Avast is an anthology of pirate tales written in various long-form styles, including a graphic novella and verse novella. Written by transgender and non-binary authors, several pieces are speculative space fiction, while others are more magical, dystopian or mythological. Even the more traditional high-seas pirate stories are given a new perspective with the range of relationships and sexualities that the characters embody. The final piece, Changelings, fits the pirate theme as the twentieth century Melbourne housemates share bootlegged CDs they have ‘borrowed’ from their workplace.
Each tale is a very different reading experience, due to the wide range of distinct worlds and characters, but the transgender theme binds them all together satisfyingly. Some of the characters appear comfortable with their gender and/or sexual orientation, while others are searching and experimenting. They are all endearing and variously deal with philosophical androids, the crew of a romance film, abducted plant sprites, entitled celestial overlords and UFOs. Despite their bizarre circumstances, the friendships, found family and tender relationships between the characters shine, and the authors tackle issues such as climate change, inequality, morality and the treatment of indigenous peoples and their lands in an engaging way that is never moralising or overbearing.
The editors draw a parallel between pirates who live outside the law and the transgender experience, and this collection makes trans authors and characters seen and heard, in all their diversity. Some pieces are easier to read than others, given the range of styles and concepts, but for an older teen looking for a challenge, this collection is both thought-provoking and fun.
Themes LGBTQI+, Found family, Pirates, Space, Speculative fiction, Anthology.
Margaret Crohn
Passions in death by J.D. Robb
Piatkus, 2024. ISBN: 9780349437446. (Age:Adult)
Another in the bestselling series starring Homicide Detective Eve Dallas, Passions in death is a police procedural that will keep readers glued to the page. Erin, a bride to be, has been murdered at her pre-wedding girls’ night out, garrotted and left in a private room at the club. The killer left behind a suitcase with a surprise, two tickets to Maui for their honeymoon, a trip that her fiancée, Shauna, had dreamt of for years. Soon Eve and Peabody are deep in the investigation, ably assisted by Roarke and Eve’s team at headquarters. The murdered woman had been well liked, surrounded by a group of caring friends and their partners. What was the motive for the murder? Who had the opportunity of sneaking into the club with the suitcase and waiting for Erin to pick it up?
Robb has written an engrossing thriller, following Dallas and her team as they interview the party goers at the club, follow up on people who knew Erin and Shauna and try to pierce together a reason for the grisly murder. The murder was cold blooded and malicious. Leaving behind the suitcase with the tickets for Shauna’s dream trip pointed to the murderer wanting to hurt Shauna as well. It takes determination and patience to discover who it is.
Books in the In Death series are invariably easy to read, with likeable main characters, a touch of humour to lighten the darkness, and a different scenario for readers to become immersed in. Passions in death is no exception and will be welcomed by fans.
Themes Murder, Police procedures.
Pat Pledger
From Gallipoli with Love: A Letter from the Trenches by Neil Doherty
Subtitled, 'A letter from the trenches,' this book of 24 pages in a picture book format is a real letter from an Australian soldier at Gallipoli, found in a box of treasures years later. The letter is presented so that younger readers can access the letter, absorbing some of the background of soldiers risking their lives on this Turkish peninsula. While reading the letter, they will more understand the man who wrote it, his motives and feelings about the whole campaign.
Private Lobwein enlisted in 1914 and was sent to Gallipoli as one in the 5th battalion. He had changed his name from the German, Lobwein to Levine. He fought for a month and then wore a letter to his sister in Queensland. He died three days later. The letter was discovered in an old wooden chest in the family home.
His brief account of his time in Gallipoli gives a personal view of the men’s lives under fire, the privations and narrow escapes.
Doherty has added the background to the letter by adding maps, drawings of the trenches, the men waiting, their leg wear and drawings of the sister, Mary reading his letter.
The whole gives a more personal look at what the war in Gallipoli was like for very ordinary men who had enlisted as privates. Younger readers will be able to see the campaign from a personal level, reminding them of why we celebrate Anzac Day.
Themes Anzac Day, World War 1, Letters, Trench warfare.
Two fish swim, each decrying their boring lives. Same old rock, same old seaweed, some old starfish they say to each other. They both wish for something to happen to make their lives more interesting. The red fish remembers that things were better yesterday. While the yellow fish cannot remember yesterday. They want something amazing to happen. Something unexpected and amazing, red fish says. As they decry their boring lives, a black shape appears behind them, growing larger as each page is turned and I defy everyone to keep the music from Jaws out of their heads!
They are both taken inside the large mouth, and now they wish for their boring loves again. Shot out of the animal, they are restored to their boring lives, reciting the same things they said before. Same old, becomes a refrain once again, the red fish noting that he wishes nothing ever happens again, while the yellow fish gives a caveat, unless it is amazing. And they both agree.
A wonderfully funny look at wishing for something, evoking the idiom, ‘be careful what you wish for,’ is a treat for young and old as the fish wish that something incredible would happen to relieve their boring, same old days.
But what happens almost ends their lives. So, the same old life is happily embraced. But…
I laughed out loud at this book, reminding me of the idiom, ‘be careful what you wish for’, combined with the idea that fish have a short attention span. Yellow fish goes along with the red fish, simply agreeing with him, but the first to say that something needs to happen, when they are expelled, reminding us of his short attention span again.
Digital illustrations by McKinnon are fabulous, the two fish taking up large part of each image, swimming around each other, looking at what is in their universe. Small adjustments to their eyes and noses give a host of behaviours as they navigate their environment, and then cope with the larger fish devouring them.
Fans of mysteries with historical figures are sure to enjoy The Death of Dora Black. Set in 1917, in Adelaide, and featuring Miss Kate Cocks and her off-sider, Ethel Bromley, the novel is an engrossing look at city life during World War 1, with Kate Cooks as the main character, the first woman in the British Empire to be employed by the police on the same salary as men. When shop assistant Dora Black is found dead on an Adelaide beach, Kate and Ethel are told to leave the solving of the murder to the men. When Dora’s colleague, another young woman working at Moore’s Department Store, also goes missing the pair are determined to find the killer.
Lainie Anderson has researched Kate Cocks and the history of Adelaide bringing the war years and the role of women to life. Kate has a reputation for wielding a cane and separating couple with the refrain ‘ Three feet apart,’ while at the same time helping unmarried mothers and their children find secure homes and jobs. Soldiers return home maimed from the battlefield and often addicted to heroin, suffering from undiagnosed post traumatic stress disorder, their wives and children sometimes living in fear. The powerful men of the state and the Adelaide Club where they meet is described, while their wives meet for afternoon tea and plan balls and uniforms, while subtly helping those in need. Kate and Ethel face a challenging time having to overcome the prejudice of men in the Police Force, who look upon them as Petticoat Police, but both are determined characters and bring intelligence and resilience to the job.
With a grisly murder, opium smugglers, young women going missing as well as a fascinating historical account of 1917 Adelaide, The Death of Dora Black is a must read for lovers of crime. I look forward to the next in the Petticoat Police Mystery series, Murder on North Terrace.
Themes Murder, Police, Adelaide - History.
Pat Pledger
Pow Wow Pig: Forest secrets by Anh Do
Allen & Unwin, 2024. ISBN: 9781761069833. (Age:7+) Highly Recommended.
Forest Secrets, the sixth book in the Pow Pow Pig series by Anh Do and illustrated by Peter Cheong, brings another action-packed adventure to its fans. Pow Pow Pig and his Z Team - comprised of Kung Fu Duck, Cha Cha Chicken and Barry the Goat - are still on their mission to reach the year 2030 and save the world. However, their journey takes another unexpected turn, landing them in the middle of a peculiar conflict in Ancient Japan.
Caught in a chaotic fruit fight between two rival groups, the foxes and the monkeys, the once-peaceful forest is now divided. As the Z Team investigates the cause of the conflict, they uncover that someone has been stealing jewellery, leaving both the monkeys and the foxes without money to survive. This theft has fuelled the animosity between the two groups, each blaming the other for their misfortunes.
Determined to restore peace and harmony, Pow Pow Pig and his friends take on the task of finding the thief. The challenge, however, is not just locating the robber but also getting the foxes and monkeys to work together. The forest dwellers have long kept to themselves and bridging the gap between these divided communities proves to be a daunting task.
Discovering the criminal, they all head deep into the treacherous forest, and the Z team try to teach the value of teamwork and friendship. Can the monkey and fox groups realise that unity is the best strategy, or will they continue to live separate lives with further unrest?
Anh Do's engaging and entertaining storytelling, combined with Peter Cheong's lively illustrations, makes Forest Secrets a delightful read for audiences of all ages. The book blends humour, adventure and valuable life lessons, making it an excellent addition to the Pow Pow Pig series. A fun and easy read, that will engage even those reluctant readers.
Unity, cooperation and the true power of friendship; the Z team never disappoint!
Themes Acceptance, Kindness, Bravery, Humour, Adventure, Problem solving, Friendship.
Another in the series of ‘oi’ books will be well received, children recalling the humour in the story, the hilarious illustrations and the inherent silliness of the whole. I for one, love them.
Dog asks the frog and the cat what dinosaurs sat on. But the frog imperiously tells them that sitting was not invented then. Dog is stunned, imagine having such a huge bottom and not be able to sit. But says dog, dinosaurs could not imagine anything because of the smallness of their brains. After this discussion the book begins the pattern followers of the ‘oi’ books are familiar with. Rhyming pairs of lines introduce the name of a dinosaur and something which rhymes with it. Children willl laugh out loud at the resulting humour, not only with the words, but the hilarious illustrations by Jim Field, depicting several dinosaurs in the most precarious of positions, sitting down. Pterosaurs didn’t sit on bendy straws, tricerotopses didn’t sit on lollipopses and diplodocus didn’t sit on crocus. Children will love predicting the rhyming words and find lots of humour in the wonderful illustrations.
The discussion between the three animals becomes more and more involved as they ponder on when animals did know how to sit and what they sat on. Their discussion flows on to prehistoric animals, the animals of the modern era, leading to when they learnt to sit. All is great fun, and the last couple of pages turns the discussion neatly around to a hilarious comment by the dog.
Anything about dinosaurs captures readers’ attention, and this one full of humour will tickle their imaginations. Not only does it reinforce the names of the dinosaurs, but the end papers also show images of many of them, which kids will use to test each other. I love the sabre tooth sitting on his stone age mat, and the titan boas on a ride on mowers. Every page is full of lively funny words, captured beautifully by the illustrations. Children and adults alike will have lots of fun with this book.
Themes Read aloud, Humour, Dinosaurs.
Fran Knight
Dragon folding by Christopher Cheng. Illus. by Lucia Masciullo
A beautiful study of loneliness and friendship awaits all who open this captivating book. We are taken to a street where a Dragon Tree fills the front yard. Children in the street loved to play near it, recognising the place dragons have in the house called Dragon Hall. When his wife was still there, the house was full of warmth as Mrs Singer painted dragons and Mr Singer baked cakes for the children, but since she has gone, the place looks derelict and the dragons in the windowsill have lost their oomph. The people in the street are concerned. Evan knocks on Mr Singer’s door. He has brought a piece of paper and asks Mr Singer to help him fold a dragon.
Mr Singer says no as his finger no longer work and sends Evan off to try folding by himself. He tries and tries, his pieces of paper ending up as discarded balls of paper on the floor and table. Mr Singer gets up to help, and with Evan’s quick fingers and Mr SInger’s guidance the dragons come together. The very next day, Mr Singer decides to make a Dragon Forest Cake and he hums for the first time in a long time. And things in the street have changed. Children play under the Dragon Tree again and eat Mr Singer’s cakes. Dragon Hall looks just like it once did and the folded dragons hang in the tree. The neighbourhood is helping Mr Singer and he is happy; the community is strong and resilient.
A wonderful tale of the power of one small child, and the support of a community shows that people do not have to be alone. Mr Singer opts to take himself out of the friendship the community offers and Evan beguilingly sees a way back.
Lucia Masciullo’s illustrations are inviting. They are redolent of the closeness of a strong community aware that one of their number is not as happy as he was. They are concerned and helpful, but it takes a small boy to get him opening his doors once again. The images of the street, with its cottages and picket fences tell of an inner-city suburb where a mix of people live. Everyone is concerned at the deterioration of the house and Mr Singer and wish to help him back into the friendship and support offered.
The beautiful pencil and watercolour illustrations create a feeling of a life lived with friends next door, where children played in the streets and everyone knew each other. The beginning and end of the book pictures this warmth, easily lost when one person is removed from the group, and the illustrations show the effects it has on everyone.
I typed 'origami dragon' into Google and found several sets of instructions of how to make an origami dragon, but it is far more complex than a crane.
Lauren James’ latest book is a bit of a departure from her usual science-fiction / dystopian / supernatural themes, see Green rising (2021) , The reckless life of Harriet Stoker (2020), The quiet at the end of the world (2019). Last seen online is still a mystery novel, but the focus is most definitely on the online world of social media, fanfiction and chats, beginning with a situation at school that leads to a round of memes and gifs that amount to cyberbullying. It sets the stage for showing how much images and video can be manipulated. However Delilah, the object of all this attention, soon finds herself drawn into a different online scenario. Her obsession with true crime podcasts finds her exploring a decades-old case, the murder of an actor in a cult paranormal TV show, which starred the mother of her new romantic crush, Sawyer. Sawyer doesn’t believe his convicted godfather, Rob Hennings, is guilty.
James’s novel becomes a collection of messages, scene scripts, blog posts and comments sections. Key information comes from retrieved posts from missing blogger ‘gottiewrites’, but are her posts real or fake? The comments below her posts argue amongst themselves about her credibility. Delilah prides herself on tracking down hidden information, but the deeper she goes, the more it seems that she and Sawyer may be putting their lives at risk. The world of fake personas is dangerous territory, and it’s possible there is a murderer still at large.
I like how Lauren James keeps the reader engaged with the murder mystery, but at the same time, demonstrates just how easily one can be sucked in by masked identities, and shows the viciousness of online commenters who feel free to express their dislike and hatred without thinking of the feelings of people on the receiving end. This is truly a novel for present times and is relevant to every teenage reader.
The other interesting thing about this book is the way Delilah’s family is portrayed. She has two mothers, but they are not what you might think. Delilah’s father has transitioned to become ‘Mama’. This is mentioned quite naturally in passing and is not a focal issue. There is no fuss. Her parents, Mom and Mama, are going through a difficult time in their relationship but it has nothing to do with their sexuality, but more about acceptance of personality differences. Like any child of separating parents, Delilah hopes that they will reunite. It is their shared concern for Delilah that brings them together again.
For the mystery addict there is so much fun to be had with this book, there are ‘all these layers of what the reader knew, what the fan knew, what the fan’s readers knew, what the actors knew, and what they all wanted people to believe had happened’ (Lauren James Q&A). It’s a twisty plot, and one I’m sure that YA readers will enjoy.
Themes Mystery, Social media, Obsession, Stalking, Fanfiction, Catfishing, Corruption.
Helen Eddy
Brielle and Bear by Salomey Doku
Harper Fire Books, 2024. ISBN: 9780008617561. (Age:12-17) Recommended.
Brielle is a fairytale expert and first year student at Once Upon a Time University, after having moved away for four years. She has a part time job in the campus bookshop where she literally bumps into Atohi 'Bear' Yonas, the handsome rugby player from the ‘Princes’ rugby team and it seems she has met her Prince Charming. Scattered through the story are bubbles reminding us of the rules of fairytales and rule number two is that ‘ordinary people fall into adventures when they least expect it’ and the two shyly get to know each other. Rule number four is that ‘a fairytale is not complete without a ‘good’ villain’, in this case Pavao Castelo, the most popular society boy on campus who seems to have some relationship history with Brielle that she prefers to forget. Bear is confused about Pavao's relationship with her and Brielle sees Bear chatting to another girl, so they must respond to fairytale rule number five, ‘that obstacles are overcome by hard work, courage, friendship and love. And sometimes magic’.
Packed with beautiful characters, in a colourful fantasy world full of energy, flowers, hearts and butterflies this is pure unapologetic romantic escapism. Every page is packed with wonderful illustrations, consistent characterization and a creative visual language. At the end of the book Salomey reveals her process in creating the book with early character designs that reflect the diversity of a modern university experience as well as drawing inspiration from Disney characters. The pages at the end give an insight into the step-by-step work and thought that has gone into creating something that looks fresh, fun and effortless, a real achievement. Readers hungry for more can access the webtoon of the story on Salomey Doku’s website and other online platforms.
Brock the Croc is an entertaining, fast-paced adventure written by Adrian Beck, with dynamic black-and-white illustrations by Dean Rankine. This short novel, cleverly combining text and graphic elements, takes readers on a wild ride through the lively Saltbush Swamp, a place where the animals live happily and have fun, all under the watchful eye of their legendary crocodile friend, Brock.
Brock is admired by all the swamp's inhabitants, hailed as a hero and the epitome of bravery, but the story takes a dramatic turn when Grunter and the humans arrives on the scene. Grunter is the quintessential villain - a greedy, selfish property developer with plans to transform the world into a concrete jungle, beginning with beautiful Saltbush Swamp. This powerful and putrid character brings a wave of anxiety and fear to the otherwise peaceful community, threatening their idyllic way of life. The fate of Saltbush Swamp hangs in the balance, and it's up to Brock to prove if he's truly the legend everyone believes him to be or just a pretender basking in unwarranted glory.
Packed with humour and gags galore, Brock the Croc will appeal to readers who enjoy a good laugh, along with action and adventure. The vivid illustrations by Dean Rankine perfectly complement Beck’s lively storytelling, bringing the characters and setting to life with energy and charisma. The book is ideal for young readers who are drawn to fast-paced narratives and visual storytelling, making it a great choice for those transitioning from picture books to chapter books.
Beneath the humour and action, Brock the Croc delivers a heartfelt message about courage, friendship, and standing up to protect what matters most. With an underlying message of environmental protection and avoiding overdevelopment, this book packs a punch and will have you eagerly awaiting the next instalment.
Themes Conservation, Wildlife, Perseverance, Teamwork, Friendship, Causation, Problem Solving.
Michelle O'Connell
G.O.A.T. by Kate Temple and Jol Temple. Illus. by Rebel Challenger
Goat maintains that he is the best. When challenged he points out that GOAT means ‘greatest of all times’ although the duck says that he thought it meant ‘gobbles oats and tyres.’ We have a lovely tale of opposites, as the animals all make use of their initials to make another series of words. Thus, Cow becomes ‘coolest overalls wearer,’ even though she does not wear overalls. Donkey is saddled with ‘devourer of nice kind easter yams,’ and termites ‘terrible eaters really must investigate the exploding sausages’. Any of the animals are intrigued with Goat’s view of himself and offer different versions of using the four letters to produce a different phrase. G.O.A.T. is also, ‘grunts often at termites,’ and 'glorious octopus arms twister,’ while the starting point ‘greatest of all time’ keeps popping up as other animals take it as their own. The animals spar with each other as the talk about the meaning of the four letters, finally coming to the consensus of everyone becoming a G.O.A.T.
This very funny picture book will delight younger readers as they see the animals discussing the acronym, GOAT. They will have a great deal of fun working out acronyms of the words for the animals, and brainstorm acronyms they have seen used as well.
Challenger’s illustrations will enthuse the readers with a deeper understanding of the fun to be had with acronyms, while portraying the animals with human qualities. They debate the term greatest, thinking they all deserve this adjective. Kids will love seeing the animals’ expressions and stances change as they challenge the donkey, and children will be able to talk Nobu the body language seen in the book.
I love the endpapers, the first showing sausages being thrown while on the last endpaper, we see all the animals shown through the book.
The last page of the book gives another level of humour, as the octopus is not sure whether he can be included. More about the illustrator, Rebel Challenger can be found here. And the authors, Kate and Jo Temple can be found here.
Themes Acronyms, Humour, Animals.
Fran Knight
Your head’s not the place to store problems by Josh Pike. Illus. by S.M.K.
In verses, Pyke leads the reader to gain some initial understanding of what their brain is for. The mind is a storage unit and can hold loads of things, sometimes so much that you may feel like it will explode.
Sometimes the problems seem heavy, sometimes so loud, and sometimes it feels full to the brim. But the mind is not the place to store problems.
Some thoughts are enormous, others seem small, and there is a friend who seems able to store lots of things. But not problems. A shift from the brain to life occurs as Pyke ignites the idea that life is not the place to store problems in. And the idea is postulated, asking where are the storage place for the problems and stresses of life. There is no place for them to be stored. They should be shared and set free, not kept, but let out. Once that is done there is much more space for kinder thoughts, so even though the brain seems full to the brim, there is no need for these to be problems.
A wonderful entreaty for kids not to be overwhelmed by problems, or dark thoughts, or stress. With this humorous play with words and ideas a teacher, care giver or active reader is enabled to discuss the problems that do exists and give children a path to walk down and share what troubles them. The text reinforces the idea that storing problems is not the province of their brain. Certainly, sometimes there are deep dark thoughts, but the text encourages them to let them out, talk about them, share them and not hold them to themselves.
Stephen Michael King’s whimsical illustrations will entertain the readers as they see the words reflected in the images on each page. From dogs to dinosaurs, dragons and snakes, umbrellas and cupboards and lots of hats, each page will delight the imaginations of the readers as they follow the journey made by the little dog. The squiggles and shapes on the endpapers are repeated throughout the story, prompting thoughts about their presence, what they might mean and why they are there. Lots of cogs and wheels, shapes and solids, lines and squiggles will entrance the reader, coming to grips with the idea of sharing their down times.
Mental health is a focus in all households and classrooms, and here is an inviting book which underlies the place of stresses or worries. Kids are encouraged to share, let out, see them off as the book through an enticing text and wonderful illustrations stress the idea that the brain is not the place for problems, and gives them a roadmap of how to part with them.
Writing the true account of an abusive childhood must be so difficult, in this case a retelling by the the author of her mother Debbie’s life growing up emotionally rejected and neglected by her single parent Stella. However with this book Taylor-Johnson has not only enabled a cathartic release of memories, but has managed to balance the appalling recounts with an uplifting tribute to Debbie’s resilience and sense of humour. Debbie may have been a ‘Little bit’ but she comes across as an incredibly resourceful and optimistic character who manages to break the cycle of abuse.
Taylor-Johnson’s approach is a prudent one; she breaks down the story into alternating chapters from three different voices, her own as Heather writing the book, her mother Debbie, and her grandmother ‘Stella’. Heather leaves her family at home in Australia to undertake a writer’s residency in America, and undertakes the task of working through Debbie’s recordings of her childhood memories. This strategy of including her own voice as writer provides an opportunity for reflections on her mother’s experience and also to consider episodes that don’t actually make it into Debbie’s memoir. It’s an interesting insight into the dilemmas that a writer encounters about what to include and what not to include, and even how to end the book.
Then there is Stella’s voice. This is a fictionalised representation as Stella is dead, she can’t speak for herself. And while there is no good side, no happy memories that Debbie is able to contribute for these parts of the book, Taylor-Johnson does manage to invoke, if not empathy, at least some insight into what may have contributed to Stella’s behaviour. Without the alternating voices of Heather and Stella, the account of Debbie’s childhood could well have been too disturbing to countenance for the duration of the novel. The chapters are short, and move quickly between the voices, so it is easy to keep reading.
There are episodes that will stay in your mind: the little girl left alone in an apartment for a week, a tray of lasagne meant to last her for that time, and then the image of her trekking through the dark and cold to check on her mother in hospital. But the bleakness is countered by the irrepressible spirit of a child who is incredibly resourceful; she smiles and laughs and sees the funny side of things. She is popular at school, she loves music, she’s clever and makes a life for herself, and she eventually finds the love she deserves. She may have been a ‘little bit’ but she was the little bit that Stella couldn’t have lived without.
Taylor-Johnson’s book is a loving tribute to a woman who has endured, survived and succeeded. While Debbie never had the love and care she wanted from her mother, clearly her relationship with her daughter is one to be proud of.
How to break a world record and survive grade five by Carla Fitzgerald
University of Queensland Press, 2024. ISBN: 9780702268717. (Age:9+) Highly recommended.
How to Break a World Record and Survive Grade 5 by Carla Fitzgerald is a heart-warming and humorous story that captures the trials and tribulations of an eleven-year-old with big dreams and even bigger challenges.
The protagonist, Sam, is fascinated with world records and is determined to set one himself. When given a school project, to talk about your proudest moment, he feels even more overshadowed by those around him and becomes obsessed with having a standout moment of his own. Feeling that he doesn’t have anything worthy to get a good mark or be ridiculed by his class peers about, Sam becomes obsessed with setting a world record.
His fixation takes over and he loses all perspective on everything that he is already doing in life. With his mum stretched thin working two jobs to keep the household running, his sister to keep an eye on, a fridge that doesn’t keep things cold and a grumpy old neighbour, Sam endeavours to still keep the world record at the top of his priorities.
But when he is eventually forbidden to continue his record attempts, after a particularly wasteful challenge, and he has already lost his only friendship, Sam is left devastated. Determined to make things right, and still win the awards that he dreams of, Sam sets out with a new plan. But is a world record what will make him the proudest, or are there other things that mean so much more?
Fitzgerald writes another amusing yet thought provoking story to beautifully highlight themes of self-acceptance, family bonds, and the importance of looking beyond accolades to find true worth. The narrative is not only relatable for young readers but also imparts valuable life lessons about resilience, the power of perspective and most of all thoughtfulness.
How to Break a World Record and Survive Grade 5 is a touching and insightful read, perfect for middle-grade readers who enjoy relatable characters and a little humour. This would also make a great read aloud for primary years classes.
Themes World Records, Resilience, Family, Friendship, Problem solving, Creativity.
