Song of the six realms is a complex novel for adolescents and young adults. The plot plays out against the backdrop of spiritual worlds and philosophical themes. It is rather a beautifully written book in terms of linguistic content, vocabulary density and also in terms of its ethereal quality. The living focus and driver of the novel is the central character -Xue'er (Guxue) meaning Solitary snow. In simplistic terms the novel is a Cinderella story but it is multilayered and complex steeped in magic and the exotic actual and spiritual realms of China.
Author Judy Lim was born in Taiwan and grew up in Canada. She loves the escapism of imaginary worlds and these she has created for readers who similarly enjoy fantasy and escapism. Her previous Book of tea duology (A magic steeped in poison and A venom dark and sweet) along with Song of the six realms have made her a bestselling author with The New York Times.
Song of the six realms is a coming of age story. It has the intimacy of the first person voice of the main character Xue whose life's story is central to the plot. Xue is an engaging, likeable character. She is beset with major losses and frightening and perplexing incidents but she has a strength and smartness about her- a feistiness and great kindness aswell as a remarkable skill with the ancient Chinese musical instrument- the qin (also known as the "seven stringed Chineses zither"). Mastery of this instrument was seen as a "refined practice" associated with poetry, scholarship and philosophy. Poetry and philosophy and Xue's ability to interpret and apply her skill are crucially important to the events in this novel. There are many references to Chinese mythology, folk religion, astrology and numerology that Lim explains have no connection with real-world practices or belief today. They have been successfully adapted for the purposes of the story creating the mood and atmosphere of the world that Xue has to negotiate and learn to understand.
Readers are challenged with the Chinese characters, the terms for these characters, their pronunciation and their meaning. There is a helpful glossary at the back of the book. There are many characters in the book with the reader being challenged to understand their name including the pronunciation and the Chinese translation. Likewise locations have place names, Chinese names and pronunciations to decipher.
There are six realms: the Mortal, the Demon, the Celestial, the Spiritual, the Ghost and the Barren. All are inhabited by different beings and have different governance structures. Mortal lives for example are governed by the Celestials and the afterlife is governed by the Demons in the Ghost realm. Through the Rite of Ascension some mortals can ascend to the Celestial Realm. Co-existence and balance is supposed to be maintained between these realms but certain seismic shifts are happening and certain beings are able to traverse across realms either saving or destroying.
Song of the six realms is structured musically and poetically with verses and interludes aswell as chapters. There is a lot of interesting fodder for the lover of fantasy, the lover of the intersection between philosophies and spiritualities, for those interested in class and governance structures and representations of good and evil. Though complex in its settings and subject matter, it is also a beautiful story of love and survival as Xue is faced with every monster and deity of the six realms as the realms teeter on the brink of disaster.
Song of the six realms is a "melodic tale inspired by Chinese mythology". It is for capable readers who enjoy the fantasy genre.
Themes Chinese mythology, poetry, music, celestial/mortal realms.
Wendy Jeffrey
The isles of the gods by Amie Kaufman
Allen & Unwin, 2023. ISBN: 9781761180064. (Age:13+) Highly recommended.
What a roller-coaster ride The isles of the Gods is! I can’t imagine why I left it unread on my shelf for so long, but luckily for me, I have the sequel The heart of the world, to pick up immediately. Selly is determined to sail the north seas to meet her father but her plans are dashed when she discovers that her Captain has agreed on a secret mission, taking a handsome young stranger, Prince Leander, to the sacred Isles of the Gods where he is to perform a ritual to his god, Barrica. On board too is Keegan who desperately wants to reach the Bibliotek to start his dream of being a scholar. Meanwhile, Laskia, a young woman who worships the sleeping God Macean, is desperate to gain the approval of her sister and is willing to do anything to achieve that. Jude once Leander’s friend, must protect his sick mother and Laskia manipulates him to help her destroy Leander. What follow is mayhem on the high seas, murder, gods and magic, with two countries on the brink of war.
Told in alternate chapters by Selly, Leander, Keegan, Laskia and Jude, it is easy to follow the story and relate to each of the characters. Selly is a determined and clever sailor, whose skill and growth is crucial as much of the action takes place on a small sailboat in a dangerous sea. Leander has always been carefree and frivolous but must face his responsibilities and draw on hidden strengths. Keegan is a hero, willing to give up his plans for peace in the world. Laskia is the villain of the story; her desire to impress her sister Ruby and the nuns overtakes any moral qualms she has, while Jude is one that I felt sorry for – trapped looking after a sick mother.
The pace ramps up in the second half of the book and Kaufman is not afraid to describe the deadly actions that Laskia is prepared to commit in her quest to kill the prince. There is a frightening chase across perilous waters and magic swirls through the air. The under current of fear that Leander will not reach the Isles of the Gods in time to sacrifice to Barrica and that Macean will wake and bring war is very suspenseful and the cliffhanger ending will have fans desperate for the next in the series.
The Isles Of The Gods is a riveting fantasy with a slow burning romance, well deserving of its awards: Australian Book Industry Award (ABIA) Nominee for Book of the Year for Older Children (2024), CYBILS Award Nominee for Young Adult Speculative Fiction (2023), and Older Readers Book of the Year Award Notable Books 2024. Readers who enjoyed the fantasy and the sailing aspects of the book might like Fable by Adrienne Young and Devil’s ballast by Meg Caddy.
Themes Princes, Magic, Gods and goddesses, Sailing.
Pat Pledger
A dowry of blood by S.T. Gibson
Hachette, 2022. ISBN: 9780593125014. (Age:18+)
Constanta is saved from the brink of death by a stranger, and is transformed from a medieval peasant into a bride for a undying king, Dracula. Her life changes drastically, most of all, it is not her own. Their lives are long and relatively uncomplicated for many years, but when Dracula draws a cunning aristocrat into their lives, Constanta begins to realise there is more to their long years than she thought. When he draws another in, this time a starving artist, she realises that her beloved is capable of terrible things. Now, finding comfort in the arms of her rival consorts, she begins to unravel their husband's dark secrets...
Definitely not for the younger readers, this retelling of Dracula outlines an obsessive spouse, filled with desire that cannot be contained. The book comes with a content warning at the beginning, outlining that it has many dark places and there are too many to list here, suffice to say it is not for readers under 18. This is particularly so for the frequent sex scenes. While the book is well paced, it is not an overly compelling book - it is simple in its writing and has no sense of urgency or enthrallment. While there is much action and many things happen, it did not feel as though there was any real movement in the book. Having not read Dracula, I cannot compare it with the original, perhaps it was meant to mimic this.
Lothian Children's Books, 2024. ISBN: 9780734420794. (Age:Middle years, from ages 13+) Highly recommended.
Look Me in the Eye is contemporary story dealing with the complexities of being a teenager in these unprecedented times – how to navigate life after a worldwide pandemic and the increasing impact of mobile technology on privacy and autonomy. At it’s core, it is a story about trust – how you earn it and how you keep it.
The story is narrated by Bella, a year 7 student who has just come out the other side of the world’s longest COVID lockdowns in Victoria Australia.She lives with her mum and stepfather, who are on the brink of having a baby together, after 13 years of Bella being an only child. Bella and her best friend, Connie, have their friendship tested with the impact of, Mish, Connie's cousin, who has moved to their area and whose behaviour seems risky and at times, manipulative.
There are tensions and a sense of mystery the author Jane Goodwin cleverly weaves throughout the story – Mish’s behaviour and worrying relationship with her parents, the stealing, Mish’s whereabouts after meeting up with someone she met online, Connie's sisters health and the impending birth of Bella’s sibling, all make for a captivating read.
COVID and the lockdowns in response, are mentioned many times throughout the story, but rather than seeming repetitive, these only serve to illuminate the impact the pandemic has had, especially on those living through their formative years. Readers from middle school age to adults will find this story engaging and enlightening.There is some profound wisdom in the story about how in these times of increasing surveillance, we can’t in reality guarantee safety and the lack of trust it fosters may only serve to erode relationships with those we love. As Pete, Bella's stepfather says, ‘trust is complicated, Bells...but aside from being really foolish about it, we have to do it.Otherwise, we’d go crazy’. Teacher's notes are available.
1931 in Shanghai, the Nationalists and Communists are fighting for control of the city, while also attempting to fight off an invasion from Japan. Four years ago, Rosalind Lang was brought back from the brink of death, but little did she know that the experiment that saved her would also radically change her - no longer able to sleep or age, she can also heal from any wound. Rosalind cannot die - essentially immortal. Turning her back on her traitorous past, she uses her abilities for her country - becoming an assassin, with the code name of Fortune. But now she's on a mission with a partner, trying to uncover a terror cell that is murdering Chinese residents in Shanghai. Problem is, she doesn't typically work with a partner, let alone posing as a married couple. Rosalind will work for the greater good though, while hiding her true identity. Looks like her assigned partner, Orion, also has an agenda of his own, so who knows if even she can unravel the mystery.
While written as the first in a new series called 'Foul Lady Fortune', the book actually takes place after another of Gong's popular series, 'These Violent Delights', becoming the 'Secret Shanghai' series when all put together. Readers do not have to have read the 'These Violent Delights' to enjoy Foul Lady Fortune, as it is its own story, though it does reference characters from the other series, and will in fact reveal the end to that series, so if readers are planning to read 'These Violent Delights', do not read Foul Lady Fortune first. The 511 page novel is a hefty read, but certainly worth it. Some readers may find themselves occasionally confused with character names or affiliations due to the Nationals, Communists and references to other parties, but perseverance in reading pays off. The majority of the book follows Rosalind's viewpoint, with occasional viewpoints from other characters, giving a well rounded story. While it is longer in text than the author Karen M. McManus, it would suit fans of her books.
After a bit of a slow start, with many pages building characters and recreating issues and events of the late 1980s, the plot of McDermid’s latest novel does become more interesting as Allie, an investigative journalist, uncovers corrupt drug trials and begins to crack a kidnapping plot in East Germany. Not crime fiction as much as a depiction of the many issues of that era: the Lockerbie bombing, the response to the rise of AIDS, Western dealings behind the Iron Curtain, East Berlin on the brink of revolution, beginnings of climate change action, the Hillsborough football stampede. All of these events are viewed by a female journalist trying to assert her place in the demandingly competitive world commanded by media moguls comparable to Murdoch.
At the heart of the book, there is a mystery to be solved, and Allie is up to the challenge, ably supported by her loving partner Rona. It does all take its toll on Allie, and their relationship is stretched a little as their separate careers take them in different directions, to the point that Allie sounds like she wants to take a break from investigative journalism. But she’s said that before, and I don’t think any reader will be surprised if there is another Allie Burns story. Readers of 1979 and 1989 would expect another slow burn of a story, supported by a thorough research of the era depicted.
Themes Journalism, World events, Iron curtain, Media empires, 1980s.
This second book by Tobias Madden has similar gay romance themes to his highly praised first novel Anything but fine but instead of the ballet world, Noah Mitchell is thrust into the world of musical theatre in Ballarat, in an endeavour to get to know his secret gaming partner MagePants69. Noah, aka RcticFOx, only knows his fellow combatant online, but a subtle slip gives him the clue that maybe MagePants69 is performing in the same musical that his mother, Rose, is starring in. Noah, going against all his normal inclinations, decides to join the theatre too, in order to secretly find out more about the person he has become so enamoured of online. Reading those first few chapters, every reader knows that something is going to go terribly wrong. How can he be sure that MagePants69 is Eli, and how will it all pan out?
Although issues of catfishing and online ensnarement are duly raised, these are not the central focus of Madden’s novel. It is more about the deception that Noah becomes involved in, and the betrayal of trust that Eli experiences. There are also issues of school-time bullying, friendship betrayal and loss, and difficult parent-child relationships. But this is ultimately a rom-com, and it is the relationships within the theatre group, the budding friendships, and the slowly developing romance that Noah gradually finds, that are at the heart of the novel.
While there are some shared issues with the more confronting The brink by Holden Sheppard, Madden’s novel has more in common with more gentle love stories such as Golden boys by Phil Stamper, Here’s to us by Becky Albertalli and Adam Silvera, and Date me, Bryson Keller by Kevin van Whye . Take a bow, Noah Mitchell is a thoroughly enjoyable and engaging romantic comedy of errors that deals with real issues of youthful self doubt and tentative attraction, in a way that every young reader can relate to.
Themes LGBQTI+, Romance, Deception, Trust, Self confidence, Video games.
Helen Eddy
The brink by Holden Sheppard
Text Publishing, 2022. ISBN: 9781922458643. (Age:15+) Highly recommended.
Plans go wrong for a group of teenagers set on serious partying for Schoolies week, when they end up isolated on a remote island, only just tolerated by the nearest mainland community. It starts out fun, but tensions build, and then when a dead body is found, it all turns into a teenage nightmare version of ‘Lord of the Flies’.
The story is told by three alternating voices, Leonardo, Kaiya and Mason. And whilst the three of them are on the outside of the popular group and each dealing with personal issues, they turn out to be the most trustworthy individuals amid a bunch of highly volatile personalities.
The brink is about young people on the brink of adulthood, trying to find themselves amid parental expectations and the stresses of old friendship groups, and uncertain about the future. And then, as fear mounts, and hopes of rescue fade, they also find themselves on the brink of anarchy and brutality.
It is then that Leonardo, Kaiya, and Mason, each come to their own understanding of what is important to them. They, more than any of the others, find their inner strength and sense of identity.
Sheppard presents issues of anxiety, teenage sexuality, entrenched bullying, anger, alcohol and drug abuse, as well as issues of self-esteem and personal ethics. It reads like a thriller, and is a thoroughly gripping book.
So begins The Leviathan, an atmospheric and deeply unsettling debut by author Rosie Andrews. Set in one of the most turbulent periods in English history – the Civil War of 1642 to 1651 – The Leviathan tells the story of reluctant soldier Thomas Treadwater, who makes his way home from battle to a family and community in crisis.
Summoned by his sister Esther’s increasingly urgent letters, Thomas arrives at the family’s farm to find his father gravely ill, their livelihood on the brink of ruin and a sister caught up in religious zealotry. To Thomas’ shock, witchcraft is being investigated in his small town and his sister is the one pointing the finger. As Thomas strives to unravel the complex intertwining of events, personalities and relationships, he begins to realise that his preconceived notions of what is real and possible are about to be shattered.
Told from two perspectives at the prime and the end of Thomas’ life, The Leviathan is a horror novel that expertly combines the supernatural with the historical reality. Andrews’ medieval England is dark and chilling and the language and setting used is faultless. At heart a mystery novel with a fantastical twist, The Leviathan is a tense and slow-burning story which ends with a superb twist.
Pan Macmillan, 2022. ISBN: 9781760984908. (Age:12+) Recommended.
How to spell catastrophe is the debut middle-grade novel by YA Australian author and screenwriter Fiona Wood. Like Nova Weetman's The edge of thirteen this book will be a popular choice for girls aged from 10 years as they grapple with bodily changes, hormones, friendship woes and other struggles and delights of the Middle Years of schooling. With the greatest of sensitivity, it is suggested that this book is really for girls. When talking about it with classes, it was suggested that boys could be interested only if they wanted to know more about girls... and this suggestion was met with much foot shuffling and bashful camaraderie. It is noted however that Wood dedicated this book to two boys. Perhaps she has in mind, a readership of boys who are more aware of the issues concerning girls.
Wood goes, through the first person voice of Nell, to places that girls on the brink of adolescence fear and probably don't care to talk about even with their friends. How to spell catastrophe is therefore a comforting and instructive book for every pre-teen and tween age girl. Similar to the cover of The edge of thirteen, the cover of How to spell catastrophe suggests the feminine nature of the contents. Astred Hicks, Sydney-based graphic and freelance book designer, has created a cover featuring three girls sheltering and supporting one another under a large, red umbrella against a dark blue background complete with rather oversized raindrops. Rather appropriate!
The text is very accessible to the reader. Woods has the teenage vernacular down pat. Poor Nell McPherson, a grade sixer, is our protagonist and the reader sees life through her eyes as she copes with all the worries of the world. Nell states in the prologue. 'I'm still more of a worrier than a warrior.' She keeps a diary so the narrative is interspersed with her notes that appear to be kept in a spiral bound notebook and are about various catastrophes and the solutions to them. Occasionally, we read the contents of text conversations. She loves words and occasionally she chooses a word that is appropriate to her situation, defines it, puts her problem into writing, plans, gives her week a 'fruit ranking' and writes down what she is grateful for. Openly she talks about how she has seen a psychologist all her life when she needs help with strategising and coping with the worries that stem from the death of her father when she was two. This frank and open writing about seeking specialist help with social/ emotional/ thinking skills normalises what still can be a no-no subject in some places. This too is a comfort for the large and growing group of young people who we know are struggling with anxiety.
How to spell catastrophe is a novel that delivers, through the voice of Nell, much warmth and good advice. It's full of humour and looks at life through an optimistic lens. The adults in the book, from the teacher, Alex, to the parents are real and good characters. Wood has created such an authentic view of the current typical year 6 classroom and the interactions within, one wonders whether she has been a fly on the wall. The battle that Nell takes on re climate activism and the role models that she admires constitute another contemporary component of this story.
Lowen Ashleigh is a struggling writer on the brink of financial ruin when she accepts the job offer of a lifetime. Jeremy Crawford, husband of bestselling author Verity Crawford, has hired Lowen to complete the remaining books in a successful series his injured wife is unable to finish.
Lowen arrives at the Crawford home, ready to sort through years of Verity's notes and outlines, hoping to find enough material to get her started. What Lowen doesn't expect to uncover in the chaotic office is an unfinished autobiography Verity never intended for anyone to read. Page after page of bone-chilling admissions, including Verity's recollection of what really happened the day her daughter died.
Lowen decides to keep the manuscript hidden from Jeremy, knowing its contents would devastate the already grieving father. But as Lowen's feelings for Jeremy begin to intensify, she recognizes all the ways she could benefit if he were to read his wife's words. After all, no matter how devoted Jeremy is to his injured wife, a truth this horrifying would make it impossible for him to continue to love her.
This book is disturbing, creepy and thrilling... in the very best way. It was fast paced, with reasonably short chapters. Readers will be hooked from the first page. The story changes between Lowens POV and Veritys manuscript. You will be on the edge of your seat throughout and will be guessing until the very end. Colleen Hoovers writing is sensational and has written such strong characters. By the end of the story there is only one question left to ask... are you team letter? Or team manuscript?
There is a need for books for girls who are on the brink of and going through adolescence. Girls need comfort and guidance. They need to know that they are not the only ones with particular worries and experiences of growing up. Where else better can you find material and experiences that might help you but in a book? Nova Weetman understands this market. Her previous book, Sick Bay (a CBCA notable in 2019) spent no time at all on our library shelves. There was a waiting list for it; we bought extra copies. The girl's network wanted it.
The Edge of Thirteen is unashamedly a "girls' book". The cover design by Jo Hunt and the cover illustration by Bren Luke speak straight to tween girls: uncertainty, change, future. It is pink. Despite everything taught about sexual constructs etc. girls know that this book is for them and there is a time and place to be clear about audience when marketing.
The heroine of the story is thirteen- year-old Clem. Everything is changing around her. Her friends are changing; they are wearing bras and having teenage romances and they are not interested anymore in childhood pursuits. Everything comes to a climax and resolution during that hothouse experience - the school camp.
Clem is an individual with her own interests. This book is about finding who you are and working out where you fit. Clem makes mistakes and embarrasses herself but it all is part of the process of finding herself. Same-sex attraction and sexual identity is considered with great sensitivity and naturalness.
The Edge of Thirteen will be as popular and sought after as Sick Bay.
Because of content, this book is recommended for mature Middle School students.
Wendy Jeffrey
A dog's perfect Christmas by W Bruce Cameron
Pan Macmillan, 2020. ISBN: 9781529010114.
(Age: Secondary/Adult) Highly recommended. Winstead, a nine year
wolf hound becomes aware one day that his Daddy is sad. His owner
gets up in the morning with aching bones and crooked fingers, and
turns to the pillow next to his where his wife once slept. Their
house has been sold to cover the debts her illness accrued, and he
is now living with his son and his family. His granddaughter comes
in each morning to wake him, but Ello is a taciturn young girl on
the brink of becoming a teen, at odds with everything around her.
Her three year old twin brothers, Ewan and Garrett cause mayhem
within the household, and mum, Juliana cannot wait to drop all three
at school and have some time to herself, going to Target for
respite. She is meeting her husband, Hunter for lunch and has
something to tell him.
Hunter is given a promotion in his office but warned that a lack of
success means being fired. He cannot understand his wife's distress
at home, and is at a loss to help with the children or his father,
Sander, who counts the pills in the medicine cabinet. This chaotic
household is very recognisable and the descriptions poignant and
very funny. The readers' involvement builds as Juliana reveals she
is very unhappy, Hunter's work nose dives into a scrambled mess,
Ello's friends bully her and she is saddled with baby sitting Dad's
boss' son, newly arrived at school. When Mum is taken to hospital
and the diagnosis becomes dire, the family grows together, helped by
the stray puppy Ello has found on her walk home from the skating
rink. Named Ruby it becomes part of the family, a crutch for the
children as they cope with their mother's illness.
This is a beautifully written story of a family and their fractured
relationships, repaired by a stray dog which adopts them. And did I
mention this story happens at Christmas, adding another layer of
stress and the cold in Michigan in December is finger numbing.
Themes: Family, Death, Christmas, Grandparents, Suicide, Pets,
Animals, Twins, Anxiety, Michigan.
Fran Knight
The Silver Arrow by Lev Grossman
Bloomsbury Children's Books, 2020. ISBN: 9781526629418.
(Age: 9+) Highly recommended. Eleven year old Kate and her younger
brother Tom embark on a remarkable adventure in a magical steam
train aptly named The Silver Arrow. In Kate's mind her life so far
is mundane and boring as her parents are busy with work and she
feels it is time for something interesting to happen so she contacts
her wealthy Uncle Herbert and asks for a present. Uncle Herbert
delivers a steam train much to the horror of Kate and Tom's sensible
parents and they are forbidden to climb on it. However as children
do, they ignore their parents and are whisked away for the adventure
of a life time. Along the journey they collect an assortment of
talking animals who are waiting patiently at train stations in a
variety of continually changing landscapes and environments. The
steam train is their teacher while they are on the journey and
encourages the children to solve each problem thoughtfully as it
arises, as well as managing the roles of the driver, conductor and
carrying out maintenance on the train. Both Kate and Tom show
surprising resilience and perseverance to overcome some challenging
situations and they learn to work as a team. The animals befriended
by Kate and Tom finally admit that they are running away from humans
who have destroyed their habitats and they are on the brink of
extinction. The children form a close bond with the animals and grow
to understand how dangerous the human world is for them.
This is the first children's novel written by author Lev Grossman
who is well known for his Magician's trilogy. In The
Silver Arrow he has created a wonderful world of magic and
fantasy where animals have an opinion and are listened to, where two
young siblings overcome dangerous situations and learn to be kind to
each other, as well as realising the adult world is fraught with
complications. An exciting and action-packed read which young
readers who love to escape into imaginary worlds will appreciate and
enjoy. Themes: Adventure, Magic, Endangered Animals, Steam Trains,
Siblings, Fantasy.
Kathryn Beilby
How to grow a family tree by Eliza Henry-Jones
Angus & Robertson, 2020. ISBN: 9781460754955. 331pp.
(Age: 14+) Highly recommended. Stella's world is turned upside down
when her Dad's addiction sees them evicted from their modest home,
where the sister's stuff may occasionally go missing - also down to
Dad's gambling. Exiled to the Fairyland Caravan Park with her
parents and short, delinquent step-sister Taylor, Stella tells
no-one in her friendship circle - not even Clem, her best friend.
For an odd girl who reads nothing but self-help books, she has a
small but supportive group of friends. Taylor seems a misfit by
comparison but fixing people isn't Stella's only fixation. Her
natural mother has requested a meet-up. Too many chapters later, she
still hasn't opened the envelope or confided in anyone.
The Fairyland Park, is a close-knit community of fringe dwellers.
The park manager mistreats his son Michael, Taylor sleepwalks, Mum
(Judy) cries for her old home . . . everybody has problems -
even those who don't complain. Stella strives to put her how-to
information into practice with limited success but it helps her, to
give her life direction.
When Stella's real mother, Kelly, invites her to stay, the apartment
is luxurious compared to the cramped caravan, but Kelly is distant -
stunted by her past experiences. Kelly's sister Mary, makes up for
her birth mother's silence, introduces her to her curmudgeonly
grandfather and slowly Stella learns why she was given up for
adoption. Charlie, her placid step dad, saves the park mascot and
'therapy' dog, from a snake bite, but he is unable to heal himself.
When a flood threatens the caravan park, Stella knows where she
wants to be.
Stella is an eclectic young woman on the brink of leaving school and
her friends are lively and believable. Clem will be adored for his
constancy and restraint. Will his love remain unrequited? Typically,
home is where the heart is and How to Grow a Family Tree
will fill your heart and mind from the small seed of a girl's birth
spreading outward into the community - some natural, some adopted
and thankfully a heady mix of friends and neighbours. Themes:
Bildungsroman.
Deborah Robins
