Text Publishing, 2024. ISBN: 9781922790705. (Age:9+) Highly recommended.
The Paperbark Tree Committee is the gentle story of Art and his younger brother Hilary, who are best friends negotiating growing up, moving house, and a dysfunctional family. Mum and dad are divorced, and dad has a new partner, Sally. When mum accepts a job overseas, Dad decides to move the boys and Sally from their home in Queensland to Melbourne as he feels a change in scenery will help with his writing.
Art starts at a new school and is targeted by the bully. He struggles to fit in and find his place and as dad is in “the writing zone” this means the only adult available is Sally who tries to help and give comfort, but Art worries she won’t stay if Dad doesn’t change his ways. The Paperbark Committee is a secret meeting place for Arty and Hilary to help sort things out but Art thinks he needs to solve his problems on his own, after all both parents are too busy to help him and Hilary has new friends and interests so Art feels that he can only rely on himself.
The story shows Art trying to cope with a range of issues, not least of which is letting other people in and asking for help which isn’t always a bad thing. However, the consequences of trying to solve big problems on your own can be worse than the issue itself.
I really enjoyed this book as it showed the problems that younger children face and the coping mechanisms they use to get through the rough patches. I think that younger readers will relate to Art and Hilary in different ways to an adult reader and feel heard as they relate to Art’s struggles and family life and see how one person’s action can have an impact on others around them.
I would highly recommend this book as a class text, read aloud or independent novel. The characters are all well developed, not all are likeable in some instances, but the author has made them work. The story is gentle but doesn’t avoid some big topics and is written in such a way that children and adults will be able to take something away from it.
It could be a useful conversation starter for readers to open up about problems or issues that they are facing. Teacher's notes are available.
Text Publishing, 2022. ISBN: 9781922458377. (Age:10-13 years) Highly recommended.
Alberta, regularly known as Bertie, is due to start High School in the new year, and this book is set after her Primary School graduation and in the twilight before the dawning of new experiences at her new school. Transitions can sometimes be hard, but Bertie is enrolled in a private school at least an hour away from her old school in her small-town community, and Bertie is fearful of many of the ‘little tricky things’ she will face. Bertie will be separated from all her current classmates, but most of all from her long-term friend, Claire, and this brings with it a plethora of insecurities and uncertainties. Bertie has for many years been Claire’s shadow and has seldom needed to be assertive in any way. Claire though has confidence in abundance, and prepares a list of ‘challenges’ that will prepare Bertie for change and prepare her for the new life ahead when she is on her own in the big, wide world.Some of the listed challenges are easier than others and a hint of a wedge becomes apparent in the friendship between the two girls. Bertie must decide how to proceed and to grow with or without Claire’s guidance or driving influence.
This is a gentle but insightful story of the dilemmas of life and friendship for a young girl in transition. Puberty and relationship issues, family change, independence, growing into adulthood when you are not quite ready to leave childhood are all a part of this journey. Bertie is a likeable character, an only child in a loving family, with real struggles that are simple and understandable. Karys McEwen has been able to enter the psyche of an ‘ordinary girl’ who is about to step out of the comfort zone of small-town childhood without over-dramatising the struggles she faces. Young 10-13 year-old students will connect with the uncertainties and feel the friendship struggles and enjoy the journey as Bertie discovers that she is stronger than she thinks. There are moments of angst, but also opportunities for friendship recovery and growth. McEwen has demonstrated that a commonplace story can connect with readers and that characters do not need to be badly behaved to create drama. This is a book that touches emotional strings and makes a tuneful note rather than a discordant twang. Teacher's notes are available.
Themes High school, Friendship, Transitions/Change, Fear.
