Review:
Mac Slater, Cool Hunter by Tristan Bancks
Random House Australia, 2008.
(Age range: 10-14) Mac Slater and his mate Paul are inventors.
The story begins with Mac and Paul trying out their latest invention, a
flying bike in front of an assembled crowd of fifty people on Kings
Cliff. As is often the case things don't go quite according to plan and
Mac ends up battered and bruised. Dejected from another failed attempt
they head to find Mac's mum who has a stall in the local market. Whilst
there they are approached by two business men with a proposition - to
become Coolhunters! Mac and Paul are amazed that these men would
consider them innovative enough to be part of an online vlog which
reports on the coolest things around. Their quest is to report for a
week on the 'cool' goings on of Kings Bay with the prize being a trip
to New York. The only problem is that Cat DeVees, the hottest girl in
school, is reporting too and at the end of the week's trial only one of
them will be chosen. Cat appears to have the upper hand as the week
begins and Mac is struggling for newsworthy items. Mac however has
underestimated the strength of family and friends and the power of self
belief.
A sequel to this novel is due out in February 2009.
Tracy Glover
Comment
I found this to be a rivetting read, with plenty of action and two
engaging, nerdy heroes who are prepared to try astoundingly dangerous
things in their quest to trial their inventions.
Pat Pledger
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Consulting, 2007