New Releases by David Hill

Caught in a tunnel collapse, Liam and Imogen have to use all their wits to survive in this gripping novel for readers eight years and up. Wright Family Foundation Esther Glen Award for Junior Fiction 2023 When you stood deep inside the tunnel, you could hear the mountain groaning overhead. That's what Liam Geary's father had told him, anyway. It sounded stupid, till you stood inside a big tunnel; felt those billions of tonnes pressing in from above and the sides; heard water dripping from ceilings, or even trickling like something's blood behind the concrete walls; sensed the blackness that lay beyond the TBM's blazing lights as it ground its slow way through the stone ahead. Then you knew that a major tunnel like the Puketapu was a place of power, somehow; that darkness and danger lurked all around. When Liam dares his classmate Imogen to come on a forbidden tour of the railway tunnel being drilled through a nearby mountain, he hopes she’ll quit protesting about it damaging the environment — his dad is an engineer working on the tunnel, after all. Just as they reach the huge tunnelling machine everything goes horribly wrong. When the rocks stop falling and the dust settles, they are trapped, kilometres below ground, in the dark. Water is trickling in and beginning to rise. And nobody knows where they are. Can they stop arguing and start working together to escape before time runs out?

A tense, exciting war adventure inspired by the coastwatchers of Operation Pacific, from award-winning author David Hill. ‘It’s not going to be a cushy job, young Benson. You’re on your own. Japs will be looking for you. Far as they’re concerned, you’re spies. And when a spy gets captured, remember . . .’ It’s 1943, and 19-year-old radio operator Frank Benson is shipped out to an enemy-occupied island in the Solomons with two other soldiers. Their mission is to spy on the Japanese. In dense jungle they meet a Solomon Islander who says he has information that will shatter Japanese defences. But he could be working for the enemy. What if it’s a trap to get them killed? No training could have prepared Frank for this decision. Their lives - and Operation Pacific - depend on his next move.

A 2020 New York Times notable book | One of the Chicago Tribune's best nonfiction books of 2020 "Complex, turbulent, as haunting as a pedal steel solo" —Jonathan Miles, The New York Times Book Review (Editors' Choice) "One of 21 books we can't wait to read in 2020" — Thrillist | A New York Times Book Review summer reading pick | A GQ best book of 2020 | Named one of the 10 best July books by The Washington Post and The Christian Science Monitor | A Kirkus Reviews hottest summer read | A Publishers Weekly summer reads staff pick The incredible true story of America's original—and forgotten—capital of vice Back in the days before Vegas was big, when the Mob was at its peak and neon lights were but a glimmer on the horizon, a little Southern town styled itself as a premier destination for the American leisure class. Hot Springs, Arkansas was home to healing waters, Art Deco splendor, and America's original national park—as well as horse racing, nearly a dozen illegal casinos, countless backrooms and brothels, and some of the country's most bald-faced criminals. Gangsters, gamblers, and gamines: all once flocked to America's forgotten capital of vice, a place where small-town hustlers and bigtime high-rollers could make their fortunes, and hide from the law. The Vapors is the extraordinary story of three individuals—spanning the golden decades of Hot Springs, from the 1930s through the 1960s—and the lavish casino whose spectacular rise and fall would bring them together before blowing them apart. Hazel Hill was still a young girl when legendary mobster Owney Madden rolled into town in his convertible, fresh off a crime spree in New York. He quickly established himself as the gentleman Godfather of Hot Springs, cutting barroom deals and buying stakes in the clubs at which Hazel made her living—and drank away her sorrows. Owney's protégé was Dane Harris, the son of a Cherokee bootlegger who rose through the town's ranks to become Boss Gambler. It was his idea to build The Vapors, a pleasure palace more spectacular than any the town had ever seen, and an establishment to rival anything on the Vegas Strip or Broadway in sophistication and supercharged glamour. In this riveting work of forgotten history, native Arkansan David Hill plots the trajectory of everything from organized crime to America's fraught racial past, examining how a town synonymous with white gangsters supported a burgeoning black middle class. He reveals how the louche underbelly of the South was also home to veterans hospitals and baseball's spring training grounds, giving rise to everyone from Babe Ruth to President Bill Clinton. Infused with the sights and sounds of America's entertainment heyday—jazz orchestras and auctioneers, slot machines and suited comedians— The Vapors is an arresting glimpse into a bygone era of American vice.

Parents going through separation or divorce are understandably worried about how the change in the family will affect their children. This guide walks parents through all the factors they should consider and offers step-by-step guidance on how to work together to put their children first. From sharing the news with children in an age-appropriate way to handling the issue of custody, from concerns about affairs or abuse to embarking on remarriage and blending families, Co-Parenting Through Separation and Divorce offers a roadmap through one of life's most difficult challenges with the goal of healthy, happy kids informing every decision along the way.

The author of the magnificent bestselling account of the First Fleet returns to early Sydney to tell the story of the years that followed as it's never been told before. The British plan to settle Australia was a high-risk venture. We now take it for granted that the first colony was the basis of one of the most successful nations in the world today. But in truth, the New World of the 18th century was dotted with failed colonies, and New South Wales nearly joined them. The motley crew of unruly marines and bedraggled convicts who arrived at Botany Bay in 1788 in leaky boats nearly starved to death. They could easily have been murdered by hostile locals, been overwhelmed by an attack from French or Spanish expeditions, or brought undone by the Castle Hill uprising of 1804. Yet through fortunate decisions, a few remarkably good leaders, and most of all good luck, Sydney survived and thrived. Bestselling historian David Hill tells the story of the first three decades of Britain's earliest colony in Australia in a fresh and compelling way. 'David Hill captures Australia's past in a very readable way.' The Weekly Times

How the MoD has broken the covenant with the military over the past 25 years; an informal agreement that is underpinned by a promise to provide 'adequate safeguards'.

Follow the fortunes of two families – their triumphs and disasters, losses and discoveries – in this enthralling novel by a bestselling author. A family boards a ship bound for New Zealand. What will they find there? Tests lie ahead – war, earthquakes, protest marches, brushes with death. And so do some thrilling discoveries . . . Master storyteller David Hill traces the fortunes of two New Zealand families, through seven generations and over 130 years of fast-flowing change, in this exciting and richly rewarding novel for intermediate readers.

Using a combination of existing and original research, this new text provides a simple explanation for the low turnout in American elections: rather than creating an environment conducive to participation, the institutional arrangements that govern structure participation, representation, and actual governance in the United States create an environment that discourages widespread participation. To explore this argument, the author examines the origins and development of registration laws, single-member districts, such as the Electoral College, and the separation of powers and the impact these institutions have on turnout levels in American national elections. To this end, the text employs a narrative discussing the impact of institutions on turnout in the United States and across nations, supported with extensive yet accessible data analysis. Hill not only provides students with explanations for the low turnout characteristic of American elections, but also demonstrates the powerful impact of institutions on political life.

Simon is a typical teenager – in every way except one. Simon likes girls, weekends and enjoys mucking about and playing practical jokes. But what s different is that Simon has muscular dystrophy – he is in a wheelchair and doesn t have long to live. See Ya, Simon is told by Simon's best friend, Nathan. Funny, moving and devastatingly honest, it tells of their last year together. Winner of the Times Educational Supplement Nasen Award, the Silver Pen Award and the Storylines Gaelyn Gordon Award for a Much-loved Book, See Ya, Simon has been published in the USA, UK, Germany, Denmark, the Netherlands, China, Japan and Slovenia.

When of hundreds of Japanese captives arrive at Featherston POW camp, the tiny town is divided. Tensions run high and then, on 25 February 1943, disaster strikes. Three boys witness it all. A compelling new novel by an award-winning author. 'We knew straightaway that something was happening. Extra men in khaki uniforms stood at the main gates. Behind the wire, figures in blue sat on the ground. None of the usual moving around, washing up, wrestling, anything like that. Just rows of prisoners, sitting silently.' It's 1942, and the tiny farming town of Featherston is about to receive hundreds of Japanese soldiers into its prisoner-of-war camp. Ewen, whose dad is a guard there, can't stop wondering about the enemy just down the road. Some say the captives are evil and cruel and should be treated harshly – or shot. But when Ewen and his friends ride out to the camp to peep through the barbed wire, the POWs just seem like . . . well, people. Then a new group from a captured warship arrives and the mood in the camp darkens. Guards and inmates begin to clash. As tension builds the boys are told to stay away. But on 25 February 1943, Ewen and his friends are there at the moment the storm breaks – and terrible, unforgettable events unfold before their eyes. A compelling novel by a master storyteller.

́Australia and the British monarchy have always had a close relationship, yet they make for an odd couple: the rebellious, egalitarian nation wedded to an ancient system of social inequality. So what is the magic the royals hold over Australians? Queen Victoria was revered in Australia, even though shéd never seen the place and showed little interest in it. When her son Price Alfred visited in 1867, on the first ever royal visit of Australia, he was received rapturously, and nearly assassinated. In 1954 the country was gripped by royal fever when newly crowned Queen Elizabeth II landed on its shores; and more than sixty years later, having turned 90, she is as popular in Australia as she ever was. Not only that, but with the popularity of William, Kate, George and Charlotte burgeoning, against the odds the monarchy looks set to enter the hearts and minds of a new generation of Australians.́--Back cover.

Australia and the British monarchy have always made for an odd couple: the young, rebellious, egalitarian nation wed to an ancient symbol of power and social inequality. Even today, an invitation to meet a member of the royal family remains a pinnacle of social achievement. What is the magic the royals hold over Australians? Since Captain James Cook first claimed New South Wales for King George III in 1770, the pulse of the nation can be measured by the strength of its attachment to an aristocratic bloodline on the other side of the world. Queen Victoria was more revered in Australia the longer she reigned, even though she’d never seen the place and showed little interest in it. When her son Prince Alfred visited in 1867, on the first royal tour the country had seen, he was received rapturously, and nearly assassinated. In 1954 Australia was gripped by royal fever when newly crowned Queen Elizabeth II landed on its shores for the first time; the republican movement grew in the late twentieth century alongside Australians’ adoration for Princess Diana; and now, with the popularity of William, Kate, George and Charlotte, the monarchy looks set to enter the hearts and minds of a new generation of Australians. As one of our most popular writers of Australian history, David Hill guides us with panache through this most peculiar state of affairs.

The plane bucked sideways, flinging Darryl against the cabin wall. It plunged vertically, jolted so hard that his teeth clacked together, then started skidding downwards through the sky. The screams rose to a frenzy. Then Darryl felt the aircraft turning, swinging towards the right. They were heading towards Mururoa. And towards the nuclear bomb waiting there. The bomb due to explode in fifty-seven minutes. It's 1974, and a dark, cold New Zealand winter. So when Darryl's mum announces she is going to the remote Pacific island of Mangareva for work, and she's taking him with her, he is thrilled. But even as Darryl soaks up the warmth and peaceful beauty of French Polynesia, his holiday is darkened by violent anti-nuclear protests. Plus there's Alicia, with her furious outbursts against all Pacific nuclear tests. Darryl knows she's talking rubbish. What he doesn't know is that when he boards Flight 766 to fly home, his life and the lives of others will be changed forever. Also available as an eBook

This concise volume will quickly introduce you to the Scots law of trusts - from creating a trust and appointing trustees to conflicts on interest and the termination of trusts. It also looks at the different purposes of a trust and the particular issues surrounding charities and charitable trusts.

Featured on the New Zealand Listener's 50 best children's books 2013 Something in the water, a hundred yards or so away. Russell jerked the binoculars back, trying to find it again. He had to be sure; mustn't make a fool of himself. Where was it? Then he saw it through the lenses once more.His voice rang along the deck. 'Mine! Bearing 290 degrees. 100 yards. Mine!' Sixteen-year-old Boy Seaman Russell Purchas is stationed on HMNZS Taupo, which has just entered hostile waters off the coast of Korea. It's 1951, and his ship is part of the United Nations force fighting in the Korean War. Russell is determined to prove himself against the communists - not just because he wants to be brave, but because he wants to escape the shadow of his Uncle Trevor, killed in World War II. Everyone thinks Trevor was a hero, but Russell knows the shameful truth. But can Russell keep himself together when the shells start falling? And does he really know what courage means? A gripping novel about the Korean War for 9-12 year olds.

Almost a year has passed since the Lakeside Murder case. Its said that Paul Vito had hidden a large amount of money somewhere near a graveyard before he had died. It was never proven to be true so people think that its just rumor. Out in Ash ridge, a few miles from Cedarville Lake construction had begun on a shopping center/hotel complex but had to be stopped when workers unearthed some American Indian artifacts. A state archeological team is surveying the area and recovering them so construction can resume. Right now the Cedarville Police Department is investigating a case involving the death of a college student caused by drugs that have recently resurfaced in the community. Even among law enforcement a conspiracy still looms. Has everyone connected with Paul Vito been caught? is on peoples minds. While the death of his former partner still haunts him, Inspector Dan Guthrie and his partner Detective John Taylor will soon discover that there is a hidden agenda in their community and will have to do whatever they can to bring the guilty to justice.

WINNER OF THE JUNIOR FICTION AWARD AND CHILDREN'S CHOICE JUNIOR FICTION AWARD New Zealand Post Book Awards for Children and Young Adults 2013 WINNER OF THE LIANZA LIBRARIANS' CHOICE AWARD 2013 STORYLINES NOTABLE BOOK AWARD 2013 IBBY HONOUR LIST 2014 '...there are stories that need to be told over and over again, to introduce a new generation of readers to important ideas and to critical times in their country's history...Hill's descriptions of trench warfare are unforgettable.' from the Judges' Report of the New Zealand Post Book Awards for Children and Young Adults 2013 '...this is an important and highly readable book.' NZ Listener My Dear Mother, Well, I've gone and done it. I've joined the Army! Don't be angry at me, Mother dear. I know you were glad when I wasn't chosen in the ballot. But some of my friends were, and since they will be fighting for King and Country, I want to do the same. It's New Zealand, 1914, and the biggest war the world has known has just broken out in Europe. William eagerly enlists for the army but his younger brother, Edmund, is a conscientious objector and refuses to fight. While William trains to be a soldier, Edmund is arrested. Both brothers will end up on the bloody battlefields of France, but their journeys there are very different. And what they experience at the front line will challenge the beliefs that led them there. A compelling novel about the First World War for 9-12 year olds.

When a crazy old man leaps out of the bushes at Conrad on his way to swimming training, he gets the fright of his life. And when he discovers the man’s granddaughter is that weird horse-riding girl from school, he decides to steer clear of them. But fate has other ideas … and he is drawn into a grim secret. What’s the old man’s connection to a death from long ago? And whose life is in danger now …

Rose of Sharon had cried out to the man on the boat, tried to warn him the night he was shot for fishing where he wasn't welcome. Then she retreated into silence--and guilt. Rose might have kept quiet if it hadn't been for Lily, the outsider whose infidelities titillated Prince George County. Brassy, blonde Lily saw straight through Rose, the dutiful wife of an abusive man. Lily pushed her over the edge, exacting friendship where Rose had none to give, demanding that she break the code of silence that imprisoned them all. For both women knew that a man was killed in Prince George County for the color of his skin--and the time for change had come.

There's a bad smell in Matt and Arlo's apartment building, but the boys can't find the source of the problem. So they devise a plan to solve the mystery of the big stink.

While working in the woods to save money for a trip to Fiji, Garth and his friends get caught up in a sudden forest fire and must do anything they can to survive the spreading inferno.

Created especially for kids who don't like to read, the series includes science fiction, horror, fantasy, adventure, and ghost stories-a great introduction to genre study.

"Every major painting, related studies, and the author's own photographs of the locations in which Cotman worked are included in this book, as well as a wealth of new documentary evidence of his time with the Cholmeleys."--BOOK JACKET.

When Slade comes to Green Harbour College, with its rich kids and richer parents, the first person he meets is Mallory Garner. How does Slade feel about Mallory? He wants to kick her. Slowly he changes his mind, especially when he discovers the terrible secret that haunts Mallory's life. An unsettling, top speed, always accurate story from one of New Zealand's most popular writers for young people. Shortlisted for the Senior Fiction Prize in the New Zealand Post Children's Book Awards 2003. Winner of the LIANZA Russell Clark Award 2003.