What a gem of a book! Sila’s family are Turkish migrants to the USA, and an unfortunate work-related conflict causes Sila’s mother to have to return to Turkey to iron out a migration issue. Unfortunately, this proves to be a more complex issue than anyone would want and Sila discovers the grief of separation and the pain of isolation. Her wonderful father takes her with him to a mechanical job on a farming property and there Sila meets a delightful rich older widower named Gio, a man whose grief lingers following the death of his wife (who was coincidentally one of Sila’s former teachers). A journey of friendship begins that includes the generous old man, an elephant, flamingos and a classmate on the Autism spectrum. Everything combines to provide joy where it had not been, reconciliation and the possibility of new things despite obstacles and grief from the past. And all of this revolves around the ex-circus elephant.
This is a heart-warming story by the author of Counting by 7s that deals with a variety of issues in a child-friendly way. Sila’s experience of overcoming her personal heartaches through new friendship possibilities and the acquisition of an elephant are uplifting. The young autistic boy has character and value and his concerns are dealt with in a life-affirming way. This is a delightful story and one that I will be recommending to students aged 9-14. It is certainly a different scenario for Australian students, but it will appeal to animal lovers and those who are prepared to step inside of the shoes of other children who are not exactly like themselves.
Big Sky Publishing, 2021. ISBN: 9781922488237. (Age:8-11) Recommended.
Carly Mills Pioneer Girl: The Lady with the Lamp by Jane Smith is the fourth book in this interesting historical series which looks at famous women who have made a difference in their chosen time. This story begins on a plane to England where Carly and her friend Dora are travelling with their classmate Simone to spend time with Simone’s parents in London. Simone is not Carly’s favourite person as she seems to be unhappy all the time and takes it out on Carly. However, they eventually learn to accept each other as they are. On arrival in London they are met by Simone’s father’s PA and Simone’s response to her parent’s apparent lack of interest in her is to place her piece of magical lace on her body and travel back in time. Carly and Dora have no choice but to follow Simone and wrap themselves in their magical shawls. They time travel to London 1853 and meet Florence Nightingale and her family. Florence is from a wealthy privileged family but dreams of nursing the poor and sick. She and the three girls travel to the Crimea to nurse soldiers who are surviving in shocking conditions. It is through her experiences in the war that Florence Nightingale becomes an advocate of maintaining healthy hospital and street environments to rid places of disease. For the three girls the whole experience in the Crimea is one of hardship and danger but where they each learn something new. Simone eventually reconciles with her parents and the visit to modern-day London becomes the holiday the girls were hoping for. At the end of the book are historical notes, quotes from Florence Nightingale as well as a Q & A section.
This story is suitable for middle-grade readers and offers an opportunity to learn important historical facts about an amazing woman, Florence Nightingale.
Themes Women in History, Australian History, Friendship, Time Travel, Adventure.
Kathryn Beilby
Flourish for mums by Sonia Bestulic
Big Sky Publishing, 2021. ISBN: 9781922387981. (Age:Adult) Recommended.
Sonia Bestulic has three children and runs a speech pathology practice where she has worked with thousands of families. She has also written two pictures books for children, including Kisses in your heart.
This is her first book for adults and is a gentle self-help book for mums, launched in the lead-up to Mother’s Day 2021. There are 21 chapters each covering one way to encourage self-care and cultivate happiness. The chapters cover such areas as accepting others, knowing when to say yes or no, welcoming learning, staying social, detoxing your space, dancing more often and practicing gratitude.
The chapters are short and peppered with real-life anecdotes and advice, each ending with actionable points on how the reader can nurture, grow and flourish in that particular area. In between chapters are bright blue pages with inspirational quotes from famous people such as Oprah, Marie Kondo, Steve Jobs and Paulo Coelho.
This is a heavy little book that is best dipped into a chapter at once over time. Reading it cover to cover is quite overwhelming with so much advice and so many points at which the reader is encouraged to pause and reflect.
I generally find self-help books rather cringeworthy but, being a mother, was open to giving this one a go. Predictably I did not love the entire book however I did appreciate some practical reminders of things I know I should do but sometimes forget in my busy life (e.g. setting boundaries, taking time for reflection, making space for silliness, scheduling-in catch ups with friends). Overall this book achieves its purpose of encouraging and supporting women and mums to live happier, more balanced and fulfilling lives.
An ‘additional resources’ section at the back of the book lists websites, podcasts and social media links for those who want even more inspiration. The book itself also has a website which contains extra resources including a 21-day short video series.
Themes Motherhood, Self-help, Parenting.
Kylie Grant
Cuckoo's flight by Wendy Orr
Allen & Unwin, 2021. ISBN: 9781760524913. (Age:9+) Recommended.
This title is a companion to Dragonfly Song and Swallow’s Dance, a fascinating set of stories focussed on Bronze Age Crete. How refreshing to have historical middle fiction adventures to read, experiencing the world of 4000 year old Minoan Culture. Wendy Orr, well known for her Nim’s Island stories, has a fine ability to bring her characters alive; this she does through her terrific sense of place. In the case of Crete, the author understands the time period, explores it beautifully and brings it to life, with females playing out strong resilient roles in challenging times.
Clio, who is 14 years old, has suffered a riding accident, which means that she must adjust the way in which she can pursue her love of riding and horses. When she hears her dead grandmother make a prophesy about young riders saving the town from an imminent war, Clio considers her destiny.
The author switches from prose to free verse exploring Clio’s developing maturity, pinpointing what is important for the young girl’s understanding of her role in society. The verse element recalls the story telling techniques of the ancient playwrights and could be used to discover more about ancient civilisations.
This is a great story, providing plenty of avenues for further reading and discussion.
There are excellent Teacher Notes available on the Allen & Unwin website.
This is an ‘illegal history’, not a ‘history of illegal smuggling’ – the placing of the word ‘illegal’ in the subtitle is deliberate. This is a history that is hidden and denied, of the heroic people smugglers who save people’s lives. Rather than the image of the evil exploiter that our government feeds to us, this collection of personal stories describes real encounters with people smugglers, and the debt of gratitude that is the common experience of refugees fleeing from cruel and harsh governments. People smugglers are not human traffickers; the asylum seekers who come to people smugglers want to be smuggled. They pay the smuggler for his knowledge and experience. Like paying a travel agent, they seek his services because in countries where you are denied citizenship papers or freedom to travel, where your family is persecuted, there is no other way to get to safety. The imaginary ‘queue’ for asylum does not exist; refugee camps are ‘full of Afghan, Pakistani, Iranian, Iraqi, and Sri Lankan asylum seekers’ who are ‘willing to embrace the risk of death by taking to the boats, instead of succumbing to a day-to-day purgatory’, that may go on for decades.
The book begins its history with the stories of Jews smuggled out of Germany to avoid the Holocaust. There are many families who owe their lives to the extraordinary courage of people smugglers, who jeopardised their own safety in helping others.
Then there is the story of sports commentator, Les Murray, and the people smuggler who helped his family escape the Soviet suppression of the Hungarian Revolution in 1956; Murray’s memory is of a decent man who held the children’s hands as he led them in the dark along potholed roads to cross the border.
In rough chronological order, other stories tell of refugees smuggled from Czechoslovakia, Vietnam, Ethiopia, Iraq, Afghanistan, and Myanmar. One chapter is a photographic essay from an exhibition by visual artist Phuong Ngo titled ‘My father: the people smuggler’. People came to his father because as a ship’s mechanic he had the skills to plan and organise their escape on a boat from Vietnam. They saw him as honest and hardworking so paid him to smuggle them out.
The last chapter is a combined effort by Behrouz Boochani, author of No friend but the mountains, Claudia Tazreiter and Omid Tofighian. They emphasize that ‘for refugees and asylum seekers, persons assisting in facilitating journeys out of danger are regularly understood as travel agents, helpers and, sometimes, friends.’ Often refugees themselves may become people smugglers to facilitate onward journeys to safety for their friends and families. For some it is a business venture, and as in any business, there are varying motivations and behaviours. Australia, in turning back boats, with no regard for the fate of the people on the vessels they turn away, and shrouding the whole business in secrecy, is just as callous and mercenary as any smuggler it decries. Australia is deeply implicated in the deprivations and rights abuses asylum seekers face. Its border protection policies have not stopped refugees fleeing war and persecution, they have only served to make their journeys more deadly.
This book places on record a neglected aspect of Australia’s migration history, the ordeals of ‘illegalised travellers’, with personal accounts of refugee migration since the Second World War. The chapters can be read as separate stories. Taken as whole, they bring together a history we seem too ready to ignore.
Themes People smugglers, Refugees, Asylum seekers, Migration.
After reading Fable in virtually one sitting, I immediately turned to Namesake, desperate to continue reading about the adventures of Fable and her companions from the Marigold. Once again I was swept into a world of intrigue, sailing ships, diving and dangerous men. Namesake continues on immediately after the cliff-hanger that concluded Fable, with Fable a pawn in Zoya’s evil plans. As she desperately tries to get away, she finds herself immersed in a world where secrets about her father Saint and mother are uncovered and the crew of the Marigold are put into danger.
It is difficult to write too much without giving away the plot, but needless to say, there is adventure galore, gems to trade with, exciting underwater caves to explore and family dynamics to contend with. Descriptions of the simmering romance between Fable and West, make Namesake more suitable for an older audience that Fable, but romance lovers will delight in their relationship. The themes of finding a family and loyalty to friends are also explored as Fable has to work out who she can trust and how she can protect the crew of the Marigold.
Young wraps up the duology in a most satisfying conclusion and readers will be eagerly waiting for the next book that she writes. In the meantime, if they haven’t read her earlier book, Sky in the deep, they will want to pick that up, and may want to read books by Leigh Bardugo, especially Six of Crows.
Themes Ships, Sailing, Diving, Political intrigue, Families, Adventure.
Pat Pledger
Nerd Herd: Raging wool by Nathan Luff and Chris Kennett
This is the second in the Nerd Herd series and follows on immediately from the first book. A quick recap in the first two pages explains that a lamb, a llama and a goat have just scared a fox away from their petting zoo. While doing so they removed an electric fence from the bull pen and “completely unrelated, but, somehow the bull escaped”.
Barny the lamb, and his friends Shaama Llama Ding Dong (the llama) and Billy the angora goat are now desperate to return the bull to his pen without any trouble and before the humans wake up. They want to prove they are NOT the meek and mild ‘Nerd Herd’ but are the fierce and ferocious ‘Woolly Bullies’ - a much more respectable name!
They come up with multiple plans. Most of the plans are not good, but one is “less not-good than the others” so they work on executing it with various mishaps and silliness along the way. The friends work together well, demonstrating an understanding and support of their own and each other’s strengths and weaknesses.
There are countless puns and corny word plays that make for groans and laugh out loud enjoyment from kids and adults alike. I finished it in one sitting as the chapters are short, and the story is fun and fast paced.
The book is highly illustrated with plentiful use of bright red and lots of speech bubbles and comic panels. This makes it accessible to a variety of independent reading levels while also being an enjoyable read-alongside book for young readers. This would appeal to those who also enjoy Magda Szubanski’s Timmy the ticked-off pony series or Andrew McDonald’s Real pigeons series.
At the end a surprise event paves the way for book three – get ready for more hilarious adventures from this woolly trio!
Themes Animals, Friendship, Humour, Problem solving.
Kylie Grant
An alien in the jam factory by Chrissie Sains. Illus. by Jenny Taylor
Chrissie Sain's debut novel An alien in the jam is a highly inventive, humorous romp of a first chapter book. It is a very busy book both in the plans and inventions of the central character young Scooter and the pace of the plot. Interesting, detailed illustrations and labelled diagrams complement the text and appear on every page to delight the young reader. The busyness extends to the interior of the jam factory which is the setting of the book. An alien in the jam could be described as a book form of the game of Mousetrap with the addition of goodies, likeable, klutzy baddies and secret patents for inventions.
Scooter's life is entirely about creativity with the intent being to invent and protect the patents on wonderful jams for the family jam factory. Scooter has Cerebral Palsy but he has marvellous adaptive aids, handbot 1 and 2, to help him with the physical side of his condition. Scooter was born with a super-creative brain and being more intelligent than his parents, is responsible for the creation of the marvellous secret jam recipes and the success of the family factory. Ofcourse there is a villain who wants the secret recipes. Her name is Daffy Dodgy. She and Boris, her guineapig sidekick, devise a break-in and find that Scooter and his new friend, an alien called Fizzbee, are more than a match for them.
Scooter was a lonely child but he finds friendship with Fizzbee. The silliness in An alien in the jam is quite natural and unforced. Read aloud with attention to varying the different character's voices would be amusing for young children as the dialogue lends itself to performance. It's a fun book.
Through identifying with the thoroughly likeable Scooter, children might be provoked to delve without restriction into the creative, inventive worlds of their own imaginations.
This volume of the Heartstopper graphic novel contains chapters five and six of the ongoing story of Nick and Charlie’s developing relationship. The boyfriends have come out to their school friends and are moving into their final school years but Charlie’s anxiety is ramping up as he worries about declaring his love for Nick. He is also having problems eating which is worrying Nick who doesn’t know how to help his friend. At the same time Nick’s mostly absent father doesn’t know about his son’s gender preference and a family event is looming.
Navigating this difficult time of life with all its complications is delicately and authentically depicted. Helped by family and a close group of friends, who are not afraid to ask difficult questions when they see the boys struggling, Charlie acknowledges his friend’s mental illness and that he can’t cure him but he and their group are able to help. ‘Love can’t cure mental illness” p. 1073, but the following pages show just how supportive they can be. “Sometimes people need more support than just one person can give” p. 1087, and it is not only Nick and Charlie who need friends but others who don’t fit in to mainstream gender roles including teachers. Eventually Charlie gets the help he needs and his long journey towards recovery begins.
Well-paced with just the right amount of important information inserted at the right moment, Charlie and Nick’s story is full of affection and fun in black and white comic graphics presented in varied frames with handwritten text making it very accessible even without reading the previous volumes. There are mental health resources at the end though these are mainly UK based. According to the author illustrator’s website the series began in 2016 as a serialised ongoing webcomic and there is a wealth of extra content online all of which will be of interest to young adults especially from the LGBTQ community or their friends and family.
Twitch (real name Corvus) is a young lad who has become an expert in birdwatching in his local area. Unfortunately, although birds are fond of him, he is often bullied at school. Being a birder is not always cool amongst his peers. Fortunately, he is rescued from being made to eat a worm at the hand of the bully, Jack, by a newcomer to the district, at the same time that a convicted robber has escaped and everyone is on alert. Twitch’s great observation skills and his attempts to train his homing pigeons lead him to becoming embroiled in solving the mystery of the missing robber and uncovering the truth about a past injustice. Along the way he must learn who to trust and who are his friends.
This is a charming story, with action aplenty and respect for the quiet pursuit of birdwatching. It also reveals the transformation of the young birder, Twitch, from loner to friend; and the change in Jack from bully and then victim, to understanding friend. Written in a charming way we see the ingenious Twitch show environmental care and inventiveness and also great ingenuity in solving a crime, but first he has to work out how to trust. This will be enjoyed by young readers aged 8-12.
Themes Birdwatching, Bullying, Crime, Lies and truth, Friendship.
Carolyn Hull
Pawcasso by Remy Lai
Allen & Unwin, 2021. ISBN: 9781760526771. (Age:5+) Recommended.
It is the first day of summer break and other kids are keen to get out and enjoy their freedom but Jo is languishing inside with her mum, her older sister who teases her about having no friends and her younger brothers. When a dog passes the house holding a basket in its mouth with no owner in sight, Jo is intrigued and follows it. The dog enters a number of shops where the owners look at a shopping list and fill the basket. When the dog goes into a library where some of Jo’s school friends are learning about the artist Picasso, they assume the dog belongs to Jo and want to paint the dog, not the pear the teacher intended. When more people assume Jo is the dog’s owner it becomes too embarrassing to correct them, and Jo is enjoying the distraction. Her father works in Indonesia and only comes home occasionally which makes her angry, she is reluctant to make friends in case they too go away and hurt her.
When the dog passes her house again Jo is ready to find out what will happen next. Their adventures escalate involving more and more of the community who divide into dog lovers and those who think they should be leashed at all times. The local dog catcher gets involved and it becomes imperative to find the true owners and tell them the dog is in danger. On the journey Jo learns a lot about friendship and support and about needing to take other people’s feelings into account.
This is a colourful and fast paced graphic novel with some positive messages and likeable characters. At 235 pages it covers a lot of action and multiple story threads, maybe trying to pack in too many issues but primary independent readers will enjoy it and it would make a good read aloud book with issues that can be discussed as they arise. Teacher's tips and activities are available. The author discusses the book here.
Themes Friendship, Dogs.
Sue Speck
Found you, little wombat by Angela McAllister and Charles Fuge
Little Wombat loves to play hide and seek with his friends Koala and Rabbit but he gets distracted when it is his time to count to ten and find his hidden friends. Unfortunately, when the weather changes, he becomes lost in the rain by himself. Feeling sad and alone Little Wombat is happily discovered by his Mum and friends.
This story will appeal to young children who love to play and wander but get concerned when they stray too far from Mum and Dad. Most children have experienced that “getting lost” feeling at some time. Children will enjoy Koala and Rabbit asking Little Wombat to count to ten and he counts “two, ten.”
There are lots of close-up illustrations of Little Wombat as he is at the centre of the story. His feelings are very clearly on display from his wonder at looking at the flowers to his sadness sitting in the rain.
There are several other Little Wombat stories that can be enjoyed.
This is an endearing picture book for pre-schoolers and junior primary students.
Lucie has moved to London and taken up a new role with a prestigious law firm, leaving behind her family and her newly divorced ex-husband. Things are busy but going well, then she receives a hand delivered note : At last I've found you. A shock I'm sure. But in time I'll explain. Martin. Having lost Martin in the 9/11 attacks in New York, Lucie has never forgotten him - nor the fact that their relationship was a secret, with Martin promising he'd leave his wife for her. She was devastated to lose him that day, and can't be sure this note is real. Then a series of events occur leaving her questioning if he did pass away that day, or if he disappeared instead in the aftermath of the tragedy. But is it Martin or someone harassing her, or has paranoia set her off kilter?
This mystery thriller has compelling characters and takes place in the past and the present, switching between the two seamlessly. With a career driven protagonist juggling moving on from a divorce, settling in a new city as well as new relationships, readers will find Lucie relatable. Locations vary throughout the book too, and the fast paced writing makes the book very easy to read quickly. Descriptively written and emotion driven, this is a sure fire hit for those who enjoy thrillers and mysteries. While aimed at older readers, this novel would be ideal for readers of Karen M McManus. Readers will find the story has the perfect amount of twists and turns, and be unable to put the book down, wanting to know what will happen next.
Themes Mystery, Thriller, London, New York, 9/11 Attacks and Aftermath, Relationships, Paranoia, Obsession.
Melanie Pages
Introducing D'Lila LaRue by Nette Hilton. Illus. by A. Yi
D'Lila La Rue means well and she always thinks she's being terribly polite, but sometimes the people around her find her a little loud, a little rude and somewhat annoying. She lives in a small house with her very important mummy and daddy but is mostly cared for by Nanny-Anny. Fans of Amelia Bedelia and the Eloise books will appreciate the subtle humour and being 'in' on the joke (with D'Lila's literal interpretations of things like 'being on her toes'). Introducing D'Lila La Rue contains three short stories, each of about 7 chapters each. A smattering of black and white illustrations accompany the text. D'Lila's first adventure sees her helping Nanny-Anny to look after the roses for the Rosiest Garden Street Award. There are some lovely moments here of Nanny fostering D'Lila's curiosity and enthusiasm and some humorous happenings (D'Lila is astounded that you can buy poo in a shop to feed the roses and she pretends to be a hungry rose by standing in a puddle of water). There is also a sweet ending as she gets rewarded for being kind and helpful. The second story about a trip to the theatre, mostly centres on their public transports adventures, and the third sees them head to Nanny-Anny's art class, where D'Lila is entirely unwelcome.
There is a charming sense of companionship to D'Lila and Nanny's relationship and their home world is cosy and comforting. However, while intended to be humourous, some readers might be concerned by the way D'Lila is treated (or in general, how children are viewed) by the adults in the community. Nanny-Anny has to have a glass of wine because she is feeling 'ragged', her parents are not to be disturbed, someone on the bus calls her a rude little girl, the bus driver calls her a wicked little child who needs to be taken in hand, somone at the art class calls her a beast and even Nanny tells her at one point to keep her eyes open and her mouth shut and is always popping lollies in her mouth to keep her quiet. These antiquated attitudes to children are a common thread that hopefully don't detract too much from some wonderfully fun stories for independent readers.
In hard times it is always wonderful to find an author who can make me smile, and Ben Aaronovitch has done just that, while writing in two of my favourite genres, mystery, and fantasy. I have come very late to the Rivers of London series, first published in 2011, but it still reads with a freshness and appeal that will make readers want to continue with the series. Peter Grant is a young constable working for the London Metropolitan Police. Although he wants to become a detective, he is assigned to the Case Progression Unit, which means lots of paperwork and no detecting. When a ghost appears and gives him information about a strange murder, he gains the attention of Detective Chief Inspector Nightingale, in charge of looking into crimes involving magic. He finds himself embroiled in trying to solve supernatural murders where the faces of the murdered fall off, while meeting gods and goddesses of the rivers of London.
The whole setting of London, with the murders happening in and around Covent Garden, is fabulous, but what is most interesting is the attribution of gods and goddesses to the rivers of London. The reader will meet Mother and Father Thames, their children and grandchildren named after tributaries and streams, the most memorable characters being Tyburn, Fleet and Beverley Brook and will have fun looking up all the rivers and brooks that are part of the rivers of London.
For those who enjoy a good ghost story, Rivers of London delivers. Centred around actors from the past and the story of the Punch and Judy show, the action is fast paced and often gory. The humour though comes from the wry commentary from apprentice wizard Peter Grant and while a couple of descriptions of the women he encounters are cringe-worthy, they still fit into the character of this young cop, just beginning to find his feet in a world of women, ghosts, and police.
With a BBC show in the pipeline, this series is sure to become popular and I will continue to read more of the crimes solved by Peter Grant and Nightingale. Readers who liked Rivers of London may enjoy books by Jim Butcher and Neil Gaiman.
