Murtagh

Murtagh by Christopher Paolini (Penguin Books) PB RRP $32.99 ISBN 9780241651346 

Reviewed by Nikki M Heath

When a character from a well-loved fantasy series gets his own spin-off, you can expect that he (and his dragon) will make the most of it. In side-stepping his complicated relationship with the authorities to hare off on a potentially life-threatening investigation, Murtagh does just that in his eponymous follow up to The Inheritance Cycle.

I have a confession: I’ve only read one-and-a-half books of The Inheritance Cycle. I enjoyed Eragon but got side-tracked half-way through book two. While that incomplete background knowledge didn’t prevent me from enjoying this book, I’m confident someone who has read the full series would get a lot more out of it. Someone completely new to the universe should probably start with Eragon and go from there.

The author has a gift for character, and Murtagh and his dragon Thorn are excellent examples. They’re outsiders with outsized chips on their shoulders, and this fact drives the narrative as well as their appeal. Streetwise, powerful but overlooked, the team is the underdog we just can’t help rooting for.

This is a long novel with an intricate plot that gets a bit lost in flashbacks and questionably reliable visions towards the end, but by then the reader is sufficiently invested in the characters and engaged by the action scenes to keep turning the pages.

A must for Eragon fans, new and old. It gets violent in the way that fantasy can, and there are some vivid descriptions of torture, so best for high schoolers, with a warning for the sensitive.

BFFs (Not) Twinning #1

BFFs (Not) Twinning #1 by Alexa Moses. Illustrated by Sofya Karmazina. Scholastic 2024. Paperback MG graphic novel. RRP $15.99. ISBN 9781761292620

Reviewed by Debra Williams

Grace and Isabel (Izzy) Tomic are 10-year-old identical twins in Grade 5 at Rocky Point Primary school. They are close, closer than BFFs. They have a secret language which they have shared since they were babies. But although they are identical in looks, they are very different personalities.

Each kid in the class must keep a diary for the whole year. Grace loves it, Izzy doesn’t, and struggles both with the concept of actually writing an entry each day.

When Harmony Day at school approaches, the principal announces a competition for the best presentation, where the main prize is $100. Unknown to each other, the girls choose the same topic – France -- for their presentations. When they discover the fact, there is a battle between them as to who will give in and change their topic, but it doesn’t happen. The two close sisters are now apart from each other, with the rift growing deeper and larger. When they also discover that a whole bunch of other kids are doing presentations on France as well, they are crestfallen.

On the day of the competition, with just a short time to spare, the sisters unite to present something totally different in a creative way, based on their own family’s cultural background.  With the backing of their friends, the girls not only win, but reconcile their differences, truly embodying what Harmony Day is all about. And they also get to triumph over the personal bully, with an accidental outcome. (No bully is harmed in the process!)

Each chapter is an excerpt from the diaries, written alternately from each sister’s POV. With a theme of teamwork, forgiveness, and friendship this is a novel that will be enjoyed by readers 10+ years of age, as the sisters declare that they are stronger together.

Baboon In a Balloon

Baboon In a Balloon by Patrick Guest. Illustrated by Katie Abey. Scholastic Australia 2024. Hardcover PB. ISBN 9781761204975 RRP $18.99

Reviewed by Debra Williams

Poor old Baboon! His day is off to a wonderfully adventurous start in his hot-air balloon. However, when things begin to go wrong, he finds himself in all sorts of places and situations, but not the way he planned! Up on the moon, shot out of a cannon, or driving a car: where will he end up?  He is assisted by The Badger of Boo and The Yeti of Yay, who either cheer him on or express upset when things go awry. There’s a good ending, but where is his hat?

This is a fun rhyming story for young children, colourfully illustrated throughout. The illustrations are a little odd at times with Baboon’s colourful bottom sitting on the top of his right thigh, next to his tail, but in others it is in the correct place. Suitable for children 3+ years of age.

Some Families Change

Some Families Change by Jess Galatola. Illustrated by Jenni Barrand. EK Books 2024. Hardback PB. ISBN 9781922539670. RRP $24.99

Reviewed by Debra Williams

Everybody’s family looks different. And over time, situations can change for many families. These changes can bring an emotional toll on children, with a range of difficult feelings to navigate. The family unit may not always be as it was: the author covers single-parent families, those with two mothers or fathers, split families, families that merge and other situations.

This book, beautifully illustrated, covers the wide range of emotions that children can experience during alterations in the family structure. They need to understand that it is okay to feel worried, upset, confused or uncertain about the changes, and adjustment to different circumstances can only happen with time. The author has done a great job of covering and explaining these various situations and emotions, assuring children that no matter what happens within their particular family structure, they are loved and cared about. She helps them to understand about the shift in circumstances and navigate their big feelings, to find their own place in the world, with the diverse ways that can mean being a family. There is reassurance for the child/ren that whatever has occurred, it is not their fault, and encouragement to share their feelings with somebody to begin the healing process.

Jess wrote this book after her own family unit changed in 2020, to help her boys understand and adjust to the changes that the situation brought.

This book is recommended and suitable for children aged 4 -8 years.

Our Shellharbour

Let's go to magical places!

Our Shellharbour by Karen Hendriks, illustrated by Emma Stuart is a visually stunning exploratory story of two children finding the treasures of nature in the coastal town of Shellharbour, NSW. Written by Shellharbour resident, Karen Hendriks, as a tribute to the simple things in life and the unique and distinct natural beauty of the bay. Depicted beautifully by award-winning artist, Emma Stuart, the watercolour landscapes are utterly divine. 

Please support author Karen Hendriks and illustrator Emma Stuart with several features to look out for.

 Hosted at Books On Tour PR & Marketing. and www.justkidslit.com/blog. Published by Little Shell Books. 

When the World Was Soft

When the World Was Soft by Juluwarlu Group Aboriginal Corporation. Illustrated by Alex Mankiewicz. Allen & Unwin 2024. Soft cover large graphic novel. RRP $34.99 ISBN 9781761180651

Reviewed by Debra Williams

This is an interesting approach to relating Indigenous folklore, involving the Yindjibarndi people’s Creation-times stories. From a project begun in 1998, stories were collected and recorded to pass on to children and grandchildren. The Juluwarlu Group Aboriginal Corporation is based in WA’s Pilbara region, and their purpose is to collect and promote knowledge of Yindjibarndi culture. These ancient stories have now been compiled and released into a beautiful book which combines storytelling with artwork from the various group members: 11 women in all. Each artist is featured with a short bio towards the back of the book, as well as specific information about the group and the illustrator.  Combined with comic-style illustrations to bring the tales to life, it is an innovative way to present the culture not only to the families and communities of the Yindjibarndi people, but also to wider readerships. Allen & Unwin describe it as a ground-breaking graphic novel in an immediate and engaging way for a contemporary audience.

This is categorized as a children’s graphic novel and should suit those aged 10+ years. However, some of the subject matter may be a little graphic for sensitive readers.  Some adult guidance may be required for certain stories.

The Making of a Monarch

The Making of a Monarch by Linda Shmith is a photographic, non-fiction book of the life cycle of the Monarch or Wanderer butterfly. It is a useful resource for teachers, parents, and grandparents to share with young children to be able to see closeup detail of the metamorphosis of a butterfly’s lifecycle. The benefit of macro-photography means that you will see detail that you will not see with the naked eye. Preschools and librarians in schools use it when teaching the lifecycle section of the curriculum. There are few words on the page as the photographs are the star of the book. You may see a preview on my website www.lindashmith.com.au where there is an online shop and a ten-minute video of other butterflies and their host plants in my garden.

I made this video for Sophie Thomson’s Open Garden talk during Covid because Shed Talks were cancelled. There are links to other resources at the back of the book and a Teaching Resource Pack available at the online shop that includes a Butterfly Garden design. The monarch is a big, beautiful, and easy butterfly to observe and as a retired preschool teacher I have happy memories of seeing the excitement on children’s faces when the butterfly emerged. Also, engaging children in nature has boundless benefits. This information is then transferrable to many other butterflies endemic to your area.