The Sea Sprite

Darcy Lambert, newly emerged from her cocoon of grief, studied the stranger Gryf, and wondered where he truly came from. He was very like Gray Barton, her heart's first love—and yet he wasn't. For this was the man who had transformed her from the sweetnatured girl she'd been—into the passionate woman she was meant to be! Though his memory was dark and clouded, the sun suddenly rose for Gryf at the sight of Darcy Lambert. The brave and golden woman of the sea raised a tempest within him, drowning him in desire to discover his past—and claim their future!

This story is part of Reading Champion, a series carefully linked to book bands to encourage independent reading skills, developed with Dr Sue Bodman and Glen Franklin of UCL Institute of Education (IOE) When Steph is at the beach with her friends, they are not very careful with their litter. Their carelessness provokes the anger of a nearby old man. But this is no ordinary old man, and he takes Steph on a journey through time to show just what effects pollution can have on the ocean and shore. This first colour chapter book is a perfectly levelled, accessible text for Key stage 2 readers aged 10-11. Reading Champion offers independent reading books for children to practise and reinforce their developing reading skills. Fantastic, original stories are accompanied by engaging artwork and activities to provoke deeper response and encourage writing. Each book has been carefully graded so that it can be matched to a child's reading ability, encouraging reading for pleasure. The Key Stage 2 Reading Champion Books are suggested for use as follows: Independent Reading 11: start of Year 3 or age 7+ Independent Reading 12: end of Year 3 or age 7+ Independent Reading 13: start of Year 4 or age 8+ Independent Reading 14: end of Year 4 or age 8+ Independent Reading 15: start of Year 5 or age 9+ Independent Reading 16: end of Year 5 or age 9+ Independent Reading 17: start of Year 6 or age 10+ Independent Reading 18: end of Year 6 or age 10+

This is a story about profligate waste, unscrupulous politicking and bureaucratic empire building which involves both America and Australia. The story paints America, under the Bush administration, as a righteous but naive giant treading the thespian boards of the world stage with the grace and style of a three hundred pound truck driver in a tutu. It is a story of Australia's almost paranoid search for a guardian starting with Prime Minister Curtin's frantic trip across the Atlantic in 1942, being rebuffed by Great Britain and finally finding the Lion of Luzon in the nick of time before the Japanese invasion. And from that moment, falling into lock-step with America to traipse through Vietnam and the Middle East in the conga-line of wishful hearts. It is a story about waste of public monies in defense procurement, of arrogant opinionated bureaucrats who have done untold damage to force structure which is the basis of public security in times of war. It is a story of old senior officers who sat on their hands when they should have acted, and young senior officers too eager to change for changes' sake. It is a story that sheds light on elite powerful men who are made less, as a result of failure to help the people who look to them for leadership and succor.

On the shores of the ocean, Laura and Daphne fantasise that they are mother and daughter, mother and Sea Sprite. They both have problems in their past, which they need to resolve. They set out to explore every aspect of the sea, from an estuary and mangroves to Antarctic waters and the deep ocean. Mother Sea is a whisper of emotion and a memory of intuition. She dwells in the subconscious. Sea creatures abound, from sea urchins and stingrays to dolphins and sharks. Some of these parallel the behaviour of the women. Sea nymphs accompany them and they are assisted by a special conch shell. While they are exploring the sea, the women also explore their own make-ups. Laura remembers interactions with her own mother. Daphne needs healing. However, they have no idea of the profound changes which will come to them. Poems are scattered throughout the book, which is also poetic.