Alix St Pierre Was a young woman during the war. She was recruited into the OSS, secret service and spent a great deal of time during the war passing messages and supporting the partisan movement against the Nazi army by getting them resources and information to support their cause.
After the war she moves to Paris to make a life for herself and finds a job working for Christian Dior. She is enjoying her new life until a nightmare from the past surfaces and she feels she needs to try and right a wrong from the war.
Alix is a fiercely independent woman and finds it hard to trust others and ask for help, but she finally realises that she needs to let someone into her life to help her put her nightmare to rest. With the help of Anthony March, also a previous member of the OSS, they manage to get to the bottom of the nightmare, but the answer they find is not what either of them expected.
Dior tells Alix when she is having a particularly hard time that ‘We know what we are, but know not what we may’. Alix resolves to make changes in her life and take a risk and see what happens.
The author notes at the end of the novel really tie the whole story together and to know that this story is lightly based on fact makes the novel even more appealing.
I highly recommend this book.
Themes Paris, Christian Dior, Spies, Justice, Women, World War 2.
Karen Colliver
The zebra's great escape by Katherine Rundell. Illus. by Sara Ogilvie
The Zebra's Great Escape is a beautiful, long adventure story with outstanding full-colour illustrations. Separated into 3 parts, it's text heavy but ideal for reading over a few bedtime sessions or for independent readers who love a great illustrated story. The main character, Mink, seems to be a nod to Pippi Longstocking, complete with stiff plaits and one sock down and one pulled up to the knee. She doesn't believe in bedtimes and is wild, adventurous and determined. When a baby zebra approaches her and endows her with the ability to communicate with animals she quickly learns that the zebra needs her help. What follows is a warm and funny story told with irresistable charm and rich imagery. The evil villain (who has kidnapped the baby zebra's parents) is a Cruella DeVil type, complete with handlebar moustache and dark cloak, but Mink has the animal world on her side. Can they work together to save the day?
Sarah Ogilvie's illustrations are wonderfully vivid, particularly her rendering of the wide array of animals that pass messages along to each other and highlight the power of communication and friendship. Rainbow the dog even says at one point, 'Your plan won't work, it relies on other people, and only fools rely on other people'. By the end of the story he is proven incorrect as people (or animal) power wins out in the end. This reminded me of What the Ladybird Heard, with the animals coming together as a team and with communication being a crucial factor in foiling the plans of the wrongdoers. It's an absolute joy to read.
*Please note that sensitive children may find this story confronting as it does talk about Mr Spit collecting the animals with the intention to kill and then stuff them. He is also quite a scary character and calls Mink an 'idiot child'.
Bright, fun illustrations and a humorous, nonsensical rhyming story about sneezing make this a clear winner for the young target audience. They will find the fact that Sid forgets to cover his nose when he sneezes relatable and grin widely at all the ridiculous things he sneezes: 'an elephant in a canoe', 'a totally tropical scene', 'some princesses fighting with peas' and many more absurd items. The illustrations are detailed and absolutely exquisite, with off-white paper and a matte finish giving a slight vintage feel. The concept of the story may be simple but the execution is of a high quality and the text and illustrations are in perfect synergy.
French’s latest historical novel is set in the period after World War I, when soldiers returned to their home country suffering horrific injuries, missing parts of their faces and bodies. Douglas Mulberry is a hapless shell-shocked officer, recovering from trauma. Agnes agrees to become his wife in an arrangement to save him from the insane asylum, at the behest of his sister and her close friend, Puddin. As Mrs Mulberry, she welcomes other luckless soldiers to work on the Mulberry estate, and then, one day after a confrontation at a circus, she also rescues a young girl, a ‘cretin’ exhibited as the Dingo Girl, sub-human, treated like an animal.
Central to the novel is the mystery of the Dingo Girl, a child supposedly raised by animals, and cruelly abused by humans. French taps into a long history of purported cases of wild children raised by animals (Savage girls and wild boys by Michael Newton 2002; Wild boy by Jill Dawson, 2003). Added to this is the particular Australian phobia about lost or stolen children, most recently revisited in Dinuka McKenzie’s 2023 novel Taken. This adds an intriguing element of mystery, adding another layer of interest: is it possible that a child could be taken into care by dingoes? Would a dingo come to the rescue of a threatened child? I was fascinated by French’s account of ‘dingo uncles’ in her ‘Author’s Notes’ at the end.
The investigator of these mysteries is Agnes, a feisty heroine, like the women of the time who dared to insist on their rights to education and employment, women who fought to complete medical degrees and become doctors. Agnes postpones her studies to care for her charges, firstly her damaged husband, and then the impaired child. It begins as an arrangement that she sees as temporary, but growing affection and a burgeoning romance threaten to derail her plans.
This is a well-researched work of historical fiction, based on ‘actual people, historical events and attitudes that are often not widely known’ as French asserts in her ‘Author’s Notes’. She says, ‘Sometimes fiction is a gentler way of presenting that harder times of history, as well as celebrating the good’. French has definitely succeeded with this novel. It is a great read, and will keep readers captivated until the last page. Readers who enjoyed this book, might like to look up Jackie French’s Miss Lily series set in a similar time period. And if you haven’t read Jackie French before, Becoming Mrs Mulberry is definitely the one to pick up!
This book is set in Fishtail, Montana. Peter Pollock lives with his parents on their ranch. Matt Brown lives on the neighbouring property and Tim Taylor is the third musketeer which makes up a group of inseparable friends. These boys have grown up together.
Juliet Marshall lives in New Yorke with her mother; her father had a midlife crisis and decided to move to Fishtail. When Juliet goes to stay with him for 6 weeks from mid-July to the end of August, she meets Peter and he invites her to spend some time with him and his friends at his ranch. Juliet and Peter's friendship slowly grows and Juliet becomes the fourth member of the group and spends as much time as possible with the boys.
One fateful day the four along with Matt and Tim’s brothers, head up into the mountains on horseback for a picnic and a day of fun, when things take a turn for the worse. The children become trapped on the mountain and have to work together to survive until the adults can get them out.
This book shows the courage and teamwork that the group go through to survive their ordeal.
The adults at the bottom of the mountain waiting for their children to be rescued go through their own struggles, but together they get through it and Beth, Juliet’s mum, realises that destiny is strange, and we meet people for a reason at the right time. Life is like the mountain. Ever challenging, frightening at times, dangerous, exciting, deceptive, alluring, with hidden crevasses and ravines. And then you go home with the memories and the victory that you had survived it.
This is a well written novel that will appeal to a wide range of audiences.
Ellen Sutton is close with her family, her younger sister Carrie, and her brother Bodhi. Everything in their lives appears to be going to plan until a one-night stand changes everything. Carrie has this great new boyfriend, Bodie has Ingi, who does Ellen have? Ellen meets the best guy in the world at a concert and has the best night but soon she realises that it can't be anything more that a one night stand.
Ellen chooses to keep secrets from her family and best friend Ingi. These secrets eat away at Ellen until she decides to move away and work on a friend's cattle station, helping with mustering, as she believes this will be the best for her family, unaware that by trying to protect them she is hurting all of them including herself.
Ellen runs into a backpacker, Hans who reminds her that a life well lived is one full of memories. This makes Ellen think more about her family and the secrets she is keeping. When the three siblings meet up for a special occasion the secrets start to come out into the open and this has a huge impact upon everyone. They each need to work through and process what has happened and find the best way for each of them to process the events and move on. Ellen learns that tomorrow is unknown and right now is what matters so make the most of what you have.
This is a very beautifully written book with snippets from each of the characters also with the background story woven into the story. By the end of the book you feel like you know each of the characters personally.
I highly recommend this book.
Themes Romance, Families, Sisters.
Karen Colliver
The high notes by Danielle Steel
Macmillan, 2022. ISBN: 9781529022124. (Age:Adult - Young adult)
Iris Cooper’s father, Chip, moves around a lot, finding casual work and drinking the money he makes. Iris’s mother, Violet left when Iris was two and rumour has it that she has died. At 12 years old Iris has a sweet voice and loves to sing, finding she can usually join church choirs in the small towns they visit. While Chip is drinking in bars Iris is left in the car listening to the radio singing along and making up songs, accompanying herself on a guitar. In Lake City Texas, Chip persuades the proprietor of Harry’s Bar to allow the talented youngster to perform at their live music nights and she is an instant success, hitting the high notes and signing off with “see y’all soon” p. 13. Her youthful looks, simple clothes and beautiful voice ensure her popularity, singing ballads and original songs in bars around Texas for the next 6 years, her father always keeping a close eye on her and the money she earns. Eventually Iris wins a performing contract but it turns out to be far from the lucky break and stardom she deserves.
The story will appeal to fans of Danielle Steele and heartfelt women’s fiction but the characters are stereotypes; Iris "a good woman with a heart of gold” p. 33, an exploitive alcoholic father, mean managers, supportive friend and older love interest. There is a lot of telling and repetitive re-telling with little dialogue to develop the characters. I expected a lightweight holiday read but this was disappointing on many levels.
When George admits he's afraid to go to sleep in case he has bad dreams, his family collaborate to tell him a bedtime story about Princess Peppa and Prince George and their adventures in a castle high in the sky. When Peppa adds a mysteriously hatching egg to the story, Mummy and Daddy Pig look slightly worried but she ends it well with a friendly dragon who take Peppa and George on a magical flight. George has wonderful dreams but in the morning the adventure meets real life when they spot a dragon outside their window. As it turns out, it's only Miss Rabbit's dragon robot (part of her castle tour), but it's just as fun to ride on!
This is a new addition to the extensive Peppa Pig book collection that will be cherished by many, especially those little ones who need a new narrative to keep the nightmares at bay or just those with a vivid imagination who love a good bedtime tale. This may also help to encourage imaginative play and collaborative storytelling.
Themes Imagination, Storytelling, Family, Fear.
Nicole Nelson
Crookhaven: The school for thieves by J.J. Arcanjo
Gabriel is a teenager with expert pickpocket skills who steals so he and his grandmother can survive. One day this skill is recognized by a headmaster from a school for thieves called Crookhaven and Gabriel is invited to visit. He realises that this is an ideal school for him but will mean he has to leave his grandma and not reveal what this school specializes in. At Crookhaven students are either Merits – those picked for their abilities from the outside world or Legacies – those who come from a family lineage of thieves. Gabriel is placed in a class with students from diverse backgrounds and abilities. They have lessons, amongst others, in forgery, deception and crimnastics (gymnastics for criminals). He becomes close friends with twins who are accomplished computer hackers, the headmaster’s daughter, and Amira a shy Islamic young woman who wears the hijab. All students are set the task of breaking into the headmasters’ office and stealing something within their first year of school. As well as this there’s a mystery about why some of the star students are disappearing and Gabriel also tries to discover what happened to his parents.
There are a lot of comic and quirky characters to get to know in Crookhaven. The idea of teaching criminal skills to students is a lot of fun, especially since they are thieving, forging, or hacking to help the world. Gabriel is highly principled and supports Amira when she is bullied. He is loving and caring towards his grandma and befriends similarly good young people. It’s not saccharine sweet though. Gabriel exacts some just revenge. Every now and then a student goes rogue and becomes Nameless, which adds a satisfying sinister element. J.J. Arcancjo creates a setting with all the recognizable tropes of a traditional boarding school, such as uniforms, school meals and privileged entitled students, versus those who can only attend by scholarship. Quite a lot of the story is spent setting up the school situation. But then there’s a satisfying conclusion and the problem of the Nameless is left in the air. Not surprisingly a sequel is coming soon. This is a really entertaining read and the themes of working as a team, being kind and respecting others’ beliefs make this more than just a rollicking yarn.
Themes Respect, Family, Team Work, Friendship.
Jo Marshall
Solomon Macaroni and the cousin catastrophe by Ashleigh Barton
University of Queensland Press, 2022. ISBN: 9780702265617. (Age:8+) Highly recommended.
Solomon Macaroni and the Cousin Catastrophe by Ashleigh Barton is the first novel in what promises to be a great new series. This brand-new adventure turns traditional thoughts of vampires on its head. Filled with adventure, emotions and action, this story has a little of everything!
Protagonist, Solomon Macaroni is a gentle and thoughtful boy whose favourite food is tofu bolognese. His real age is five hundred and fifty-two years – approximately the equivalent of a ten-and-a-half-year-old and he lives with his parents Mama and Papa Macaroni in Rome. However, Solomon is not feeling gentle and kind, he is actually feeling very angry. His parents are off on a one-hundred-year holiday and he has to stay with his uncle, Count Dracula, and his cousins in Transylvania. To top it off, his cousins are always mean and play nasty pranks on him, except for cousin Lucy. She is the only one who is nice to him. How is he ever going to survive!
Begrudgingly he goes to stay with them, as he doesn’t want to spoil his mum and dad’s trip. But, as predicted his cousins are still mean, and even though Count Dracula is trying to make him feel very welcome, he decides to escape back to Rome until his parents come home. Unfortunately, his plans get turned upside down when he is lured into the forbidden forest, Wildwood by Lucy who needs help. But does Solomon have the true courage to help her and what if the old magic returns?
Kooky, captivating and charismatic!
A good read, that can be a little slow paced at times, but builds to an exciting crescendo towards the end. One for those who love something a bit out of the ordinary…. expect the unexpected! Teacher's notes are available.
Themes Supernatural, Adventure, Family, Fantasy, Problem Solving.
Michelle O'Connell
Joy's journey by Jacinta Farragher. Illus. by Manka Kasha
Little Steps, 2022. ISBN: 9781922358554. Highly recommended.
When she hears about a magical paradise where wishes come true, Joy sets off to find it. Joy travels through the seasons, meeting friends on the way who help her with her discoveries.
Through the journey Joy became brave, strong, fast and nimble. She had adventures, made some friends and when she returned back home she realised that her dreams had come true and the teacher she was looking for was herself.
This is a beautifully written story with bright colourful illustrations that complement the story.
I highly recommend this book.
Themes Quests, Seasons, Self-perception.
Karen Colliver
Lockwood & Co.: The screaming staircase by Jonathan Stroud
The first in a series on Netflix, Lockwood and Co., this is a world in the here and now where things have got out of hand and ghosts have appeared. Their arrival has meant wholesale changes to society; curfews, fear of the dark, and the rise of ghost hunters with their guidelines and marketing strategies. Into this mix comes a new firm of rather disorganised ghost hunters, Lockwood and Co., young and eager but spied on with suspicion by the older more well known firms, lest they fail and so undermine the other companies, or succeed and take their customers.
The company's newest member, Lucy, recently dismissed from her post as psychic investigator at another firm is keen to do well, partly so she can live but also to dispel the stories about her that threaten her livelihood. She joins Anthony Lockwood and his employee, George, who takes an instant dislike to Lucy, trying everything he can to undermine and humiliate her. So the stage is set for tension to rub between the three as they endeavour to solve people's ghostly problems. Their first big case however, results in the burning down of a house, and the subsequent suing for compensation sees them take on an investigation which could result in their deaths. With the creepiest house to stay in for the night, a ghastly employer and a plethora of horrors awaiting them, the trio sets in for the night which could see their fortunes made or their lives cut short.
An auspicious start to a hair-raising adventure into the supernatural world, this series will have a legion of avid followers. There are plenty of strings to follow: just who is Anthony and why does he have this enormous house to himself? where has George come from? and just what is behind Lucy's abilities?
I can be a Socceroo accompanies I can be a Matilda but is aimed at boys. In this the same format is taken with similiar wording, following the children practising in the backyard.They practise all the same skills but the emphasis here is on team awareness, feeling part of a team, trying your best, tackling and cheering others on when they get a goal.
Both books are sturdy, colourful with clear print and show groups of children playing together with the ball and net clearly shown.
Themes Soccer, Football, Matildas, Socceroos, Sport, Family, Team work.
Fran Knight
Encore in death by Nora Roberts
Piatkus, 2023. ISBN: 9780349433875. (Age:Adult) Recommended for fans.
J.D. Robb has once again found a new setting for the 56th book in the In death series featuring Eve Dallas. This time the plot centres around celebrities from Broadway and Hollywood. Eliza Lane and Brant Fitzhugh two stars were hosting a party when Brant collapses with all the symptoms of cyanide poisoning. Eve is summoned to the party and with so many guests, servers and staff around it is difficult to find a viable suspect amongst the crowd. With her trusty sidekick Peabody and ably supported by Roarke her husband, Dallas swings into police mode, looking at motives and aliases as she tries to find the murderer.
As always, Robb’s easy to read writing style, her emphasis on police procedure and likeable characters make this an engrossing story to read. The mystery has many twists and red herrings that keep the suspense alive and add to the complexity of the plot, making it an enjoyable read for people who like to unravel the clues.
Readers who have followed this series will not be disappointed reading about familiar and favourite characters and are sure to pick up more books in this entertaining series.
I can be a Matilda is a board book to celebrate the forthcoming FIFA Women’s World Cup to be held across Australia and new Zealand in 2023. This strong board book of sixteen pages will teach young readers a few things about soccer as well as encourage them in its pursuit.
Younger readers are introduced to a few basic soccer skills: team work, running, dribbling, defending, passing and scoring a goal. Each double page shows the skill the young girl is practising and is told with humour in the text and colourful illustrations.
Parents will enjoy this introduction to playing soccer and relate it to the games that will be seen on TV later this year.
I can be a Matilda and I can be a Socceroo are sturdy, colourful with clear print and show groups of children playing together with the ball and net clearly shown.
Themes Soccer, Football, Matildas, Socceroos, Sport, Family, Team work.
