> Skip to content
  • Published: 3 October 2016
  • ISBN: 9780143781233
  • Imprint: Random House Australia
  • Format: EBook
  • Pages: 160

Ellyse Perry 1: Pocket Rocket




Find out where it all began for Ellyse Perry, Australia’s most prominent sportswoman!

Find out where it all began for Ellyse Perry, Australia’s most prominent sportswoman!

CBCA Notable book for Younger Readers, 2017

All Ellyse wants to do is play sport. Cricket, soccer, touch footy, athletics – you name it! But now that she’s in high school, playing sport and having fun doesn’t seem so simple. For starters, there’s more homework, and a mix-up with her electives has her stuck with debating! Ugh. Then her friends, Jazz and Charlie, don’t invite her when they go rollerskating. To top it off, mean Ms Parkes won’t let her on the school cricket team because she thinks Ellyse is too small. Could life be more unfair?

Luckily, she still has club cricket. Her team are a sure bet to make the grand final, and Ellyse can’t wait to get out onto the pitch with her mate Jamie.

Will Ellyse be able to handle the challenges of high school and still find time for all her sports?

  • Published: 3 October 2016
  • ISBN: 9780143781233
  • Imprint: Random House Australia
  • Format: EBook
  • Pages: 160

About the authors

Ellyse Perry

At only 25 years of age, Ellyse Perry holds the rare distinction of being a dual international, having represented Australia in cricket and football (soccer).

Ellyse made her debut for both the Australian cricket and association football teams at the age of 16 – the youngest person to represent Australia in cricket and the first Australian to have appeared in both cricket and association football World Cups. Since then, both her cricket and football careers have flourished. Ellyse was part of the Southern Stars cricket team that took out the 2015 Women’s Ashes, and was named Player of the Ashes. During the summer, she plays for both the NSW Breakers in the Women’s National Cricket League and Sydney FC in the W-League.

Off the field, Ellyse can be found attending to her role as one of Cricket Australia’s National Female Cricket ambassadors, plus ambassador roles for Commonwealth Bank, FOX Sports, Red Bull, Adidas, SportsMed and SCG Trust. She does philanthropic work with the LBW Trust and McGrath Foundation. In addition to this, she is also studying for a Bachelor of Economic and Social Sciences at Sydney University.

Ellyse describes herself as an admirer of scenery and avid wanderer, perennial cafe inhabitant, and sports enthusiast!

Sherryl Clark

Sherryl Clark's first children's book was The Too-Tight Tutu which was published in the Aussie Bites series in 1997. Since then she has published almost 30 children's books, including Sixth Grade Style Queen (Not!) and Motormouth. Sherryl is also the author of the Rose books in the Our Australian Girl series. She has had two collections of poetry for adults published by Pariah Press - Edge (1990) and Thicker Than Water (1999), and is a co-editor of Poetrix magazine. Sherryl teaches fiction and poetry writing in the Diploma of Arts - Professional Writing and Editing at Victoria University and Holmesglen TAFE.

Praise for Ellyse Perry 1: Pocket Rocket

Pocket Rocket depicts an encouraging scenario where it is common for girls to participate in what is a predominantly male sport, and this is one of its great strengths. Ellyse’s relationships with her friends and family, especially her dad, are also well portrayed. This book will resonate with readers aged 11 and up as they start high school, particularly with girls who want more books that have strong female characters who are passionate about sport.

Katie Haydon, Junior B+P

Ellyse who plays both soccer and cricket at the elite level is a wonderful focal point for inspiring young girls to continue their sport after they leave primary school and she shows that with care and good choices, you can do all that you want. Boys will also enjoy reading about one of Australia's leading lights.

Barbara Braxton, OZTL_NET

The message Ellyse wanted to convey in this series is the importance of physical activity and to normalise the idea that girls can play any sport they want. Readers will also be interested in the Question and Answer section with this fine sportswoman at the end of the book. It is an engaging story suitable for middle primary to lower secondary students.

Patricia Halsall, Magpies Magazine

This sport themed series for young readers gives kids who love sport a protagonist to whom they can relate. But, aside from the sports theme, the books also deal with the changes kids face when they enter high school – the fears and doubts that come with growing up.

Kristyn M Levis, CBCA Reading Time

A good series for mid to upper primary school girls, showing strong women overcoming hurdles to get where they want to be.

Fran Knight, ReadPlus

Awards & recognition

CBCA Book of the Year Awards

Notable Book  •  2017  •  Younger Readers