‘I’m standing in the parking lot of the Marybelle Motor Lodge in Wildwood, New Jersey, and I’m dead.’ This is the startling first line of Plozza’s latest novel which pitches Tegan, one moment riding her bicycle, and then ‘bike-car-splat’, the next moment she is dead, sent to heaven. The Marybelle Motor Lodge has been meticulously recreated for her, the place that is supposed to be her happiest place . . . except that it isn’t. The Marybelle is the worst hotel, green, grimy and damp, with soggy pizza, and a dirty pool with a floating tampon. And for Tegan, it is the failed holiday where her father took her and her little sister Quinn, before they found out that their mother had left them and wasn’t ever coming back.
The mystery is how the Marybelle ever came to be posited as Tegan’s heaven. Her guardian angel Zelda insists she hasn’t made a mistake. In the challenge to identify Tegan’s truest happy moment, the reader is taken back over Tegan’s life, only to learn of the many sad disappointments that she has experienced in her short life of 16 years; the sense of loss, lost friendships, lost mother, lost identity, misery.
Plozza has found a highly original approach to exploring themes common to many in the YA genre, and the reader’s curiosity is provoked to read on. Tegan has to revisit many sad memories, but somehow the overall tone is kept light with a twist of teenage humour that is sure to draw a smile. There is also a hint of romance as Tegan is gradually drawn closer to Zelda, the bright smiling angel that she accuses of getting everything wrong.
Shivaun Plozza is an award-winnning Australian author of highly commended teen novels Frankie (2017) and Tin Heart (2018) as well as a number for middle grade readers. The worst perfect moment is another highly recommended novel.
Nadia is an independent woman in a city becoming increasing overrun by militants who insist on strict behaviour from women. She meets Saeed at night school, and attracted to each other, their relationship blossoms, Saeed having to put on a black overdress to visit Nadia in her apartment. She wears her black cloak through choice which he does not understand, while he prays, an expectation she does not follow.
As the militants make their presence felt, the two become aware that their lives will be overturned and so choose to escape.
People talk of doors to safer places in the west, and through this short tale we see them opening many doors, finally ending up in a refugee camp in San Francisco.
Doors open initially to an island off Greece, then they find a door to Europe, then London. Each place where they stay is beset with problems, but they fit in, using their savings to buy a tent and food, finding work to raise money, befriending other refugees, watching what happens.
Through their eyes we are exposed to the struggles beset by refugees; initially having to leave behind beloved parents, having to trust someone who says they can open a door for you, finding work, avoiding confrontation. Each door provokes a different thought within the reader of just how the couple arrived at each place, calling on their own knowledge to fill in the gaps.
Their time in London is confronting, as it is the one place many readers will know of, so the thought of refugees putting up their tents in Hyde Park, helping build dormitories for the increasing number arriving in England, and when Nadia and Said are able to work for the refugee community, the situation is amazing.
I was engrossed by this little book. The plain unadorned writing style made the problems more accessible, the doors a metaphor for the different methods refugees use to gain access to a safer place. The main characters are wholly credible, their plans for their futures recognisable, their paths to achieving those goals, reflecting a courage we can only watch in awe, reminding us that this could happen to any of us.
Bruce Pascoe’s revelatory book Dark emu, black seeds has now been made into a simplified illustrated version for younger readers – allowing a younger audience to also learn of his research into the agricultural practices of Australian Aboriginal people. Pascoe draws on historical records and artefacts to piece together a picture of Aboriginal settlement before the arrival of Europeans, and contrary to the long held view of the ‘hunter-gatherer’ existence that suited the colonialists’ idea of an ‘empty’ land, he reveals the existence of Aboriginal farming and land care, permanent settlements with houses and storage buildings, and complex aquaculture management systems.
Teachers will welcome this book as an excellent example to show students learning how to research primary sources for their projects. Pascoe includes extracts from many original nineteenth century colonial diaries and reports, and he reevaluates the artwork of colonial artists who showed cultivated fields in their paintings, once dismissed as an English romanticising of the Australian landscape. He urges the putting aside of preconceptions and interpreting with a new eye the original materials. “It is a different way of looking”. Thus the so-called ‘humpy’ was actually a substantial construction that could accommodate many families, the ‘lazy’ fisherman had actually engineered an ingenious fishing machine, and fire was not a threat but a useful tool for tilling and cultivating pastures. Even the Milky Way in the night sky can be viewed anew, to see the darkness between the stars, and recognise the dark emu of Aboriginal Dreaming.
Pascoe has collected the evidence to present the case that the Aboriginal way of life actually met all the criteria of an established agricultural society that lived in harmony with their environment. This is not what the colonialists wanted to see, in their quest to occupy new land. And it is evidence that was destroyed as they took possession, and introduced their livestock.
This is an important book in the study of Australian history – it provides a new perspective to be read and discussed. It needs to be on every teacher’s reading list and in every school library. This latest edition with a beautiful new cover, has a contents page, bibliography and index for those who would like to explore further. So whilst it is presented in picture book format, it is recommended for a wide age range as an introduction to a history that has been too easily covered up.
Themes Aboriginal culture, Aboriginal agriculture, Aboriginal aquaculture, Australian history.
Another in the series co-produced by Puffin and Taronga Zoo, shows a family going to the zoo, beginning with the striking gates, and ending with the ferry trip back home.
The family walks past many animals in their enclosures, and the illustrations show the variety of animals and the variety of enclosures, built with that animal in mind. Kids will love working out how the boardwalk helps visitors watch some of the animals who live in trees, or why there is a moat between the visitors and the animals, or why the hippo lives in a pool, and work out how they can see the tiger so clearly. There is lots to discuss on each page, and kids will love spotting the Sydney Harbour Bridge in the background.
Bright illustrations will attract readers to look at all the animals in the zoo and the book will encourage children to look forward to visiting the zoo in the future.
Themes Zoos, Taronga Zoo, Animals.
Fran Knight
Animal opposites at the zoo by Emilie Tavaearii (illus.)
Penguin Random House Australia, 2025. ISBN: 9781761347535. (Age:1-3) Recommended.
A board book about animals is always a winner, and this one (one of a pair, the other being We’re going to the zoo) will sit well with all young kids, eager to see more of a zoo and its inhabitants. And with the Sydney Harbour Bridge in the background, they can only be about Taronga Zoo.
Each page opens with a familiar animal and a word describing one of their attributes while the opposite page shows an animal with an opposing attribute. The first page shows a penguin, and we are told he is short, while the next page shows a giraffe, and we are told he is tall.
In this way the readers see two animals that are opposite and can learn the animals’ names as well as the words which describe them.
Over the page we have a tortoise and a cheetah, slow and fast, the next a snake and a hippo, long and round and so on. So, readers get to meet a peacock and a zebra, a rhino and a meerkat, a red panda and a pangolin, a tiger and a quoll, an elephant and a mouse, a monkey and a koala, each time learning a little about each animal as it is compared to another. Altogether it is a delightful way to teach younger readers about animals and differences. Understated illustrations add to a child’s knowledge with a little of the environment that each animal inhabits shown in the background.
A lovely book to introduce younger readers to the animal world, and particularly Taronga Zoo.
Mark Maciver in Shaping up culture, has written a pocket-sized hand book which began as a 'How-to be successful in business' book that grew out of Maciver's blogs and vlogs and evolved into something very much more. Shaping up culture is indeed about building (shaping up) business but additionally and essentially it is about building self and business within the context of culture. This makes it an unusual and timely book in that it looks beyond self-interest and financial gain outwards to the place that business occupies in relation to the community it serves - to the people. To Maciver, successful businesses do not operate and flourish if they are stand alone money-making enterprises built on business plans and buzz words. Successful businesses, he writes, rely chiefly on things like personal mindsets, the strength of networks within the culture in which they exist and 'social credit.'
Maciver is generous in his advice and with sharing his personal philosophy and experiences of setback and success in the building of his professional haircutting business 'Slidercuts' which is based in London. Maciver's internet presence aligns with Shaping up culture. One example is Slidercut's TikTok platform where he describes himself as a barber, speaker and multi-award-winner business person. With his book, Shaping up culture, he must now proudly add - author!
The structure, design and typesetting of Shaping up culture makes reading accessible and attractive. The chapters are listed with page numbers in bold white on black in large, clear font, enabling the time-poor reader to dive in straight to what they want. The chapters clearly signpost what they are about and within each the information is interesting, honest and easy to retrieve. Maciver starts with the all important "Mindset" and there are the expected chapters on "Goals" and "Teamwork" (albeit with the Maciver twist) but then the reader is enticed to read what he has to say about..."You're always in an interview", "The so-called overnight success" etc, etc. The tone of Shaping up culture is another factor that sets the book apart from many self-help/business advice books. Maciver clearly states his position, placing his words within the context of his lived experience. The information offered is logical, sound and free of pontification. He acknowledges the fears and concerns of his readers and pays attention to their perspective. Throughout, reading Maciver is like being in the company of an amalgam of revered uncle and a warm, whip-smart big brother who only wants the best for you.
Maciver speaks to this secular world from a deep religious faith that has sustained him from childhood throughout all the obstacles of life. He doesn't preach; he does quote eg. from Colossians 3:23 "Whatever you do, work at it with your whole heart..." He quotes from many other sources as a lead-in to each chapter and acknowledges those people at the end of the book.
Shaping up culture, would be useful for many people and groups. It is a great book for people in the business world wherever they are on their journey. Likewise it would be a good book for any young person stepping out into life to have beside them. It would be so great to see Shaping up culture in the hands of teachers, librarians, school counsellors, career guidance people, chaplains and pastoral care workers. Equally wherever people are into community building, Shaping up culture has relevance. Thus churches, schools, sporting clubs, service clubs etc could benefit from the wisdom found within its pages especially about building social credit within the community in order to flourish and be successful.
This is the book for anyone interested in shaping up their life and/or their business. This reader would like to place it in the hands of many people and wants it at her own fingertips. However, being a review copy, it will go to a school...or a public library or maybe a son...or daughter...or...
Themes Business, Community building, Life coaching.
Wendy Jeffrey
Brave in every which way by Maddy Mara and Lauren Degraaf
Affirm Press, 2025. ISBN: 9781922806772. (Age:3+)
As the theme of the book is shown in the title, readers will quickly recall what the word means for them, and remember brave deeds within their friendship group, family, and community. But opening the book and reading the verses, readers will begin to see that the author is not talking of the public, heroic acts that people see as brave, rather the everyday things where children recognise their faults and apologise for something they have done wrong or for stepping outside their comfort zone to include someone into their group. Even trying new foods, alien to them, is an act of bravery. It involves stepping outside what is the norm, what is expected and seeing how other people feel, understanding their perspective and empathising with them.
Each double page gives the reader a situation where bravery is needed, and then how it is received. The illustrations used to exemplify that act of bravery show children in situations not uncommon to those of our readers and so will be easily recognised and understood by the target audience.
Bravery is also asking for help when help is needed. It can also mean speaking in front of an audience and refusing to go along with others who call hateful names or try to bully someone. Speaking out is always a brave thing to do, and I love the illustrations supporting these pages showing the long shadows cast by the bullies. When there has been a falling out amongst friends, it is a brave thing to do to repair the rift, and being kind will be seen and treasured by everyone.
The theme of bravery will surprise the readers, expecting a heroic act, but finding that they too are brave most days of their lives: brave in standing up for themselves and others, brave in overcoming their fears, brave in helping someone, and so on. Little deeds mean a lot to others, and help the group get along.
Robin Miller was a trailblazer in the skies. She grew up as a child during WW2, with a pilot for a father and her mother was the renowned author, Mary Durack. She lived some of her early years in the region of Broome in the far north of Western Australia and she was profoundly aware of the tyranny of distance for those who lived there. Her determination to take her love of flying and her compassion for those who lived far from services led her to break ‘a glass ceiling’, or should that be ‘rise above the clouds’, and gain her pilot’s licence and even buy her own plane. This, in combination with her nursing qualifications, enabled her to lead a remarkable polio vaccination programme to remote communities in WA. At a time when women were not expected to pursue careers in aviation, Robin Miller was prepared to soar beyond their expectations. In her short 35 years of life serving the WA outback communities she was able to make a huge impact for feminism, the RFDS and for the aviators who followed in her wake. Taking planes across oceans to bring them to Australia, in an era when this was a risky venture, she demonstrated incredible courage and a true pioneer spirit. She should be better known and esteemed and hopefully this book will do much to make her remarkable story come alive for a new generation.
I loved this simple biography with heart and wings! Robin Miller’s story is brought to a young audience in this compelling book with some of Robin’s own thoughts and reflections scattered through the story. We are able to fly with her, feel the risks of early aviators in Australia, recognise the need for an effective RFDS service to remote Australia and also fall in love with this formidable female in flight. Dianne Wolfer has done a wonderful job at animating Robin’s story and her early death at age 35 seems such a tragedy. Western Australia should be proud of this daughter of the skies who demonstrated to all Australians that determination and perseverance, combined with compassion could make a big difference in our harsh land. Anyone aged 9-14 with an Australian history or aviation interest would love this book and its insights into how individuals could make a difference. Teacher's notes and an activity are available from the publisher.
Themes Flying, Aviation history, RFDS, Robin Miller, Discrimination, Determination, Western Australia.
This is an epic tale of romance and heartache, set with a magnificent Montana backdrop, over the adult life of Charlie, Garrett and Cece (Cecilia). Charlie and Garrett are friends from College days, bonded forever because of the death of another friend, and Cece is set to be Charlie’s ‘for life’ partner. But the taciturn Garrett becomes the spoke in their wheel and shifts the direction of their life just as they are about to set out together. Garrett pursues an environmental career, monitoring the decline of Wolverines (and yes, they are real creatures) from the slopes and forests in Montana. Cece (perhaps with unexpected prescience) seems to lose her mind and changes her direction completely. Charlie, the one who was destined for success, must find a new path that gives him a way forward. Their story is linked to Charlie Margolis’ idyllic family holiday house on the banks of a lake in Montana, near where Garrett lived before they all met. This home and the naturally grand location of original delight keeps bringing them together, even when they seem to have caused incredible pain to one another and destroyed its capacity to charm their future. The next generation too seems to have been infected with the seductive charm of the location, but also the angst and struggle of their forebears, and the passage of years details the slow descent from possibility to heartache. But there are still glimpses of hope amidst the memories and fractures of the past.
This is an adult family saga filled with struggle and the walk alongside environmental decline is a parallel path. The tale is mostly told in a chronologically logical unveiling, but there are occasional fault lines in the progression and the story leaps over chasms of time with little warning. I quite enjoyed these rapid jumps, leaving behind the nitty-gritty of the minutiae to arrive at the next big thing, as this was a surprise with no foreshadowing. There are many sadnesses in the passage of time - relationships that have fraught moments, drug-impacts, memory loss, friends that struggle and the difficulty of forgiving. But despite that there are gems forged from the pressure of the years. Garrett particularly, seems transformed by the slow wheels of time, and there are hints that Charlie too may have found a way to redeem the past. This is not a happy-go-lucky romantic tale, but it is a twisted journey through human struggles. Is love a victim or surprise survivor through the years? Recommended for adult readers who don’t want their romance stories to be syrupy and enjoy dramatic pain in the process.
Themes Romance, Infidelity, Montana, Holiday homes, Family saga, Wolverines, Environmental issues, Dementia, Drug addiction, LGBTIQ characters.
Carolyn Hull
Why are there wars? by Katie Daynes and Mairi Mackinnon. Illus. by Oksana Drachkovska
Usborne, 2024. ISBN: 9781805312710. (Age:5+)
Sadly, in a time when in most countries, it has recently been a time of "peace and goodwill to all", our news bulletins have remained peppered with stories about conflicts around the world, and these events have huge impacts that spread like pebbles in a pond well beyond the ideologies and beliefs of those who begin them.
There would be few schools in Australia where there are not families who have been impacted by war in some way, either by current events or those stretching back into history when previous generations were forced to flee and begin a new life here. And so, no doubt, they have been confronted by the question, "Why are there wars?" from little ones.
As sensitive as the topic may be, Usborne have addressed it in this lift-the-flap book that explains why there are wars, the fact that wars have occurred for centuries, that there are many who work hard to keep people safe, that wars do end and they can be prevented if we work towards a more peaceful world. With carefully chosen words and examples, readers can engage with the answers by lifting the flaps to get a better understanding and these are, in turn, supported by internet links which help parents talk to their children about war as well as ways children can get involved in various projects that can help them be kinder, more understanding, tolerant and accepting of differences. Created with expert advice from a number of experts and in conjunction with the Imperial War Museum, London this is designed to help parents and teachers address the hard questions so that little ones understand such a big-feeling concept at their own level, and unlike previous generations like mine, know that war is not necessarily an inevitable part of their future.
This is one best read with an adult so there can be deeper conversations and explanations, but nevertheless, it has a place in the collection of any school whose students have been touched by such an event in some way.
Theodora (known as Theo) has escaped a troubled family life as the adopted daughter of abusive parents who hide their harsh discipline under the guise of religious training. In her adult life she has tried to expunge their memory from her life, but it is her dreams about her life before her adoptive parents took her in, aged four, that continue to haunt her. A romance and now engagement to the wealthy Connor Dalton thrusts her into Dalton family secrets and life-threatening danger when she visits their mountain-top retreat. Her past is examined because a girl from poorer circumstances is a threat to wealth and power, and her own vague memories of the mountain cabins brings a dangerous collision of past and present. Can Theo’s love for Connor survive or is her own life at risk?
This is a tragic tale threaded with danger and readers will be trapped on the mountain-top with Theo. With twists and plot deviations and risk and accusations at every turn of the page, this becomes a compelling drama that will keep you enthralled. Every member of the Dalton family seems to distrust Theo, and she is having difficulty holding onto the truth of her love for Connor, but it is the return of hazy memories that makes her doubt the family that she might be marrying into. And is Theo a victim or a perpetrator of violence? This distrust of the main character and the distrust of all who share the wintertime and snow covered cabins creates a chilling storyline and a book that adults will enjoy… a good holiday read (but perhaps not before a ski-lodge holiday!). The central character is post-University aged, so this is not a book aimed at the YA environment, but it could be read by mature readers aged 17+.
Themes Psychological thriller, Murder, Wealth and power, Romance, Trust.
Carolyn Hull
Fly, Mama, fly! by Anna McGregor
Scribble, 2025. ISBN: 9781761381539. (Age:1+)
A strongly bound board book, Fly, Mama, fly! is a charming book, extolling the close bond between mother and child through the story of the Grey-haired flying fox as she journeys across the night sky in search of food and a place to sleep during the day.
The refrain Fly, Mama fly!, is at the end of most rhyming stanzas, encouraging the readers to sing out that line and predict the rhyming word. All the way through the little flying fox holds her offspring tightly as they traverse the night sky, pointing out the clouds, moon, stars and trees to the readers.
At the end of the story, children will be able to tell each other what they have learnt about flying foxes, as well as appreciating the warmth of a mother’s love shown through the tale. The illustrations show the little flying fox against a deeply luminous nighttime sky, through the use of various shades of purple, interspersed with streaks of moonlight and clouds.
The book is read differently from the usual book which will intrigue younger readers taking in the information about a flying fox.
Themes Flying fox, Mothers, Love, Family, Night time.
After experiencing McConaghy’s wonderful Once there were wolves I was eager to read Wild dark shore. It is set on Shearwater, a tiny island near Antarctica, and the home of a large seed bank. With sea levels rising, the researchers have departed leaving Dominic Salt and his three children to pack up the seeds before a ship arrives back to take them to safer ground. Then a mysterious woman is washed ashore. Why was she trying to reach this remote island and what secrets are the Salts hiding?
Told from multiple points of view McConaghy gradually builds up a picture of the Salt family and Rowan the woman the sea have brought to shore. Dominic Salt is still grieving the death of his wife many years before, his eldest son Raff is trying to get over a broken heart, his 10-year-old son Orly is obsessed with botany and fearful of what will be lost from the seed bank and Fen, his 17-year-old daughter is isolated from the family, sleeping with the seals on the beach. As they care for Rowan, she uncovers sabotage of the radio and a fresh grave.
Wild dark shore is multi-layered with gripping suspense on many levels. I found myself holding my breath wondering what damage the incoming storm would do to the human and animal inhabitants of this rugged island and whether the Salts would be able to rescue the precious seeds from the flooding waters. The inner struggles of Rowan and the family and the secrets they were hiding were gradually revealed and I became engrossed in the stories of these six people. I was desperate to find out about Rowan’s experience with the bushfire that destroyed her property and its beautiful ghost gums, and Fen’s reason for sleeping with the whales. I held my breath as Orly sorted through seeds and told the reader about the wonders of different plants and related to Raff’s suffering from losing his first love and determination to hold his family together especially as Dom seemed unable to let go of the ghost of his wife. And as a lover of the mystery genre I was kept guessing about the possibility of murder on the island.
Wild dark shore is certain to appeal to readers of different genres because of its evocative writing and themes of mysterious death, life on an isolated island and climate change. It is highly recommended.
As soon as I spotted Bigfoot vs Yeti: A love story, I was certain that my 5-year-old grandson would love it and I was not wrong. He pored over the pictures, examining all the details, noting what colours were used for the Bigfoot and how the Yeti was different. He was fascinated with the idea of the two strange creatures and listened intently to the story, which was a delight to read aloud. I could see that this could become a firm favourite for him.
However, it is not just young children who will delight in the illustrations and humour. Conflict resolution and a Romeo and Juliet love story are two major themes making it appealing for all ages. I found myself pondering the futility of the feud between the two tribes; the Bigfoots stating that it began when a Yeti threw a snowball across the Rift that divided them, while the Yetis believed that a Bigfoot first threw some fruit. One night when a young Yeti and a young Bigfoot are on guard on opposite sides of the Rift, they chase each other along the edge until they come face to face. The reader will be fascinated to follow Bevan and Yolanda and see if they can end the rift between the two groups and help their tribes see the good in each other. The fact that some members will always want to feud is an important lesson for readers too.
Detailed teacher’s notes and an activity can be found here, and a book trailer and author interview are available.
This hopeful but cautionary tale has a place in all libraries and is highly recommended.
Themes Bigfoot, Yeti, Conflict, Love.
Pat Pledger
Loverboy by Ben Tomlinson
Andersen Press, 2025. ISBN: 9781839135194. (Age:14-17) Recommended for Romance readers.
Alfie is a North London teenager who seems to have become the ‘unlucky-in-love’ pin-up boy (or Loserboy). His warm and comfortable friendship with Maya gets hi-jacked when she starts seeing other guys. His rebound connection to Maya’s best friend Gwen goes pear-shaped when Gwen realises that she really is same-sex attracted after all. And his best buddy Jack seems to have forgotten him too as he dates the touchy-feels and intense Lily. (But even Lily gets to become a failed Alfie exploratory connection.) Can Alfie find his place, develop some confidence and really discover love that works for him? And can he forgive his drug-addicted mother now that she is sober? Growing up is so hard, and there are so many big emotions to deal with in Alfie’s life.
Remarkably this is a teen-romance novel with a male central character who manages to look for love in all the wrong places. A bitter-sweet journey! Ben Tomlinson has managed to create a romance-oriented story without it becoming about teenage sexual experience. (Although there are some hints that this is occurring in the background, it is not the centre of attention. NB:Condoms are used.) Romance, first kisses, angst and anxiety in relationships and finding the right girl are all a part of this story. There is a hint of humour in the way we see the disasters unfolding and Alfie’s stumbling efforts will also engender sympathy. With a main character who has deliberately chosen to avoid alcohol (his mother’s drug addiction is a strong reason) and who lives with his Nan with whom he has a loving relationship, and because he is the gentle one on the edge of his friendship group, we have a slightly different view of a teenage male in the dating world. He is also a soccer player, gamer, and fan of a heavy-metal goth band, who needs a part-time job so he can have some spending money. But essentially he is just a teen who must find his place in the world and follow his own path. Written in three main sections, depending on who Alfie’s attention is focused on - Maya, Gwen or Lily, the story relates a short period in the teen’s life. This is a romance tale with a slight goth flavour - so it is more likely to be read by female teens, but because the main character is male it is possible that it could cross the gender divide. Alfie is a hopeless romantic, and perhaps the target audience of 14-17 year-olds would need to share that quality, or at least be open to the insights of a teen romance.
