The Amorangi and Millie Books
#1: Amorangi and Millie's Trip Through Time (2022)
#2: Rimu: The Tree of Time (2024)
#3: The Brotherhood of the Haast Eagle (Watch this space!)
Rimu: The Tree of Time
Selected as a NZ Read Aloud book 2024
Debuted in the top ten for Children/Young Adult New Zealand books August 2024
In the top ten for Children/Young Adult New Zealand books September 2024
Rimu in the media
Excellent review on Radio New Zealand
"A delightful blend of adventure, history and thought provoking themes." NZ Book Lovers
"These historical events that shaped Aotearoa’s NZ’s history are expertly woven into the narrative, giving not only an exciting read, but an open door into classroom activities and study." What Book Next
"Keenan has brought the past to life in a vibrant, intimate way that I know readers will connect with. I hope there are more titles in this series to come." - The Sapling
Amorangi and Millie's Trip Through Time
Winner of the New Zealand Book Lovers Awards 2023
Finalist for the 2022 New Zealand Book Awards for Children and Young Adults (the Wright Family Foundation Esther Glen Award for Junior Fiction)
Selected as a NZ Read Aloud book 2022
Long-listed for the 2022 ARA Historical Novel prize
What's it about?
Amorangi and Millie lost their mum. Their only clue to her whereabouts is a carving on a tree that says I’m in the past! Rescue me! To do this, Amorangi and Millie must travel up every branch of their family tree and collect an object from each ancestor they meet. They must then be back in the modern day before the sun sets, or they’ll all be trapped forever in the past. But can they do it in time?
In their travels, the children experience aspects of events in New Zealand history, such as the invasion of Parihaka, the Great Depression, World War Two, the Musket Wars and the
eruption of Mount Taranaki. They also experience changes in the town and landscape, the attitudes of people and the way people live their lives.
Available in all good book shops
In the media
Review from a fan - in RNZ News
"A perfectly pitched page turner" - in Regional News (plus a bonus dorky photo)
Recommended book to buy for Christmas - The Spinoff
"... rollicking, funny and enlightening" - on Stuff.co.nz
Parihaka vs the ‘primo’ Tudors: Why history in schools needn’t be a battle | The Spinoff
New children's fiction tells Taranaki's history through time-travelling youngsters - Stuff.co.nz
"A captivating read" - The Sapling