Reviews

The Night Whistler by Greg Woodland

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Text Publishing, 2020. ISBN: 9781922330093.
(Age: Senior secondary/adult) Highly recommended. Mick Goodenough has been sent to the country town of Moorabool quite a come down from his former role as a detective in the city. Probationary Constable Goodenough is now the lowest on the pecking order, but it takes him no time to notice the station is badly run.
One of his dogs, a German Shepherd is found dead. A boy Hal, new to the town, finds the body which has been tortured and its throat cut. Hal later discovers the site has an unpleasant history. It was the scene of a terrible family murder/suicide with only one surviver.
Mick Goodenough would like some investigation into the killing of his dog but his sergeant shows no desire to waste police resources on the animal. But with some digging Mick finds there is quite a history of missing pets turning up maimed and killed, but no record of any investigation.
Hal's father, John Humphries is newly employed by a local food processing company and with his mother and younger brother have just settled into life in a country town. A life Hal's mother is none too keen on. After the company family Christmas party the nuisance phone calls begin. They always begin with whistling and become more personal toward Corrie Humphries.
Mick has become worried. The pet mutilations and now the phone calls indicate an escalation by the perpetrator. He fears the next victim may well be human.
Greg Woodland's murder mystery is set during the mid 1960s, when the pace of life is slower and the New South Wales police is well known for corruption. The atmosphere is very Australian: country town, summer, racial tension and a belief by white locals that there was no safer place to live.
The story is told  by Hal and Mick Goodenough, both adding their unique perspectives as new comers to a situation that becomes increasingly desperate. Woodland's first novel is one which hooks the reader because of a chemistry by which he has the reader sympathising with the two main characters.
Themes: Crime, Corruption, NSW, Police, Pets, Stalking.
Mark Knight

The human body survival guide (Your body is really gross - but also pretty awesome!) by George Ivanoff

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Penguin Random House Australia, 2020. ISBN: 9781760896744.
(Ages: 8-Adult) Highly recommended. Everything you always wanted to know about bodily functions, in excruciating detail, can be found in this entertaining book by George Ivanoff. It follows on from the first book in this nonfiction series called The Australia survival guide: Australia is trying to kill you, this book will save your life! published in 2019.
George is onto a winner here with all the facts about the most mundane of human anatomy presented in a highly amusing way. He introduces the "Gross-o-meter" which is a scale included on each page to rate how gross the particular section is according to the author; it rates from Un-gross through a 5-step scale to Ultra-gross. The book is divided into four sections : On the outside: about skin, wrinkles, cuts, nails, sweat and body image; On the inside: cardiovascular system, digestive systems, muscles and the brain; Better out than in: about body secretions and excretions (something kids all find riveting) and Everything else: a mix of facts about parasites, the body being an ecosystem, bionic body parts and much more. There is nothing about the Reproductive system. These short chapters have some very funny titles e.g. The wrapping, Food churning grossness, Red Spurty stuff, Pooping it out, Special invited guests, etc. which will definitely attract all children to this book. It also includes a Glossary and Further reading section at the end but no Index. It is very informative and includes case notes for real life examples of some things and little orange post-it notes to point out extra interesting things.
The book has the look of an old handbook as the illustrations inside are monochrome with large splashes of orange/red being the only bright colour. The photographs used are also black and white and this makes it very approachable for everyone who finds full colour pictures of body parts and insides confronting. There are some promotional videos by the author which libraries may find useful to introduce these books to their clients. Themes: Human anatomy, Physiology.
Gabrielle Anderson

Kensy and Max : Full speed by Jacqueline Harvey

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Penguin Random House Australia, 2020. ISBN: 9781760890025.
(Ages 8-10). Recommended. Kensy and Max, the super child spies, are back in the sixth book in this very popular series.  In this new book the twins find themselves on a mission to Zermatt in Switzerland after there is a strange gas leak in the Houses of Parliament during their school excursion.
When they arrive in Zermatt Kensy and Max are tasked with befriending Soren, the child of a very suspicious couple who are suspected of being involved in an arms smuggling ring.  But the mystery deepens for them when a secretive figure that was spotted in London turns up in Zermatt and seems to want to kill Max.  There is also the mystery of who is behind the hacks that are plaguing many large corporations around the world.  Along with the exciting, page-turning action in this book there is also a softer side which explores family relationships through the story behind Soren and his relationship with both his very self-absorbed parents and their kind housekeeper Sylvie.  Readers will enjoy the spy tools and special gadgets used by the twins and their family to give them the upper hand and solve the case.
These books can be read as a stand-alone book but some understanding of the characters that pop up is enhanced if they are read in order.  As with previous books the chapter titles are written in a special code, different in each book.  This book uses the Qwerty Code where the alphabet corresponds with the QWERTY keyboard and is explained in the back of the book. Themes: Spies, Twins, Siblings, Snow skiing, Mysteries.
Gabrielle Anderson

The biscuit maker by Sue Lawson

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Illus. by Liz Anelli. Walker Books, 2020. ISBN: 9781760650438.
(Age: 4+) Highly recommended. A wonderful sense of place is aroused with the biscuit maker and appreciative audience settled firmly on the front cover against a street of houses. The houses are repeated on the endpapers, several streets worth, with the houses drawn as children might draw them, without perspective. A lovely touch, I thought, and loving maps as I do, evoked an immediate response to the setting.
Eventually opening the book, after my mind trawled through the discussions I would have with the children listening to the story, I was intrigued with the direction the story took. Not just a story about grandmas and children baking, but a beautiful tale of coming together, of neighbours, neighbourhood and friendship. Benedict Stanley and his cat, Audrey Mae, say good morning and hello to the passers-by each day but they are too busy to notice and hurry past, jogging or going to work or reading a paper. So Benedict and his cat tend their garden until their legs weary and they must rest. A boy walks past telling them that the tooth fairy will visit him overnight. Benedict goes inside and cooks him some celebratory biscuits, leaving them on his doorstep. After this he cooks biscuits for many of the people in his street, and people begin to wonder who the biscuit maker is. One day, Benedict takes to his bed and the biscuits stop coming. People are concerned about what has happened to the biscuit maker, and why the biscuits have stopped. When Audrey Mae yowls outside Rory's house he realises something is wrong. He and other neighbours knock at Benedict's door, bringing food to him. As Benedict and Rory share a cake or two, the neighbours tuck into the garden, doing the sorts of things Benedict would have done if he were feeling better. The neighbourhood bustles with friendship and helping each other as they ready themselves for a New Year's Eve street party.
This wonderful story of finding friends, of communicating with your neighbours, of community, of watching out for the elderly, will warm the hearts of the readers, especially apt after the year we have had with its emphasis on helping those living nearby.
Each page shows a different facet of life in the street: kids getting ready for the grand final, a kitten falling from a rooftop, one family having triplets, a child who has lost a tooth. All happen within the neighbourhood but it is only Benedict who is aware of the range of incidents and acts upon them. Anelli offers us a crowded street scene, full of life and events, fascinating and detailed, a range of ages and backgrounds, of families and house styles, all prompting the reader to look at their own neighbourhood with renewed eyes.
Anelli's mixed media illustrations sing with friendship and cooperation, showing a disinterested neighbourhood coming to life when one person makes an effort. Benedict shows what can be done with the smallest of gestures, eliciting a response from those living next door, reviving the old community spirit that has lapsed. The book exhorts us to reignite the spirit of cooperation between neighbours. Children will love seeing the different aspects of street life, and single out the range of biscuits made by Benedict, turning to the back of the book for the recipe to try out for themselves. Teacher's notes are available.
Theme: Friendship, Neighbours, Cooperation, Community, Biscuits.
Fran Knight

Across the risen sea by Bren MacDibble

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Allen & Unwin, 2020. ISBN: 9781760526054.
(Age: 11+) Highly recommended. Marta, Neoma and Jag are going to the sunken city to scavenge what they can from the tall buildings, now mostly underwater. Curious and ferociously independent, Neoma takes the stairs, excited by the writing on one of the floors she comes across. She has heard of such places where people sit at tables and others cook and serve them food, but now, it means there may be salvageable cans, enough to sustain them over the long hot summer.
A stunning dystopian story, Neoma and her mother are part of a small community on an island, one of many formed after the seas rise. Strangers from another settlement, called the Valley of the Sun by the islanders, came one day and cut down some trees, erecting a pole with a flashing light on top and guys to hold it fast. Neoma, ever curious, digs one of the boxes at the base of one of the ties and is badly burnt.
Coming back from their scavenging, they come across the interloper's boat, now derelict, and tow it back to their island. One girl is still alive and they nurse her back to health, with only Marta able to understand her language. But the islanders are concerned lest the others think they killed her companion and consequently Jag is kidnapped by people from the Valley of the Sun as retribution. Neoma follows in the catamaran but is soon taken over by a pirate. She steals back her boat, but the girl from the pirate's boat comes aboard, now less one finger, and they sail on to rescue Jag with a crocodile and shark in tow.
A dystopian mystery by the author of award winning The dog runner (2018) and How to bee (2017), this tale is suffused with future warnings, Neoma's island rejecting the trappings of modern life, but equally needing some vestiges of it to survive. The ominous green clouds, the disease which befell the nations, the rising seas, a society fragmented into small islands of survivors, all suspicious of each other, point to a world gone awry, and a future which seems all too imminent for thoughtful readers. Teacher's notes are available from the publisher's website.
Themes; Global warming, Climate change, Dystopian novel.
Fran Knight

Funny Kid: Belly flop by Matt Stanton

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HarperCollins, 2020. ISBN: 9780733340604.
(Age: 7+) Recommended. This is the latest novel in the Funny Kid series by author-illustrator Matt Stanton. Max is the funny kid in his class, always looking for a laugh.
This book starts with a week to go until the annual school swimming carnival. Max does not want to swim in the carnival and decides to take action. As the carnival date draws nearer all that Max thought he knew is turned upside down - is he really on the same side as an 11-year-old female super-villain? Why is he avoiding his faithful sidekick, Hugo? Whoever thought craft glue was a good idea? And who IS the bad twin?
For most of the story, Max, although funny, is a reckless boy full of his own importance and wishes and without much thought for anyone else. He behaves badly towards his best friend, shows no respect for authority figures such as his teacher and swimming instructor, and encourages and celebrates poor choices by his classmates.
It is only towards the end that Max realises the value of true friendship and displays some empathy, understanding and regret regarding how the adults and kids around him have been affected during the week. He takes steps to put things right but there's still some surprises in store.
Students who have enjoy the WeirDo books or who have read others in this series will enjoy this new offering. The black and white line illustrations don't just add to the story, they are an integral part of the story and are very engaging.
This book contains an author bio as well as a sneak peek at his new graphic novel series The Odds.
Themes: Swimming, Friends, Adventure, Humour.
Kylie Grant

Blood and honey by Shelby Mahurin

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Serpent and dove series, book 2. Harper Teen 2020, ISBN: 9780063041172
(Age: 15+) As the sequel to Serpent and dove (Blood and honey is the second in the series), this review may contain spoilers for the first book for those who have not read it. A descriptive and action packed fantasy, Blood and honey picks up right after the cliff-hanger end of Serpent and dove, with Lou, Reid and their companions on the run and in hiding. With Lou's coven in pursuit of Lou, the church in pursuit of all of them and the kingdom not having a place for them, their little band of fugitives are in constant danger. With the threat of Morgane hanging over them, the group seek allies in unlikely places - with their enemies. Fearing this won't be enough to protect the ones she loves, Lou turns to a darker side of her magic that may cost more than it's worth.
Having enjoyed the first book of this series, I found the second book just as compelling with relatable characters, interesting plot development and well paced, detailed writing. There is also romance, both hot and heavy and unrequited. Having been introduced to Lou, Reid, Ansel and Coco in book 1, readers learn more about them while their relationships develop. While Lou struggles to keep a grip on herself, Reid struggles to accept himself. This well written novel will appeal to many readers. It would suit fans of Sarah J. Maas' Court of thorns and roses series.
Themes: Magic, Good and evil, Fantasy, Self-perception, Forgiveness.
Mel Phillips

Of boys and boats by Ian Trevaskis

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Ford St Publishing, 2020. ISBN: 9781925804515.
(Age: 12-14) Highly recommended. The Olympic Games in Melbourne in 1956 form the backdrop for this extraordinary story about a group of friends. Jack (who suffers from asthma) and Percy (whose legs have been affected by polio) have always been friends. They welcome Heinrich (the new kid from Germany) and Anna (who is also an immigrant from Italy) into their little group when they decide to run a pretend Olympic torch around their neighbourhood. Unfortunately, the local bully Bruiser loves nothing more than to spoil all their fun. It seems to Jack that Bruiser and his mates Ferret and Stinky McGee have been lurking in the shadows terrorizing them for Jack's whole life and he laments that he hasn't yet had the courage stand up to them.
The little gang become a great group of friends and when they discover an unfinished boat in a shed behind Mad Mick's house, they make plans to try to finish it so that Percy can experience sailing. Jack meets Mad Mick when Jack's dog Skip is hurt by a car. So, Jack works up the courage to ask Mick if the group can finish the boat and Mick agrees if, in exchange, Jack reads to Mick each day. All is going well, with Heinrich's knowledge of boats and the groups commitment to working on the boat each day, until Bruiser and his gang steal the boat plans and a special photo album that belongs to Mick. Will they ever finish the boat now and sail her on the bay the way Mick did so many years before with his precious love Edith?
A fast-paced dramatic story with touches of humour that explores several relationships; between Jack and Mick, who talks to the ghost of his brother lost in the war, the connection Jack has with his parents, especially his dad who is in hospital with tuberculosis and was an alcoholic. The way that Jack and his buddies finally defeat Bruiser and his gang is priceless and proves the strength of friendship will always prevail.
Teacher's notes are available for this book on the Ford Street Publishing website. Themes: Friendships, Bullying, Olympic Games, Boats, World War One, Immigration.
Gabrielle Anderson

The great realisation by Tomos Roberts

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Illus. by Nomoco. Harper Collins Australia, 2020. ISBN: 9781460759806.
(Ages: 7+) Recommended. First performed in response to the Covid-19 pandemic, this poem has been viewed over 60 million times and translated into over 20 languages. The young author, UK spoken-word poet freelance filmmaker Tomos Roberts, struggled financially when the pandemic hit and set himself a challenge to find a hopeful message within the hardship and isolation faced by many. He describes the book as 'a bedtime story for a time of change' and a 'reminder that we need not aim for a return just to normal when there is a tangible prospect of progress and the potential for so much more'. Nomoco's vibrant watercolour illustrations are minimal but poignant, adding to the wonderfully serene, yet hopeful nature of the poem itself.
The story starts with two children asking for a bedtime story: 'Tell me the one about the virus again, then I'll go to bed'. The story the children are asking for begins before the pandemic and tells what the world was like before: big companies, instant gratification of material needs, busy people without time to talk to each other, isolation and environmental destruction. It tells of how while everyone was busy hiding from the virus, wonderful things started to happen: we started to talk more, rush around less and enjoy simple activities and the environment started to breathe again. Then it talks of what we hope will happen: 'we all preferred the world we found, to the one we'd left behind'.
This is a beautifully optimistic book that wants to separate history into pre-covid and post-covid, with the hope that the two eras will look drastically different. While it remains to be seen if this will come to fruition, it's a realisation worth sharing with people of all ages. A teacher's guide is available. Themes: Modern life, Hope, 2020 Covid-19 pandemic, Poetry.
Nicole Nelson

Old man Emu by John Williamson

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Illus. by Simon McLean. Penguin Random House Australia, 2020. ISBN: 9781760898793.
(Ages: 3-7) This picture book adaptation celebrates 50 years since the release of iconic Aussie singer-songwriter John Williamson's hit song Old Man Emu. After recently publishing book versions of Christmas in Australia and My Dad Snores this new release of one of his most enduring songs (and the one that kickstarted his career) comes as no surprise. The crazy lyrics are perfectly paired with wacky illustrations by Simon McLean that will have little ones giggling the whole way through. For those unfamiliar with the song, it tells the tale of what an emu can and can't do and compares its abilities to other Australian birds and animals (he's got a beak and feathers and things, but the poor old fella ain't got no wings'). While he may not be able to fly what he can do is 'run the pants off a kangaroo'.
There is beautiful rhythm within the rhyming lyrics and lots of repetition, perfect for getting kids to join in, especially with the 'oom ba da little da da da'. As well as obvious uses around music and singing the book could also be used to start a conversation about Australian animals and their individual abilities and characteristics ('you can't loop the loop like a cockatoo', 'duck can swim, but he can't sing') and applying this to our own individual human abilities.
This is a joyful and fun way to introduce kids to songwriting and rhythm and will be a particular favourite for children who have already been introduced to the song by their parents or teachers. Adult fans will appreciate the subtle nods to Williamson himself (the emu is clearly modelled on his image and there are some references to Quambatook where he grew up). Themes: Poetry/song, Australian animals, Abilities.
Nicole Nelson

Meet Dooley on the farm by Sally Odgers and Christina Booth

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Aussie Kids. Penguin, 2020. ISBN: 9781760893682.
(Age: Beginning independent readers) Recommended. Meet Dooley on the farm is one of 8 books in the new series Aussie Kids published by Penguin Random House. This wonderful series has been very well thought out with each book a story about a child from a diverse background, from each of the Australian states and territories. Each book also showcases a special event or day or a unique place where they live.
These books are written for young readers aged 5-8, who are newly confident. The text is of a good size, there is ample space between lines and the 2 colour illustrations assist the reader to make sense of the story.
In this particular book, by Sally Odgers and Christina Booth (both Tasmanians too!), the main character Dooley is showing his farm to his city living cousin Sienna. He shows her the country life, and they experience lots of 'pongs' including farm and wild animals, hay and the pond loving family dog. The main event is when they attempt to sleep in the barn and are consistently woken up by a large number of animal friends.
I think this book really hits the brief of being for beginning independent readers. The words used are fairly easy to decipher when needed and the content is relevant. I think that children will both enjoy reading about something within their state, but also maybe somewhere they have previously been or would like to go. This adds that element of connection which is important for many readers. A really great start to the series, I look forward to finding the rest and adding them to our library.
Lauren Fountain

Troubled blood by Robert Galbraith

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Cormoran Strike, book 5. Little Brown, 2020. ISBN: 9780751579949. 944 pp.
(Age: Adult - Senior secondary) Highly recommended. Although a massive 944 pages, fans of the series will be rivetted by the complex plotting and relationships in Galbraith's latest offering. Strike and Robin are back again, this time investigating a cold case involving a young doctor, Margot Bamborough, who mysteriously disappeared forty years earlier. Strike had been approached by her daughter to see if he could find the truth about her and give her some solace. As Strike and Robin start investigating, they discover that there had been a serial killer on the loose nearby, and the detective in charge of the case had been convinced that he was the killer. However, he had become increasingly obsessed with tarot cards which he was using to solve the case and eventually was forced to leave it. Strike and Robin must delve through copious strange notes, interview any surviving witnesses all the while researching the many cases their agency was actively pursuing. Not to mention Strike having to cope with the fact that his aunt, who had brought him up, has cancer, while Robin is struggling with a difficult divorce.
There are many plot threads to follow in Troubled blood, and the author keeps the reader puzzling not only over what happened to Margot Bamborough, but also what happened to other young women that the serial killer was supposed to kill. Even the other cases the agency is investigating are interesting and contain more puzzles for the reader to try and solve. And readers who have been following the growing rapport between Robin and Strike will enjoy the way Galbraith has given an in-depth understanding of how their backgrounds and past relationships have affected their emotional growth.
Fans of the Cormoran Strike series will not want to miss this one, and lovers of the mystery genre will appreciate the intricate plotting and may, like me, be surprised by the final denouements.
Pat Pledger

Peppa loves the Great Barrier Reef by Peppa Pig

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Penguin, 2020. ISBN: 9780241457542.
Peppa loves the Great Barrier Reef is a story based on the popular children's TV show Peppa Pig, and seems to be part of a new range of Peppa Pig books aimed at Australian fans.
In this title, Peppa and her family visit their friend Kylie Kangaroo (who has been on other episodes) and spend time with her at her mother's work in a submarine on the Great Barrier Reef. The Pig family are amazed at how beautiful the coral is on the reef and make links to the fish tank at Kylie Kangaroo's house. They love the different sea life and rainbow coral, all that is missing is a chest full of treasure . . . or is it?
I think that this book missed a really good opportunity to talk a bit more about the Great Barrier Reef and how to protect it. All they said was not to take anything away, and then a treasure chest full of gold coins is discovered and taken away . . . Young readers would most likely not understand that a treasure chest and coral are different things (living and not) and may be confused by this part of the story.
Overall, the general storyline is okay and fits in very well with the other Peppa Pig books I have read before. The illustrations are bright and colourful and represent all the characters that fans of this show will recognise. The addition of the textural sparkles/glitter on the cover is also nice and helps the book stand out, which will inevitably draw in young fans of the show and possibly even those that have not seen it yet.
Lauren Fountain

Older by Pamela Redmond

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Hachette, 2020. ISBN: 9780733645372
This story is written as a sequel to Redmond's earlier novel,Younger, the book that was the foundation of a highly popular television series in the USA. Redmond's follow-up novel takes us into her adult life, the choices she makes and the challenges that she faces, after the huge following that was elicited by the TV series. This book would be suitable for adolescent and adult reading.
In Older, Redmond describes the issues that a new mother faces, from the lack of sleep, the demands of a child, when life before motherhood seemed so full, vital and energizing. Now we read of the exhaustion, the need for patience when a baby is unsettled, and the pressing need to have a break from the seemingly never-ending demands of motherhood. We are able to see the pressing need for help with the child, and how new mothers particularly seek a solution to this issue. Redmond addresses the issue of the role of grandparents in this modern world, and their challenges in this role.
Vital, interesting and very much a description of the modern world of the clash of jobs, children, work and relationships, this novel bares all. We are also taken into the world of television, where and how programs are generated, written, performed and received by audiences. This book provides a view of that world and it is indeed a fascinating but incredibly demanding world.
Elizabeth Bondar

Future Girl by Asphyxia

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Allen & Unwin, 2020. ISBN: 9781760294373.
(Age: Middle to senior secondary) Recommended. Irene McBride is Organicore's chief scientist, overseeing the nutritional value and health supplements in Recon, artificial food replacements regularly delivered to 65% of the Australian population. Her 16 year old daughter Piper is deaf but brought up using hearing aids and lip reading so she can fit in with a mainstream school. Everyone has a wristlet with visi screen linked to the government controlled "Quest tool" (Cesspool) which also controls access to bank accounts, public transport and ID. Rich kids aspire to having them implanted. While Piper can operate in a hearing world, it is a constant struggle; she has a best friend, Taylor, but becomes isolated in groups or noisy environments. Their world is turned upside down when petrol prices soar; transport becomes unaffordable, jobs are lost, shortages lead to rationing and the deliveries of Recon dwindle to the point that everyone is hungry. Piper's mum loses her job and they move into their basic guest flat and rent out the house. When Taylor takes up with controlling older boyfriend, Beau, Piper's only consolation is to draw and write in her journal, a relaxing, end of day time when she takes her frustrations and dumps them on the page. She decides to refurbish an old bike to get around on and meets a hot guy, Marley, working at the bike shop. He is CODA, (child of deaf adult) and teaches Piper to sign in Auslan. She sees a flyer advertising a workshop on growing your own food but when she attends she can't follow what is said. Marley introduces her to his mother who grows her own food and Piper embarks on a journey to learn about not only growing food, but about the Deaf community and how individual activism from the ground up can change the world.
Beautifully produced as Piper's journal with colour, pattern and illustrations on every page, the collages are eloquent at expressing feelings, augmenting the story and adding instructional material to the text.  Piper bravely faces the challenges in her life, including killing the chickens she has raised for food, and in doing so she discovers inner toughness and a direction for herself in a world which has lost direction.
Asphyxia has online blogs and videos for readers who want to know more about the Deaf community and sustainable living and there is a list of Art Journal ideas at the back of the book. Recommended for middle to senior students and a useful resource in combining text with illustration.
Themes: Dystopia, Deafness, Sustainable living.
Sue Speck