His Name Was Walter

Written by Emily Rodda

Narrated by Wendy Bos

From Australia's favourite storyteller comes a story that shows us the extraordinary power of true love and solves a decades-old mystery.

Once upon a time, in a dark city far away, there lived a boy called Walter, who had nothing but his name to call his own ...

The handwritten book, with its strangely vivid illustrations, has been hidden in the old house for a long, long time. Tonight, four kids and their teacher will find it. Tonight, at last, the haunting story of Walter and the mysterious, tragic girl called Sparrow will be read - right to the very end ...

From one of Australia's most renowned children's authors, comes an extraordinary story within a story - a mystery, a prophecy, a long-buried secret. And five people who will remember this night for the rest of their lives.

PRAISE

'Another magnificent book from Emily Rodda' - Readings

'guaranteed to capture the imaginations of 8+ mystery lovers' - Better Reading

AWARDS

Winner - 2019 Prime Minister's Literary Awards (Children's Literature)

Winner - 2019 Australian Book Design Awards (Children's Fiction Book)

Winner - 2019 CBCA Book of the Year Awards (Younger Readers)

Shortlisted - 2019 Davitt Awards (Children's)

Shortlisted - 2019 QLD Literary Awards (Griffith University Children's Book Award)

Shortlisted - 2018 Aurealis Awards (Best Young Adult Novel)

• Language: English
• Publisher: HarperAudio
• Release date: Jul 25, 2018
• ISBN: 9781460797754

Emily Rodda

Emily Rodda's first book, Something Special, was published with Angus & Robertson in 1984. It marked the beginning of a career that has seen her become one of the most successful, prolific and versatile writers in Australia. Since then, Emily has written or co-authored over ninety books for children. Her children's books range from picture books to YA novels, and include the award-winning Rowan of Rin series as well as the outstandingly successful Deltora Quest fantasy series. A full-time writer since 1994, Emily has won the Children's Book Council of Australia Book of the Year award a record five times and seems to instinctively know what children want to read.

Reviews for His Name Was Walter

[Felicity · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

A lovely read! You’re quickly drawn in to the main characters- a group of four kids who are all initially awkward with each other- as their discovery of a hidden story leads them on a journey to solve a town’s mystery and Lear more about each other. I couldn’t put it down.

[William · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

It was so good especially the nested story. So good.

[sarahebear · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Plans go awry when unexpected car trouble interrupts a group of four school children and their teacher’s excursion to a small historical town. Stuck on a deserted road, and with a storm looming large, the small group seeks shelter in a nearby farmhouse. The cottage is under renovation, with old furniture, building supplies and various bit and pieces scattered throughout. While looking for a safe place in the house to camp for the night, the children come across an old writing desk, in which they discover a secret panel, containing a mysterious book. To keep themselves entertained, they begin reading the handwritten and illustrated book. Set in a fairy-tale format, the story follows the adventures of a young orphan named Walter. As they read the book they uncover the many mysteries of the house, the local town, and the boy called Walter. Although I am aware that it is not good form to judge a book by its cover, I absolutely adored the presentation of “His Name was Walter”. My version is a hardcover with a beautiful marbled blue and green background. It reminded me of the covers of the Enid Blyton books I loved as a child and really added to the magic of the story.The book is a little difficult to categorise at first, as its story has elements of a standard drama, supernatural thriller, and a fairy-tale. With the bulk of the action evolving around uncovering Walter’s tale and the links to the history of the town, it is best described as a mystery. The plot flows evenly and is engaging from start to finish. Rodda’s style of descriptive writing allows the reader to feel a part of every scene. The story has an Australian feel, without being clichéd, and could be set in almost any small rural town in the country. The characters (both the children and their teacher, and the characters in the book they find) are relatable, believable and a good mix of everything that makes up a group of average school-aged children. The teacher is exactly how I remember educators with a love of history to be, firm but understanding, strict but with a sense of curiosity and adventure. Emily Rodda has written over fifty books for children of all ages and in various formats. “His Name Was Walter” won the 2019 Children’s Book Council of Australia’s “Book of the Year Award for Younger Readers”, a prize much deserved. “His Name Was Walter” by Emily Rodda would make a wonderful gift for a younger child (5-12 years), but is a fabulous story for readers of any age. I received a free copy of this book through Sisters in Crime - Australia, in exchange for a fair and honest review.