this review of THE COPPERHEAD all the way from the UK! It was a real thrill. Thanks Rachel, I'm glad you liked my book.

Rachel R. of Black Combe Primary School, Millom, Cumbria U.K. (May, 2007)
'The Copperhead was awesome!'

The Bushfire Brumby

THE BUSHFIRE BRUMBY. Aussie School books will be bringing out another of my books in the Aussie Aussie Aussie series in January 2008. THE BUSHFIRE BRUMBY is again set at Roger's farm, with the characters of Rachel, Tim and Roger returning for another action packed adventure.

Review - 'fast paced real Aussie book'

Review - Pass It On (April, 2007)
"Delwyne's contribution to the Aussie School Books series has a little bit of everything. A not so average Rachel who loves spiders and blue tongue lizards. Big brother Roger's farm where Rachel can do no harm and younger brother Tim - who manages to get himself into some big trouble. The Copperhead is a fast paced, real Aussie book for children aged 7-10. Simple to read with some good messages about stopping, thinking and doing the right thing."

Review - primary teacher 'thoroughly recommends' The Copperhead

Review for THE COPPERHEAD March, 2007

"As a Primary Teacher I read Delwyne's book "The Copperhead" to three groups of grade 3 and 4 pupils. They all thoroughly enjoyed the story and wanted to know where they could purchase the book. They enjoyed the suspense, the Australian theme and many commented about learning more about our lizards, snakes and Australian wildlife, and they loved having a boy and a girl in the story.

One student's comment was "I liked everything about the book".

I could thoroughly recommend "The Copperhead" for all primary aged students."

Mrs Lyn Rankin (Bachelor of Education)

THE COPPERHEAD

THE COPPERHEAD

This is my new book, THE COPPERHEAD. It is one book of nine in a new series that is 'unapologetically Australian'. Check out the website for AUSSIE SCHOOL BOOKS at www.aussieschoolbooks.com.au . THE COPPERHEAD will be available in March 2007. The wonderful illustrations are by Tom Kurema.

THE COPPERHEAD is aimed at primary aged readers from seven to eleven years. You can order it, and others in the AUSSIE AUSSIE AUSSIE series at the AUSSIE SCHOOL BOOKS website above. The book can also be ordered directly from Blake Education pH - 9558 4433.

THE COPPERHEAD is about a young girl who in tough circumstances must learn the lesson of 'stop think and do the right thing'. It is set in the Australian bush and Rachel likes nothing better than to go exploring for blue tongue lizards, spiders and scorpions. One day her brother takes things too far - he drags what he thinks is a blue tongue out of a hole, only the 'blue tongue' hasn't got legs. The angry snake bites Rachel's brother. Can she Stop and Think clearly enough to save her brother's life?

WHEELS

WHEELS.

This is my novel for teenagers, WHEELS. It has received great reviews from many sources and is highly recommended for teen readers, particularly boys. You can order the book by contacting my publisher at:

http://www.futuretrack.com.au/categories/ft_fiction/ya_fiction.html

WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING ABOUT WHEELS
Author: Delwyne Stephens
Publisher: Futuretrack
ISBN: 13:978-1876603-17-5
10-1-876603-17-8

The Melbourne Age, 18th June, 2006
"Tender and unflinching…a compelling debut"

Lesley Conway, Eastern Regional Library

"Wheels... is a down to earth, fast paced and realistic look at what an active young man has to deal with when he becomes a paraplegic. The book tackles some big issues, such as how do friendships stand up to the challenge of disability, dealing with an ambitious father and an honest look at the uncomfortable physical consequences that are rarely talked about."

Magpies Review, July 2006
Volume 21, p. 8
"…this is a warm, touching story. I am sure that junior secondary students – both boys and girls – will be moved by its simple poignancy."

Wendy Young, LaTrobe University Education Curriculum Laboratory

"…Wheels is fabulous…I thoroughly enjoyed it from first to last: it really "hits the spot" and I will definitely bring it to the attention of our student teachers."

Robyn Azzopardi, Library Manager (Whittlesea Secondary College)
Book of the week, November 2006
"…This book tells it like it is – including the anger, depression, dependence on others and even loss of control of bodily functions. Highly recommended for (secondary) years 8-10."

Andrew (age 14), Coodanup College, WA
"At last I read a book I liked"

http://www.insideadog.com.au/
Jes, aged 17
"…the whole story line was great! it kept you wondering how he would cope, if anything would change and who his real friends were."

http://www.insideadog.com.au/
Katey, aged 12
"…it was very interesting, very hard to put down and you couldn't help but turn the page."

Liz Flaherty, author and primary teacher
"…I loved Wheels. It was extraordinary."

Jackie Hosking, writer, editor and compiler of newsletter Pass It On

"…Delwyne Stephens tells an amazing story about Shane as she sits us in his wheelchair and shows us that frailty and strength are not the opposites that they may first appear to be."

Joyce Michael, Lynwood SHS, CMIS Evaluation website (January 2007)

"...Both novel and resource book are highly recommended. The novel would make an ideal class set, but even on its own it is a very authentic and thought-provoking novel that will interest a wide range of readers, with a particular appeal for teenage boys."

Reading Time, Vol 50. page 40
"The story will appeal to a wide range of readers...the story is heart-felt and clearly expressed."

Goodreading Magazine, December 2006 / January 2007. Three stars.
"Wheels…is about triumph of the will, coping with adversity and getting on with life in the face of sometimes overwhelming odds. It’s a gritty, realistic story…"

Resource Centre at the British School in Tokyo. Tania Ord-Smith.
"Shane Jamieson is one cool 15-year old. His passion is motocross; he's popular, good looking, has a gorgeous girlfriend and, if you knew him, you'd want to be one of his mates. All that changes in a split second when Shane crashes his bike and wakes up in hospital only to discover that he can't feel his legs...This book really makes you wonder how you would cope if something like this ever happened to you, who would your real friends be, what are the most important things in your life? Although this is a very moving story it is, in parts, extremely funny. This book was a real unexpected pleasure to read - the style is easy and the character of Shane so real that I couldn't put the book down until I found out what happened to him at the end."