Children's Book Council: Spring 2024 Showcase: Reading List: Transformation

When Connie gets a letter from the dad she thought was dead, she sets out to discover why he left her, eight years ago, sitting in an airport café with only her pet chameleon for company.

Since then she's lived with her foster mum, a cleaner at the airport, and dreams of seeing her dad again. 

With her new friend, a fearless, fossil-hunting boy called Thyo, she tracks her dad down. But as he reveals his true
colours, Connie starts to wonder if she's made the biggest mistake of her life.

When Connie gets a letter from the dad she thought was dead, she sets out to discover why he left her, eight years ago, sitting in an airport café with only her pet chameleon for company.

Since then she's lived with her foster mum, a cleaner at the airport, and dreams of seeing her dad again. 

With her new friend, a fearless, fossil-hunting boy called Thyo, she tracks her dad down. But as he reveals his true
colours, Connie starts to wonder if she's made the biggest mistake of her life.

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"A fast-paced adventure with heart."

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"Thomas’s work is clever in that it deals in a very accessible way with some difficult and emotional themes."

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"An absolutely captivating read. I couldn't put it down."

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"One roller-coaster ride through emotions on the way to discovering the real meaning of family – and the charms of chameleons."

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"This is a charming, funny and empathetic novel ... It's a perfect lure away from the screens and devices for at least some of the school holidays."

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"I was instantly hooked by this book and read the whole book in one evening."

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"I could not put it down ...Chameleon Dad got me from the very beginning."

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" A terrific chapter book for older kids that examines loss, forgiveness, and the true meaning of family."