The Power of Place

The flowering of New Zealand children’s fiction in the 1980s was exciting and unprecedented, culminating in international acclaim for the work of Margaret Mahy, Tessa Duder and others.

Critic Diane Hebley discusses the books and writers published between 1970 and 1989. She argues that the New Zealand seascape and landscape have been powerful forces in our childern’s literature. Inherently dangerous, they have given rise to stories of challenge and adventure. She also shows how a sense of place has given writers a way of exploring characters and their points of view, as well as the concerns of contemporary society.

This fascinating survey will appeal to all those interested in recent fiction for children, whether writers, teachers, librarians, parents or simply readers.

The book includes extensive bibliographies grouped by author, geographic location and dates of publication.