Cinnamon Gardens is a well established nursing home in Sydney. Owned by Sri Lankan Tamil, Maya and her husband, Takir, it is now run by their daughter, Anjaii. Beautifully crafted, the story carries the reader through the stories of the owners, staff and clients at the home. Maya and her Muslim husband fled Sri Lanka during the Civil War in the 80’s, taking over the run down home from an uncle, Cedric. The husband and wife renovated the old house and the nursing home buildings and made the business viable.
Within the stories are touches of what they saw and suffered in Sri Lanka, where Tamils were being beaten, tortured and killed. When her father was killed and her husband badly beaten, they left for Australia.
Maya’s daughter Anjaii, a psychologist, now runs the home. Her best friend, Nikki a geriatrician, works at the home but is struggling after the death of her daughter. She and her husband Gareth, have drifted apart, and one night he grabs her causing her to leave. She is involved with Ruben, a worker at the home, whose life in Sri Lanka has left him with horrific scars. Ruben has been beaten again by white youths in the streets near the home.
Through the author’s cutting back and forth between the 70’s and 80’s Sri Lanka and the current time in Sydney, she is able to draw our focus onto the civil war in Sri Lanka and the racism which occurs in Australia.
When Gareth makes a complaint to the Human Rights Commission, citing the despoiling of a statue of Caption Cook in the nursing home grounds, the resultant publicity spiral out of control. Gareth is seen as a defender of Australia for the Australians, and some take the opportunity to take revenge. Beatings become more regular, graffiti plasters their walls every night, and repercussions seen in the schoolyard as well.
Right wing jocks, media and politicians attach their names to the rising anti diversity feelings. No longer looking just at the Sri Lankan population in Sydney, the book exposes the hidden racism within our society today. The police only attend when Ruben calls them because of a rape, they take little interest in the graffiti, and dismiss the accounts of the perpetrators. The last few chapters are chilling in their descriptions of the violence sanctified by the government in Sri Lanka against the Tamil population. But at the same time that violence parallels attitudes here, a frightening prospect.
This is such an intense book, giving the reader a look into the Sri Lankan civil war, and the refugees who came to Australia, focussing on the hurdles they must face before being accepted. The book exposes the racism bubbling beneath the surface in modern Australia and shows that we have not moved far from the days of the White Australia Policy.
Winner fo the 2023 Miles Franklin Award. Warning: Depictions of violence.
Themes Racism, White Australia policy, Sri Lanka, Tamils, Civil war, Refugees..
A wonderfully witty look at supporting your team, the family in this story all favour the red team. The whole family wears red scarves, red jumpers, red beanies, red dresses, one even has a red skateboard, but our hapless narrator favours the blue team. When the family goes to the team game, they sit in the area where all the red supporters sit, all with red as the only colour worn. Our narrator sits quietly not wanting to draw attention to himself, and barracks along with the rest. He would love to get an autograph from the blues player he sees in the supermarket. At school on the Wear Your Colours Day, he would love to wear blue but has to wear red and play with the red team.
But one night as the family is watching a game between the red and blue teams, the Blue team scores the last goal. He calls out, ‘yes, yes, yes’ realising that he has outed himself, telling his family about his secret. He fears his family’s wrath, but Dad simply says that he is loved no matter what team he follows.
A wonderful look at difference within the family and how this is overcome with love and support by them all. Everyone accepts the sibling’s different leanings and supports him without question. And of course there is a neat twist in the tale as the last page is turned.
Hilarious illustrations perfectly delineate the different leanings of the family, although for the first half of the book, as he goes along with the family’s interest we see only red. Kids will love the use of red, spotting all the ways people show their allegiance. And use of the pig family as the protagonists is hilarious. Kids will love following the things this family does together: going to the match, watching TV, shopping, reflecting the events in their own lives which supports the family’s togetherness.
The bright bold illustrations will entrance the readers as they follow the little pig’s dilemma and wonder how they could solve it in their own family.
And talking of following a team, there are lots of examples in the community where this could be seen and compared as the book is read. Nobody seems exempt from responding to ‘which team do you follow’, and of course this is not only confined to sport.
University of Queensland Press, 2025. ISBN: 9780702268885. (Age:14+)
A teenage drag show in a small rural town – this is the grand spectacle that seizes the imagination of the ‘queer’ young would-be performers, an opportunity to shine in extravagant wigs and costumes and sing biting lyrics. Peter’s flamboyant friend Alan is clearly going to be queen of the show. Peter himself prefers a role out of the limelight; producer is more his style. It is all part of an absurd scheme to redeem himself after a cringeworthy rant against the popular gay kid in the school, and to prove that he is not a self-hating gay.
Peter seems to have anger problems. He mostly maintains a low-key profile, but every now again his anger burst forth in a sarcasm that cuts to the quick. He is also prone to belittling his friends and relationships, in a demeaning way, as though to reassure himself he is not really one of them. All of which does not make him a very likeable central character. The plot is predictable: he is going to hurt some of his best friends before he finally wakes up to himself and makes amends.
The book is touted as a ‘laugh-out-loud romp’ and there are plenty of ridiculous situations, but for me the witty barbs were a bit too cruel, and lessened my enjoyment. Perhaps other readers will more readily embrace the humour. After all, there are lots of very warm caring characters to balance the stereotypical homophobes, and the extravagant mix of hairstyles, costumes and sequins is intended to be a lot of fun.
The title anticipates the story of a young boy having a very bad day and feeling very caught up by it all. He struggles with the idea of bottling it all in until his father gives him a hug and the floodgates open.
At breakfast he is blamed for spilling the mlk and must clean it up, on the way to school a spaceship lands on his toe, and a platypus nibbles at his leg, causing a fall, a dragon wraps itself around his desk causing mayhem, and his sandwich runs away for him. He was feeling so glum and when he gets home, a few tears begin to fall, and father’s hug makes it all come out.
He feels a lot better and comes to realise that when he is feeling low, he should just cry and let his feelings out, so that he feels better all over again.
Heath McKenzie’s illustrations carry the boy along, showing him in every situation, a little befuddled by how he is feeling and not knowing what to do. The look on his face tells volumes to the reader, from his squeezing his eyes tightly to prevent leakage, to the wonderful waterfall on the second to last page. Each face will speak to the readers, as they feel with the boy, trying hard not to cry but crying when he feels so overwhelmed that he cannot stop.
McKenzie’s illustrations are full of humour, helping readers see that humour is a most important mental strength to develop.
An afterword by Worland outlines more of his ideas in presenting this book. Gus Worland is the founder of the charity, Gotcha4Life Foundation, devoted to inspiring people of all ages to build up their mental well being and become stronger in knowing and sharing their feelings.
Charlie, Zeke and Hammer each struggle to come to grips with their homosexuality in a small, conservative town. Invisible boys is a highly character-driven story, so it's only natural that the characters in the novel are well crafted. Characters are strongly introduced with relatable or familiar elements but ascend beyond stereotypes as the plot progresses into their hidden depths. As the synopsis likely suggests, the novel has a direct, central theme about the struggles of homosexuality in intolerant circumstances. It's not pleasant to read about, but it's an important perspective on privilege. The plot progresses in chunks as each character faces their own different struggles, but they're carefully woven together to keep the pace flowing.
The novel is set in the modern day, in the real town of Geraldton, characterised strongly as small, highly religious, and as a result, intolerant. It's a familiar feeling for anyone who's lived in small towns before where everyone knows everyone and everything. The book follows the perspective of each major character, interspersed with grave letters to keep things compelling and tense. The pacing of which characters take focus when, is impeccable, and a continuous tone of dread permeates the entire novel, causing the reader to sympathise with the characters' awful plights. Teacher's notes are available. Vincent Hermann
Editor's note: This review first appeared in 2019, when the book was first published.
Themes Homosexuality, Bully, Suicide, Country life - Australia.
John Rebus is now an inmate alongside some of the toughest criminals in Scotland. His survival as an ex-detective in prison is dependent on his ability to read the motives and power plays of fellow prisoners and even the prison officers. But Rebus has walked a fine line all his life, except this time it seems even more difficult when a fellow inmate is murdered in his cell. At the same time his former police colleagues are investigating the disappearance of a teen as well as the prison murder. Rebus must collect information and act as an informant without anyone realising. The twisted nature of police politics and power plays within the ranks adds some difficulty to an investigation that implicates organised crime bosses and their power struggles.
Rankin has again created a brilliant story mired with the awfulness of society on the wrong side of ‘right’. The police do not come out as squeaky clean, but the difficulty of reading small clues requires incredible skill. Rebus fans will love this next instalment in his life saga. His survival is a minor miracle… but he exercises incredible ‘smarts’ in every situation. The accounts of exploitation in the story are not easy, so this book is definitely for adult readers. Even for those who have not entered Rebus’ world in earlier books in the long series, this is a great crime story in combination with a murder mystery and could be read without knowing the entire back story. Rankin, though, is a master of the art of crime drama and keeps you hanging on until the last page.
John Rebus has a history of straddling the line between right and wrong, justice and injustice, and now that he has retired as a police officer, he still seems to be using the connections he made on both sides of the law to mete out rough justice… only now that may mean he will suffer the consequences. A criminally bent policeman is murdered, his colleagues are put under the spotlight and crime bosses and thugs are variously hiding their past, but are putting Rebus into the spotlight in the process. Rebus’ former police colleague is involved in the murder investigation and is working alongside a former police standards investigator, and Rebus becomes informer and target in the process. Will this be the end of Rebus? Will his health hold out long enough for him to right past wrongs? Can corruption and lies be beaten by those in the force who aim for right to be done?
Ian Rankin is a master of Crime fiction and his lead character, John Rebus, is both a loveable rogue and an unforgettable ‘tightrope’ walker as he negotiates the dark and murky world of crime and corruption with the aim of pursuing rough justice. Some of the grime of the crime world seems to stick to him, but it is his clever approach to finding information that makes him valuable to police and criminal alike. For those who love Rebus, or have a heart for crime fiction in general, this will be a treasured read … but how many more stories can Rebus inhabit before Rankin gives him his own headstone?
There have been an abundance of recent books featuring gender diverse characters, particularly LGBQTI+ rom-coms, and gay coming of age stories, but this book by Andrew Joseph White is unlike anything you’ve read before. It is a gripping horror thriller with the kind of blood and gore found in a Stephen King novel. But at its heart it is the story of Miles breaking the news to his parents that he is not Sadie, their daughter, but a transgender identity, unsure of his relationships and his place in the world.
The setting is West Virginia, famed redneck country where the police are violent and corrupt. But West Virginia was also the place of socialist uprising against the oppressive mining companies who valued the dollar over a life. The West Virginia coal wars of the early 1900s saw the first bombs dropped on American people as mining companies tried to break up unionised strikes by the workers. This is the historical background to White’s story of a long-running feud between Miles’ family and Sheriff Davies and his cronies. Miles’ great-great-grandfather Saint Abernathy, a striker, was executed with a railway spike through his mouth. His father survived a fire-torched car which killed the other occupants. Miles himself barely survives a fiercely brutal beating by the Sheriff’s son and his mates.
Miles is 16 years old, autistic and trans. Although he is afraid, he wants to stand up against the bullies and end the feud. He understands that they are all victims of a system that pits people against each other. He is an unlikely hero, compulsively chewing a shoelace, often struggling to find the right words, and suppressing tears, but buoyed by a connection with the spirit of his great-great-grandfather Saint Abernathy.
White’s descriptions of the gentle moments between Miles and his long-time friend Cooper provide insight into the confusion and tentativeness of their new relationship. Does a kiss mean they are gay, bi-sexual, queer or what? Does it have to go like this? Perhaps Miles is aromantic? Perhaps during this time of trauma, what he needs most is just a true friend who accepts him as he is.
All of this is set in the context of menacing violence and erupting brutality. It is a gripping thriller that keeps the reader riveted to the page. It comes with warnings about police violence, transphobia, opioid use and withdrawal, and disturbing images. ‘Actually, this book is kind of like moonshine. It’s gonna burn like hell going down.’ It represents the fear and vulnerability of transgender people in the real world, facing monsters every day.
Andrew Joseph White is a startling new voice in YA literature; shortlisted for multiple awards, his books are sure to be bestsellers in the thriller genre, for the YA audience and for adults.
With Transgender Visibility Day (March 31) and International Non Binary Day (July 14) coming up, this is a welcome look into an area where books are sparse. Wearing yellow dresses one day and looking for bugs and lizards, and blue jeans the next for running around in circles, Jem is sure of where they stand. Like a rainbow, Jem knows that there are many colours and everyone is different.
But other people tell Jem what clothes to wear, asking that the jeans be replaced by a more suitable dress for a special occasion. But Jem’s mum tells them that all clothes are suitable, and Jem can wear whatever is chosen. The story details the days Jem feels like a girl, and those where Jem feels like a boy.
But at school Jem is told that the world is black and white, trees are green and the sky is blue. But looking out the window Jem sees the autumn colours of the trees and the pink sky and knows that the teacher is wrong.
When Jem tells mum what was said, she replies that people are like rainbows, full of many colours, neither one nor the other. Everyone is different. Mum puts a large rainbow on the ceiling of Jem’s room to remind them of the fact that everyone is different, that we are not black and white that we have a choice.
This vividly illustrated book shows the matter from Jem’s point of view as they grapple with not wanting to be one nor the other, but allowed to be who they want to be, without the constraints of those they meet everyday. The rainbow image occurs throughout the book, reinforcing the theme of acceptance and diversity.
Rae White is a non-binary person heavily involved in transgender issues in Brisbane.
For classrooms this is a book sure to promote interest and discussion, as children assimilate the idea that we are a diverse society, accepting all shades of the rainbow. Teacher's notes are available from the publisher.
Turtle bubbles by Diane Schaffer. Illus. by Georgina Hart
Little Steps, 2024. ISBN: 9781922833068. (Age:3-7)
This colourfully illustrated rhyming picture book gives younger readers an understanding of turtle bubbles or breathing from their ‘bum’, a word used with humour throughout the story. As the story progresses and the turtles travel through the pond continuing to blow bubbles, the other pond creatures find it hilarious. Fortunately, wise Mrs Platypus informs the other animals about how turtles breathe. They are all fascinated and have learnt something new. The book ends with some interesting facts about turtles provided by the author’s daughter.
The Sad Ghost Club: A hopeful guide to getting through bad days is one in a series of four, written and illustrated by Lize Meddings. For those children who often feel invisible and alone, this brief, simply written and graphically illustrated guide, may provide the beginning of support to cope with situations they find challenging.
This clever and at times humorous story features SG and Socks, two "ghosts" who struggle with daily tasks and meet at an overwhelming party. Their journey of coping with situations is communicated to readers who may be able to relate to the ideas.
Ten important rules about not being sad are shared:
1. Do not overthink everything 2. Try and accept help if you can 3. It’s ok to take breaks 4. Do not listen to really sad music until 2am. Try to listen to something uplifting before you sleep 5. Keep moving forward 6. Remember, this will pass 7. A change of scenery can really help 8. Try and talk about it now and then 9. Spend time outdoors when you can 10. Try to stick to your normal routine
These rules are followed by ten rules for making friends, ten rules for being there, asking for support and ideas for doing things together, as well as self-care, and loving yourself. Throughout the book the graphic images are uncomplicated and surrounded by plenty of ‘white space’. The text is easily accessible and will appeal to a range of reading abilities.
In the final pages there is an index of mental health services mainly set in the UK although there are a few worldwide online organisations. This maybe an important read for those people who struggle with their mental health and may need a book like The Sad Ghost Club to begin a healing journey.
I have been a fan of Sharon Shinn’s fantasy novels, especially the Twelve Houses, Elemental blessings and Samara series, and I was happy to pick up her latest novel, Alibi, set in a future where teleportation is a common form of transport. This enables Taylor Kendall, a professor of English, to teach in Houston while living in Chicago, and take a part time job tutoring Quentin who has a fatal degenerative disease. He is the son of billionaire Duncan Phillips, who refuses to allow him to have the latest medical treatment. Taylor quickly becomes embroiled in the household, enjoying her tutoring and becoming increasingly attracted to Bram Cortez, head of security. When Phillips is murdered, everyone who could have teleported to the mansion is a suspect, including Taylor.
The idea of teleportation has always fascinated me as it was often featured works by early science fiction authors like Phillip K. Dick. Anne McCaffrey too had the dragons of Pern teleporting back and forth as their riders visualised a place. And Shinn’s use of it as a device to question alibis is intriguing.
Alibi is light on the murder aspect of the plot, with the story focusing on it in the last 20% of the novel. It is Shinn’s skill with creating likeable characters and her light touch with romance that kept me reading. Taylor is an engaging woman, dedicated to her students and to bringing joy into Quentin’s life. Her relationship with her brother Jason and her gang of friends sparkles and I found it easy to imagine life in the billionaire’s household.
Fans of Shinn will enjoy this easy-to-read story and people who read the futuristic mysteries featuring Eve Dallas by J. D. Robb are also likely to enjoy it.
Themes Science fiction, Teleportation, Murder.
Pat Pledger
Arte's anxiety disappears by Sharon Cameron. Illus. by Serena Originario
Little Steps, 2024. ISBN: 9781922833082. (Age:5-7)
This gentle picture book shares a story about a family pet dog who suffers from anxiety alongside a young girl who also has worries. Both react in different ways to stress and this is explained in simple language. For example, the dog barks at strangers or chews furniture and the girl may get angry, say mean things or chew her nails. Some helpful hints are provided to deal with stressful moments such as playing with favourite toys or belly breathing. The illustrations, in soft pastel colours surrounded by plenty of white space, complement the text.
In the final pages are Discussion Questions and some valuable Ways to Calm Down. The author is a Registered Counsellor and certified Animal Assisted Therapist.
Themes Anxiety, Worries, Dogs, Humans.
Kathryn Beilby
You are a wildlife warrior! by Bindi Irwin with Smriti Prasadam-Halls. Illus. by Ramona Kaulitzki
Ernest wildlife warrior Bindi Irwin shares her knowledge about saving animals and their place in the planet in this new book, You are a wildlife warrior, as she shows her daughter the range of animals seen at Australia Zoo. A walk around this zoo reflects the range of animals kept there, and underlines the endangered status of many of them, encouraging children to celebrate conservation and protection. She walks past zebras, giraffes, turtles, rhinos, crocodile, kangaroo, and several very loud birds.
As each exhibit is passed, information can be found which will interest children. The rhyming stanzas will intrigue as children predict the rhyming word, looking at the things they have learnt about the animals pictured. On some pages a more informative fact box can be read, informing the readers further. Koalas, meerkats, echidna, lemurs, and cheetah are also focussed. Bight, informative illustrations by Ramona Kaulitzki show the animals clearly, allowing children to look more closely at their attributes.
On each page more information is given through the illustrations as Bindi and her daughter are shown doing some of the work needed in a zoo. They feed, groom and count as they pass through the zoo, promoting the ideas of conservation, encouraging children to take part in caring for the animals they see and encouraging them to see how much work is involved in maintaining these animals in the zoo or in the wild. The second to last page tells children a little about the zoo’s hospital which treats over 10,000 animals a year, and more surprisingly has had 11,000 koalas admitted since 2004.
Two pages at the beginning of the book introduce Bindi and her daughter, Grace, and two pages at the end of the book will inform the reader about their role in saving these animals, following on from the work begun by her father, Steve Irwin.
An easy to read and brightly illustrated book will attract young readers wanting information about animals they have heard of and encourage their knowledge of conservation and how they can help.
Themes Conservation, Animals, Zoos, Steve Irwin, Australia Zoo.
Fran Knight
Searching for treasure by Johanna Bell and Emma Long
Allen & Unwin, 2025. ISBN: 9781761180682. (Age:3+) Highly recommended.
Sometimes a book comes along that you are certain is going to be a classic and most likely win many awards. Searching for treasure is one of those. It is a joyful exploration of what can be found when walking on the beach, illustrated in glorious pastels.
Searching for treasure on the high tide line. One step, two steps, what can you find?
The book has an engaging and unusual layout; there is an easy to read aloud narrative in large print for young children and for older children and adults, in-depth information in very tiny print about the sea creatures that lurk in the sand and rock pools. I was forced to use a magnifying glass when reading the small print to my five-year-old grandson. He had lots of fun using it too, to make large images of the shark’s eggs, shells and seaweed that adorn the pages. Enticing fold-outs that eager readers will want to turn are included and the fabulous gatefold at the conclusion of the book will stun readers.
Readers will learn much about the creatures that live on the shoreline. An example is: ‘Bivalves like oysters, mussels, cockles, scallops and clams have two shells that join together in the middle. When you open them up, they look like a butterfly.’ This information is accompanied by a picture of the shell. This is just one piece of information amid a plethora of drawings on one double page. There are razor shells, moon snail eggs, sea urchins, crabs and sea weed, all held in the hands of the little girl who is exploring the shore line.
Readers will find much to fascinate, not just in the information but in the wonderful pictures, often showing objects from an unusual perspective. The hairy legs of the adult holding a young child’s hand as they walk onto the beach will bring a smile to faces, while the impressive way all the objects found on the beach are gathered together is very memorable.
Searching for treasure did not stay on my bookshelf. It was a must take as my grandson went to the airport to fly home. I am sure it will be kept and passed onto the next generation. Highly recommended.
