Elements of Cadence: Book 2. HarperCollins, 2023. ISBN: 9780008514716. (Age:Adult - Senior secondary) Recommended.
The second in the duology commencing with A river enchanted, brings this gripping fantasy to a satisfying conclusion. Cadence has balanced between the Breccans and the Tamerlaines, East and West, with Bane the spirit of the North Wind, trying to dominate both sides. Adaira has been claimed by her birth mother in the West and finds it difficult to adjust to the brutal lifestyle, while Jack longs for her in the East, while composing music to lure the spirits to him. Torin and Sidra are faced with a dangerous disease that has spread from orchards to humans and both must play a vital role in finding a cure and uniting the clans.
I picked this up immediately after reading A river enchanted, longing to discover the fate of Jack and Adaira, separated by distance and politics. Ross answers this question in a memorable way in A fire endless, with some unexpected dangers and sacrifices made along the way. Torin too, grows in character and understanding, as he must find his way in the unique spirit world, which is described vividly and is fascinating. Sidra takes on unexpected burdens while struggling to find a cure for the deadly sickness that is attacking trees and humans. The feelings between Jack and Adaira, and Torin and Sidra, will be enjoyed by readers who like strong relationships in their fantasy, and while Ross classes this duology as adult the romance scenes are fairly low key.
There is plenty of action, danger and unique world building for lovers of high fantasy. Readers are also left with a feeling of optimism as both warring clans and dying earth are healed through sacrifice. Readers who enjoyed the music in the story may like to move onto the Warrior Bards series by Juliet Marillier, beginning with Harp of kings and those who enjoyed the magical aspects may like Spells for forgetting by Adrienne Young.
Themes Fantasy, Magic, Music, Sacrifice.
Pat Pledger
Suzy Urbaniak: Volcano hunter and STEAM warrior by Cristy Burne
The most recent narrative non-fiction in the Aussie STEM Stars series introduces geologist and science facilitator, Suzy Urbaniak. Suzy grew up in St Albans, on the outskirts of Melbourne and was of Polish descent. Her parents ran a popular and successful suburban butcher shop and Suzy grew up surrounded by a loving family and extended community. She was given the freedom to roam and explore her natural environment and this gave birth to her love of rocks and fascination with volcanoes.
Unfortunately for Suzy, school was not always the right fit for her, and she had to make many adjustments to the strict rules and expectations imposed. While a negative and often disturbing experience at the time, it did however shape the woman she would become and bring about significant positive changes to how Science would be taught in the schools Suzy worked in.
Suzy has achieved many things over a long career including awards at University in the 1980’s, working as a Geologist at a mine after graduating, and finally retraining in 2004 as a secondary Science teacher. It is her work with school students that have given her more well-deserved accolades. This vibrant woman, with such a passion for sharing her inquisitive and investigative nature, is a worthy recipient of her amazing story being shared in the Aussie Stem Stars series.
Penguin, 2023. ISBN: 9780241556047. (Age:14+) Recommended for Romance readers.
The Davenports have wealth and privilege that is woven with a history of disadvantage and hope. This is a romance story that weaves the stories of the Davenport siblings, their friends and the incredible struggle to succeed for Afro-Americans at the beginning of the twentieth century. The Davenport family are an anomaly of their time – a successful black American family in Chicago, who display all the trappings of wealth earned from their position as successful carriage builders, despite their history of slavery only years before. They balance lives that include shopping, banquets and balls, with the disdain and distrust of white residents who look down on anyone with dark skin. The children in the family are at the point of making their own way in the world, but their parents are desperate to make sure that they escape the struggle that was a part of their own slave history. The consequence is that they live lives akin to an English Jane Austen novel, and the romantic notion for their future is impacted by different generational viewpoints. Can they choose their own path for the future, or must they have their lives and their loves directed by their parents? In this difficult environment there are also activists who are keen to make sure that the disgrace of past prejudice and slavery is wiped out and that black voices are heard and esteemed in America.
Essentially this is a romance story of the young main characters and their struggles to find their own paths in life. But it is also a story that speaks of success in the Afro-American world at the turn of the twentieth century – a story that is rarely heard, because it is rarely told. But because of the setting within a family of wealth, this story also feels like a companion text to Bridgerton or The Gilded Age. Occasionally the story feels a little too good to be believed, the romance is ‘sticky’ in its sweetness, but it also does not proceed smoothly for any of the characters and so rises above a saccharine or overly sentimental feel. Despite that, this is still a book for the lovers of romance, or for those who are fascinated to read from a perspective that is not white, patriarchal and condescending. For the author and those of her Afro-American heritage it also relates a narrative that they have seldom seen in literature, marked by success and drive, hopes and determination.
Having met the concept of Death-Cast in Silvera’s previous book They Both Die at the End (2017), I approached this new book, a prequel, with a sense of familiarity, but also wondering where the reader was going to be taken this time. The 2017 novel was extraordinary in that it was so different in its approach to subjects which could be very disturbing. It keeps the reader guessing throughout; set over the course of one day we meet two boys who have been contacted by Death-Cast only to be told that they will both die before the end of the day. The two boys in that story are strangers but this terrifying news brings them together as friends. Apparently, through TikTok, Silvera attracted a huge following of young readers. Upon the book’s release, Patrick Ness (author of The Knife of Letting Go) is quoted as saying, ‘There isn’t a teenager alive who won’t find their heart described perfectly on these pages’. The opportunity for introducing the reader to Death-Cast presented itself; hence the prequel. The company is launched in the first chapter of the book, with the president of the United States introducing the creator of Death-Cast. We follow Orion who, with a severe heart condition, decides that he wants to sign up, but not be the first to be called. Valentine isn’t sure that he believes the company’s claims. Both boys meet at a party and there follows a heart wrenching story as the two anticipate the call but also want to spend their last day together. The story telling pattern set up by Silvera with each character given an alternating chapter is the same as the previous book. These two boys go through different experiences but the feelings are similar, and, like the first book, the plot is riveting; though a lengthy novel, the reader’s interest never wavers. There is no need to have read the 2017 book but that did provide me with some valuable context and insight as I read this prequel. Needless to say there are references to disturbing topics such as grief and abuse but the novel is sensitively written and never loses sight of hopefulness.
Fans of Alice Oseman’s wildly successful Heartstopper series will welcome a chance to spend time with the characters they have grown to love, in this yearbook which looks back on the years since Heartstopper was first conceived, celebrating friendship, diversity and championing LGBTQ+ issues with a smile. This is not just a pastiche of Oseman’s previous material but an exploration of the artist’s journey from early concepts and sketches to the latest iteration, a Netflix series featuring real actors. Starting with scrapbook style profile pages of some of the main characters we are soon taken back to 2013 when the first drawings of Nick and Charlie were evolving in cheap sketchbooks. By 2014 Oseman was exploring digital drawings on a Wacom tablet and free drawing software called Gimp. More sophisticated software followed and participation in online art challenges including one in 2016 where she had to draw her characters in alternate universes and ‘emjoi challenges where my Tumblr followers would send me emjoi suggestions and I’d have to draw my characters with those expressions' p. 23. That was the year the Heartstopper comic was launched online and by 2017 she was preparing for a physical edition of the book and redrawing most of the pages. Success followed rapidly but the overwhelming impression is that it comes through constant drawing and hard work developing the characters and responding to followers; 2020 ‘was the year I started to feel very proud of my art style and how far I had come as an artist' p. 45. Readers just looking for more Heartstopper stories will find mini comics, a quiz and lots of extra, previously unpublished material. The author is fully involved with sharing the creation process, giving the book a journal feel, every corner filled with colourful images or comment and there are even step by step instructions on how to draw the main characters. 'Experimenting with art is the best way to develop as an artist' p. 55 and Osman shares plenty of material and inspiration here. Lovers of Heartstopper will embrace this well presented edition and it might win more fans, but there is plenty also for aspiring artists and comic makers.
Themes LGBTQ+, Friendship, Comics,Art design.
Sue Speck
Never ever getting back together by Sophie Gonzales
Like The Bachelor reality TV show, this novel centres around the premise of Jordy a handsome single man thrown into the public eye when his sister marries a prince, and a TV show proposing to bring together his previous girlfriends in a quest to reignite the romance they once had, and find the girl who truly captures his heart. Two of the contestants have reason to hate each other. Maya believes that Jordy cheated on her with Skye. And Skye has been told that Maya is an insanely jealous ex who can’t accept that Jordy broke up with her. Yet the two young women are thrown together in a share room – obviously a strategy to ignite drama for the program.
Maya’s motive in joining the program is revenge. She wants to win Jordy back and then expose him for the vain deceitful liar that he is. For Skye it’s a chance to find out if maybe Jordy was something special. They are two interesting characters: Maya is spontaneous, often finding herself in embarrassing situations, whilst Skye is much more reserved, the careful planner. Their relationship follows the common hate-to-love trope, which sees them become gradually more interested in each other, and united in their contempt for Jordy.
It is a lighthearted rom-com with a twist, and the setting of the reality TV show makes for lots of fun. The machinations of the producers to get content that will draw in audiences is exposed, along with the power of the camera-holder to tell the story their way. Everything is geared towards creating the best drama, regardless of any consideration of truth. And Jordy is a person who fits just fine into that kind of manipulated make-believe situation.
If you have read any of Sophie Gonzales’ novels, you will know that the real romance here will be an LGBQTI+ one. The path to romance for Maya and Skye is not without some stumbling blocks, and their inner reservations, their insecurities and their budding attraction are described in a very authentic and empathetic way. This is a warm and uplifting story about people overcoming the experiences that have held them back in the past and moving forward to create their own futures.
Taylor’s dilemma is that she hasn’t told anyone she is gay, she’s only just working it out. But her qualifying entry in a competition for a diverse writer’s internship with the ‘Saturday Night Live’ comedy show, means that she needs to come out before the winning submission is announced. Thus begins the countdown and the tension, as Taylor’s anxiety builds. At the same time, she is tentatively exploring her attraction to ‘out and proud’ classmate Charlotte Grey.
There’s many a laugh because Taylor comes from a family of comedians, though her mother gave up her career when baby Taylor came along. Taylor’s quick wit and clever comments make the book a fun read. At the same time, there is a very realistic portrayal of the uncertainties and excitement of a newly budding romance.
All of this takes place in Salem, Massachusetts, a town of waxworks and witchcraft museums, with many an oddball character, making for a very funny LGBQTI+ rom-com. While this often makes for laughs, the teenage love story will still tug at many a heart-string. It is a very realistic portrayal of first love that will draw in YA readers, regardless of their gender identification, as the values of love, trust and self-acceptance come through strongly.
Themes LGBQTI+, Humour, Romance, Identity, Acceptance of diversity.
Helen Eddy
Queer up: An Uplifting Guide to LGBTQ+ Love, Life and Mental health by Alexis Caught
Alexis Caught, award-winning podcaster, sets out in this book to help queer and questioning students explore their LGBTQIA+ identity and understanding of what it all means. In amongst personal experience from the author are first-hand stories from public LGBTQIA+ figures (primarily UK based), which gives readers an inclusive account of what it means to grow up queer. Chapters include questioning, coming out, friends and family, love and relationships, sex, shame, pride, and more. Topics also include being transgender and/or non-binary, and there are dedicated sections for those who are allies or want to be - with advice and tips on how to best support the LGBTQIA+ community. This is an honest and very open book, with helpful notes for those going through significant life changes - could be beneficial to anyone who needs advice, tips or support. A very encouraging book that would be good for any one questioning or for those who need a bit of help with their newly recognised queerness. Thoughtfully compiled, this book has the right mix of sensitivity and honesty - the mental health aspects are inclusive, supportive and useful for all readers, from any walk of life. While different in context, readers who enjoyed Lady Gaga's book Channel Kindness: Stories of Kindness and Community would also enjoy this book, and it is a must read for those wanting to understand more about supporting young people who identify as LGBTQIA+.
University of Queensland Press, 2021. ISBN: 9780702263149. (Age:16+) Highly recommended.
This romance novel takes place in Brisbane and tells the story of what happens when Henry Hamlet’s life is turned upside down by a game of Truth or Dare.
Henry Hamlet is clumsy, awkward and socially inept. His delightful family provide a safe and dependable cocoon that has encapsulated Henry until this, his last year as school captain. At school his friends provide the buffer he needs in order to navigate the treacherous path that is secondary school.
The characters in this novel are unique and richly drawn. We learn about their qualities, loves, pet peeves and frailties. From the suave, talented and popular Len to the prickly, bossy and perceptive Gran, the reader is drawn deeply into their lives to experience their life and loves. Gran is getting married again – to the new love of her life and Len is embarking on the rollercoaster of desire.
Wilde throws into stark relief the role of families in nurturing young people and the kinds of love expressed or withheld. Her writing gently, but powerfully, ignores the preconceived ideas surrounding LGBTQI love and relates the heartbreak, pining, and happiness of couples in a positive and nurturing style.
This is a book full of heart and humour. You won’t be able to put it down. Teacher's notes are available.
Henry Hamlet’s Heart is Rhiannon Wilde’s first novel. It won the Queensland Literary Awards Glendower Award for an Emerging Queensland Writer in 2019.
Themes LGBTQI, Loyalty, Relationships – friends and family, Romance.
A queer retelling of Back To The Future,Spin Me Right Round follows Luis, a gay high schooler whose attempts to petition for prom to be more inclusive are met with condemnation as a result of the school’s negative attitude towards queer students; a ripple effect of the tragic death of Chaz Wilson, a closeted gay student, in 1985. When his scheme to trick the principal into allowing same-sex couples at prom goes awry, Luis suffers a head injury that sends him back in time to 1985, where he finds himself face to face with the very student whose death sabotaged his inclusive prom. A fan of time-slip adventures, Luis enlists the help of his favourite teacher, Ms. Silverthorn, as well as his highschooler mother and her friends, and decides that his purpose in 1985 is to save Chaz.
An engaging tale with many twists and turns, Spin Me Right Round provides poignant lessons for students and the school community alike. Penned by a Cuban-American gay author, this novel is a call-to-action, providing insight into the importance of allyship through encouraging individuals to learn about and be accepting of others regardless of their backgrounds and identities, and of being true to oneself no matter the consequences. This book is highly recommended, an essential in school libraries, both for students to feel seen and validated in who they are, and for the community to better learn how to be of support to students exploring who they are in this most sensitive time in their lives.
It is important that students are warned of the homophobia, racism, and mature themes in this novel, especially the inclusion of abuse of power by way of teacher-student sexual relationships.
Themes LGBTQIA+ identities and relationships, Coming of age, High school, Time travel.
Daniella Chiarolli
Julian at the wedding by Jessica Love
Walker Books, 2020. ISBN: 9781406397482. (Age: 3+) Highly recommended. American author illustrator,Jessica Love won deserved praise for her debut picture book, Julian is a mermaid (2019) and this will be reprised for her sequel, Julian at the wedding (2020). Both books overflow with charm. They are vivacious, colourful and entertaining, warm and funny, dealing with the boy, Julian, who simply loves to dress up. Surrounded by aunties, family and friends who also rise to the occasion of a wedding, dressing in their finery, filling their hair with colour and verve, donning their most colourful and striking outfits, Julian goes to the wedding with his friend, Marisol, but they are in the wedding, not observers. Julian is dressed in an unusual blue suit, and the brides give him their dog to hold, but when the wedding breakfast is in progress, the children decide to explore the garden. Marisol plays with the dog while Julian enfolds himself in the branches of the willow tree imagining it is a fairy house. When the two friends come together again, Marisol's dress has been covered in mud. Julian has an idea and takes Marisol back under the tree. The two children are delightful, their characters standing out to the reader as they attend the wedding, finding an adventure away from the festivities. This lovely book will be a favourite amongst readers as they pour over the detail in the images created by Love, wonder at her technique using brown paper, and look closely at the outfits worn by all the members of the wedding party. The whole oozes with love, friendship and tenderness as the two children dance around the bridal couple. I love the two books, showcasing society in all of its diversity, presenting difference and acceptance with humour, love and subtlety. Teacher's notes are available. Themes: Friendship, Love, Weddings, LGBT. Fran Knight
'Twas the night before Pride by Joanna McClintick. Illus. by Juana Medina
Parodying the well known ‘Twas the night before Christmas, this warmly entertaining book about the gay community and their celebrations at the Pride march, will inform and captivate younger readers who may well know of this celebration but with this offering are given greater awareness of this group within our community and what has happened in the past.
It is Sammy’s first Pride and his older brother is keen for him to know about why it is celebrated. He gives a potted history of the Stonewall march which in 1969 developed from action because of the frustration with the way the gay community was being treated, to an organised event celebrated over the whole world. The hundreds who gathered in New York at the Stonewall Inn grew as more people joined in.
Today the Pride march is a celebration for all, and this is shown in the illustrations, as many people gather to march. A rainbow collection of all sorts of people, couples, singles, parents, children, all as diverse as any world group, line the street to show support and encouragement to those who march. From those who spend hours dressing up to the ones in their shorts and tees, all are welcome on this proud exhibition of solidarity.
Younger readers will enjoy scanning the pages and particularly the end papers with the its range of peoples included in them, while older readers may be able to look at how the illustrator has incorporated images of New York and the Stonewall march in the pages.
Accessing the video will enable readers and parents alike to come to an understanding of why McClintock wrote the book. She like all her family and friends are captivated by the glam and glitter, fun and comraderie, but wanted to show younger children the background and why it started; its more serious side. And this she has done well, children reading this book will understand that once gay people were not tolerated, and they had to take a stand. That stand was echoed around the world, culminating in marches everywhere. An activity kit is available.
Illus. by Faith Erin Hicks. Macmillan, 2019. ISBN: 9781529008630.
(Age: 14+) Recommended. Graphic Novel. Themes: Friendship,
Transitions. This graphic novel's initial impression suffers a
little from its American origins as the concept of a pumpkin patch
as a theme park was confusing at first so it took a few pages to get
a feel for the setting. Hick's use of 'pumpkin-tinted' colours in
the book serves to set the scene and Rowell's reputation of
developing believable characters has been built on her other novels,
Eleanor and Park and Fangirl. She has written an
engaging story about friendship, beginnings, endings and taking
chances. This book should resonate with teens and young adults who
are about to embark on their own life changes. While it is exciting
to be starting something new it also often becomes a time of
uncertainty, reluctance and sadness and this book celebrates both
this and the role of friendship in taking these steps.
Josiah and Deja are good friends and are on their last shift at
their holiday jobs at the Pumpkin Patch before heading off to
college. The story follows Deja's attempts to ensure Josiah resolves
his long unrequited crush on another girl who works in the park
before the nights ends. Set against the backdrop of the theme park
we see the friends savouring their memories and saying goodbye to
this stage of their lives as they mentally prepare themselves for
something new.
Rowell's story rejoices in the bonds of friendship while Hick's
charming and expressive panels draw the reader in, building the main
characters and their surroundings. Deja's strength contrasts with
Josiah's uncertainty and this is obvious in the words as well as the
drawings.
In all, the book is non-judgemental and matter of fact with love and
relationships the underlying important theme.
Gaye Howe
Queer heroes by Arabelle Sicardi
Illus. by Sarah Tanat-Jones. Quarto Publishing, 2019. ISBN:
9781786034861.
(Ages: 10+) Highly recommended. Themes: LGBTQ, Difference, Heroes
and heroines. Subtitled, Meet 52 LGBTQ heroes from past and
present, this brightly inviting book does just that. Each page
is devoted to one person who has advocated the LGBTQ cause. From
Sappho in Ancient Greece to Krsten Stewart, from Da Vince to Harvey
Milk, from Tchaikovsky to Khalid Abdle-Hadi, the coverage is
amazing, including people from all continents, ethnic backgrounds
and positions in society.
Many will be well known to younger readers, but equally, many will
be unknown, informing the reader about people new to them. Readers
will love reading about people like Freddie Mercury and David Bowie,
Sia and Tim Cook, but will be equally fascinated by stories of
people like Virginia Wolfe, Vikram Seth, Nobuko Yoshiya and
Josephine Baker.
Each of the stories gives an outline of their lives, where and when
they were born (and died) and the journey they took in being
accepted. Sometimes the article is ended with a quote which for some
encapsulates their life's work.
Subhi Nahas for example has a page devoted to him, his portrait
surrounded by many flags and we see that he was born in 1988 in
Idlib in Syria. Pursued by the military for being gay he fled Syria
to Turkey where he became an activist, but as things changed there,
he fled again to the USA. Here he set up a group called Spectra
Project an organisation promoting the cause of LGBTQ refugees around
the world.
Several people like Frida Khalo, for example have two pages devoted
to their story. Frida was an artist born in Mexico in 1907 and her
work as one of the twentieth century's best artists as well as her
work promoting feminism and civil rights have been widely
recognised.
Another person, Lili Elbe, born in 1992 in Denmark has had her story
recognised through the film, The Danish Girl. She was born a
male and fought hard to have her transgender status recognised and
to have gender reassignment surgery. Her story is all the more
astounding when she was having this ground breaking surgery in the
first years of the twentieth century.
A wonderful read, presenting both known and little known activists
in this field, the book will be a hit on the library shelves. I read
it as a dip in, lamenting the publisher's decision not to include
either a contents page or index, limiting its ease of use, but the
content easily outweighs this consideration.
Fran Knight
Frizzle and me by Ellie Royce and Andrew McLean
Ford Street Publishing, 2021. ISBN: 9781925804744. (Age:4+) Highly recommended.
A charming story of an extended family will resonate with all children in our schools particularly those who are part of a melded family. The narrator and her mother live alone until Mummy falls in love with Jani. Eventually Jani moves in with them, and so the family became three with Jani good at reading stories at night. When the girl is three her father comes to stay. The family is now four, Mummy, Jani, David and the young girl. Each time she asks a number of questions about how things might change, and readers will love the answers, happy that the best things in her life will stay the same.
The family continues to grow as David marries Elizabeth. Again the questions about hugs and bedtime reading, along with David’s cooking and Elizabeth’s singing are asked, reassuring the girl that these will not change. Then when Elizabeth becomes pregnant the baby’s development is followed avidly by the narrator, eager to show the child she calls Frizzle, how to climb the tree.
This wonderful story gently underlines the things that are important to a young child; hugs, singing, cooking and reading. Each is shown with a disarming warmth by award winning illustrator, Andrew McLean who offers an extended family in all of its many guises. Readers will love seeing the things the family does together, sharing what they have, laughing and loving, taking the changes in their stride, but always making sure the child knows what is happening and is included and loved.
McLean’s illustrations show a wonderful mixed family, two couples and a baby and the young girl, living happily together. The background shows a warm happy environment with fruit trees, vegetables growing in the raised beds, a warm kitchen well used by cook, David and lots of toys and books. It reflects all that is the best of a warm inviting family home and will be instantly recognised by the readers. The detailed illustrations, a mix of watercolour, pencil and gouache, will ensure the readers take in everything on each page as they read the gently humorous text. Teacher's notes are available.
