Hooray! It's our first day by Martha Mumford. Illus. by Cherie Zamazing
Bloomsbury, 2024. ISBN: 9781526660435.
It's the first day of school and the bunnies are rushing around getting themselves ready.
We're going to a new school. Come and join the fun!
But first, there are things to find and friends to say hello to on their way and they need the help of our youngest readers to find them.
As with its predecessors, this is another charming book in this series that allows our youngest readers to not only engage with familiar characters doing familiar things, but encourages them to interact with the text through repetitive phrases and predictable rhyme and the illustrations as they lift-the-flaps to help the bunnies find their things.
And even though the bunnies' new school might be a little different from that to which they are going, nevertheless the fun and excitement are the same and catching!
A peek inside...
Themes Rabbits, First day of school.
Barbara Braxton
A feather so black by Lyra Selene
Hachette, 2024. ISBN: 9780356522364. (Age:Adult)
When the wicked Fair Folk waged war on the humans of Fodla they stole away twelve girls and left a changeling in the place of one, the princess Eala. Eventually the high queen bestows her love on the changeling girl, Fia, and calls her daughter, but her purpose in life is to retrieve the stolen princess, the true daughter, from the fairy world where she is imprisoned. Fia is a thing of wild forests, twining vines, thistles and brambles, a mix of human and fae folk. She trains hard as a fighter, but has yet to test the potential of her untried magical powers.
Selene’s novel seems to have a kind of medieval setting and is full of bewitching descriptions of wild plants and forest growths. The language is frequently interspersed with Gaelic words, all conjuring a world of magic and mythology. The story is reminiscent of the Twelve Dancing Princesses, Swan Lake, and other fairy tales. Although it fits the basic structure of a quest, it also has themes of discovering one’s identity, self-empowerment and acceptance. For all her life, Fia has been called many things: Changeling, A stor (my treasure), Little witch, Colleen (girl) or Chiardhubh (dark-haired), it is only when someone finally calls for her as Fia that she feels truly known.
The novel starts well, setting the scene. Fia’s heart is torn, as she desperately loves Rogan, her companion on the quest, and the intended husband for Eala. There is much banter between them with innuendos that perhaps he desires her too. But in a twist as they enter the fairy world Fia finds herself drawn to the dark-hearted lord Irian, holder of the Sky Sword that could free them all.
I found it quite jarring how the object of Fia’s love/lust switches so quickly between Rogan and Irian. And I found myself suspecting that the sizzling sex scenes are the real focus of the story and the rest is pretty decoration without a lot to sustain the middle chapters of the book. In the end it reads like soft porn. I think it is what’s been termed ‘romantasy’ and is written for lovers of that genre.
Abbie Allen Publishing, 2023. ISBN: 9780645713909. (Age:14+) Recommended.
Lovers of cosy mysteries and readers who enjoy spending time in rural landscapes are likely to enjoy The ghost of Lilly Pilly Creek. Set in a small town in the Adelaide Hills, it follows the path of Jones, a journalist in Adelaide, who returns to her hometown after the tragic death of her sister, Autumn. She is astounded when Autumn’s ghost appears to her and they join to not only reopen The Memory Bank, a book and stationery store, but to investigate her death. Autumn’s memories are hazy and she is not sure what happened. Was her death an accident or murder? As secrets are uncovered, Jones finds herself in danger.
There is a lot to love in this book, a lovely setting, engaging characters, including a ghost, and a mystery to solve. The town and its people become very familiar to the reader. Jones is torn between her job as a journalist and her desire to keep The Memory Bank going with Autumn’s help. There is Hugo, who runs a wine bar, and Sybil who serves coffee and food from a van. The Memory Bank is almost a character, not only does it serve its function as a store, but the old vault boxes are used to lock up the residents’ memorabilia, keeping memories safe for future generations and withstanding possible bushfires.
The ghost of Lilly Pilly Creek is a quick easy read, so engaging that I at once picked up the next in the series, The Bride of Lilly Pilly Creek, and then read the two following, The Lights of Lilly Pilly Creek and The flames of Lilly Pilly Creek. South Australians will be drawn to the setting in the Adelaide Hills, with familiar towns and wines named, while lovers of the paranormal will enjoy the cosy mystery.
Kingfisher, the author of the Hugo Award winning Nettle and Bone, and other award nominated books like Wizard's guide to defensive baking and The Twisted ones has written a complex and unique take on the Goose Girl by the Brothers Grimm. Cordelia is a 14-year-old girl whose mother, Evangeline, is unusual. There are no doors in her house and as a punishment she is forced to be still and silent for hours on end. The only time Cordelia finds peace is when she is riding Falada, her mother’s white horse, to whom she confides all her feelings and secrets. Then one day her mother packs up their belongings and together they ride away from their home, following a suspicious murder in the nearby village. They finally arrive at the Squire’s house, a kind man that Cordelia’s mother is determined to marry. But Evangeline does not consider the fierce intelligence and determination of Hester, the Squire’s sister. Will Hester be able to combat the sorceress’ wicked magic? And what will happen to Cordelia, an unwilling victim of her mother’s evil?
It is Kingfisher’s melding of two disparate women that makes this a memorable story. Cordelia’s plight is described vividly in the first part of the book, leaving the reader to imagine that she may be able to stop her evil mother. But it is Hester, crippled with arthritis, who must work out ways of outwitting her and help Cordelia who sits terrified under her mother’s spell. With the help of a family friend Penelope, and her suitor Richard, Hester hosts a party hoping that she can expose Evangeline before it is too late. Danger follows, with the suspense building up to thrilling climax.
A sorceress comes to call is a compulsive read with overtones of a Regency style novel, coupled with engaging characters, witty repartee and a group of geese. It is likely to appeal to readers who enjoy unique retellings of fairy tales, and when they finish it, they might like to pick up The seventh bride, a retelling of Bluebeard and Thornhedge, a retelling of Sleeping Beauty.
Themes Witches, Magic, Mothers, Fairy tale retelling.
Pat Pledger
Howzat Pat: Mission wildlife rescue by Pat Cummins and Dave Hartley. Illus. by Serena Geddes
HarperCollins, 2024. ISBN: 9781460764695. (Age:8+ (but perfect for any independent reader)) Highly recommended.
In the second book of the latest Pat Cummings series, Pat and his mates discover an area of pristine bushland that has been bulldozed. This is particularly upsetting for Beth as this is an area that holds cultural significance to her family and the local Indigenous community. The three friends work together trying to stop the destruction of both the now bulldozed area and the area surrounding it but life gets in the way and when an accident sidelines one of them they need to engage their teammates to ensure that the animals and the trees are protected.
After some investigation, which reveals the mayor’s involvement, the trio plan a daring wildlife rescue!
Mission Wildlife Rescue is written in the same way as the first book in the series, making it a great read. The story is so engaging that it really is one that readers will want to read in one go. The easy-to-follow text, brilliant illustrations and the reflection of an Australian childhood all combine to make this a series that will be immensely popular with young readers.
Pat and his friends are relatable and written realistically, they all have their faults, but these are worked through and make each character more likeable. The series is one that is going to be popular with all readers as there is something for everyone, from the sporty to the environmentally conscious as it is a great read for all ages. Teachers and parents will enjoy reading this to their children and children will enjoy reading it independently and talking about it with their friends. The environmental links in this book make is one that should be on every shelf.
I am really looking forward to the next book in the series.
Allen & Unwin, 2024. ISBN: 9781761470349. (Age:Adult) Recommended.
Louise Milligan is an award-winning writer and journalist who has brought her expertise and writing skills to produce a searing novel tracing what happens to a young woman who humiliates the wrong man, The Guy, on a girls’ night out. Kate Delaney is that woman, finding herself living a nightmare, grabbed by The Guy, brutalised, bound and gagged and hauled into the boot of his car. She has no idea of what will happen to her and tries to keep herself sane by imagining the good times especially with her boyfriend Liam. Meanwhile, the police initially concentrate on Liam as an obvious suspect and it is up to him and Kate’s close friend to try and follow the clues along the Hume Highway in a desperate attempt to rescue Kate.
Milligan’s cleverly crafted story makes it easy to imagine Kate’s terror; as a journalist she has in-depth knowledge of what happens to missing women. Milligan also vividly describes the fears that Liam and close friends and family have for Kate and the background story of the trauma that police go through when they cannot locate missing persons or find suicide victims gives depth to the story.
I found Pheasants Nest difficult to read because of the dark reality of the violence that women face. However, I was forced to return to it after several breaks to find out Kate’s fate. It is a memorable, suspenseful book. The publisher has provided a set of reading notes that give a focus for in-depth discussion.
Themes Journalists, Kidnapping, Missing persons, Violence against women, Police.
I picked up The Crimson Moth (also published as Heartless Hunter) as it was a nominee for the Goodreads Choice Award Readers of Young Adult Fantasy (2024) and found myself quickly immersed in the story of Rune and Gideon. Rune is the Crimson Moth, a young witch posing as a mindless socialite, because witches are purged after a devastating revolution. Gideon is a witch hunter, dedicated to eradicating all witches and their supporters, and is determined to find the Crimson Moth, who repeatedly releases witches that he has captured. When Seraphine, a witch that Rune’s grandmother told her to find, is captured, Rune sets out on a dangerous path, targeting Gideon as the most likely person toknow where she is imprisoned. Meanwhile Gideon suspects that Rune is the Crimson Moth and decides to court her. Sparks fly!
Ciccarelli combines thrilling suspense with an enemies to lovers romance. Ably supported by Alex, Gideon’s music loving brother, Rune and her best friend Verity search for ways to find and release imprisoned witches, aware all the time that they could be caught and purged. Readers will be forced to continue reading long into the night to find out whether Rune can escape the traps that Gideon sets for the Crimson Moth, while battling her growing feelings for him. Meanwhile Alex her best friend, begins to show that he is in love with her and she is uncertain about her relations with the two brothers.
The Crimson Moth will tick a lot of boxes for young adult readers. There is magic and suspense, blood and violence, a love triangle and a shocking twist and cliff-hanger at its conclusion. They are likely to wait impatiently for Rebel Witch, the next in the duology. Meanwhile, Defy the night by Brigid Kemmerer, and Mask of mirrors by M.A. Carrick would satisfy readers who enjoy fantasy with heroic young women fighting injustice.
Trigger warning: There is one spicy romantic encounter.
Themes Witches, Magic, Romance, Persecution.
Pat Pledger
Tennis Camp diaries: Superstar by Ash Barty with Jasmin McGaughey and Jade Goodwin
The second book in the Ash Barty Tennis Camp Diaries series titled Superstar is full of friendships, worries, sour worms and real camp experiences.
This series focusses on a young Ash Barty’s experience at Tennis Camp through her diary entries. This year at camp the friends and other camp participants have the chance to compete in the end of camp tournament and the winners get to be ball kids at a local tournament with their tennis heroes.
Every night Ash writes in her diary, recording the events of the day and her thoughts. Over the course of the week the friends get to meet their tennis heroes. I love the inclusion of other amazing tennis players and the fact that Ash Barty is so real that she writes about looking up to other tennis players.
As someone who grew up with diary style books, I really enjoyed this book and am looking forward to reading others in the series. The quirky additions of how many sour worms she ate make the book really feel like a diary and her friendships and the way she describes events feel authentic and will engage the reader in the story and the childhood of one of Australia’s best tennis players.
This is an entertaining read that is perfect for younger readers who like sport especially tennis, going to camp, making new friends, catching up with old friends and having fun. The series is written in an easy-to-read format so will appeal to many readers and is bound to become a favourite within the school library. This is a series that could be read aloud in class or at home and would also work as an independent read. I would recommend this book to parents and librarians as the series is sure to be a favourite.
Themes Sport - Tennis, Diary, Freindship, Competition, Camp, Ash Barty.
Compulsory is a very short story by Martha Wells and every fan of the Murderbot series is sure to want to pick this one up, especially as it could be read as a standalone introduction for readers new to the series which started with All systems red, an Alex Award winner in 2018.
Murderbot is an android, addicted to watching soaps. While engrossed in episode 44 of The Rise and Fall of Sanctuary Moon, Murderbot sees a miner in danger after an argument. Can Murderbot leave the series which is at an exciting moment to rescue the miner? Should Murderbot follow orders and stay still or act? With the governor module broken, this is a demanding question for Murderbot.
In this short story Wells’ clever writing continues to engage readers with its sardonic main character, humour and ethical dilemmas. Fugitive Telemetry, winner of the Nebula Award, is a full-length novel starring Murderbot and not to be missed.
Century, 2024. ISBN: 9781529920048. (Age:Adult - 16+) Highly recommended.
The Warm Hands of Ghosts is a compelling blend of well-researched historical fiction with the paranormal. Arden’s skilful authoring brings to life the horrors of life during World War 1 with the eerie appearance of ghosts with warm hands. Laura Iven, a nurse who was badly wounded on the Front, has been discharged and has returned home to Halifax, Canada. While suffering from the loss of her parents during an explosion in Halifax Bay, she receives the shocking news that Freddie, her brother, has been reported dead on the battlefields of Belgium. But as she holds his tags and jackets, something seems wrong and she decides to return to find out what really happened to him.
Told in vivid chapters from the point of view of Laura and Freddie, the reader is drawn into the horror of war in the trenches and the role of the nurse on the Front in Flanders, Belgium, 1917-1918, during The Great War. Laura returns to a private hospital as a volunteer, amid rumours of a fiddler who gives soldiers the gift of oblivion and of ghosts moving amongst the living. Did she glimpse Freddie in the hotel that the fiddler owns? Freddie awakes to find himself trapped in the mud under a pillbox with Winter, a German soldier, and together they desperately try to escape the death trap they find themselves in. Will they reach help or be shot as deserters?
The Warm Hands of Ghosts is an unforgettable story about the trauma of war and the bravery and resilience of the men and women who were caught up in it. Readers of historical fiction will become immersed in the detail, with ghosts and evil threading through the story in a believable way. Those who found Rebecca Ross’s duology, Divine rivals and Ruthless vows absorbing as I did, are sure to want to move onto this gripping stand alone.
Themes Love, Loss, Evil, Ghosts, World War 1, Flanders.
Pat Pledger
Dr. Seuss Graphic Novel: Cat out of water by Art Baltazar
Fans of The Cat in the Hat will be thrilled to have a companion volume in graphic novel form, especially as graphic novels are so popular with young children. Sally and her brother Conrad are home alone after school and freshening up the fishbowl when the Cat in the Hat knocks on the door. The Fish is appalled and knows that there will be trouble if the children let the Cat in, but he is very persuasive promising that he will be good. But chaos ensues as he decides that The Fish should have a bigger place to swim in. When Thing 1 and Thing 2 arrive, they turn on every tap in the house and the children just can’t keep up trying to turn them off. They give in and hilarious hijinks occur as the house turns into a swimming pool. The Fish knows that the house must be fixed before Mother arrives home, and the Cat in the Hat comes up with some astonishing inventions to suck out the water, clean everything and scoop up the bubbles.
Art Baltazar’s illustrations are cute and the adventure he illustrates is very funny. The panels and dialogue are easy to follow and readers will relate to The Fish and his fears about the havoc that The Cat can perpetrate. Young readers could find Cat out of water a transition to chapter books, while younger children will be happy to follow the fun when it is read aloud and try to draw the characters at the back of the book. They are sure to want to read the second in the series The Grinch Takes A Vacation by Kaeti Vandorn.
Themes Fish, Cats, Graphic novels, Humour.
Pat Pledger
Three boys gone by Mark Smith
Pan Macmillan, 2024. ISBN: 9781761269868. (Age:14+) Highly recommended.
This is every teacher’s worst nightmare: an excursion gone wrong and three students dead. A relatively new teacher to St Finbar’s school, Grace Disher was the one who planned the outdoor education hike, briefed the two male teachers accompanying the group of high school students, and the only teacher to see the three boys somehow ahead of the main group, plunging into the rip-bound sea. She knows the first rule of rescue: don’t create another casualty. She knows that if she went after them she would have drowned too.
Grace’s decision sees her world spiralling out of control; she becomes the focus of a police investigation, sensational news reporting, and social media speculation, all on top of her own feelings of shock and grief. And it also gradually becomes apparent that someone has a vendetta against her.
Smith excels at depicting the vicious maelstrom of social media, the hacking of personal images, and the unrestrained onslaught of opinionated abuse. Even in personal and work relationships there is an undercurrent of questioning her decision, of words unsaid, and discomfort in her presence. She is not allowed to grieve with the parents of the boys; it is as though she is the enemy.
I thought the portrayal of the principal, Jim Sheridan, was especially well portrayed; in his mediation of his role as public representative of the school, his responsibility to staff involved, his accountability to the Catholic Schools Directorate, and his own personal grief over the loss of a nephew.
The fallout has consequences not only for Grace as a teacher, but also for her personal life, as her same-sex relationship with another teacher becomes spotlighted in a way that neither of them are prepared for, adding to the social media fuel.
For me, the issues that Smith explores of trauma, guilt, isolation, and persecution are inherently absorbing in themselves. It didn’t need the extra elements of the psychological thriller, which he adds as the novel progresses, that of the unhinged pursuer. But avid readers of the thriller genre may disagree.
There is some unevenness in tone, some switches in narrator view, that detract from the narrative, but overall this novel explore issues highly relevant to all readers, of navigating personal responsibility and stress, and the dangers of social media.
Themes Trauma, Guilt, Responsibility, Social media, LGBQTI+.
Helen Eddy
Every rock has a story: An A to Z of Australian Geology by Kitty van Cuylenburg. Illus. by Cher Hart
The cleverly designed cover and endpapers of Every Rock Has A Story: An A to Z of Australian Geology will immediately hook middle grade readers who are fascinated by rocks and minerals. With the cover showing layers of soil and what might be found when digging deep below the surface and the front and back endpapers sharing multiple items related to geology, this new release will be a valuable resource for students and teachers.
The double page contents table begins with an introduction and then the chapters are listed in alphabetical order beginning with A for Artesian and ending with Z for Zircon. In the final pages there is map of locations, a timeline, glossary and acknowledgements. The Introduction shares information about Australia, its rocks, fascinating facts and hints at the amazing geological wonders that are to be found if you know where to look.
Each of the 26 chapters contains information about one of the following areas: landforms, minerals, fossils or resources. For example, Chapter M is about a mountain, Mount Augustas/Burringurrah which is an inselberg - a large steep sided outcrop rising out of flat surrounding landscape - and is twice the size of Uluru. The double page spread for each chapter is thoughtfully set out with highly accessible paragraphs of information, images and illustrations in soft earthy tones, labelled tables, text boxes and a map.
This is a fascinating read and will be a fabulous reference book for a home, school or public library.
What a romp! Ibanez's novel opens with a marriage proposal: Inez is obviously in love with Whit, but at the same time unsure if she can truly trust him. I hadn’t read the first novel in this duology, but quickly realised there was some history between them. I didn’t need to know exactly what had happened because Ibanez launches into this new episode without complicated reminders. Readers can immerse themselves in this fantasy world and enjoy the book as a stand-alone. We know that Inez’s father is missing and her mother is involved in black market trading in Egyptian antiquities. There is a treasure, the Chrysopoeia of Cleopatra, the recipe for the transmutation of lead into gold, which everyone seeks, Whit included. This sets the scene for the dramas that ensue.
The characters are clearly stereotypes. Inez is the impetuous heroine determined to solve the mystery, whilst Whit is the handsome, steely jawed hero who, despite his disreputable persona, forever comes to her rescue. How can Inez doubt that he loves her? I enjoyed Ibanez’s depiction of these two people. I am sure that there is more than a little humour involved in their characterisation, particularly as she occasionally inserts Whit’s point of view into the narrative. We know that he has a secret plan, something hidden from Inez, but it is obvious to every reader that he will come good in the end.
For the reader who, like me, is drawn to this book because of ‘library’ in the title, alas, no library features until past two thirds of the way into the narrative, despite the exotic setting of Alexandria, location of one of the largest and most significant libraries of the ancient world. But the plot leads all the actors there and everything comes to an exciting climax in the Serapeum, the daughter library of the Great Library of Alexandria. Ibanez has clearly researched the background to this novel. Her ‘Author’s note’ reveals the depth of her historical research, something the fantasy reader might just take for granted in this light-hearted depiction of a past world.
‘Where the library hides’ offers a historical setting, a gripping romance, and a bit of magic for the lovers of fantasy. It has it all. Furthermore, I am sure there is a twist of wicked humour as the author creates her dance of deceit, trust and deception. I found it all highly engaging.
Beam of Light is a collection of 29 short stories, most of which powerfully evoke the people and landscape of the WA wheatbelt, where Kinsella grew up.
Best known for his poetry, here Kinsella masterfully displays his skills as a wordsmith. With a very small word-count he creates a thoroughly believable, evocative picture of the often-damaged inhabitants living hard-scrabble lives on the land and in rural townships. He instils his concerns as an animal activist, his preoccupation with the effects of colonialism on the land and its animals, and his experience of addiction, into the stories without being heavy-handed or moralistic.
His characters are invariably flawed, often battling addictions and obsessions, and negotiating difficult relationships, trying to reinvent themselves, and be their best. Drug-induced paranoia, and conspiracy theories drive the plot in several stories.
He clearly understands the issues facing people of all ages. Young characters try to make sense of the world; in Playing Chicken he explores young love and peer pressure. In Entertaining the Admiral adult morals and secrets confuse a young boy. Bullying surfaces in 7000 Wheelies.
Family dynamics are paramount in attempts to repair and build father/daughter, and husband/wife relationships. A jealous FIFO husband and a homesick wife circle each other in The Jacuzzi. Two father’s enmity affects their daughters in Ballet Class. In Abandoned a family man reacts to feeling overwhelming oppression.
Unreliable memories of a troubling time stir in Bonfire, and a moral quandary involving car theft drives Law of Necessity. The Invitation unravels a tense dinnertime conversation with religious fanatics.
Kinsella’s concern for the environment shows as people bond or disagree over the treatment of various animals in Burying the Rabbits, Fox Skeleton, and Ballet Class.
Several stories are set in Ireland, teasing out characters’ difficult relationship to locals and the land, building on a suspicion of ‘others’ and the need for ‘belonging’.
Kinsella masterfully controls the emotional landscape, in some stories injecting an underlying unease, in others an immediate threat of violence. Isolation in the bush is a recurring theme, and emotional abuse is often lurking.
This is an excellent read; easy as the stories are short, but difficult as we watch Kinsella’s characters struggle in cycles of imperfect behaviour, poor judgement and damaging obsessions.
Warnings; drug use, addiction, emotional abuse.
Themes Australia, WA, Resilience, Rural, Short stories.
