New Zealand Children's Book Awards 2015, Finalist Junior Fiction
LIANZA Children's Book Awards 2015, Winner Esther Glen Award

ISBN 9780143571193
Published by Puffin 2014
Format: Paperback

Conrad Cooper’s Last Stand

Conrad Cooper needs a favour.

He's just found out about Tane, the god of the forest, who seems like the perfect guy to solve Conrad's family problems. After all, the more high-profile gods probably have huge waiting lists, right? In return, Conrad will do anything, no matter how much trouble it causes. But will a Maori god listen to the prayers of a Pakeha boy? And does Tane really exist?

Book excerpt

I've never prayed to a god before, so hope this is okay. If I get it wrong, don't strike me down with a thunderbolt or anything – I'm just a kid. There's no jail for kids, just grownups, so maybe gods have the same rules, like it doesn't count until you're sixteen. Hope so.
Anyway, I would've said hi before, but I didn't know you existed until after lunch. That's when our teacher reads to the class. Today she pulled out a book with green letters on the front and said, 'Let's have a creation story, shall we? How about Rangi and Papa? It's all about Tane, the forest god and – Jasper Harris, stop sticking your fingers in Conrad's ears.'
Cool book.
Not that I need to tell you. You saw the start of the world, which was probably way better than reading about it. Bet it looked nothing like the pictures. I mean, you lifted the sky off the earth so your muscles must be huge. Do you lift weights?