Kate S Richards

Nikau's Escape Kate S Richards

In volcanic terrain, legendary mountain warriors battled for a beautiful bride. It is here, that Jabu finds himself thrust into another adventure. He is equally beguiled by Pania and Aotearoa, the land of the long white cloud. Snowboarding on a mountain sounds exciting, but he doesn't expect to be near the top when Ruapehu erupts.

Further down the volcano ...

Faced with a wall of snow, Nikau digs like a dog on a beach, but he can't find his sister. The avalanche has swallowed her. "Give her back!" he roars at the mountain, but it remains unmoved. Rock bombs sear through the sky, propelled by jets of ash and he knows he must flee. Pania would want that. He snowboards away, escaping the eruption and a roiling lahar, to seek shelter. Deep in the indigenous woodland, he finally learns his family's secrets. He will need to face off with his ex-jailbird father and grapple with the truth behind his parents' divorce. Survival and loyalty are at stake.

This coming-of-age Young Adult adventure is a celebration of the

captivating land of Aotearoa. There is a glossary of terms with Te Reo,

Zulu and other words that need explanation.

The final instalment in the Adventures of Jabu & Friends. Can be read as a stand-alone story.