John Marsden in Christchurch

The temperature has been rising in the Learning Centre.

Everyone has been rooting around on their children’s book shelves and dusting off old treasures. So when John Marsden arrived he was deluged by staff with sweaty palms thrusting their copies of Tomorrow when the War Began at him for an autograph. He is probably used to it…

John was here in recognition of Christchurch’s recent tough times. He had a very tight two day schedule of school talks and visits. It began with a helicopter tour of the CBD on Wednesday, a workshop with Avonside and Burnside High Schools, and a public session in the evening. 

On Thursday, he was teleconferencing with five local schools, then visiting Cashmere and Linwood. He made high schools that are site sharing the priority.

He was calm and warm to all and revealed his secret weakness – Diet Coke. And he needed the caffeine to keep up the whirlwind pace of his tour.

• Look for John Marsden’s books in our catalogue

Julianne, Learning advisor