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  • Published: 1 June 2021
  • ISBN: 9781760147822
  • Imprint: Penguin eBooks
  • Format: EBook
  • Pages: 352

The Right Way to Rock




The rockin' story of two new friends, one arts fiasco and a whole lot of music.

Without music, the world is just blah. That’s my take on life, anyway.

Mum says rock is the only music worth listening to, but I think everyone should find their own beat.

When I hear that Principal Keiren plans to cut all of the arts classes at Watterson Primary, there's no way me and my new mate Flynn are gonna let that happen. We're dragging our secret Broadway appreciation society into the spotlight.

It's time for Watterson: The Musical!

  • Published: 1 June 2021
  • ISBN: 9781760147822
  • Imprint: Penguin eBooks
  • Format: EBook
  • Pages: 352

About the author

Nat Amoore

Nat Amoore is a Sydney-based children's author whose debut novel, Secrets of a Schoolyard Millionaire, came out in 2019. It had great success as both Dymocks and QBD's 'Kids Book Of The Month', becoming Australia's #1 bestselling debut Aussie children’s fiction in 2019. It has now sold into the UK, US, Italy, China, Estonia and Romania.

Her second book, The Power of Positive Pranking, released in 2020, was shortlisted for the 2021 Readings Children’s Book Prize and REAL Children’s Choice Book Awards, and won the Environment Award for Children’s Literature. Rounding out Nat's trilogy about the kids of Watterson Primary, The Right Way to Rock was released in June 2021 and became a CBCA Notable.

In 2021, Nat wrote a 5-part fiction podcast series called Project ARI for Nova Entertainment and the Australian Government as part of the #StopItAtTheStart campaign. Project ARI won Best Branded Podcast at the 2021 Australian Podcast Awards and went on to receive an ACRA in 2022.

We Run Tomorrow, written by Nat and featuring graphic novel-style illustrations from Australian illustrator Mike Barry, was published in 2022, becoming another CBCA Notable. Now it’s time to get excited about Nat's hilarious junior fiction series called Shower Land, illustrated by James Hart, which has the first three books all coming out in 2024.

Also by Nat Amoore

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Praise for The Right Way to Rock

A wonderful journey into the world of musicals for young readers with many talking points along the way . . . Amoore writes her novel in a bright, bold style that is perfect for the younger bracket she is aiming at . . . This is a great read for children aged between 11 and 14 and there is much for others to get from this book as well.

Rodney Hrvatin, Glam Adelaide

Recommended for readers, musicians, and lovers of Broadway from ten to fourteen.

Kevin Brophy, Reading Time

The Watterson gang are back, and this time, Tess, Toby, Cookie, Casey and the rest of the gang from the first two books are here as well in a beautiful celebration of community, family, friendship, the arts and neurodiversity and the diverse world that has sprouted from the hilarious mind of the fantabulous Nat Amoore . . . This delightful, touching and funny book captures the love for the arts that we have and shows the power of words in pulling us together, along with music to create a community that values the arts.

Ashleigh Meikle, The Book Muse

A story of trusting friendships, building self-confidence and accepting people for who they are. Mac’s songs are sure to get your toe tapping as you follow his journey to save his school.

Michelle O'Connell, ReadPlus

This event-packed narrative is richly filled with colourful, well-rounded (often eccentric) characters and hums along as though positive, upbeat, happy music flows through its covers. As the narrator, Mac is firmly at the centre of all the action and the passion and good humour with which he tells his tale is thoroughly engaging.

Russ Merrin, Magpies

Awards & recognition

IBBY Honour Book

Shortlisted  •  2022  •  Younger Readers

YABBA Children's Choice Awards

Shortlisted  •  2022  •  Fiction for Older Readers

CBCA Book of the Year Awards

Notable Book  •  2022  •  Younger Readers

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CBCA Book Award Notables 2022

Fourteen Penguin and Puffin books have been selected for the CBCA Book Awards Notables list.