Hunter--Joy Cowley

Told in alternating voices, this is a great example of a good multicultural adventure story. Half the story is set in 1805--a teenaged Maori boy is kept as a slave by a rival tribe. Because he has the ability to see visions, he is kept alive. He can see prey in his visions and is known for his hunting ability, but because he is a slave he is treated like the dogs and not given a name. He names himself Hunter and yearns for escape but must wait until he feels it's the right time.

The other half of the story is set in 2005. Three young children crash in a small plane on a remote island near New Zealand. The pilot is killed, leaving the children to fend for themselves. Somehow Hunter from 1805 is able to communicate with the oldest girl and help her survive with her brothers.

The chapters are short enough to keep the reader riveted. The alternating voices help contribute to the thrilling tone. The desrciptions are good--just enough to be interesting without being overwhelming. The two stories are tied together nicely at the end.

I'd like to see how the kids respond to it, but I think it's Top Shelf.

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Reading: The Puppet Wrangler--Vicki Grant
On My Nightstand: Juliet Dove, Queen of Love and some baby name book but you don't care about that.