Hachette, 2022. ISBN: 9781408727812. (Age:Adult - Young adult)
Set in 1985 this is a prequel to Tom Clancy’s book Red Rabbit featuring CIA agent Jack Ryan. At the time West Germany was communist and there is a helpful map of Cold War Europe and a list of principal characters and “useful terms” at the start of the book to help the reader keep track of abbreviations. The story starts with a note passed to a young State Department Foreign Services officer in Berlin during a bag snatch. The mysterious woman who passed the note disappears and the bag snatcher dies, poisoned. The note offers the US secret information in return for defection. Scene shift and we find Jack Ryan, CIA Liaison to M16 living a luxury life in London with his attractive, sexy wife and family. The phone rings and Jack is suddenly recalled to the US. Scene shift again to the desert testing site where an experimental F117 Nighthawk top secret radar evading US jet crashes, observed by a number of UFO spotters. Unknown to them one of their number is a Soviet spy who, after casually murdering two people, is able to obtain a piece of the crashed jet and sets off with it pursued by all the forces the US can muster. The story shifts back and forth between the search, Ryan and the potential defector so that by page 104 the orienting chapter heading "Moscow” was a relief. The acronyms, code names, nicknames (“clearly something that had to be earned” p. 28) secrecy and paranoia become tiring after a while as does the stereotyping of the East Germans "as if actors hired to play a role” p. 109. There is a lot of detail about guns, cars and the makeup of the various spy networks along with random acts of violence, feeding nostalgia in to American audiences, but by page 155 I had lost track of who was who and I didn’t care. 20 years after Red Rabbit author Marc Cameron revisits Tom Clancy’s style and I am sure fans will welcome this addition to the many that have been written since Clancy’s death but it did not stand alone and was a disappointing read.
Themes Cold War, Spies, Thriller.
Sue Speck
The art of grieving by Corinne Laan
Rockpool Publishing, 2022. ISBN: 9781922579201.
There are many different types of grief, and this book looks at the spectrum of grief and healing. Loss of a relationship, loss of a loved one, losses come in different forms, as does self care and healing. Written by a former specialist nurse, natural healer and licensed acupuncturist and Traditional Chinese medicine practitioner, the book is full of tips, suggestions and advice on self care and rituals to aid healing. Starting with a discussion of what grief is and the different kinds of grief before moving into detail about how to use rituals for moving forward, the book then outlines rituals in different areas (release, gratitude, stillness and more), before listing recipes and different food for healing.
Perfect for those interested in learning how to perform meditation and rituals at home, with information about essential oils, materials required and guides through different rituals. Readers can find rituals ideal for a variety of different healing purposes, as well as information about how to set up the space. Useful for those experiencing loss and grief, with lots of tips and suggestions. The author uses their personal experience as well their training in medicine and alternative healing practices, guiding readers with gentleness to find peace and move towards healing.
Ford Street Publishing, 2022. ISBN: 9781922696106. (Age:9+) Highly recommended.
Speck of the Stars by Henry Boffin is the first novel in a fabulous new Starfall Saga series. This brand-new space odyssey adventure feels like some sort of twist on Harry Potter meets Star Trek. With a lead character who is highly relatable and endearing, you will be intrigued and invested from the opening chapter. Jam-packed with suspense and excitement, along with aliens and monsters, this story is a great series for anyone who enjoys science fiction or just loves an interesting adventure.
Floating in a Galaxy far, far away is the Grand Orbital Library which stores all the history of the Galaxy. On this spectacular spaceship lives Speck, a twelve-year-old human orphan who has been raised by droids. He was found, as a baby, by the High Librarian Keeper who sensed this orphan had an important purpose. Given to the ship’s droids to care for, he lives with his robot brother and mother, U-T and Mother-bot.
Speck is a curious and courageous human, but he is unsure of how and where he fits into the world of bots and keepers. When the Night Eaters arrive with a secret discovery, Speck’s curiosity is heightened. Sent by the High Librarian to work with the Guild Leader of the Night Eaters, he wonders if he will find his true calling. But when Speck’s snooping discovers the dangerous Starchild his actions have vast consequences. Can Speck really be anything he wants to be, or will his adventures prove too dangerous for himself and all other galaxy dwellers alike?
Henry Boffin has created an exciting and captivating novel. It is wonderful to have a story with a strong male protagonist who has the courage to create his own destiny, while showing compassion for others. This is a great new series that will be enjoyed by many – sci fi lover or not!
Themes Science Fiction, Adventure, Problem solving, Courage.
Celebrated paper cut out artist Chihiro Takeuchi displays his talents for a younger audience. And with dinosaurs as his theme, the book will win many fans. Each quartet of pages begins with the same question, ‘whose dinosaur bones?’, along with the question is a set of footprints and some food giving clues as to the animal concerned. Facing is a page of scattered bones which show its head shape and a few other clues children may spy. Once the page is turned the bones are assembled into an image of the animal, while the facing page shows what it would have looked like when alive. Each four pages will be well perused for clues and the pages turned back to hunt for clues they may have missed after seeing the complete image. A wonderful group of pages encouraging close inspection, prediction, hunting for clues, assembling of information and so on. Younger children will pursue these pages with determination, discussing with each other what they have noticed, drawing on their knowledge of dinosaurs and clue spotting. The last two pages give some fun facts about the dinosaurs shown in the book, which will delight, inform and amaze younger readers.
A little more about the artist can be found here, and it also includes a list of her books.
And the book begs children to try out their own paper cutting techniques, emulating Takeuchi and her incredible skill.
Themes STEM, Dinosaurs, Prediction, Problem solving, Humour.
Fran Knight
What do you think? by Matthew Syed
Wren & Rook, 2022. ISBN: 9781526364937. (Age:11+)
Matthew Syed, mindset consultant and author of Dare to Be You: Defy Self-Doubt, Fearlessly Follow Your Own Path and Be Confidently You! and You Are Awesome: Find Your Confidence and Dare to be Brilliant at (Almost) Anything, has written his third practical non-fiction book for children encouraging effective social communication, confidence and kindness. The sub-heading of the latest release, What Do YOU Think?, is How to Agree to Disagree and Still Be Friends. The book aims to give positive strategies to children to navigate successful relationships with peers and adults in their daily interactions.
The contents page highlights seven chapters beginning with the chapter one title Are you A jumper? referring to someone who jumps to conclusions and ending with the final chapter, The Battle of ideas: How to argue and stay friends. Following the Contents page is the introduction which discusses personal thoughts, the thoughts of others and how do we let people know what we think. With an interesting layout, accessible text, graphic images, highlighted key words, quirky tips and shared stories especially from the author, this humourous book will appeal to those upper middle grade and early high school readers who are looking for ideas and support to confidently find their place in the world.
Themes Communication, Feelings, Critical Thinking, Social Skills, Confidence.
The recent Men’s Soccer World Cup 2022 t and the upcoming FIFA Women’s world Cup 2023 tournament has continued to foster Australian children’s love of soccer. This latest release What Makes a Matilda provides an informative and in depth look at Australia’s champion women’s soccer team. The introduction gives a straightforward historical account of the struggle women’s football has had in both Australia and around the world, and its journey to 2023. This is followed by a detailed discussion of the ParaMatildas providing an insight into their history and team. Throughout the book are player profiles, including well known Samantha Kerr, presented with easily accessible text, graphic images, comments, quotes and diagrams. In the centre of the book are glossy captioned colour images offering plenty of interesting facts. As well as providing the reader with the history of the sport for women, the book gives aspiring soccer players advice for improving their own football skills. In the final pages are Matilda’s Records including a list of all who have played for the Australian Women’s team. There is a much needed index at the end of the book and a contents page at the beginning would have been an important addition.
Set in a dystopian future, not too distant from the present, Our missing hearts is set in an America that has been through a national economic and social ‘Crisis’, with people losing their jobs and homes, and blaming China ‘that perilous, yellow menace’. Suspicion turns to the Chinese, or Asian looking Americans, in their midst, those with ‘foreign faces, foreign names’. The Protecting American Culture and Traditions Act, or PACT, is introduced to protect American values, report potential threats, and protect children from environments espousing harmful views. Child removal becomes a means of political control. America has a long history of child removals: the separation of enslaved famiies, and of American Indian families, inequities in the foster care system, and separation of migrant families at the U.S. border. It also has a resonance in Australia’s stolen generations. So the world Ng creates has its roots in history, and could be a heightened version of times past, and ongoing.
Bird is the child of an American father and a Chinese American poet. All he knows is that his mother has left them, her books are no longer held in the library, and he has to keep his head down, and not draw attention, because it is just not safe. His only friend, Sadie, is a runaway foster child, removed from a mixed race family. Sadie encourages him to find out what has happened to his mother.
Our missing hearts is a challenge to the reader to think of how they would act in such an environment. So many times in history, people have turned in suspicion against each other with a brooding distrust of those who look different, speak a different language, or follow a different religion. There has been betrayal of neighbours and internment of foreign nationals. How can the individual act with courage and integrity? What can the ordinary person do when any act could put their own family at risk?
For Celeste Ng, there is hope in art, poetry and literature. Folk tales teach us moral lessons. And public art provokes empathy and compassion. Finally, the real heroes of the novel are librarians, guardians of knowledge and protectors of books. Librarians share information, and help the seeker to find what they need. ‘The brain of a librarian [is] a capacious place’ – they collect information, ‘collating it with the Rolodex in their minds’.
Our missing hearts is a kind of quest. Bird has to avoid the constant danger, follow the clues, find the right people to trust, and venture forth to find the truth about his missing mother. Along the journey, the reader is reminded of the cruelties of history and the need to learn from the past, not repeat the same mistakes. It takes courage, trust, friendship and love.
Themes Xenophobia, Racism, Political control, Propaganda, Child removal, Social activism, Protest, Libraries.
Cashore’s brings readers another challenging fantasy in Seasparrow which follows on immediately after the events in Winterkeep. Queen Bitterblue and her half-sister Hava are travelling back to Monsea by ship, carrying with them the notes that Hava had copied about zilfium and its ability to be turned into a deadly weapon. Hava’s Grace lets her disappear in plain sight and has been instrumental in making her the perfect spy for her secret half-sister. On board the ship she notices that a crew member is acting suspiciously, but before her fears are resolved, they are shipwrecked and forced to walk through the ice in an attempt of get home.
This is a harrowing survival story as the party rows through a freezing sea surrounded by icebergs as well as being threatened by bears. Once they reach land, the journey is treacherous, and each must draw on their resilience and inner strength to survive, while also looking after each other on the perilous journey. Not only is it a physical survival story, but it is also the story of Hava’s inner struggle to come to terms with the life that King Leck had forced on her and her mother. Her reflections on her mother who had to hide her from the King until she died when Hava was eight and the accounts of her life afterwards always hiding from people are often difficult to read but compelling, nonetheless. I found myself hoping that Hava would eventually be able to express her feelings without turning into stone. Other characters in the story are exceptionally portrayed, particularly Annet, the captain of the ship and the sailor who had stored a secret in the hold. The one bright spot in the story was the descriptions of the blue foxes, who all had unique characteristics.
With themes of survival of mind and body, a slow burning romance, court intrigue, problems with the use of deadly weapons and vivid imagery, Seasparrow will be welcomed by readers of the series.
Themes Fantasy, Survival, Post traumatic stress, Weapons, Seafaring.
Pat Pledger
Alphabetical Sydney by Antonia Pesenti and Hilary Bell
New South, 2022. ISBN: 9781742237763.
This is our Sydney, the brightest and best of it, North to the south to the east and the west of it. Bats and cicadas, lawn bowls and the zoo, This is our town. Let us share it with you.
As the holidays stretch out, this might be the perfect book to share with young readers to plan what they might do for the next few weeks. For those in Sydney it could become a checklist of things to see, do and visit, ticking off each item as it is discovered, some of which are as easy as going outside. While it has places such as Luna Park and the Harbour Bridge, it also has entries like J for Jacaranda and N for nature strip and even learning that Vinegar is a quick antidote for bluebottle stings! And who hasn't needed U for Umbrella in recent days? Meanwhile those in other places could be challenged to start building their own alphabet of their region, perhaps creating something that could be offered to the local Information Centre as a guide for tourists - practical and purposeful.
This is the 10th anniversary edition of this gem that offers all sorts of potential once you start thinking about it beyond just a rhyming read.
Jack and Twitch are good friends, and since they solved a crime mystery (recorded in Twitch) they have been ready for more birdwatching and perhaps more crime solving. Jack is new to birdwatching and is yet to find his ‘spark bird’ the one that drives the desire and passion to become an avid avian watcher, but he would really like to solve another mystery. When he discovers a wounded cat and realises there is someone in his community who is shooting cats, it sparks his desire to solve the crime. But Twitch’s attention is diverted by the reported potential sighting of the very rare bird – a Bearded Vulture, and Jack is having difficulty getting Twitch to engage as a mystery solver because of the rare bird possibility. A violent storm, the local bullies, Halloween and a grand event hosted by a woman who has nefarious interests in the rare bird all complicate Jack’s attempts to foil the cat shooters and stop an attack on the rare bird. With other friends using their talents to help, and even zombies used to unveil the truth, this story has many twists and turns. Friendship is the winner.
The first book in this series, Twitch, was delightful, and this follow-up story has continued the charming focus on a group of friends in a small English community with an interest in Birdwatching. Although this is probably not a hobby many young Australians have discovered, the desire to protect wildlife must first start with knowing what is there, and so this book will perhaps open the eyes of young Aussie readers. This mystery and adventure will appeal to any reader who likes fast-paced crime-solving antics with curious children leading the way. I loved the story and having an avid birdwatcher in my family means that I recognised the focused and passionate spark that drives many to watch the skies and fields for a new sighting. This is a great book to recommend to readers aged 9-12 who love an adventure.
Ember Shadows and the Fates of Mount Never by Rebecca King is the first novel in what will certainly be a fabulous new series. This brand-new adventure feels like a modern twist on Alice in Wonderland and the Wizard of Oz combined. The storyline is full of adventure, imagination and suspense, entwined with courage, loyalty, teamwork and tenacity.
Ember Shadows is an eleven-year-old girl who has a passion for inventing. She lives in a magical village called Everspring with her eight-year-old sister and mother. Overlooking the little village is the ominous Mount Never. This mountain mysteriously sends down Fate Cards to everyone before their twelfth birthday. These cards decide your destiny, what you will do, who you will meet, what age you will die!
When Ember receives hers and it is blank, she is unsure what this means. She was hoping for her card to tell her she was going to be an inspirational inventor. Desperate to destroy her card, she is unable to. It will not burn, tear or disintegrate with anything she tries. Days later, her sister receives her own Fate Card and it says she hasn’t got long to live. Ember sets out to change their destiny. With nothing to lose she sets out to climb the treacherous Mount Never and put right to these wrongs. But will she succeed or will the realms and enchantments of Mount Never prove too strong?
Rebecca King has created a highly engaging and enchanting novel. This story will appeal to anyone who enjoys adventure, magic and fantasy. Raquel Ochoa’s illustrations fill pages with further enjoyment and details to support the storyline. This novel brings back charm and imagination, while intertwining the beautiful message of having the courage to create your own destiny. A great story that will be enjoyed my many!
Themes Fantasy, Adventure, Problem solving, Creativity, Teamwork, Determination, Loyalty.
Michelle O'Connell
Britannica's ready for school words by Hannah Campbell. Illus. by Sara Rhys
Britannica Books, 2023. ISBN: 9781913750640. (Age:3+) Recommended.
A large, hard cover book showcases 1,000 words for big kids that they may need to know before they go to school. It is organised in 2-page spreads around themes and events that the child may encounter, like Breakfast time, Playtime, Under the sea, A trip to the doctor, Grocery Shopping and By the seaside. The reader initially meets the main characters, 7 families from different backgrounds. Each of the themes is illustrated with easily identified pictures that are labelled. A parent or carer can point to different things in the spread and help a young child name what they are. There are lots of opportunities to discuss each item and talk about differences in the picture and in the child’s own home. The pictures will also give readers the opportunity to expand their vocabulary and for the parent/carer to talk about things that surround them.
The small, labelled illustrations are very appealing for young children. The people have happy faces, and the diversity of characters and activities is very inclusive. A table of Contents allows the reader to choose what theme they might like to examine while a comprehensive index will be useful for those who might like to examine a particular topic, e.g., football.
This would be a welcome addition to a home library and very useful for pre-school children.
Themes Vocabulary.
Pat Pledger
Strong and tough by Rico Hinson-King and Nick Sharratt
A ‘story of big feelings, football and family’ will enrapture every reader as Charlie’s predicament unfolds. Charlie, a keen footballer, is separated from his birth parents and sisters when social workers take them into care. At first they place them in different foster homes, and although the carers give him his own room and toys to play with, Charlie feels alone without his sisters to play football with in the garden. But he decides he must be strong and tough. Eventually he is taken to another foster home, one which he feels could be his forever home, especially when his sisters are allowed to come as well. Charlie plays football avidly, encouraging the foster parents and his siblings to join him. They become a family unit and when the time comes along for the judge to make a decision, the foster carers decide to keep all three children and make their home a forever home.
Sad feelings are treated with sympathy through this amazing story, based on the experiences of the ten year old author, Rico Himson-King. Young children will recognise these feelings and admire the young boy who resolved to be strong and tough to overcome them. Resilience is the key to Charlie’s survival in his unfamiliar situation, one punctuated by social workers, carers, foster homes and judges.
The story will melt the hearts of anyone reading and along with the story of the author, will emphasise with children in this unenviable situation. That Charles and his siblings came out so well will be music to the ears of our younger readers, strengthening their resilience and resolve to look for the brighter outcomes in life. This is a wonderfully positive read, one tinged with sadness that Charlie’s family has split and his concerns about what will happen to him and his sisters but overall he is resolved to be strong and tough and this resolution shines through, giving a positive role model to all readers.
The wonderfully warm illustrations give a lighter touch to the story, allowing a sometimes dire tale to unfold with lots of humour on every page (well, almost) which serve to give a positive overlay to Charlie’s problems.
A glossary in the front of the book tells readers what is meant by some of the words used: social worker, foster home, for example, and these are used in bold font throughout the book.
Themes Resilience, Adoption, Foster homes, Social workers, Humour.
Fran Knight
Violet made of thorns by Gina Chen
Hachette, 2022. ISBN: 9781399707114. (Age:14+)
Fans of love-hate relationships will delight in this fantasy starring Violet, a Seer and a liar and a not-so-charming Prince Cyrus. As a child Violet had seen the death of Prince Cyrus in a dream and had saved his life. Taken to the palace she is soon elevated into the role of Seer for King Emilius and finds herself not only prophesying but lying for the King who wants to further his empire. The previous Seer had left a dire prediction that the safety of the kingdom relies on the Prince’s marriage otherwise war, blood and chaos will follow. Violet is in a precarious position. Can she survive amongst the machinations of the King and his court and the antagonistic relationship she has with Cyrus? What do the Fates have in store for Cyrus and for her?
Violet is an unusual heroine – often selfish and self-serving. She has no qualms about lying for the King and bad-mouthing Prince Cyrus in front of the courtiers. Her dreams of blood and roses and horned beasts haunt her and the voice that she hears in her head making dire predictions keep her awake. Her snarky comments and outlook are often more contemporary than one would expect from someone in the medieval kingdom of Auveny, but this will appeal to teen readers who are likely to identify with Violet’s dilemmas and choices.
This was an enjoyable read with the love/hate relationship between Violet and Cyrus the central plot. The world building of Seers, horned beasts and fairy enchantments was not described in detail but are easy for the reader to imagine. Those who enjoyed Violet made of thorns may like to move onto more complex stories like The cruel prince by Holly Black and Gilded by Marissa Meyer.
The stand in is an engrossing thriller that I finished in one sitting. Lena is amazed to find out that there is a girl who looks exactly like her. She and Saskia could be twins, but their lives are completely different. Saskia is rich and the daughter of a wealthy criminal, while Lena’s mother is a single parent, living in a care home funded by a family friend who has been extradited to Poland. This means that the money will run out. When Saskia offers to pay Lena to stand in for her at family events she does not want to attend, Lena finds it hard to turn her down, but each payment means that her mother can stay in her care home and receive the medical attention that she desperately needs. As Saskia’s stand in, Lena finds herself wearing beautiful clothes, attending a wedding in a castle and meeting Saskia’s boyfriend Rhys who she finds very attractive. But her one last job leads her into danger. Will she be able to survive?
Lena is a standout character, who is bright and very loyal to her mother, who has gone through terrible things when she and her cousin went to Amsterdam to work as young women. It is easy to relate to Lena’s decision to play the part of Saskia, as funding her mother’s care is her priority. Lena has never known her father, described as ‘a nothing of a man’ by her mother and is relieved when Saskia orders a DNA test and the doctor reports that they are not related. Rushby’s narrative is suspenseful, leaving the reader worrying about what is going to happen next, and whether Lena will be safe playing the part of a deceitful Saskia while trying to fool her manipulative crime boss father.
This was a very enjoyable, quick read that is not too graphic and one that younger teens are sure to enjoy. The action is fast paced and twisty. Readers who liked The stand in could try The inheritance games by Jennifer Lynn Barnes and One of Us is Lying by Karen McManus.
