Sarah J. Maas is back with another sexy, action-packed instalment of her hugely popular A Court of Thorns and Roses series. For the first time, we do not see the story from the viewpoint of Feyre and her High Lord of the Fae husband, Rhysand. A Court of Silver Flames breaks from the previous books in the series to focus on Feyre’s older sister, Nesta.
Nesta is damaged. She lashes out at those she cares about in cruel and unforgivable ways. Yet, like Feyre, Nesta is beautiful, powerful and immortal. She has devoted sisters, a safe home and a budding romance with an alluring Fae warrior. For fans of Maas, this all might sound familiar and welcoming. It should be easy to slip into this story and enjoy the romances, friendships and battles. However, there is one major issue.
Nesta is, and always has been, a thoroughly unlikeable and unsympathetic character. And she does not do much in this book to negate that image. It is difficult to empathise with a protagonist who has been deeply and cruelly unpleasant towards almost every other character in four previous novels. There is little to connect most readers to Nesta. Her personal growth and the progression of her story is at the core of A Court of Silver Flames, but this 700+ page interlude only serves as a distraction from other, more beloved characters.
Maas has clearly intended this to be a redemption story, with Nesta presumably joining the cadre of heroes we already know, in future books. But for many readers, it will be too little, too late. A Court of Silver Flames reads as the sexy romance Maas wanted to write, rather than a novel that advances the world of Feyre and Rhysand in any meaningful way. A Court of Silver Flames could function easily as a standalone romance novel rather than the middle book of an expansive fantasy series. Fans of Maas will always read and enjoy another offering of her hugely popular writing. Just don't expect much in the way of plot or story progression.
In this beautiful book, Dragon World written by Tamara Macfarlane, readers are taken on a journey to meet the fire breathing beasts of mythology. The stunning illustrations by Alessandra Fusi capture the reader's interest immediately and provide visually appealing images to complement the text. The book begins with a contents page where the information is divided into four headings: Asian Dragons, European Dragons, Dragons of the World and Dragon Discoveries. A short description of the world of dragons piques the reader's interest and is a perfect introduction. There are maps to show where the dragons being discussed originated from, stories about the dragons, and each dragon is described under the headings of appearance, dwelling, powers and traits. There is even a dragon from Australia mentioned. It is known as the Marsupial dragon and had a body similar to a kangaroo, dwelled in rocky areas, breathed fire or blue smoke and used strong legs to strike enemies. In the section titled Living Dragons the Australian Leafy Sea Dragon is mentioned alongside other well-known dragon named species of plants and animals alive today. The book also has pages on how to draw a dragon and design a dragon as well as a detailed glossary and index.
Dragon World would be a wonderful gift for any child who is fascinated by these creatures or as an introduction to dragons and mythology. A very welcome addition to a home, school or public library.
Themes Fantasy, Dragons, Mythology, Legends.
Kathryn Beilby
Unsheltered by Clare Moleta
Scribner, 2021. ISBN: 9781761100758. (Age:12-17)
Li, Frank and five year old daughter Matti live in a small town in a country of devastating extreme weather events and a society failing to cope both with the climate but also war and economic collapse. Authorities have pulled back into closely guarded 'sheltered' areas leaving smaller outlying towns to dwindle with failing power, water and transport opportunities. Entry into the sheltered places is strictly controlled and informal 'makecamps' have arisen outside the compounds. Sheltered or not all children are conscripted into the army at 15 as the country is continually at war. When Matti is eight, Li and family move to one of the camps where Frank is killed in an industrial accident. When Li is outside the camp setting snares there is a fire and the camp is destroyed. Surviving children are rounded up by authorities and sent north, no one knows where. Li sets out across the devastated land to find Matti with only her own survival skills and an unshakable need to find her daughter.
The author’s note tells us 'the setting of this novel is Australian but not Australia. Geography, distance and time have been moved around and others invented entirely' but I found little sense of place with fire, flood, wind and drought seeming to run closely together. I also found it hard to follow the various timeline threads populated by many characters. The story settled down as Li journeys across the dystopian Mad Max like landscape, living by her wits and bravely enduring multiple losses and injuries. A grim story about a world where climate change, out of control bureaucracy and exclusion have overtaken common humanity.
Themes Dystopia, Family, Climate change, Society breakdown..
Sue Speck
Heroes of the secret underground by Susanne Gervay
Why do I work!!!! I couldn't put down the new book by bestselling author Susanne Gervay, Heroes of the Secret Underground. Susanne has managed to put together a heart-racing time-slip story inspired by her own family's escape from Budapest during World War 2.
The story is set in different two timelines. Winter 1944, Budapest during the Nazi occupation during the war and today in Sydney, Australia at The Majestic Boutique Hotel which has been owned by a three generational Hungarian family.
We are introduced to the two families in the two different timelines through a rose-gold locket with a mother-of-pearl shell. First we learn how the locket was taken away from a girl in Budapest and then how it was found by a girl called Louie in Sydney today. When Louie finds the locket we are thrown into the story of solving the mystery of the mislaid rose-gold locket and who was the girl that dropped it.
Three children, Louie, Bert and Teddy are the centre of the story. We learn about their life living ar The Majestic Boutique Hotel. They are surrounded by family, love, food, and music. All three children unwillingly travel back in time to Budapest. Here they experience how it is to live in war torn Budapest during World War II. They learn how thousands of people managed to survive starvation and being captured by the Nazis and the fascist group of the Arrow Cross through the help of people and the underground and of course The Glass House history.
I found myself thinking 'How many secrets has my family kept about their past especially during the war years?' Louie, Bert and Teddy discover secrets that their families have never talked about from their past and I bet they are not the only ones. Maybe because people want to forget the dark past. I still remember my godmother telling my son a couple of years ago that she as a child would find tortoises and sell them to German soldiers as a child for money to help feed her family. There must be many, many, stories out there that are slowly being written into books which I am grateful to read to learn about the past. Does your family have heroes?
Heroes of the Secret Underground is great read about families today and how their families lived during World War II. If you do read it as a class book there is a teacher's guide which I will be using in class soon.
Love the cover too.
Themes World War II, Time travel, Family.
Maria Komninos
Coco and the butterfly by Laura Bunting and Nicky Johnston
Coco and the butterfly is the second book in a new series by Laura Bunting the first being "Coco, big city kitty". It is a beautifully illustrated large format picture book with an embossed cover. The soft watercolour, pencil and ink illustrations portray the mood of the story perfectly and are reminiscent of books such as Ruby red shoes by Kate Knapp. It is quite a different type of book from her previous offerings in collaboration with her partner Philip Bunting such as "Koalas eat gum leaves", "Kookaburras love to laugh" and "Lyrebird".
Coco has moved from her big, exciting city apartment to the country, and she is not happy about it. She hates nature, such as bugs, noisy birds and scary trees and they all seem to be invading her everyday life too much for her liking. After pleading with her parents to move back to the city she runs outside to avoid more unpacking and meets a caterpillar who seems to be as afraid of change as Coco. As Coco tries to help the caterpillar, she helps herself to see that some changes are not as bad as they first seemed.
Coco and her family are wonderful characters and portray a close loving family trying to make a better life for themselves away from the rat race of the city. Children will recognize and appreciate the things that Coco’s parents are doing to make life in her new home better for her and they will look forward to future adventures from Coco.
Themes Change, Moving house, Country life, Cities, Nature.
Skywake invasion by BBC film critic, screenwriter and gamer Jamie Russell is the first book of a trilogy, kicking off what is sure to be an action packed scifi series for readers aged 9+. This is not the usual story of a portal out of the real world to somewhere else; this is a frightening conflation of real life world and the arrival of an alien world which, it was thought, had previously only existed in the artificial world of gaming.
Casey is the leader of a high ranking gaming team, the Ghost Reapers. She and her team meet for the first time in real life (IRL) at a live SkyWake tournament at a large shopping mall. Simultaneously around the world in other major cities, other top level gamers are meeting to compete at this international level. However Casey sees a sinister shimmer above the mall and there are sinister 'cosplayers' who seem to be overplaying their roles with what looks to be real weaponry. By chapter three the stage is set. Casey, her family and her gaming team have been introduced. Developing the plot rapidly, Russell builds an atmosphere of foreboding with flashes and shimmers of possible illusions that are inexplicable. Interwoven is the team's relationship which has to be built on trust IRL before they can possibly effectively work together to prevail against the massive power of the evil alien forces which is suddenly unleashed upon not only the gamers but on all the human beings at the shopping malls around the world.
The action is savage and lethal. Abductions of the smartest of the gamers are happening and the police forces with all their strongest equipment are rendered powerless against the aliens. Casey and her team have to use their gaming skills and trust each other to stop the aliens. But in book one, after riveting, page- turning, heart in the mouth action and adventure, they haven't succeeded. In fact . . . where is the next book? We need it NOW!
Themes Sci fi, Gaming, Adventure, Teams, Loyalty.
Wendy Jeffrey
Dragon legend by Katie and Kevin Tsang
Simon & Schuster, 2021. ISBN: 9781471193095. (Age:9+) Highly recommended.
A sequel to Dragon Mountain, we travel into the Dragon Realm to defeat the Dragon of Death. Dragon Legend is a story about twelve-year-old Billy and his friends Charlotte and Ling-Fei and their search to find good friend Dylan. This adventurous story begins with the children in a cave, along with their very own bonded dragons Spark, Buttons, Xing and Tank. The children and their dragons need to work together to defeat the Dragon of Death and save their life as they know it. They travel through a portal back in time to search for their friend Dylan, who can help them defeat the Dragon of Death. Dylan, who had previously been kidnapped by Old Gold, was once trusted but now seen as a traitor to them all. Dylan and the children work together with Old Gold's grandson JJ, who they don't know if they can fully trust and travel through a portal back in time to begin their quest.
Together, their close bond of friendship and the magical pearls for extra powers support them in fighting evil and black magic, but will it be enough? The dangers and experiences that they encounter in this new place are both exciting and captivating, keeping the reader enthralled and engaged. During the story, Billy begins to doubt his reasons for being there and his ability to fight the greater evil. Spark, his bonded dragon, reminds him that he is 'loyal, strong, brave and true' and their reason for being there is to save them all for both current and future times.
As they fly throughout the land, they notice many slain dragons. They discover that these dragons have refused to join the Dragon of Death and conquer the land they know. Will they have enough strength to fight and defeat the Dragon of Death, especially if Old Gold joins the forces? Will they be able to find the magical pearls that will give them extra powers? This sequel keeps the reader turning each page to discover what will happen next. An enchanting story with strong imagery throughout, it leaves the reader feeling they are along for the journey. This story will be enjoyed by all who love mythical adventures, suspense and thrills.
Kangaroo Island lies off the mainland of South Australia, southwest of Adelaide. This coffee table sized, 90 page, book of colour photographs provides some beautiful and wide-ranging views of the island. Each image is unusual eg. the title page has tree branches covered with cockatoos, almost like cherry blossoms. The editor, Alison Higgs, states that the photographs in the book were taken between October 2018 and June 2019, capturing the unique beauty of the island before the devastating fires of December 2019 and January 2020 decimated large areas of the island.
The photographers are not identified by the editor. However, the views of the wildlife, coastal scenery and vegetation are really spectacular. Each photograph occupies the whole of a page with a white blank page between each shot. Written description is limited to a short title. A wide variety of marine, bird and mammal life of the island is represented.
Photographs vary in perspective from oblique aerial, overhead and extreme close-up. The opening pages show landscapes that are predominantly, yellow, red, green, blue and grey. Some photographs required close observation from the viewer in order to determine the natural features on view, others are very touching, such as the Koala affected by bushfire. Sheep are shown feeding in a large circle and another picture shows one white shorn sheep amongst the grey unshorn. There is a wonderful close up of a wedge-tail eagle in flight and a magnified view of a pink and white pygmy sundew. The patterns, lines and colours in the landscape are very striking.
Many of the images show an island looking sombre with the sky full of dark threatening clouds. These images are contrasted with others that are bright, warm and inviting. There are few images of early human heritage but quite a lot of attractive scenes such as the ocean swimming pool, boys playing with a dog in the shallows and massive waves on the south coast.
A map with place names is included at the end along with a facing note: "Each person who looks at these images will see something different . . . Curating this work has slowed down my life and opened my eyes. Opened my eyes to the spirit of places I'd seen many times before, but never seen at all." I think the reader will want to visit Kangaroo Island after viewing this book.
Shu Lin arrives at her new school and she looks different, does not speak English very well and eats different food at lunchtime. This story is told from the point of view of one of the children in the class and clearly shows how not knowing about someone's culture can make it difficult for some children to accept a new arrival who is vastly different from them.
One day the teacher arranges for Shu Lin's Grandpa to come into her class to show them his traditional Chinese paintings. He doesn't speak but just shows his wonderful paintings. This event becomes the key to unlock the empathy and understanding in the other children as Shu Lin eagerly helps them to master this special artform.
Inside the book is a double gatefold spread revealing a magnificent Chinese painting which creates the opportunity for exploration of this wonderful style of art. This highly acclaimed Chinese-British illustrator, who studied under Quentin Blake, has used a mixture of pencil, paper cut and coloured pencil to bring the story to us. She shows us the wide variety of cultures across this school through her illustrations which could provide a discussion starter in classes who read it.
Themes Friendship, Painting-Chinese, Cultural awareness, Empathy.
When Maeve finds a pack of old tarot cards whilst cleaning out a closet during school detention, she quickly discovers her talent for reading people. Soon, she becomes the most sought-after diviner in her school, everyone wants to know what the cards will say about them. But when Maeve's ex-best friend Lily is forced into a reading, an unsettling card named The Housekeeper appears, one that Maeve has never seen before. When Lily does not come to school the next Monday, they soon discover she has disappeared without a trace. Shunned by her schoolmates and struggling to fully comprehend her newfound romance with Lily's non-binary sibling, Roe, Maeve must dig deeper into her connection with the tarot cards to help find clues as to where Lily may be.
This book has everything you need. A gripping mystery, supernatural elements, romance etc. And as far as inclusivity goes, this story covers it beautifully. Lily is hearing impaired and wears a hearing aid, Maeve's sister is gay, and we explore her relationship and the discrimination shown towards her, Roe is exploring their gender identity, Fiona is mixed race and often calls out and educates Maeve on her behaviour. The supernatural, witchcraft elements of this book are well thought out and bring a unique and different twist to the disappearance of Lily. It is so nice to see Maeve find her feet and discover her talents as at the beginning of the novel we hear a lot about how she is not gifted, smart or talented and will never live up to the expectations of her family. When she finds her niche, you really start to see her grow as a character.
There are so many layers to this story and would highly recommend to anyone who loves a good mystery with a magical twist whilst also covering modern day social justice issues such a race, gender and LGBTQI+ discrimination.
In the early 20th century two amazing intrepid women, Daisy Bates and Ernestine Hill, each separately cast aside the comforts of society, to explore the desert areas of Australia, and seek out the Aboriginal tribes and iconic outback settler life; each of them writers supremely confident that their records were essential to preserving a disappearing piece of Australian history.
Ernestine Hill worked with Daisy Bates on bringing together her famous work The passing of the Aborigines, later falling out when Bates failed to acknowledge Hill's contribution. Hill's view was that she herself was the true author of the work. It was a strange friendship, with 36 years difference in age, and despite the dispute about authorship, they continued to correspond and collaborate together at different times.
Hogan is meticulous in following the lives of these two women, at times venturing out, a lone woman herself, into the desert, to retrace their steps and to gather stories from Aboriginal people who might still remember either of them. Her research reveals the contrasting images of Bates as ethnographer and caretaker for Aboriginal people, and the hateful woman who perpetuated stories about cannibalism and denigrated mixed race children.
Both Bates and Hill were pioneers, casting aside convention, and following their own paths. However each of them struggled with the tasks they set themselves. Later in life, Hill ended up unable to bring her own writing together to fulfil her dream of the great novel; her notes are now kept in archives. It is thanks to Hogan's research that we now have this record of the adventures of these two women, and their genuine though flawed commitment to the understanding and preservation of a unique Australian culture and way of life.
Themes Non-fiction, Biography, Women writers, Australian outback, Indigenous Australians.
Helen Eddy
Can you whistle, Johanna? by Ulf Stak and Anna Hoglun
An enchanting and thought-provoking story that challenges you to reflect and ponder the importance of the relationships that we create and foster. First written in 1992 by Swedish author Ulf Stark, this story was later translated into English. Can you whistle, Johanna? is a story about a young boy, Berra and his friend Ulf. Berra seeks to find a grandfather of his own, after hearing how exciting they are to have from Ulf's own experience. He questions why he doesn't have one already, as they sound really cool. The next day they come up with a plan to find a grandfather and what a better place to start, than the retirement home. On arrival at the home, Berra and Ulf find Ned and it seems that both Ned and Berra are made for each other. Both are unknowingly seeking a human connection and are happy to have someone special to share their life with. Touching moments throughout the story make the reader question the importance and significance of relationships. Both Ned, Berra and Ulf build a respectful and loving relationship as they listen, share and forge a caring and thoughtful connection.
Delightful illustrations throughout the book by Anna Hoglund compliment the storyline and bring further enjoyment to the story. As Berra, Ulf and Grandpa Ned spend time together, there is a sense of warmth and kind-heartedness in their generational bonding. Ned shares elements of his past including his whistling skills with the song, 'Can you whistle Johanna?'. Berra fervently attempts to master the whistling skills that Ned shows him, however, can't quite master them yet. A poignant conclusion leaves the reader with a sense of how sharing special moments, can bring pleasure to people's lives that they will never forget.
Mo and Crow by Jo Kasch. Illus. by Jonathan Bentley
Allen & Unwin, 2021. ISBN: 9781760631758. (Age:4-6) Highly recommended.
"I live alone and I like it that way!" says Mo to a Crow who seems determined to invade his privacy by pecking rocks out of his protective wall. But Mo, who lives on an isolated hill in a house by himself, is lonely. The persistent crow shows him that opening himself up to what is outside his wall can show him a whole new world. This is a powerful picture book about being alone and how much effort it can take for someone to accept friendship. Reaching out to make friends can be one of the most difficult things for some children to do and this story tries to assist them to understand how people build walls to protect their feelings from being hurt by others.
The author Jo Kasch is an award-winning television writer and editor with a love of television aimed at children and teens. She has teamed up with experienced illustrator and writer Jonathon Bentley who brings this story to life with his bright, vibrant watercolour and pencil images. I love the way the endpapers reflect the vast change in the view Mo has on the world once he dismantles his wall; the confined view of the rock wall at the front in contrast to the perception of light and freedom that finishes the book superbly. These endpapers could be used as a discussion point before and after reading the book to a class of children while the uncomplicated text will make it understandable to even the youngest listeners.
Themes Friendship, Loneliness, Fear, Protection.
Gabrielle Anderson
Fozia and the quest of Prince Zal by Rosanne Hawke
University of Queensland Press, 2021. ISBN: 9780702263071. (Age:9+) Highly recommended.
The third in a series which began with Kelsey and the quest of the porcelain doll (2014) this heartwarming story reveals the lives of children whose lives are turned upside down by a natural disaster in Pakistan, the worst flood in living memory. Whole towns and villages are swept away and Fozia loses all she loves, but is taken in by a family, who although loving and inviting, are not her real family.
Cleverly Hawke compares her two lives. If still with her family she would have been working in the brick kiln in the village to cover her father's debts, while now she is able to go to school, an aim she has held all of her twelve years. At night she tells her small cousins a story, one involving a lame prince, the least of his family, searching for his lost sister. The story recalls Fozia's lost family, intertwining stories heard as a child, stories she has known all her life, and it wraps her with comfort and longing.
Two threads weave together within this tale; one a story being told by Fozia, the other about her situation and her lost family, each story impelling the enthralled readers to turn each page with unabashed pleasure and hope.
As with Rosanne's other books, the immediacy of the setting is vivid and memorable. It is ever present, part of the fabric of the book, from the tents in which Fozia lives after the flood, the quilts she is making for the camp, the roti she bakes, the dung cakes the boys are supposed to be making, the sight of the brick kiln and all it means for her family. Each chapter reveals another aspect of the lives of this Pakistani family, so familiar to Rosanne after living in the region for ten years. It is this familiarity which gives her novels about this region of the world their solid base; her stories are built on a love and affinity with the families which make up her stories, each incident something she has seen, heard or shared. And children will love learning the Urdu words that crop up in the text, words used everyday by the family, words that are familiar and will roll off the reader's tongue, rarely having to refer to the glossary at the end of the book.
We know Fozia has a secret and this is revealed by degrees as we learn of the family's debt, their shared secret, the reason the prince in the tale is so named. But when questions are asked of Fozia and conversations hushed as she comes into the room she realises that has a choice to make.
A memorable read that will live with readers long after the last page is read, this story recalls people and incidents from the two preceding novels, adding another layer of interest and delight. Teacher's notes are available.
Dr Jonica Newby, best known for her work on ABC TV's Catalyst program, has written a very personal and absorbing journal, that encompasses feelings of grief and future reactions needed to cope with the emotional effects of climate change.
Snow loss was the initial signal for Jonica in her realisation and grief that the world has changed forever. At the same time, as her partner Robyn Williams, was diagnosed with cancer in 2015, the author came to the realisation that a life-threatening diagnosis had inspired a new way of thinking about the 'roller-coaster emotions of climate grief. The drought, fire, and pandemic events of 2019 and 2020 have heightened our emotional response. As a result, chapters in the book relate to love, courage, anger, creativity, worry, leadership, humour, denial, joy, acceptance and pride.
The personal stories of Jonica's mother and others who suffered through the bushfires were very moving.
Throughout the book the author draws on the creativity of Missy Higgins, knowledge and skills for the future of leaders such as Mike Cannon-Brookes, scientists such as Ove Hoegh-Guldberg and the humour of Charlie Pickering and Craig Reucassel. There are a number of thoughtful observations that readers are invited to consider, such as 'inoculation theory', 'disaster brain'. The book has an appendix with practical tips for those who have been through a disaster, from psychologists Dr Rob Gordon and Professor Sandy McFarlane.
At the conclusion, the author can't tell us what to do about climate change but addresses the importance of harnessing our feelings, whether it's anger or love and doing whatever we can.
