The Burning Swift completes the thrilling adventure/fantasy series The Shadow Skye Trilogy. Joseph Elliott has maintained the pace, the savagery and the windswept, unsettling backdrop that accompanies the adventures of the characters who readers of the first two books will see finally completing the terrible challenges that have faced them.
Set in mythical ancient Scotland (Scotia) and the Isle of Skye, the action flows down to England (Ingland) and back in this third novel. Agatha, Jaime and Sigrid's lives are fraught with harrowing danger as they face seemingly unstoppable foes including starving, cannibalistic women of Ingland, death rats, medieval armoury including catapults and crossbows with poisoned spears, cauldrons of burning sand poured from castle battlements and imprisonment in the dankest of prisons. King Edmund of Ingland is assassinated but is immediately replaced by the evil Kong Grimr and the army heading to overtake the north is immense and all powerful. Unlikely allies as they are, Agatha, Sigrid and Jaime have to unite to protect their clan and they receive unexpected support from strange places.
Readers of the first two books in the series, already familiar with our trio of heroes, know the intimate thoughts, distinctive voices and resultant actions of Agatha, Jaime and Sigrid as the first person narrative alternates chapter by chapter between them. Through this literary technique the reader has access to the clear and open thinking of Agatha, the fearless, daring of Sigrid and the troubled bravery of Jaime as they unite the northern people of Scotia as war from the south comes to the island of Skye.
Ancient and forbidden black magic is invoked. A terrible final battle occurs. There is death, savagery, betrayal, heroism and love. There are reunions. Throughout it all, Elliot maintains these three very special heroes; three very rounded characters. Each character has flaws and each character grows. Agatha, arguably the favourite, is a new kind of character to be represented in literature. She has Down Syndrome. As Aisha Bushby, author of a pocketful of Stars states, "Forget Gryffindor, Dauntless and House Stark...I want to be a Hawk."
The Burning Swift is a beautiful book. Although dark and grisly and at times brutal, the whole trilogy is full of great hope and portrays, through its unforgettable characters, the qualities of human goodness, loyalty and bravery that people can demonstrate even in the most dire situations. This trilogy is recommended as an inspiring read for Middle School age readers.
Themes Ancient mythical Scotland, Dark magic, Clan loyalty, Battle.
Wendy Jeffrey
Once, at the edge of the sea by Sue Saliba. Illus. by Ann Shenfield
Sue Saliba, 2021. ISBN: 9780648919001. (Age:14+) Highly recommended.
Beautiful and painful are the memories of what was 'once, at the edge of the sea', little hooded plover chicks just hatched and teetering on the edge of existence. Alice had watched over them each day, until the day of the betrayal. Leaving Philip Island and travelling to Melbourne to study, she carries the memory of those precious fragile chicks.
This is a beautiful gentle story of young people struggling to find their way, just like the little birds in the natural world. In her writing class, Alice meets Esmeralda, a seeming soul mate, but their friendship is also fragile, and suffers from hesitancy and misunderstandings. There is a contrast between free spirit Esmeralda and the thoughtful more cautious Alice, trying to work out whether she should be Alexandra, a more sensible version of herself. Both girls have their own inner concerns to work out.
The writing is free flowing like poetry that wanders across the page and includes exquisite light touches of illustrations of nature, birds and bird footprints. A lovely book, to be enjoyed and re-read.
Sue Saliba is a previous winner of the Victorian Premier’s Literary Award. Her novels Alaska and For the forest of a bird have been recommended in ReadPlus reviews. This latest book is just as captivating.
Themes Identity, Coming of age, Self expression, Nature, Caring for the environment.
Helen Eddy
Trains trains trains! by Donna David and Nina Pirhonen
Pan Macmillan, 2022. ISBN: 9781529069792. (Age:2+) Recommended.
Any young child who is interested in machines or methods of transport will be drawn to the eye-catching blue foil cover of Trains trains trains! with its colourful train full of cute little cartoon figures. There are five trains to find on each double page spread, the illustrations matching the text. This has an internal rhyme which lends itself to being read aloud. Young children will ask for this book to be read to them again and again and will soon be able to chant along with the narrative, while emerging readers will enjoy having a go at reading for themselves or to younger siblings.
Short trains Long trains Something's gone wrong trains!
Steam trains Dream Trains, Listen to them puff.
It is a lot of fun to see all the different types of the 50 trains featured, from very fast modern trains to old steam trains, freight trains and even ‘chugging thought the cold trains’. At the back is an extra fold out page with all the trains grouped together and children are asked to choose their favourite.
The illustrations are very bright and cheerful and the facial expressions on the drivers and passengers are appealing, sure to charm the young child. There is also a Did you spot …? section where children are asked if they saw one of the tiny details in the pictures and the answers are given using the numbers with which the trains are labelled. Plus, there are tips for parents and carers when reading together.
Trains trains trains! is an amusing and informative book that will be welcomed by pre-school children.
Feelings can be complex and often misunderstood by young children who need guidance when dealing with a myriad of emotions and situations in their daily lives. We Feel Happy is a colourful new release that will resonate with younger readers. The use of brightly animated animal characters provides added visual appeal which readers will enjoy. The feelings covered in this book include happy, shy, calm, scared, sad, excited, grumpy, curious, sorry and excited. Each feeling is discussed on a boldly coloured busy double page spread with a number of white conversation bubbles as well as black text to highlight key messages, individual thoughts, questions and responses. The page about grumpy feelings stands out from the other feelings’ pages as it is divided into individual boxes to highlight each reason behind these feelings and a possible solution. At the beginning of the book is a brief introduction asking How are you Feeling? and at end of the book is information for parents and caregivers on how to talk about feelings with young children written by early years specialist, Dr Helen Lewis.
This practical and easy to read book is perfect for sharing with younger children. Early Years teachers in childcare settings, preschool and junior primary classrooms may find this a very useful resource to have on hand when dealing with situations that can arise on a daily basis.
Themes Feelings, Young Children, Animals.
Kathryn Beilby
Return to Factopia! by Kate Hale. Illus. by Andy Smith
Britannica Books, 2022. ISBN: 9781913750398. (Age:7+) Highly recommended.
Return to FACTopia! is the second title in the FACTopia! series. This cleverly illustrated and very appealing compendium of facts will entertain those readers who love learning new snippets of information to share with their friends and family. Over 400 hundred facts are discussed and connected in often quite unexpected ways. The introduction welcomes the reader back to FACTopia and begins with astronauts playing golf on the moon which connects to astronauts growing taller in space which connects to a super tall snowperson who had trees for arms which then connects to information about trees and so it goes on. The reader is able to follow the dotted lines to work their way through the book. However, those readers who wish to deviate and be adventurous can follow broken lines to different page numbers to still related topics. There is a Table of Contents at the beginning of the book which contains the topics investigated but also has ‘Fact Frenzy’ sections where the reader can follow a double page spread of segmented information all interconnected by arrowed boxes. There is a detailed index at the end plus information about the FACTtopians as well as a sources page and picture credits.
One of the highlights of this book is the bold, glossy presentation and the mixed media use of photos and graphics. A second highlight is the fact that the author has limited the amount of information on each page which allows it to be readable and hold the interest of the young or reluctant reader.
A perfect gift for a fact-loving child and a welcome addition to a class or school library.
Themes Facts, Knowledge.
Kathryn Beilby
The Becoming by Nora Roberts
The Dragon Heart Legacy, book 2. Piatkus, 2021. ISBN: 9780349426402. (Age:16+)
The becoming is the second book in The Dragon Heart Legacy by best-selling author Nora Roberts and this time the reader sees Breen return to Talamh. She is accompanied by her good friend Marco, who is amazed at the magical world that he finds there. Breen grows in her powers and becomes much more confident in herself and what she believes. She continues to be trained as a warrior by Keegan and their romance simmers along slowly. Marco also fits in well and even finds a partner who appreciates his qualities.
As the middle book in the trilogy, Roberts builds up the suspense, leaving the reader to wonder if all the preparations for war with the evil god Odran will be adequate. There is a heartbreaking betrayal and some suspenseful moments. With dragons and their riders, faeries and mermaids, readers of easy fantasy will be pleased. Fans of relationships will enjoy the friendship between Marco and Breen and the love her grandmother displays so well. And the cute dog Bollock is an extra bonus for dog lovers!
Roberts has the knack of worldbuilding and describing characters in such a way that the reader is pulled into the story. Her narrative flows easily and will please her many fans. It is best to begin with the first in the series, The awakening.
Themes Fantasy, Good and evil, Love, Courage.
Pat Pledger
Dare to be different : Inspirational words from people who changed the world by Ben Brooks
Author Ben Brooks has added another book to his Dare to be Different collection. This latest book, Dare to be Different: Inspirational words from people who changed the world, contains an eclectic mixture of 100 people who have made a difference in their own lifetime, both past and present. Many of them may be familiar to some readers eg Jane Austen, Dolly Parton, Anne Frank, Alexander Solzhenitsyn, F. Scott Fitzgerald and Desmond Tutu. However, many of them may be unfamiliar. For example Bambi, who is not the baby fawn, but a present day famous anonymous graffiti artist whose inspirational words are, “I want to save the world and that’s why social commentary is always present in my work. It's easy to live with your eyes shut but that’s not fulfilling or helpful to the world.” Another possibly unfamiliar person is Nezahualcoyotl (1402-1472) who appears on the Mexican hundred-peso note and was a prince and a poet. His inspirational words are, “Stand up, Beat your drum, Give of yourself, Know friendship.” One of the surprise inclusions is Yoda (896 BBY- 4ABY). This little green alien’s inspirational quote is quite long but begins with “Size matters not. Look at me. Judge me by my size, do you?...” Fans of Star Wars will no doubt be aware Yoda is the Grand Master of the Order of Jedi Knights.
Each and every story shared in this book is unique and interesting to read. Each entry has a coloured double page spread with text on one page and a full-page illustration on the other. The information is easy to follow and understand and will appeal to both children and adults who enjoy reading biographies.
Themes Biographies.
Kathryn Beilby
Tyenna by Julie Hunt and Terry Whitebeach
Allen & Unwin, 2022. ISBN: 9781760877019. (Age:12-15) Recommended.
Tye (short for Tyenna) is visiting her grandparents in Tasmania’s Central Highlands. She has two mums, her biological mum is a somewhat distracted and forgetful actress and fortunately her other mother is measured and calm, but it is with her grandparents that she feels the most settled and connected to the environment she loves and cares for. Coming to Tasmania gives her a chance to breathe and to reconnect to her Tasmanian friend, Lily. Unfortunately, her arrival in Tasmania coincides with the fire season and the risks grow with each hour of her stay. When lightning sparks an inferno in the bush, Tye must do all she can to support her grandparents, the locals and firefighters, and stay safe. But she is also keeping a secret about a runaway boy who is potentially in harm’s way. Evacuation is eventually the only option, but can she leave the boy, and the old family friend who is struggling with memory loss, or will she put her own life at risk in making a difference?
This story places the reader in the centre of the bushfire disaster, with the pressures of locals, firefighters and their support teams, Parks and Wildlife carers and family members. The tensions are real and the drama is revealing of the dangers of fire. With some references to Aboriginal practices of land preservation with cold burn techniques, this book also highlights some possible risk reduction strategies, but is not condemnatory of those who love and care for the environment. There are animal stories scattered through the human dramas and conservation issues and this is an inspiring story of survival. Teacher's notes and series website are available from the publisher.
Themes Bushfires, Environmental conservation, Climate change, Survival, Friendship, Family (LGBTIQ minor characters).
Fascinating! There is so much to explore in this intriguing novel that interrogates attitudes to life, love, religion, honour, and relationships. It begins with Nick shackled in a hut somewhere in Kashmir taken captive by renegade extremists. Nick engages in conversation with the Mujahid leader, in the hope that a developing comradeship might prolong his life.
Interwoven with the conversations in Kashmir are memories of Nick’s upbringing in Australia. His was the life of one of the privileged landowners, the squattocracy; his life and that of his sister Lilly, of the Maclean family, are contrasted with that of their childhood friend Richard, a Connelly, son of the family that has always worked for the Macleans, and for whom life’s options had always been limited. Nick’s quest to explore life and art, see him succumbing to dangerous extremes, whilst Richard, using his intellect and determination, overcomes barriers of class, to achieve the success he wants. Yet, we are brought to question how much do each of these individuals really change, and how much do they still imbue the values of their upbringing, values of loyalty and honour and doing the right thing?
The female characters are equally compelling, particularly Lilly, very aware of class and gender issues, but who tries to carve out her own future, at a time when the most that was expected of women of the squattocracy was to attain an advantageous marriage.
And then there is the Mujahid, and his discussions with Nick. Despite their different religions and circumstances, time and again their conversations reveal a mutual understanding and respect, and shared values of honour and bravery.
Gordon’s novel has the potential to become an Australian classic, in its vivid portrayal of a time of change in 1960's Australia, it depiction of underlying shared values across humankind, and its exploration of philosophical themes around the meaning of life.
For an immensely interesting interview with the author see the publisher’s website.
Themes Philosophy, Meaning of life, Honour, Class, Gender roles, Change.
Helen Eddy
Perfectly weird, perfectly you by Camilla Pang. Illus. by Laurene Boglio
The Introduction in Perfectly Weird, Perfectly You gives a sensitive and honest account of author Camilla Pang’s understanding of her Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) diagnosis at the age of eight years. She carefully explains aspects of ASD that can be both general and are unique to her. Throughout the short paragraphs of ASD explanations, are bold and highlighted words such as overwhelmed, difficult, routines, behaviour, which give the reader an insight into the disorder. The author also uses the term superpower and relates how her ASD traits have positively impacted on her love of science, her career in this field and her growing understanding of human relationships.
One of the key themes that is evident throughout this book is that a person diagnosed with ASD can often have difficulty missing social clues and understanding human interactions. The author has used her understanding of science to explain the complexities of social relationships. One early story she shares is commenting on a pair of trainers worn by another girl saying she might get some. The other girl is unkind in her response, and this leads the author into an explanation of stereotypes and being judgemental. The study of metals and their different reactions provided the author with more understanding that the world needs people who are diverse.
This book has ten chapters which all begin with the same word: perfectly. This is followed by different, calm, balanced, alive, at home, digital, persistent, wrong, you and new. Each chapter is written in language for readers of all ages to understand, with well-spaced paragraphs containing bold text for important words or ideas, as well as quirky images and borders. The final pages are titled ‘Ending the Experiment: What Did We Learn?’ and discusses the journey the reader has taken through the book. The important message is that we are all unique and special. As young people grow and interact, they encounter difficult situations that can be solved once the problem is understood. A very worthwhile resource for a school or public library.
Join the unlikely pair of Fi and Shane as they start out on a magical adventure - Fi is bookish, knowledgeable and a trained treasure hunter, while Shane is a warrior for hire, rough around the edges. Fi likes to consider all the possibilities while Shane likes doing things her own way. Pairing up for just one big score, the two find themselves with a greater challenge when Fi is pricked by the Bone Spindle - intertwining her fate with the sleeping prince, Briar Rose. After a miraculous meeting with Briar, who has been under a sleeping curse for a hundred years, waiting for the kiss that will wake him, Fi decides to break the curse, and Shane is along for the journey. Only catch is dark magic, Witch Hunters and potential romances along the way, Shane is a sucker for a pretty girl, and Fi fears falling in love - especially with a prince under a curse.
The first in a new fantasy series, The Bone Spindle, this gender-flipped reimagining of Sleeping Beauty is full of action, adventure, betrayal, romance and magic. The majority of the book is told from the perspectives of Shane and Fi, with a few chapters throughout the book being told from Briar Rose's point of view. While there is plenty of action throughout the novel, the story has several drawn out segments, interrupting the flow of the story. Well developed lead characters save the story from these interruptions, and the book is perfect for fans of fairy tales with a twist, as the sleeping beauty in this story is male, and the rescuers are female. Additionally, there is a female to female pairing, adding more dimension to the original fairy tale.
Little Steps, 2020. ISBN: 9781925839487. (Age:5+) Highly recommended.
The Leadbeater’s possum is a critically endangered species of possum found in Victoria, Australia. They no longer have access to enough old-growth trees to provide them with shelter and safety. This tiny possum, often called a Fairy Possum, can fit into the palm of your hand and is Victoria’s faunal emblem. Author and illustrator Jo Watson has written and illustrated this gorgeous story to raise awareness of the plight of these tiny creatures.
Larry’s home, a 300-year-old tree, has been cut down and will be used for paper, wood and furniture. Larry has lost his best tree friend and decides to travel to the city in search of a new home. He meets Clementine in the park and she invites Larry to live in her doll’s house. Larry finds it difficult to live in a home with furniture and stairs so Clementine suggests her tree house. Sadly it is too new so they try to make it look old but it is still not quite right. Clementine thinks very hard about how to help Larry and they travel 'to the place where the Grown Ups In Charge work.' The Government Man mainly says no to the idea of not cutting down trees and Larry must take things into his own paws. He invites all his possum friends to live in the house of the Government Man and this clever idea brings about change. Larry eventually does find a safe new tree, not quite as old as his first home but older than others.
This story is a wonderful read to share with all children to emphasise the need for more care to be taken of our natural environment. The clever collage of images on each page are both beautifully presented and eye-catching. A wonderful story and resource for a school or public library.
Website for further information about Leadbeater’s Possums and how you can help can be found here. Information about the book is available here.
First published in 1902, this handsome 120th anniversary edition of the first of the beloved Peter Rabbit tales will be welcomed by collectors and fans alike. The image of Peter Rabbit in his familiar blue jacket stands out again a gold embossed cover and is a very appealing introduction to young children.
Many readers will be familiar with The tale of Peter Rabbit and the small books about this feisty little rabbit in his blue jacket probably has been hoarded by grandparents like me, and handed down to another generation. It is a treat to see the 120th birthday edition of the The tale of Peter Rabbit in a large format, with an engaging gold foil cover and the original illustrations and text. It should prove to be perfect for adults to hold up and read aloud to a class or to read to siblings in a family.
Peter Rabbit is naughty, creeping into Mr. McGregor’s garden, and his adventures will have readers glued to the page, and listeners holding their breath. Young children are sure to love the iconic illustrations that have made this story so popular – and will have fun comparing them to the popular TV presentation with which they may be familiar.
There are many more stories about Peter Rabbit including A Christmas wish and all are sure to be enjoyed by children today. This version is gorgeous and will prove to be a keeper for many families.
Themes Rabbits, Classics.
Pat Pledger
Winston and the Indoor Cat by Leila Rudge
Walker Books, 2021. ISBN: 9781760652609.
Winston is an outdoor cat and because that's all he has ever known, it suits him perfectly. Then he spies the Indoor Cat and thinks that it is trapped so he devises a plan to free it so it, too, can enjoy the outdoors as he does. But the Indoor Cat soon learns that it prefers the indoors - can the two ever be friends?
In the vein of the old story of the town mouse and the country mouse, this is a story that introduces the concept of being able to be friends even if you have differences in beliefs, values and habits. Both the simple but powerful text and the gentle illustrations in their subtle palette convey a tone of harmony even though the cats are distinctly different.
A good one for the beginning of the school year when new classes are formed and friendships forged even though everyone is a unique individual.
It is 1665. Rats have infested homes and alleys in Marie Perrin's provincial French town. Twelve-year-old Marie is set to become a maid, although she hungers for adventure. However, one mistake alters her fate and as punishment she is forced to apprentice for an intimidating rat-catcher. Away from her parents and twin brother, and handling gnarly rat traps under Gustave Renard's unusual mentorship, Marie must overcome a new set of challenges which come after a plague enters her town.
This is an absorbing story for mature independent readers, made even more so because of its parallels with today's life where it is COVID-19 that has run rampant. Despite the time difference, the preventative measures of masks, social distancing, hand-washing and isolation that Gustav insists his wife and Marie follow are the same as those employed today! But Marie also has to contend with a society built heavily on the distinctions and privileges (or lack of them) imposed by class and one's station in life, as well as being female - although the latter doesn't deter her as she dreams of a life of freedom unfettered by her gender.
While some readers may feel confronted by Marie's predicament, the author has created credible, well-rounded characters whose lives reflect the times in which they are set, but are even more intriguing because they can relate to the conditions of a pandemic - tough enough for some even with modern science, communications and vaccines. Despite the depths of her despair at times, Marie is spurred on by Gustav and Marion's belief that the bad times will pass and there will be joy again, and that, in itself, is a reason to share this story with your older students.
A debut novel by an author to look for in the future.
Themes France - Social conditions -1589-1789, Rats, Pest control, Plague.
