Nathan Luff (text), and Chris Kennett (illustrator), Crash landing (Family disasters #1), Scholastic Australia, June 2023, 192 pp., RRP $15.99 (pbk), ISBN 9781038728357
Jakob has a problem. A few actually. After a hugely embarrassing situation at school, he decides it’s a great idea to get out of town on a family holiday to avoid the teasing coming his way, but his family are their own brand of embarrassment. His dad is a full time worrier and tightwad, and his mum likes to declare, in her loudest voice, her optimistic view of the world, which often is a little misguided. If that isn’t bad enough, Jakob is horrified when his parents invite a girl from school to join them so Jakob doesn’t get lonely. A girl who is obsessed with everything Jakob. And they are just the beginning of his problems. When the el cheapo ticket they buy books them onto a plane barely held together by sticky tape and they crash-land onto an unknown island, Jakob’s family holiday becomes a nightmare.
Fast paced, disaster-riddled and brought to life even more by the fun illustrations of Chris Kennett, kids will be in for a fast, funny read.
Reviewed by Deborah Abela
