Showing results by author "Felice Arena" in All Categories

Join Simon 'Specky' Magee, the star of the Under 14s Aussie Rules Football team, the Booyong High Lions, in this collection of two fantastic Specky adventures.

As the Victorian team battle it out against the other states for a chance to play on the hallowed MCG turf, Specky has a fight on his hands just to be allowed to play with his beloved Booyong Lions. And when his long-lost grandpa comes to visit, it's all-out war at home as well. Will he have to choose between representing his state, and coming through for his mates?

"Only last month, former Booyong High student Simon 'Specky' Magee led the Gosmore Grammar Knights to victory against our courageous Booyong Lions. But now he's back in town! Well, we at the Bugle would like to welcome Simon home, but even his best mates don't want him on the team. And now we can't help but wonder just how 'specky-tacular' Magee really is... Will he ever play with Booyong again? Specky has questions of his own... Will Robbo and Danny ever talk to him again?"

When Specky leaves his beloved Booyong High, he's torn between his old friends and his new team-mates. His loyalty will be tested – on the field and off – because when he crosses that white line, Booyong becomes his enemy. And Gosmore Grammar expects nothing less than absolute loyalty from their new star student. Specky prepares to play a vital part in the school's most revered sporting event – the Boots of Glory football match.

Specky can't wait to get to the country and have the chance to play grassroots football for the first time...against adults. But more is at stake than the outcome of just one game.

Who is Razorback Jack, the mysterious footy hero that Specky keeps hearing about? And what are the boys back at Booyong High up to? Can the massive underdogs, the Rivergum Redfins, serve it up to the Bull Ants? We have got a game on our hands this afternoon....

Specky has been selected to represent Australia in International Rules, taking on the Irish in a two-test competition in Ireland. Can the boys learn to play with a new set of rules and perfect their skills with the round ball before the Irish team wipes the field with them? And is someone trying to sabotage the Aussie team’s chances of winning?

Simon 'Specky' Magee and his Under 14s football team, the Booyong High Lions, return to battle out the second half of their league's season. The Lions are playing well and Specky's form is looking good - perhaps good enough to win a scholarship to a prestigious sporting school. But a knee injury sees him sidelined, and suddenly his future is filled with uncertainty. Will his team make it to the finals without him? Will he be able to play if they do? And how is he going to impress the talent scout if he can't play footy?

Specky comes face to face with a tough, talented player by the name of Derek "Screamer" Johnson. He was responsible for having Specky sent off during a game last season. The two boys become bitter rivals, and when a popular TV show runs a nationwide football contest, Specky is relieved when everyone except Screamer decides to enter.

The war seems a long way away to Maggie Flanagan. Her brother is somewhere across the sea, flying to protect England from the Germans and the Italians. But Maggie is more interested in kicking the footy and finding out who's going to play for St Kilda this season. But when the war comes to...

Poems for kids. Fun, charming, silly, sometimes even poignant. Perfect for families. Written and read by award-winning children’s author Felice Arena. A new poem (or two) posted weekly.