Taya Bayliss - Code Breaker


Children - Grade 4th-6th
160 Pages
Reviewed on 12/31/2014
Buy on Amazon

This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Free Book Program, which is open to all readers and is completely free. The author will provide you with a free copy of their book in exchange for an honest review. You and the author will discuss what sites you will post your review to and what kind of copy of the book you would like to receive (eBook, PDF, Word, paperback, etc.). To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email.

This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Book Review Exchange Program, which is open to all authors and is completely free. Simply put, you agree to provide an honest review an author's book in exchange for the author doing the same for you. What sites your reviews are posted on (B&N, Amazon, etc.) and whether you send digital (eBook, PDF, Word, etc.) or hard copies of your books to each other for review is up to you. To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email, and be sure to describe your book or include a link to your Readers' Favorite review page or Amazon page.

This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Book Donation Program, which was created to help nonprofit and charitable organizations (schools, libraries, convalescent homes, soldier donation programs, etc.) by providing them with free books and to help authors garner more exposure for their work. This author is willing to donate free copies of their book in exchange for reviews (if circumstances allow) and the knowledge that their book is being read and enjoyed. To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email. Be sure to tell the author who you are, what organization you are with, how many books you need, how they will be used, and the number of reviews, if any, you would be able to provide.

Author Biography

E. J. (Erica) Gore
Erica grew up in Brisbane, Australia, in the 1950/60s.
For an inwardly adventurous, but outwardly shy child, reading was a major part of life. Stories such as Enid Blyton’s ‘Famous Five’ adventures fired her imagination and
created new worlds for her to explore. Making up stories of her own followed as a natural progression, with Erica holding storytelling sessions for her stuffed toys each evening before bed.
Having overcome her shyness by taking drama classes at her mother’s insistence, Erica became a primary school teacher. She brought her love of story into the classroom, using narrative as a base for the units of work she planned for her students. Her core belief that stories provide children with a means of engaging with, and forming deeper understanding of, the world around them proved most successful in encouraging learning.
When she retired from the classroom, Erica began to write her stories down. ‘It was as though the time was right to be writing. The ideas were there and I had to let them escape from my brain and sort themselves out on paper.’
Erica’s characters are average kids. They do not have any special powers. They do not live in any fantasy worlds. Quick wits and keen observation skills are their weapons.
The main character, Taya, is the adventurous little girl that Erica longed to be. She has the adventures that Erica dreamed of having. She is a child who wonders about things and likes to figure out puzzles. She can be a scaredy-cat and she can be amazingly brave. She and her fiend, Chris, are likeable kids with whom young readers can easily identify.
Who wouldn’t want to be out and about solving mysteries and having adventures?

Erica still lives in Brisbane with her husband and their two mischievous dogs.

    Book Review

Reviewed by Melinda Hills for Readers' Favorite

An unexpected trip to Narralong and the Splinter Island bird sanctuary is not what 11-year-old Taya Bayliss wants, but what can a kid do? Before she even leaves home, though, a mystery presents itself and leads to big action! Taya’s dad, ‘Birdman Bayliss’, is a scientist who studies birds. He has been called to Splinter Island to see why there are not many eggs this year. The real reason behind this shortage leads to a serious situation involving smugglers, lots of money, and people willing to do anything to keep their operation a secret. With her friend’s help, Taya keeps track of her dad who has been acting strangely, and they come face to face with danger. Taya’s love of puzzles and codes enables her to figure out how the crooks are communicating their plans and set up a look-out to catch them in action. Will Taya’s curiosity get her in trouble in Taya Bayliss - Code Breaker by E.J. Gore?

An excellent story that is easy to read, Taya Bayliss - Code Breaker by E.J. Gore appeals to young girls and boys interested in mysteries. The characters are ordinary kids with a strong friendship and above average powers of observation and problem solving. Taya has a good relationship with her parents, but the difference between children and adults is realistic and it is exactly Taya’s natural resistance at being told what to do that gets her involved in the mystery. Discover just what Taya’s curiosity gets her into in this exciting, fun to read story.