Liam the Chid and the Kangaroo Warriors

Liam the Chid and the Kangaroo Warriors by Meredith Downes (Bugalugs Books) ISBN  978-1-7637733-0-1 RRP $18.99 (PB) Middle Grade Fiction

Reviewed by Jude Mullen

Liam the echidna is teased and bullied by almost every creature in Boggy Creek. His ‘crime’ is that he is different from others. He also has a strong thirst for adventure and is constantly challenging himself which, unfortunately, often lands him trouble.

Liam doesn’t let the opinions of others intimidate him; instead, he stands up for himself - even against the Gang of nasty goannas – and decides he will fight back. This decision leads Liam on an epic adventure to Roo Plains, where he hopes to learn the art of combat and become a warrior. Things don’t go the way Liam had planned, however, along the way he forms strong friendships and learns a lot about himself and about what it takes to be a warrior.

This fun adventure story for 8-12-year-olds has a distinctive Australian flavour. Downes’ love of Australian landscapes and animals is evident in both the setting and the characters she has created. Her well-described cast of characters includes ‘gossiping lorikeets’, a gang of gangster goannas, Unu an unwise owl, an adorable turtle called Flip and a mob of muscley Red Kangaroos. Readers will immediately empathise with the protagonist, Liam the echidna, and will cheer for him all the way along his hazardous quest.

This is the first book in an intended series. It comes with freely downloadable Teachers’ Notes, with links to the curriculum in English, Science and HASS, making it a great classroom resource. It will strongly appeal to young readers who have a love of animals and who enjoy stories that take them on a rollicking adventure.