{"title":"Ted Dawe","description":"\u003cp\u003eTed Dawe is a renowned author whose compelling works have made a significant impact in the realm of young adult literature. Known for his honest and thought-provoking writing, Dawe tackles complex themes with a sensitivity and depth that resonate with readers of all ages.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eInto the River\u003c\/em\u003e is perhaps Dawe’s most distinguished novel, drawing readers into a powerful narrative that explores identity, adolescence, and the challenges of growing up. The book has received various accolades, reflecting its profound effect on audiences and its critical acclaim.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eAnother noteworthy work is \u003cem\u003eThunder Road\u003c\/em\u003e, a gripping story that delves into themes of friendship, betrayal, and the journey towards self-discovery. It captivates readers with its blend of heartfelt storytelling and realistic, relatable characters.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eBoth these books demonstrate Ted Dawe's remarkable ability to convey the intricacies of youth and the transitional experiences that define it. For those seeking engaging young adult novels that address real-life issues with authenticity, Ted Dawe’s collection is an excellent choice.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"into-the-river-by-ted-dawe-9781775536048","title":"Into the River","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA gripping, gritty and award-winning coming-of-age novel for young adult readers. When Te Arepa Santos is dragged into the river by a giant eel, something happens that will change the course of his whole life. The boy who struggles to the bank is not the same one who plunged in, moments earlier. He has brushed against the spirit world, and there is a price to be paid; an utu (revenge) to be exacted.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eYears later, far from the protection of whanau (family) and ancestral land, he finds new enemies. This time, with no one to save him, there is a decision to be made: he can wait on the bank, or leap forward into the river.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eAt the 2013 NZ Post Children's Book Awards, \u003cem\u003eInto the River\u003c\/em\u003e was judged the Margaret Mahy Book of the Year. It also won the Young Adult Fiction category of the awards. An engaging coming-of-age novel, it follows its main protagonist from his childhood in small-town rural New Zealand to an elite Auckland boarding school, where he must forge his own way—including battling with his cultural identity.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThis prequel to Ted Dawe's award-winning novel \u003cem\u003eThunder Road\u003c\/em\u003e is gritty, provocative, at times shocking, but always real and true. The awards' chief judge Bernard Beckett described a character \"caught between two worlds... the explicit content was presented as the danger of people being left adrift by society. And within that context, hard-hitting material is crucial; it is what makes the book authentic, real and important.\"\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe Deputy Chief Censor of Film and Literature ruled that the book is not offensive: \"The book deals with some stronger content. There are sexual relationships between teenagers, encounters with possible child sexual exploitation, the use of illegal drugs and other criminal activities, violent assault, and a moderate level of highly offensive language. These are well contextualised within an exciting fast-moving narrative that has as its protagonist, a young teenage Māori boy from a rural community who is finding his way through the strange uncomfortable environment of a boys' boarding school and unfamiliar social mores. The story captures the raw and real extremes of adolescence in teenage boys along with their yearnings and obsessions.\"\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe book is notable for being one of the first in New Zealand that specifically targets teenage boys and younger men—a genre that does not have great representation. The genre character is therefore significant. The content immerses the reader in action, wit, and intrigue, as well as a level of social realism, all likely to engage teen and young adult readers with particular appeal for older boys and young men.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Penguin Random House NZ","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46732816744684,"sku":"9781775536048","price":22.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/4232683482820.jpg?v=1755140944"},{"product_id":"thunder-road-by-ted-dawe-9781877135873","title":"Thunder Road","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhich street racer really controls the strip? An award-winning young adult novel full of fast cars, burn-offs, and an unwritten code of loyalty.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eThunder Road\u003c\/em\u003e. You find it in any city after the cops are in bed. It's where street racers go to test their machines—and their nerve.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eFor me, it was the steep rising pitch of the turbo, the screaming tyres, and the curtain of white smoke hanging behind me: all the stuff that spells street racing.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eTrace is 19 and has grown out of small-town ways. He's hungry for more. In Auckland, he hooks up with Devon, a guy with the Midas touch, who introduces Trace to burn-offs, big city style. Soon everything is smoking.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThere is a code with drivers: you don't criticise and you don't show fear. When Trace falls for a girl even Devon says is out of his league, loyalties are stretched. Then Devon hits on a scheme for hauling in cash. Soon enough he and Trace find out who really controls the strip. As the underworld closes in, it looks like their friendship is heading for burn-out.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eMenacing and suspenseful—a gripping novel from a remarkable talent which won the New Zealand Post Children's Book Awards Young Adult Fiction category in 2004.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Penguin Random House NZ","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47016588673260,"sku":"9781877135873","price":22.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/9142493482856.jpg?v=1763602678"}],"url":"https:\/\/bookhero.live\/collections\/ted-dawe.oembed","provider":"Book Hero","version":"1.0","type":"link"}