#Tumeke!
Michael Petherick
Annual Ink
2019

October 5, 2022

Have you been looking for a book that includes a runaway goat, one frazzled event coordinator, a crazy Waitangi Day festival, and a lot of music? Well, I have the book for you, because #Tumeke! by Michael Petherick has all that and more!

All communities are unique, including the small town of Newtoun, as new kid Dreadflock has just found out. And Newtoun is getting ready to party, with a huge (or as big as it can get in this tiny town) festival that is a spin on Waitangi Day. What is this event called you may ask? Tumeke, which is Māori for awesome, too much, or be surprised, all of which could be used to describe this one-of-a-kind celebration.

There will be everything, from curry and cake to kiss-the-goat (if Constable Piripi can catch the goat in time). Poor Ms. Ropota has to try and juggle the numerous and varying activities, which is not a job I would want to have! Oh, and did I mention the music? Dreadflock and her new friends Jonah and Rishi have started a band of sorts, but there will also be big acts like Lil Yacht Shifty (yet to be confirmed. Hurry up Rishi!)

And to top it off, #tumeke is going viral on Instagram, thanks to Lani (aka Jonah’s big sister), a member of the Decibel Riot Squad. Maybe Tumeke won’t be so small after all!

Petherick has told a story that is bursting with imagination, culture and fun.

I had so much fun reading this book. It was so creative, and the way it was presented made it really interesting. The story was told in the format of everything from text messages and Instagram, to blog posts and diary entries. In some places though, the format was a detriment to the story. It wouldn’t have been if there was more of a main storyline, but there were so many, and it kind of felt a bit confusing.

Despite this, the characters and setting still felt relatable. Like they had depth, like they were real. And this was really important for me because I have read some books that have an amazing storyline, and yet I just can’t connect to what is happening, and reading that book is a drag. But, Petherick masterfully wrote #Tumeke! in a way that had just enough detail to make me feel like I was there, but not so much that it was boring, and in this unusual multimedia format too!

Anyway, I would highly recommend this book to anyone aged ten or over who likes a good vibrant story but doesn’t want to read a really thick book. Or, someone who does like a good novel, but is looking to branch out. If I ever need a laugh, I will be coming back to this one, and I hope you enjoy it just as much as I did. Happy reading!

– Nell is 14, homeschooled, and lives in Dunedin