Fremantle Press, 2019, ISBN: 9781925815450.
(Age: 11-14) Recommended. Themes: Piracy, Courage, Colonisation,
Coming of Age. Norman Jorgenson's swashbuckling tale The
Wrecker's Revenge sees young Red Read sent away to Christian
Brothers' College in Perth after his adventures at sea. He dislikes
the cold weather, food, finds only English and Geography worthwhile
and doesn't tolerate the bullying he observes. When he fights one of
the Brothers hitting a smaller student with a leather strop, Red is
quickly locked up and sentenced by a cruel magistrate to 20 birch
lashes. Whilst locked in jail, Red noticed mysterious writing and
numbers on the wall, William Dampier, bulyon, Coconut Island.
Luckily his guardian Captain Black Bowen rescues him and he's
returned to his seafaring family aboard the Black Dragon.
Captain Bowen's keen for a new adventure, searching for the Dutch
explorer's hidden treasure. He's also on the run from the law for
meting out revenge on the cruel magistrate, shooting him in his
backside. On their journey up the treacherous Western Australian
coastline, they are pursued by five pearl luggers from Broome keen
to reach Dampier's treasure first. Armed with cannons, salvaged from
a Dutch shipwreck, a fierce battle ensues. Their dramatic escape is
just one of the many close encounters on their journey to the Cocos
Islands. Collecting bat guano to make gunpowder, climbing the
ratlines to keep lookout in the crow's nest, assisting the crew as
they prepare for battle, Red Read's ship-board life is filled with
excitement and danger. He learns to think creatively, assisting
Shakespeare quoting Captain Bowen, and the crew fight the 'vicious,
revenge crazed wreckers.'
Red's journey is filled with danger; for days he sails one of the
captured luggers after the crew die from typhoid fever. He just
escapes a close encounter with a shark, and finally returns home to
Broom receiving a special reward for his bravery.
Norman Jorgensen's dramatic novel delivers fast-paced action,
colourful characters and historical insights into the history of
Western Australian. He challenges the stereotype roles of women and
indigenous peoples and comments on the impact of colonisation. His
protagonist, Red Read is wise beyond his years, resilient, willing
to learn and has a strength of character. Violence is portrayed,
revenge is handed out and fierce battles are fought. The Wreckers' Revenge is a thrilling read for fans of
pirates, Australian history and daring adventures.
Rhyllis Bignell
The girl who came out of the woods by Emily Barr
Penguin. 2019. ISBN: 9780241345221. pbk. 391 p.
(Age: 14+) Highly recommended. Themes: Dystopian. Arty was born in a
small commune hidden in the forests of southern India. Her only
knowledge of the outside world has come from the handful of adults
and from old books. On the twentieth anniversary of the commune,
Arty leaves the only home she's ever known. She doesn't want to. She
intends to come back. A younger child Zeus, is the only person well
enough to accompany her on a mercy dash beyond the woods, through
the locked gate and past the foreboding 'Danger Radiation' sign. The
noisy world, the bustle of modern day India, the toxic environment
and rampant consumerism overwhelm her. Can she save the others, or
will she be too late? Her contingency plan lies in her mother's
instructions to find Persephone or Uncle Matthew in England. But the
tragedy and Arty's unique upbringing make her a social media and
mass media sensation - opening her eyes and ours to insatiable human
appetites.
The story begins darkly as Arty grapples with exploitation and new
friendships, celebrity and family secrets - but things turn darker
as the narrator reconstructs the events that led her brave mother,
Venus (Vicky), to reject civilization and to establish a better one
in the Clearing.
Emily Barr has written her coming of age novel as a metaphor where a
cloistered child confronts a complex modern world. Her protagonist
is only able to navigate a cataclysmic tragedy, because of the
perspective of her clan, particularly Venus, their matriarch. We see
the greed and decay of the planet through fresh eyes and we are
ashamed of our acceptance of a multitude of insane and inane
behaviours. The author doesn't abandon us, because Arty can adapt,
educate herself and carve out a life. Perhaps she can honour her
mother's grand vision by adding her lived experience to the
inevitable cinematic rendering planned by Bollywood - a fate likely
to be shared by this novel, which has brought Arty to life.
Deborah Robins
Secret in stone by Kamilla Benko
The Unicorn Quest bk. 2. Bloomsbury, 2019. ISBN:
9781408898512.
(Age: 10+) Recommended. Themes: Fantasy; Unicorns; Magic; Bravery.
This is the second book in The Unicorn Quest series, and I
wish I had read the first, The
unicorn quest. Two young sisters Claire and Sophie have
found themselves in the fantasy kingdom of Arden, and although in
this book we know that Claire has been revealed as a wielder of
magic, and a Princess of the realm with power to call back the
Unicorn from extinction, it seems that there is more to do to rescue
Arden from the power of those who seem to be working against the
kingdom's harmony and who perhaps have deliberately set their mind
and magic to destructive ends. Claire's gentle and apprehensive
spirit must work hard to rescue her sister, and perhaps even rescue
the unicorn. In a fantasy world not unlike Narnia, there is magic of
different qualities and properties linked to different groups within
the kingdom. These distinctions and the intriguing way that magical
skills are expressed is a delight and the author has created a
wonderful fantasy world and adventure. Claire is a wonderful young
heroine - flawed and reticent, but her insights reveal a wonderful
strength and quality. Her friends, all with different magical
skills, are also intriguing.
This book can be recommended to those who love magical fantasy
stories, but it appears the series will continue and so it is
recommended that readers begin with the first book in the series.
Recommended for lovers of magical fantasy adventure, aged 10 +
Carolyn Hull
Memory craft by Lynne Kelly
Allen and Unwin, 2019. ISBN: 9781760633059.
(Age: Adult) The Melbourne author used knowledge gained from her PhD
research on memory to detail elaborate methods/structures for
memorising large quantities of data eg whole dictionaries!
The book also contends that these methods eg memory palaces were
used throughout history. Before the written word, most cultures used
visual mapping, stories, dance, songs, etc to 'store' and pass on
culture. In medieval times, visual alphabets and illustrated
bestiaries were used as memory aides.
The author argues that while repetition (so knowledge is stored in
long term memory) is an important element of memory recall, it is
not enough. Attaching the knowledge/data to 'memory spaces' is also
necessary. This is evident in the world of memory competitions
detailed in another chapter where competitors use the techniques
detailed in the book.
The section detailing how the author learnt French and Chinese would
be very useful for language teachers. Chapter 12 deals with
utilising memory techniques in education with a great example on the
periodic table.
As a research project topic, it would be interesting to trial one of
the methods used.
On a simplistic level, I successfully used elements to remember
various names and terms I have had difficulty with.
In our digital age, it could be argued that memorising and recall of
knowledge is unnecessary, but Ms Kelly argues that the brain
strengthens connections while memorising - it is a muscle that needs
exercise like all other muscles. In relation to education, the
author views memorisation as a way to enhance what we already do in
education'.
While extremely interesting, I found that a high level of
concentration was required for some sections of the beautifully
illustrated book. I was not tempted to try to memorise eg all of
Australian or world history using one of the memory palace
techniques - it seemed too complicated.
This book is more suitable for teachers and general interest rather
than for students.
Ann Griffin
Boot: small robot big adventure by Shane Hegarty
Illus. by Ben Mantle. Lothian, 2019. ISBN: 9781444949360.
(Age: 8-12) Highly recommended. Boot: small robot big adventure
by Shane Hegerty is such a wonderful book which will be enjoyed by
anyone who loved the movie and character Wall-e. The story begins
with Boot, who wakes up in a scrap yard with only 2 and a half
memories. He knows he must get back to Beth, his owner, as he also
has an undeniable feeling that he is important to her.
This funny story follows a familiar path of the character being
lost, going on a journey/adventure with newfound friends and
finishes with them finding their way. Boot: small robot big
adventure does all of that but with the added element of him
working through new, human like emotions that are not usually
associated with robots. I really like this aspect as readers can be
absorbing the story and without even knowing it, be learning about a
variety of emotions and to not be worried or afraid of them.
Another interesting element of the book is the notion of the
'changing world'. What Boot does remember of life before he ended up
in the scrap yard has changed and things are now very different.
Life is not simple anymore. It is easy to link this component to the
current state of our world and how technology is more prevalent than
ever.
The illustrations throughout the story are by Ben Mantle, who
manages to bring life and emotion to Boot, and enhance the story in
a way which will entice the younger reader and also add additional
meaning to the older reader.
This story would be excellent for readers aged 8 to 12 as it
includes themes that are all relevant to their world: new emotions,
inclusion, social media and the futuristic new world. They will love
Boot and his friends Noke and Red, and all of the funny tid-bits
throughout.
I give it 4.5 out of 5.
Lauren Fountain
The Lily in the Snow by Jackie French
Miss Lily book 3. HarperCollins Australia, 2019. ISBN:
9781460753842. 400pgs paperback.
(Age: Teens +) Recommended. Blackmail, deceit, secrets and the
stigma of society is what you find in the third instalment of the
wartime series Miss Lily by one of Australia's most talented
authors, Jackie French. This was my first attempt at a Jackie French
novel and it did not disappoint.
Jackie's writing is wonderful and easy to read. She always keeps you
wanting to know what will happen next.
Based in the late 1920s your journey through the pages takes you
from Shillings, England to Germany and onto Australia.
Sophie Higgs lives in a quiet life as the Countess of Shillings. She
has left her past behind until Hannelore a former lady of Miss
Lily's orders Sophie to travel to Germany and meet a rising European
figure, who happens to be Hitler, in order to report back to the
Prince of Wales. This was the time that Hitler was coming into power
and not much was known about him.
What hooked me into the story was the little girl at the start that
wanted to find her mother and kill her. Who and why she had to do
this, is what kept me going. The Lily in the Snow is a historical thriller full of
espionage with strong female characters and secrets. It explores the
strengths of friendships and the changing face of women in Europe.
Yes, I did enjoy reading The Lily and the Snow and will go
back to read the first two novels.
Maria Komninos
Lights out, Leonard by Josh Pyke
Illus. by Chris Nixon. Puffin, 2019. ISBN: 9780143793489.
(Age: 4+) Highly recommended. Themes: Bedtime, Sleep, Fears,
Families, Humour. Bedtime is a little fraught when Leonard, dressed
in his wonderful pyjamas, refuses to have the lights turned off. He
is not scared of the dark, he insists, but of the monsters that lurk
there. A hairy scary, twelve legged, three headed creature with
eight arms prompts him to ask his mother to leave the lights on. She
gives him five minutes but the next time, dad comes to the bedroom
door. This time a five nosed, seven tailed and eleven handed monster
lurks, so dad gives him five minutes and goes to the kitchen to make
a cup of tea.
Adult readers and children alike will instantly recognise the theme,
that of finding it difficult to go to bed: either fear of the dark,
fear of something hiding under the bed, or of a range of monsters
waiting for the light to go out, are all very familiar to readers
and listeners alike who will know Leonard and his parents' actions
are common in many families. Each time his parents try to get him to
bed, Leonard baulks, and a familiar cry rings out.
His parents, exhausted, give in and leave the light on in his room
for the next few nights. but one day Leonard finds a new book on his
bed, entitled, How to Frighten monsters.
Children will laugh out loud at the markers the author gives for
scaring away monsters; from a minty breath to a tidy room, having
bears on the bed, soft music and parental kisses, all instantly
recognisable as things a child does before bedtime, underlining the
routines a child has in the evening.
This lovely book, full of the demands and patience involved with
family life, will resonate with all who open its pages, seeing
within the illustrations the fear a child holds in the dark, and the
frustration of the parents as they try to help their son overcome
his fears.
The twist with the book is most endearing, summoning laughs from the
audience as they see what mum and dad are aiming to do with their
little book.
The sumptuous illustrations, done in the colours of the night: blue,
black, grey, orange and white, show an arrangement of monsters
lurking through keyholes, under the bed, near the wardrobe, using
shapes and spaces to create what Leonard imagines he sees in the
dark. Many of the delicious shapes crawling and slithering across
the pages end with the most ravenous of teeth, again making readers
laugh out loud at the preposterous images that scare Leonard,
knowing full well that they see monsters as well.
This is a masterful book, beautifully told, with a wonderful twist
when the parents create a how to get Leonard to bed book, using all
the tools at their disposal to enable this will happen. And check
out the font and use of white space, and the shadows and streams of
light from the overhead light bulb, sky light and the moon.
Lots to talk about with kids: going to bed, routines, monsters and
scary things, overcoming fear as well as illustrative techniques
used in picture books to exceptional advantage. Teacher's
notes are available.
Fran Knight
When Billy was a dog by Kirsty Murray
Illus. by Karen Blair. Allen and Unwin, 2019. ISBN: 9781760631826.
(Age: 4+) Highly recommended. Themes: Dogs, Responsibility,
Perseverance, Family, Birth. Billy would love to have a dog. He
visits Mrs Banerjee next door to play with her dog, Fluff, but when
he raises the issue with Mum and Dad, he receives a flat no. No
amount of promising to walk the dog, and clean up its mess, to wash
it and care for it changes their minds, so he hits on an idea. He
becomes the dog he wants.
Children will laugh out loud at Billy as he takes on all the
attributes of a dog, walking around on all fours, barking when
responding to questions, eating his food from a bowl on the floor,
sniffing the fences and almost relieving himself on the fence post.
I can imagine lots of classes practising these skills for themselves
as they read and listen to the story of Billy and his wanting a dog.
As time passes, he crawls into Fluff's bed with her but Mrs Banerjee
sends him home as Fluff needs her basket for herself. When Billy
returns the next day he finds that Fluff has produced three
beautiful pups which Mrs Banerjee invites Billy to name. Readers
will watch as each of the three pups grows older and one by one goes
to another home. Sadly Billy watches them go.
Readers will learn a lot from this lovely tale: the attributes and
behaviours of dogs will have them thinking about how a dog should be
treated, and how a dog will need to cared for in the home. They will
understand the emotional side of having a dog, seeing Billy so
desperate for an animal that he pretends he is one, and seeing his
loving relationship with Fluff next door.
The delightful water colour illustrations reveal a keen eye; the
behaviours of all the characters in the book, both animal and human
are drawn with absolute surety, depicted from close observation and
love. No reader will escape being pulled into the story; sympathetic
with Billy's aim, knowing full well the reasons behind the parent's
refusal, and the warmth from the house next door with the three new
puppies. Scroll down the publisher's page for teacher's
tips.
Fran Knight
When the ground is hard by Malla Nunn
Allen & Unwin, 2019. ISBN: 9781760524814
(Age: 14+) Highly recommended. Adele lives in the coloured
neighbourhood in Swaziland, but she has nice clothes and toys and
goes to an expensive boarding school because she has a white father
who pays for it all. She sees him sometimes, but only when he can
get the time away from his other family in South Africa. Adele has
always been in with the rich girls at the school, the 'pretties',
but this term she has a shock, she has been dropped by Delia, the
most popular girl, and replaced by Sandi, the new girl with very
wealthy parents. Not only that, she has been ejected from her usual
share-room with the top-shelf girls, and now has to share with
Lottie who is a charity student and comes from the native village.
Nunn describes the hierarchy of the boarding school, the trading of
special food to win friends, the training of junior girls as 'pets'
to wait on the top-shelf girls, and the malicious gossip and
put-downs designed to keep people in their places. Adele has always
been a part of that. But now she finds herself sharing with someone
who doesn't play the game - Lottie has built a wall between herself
and that world. She is strong and tough, and she fights back. She
has her own mind. Gradually Adele finds herself being challenged by
Lottie's ideas and the way she says what she thinks.
One of the ways that Adele and Lottie bond is through their shared
love of books, in particular the story of Jane Eyre, a
heroine they can identify with - Jane is poor and is sent to a
boarding school that's even worse than theirs, she has to find a job
to break free, and find her own way in life. Both Adele and Lottie
know that they have to do the same.
The story is one of finding one's own personal integrity and inner
strength. Adele has to rise above her fears. In the midst of
threatening situations she has to find her own courage and finally
learn the meaning of the African proverb 'when the ground is hard,
the women dance'.
Despite their vastly different settings and time periods, When
the ground is hard would make an interesting comparative study
with Jane Eyre, exploring the themes of class divisions,
male power and female independence, friendship and true love.
Helen Eddy
Where Dani goes, happy follows by Rose Lagercrantz and Eva Eriksson
My happy life series. Gecko Press, 2019. ISBN: 9781776572267.
(Age 5+) Extremely highly recommended. Themes: Family, Grief,
Depression, Friendship, Grandparents, Happiness. The Dani stories
are delightful in their simplicity. This is the sixth book written
about Dani and although they are best read in order of publication,
each title is beautiful as a stand-alone novel.
In this book, Dani's father is again sad over the death of her
mother and decides to leave Dani with her grandparents and head back
to Rome to see his parents and family. Dani is not happy about this
situation but as always tries to make the best of it. While playing
in the snow she realizes that it is her best friend's birthday and
she asks to go to see her. This means travelling on the train on her
own which leads to new adventures and discoveries.
The Dani stories are gentle discussions on childhood experiences and
life in general. The author does not shy away from adult themes such
as a relationship breakdown but includes these in terms that
children can understand, without being patronising or sugar coating
them.
The Dani books are fantastic for young readers who are independent
but are just as fantastic as read aloud stories for the classroom.
These books would be fantastic to generate conversations about
safety, feelings, friendship and family dynamics. Where Dani goes, happy follows is a fantastic novel and is
bound to become a favourite of any reader.
Mhairi Alcorn
Highway bodies by Alison Evans
Echo Publishing, 2019. ISBN: 9781760685027. 366 pages, paperback.
(Age: 14+) What you will find in Alison Evans' second novel is a
book full of friendships, love, acceptance, genderqueer teens, oh
did I forget to mention zombies, there are lots of zombies, yep,
lots of them.
The novel centres on three groups of adolescents that come from the
outskirts of Melbourne and travel through the Victorian country
side. Each chapter is seen through the eyes of three characters who
are genderqueer and the adventures they have in their groups. The
groups are: *A trans girl who is attracted to girls who befriends a
girl. Both do not have a name. *Dee (a bisexual girl), Poppy, Jack
and Zufan who belong in a band. *Jojo (non-binary and bisexual) and
Rhea, who are twins. Hope all the LGBTQI notes haven't confused you
because it does confuse me but I'm getting better.
Anyway, I did enjoy this book and it reminded me of the different
zombie T.V. series out there like The walking dead and Z
Nation. It was an easy read, once you got pass the fact that
there aren't any letters being dropped or strange sentence
structures you find with the trans girl narrative. I thought I was
misreading the text at first. It's the way she talks like so any of
my students. Highwway bodies is a book full of gore and violence and also
full of love and protectiveness of family, born and bred.
I can see teenagers and YA fans enjoying Highway bodies.
Maria Komninos
Duck duck moose by Lucinda Gifford
Allen and Unwin, 2019. ISBN: 9781760634704.
(Age: 3+) Games, Animals, Repetition. Paralleling the game, 'Duck
duck goose', this picture book for younger readers will have them
all joining in as they read, singing along with the simple text,
predicting what comes next as they follow the antics of the three
main animals shown.
The game, 'Duck duck goose' has children sitting in a circle with
one child outside the circle. That child goes around the circle,
crying out 'duck, duck', until a hand is placed on another's
shoulder with the words 'goose'. The person so nominated then chases
the other person, changing places to do the same thing. In this take
on the old game, the chorus is 'duck duck moose', with a moose and a
pair of ducks eyeing each other off over the snow. Moose would very
much like to be acquainted with the two ducks, but all they do is
run off as he approaches.
The eyes and size of font gives clues to the readers about what each
animal is feeling. The wide eyed ducks taking fright as the moose
approaches, and their warning of moose is writ large.
The playful font reflects the state of the animals as the moose
tries to befriend the ducks, the ducks run away and the newly
arrived goose remains to be more acquainted with the moose. The
playfulness is reflected in the illustrations, styled to look like
children's drawings, with easily understood, clear text.
Within the pages a catalogue of the moose's attempts at friendship
is given, eyeing them across the snow, coming up closer in the pond,
coming across the snow, with the ducks being standoffish, haughty
and scared in turn. But not so the goose, and the story ends with
the ducks alone watching the friendship between the goose and the
moose blossom.
A clear lesson for all those meeting new people and developing
friendships, this will be the basis for many discussions with
younger readers. Teacher's
tips are available.
Fran Knight
Pirate boy of Sydney Town by Jackie French
HarperCollins, 2019. ISBN: 9781460754795.
(Age: 12-14) Recommended. Themes: Friendship, loyalty, pirates.
Author and historian Jackie French brings another chapter of
Australia's past to life with a tale of privateers and pirates,
smugglers and seafaring. Pirate Boy of Sydney Town is set in
the early nineteenth century, a riches to rags story, told through
the eyes of young Ben Huntsmore.
Ben lives with his wealthy family on his mother's farming estate in
England. He loves his life, helping with the harvest and plans his
future here. Due to his ship-owner father's excessive gambling the
estate is lost, and their lives are turned upside down. A life in
the new colonies seems advantageous but their voyage to Australia is
marred by the death of his mother who succumbs to fever. Ben's
compassion for the convicts imprisoned below decks is at odds with
his father's views. On arrival in Sydney Town life is strange and
confronting, with soldiers and convicts, food and lifestyle. Ben
forms a friendship with Sally Appleby a convict's daughter who lives
on a farm.
Ben's father plans to sail to Western Australia and capture Dutch
trading ships off the coast. Aboard his father's ship The Golden
Girl, Ben proves his worth as lookout in the crow's nest.
After a fierce battle with the Dutch ship, the crew mutinies and
Ben, his convict friend Higgins and Guwara a young indigenous man
escape in a long boat. They hide on the land, as Higgins' leg wound
heals. Guwara teaches Ben how to hunt, search for fresh water and
survive in the harsh environment.
Their epic sea voyage follows the coastline across the Great
Australian Bight fighting the elements, sea, sun, thirst and near
starvation. They land at Kangaruh Island, named by Matthew Flinders.
Here the trio meet with Bucky Morris and his Indian (aboriginal)
women slaves. Ben is treated as a toff sleeping in the main hunt
while Higgins sleeps locked in a storeroom. Rest and recovery, good
food and fresh water, help revive the trio. Escape, sacrifice, loss,
loneliness and finally hope prevails as Ben sails single-handled
through the heads and into the harbour, his two friends lost along
the way.
French is a master storyteller, she weaves the realities of colonial
life, the hardships, and the treatment of indigenous peoples into
this fictional novel. She brings the landscape to life, and her
vivid prose, attention to detail, sensory atmospheres and realistic
portrayals of the main characters make Pirate Boy of Sydney Town
a powerful novel suited to readers from twelve years. What an
excellent resource for students researching Australia's colonial
history including Matthew Flinders' travels. Her insightful
Aboriginal perspectives shed a different light on commonly held
understandings. A teacher's
guide is available.
Rhyllis Bignell
Leonard doesn't dance by Frances Watts
Illus. by Judy Watson. HarperCollins, 2019. ISBN: 9780733333040.
(Age: 4-8) Highly recommended. Themes: Birds, Dancing,
Individuality, Friendship. From the creators of Goodnight,
Mice! comes this charming tale about friendship and
finding your own rhythm. Leonard likes to try anything, so when he
sees an invitation to come dancing at the big beaky bird ball he
approaches some of his bird friends to see if he can learn to dance.
He tries the warble-warble waltz with the magpies, the do-si-do with
the ducks and the caw-caw-can-can with the crows but he just can't
seem to get anything right. Dejected, he gives up and isolates
himself from his friends, refusing their invitations to dance. 'I'm
never going to dance again' he declares. At the ball, Leonard is
reaching for a cupcake when a line of ants begins to march all over
him; before long he is squirming and wriggling, shimmying and
twisting. 'Ants in his pants! It's a brand new dance!', someone
shouts. Before long all of the creatures are doing the ants in the
pants dance and Leonard is dancing his own dance.
The illustrations are perfection and this is a joy to read aloud.
Children will love the ending, especially as they will be familiar
with the phrase, and will have fun doing their own ants in the pants
dance. It is also a good way to initiate a discussion about how it
feels when you are not good at something you enjoy doing and how you
just want to hide away. In addition, it highlights many positive
friendship traits (inviting others to join you, being encouraging
rather than critical and not leaving anyone behind).
Nicole Nelson
The missing of Clairdelune by Christelle Dabos
Text, 2019. 511 pages, paperback. ISBN: 9781925773668.
(Age: 12+) Recommended. Themes: YA, Fantasy, Mystery.I have always
been of the opinion that sequels never live up to, nor surpass,
their predecessors. This novel proved me exceptionally wrong, as it
arguably surpasses the first novel in the series. The Missing of
Clairdelune continues from where Dabos left off in A
Winter's Promise; Ophelia far away from the ark of Anima in
Citaceleste, where enemies are frequently made, and the torrential
undercurrent of politics threatens to sweep all away. Thorn, her
fiancee, remains cold and unreachable, even as tensions rise and his
family is torn apart. Ophelia finds herself vice-storyteller to the
ancestral spirit of Pole, Farouk; her powers known to all, she finds
herself amidst the nefarious plots that encapsulate Pole, and
eventually trying to expose the truth behind the mysterious
disappearances of influential courtiers.
Ophelia is the same engaging protagonist whose trials and moments of
learning move the story along. The strength of her characterisation
increased throughout the novel as she truly grows into her own and
understands her identity in relation to the people around her.
Dabos' spellbinding use of imagery continues to astound, invoking a
range of vivid emotions from joy to overwhelming fear.
While the story contains many subplots and at times feels cluttered
or confused, Dabos carefully explores each plot thoroughly while
never detracting from the main storyline. I enjoyed the continued
political discussion and the newly introduced themes of freedom and
autonomy, which were wonderfully explored through the characters
Thorn and Farouk. The inclusion of Farouk in such an intrinsic way
added a whole other dimension to the story, subtly compiling layer
upon layer to create a masterpiece. The reduced need to continue
worldbuilding made the pacing much steadier and the use of fragments
to break up the larger story was extremely effective. The
revelations from these fragments and the wonderfully unexpected plot
twists created such a compelling tale that I had to keep reading
until I finished the novel. The Missing of Clairdelune is an incredibly told story of
drama and magic which builds strongly upon the first book and sets
the stage for the next novel in the series.
Stephanie Lam
