Bravepaw and the Clawstone of Rotwood Mire

Bravepaw and the Clawstone of Rotwood Mire by L.M. Wilkinson & Lavanya Naidu (Allen & Unwin) Paperback RRP $16.99 ISBN 9781761180569

Reviewed by Karen Hendriks

L.M. Wilkinson is an award-winning author of over twenty books, including A Hunger for Thorns, which won the Victorian Premier’s Literary Award and was a CBCA Honour Book. Lavanya Naidu loves building worlds and creating characters with heart. She has illustrated several children’s books and worked on games and animation production.

This is the second book in the "Bravepaw" series following Bravepaw and the Heartstone of Alluria. This series is celebrated for its engaging storytelling, richly imagined fantasy world, and vibrant illustrations by Lavanya Naidu.

Titch and Huckleberry set out on a dangerous quest to find the Gems of Harmony and to save Titch’s homeland. During their quest they encounter swamp monsters, a controlling greedy turtle and brainwashed squirrels. 

L.M. Wilkinson has crafted a page-turning adventure filled with magic, prophecy, quests, and heroism, all centred around loyal friendship. The succinct sentences convey information, create vivid imagery, and captivate the reader. The opening line powerfully establishes the danger at hand: “The swamp stretched out in all directions, grey, miserable, and endless.”

The text is well written and clever. Dialogue drives the plot forward while effortlessly revealing character traits, like when one character says, “Heroes work alone. I travel far and wide, rescuing the weak and the needy.” Wilkinson’s world-building is both believable and engaging, with strong word choices that are effective yet accessible for young readers. For instance: “They’re shadowy, snaky things that suck all the joy and colour and will out of a person.” Her characters Twitch, Huckleberry, Dollop and Briar Nettlebrush are all unique, well developed and endearing.

Lavanya Naidu’s illustration style in Bravepaw is detailed and full of energy, bringing the story world to life. She uses bold lines to create an immersive story world, and she captures emotions with her expressive characters, creating warmth and charm. Her use of shading and texture give depth to each scene, creating a whimsical feel. Her fluid imaginative style appeals to younger readers and supports the text beautifully.

Bravepaw and the Clawstone of Rotwood Mire is a lively and engaging 168-page adventure chapter book, perfect for children aged 6-9 who are ready to read independently. This fun, adventurous tale will surely be loved by children, parents, teachers, and librarians alike.