Announcement: CBCA Notables List 2021

The Children’s Book Council of Australia (CBCA) kicked off its quest for Book of the Year yesterday by announcing the Notables List and we couldn't be more proud seeing one of  our very own KBR regular contributors, Penny Harrison's Bronte: Me and My Boots listed among them. 

Equally thrilling to see Tania McCartney's and Stephanie Owen-Reeder's Australia's Wild Weird Wonderful Weather there, too. Bravo girls and good luck! Hearty congratulations to all this year's Notables. A fine selection indeed.

CBCA National Chair Wendy Rapee said it was a year when we needed stories more than ever, and our storytellers came through with a record-breaking number of tales offering touchstones of comfort and stepping stones to guide young Australians through tumultuous times.

“Our creators and publishers also had a difficult year, and I’m thrilled the CBCA Book of the Year received 526 entries – once again breaking records and demonstrating the continuing strength of the Australian children’s book industry,” Ms Rapee said.

“In keeping with the CBCA Book Week theme for 2021, ‘Old Worlds, New Worlds, Other Worlds’, our 95 Notable books offer beautiful and challenging representations of Australia’s people, landscapes and histories. They feature contemporary and ancient themes told in many different voices, including the voices of our Indigenous peoples.

“This year’s entries show a real depth of understanding about young Australians and the way they think. As well as food and talking animals, which will always be at the heart of younger children’s books, the Notables celebrate ways of exploring new realities – the after-effects of the bushfires, homelessness and non-traditional families, for example.”

Ms Rapee had special advice for parents and teachers of young adults.

“If you’d like to know what concerns, or provokes passion, within your high school child or student, then we encourage you to share a book from the Older Reader category with them. They are the perfect vehicle to start a conversation, share insights, and ultimately, reach an understanding of the challenges, fears and joys of our young minds. Pick one for your book club and you will be rewarded with a rich reading experience.”

Mother and daughter authors Pamela and Allison Rushby have separate titles in this year’s Younger Readers Notables List, joining a standout group of dedicated and experienced writers in the category including former CBCA Book of the Year winners Kate Constable, Bren MacDibble and Sally Murphy.

Also on the 2021 Notables List are former CBCA Book of the Year Award winners Bronwyn Bancroft, Freya Blackwood, Jackie French, Bob Graham, Libby Hathorn, Dub Leffler, Alison Lester, Garth Nix, Jaclyn Moriarty, and Margaret Wild. Debut novelists include Anna Whateley and Julianne Negri.

Many of this year’s Early Childhood books departed from the fantastical settings of previous years and are positioned in the real world. This year, a particular strength has been bold and quirky designs and illustrations that invite young readers to reach out and touch the pages. Written to be read aloud and performed, these books encourage the growth of visual literacy in the very young while giving adult readers a lot of joy.

The CBCA is a not-for-profit, volunteer-run organisation which aims to engage the community with literature for young Australians.

Regarded as Australia’s most prestigious children’s literature award, the CBCA Book of the Year was established in 1946 and is now presented in six categories: Older Readers, Younger Readers, Early Childhood, Picture Book, Eve Pownall Award and CBCA Award for New Illustrator.

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Review: What Zola Did on Thursday

It’s Thursday, and today Zola is practicing her trombone. Zola’s family are not 100% keen on her trombone playing, but all Zola’s friends who live on or around Boomerang Street are fans, all with musical passions of their own. 

Practice time is filled with the sounds of musical instruments and singing. And it’s a good thing all the kids are practicing, too. Because the school has just announced there’s going to be a community talent quest. 

All the kids are keen to enter a musical performance, but when all the solo spots are taken and the only spots left are for groups, the kids of Boomerang street need to come up with a different solution. 

The 'What Zola Did' series is a charming junior fiction collection filled with emotion, friendship and family. These books are super easy to read, making them perfect for kids tackling chapter books for the first time, and all revolve around relatable and simple friendship activities, making them easy for kids to connect with.

What Zola Did on Thursday is, you guessed it, the fourth in the series, and comes after What Zola Did on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. Read together, each expands on Zola’s world and life on Boomerang Street, but each can be plucked from the bookshelf and read alone so you don’t have to start at the beginning. 

If you looking for a lovely and easy chapter book series for a beginner reader you know, this series is a winner. Melinda Marchetta brings so much heart to these stories as she builds the Boomerang community in each book. Family, friends, neighbours and teachers all come together, creating a supportive and magical group of characters that help each other and have loads of fun.

Deb Hudson’s illustrations are also pure delight, and there are lots of them peppered throughout, supporting new readers to transition to novels. 

What Zola Did on Thursday is happiness in book form, and with only three days left in the series, I cannot wait to see where we go.

Title: What Zola Did on Thursday
Author: Melina Marchetta 
Illustrator: Deb Hudson
Publisher: Penguin, $12.99  
Publication Date: 2 February 2021
Format: Paperback
ISBN: 9781760895181
For ages: 6 - 9
Type: Junior Fiction

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10 Quirky Questions with author Meg McKinlay

1. What's your hidden talent?
I’m not sure I hide any of my talents! You have to make the most of what you have. But there is one sort of odd thing: as a lifelong stutterer, I’ve learned to run a conversation along two tracks - the one you can hear, and the one in my head. While I’m speaking, I’m constantly also ‘reading ahead’, spotting problem words – hard consonants and tricky combinations – coming towards me, and hunting smoother alternatives.

2. Who is your favourite literary villain and why?
Boo Radley, because he turns out not to be a villain but just misunderstood, and because people are complex and ambiguous and the apparently villainous are very rarely just that.

3. You're hosting a literary dinner party, which five authors would you invite? (alive or dead)
Margaret Atwood and China Mieville, because not only are they independently brilliant and fascinating, but I heard them in conversation at a Writers Festival once, and it was one of the best double acts I’ve ever seen. The way they bounced off each other was nothing short of spectacular. I’d throw Shaun Tan into the mix because he’s thoughtful and quirky and articulate and I have a feeling his mind would bounce off theirs in some really interesting ways. I’d put the remaining two spots up for auction and retire on the proceeds.

4. Which literary invention do you wish was real?
The Great Glass Elevator!

5. What are five words that describe your writing process?
Chaotic, intuitive, method meets mayhem.

6. Which are the five words you would like to be remembered by as a writer?
Thoughtful, thought-provoking, honest, weird, Meggish.

7. Picture your favourite writing space. What are five objects you would find there?
Big window with view of a birdbath, books of all kinds, notepaper made of scrap paper (because I love flipping it over and seeing fragments of our family history while I scribble), smoothly flowing black ink uniball pen, Tok Tok Tok badge, from Shaun Tan’s Cicada.

8. Grab the nearest book, open it to page 22 and look for the second word in the first sentence. Now, write a line that starts with that word. (Please include the name of the book!)
My word is ‘though’ and it’s from The Telegraph Big Book of Cryptic Crosswords: Though the night was dark, their way was illuminated by hundreds of tiny fireflies.

9. If you could ask one author one question, what would the question be and who would you ask?
I would ask Frané Lessac: Why did the chicken cross the ditch?

10. Which would you rather do: 'Never write another story or never read another book'?
I feel like every author’s answer to this is going to be an exercise in creatively circumventing the question! After my initial response of: Oh, dear god, I’ve decided I’d give up writing stories. I’ll write poems instead. Long, narrative poems. And if I string enough of them together … I think you get the idea.

Meg McKinlay grew up in Bendigo, Victoria, in a book-loving, TV- and car-free household. On the long and winding path to becoming a children’s writer, she has worked a variety of jobs including swim instructor, tour guide, translator and teacher. These days, she lives with her family near the ocean in Fremantle and divides her time between teaching and writing, a balance that swings wildly between chaos and calm. She is always busy cooking up more books and you can visit her on the web at www.megmckinlay.com.

 

 

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Review: The Reality Slap - New Edition

What are Reality Slaps? They are the knocks you get on your journey through life. Everyone experiences them, some daily; others less frequently. When faced with loss of any kind, whether a friendship, personal partnership, job or whatever, crisis and grief occur. Our emotions whip us into submission and we wallow in grief if we don’t have the tools to overcome.

This cross-over, non-fiction book on how to survive and thrive when life hits hard, is a fully revised and updated, new edition of  The Reality Slap by the author of The Happiness Trap, Dr Russ Harris. 

It is not only for adults but an ideal read for mature, older children that find life challenging and without answers. Also, for parents that choose to use these insightful methods to advise their children on how to cope with painful thoughts and feelings.

The descriptive language used to describe human emotions clarifies feelings and responses through words of hope, and offer the opportunity to find a way towards change; an exciting and inspiring journey.

The book consists of three parts: Regroup, Rebuild and Revitalise, based on an approach called Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) which helps deal with the difficulties that occur in life.

Harris advises that the single most important beginning when facing loss, crisis and trauma, is to focus on what’s in your control so you are not swept away by pain. These emotions come in many forms. Therefore, grieving rituals, associated with all types of loss, are helpful and therapeutic with suggestions and examples always included.

With advice on how to weather emotional storms, exercises to practice naming the thinking pattern, and emotional control strategies, Harris guides the reader into emotional awareness, which presents interesting analogies of the choices we have when faced with a blow.

Kind self-talk is imperative, as are the benefits and guidance on self-compassion. When rebuilding your life, walls are built on brick at a time. This step-by-step approach will help with self-defeating thoughts and self-growth.

Transform your reality. Here are the skills to do so if that’s what you choose.

With this helpful book, you are about to embark on a voyage of discovery; to explore a difficult feeling and see it with new eyes.

A free eBook – The Reality Slap, Extra Bits, which contains additional resources, can be downloaded from the ‘Free Resources’ page of the website https://ift.tt/1r4kJAZ    

Title: The Reality Slap - New Edition
Author: Dr Russ Harris
Publisher: Exisle, $34.99
Publication Date: 10 November 2020
Format: Paperback
ISBN: 9781925820911
For ages: 16+
Type: Self Help

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Review: A Natural History of Fairies

Do you believe in fairies?

They could be hiding around you, practically in plain sight.

And this book could be what makes you question any doubts, and make you believe.

An elaborate and beautifully designed book, A Natural History of Fairies is a carefully documented collection of information, a notebook encyclopedia, about various fairy species.

It's purported to be the work of a botanist named Professor Arbour, who lived 100 years ago and kept a notebook of findings which has been passed on and preserved.

What it will do is prompt exploration of the natural world, animals, habitats and so on, using the mythical creatures known as fairies.

A Natural History of Fairies guides readers through the anatomy and other features, behaviour and habitats of fairies from all over the world. You could find them living in gardens, woodlands, jungles, and even inside houses (in the nooks and crannies where you'd never look).

Professor Arbour has documented many fairy species, from the Cactus Fairy of Mexico, and the Cherry Blossom Fairy of Japan, to the UK's Holly Blue Fairy, Australia's Blue Mountain Fairy, and the Penguin Fairy from Antarctica.

Learn how they camouflage themselves, and how they survive sometimes extreme environments.

The often nocturnal fairy adapts to its surroundings, loves honey, and has favourite plants with which they share a special relationship. Many also have animal friends, like the Woodpecker Fairy who rides on the bird's back, and helps keep it clean, picking off ticks! 

If you listen and look closely when fairy spotting, you might hear them, or even discover some of their unusual fairy writing. 

Before you go fairy spotting, though, read the Professor's advice on how to do so, and how important it is to protect the environment and creatures who live in it.

The thick, embossed cover of A Natural History of Fairies seems somewhat extravagant, yet completely appropriate. The book's content is highly creative, and the olde worlde design and illustrations beautifully complement the text.

A Natural History of Fairies is a gorgeous, imaginative exploration of a mythical creature, which will appeal to children who are enchanted by the idea of fairies.

A special book that would make a wonderful gift.

Title: A Natural History of Fairies
Author: Emily Hawkins
Illustrator: Jessica Roux
Publisher: Frances Lincoln Children's, $ 35
Publication Date: 2020
Format: Hardcover
ISBN: 9781786037633
For ages: 6+
Type: Picture Book

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Review: Plantastic! A to Z of Australian Plants

Plantastic! is super fantastic. That’s all I have to say.

No, actually, I’ve got loads more to say!

An exploration of 26 native Australian plants, Plantastic! A to Z of Australian Plants by Catherine Clowes delivers joy and wonder in an accessible and engaging way.

From Acacia to Zieria, it introduces readers to the beautiful plants of Australia. For each plant you’ll find the common name, scientific name, a detailed and super interesting description, pictures, a plantastic fact and a plantastic activity.

The descriptions explore interesting things about each plant that make you think ‘wow’ and ‘cool’ and ‘I didn’t know that’. Some plants are edible, some have medicinal uses, some have killer enemies and some actually kill and consume insects. Yikes!

The pictures are illustrations rather than photos, which I adore. It’s different and engaging, and it makes you want to run your fingers over every page. There are a few different illustrations for each plant, and they are glorious and detailed. The cover gives you a sneak peek at what to expect. Rachel Gyan, your illustrations warm my heart!

The next thing I love? The plantastic activities turn this book from a simple information exchange to an interactive treasure hunt. They encourage readers to get outside and look for the plants, with notes on special features to look out for.

At the back of the book you’ll find a helpful glossary and the most fabulous map that allows you to very easily look up the location of all the plants. You can quickly check which plants grow where you live and then start your searching adventures.

Circling round to the beginning, there is also a brilliant ‘how to use this book’ page, which has some really helpful information tailored for young adventures. Clowes provides some great advice about sticking to paths to protect plants, checking before you pick things and ‘taking only pictures, leaving only footprints.’ She also provides important cautions about eating plants if you are unsure of what they are.

Welcoming, encouraging and inspiring, Plantastic! is a book for all. Kids, adults, families, classrooms, this a book to devour with friends and beautiful inspiration for outdoor adventures in the stunning wilds of Australia.

In Clowes own words… time to go on a plantastic journey.

p.s - If you are a classroom interested in this book, make sure to check out the detailed and comprehensive teacher notes on the CSIRO Publishing website. They've got you covered with a HUGE range of activities across a range of subjects. 

Title: Plantastic! A to Z of Australian Plants 
Author: Catherine Clowes
Illustrator: Rachel Gyan
Publisher: CSIRO Publishing, $29.99  
Publication Date: February 2021
Format: Hardback
ISBN: 9781486313211
For ages: 6 - 12 
Type: Junior Non-Fiction

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Review: The Tree

To live harmoniously in a close environment and consistently share what you have with others, is sometimes hard. Jealousy and envy can destroy relationships and end friendships. This happened to the animals that all lived in the same tree.

Good friends Cow and Duck live together in a giant tree that supplies them with an abundance of their favourite food. Other smaller animals also share homes and sustenance within its branches and roots. There was more than enough for them all.

When Cow feels the need for change, she builds a comfortable place for herself and fences it off. This creates the first rift. Duck, offended, digs a bunker at the base with a secret entrance and a key. 

Two solitary and separate lives form.

 It is a storm that alters their lives again. The tree withstands the storm as its branches bend and weave with the wind. But the two friends aren't as flexible.

Desperate to maintain her ownership of the tree, Cow saws and cuts, until the tree is disfigured.

Duck fences up everything around him, as if an invasion is imminent. He too, has secured his area.

A second storm tests the tree. With no branches to bend, the tree is uprooted. All the animals become homeless. They need each other now more than ever.

It is a long time till a shoot becomes a sapling. Now the two friends, together again, water and care for the promise of new life. When big enough, there is no thought for doors and fences. No branches cut. All the animals return home.  

Through stunning artwork combined with clever text, Graeme Base, focuses on the importance of getting along with each other, sharing what you have as there is always enough for all, and protecting at all cost, the living things in nature, particularly trees.

Title: The Tree
Author/Illustrator: Graeme Base
Publisher: Penguin, $24.99
Publication Date: 3 November 2020
Format: Hardcover
ISBN: 9781760897048
For ages: 5+
Type: Picture Book

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Review: Backyard Bugs

Look What I'm Reading! Sue Warren

Hey there, Sue Warren here! I’m a teacher-librarian and have been for many years. Currently I’m in charge of the library service at a large independent college on the south side of beautiful Brisbane. 

Nobody in my family was at all surprised when my classroom teaching progressed into the library as I have always read voraciously since I was three years old. I love the variety involved with the teacher-librarian role and have worked and taught in many different settings.

Which children’s book are you currently reading?
I’ve just started Listen, Layla - Yassmin Abdel-Magied, for review. This is the second book about Layla and I’m loving it! The first one was You Must be Layla.

Can you tell us in two sentences what the book is about?
In this narrative Layla is struggling to reconcile an urgent trip back to Sudan, to visit her ill grandmother, and her potential trip overseas with her Grand Designs Tourismo inventions team, plus her selection as Australian representative for the Special International Invention tour. The political unrest in Sudan is confronting and makes Layla’s internal conflict about her own identity more intense.

How much did you enjoy/are enjoying this title?
Layla is Australian/Sudanese and Muslim and this own voices book (and its predecessor) gives real insight into straddling two cultures from a teen perspective. From this point of view I feel it’s extremely relevant, particularly in my own college where we have a predominantly non-Anglo population.

I particularly love that it’s set in Brisbane as our city often seems to get left out of YA. Besides all this Layla is great fun and a wonderful role model for young women.

What made you choose this title? Was it a review, advertising, the cover, the blurb, the author/illustrator, or the subject/genre?
This is a review title sent within the last week and because I enjoyed the first so much, it was bumped up to the top of my TBR pile! It does have a great cover too as well.

What other titles are on your bedside table /To Read Pile?
Too many to mention! I’ve been very busy during the school holidays but still have approximately 40 books – YA, non-fiction, picture books and junior fiction to try to get through – and lo! The courier just delivered another box. But next on my bedside table is The Court of Miracles Trilogy: Book 1 – Kester Grant.

How did you come by these titles: personal choice/request, publisher’s review copy, or other?
I’m sent many review books from a number of publishers – most are just sent out to me as they are well aware that I review a wide-ranging array of genres and levels and I have now been doing reviews for about nine years. I will sometimes specifically request a title though, which are usually adult books that I’m dying to read. 

Do you have a favourite genre? If so, what is it, and why do you prefer it?
I love historical fiction. I’ve always been a bit of a history nerd and I absolutely love that I can read quality historical fiction and not only engage with the narrative but learn more about the particular period. Without doubt, Jackie French is my dead-set favourite for these – who could not fall in love with Miss Lily or the Matilda series? I also love biographies – probably because I’m essentially a sticky-beak! The last one I requested, gobbled up and reviewed which was just splendid was Wild Thing: the short, spellbinding life of Jimi Hendrix – Philip Norman. I’d previously read other bios by Norman and knew it would be excellent.

Do you read from printed books or some other medium? Please expand a little on the why of your choice.
I prefer print – I’m old school that way. I love the smell of new books and the anticipation of turning each page. That being said because I have a one hour commute each way to school I do get through a lot of audio books as well – these most definitely are generally adult books and often something quite light and entertaining like ChickLit.

Just So Stories: http://losangzopa.wordpress.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Lossie56
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/losangz/

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12 Curly Questions with author/illustrator Tom Tinn-Disbury

1. Tell us something hardly anyone knows about you.
I am part of a WhatsApp group called 'Dogs doing stuff' and it is me and several dog-loving friends. We mainly send pictures of our dogs doing silly stuff or dogs we might see out and about.

2. What is your nickname?
I have several, Tommy, Tombo, Diz, Dizzy, T to the Dizzle, T-dog, Tommy Tucker Boy Boy Boy (that's my dad's pet name for me). It all depends who I’m with.

3. What is your greatest fear?
Polystyrene and clowns

4. Describe your writing style in 10 words.
As funny and heartfelt as I can possibly be. There.

5. Tell us five positive words that describe you as a writer.
Really very mostly extra good.

6. What book character would you be, and why?
Probably an Oompa Lompa from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory because I get to live and work in the amazing factory but I don’t have the pressure of running it.

7. If you could time travel, what year would you go to and why?
Probably to next year when hopefully the world is a bit more back to normal and I can go to a concert or theatre show!

8. What would your 10-year-old self say to you now?
“You do what!? As a job? Does that mean I don’t have to go to school now?” I would reply and say “No, you still have to go to school!”

9. Who is your greatest influence?
In recent years, Oliver Jeffers made me realise that picture books can be for everyone, not just children and that made me want to pursue illustrating them as a career. Over my lifetime, the powerhouse team of Quentin Blake and Roald Dahl, I still go back to those books for inspiration.

10. What/who made you start writing?
Sorry, I just answered that above. I’ll use this question to add some more people. I would say my parents. They always encouraged me to be creative and write stories.

11. What is your favourite word and why?
Coffee? With the question mark and if it’s said out loud to me directly…

12. If you could only read one book for the rest of your life, what would it be?
That is a tough one! I know it's cliche but probably one of the Harry Potter books. I have read and listened to (on audio book) them so many times. They are my comfort books. So I’ll cheat and say the series all bound into one massive book!

Tom is an author and illustrator based in Rugby, UK. He has illustrated books for New Frontier, Simon & Schuster, Sleeping Bear Press and Hachette. He has also provided illustrations for various magazine publications and advertising agencies. His latest book is My Summer with Grandad, published by New Frontier in October 2020. For more information, see www.tomtinndisbury.com.

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Review: Aussie Kids: Meet Matilda at the Festival

The Aussie Kids series for emerging readers is a brilliant new eight-book collection for kids starting their junior fiction journey.

Each book features a new character living in a unique Australian location across our states and territories. 

In the Australian Capital Territory (or the ACT), we meet Matilda. She’s going to a festival at the Japanese Embassy to celebrate the Emperor of Japan’s birthday.  

It’s going to be a fun day because Matilda’s good friend Hansuke lives at the embassy. But it’s also marked with sadness as Hansuke is returning to Japan.

This is a brilliant book about kid life in Australia. Author Jacqueline de Rose-Ahern has masterfully peppered interesting facts about Canberra throughout the book, providing kids with fun information about the nation’s capital, while delivering a fun and engaging story filled with emotion and heart. 

With a beautiful surprise ending and a splash of mystery, it’s a perfect book for emerging readers to jump into. The large text and short chapters are very helpful, and the careful word selection and story construction are designed to support new readers.

The cover of the book features a stunning violety-purple, and award-winning illustrator Tania McCartney repeats this colour throughout the gorgeous illustrations, with black, white and purple pictures on almost every page. 

McCartney really brings the characters to life in this book. You'll feel all the feels as you explore the emotion conveyed in their faces. It's simply magic, and it adds so much to the story. There are also glorious Canberra locations and special details throughout the book, creating a lovely sense of nostalgia for readers of all ages.

At the back of the book you’ll find a list of more fun facts about Australia's capital, and you’ll get to learn a little about the creators of the books. Each book in this series has a different author and illustrator, so this is a lovely addition for readers as they make their way through all the books.

Kids from the capital will love reading this book and recognising familiar Canberra features, and non-locals will love learning about a state they might never have visited. Filled with joy and charm, I thoroughly enjoyed meeting Matilda at the festival, and I’m looking forward to meeting the other Aussie kids, too.

For more books by Jacqueline de Rose-Ahern, make sure you check out Charlie's Adventures in Hawaii. To sample more glorious illustrations (and stunning words, too!) from Tania McCartney, explore the Evie and Pog series, I heart the World, Australia's Wild Weird Wonderful Weather and Fauna: Australia's Most Curious Creatures.

Title: Aussie Kids: Meet Matilda at the Festival
Author: Jacqueline de Rose-Ahern
Illustrator: Tania McCartney
Publisher: Puffin, $12.99  
Publication Date: 1 September 2020
Format: Paperback
ISBN: 9781760894511
For ages: 6 - 9
Type: Junior Fiction

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Review: Tiger Daughter

Brilliant and enthralling, this superb, deeply moving novel by the multi-talented Rebecca Lim, examines the lives of two migrant families; the internal worlds of each character, and the chaos that trying to fit in brings to each character’s life.

Wen and Henry are best friends. They face similar challenges. Having come from China to Australia as migrants, they are both marginalised to a degree. Henry lives over the bridge from Wen in the poorer part of town because that’s what his family is, common people.

But Henry is rich in knowledge and ambition. He is confident, and a top student, despite his poor English, with which Wen is helping him so he can pass his exams that will get him a scholarship to a better life. Wen is also sitting for the same exam, but for a different outcome.

Henry’s mother doesn’t speak any English. She spends all day seeped in lonely sadness, watching Chinese language TV, ignoring the needs of her family. His dad drives a fruit truck to pay the rent.

Wen’s family life is a nightmare. Her father despises her because she is not a son. He was a highly respected Emergency Department doctor in his homeland. Here, regardless of his impressive credentials, he cannot pass his exams due to language barriers, so works in a restaurant to feed his family.

His anger and shame have transformed him into an abusive, hateful person with rules and regulations for his wife whom he has silenced with his anger, and his daughter whom he calls worthless, lazy, stupid, small and insolent. They have no interaction with the world past their front door except for purchasing food, and Wen must be accompanied by her mother to school and back. They live on the lip of a volcano that could erupt any time.

When tragedy strikes Henry and his father, they shut themselves away. Disregarding all fears and retribution from her father, Wen convinces her mother that they must care for her friends. They have no misconceptions about what will happen if or when her father finds out. But something must change.

Beautifully written with insight and authenticity, this thought-provoking book carries many messages. It reflects the lives of many migrants and their struggles to become part of a better life, and the personal cost for this privilege. A Must Read for this year!

Title: Tiger Daughter
Author: Rebecca Lim  
Publisher: Allen & Unwin, $16.99
Publication Date: 2 February 2021
Format: Paperback
ISBN: 9781760877644
For ages: 11 – 14
Type: Junior Fiction

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Winner: YA Prize Pack: Concrete Rose, All Our Hidden Gifts, Game Changer

Our lucky winner is...

Julie Paine (aka Abbey Lane), NSW

Congratulations! 

You have won the awesome YA Prize Pack including: Concrete Rose by Angie Thomas, All Our Hidden Gifts by Caroline O'Donoghue and Game Changer by Neal Schusterman.

Enjoy your YA journeys!

Thank you to ALL who entered and for your 'game changing' suggestions. 



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Review: Ghostbear

Ghostbear began as a series of paintings by Paul McDermott, which later became a short film, and is now a picture book.

The illustrations are mostly black and white and tones of blue and grey, with splashes of other colours.

They create an emotion-filled atmosphere. 

It's quite difficult to pinpoint and explain what Ghostbear is about.

A polar bear, alone and isolated in the cold and dark, is looking for the other bears. The fish are missing, too.

The polar bear travels across the vastness of the Arctic.

It's a long and slow journey and when he reaches the ocean, there's nowhere else to go, until evenutally the ice breaks off with him on it, floating away to someone who has been waiting for him. 

And the polar bear remembers the good, beauty and love from his past.

Ghostbear has a haunting and dream-like quality to it. 

It's a book that will likely mean different things to different people.

Animals, the environment and climate change, relationships, ageing and death, are just some of the possible themes. The author's inspiration and motivations can be found in articles online, if you'd like to uncover them, but whatever the intent, it's the perception that matters here.

The story stands alone, with no explanations or notes given. 

Ghostbear may not be the right book for all children. While many may enjoy the story of a polar bear, the narrative may also be confusing, or perhaps even scary, for some young readers. It would however be a good discussion piece, particularly for older children and young adults.

Ghostbear is a thought-provoking picture book.

Title: Ghostbear
Author/Illustrator: Paul McDermott
Publisher: Omnibus Books, $ 24.99
Publication Date: 2020
Format: Hardcover
ISBN: 9781760669225
For ages: 7+
Type: Picture 

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Junior Review: The Iron Raven

Review: Wolf Girl 3: The Secret Cave; Wolf Girl 4: The Traitor

In Wolf Girl #3: The Secret Cave, Gwen and Rupert, along with the pack of dogs, continue to flee from the soldiers. Their one thought is their safety. Both humans long to find their parents. But each time Gwen seems to get closer, obstacles arise.

With Fran and the soldiers on their heels, Eagle, keeping a sharp eye out from above, leads them to a rickety bridge. They reach the other side with the dogs chewing through the rope to stop their pursuers from following.

Time is precious, but there is always the unexpected. Zip has injured himself and cannot walk. After carrying him a while, they decide to stop for the night. Gwen recalls her mother having used a poultice of forest sage on an infection. But where can hey find some?

Suddenly they are surrounded by countless cats, and Ma Taylor their owner. Gwen explains her dilemma and Ma invites them to her home which is surrounded by forest sage. A night’s rest is needed by all.

Morning finds Rupert tracking a convey of trucks carrying adults with a GPS he found in a soldier’s pack. It leads them to a secret cave. The pack discover a systematic workforce, breaking mineral rock from the cave walls. After hatching a plan to free the prisoners, Gwen is disappointed to discover her parents are not in the group.

There are other reunions though. Zip finds his owner, and so do many of the cats. Gwen sees her mother’s shawl on one of the women and discovers it was given to her by Tess on a chilly night. Hope is reborn that her mother is still alive. 

With Wolf Girl #4: The Traitor, the courageous and resilient Gwen, Rupert and the dogs are now in open fields. There is sadness that Zip is no longer part of the pack, but joy that he has found his owners. Their search continues. Gwen has her mother’s shawl and hopes that Sunrise, the wolf, can pick up her scent.

Sunrise is missing when they wake. So is Tess’ shawl. They find Tiny in the wrap of an anaconda but manage to free him. This will be the first of many immediate challenges for Gwen’s pack. 

They must deal with the loss of Zip, escape from a cave of reptiles, fight Komodo dragons, rattlesnakes and crocodiles.

Now Rupert believes that Sunrise has abandoned the pack. But Sunrise too, has now found her real family. She had been a pup when Gwen found her alone and starving.

Gwen’s challenges continue when they come across Captain Stone, Rupert’s nemesis, who uses wolves to guard his prisoners. He had enslaved Rupert and taken his parents captive.

Sunrise is torn. She must choose whether to stay with her family, or return to Gwen’s pack.

In this extremely popular adventure series, Anh Do has created a dynamic female le character, and made her the leader of the pack. The dogs of all breeds, and Eagle, play significant and daring roles where they all work together as a team.

Kudos must also go to the illustrator Lachlan Creagh, for the stunning art work that brings Anh Do’s text and characters to life.

Title: Wolf Girl #3: The Secret Cave; Wolf Girl #4: The Traitor 
Author: Anh Do
Illustrator: Lachlan Creagh
Publisher: Allen & Unwin, $ 15.99
Publication Date: 1 June 2020: 1 December 2020
Format: Paperback
ISBN: 9781760876371; 9781760877866
For ages: 8+
Type: Junior Fiction Younger

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Meet The illustrator: Alejandro Echavez

Review: The Thing That Goes Ping!

The Thing that goes Ping! is a celebration of matching sounds, rhyme, rhythm and colour. Mark Carthew’s clever selection of words provides entertainment, more so when read aloud.

Fun, curiosity and imagination begin from the decorative end pages full of insects and birds for children to identify, and continue with the discovery of Shane McG’s playful creative animal characters parading through the pages. 

Backdrops of country settings – pastures, rolling hills and dams, provide young readers with wonderful images of the outdoors.

In Figgy-tra-ling, there’s a sound of a ping that echoes continuously. Everyone wants to know where it’s coming from. A search begins that turns into an adventure, to identify the origin of the sound.

The people don’t know. They ask the bear over there, the snake in the lake, the hen in the pen and all the other animals of the town. But none can shed light on the mystery.

The horse who owns the tractor loaded with hay knows!

Can he lead the townspeople to the thing that goes ping?

This is a joyous reflection on togetherness, community, friendship and a mystery to be solved together.

Also by Mark Carthew is The Dingle Dangle Forest, The Great Zoo Hullabaloo! and Marvin and Marigold: A Stormy Night.

Title: The Thing That Goes Ping!
Author: Mark Carthew
Illustrator: Shane McG
Publisher: FORD ST , $ 24.95
Publication Date: 1 February 2021 
Format: Hardcover
ISBN: 9781925804652
For ages: 3 – 8
Type: Picture Book

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Review: Can You Do This?

Can you do this? Can you do this? Can you do this?

Younger siblings often look up to older siblings. 

They marvel at the things they can do and want to know just how far their talents reach. 

But older siblings are sometimes smug, and they assume their talents reach further than they actually do. 

They often don’t feel the need to prove themselves and often believe they can do everything better than their younger siblings simply because they are older. As a middle child, I’m an expert on this, being both a younger and an older sibling!

Written entirely in dialogue, Can You Do This? explores this old-as-time family feud with a younger sibling asking their older sibling if they can do a series of things. Of course the older sibling can and just says yes, and the younger sibling, of course, believes him. But can big brother actually do all these things? And does little brother realise in demonstrating all these activities, he is doing them too?

This is a fun book with minimal text and lots of bright and action-packed illustrations. It’s for exploring and reading slowly to savour the pictures and enjoy the details. 

This would be a great book for two siblings to read together, and an easy read for newly independent readers. I think kids would love figuring out the humour and hidden messages caught between the covers. 

A fun and funny take on sibling rivalry by Michael Wagner and Heath McKenzie.

Title: Can You Do This?
Author: Michael Wagner
Illustrator: Heath McKenzie
Publisher: ABC Books, $19.99  
Publication Date: 3 February 2021
Format: Hard Cover
ISBN: 9780733335723
For ages: 3 - 6
Type: Picture Book

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Review: Moonlight Mums

10 Quirky Questions with author/illustrator Lucinda Gifford

1. What's your hidden talent?
Ha! If I had a talent outside my work, it wouldn’t stay hidden for long. I’d find a way of making sure people knew about it, probably fairly unsubtly. One useful ability: I can whip together a tasty, freshly-baked cake within the hour, if not sooner.

2. Who is your favourite literary villain and why?
I’m intrigued by Mrs Coulter in Philip Pullman’s His Dark Materials. She’s malicious, power-hungry, deceitful, corrupt and cruel – but she’s also brilliant, brave and (later) conflicted.

3. You're hosting a literary dinner party, which five authors would you invite? (alive or dead)
Louis Sachar, Joan Aiken, David Mitchell, Elizabeth Strout and Michael Ondaatje – because I love all of their writing so much and they’re a diverse group style-wise. Ideally, they’d pause their deep literary conversations occasionally to chat with me…

4. Which literary invention do you wish was real?
I wish there was an actual circus like Dr Seuss’s Circus McGurkus (from If I Ran the Circus). It is the most marvellous, fantastical circus in the world and it’s stayed with me for 40 years.

5. What are five words that describe your writing process?
Organised, chaotic, structured, intuitive, inconsistent.

6. Which are the five words you would like to be remembered by as a writer?
Entertaining, funny, warm, surprising, un-putdownable.

7. Picture your favourite writing space. What are five objects you would find there?
A pot of coffee, shelves stuffed with the BEST children’s books, a snoozing dog, a huge tub of pencils, more than a reasonable amount of puppets.

8. Grab the nearest book, open it to page 22 and look for the second word in the first sentence. Now, write a line that starts with that word. (Please include the name of the book!)
Few people expected her to have a hidden talent, but the author’s 20-minute brownies were serious ‘Bake-off’ contenders. (David Mitchell - The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet)

9. If you could ask one author one question, what would the question be and who would you ask?
I love to think about process and plotting of books I’ve read recently, so I’d ask Emily Rodda: “With the Golden Door Trilogy, did you come up with the incredible, mind-bending concept first, and then just HAVE to write a novel about it?” If you’ve read the book you’ll know what I mean - the plot is wonderfully twisty.

10. Which would you rather do: 'Never write another story or never read another book'?
I would carry on writing and listen to audio books in bed — is that cheating? 

Lucinda works as an illustrator and author from her cosy, messy home studio in Melbourne. After taking a degree in architecture and veering into an advertising career, Lucinda finally took the plunge and started work on her true passion: children's books. In 2014 she was awarded the Five Mile Press Illustrator Prize and, since then, has illustrated over 20 books. She uses pencil, ink, crayon, marker, and watercolour to produce her illustrations, and usually uses PhotoShop to put everything together. Architecture still fascinates her, and she loves to draw all sorts of buildings, especially castles filled with dragons. When not sketching or developing story ideas, Lucinda enjoys plot twists, beach walks and staring out the windows of Melbourne trams. For more information, see www.lucindagiffordbooks.com.

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Review: Iceberg

Claire Saxby is well-known for her superlative, well-researched work, and carefully chosen words. In Iceberg, her use of poetic language, alliteration and assonance could be construed as musical: but mostly the sky swirls snow or ice crystals in this frozen desert. Winter tides swell and ebb… the narrative appears to float on the same movement as that of the ice.

Jess Racklyeft keeps reinventing herself through an astonishing ability to use colour by immersing herself in her projects. Shades of blues and greens, and dazzling whites form shadowy backgrounds for the life that depends on them. With the collaboration of these two gifted artists, a world of frozen beauty has been created.

The birth and death of the Iceberg is revealed in stages and seasons, and shared with the living creatures during the shifts in winds and currents which offer life and continuity.

How many of these birds and creatures are we talking about? Countless ones are mentioned and depicted above and below the sea. Displays of their presence is presented on two exquisite double page fold-outs in the middle of the book. It gives a panoramic view of the many types of fish and sea animals that exist in those frozen waters.

The habits of these creatures blend with the shifting shapes of the icebergs. The migration of birds during the Antarctic summers speak of life as does renewal of the Iceberg.

This is an exceptionally beautiful book designed to call attention to the melting Antarctic snows and the repercussions on the animal life that depends on the Iceberg for food and survival. It demands that the effect climate change is having and will have on this magical place be acknowledged and addressed. Words cannot solve this problem; they can only draw attention to it.

The rest depends on action taken quickly to preserve and protect all the life that depends on this environment. 

Title: Iceberg
Author: Claire Saxby
Illustrator: Jess Racklyeff
Publisher: Allen & Unwin, $ 24.99
Publication Date: 2 February 2021
Format: Hardcover
ISBN: 9781760526047
For ages: 5 – 8
Type: Non Fiction/Natural History

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Review: Poopy Pants and Potty Rants

Review: Wild Symphony

Music, rhythm, rhyme, nature, and animals. You'll find them all in Wild Symphony.

Just as an orchestra is made up of different instruments, each with their own musical personality, so is Wild Symphony. 

The pages each feature a different animal and poem to read. They all combine to create something special, a symphony.

The animal who begins the story is the conductor, Maestro Mouse, who explains the journey about to be travelled.

Mouse is soon joined by birds, kittens, kangaroos, boars, ponies, whales, crickets, and others. They're all part of the orchestra.

Wild Symphony also hides puzzles. There's an anagram to find on each page which spells out the name of a musical instrument. The letters are hidden well, so look carefully!

Wild Symphony is the creation of bestselling author Dan Brown (best known for his adult novel The Da Vinci Code). In a note at the end of this book, his first picture book, Dan Brown tells readers that before he wrote books he wrote music, and that it offered him a special place as a child.

The storytelling nature of music, and wanting to share his love of it, was something that drove Dan to create Wild Symphony. It comes with a free app and website, so you can experience the music and turn it and reading the book into an immersive experience. 

The music of the Wild Symphony orchestra is like the animals in the book, full of personality, humour and movement, unique to each animal.

Illustrations for the book are by Susan Batori. They're cute and colourful, with cartoon animals in the wild landscape offering exxploration of the natural world (along with some imagined things like a hippo eating a hamburger!). And the endpapers depict orchestral instruments.

Wild Symphony can be experienced on different levels depending on what you want. You can simply read the book, dip in and out, add in looking for the hidden clues, or download the app and read and listen to them together. It would make a great family activity, and is suitable for classrooms as well.

Visit the Wild Symphony website to watch the world premiere concert performance of Wild Symphony (including Dan Brown reading the poems), and for a behind the scenes video about the book, Q&As with the author, and answers to the anagram puzzles.

Title: Wild Symphony
Author: Dan Brown
Illustrator: Susan Batori
Publisher: Puffin, $ 27.99
Publication Date: 2020
Format: Hardcover
ISBN:  9780241467916
For ages:  3+
Type: Picture Book

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Giveaway: YA Prize Pack: Concrete Rose, All Our Hidden Gifts, Game Changer

Review: Backyard Magic

Tilly wants to hang inside, but when her mum turns off the television, she has to find some other way to entertain herself.

Drawn outside by the call of a bird, Tilly steps into the wild to discover a world of interesting things. A tree becomes a climbing frame, a stick becomes a broom, a pond becomes a fishing lake and leaves become a skirt.

And while she plays and sings in nature, she searches for the cheeping bird that called her into the wild. 

Backyard Magic is exactly what the title says it is. It explores the secrets and magic of backyards and all the fun that can be found if we go outside and look. 

With stunning illustrations by Harriet Hobday, the story comes to life. Deep blues and greens play on the pages, with glorious splashes of red, orange and pink hues throughout. And while Tilly may not be able to find the bird that sings to her throughout playtime, readers will definitely love spotting the bird with every turn of the page.

The stunning end pages are also a delight to point out to your readers, showing inside toys at the beginning and a colourful splash of nature at the end. It’s a beautiful summary of the book in two gorgeously illustrated pages.

This is a perfect picture book for classrooms and homes alike, encouraging kids to find fun in nature and sparking loads of topics for discussion about the power of make-believe, and perhaps questioning the need for plastic toys when there is so much in nature waiting to be found. 

A charming story about making your own fun and the endless possibilities of outside play, Backyard Magic is brilliant inspiration for kids and a lovely prompt to get outside and explore the world.

Title: Backyard Magic
Author: Wenda Shurety
Illustrator: Harriet Hobday
Publisher: Affirm Press, $19.99  
Publication Date: 27 January 2021
Format: Hard Cover
ISBN: 9781922419187
For ages: 3 - 6
Type: Picture Book

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Review: Macca and AI, Super Pals

Review: Ruby Tuesday

Ruby Matthews is seventeen. She’s in the middle of a yearlong feud with her best friend Alex. She wants Joey Milano to talk to her, notice her, like her. She has lots of family responsibilities and her beloved grandmother just passed away.

This is Ruby’s story. This is her life. But after the night of a party gone wrong, Ruby’s life goes from challenging to unbearable. 

How can she ever trust anyone again? How can she face her class? How can life ever be the same?

As she struggles to deal with what happened at the party, Ruby’s world starts to expand as old friends and family she didn’t know existed come back into her life. 

She wants nothing more than to hide from the world after what happened, but she must find the strength to figure out who she is and who she wants to be in the future.

Ruby Tuesday is a coming of age story that sucks you into Ruby’s world from chapter one. It’s raw and emotional, exploring real life issues. It’s relatable and addictive.

Ruby is a brilliant character, filled with that contradictory mix of doubt and bravery so many of us have. She thinks she’s weak, but her actions say otherwise. It just takes her a while to realise just how much courage she has.

Sex, boys, best friend dramas, school gossip, sexism, family and identity are all here in this compelling read. It’s like stepping inside someone’s diary — someone else’s world — and walking in their shoes. 

Ruby becomes a real person on the page thanks to Lawrence’s immersive writing. She delivers an authentic teen voice and a narrative that brings to the surface all the things we think but never say and all the things we do but don’t want to admit to.

If you like thought-provoking contemporary YA, Ruby Tuesday is for you. 

Title: Ruby Tuesday
Author: Hayley Lawrence 
Publisher: Penguin, $19.99  
Publication Date: 1 September 2020
Format: Paperback
ISBN: 9781760894894
For ages: 13+
Type: Young Adult Fiction

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Review: The World Between Blinks

Cousins Marisol and Jake have lost their beloved grandmother and the family has gathered to pack up and sell her beach house. 

Familiar with restarting and leaving his life again and again with his travelling mum, Jake is used to change and accepts what must be done. 

But Marisol can’t let go. All she can think of is finding a way to get the money they need to save Nana’s house.

So when Marisol and Jake find a map with an X on it, that once belonged to their adventurous Nana, Marisol leaps at the chance to follow the breadcrumbs. They end up at the strange lighthouse just out at sea, and when they climb the stairs…

They fall into the World Between Blinks — the world that sits beside ours, where all the lost and forgotten things disappear to.

The World Between Blinks is a magical place, where Curators catalogue magnificent lost things, people and places: whole towns, ships lost at sea, odd socks, the Loch Ness Monster, mountains of lost treasures — it all goes somewhere, and this is where it goes.

But Marisol and Jake’s appearance in the World causes problems. They aren’t meant to be there and if they stay too long they’ll lose their memories and get catalogued just like everything else.

They make a deal with the Curators to bring them something in exchange for getting home, but Jake wonders if ending up in the World is really a mistake, and Marisol keeps getting distracted by the treasure that might save Nana’s house. If they can’t work together… if they can’t deliver what they promised to the Curators… the World Between Blinks will become their home forever. 

The World Between Blinks is a magical middle grade novel filled with adventure, wonder and whimsy. With ancient places and extinct and forgotten creatures, it’s an exploration of the past and a very cool way to highlight things in our history. Amelia Earhart is only one famous someone who makes an appearance. 

Marisol and Jake are both brilliant characters — different but balanced so you get to see different perspectives on the same topic and question who might have it right in different circumstances. 

The World Between Blinks is an exciting adventure that will crack open imaginations and fill them with fuel for years. And I also spied a little “Book 1” image on the spine of the book, so I hope that implies this won’t be the last adventure in the World Between Blinks.

Title: The World Between Blinks
Author: Amie Kaufman and Ryan Graudin
Publisher: HarperCollins, $16.99
Publication Date: 3 February 2021
Format: Paperback
ISBN: 9781460711286
For ages: 8 - 12
Type: Middle Grade Fiction

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Review: Listen, Layla

Review: The Violet Veil Mysteries: A Case of Grave Danger

This new detective series set in the mid to late 1800s, boasts an amazing, independent, and courageous leading female character with her equally amazing dog, Bones.

Violet has grown up amongst the dead. In fact, she was born on a slab in the mortuary, Mother told her. As her father owned the funeral parlour and they lived next to the graveyard, living and dying was something she learnt about from an early age.

Soon after Violet turns thirteen, the body of Oliver is brought to them for burial. He is the fifth unidentified person to be murdered in the same way. When a shocked Violet finds his coffin empty, the first link to a strange mystery surfaces. 

A deep wound at the back of Oliver's head caused him to remain unconscious, therefore presumed dead.

 

Homeless and orphaned, Oliver is cared for, and Mr Veil takes him on as apprentice. It is what Violet longed for herself, knowing it an impossible longing for a girl.

Oliver asks Violet to help him find who tried to kill him. This is not an easy task. Oliver’s papers are stolen from the office. Then, an anonymous a tip-off has the police turn up to search the premises. Mr Veil is taken away in handcuffs and charged after a hammer, the supposed murder weapon, is produced.

Convinced her father is being framed, the two decide to investigate the other four murdered persons, in the hope that they will uncover information to save Mr Veil. Then there is the Black Widow that wanders the graveyards. Can she be connected in some way to this ever-growing and complex web of mystery? She is added to the list of suspects.

With the help of Violet’s dog, the intelligent Bones whose highly developed sixth sense is invaluable, their inquiries reveal many similarities between the four deceased. But they must seek the truth secretly, as Violet’s parents have forbidden her to undertake any action that will risk her safety.

But there is no choice. Mr Veil’s pending hanging, forces Mother to accept Violet and Oliver’s help as a last resort.

Full of mystery, excitement, adventure and suspense, this fantastic beginning to the series, sees Violet evolve and assert her individuality. She casts off the handicap of restriction and invisibility that her gender demands, to set up a new and daring identity.

Title: The Violet Veil Mysteries: A Case of Grave Danger
Author: Sophie Cleverly
Illustrator: Hannah Peck
Publisher: Harper Collins, $16.99
Publication Date: 3 February 2021
Format: Paperback
ISBN: 9780008297350
For ages: 8+
Type: Middle Grade Fiction

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Review: All Our Hidden Gifts

It feels like a deck of tarot cards has selected Maeve – following her, in fact.

But that’s impossible, isn’t it?

Yet they just seem to end up in her school bag even when she swears she’s locked them away in her desk at home.

Regardless, the cards are Maeve’s ticket to social popularity.

Since she started doing readings at school, she’s discovered that she has an eerie accuracy with her predictions – which is like crack cocaine to her teenage classmates.

They line up for her readings and pay.

The only person unimpressed by this is Lily, Maeve’s ex-best friend.

The girl that Maeve dropped once they started secondary school, because she was detrimental to Maeve’s image amongst the cool set.

When a bunch of girls harass Maeve to read a very reluctant Lily’s cards, Maeve is stunned to find a mysterious card, the Housekeeper, in the deck.

The card makes no sense as it isn't part of a normal tarot set, yet it is clearly a part of this deck. Everybody watching is spooked by Maeve’s reaction, but more so when Maeve tells Lily she wishes she would just disappear.

Then Lily goes missing.

The cool girls immediately accuse Maeve of being a witch, and suddenly the long-sought after popularity is gone. But not that this matters to Maeve anymore. She is now frantic with worry, and also blames herself for Lily’s disappearance.

So Maeve has to dig deep, both into her own conscience and her investigations, in order to uncover secrets about the school and another girl who went missing years ago.

This is a gripping supernatural thriller, with very real, relatable characters. Caroline O’Donoghue maintains the pace and suspense throughout. I especially liked that Maeve was imperfect, a teenager craving to fit in, as many teenagers do, and that she had to face up to her conscience in order to fix the mess that she created.

The book stands well on its own, but I can see the ending left potential for Maeve and her friends to face more supernatural threats.

Title: All Our Hidden Secrets
Author: Caroline O’Donoghue
Publisher: Walker, $ 18.99
Publication Date: 3 February 2021
Format: Paperback
ISBN: 9781406393095
For ages: 14+
Type: Young Adult Fiction

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Review: Girl of the Southern Sea

This beautifully structured and moving novel is a blend of powerful emotions, that include love, loss and grief, the power of belief in yourself, and rich in folk tales.

Nia lives in the slums of Indonesia along the train tracks. She has just finished middle school. A promising student, her dreams of continuing to High School and becoming a writer, have been wrenched from her by her Bapak – father, who drinks away the money they make from the family food cart. 

His excuse is his grief at the death of his beautiful wife during the birth of their second child, Rudi, now five years old.

Nia cares for Rudi. Her fried bananas at the market place are the most popular food. She lives with hope that Bapak will reform and save money for her education.

She has filled countless notebooks with her favourite stories about Dewi Kadita, the Sea Queen, that her mother frequently spoke of.

An accident at the market place leaves Bapak burnt and in jail. Nia nurses him while alone, runs the food cart to make a living.

When she is involved in a bus accident and is the only passenger to escape unscathed, the people of the area begin to believe she has been blessed with good -luck magic.

Her sales increase even when she doubles the price of her fritters. Nia is determined her father will not get a penny of the money.

But she is a female child with a child to look after. Vulnerable and alone after her father runs off to an unknown place, she is open to the many dangers that face young girls in the slums. After her money is stolen and she is told she has been promised in marriage by her father to a rich man, she sets out to find him to undo his promise.

What she discovers is beyond belief, but serves to reveal, her strength of character, and the power of the dreams she clings to for herself.

Built into the layered story are mesmerising Javanese folktales, traditions and customs. It reveals how superstition can rule and change the course of people’s lives, and how power is abused and fuelled by the persistent bribery that keeps people poor. Title: Girl of the Southern Sea
Author: Michelle Kadarusman
Publisher: UQP, $16.99
Publication Date: 2 February 2021
Format: Paperback
ISBN: 97807022629371
For ages: 11+
Type: Junior Fiction  

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12 Curly Questions with author Jevita Nilson

1. Tell us something hardly anyone knows about you.
Normally I am quite a reserved person, until someone breaks out the boardgames, then I morph into this overly enthusiastic, ultra-competitive monster. No one in my family wants to play charades with me anymore.

2. What is your nickname?
When I was younger, some people would call me ‘Jev’, but I don’t get that much anymore. My husband and his family call me ‘J’. Having an unusual name, people call me all sorts of things — Jacinta, Yevita, Javinta, Guanita, Jebita. If someone gets my name right, it’s a good day!

3. What is your greatest fear?
If we’re talking on a deep level, then my greatest fear would be losing the people I love. If we’re talking more about phobias, then I would have to say enclosed spaces. I watched a TV show recently where the main character was buried alive, I almost hyperventilated!

4. Describe your writing style in 10 words.
Whimsical, emotive, imaginative, sensory, inspiring, with a sprinkle of joy.

5. Tell us five positive words that describe you as a writer.
Dedicated, thoughtful, authentic, curious, grateful.

6. What book character would you be, and why?
The snail from The Snail and the Whale. I can empathise with her feelings of inferiority and her longing for adventure. Wouldn’t we all like to hitch a ride on the tail of a great big grey-blue humpback whale right about now?

7. If you could time travel, what year would you go to and why?
Probably around about 1993 – when we would go on family holidays down south. Such simple times, but these are some of my happiest childhood memories. Van Morrison playing on the stereo, the smell of barbecues cooking in the balmy evenings, the excitement of being the first to the playground each morning. Pure joy!

8. What would your 10-year-old self say to you now?
Mum would be so proud of you!

9. Who is your greatest influence?
That’s an easy one — my mum. She is a positive influence in all aspects of my life. Whenever I doubted myself, she always believed in me, and she encouraged me to keep going when I wanted to give up. Books were a central part of our childhood and I loved listening to my mum read stories and poetry in her eloquent teacher’s voice. She had a beautiful way with words, and I think she could have been an exceptional writer.

10. What/who made you start writing?
I have always loved writing. When I was young, I enjoyed writing poems and songs. But I had this ingrained belief that I wasn’t a creative person, so I never even thought to pursue a creative endeavour. In 2018, after the death of my mum, writing helped me grieve. This is when I wrote my first picture book, Happy Hearts. Creating this book helped me believe in myself as a writer and trust in my innate creativity.

11. What is your favourite word and why?
I’m a mother of two children under six, so my favourite word is ‘bedtime’! Literally.

12. If you could only read one book for the rest of your life, what would it be? 
That’s a tough one, but it would have to be The End of the World is Bigger Than Love by Davina Bell. I read this beautiful book a few months ago and it still consumes me. If this were the only book left on earth, my heart would be happy.

Jevita Nilson is a children’s author from Perth, Western Australia. She writes meaningful and uplifting stories for young children and is passionate about creating books that inspire readers to discover their imagination and creativity. Jevita is a busy mum of two young children and a cheeky labrador. When she's not writing children's books, Jevita works as an Organisational Development Consultant. Her debut picture book is Happy Hearts, published by New Holland Publishers. For more information, see www.jevitanilson.com.

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