#Tumeke!

An exuberant multimedia novel for young readers and the young at heart

WINNER OF BEST FIRST BOOK AWARD AT THE NEW ZEALAND BOOK AWARDS FOR CHILDREN AND YOUNG ADULTS 2020

Plans for the Newtoun community’s Waitangi Day celebrations are well under way. The Tape Orchestra’s practising like mad. Monty and Mr Steve Vibrant are designing a poster. Rishi’s trying to land Lil Yacht Shifty … and Ms Ropata’s juggling it all because everyone wants in. There’ll be curry and cake, kapa haka, halal sausages, foam blasters, the Naenae dirtman, and kiss-the-goat — if Constable Rutene can manage to chase one down. In the meantime, Dreadflock’s considering a blog, Briony’s Mum’s being a helicopter, and everyone’s eating a lot of lolly cake.

In the boundary-riding tradition of the Annual project, Annual Ink’s latest title #Tumeke! brings you the lives, loves and larrikin spirit of an inner-city neighbourhood. The story is told through texts, Instagram posts, emails, fliers, committee minutes, posters, diary entries, blog posts, chatrooms, school homework, raps and the reliably bonkers community noticeboard. Stuffed with big personalities, surprising friendships and a little intrigue, this multimedia story brims with creativity and comedy, and everyday heartaches, too. Debut novelist Michael Petherick juggles a large cast and multiple story threads with panache, giving us a window on a vivid, warm-hearted community.

A narrative — but not quite as we know it — for middle readers and anyone who loves to connect.

To download teacher notes, click here.

To look inside, click here.

To watch a short intro video, click here.

‘It is a delight to see a fiction book aimed at the middle reader age with such a unique and visually appealing layout. A quick riffle through the pages should captivate even a relatively unwilling reader. ... The real digital world is represented both realistically and as a subject of valid literary worth. ... [The author] also does a fantastic job of writing in the various registers of the different characters, from the formal emails between a teacher and parent to the hype of an Instagram post from a musician to texts between pre-teen characters talking about their band.’ — The Sapling. Read the full review here.

‘Wildly inventive and a goatload of fun. A surprise triple reverse jackknife to the funny bone. I’ve never read anything like it. Tumeke!’ — Toby Morris

‘This is a piece of multimedia genius’ — The Sapling on ‘Community Noticeboard’ from Annual 2

‘#lol! I was laughing out loud reading #Tumeke! So many little details, funky illustrations and laughs!’ — School Library, Read NZ Te Pou Muramura

‘This is such an original and contemporary book that has real emotional connection and will appeal to both kids who are big readers and those who struggle, as there is something in here for everyone. There are so many ‘little moments’ I would love to highlight but really, the only thing for it is to rush out and buy it for your school or library, then reserve it for yourself the minute it comes in. You won’t regret it!’ — Simie Simpson, Magpies