Mary Fowler: Beach Party

Mary Fowler: Beach Party (Penguin Random House) Mary Fowler, Jasmin McGaughey & Cate James JF RRP $12.99 ISBN 9781761356230

Reviewed by Karen Hendriks

The Mary Fowler junior fiction series is about a young girl called Maz. This four-book series focuses on friendship, school, sport and teamwork. The books are inspired by Mary Fowler’s love of sport and helping kids stay active.

Mary Fowler is the inspiration for the main character (Maz). Fowler is an Australian Matilda soccer star playing in both the FIFA World Cup and the Olympics. She is a strong role model for teamwork, trying your best and being a good friend. Fowler has Papua New Guinean and Irish heritage that shapes both her game and outlook on life.

Jasmin McGaughey is a Torres Strait islander and African American author and editor.

Cate James is an illustrator and printmaker from Sydney. She has worked on about 40 illustrated books and publications to date, in Australia, the UK and the US.

Mary Fowler and her friends are going to a birthday party at the beach. She can’t wait. But when a cute dog called Firework comes and causes mayhem. Maz and her friends need to be creative to save the party and have some cake.

Mary Fowler and Jasmin McGaughey have created a fun story about a birthday party. The child voice of Mary, aka Maz, shines. The character interactions are believable and relatable. The build of tension from the excitement of going to the party to the problem-solving to save Anthony’s party keeps the reader hooked. Resilience shines in different characters in different ways, and the interactions among friends serve as a role model for positive behaviour. The text engages multiple senses to make the reader feel like they are at a party, too. Mary Fowler embodies movement and being healthy. This story captures this, along with the Australian outdoor culture of loving the beach and summer. The language is kept simple and childlike yet interesting. The story captures the innocence, freedom, and problems of childhood delightfully.

Cate James’ illustrations show the magic of those special little moments in childhood, like the achievement of building a sandcastle and the moment of wonder when a birthday cake is ready for wishes. The simple characters, in black, white, and grey tones, have a childlike quality that complements the text and adds meaning and joy to the story.

Mary Fowler: Beach Party is an engaging junior fiction read for children aged 6-9 years. This is the second book in the series, and it will capture the reader's interest and make them want to read the next two books. Parents, teachers, librarians and anyone with a keen interest in football will want to share these books with children. I think the books will be popular with children, not just because of their readability, but also because they are creatively inspired by Mary Fowler’s childhood, and they feel fun and authentic.