As a fan of stories set in libraries and featuring ancient manuscripts, I was drawn to the blurb of The devil makes three: “When Tess and Eliot stumble upon an ancient book hidden in a secret tunnel beneath their school library, they accidentally release a devil from his book-bound prison, and he will stop at nothing to stay free. He will manipulate all the ink in the library books to do his bidding, he will murder in the stacks… “
Bovalino has written an engrossing horror story that will keep readers on the edge of their seats, wondering what will happen next. She creates a chilling atmosphere with some gory moments that are not for the faint hearted. The idea of ink bleeding from the pages and a devil possessing bodies is sure to please fans of the horror genre.
The author’s two main protagonists, Tess and Eliot, are well developed and easy to relate to. Tess is a rock, solid and determined that her younger sister will have the life that she deserves, even though it means she will miss a place at a prestigious music school. Eliot, the son of the principal of Falk, appears to be a spoilt young man, but gradually his background and the love he has for his magical mother is revealed. The pair gradually get to know each other better and must rely on each other’s abilities to defy the devil and stop him possessing other people.
Readers who enjoyed Sorcery of thorns by Margaret Rogerson may enjoy The devil makes three, and the setting of an old library and a romance is sure to appeal to other readers.
Pat Pledger
A Shorebird Flying Adventure by Jackie Kerin. Illus. by Milly Formby
A fascinating new CSIRO release, A Shorebird Flying Adventure, provides all readers, both young and old, with insightful information into what may be an unfamiliar topic about an amazing species of birds. In Australia there are over 50 species of shorebirds, many of whom travel thousands of kilometres to the Artic Tundra to breed.
The journey of the shorebirds is well-documented by pilot, zoologist and illustrator Milly Formby who has combined with author Jackie Kerin to present a wonderful factual picture book style read that will immediately appeal to younger readers. The pages are bright and colourful with beautiful illustrations, and full of interesting information. The clever use of text boxes, labelled drawings of different birds encouraging the reader to spot them on the page, as well as detailed maps and diagrams, will engage the reader from beginning to end.
Did you know that shorebirds are one of the most endangered species of birds in the world due to changes in their wetland habitat? The impact of agriculture, development, climate change, aquaculture, hunting, human and animal disturbance plus invasive plants is having a detrimental effect on their existence. This is clearly represented in a clever double page spread followed by another double page showing how and why wetlands are important to all.
There is a fabulous website by Milly Formby which students can access to find out further information, Wing Threads. There are also excellent teacher notes.
This book would be a significant and worthwhile resource for all school and public libraries.
Bluey is busy writing a story using the typewriter at school when it is time for a story with Calypso. She is not happy with Calypso’s story and decides to write her own but when she comes back to get the typewriter it is gone. Meanwhile, her friend Snickers has a problem learning to sit and everyone runs away from Winton who is a space invader, so the three decide to go to Calypso to see if she can solve their issues. On the way the Terriers shoot pretend-real arrows at them, and the trio must produce several strategies to evade them. While problem solving Snickers finds that he has a fantastic sausage roll to knock over the Terriers and Winton discovers that he is not standing close anymore. Meanwhile Bluey shows Calypso a pretend typewriter that she will always have with her.
The Bluey TV show is a favourite with pre-school children and any book featuring Bluey is sure to be a hit. Children will already be familiar with the story and this book will give them the opportunity to transfer their knowledge of it from the screen to a printed book. They will also have fun lifting the flaps to see what happens. The illustrations of the dogs are cute and the humour in the story will bring lots of enjoyment for young children. Adults will also be able to talk about the importance of not pushing too close to people as Winton the ’space invader’ does and discuss how Snickers accepts his unique strengths. And of course, the power of the imagination is emphasised throughout the story. A colouring activity is available.
Themes Imagination, Typewriters, Individuality.
Pat Pledger
Nightwork by Nora Roberts
Piatkus, 2022. ISBN: 9780349430218. (Age:Adult)
Bestselling author Nora Roberts, who has sold over 5000 million books worldwide, returns with a stand-alone novel Nightwork. With Nightwork, she introduces a young man Harry who begins to steal when he is very young to help keep a roof over the head of his mother who is suffering from cancer. For him being a thief is a job, and it is work that he excels at. He is methodical, does his research and learns all the skills that are necessary to avoid being caught. When his mother can no longer fight the cancer, Harry finds himself rootless and leaves Chicago searching for a new life. He believes he finds it in a small university town where he meets Miranda, the love of his life, but Carter LaPorte, a dangerous man from his past, turns up and threatens everything he loves. Once again, he is on the run, and the reader is left wondering if he will ever be able to escape his past and settle down to a normal life.
As a long term fan of Roberts’ books, I found it interesting that in my view she has slightly changed the theme of this book from her usual romantic suspense, which often features a murder or stalker (Shelter in place and Undercurrents). Instead, the reader is faced with the moral complexity of empathising with a protagonist who is a jewel thief. It is easy to relate to the young Harry as he steals to keep his family afloat, but I did find myself ambivalent about his dishonesty as the story progressed and he became an adult. However, in true Roberts’ style, she moves the story forward at a fast pace and the fear that the evil Carter LaPorte will find Harry always looms in the back of the reader’s mind. This makes it very hard to put Nightwork down.
The romance between Harry and Miranda progresses from a youthful love to a more mature and understanding one and will satisfy those readers who enjoy the relationships that Roberts’ writes so well.
Readers new to Roberts’ romantic suspense will want to find others written by her, and fans will have another great escapist story to enjoy.
The best-selling author of Station Eleven and The Glass Hotel returns with a novel that explores the idea of time travel, pandemics, and music. It begins in 19012 with Edwin St. John St. Andrew who has been exiled from England to the very different world of Canada. While there he enters a forest where he hears a violin echoing in a large building, like a cathedral. Two hundred years later Olive Llewellyn, a famous author, is on a book tour. Her book describes a passage of a man playing a violin in an airship terminal. Meanwhile Gaspery-Jacques Roberts is tasked to find the anomaly in the time travel structure of the man playing a violin.
All of St. John Mandel’s characters draw the reader in. It is very easy to relate to Edwin, a young man in a foreign country, with no skills to survive. Olive Llewellyn’s book tour, her descriptions of the loneliness of being in a hotel room by herself and the dangers of a pandemic all strike a familiar note, while Gasper-Jacques’ investigation into the strange violin music and his trips back in time are all fascinating.
The narrative skips back and forth in time but is written so beautifully by St. John Mandel that the reader has no problem imagining the different time zones. Her connections between Olive Llewellyn’s house and novel and Gaspery-Jacques ensure that the tantalising mystery surrounding the puzzle of the violin music keeps the reading wanting to know how the characters are linked. And the conclusion when threads are drawn together in a dramatic way is most satisfactory.
I read this as a stand-alone novel and thoroughly enjoyed it but suspect that readers of Station Eleven and The glass hotel may bring more understanding to a few of the minor characters in the novel. Readers may also enjoy The time traveller’s wife by Audrey Niffenegger.
Themes Time travel, Epidemics, Authors, Relativity, Moon colony.
In the gothic town of Wickdon, seventeen-year-old Maggie waits for her mother to return from her alchemic searches. Then she sees the hala, a magical creature with a frightening capacity for destruction. It’s dangerous but if Maggie can present her mother with the hala’s body, the ingredient she is searching for, perhaps Evelyn will love her again.
Wes Winters is desperate for a chance at an alchemy apprenticeship. As a poor immigrant it’s his only hope for a better life. And the prize money for winning the hunt could heal his mother. But when he teams up with Maggie, they are risking not only their lives but also their hearts.
Allison Saft has crafted believable characters that were easy to relate to. Unlike many love stories there was never a time when I asked, ‘why would they do something so stupid?’ Motivations and actions flowed seamlessly together as I followed Wes and Maggie’s emotional journey. The same attention was given to minor characters such as the mayor’s son Jamie and the barmaid Amber. And I loved Wes’s family, who provided a warming picture of connection especially in contrast to Maggie’s mother.
Along with the characters I enjoyed Saft’s handling of the theme of displacement. Wes’s ambition, his desperate charm and Maggie’s aggressive isolation were all believable responses to being from an unwanted race and religion. Even Jamie’s actions as he tried to stop the despised outsider’s winning the hunt were understandable if not forgivable. A Far Wilder Magic would make an excellent book to explore the experience of immigration and prejudice.
The world building was unobtrusive and centred you in the space, but I felt it lacked magic. It reminded me of the world building of a good contemporary or historical novel rather than the fantasy it advertised. But the largest problem I found with the story was style. The third person present tense point of view was clunky and hard to adapt to. This improved as you read further and the story itself was compelling, but the style could prove an obstacle to any but the most confident reader.
In conclusion I found A Far Wilder Magic to have excellent characterisation and a well-handled theme of displacement. It had the world building of a good historical novel and could be used to expand the genre selection of an avid reader but is probably not the best choice for a less confident student.
Commemorating the 20th Anniversary of the first Specky Magee book that began the series, we see the celebration of this Aussie Icon. With entertaining introductory notes from co-authors Felice Arena and Garry Lyon, we get a behind the scenes understanding of the lovable banter and long-time friendship between the two. Anyone who loves the game of AFL is sure to enjoy reading Specky Magee time and time again!
Meet 12 year old, Simon 'Specky' McGee - a true lover of AFL! He earned his nickname from his awesome marking ability and great footy talent. But he is stumped as to why no one else in his family shares the same passion as himself. His sister, Mum and even his Dad take little interest in his enthusiasm and love for the sport. Isn’t it true that traits get passed down from generation to generation? If so, where did he get his from? All his other footy friends have family that watch every single game, but his Dad has never even been to one of his… and this makes him really sad. So, when he finds a baby photo of himself in AFL footy clothing, this just doesn’t make sense. Specky is determined to find out some answers, but will he be ready for what he uncovers?
A beautiful tale sharing the true meaning of family, with some great Aussie Rules game manoeuvrers thrown in. Felice Arena and Garry Lyon have ingeniously mastered the true art of storytelling; captivating the audience with an easy read of fast paced excitement and on field tactics, while encapsulating friendship, family and gratitude. If you love footy and everything about it, this book will be a winner for you! Specky is special, in more ways than one!
The first chapter of this book tells of a group of Italians deposited in Hobart by a ghost train. There are no trains in Hobart. But the people are real, and present a puzzle for Wes the policeman and Geo his brother recently returned to Tasmania from Italy. Geo came by plane.
There are people who believe in the train: Sten, the ghost train hunter, Labuschagne, expert in the paranormal, and two young hippy backpackers, Camille and Paco. Geo is glad to invite them into his life, as a kind of protective barrier between him and his brother Wes, as Wes soon shows himself to have extreme anger issues.
Just as Sten is calmly pursuing his dream of boarding the ghost train, Geo has a dream of his own, to sell up the family home to fund his violist career abroad. Perhaps his dream is equally out of grasp, for his brother Wes is not going to agree to the sale, so submerged is he in grief over his father and his failed marriage.
It is a strange mix of ghost story and very real issues of sibling rivalry and bullying, told in a light and humorous way, with many of the conversational exchanges sure to draw a chuckle or even laugh out loud. The style is reminiscent of the dialogues in Joseph Heller’s Catch 22. The world is weird, and all that the characters can do, and the reader along with them, is to suspend disbelief and work with the events as they happen.
It’s such a strange, intriguing read, that as I drew closer to the end, I slowed down my reading, so enjoying the ride that I didn’t want it to be over. I loved the variety of unusual characters, the mix of logical reasoning within an unreal world, and the calm common sense approach to problem solving. It was a delight to read.
Natalie and Janet are united in their scorn of the ‘cult of romance’; they are going to be strong independent women, starting their own cake catering business after university and saving to travel together around the world. At least Natalie thought that was the plan until she discovers her friend has returned from a visit to Lebanon with an engagement ring on her finger. Natalie is horrified to discover that Janet is prepared to give it all up, and marry, young, to a man she can’t possibly know that well. On top of that Nat is expected to be maid of honour and organise the bridal events in a country she has never been to.
Ayoub’s novel moves quickly, carried along by the conversations between Natalie and her family and friends. Family for Natalie is her father and her very traditional grandmother, Tayta. There’s a bit of a mystery about her mother, who left them, whilst suffering from post-natal depression. That early rejection, plus the feeling of being caught between two cultures, Lebanese and Australian, makes Natalie determined to carve her own future, not defined by any man. So things become complicated when the groom’s best man turns out to be quite attractive, despite their initial animosity.
It’s a light and easy read, mainly because of the natural flow of conversation that Ayoub is particularly good at creating. But at the same time there are quite complex issues of identity and allegiance that are being explored. There is also a friend, Mark, who acts as a moral compass point. He is possibly gay or queer, but it is really not an issue, and not a focal point of the story; he is just a really good friend, who is always there for Natalie. I liked the way that it is his personality, not his gender, that defines him; he is a true friend.
For the most part, the novel rings with humour, with references to the romantic comedy ‘My best friend’s wedding’. Natalie is a strong and feisty character, the kind of person who lands herself in trouble in spite of herself. But the themes are serious and reveal the real dilemma of identity for migrants caught between two cultures.
Anderson Press, 2014. ISBN: 9781783440870. (Age:10+) Recommended.
This book was first published in 2010 before being reprinted in 2014 with a new cover illustration. It is the first of the Grimm trilogy which also includes In a glass Grimmly (2012) and The Grimm conclusion (2013). The series has returned to the limelight more recently due to the release of a Netflix series based on book one in October 2021, and so has the potential now to reach a whole new generation of young readers.
However this book is not for the faint hearted - it is dark and bloody and more closely follows the original tales of the brothers Grimm rather than the sanitised versions most children have heard by kindergarten. The language and vocabulary used are rich, descriptive and sophisticated yet even readers who do not understand particular words will be able to follow along.
The dark content could have been quite unpleasant if not for the narrator's 'voice' throughout the book which speaks directly to the reader. The narrator injects great humour, warnings and tension at vital break points in the story. The result is that readers who might otherwise lose interest are kept hooked, and those who choose to continue are desperate to know what happens next. They are ready for the violence, action, blood or hard choices that follow.
Broadly, the story is a much-expanded version of Hansel and Gretel, and has the children facing great adversity. From the people and situations they encounter throughout, they learn about making difficult decisions, about what loyalty and faithfulness mean, and about their own relationships with each other and with their parents.
And of course, at its heart this is still a fairy tale. So it also includes multiple instances of good vs evil - although sometimes the line between the two sides is not as clear-cut as you might expect. This could provoke some interesting discussions about how to decide what is ‘good’ when there are negatives on both sides.
An excellent teachers' guide contains lesson plans for each chapter, including vocabulary, comprehension, discussion points and a choice of final project activities.
Themes Fractured fairy tales, Bravery, Good vs evil, Siblings, Relationships.
Kylie Grant
Fantastically great women artists and their stories by Kate Pankhurst
The Fantastically Great series by Kate Pankhurst is further enhanced by this new addition about eight diverse women artists and their stories. This interesting and extremely readable book looks at the lives of Elisabeth Louise Vigee Le Brun, Frida Kahlo, Amrita Sher-Gil, Kathe Kollwitz, Dame Laura Knight, Faith Ringgold, Peggy Guggenheim and Australian First Nations artist Emily Kame Kngwarreye.
Emily Kame Kngwarreye, the artist who never stopped Dreaming, was a proud Anmatyerre elder. Her early life was spent in service to white families in an area called Utopia by the white settlers but known to Emily and her clan as Alhalkere. Emily began painting later in her life and at the age of 80 her paintings became renowned both nationally and internationally. Her remarkable story is one of great belief in her clan country and her people. A truly amazing woman.
Each artist’s story is written in accessible language and includes bold and highlighted words, speech bubbles, humour, and graphic-designed images throughout. There is a contents page, an introductory chapter about Women in Art, a double page gallery of the artists, a detailed glossary and Further Reading pages. This book would be a wonderful addition to a school library, in particular for Years 6-9, who may research famous artists. As I was reading about each of the women artists, I was searching the internet for their work so I was able to understand their style. A very worthwhile activity for all readers.
Themes Women, Artists, Biography, History, Facts.
Kathryn Beilby
Sophia the show pony by Kate Waterhouse. Illus. by Sally Spratt
Kate Waterhouse from the famous horse racing family, has written a gorgeous rhyming book about a pony who follows her dream. Sophia is a show pony, beautifully adorned in all the finest fashion money can buy. There are hats and bags galore, designer dresses and coats, magnificent jewellery but Sophia secretly yearns for the freedom to race in the hills. She makes a bold decision to follow her dream and asks for guidance from her friends, Grace and Frederick. They gently advise that racing is not for her, and she reluctantly decides to give up on her longed-for dream and make the most of her life as a fashionista. At the premier racing event of the season, the Giddy Up Cup, Sophia is in contention to win the best dressed cup until the wind changes everything. Will Sophia have the chance to follow her dream and run her own race?
The detailed water colour illustrations by Sally Spratt are simply quite stunning. The inclusion of so many cleverly drawn animals and other items on each page will engage younger readers. This lovely book would make the perfect gift for children who love ponies or fashion. A great tie-in read when Australia’s major racing event takes place on the first Tuesday in November.
Themes Ponies, Fashion, Rhyming, Horse Racing, Following your dream, Animals.
Linus Baker is a quiet man, living a solitary existence with his cat Calliope. He is employed as a case worker by the Department in Charge Of Magical Youth (DICOMY), investigating government orphanages that house children with magical abilities. When Extremely Upper Management sends him to the island of Marsyas to undertake a probe on the children’s well-being and the suitability of the manager, Arthur Parnassus, he discovers that the children all have complex magical abilities, and that Arthur is hiding a secret. As he gets to know the children, he begins to appreciate their powers and recognise that love that can be found in this unusual family. The reader is left asking whether Linus will recommend to Extreme Upper Management that the children in this orphanage stay with Arthur where their magical powers will be nurtured.
Each of the characters is fully realised and very engaging. Linus is very uptight when he first arrives, but the caring atmosphere of the island brings out the best in him. He encourages the children in their dreams and even manages to discard his tie and dress up as an explorer and play a game with them. Arthur is a gentle father figure and the growing relationship between Linus and him is sensitively handled by Klune, a previous winner of the Lambda Literary Award. The children are wonderful. Talia is a gnome who loves gardening. Sal is an extremely shy boy who has been abused in previous placements but who can write wonderful stories; Theodore who is a wyvern, guards his hoard, especially Linus’ buttons; Phee is a forest sprite while Chauncey is an unknown who longs to be a bellhop. Lucy, short for Lucifer, is a six-year-old with dangerous powers and was described by Extremely Upper Management as the Antichrist.
There is sparkling conversation and subtle humour, leaving the reader feeling good and wanting to know more about each of the people on the island. However serious issues are threaded throughout the novel. Klune examines the fate of children who are considered dangerous and do not fit into what society considers the norm. He demonstrates how easy it is to allow bigotry and stereotypes to dominate a group but that there is always hope especially if just one person will stand up for justice.
The house in the Cerulean Sea won the Alex Award and the Mythopoeic Fantasy Award in 2020 and is sure to appeal to readers of fantasy.
Themes Islands, Orphans, Orphanages, Social workers, Family, Difference LGBTQI people.
Pat Pledger
Courtney Little Plots and potions by Aleesah Darlison
Little Steps, 2021. ISBN: 9781922488381. (Age:8+) Highly recommended.
Plots and Potions is the third book in the Courtney Little series, written by Aleesah Darlison. Previously printed as the Little Witch series, these books have been republished with a more modern format. If you enjoy a bit of Hocus – Pocus magic, added with a little adventure and mystery, then this series will appeal to you!
Protagonist, Courtney is still developing her skills in casting spells and mixing potions. She loves learning more about the newly found magical abilities that were passed down to her by her late Grandmother, Delia. From the special magical spell book, that was gifted to her, she is kept very busy, trying to perfect her new witchcraft…. and she can’t go anywhere without her enchanted cat, Ink.
Unfortunately, though, Courtney is expected to attend her year 7 camp. She would much rather stay at home, read her spell book and be with Ink than hike up huge mountains, be outdoors and do sport! So, to make the experience a little more enjoyable, she works out a way to bring Ink along too……using a little magic of course! But camp turns out to be much worse than even Courtney had expected. On arrival she has a bad gut feeling about the site leader, Maude Mouseheart and as the new kid in town, she is still trying to navigate her way around making some friends. Camp life can be rough, but fortunately Courtney is resilient and strong. So, when she uncovers some sinister activities by Miss Mouseheart, Courtney takes action. But can her magic potions and spells fix all the problems that have arisen or will evil prevail?
Aleesah Darlison has written another charming sequel in the Courtney Little series for those lovers of magical witchery and adventure. Plots and Potions is filled with fast paced suspense and excitement and is an easy read for the young audience. This has a storyline filled with far-reaching fantasy, yet relatable characters. It is bursting with magic, mystery and friendship, and certainly a twist of the unusual.
Themes Magic, Adventure, Friendship, Animals.
Michelle O'Connell
Dreams from my father: Adapted for Young Adults by Barack Obama
Text Publishing, 2021. ISBN: 9781922458445. (Age:13+) Recommended.
Barack Obama wrote his memoir soon after his study years at law school and when he was just married. He had not entered politics. Obviously a young man with a great sense of social justice at the time but also very keen to understand his past, he set about telling his story with a view to encouraging his readers to consider the same. At a time when a new school curriculum is being released for Australian schools, with more focus on international historical perspectives, this is a valuable addition to school and personal libraries. In his newly written introduction to this ‘young adult’ edition, Obama stresses how important our knowledge of history is to the formation of inquisitive, observant and analytical minds. The reader follows the life of this President-to-be, as he journeys through words, with his mother from Kansas to Hawaii, with his father and extended family to Kenya, with his stepfather and half sister to Indonesia, all the while examining his heritage to understand himself better. This edition features a concise family tree and coloured family photos. Obama writes with humility and generosity; also starkly aware of the injustices of the world around and his desire to do as much as he can to alleviate inequality. This memoir continues to inspire and the young adult reader will enjoy his story: it is easy to read and his thoughtfulness comes through so beautifully. He would like the young to feel inspired as he was to share their stories and ‘to value the stories of others’. Teaching notes are available from the publisher.
