
Six Seconds is fun and punchy, it is a Middle Grade work that is easy to get swept up in. Michael’s innocence gives the book an edge, giving the reader a different perspective on world events and the importance of sand sculptures.
The addition of newspaper articles and Michael’s drawings add to the feel of this book. It perfectly encompasses growing up in an Australian Summer.
I enjoyed how Six Seconds looks at anxiety and how children perceive worries. It shows that everyday things that adults brush off can stay with children and cumulate into anxieties. I liked how it was talked about and worked on within this book. It is so important to show younger readers that it is okay to feel worried, and it’s okay to talk to people about your worries.
The book may have centred around an earthquake, but it felt more than that. It shows the strength of character that Michael has as he helped all of his town folk, how he faced danger to help his nan and how he faced his own fears and overcome his anxieties.
Six Seconds is a fun, fast paced and easy to read. It is a Middle Grade work that has an important message, as well as having a wonderfully Australian vibe throughout.
Thank you to Scholastic Australia for sending me out a review copy of this title. All thoughts and opinions are my own.