Simon & Schuster, 2023. ISBN: 9781761423260. (Age:Adult) Recommended.
After numerous unsuccessful dates, 30-something Gillian has sworn off dating apps and is channelling her energy into readying herself for the annual Willow Cove garden competition. However the arrival of her new standoffish neighbour Noah throws both these plans into disarray.
It’s Probably You, published in America as Hedging Your Bets, is light-weight rom-com, returning with the cast of eccentric small-town characters first found in Denker’s The Rom Com Agenda.
In Gillian we have an ‘ample-sized’ divorcee who seems doomed to forever endure a series of toxic dates with quite unsuitable men, while Noah is still smarting from a recent bad break-up that saw him leave his job and move interstate to the town he used to visit as a youngster. The two get off to a poor start when he inadvertently damages part of her garden, but well-meaning friends and nosey neighbours persevere in steering them together. When Gillian finally questions why she would continue to let herself be judged by her horrid dates, and Noah finds the courage to reveal his true feelings for her, the two eventually realise their shared passion for gardening, and each other.
The chapters alternate between Gillian and Noah’s perspectives as they get to know each other better, and extra insight is added when Gillian’s inner Bette Davis sardonically comments on her decisions. With a cast of (mostly) likeable but meddling towns-folk, and a plot with some unlikely twists It’s Probably You follows the enemies-to-lovers trope; in this case with easy-to-read, entertaining, small town escapism.
After enjoying Wrath by Sedgwick and published by Barrington Stoke, I immediately borrowed Ravencave when I saw that it had been nominated for the Yoto Carnegie Medal 2024. This book lives up to Barrington Stoke’s aim to produce 'super-readable, accessible books' and had me finishing the 113 pages in one sitting, and in tears!
James is very bored – his father loves tracing his family tree and he is being dragged around the hills of Yorkshire, this time not just looking for ancestors’ home, but to scatter his grandmother’s ashes. He finds it hard to keep up with his family, and one day sees the ghost of a young girl, who wants him to follow her. He is afraid, but when he sees her again, he decides to follow her and uncovers a gruesome secret.
Sedgwick has written a chilling ghost story that will have some surprises for the reader and will appeal to its target audience. However, the story is more than a simple ghost story. Sedgwick also explores family dynamics and technological change. James’ family is dysfunctional; his father has just lost his job along with 800 other workers, his mother who writes about ghosts has writer’s block and his brother Robbie is moody and is ignoring him. As James’ father explores the area where his ancestors lived, it is evident that changes in technology have also resulted in their displacement, especially when rich company owners have replaced workers with cheaper machinery and labour.
This is an easy to read, very accessible book, with a wonderful setting and complex themes of grief, family ancestry and capitalism.
Io is the youngest of three sisters and like Thais and Ava, Io inherited her ability to see the silver threaded quilt of reality, from the Olympian Gods of yore. The sister’s powers are based on the Fates of Greek mythology: Weaving (Birth), Manipulation (Life) and Cutting (Death). Potentially, Io can sever the relationship threads that bind each person to: other people, substance abuse, passions, and life itself. But she ekes a living by using her ‘other-born’ powers as a private detective in the coastal city of Alante.
This YA murder/mystery/romance is set in a post apocalyptic world so removed from ours it can be categorized as high fantasy. Indeed, Kika Hatsopoulou weaves a great many elements of classical, nordic and middle eastern mythology into her fictional world. The three moons of her world exploded from a single moon, causing the sea levels to rise and the destruction of coastal areas around the globe except for a few cities on stilts inundated daily by rising tides. Since our Earth has a single moon and rising seas, we can easily add speculative fiction to the author’s generic influences.
Each part of the three-part story is named for one of the sisters’ distinctive skills. During an investigation in Part 1, Io witnesses her target’s murder by a Wraith, a monster with a severed life-thread, able to cut another’s life-thread. Io has not encountered a Wrath before but due to her own ability to cut life threads, she is employed by the Mob Queen, Bianca Rossi, to find out who is ultimately responsible for these assassins. Conditionally, Io must work with Edei, Bianca’s second-in-command. She finds the partnership awkward because she has seen in the quilt that Edei is her soulmate - though he is none the wiser.
The two heroes, aided by many delightfully complex minor characters in an ever more detailed fantasy world of regions, tribes and mythologies; place themselves in constant danger as they piece the puzzle together. Non-stop action is broken only by passages of flirting, where Io struggles with her attraction to Edei, not wishing to derail her long-held resolve to ignore her own fate thread.
Not a fan of high fantasy, the detailed descriptions crucial to shaping this strange new world, are not off putting due to the fast-paced action always unfolding only pages away. Part 2 reveals that the murders are not the end in themselves but possibly the end of the entire world.
Highly recommended for fantasy fans and eclectic readers drawn to a wide range of genres. You won’t want to stop with this title. Hearts that Cut is the sequel and promises high drama for Io, who will leave Alante in search of the source of the golden thread and encountering ever more powerful deities and villains.
Themes High Fantasy, Speculative, Murder/mystery, Mythology, Romance.
Deborah Robins
Miss Penny Dreadful and the mermaid's locks by Allison Rushby
This is the third book in the Miss Penny Dreadful series, and it doesn't disappoint (except that it is the last and I really wanted it to be a longer series!)
Penny and her Aunt Harriet are on the hunt for a new story and discover a story in the newspaper about a Mermaid living in a grotto in the River Thames. They both think that this might just be the ticket, however Aunt Harriet's publisher doesn't seem as keen and is doing everything he can to stop them. Penny is becoming suspicious about his motives and his involvement in not only her parents’ absence but also the roles he has played in some of the other incidents that Penny and her Aunt have been confronted with.
When they arrive at The Mermaid Locks and see for themselves the mermaid grotto and find a comb with red-gold hair entwined around it, Penny decides to investigate and find out all she can about the mermaid. With Penny's parents still missing and strange postcards arriving can Penny solve two mysteries and finally reunite with her parents.
As this is the third book in a very well written series it really does need to be read in order so that the reader is aware of what has already happened, however it is a great book that could be read alone is the reader really wanted to.
I would highly recommend this book and the series to any mystery lover or a class teacher who wants to keep the listener on the edge of their seats. It is a fabulous book that will engage and delight any reader, it will be loved by all ages.
Only Children is three short stories that will engage the reader with quirky characters.
The first character is Alfie, a boy with a routine, actually multiple routines! He has a routine for everything in his life and everybody in his house follows them. That is until his regular babysitter isn’t available and his parents have a very important meeting to attend. Enter Mrs Stokes, she doesn’t do routines, she won’t follow the schedule and she tells Alfie to do what he likes! And this is when things start to get weird!!!
Then comes Chrissie, a girl who has loved trains for as long as she can remember even though she has never been on one. When the day comes for Chrissie to travel to London by train for an important operation, things don’t go exactly as planned. Along for this magical ride is her Grandpa Henry and together they must ensure that they (and all the other passengers) arrive safely.
Finally there is Ariel, a child who lives in Snoring-On-Sea, quite possibly the most boring holiday destination in the world. Max, Lily and Jack go every year with their parents and dread it, however, when they explore a tiny island out in the sea they meet Ariel. Ariel claims to never have had a holiday and finds everything amazing, including the view of the brick wall out of the children’s bedroom window.
Readers will enjoy seeing the world through the different characters eyes, with each character having a unique and very different story the reader will enjoy the exploits.
This book is one that could be used in a class setting as a teacher read aloud but is more likely to be enjoyed as an independent read by children.
Themes Children, Magic, Humour.
Mhairi Alcorn
Lily Halfmoon: The magic gems by Xavier Bonet
Allen & Unwin, 2023. ISBN: 9781761180354. (Age:8+) Highly recommended.
Turning nine should be a time of celebration and excitement but for Lily Halfmoon she wasn’t expecting her birthday cake to explode or for other magical happening to start. She doesn’t know how to control what is happening until she starts at magic school with two girls who help her negotiate this new chapter in her life.
When the three girls are assigned to find out who is eating their teachers’ magic flowers, they must work together to solve the mystery. With each girl having a crystal that holds their power, a familiar that is assigned to them and learning about their powers and what being a witch really means it is a lot to expect of young children, but the girls realise that their greatest power is friendship and trusting each other and this is why the story will be loved by adults and children alike.
This graphic novel is so well written and has excellent explanations about how things work and why things do what they do. For anyone who loves spells, witches, or mysteries this a great book. The illustrations are beautiful, and the story grabs the interest of the reader.
Although graphic novels are not great read aloud or class novels, this book will become a favourite on any library shelf, especially for those students who are interested in Harry Potter or the fantasy genre in general but don’t want to or have the capacity to read a long book.
This is the first book in a series and will be shared and loved by any reader.
As a fan of the detective genre, I was thrilled to read A disappearance in Fiji, discovering a debut author who I will want to follow as well as an unfamiliar setting. Akal Singh has been demoted from his promising police post in Hong Kong and sent to Fiji, where he is given lowly tasks and not trusted. It is 1914 and the British oversee the government in Fiji. Sugarcane plantations are an important source of income, and indentured workers from India provide the labour, planting and harvesting, while living in appalling conditions. When an Indian woman goes missing, the authorities ignore it until the local newspaper headlines that she has been kidnapped. Akal is given the job of investigating and he finds that it is not a simple missing person’s case.
The historical examination of the way indentured Indian workers were exploited, the descriptions of their living quarters and the arduous work that they perform form a fascinating background to the investigation. This is an unfamiliar part of history for me and it is dealt very well by the author, who is a descendant of Indian Fijians. Witty banter between Akal and his Fijian offsider lighten the story, while the police procedures revolving around the mystery were well crafted with some twists, turns, and surprises. Akal is an appealing main character and the reason he was sent from Hong Kong is a secondary mystery that kept me engaged.
This was a very enjoyable read and I look forward to reading more books by Nilima Rao. Readers may also like The paper bark mystery by Ovidia Yu and Murder at Malabar Hill by Sujata Massey.
Themes Murder, Detectives, Indians in Fiji.
Pat Pledger
The bother with the Bonkillyknock Beast by Karen Foxlee
Allen & Unwin, 2024. ISBN: 9781761470226. (Age:8+) Highly recommended.
Miss Mary-Kate is back but this time she is off on holidays with her Granny and her Granny’s old friends to the Scottish Highlands or so she thinks. Mary-Kate is longing for a quiet holiday, drinking tea and eating scones while her mum is away but instead finds herself included in the World Society of Monster Hunters’ conference.
As shy Mary-Kate and the two other novice monster hunters are about to discover all is not well at the castle they are staying in and a beast is causing havoc. The village of Bonkillyknock is well known for the Loch Morgavie Monster who is silent and does not leave the water. However, this beast is breaking into the kitchen, howling at night and wrecking the cushions.
As Mary-Kate and her new friends start to investigate they uncover an old tragedy and a missing fortune that could be attributed to the howling. While they are investigating they are delayed by the castle owner who seems more interested in destroying the beast rather than solving the problem and this is not what the Monster Hunters code allows. One of her new friends must decide between family and his new friends and they must all work together to prove that children can sometimes achieve great things even when the adults around them think they are too young.
This book is a brilliant stand-alone read, however, readers who enjoy this book will love the first two in the series. Mary-Kate is an extremely likable character, especially as she talks herself into being brave and discovers the monster in each story.
The Bother with the Bonkillyknock Beast is a fabulous book for young readers and will keep them reading long after they should have been asleep, and although this is a book about monsters it isn’t scary, the reader will be sympathising with the monster and wanting Mary-Kate to solve the mystery.
This book and the other two in the series would be perfect for a class read aloud, a read alone or even as a class novel. It is a fabulous book and one that I can see become a favourite that is read more than once.
Leaves is a gentle story that tells of the strong relationship between a wise old tree and a young sapling. They form a strong bond as the older tree shares poignant life’s lessons across the seasons.
They walked above a peaceful valley,
and she saw some of his leaves had fallen.
“Do not worry,” he told her. “Some moments you must let go.
But remember to keep the dear ones near-
for good memories will shelter you from the storm.
And great ones will keep you warm.
The older tree eventually fades away but the memories and life lessons will live on. The thoughtful prose used throughout this story will resonate with adults sharing this story with younger readers. There is plenty of opportunity for discussion about how we can learn from the older generation.
The striking illustrations showcasing the changing landscapes through the seasons create an emotive mood and enhance the written text.
Themes Trees, Life Cycle, Emotions, Seasons, Relationships, Memories.
Kathryn Beilby
Wear a purple poppy by Fiona White. Illus. by Kathleen O'Hagan
Wear a Purple Poppy is an informative picture book that provides a comprehensive yet easily accessible text to introduce primary school-aged children to the role animals played during two world wars and later conflicts. In 2019, the Australian Parliament declared 24 February the National Day for War Animals and this book clearly explains the idea of wearing the purple poppy and what it is recognition for.
The striking front cover displays animals in a field of purple poppies with an embossed purple title as well as a purple spine, that will immediately draw the reader’s attention to the book. Beginning with a poem written as a tribute to the animals that served during war, the book then goes onto explain the types of work undertaken by these animals. Animals discussed in the story include donkeys, horses, mules, dogs, elephants, pigeons, cats and camels. The role horses, donkeys, camels and mules played in carrying personnel, belongings, artillery and supplies will be familiar to many. Dogs and pigeons helped to carry messages, elephants in Burma were used to build bridges and carry rations and belongings for refugees, and even cats had a vital role in keeping the rat population in check! During the war many of the animals were killed or injured but their loyalty was indisputable. Throughout the book are detailed full page illustrations which perfectly complement and add depth to the text.
Teacher notes are available. Included in the excellent teacher notes are extensive lists of further resources for picture books, graphic novels, junior fiction, junior & YA non-fiction, and websites. A treasure trove of resources to support planning, teaching and learning.
For those readers who loved Hannah Gold’s first novel The Last Bear, you will be thrilled to learn her sequel Finding Bear is just as exciting and engaging. Along with all of the main characters from the first book: April, Dad, Tor, Lise and of course Bear, there are also four new important characters introduced to April and Bear’s story: Maria, Hedda, Jurgen and baby Peanut.
It is seventeen long months since April and Bear said goodbye. April is back home but unsettled, unhappy and bereft from being away from Bear. Dad is in the beginning of a new relationship with Maria, April is bullied at school and struggles to fit in, and more worryingly has a constant niggling fear that something is not right with Bear. In her dreams she hears his roar and during daylight hours she feels his need for her.
News comes from Svalbard that a polar bear has been shot and April is certain it is Bear. She begs her dad to take her back to the Arctic to search for the injured bear and he reluctantly agrees. Their trip to the Arctic in the winter is one of renewed friendships, unbelievably cold weather, anxiety, misunderstandings, survival, and terrible danger. But the startling discovery of Bear and his incredible reason for calling April back to the Arctic will leave the reader full of anticipation of how the situation April finds herself in will be resolved.
Throughout this beautifully written and heartwarming story, the author shares the emotion of the unbreakable bond shared by April and Bear and the serious damage climate change is doing to the Arctic environment and the animals that inhabit the area. There is hope expressed though, that one small caring step by each and every person may help save the planet.
The striking hardcover of Finding Bear is in tonal shades reminiscent of the Northern Lights and has bold gold lettering. Coupled with the stunning black and white images, illustrator Levi Pinfold has added to the engagement of the reader by providing a greater understanding of the both the bleakness and beauty of the Arctic environment. In the final pages there is an important author’s note to read as well as a valuable resource list and further readings suggestions.
The Last Bear and Finding Bear would be wonderful class novels to share with students.
Post-lockdown Melbourne and 28-year-old Marnie has had enough of the dating scene, resigned to remaining single after five failed relationships in 10 years. By turns she supports and seeks support from her lonely older sister, new mum Nicola and her new housemate, serial dater Claud as she works in the local café and wonders if this is all life has to offer. As she routinely turns down the relentless requests for a date from a co-worker, Sam, she exchanges flirty texts with Isaac even though he already has a girlfriend. Through much of the novel, Marnie keeps busy and falls into quite inappropriate relationships, as she tries to fight off ‘the lonelies’. However she eventually realises that she had been seeking validation through being loved, and had lost her identity as she twisted herself into what she thought her partners wanted.
Interspersed with the traditional text are numerous blocks of phone messages and records of missed calls which give the novel a contemporary feel. The time stamps on them are a clever way of indicating who is playing hard-to-get and refusing to answer, as Marnie’s various relationships, with both friends and family, progress and stall.
Billed as a rom-com, Crushing nevertheless delivers some insightful commentary on what women often give up in order to maintain a relationship and questions how easy it is for them to maintain their individuality. It is a light-hearted, humorous take on contemporary dating, but given the age of the main characters, and the regular use of alcohol, numerous sexual references and sex scenes, Crushing would be best suited to a more adult audience.
Themes Romance, Dating, Friendship, Personal growth.
Margaret Crohn
Feel the flame by Lochana Radaliyagoda. Illus. by Juliette Dudley
Little Steps, 2023. ISBN: 9781922833693. (Age:6+) Highly recommended.
Seventeen year old author Lochana Radaliyagoda has written a thoughtful story encouraging young girls to dream big. Her story advocates a strong belief that girls can aspire to do what ever they want and once that flame is fuelled there is no stopping them.
This narrative is told through the eyes of Princess Lana who discovers in her extensive castle library that boys are prominently featured in positions of power and held in high regard in her kingdom, whereas girls are not considered in the same way. She begins to question whether this is the way across all countries and decides to travel the world.
Princess Lana travels through Pakistan and hears the voice of Malala Yousufzai who fought for the right for girls in her country to go to school. In Sweden, the passionate voice of Greta Thunberg is heard encouraging people to act for climate change. In Australia, Princess Lana hears the words of Julia Gillard: ‘Nuture your sense of self, who you are in your own eyes, and not who you are in others.’ Finally in the US, she hears Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s important words which began as spark from her own mother.
On returning home, Princess Lana’s new ideas are not welcomed by her parents but she continues to share her beliefs that girls can do anything with as many as possible in her kingdom. Her fire from within will hopefully spark a fire in others.
This story is an engaging read with a strong and important message to be shared in a gentle yet powerful way. The illustrations in a soft palette beautifully capture the mood and emotions of the story. There is additional information about each of the four role models mentioned and a suggestion for further reading.
It is Edward's first day at knight school and to protect himself from the battles he expects to face, he puts on his full suit of armour. Sitting in the back of the Great Hall surrounded by unfriendly creatures, he is mortified when the king asks him to tell the others about himself. Even though at home he likes to fight giants and ogres, here at knight school he seems to be surrounded by them and he is not so brave. And when one sits beside him on the bench as he starts to eat his lunch, things are r-e-a-l-l-y scary...
It is that time of the year again when the prospect of Big School is looming closer and closer and some of our little ones are getting really apprehensive. There is a mixture of nerves that can become overwhelming. So stories like these that not only show that fears are shared but they can be overcome are welcome as they offer such reassurance. Cleverly illustrated showing the ogres and dragons as ordinary boys and girls and the concept of the physical armour holding him back in the same way that mental armour does, Edward comes to some new understandings and discovers this school-thing isn't as frightening after all.
This is one to add to your collection to share to give an added dose of confidence and show that even the bravest can feel nervous.
Themes Starting school, Fear.
Barbara Braxton
Penny Platypus lends a hand by Chelsea Schar-Grant. Illus. by Aaron Pocock
Little Steps, 2023. ISBN: 9781922833471. (Age:4+)
A number of well-known Australian animals show how they help out either in their community or home. Penny Platypus plants trees, Sam Snake helps out in the surf, Collin Cockatoo is a coach, Kristina Koala helps at home, Dan the Dingo leads at dancing, Kevin Kangaroo jumps for fundraising, Emma Emu tidies up her home and her neighbourhood, Billy Bilby is a volunteer, Chris Crocodile looks after his neighbour, Andy the Australian Sheepdog joins in a fundraising walk, Ed the Echidna helps his mate and Kate Kookaburra helps herself by having a bath!
The full page illustrations are bright, colourful and full of detail. There is quite a lot to see on each page and children will enjoy the visual images throughout the book. This book lends itself to promoting discussion with young children about how they might be able to help and show kindness to others.
Themes Australian Animals, Helping, Community, Making A Difference.
