Apparently, the detective Holly has featured before in Stephen King’s books, but this is the first I’ve read about her, and in fact only the second King novel I’ve read at all. But Stephen King’s name is synonymous with horror, so I knew what I was in for.
Interestingly the novel opens with the abduction of an unsuspecting young gay man on his daily run, by an elderly couple, both professors, known to him from the Bell College of Arts and Sciences. So from the beginning the reader knows who the villains are, and it’s not long before it becomes apparent how ghoulish these two supposedly respectable academics are.
Holly is the private investigator from the detective agency Finders Keepers, hired by a distraught mother to find her missing daughter, Bonnie. Holly gradually becomes aware of a number of similar disappearances in the area, over the years. While we, as readers, already know what happened to each of the victims, the tension in the novel builds up, as the web of related characters and events tightens, and Holly draws closer and closer to the evil culprits. Holly is clever, but she is basically working alone, and her inherent self-doubt leads her into danger as she seeks the evidence to substantiate her intuitive suspicions. The chapters become shorter as the tension ratchets up, and the reader can’t help but read on.
King has set this novel in the Covid years leading up to and including 2021. He provides additional authenticity to the setting by including different people’s reactions to the threat of the virus, and the vaccinations and personal protection people may or may not undertake. He exposes the denial of the Trump supporters as well as the zealousness of the hypochondriac. Some characters are blasé about the disease but all are aware and hold strong opinions. It is a realistic portrayal of the mixed attitudes rampant in the country at the time, and adds another level of complexity and realism as Holly undertakes her investigations.
The story is gruesome, as you might expect from King, but it is cleverly narrated, and keeps the reader holding their breath as the tension builds. I’m sure fans of King and readers of horror fiction in general will enjoy the ride, but for me, whilst I was invested in the character of Holly and what happens to her, I think I will be looking for something a bit lighter for my next read.
At the end of year nine, four best friends face their first summer holidays away from each other. Coming from different ethnic backgrounds; Indian, Jamaican, Chinese and Scottish/Ghanaian, they have bonded over their feeling different at school, so promise to write postcards to keep in touch, as they embark on wildly different adventures.
Dawn is staying in London with her aunt and cousin so she can attend performing arts summer school, artistic Gifty goes to visit her grandparents in their small Scottish village, Sunita travels to France to stay in a chateau with her mother and posh boyfriend, while May stays at home in Kent, and helps out in the family take-away shop.
Each chapter is written from the perspective of one of the girls as they recount their exploits, whether it be a first crush or navigating family dynamics and expectations. Between the chapters are the postcards that they send to each other, as they comment on how they are achieving their shared goal of ‘growing up’.
Through their various holiday experiences, they realise that they can make their own decisions, and choose their own paths rather than trying to fit in or please others, whether this is parents, boys, or other girls. As they realise their own particular strengths, they come to recognise that ‘trying to not be yourself is hard work.’
This is a pleasant, easy-to-read story where the characters develop confidence and sustain friendships in every-day situations. The girls are likeable and realistically show the tricky stages of developing self-awareness and overcoming self-doubt, that young teens navigate. They encompass a variety of ethnic backgrounds and family structures, and several characters identify as gay or non-binary, without this being a big deal.
The girls seemed a little less mature than many present-day 14 year-olds, and there was no obvious difference between the four girls’ voices, but their journey towards independence, while still recognising the importance of friends and family, will be an engaging read for young people, particularly girls, aged 11+.
Themes Friendship, Relationships, Family, Holidays, Coming of age.
Margaret Crohn
Wombats are pretty weird by Abi Cushman
Greenwillow, 2023. ISBN: 9780063234437. (Age:4+)
There are few Australian children who grow up without being introduced to Mothball, the real-life star of Jackie French's Diary of a Wombatseries which not only shone a spotlight on these creatures over 20 years ago but which helped to revolutionise the publishing of stories for preschoolers. Bruce Whatley's sublime illustrations brought to life a character that has endeared wombats as a species to generations and they are often declared as a "favourite animal". Certainly a younger Ms 17 was delighted when she got to feed one of the many orphans raised by fellow teacher librarian Anne Graham.
But there is much more to this descendant of the ancient diprotodon and this "(Not So) Serious Guide" provides younger readers with a lot more information about them. Although written for an American audience (and using a number of American terms like miles rather than kilometres and "mombat" for the joey's mother), it provides interesting facts and details that are the main part of the narrative while there is a secondary flow between the wombat and a snake also called Joey written in speech bubbles which young readers may find amusing.
There are a few pages at the end which offer further information about various wombat species, photos, glossary, and links to further reading (although these would be beyond the scope of the target audience) . Any book which sparks awareness of and interest in Australia's unique wildlife which perhaps leads to greater care and protection for them as their natural habitat disappears and they become victims of rushing motorists, deserves a place in the collection and for that alone, this has earned its place.
What's in a dumpling, Grandma? by Linda Meeker. Illus. by Sandra Eide
Thomas Nelson, 2023. ISBN: 9781400244225. (Age:4+) Recommended.
It's a special day for Grey and his cousin Mila because they are going to Grandma's and she is going to teach them how to cook bánh loc, traditional Vietnamese dumplings. But it becomes more than just a cooking lesson as Grandma tells of her memories of sharing this heritage comfort food with other loved ones.
Celebrating the special bond between grandparents and grandchildren, this is a story that shows that there is so much more in traditional family recipes beyond the physical ingredients. As well as inspiring young readers to investigate their traditional family recipes so they too can learn to make them and pass on their heritage, it has the recipe for Grandma's fish sauce and a guide to the pronunciation of some of the key Vietnamese words used in the story, perhaps an encouragement for them to learn their ancestral language too.
The names we have, the way we look and the food we share are perhaps the most important cultural ties that families share, so used with Joanna Ho's Say My Name , Eyes that Kiss in the Corners, and Eyes that Speak to the Stars, this could form the basis of a significant unit that not only welcomes all children to the class but encourages each of them to explore and share their heritage.
In this gripping final novel in Rainbow Rowell's Simon Snow trilogy, Simon and his friends trudge through another adventure in self-discovery and acceptance. Having returned from their road trip in America, each of Rowell's unique and realistic characters are faced with situations, and crises, that force them to challenge their ever-evolving sense of self. Simon must decide whether he wishes to remain involved with the World of Mages, and whether this impacts his relationship with Baz. For Baz, this novel presents the balancing of two family crises as well as his own discoveries about his vampiric nature, while deepening his relationship with Simon. Penny must deal with the consequences of spontaneously smuggling an American Normal into London, and finally, Agatha attempts to find herself in the shadow of the events of the last book. Rowell's prose and endearingly complicated characters mirror young adolescent's own challenges with identity and teaches the reader that you are not defined by the things that happen to you, that we can forge our own destiny, and that there is more after the 'happy ever after'. Rowell implores the reader to not give up, and to remember that we are never truly alone. The ultimate ‘found family’ trilogy, this novel is highly recommended for young adults seeking a magical adventure, with some comforting messages along the way.
Themes Magic, Coming of Age, Relationships, Friendships, Grief, Identity, Family.
Daniella Chiarolli
Groosham Grange: The graphic novel by Anthoy Horowitz. Adapted by Mace L'Hermenier. Illus. by Clement Lefevre
This colourful large format graphic adaptation of Anthony Horowitz’s 1988 novel is about three “difficult” children sent off to a boarding school to sort out each of their specific issues. David, Jeffrey and Jill, all of whom have been invited to enrol, meet on the train to the school and make a pact to stand by each other. The school is swathed in mystery, on an island that doesn’t seem to exist, where they are expected to sign the school register in blood. The teachers are most peculiar, both in appearance and behaviour but more disturbing are the other students who don’t speak, look vacant and who are seen at night disappearing into the library without books. Individually the three try various unsuccessful methods to escape but are always thwarted, until everything changes for them.
The graphics are varied and interesting and some details like the wallpaper and textile details are particularly good, however, for a book likely to be picked up by young readers some of the characters are a bit frightening and the thwarted school inspector is killed at a rendezvous arranged by the children. When David burns his hand touching a magical ring the school nurse’s “special ointment” seems more like a drug trip and the three don’t manage to stay together. The marketing blurb suggests that it is ‘hilariously horrible” and my grandsons, 9 and 11 found it funny but I am not so sure younger readers, without having read the original story, would get the joke.
Themes Fantasy, Magic, Relationships..
Sue Speck
Eddie Albert and the Amazing Animal Gang: The curse of the smugglers' treasure by Paul O'Grady
Somewhat-unhappy and never-quite-fitting in 10-year-old Eddie Albert is the only one who knows he can speak to animals, including his pet dog Butch, his hamster and his two goldfish (who claim they were once pirates). But when Eddie is sent to stay with his aunt in Amsterdam, who, rather than being the miserable old lady who stank or cats and peppermints that he expected, turns out to be a wealthy, eccentric spinster called Lady Buddelia Sprockett who prefers to be called Aunt Budge he discovers that not only does she enjoy adventures but she too has this gift.
Now, Eddie is living in a new old house in London with his dad spending their time doing it up, and with the Easter holidays approaching, he is looking forward to staying with her on the English Romney Marshes in an old cottage she has renovated, and she has even invited him to bring his best friend Flo, and his animals Butch the dog, Bunty the hamster and pirate goldfish Dan and Jake. The Romney Marshes has a rich history of smugglers and pirates, so when the terrible Rancid Twins arrive in town, set on uncovering the secret mystery of the smugglers' treasure, Eddie and Flo are drawn into a thrilling new adventure. Eddie must use his ability to speak to animals to enlist the help of two elegant alpaca, a friendly sheep called Doris and a famous film-star rabbit to save the day and reveal a treasure of epic proportions...
This series has wide appeal for independent readers who like adventures, mysteries mixed in with an affinity for animals. Unlike other series, it is not assumed that the reader has read previous episodes and much of the background of the characters and their relationships are woven into the easy-to-read narrative. Readers might like to seek out the first in the series, or even be drawn into reading the classic Dr Doolittle series by Hugh Lofting or perhaps the adventures of either the Famous Five or the Secret Seven, both by Enid Blyton - all stories that have proved their appeal and endurance over generations by still being in print and readily available.
A mulberry sky full of flashes and rumbles An ocean alive as it flashes and tumbles And there, 'neath the waves of a sunny Atlantic, There lives a blue whale and his name is Gigantic.
But Gigantic is the smallest whale in the pod, constantly taunted and tormented by his big brother Titan and his friends,. But when Titan finds himself in trouble after another bout of teasing Gigantic and his best friend Myrtle the Turtle, he learns that sometimes you don't have to be big to be mighty.
The message in this story is quite clear - you can be tiny and tough - and young readers will probably have stories of their own to share about when being a kid really has its advantages. But it also reminiscent of the fable The Lion and the Mouse, so this could be an opportunity to introduce them to that and other fables by Aesop to show how stories have been used to teach such lessons for centuries. Investigating the stories and their meanings, and even extending that to fairy tales which were also essentially didactic tales of good versus evil, can help young students start to develop their critical thinking skills as they learn to read between and beyond the lines, rather than just along them. Asking themselves about the key purpose of the author's writing - to persuade, inform, entertain or reflect - and then unpacking the underlying intent helps them interpret and assess information sources as they mature.
So, even though this is an entertaining and engaging story just as it stands, it has the potential to broaden the reader's horizons far beyond the depths of the Atlantic.
Barbara Braxton
Ancestory: The mystery and majesty of ancient cave art by Hannah Salyer
Give a child a flat space and the means to make a mark and that is exactly what they will do. And not only will they make marks but there will be a story that goes along with them, one that the child can visualise and tell in greater detail than the marks can depict and the viewer can ascertain.
And from this stunning and intriguing book we learn that such activity is almost instinctual as it traces human history and "the lives, dreams and stories of our ancient ancestors" through the images portrayed in rock art. From the earliest known markings - those of prehistoric man discovered in the Biombos Cave, South Africa - these time capsules demonstrate the vital information and connections made between peoples around the globe who, despite the difficulties and dangers they faced daily still took the time to create, even though each etching might have taken many days and many people to complete. From the making of tools to make a mark to the choice of medium to use as an enduring pigment, the effort to create these becomes apparent and underlines their historic importance, with a strong message of why they need to be both appreciated and preserved.
With its clever title, Ancestory takes the reader on a short journey of a long period showing how the creation of pictorial works is an integral part of who we are, and then, in the final pages, offers more detailed insight including links to more information for those who want to know more, making this a book that spans not only its topic but also age groups and the curriculum. While young readers are often fascinated by the lives of the "cavemen", older visual arts students can also discover much that will satisfy the upper bands of the Australian Curriculum.
Fascinating.
Themes Prehistoric art, Cave drawings, Rock painting.
Barbara Braxton
Not here to make friends by Jodie McAlister
Simon & Schuster, 2024. ISBN: 9781761109348. (Age:Adult) Highly recommended.
If you’re a fan of romantic comedies, this is the book for you. Readers of YA books will know the work of Jodi McAlister from her Valentine Trilogy. Not Here to Make Friends is the third book in her Marry Me Juliet trilogy for adults, but works very successfully as a stand-alone read.
We meet reality TV producer Murray O'Connell working most hours of the day to complete a series inspired by the Australian ‘The Bachelor’ series. He is determined (or desperate) to create a series that positively represents diversity and rates off the charts. Despite the scripted and controlled nature of the events, dates and interviews, Murray finds his plans sidelined by the machinations of Fireball Lily.
Fireball Lily is the villain of the show. Lily is a witty, manipulative and highly astute contestant. She can spot a weakness and use it to her advantage. This produces hilarity and heartbreak in equal measure. The reader is also brought into the secret that Lily Fireball is AKA Lily Ong, Murray's best friend and work colleague.
Both Murray and Lily are strong and richly drawn characters. We learn more about their life choices as the story moves backwards and forwards in time. Their relationship has the twists and turns, emotional manipulation and loss of moral compass that rivals the most convoluted of TV reality series.
Although this is a work of fiction, the reader can’t help but think it mirrors the world of TV reality shows where what we see is not necessarily what happened. Overall, this is an easy read that will bring a smile and the reward of happy endings.
Themes Australian Reality TV, Romance, Relationships, Belonging.
“In the end, art and love are all we leave behind.” p360
The Porcelain Maker is author Sarah Freethy’s first novel and is inspired by the true story of the white porcelain pieces much coveted by Nazi officers and made by inmates of concentration camps. This story tells of the great love and unbearable tragedy that befall fictional characters Max Ehrlich, a Jewish architect and Bettina Vogel, a spirited advant-garde artist.
The story begins in Cincinnati 1993, with Clara, the child of Bettina, trying to source porcelain objects; in particular one known as the Viking and modelled on her mother’s famous painting. With Bettina now passed away, Clara is desperately trying to find out the missing piece of the puzzle to her identity.
Throughout the novel, the story changes from the present time to the past. Max and Bettina meet in Weimer, Germany 1925 where they are part of a young group of free-thinking artists and bohemians who enjoy what life has to offer. They eventually travel to Berlin in the early 1930’s and set up life together. They live frugally but their happiness is complete. Max becomes all too aware that life as they know it is changing rapidly but Bettina is loath to leave. Eventually they do escape with support from friends, but Max is ultimately betrayed and thrown into Dachau.
Bettina is bereft and left to make a difficult and dangerous choice to protect her child. This leads her on a journey of great subterfuge to find Max who now is working at the Porzellanmanufaktur Allach, the porcelain factory in Allach. But the story does not end there, and Clara with her daughter Lotte have so much more to discover.
This is a story of a daughter’s search for her past, hidden secrets and of a love that endured terrible hardships. It is a story of beautiful art, greed and brutality, but also how in the very worst of times there are glimpses of trust, hope and courage.
Themes World War Two, Germany, Art, Porcelain, Romance, Tragedy, Betrayal, Family, Generations, Friendship.
A backyard game of cricket becomes a lesson in selflessness as the bowlers, children and adults alike try to get Rusty out. Terms which apply only to cricket are used and explained: squire cut, six and you’re out, spin bowl, and so on, as the story explains how Rusty developed his amazing skills.
Each time he bats one of the bowlers over the fence Bandit tells us how he manages to do this. When Rusty was batting and Tiny bowling his pace made it impossible for Rusty to stay at the crease, but a letter from Dad gives him the impetus needed to stay at the crease. Dad tells him everyone has two choices when confronted by something overwhelming; to step back and retreat or step forward and play. He chooses to step forward and hits the ball. Consequently he is able to demolish every ball bowled at him. Similarly when a bowler decides to use the crack in the pitch in front of Rusty, he hits the ball well again, Bandit telling us of the pitch he played on with his friend who lived in a yard where no one put effort into the garden, leaving it pitted with holes and obstacles. Here Rusty cut his teeth on hitting balls turning after hitting a crack. And each time Rusty bowls one of the bowlers around the pitch another story is given about how he developed that skill.
Rusty stays at the crease for the afternoon and eventually he hits a ball to enable his little sister to catch it and get him out. A sob in the throat moment.
And that, says Dad, is what cricket is all about, answering the question posed at the start of the afternoon.
This wonderful story extols many worth while virtues: selflessness being but one. Without flagging the point this seemingly simple story is full of humour as the kids and adults alike step up to bowl Rusty out. That he remains is a tribute to the time spent practising, encouraging the readers to try and try again, not to give up. As with all the Bluey books, the relationship between parents and children is warm and encompassing, and life lessons are presented almost as a byproduct of the delightful stories.
After his father's 'accidental' death at sea, his stepmother Queen Nimh and stepbrother Prince Delbayne invoke ancient Lagin law that only those who can summon the mysterious wolfhounds can become king, and Prince Lir, the rightful heir, is to be banished from his beloved homeland forever. The prince is a scholar not a warrior and acquiesces to his fate, but in an apparent act of generosity, Prince Delbayne pleads his stepbrother's case and it is agreed that if Prince Lir can complete an ancient quest he will be able to return.
Thus Prince Lir finds himself on a mission to rescue a young maiden being held captive by the dragon Lasvarg on his island, not realising that it is all part of a devious, malicious plan and dark magic concocted by his not-so-nice brother to ensure that Lir never returns to assume his place on the throne... But then, Delbayne does not realise that brains can overcome brawn.
Created by two who have each been the Irish children's laureate, this is a story reminiscent of the quests of old, drawing the reader into the fantasy of kings and queens and dragons and maidens needing to be rescued with its twists and turns in the plot while its superb illustrations bring times gone by to life. You can almost envisage this as a Lord of the Rings-esque movie, and while it has the traditional good versus evil as its underlying theme, because Prince Lir keeps his father's words "The trick to it... is to work with what is around you," it has a refreshing new perspective because rather than trying to trick the dragon and kill it to save Cethlenn, Lir uses his brains to cure the dragon's ailments caused by the mould in his damp cave, mend his broken wing, and restore his fire-breathing powers, forming a partnership that eventually outwits and outlasts Nimh, Delbayne and even Lagin itself.
This is an illustrated novella that would make an ideal introduction to this genre as a read-aloud merging the traditional elements and feel of the classic quest with more modern themes.
Themes Dragons.
Barbara Braxton
The exchange by John Grisham
Hachette, 2023. ISBN: 9781399724838. (Age:Adult - Young adult)
Mitch McDeere, like all Scully and Perishing lawyers, spends 250 hours a year doing pro-bono work. Mitch is happy to do the work for disadvantaged clients, but he has had his fill of death row cases. When asked, as a favour, to do just one more, Mitch finds himself back in Memphis, where, many years ago he was responsible for blowing the whistle on a corrupt law firm and he visits one of the other lawyers whose career was destroyed. Mitch and his family had to disappear after the corrupt firm was shut down, living in Italy for some of the years. Fifteen years later, Scully and Perisher, one of the world’s largest law firms, takes on a job for an international construction company suing the Libyan government for non-payment. Mitch, now a partner, and Giovanna, daughter of one of the firm’s senior partners, travel to Libya to scope out the job as, someone is “paying by the hour, so why not have some fun” p. 76. While there, Giovanna is abducted and the rest of the story is about obtaining an astounding amount of money to give the terrorists to secure her release. The billing of this as “The much-anticipated sequel to The Firm” which was released 30 years ago, was puzzling, the only connections were the characters Mitch and his wife Abby. It seemed at the start that it might be more, but a sudden shift to the kidnap story left any connection behind. After that it is really just about Mitch travelling the world trying to persuade powerful men to help raise the ransom money, often over meals in expensive restaurants where no one has an appetite for the food. In spite of the many different security, intelligence experts and bodyguards working for the company we are repeatedly told about, both the abduction and the hostage contact were unbelievably easy. I found the whole money raising exercise boring and the many one dimensional characters forgettable. The depiction of women seemed dated, they are beautiful, emotional and carry large bags in which they rummage for the phone. The ending lacked resolution but by then I didn’t care.
With absolutely stunning illustrations, the story of a determined snail called Henry unfolds as he tries to climb the stalk as other snails do.
Luxurious greens cover the pages as Henry is born, raindrops falling from the large garden foliage. He sees the other snails climb the stalks and he watches them, trying to copy their skills.
He grips the stalk, using his tentacles to wind around the leaf, but he slides back down. He is not producing enough slime to slime his way up. He decides to do it another way and tries covering his body with honey, which attracts the bees, and finds that tree sap is too sticky. So he tries another way - exercise. He lifts strawberries, rolls seeds across his underbelly, lifts cherries and drags pebbles.
With his new strength he tackles the biggest flower stalk in the garden, but halfway up he finds he cannot go any further. A slug on the leaf helps him go the last little way to the top. At the top he is amazed at the view he has of the whole garden, and then he comes down. After watching Henry’s strenuous efforts, the other snails want to learn his skills. He teaches them all he has learnt, and eventually they are so good they form a circus, Henry’s Circus.
This charming tale is about striving, about doing your best, about not letting one disappointment stop your effort, of trying a different way. All point to the effort Henry makes in striving to do his best.
Marvellous illustrations fill each page, engaging the younger reader, having a giggle at the bee hovering over Henry’s honey covered body or the attempts by Henry to slime his way up the stalks. Younger readers will love peering beneath the foliage to find the insects lurking in the garden, and be amazed at the variety of flowers and vegetables grown in the garden.
