Who would expect an ugly, leathery shellfish to be the subject of an exciting story of poaching, international smuggling and danger? In a seaside suburb over the Christmas holidays, there are lots of exciting things to do swimming, snorkelling and riding jet-skis but under the water there are secrets. Abalone poachers are at work and Zena and her mates accidentally discover a hidden stash. A new boy at school, Tran Nguyen, disappears from his home and when the group of friends try to find him, they end up in much deeper water than they expected. Sea Secrets is a fast-moving adventure story that will keep young readers involved from start to finish. It paints a lively picture of multicultural Australia and it depicts a time when Zena begins to grow up; and when she begins to understand many things her parents, her friends and herself.

Author Biography

Gillian M. Wadds has written widely for television and the theatre for both children and adults. Her stage play Who Cares? has been published in Australia, the USA and the UK. She is the author of another junior fiction novel, Chemical Leak! (Lothian Books, 2006), which also features Zena. Gillian and her husband live in Western Victoria.