Blackall has created a wonderful story around a not uncommon childhood dream of being someone or something else. With the girl imagining herself to be a horse, we hear of all the things she most loves in the world, and the things she is not too keen on or thinks less of. If she was a horse, she would gallop all day, going anywhere she wanted to, but come home for a meal. She would let her little sister ride on her back to school, where everyone would welcome her onto their team, but her older brother would not believe her. In the rain she would stay outside, rolling in the mud, laughing all the while.
As a horse no one could force her to take a bath or wear clothes, unless of course when she goes to a parade. As a horse she would stay up until she wanted to sleep, she would sleep standing up and have wonderful galloping dreams.
Each of the things she would love to do as a horse are things that she finds restrictive in the real world, so make a wonderful contrast between one life and the other. Younger readers will love pointing out that yes, they too do not like having a bath or wearing clothes, and yes they would love to gallop all day and go to sleep when they want to sleep. Children will readily identify with the young girl, wanting the restrictions to be lifted. The freedom the horse has is most attractive to her but she also wants some of the good things that life in her family offers; a meal, a sister to take to school, even a brother who is hardly aware of her. The family unit is presented in the beautiful illustrations as a supportive group of people who love each other, despite some of the odd things they wish to do.
The fine ink and watercolour illustrations are unforgettable, and readers will love looking at the horse on each page, wondering what it is thinking. The detail through the book is enticing, while the endpapers with the images of the horse will encourage young readers to drawn one for themselves. But most of all they will laugh at the idea of being a horse, thinking about its restrictions and the warmth of the family home and freedoms, turning each page to see an image that will enfold them with laughter. Now living in Brooklyn, Sophie Blackall has written over fifty books, several of which have won awards, Hello Lighthouse, and Farmhouse amongst my favourites.
Themes Family, Relationships, Horses, Humour.
Fran Knight
What to do when you're not sure what to do by Davina Bell and Hilary Jean Tapper
What to Do When You’re Not Sure What To Do is another gentle picture book by the author and illustrator of What To Say When You Don’t Know What To Say. This latest book is beautifully illustrated in the same soft style and tones with brief and thoughtful text written on each page.
The book begins with gorgeous front endpapers showing a child hovering in the doorway of public transport and the final endpapers show the same child confidently walking inside. There are a number of scenarios that will be familiar to children including not sitting still on a train or tram, taking a freshly baked cookie without asking, finishing a book, becoming lost in a shop, waiting for a turn on a swing and carrying a goldfish. All of the scenarios are accompanied by a different calm learning statement to be read and discussed. For example, ‘gentle hands’ and the complementary illustration shows an older child reaching for a tiny baby being held by an adult, and the two children who discover a bird’s nest with eggs and the words ‘some things need to be left alone’.
This is the perfect book for parents and teachers to share with young children who are growing and encountering new experiences as they explore their widening world. Teacher's notes are available.
Themes New Experiences, Making Choices, Taking care, Bravery, Confidence.
Any readers who enjoy dark humour will love this easy-to-read book set in post lock-down Melbourne. Initially, the character of Bernard does not come across as personable and the reader may be tempted to stop reading. However, Rachel Matthews skilfully brings her characters to life in such a way as to have the reader very quickly developing compassion and goodwill towards the vulnerable and intriguing characters Bernard, Goldie (his mother) and Minh.
Bernard is entangled in the memory of his wife, Silvia. He literally wears her every day (in a piece of cremation jewellery). Bernard’s relationship with Goldie is strained and he blames Goldie for the death of his father. Goldie is a complex character and Rachel Matthews gradually reveals the depth of her personality and experience as if peeling back the layers of an onion.
Minh, fifty-four, is kind to all and has courage. She keeps her physical health in top form, and consciously reframes her thoughts to find the best in situations and people. Her relationship with her family (particularly her step-father) is strained and is haunted by the events surrounding her arrival by boat as a refugee.
In the world created by COVID-19 pandemic, loneliness was endemic and sparked an increase in the use of online dating apps such as Tinder. This is relayed with humour and insight as Minh and Bernard negotiate the world of dating in middle-age with the help of Tinder and advice from colleagues and friends. Rachel Matthews’ approach is sensitive, yet prompts laugh out loud moments that endear the characters to the reader.
As the characters Bernard, Goldie and Minh edge towards a greater understanding of themselves, each other and their families, the reader is unravelling the hurt and influence of intergenerational trauma in this complex and endearing story.
This book is impossible to put down and will warm your heart.
Rebel Fire is the second book in this fantasy trilogy which follows Rebel Skies. Ann Sei Lin has created a world called Mikoshima inhabited by Crafters - humans, and shikigami, paper creatures with extraordinary powers. There are other beings called Sorabito, Groudlings and an Imperial family trying to keep hold of their power. Japanese culture pervades the story where ground, sky, and floating cities are populated by these different beings.
The central characters are Kurara and her friend Haru, both shikigami. Unlike all other shikigami, Kurara is not bonded to a Crafter. The bond is in effect slavery and the shikigami must do all the hard work with their superpowers such as fighting for their Crafter. Kurara sees bonding as totally unfair and she is determined to discover how she can free all the shikigami. Kurara travels south to the Grand Stream to find out the truth behind how bonds are created. On the journey she learns about a link with Star Trees and there’s a chilling truth about the souls of shikigami. The Royal princess wants Kurara to be bonded to her and relentlessly pursues her, which creates another layer of adventure. War is imminent and it is a thrilling journey with many challenges along the way as the quest builds to a cliff hanger.
This is a complex and enthralling fantasy and was jam packed with characters and events. You really should read the first in the series to get the gist of all this complexity. It is sometimes unsettling, violent, and reminiscent of some of the eeriness of The Northern Lights series. Some of the exchanges between Kurara and her friends add light relief and she is a rock-solid, brave, loyal, and ethical young woman. I loved the Japanese-like setting and could picture the world the author created and particularly the shikigami characters. There’s a map, drawings and a glossary which help you understand Mikoshima. This series is ideal for young adult readers who are after something new in the fantasy genre.
Themes Slavery, Loyalty, Fantasy, Japanese culture.
It’s best to begin this book when you have time to keep reading to the end - because from beginning to end, the pages just seem to turn themselves.
Written from the perspective of Ch’anzu, the language is delicious – “When you sleep again, your bed is a measure of inflection, reflection, a laboratory of nuance. Charting the tongues of your life’s every crease, jotting down colours, decibels, foam. Coalescence, cataracts of the past.” (p.60). There is a confection of current slang, Swahili and Bantu woven through the work and a glossary at the end of the book for readers looking for more information.
The book begins in Melbourne where the reader is on the scene as the life of Ch’anzu explodes. Ch’anzu loses hir job in dramatic circumstances and returns home to finds hir wife Scarlet in bed with another. Mired in depression, Ch’anzu seeks escape and accepts the opportunity to travel from Melbourne to work as a computer game designer in Serengotti outside Wagga Wagga in NSW (“You gotta say it twice.” (p.103).
Serengotti is a gated community that welcomes refugees from Africa (including child soldiers and widows) suffering the ongoing effects of war and violence. It’s a place where the community envelops suffering in a warm hug of healing, culture, good food and understanding. The unique personalities with whom Ch’anzu intersects, provide insightful connections with culture that allow hir to heal and help hir come to grips with hir vulnerabilities fuelled by the complex relationship with her twin, “Tex”.
This is a masterful and compassionate crafting of the experience of resilience, courage and maternal wisdom as told through the characters Aunt Maé, Moraa, Tau and Lau. Thought provoking and inspiring, this book will stay with the reader long after the last page is reluctantly turned.
British geneticist, author and broadcaster Adam Rutherford is perhaps more well known for his adult books and conversations relating to all things scientific especially in his area of expertise, genetics. His latest book, Where Are You Really From? is his first written for a younger audience and aims to introduce them to an understanding of the story of evolution and their place in the world.
The bright yellow front cover with a bold heading in the shape of a hierarchal organisation chart will certainly enable it to stand out on a library shelf. The book begins with a contents page showing ten chapters beginning with Chapter one ‘A long time ago…’ and ending with Chapter 10 ‘Myth Busting”. There is also a Final Word and detailed Glossary at the end.
Before becoming fully immersed in the book, the entertaining introduction ‘Who do you really think you are?’ will excite the reader by letting them know that they are indeed descended from royalty and that this book will take them back through many many years of human history. The author promises to highlight discoveries along the way and perhaps most importantly discover that all humans are connected no matter where they live, the language they speak or the colour they are. The three contributors to the book, Adam R, Emma and Adam K are also introduced and talk about their own backgrounds. It paints a very diverse picture and shows that all people are unique with their own story to tell.
There is so much information to digest in this book and includes topics such as the Big Bang theory, DNA, evolution, ancestors, dinosaurs, royalty, classification, race, prejudice and migration. Where Are You Really From? is not a short read but the text is accessible and cleverly spaced out with graphic style images as well as some facts presented in a graphic novel-style format. There is humour used throughout - even a reference or two to Taylor Swift! For those children who ask probing questions about evolution, genetics and race, this is a wonderful introduction to a very complex topic.
An entertaining trailer is available from the author Adam Rutherford.
In numerous on-line reviews Underwood has copped flak for admitting that she had not read the whole of The Odyssey before writing Lies, but this can probably be forgiven if you accept that the story is only loosely inspired by The Odyssey, rather than expecting a retelling.
17 year-old oracle Leto is one of the 12 girls of Ithaca who each year are sacrificed to Poseidon by the young prince Mathias. However, after being hanged, she washes up on the shore of Pandou, and is restored to life by the immortal Melantho. Together they decide to return to Ithaca and plot to kill Mathias in an attempt to break Posiedon’s curse and prevent any more hangings.
With chapters alternating between the three main characters’ points of view, Leto, Melantho and Mathias, we follow the women’s efforts, and also see a variety of complicated relationships develop between the three.
Not for the fainthearted, the plot involves numerous knifings, hangings, and drownings, as well as sex, both consensual lesbian and heterosexual, and rape. Unfortunately, it also contains a number of annoying anachronisms, and I felt that some of the important plot points were rather contrived and too conveniently resolved. The pace of this book is a little uneven and at times quite burdened by the characters’ speech and thoughts being recorded in detail, so you really need to be invested in their outcomes, to read through nearly 500 pages of their every move.
However, the development of the relationships between the three was interesting as they balanced their responsibilities to family, countrymen and the Gods, with blossoming romance, jealousy, remorse and fear.
Adventure, with myth, magic, and a teenage love-triangle, the book explores love and loss, as the young characters make decisions that test their morals and sense of duty, in an attempt to outwit the Gods and their predetermined fates.
Allen & Unwin, 2023. ISBN: 9781760879839. (Age:Adult)
The staff of St Margaret's Primary School are hanging by a thread. There's serious litigation pending, the school is due for registration, and a powerful parent named Janet Bellevue has a lot to say about everything. As teachers they're trying to remain professional, as people they're unravelling fast.
There's Tyson, first year out of uni and nervous as hell, Derek the Assistant Principal who's dropped the ball on administration, Bev from the office who's confronting a serious diagnosis, and Sally-Ann who's desperate for a child of her own.
Thank goodness for kids like Lionel Merrick. Lionel is the student who steals your heart and makes the whole teaching gig worthwhile: he's cheerful, likeable, helpful - and devoted to his little sister Lacey. But Lionel has a secret of his own. As his future slides from vulnerable to dangerous, will someone from St Margaret's realise before it's too late?
Trent Dalton's quote on the bottom of the front cover reads, "Lionel Merrick stumbled into my heart like a kid late for class, then the whole book swept in after him . gut-wrenching and important.' And that encapsulates this story from the author of the ground-breaking Teacher, perfectly.
As teachers we have all been or met Tyson, Derek, Sally Ann, Bev and Nova and we certainly know Janet Bellevue and Eric Templeton. And, sadly, we also know Lionel and Lacey and Rupert and so many others just like them, and even more with their own stories to tell and challenges to face. They're why we work such long hours, put in the effort, don't walk away when the Janets and the Sampsons try us to the limit - because they're the things that matter most.
This is a must-read for all teachers because even though it will echo their own day-to-day lives, it will reassure them that they are not alone, they are not invisible, that their issues are shared, and that Lionel and Lacey and Rupert, even Abigail are worth it.
This is a must-read for all parents whose only experience of school is their own so many years ago when things were vastly different so they can get some insight into a life that is not limited to 9-3; that teachers are entitled to a life and living that does not revolve around their child; and debunks the myth that teachers are "underworked, overpaid and have too many holidays". If that's the case, why are they not enrolling in uni to become one?
And it is also a must-read for all those who worship the god of Administrivia and who believe that a pile of paperwork is the pathway to heaven. Because when it comes down to it, what are the things that really matter most?
Barbara Braxton
One Hungry Dragon by Alastair Chisholm and Alex Willmore
Hachette, 2023. ISBN: 9781444966602.
Deep in a dark and gloomy forest, a creature stomps through the trees. "I am Bernardo, "he roars, " and I am ONE HUNGRY DRAGON!"
So look out anything that crosses his path including two silly sheep, three hearty heroes, four proper princesses, and a host of other characters straight out of the fairytales of the young readers this is designed for. But is it the end of the world for all those he swallows or is there a twist in the tale? Maybe even more than one twist?
Despite Bernardo's antics, this is a laugh-out-loud book rather than a scary one as both the illustrations and the climax will just delight little ones as they join in the fun, roaring with Bernardo, counting forward and back and learning about the delights of the picture book format.
If the popularity of any of my storybook cushions featuring dragons is anything to go by, the attraction of dragons in stories remains unabated and this is the perfect addition to the collection.
One look at the eerie cover of an orange figure against a black background warns readers that they are in for a thrilling ride. Ife Adebola has won a scholarship in the Urban Achievers program and is finding life at the exclusive Nithercott School very different to her state school. Soon after her arrival at the school, she hears about Lucas, a boy who has disappeared, and encounters his brother Ben, who believes that he would never run away and is determined to find him. Meanwhile rumours about The changing man permeate the school. Has The changing man taken Lucas?
Ife does not want to be pulled into the politics and gossip that circulates throughout the school. Even though her classmate Bijal wants to be friends, she is still caught up with friends from her previous life. When Malika, a girl who was helping her creep out at night to meet her friend from her old school, turns up at school a changed person, she realises that something strange is going on. Is there some truth in the urban legend about The changing man? Why did she see a strange figure and smell a peculiar odour? She joins with Ben and Bijal to investigate what is going on and they follow a series of weird clues while seeking out the truth.
The changing man is a unique take on the trope of scholarship girl trying to fit into an elite school. Ife tries to cover up her feisty nature at the start but it comes to the fore as she suspects what is going on. The supernatural elements about the disappearance of some students and the changed nature of others blend in with the boarding school world and the hair-raising events that the trio face as they face immense danger will have readers holding their breath.
I will look out for more books by Tomi Oyemakinde.
When George the puppy is introduced to Tao the kitten, the two of them "look at each other and wag their tails," and it is not long before they are best friends. playing and together all day long. But when George chases him up the curtain in the living room, and Tao falls, George is bereft. While the kitten is scooped up and taken to the vet, George has no idea where his friend is. He searches in all the usual spots but Tao is nowhere, and so he sits at the door and waits and waits, and waits...
This is a tiny book just made for little hands and being shared with a little one, that focuses on friendship and fun and what happens when things get out of hand - as they often do when little ones play together. The text is simple, but the watercolour artwork carries so much making George's loss when Tai disappears, palpable.
The second in the series following Defy the night continues the story of Tessa and Corrick and their quest to find enough Moonflower petals to cure the kingdom of Kandala from the dreaded fever that has been sweeping the land. When Captain Rian Blakemore an emissary from the neighbouring kingdom of Ostriary takes them onboard his ship to seek an agreement with their king about selling steel in return for Moonflower petals, the pair face unknown danger, while trying to sort out their relationship. Meanwhile back in the kingdom of Kandala, rebellion and treachery is rife and King Harriston must try to bring his people together. Who are the traitors planning to overthrow the King and what is Rian Blakemore hiding on board his ship?
For much of the story, Defend the dawn concentrates on Tessa and Corrick’s relationship told in dual voices. Tess is torn by conflicting feelings about Wes the man who crept through the night delivering medicine with her and the cruel things that Prince Corrick, the King’s Justice, had done to the rebels. This slowed the story down, but the introduction of an unnamed rebel added some suspense while readers will enjoy finding out more of King Harriston and his beliefs.
Lots of action aboard the ship and on land in the last third of the book made for a riveting read and the cliff-hangers at its conclusion will ensure that the next in the series is picked up as soon as it is published.
Outstanding! sydney khoo’s riveting story of a young teenager hiding her true spider self is an original and innovative foray into YA fiction and manages to explore teenage issues of body image, self esteem and gender identity without ever using any of those words. The central character Zhii has to plaster across the six eyes on her forehead, and keep her six other legs tucked inside her body, so as to appear normal to her schoolmates. She lives in dread of being accidentally exposed, and the fear and revulsion that she would invoke if anyone should discover what she really is. She has been taught by her Aunt Mei, her only relation, to “Be small. Be quiet. Be invisible.”
The novel comes with a content warning about assault, violence and gore. But it is the violence of a comic strip story of demons and monsters: the spider devouring its victim, and the beheading of an evil thug. That is not to say it is light reading, it is certainly intense and exciting, but the fantasy element allows some distancing from the events. The themes are most definitely serious, and relate to body dysphoria, psychosis, and suicidal ideation. However the way they are portrayed allows the reader to empathise and learn about those issues on a level that is easier to manage, and at the same time readily absorb khoo’s messages about courage, self acceptance, and tolerance.
Zhi’s relationship with her adoptive parent, Aunt Mei, a ‘tiger mum’, sheds light on the conflict experienced by children of migrant families that hold to different standards to the community in which they find themselves. In this aspect khoo’s book shares themes with writers such as Rebecca Lim Tiger daughter (2013) and Alice Pung One hundred days (2021). Zhi has the added burden of living up to her aunt’s expectations, on top of her personal 'monster' problems.
The central characters of Zhi, the spider demon, and her new friend Dior, the girl who seems to have everything but has secret problems of her own, are absolutely fascinating, and I know that readers will be longing for more stories about the two of them. It’s not a story that immediately suggests a sequel but if khoo comes up with another novel in this vein I am sure it will be a winner.
Themes Identity, Body image, Self esteem, Mental health, Tolerance, Diversity.
Helen Eddy
In my dreams by Chelsea Schar-Grant. Illus. by Aaron Pocock
Little Steps, 2023. ISBN: 9781922678409. (Age:5-8)
This is a charming picture book written by seventeen-year-old Adelaide author Chelsea Schar-Grant. Written during a school English lesson, In my dreams is an exploration of the open future from the point of view of a young child. There are endless possibilities and paths full of wonder. 'In my dreams I float away with the wind over the mossy green mountains...In my dreams I am a movie star. Lights! Camera! Action!... In my dreams I am an army pilot. I wear my badges and medals on my army coat. The plane that I fly is small, silver and speedy. ZOOM...into the sky! Going left! Going right! Straight on!'. Schar-Grant's language is lyrical and floaty and the illustrations make use of anthropomorphic animals and lots of dark and light contrasts, perhaps symbolising the darkness of night dreaming and the lightness of hope. This is a lovely book that will be thoroughly enjoyed and spark conversations with children about their own dreams, both during the night and for their future. It's also a peaceful book, perfect for bedtime.
Themes Dreams, Future, Imagination, Jobs/Careers.
Nicole Nelson
A hunger of thorns by Lili Wilkinson
Allen & Unwin, 2023. ISBN: 9781760526948. (Age:13+) Highly recommended.
Lovers of fantasy will welcome this original story with forbidden magic and strange plant life, set in a dark dystopian world. Maude and Odette were the best of friends when they were young. They ran wild together with Maud, the daughter of witches, making up wonderful stories of girls who saved princes and killed dragons. But Maude lost her magic and Odette was no longer interested in being her friend. She is more interested in the ordinary magic that is allowed by the government – glamours to make you look perfect and psychic drinks to give you energy. The strong magic that Maude’s grandmother and mother wielded is forbidden and Maude’s grandmother makes sure that she does not stray along the sorcerous path that led to her mother’s death. Then Odette disappears and everyone believes she is dead. Maude is determined to find her and goes to their childhood haunt, Sicklehurst, an abandoned power plant built over an ancient forest. There she relives the stories that she and Odette have played out, trying to find her lost friend.
Wilkinson has created a unique world, where the reader must navigate between what is real and what is imaginary. Maud’s adventures in the world around Sicklehurst are frightening, with strange stick people, treacherous waters and grasping plants all posing danger as she tries to find Odette. What is inside Sicklehurst? Who is the strange prince? How can she reconcile her stories and her quest for her missing friend?
What makes this a standout fantasy is the author’s original worldbuilding and lyrical prose. The plants described are fantastic and scary, and the combination of a normal world, with Maud dealing with school, and forbidden magic is managed so well that I was carried along with Maud’s storytelling.
A hunger of thorns is sure to appeal to readers who want a unique world with ‘a lost girl in an enchanted trope.’ It is highly recommended for school and public libraries. Teacher notes are available.
