Poetry Box, a New Zealand poetry page for children run by poet Paula Green, has reviewed Three Scoops by David Hill. Paula has also set popUPpoem challenges inspired by the stories in Three Scoops...and she has prizes!
popUPpoem challenges:
A history poem: Find a person in the past and use them as a starting point for your poem. You could use someone you know (an older relation) or someone you don’t know from the past. Before you start your poem write down a few questions you would ask them if you could, or will ask them if you can. See if you can find out some fascinating things about them.
A fantasy poem: Take a box of books as your starting point and let your imagination go flying. Is there a question your poem explores? Without saying the question out loud. Over to you: this is also a chance simply to enjoy a dose of fantasy (imagination) as you write.
A science fiction: Set your poem in the future where the world is a little bit different than it is now. What is good and bad about how it is different?
Three moments in time and three writing genre: historic fiction / fantasy fiction / futuristic fiction from one of New Zealand’s favourite writers of fiction.
Historical: Coming Home
The story of Harry and his loyal horse Blaze as New Zealand rushes to support the British during the time of the war between them and the South African Dutch citizens, known as the Boer War. On the eve of departure Blaze panics and escapes. Harry has to leave alone but throughout his experiences, the voyage around the world and the horror of war, he yearns for his steed and prays he is okay. Meanwhile Blaze is facing his own dangers as he struggles to return to the family farm.
Fantasy: I Wish
Trent Karam is bored and depressed. He and his mum have moved to a new town and he must start at a new school. All he wants is to be something more than ordinary – to stand out. Enter a magical book-elf hidden in a mysterious box of books the movers appear to have left in error. Trent is stuck with reading the books because the movers have not delivered his computer – but then he finds they actually contain stories that can help him and the book-elf can grant wishes.
Future: Strange Meeting
Sophie’s father is involved in the Neptune space mission launch site. Sophie is proud of her dad and the work he is involved in but fellow student Pita, says his Koru is warning that the work they’re doing isn’t honest – it is dangerous. Who can she believe? Meanwhile, way out in space, a large meteor is waiting – being pulled by the gravity of Saturn and Jupiter along with the influence of our sun. It waits like a snooker ball awaiting the cue. Which way will it go?
David Hill is one of New Zealand’s highest regarded writer, playwright, poet and critic. Especially well known for his young adult fiction, including See Ya, Simon (1992) and Right Where It Hurts (2001) which have been shortlisted for numerous awards. He is also a prolific journalist, writing many articles for The New Zealand Herald.