Violet Sorrengail has been trained as a scribe and is happy to work in the Archive s like her father before her, but her mother General Sorrengail, demands that she join the war academy, training to become a dragon rider. The training is deadly, many cadets do not survive and die during the course, and it is even harder for Violet, as she has a frail physique and little previous training. Cadets who are the children of rebels, and led by wing commander, Xaden Riorson, the son of the separatists’ leader, also hate her and want her deadbecause her mother ordered their parents to be executed. Violet knows that the odds are stacked against her from the beginning.
Yarros is an experienced romance writer, and her expertise in writing engaging characters, an enemy-to-lover trope and building up suspense is obvious in Fourth Wing. Although her prose is sometimes jarring, with modern teen language (‘So. Freaking. Beautiful.’) feeling inappropriate for a high fantasy, she sweeps the reader along building up suspense as Violet faces dangerous trials and death threats. Violet is a very likeable character who uses her intelligence and knowledge that she has learnt as a scribe to compensate for her lack of physical ability. She never loses her compassion and willingness to help others. She gradually learns to trust herself, and not to give in, even though her friend Dain is desperate for her stay alive by leaving the academy. And her growing feelings for Xaden will keep romance lovers glued to the page. There are many breathless moments as the suspense grows, and the action is relentless as the reader follows Violet, desperately hoping that she will make it as a dragon rider.
This was an enjoyable escapist read, with a surprise ending that leaves the reader wanting to grab the next in the series. Those who enjoyed Fourth Wing, may want to read more complex fantasy by authors like Robin Hobb, Lois McMaster Bujold and Juliet Marillier. Fourth wing may not be suitable for younger YA readers as it contains explicit sexual scenes, murder without consequences and some swearing.
Themes Fantasy, Romance, Dragons.
Pat Pledger
You’ve got yoghurt in your nostrils by Bethany May Clark and Sara Acton
Debut South Australian author Bethany Clark has written a delightful rhyming picture book exploring the fun and often messy experience of baby’s first foods. Each busy page is beautifully illustrated by Sara Acton and shows baby having a great deal of enjoyment with all sorts of different foods. Within this engaging book, each pair of four-lined rhyming stanzas are broken up by two short singsong three-lined stanzas with a clever surprise twist at the end.
You’ve got yoghurt in your nostrils, avocado-smeared hair, bacon in your bellybutton, and toast crusts on your chair.
You’ve got egg all down your elbow, pumpkin between your toes, ricotta on your knee bone, and spaghetti….who knows!
Learning to eat is such a massive feat- for a tiny baby, whose fingers work, maybe!
Learning to eat is such a messy treat- squash it on your fingers, throw it on the timbers!
Those readers who have experienced the pleasure of introducing new foods to their baby or toddler will love sharing this wonderful picture book with their own children or gifting it to new or soon-to-be parents. A very entertaining read.
Themes Babies, Food Experiences, Family.
Kathryn Beilby
Super Sloth: The shar-wolf of New York City by Aleesah Darlison. Illus. By Cheri Hughes
Big Sky, 2023. ISBN: 9781922896537. (Age:7-10) Recommended.
A love of Sloths and Super Heros inspired Aleesah Darlison to create an amusing new series for young readers that is exciting and full of adventure. This first book contains the origin story of her main character, Romeo Fortez, a pygmy sloth, born on a wild and stormy night on isolated Escudo Island off the coast of Panama. On the night of his naming ceremony a once in a millennium event occurs that gives him special powers of speed, intelligence, dashing good looks and a thirst for adventure. He also learns to use what he calls his super cute sloth hypnosis mode, which allows him to calm and control the angriest of animals to get them to forget why they were upset.
Of course, an island is too small to keep a Super Sloth like Romeo happy, so he decides to move to New York City and quickly encounters trouble with a strange, giant creature called a Shar-wolf – a mixture between a shark and a wolf. While rescuing a girl from its clutches he befriends a crime-fighting group consisting of Tulip, the tough street-smart Cheetah, Hamilton Porker, the Vespa riding pig and headed by Beth Castlemaine, the confident and assertive daughter of a very wealthy banker. Together they hunt down the source of the strange genetically mixed creatures that have started wreaking havoc in the city and bring the culprit, Professor Ian Weird-Warp to justice. The book is peopled by a myriad of animal characters, woven into everyday life and makes for an exciting read. It provides readers with thrilling adventures which also portray teamwork and positive values. The pace of the action and the inclusion of some full page illustrations will also make them appealing to most reluctant readers.
Themes Sloths, Genetic engineering, Monsters, Superheroes, Good and evil.
Gabrielle Anderson
When clouds touch us by Thanhha Lai
University of Queensland Press, 2023. ISBN: 9780702266225. (Age:8-12) Highly recommended.
This middle grade verse novel is the follow up to 2011's popular Inside out & backagain. The first novel covered a year in the life of 10-year-old Ha and her family, fleeing Vietnam as refugees in 1975. They left behind Ha's father, missing-in-action as a soldier in the Vietnamese army. The family faced much hardship including racism and bullying in their new small town in Alabama, before finally starting to feel settled and at peace.
This new novel takes up the story two years later – it is not necessary to have read the first novel prior to this one as background/context is provided as the story unfolds. Ha’s mother suggested she repeat her first American year of school, which means she is a year older than her classmates, who think she’s just turned 11. “No-one at school knows my secret age so I’ll never again appear dumb”. Ha and her friend, Pam, share a fantastic 'rolling shoe' birthday party before Ha's family must move again. This time they move to Texas (which none of them can pronounce) for a better job for mother, and more options for Ha and her three older brothers.
The absolute highlight of this story is that it is written in the first person and so we connect easily with the way Ha makes sense of her feelings as well as the world around her. The words and descriptions she uses gives real insight into how confusing, overwhelming, ridiculous, delightful and strange she finds the new world around her.
The novel gently explores a range of issues facing refugees, using simple language in an age-appropriate way, and ending with a real hope for the future and possibilities ahead. Ample white space on each page helps make this novel appealing for reluctant readers as well. Excellent teacher's notes are available, making this a good choice for a class novel.
Themes Refugees, Vietnam.
Kylie Grant
Two sides to every story by Beck & Robin Feiner
ABC Books, 2023. ISBN: 9780733341618. (Age:3+)
Attempting to give two sides to each story, sees the author and illustrator, Beck and Robin Feiner present humorous pages of opposites, of comparisons, of thought provoking ideas which some readers may not have heard of. A page spent on love of sciences and what scientists do is followed by a page about historians and the impact they have on us. The two are not mutually exclusive, but complement each other, so readers will have lots of thoughts about which is the most important and what each does. Another double page on cats and dogs is far more black and white. As is a page on what to eat for breakfast very funny as Oscar tumbles around the pages. Another double page offers the pros and cons of living in the country as opposed to living in the city. Turning the page gives the positives and negatives of swimming at the beach or in the pool.
The coming schools' public speaking competition sees many decisions having to be made about how to dress, and what to say.
Oscar dresses in a suit for the competition and presents the reasons why it is good to be dressed up, but also tells about feeling more casual and at ease when dressed in an old t-shirt. After the debate the team decides to go the cinema but then another decision needs to be made. The most important of these is what to buy at the candy bar.
So lots of mental gymnasts is involved reading this book, seeing that each offers a debate about which is best and if reading in a group, readers will hear that most of their group will have opposing ideas. This will encourage younger readers to accept that points of view need to be accepted not derided.
Funny illustrations will enthral the readers as they follow the tumbling Oscar through his voyage of discovery.
Themes Debate, Opposition, Discover, Humour.
Fran Knight
Ember and the island of lost creatures by Jason Pamment
Allen & Unwin, 2023. ISBN: 9781761067488. (Age:8-12) Highly recommended.
South Australian author/illustrator Jason Pamment, whose debut graphic novel was Treasure in the Lake, has once again provided primary to middle grade readers with an exciting adventure story in the same format.
In this story, main character Ember is a tiny child all alone in a world of giant people. He is desperate to make friends and when he tries to be friendly with a giant child he is placed in terrible danger. After his escape he meets a kind and wise sea turtle named Lua who transports him to an island for lost creatures so he can attend school and meet others. On the island he encounters an incredible array of characters, all lost and alone, and is welcomed by the stern and serious Mr Cultivar who takes every opportunity to encourage his assortment of students to learn from each situation they find themselves in. Friendship does not come easily for Ember as some of the characters are not prepared to reciprocate but eventually after some dangerous and frightening experiences, the students are beginning to connect and respect each other.
The illustrations in Ember and the Island of Lost Creatures are both vibrant and visually stunning. The incredible detail in the graphic images will allow readers to explore each page deeply. This is an enjoyable fantasy adventure with interesting scientific facts cleverly shared throughout. Teacher's notes are available from the publisher.
Darkhearts is a teenage band that began with three boys, David, Chance and Eli. Only, David got ditched after one of their frequent arguments, or at least that is the story as he tells it. That the band went on to become famous without him, builds a deep resentment within him. It is only after the death of Eli, that David and Chance gradually renew their friendship. But Chance is now rich and famous, leading the life of a super pop star, whilst David is still back at school. Is a friendship even possible given the different paths their lives have taken?
The central character David, or Holc as Chance calls him, is a deeply flawed person, knit with self-doubt and jealousy. It takes a long time for him to realise that he is repeating the same mistakes his mother made when she walked out on their family: the things he blames her for, are the same things he does to his friends. It is that horrible teenager time where a kind of tunnel vision blinds him to his own failings and the blame is always somewhere else. Yet Chance Kain seems willing to give him another ‘chance’.
Reconnecting with Chance becomes one of those hate turns to love situations, but Sutter describes the gradual steps towards intimacy so well, so authentically, that the reader feels all the awkward moments, but also the humour, that the boys share. There couldn’t be a better depiction of the tentative sharing of consent.
I was thoroughly wrapped up in this story, never sure where it was going to go. I’m glad it didn’t disappoint. It isn’t a ‘happy ever after’ ending, but a very realistic portrayal of people learning to negotiate and trust again after a difficult time.
For more insight into the motivation for the book, read Sutter’s own review of it on Goodreads. I liked his message about “learning to just be comfortable with who you are - queer or straight, rock star or otherwise”. Darkhearts is YA fiction at its best.
Themes LGBQTI+, Jealousy, Romance, Self confidence, Consent, Boy band.
Helen Eddy
The champ vs the Werewolf Warriorz by Anh Do. Illus. by Dave Atze
Allen & Unwin, 2023. ISBN: 9781761065637. (Age:8+) Recommended.
Super sporty when she is a champ-in-disguise Summer is searching for the perfect present for her brother Carl. He confined to a wheelchair, and he desperately needs a new phone. While out shopping Summer sees an opportunity to enter a Runaround Games Competition at the Rockstone Autumn Fair with the chance of winning the mobile phone Carl would love to have.
The Fair turns out to be more than anyone bargained for. To organise enough money to enter each game, Wilbur and Summer decide to have a stall selling photos of pets in fancy dress. Travis Trole and his offsiders change the price of the photo shoot causing customers to walk away, cheat throughout the games and eventually steal Summer’s winning tokens. Meanwhile the evil Marcia the Book Witch is plotting the downfall of her nemesis The Champ. With the games in progress and the bully, Travis Trole in the lead, Marcia causes mayhem with the popular toys Werewolf Warriorz brought to life and destroying the fair. Travis is captured by Marcia, and it is then up to The Champ and her trusty sidekick Icecream Boy to save him and the day. Will Summer be able to defeat the Werewolf Warriorz and win the smart phone for Carl?
The action-packed pages will engage young readers and hold their interest. Highlighted key words break up the text and the graphic images by South Australian illustrator Dave Atze add to the drama of the story. Book 4 is on its way!
With the most arresting illustrations, sure to evoke lots of discussion, the story about the lion in all of us will intrigue all readers as they emulate the behaviours described by the main character. Being a lion would help her overcome not being heard within the family. As a lion she could be fierce, wild and free.
Each double page begins with the title phrase, followed by a short pithy sentence stating what she would do. One page tells us that being a lion would mean her voice would be heard, being a lion means she would see things clearly, as brightly as her sharp teeth. If she was a lion she would dance and dance, to the beat of her own jungle drum. As a lion she could listen to her body when it tells her she is tired and lounge on the sofa.
All the possibilities are exposed as the girl remains on one side of the page, then the lion takes her place on the facing page. The comparison is very funny as the girl takes on a lion’s properties and revels in the behaviour shown. She is laugh out loud funny as the lion looks at the lady with hunger in her eyes or dances across the page, or has a balloon burst in its face. Each page evokes laughter and discussion as the minimal style of illustration is distinctively different from the usual illustrations explored in a picture book. Watch out for the lion lounging along the back of the sofa, or the lion rolling around in the mud, or the lion in the wheelchair. Each image demands close inspection, as the comparison is very telling of the needs of a young person wanting some recognition. As a lion they can make their needs heard, even if they have to roar.
There will be many enchanted readers roaring like a lion at the end of this book.
Jemima, Humpty, Big Ted and Kiya are all on their way to the home of Little Ted. His pet goldfish has just died and they want to help him feel better. At the house, Little Ted is very sad and feeling heavy because he is holding back tears but his friends tell him it is OK to cry as this shows the love that existed between Little Ted and his friend. Jemima suggests that they create a scrapbook and they find photos of Swish to include in the pages. Each photo brings back memories of the little fish and the group tell each other stories about Swish. Little Ted feels better knowing that when his friends are not there he can look at the scrapbook and recall the stories of his pet.
Feeling hungry they decide to go on a picnic and spend the day playing games and eating. When they return they find a flower has bloomed in the aquarium. They say their goodbyes to Little Ted, promising they will return tomorrow. Little Ted goes to bed with his scrapbook, remembering the support his friends have given him and smiling at his recollections of Swish.
A disarming story of how friends can help and support someone in need, the tale of the loss of Swish is a prefect vehicle for talking to children about death. Swish has died and Little Ted feels lost and sad. The intervention of his friends creates an atmosphere where he can talk about his pet to people who also knew the goldfish. They create a scrapbook, sharer memories and are there for Little Ted offering support. All the things that people do to help another at this time in their lives is shown through the Play School characters, ones that the readers will know and love.
The soft illustrations reveal the characters that kids will know and love, helping to create a warm and comforting backdrop to the story.
Themes Death, Support, Grief, Friends.
Fran Knight
Kirra the koala by Beverly Jatwani. Illus. by Sarah Demontererde
New Frontier, 2023. ISBN: 9781915167354. (Age:4+)
Ling loves cycling, but even more she loves her work at the koala sanctuary where she spends time during the school holidays. She refills water troughs, sweeps leaves, helps trim the bushes and best of all, feeds the baby koalas using a bottle. One evening on the way home her old rattly bike hits a bump in the road and buckles, sending her over the handlebars and into a soft bush by the side of the road. She takes her damaged bike home with her but they all decide it is beyond repair.
The next morning Ling receives an urgent call for help from the sanctuary. A bushfire nearby has left some kolas stranded and they are going out to rescue them. Ling is paired with Sam an older volunteer and together they find a small koala sheltering under a bush. They wrap her in the blanket and Ling aims to take her back to the sanctuary. Sam has other ideas: he wants to take the animal home as a pet. Ling is horrified, these animals are not pets, she remonstrates, it needs to be cared for by experts back at the sanctuary and there she might be reunited with her mother. Even when Sam offers her his shiny new bike, she does not alter her position. A few days later Ling sees Kirra reunited with her mother as they head back to the bush.
A story about integrity and remaining true to yourself is offered in this story of rescuing koalas, the fifth in the series, Together we can change the world.
A page of information about koala is given at the end of the book, alongside images of the others in the series. Teacher's notes are available.
Gregory Hemingway was the youngest son of the famous author Ernest Hemingway. Living with fame at close quarters is not always easy, and for Greg living up to his father’s high expectations and yet desperately desiring his love and attention was not always easy. And despite that, he seemed to surprise both himself and his father frequently with his talents and skills. Hemingway senior may have been a brilliant author, but his relationship skills did not lead to stable marriages or to warm and steady relationships with his children, but Greg was always trying to win over his father while walking a tightrope. The slow unfolding of life in the fractured family reveals the impacts of mental illness (manic depression) upon multiple generations. Greg battles his own descent into the black abyss and the wild swings of euphoria associated with manic depression, but the occasional rise of the desire to dress as a woman is his constant companion. This desire eventually leads to gender re-assignment surgery, and Greg’s life ends ironically with a heart attack, in a prison cell finally identifying as Gloria – living out his heart’s desire.
This is a novelised account of life within the Hemingway family sphere. It is never neat or pretty, and the narrative swings between different events and time zones in a non-linear way, but always painting further brushstrokes in the dark artistry of a family living with fame and dysfunction. Greg does not live a conventional life, with life with his mother a struggle and life in Cuba with his father and stepmother(s) far from ordinary. He would also reel between personal rage and a tough childhood with fists and bats swinging, to a more gentle, loving, and insecure expression of himself. He is never totally Greg or totally Gloria, so the world of the transgender individual does not fit a stereotypical path. His own relationships are also fraught, but mostly because of the instability of life with manic-depressive episodes and shock treatment. His career also catapults him into a variety of directions, as a mechanic, an author, and even working as a Doctor in rural Montana before mania descends, throwing him in completely different directions. There is nothing comfortable about this book and it does make for confronting reading, but at the same time it has been written masterfully and it both shines a light in dark, broken places and reveals truths that are usually hidden. This is definitely an adult biographical story written with a powerful narrative style, only recommended for mature readers who are intrigued by the Hemingway influence, twisted masculinity and the power of dysfunction. The book is well-written, but very distressing on many levels.
Themes Ernest Hemingway, Family dysfunction, Mental Illness - Manic depression, Gender dysphoria, Masculinity.
The 60th Anniversary of Dr. Seuss’s ABC is an absolute delight. Many parents and grandparents will remember reading and listening to Dr. Seuss’s stories and will welcome this edition for this generation of young children to enjoy. This is not a simple alphabet book, but one that combines extraordinarily humorous pictures with memorable rhymes. Right from the first page, the reader and listener will be engaged by the question posed in different fonts and colours:
BIG A little a What begins with A?
Turn the page to 'Aunt Annie’s alligator ….. A..a..A' .Then follows a stunning picture of Aunt Annie sitting on a throne like chair on a long green grinning alligator.
Each of the fifty-two letters, upper and lower case, appear on a double page spread with Dr Seuss’s signature pictures coloured in bright tones. I particularly love
Big L, little l Little Lola Lopp. Left leg. Lazy lion licks a lollopop.
Not only is this a fun book to read and chuckle over, it is also an amusing way for children to learn the alphabet and could appeal to reluctant readers. It is sure to be a favourite read aloud in the homes of lucky children who own it.
Themes Humour, Alphabet.
Pat Pledger
Music is in everything by Zuggy Marley. Illus. by Ag Jatkowska
Music is in everything will bring joy to young children, first experiencing Ziggy Marley’s lovely words in book form and then listening and singing along to the popular song that it is based on.
It will be a delightful experience for children to hear all the ways that music can be found – in the ocean, as the wind blows, in pots and pans and in a concert in the kitchen. Then they can make a rice shaker (instructions included on the back cover) and listen to raindrops falling on the ground. Laughing is a sound that spreads joy all around and a river is something to quietly listen to as it flows past. Birds and bees make music and families can have a concert with pots and pans and rice shakers.
The very cute, colourful illustrations by Ag Jatkowska bring the characters to life and the joy on the faces of everyone as they make music will leave readers feeling good and wanting to stop and listen to the music that surrounds them. The illustrations are ones that are memorable and portray how easy it is to make music from things that children can find easily in the home.
The catchy tune, too, is sure to remain in the minds of children who may find themselves humming along as they listen for sounds. The love and joy that music brings to the family and is shared by members of the neighbourhood is also a very positive aspect of the book.
I can see children really enjoying the book being read aloud, making their own musical instruments and having fun singing along to the lyrics. The book also provides inspiration to stop and listen carefully to the sounds that make music around us. This is a lovely story that will bring happiness to the reader.
1931 in Shanghai, the Nationalists and Communists are fighting for control of the city, while also attempting to fight off an invasion from Japan. Four years ago, Rosalind Lang was brought back from the brink of death, but little did she know that the experiment that saved her would also radically change her - no longer able to sleep or age, she can also heal from any wound. Rosalind cannot die - essentially immortal. Turning her back on her traitorous past, she uses her abilities for her country - becoming an assassin, with the code name of Fortune. But now she's on a mission with a partner, trying to uncover a terror cell that is murdering Chinese residents in Shanghai. Problem is, she doesn't typically work with a partner, let alone posing as a married couple. Rosalind will work for the greater good though, while hiding her true identity. Looks like her assigned partner, Orion, also has an agenda of his own, so who knows if even she can unravel the mystery.
While written as the first in a new series called 'Foul Lady Fortune', the book actually takes place after another of Gong's popular series, 'These Violent Delights', becoming the 'Secret Shanghai' series when all put together. Readers do not have to have read the 'These Violent Delights' to enjoy Foul Lady Fortune, as it is its own story, though it does reference characters from the other series, and will in fact reveal the end to that series, so if readers are planning to read 'These Violent Delights', do not read Foul Lady Fortune first. The 511 page novel is a hefty read, but certainly worth it. Some readers may find themselves occasionally confused with character names or affiliations due to the Nationals, Communists and references to other parties, but perseverance in reading pays off. The majority of the book follows Rosalind's viewpoint, with occasional viewpoints from other characters, giving a well rounded story. While it is longer in text than the author Karen M. McManus, it would suit fans of her books.
