All our books are created by New Zealand authors and illustrators
A quaint old hotel in a sleepy seaside town holds a secret — a hidden staircase that opens a gateway to a tumultuous past. A thrilling time-travel adventure for readers aged 8 to 12.
When twelve-year-old Jay and his younger sister Poppy visit their eccentric grandmother in Russell, they’d rather be anywhere else. But strange sounds only they can hear –mysterious voices, fireworks, or is it gunfire? — make them question their surroundings.
One night, they spot two men burying treasure in a garden long overgrown by trees. The mystery deepens as the siblings step into the world of Kororāreka in 1845, a town teetering on the edge of conflict.
Caught in a momentous historical event, Jay and Poppy must navigate a dangerous past, where tensions rise and loyalties are tested.
By J L Williams
$22.00 incl. GST
Out of stock
All orders sent by courier, usually delivered within 2-3 days. Allow an extra day for rural delivery. You’ll receive a tracking link when your order is packed.
All orders are packed in sturdy, recyclable cardboard courier packs or recycled packacing and boxes.
All books are shown with the number we have in stock.
If this section shows “available on backorder”, we will order the book in for you when you place your order. This usually takes 1-3 weeks, but depends on the supplier. Some take up to 6 weeks. We’ll keep you informed. Please check with us before you order if you need the book within a specific timeframe.
If this section shows “out of stock”, we can often order the book in for you (unless it’s out of print). Please email us to check availability.
Pay by credit or debit card via secure Stripe/Link process, or by online bank transfer. We will email you our bank details for bank transfers. Your order will be dispatched once your payment is received.
(Schools with trade accounts: please select online bank transfer and add “send invoice” in comments field.)
We’ve capped our P&P rates at our A4 satchel rate of $9.25* no matter how many books you order or their size. Smaller books, such as paperback novels, go in an A5 satchel for $5.50*.
*Rural delivery extra.
If the book is a gift, you can request a Booksellers NZ Exchange Card so the recipient can exchange the book with us or any Booksellers NZ member bookstore within 28 days. See FAQs for more details.
If your book(s) arrived damaged, please contact us immediately via email with your order number and a photo of the damaged book(s) and/or packaging itself so we can replace or refund your book(s).
If you wish to return or exchange a book because you’ve changed your mind, or there’s been a mistake with your order, please contact us within 7 days of receiving your book. We will accept returns and exchanges only when books are returned to us in pristine, unread condition. See FAQs for more details.
We’re delighted to help with book recommendations for specific ages and interests. Simply send us a message via the Contact page and we’ll get back to you as soon as we can.
If you have a question not answered here, have a look on our FAQs page or contact us.
A modern children’s classic from award-winning historical fiction author J L Williams.
If you enjoy Lucy M. Boston’s Green Knowe series or The Secret Lake by Karen Inglis, you won’t be able to put down this gripping time-travel mystery. The Secret Staircase delves into themes of colonization and culture with sensitivity and heart, launching readers on an unforgettable adventure.
Find out more about Whangarei author J L Williams on her author page.
| Weight | 80 g |
|---|---|
| Dimensions | 20.3 × 12.7 × 10 cm |
| First published | 2024 |
| Format | Paperback edition |
| ISBN | 9781738595150 |
| Page count | 172 |
| Published by | Ocean Echo Books |
You must be logged in to post a review.
Reviews
There are no reviews yet.