Little Brown, 2023. ISBN: 9780349135632. (Age:Adult) Recommended.
Ben Koenig has Urbach-Wiethe disease, a gradual shrinking of the amygdala, an essential part of the brain’s fear circuit, which means that he doesn’t experience fear. I had to look it up; it’s a real but very rare condition. It means that even in the most dangerous moment, Koenig is relaxed and can even drop the humorous quip or two. The resulting mixture of adrenalin fuelled action and dead-pan humour makes for a thoroughly entertaining thriller, and Craven knows how to keep the pace racing along with short chapters punching with one confrontational moment after another.
Although he has been in hiding for six years, Koenig finds himself drawn back into the world of serious crime investigation by the kidnapping of the daughter of his former boss in the US Marshal's Special Operations Group. The challenge becomes to keep one step ahead, not only of the kidnappers, but also the ruthless mafia group that is still hunting him. There is the whole mystery to be solved as to why the young university researcher became a target, and what is really going on in the highly regarded new solar energy plant in the Chihuahuan desert.
Koenig may be extremely well-trained, clever, and fearless, but that doesn’t mean that he doesn’t make mistakes. There are a quite a few occasions where he admits that to himself, but he always finds his way out of difficult situations by cool-headed logic, and a preparedness to launch a violence that goes beyond credibility. A warning here: the violence ratchets up as the story progresses, and readers may be left reeling at some of the scenes.
So in summary, yes it’s gripping, it’s clever, it’s unpredictable, and the ending doesn’t disappoint, but the reader is left with the memory of some horrible scenes. For readers who are fans of this genre, there is sure to be a sequel.
Hercule Poirot, recreated by Sophie Hannah, faces a perplexing task, using his little grey cells to solve a Christmas mystery. With his friend Inspector Edward Catchpool, he is called to a mansion sitting on the edge of a crumbling cliff in Norfolk to investigate the murder of a man in a hospital ward. There is no apparent reason for the man’s death; he was well liked and had no enemies. Catchpool’s mother, Cynthia, is determined that Poirot solve the case, as her friend is convinced that her husband Arnold who is due to enter the hospital, will be the next to die. It is up to Poirot, using his extraordinary methods, to work out what is going on. Assisted by Catchpool, who interviews the household members and listens in on conversations, Hercule puts his mighty brain to work probing motives and eliminating suspects.
This was the first book in Sophie Hannah's Hercule Poirot series that I have read, and many years since I have read any books by Agatha Christie. I enjoyed the trope of the large country mansion, with the added dimension that it could fall into the sea, and the characters were all clearly described if mostly unlikeable. I did not guess who committed the murders which added to my enjoyment of the book and the threads that had appeared throughout the book were drawn together in a most satisfactory way.
Fans of Sophie Hannah’s previous books are sure to enjoy this one, and readers who like cosy mysteries will be pleased to have another series to baffle and entertain them.
A wonderful book which reflects the whole year as Takeuchi shows what happens to a family and their friends over the course of one year. The family has moved from their apartment building into their new home and over the year, many of their friends come and visit them. In the middle of each double page we see the family in their new home, surrounded by people in the street, while at the side of each double page is a more intimate look at the family and what they are doing together.
Readers start with the snow as the New Year comes around, and we see snow covered buildings, and people in the foregoround warmly wrapped building snowmen, or taking snow from the grooves and the family on the right hand side of the page celebrating the New Year with a special treat. Young readers will love looking at the detail given as each part of the new year progresses, marvelling at the skill of the cut out artist, Takeuchi. New Year means winter takes hold as the snow still lies about. But spring is just around the corner, as flowers can be seen. Cherry blossom bursts open as the season changes again. Cherry blossom brings great excitement and people begin to stay outdoors. And then the flags unfurl for Children’s Day. Rain does not deter their neighbours from visiting. Summer has arrived and people in the streets can be seen dressed for warmer weather. The family goes to the beach and take in the splendour of the Summer Festival. Back home, the moon is a large ball in the sky, and the family prepares mochi. Soon it is Halloween and the children dress up for Trick or Treat. The weather begins to get cooler and the family is invited to a wedding in the neighbourhood park. Snow falls to complete the year in which much has happened. Children will love seeing the things the family does, and follow people shown in the foreground throughout the whole year. The book is an absolute delight showing families and their activities over twelve months. And readers will marvel at the skill needed to create such a book.
Chihiro Takeuchi is a renowned paper cut artist living in Osaka, Japan. In 2015 and 2016 Chihiro was part of a select group of artists to exhibit at the prestigious Bologna Book Fair. She has produced several books with Berbay including Whose Bones? and the successful board books Colours and Animals.
Photos of Chiro at work can be see on her website.
Themes Change, Family, Relationships, Paper work, Japan.
Fran Knight
The A to Z of who I could be by Chloe Dalton. Illus. by Kim Siew
Allen & Unwin, 2023. ISBN: 9781761180422. (Age:5-10) Highly recommended.
The A to Z of who I could be is written by athlete Chloe Dalton, who in 2020 founded the (female) athlete project - Australia’s fastest-growing women’s sports platform. This informative and interesting book introduces 26 Australian athletes who have excelled in their chosen sport.
In alphabetical order the champion athletes are:
Ash Barty – tennis player Belle Brockhoff – snowboarder Taliqua Clancy – beach volleyball Danni Di Toro – Paralympian tennis & table tennis player Ellie Cole – Paralympian swimmer Caitlin Foord – soccer player Georgia Godwin – artistic gymnast Tayla Harris – AFLW Isis Holt – Paralympian sprinter Jessi Miley-Dyer – surfing Steph Kershaw – hockey Lydia Lassila – aerial skier Anna Meares – track cyclist
Nova Peris – hockey & sprinting Bendere Oboya – sprinter Ellyse Perry – cricket Alicia (Quirk) Lucas – rugby 7s Madison de Rozario – Paralympian wheelchair racer Sharni (Layton) Norder – netball Ariarne Titmus – swimming Tamika Upton – rugby Darcy Vescio – AFLW Melissa Wu – diving Jessica FoX – canoe slalom Yvette Higgins – water polo Zali Stegall – alpine skier
This is a highly accessible book for young readers. Across each double page spread is a snapshot of the athlete’s accomplishments accompanied by an action illustration. The creative use of bold colour for each individual athlete adds to the appeal for readers. The insertion of a timeline from 1996 to the present day is a wonderful addition. In the final pages there is information about the (female) athlete project plus further information about the author and illustrator.
With the end of the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup and the amazing response from a world-wide audience for women’s sport, this new release The A to Z of who I could be is a fabulous resource for a school or public library.
Themes Female Athletes, Sport, Olympians, Paralympians, World Champions.
Kathryn Beilby
Always never always by Meg McKinlay and Leila Rudge
Home grown advice on making your way in the world is given to readers in this funny, light hearted rhyming text by award winning Meg McKinlay, supported by glorious illustrations by Leila Rudge.
A young girl, accompanied by her duck, sets off on an adventure. She is advised to follow a secret track and is unworried about the route taken but being prepared, taking with her the things that she may need. Amongst the things tucked away, she puts a key, because you never know when a key will be a necessary item. When going on an adventure, make sure a friend goes too, and be unfazed if the friend goes more slowly. Wonderful advice for living an adventurous life is given.
Each time a piece of advice is given a proviso is given, so always look for adventure is offered but go with a friend. Always think ahead but leave some room to breathe. A few never lines are included, as in, never pass up the opportunity to sing a song. Everything offered is grass roots wisdom and words of advice, things that seem basic to all our lives, but may be left unsaid.
MacKinlay shouts these out, enjoining readers to heed the advice, and practise what she offers. In a class, children will love seeing what the girl does. Aware of taking risks, but being careful to think about things, take a friend, sing a song and hug those around you. I loved reading these lines, told simply but having a wealth of meaning behind those words.
And the breathtaking illustrations add another level of interest and meaning for the readers. Each page shows the girl setting out with her duck, taking risks, but at the same time being aware of what she us doing and keeping safe.
The pencil and watercolour illustrations show a broad sweep of the environment in which the girl lives. Leila Ridge gives the reader a detailed view of the weather, of clouds overhead, off beautiful climbing trees, of waterfalls and gardens of colourful flowers, of the storage cupboardin which the girl starts her journey to the same room when her journey ends. And the lovely endpapers repeat the image of the key, used throughout the book.
Allen & Unwin, 2023. ISBN: 9781760878276. (Age:4+) Highly recommended.
Glorious Mr Chicken returns as he realises that he has been everywhere, including London, Paris and around Australia, but never been to outer space. He calls in to see Boris the rocket builder and gives him the instructions. Ready in a week he is told, and sure enough when Mr Chicken returns there is his space ship, all shiny and new. After getting instructions, armed with his lunch and helmet, Mr Chicken is ready to go, but the smile on his face disappears as he grapples with the instruction book and all the levers and buttons to press. But he is pleased that he no longer has all the household chores to do (see the first endpaper!)
He successfully navigates the passing meteor, waves at a passing Martian and has lunch at the space station. Next landing is on Mars. Here he is welcomed and autographs and photos taken. It is soon time to leave and he splashes down into the ocean where Boris finds him and brings him back home. The best place to have a good night’s rest is at home, Mr Chicken decides.
This disarming story of exploration and adventure, reveals the sense of expanding horizons and taking risks, of journeys and meeting new people. Mr Chicken takes a leap into outer space, finding new friends in another space ship, on the space station and on Mars. He finds that space is nice but home is best, especially when talking about a good night’s rest.
Readers will love Mr Chicken’s exploration, going along with him as he tries to master the control panel, avoid the meteor as it comes by, and navigate his way home, bobbing around in the sea, avoiding a shark that would like a treat, and finally being picked up by Boris.
Hobbs uses many words: lower thrust transmitter, turbo pump injector, fusion force fluctuator, amongst others which give a nod to scientific words that could be real, bringing a laugh to the reading audience. I loved watching Mr Chicken’s smile as it progresses through the story. And kids will delight in the gadgetry in the cockpit, the Martians, the scenes in outer space and the touchdown in the ocean. What a journey for them to follow. And there are four other Mr Chicken books as he visits Paris, London, Rome and Australia.
A footy tail by Alex Johnston. Illus. by Gregg Dreise
Allen & Unwin, 2023. ISBN: 9781761180316. (Age:3+) Recommended.
A group of bunnies at the park practise their moves: they run and jump, sprint and tackle and hop, but never get anywhere near good enough to defeat the other teams. With names like Panthers and Sharks, Tigers and Bulldogs, the Bunnies have no hope. The Sea Eagles and Roosters, Eels, Broncos and Dragons, all have skills which the Bunnies can only dream of. Dejected the Bunnies feel lost until a Crow tells them he can help them win. The first thing he says is that they must allow other players to join them. The Rabbits are not happy, but Crow talks them around and goes off to find some super skilled creatures.
Inspired by the rise of the South Sydney Rabbitohs, NRL star Alex Johnston has used his experience and knowledge of the game to present a highly readable verse story of the rise of the Bunnies in the face of stronger teams.
Resilience, working together and team work are displayed within this story of the Bunnies’ rise from an underdog team to one that wins through spirited work on their skills and the welcoming of others to join their team. The wise Crow directs their game, inviting others within the animal community to join the team.
Themes Rugby League Football, Resilience, Teamwork.
Fran Knight
The invisible hour by Alice Hoffman
Simon & Schuster, 2023. ISBN: 9781398528970. (Age:14+) Highly recommended.
Alice Hoffman makes an interesting link between a modern day cult and the religious zealotry of the times depicted in Nathaniel Hawthorne’s A scarlet letter (1850), set in the 1600s, about the branding of a woman with the letter A for adultery. In both scenarios, it is women who are oppressed, restricted in the choices they can make. Mia’s mother, Ivy, in the here and now, has run away from her disapproving parents, pregnant and spurned by the father of her child, and has turned to the dark and compelling Joel, leader of a reclusive cult in western Massechusetts. Joel, like the righteous men of Hawthorne’s novel, also makes recourse to branding for any misdemeanour. Mia sees the hidden marks on her mother’s arms.
Despite the strictures of their community, where books are forbidden, Ivy manages to share with her daughter a love of stories, and Mia secretly takes opportunities to visit the town library. There she comes across Hawthorne’s book, with a strange dedication to ‘Mia’ in its frontispiece. Libraries and books become a means of escape for Mia, and in real life librarians are her saviour when she finally makes the attempt to leave Joel’s malevolent influence.
The second part of Hoffman’s novel moves back in time to 1837, the world of Nathaniel Hawthorne, where he is struggling to find inspiration for his writing, until, one day he encounters a lone red-haired woman in the forest. It is Mia, her wish to be united with him magically come true. The dilemma becomes how to share her love with him, without changing the path of the future.
Hoffman’s writing is that of the fairytale teller; the author is omniscient, telling us what each person thinks and feels, and the actions they take. The reader accepts the magical events as they occur. And while the central theme is of the power of books to enrich our lives, there is also a strong emphasis on female collaboration, particularly the connection between mother and daughter.
Hoffman’s letter to the reader, as foreword to the book, describes how her mother, an outcast in their neighbourhood, cared for young single mothers and their babies, breaking the rules set by those in power, mostly men. This early experience, and the discovery of the magic of books to open new worlds, is at the heart of The invisible hour. It is captivating story, which will be enjoyed by many readers, not only the fans of Hoffman’s Practical magic series.
Pan Macmillan, 2016. ISBN: 9781925483574. (Age:16+)
This the true story of Joe Cinque who died from a massive dose of Rohypnol and heroin given to him at a dinner party where the guests had been told that there was a plan to murder him. His girlfriend Anu Singh and friend Madhavi Rao were later charged with his murder and tried separately. Helen Garner follows the two trials, meeting the Singh family and becoming close to Joe Cinque’s mother. It is an intimate look at the justice system and how crime affects the people involved.
This an absorbing if at times traumatic reading experience. The reader gains a clear picture of the narcissistic Anu Singh and her friend the easily led Rao, and is caught up in the compelling personality of Mrs Cinque and her overwhelming grief. The book opens with an immensely powerful verbatim dramatisation of Anu Singh’s phone call asking for medical assistance for the dying Joe. The self-doubts that the author Helen Garner struggles with are sympathetically portrayed, as are her battles to understand a legal system that doesn’t necessarily provide justice.
The book leaves its reader with much to ponder about: the murder of a young man and the light sentencing given; the duty of care of the bystanders; whether a victim’s family can ever recover a normal life and the struggle of an author to make sense of a senseless killing.
Themes Drugs, Murder.
Pat Pledger
Tersias by G.P. Taylor
Faber and Faber, 2007. ISBN: 9780571236084. (Age:15+)
Tersias, by G. P. Taylor, is a dark and frightening tale set in the poverty stricken streets of 18th century London. The story centres on Tersias, a young boy who has been blinded by his drunken mother in order to earn more money as a beggar. Acquired by the magician Malachi, he is kept in a gilded cage and forced to predict the future with the aid of the fearsome Wretchkin who invades his mind. As dark forces gather in the streets of London, his fate becomes entwined with that of Jonah a young highwayman, his two friends Tara and Maggot and the powerful Lord Malpas from whom Jonah has stolen a magical dagger and an alabaster box. Solomon, a crazed religious zealot who has bred a new species of giant flesh-eating locusts, also seeks to control Tersias and the dagger.
G.P. Taylor is a master at setting an intense, gripping atmosphere. His depictions of terrifying characters such as the doglike creature who pursues Jonah and the grotesque prisoner who stalks Tara in a pitch black cell, waving a rotten head on a stick are more graphic than is usual in books aimed at the adolescent market. Descriptions of The Citadel, Solomon’s headquarters, bring to life the religious cult and the cruel brainwashing that goes on there. The reader is relieved to find that there is a gentler, kinder place, Vamana House, where the healer Griselda lives and ethical behaviour rules.
Taylor does not attempt to portray his heroes as perfect; they are frail and uncertain and tread a difficult path to redemption. His villains, Malpas and Solomon, lust for power, whether it is spiritual or political. His introduction of more main characters towards the end of the book is unusual but doesn’t detract from the flow of the narrative. The dark themes of manipulation, corruption of power and religious zeal are very disturbing.
This book, with its combination of horror and fantasy, will have appeal to teens who enjoy being frightened.
This is a compelling story set in the harsh bushland of Alaska in 1968 and 1969. The story unfolds in the words of four Alaskan teenagers who are each touched by Dove Alexie, a strange boy who lands in jail for hitting a white teacher and who is savagely beaten by the assistant marshall. When he turns up missing, Lorraine Hobbs, a loner who brings meals to the prisoners, begins to question why a 16 year old boy was in prison and involves Annette Weinland, the minister’s daughter who volunteers there. Thelma and Edgar, two Yup’ik orphans have encounted Dove at a boarding school earlier. With each teenager’s distinctive story, the reader gains an insight into their bleak lives and the mystery of Dove unfolds.
The author lived and taught in Alaska and she portrays the grim location in an unforgettable way. The harshness and isolation of the small town, the separation of the native Alaskan peoples from their families and the grimness of the boarding school all form an authentic background to the growth of the characters as they try to come into their own.
Orenstein deals with large issues like displacement, alienation, rape and death in an unforgettable way. She uses humour to relieve the bleakness, but the reader is left feeling overwrought by the fate of the young Yup’iks. This is a memorable, thought provoking story.
This is a rivetting tale, part thriller, part pop adolescent fiction, part expose of what makes things cool, about two engaging New York characters, Hunter and Jen. They meet when Hunter spots Jen’s unique shoelaces, which look like the red rising sun on a sideways Japanese flag. He asks if he can take a photo, using his new model mobile phone.
Hunter is a “cool spotter”, paid to spot new trends and report them back to big corporations. He invites Jen to go with him to a “cool tasting” to check out a new product and over the new two days, they go on a crazy chase through New York, trying to find Hunter’s missing boss, Mandy, and the coolest shoes that they have ever seen. The story is action packed with Jen and Hunter breaking into abandoned buildings, attending upper crust parties, and evading the Jammers, who work for the Anti Client, and who are trying to destroy market branding.
Readers will be challenged to name the products in Westerfield’s story – and identify those that are already obsolete (so yesterday). They will also be challenged to identify where they come in the cool pyramid – innovator, trend setter, follower, laggard or classicist and may not look at advertising in quite the same way again.
A mer person takes human form with the quest to save someone, a kind of initiation process in the mer world, and the challenge becomes to reunite lifesaver Sean with his inconstant boyfriend Dominic. The novel construct of Crest, the mer person becoming Ross on land, gaining legs and learning about the human world, provides for humorous scenarios that carry this novel along. That, and the side character of Kavya, Sean’s best friend, only too eager to tell it how it is, full of lusty gags and puns, keeps the comedy flowing.
This is a rom-com, as Sean himself recognises only too well as he is a great fan of rom-coms and has aspirations to be a film director, so the plans to get the faithless Dominic back are mapped out like the schedule of screenshots in a movie. It all goes to plan, until, as you might guess, fake date threatens to turn into true romance. The question becomes whether this is true love; and whether there is any possibility of Sean and Ross really getting together, since Ross must return to the sea at the end of the month.
Jason June creates an interesting fantasy with his depiction of the mer world where there are no binary gender definitions: Ross hasn’t experienced gender distinctions, and isn’t comfortable being defined as male. The pronoun for Ross are ‘they’ and ‘their’. The nice thing in this novel is that everyone, Sean included, accepts this naturally and just moves on.
Because this is all new to Ross, there are numerous references to ‘hard-ons’, ‘driftwood’ and ‘bone talk’, but the intimate scenes actually include really good conversations about consent. And the strong messages that resonate throughout are about building self-esteem, being authentic, and talking things through when there are problems. It’s a mixed bag of comedy, romance, self realisation and social comment; with an ending that is not as predictable as you might expect.
Themes LGBQTI+, Humour, Romance, Identity, Acceptance of diversity.
This novel set in the Hundred Years War fought between England and France seven centuries ago reveals the transitory nature of war, alongside the barbarity and utter randomness of death and mutilation. Jones, an academic well known for his earthy presentations of medieval society, has turned his hand to historical fiction. Exciting and fast paced the novel, Essex Dogs, is based on a small group of people to whom things happen that reflect everyone’s part in war, from the kings and princes to earls and lords to captains, archers, swordsmen and foot soldiers.
What impressed me was the gritty day to day life of the ten men we get to know well: the Essex Dogs, a company of men who fight, eat, sleep, pillage and march together. Their leader, Loveday, an older, experienced man, watches over his unit with fearful eyes, aware of the danger they will be facing, encouraging them to watch out for each other, knowing that his peak fighting skills are behind him.
It is these ten men we see throughout the book including Father, a priest and fighter, Millstone Scotsman and Pismire as well as two Welsh brothers, and Romfort, who make good use of his long bow.
Their lives reflect how they are treated, fed and housed, how the orders are given, the infighting between those in charge. We are introduced to the foot slogging tedium of life on the road, how a siege works, the seemingly random butchery of many villagers along the way. Each chapter heading quotes writing from the time, giving a strength to the details Jones includes in his writing.
Jones gives a vastly different account of the son of Edward the Third, the Back Prince, eager to be king, and shows his power, at odds with his father, contrasting with the relationship between Philip V1 and his son.
The army travels across the English Channel to northern France, there to engage the imposter king, Philip V1 of France. The ten breaks up, Father part of a ruse to undermine the French, is tortured and killed, while Romfort is taken by the Black Prince because he is able to supply drugs, the Welsh archers go their own way, leaving only four left to fight. But they become tied up with the plans of those in charge, enabling Jones to give us a worm’s eye view of the campaign, particularly as it draws near Crecy.
I loved listening to the audio of this book. It was an eye opener to the everyday behind the battles of war, of losing your shoes, of sharpening swords, of looting the villages - this detail was fascinating. The language Jones puts into their mouths was confronting, and I had to fast forward a couple of scene of brutality, but these are minor quibbles as I was transfixed, readily absorbing the plethora of detail found within their conversations.
This is the first book in a trilogy, the second, Wolves of Winter will be available in October.
Themes One Hundred Years War, France England, War, Battle of Crecy, Historical fiction.
This is a wonderful retelling of the old fairy tale, East of the Sun and West of the Moon. Superstition says that children who are born facing north will travel far from home. Rose is one of seven children and her mother is terrified that she will lose her to the icy northern realms because she is a north child. When a great white bear confronts Rose and tells her that her sick sister will be cured and the family’s fortune restored if she travels north with him, she agrees to go. Rose grows to love the white bear and when she discovers that he is a young man who has been put under the spell of an evil Troll Queen, she realises that she must rescue him.
This book is difficult to put down because of the memorable characters and the many adventures that Rose encounters. Pattou entices her reader into the story with beautiful descriptions of landscape and ice, everyday life like the art of weaving; extraordinary events and deep felt love. Rose is a strong willed and determined heroine, the Troll Queen avaricious and corrupt, the great Bear mysterious and alluring, Neddy, Rose’s brother patient and loving. The epic journey to the ice palace in the north is fraught with danger.
This is an outstanding adventure fantasy and will be enjoyed especially by people who like C. S. Lewis, Tamora Pierce and Robin McKinley. Highly recommended.
