And this Christmas needs to be absolutely perfect, because it's the first one without Mum. Only it all keeps going wrong!
The fairylights are in a tangle The Christmas cards aren't finished The tree isn't decorated And the Christmas cakes have all been destroyed!
Soon Leo decides he's had enough - he makes a heartfelt wish that it would all GO AWAY. But, then when he wakes up on what SHOULD be Christmas Day - it's gone!! All of Christmas! But Leo isn't going to let it escape that easily . . . So Leo sets out on a mission to undo his wish and get Christmas back.
With a premise that will sadly resonate with some of our students and who just wish they could sleep through this festive family time, this is a story that might provide a little relief in those long days where every emotion and activity is tinged with the sense of loss.
Written for independent readers who enjoy funny stories by actor and comedian Matt Lucas, this is unique in that there are QR codes to scan so the reader can listen to the songs included as the story progresses. (For those without the technology, all the lyrics are included at the end of the book.) It is also liberally illustrated so the thickness of the book shouldn't daunt young readers,
Definitely a story of being careful about what you wish for but one that might add some joy to a tricky time. A video is available.
Themes Christmas.
Barbara Braxton
Pink Santa by Tanya Hennessy. Illus. by Ben Whitehouse
Albert Street Books, 2023. ISBN: 9781761180392. (Age:3+) Recommended.
In rhyming stanzas the text takes us into Santa’s workshop the night before Christmas. All is seemingly ready for take off: the gifts are wrapped and the cookies baked, but Santa remembers that he has not washed his suit since last Christmas. It is still in the hamper. Rudolph throws it into the washing machine along with his red socks and when he comes to retrieve them, he finds that Santa’s suit is now a very bright pink. The elves suggest painting it red, or covering it with red tinsel, while Mrs Claus says it is time to think.
While they all try to think of a solution, Santa comes into the room. They all shrink from telling him but he is not fazed at all, instead saying that this year he will be a Pink Santa, after all pink is for girls and boys, elves and toys, Rudolph and tree. So pink is for Christmas and off they go taking the presents to all the nice girls and boys, Santa resplendent in his pink suit, while everything else has been turned pink as well. Readers will love looking at all the trappings of Christmas, presents, the tree, elves, a sleigh, reindeers, tinsel, lights and so on, all decked out in pink, a change from dreary red and green.
The vibrant illustrations match the mood of the story as it unfolds, showing the mistake made by Rudolph and how Santa uses it to make a better Christmas for all the eager recipients of the presents.
The rhyming lines call out for prediction as younger readers will offer suggestions about the last word of each line, and follow the reindeer as they cavort across the pages. Lots of detail will enthral them, and recognising the things we all hold dear at Christmas will reinforce the day for younger readers, as well as introduce a celebration to those new to the idea of Christmas.
Apart from Christmas readers will be aware of the pink explosion as the Barbie film has everything pink, and will be the order of the day for many children to go and see and talk about at length. A pink Santa is well timed.
This is book seven in a series featuring DCI Karen Pirie and her investigative team, however it can be read as a standalone. As we have come to expect from Val McDermid, this is a book that will not leave your hands until it is finished.
We meet Karen in 2020 and COVID-19 has begun to bite. Without dwelling on the trauma unleashed by the pandemic, Val McDermid paints a clear and compelling picture of the challenges and opportunities for policing at that time, along with the personal impact of staying in your bubble.
DCI Pirie and her team (DS Daisy Mortimer and DC Jason Murray) are drawn in to the quest to determine whether an incomplete manuscript is the recipe for the perfect murder and the resolution to the mysterious disappearance of a young woman. The worlds of authors and the people who will pay to hear them talk about their books are laid bare and scrutinised.
The depth of this book is executed with finesse through the inclusion of complex backstories that divulge the personal relationships of the team. Karen is struggling with a romantic relationship that is revealing itself to be coercive. Karen also takes action on behalf of a Syrian refugee, Rafiq. Will this have unforeseen outcomes? Jason has a complicated family life and his mother has contracted COVID-19. How will this affect his standing in the police force? Daisy is embarking on a new romance at the beginning of lockdown. Can an online romance last the distance?
Val McDermid is a master at writing crime that is loaded with twists, turns and misdirection. In this book we also see the nods to other crime writers and the writer's tricks that can be played. Can you guess who the authors are?
This book is impossible to put down and will have you thinking about what it takes to commit the perfect crime and just how far people will go to have what they want.
“You have the right to be here”. Surely these are the most warming, most comforting words of all. Neil Gaiman’s poem What you need to be warm, brings together many heart-felt descriptions of warmth, of being protected from cold, curled up snug under bedcovers or with pets, enjoying a warm cup of tea with a friend, warm breath on a frosty window, of being with family, safe together in a beloved home. But for many people, right now, home is a memory far away, with family members displaced, people changing states, stumbling across deserts or braving the seas. All of these ideas are gathered together in Gaiman’s deceptively simple but stunningly beautiful picture book dedicated to UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency.
The book is a poem created from the responses of thousands of people invited on social media to contribute their memories of being warm, both memories of warmth away from cold, and memories of the warmth of being safe with family and friends. The warmth of kindness and safety is the most powerful of all, offering love, healing and protection; to be welcomed and told “You have the right to be here”.
The words on each double-page spread are illustrated by different artists, with notes at the end about how each was inspired to put an image to the phrases that resonated for them. The styles vary but they are united by the common colour scheme of white, grey and black, ignited by a flame of orange bringing warmth, simple but powerful in the feelings it evokes.
This is a treasure of a book. It could be read with young children, prompting their own ideas about warmth and safety, and fostering the concept of caring for others. It could equally make a special gift for an adult at Christmas time. Funds raised from the book go to supporting UNHCR’s work in providing life-saving support to displaced people across the world.
Themes Refugees, Safety, Welcome, Empathy.
Helen Eddy
In search of the Goonoobee by Pat Clarke. Illus. by Graeme Compton
Little Steps, 2022. ISBN: 9781922833686. (Age:8+) Recommended.
In search of the Goonoobee is a warm and comforting story told in the third person narrative form. Pat Clarke is an Australian writer who has written many books for adults and for children. In search of the Goonoobee is a gentle, magical tale about two children who leave Queensland to live on their grandparents' farming property in the Goonoo Forest near Dubbo, N.S.W.
Artist Graeme Compton's soft, muted and fanciful illustrations accompany the storyline delightfully.
In search of the Goonoobee is reminiscent of stories of this reader's childhood. Enid Blyton's The enchanted wood (1939) comes to mind as does Ethel Pedley's Dot and the kangaroo (1899); Blyton because of the magic/ Pedley because of the evocation of the Australian bush. Peg Maltby's Peg's fairybook(also written in 1899) may have been an unconscious influence on Clarke's writing.
It is refreshing to read a freshly published (2023) children's book which is not bent on dragging young readers into the world of worrying contemporary issues or identity agendas. With In search of the Goonoobee, the child hears an almost grandmotherly voice telling of the magical adventures that two children have in the Australian bush with magical and real Australian creatures and fairies. In the depths of the bush, the children find a fairy ring and because they are children they enter a world into which adults can't venture. There are brief references to prior Aboriginal and gypsy presence on the land and a sense of longevity - of a long history going back through time. The love of the land and its creatures is clear and the belief that the land and its creatures are just waiting for children to come back is heart warming. The intergenerational and deep abiding family connection and love is demonstrated in the relationships between the family members. This book is not unsettling or disturbing in any way. It is for children to enjoy.
In search of the Goonoobee is all about love for the Australian bush and gentle, sensible family relationships combined with a touch of magic and whimsy. A lovely book which would make bedtime or armchair shared reading (especially for grandparents and children) a special pleasure.
Themes Fairies, Family, Australian rural life.
Wendy Jeffrey
Willa and Woof: Double the drama by Jacqueline Harvey
Double the Drama is the sixth book in a series for middle primary readers about a very likable 8-year-old girl called Willa, her best friend Tae, and her large, albino wolf hound, Woof.
Willa Jane Tate is very excited because she has the part of a grey nurse shark in the school production. Mark, the drama teacher at the high school, wrote the play about a whale that needs rescuing from a net. Mark is Willa’s best friend's dad, and he has also written a part in the play for Willa’s dog Woof. Willa is surprised that Rory, the new boy in Year 4 has the main part, but he has acting experience in an ad and, although Willa thinks he is annoying, everyone else seems to see him as smart and funny. The worst part is that Rory has somehow convinced Tae (her best friend) to hang around with him instead of playing soccer with Willa at lunchtime. The conflict between Willa, Tae, and Rory grows and forms quite a large part of this story. The book shows how this affects Willa and how Tae works out that Rory is not the friend he seems to be when he lets everyone down before the performance. This book has some characters that were included because a family purchased an auction item to support Dymocks Children’s Charities great debate. A new family moves in across the road, including a boy with Down syndrome. They make a lovely appearance and put an extra layer into the story for Willa and her family as they get to know Hudson and help the family when he wanders away from home.
The tenth book in the Kensy and Max series is full of danger, excitement and complicated detective work. For Kensy, Max and trusted young agents Autumn and Curtis, there is a race against time to find all of their missing family. Within the highly organised inner circle of Pharos, there is a traitor who will stop at nothing to take away power from matriarch Cordelia and the rest of the Spencer family.
When all of the trusted adults in the family are kidnapped in quite devious ways, it is up to the young children left behind to outwit one of their own. When mysterious scarab beetles start appearing and testing the loyalties of once-trusted agents, rumours abound over a possible coup. Who could be behind this shocking development? Kensy and Max use all of their growing understanding of how Pharos operates, their knowledge of the complex technical side and their expertise in problem-solving to find their family members before it is too late. There are plenty of clues, both real and diversionary, to keep them engaged in their quest and without Curtis and Autumn to back them up with advice and quick thinking, there may not have been such a quick resolution.
This book has all the complexities of the others in the series including a vast range of characters thoughtfully explained in the beginning, along with maps of Millbank and Alexandria plus the appreciation of how big the Pharos operation is and the codes used. Fans of Kensy and Max will enjoy this latest and perhaps last book and realise how far the twins have grown in their skills and their ability to handle any danger.
Themes Missing Family, Kidnappings, Problem Solving, Danger, Friendship, Spies.
Kathryn Beilby
The Queen's apprenticeship by Tracy Ryan
Transit Lounge, 2023. ISBN: 9781923023031. (Age:Adult - Young adult)
A cast list is a helpful start along with a contents page with some dates showing how the two threads of this historical novel are interleaved between 1500 and 1535. We meet Jehane, the daughter of a journeyman printer who was killed in a fire. When her mother remarries, through no fault of her own, she is compromised by her stepbrother and cast out. To survive on her own she disguises herself as a boy and as Josse, sets out to find her father’s family. The second thread, based on historical writings, is that of Marguerite de Navarre, whose ambitious mother Louise of Savoy, is determined to see her son, Marguerite's brother, François take his place as heir to the French throne. It is a story of power and ruthless ambition as the nobility jostle (and joust) for influence while living a life of luxury far removed from the common people’s struggle. Jehane’s fictional story is more relatable, following her adventures and encounters across France. Marguerite’s is more episodic, following actual historical events with a lot of detail. All this is viewed through a modern, feminist lens, asserting men’s power over women who are always victims or complicit. I would have appreciated a historical precis and a map at the start for a historical and geographical perspective.
This is the first in a series of three novels based on the Queens of Navarre and will appeal to lovers of women’s historical fiction.
What is lost when knowledge is withheld, is a cornerstone question which permeates Pip William's new book, The bookbinder of Jericho.
Set during World War One, the lives of twins Peggy and Maude are changed in ways they could never have predicted. Clever, outspoken Peggy has watched out for her sister since their mother died when they were seventeen. Peggy often recalls her mother’s words which help her see Maude without criticism, helping her understand the world she inhabits.
The twins work in an Oxford University bindery, in a team of girls who bind together the pages into a new book, a laborious procession of folding pages accurately, tapping them together, stitching, then sending them on to be covered by the men. Peggy looks wistfully at the books she puts together, always on the alert for a rejected copy, taking it home to store in the narrow boat, to be read then added to the collection started by her mother.
Into their world comes a group of Belgian refugees, then wounded soldiers, each group requiring the girls and the readers to question their beliefs about the war.
Peggy joins a volunteer group who read and write letters for the hospitalised soldiers. She learns to love one soldier, his face blown apart, as she guides him out from his self imposed solitude and despair. One of the refugees, Lot becomes close to Maude, noting her differences, paralleling her own dead son. The story is framed by major events during the war as we hear of the Gallipoli campaign, the Somme, the Belgian towns where families were slaughtered, Etaples and Armistice, peace and going home. These events impact the Jones family as they hear of the front through letters from mother’s friend, Tilda, joining as a VAD but becoming more useful in the field surgeries’ tent where she sees things she cannot unsee. Other people around the Jones family come and go, some of the men who joined up not returning, those who do come back, shattered by their experiences. They wait for letters, each eagerly read and shared, each adding another aspect of the war both at the front and at home.
All the while, Peggy develops a strong friendship with Gwen, who pushes her to think about getting an education, but Peggy is hesitant, feeling she must look after Maude.
Peggy is a town girl, working for her living, Gwen a gown, studying at the university, and between the two we see the great divide in society, not only between women and men but between the classes.
The relationship between Peggy and Bastian comes to a head, forcing Peggy to make decisions about her future.
She has failed in her attempt to join Summerville as an undergraduate and feels defeated. The readers wondering whether she would rally to try again.
The writing of this book is wonderful, making it an easy read seamlessly incorporating new information about bookbinding, encouraging the reader to take another look at the book they are holding, sensing the enormous changes that technology has wrought.
Nods to her previous book The dictionary of lost words are given through the characters of Esme and Gareth and the City of Oxford and the town and gown divide is clearly represented in the new characters. The fight for women’s suffrage roams behind the scenes, and Peggy’s attempts to be admitted to university exemplifies the fight that society is undertaking.
A short interview with Pip Williams can be found here.And this is followed by a clip of Pip showing the ways the bindery worked.
Themes Social class, World War One, Oxford, Printing, Book binding, Amputation, Spanish flu, Women's suffrage.
Fran Knight
Montgomery Bonbon: Death at the lighthouse by Alasdair Beckett-King. Illus. by Claire Powell
This is a quirky, twisted tale involving a lighthouse, far from believable characters, onions, an ice-cream van and a fake moustache! Something is decidedly ‘odd’ on Odde Island when Bonnie arrives with her grandfather for a holiday. She didn’t think her alter-ego, Private Investigator Montgomery Bonbon, should need to make an appearance on her holiday, but murder most foul and onions have created a foul-smelling scenario that drags the erstwhile sleuth back into action. Bonnie must hide her real identity while solving a series of crimes. Her intelligence and problem-solving skills are again far greater than those of the adult characters, but it is the silly factor that wins out in this Primary years story.
This is book 2 in Montgomery Bonbon’s whodunnit sagas, but it could easily be read alone. It is light-hearted and spoof-like in character, so despite the serious crimes it is easily consumable by Primary years readers. They will love the twisted wisdom of the Odde Island adults and the trouble that Bonnie and her alias have in maintaining control of their identity (and the fake moustache). The scattered illustrations throughout the book by Claire Powell have a Quentin Blake-like caricature quality and broadcasts that this is obviously a book to be read for fun! Young readers aged 8-11 will enjoy this romp in the world of whimsy and sleuthing.
It is always edifying when one gains access to the minds of people who have walked the world stage. Hence the market for autobiographies, memoirs and exegeses written by prominent people remains strong. The abuse of power: Confronting injustice in public life is the first book written by Theresa May (Prime Minister of England and leader of the Conservative Party from 2016-2019). Throughout her long political career, May has held many portfolios. The breadth of knowledge and experience gained from this work and the abuses of power that she has seen has clearly provided the driving force for this book.
The abuse of power: Confronting injustice in public life is well structured. The reader can dip into areas of particular interest or read sequentially. May begins with an introduction and outline of her perspective. The book is then divided into four separate parts: Power and politics, Social injustice, The international scene and Learning from the past. Further divisions follow the format of introduction, description and conclusion with each highlighting particular cases of abuse of power which May has encountered during her political life.
It is not surprising that May, the daughter of an Anglican vicar, may have a default setting which seeks out and fosters justice and debate. She writes in a logical, matter-of-fact style, presenting facts as they exist and not holding back on naming names. At times, the reader may find her style dry or pedantic, but this may be necessary when one is earnest and passionate with such an important message to deliver. May’s message, backed by multiple examples from experience, is detailed and well researched. She has much information to deliver about the background machinations behind many issues and situations including but not limited to: some instances of international news such as the Salisbury killings and Afghanistan, of institutional entrenchment of power such as parliamentary abuse and Brexit and of social injustice such as child sexual abuse, modern slavery and Grenfell. In all it is clear the abuse of power is by those individuals or groups who were in a position of power and could trample on, ignore and deny the rights of the downtrodden. A sequence of abuse, cover up and failure to bring abusers to account for their actions is a theme along with the pattern that those in power abused their power because they could. May’s insight stems from direct knowledge and experience as a public political figure.
In The abuse of power: Confronting injustice in public life, May confronts, relives and examines selected instances and rotten cultures that have evolved to become more than “just a few bad apples”. She assesses her past actions and is prepared to admit that some things could have been handled differently in retrospect. She is clearly on the side of the victim and weary of hierarchy and entitlement. At heart, May fears for Western Democracy. She quotes Bishop James Jones in his report to her as PM (2017) where he describes the abuse of power as “…the patronizing disposition of unaccountable power”. May sees the overall behaviour pervading parliament, the civil service and elsewhere as failing the principles of public life: selflessness, integrity, objectivity, accountability, openness, honesty and leadership.
The abuse of power: Confronting injustice in public life is not just a whinge and lament. It is an argument for a rethink of what is going on in today’s politics and public life. Solutions are offered.
This book is a worthwhile and sobering read for anyone with an interest in public life.
Themes Abuse of power, Politics, Public institutions.
Wendy Jeffrey
Ink Blood Sister Scribe by Emma Törzs
Random House, 2023. ISBN: 9781529136364. (Age:Adult - Senior secondary) Recommended.
Appearing in The New York Times Best Science Fiction and Fantasy of 2023 and a Sunday Times bestseller, Ink Blood Sister Scribe is sure to appeal to readers who enjoy themes that centre around books and libraries. Sisters Joanna and Esther have grown up in a family that treasures books – books of magic that must be protected. Then the sisters are separated, Esther working in Antarctica, and Joanna living a lonely life, setting the wards around the house that guards the family’s books after the sudden death of her father. Esther moves regularly, believing that that keeps her safe, but this year a budding romance sees her renewing her stay in the cold remote station instead of moving on. Meanwhile Nicholas a young man who lives in a mansion filled with magic books, is becoming restless and wants to see beyond the Library. Secrets that have been passed down through the ages, danger that surrounds blood letting and writing of magic books and magical spells all become known, showing treachery and betrayal. Will Esther and Joanna be able to protect their magical books, and will Nicholas be able to escape the risks to his life?
The author maintains a steady pace, gradually allowing the reader to get to know the characters, their flaws and dreams, while unfolding the mystery of the magic books, the death of the sisters’ father and the secrets that have been kept through generations. The modern setting, especially that of Antarctica, is very appealing as is the warded house that Joanna lives in and the huge mansion where Nicholas resides. Secondary characters especially the bodyguard Collins and the Pomeranian are engaging and the themes of loyalty, betrayal and magic are engrossing.
Ink blood sister scribe is not high fantasy and could be recommended to readers as an introduction to fantasy. I enjoyed this and read it in a couple of sittings and certainly will pick up any future books that Torzs authors. Adult fans of fantasy could move to Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo or the very popular Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros.
Themes Magic, Libraries, Secrecy.
Pat Pledger
Popo the Emperor Penguin by Beverly Jatwani. Illus. by Annabelle Hale
New Frontier, 2023. ISBN: 9781922326843. (Age:4+) Recommended.
An expedition ship Southern Ice, cruises past an island off the coast of Antarctica. Seb’s parents are indulging in their breakfast on the deck but Seb only has eyes for the Emperor penguin, his favourite animal. He has been looking forward to this trip for months. At last they have arrived and Seb and the other expeditioners don their outside protective clothing for a trek on Snow Hill Island. But once there, Seb finds it harder than he thought and when an avalanche occurs, the group is inundated by snow. Hannah contacts the ship and help is on its way, but by now their teeth are chattering, and someone has realised that Seb is missing. Metres away Seb is being warmed by an Emperor penguin. The Emperor’s squawk brings many of its compatriots to the scene, and soon enough all the trekkers are being kept warm by the penguins, long enough for the rescuers to appear and take them back to the ship. Seb and the others are full of gratitude to the penguins for saving their lives.
Suitably cold illustrations with lots of ice ad snow fill the background on every page, and readers will empathise with the group trapped beneath the snow, waiting for rescue. It's enough to make their teeth chatter. Lots of information about these penguins is given at the end of the book, with a double page devoted to the virtues exemplified by each of the seven books in this series, Together we can change the world. One is set on each of the seven continents and each has a virtue told within the story. These are applied to a map of the world and a montage of each of the series can be found inside the back cover. Each provides a leap into discussions about the environment and how we can help it along. Teacher's notes are available.
In a castle, somewhere near Blumwald, in the Duchy of Scwartzstein, lives a witch. The local people know of her through her curse on the town, that once every 50 years they must supply the witch with a companion or bad things will happen and the town will fail to thrive. Daughter of the Duke, 20-year-old Mina has other worries as she vies with her stepmother and stepsisters for her father’s attention and can see no future for herself. He is totally absorbed with his plans for industrialization and the building of railways and has no time for his lonely daughter who is still grieving the death of her mother and seeks release from her pain in self-harm. When the witch comes to exact her due Mina offers herself up as the new companion and meets little resistance from her family. Mina narrates her new life in the mysterious castle where time shifts and her loneliness takes on a whole new dimension, but she seems in no immediate danger and occupies herself by exploring the castle and grounds while the witch disappears into her tower. Slowly Mina negotiates communication with the reluctant witch and a relationship develops between the two.
For a gothic-style, Beauty and the Beast reimagining this fell flat. The pace was slow and the dramas weak and although some of the costume detail was interesting the geology aspect didn’t quite work and the ending seemed contrived. The cover design with its silver skull wrapped in thorns is stylishly carried through the seasonal divisions in the book but I was unable to find the designer’s name anywhere. The gothic, fairy tale style seemed more suitable for younger readers but the sexual relationship and instances of self-harm didn’t really fit. However, lonely, or grieving young adults may find solace in this hopeful story where love conquers all.
Themes Gothic, Fantasy, Lesbian, Romance.
Sue Speck
Every exquisite thing by Lauren Steven
Electric Monkey, 2023. ISBN: 9780008627355. (Age:15+) Recommended.
Laura Steven has created a modern-day homage to Oscar Wilde’s The Picture of Dorian Gray, setting it within the image-centric world of an emotionally tortured young actress. Penny Paxton is the daughter of the famous, beautiful and youthful-looking, Peggy Paxton. Penny’s place at the famous Dorian Drama Academy is on her own merits, but inside Penny is the perpetual torment of not being good enough, beautiful enough or thin enough, and the overriding ‘never-enough’ to be really loved by her mother is always with her. Amongst her fellow students Penny experiences competition, friendship and uncertainty and the beginnings of romance, and the quest for the lead roles comes with added internal turmoil. But not everything is about the modern-day competitive world of the potential stage and film stars of the future, there is also the darkly gothic influence of a past almost-ghostly mystery. Interweaving story threads from The Picture of Dorian Gray this is a powerful tale of the dreadful nature of unhealthy beauty principles and of misplaced ideals bordering on idolisation.
This is a deeply moving and strangely confronting story! The darkly mystical world that overlaps the real world In Every Exquisite Thing makes this book a brilliant YA coming-of-age drama with gothic overtones. There are many aspects of the plot that draw closely from Wilde’s storyline (even names are borrowed from the original, and the title comes directly from an Oscar Wilde quote), but it is not necessary to have read the original inspiration to enjoy this book. The central character also grapples with contemporary issues – her identity, her same-sex attractions, and her motivations for success. But behind much of the story is the power of image and its compelling influence – a thematic thread that is so prevalent in the lives of teens in our image-obsessed digital world. Initially the story is mostly embedded in the stresses and joys of the contemporary world of the USA Drama institution and that itself is fascinating and compelling, but as the story progresses and it enters the mystical, dark world behind images and mirrors, the story becomes gothic in tone and direction. This will appeal to a whole new cohort of readers – provided they are mature.
Recommended for readers aged 15+.
Themes Body image, Identity, Acting, Beauty, Disordered eating, Addiction, Family disfunction, LGBTIQ+.
