The astrologer's daughter by Rebecca Lim

Text Publishing, 2014. ISBN 9781922182005.
(Age: 14+) Recommended. Avicenna never wanted to become an astrologer as her mother, Joanne, was. Avicenna knew the trade, understood it, but never wanted to be one herself. However, when her mother disappears she is forced to follow in her mother's footsteps to uncover the truth. When one of her mother's clients seeks out Avicenna's help to find the truth behind a cold-case murder, she discovers a connection to Joanne's disappearance. With the help of Simon, her rival for the R. M. Tichborne Prize, she pieces together the facts.
The astrologer's daughter was not what I was expecting in any way. A compelling read, one that hooked me from the beginning, I was taken straight into the story and felt compelled to complete Avicenna's story with her. Mesmerized by the way Rebecca Lim wrote the novel, I could not put the book down. The chapters flowed on in a way that keeps the reader captivated, wanting to help Avicenna with her mystery. I love that Avicenna is strong-willed throughout the novel, even after her mother's disappearance. While the ending was vague, it left thoughts of how Avicenna will now continue on and allows the reader to create their own thoughts of what will come next in her life. A wonderful 'coming of age' novel set in Melbourne, Australia.
Cecilia Richards