The Whizbanger That Emmental Built

Reuben Schwarz (12 December 1978) was born in New Zealand, but moved to Canada as a child. Raised in Alberta and West Vancouver, British Columbia, Reuben earned a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of British Columbia.

After failing to be accepted to medical school, Schwarz enrolled at the University of Toronto. There he was the editor of the student newspaper, The Independent Weekly.

In 2004 Schwarz returned to New Zealand, earning a Graduate Diploma in Journalism from the University of Canterbury in Christchurch. Upon graduation, Schwarz began reporting for The Dominion Post in Wellington.[3] Schwarz is the winner of two Qantas Media Awards.[4]

Schwarz's first children's novel, The Whizbanger That Emmental Built, was published in 2006 by Penguin Books, under the banner of Puffin Publishing.

The Whizbanger That Emmental Built tells the story of Emmental Baker, a bright but shy girl. Emmental's mother has recently died and her father, infamous writer and recluse Niall Baker, has relocated the family to the imaginary town of Dropsham in the hopes of curing his writer's block.

Emme struggles to fit in her new surroundings, persecuted by her teacher Mrs. Hanlin and bullied by class brute Rory Blunt. With her father despondent and detached, Emme finds friendship with her neighbor, bizarre inventor Chaida Manning. As Emme's friendship with Manning grows, she learns to accept her creativity and individualism, gaining self-confidence.

Typical children's literary themes are expressed in Whizbanger. The main character, Emmental Baker, is vulnerable, and oppressed by society (her school teacher Mrs. Hanlon and classmate Rory Blunt). This theme is consistent throughout children's literature, from the fairytales of the Cinderella genre to J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter.

In 2007, The Whizbanger That Emmental Built was shortlisted for Library Association of New Zealand's (LIANZA) Esther Glen Award. This award is given to a writer of the book that is considered by the panel of librarians to be the most distinguished contribution to literature for children and young adults for that year. The award was established in 1945 and named in honour of Christchurch journalist and children's writer Esther Glen (1881–1940).[5]