Princess Tamsin, by Annette Wickes

Jamie had played cricket for our school’s cricket team at the weekend. He’d made forty runs and taken five wickets. Now he was close to being the most popular boy in school.
No doubt about it, being good at sport is the way to win friends. So what hope is there for someone like me?

Tamsin isn’t happy about moving from the city to the country. She’s left behind her old house, her old school and her Dad. As far as she’s concerned, that’s too many changes.

Fitting in at a new school isn’t easy, either, especially at a school where everyone else is sports-crazy. Tamsin doesn’t like sport and she is hopeless at it. She can’t hit a ball and she drops catches. The only good thing about the school is the big old river red gum that stands in the yard. Perhaps, in an unexpected way, this tree could be the key to Tamsin fitting in.

Princess Tamsin offers both humour and empathy as the reader watches Tamsin struggle to adjust to all the changes in her life and, most importantly, fit in. Tamsin overcomes her problems with the support of those around her, but also finds plenty of inner strength as she uses her talents to mould a place for herself in her new school.

Princess Tamsin is a light-hearted yet insightful look into the life of an eleven year old girl.

Princess Tamsin, by Annette Wickes
Omnibus, 2004

Drop Kick, by Annette Wickes

Everyone in Duncan’s family is sports mad. His brother and sister have heaps of trophies, his Nan is still doing triathlons, and his Pa was a champion footballer. His parents love sport so much they’re both sport teachers – at Duncan’s school. Duncan is the odd one out. He’s not good at any sport, and would rather spend his spare time with his mate Brad and Brad’s pets.

Duncan’s Dad says Duncan can have a pet of his own on the day he kicks the winning goal for the football team. Trouble is, Duncan can’t even get selected for the team – because he can’t kick. Luckily for him, his grandpa has a secret weapon. If Duncan can learn to use it, he just might have a chance.

Drop Kick is a fun novel for primary school children. It touches on themes of family, friendship and bullying, without being preachy.

A good read for ten to twelves.

Drop Kick, by Annette Wickes
Omnibus, 2003