Wow! The Ledge is a gripping thriller that kept me guessing right up to the end. When human remains are uncovered in a Victorian forest, old secrets are about to be unveiled. A group of three friends, now adults, begin to worry about what the police might uncover. In 1999 four teenagers had a tight friendship, vowing to be blood brothers. It was after 16-year-old Aaron had run away from home that his three best friends were pulled into his misery with terrible consequences.
The Ledge is told in a dual timeline narrative from the point of view of one of the friends in the present and in 1999 from the diary of Justin Smith, another friend. White seamlessly brings the past and present into play. Gradually the events of the past come alive and mesh with what is happening in the small town as the police investigate what had happened to the body that was lying at the bottom of the Ledge, deep in the forest. I found myself holding my breath trying to work out the sequence of events, what the friends were covering up and what the police were uncovering. And the final twist was breathtaking, and one that I didn’t see coming. To reveal more would spoil the suspense.
The Ledge was not easy to put down and will thrill readers who love psychological mysteries set in rural Australia.
Themes Psychological thriller, Murder, Country towns.
Three thieves decide to dig a tunnel to rob a bank. They go to a class where they learn about digging tunnels. But Thief 1 takes notes, Thief Two sleeps and Thief Three simply does not understand the lessons being taught. Undeterred they begin to dig. But they come out in the middle of a symphony orchestra, where Thief Three shows his ability with the violin. They dig again, this time turning up in a boxing ring, where their black belts come in very handy. So they dig again and again, hoping to strike the bank but coming up in the oddest of places, bypassing the likes of a dinosaur, The Titanic, the other side of the world, Japan, until Thief Three cries "Enough!".
He suggests to the others that finding a treasure may be a metaphor for something they already have in their hearts. The other two dismiss this as corny but, as they keep digging, come to realise that perhaps what he said is right and, as they are sick of digging, go home. At home they find many of the friends they have met along the way and share a meal with them, finding real treasure in the company of friends doing things together.
In this book, the three are taken on a journey, looking for treasure and realising that the real treasure is already there in their grasp. The real treasure is the friendships and connections people make and the coming together to maintain those friendships. Readers will understand that a metaphor is a word that stands for something else, as the word treasure and searching for treasure is a metaphor for friendship.
The text is augmented with wonderfull illustrations, full of life, humour and colour. The three thieves stare out at the readers, using only their eyes to show us what they are feeling, their striped t-shirts a signature on each page. Each page is different, intriguing the reader as they search for clues about the trio and their quest. At the end they find their treasure, a host of friends, dining with them at their table, friends they have met on their journey, which reprises the story for the reader.
Children will love the friends they meet along the way, and the various places they find themselves. Children will laugh out loud at the things they pass by in their dig, and find pleasure in the idea of making friends. And some will talk about the results of digs around the world, and what has resulted from these digs.
By the end of chapter one, readers will already be loving Eloise Byrne, the central character and narrator in Leanne Egan's first novel Lover Birds. Eloise is a natural and funny narrator. The reader is privy to Eloise's inner dialogue. She is an overtalkative, overthinking and not thinking enough, getting it all wrong and then kicking herself kind of girl. She is delightful and clumsy and full of raw and honest emotions and the reader cannot help but be on her side and anxious about what muddle she is going to get into next. And the muddles are usually social/emotional and big!
An interesting aside is that the author, Leanne Egan, grew up in Liverpool so there is a real authenticity and importance of setting in terms of the way setting talks into identity and classism. Egan writes into this space with great perceptiveness in the construction of the story of Eloise Byrne and her friends (Liverpool locals) and the unsettling arrival of Isobel Williams from London into their midst. Immediately conflict emerges between Isobel and Eloise. Egan presents an unflinching portrayal of the rawness and misreadings that go on with initial and unexpected attraction at sixth form age. This is a true coming of age novel. Eloise in all her clumsiness and in her capacity to be "insufferable" has great mentors in her mother and her teacher, Mrs Price. To keep her mind still and focused to achieve her academic levels, Mrs Price suggests that Isobel might be a good tutor for Eloise and that Isobel would benefit in some way from time spent with Eloise. Although both are initially resistant, they also are attracted to each other and the old enemies-to-lovers romance is begun.
This book is recommended for any neuro-divergent student as they may find themselves within the pages and in doing that find comfort and help. "When your brain works a little differently, you don't get much choice when it comes to letting yourself get distracted. You're working harder than any of your neurotypical classmates." says Mrs Price to Eloise. Eloise describes her mind as having... "389428201 tabs open and 17 of them playing on audio".
As Eloise and Isobel study and tour the sights of Liverpool together a growing but indecipherable, unknown attraction develops between them. There is an intensity in looks and touch and honest perplexity from Eloise as she wonders increasingly and especially in the LBGTQ+ section of a bookshop whether Isobel is preparing to come out and what the feelings that she herself is experiencing are. Later when considering "coming out" ..."I'm not coming out as gay, or bi,or whatever. I'm not in any rush to pin it down. I'm just coming out as...someone whose fallen for a girl".
Lover Birds is a warm and funny (sometimes laugh out loud) addition to a teen's suggested reading list of books on queer fiction and neurodiversity. It is particularly insightful on ADHD. Teenage girl friendships and first romance in all the varieties that present in a High School is skilfully and perceptively portrayed by Egan through the sassy and unflinchingly honest eyes of Eloise Byrne.
A charming tale of the position a pet holds within the family, Alfie the kind is a wonderful character, one that kids will admire and love as they read of his plight. He loves his family, joining Millie in her bed when it is cold, lying on the floor and rolling around to scratch his back, leaning out of the car window when they go on drives. When they get to the park, he loves chasing the squawking galahs, but when the magpies appear, he slinks away pretending that he has not seen them. He feels he is not brave. There are things at home he avoids as well: the vacuum, the wheelbarrow and the pool cause him to feel afraid. But one day when the lawn is being mowed, he notices a snake in the grass and barks at it alerting his dad to the danger, as well as making the snake go away. But still he does not feel brave. Readers by now will be identifying with the dog, knowing how he feels but encouraging him to feel better about himself.
And his next adventure does just that. The family is not worried that he feels less than brave. They all have fun with their lovely dog, and when Uncle Benny visits with his bouncy dog, Freddo. All goes well. The next day is Sunday and the family goes for a walk in the park. There were other families in the park, and Alfie noticed that one little boy had moved further away for his family and was crying. Alfie wanted to help, but it meant crossing the lake to get to the lad. He plunged in despite his fear of the water, and got himself over to the boy. The boy’s father thanked the family and said that Alfie must be a very kind dog.
At dinner that night, they all agreed that while Alfie may not be the bravest or the most clever of dogs, he is kind. And that is the best trait to have.
Simon Howe’s iilustrations show us a loving caring family, loving, caring for, playing with their dog Alfie. Love pervades each page as we see a family working together, the looks on their faces showing their closeness with each other and Alfie. I love the way Howe gets so many different feelings from the children and the dog, by showing different sized eyes or the placement of the eyebrows, or mouth, and especially Alfie’s tongue. The feeling of reaching out to pat Alfie’s head shows how realistic the animal has been drawn.
This lovely story is a longer read and kids will love sharing it with each other, as they envisage Alfie as their own dog, and work out what kindness looks like everyday.
Richard Harris OAM recently became Lieutenant Governor of South Australia.adding another accolade to his cave rescue in Thailand, his daytime job as an anaesthetist and children’s author.
Themes Dogs, Family, Bravery, Kindness.
Fran Knight
Chloe's Lunar New Year by Lily LaMotte and Michelle Lee
The Lunar New Year is in sight and in this charming picture book we are given a taste of what Chinese families do in their preparation for that event. First the house must be cleaned to rid the place of the old, making room for the new year filled with good luck. Old shoes must be thrown out along with clothes that are no longer used. Red lanterns are strung around the rooms, and plates of oranges put out for good luck. Auntie comes to make Goodluck fish and turnip cakes, always a popular New Year treat. More people arrive and make a hot pot, always enjoyed at New Year. As the family sits together for the New Year feast, all the things they have made come out. And during the evening some food is left at A-má’s shrine, to include a relative who has died.
A lovely story of inclusion at New Year, this story showcases a family and all the customs they follow at this important day. It is a story of coming together, of cooking together, of remembering special recipes only cooked once a year, of getting together to eat the special meal, and an inclusion of people who have died. I found this book fascinating in its breadth, each page has few words but these contain a wealth of information and the lovely illustrations reflect the warmth of home and family. Each page offers a different use of white space, and shows differing images to look at, ensuring the reader is engaged, and will think about what they are seeing.
A page at the end of the book gives more detail about the Lunar New Year, and the recipe for one of the dishes Chloe’s family enjoys: Fortune Cake.
Themes New Year, Customs, Family, Recipes.
Fran Knight
Nightsong by Sally Soweol Han
University of Queensland Press, 2023. ISBN: 9780702266188. (Age:4+) Highly recommended.
A beautiful homage to the sounds of the bush is presented by author illustrator, Sally Soweol Han. The image on the cover of a bus stopped on the highway, will make readers stop and think about why the bus is there, and what are the bubbles streaming into the night sky.
Lewis is bored in the city. The noises all around him are clashing clicking noises and the interminable conversation of his parents is just tedious. When that finishes it is time to go and leave the hustle and bustle of the city behind him.
In the bus its constant noise makes Lewis sleepy, but when it breaks down they must all alight from the bus. Here in the open, Lewis is aware of different sounds, and wanders off to see how many more he can hear. Sounds now are comforting, recognisable, endearing. He wanders over the fence, following the companionable noses in the night. Noise of the creatures roaming in the night sky, looking for insects, owls fly overhead with their distinctive cry, nighttime animals make small noises in the trees, even the creek makes music and soon they all combine to make a wonderful nightsong.
This is a delightful picture book guaranteed to bring smiles to the faces of the readers, as they too listen closely to the noises about them. Differentiating perhaps between man made sounds and those from natural occurrences, young readers will enjoy some time outside to listen and take in the daysong that they hear, contrasting with the nightsong that Lewis hears.
The illustrations are wonderful, using blacks and charcoal and white to give a realistic image of the night noises heard outside the bus.
I love the double page image of the huge tree, with insects all around, Lewis listening to the nightsong.
Children will enjoy the contrast between city and country life, and the image of Lewis walking across the field collecting noises, a marvellous contrast to the first few pages at odds with the city noises.
Chronicles of Whetherwhy: The Age of Enchantment is a warm and magical first book in what is going to be a series that captivates young readers. Reminiscent of a combination of Hogwarts and Narnia, the reader enters the world of the island of Whetherwhy..."You could sail or walk or fly for a year and a day and never find the land of Whetherwhy" explains the grandfather (narrator) in the prologue.
This tale is exciting, dangerous and warm-hearted all at the same time. The authorial choice made by British writer Anna James to create an armchair warmth from which to craft the ensuring tale keeps young readers experiencing the range of emotions: fear, hope, disbelief...from the safety of being a small grandchild at the feet of a lovely old grandfather in a "...burgundy cashmere jumper and corduroy trousers"..."in a velvet armchair whose arms have been worn to a shiny softness." To guide the plot, readers enter the world of grandfather and grandchildren being introduced to the tale in the "Prologue". As the reader (represented by the grandchildren who are being told the tale) becomes desperate, stressed and full of questions about what is going to happen there is an "Interlude." There is a calming interchange between grandfather and the children ..."Let's find out, the grandfather says, settling back into his chair and turning to the next chapter." In the "Epilogue", the grandfather closes the book saying, "That was the first Chronicle of Whetherwhy..." and he suggests that "perhaps" he could read a second chronicle...
Chronicles of Whetherwhy: The Age of Enchantment begins on the first day of spring when the magic of every thirteen-year-old in Whetherwhy is measured. All children have magic but not every child can be an Enchanter. A sense of combined old magic and history is created. Our central characters Rafferty and Juniper are twins. Juniper discovers that she is an Enchanter and has to leave her brother and family to study at Thistledown Academy of Enchantment. Juniper begins to take lessons learning how to control her magical power, Rafferty follows her to the capital city of Stormgrove to take up an apprenticeship as a book binder and dangerous magical forces rise up. There is a sense of approaching doom, of increasing disruption to the fine balance of the seasons. People are not who they seem to be. There is a sinister evil force emerging.
Anna James is the author of two fantasy adventure series for 7+readers. Pages and Co. is an internationally bestselling series of six books. Chronicles of Whetherwhy will be a four book fantasy series. Anna has been a book journalist, literary scout, host of literary events and panels, writer about theatre and most importantly - a school librarian. Readers of Chronicles of Whetherwhy will be in very safe hands. David Whyatt's whimsical and detailed illustrations perfectly complement this delightful tale.
Much more can be said about the literary value of Chronicles of Whetherwhy: The Age of Enchantment. The language is rich, the pace of the narrative is pitch perfect, the structure supports the narrative, the setting is magical and the characters (both good and evil) are well developed.
Chronicles of Whetherwhy: The Age of Enchantment is highly recommended for lovers of fantasy aged 7+.
Themes Magic, Enchantment, Loyalty, Family, Seasons and nature.
Wendy Jeffrey
Taronga big book of animals
Penguin Random House Australia, 2024. ISBN: 9781761347467. (Age:5+) Highly recommended.
Taronga Big Book of Animals is a beautifully presented large non-fiction book that will become a firm favourite in a home, school or public library. With bright, bold and colourful illustrations and over 200 fascinating facts, this treasure trove of fabulous information will engage and entertain readers whether read from beginning to end or as interest dictates.
The contents page is set out under habitat headings of rainforests, rivers and lakes, deserts, grasslands, oceans and coastlines, mountains, forests and scrubland, polar regions. There are over 100 animal facts discussed in each habitat and include details such as binturongs smell like buttered popcorn, scorpions do not lay eggs but give birth to live young, marine turtle nests will produce only female babies if the sand is warm, dunnart babies are smaller than grains of rice, wombats can run as fast as humans. Each double page spread is strikingly designed with full colour backgrounds, large animal illustrations and the highly accessible text is thoughtfully spaced out with clear headings and large font. Also included are maps, Did you know? sections, and most importantly a Taronga’s Actions For The Wild report where applicable. In the final pages is further information about the artists and designer as well as a comprehensive glossary and index.
Sales from this striking book will go towards supporting Taronga Conservation Society Australia. It would make a wonderful Christmas or birthday gift for children of all ages. I cannot recommend Taronga Big Book of Animals highly enough.
Have you seen my egg? by Penny Olsen. Illus. by Rhonda N. Garward
10th Anniversary edition. National Library of Australia, 2023. ISBN: 9781922507501. (Age:4+) Highly recommended.
This tenth anniversary edition is a most welcome book to present to young readers. Lifting the flap will intrigue and delight as the children read about an emu looking for his lost egg. Eddy asks many other animals, and we check out their offspring as he searches. He is puzzled. He asks the magpies, and they show him their eggs, small and spotty; the echidna’s egg is very different, while the lizard’s eggs are tiny compared to the emu eggs. Eddy goes on to talk to the frog with its small, black and white eggs, the spider with its eggs in a silk bag, the snail’s eggs are tiny and transparent, and the crocodile's eggs may be large like the emu eggs, but are white. Eddy goes on to talk to the shark, a turtle, penguins, a hen, and as children lift the flaps they see what these eggs reveal as they crack. Eddy goes back to his nest to find if any of his eggs have hatched and one has.
This is a lovely introduction to babies and offspring. Each of the animals is presented in its environment, informing the child not only about the animal and its eggs, but also where it lives. I found it wholly engrossing, and I loved the image on each page of Eddy searching for his lost egg.
The illustrations detail each animals and its eggs, encouraging the reader to be curious and questioning about the animal and its environment. The lizard for example, lives in an area more akin to a desert, with its rocks and wild flowers, whereas the turtle lives on a beach, sandy and soft, allowing it to dig a hole for its huge number of eggs. Readers will love pointing out the differences.
Each page provokes questions and promotes interest, and a need to discuss what they see and why the environment is important to that animal. And of course, this learning is all tailored with the quest of Eddy looking for his egg and children will give their attention to the reasons his eggs are different from those he comes across.
Four pages at the end of the book give more information about the animals shown in the book.
The book is a wonderful addition to books deemed as supporting STEM, giving amazing information about a group of animals, their reproduction and environments, and enthusing readers to carefully seek out eggs in their backyards.
Themes Reproduction, Eggs, Australian animals, Environment.
A visually stunning look at some of the creatures that inhabit the dark reaches of the ocean willencourage younger readers to think outside the square, seeing animals that live all their lives in a world without light as we know it.
When the narrator goes into the deep dark ocean she comes across a pair of eyes, Fergus, and asks what sort of creature he is. He scuttles off when a light appears, and the narrator sees an approaching anglerfish, the light on her head a lure for other fish to come by and be eaten. When she leaves, Fergus reappears but swims quickly away when a spook fish appears. This one has a different light around its eyes, ready for any passing interested food. When Fergus reappears heis startled to see two vampire squid, and he disappears again. All the while the narrator's asking what sort of creature Fergus is and the last page shows us all.
A funny, involving look at some of the life which can be found deep down in the oceans, readers will love the information about these nasty creatures, and laugh out loud at the last page where a surprise is in store.
Through the encounter with the fish, anglerfish, spook fish and vampire squid and Fergus, the reader is given snippets of information about how animals survive at such depths. We also learn about what they feed on and why some have lights and others don’t.
The stunning illustrations set against black, reinforce the feeling of being in the depths of the ocean where some fish can see a little. A double page at the end of the book gives more information about this array of fish and the scientists who go down to look at them. And do check out the talking seagulls in the endpapers.
Themes Non fiction, Picture book, STEM, Oceans, Fish.
The third in the DS Walker series following Outback and Paradise has Walker showing his sister Grace outback Australia. His cousin Blair has been prospecting for opal in Kanpara, and wants to get out of town so Walker and Grace go to bring him home. But Kanpara is in the Channel Country and a major floods locks them into the town. When two bodies are found, Walker finds himself investigating the brutal murders. His cousin is on the list of suspects. Can he prove Blair's innocence while keeping Grace safe? There had been a rumour of a large opal being found. Was this a motive for the murders?
The descriptions of an opal mining town, the Channel Country and the flood bring the Australian outback to life for the reader, who will learn about life in a country town as well as opal mining. Walker is an engaging character and his investigative powers will entrall lovers of mysteries as he unravels the reasons for the murders.
Fans of Wolf's previous books are sure to enjoy Opal, which is a quick, easy read.
A wonderful lift the flap book about Spot baking a cake will enthuse many readers not only to follow the funny story, but to be so excited with the story that they will seek out someone to cook with them.
Mum tells Spot that Friday is Dad’s birthday. They check the calendar, and then take a trip to the supermarket to buy the necessary ingredients. Spot is very excited, so much so that he makes a huge mess, one that must be cleaned up afterwards. Each stage of baking the cake is shown, from the idea to a list, to buying ingredients, to making the cake, popping it into the oven and finally taking it out, making icing and decorating the cake, finally having a birthday party for Dad with the cake as the main focus. The procedure of baking a cake is all there, along with some funny illustrations showing Spot and his Mum cooking together. This family centred book, resonating with warmth and companionship on each page, will involve younger readers as they follow the stages that Spot takes, from the idea to the party. On each page a lift-the-flap reveals a part of the story, and engage children with the story and the activity of baking a cake.
A wonderful addition to the array of lift-the-flap Spot books.
Dear Santa: I don’t need socks by Consuelo Fernandez Ortiz
Five Mile Press, 2023. ISBN: 9781922943477. (Age:3+) Highly recommended.
A wonderfully funny look at Christmas from two perspectives as Koala and his cousin, Olavi in Finland exchange Christmas cards. From there, every page shows how each will celebrate Christmas.
Koala tells us that he lives in a gumtree near Mallacoota, while Olavi lives in Lapland, a cold place of ice and snow.
In Australia Christmas can be spent in your bathers, but in Lapland, you had better rug up. As each page goes by new information is given about the Christmas celebrations in these two very different places. In Australia, Christmas is in summer, but in Lapland it is in mid winter. Other people may tuck into Christmas pudding and gingerbread men but Koala loves his gum leaves, even sharing his recipe for Christmas gum stew.
It is easy for Olavi to write to Santa, as he lives nearby. Koala’s letter asks that he does not leaves socks any more, because he has a collection and they are too warm to wear in Australia. In the north, gnomes help Santa with all the presents, but in Australia, the wombats lend a hand but they are not the best at wrapping presents.
The 24 hour darkness means that Olavi needs a clock to wake up on Christmas Day, whereas Koala wakes with the dawn.
Opening the presents they find that Olavi has been given the flip flops (thongs) and Koala the socks. So they make a decision to visit each other and swap their presents. This lovely book introduces Christmas to young readers, telling them that although people are separated by many miles, they celebrate in the same day with some differencse. Kids will love spotting the differences and wondering how people in another climate cope with Christmas in such a different climate. The illustrations are just wonderful, and young readers will love taking in the detail, laughing at the humour in each page and see how each little animal is coping with the lead up to Christmas.
I particularly love the front cover with the koala writing his letter to Santa by the light from the fireflies, and the headgear of Olavi and the wonderful end papers, with the lines of beautiful knitted socks. Lots of detail beckons the eyes to look further at each page, giving lots to discuss with the audience: a clothesline, the lift on koala’s gum tree, the lovely thin Father Christmas and his team of gnomes and the image of the two getting their mismatched presents.
This lovely different look at Christmas is sure to please.
Themes Christmas, Koalas, Humour, Celebrations.
Fran Knight
Where is the green sheep? by Mem Fox and Judy Horacek
A beautifully presented gold edition of Mem Fox’s and Judy Horacek’s playful story heralds the twentieth anniversary of this book being in children’s hands. For those libraries where the ragged copies on the shelves have been loved to near exhaustion, or parents who recall their thrill at reading this book some years before and just about everyone else between, this new edition will be well received.
Here is the blue sheep And here is the red sheep Here is the bath sheep And here is the bed sheep But where is the green sheep?
Each five lines shows four different sheep and the expanded stanza ends with the refrain ‘But where is the green sheep?' prompting children to read along with the reader. They will predict words that rhyme, interact with the sheep and follow the question of where this pesky green sheep has got to.
In each line can be found descriptive words within our children’s sight: up and down, red and blue, bed and bath, rain and sun. The rhythm of each line is mesmerising, and children will love hunting for the green sheep
Horacek’s lively illustrations are hilarious, showing all sorts of sheep on the spindliest of legs doing an array of things that will evoke lots of loud laughter, a predictable response from any audience engaged with this book. Who has ever seen a sheep juggling, or a sheep in bed, or a trio of sheep holding hands? Well just open this lovely book to laugh along with the creators of this story and try to find the green sheep.
A happy, joyous book to tickle the funny bone of children and adults alike, as they read the wonderfully concise and precise words, teamed with bright engaging illustrations showing a range of dotty looking sheep doing the most of unexpected of activities.
Sophy Stanton-Lacy is a charming and strong willed young woman and when her father Sir Horace leaves her with her aunt before setting out for South America, she finds that things are not all fine in that ohusehold. Her cousins are facing difficulties - her cousin Cecilia is in love with a poet but is supposed to marry a lord who has contracted measles; Hubert is in deep trouble with debts; Charles the older son has turned into a domestic tyrant while managing the family's finances, because his father has been reckless with his fortune. Charles is also engaged to be married to an unpleasant bluestocking, who is not popular with the rest of his family. Sophy being an intrepid manager, is determined to improve the life of her cousins.
Heyer's novels always sparkle with wit and humour, and The Grand Sophy is no exception. Sophie is feisty and confident that she is right, and the devious plans that she puts into place to save her cousins are delightful. Who could resist a monkey let loose on the household, a shooting contest in the drawing room, highly strung horses and reckless riding?
The Regency period is vividly brought to life with excellent characterisation and world building and will appeal to readers who like witty and well written romances. A favourite among many well loved Georgette Heyer Regency romances, The Grand Sophy is one I return to when I need a feel good, escapist book. Fans of the Bridgerton series may also enjoy the humour and romance.
