Rita's revenge by Lian Tanner

Rita’s Revenge written by Lian Tanner is another hilarious follow up to A Clue for Clara, the famous chicken detective.  Filled with hilarity, havoc and venture, this story will easily get those pages turning and entertain its audience with its fast-paced action and humour. While it is not a sequel, it is best if you have read A Clue for Clara previously.

Rita the duck loves a good poem but is a bit of an outcast from her group.  Desperate to gain respect from her fellow ducks, she sets out to avenge Clara, the hero detective who has mocked all the ducks from their hometown of Little Dismal. Quickly setting off to pursue her mission, she meets and befriends Tracey, a young girl who is also angry with Clara for her heroics that caused her best friend and her father to leave unexpectedly. As they work out ways to communicate together, their anger and sadness dissipate, and they begin to question if their rage is pointed in the right direction. Suddenly when a chook-napping occurs….. could they possibly have been looking at this whole situation from the wrong angle all along?

Written cleverly in diary and letter form it makes for an easy and entertaining read. The audience will be amused by Rita’s amateur diary recordings, with entries like ‘waiting o’clock’ and ‘half past egg’. Interleaved are Tracey’s heartfelt sentiments shared in unsent letters to her departed friend, Jubilee. This novel is sure to appeal to anyone who enjoys fun, adventure and a bit of suspense. Add in some cute feathered friends who keep everyone on their toes, and you will be eagerly waiting to see what happens next. This novel, with its humorous storyline, easy print and smatterings of fun illustrations, makes for a enjoyable read. If you previously loved Clara’s clever detective skills, you will simply adore Rita’s poety, persistence and combative dance too!

Themes: Problem solving, Friendship, Adventure, Humour, Teamwork.

Michelle O'Connell