COMP CLOSED | Book Giveaway | The Crate

A page-turning ghost tale for children and young adults from award-winning author James Norcliffe. For ages 10+

A dark lake with darker secrets. The bizarre delivery of a mysterious crate. A fortune-teller unnerved by what she reads in a palm. Why is the past reaching for the present with such bony fingers?

For the four teenagers staying near a West Coast lake, what begins as an intriguing puzzle ends with the most terrifying night of their lives, a night that will change them forever…

Award-winning author James Norcliffe’s compelling supernatural tale will delight and thrill all young readers with its bittersweet ending as unexpected as it is satisfying.

The cover illustration is by award-winning illustrator, Jenny Cooper.

Praise for The Crate:

“A wonderful hybrid of mystery, ghost and sci-fi narrative that will grip children tight… another thrilling events-and-identity puzzle that will entertain the young fans Norcliffe has secured ever since his extraordinary The Loblolly Boy.” – Emma Neal

“The Crate will be an outstanding addition to the literature for children in Aotearoa.” – Gavin Bishop

About the Author:

James Norcliffe’s now fourteen novels for children and teenagers have delighted readers for more than twenty years. James is also an award-winning poet, educator, and editor. He has published ten collections of poetry, a book of short stories and, most recently, The Frog Prince, a novel for adults.

The Loblolly Boy, published in New Zealand, Australia and the United States, was described by acclaimed children’s writer Margaret Mahy as ‘a rich fantasy — alive with original twists, surprises and mysteries’. It won the 2010 NZ Post Junior Fiction Award, was shortlisted for the LIANZA Esther Glen Medal for Junior Fiction and the Sir Julius Vogel Science Fiction Award, and won a Storylines Notable Junior Fiction Book Award. USA’s Booklist described The Loblolly Boy as ‘an imaginative and richly atmospheric fantasy with sympathetic characters… a haunting story that will capture most readers’ imaginations’. Two sequels followed: The Loblolly Boy & the Sorcerer and The Pirates and the Nightmaker.

His children’s fantasy novel The Assassin of Gleam won the Sir Julius Vogel Award for the best New Zealand fantasy novel of 2006 and was shortlisted for the 2007 LIANZA Esther Glen Medal.

With The Crate, James Norcliffe returns to his teenage readers with a compelling ghost story, demonstrating once again his imaginative reach and narrative power.

James Norcliffe’s early years were spent on the West Coast. While Christchurch is home today, he has lived and worked in China, Borneo and Europe and has enjoyed literary fellowships and residencies in New Zealand, Australia and America.

Terms and conditions

1. 1. You must be a GrownUps member and receive our newsletter to be eligible to win.
   2. Competition closes on the 15th January 2023, winners will be notified via email by 19th January 2023.
   3. It is your responsibility to ensure you correctly enter a New Zealand postal address where the prize can be couriered. GrownUps will not take responsibility for prizes sent to incorrect addresses.
   4. Winners are drawn at random by the GrownUps administration team.
   5. GrownUps employees and family are not eligible to enter.
   6. By entering the giveaway, you approve for GrownUps to use your name on social media as winner of the competition.
   7. One entry per person.
   8. Prize is non transferrable.
   9. You must reside in New Zealand – the prize will only be posted within New Zealand.
   10. You must be over 50 years of age to enter, check your details are correct in your membership dashboard.