Stonehenge, a world-renowned UNESCO World Heritage site, circa 3000BCE to 2500BCE, was built partially for renown according to Ken Follett in his latest family saga Circle of days. Ken Follett is one of the world's most successful authors. His first success was The eye of the needle in 1978. In 1989, the highly acclaimed epic The pillars of the earth was published. Circle of days follows his impressively researched 2023 Kingsbridge installment, The armour of light. In this speculative story, Follett imagines and researches the lives of the Neolithic and Bronze Age inhabitants of Salisbury Plain, Wiltshire. Somehow and for some reason in this period, the most architecturally sophisticated prehistoric stone circle in the world was built. Follett has studied the construction; that of large standing sarsen stones (150 tons each) and smaller bluestones transported (somehow) from Wales featuring wood-work styling joints and aligned with the sun, making the summer and winter solstices significant for some reason.
Visitors still in these technologically sophisticated modern times, are awe-struck by Stonehenge. How could we build such a monument today, let alone the people who lived in an era before mechanisation, advanced engineering techniques when no wheels or metals were used? The questions remain: Who built it and how and why did they build it? Building on historical advice and a visit to Buster Ancient farm in Hampshire (an Archaelogical museum site), Follett has blended research and imagination to create a plausible explanation for how Stonehenge came to be, along with another great multi-generational family saga, a genre for which he is so acclaimed.
Of interest and support to the reader, in the end pages is an early aerial photograph of Stonehenge in modern times and a c.1900 rendering of how it looked when it was first completed. In addition map artwork of the region through which the stones were believed to be moved is provided so that the reader can place sites pertinent to the story.
The main characters are strong and engaging, as one would expect that the masterminds behind a feat like Stonehenge would have been. To plan, persuade hundreds of people and to have the know-how to succeed with such a "monumental" project one must assume would entail, an organised society, with powerful leadership and powerful reasons for performing such a task. Does religion drive such a movement... or hunger, need, fear, superstition, lust for glory or posthumous recognition? Follett has the answers for you. Two main characters drive the plot. Seft is a flint-miner, with a skill for masonry, carpentry, engineering and working with people. He is a commanding presence, a natural leader and good man. Joia is a priestess, sister of Seft's wife and a charismatic leader and visionary. Drought ravages the plains and terrible conflict and bloodshed is looming between the three groups of people existing in that time-herders, farmers and woodspeople. Something has to be done to avert crisis, to keep the communities prosperous and to make them an attractive stopping place on the trade route.
Follett imagines the social, economic and daily lives of these people. He presents possible behaviours around the rites of death, styles of leadership and group organisation, social dynamics, economic life, sustenance, family life and especially religious/spiritual life. In a pared back style, he evokes the simple communications, sentence structure and understandings of the people in those Neolothic times. Follett details the minutiae of daily life down to food and labour division and even understandings of measurement for example this will take you as long as a pot of water takes to boil or this distance is around the length of an arrow's flight. Rooted and dependent on nature for survival as the people were, Follett imagined that the priestesses held great power over the simple folk because of their ability to count the days and know the crucial times of the year eg Midsummer which dictated the time for planting, reaping and festivity.
Brutal and harsh, heartbreaking and heart-warming, Circle of days, true to Follett's writing is a captivating historical immersion into the people and times of the building of Stonehenge. Follett brings a human story to the mystery of Stonehenge.
Themes Stonehenge, Neolithic lifestyle and technology, Ancient worship, Cosmic cycles.
The Last Ember by Lily Berlin Dodd brings together two memorable young protagonists from opposite ends of society. With a gripping foundation and complex characters, this is a story that blends high-stakes adventure with survival, power and trust.
Dusty is a thirteen year old orphan, living in squalid conditions and driven by fierce loyalty to the other abandoned children. Recently inducted into the Thieves Union, Dusty uses his quick thinking and street-smart skills not for selfish gain, but to provide for others who rely on him. His kindness, resilience and quiet bravery make him an immediately likeable and layered character.
In stark contrast, Eva is a gifted twelve year old chemistry student, raised in an affluent family and educated at an elite academy. Eva is intelligent, analytical and fiercely determined. While her upbringing has provided her privilege and safety, she possesses an inner strength that becomes increasingly evident as the story unfolds.
The plot ignites when Eva selects a birthday gift that appears unusual but harmless, only to discover it is the last known aerimander egg. Inside contains a powerful dragon capable of destroying whatever it is commanded to, and highly sought after by an evil government director - determined to harness its destructive power.
Unaware of the true danger surrounding the egg, Dusty is assigned to steal it. But his mission quickly becomes unstuck and he must think fast. How will Dusty and Eva keep true to their cause, and will they ever learn to trust each other?
Dodd delivers a narrative filled with suspense, political tension and twists that will catch readers off guard. The stakes are high, and the adventure is tense, however, the novel does slow in places. Additionally, scenes featuring violence and particularly cruel antagonists may be confronting, and make this fantasy more appropriate for older, mature readers.
Ultimately, The Last Ember is a fantasy novel exploring sacrifice, morality and the cost of power - an intriguing, if at times uncomfortable, adventure that lingers long after the final page.
Selby is the errant understudy for the lead role in the class production of Romeo and Juliet, but she almost totally focuses instead on her nominated role in the set crew – understandable given Selby has dyslexia. When the real Juliet fractures her spine, Ms Karim needs Selby to step-up into the part in just 2 days! Selby and Dan (her old tutor) do the unthinkable, because desperation causes them to risk trusting that Selby’s reading of the script will not result in time travel. It happened in Book 1 of the series after all. They couldn’t be more wrong.
In a flash they land in the middle of a street fight between the Montigues and the Capulets. When Selby sees firsthand the folly of the lovers who she observes meeting for the first time, she is determined to stop the tragedy by nipping it in the bud. Dan is less optimistic but appreciates that Selby is motivated to learn the part and perhaps get a passing grade.
As characters move back and forth between past and present worlds, we laugh out loud when they misconstrue events. However, Selby and her classmates analyse the play with more modern sensibilities including the feminist perspective. This Selby hopes show the lovers a glimpse of the future if they don’t change their misguided ambitions, by bringing them forward in time to watch class rehearsals. The real Romeo’s reaction to Barry ‘kissing his betrothed’ captures the immersion of audience members in live performances as a core function of the dramatic arts. We see this theme demonstrated so well in Maggie O’Farrell’s novel Hamnet and the film adaptation.
R.A. Pratt, author of Friday Barnes series amongst others has added Romeo V Juliet to her Shakespearian series which kicked off with the best selling, "Hamlet is Not OK". In the epilogue she ends with the title of Book no 3, but more importantly we look forward to another witty and funny time travel adventure.
Pratt has very cleverly written a narrative within a narrative as Dan and Shelby discuss the events, motivations and character traits resulting in their intervention scheme for the Montiques and the Capulets. Can they avert the comedy of errors that leads to unspeakable tragedy of self-harm – doubly tragic for being unintentional? Romeo V Juliet is the perfect companion to the original play, affectively unpacking Shakespeare with teenagers because we have the privilege and stimulation of watching fictional contemporaries do it first. The idea of forbidden love is responsibly addressed by concluding with help-line contacts just in case the subject matter is triggering. 207 p.
Themes Shakespeare, Romance, School, Theatre, Drama, Tragedy, Time travel.
Deborah Robins
Sky country by Aunty Patsy Cameron. Illus. by Lisa Kennedy
Walking with their Grandmother, the children are introduced to their Ancestral Beings. First they must walk to the mountains, a long and cold trek. Grandmother paints their faces with red ochre, and begins to tell the story of two stars, brothers in the Milky Way. Together they built the mountains, and the rivers using their stone tools. They made the fishes, the insects and the moss and the land began to bloom. Now they made the plants and the trees, the birds and animals, spreading their seeds and digging the earth. They followed the seasons always adapting to the new climate. The first people were made from the earth, and they sang and danced, remembering the stories of the Ancestral Beings and of Country. The Ancestral Beings rubbed sticks together to make fire, giving warmth and safety to the people. Stories such as these are passed on from father to son, mother to daughter, so the younger generation know where they have come and about Country, ready to pass it on to those who come after them.
The children walk back to the coast, carrying the story of their Ancestral Beings in their hearts. The words flow easily from one page to the next, encouraging children to see the Sky Country for themselves, emboldening them to look closely at what is before them. Two pages follow with information about the author and illustrator.
The lovely text is supported by glorious images of the stars, the Sky Country and the Sea, encouraging children to look closely at each page for what is shown. A guide to what can be found on each page is given at the end. I love Lisa Kennedy’s images of the trees, standing tall on many pages, while the Ancestral Beings and her vision of the night sky are spectacular.
Morticia and Gomez are flummoxed by Wednesday’s multiple infractions leading to explusion from several high schools in a row. In desperation they enrol her at their old Alma Mater, Nevermore. Wednesday and Morticia’s strained relationship are typical of many families. Of course Wednesday abhors any mould – even a Gothic one and especially her mother’s. She is already planning her escape, or is she? In the past she has attempted to solve the age old problem of the school bully singlehandedly and with such gusto! Perhaps she identifies finally with Nevermore’s outcasts and misfits who welcome the loner - or is she simply focused on solving crimes given her vigilante and social justice leanings?
Appealing to Addams Family fans of the past 60 yrs, this novelisation of the script of the “Wednesday” TV series, Season One, directed by Tim Burton, doesn’t disappoint. It is well written for YA and adults! For one thing, you don’t miss Wednesday’s razor-sharp quips - both deadpan and macabre. Thing and Lurch make appearances with main action figures in Principal Weems, Xavier, Bianca and Enid her roommate. One drawback is that the novel is Wednesday’s memoir of events, so readers are deficit perspectives from the rest of the cast, unfiltered by the novel's narrator.
Lucky for us Tehlor Mejia, the author, makes us privy to Wednesday's hit and miss criminology musings in order to solve a decades old murder mystery dating from her parents' time at Nevermore. No longer quite so immune to peer pressure, the epilogue seems to segue to Book 2 when Xavier gifts her a smart phone, already loading a mysterious message.
Whilst fans of both the Addams Family and the serialized Wednesday, spin-off programs will be engaged by the most intimate version of Wednesday Addams yet, the rest will be charmed by the comedic fish-out-of-water setting.
Themes Dark humour, Horror, Mystery, School, Supernatural, Family.
Deborah Robins
Jet Set Pets: Hop on board! by Maddy Mara & Kyla May
This second book in new series Jet Set Pets follows the glamorous life of Violet and her three pets (Trixie, Jerome and Zola). They fly about the world in their fabulous Pet Jet, which Violet pilots. Each book has three short stories, each one separated into chapters and contains black-and-white pictures on nearly every page. Large text, plenty of white space and simple vocabulary make this a perfect series for newly independent readers and the content and themes will satisfy a wide spread of ages, making it great for older reluctant readers.
There is nothing real about the world that Violet lives in; her pets talk to her, (and can fly her plane), there isn't a parent in sight and they do things like attend friendship ceremonies on yachts. Fans of Gabby's Dollhouse and The Princess in Blackwill feel right at home in this fantasy land of Violet's. For those who don't know, Maddy Mara is the penname of writing duo Hilary Rogers and Meredith Badger who also wrote Itty Bitty Kitty. Kyla May's illustrations are wonderful and the series will also appeal to fans of her series Paris Takes Over the World and Diary of a Pug.
The characters are unique and vibrant, the settings and descriptive language is rich and the dialogue and relationships between the four are humorous and entertaining. Children will especially love Zola, who talks only in rhyme (faint is hood = paint is good). The stories in this instalment are about a stunt plane competition in Japan, the mystery of an egg thief in France and saving the day at a friendship party at sea.
For fans of steamy, sexy, breathless romance, danger and fantasy, Jordan Gray's debut novel Bitten may be the thing. Bitten begins with a teenage night time beach party in the human world and rapidly moves to a fantasy world - to the seven werewolf courts.
Gray aids the reader in understanding the built fantasy world through a number of methods. The complex fantasy court worlds are built with a hierarchy which is helpfully detailed in the front pages where the powers and jurisdictions of each hierarchy: Regents, Dukes and Duchesses, Earls and Countesses, Barons and Baronesses and lesser packs, are explained. In addition, as an aid to unpacking the complexities, is a family tree which shows the amalgamation of the two key ruling families. There is also a prologue in which the rules of the werewolf courts are laid out. Breaking these laws results in death through the pain of isolation; there is nothing worse than being barred from the pack and being forced to become a lone wolf. The terrible banishment of Cora Siveri from the court of Castle Severi on account of her having broken several laws results in generational distrust, intrigue and treachery because Cora gave birth to a child who was part human/part wolf. Power struggles and a battle for succession are a consequence.
The central character, a human girl, Vanessa Hart, witnesses her best friend's brutal murder. She herself is kidnapped and wakes in the werewolf world, in the Castle Severi. She vows revenge and holds onto that vow throughout the story, learning the ways of the court and that she herself is special in a way that she barely understands and (as is the usual trope) learns to recognise and use to her advantage. Werewolf/human interaction and romance is fairly quickly established and a hot-blooded, brutal dance of love, betrayal, intrigue and survival ensues. Being very much true to the concept of the werewolf sensitivity to daylight/night, the book is divided into three parts and action is directed by the heavens. The three parts are: the curse of the moon where Vanessa is taken from a teenagers' party on an island off the ancient town of St Augustine, Florida. "You belong to the Wolf Queen's Court now" she is told as a syringe is jammed into her neck and ..."the world darkens." The second part -" the punishment of stars" details Vanessa's life at court and growing intrigue, bloody violence and romance. The third part - "the retribution of the sun", brings the story to a twisted and somewhat baffling conclusion.
The story is action packed; the action is fast-paced and brutal. The imaginative castle setting is richly detailed. The characters are true to archetype: the evil Wolf Queen, the malevolent and sychophantic members of her court, the impossibly handsome princes, our beautiful violet-eyed heroine and a myriad of other cast members. The clash between good and evil, the holding onto good and the blurring of both is a theme. Bitten is confusing for the reader, as the world of the Wolf Court is confusing to Vanessa. In that environment, bitter palace intrigue reigns. Gut-wrenching and perplexing betrayal happens.
Beginning with a certain overwriting of metaphorical language, Gray's writing settles into its stride as the book progresses. Described variously as "dark" and "viciously sexy", Bitten is the debut novel of an author who loves books with "lots of kissing" and "hot supernatural men" and who, as an author, is developing confidence in building fantasy worlds that are both complex and coherent for the reader. As best-selling author of similar thematic titles (For the wolf/ For the throne) Hannah Whitten writes, "Jordan Gray is one to watch". There is much more than kissing in Bitten, so fair warning, this a steamy book directed at the Adult - older teen audience.
Scrolling through the Aurealis Awards finalists for Best Young Adult Novel 2025, I saw that Dark Sun Rising by A.A. Kinsela was listed and when looking further, saw that it was book 2 in the Song Gate series. Lightning tracks is the first in the series, a finalist in the Aurealis Awards in 2018, and has been republished in 2026 in print and e-book form. Although I had a huge pile of books to be read, some of them urgently needed at the public library, once I started Lightning tracks I could not put it down. It tells the story of Nick Williams, a 16-year-old boy whose only thought is keeping out of trouble at school. He arrives home to find his aunt assassinated and barely escapes with his life, as David, once his guardian, drags him through a song gate to a foreign land. Meanwhile Cal, another young man, has been enslaved by the Arai, and brought up to be an assassin. He cannot face the massacre of prisoners by his unit and escapes, joining the Bandala group of rebels. Nick is being hunted by the King who wants him dead and Cal’s skills may be the only thing that keeps him alive.
The Australian setting made Lightning tracks stand out for me. Vivid descriptions of eucalypt trees, water holes and forested hills provide a background to the adventures that Nick and Cal are thrust into. There is danger everywhere, and with war looming, the main characters’ loyalty is tested. Nick longs to return to his home through a song gate, but as he finds out his real identity, he must decide whether he will stay and defend his friends. Cal is seeking redemption for past misdeeds and longs to be part of a group that will give him freedom.
Lightning tracks is an exciting fantasy. It is easy to read with its likeable characters and suspenseful action and readers are sure to want to pick up Dark Sun Rising to see what Nick and Cal’s future holds.
Themes Fantasy, Identity, Adventure, Action.
Pat Pledger
Dogs with Jobs by Max Hamilton
Albert Street Books, 2025. ISBN: 9781761181016. (Age:3+) Highly recommended.
‘These pups are professional’ is the subtitle to this wonderful exploration of how much we are indebted to dogs. Starting with a a dental dog, companion dogs appear in other places such as school and libraries, and range to the dogs that chase away seagulls on the forecourt of the Sydney Opera House, dogs are a necessary support unit. And this book shows a wider view of the work they do.
Each double page is devoted to one area of expertise, with a brief introduction and lively illustration to show readers the work these dogs do. Starting with dogs as pets at home, the book shows some surprising dogs trained to help in areas not normally brought to mind. A dog helps younger people keep calm at the dentist, dogs help with children in hospitals, they are involved in Paralympic Games, supporting a vision impaired participant. Turning the pages readers will read about Eba a dog that sniffs out whale poo, Finn a dog which picks up the bats in baseball games in the USA, Yuki the avalanche rescue dog, Mezzo the penguin protector, and finally Teddy, the studio dog helping its owner keep on track with hugs.
From the award winning Muster Dogs and Dog Park on television, to the many books appearing about dogs, interest in dogs has blossomed, and this book will give readers a bird’s eye view of the work some dogs are trained to do, supporting our lives. It shows an amazing array of workplaces and the skills learnt and shown by these wonderful dogs.
Themes Dogs, Companion dogs, Disability.
Fran Knight
I'm Very Busy: A (Nearly Forgotten) Birthday Book by Oliver Jeffers
It was a lovely day, Bridget thought, a lovely day to spend time with friends. So she set out to see them. First she saw Royal and asked if he was doing anything later. Yes, he said, he had people to see. Then there was Rodney with his invisible dog. But he too had people to see. Later she asked Regis, but he was busy washing his hair. Each of her friends had something else to do, they were too busy to stop and spend time with their friend, Bridget. Penelope was busy digging a hole, Pearl was busy with her lists, so Bridget had no choice but to return home to blow out her birthday candles alone.
Her friends were shocked, what had they done to their friend?
Pearl asks Rodney if he knew it was Bridget’s birthday, and Rodney asked Royal, then Royal asked Regis, and Regis asked Penelope, and even though they had all said that they were too busy to meet their friend, they all rushed to prepare a birthday celebration. One made a cake, one a card, one blew up the balloons, and the others set up a table and decorations for a party. Bridget was thrilled because this was the sort of lovely day she wanted to spend with her friends. So everything came together to make it just that.
A lovely laugh out loud story will win hearts as children sympathise with Bridget, and then be happy with her and her friends who find a way not to be too busy to meet their friend. This poignant look at friendships and what makes them work will encourage children to look at the way they treat their friends, how they want to be treated themselves and what to do when forgetting a birthday.
This very funny easily relatable look at friendships, would be very helpful in a classroom or at home where adults are open to discussing issues with their students or offspring. In making a common situation humorous allows the reader to see the story with open eyes. I love the demeanour of Bridget as she goes from a very confident young girl at the start to a stooped shouldered, dejected looking girl going back home to celebrate alone.
Teen readers deserve to have intriguing mysteries that pique their curiosity and inspire them to keep reading. This is one of those books! Set within the walls of an elite boarding college, for the wealthiest families to inculcate, educate and network their children for power careers into the future, two teen sisters arrive as scholarship holders (escaping the attention of a sad family history), and land into this strange world that drips with prestige. Fellow students come from extreme wealth or neglect, and this can cause some to be difficult classmates. Younger sister Liza is prone to pushing boundaries and Douglas College does not suit her personality. Older sister Meg is perhaps more suited to the academic rigours of her new school, but she soon has doubts about Douglas College when Liza’s personality changes overnight. An unexplained death, or two, and doubts about the school’s leadership and governance sets Meg, her roommate, and a few trusted hackers onto the search for truth. But are they putting their own lives at risk? Or can they fight against the power of wealth and privilege without being manipulated by it or is something evil at play?
Written by Australian author Amy Doak, this story has the hallmarks of an American YA mystery. The ‘wealth and privilege’ society and the ‘boarding school life for rich children’ is mostly at a considerable distance from Aussie teen experience (except through Film and TV), but this is not a problem. The story is almost a reality-fantasy scenario that twists and turns with thriller possibilities, and a little teen romance. It is engaging and exciting for YA readers aged 13-18. The main YA characters are mostly trying to uncover secrets surrounding the school rather than be openly and actively rebellious, and the poor relationships with families seem to be a symptom of great wealth or possibly a consequence of the mystery that unfolds. This is the kind of book that teens will share based on positive peer-reviews and the joy of discovering a book that has a dark cynicism and cinematic feel.
Themes Wealth, Mystery, Boarding school, Teen romance, Murder, Mind control, Biological poisons.
The Twelve Houses series by Sharon Shinn is one of my favourite fantasy series, which I reread every year, especially when I want wonderful characters, romance, shapeshifters and magic. When I saw that Shifter and Shadow was a novella that came immediately after The Thirteenth House, I hoped that some of the niggling questions that stayed with me when I finished that book would be answered. Kirra Danalustrous, a shapeshifter and daughter of a rich marlord has fled to a small fishing village after an affair went wrong, with her loyal protector Donal following her. The village houses children dying from the fatal red-horse fever and Kirra has found a radical cure for it. She turns the children into dogs who can take the medicine that will save them. When they recover, she turns them back into children. But many people fear the magic. Will Kirra convince the parents to let her save the children? Will she mend her broken heart?
Shifter and shadow is a short novella that highlights Donal, the shapeshifter who is usually sitting quietly in the shadows, while the beautiful Kirra bewitches those around her. It has been painful for him to see her grieving the loss of another man and he keeps to his animal form rather than talking to her. As well as healing the children, it is a time of healing for Kirra as she gradually moves on from her grief and begins to appreciate the stoic young man who loves her.
This is not a stand-alone novella, but a wonderful addition to the series, which fills in the gap about Kirra and Donal's relationship in a very satisfying way. The series is best initially read in order: Mystic and rider, The Thirteenth House, Dark Moon Defender, Reader and Raelynx, and Fortune and Fate, although readers like me might dip back into favourite books for a second or third rewarding re-read.
Themes Fantasy, Magic, Romance.
Pat Pledger
The ocelot and the crab by Shaun Micallef. Illus. by Rebel Challenger
The speedy ocelot loves to run. And what is an ocelot, readers may ask. The opening pages give an outline of what he is and what he is not, presented in four line rhyming stanzas, which beg the readers to predict the rhyming word. He is compared with a panther, and a tiger, a cat and a cheetah, leopard and a jaguar, all designed for readers to check out the differences, and predict the attributes he does have.
His competitor is a crab, lured by the offer of millions in gold and doubloons to the winner.
The readers may think that the race is unfair given the different competitors, but we are told, the ocelot has no sense of direction. So what could possibly go wrong?
While the crab scuttles forward, its goal a huge walk away, the ocelot becomes hopelessly lost and travels the world in search of his route. So the reader gets to see Stonehenge, the Eiffel Tower, the Sphinx, Hadrian’s Wall, Kolkata, Prague and the sands of Sahara. While seeing these sights, the crab on the other hand is diligently walking, taking the day to walk about a mile, his friends seeing that at this pace the course will take him a month.
Meanwhile the ocelot has flagged down a police car to ask directions, and they cordially take him to Mount Olaf, the end of the race, where he is greeted wildly by his fans. Even though he has technically won, things happen to make things fairer, and all is resolved by the last page.
The rhyming stanzas carry the story beautifully, with some devious and ingenious rhyme that will make kids laugh.
And the moral of the tale comes as a twist at the end. With nods to Aesop’s Tortoise and the hare, this tale is different in that the faster animal uses trickery to win and is found out, while the crab just does what he always does, scuttling along at his own pace.
With illustrations to capture the imagination of the readers, humour abounds on each page. The obvious differences between the competitors is a source of hilarity, and reveal the scrapes they get into, sure to bring smiles to all faces. Using pencil and digital enhancement, Challenger is able to pick out the animals’ attributes with ease, her love of flora and fauna shining through.
This is a great read aloud, begging children to predict and join in, and to be borrowed and read for pleasure at home or at school, with lots of delicious words to stretch the imagination. I loved coming across rhymes that were different from what I expected, and I loved the maps on the endpapers giving a place in which the race is set. And the crab on the cover reading a map, predicts the fun to be had opening the pages of the book.
Themes Race, Competition, Ocelot, Crabs, Humour.
Fran Knight
The sunbird by Sara Haddad
University of Queensland Press, 2026. ISBN: 9780702271076. (Age:9+) Highly recommended.
How can a new country be put inside a country that was already there?
This beautiful book tells the story of Nabila Yasmeen, an 80-year-old lady living in Australia reflecting on her childhood in Palestine and her journey to Australia after the 1947 UN resolution to create a country inside a country.
The Sunbird (young readers edition) is an adaptation of the critically acclaimed adult novella of the same name and is beautifully written in language that young readers can understand. From Nabila’s idyllic childhood in her village where she plays with her friend Khalil, climbs trees and dreams of going to school, to leaving Palestine, settling in Lebanon and finally travelling to Australia, this book engages the reader in the experience of a child living through the unrest and horror that continues today.
The impact of dividing Palestine into two states is explored but in a way that is not overwhelming to the reader however, what is left unsaid allows the older reader to consider the impact of war and civil unrest on families, community and culture. The black and white illustrations enhance the story with their simplicity, and the short chapters make this book easily accessible for all independent readers.
The Sunbird would make an excellent addition to any library, both home and school. It would be an excellent read aloud for a classroom or an independent read. The information in the back of the book is very helpful to understand the history of Palestine and the culture and language of Nabila’s family. Teacher's notes are available.
Simon & Schuster, 2025. ISBN: 9781398536265. (Age:14+) Recommended.
Fans of romantic fantasy are sure to enjoy The Wycherleys, set in the popular Regency period, with its unique magic, a slow burning romance, beautiful ballgowns and deadly danger. Seventeen-year-old Aurelia Wycherley has been looking forward to her debutante season as a witch but the Nightly Curse changed her magic, turning her hair grey and leaving her peers afraid. To practise her magic, she needs a tether, a perfect match to work with, but no one wants to be near her and without a tether she will lose her magic completely. Jules Nightly is a descendant of the Nightly who cursed the Wycherleys and when Aurelia learns that he is trying to find a way for witches to retain their magic without a tether, she reluctantly joins forces with him, searching through old spell books and tracing links to a deadly group that is murdering witches. Together they face a growing attraction and deadly danger.
The Regency setting is delightful to read about. Aurelia and her friend Constance agonise over what gowns to wear to the masked ball; flowers are sent by prospective partners and beautifully illustrated invitations are scattered throughout the book. Against this background the author outlines the fear that Aurelia has of losing her magic and the determination that Jules has of finding a solution and helping his sister and Aurelia keep their magic. The author deftly manages the love-hate relationship between Jules and Aurelia, while describing their discovery of runes that leads to a breakthrough about magic connections and the exploration of who could be murdering witches and how it threatens the magical world.
The Wycherleys is an engaging story that is sure to please readers who have enjoyed the Twin Crownsseries by Catherine Doyle and Katherine Webber and Divine rivals by Rebecca Ross and they will want to pick up the next in the series, Love and other curses.
