Author(s): Fleur Beale

YA Fiction

This powerful story, set at the time of New Zealand's founding document in 1840, traces Atapo's capture and slavery as a child through to her escape to the mission house in the Bay of Islands as a 14-year-old. There she learns the new English ways and language and is present at the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi. Although born into an important family, her imprisonment has meant she has lost her standing in her tribel. She hopes her new skills will enable her to return home with her head high and help save her tribal lands from unscrupulous settlers. Beale has written an outstanding story that highlights our shared history. It is the sixth book in the popular My Story series that chronicles true events in New Zealand's history, as seen through the eyes of a fictitious child diarist. Finalist New Zealand Post Junior Fiction 2005.