Books with author Margaret Hunt

Exciting historical novel set on New Zealand's West Coast during the goldrush era. Mary Kendrick lives with her family in an isolated community in South Westland, New Zealand. They are awaiting news of the conviction of the men who took the community’s horde of gold at gunpoint, and hid it nearby. Daily life in the settlement – where the men dig gold on the beaches, and fell trees inland for cattle pasture, and where the women are engrossed in domestic work and childcare – is woven through with anxiety that the robbers will come back for the gold, especially once news breaks that the dangerous John Southern has given his jailers the slip in Lyttelton Harbour. Feisty, funny, affectionate and resourceful, Mary is seventeen, teacher to her siblings and neighbours, and anticipating her marriage to Nik, who is away most of the time clearing bush and preparing their farm and house. A bright, likeable protagonist, Mary is worth any modern girl’s attention. Drama and suspense are provided by the trickle of news from Christchurch about the trial and Southern’s ‘escape’. John Southern turns up in disguise, fooling Mary only momentarily. She rides for help; the men stake out the site of the hidden gold; there’s shooting, some blood and a death, but they get their man and the gold.

Emanuel hear about ghost, spirit, and Jumbie once in a while. Emanuel, he say one day, "Why I should be scare dis way?"Emanuel is tired of being lectured by his grandmother. "Jumbie dis an' Jumbie dat, an't'row de salt over you left shoulder." He doesn't believe Grannie's old-fashioned superstitions -- until one day evil Jumbie pays him a visit!This brilliantly illustrated story captures the vibrancy of Caribbean folklore. Each piece of fabric is from the author's native St. Thomas and is infused with the island's cultural traditions.

Do you ever wonder what makes money valuable? Have you visited another country and noticed how different the money looks? This book looks at the history of money, how it has changed throughout history, and the many different kinds of currency. Open the pages of this book to learn: what people used to pay for things before using money, why some U.S. coins have ridges around the edges, and what makes each and every dollar bill special.