NZ Intermediate School Librarians discussion

A cracking action read about a schoolboy turned assassin/spy during World War II (and a book that doesn't appear on the Good Reads site for some reason!). Joe is a 12 year old New Zealander living in Berlin in 1938 with his diplomat parents. He attends the local school and speaks German fluently. War has not yet broken out, but the Nazi party lead by Hitler is in control and Joe is noticing how the Jewish people are being singled out and their lives are being made increasingly difficult. On what becomes known as Kristallnacht (the Night of Broken Glass) many Jewish people are brutally attacked and their shops are destroyed by the Nazi party's "storm troopers". On the same night Joe's father is arrested by the Gestapo and Joe discovers his parents are in fact spies for the British government. Joe manages to flee Berlin with his mother, in a gripping piece of action, and he is then sent home to the safety of NZ. Three years later, he stows away on a ship and makes it to London where he intends to re-join his mother. But this doesn't go according to plan and instead Joe finds himself experiencing the London Blitz first hand, before being recruited by MI5. His knowledge of German will make him a valuable spy. Joe grows up quickly as he is taught how to fight and kill, before being parachuted into France for his first mission. This is a great read, a literal "page turner" and an excellent choice for those reluctant but able readers. Fans of Cherub should enjoy this (it is far superior in my opinion). Not suitable as a read aloud and I will be putting the "Young Adults" sticker on the spine.

I have this in my Mt TBR.... love Brian Falkner, and our students love him too!! Can't wait to read this!

It will be worth the wait Penny. I think it is one of Brian Falkner's best!

Woah that is high praise... Shooting Stars is one of my favourite books!!!!

I find that NZ books frequently are not in Goodreads, one of the reasons I stopped using Goodreads to keep a record of all my reading as so much of it is NZ CYA and I don't have time to add them all in (which you can do if a book isn't there).
I just read this too, our chosen book for the 'adults reading YA' book club I'm part of, and thought it was a great read though found the jumps between different sections a bit abrupt with some characters left behind never to be seen again. The kids will love it.

I loved it too, Jane, though 'Shooting Stars' and 'Henry and the Flea' are still my favourites. In my opinion 'Katipo Jo' is most definitely not for primary schools up to Y6 but great for Y7 and up,

Its on now. I asked a librarian to put it on so I could review it.

Thanks Jo!

Just finished Katipo Joe... it is a stunner! Loved it... and finished it in three days which is UNHEARD of for me... I am a slooooooow reader!!

Yes, it's a cracker isn't it Penny! We've just purchased 6 copies for a Class Novel set. I'm sure the kids will be fighting over it!

Jane... my colleague was worried about Rosie hopping into bed with Joe for Intermediates, but I have to say when I read it, it didn't bother me that much... obviously you are comfortable giving it to Intermediate kids in a Class Novel set?!
We have Shooting Stars as a class set for Year 8, which also has the 'hotel scene' in it, so I think I would recommend Katipo Joe as another set. The story is just SO good!!!

Penny, yes I must admit the "Rosie hopping into Joe's bed" incident initially made me think the book would not be appropriate for a class novel. But when I was discussing new class novel titles with our DP (who is Head of Literacy), I mentioned "Katipo Joe", saying it was an excellent read and would have been perfect apart from this section where an adult tries to initiate sexual relations with 15 year old Joe. So we then thought about it a bit more and discussed how Sexuality is one of our key Inquiry topics, how in Digital Citizenship we cover adult predators etc, and also what our students are already exposed to - eg Jeffery Epstein & Ghislane Maxwell. What changed my mind though was thinking more about how that in the book Joe feels really uncomfortable and rejects Rosie's inappropriate advances - so that is a great message for our students. I also discussed the book with one of our Year 8 teachers - and straight away she said - "sounds perfectly fine". We will have a note on our booking system so that teachers are aware of the content though.
But you know, what was more shocking to me in the book [SPOILER ALERT] is when Joe kills his old friend! Wow! Gut wrenching, but so good! :-)

Thanks that is great advice!!!
Yes... the Klaus situation was shocking!