[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”Page Title Section” _builder_version=”4.21.0″ background_color_gradient_direction=”115deg” background_enable_image=”off” custom_padding=”0px||0px|||” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.21.0″ background_color=”#548689″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” max_width=”960px” custom_margin=”|||0px” custom_padding=”27px|40px||10%” animation_direction=”left” border_radii=”||6px|6px|” border_width_right=”30px” border_color_right=”#8db7b9″ use_custom_width=”on” custom_width_px=”960px” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” custom_padding_tablet=”|||10%” custom_padding_last_edited=”off|desktop” global_colors_info=”{}” padding_tablet=”|||10%” padding_last_edited=”off|desktop” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Title” _builder_version=”4.27.0″ text_font=”||||||||” link_text_color=”#FFFFFF” header_font=”Lora|700|||||||” header_font_size=”50px” header_line_height=”1.2em” header_4_font=”||||||||” background_layout=”dark” custom_margin=”|||” custom_padding=”|||” header_font_size_tablet=”30px” header_font_size_phone=”27px” header_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
A middle-grade mystery about growing up, figuring things out, and solving the puzzle of who you are.<\/span> Shortlisted for the 2024 Davitt Award<\/p>\n Longlisted for The Margaret and Colin Roderick Literary Award 2024<\/span><\/p>\n Out now through Scholastic Australia.\u00a0 Buy h<\/a>ere<\/span><\/b><\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ custom_padding_last_edited=”on|phone” _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” width=”100%” custom_padding=”80px||80px||true|false” custom_padding_tablet=”60px||0px||false|false” custom_padding_phone=”60px||0px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row column_structure=”2_5,3_5″ use_custom_gutter=”on” make_equal=”on” disabled_on=”on|on|off” _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” max_width=”100%” custom_padding=”0px||0px||true|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”2_5″ _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/allisontait.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/9781760260163_CallieMcGee_RoderickArtspot_RGB.jpg” alt=”The First Summer of Callie McGee by A. L. Tait” title_text=”The First Summer of Callie McGee by A. L. Tait” align=”center” force_fullwidth=”on” _builder_version=”4.23.1″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”3_5″ _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.0″ text_text_color=”#232323″ text_font_size=”17px” header_line_height=”1.4em” header_3_font=”Lora|600||on|||||” header_3_text_color=”#232323″ header_3_letter_spacing=”1px” header_3_line_height=”1.8em” header_4_text_color=”#FB423A” header_4_line_height=”1.8em” background_color=”#9dd8dd” custom_margin=”||0px|||” custom_padding=”25px|30px|15px|30px|false|true” custom_padding_tablet=”” custom_padding_phone=”30px||||false|false” custom_padding_last_edited=”on|tablet” text_font_size_tablet=”17px” text_font_size_phone=”16px” text_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n In her first contemporary middle-grade novel, bestselling author A. L. Tait delivers a mystery about growing up, figuring things out and solving the puzzle of who you are.<\/u><\/u><\/span><\/em><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.21.0″ text_text_color=”#232323″ text_font_size=”17px” header_3_font=”Lora|600||on|||||” header_3_text_color=”#232323″ header_3_letter_spacing=”1px” header_3_line_height=”1.8em” custom_margin=”||0px|||” custom_padding=”20px||20px||false|false” custom_padding_tablet=”” custom_padding_phone=”30px||||false|false” custom_padding_last_edited=”on|tablet” text_font_size_tablet=”17px” text_font_size_phone=”16px” text_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n <\/u>\u00a0<\/u><\/span>\u201cThe water in a rip current is always calmer than the waves on either side. Once you\u2019re in it, you\u2019re best to just go with the flow.\u201d<\/u><\/u><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n <\/u>\u00a0<\/u><\/span>It\u2019s the last summer before Callie starts high school and she\u2019s been dragged along to yet another \u2018family friends\u2019 holiday.<\/u><\/u><\/span><\/p>\n Determined to change her nerdy reputation, Callie sets out to make waves but nothing is quite as she expects. Her usual ally, Sasha, has outgrown Callie; her nemesis, Mitch, has brought his cousin Owen along; and the boring south coast town of Sawyer\u2019s Point has been rocked by a series of burglaries.<\/u><\/u><\/span><\/p>\n Callie, Owen and Mitch decide to investigate the robberies, bringing them face to face with a local gang \u2026 and a possible ghost.<\/u><\/u><\/span><\/p>\n <\/u>\u00a0<\/u><\/span>But when Sasha goes missing, Callie must draw on all her smarts to find her friend, and discovers that being Callie McGee has its benefits.<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_button button_url=”https:\/\/amzn.to\/4ccTChT” url_new_window=”on” button_text=”BUY NOW (AUS)” _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”20px||10px||false|false” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″][\/et_pb_button][et_pb_button button_url=”https:\/\/resource.scholastic.com.au\/ResourceFiles\/100128364_115021.pdf” url_new_window=”on” button_text=”TEACHERS’ NOTES” _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”20px||10px||false|false” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″][\/et_pb_button][et_pb_button button_url=”https:\/\/www.yourkidsnextread.com.au\/podcast-episode\/first-chapters-5-a-l-tait-reads-the-first-summer-of-callie-mcgee\/” url_new_window=”on” button_text=”LISTEN TO A. L. TAIT READ THE FIRST CHAPTER” _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”20px||10px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_button][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”2_5,3_5″ use_custom_gutter=”on” make_equal=”on” disabled_on=”off|off|on” _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” max_width=”100%” custom_padding=”0px||0px||true|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”2_5″ _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/allisontait.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/9781760260163_CallieMcGee_COV_rgb-2.jpg” alt=”First summer of Callie MacFee book cover” title_text=”First summer of Callie MacFee book cover” align=”center” force_fullwidth=”on” _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”3_5″ _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.21.0″ text_text_color=”#232323″ text_font_size=”17px” header_line_height=”1.4em” header_3_font=”Lora|600||on|||||” header_3_text_color=”#232323″ header_3_letter_spacing=”1px” header_3_line_height=”1.8em” header_4_text_color=”#2763A5″ header_4_line_height=”1.8em” background_color=”#9dd8dd” custom_margin=”||0px|||” custom_padding=”||||false|false” custom_padding_tablet=”30px|30px|30px|30px|true|true” custom_padding_phone=”15px|15px|15px|15px|true|true” custom_padding_last_edited=”on|tablet” text_font_size_tablet=”17px” text_font_size_phone=”16px” text_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” header_3_line_height_tablet=”1.8em” header_3_line_height_phone=”1.5em” header_3_line_height_last_edited=”on|phone” header_4_font_size_tablet=”17px” header_4_font_size_phone=”16px” header_4_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” header_4_line_height_tablet=”1.4em” header_4_line_height_phone=”1.3em” header_4_line_height_last_edited=”on|phone” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n In her first contemporary middle-grade novel, bestselling author A. L. Tait delivers a mystery about growing up, figuring things out and solving the puzzle of who you are.<\/u><\/u><\/span><\/em><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.21.0″ text_text_color=”#232323″ text_font_size=”17px” header_3_font=”Lora|600||on|||||” header_3_text_color=”#232323″ header_3_letter_spacing=”1px” header_3_line_height=”1.8em” custom_margin=”||0px|||” custom_padding=”20px||20px||false|false” custom_padding_tablet=”” custom_padding_phone=”30px||||false|false” custom_padding_last_edited=”on|tablet” text_font_size_tablet=”17px” text_font_size_phone=”16px” text_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n <\/u>\u00a0<\/u><\/span>\u201cThe water in a rip current is always calmer than the waves on either side. Once you\u2019re in it, you\u2019re best to just go with the flow.\u201d<\/u><\/u><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n <\/u>\u00a0<\/u><\/span>It\u2019s the last summer before Callie starts high school and she\u2019s been dragged along to yet another \u2018family friends\u2019 holiday.<\/u><\/u><\/span><\/p>\n Determined to change her nerdy reputation, Callie sets out to make waves but nothing is quite as she expects. Her usual ally, Sasha, has outgrown Callie; her nemesis, Mitch, has brought his cousin Owen along; and the boring south coast town of Sawyer\u2019s Point has been rocked by a series of burglaries.<\/u><\/u><\/span><\/p>\n Callie, Owen and Mitch decide to investigate the robberies, bringing them face to face with a local gang \u2026 and a possible ghost.<\/u><\/u><\/span><\/p>\n <\/u>\u00a0<\/u><\/span>But when Sasha goes missing, Callie must draw on all her smarts to find her friend, and discovers that being Callie McGee has its benefits.<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_button button_url=”https:\/\/booktopia.kh4ffx.net\/nLXGvV” url_new_window=”on” button_text=”pre-order” _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” custom_button=”on” custom_margin=”20px||||false|false” button_text_size_tablet=”” button_text_size_phone=”16px” button_text_size_last_edited=”on|tablet” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_button][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.23.1″ background_color=”rgba(191,205,220,0.18)” custom_padding=”80px||80px|||” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.16″ max_width=”100%” custom_padding=”1px||0px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ text_font=”||||||||” text_text_color=”#232323″ text_font_size=”20px” header_font=”Raleway||||||||” header_3_font=”Lora|700|||||||” header_3_text_color=”#232323″ header_3_font_size=”40px” header_3_letter_spacing=”1px” header_3_line_height=”1.6em” text_orientation=”center” custom_padding=”5px|0px|5px|0px|true|true” text_font_size_tablet=”18px” text_font_size_phone=”17px” text_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” header_3_font_size_tablet=”35px” header_3_font_size_phone=”28px” header_3_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” border_color_all=”#bfcddc” global_colors_info=”{}” border_radii__hover=”on||||” border_radii__hover_enabled=”on||||”]<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.16″ max_width=”100%” custom_padding=”40px||0px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”][dica_divi_carousel show_items_mobile=”2″ arrow_nav=”on” advanced_effect=”1″ arrow_nav_color=”#2763a5″ dots_color=”#000000″ dots_active_color=”#fb423a” overlay_color_field_bgcolor=”rgba(255,255,255,0.85)” arrow_position=”middle-outside” use_prev_icon=”on” prev_icon=”8||divi||400″ use_next_icon=”on” next_icon=”9||divi||400″ arrow_font_size=”55px” arrow_position_tablet=”” arrow_position_phone=”middle-inside” arrow_position_last_edited=”on|phone” arrow_font_size_tablet=”45px” arrow_font_size_phone=”45px” arrow_font_size_last_edited=”on|desktop” _builder_version=”4.27.0″ global_colors_info=”{}”][dica_divi_carouselitem admin_label=”Kids Book Review” button_url_new_window=”1″ _builder_version=”4.23.1″ body_text_color=”#232323″ body_font_size=”16px” body_line_height=”1.8em” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n \u201cA L Tait makes an impressive departure from her usual historical\/fantasy writing, with this thoroughly engaging contemporary middle-grade novel …<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n “The mystery of the burglaries will fully engage readers, and they will enjoy putting the clues together, while simultaneously making connections with their own burgeoning personalities. There will also be many who recognise the lame dad jokes, the annoying friends (almost like siblings) and the often dreary aspects of such group holidays \u2013 same same every year \u2013 and who will fully empathise with Callie, as she struggles out of her childhood cocoon.<\/span><\/p>\n “Highly recommended for readers from around 11 years upwards.<\/span>” <\/em><\/p>\n Kids’ Book Review<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n <\/b><\/a><\/p>\n [\/dica_divi_carouselitem][dica_divi_carouselitem admin_label=”Emily Gale” button_url_new_window=”1″ _builder_version=”4.23.1″ body_text_color=”#232323″ body_font_size=”16px” body_line_height=”1.8em” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n \u201c<\/em>Writing a novel for children that keeps its heart light and takes its reader seriously is so difficult, and that\u2019s what I admire about this book.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n “Cleverly restrained while addressing what it\u2019s like to have an overly anxious parent, the story generously navigates Callie\u2019s disquiet about forming an identity that feels like a good fit. <\/strong><\/p>\n “It has great clarity on the relationships we have with our parents, ourselves, and those who\u2019ve known us for such a long time that they find any changes in us hard to process. <\/strong><\/p>\n “This book doesn\u2019t over-reach and there is great comfort to be found here, as well as a classic small town mystery to solve.<\/strong><\/p>\n “I\u2019m adding it to a collection that in my head I\u2019m calling\u00a0The Girls of Summer…”<\/strong><\/p>\n Emily Gale<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n <\/b><\/a><\/p>\n [\/dica_divi_carouselitem][dica_divi_carouselitem admin_label=”The Book Muse” button_url_new_window=”1″ _builder_version=”4.27.0″ body_text_color=”#232323″ body_font_size=”16px” body_line_height=”1.8em” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n \u201cI love Allison\u2019s fantasy work and was keen to see what she did with a contemporary setting, and she has performed brilliantly in this novel. <\/em><\/p>\n “I loved it, it felt comfortable, like I was having a chat with a friend and revisiting something we had both experienced. \u00a0It is a novel that I think many readers will enjoy and connect with, and one that I hope to read again. <\/em><\/p>\n “It is brilliantly written and relatable in many ways.\u201d <\/em><\/p>\n The Book Muse<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n <\/b><\/a><\/p>\n “This novel for younger readers explores the idea that we understand our lives in part by using stories from books, particularly in times of crisis and change. It shows that social convention can be not just constraining but fatal, even for adults.”<\/strong><\/p>\n Judges, The Margaret and Colin Roderick Literary Award<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n [\/dica_divi_carouselitem][dica_divi_carouselitem admin_label=”The Book Tree” button_url_new_window=”1″ _builder_version=”4.23.1″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n “This is a brilliantly written middle grade novel about resilience, growing up, and navigating the sometimes confusing and complicated changes along the way to becoming who you want to be.”<\/strong><\/p>\n The Book Tree<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n <\/b><\/p>\n \u201cI want to buy a copy of this book for all of my Year 6 students about to head off to High School. It\u2019s a mystery that so beautifully captures that awkward beauty of the last summer before beginning high school.”<\/em><\/p>\n Oh Creative Day<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n [\/dica_divi_carouselitem][dica_divi_carouselitem admin_label=”Lamont Books” button_url_new_window=”1″ _builder_version=”4.23.1″ body_text_color=”#232323″ body_font_size=”16px” body_line_height=”1.8em” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n \u201cThis is an easy-to-read holiday story with themes of growing up, taking a risk to help others, developing friendships and family dynamics that will appeal to middle grade readers in upper primary and lower secondary.<\/span><\/em>\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n
<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\nThe first summer of Callie McGee<\/h3>\n
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The first summer of Callie McFee<\/h3>\n
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Out on 1 August 2023 through Scholastic Australia.<\/b><\/a><\/h4>\n
What reviewers are saying about
THE FIRST SUMMER OF CALLIE McGEE<\/h3>\n