Hazard River Series

Toad’s Revenge/Blood Money

by J E Fison

Ford Street Publishing. Australian, Junior. Paperback RRP $12.95

There’s always something happening at Hazard River and the two most recent titles in the series are no exception.

In Blood Money Jack and his brother Ben ‘the Stinkfinder’ discover a bag of money. Together with their friends Mimi and Lachlan ‘Master of Disaster’ they find not only the owner but a trail of endangered animal smuggling.

In Toad’s Revenge the friends embark on a time machine adventure to a future where cane toads have involved into even more vicious predators, threatening human existence.

The series is easy-to-read and action-packed, best suited to boys 7-10 years. There is an element of predictability which will appeal to newly independent readers and reluctant readers, while the action will keep them turning the pages.

Readers of Justin D’Arth’s Extreme Adventures series and Alison Reynolds Ranger in Danger series will equally enjoy the Hazard River series.

The Reading Stack reviewed J E Fison's Snake Surprise in December 2010

http://www.hazardriver.com/

Snake Surprise

by J E Fison

Ford Street Publishing. Australian, Junior. Paperback rrp $12.95

Guest Reviewer - Jo Burnell

Somersaulting sausage rolls! What could possibly happen next? It’s never boring on Hazard River. There’s often a bit of the ridiculous mixed in with drama and mystery in this Series. A little brother loves to let the imagination run wild and when clues hint at someone in distress, who could blame him? Unexpected happenings turn into monumental adventures. Terrible villains are concocted, while the real ones are even freakier.

I can see Ben stumble backwards and bounce off the table. I stretch with Jack as his hands cling to the boat and his feet are stuck on the dinghy. Will the water’s current split him in two?

Snake Surprise will keep Middle Primary students glued to the page. Just when you think

 things can’t get worse, they do. There’s a strong hook to keep you reading at the end of each Chapter too. I couldn’t stop till I found out what happened in the end.

Although unfamiliar vocabulary offers a challenge, the benefits are in the tale. This will be a series that hauls a reluctant reader or two back to the page.

Thanks J E Fison. Don’t stop now!

Shark Attack and Snake Surprise were released together in 2010. Bat Attack and Tiger Terror will follow in March 2011.

http://hazardriver.com/Author.html