Allen & Unwin, 2025. ISBN: 9781760631673. (Age:14+) Highly recommended.
Florida high school student Page Whittaker is awarded a scholarship to Agathion College, a newly opened boarding school on the Scottish moors. Page, having had a traumatic event happen at her old school, believes that this is a chance to start fresh. Agathion boasts old buildings made of stone, foggy scenery, and tough assignments, so it appears to be a great place to start fresh. But the moment Page settles, she realises that the school has secrets as well, such as a club practising dark magic. Her new friends - Cyrus, Ren, Gideon, Lacey, and Oak - have secrets of their own, which makes the story even more exciting.
Wilkinson's writing is descriptive and atmospheric, and it brings to life the eerie atmosphere of the Scottish moors and the Gothic structure of Agathion. The book mixes dark academia and supernatural horror. The novel explores complex themes like moral ambiguity, the lure of power, and identity, which deepen the narrative and keep readers engaged. It's an excellent read for teenagers who enjoy scary school tales and supernatural fiction in the style of Leigh Bardugo, Naomi Novik, and V.E. Schwab.
The energy engine of the body is introduced starting at the mouth and ending with the bottom. The gut is responsible for breaking down the food we ingest, taking the nutrients our bodies need for their energy. This process, called digestion, begins with the breaking down of food, then the making of energy, ending with removing the waste.
From then on more detail is given about the process along with funny illustrations adding to the underlying humour.
Lots of information is given to the reader along the way, answering questions they probably never thought about, but involve digestion. Did you know that digestion starts before you put food into your mouth? Sights and smells start the process, stirring the gut to be ready. Once in our mouth food is softened by our saliva. Our mouth makes up to six cups of saliva in one day! Did you know it’s the bile from our liver that makes our poo brown? Otherwise, it would be white. What an amazing load of facts, kids will love reading about them as well as sharing the facts with their friends, and their parents! Wonderful dinner time talk.
After being buffeted by saliva and roaming over the taste buds, the food travels down the oesophagus, where it is rhythmically moved down the gut to the stomach where it is squeezed and shaped, and hit by powerful acids to break the food down further. The small intestine absorbs the nutrients, then the large intestine absorbs the water from the food we have eaten and readies the waste for its evacuation.
Readers will be totally absorbed in this no fuss description using humour to make it more digestible. Bright, funny illustrations cover every page, using blocks of colour, landscape and portraiture in a style with an arresting use of one double page, making readers turn the book around to see the whole of the digestive system.
Lots of funny facts are discussed in the following pages, including questioning how your body gets the right amount of nutrients, or how many microbes are contained in your body, and how long it takes for food to pass through your body. All the information will titillate and enthral younger readers.
Themes Gut, Body, Digestive system, Humour.
Fran Knight
Ashton’s Hotel: The Journal of William Baker Ashton, First Governor of the Adelaide Gaol by Rhondda Harris
The new colony of South Australia was an idealistic idea of a place where free settlers could flourish without the taint of transported criminals experienced by the other Australian colonies. There was no provision for a gaol, let alone a mental asylum but almost immediately it became clear that one would be required, often to hold criminals until they could be transported to the penal colonies. While researching in the State Archives the author re-discovered the journal of William Baker Ashton, first governor of Adelaide Gaol, appointed in 1839. In the journals Ashton notes the daily business of the gaol and the comings and goings of its inmates. This is a complete transcription augmented by newspaper reports, official documents and contextual comments by the author. Other inmates were debtors, especially as the colony experienced financial difficulties. Drunks, destitutes and the mentally ill, along with aborigines from as far away as Port Lincoln made a very mixed population housed in buildings that were cramped and insecure. Ashton is revealed as consistently advocating for the best conditions possible for those under his compassionate care in the most difficult of circumstances. A comprehensive index and reference notes make this book not only an engaging insight into Adelaide from 1839 to 1845 but an excellent research tool.
Themes Adelaide Gaol (S.A.) - History, Governors - Biography, South Australia - History - 1836-1856.
Sue Speck
Divine mortals by Amanda M. Helander
Hyperion, 2024. ISBN: 9781368113960. (Age:Adult)
Mona Arnett describes herself as ‘the girl who killed her brother, who never leaves the house’. She’s also a reknown soothsayer able to divine each person’s soul-mate. It’s a gift she’s received from her protector, Irinorr, Crow God of Love. Her notoriety leads to an invitation to join the elite group of royal magicians charged with the task of selecting the ideal partner for the ailing king, to ensure a successor before the kingdom’s bond with magic fades.
It’s an intriguing idea, an agoraphobic heroine wracked with grief and guilt but quick with smart repartee and impertinence. However her self-revilement along with her self-centred disregard for the feelings of others makes it hard to empathise with her as a character.
At the front of the book there is a much needed cast listing of gods and court members, and while the narrative is divided into distinct episodes, the multitude of strangely named characters and the intricacies of the convoluted plot means that the reader is completely in the dark as to what is really happening. It’s one of those stories that requires a lot of explanations as it rushes towards its conclusion.
This is a romantasy in the style of Lyra Selene’s A feather so black (2024). Mona drinks a lot of whisky, and is sexually provocative on more than one occasion, so I would suggest that the book, while labelled as YA, is more suited to a slightly older readership.
For those who enjoy this genre, the sequel ‘Wayward gods’ is due to be released later in 2025.
Themes Fantasy, Romance, Gods, Magic, Guilt.
Helen Eddy
The Amber Owl by Juliet Marillier
9781763662513, 2025. ISBN: New Dawn Publishing. (Age:14+) Highly recommended.
What a thrill to have a new fantasy from Juliet Marillier, who is a favourite author of mine. The amber owl is the first in a duology featuring a young woman, Stasya, who lives alone on the edge of Heartwood Forest with her strange little dog Flip after her grandmother had died when she was young. Her only friend is Lukas a goatherd who shares her love of the forest and storytelling. The villagers tolerate her as she works hard and possesses a gift for helping ailing animals, one she is careful not to display overtly as it is dangerous to be labelled a witch. The peace of the forest and village is destroyed by a group of soldiers led by Rihard, the Commander, who have orders to hack down the trees to make a path to the Hermit in search of treasured amber. No one has ever returned from this place deep in the heart of the forest. The mighty Ancestor tree guarding the entrance to the forest is razed to the ground and Stasya knows that only evil can come from its destruction. Standing up to the soldiers results in her being taken to the court by Aleksis who is Lady Elisabeta’s advisor. Here she is imprisoned and told she must find a way to the Hermit, although she knows she cannot break her vow to protect the forest.
Told in multiple points of view by Stasya, Rihard, Lukas and Aleksis the reader is drawn into a wonderful world of giant trees and magical beings, of feelings of guilt and growing love, of power-hungry rulers and warrior monks, of secrets and stories. Keeping the forest safe is a key theme and as Stasya and her companions travel through the forest, she communicates with the trees and animals that live there. She also has the power of telling stories that lighten the hearts of her group on their dangerous quest and communicate feelings and hope that she has difficulty articulating aloud. Gradually secrets are peeled away leaving the reader satisfied and hoping for the next in the duology.
Marillier’s world building and character development is outstanding. Readers who are new to this author and enjoyed The amber owl with its strong young woman and melancholy atmosphere, will want to read her Sevenwaters and Warrior bards series while older readers might like the Blackthorn and Grim series. Others could try books by Emily Lloyd-Jones, The bone houses and The drowned woods.
Themes Fantasy, Magic, Forests, Storytelling.
Pat Pledger
Maggie the dragon by Tony Armstrong. Illus. by Emma Sjaan Beukers
Maggie is the best flyer, she can do rolls and skydives. The dragons’ work is to patrol the skies, keeping the kingdom safe, and with her skills she is patrolling the faraway edges of the kingdom. Here she uses her fire breathing skills to repel unwanted visitors. But she wants to see the rest of the kingdom. She longs for a holiday. But last time she tried this, she frightened the villagers with her fire breathing and their wizard put up a shield to keep her out.
One cold morning as she set out on her patrol, she sees a green flash of lightning. Every protector knows that this is the warning of an incredible storm and it is up to her to alert the kingdom. But as she sets out she is overcome with a case of hiccups. This is so debilitating, she needs help in stopping them. She notices the wizard and his friend from the village. George and Harriet stop to help, encouraging Maggie to calm down and breathe. This simple instruction works and the hiccups stop. Maggie and George climbed onto Maggie’s back and they fly through the storm to warn Summervale.
But the storm comes more quickly than expected so George once again climbs onto Maggie’s back and the two fly into the heart of the storm. George’s magic keeps the storm at bay and together they save the village.
Bright vivacious illustrations cover each page illuminating the wonderful Maggie, a bright red dragon living on her mountain. Children will empathise with the dragon, repelled by the villagers because of her fire breathing, but showing just how useful she can be in an emergency. The story and the eye catching illustrations show a character looking for acceptance and a place where she belongs. Kids will love reading about her dilemma, knowing that this is a universal concern, one which is obvious to them all. They will be able to suggest ways to find their place, a place they feel safe and comfortable. The solution to Maggie’s problem is one that is comparable to their own lives, as they offer different skills to those around them.
A pleasing sequel to George the wizard (2024) which introduced the kingdom and some of its inhabitants.
Scarlet Defender of the Universe, is a smart, 9-year-old redhead who answers an advertisement for the role of Defender of the Universe to prove to her annoying younger brother that it's not a real thing. Thus, she's a little surprised to be told that she's got the job and is now responsible for the safety of the entire galaxy. Along with her co-Defender Jasper, Pom-Pom, the cutest alien in existence, and Bot, the cleverest AI robot that's ever been invented, Scarlet is thrown into a whirlwind adventure that takes her to the furthest reaches of the cosmos and back again, on a mission to prevent the destruction of planet Earth by an alien species who will do anything for a warm cup of hot chocolate.
The genre 'fantasy adventure' is described as combining "the elements of fantasy (supernatural, magical, and often imaginary worlds) with the adventure genre (epic journeys, quests, and exciting undertakings), resulting in stories with magic, danger, and exploration." Unique landscapes, societies and cultures are the background to seemingly ordinary human characters embarking on personal quests that involve action, risk and danger and usually in company or conflict with imaginary beings to quell the malicious intent of those who seek to harm them. As they seek to ensure that good triumphs over evil, often with unique and mysterious powers, they also learn much about themselves, who they are, what they stand for and what they can accomplish and achieve as regular people.
Popular since the days of Enid Blyton's Magic Faraway Tree series when young readers transported themselves away from the horrors of World War II to lands where fairies, elves and other magical beings dwelt and life was so different to their lived reality, continued through the 50s as my generation went through the wardrobe into Narnia, then brought into the realm of the modern young reader through the exploits of Harry Potter and his friends and the making of the movies based on Tolkien's classics of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings trilogy, and perpetuated through any number of video and computer games, it is a firm favourite with independent readers across the ages. Those written for children not only allow the child to dwell in an alternative world that may be more appealing than the one they are in, but also enable them to become the hero with both power and powers that the real world denies them. They are in charge, they are calling the shots and making the decisions - something rare in the pre-teen's life.
Scarlet: Defender of the Universe fits the genre, the demand and the library collection perfectly. It features those essential elements of the fantasy adventure genre with fast-paced narrative that draws the reader into both the setting and the action, while dropping tiny but important clues along the way whose significance only becomes apparent as the climax approaches. There are elements that echo the reader's world making the transition to the imaginary one seem more seamless as they take on the role of the protagonist as they are able to relate, perhaps even empathise, with the struggles they face, yet each features a lightness of touch that makes them ideal read-alones or read-alouds. They also all seem to set themselves as the possible beginning of a new series that keen readers will seek out.
Currently, in the school library in which I volunteer, it is series like these that seem to be constantly circulating, so to be able to bring some new reads to the selections will definitely spike interest as our long winter nights approach.
Themes Heroes, Life on other planets, Robots, Aliens.
Fascinating! Absolutely enthralling! Ann Dombroski has created an exciting thriller, set in a very believable future world, after a historic ‘Great Storm’. Storms have become a regular event, and ‘Great Storm no.5’ is another that uproots trees, cracks buildings apart, and derails transport Sliders.
Alice Kaczmarek’s husband Daniel is imprisoned in the Maximum Security Vertical Farm, convicted of sabotaging a Slider and causing the deaths of seven people. Convinced of his innocence, and that he has been framed, Alice is desperately juggling finances to pay for appeal lawyers, IVF fees, her Eterne anti-aging treatment, residential care for her grandmother, her brother-in-law’s special care, storm damage to her home, and possibly even bribe money to get Daniel out.
Communication during prison visits has to be covert, secret messages implied in casual conversation. Outside, there is the tension of constant surveillance, cameras, vans, people watching, calls tapped. Alice doesn’t know who to trust. Is Daniel’s friend Lowell really his friend, or a spy? Amidst all this, a strange creature drags onto her doorstep, half human, half bat, injured and seriously ill.
Dombroski’s novel is both speculative fiction and tense thriller. The elements of the modern world are not described in detail, they are just taken for granted that this is the usual way of things: transport by Sliders and autopods, communication by wrist-phone, biometric scanning, automatically operating homes. Alice’s job is creating patient-specific implants: heart valves, kidneys, bones. The medical world experiments with genetic selection and xenotransplantation. ‘Mission to Mars’ televises in real-time the daily lives of astronauts on their seven month trip.
At the same time, Alice has to navigate the world of secret surveillance, corporate corruption, and the dark underworld of criminals and thugs. There is constant suspicion, and constant questioning of morals and ethics. It makes for a tense thriller that keeps readers engaged to the end, raising many issues that will linger in the mind long afterwards. It’s an absorbing novel, highly recommended, even for those who might not normally select speculative fiction.
Themes Thriller, Future, Ethics, Surveillance, Corruption, Medical experimentation.
Helen Eddy
When Haru was here by Dustin Thao
Pan Macmillan, 2024. ISBN: 9781761264511. (Age:14+)
Eric and his best friend Daniel are excited for their final year of school, their summer trip to Japan, where Eric has a chance encounter with an amazing local teen called Haru. Back home in America, Eric and Daniel are looking forward to life after school, and Eric is hoping his friendship with Daniel might be something more, but a few crossed signals means that amounts to nothing and then the unexpected loss of Daniel leave Eric grappling. To cope with the changes, Eric sees and talks to Daniel in his own way, while working at whatever job he can find, no longer pursing his filmmaking aspirations. Then one day, he runs into Haru, who is travelling from Japan, and Eric feels the chance to connect and be less alone - but something feels a bit off.
Thao has written about several different kinds of losses and grieving in this novel, and varying levels of friendship. The novel moves between present and past, with a 'before' section, and then some flashbacks through the story. The beginning of the novel feels stilted, and multiple characters appear to only know how to smirk, however the pacing works well for the story. There are some questionable judgement calls by several characters, hence for slightly older readers. Good for fans of They Both Die at the End by Adam Silvera or Our Chemical Hearts by Krystal Sutherland.
Themes LGBTQIA+, Contemporary, High School to Life after School, Tragedy, Loss, Grief, Romance, Japan.
Birthday wishes can come true and for Frankie, hers finally does when she receives a much longed for puppy. But unfortunately, right from the start a series of mishaps occur one after the other. From Frankie being piddled on, then knocking over the snake tank which leads to a hungry snake swallowing the birthday wish, this calamitous story will have readers wondering what will happen next.
All through the story though, Frankie and her family stay positive and keep using the word ‘lucky’ each time something occurs. The roller coaster of events, that might just include candles setting wrapping paper on fire, cats stuck in trees and the arrival of emergency services, will keep young readers on their toes.
This story is full of action and energy with bold and colourful graphic style illustrations often presented in a variety of formats including panels to further engage the reader. An entertaining read.
Themes Luck, Family, Mishaps, Neighbours, Police, Fire brigade, Animals, Humour.
A beautiful homage to life in the suburbs where those families with a smaller income than most live closer to the train line. While some see this as a negative, this boy is bedazzled by the movement, colours, noise and style of trains that roar past. And this book heralds the passion he feels documenting the landscape of his childhood.
The family can hear the trains and see them as they walk to the station to farewell Mum when she goes to work. They come back at home time to welcome her back. Passing through their station they can see old trains and new trains, coloured trains and freight trains, trains that go to cities a long way away, and on very special days they can spy a steam train.
On weekends the family goes to the station to catch a train to somewhere else. The routines they follow are shown clearly by Jellett as Dad buys the ticket, then checks them on the station. They all wait behind the yellow line, and board the train when the doors open. The two levels of the train offer opportunities to see people’s heads or feet. On their trip they take snacks to eat and watch the different styles of stations they pass. They pass old stations and new stations, those with long platforms and short ones, some have lifts, while others only have stairs, some are underground, and the city station is the biggest of all, with many trains and lots of people. But best of all is their station because it means they are coming home.
Jellett gently underlines the family as they use the train for work and pleasure, unphased by the closeness of their house to the train lines. Jellett’s images show modest houses by the line, and subtle touches show a modest family living in the suburbs a long way from the city. The family is a nuclear family with one adult working. Mum takes a coffee with her on her way to work, and the family enjoys food they take with them on their weekend trip. The closeness of the family is shown to the reader, as they walk to the station, enjoy their outing on the train, and tired and sleepy, wend their way home.
As lovely images of the train roll by on every page, children will see a large range of trains, the stations where they stop and the surroundings of the stations and the tracks. For younger readers this will be a wonderful introduction, to older people it will remind them of the fascination of trains and the service they offer us all, and for older readers again, helping a younger child reading the book, the images will remind them of train watching as a child and the opportunities offered them when younger.
I love this book: each time I open its pages I see something new to admire.
Minty Bay is a long way from the city, there are areas of bushland near the station, the train bears the name, so is this the last station? The station manager comes out to wave hello to passengers. With the first endpapers the trains begin their morning services in the light, eventually coming to the end of day at the end of the book, the train still running through the night on the last endpaper.
A lovely book to encourage children’s interest in trains. And have them see one of the services governments provide.
Themes Trains, Railway stations, Family, Humour.
Fran Knight
Extasia by Claire Legrand
Katherine Tegen Books, 2023. ISBN: 9780062696649. (Age:13+)
Haven. A safe village, with elders who will anoint the fourth saint of the village. We meet her on her day of anointing, where her name is unimportant, as she will be given her new name, her Saint name. She has endured the trials, extra to make up for her mother's wickedness. She will become a saint for the village and don the red hood, be marked by the elders, join her sisters, the other saints. Today she will become Saint Amity. Together they will save the village from the evil that invades their village, nine men dead already.
But after her anointing, men still die. Amity still sees the faceless gray women, the black birds, the white-eyed beasts... Maybe to save the village, she will have to raise the devil and make a bargain...
This relatively slow paced supernatural/paranormal horror gives The Village (movie by M. Night Shyamalam) vibes along with powerful feminism movement vibes. Much of the 484 pages was given to the religious zealousness of the cult, with men being the authority and the 'saints' being the 'honoured' members of the village - who were to be beaten by the villagers. Somewhat strange interpretation of sainthood, much of the writing was to fuel the rage against men - not sure it's really needed, there is an entire history of men treating women poorly available, though it does build an aspect of the story. Ending was short given the length of the book, suggesting perhaps another to come. It would suit fans of horror, supernatural or those who have read the series by Suzanne Young, Girls with Sharp Sticks.
The first endpaper shows an array of cats and the things they get up to, causing mayhem and damage in the house. Readers will love seeing the looks on their faces, the damage they are causing, and their wonderful names. But the book is about dogs, so the stage is set for conflict between these two animals.
Percy is cross, he gets all the blame when things go awry, especially after he chases the cats around the lounge room, knocking over plants, upsetting the board game, causing mayhem. In rhyming lines, we see poor old Percy take the situation in hand, as he leaves home in search of something new away from the cats. A dog park! He finds a bunch of dogs! Absolute heaven. Again readers will love looking at the varieties of dogs, their facial expressions and the wonderful things they do. Initially Percy is absolutely rapt, he will have fun all day long. He will be free to do what he wants to do: roll in the grass, settle under a tree or dig a hole to bury something nice and smelly. But soon he runs foul of some of the other dogs. He gives up the smelly thing he wanted to bury, but when they want the bone he finds, he takes a stand.
Things are not so free! He finds them bossy and tough, and unwilling to play, so he heads home for his cats. Initially he is not sure of where to go, but hears the cats calling for him, and he is able to go back to the place where he is always top dog.
A funny story of friendship and belonging, Percy presents the feeling we may all share at some stage, that of not fitting in. He tries the alternative and finds that home is the best, a place where he feels he is understood and part of the fabric of the community.
The wonderful illustrations by Lucinda Gifford, accentuate the different cats and dogs that serve as pets. The endpapers are covered with the various breeds, and the images between show the personalities of all of them. Kids will enjoy poring over the range of dogs and cats sharing their knowledge of the animals and their own pets. They will love looking at the expressions on each dog/cat face, sharing their attributes.
Themes Dogs, Cats, Friendship, Relationships, Home, Dog parks, Humour.
Fran Knight
Little Rabbit and the Moon by Inda Ahmad Zahri. Illus. by Claire Wee
Little Book Press, 2025. ISBN: 9781923141339. (Age:0-5) Highly recommended.
This delightful bedtime story will provide joy and comfort to younger children. Told in well-constructed lyrical rhyming text, the story begins with the moon shining brightly on little Rabbit who should be sleeping like his siblings. But this little rabbit is ready to play the night away on an outside adventure.
Bats are flying in the glow. Fireflies come to say hello. Moon’s a mirror lost in space – Rabbit finds his little face. Craters, lakes and mountains, too, Whiskers tickle, ah-ah-choo!
Finally, after a glorious night under the moon, a tired little Rabbit settles down to sleep as the dawn is breaking. The softly toned illustrations in the colours of night sky across the hours, perfectly complement this engaging story for young readers. The endpapers cleverly reflect the traditional bedroom quilt shown in the beginning and ending of the story.
For those who might not have read Shelley Burr’s earlier novels, the first thing to say is that her detective investigator is in prison. Lane Holland has been convicted for murder and kidnapping. However there is an unsolved crime that the prison governor Patton Carver is keen to enlist Holland’s assistance to solve: the disappearance, twenty years ago, of his daughter Matilda. For that reason he is prepared to show Holland some leniency and allow the detective to follow up leads as a prisoner on a study release program on Karpathy farm.
Karpathy farm is new-age community that attracts anxious young people looking for escape from their troubles. In other words, it operates very much like a cult, and Lane Holland suspects that the community is linked to a number of disappearances in the region. It is up to him to make the connections, and work out what happened to Matilda. But a problem looms early on, when he meets up with someone from his past.
This novel works well as a stand-alone, although there are obvious threads linking to the earlier two books. There is enough back story to fill in the picture. It begins with a prologue describing an unnamed person struggling to gather consciousness, painfully labouring to move. Gradually a little more is added to that excerpt as we read through chapters that follow the present time experience of Holland. The tension increases as we learn more with each discovery Holland makes.
Burr’s character-building is fascinating. How do you draw the line between a detective who is obsessive and manipulative in order to get information, and the tunnel vision and ruthlessness of a so-called cult leader? How is one good and one bad? It’s an intriguing twist which along with the building tension, keeps the reader glued to the book. Added to that, Burr’s knowledge of permaculture and sustainable agriculture provides an authenticity of detail that keeps the story within the realms of believability. There are even suspect mushrooms!
Burr’s earlier novels are reviewed on ReadPlus: Wake (2022) and Ripper (2023). If you haven’t already read them, I’m sure you will want to seek them out.
