Children's Web Magazine

People Watching by Michael J. Arkinstall is a story about
Billy who is a teenage boy with many interests. He enjoys helping people with their school work, is into music, football and technology. He has twin sisters that he'd prefer not to be reminded of. He is just like most teenagers.
One of his favourite pastimes is sitting and watching what's going on around him - people watching.
When Billy's mother receives an e-mailed from her brother in Australia to say that there father has died. Billy's life is about to change. Although he never knew his granddad he has left something important to him, his diary. He will also have to follow a challenge if he wants to find out what else his granddad has left him. Has he left him anything? Or is it just his way of bringing the family together?
The challenge involves his Uncle Mike who has flown over from Australia to tell them about the will. The challenge takes place in his granddad's homeland of Australia. Billy decides to fly with Uncle Mike to Australia. They land in Melbourne and hire a car to drive to Sydney. The Journey is going to be a long one so that Billy can see as much of Australia as possible.
His granddad had hoped that the visit would persuade him to come and live in Australia. But will Billy like it? Will he get on with uncle Mike who he hardly knows? Billy and Uncle Mike have no idea why Billy has been left his granddad's diary. During the journey Billy reads it, trying to get any information he can about his granddad. Perhaps the solicitors will be able to enlighten them on the situation. However with only some clues to help them will they be able to solve the challenge?
I enjoyed this story but I did want to know more about Australia, its beauty and its dangerous creatures. I wanted to be taken on adventure exploring the sea discovering the bush and the animals that live there. It did capture some elements the sense of long distance and some interesting snippets of history.
But perhaps this book was just to about getting to known the characters and what families mean to one another. I hope there is a follow up book that tells more about life on the other side of the world and what it holds.
People Watching by Michael J. Arkinstall is published by Olympia Publishers.
© Children's Web Magazine 2008