The Marvellers represents a departure for author Dhonielle Clayton from her previous young adult fantasy of The Belles and the modern realism of Blackout. Her latest book is a fantasy adventure for young readers in the style of Harry Potter. Eleven-year-old Ella Durand is of Conjuror heritage, the first conjuror ever to be sent to the amazing school of the Marvellers, the ‘Arcanum Training Institute for Marvellous and Uncanny Endeavors’. It’s like a Hogwarts but very multicultural with students from all over the world, and it’s a whole lot more sparkly. Clayton clearly has a picture in her mind of the magical world she has conjured up and while the curiosities and spangles may be a bit overwhelming the main thread of the novel makes sense and picks up subtly on themes of racism, bullying and exclusion, which she knows so well how to present.
Clayton dedicates her novel to ‘the kids missing from magic stories who started to believe that there was nothing marvellous about them’. Without being too explicit it is apparent that Ella is black, she has twists in her hair, and her family believe in African American folk magic. Her two close friends are also misfits in the new school, and they all have to stand up to discrimination and bullying. Ella is an endearing hero, she is bright and cheerful and remains kind and helpful to people who try to put her down. An equivalent would be Yassmin Abdel-Magied’s bouncing positive character Layla in You must be Layla.
However, Clayton’s magical world allows readers to absorb life lessons about acceptance of diversity, without obvious moralising, and I’m sure readers who enjoy this fantasy will be eagerly awaiting its sequel.
A remarkable woman is the story of Avril Montdidier, leaving behind the traumas of occupied France in WWII, and embarking on a new adventure far away in Melbourne in 1950. She brings with her a deep personal grief, but also a knowledge of Paris couture and a willingness to carve a new life as an independent woman. It is her worldliness, her experience, and her courage that make her a strong and unusual woman in her new environment, and it’s not long before she finds new friends, and new opportunities.
Van Mil’s novel vividly depicts the flourishing fashioning industry of 1950’s Melbourne alongside the outback beauty of a Queensland cattle station. Both environments draw Avril in, until she finds herself at a crossroads, having to make a choice between an ill-fated love and the career she always dreamed of.
Van Mil’s novel draws together themes that still resonate today: domestic violence, alcoholism, and homophobia, and her central character is a person who chooses her own destiny, carving her own future, and also providing for other women not as fortunate as herself. The motto ‘Timing is everything’ becomes a lucky omen, and she finds that her time does come around.
This is a novel for those who love historical romance with a strong female protagonist, and who are interested in the world of fashion. Van Mil brings a long experience of working in the fashion world, an experience that enriches her novel and makes it an enjoyable read.
The Book Club bank heist by Ruth Quayle and Marta Kissi
Anderson Press, 2022. ISBN: 9781839131271.
Easter holidays and Joe is on his way to stay with his Granny in Muddlemoor, a quintessential English country village (complete with a vicar fund-raising for a new church roof) and he's very excited because not only does he love going there but his Welsh cousins Pip and Tom are joining him.
But when they discover that a dangerous gang of robbers is hiding in the local area, it seems like this is another mystery for them to solve, and so they start an investigation straightaway. At first, a number of people and places come under suspicion as they follow the procedures in Tom's favourite series of books by ace detective Albie Short, but it's when Granny's Book Group seems to be acting RATHER suspiciously that their focus shifts.. Could Granny's Book Group be the true-life bank robbers? After all, they always seems to be short of cash until Granny seems to start splashing it around, they NEVER talk about books and for another thing they keep going on about a local bank. There's only one thing for it. The cousins must stop Granny getting arrested, even if it means putting themselves in danger.
Told by 9 year-old Joe in the conversational style of the age group with lots of illustrations to break up the text, this is a good story for newly independent readers who like down-to-earth stories that they can feel they are a part of, either as an observer or a participant. Because they're straddling the line between working with the concrete and the abstract, having to be involved and being able to be objective, they will probably join the dots like Joe and his cousins do and they will delight in the way the robbers are eventually caught. A great way to introduce this genre that might lead to classics like The Famous Five, The Secret Seven or perhaps Nancy Drew or The Hardy Boys, each taking them into the world of mystery adventures as well as a time before the internet and mobile phones, maybe even into conversations with their grandparents about books shared and enjoyed.
Themes Mystery.
Barbara Braxton
Princess Olivia investigates : The wrong weather by Lucy Hawking
Young Princess Olivia Alez has not really enjoyed her life as a pampered princess and when her parents lose their roles as King and Queen of the Kingdom of Alez, she is quietly excited to be forced to live life as a ‘normal’ child. However, away from the haughty and grand heights of the castle, life is not as Olivia was expecting. The town and country sides are suffering from terrible mistreatment and neglect. The weather is unpredictable, food and water are in short supply and life for the citizens of Alez appears hopeless.
The best thing to come out of losing the right to live in the castle, is that Olivia is forced to attend school for the very first time. With her naturally inquisitive brain, Olivia had read all the books in the castle library, so she cannot wait to learn all that school has to offer. However, school does not go so well initially but thanks to two new friends, Ravi and Helga, she begins to settle in. Olivia questions everything around her but finds her questions being blocked especially those related to weather: in particular the thick, dark clouds that hang over city, the fierce rains or extreme heat, the barren land and the incredible amount of rubbish that litters the rivers and streets. Olivia and her friends set out to investigate the causes of the weather phenomena and climate destruction to see if they can make a difference to their kingdom.
The first novel in a brand-new series by author Lucy Hawking, Princess Olivia Investigates: The Wrong Weather, provides a welcome introduction and explanation to the impact humans are having on the planet. Strategically placed throughout this story are easy-to-understand scientific explanations of volcanoes, water shortages, climate change and extreme weather as well as the importance of trees. The clever graphic-style drawings of the quirky characters and the devastation of the countryside will engage the young reader. In the final pages is an epilogue from Olivia with a conclusion of what was discovered plus a handy glossary and acknowledgements.
Themes Royalty, Climate Change, Friendship, Diversity, Science, Saving the Planet.
Kathryn Beilby
The winter dress by Lauren Chater
Simon & Schuster, 2022. ISBN: 9781760850227. (Age:15-Adult) Recommended.
This is a delightful historical saga. Jo Baaker is a textiles historian who grew up in Holland on Texel Island, an island that had a history of shipwrecks. She now lives in Sydney and is writing a book. Her career in the historical world of fabrics and clothing and her personal connection to the diving community off the coast of Texel means that she is the first to hear when local divers bring up a 17th Century dress… a rare and almost miraculous finding. This is the story of the research to find out the background of this amazing discovery. The book also weaves the historical story of the original owner of the dress, Anna Tesseltje. This is a dramatic tale of wealth lost, survival in hard times and the artistic world of portrait painters and also the dilemma of being female in a patriarchal society.
The dual storylines of the intrigue of finding and researching a rare artefact in the present day, and the historical world and social times of the Art world of the 1600s, make for an interesting tale. With a hint of romance for the character Anna, and suggestion of a romance for the acclaimed artist Catharina Van Shurman with her former female apprentice, there are layers of intrigue and interest. The 17th Century Art world as a setting for the historical part of this story is almost the highlight of the story, although there are some obvious unpleasant realities of life at this time. This is a book that will be enjoyed by those who enjoy historical fiction and the world of the History research process.
Themes Textiles, History, Shipwrecks, 17th Century social history, Historians, Art history, Sexism.
Carolyn Hull
Inside story: The wonderful world of writing, illustrating and publishing children's books by Sophie Masson, Kathy Creamer, Beattie Alvarez, Peter Creamer
This engaging 2022 publication, Inside Story, is a celebration of contemporary children’s book writing in Australia. Written for aspiring writers and illustrators (or if the same person, referred to in the book as ‘authorstrator’), interested readers and the already established creative community, it covers a myriad of topics on all things children’s book related. Throughout this wonderful reference book, contributions from authors such Australian Children’s Laureate 2020-2021 Ursula Dubosarsky giving her ‘three top tips for writing plays,’ and young non-fiction writer and illustrator Sami Bayly describing 'how research influenced both her illustrations and her words', ensure this book will provide something of interest for every reader.
The book begins with a Foreword by Susanne Gervay OAM giving a brief introduction to the purpose of Inside Story and is followed by the detailed Contents section broken into the following chapters: Writing, Illustrating, Publishing and Inside Story: Contributions. Within each chapter are multiple topics discussed across double page spreads. Beautifully presented with lots of colour photographs of well-known and loved book covers, quotes, advice, text boxes, graphics, writing tips, recommendations and check out lists, there is just so much to read, learn and share. The publishing section is highly detailed and covers every possible question a reader may have about the process. There is helpful advice from editors, agents, publishers, marketing and publicity experts to guide the novice creative along their writing and illustrating journey.
The final pages give information about useful organisations and resources, acknowledgements, permissions, UPA image index plus biographies of the creators behind the book. The variety of content and genre covered within this handy reference book will provide hours of enjoyable and informative reading.
Spotlight please: It's Stevie Louise by Tanya Hennessy
Albert Street Books, 2022. ISBN: 9781760526429. (Age:Age 7+) Highly Recommended.
Well she’s back! Stevie Louise and her Lunchbox Production Crew have returned, and are still as loveable, relatable and entertaining as ever! Children are sure to enjoy this book, even if they haven’t read the first in the series, Drum Roll Please….It’s Stevie Louise.
Stevie Louise and her friends from the Lunchbox Production crew are ready for some more fun and laughter! She and her friends love performing and creating shows to entertain everyone. The Lunchbox Productions is the best thing ever, but keeping up with the cost of costumes, props and sets could be the downfall of their great enterprise. Where could they get the money to keep their loved and fun past time in operation? When they hear of a talent show with prize money, they set about to put together a winning act. This could be the difference between Lunchbox Productions continuing or closing. They are super excited, until they hear about the stiff competition they are up against. From dancing grannies, singing goats and fire twirling singing sensations, will Lunchbox Production Crew have what it takes to bring home the prize money or will disaster strike?
Spotlight Please….It’s Stevie Louise, written by multi-talented comedian and social media personality, Tanya Hennessy is the second book in the already popular series, Stevie Louise. Hennessy has written another fast paced and entertaining novel. This story is an easy read, with slightly larger print and a smattering of different fonts for enhancement. Along with great illustrations throughout, this makes for a highly engaging read, even perhaps for those reluctant readers. It could also make a terrific read aloud to children aged 6–8 years of age, due to its fast paced storyline and highly relatable characters that effortlessly capture the audience’s attention.
With an underlying message for the importance for honesty, team support and self-belief, this book is a feel-good winner!
Eddie and Molly-Jean (MJ) are next-door neighbours and best friends, who normally spend their weekends watching TV and playing together. But on this Saturday they are challenged by Eddie’s mother to find out the origin of the word pajamas in his Great-grandpa Oscar’s special book, which they find in the attic. Great Grandpa Oscar was a famous etymologist, and his Awesome Enchanted book magically takes them to India where they are challenged to solve a mystery for their new friend Dev. The Rajasthani prince needs their help to find an ancient treasure belonging to his family so that they can rebuild his local school which was destroyed in a typhoon. As they race to solve a range of word-related puzzle clues before a mystery competitor does, they unlock for the reader a range of words and where their origins lie.
The novel has a Glossary of word origins in the back and words throughout the book are printed in bold if they appear in this glossary. The book is illustrated with helpful sketches of some of the characters and activities in the story as well as a map at the beginning of the book which lists some places in India that the children visit on their search. This book is the first in a series about these two characters as they discover the fascinating origins of words in the English language through some exciting adventures that take them to different parts of the world, solving some very puzzling mysteries and helping those in need at the same time. The next book in this series is called Word travellers and the missing Mexican Mole.
Sid and Skipper go mustering in a story full of life and adventure as the reader is taken on one of the tasks that a cattle station in Australia’s north undertakes. All the background sights, noises and smells of the cattle station are there as the men ready themselves for days away form the homestead. Swags rolled, tucker box filled, choppers filled with fuel, utes checked out. And hanging around are the kelpies, an essential part of any station in the Kimberley. Sid, the old dog, is battered by life’s trials, shortened ears, scars across his face, annoyed by the young pup, Skipper who lives up to his name. Sid doesn’t seem to be able to teach the new dog anything, in fact Skipper seems always to get in his way.
But one day the choppers cannot be used as the weather is closing in, and so the dogs come into their own. But one bull stares Sid down, and he falls into the swollen creek. Almost drowned, he is saved by Skipper who hauls him up onto the bank and then runs off to brave the bull, Vesuvius, until he is able to force him to cross the creek, making the others follow his lead. The muster done, the cattle yarded, the two dogs settle down to perfect their friendship.
This is a lovely story of growing friendship, or looking out for each other, of allowing younger dogs to have their play time, always assured that they will come into their own. The two dogs will delight younger readers, and absorbing the story will see that ties of friendship may not occur straight away, but they will bond. The background of the cattle station is beautifully shown. Readers will take in the equipment needed, the vast emptiness, the fences, kitchen hut, the baob trees, the desert landscape while life on a station for the hands is documented through the text and illustrations. At the end of the story they will have learnt a lot of detail about this iconic way of life in the outback, reflecting Charlton’s own experience living and working on a Kimberley cattle station. Her intimate knowledge shines through the humour of the story and its illustrations. Teacher's notes are available.
Backroom Press was founded in 2006 by Pat Lowe, Susan Sickert and Joyce Hudson to publish entertaining and educational books from the Kimberley, WA. The three friends published two titles in September 2006. A number of books for younger children were also published and these seem to be the main concern of this small outfit. For more information about this publisher and to purchase the books go to https://backroompress.com.au/
Themes Outback, Kimberley, Western Australia, Cattle stations, Kelpies, Working dogs.
Frankie and Connie just love playing unicorns.They dream about the animals while they sleep, Connie has her hair tied up by dad in a unicorn rainbow, while Frankie puts on her unicorn socks. She downs her cereal in fourteen seconds and waits while dad feeds Connie. They are going to play unicorns all day long and are very excited. Unicorn Farmers is their favourite game but just as they are about to start, Ada and Colin come in from next door. They want to play too but Ada’s idea of playing unicorns is quite different from the game Connie and Frankie intended to play. Being polite they go along with Ada dominating the game. She takes on the role of queen, using Frankie’s glittery shoes. She orders them all to make a wall, Connie in her wheelchair being made part of it. Ada insists they all dance for her then complains when they are not very good and sends them all to unicorn prison. By now readers will have become sick of Ada and her orders, and they will cheer, when the other three break out of prison and walk out. They make themselves into a unicorn train and go through the front door, Ada remonstrating that the train has no sparkles.
When she realises how serious they are she breaks down. The others relent, and decide to be good unicorns together. When the children returned home for lunch, Connie and Frankie keep on playing unicorns all afternoon and into the night, enjoying every minute.
All the while, everything unicorn is added to this charming story. Bright colour filled illustrations will draw in the readers and they will get a thrill from seeing so many unicorns on the pages and the things associated with them, but also get the message about playing together, about sharing ideas, giving and taking, about friendship.
So begins The Leviathan, an atmospheric and deeply unsettling debut by author Rosie Andrews. Set in one of the most turbulent periods in English history – the Civil War of 1642 to 1651 – The Leviathan tells the story of reluctant soldier Thomas Treadwater, who makes his way home from battle to a family and community in crisis.
Summoned by his sister Esther’s increasingly urgent letters, Thomas arrives at the family’s farm to find his father gravely ill, their livelihood on the brink of ruin and a sister caught up in religious zealotry. To Thomas’ shock, witchcraft is being investigated in his small town and his sister is the one pointing the finger. As Thomas strives to unravel the complex intertwining of events, personalities and relationships, he begins to realise that his preconceived notions of what is real and possible are about to be shattered.
Told from two perspectives at the prime and the end of Thomas’ life, The Leviathan is a horror novel that expertly combines the supernatural with the historical reality. Andrews’ medieval England is dark and chilling and the language and setting used is faultless. At heart a mystery novel with a fantastical twist, The Leviathan is a tense and slow-burning story which ends with a superb twist.
A time slip story set in Broome, home of the Japanese pearl divers for many decades, sees Maggie visiting her grandmother. The young girl, accompanied by her dog, Buster, must cross the mangroves to get to the house she knows well. She sees friendly faces along the way and steps out in the mangroves. But a storm is coming. She lights upon some driftwood, wreckage from an old pearling ship and is transported back to the time of her grandfather, a pearl diver lost at sea many years before.
We see her grandmother feeling sad at the memories the storm brings, and the girl, coming to her senses after the storm passes makes her way to her gran. Here she relates the powerful story of meeting her grandfather and seeing him as he dived from the ship to bring up the pearl shells. She gives grandma the shell he gave her, and when they open it, find a pearl inside.
A charming story, bound up in the sights and sounds of the diving days at Broome, but also a modern story of the relationship between a girl and her grandmother, Storm pearl will have wide appeal. It reflects the history of Broome and its Japanese pearl divers, and talks of some of the pitfalls of the trade, resulting in the deaths of so many divers.
For older interested readers a fascinating look at Broome’s cemetery, can be found here.
The soft, illustrations accompanying the text give readers a glimpse of life in Broome now and back in time: the low scrubby trees of the mangroves, the boab tree, the slipway at the boat builder’s, the lugger out at sea, a ghostly reminder of the past. And grandfather in all of his diving gear will grab the attention of the readers imagining themselves in such cumbersome gear being lowered into a stormy sea. It will make them shiver. Teacher's notes are available. The book can be purchased from the publisher.
Themes Broome, Pearl divers, Japanese pearl divers, Australia-history, Time slip novel.
Fans of Karen McManus and Holly Jackson will be thrilled to find another mystery to enjoy. Set in the upmarket seaside town of Castle Cove, secrets seem to abound, not least the disappearance of Alice Ogilvie for five days, just as her hero Agatha Christie had once disappeared. Like Agatha Christie she is not saying where she has been. Then her ex-best friend Brooke Donovan disappears after an argument with Steve who was once Alice’s boyfriend. Alice believes that something has happened to Brooke and when Steve is accused of murdering her, she is not convinced that he is the culprit. Meanwhile Iris, who is her tutor, listens to Alice’s arguments, and reads some of her Agatha Christie mysteries. Together they start trying to unravel the events of the night that Brooke disappeared.
This was a fast-paced mystery that was very hard to put down. It was written from the point of view of the two main characters, Alice and Iris, in alternating chapters, giving the reader an insight into the feelings and motivations of the pair as well as the minor characters in the book. Alice is rich but is virtually ignored by her parents, while Iris is struggling with the Thing, a violent man in her and her mother’s lives. Both keep secrets from each other, which hinder the path of friendship between the two, but their curiosity and determination to find Brooke’s killer keeps the two working together.
A highlight of the story are quotes from Agatha Christie’s books at the beginning of each chapter. These are sure to tempt readers to pick up her books.
I finished this book in a couple of sittings as the twists and turns of the mystery were compelling, with many red herrings slipped in to keep the murderer’s identity a secret. And a hint in the Epilogue that there may be another book featuring The Agathas gives mystery fans something to look forward to.
First published in 2013, Professor Astro Cat’s Frontiers of Space, has been revised and updated for publication in 2022. This attractive and brightly presented edition will appeal to the young space enthusiast. It has gorgeous endpapers showcasing Professor Astro Cat and six friends who will take the reader on a journey through all things space related.
The book begins with a contents page followed by the introduction and the opportunity to read about how Professor Astro Cat will lead the reader to discover the Frontiers of Space. Each chapter is set across a double page spread with quirky and humorous illustrations in a bold and colourful palette. The information is either organised into text boxes or surrounded by plenty of coloured space with clearly labelled diagrams, tables and images.
Chapter one gives an explanation of The Universe, leading to The Birth of a Star, followed by Galaxies, the Sun, the Solar System finally ending with the Future of Space. Other chapters include Early Space Travel which mentions Laika the dog, a rhesus monkey named Albert 2, a chapter on Space fashion which shows the suit worn in 1963 plus the Apollo Moon suit of 1969 and a very enlightening chapter on Space Junk. At the end of the book is a page titled Factoroids which gives some very handy facts plus a glossary and index.
This will be a popular read for primary school aged children as it has facts presented in a fun and engaging way and will be a book to go back to time and time again.
Themes Space, Facts, Questions & Answers.
Kathryn Beilby
Libby Lawrence is good at pretending by Jodi McAlister
Having enjoyed Jodi McAlister’s Valentine series I was keen to read her latest contemporary YA romance and found it very difficult to put down. Libby Lawrence is a first year Uni student, loves acting and belongs to the Uni’s theatre group. She has previously worked in the chorus but is thrilled when she is chosen to play the lead role of Beatrice in Much Ado About Nothing by the new director Will to whom she is attracted. Libby is good at pretending to hide her feelings even from her best friend Ella, although she desperately needs to talk about some of the situations that she has found herself in. Theatre groups can be difficult to break in to and Libby has felt left out. Gossip abounds about the cast members and the previous director, Nightingale, was notorious for sleeping with his leading ladies.
The narrative flows beautifully and it is very easy to become totally engrossed in the lives of the main characters. The friendship between Libby and Ella faced some tough moments and was a high point of the story while the slow burning romance between Will and Libby was easy to relate to. Roarke (named by his mother after the hero in JD Robb’s In Depth series) was a difficult character to like at the beginning but grew in maturity along with many of the cast members. Underpinning the story were quotes from Much ado about nothing which gave it depth.
The descriptions of how a play is produced and the ways the actors interact with each other and their roles were fascinating and will appeal to people who have not had any experience with a theatre group. Those who love stories about the theatre will be delighted with Libby’s experiences.
This is recommended for older teens as it contains references to drinking, partying and sexual relationships. However, the issues discussed in the book are ones that many teens face and make the story very relatable. Teacher’s notes by the author are available.
