The Flea Thing
Age 8+
Classic Fiction General Fiction
Strange things are happening at Glenfield High. This time it’s Daniel – The Flea – Scott’s turn…
Twelve-year-old Daniel wins a place on the New Zealand Warrior’s rugby league team and becomes the youngest ever player in the history of the game. How? Well, that’s a secret. A secret which will turn Daniel’s life upside down and inside out, make him a media sensation – a legend in his own time. But even being a league superstar has its downside.
The Flea Thing is bestselling and award-winning New Zealand author Brian Falkner’s debut novel. This fun page-turner about sports and superpowers was short-listed for the 2003 LIANZA Junior Fiction Award, the Esther Glen Medal. Read about the other strange things happening at Glenfield High in The Real Thing and The Super Freak. Visit Brian’s website to learn more about the author and his books: http://www.brianfalkner.com/
“Fast and funny, but with serious undercurrents about growing up, judging others, honesty and friendship. A great read for sporty kids.” New Zealand Herald
“[Brian Falkner is] a children’s author who can write with the lightness of touch and everyday truth often absent in young fiction.” North and South Magazine
“This is the stuff that some boys dream about … Though this is Falkner’s first novel, he demonstrates skill in being able to tell a good yarn told dominantly through the focalising character of Danny with sufficient dialogue and suspense that it would work as a read aloud suitable for intermediate grades.” Reading Time magazine
“This book will appeal to boys and girls, whether or not they are rugby league fans…” Sunday Star Times
“I think the really good thing about the book is its incredibly persuasive writing. Falkner is a sharp, varied, quite nuanced writer.” Radio New Zealand
Creators
Brian Falkner was born and raised in Auckland. He is the award-winning, bestselling author of several novels for children and young adults, including The Flea Thing, The Real Thing and The Super Freak. His action–adventure sci-fi novels The Tomorrow Code and Brainjack were short-listed for the New Zealand Post Book Awards for Children & Young Adults and the Esther Glen Award at the LIANZA Awards. In 2010 Brainjack won the New Zealand Post Book Awards, Children’s Choice Award (Young Adult Fiction category) and the Sir Julius Vogel Award, Best Young Adult Novel. The Project was short-listed on the 2011 Storylines Notable Books List and in 2012 the first book in the Recon Team Angel series, Assault, was short-listed for the LIANZA Award (Young Adult Fiction category). For more information please visit Brian’s website: www.brianfalkner.com
Reviews
Fast and funny, but with serious undercurrents about growing up, judging others, honesty and friendship. A great read for sporty kids.
New Zealand Herald
[Brian Falkner is] a children’s author who can write with the lightness of touch and everyday truth often absent in young fiction.
North and South Magazine
