The Secret of Patupaiarehe Island

What if your rescuers were actually the monsters?

Abandoned in a run-down Otepoti (Dunedin) orphanage, twelve-year-old Maia Harrison is determined to keep her siblings safe. When her bookish twin, Lily, uncovers a hidden escape plan, the orphans work together to decode a secret message using an old Bible as a cipher. Led by a pair of mysterious, pale-faced, red-headed teenagers, the siblings flee into the night. But Maia is suspicious. The youths look exactly like the Patupaiarehe: the dangerous, child-snatching fairy-folk from the traditional Maori legends told to her by Aunt Hinemoa.

As their journey into South Otago turns magical, tension grows between the siblings. While Lily trusts their enchanting new guides, Maia's growing fears threaten to tear the family apart. This thought-provoking fantasy forces the sisters to choose who they must trust, when the cost could mean survival or entrapment.

A suspenseful and culturally rich middle-grade novel exploring themes of family loyalty, trust and discernment. It seamlessly blends Aotearoa New Zealand history and Maori mythology with a high-stakes survival adventure, perfect for fans of Children of the Rush, The Wingfeather Saga, and The Chronicles of Narnia. With rich ties to Te Reo Maori and New Zealand history curricula, it is an essential addition to school and library collections.