This week, the Herald takes a look at the best children’s books of recent weeks. And there’s no doubt that Ted Dawe’s Thunder Road is a winner. According to reviewer David Larsen: “Half coming-of-age story, half thriller, this is a strikingly impressive debut.” If you’re looking for a Christmas gift for a lad, it looks like this is the book to pick. Interesting fact: Dawe apparently banged out his first novel in just 40 days!

The Serpents Of Arakesh by V.M. Jones (pictured) is a children's fantasy novel: “There's abundant wish-fulfilment appeal in this concept, and Jones knows precisely what to do with it. Superb writing, intelligent story telling”. Meanwhile, Tiggie Tompson's Longest Journey is the final volume in Tessa Duder’s trilogy. “Duder's smooth, easy writing is pure pleasure to read, and every sentence manages to put Tiggie's personality across in ways you hardly notice.”

Julia Owen’s Beneath the Surf is “slightly programmatic … in that you can sum it up with the single sentence: teenager comes to terms with parents' divorce. But there's a place for good single-issue books, and Julia Owen is a readable writer.” Shirley Corlett’s Abandon Ship! Is from Scholastic's My Story series, dedicated to bringing New Zealand history alive for kids. “Early teens and pre-teens will find a lot to identify with, and a lot of fascinating points of difference.”