Us in the Bright Lights

Us in the Bright Lights by Zanni L. Arnot (Lothian) PB RRP $19.99 ISBN 9780734424501

Sometimes, you have to lose everything to find yourself. This is a novel about ending up in the most unexpected places, with the most unlikely people, and discovering it's exactly where you're meant to be.

Stevie Jones has always lived in the comfort of her best friend Bella's glorious shadow. But when Bella's suddenly gone, her absence casts a harsh light on everything Stevie's not. Who even is she without her best friend?

Unmoored, Stevie moves to Europe for a year in a desperate attempt to fulfil Bella's bucket list. As she checks off Bella's list, she begins to figure out who she is: the things she doesn't like, and the things she does . . . which would all be terrific, if one of those things wasn't way-off-limits: Theodore, Bella's long-time crush.

As her time overseas draws painfully to a close, Stevie must decide whether to return to her old life or stay in the big, bright light of the new world she's building.

Us in the Bright Lights is a romantic novel about a girl who loses everything but finds herself in the process. Perfect for fans of Nina Kenwood and Biffy James. It reminds readers that there is no right way to grieve a loved one. Stevie's journey to self-discovery is rich with complexity and shows how home can be in more than one place.

I’m Not Afraid of Spiders

I’m Not Afraid of Spiders by Caitlin Henderson, illustrated by Annie Henderson (CSIRO) HB RRP $26.99 ISBN9781486318551

This is a non-fiction children’s picture book written in rhyming verse that explores the world of spiders, their fascinating features, and their different shapes, colours, and sizes.

Readers discover how there's nothing to fear about these beautiful but often misunderstood animals. Meet spiders that jump, spiders that sparkle and spiders that look like twigs. Be amazed by their fascinating features and different shapes, colours and sizes. Learn, for example, how spiders use their legs to sense touch and air movement, even to taste things.

At the end of the book there is a double-page spread titled ‘All About Spiders.’ It explains words such as arachnids, invertebrates, exoskeletons and arachnologists. It also explains how spiders use their spinnerets to make silk for their webs. And how newly hatched spiders use a technique called ballooning to find a new place to live. As well, readers learn that almost all spiders are venomous and inject venom into their prey to paralyse or kill it before they eat it.

Handy as well is a glossary that explains all things related to spiders, such as habitat and cephalothorax (the front part of a spider, where the legs are attached)

Caitlin Henderson is an award-winning wildlife photographer and writer who works with live spiders and other invertebrates. She tells stories of misunderstood wildlife online under the name She’s Got Legs Photography.

Annie Henderson is an illustrator with a love of nature and a passion for finding beauty in even the smallest of creatures. Her passion for illustration began as a child, when she and her sister Caitlin would spend hours creating drawings of make-believe worlds.

Reading level varies from child to child, but we recommend this book for ages 5 to 9.

 

Find Me: In the Forest

Find Me: In the Forest by Jess McGeachin (Lothian Books)  ISBN 978-0-7344-2384-9  RRP $29.99 (HB)

Reviewed by Jude Mullen

“This is the forest, the green blanket that wraps around our planet.”

In this beautiful non-fiction picture book, author and illustrator Jess McGeachin leads us through the six different forests of the world, where we meet the many and varied plants, animals and insects that inhabit them. Through both words and illustrations, we have close-up encounters with several of these interesting creatures and learn about their vital roles in the forest ecosystem.

As we wander from tropical rainforests to cloud forests and boreal forests, we look up at giant redwoods, look down upon winding rivers and through the tangles of twisted roots in a forest understory. All our senses are awakened with descriptions of bird calls, the smell of fire, the buzz of insects and the howl of wolves. Every page is filled with gorgeous, soft, water-coloured illustrations that evoke the mood and season of each setting. Right in the middle of the book is a beautiful fold-out page depicting a deciduous forest’s transition from the cold greys of winter to the soft yellows of autumn, the pretty blues and pinks of spring, and the bright greens of summer.

Short paragraphs of text are spread across each visually enticing page, making it both an easy and comfortable read for independent children. However, beginner readers and non-readers will gain just as much enjoyment and learning from this book because of the detailed, realistic and hugely attractive illustrations.

It is a book that I am sure children will want to come back to again and again. It would be enjoyed by younger children aged from around 3 years for the beautiful illustrations of animals, as well as by older children who have a thirst for information about the natural world.

This book is one of a series of books that McGeachin has created about nature. His other title includes Find Me: On the Coast, Lost, Deep, and High.

A Flash in the Dust

A Flash in the Dust by Meg Caddy (University of Queensland Press) RRP: $21.99 ISBN 9780702271090

Reviewed by Rebecca Fung

A Flash in the Dust is promoted as a YA historical thriller with queer romance. It attempts to integrate several genres and switches points of view as it tells the story - an ambitious project.

The prologue is set in Mundaring where a horrific crime is perpetrated on an unnamed woman by The Whistling Man. It's a strong and gripping opening.

Then we are taken to an asylum. The narrative shifts between Gilberta Brady and Norah Devaney. The voices are very distinct: the restrained, quiet voice of Brady, contrasted with the angry, emotional voice of Norah. Norah claims she's witnessed her mother's murder, and she's been locked up to be silenced. But no one believes her.

Brady, on the other hand, is in the asylum for keeping quiet. She doesn't get along with people

When Brady and Norah break out of the asylum, two unlikely companions join forces to find the man who murdered Norah's mother. They meet up with others and form a group of bushrangers.

The strength of this story was in the enticing opening and how well the two main characters were set up. However, as the narrative develops, another point of view is introduced: a third-person voice. I didn't enjoy this as much. The story moved between action and a queer love story. The love story spent a bit too much time exploring ideas of queerness, and it felt like the author was trying to explain queerness rather than revealing the relationship in a natural way that would make it compelling.

While plenty happens, for some reason, perhaps the movement between points of view, the restraint in Brady's voice, or the love story that's more about exploring ideas than love, made it hard for me to get into the real excitement of the action.

I think the story tried to be many things. It held a lot of promise and in terms of representing queer characters and separating different points of view, it did well. The balance of romance and tension in an historical adventure that included some very bleak settings was more difficult.

Drawing Nudes While Making Other Plans

Drawing Nudes While Making Other Plans by Zoe Gaetjens (Penguin) PB RRP $19.99 (PB) ISBN 978 1 76135 801 2

Reviewed by Jude Mullen

Cleo Markson is in her final year of high school and trying to navigate the uncertainties and insecurities that often accompany this stage of life, especially when doing something new. Having a plan helps, and thanks to her sister Emmy, Cleo has several plans, including one for her final school year. Step 5 in this plan is “find your friends. Your real ones”.

Attending a four-week art school program during the holidays is a courageous move for  Cleo. Although she is anxious and insecure at first, she is determined to stretch herself and sit with her discomfort, even if it means having to look at and draw live nude models.  Making friends with self-assured Remi and outgoing and gregarious Lachlan really helps Cleo to feel more comfortable and at ease with herself and with being around others. And then there is Mattias – quiet, attractive, and somewhat aloof.  Cleo is instantly both attracted to him and unsettled by the effect he has on her, and she isn’t sure how to read him let alone how to talk to him.

This novel is much more than a teenage first-love story. We discover that each of the characters is grappling with some tension in their lives. We see Cleo work through issues around grief and anxiety and emerge more confident and assured. The novel also subtly touches on pertinent teenage concerns such as body positivity, consent and bullying.

It is a comfortable and fairly light read with nothing too heavy or disturbing for teenage readers, but there is certainly enough to keep them interested. The setting and context feel familiar, and the characters are well-formed and very relatable. It would be suitable for teens aged 14-years and older, who are looking for a traditional, contemporary romance story.

The Grey Berets Guide to Surviving the Odds

The Grey Berets Guide to Surviving the Odds by Anna Battese (Affirm Press) PB RRP $22.99 ISBN 9781923135352

Reviewed by Kylie Buckley

Odie Gusberry-Smith is an eleven-year-old with big worries. In fact, her anxiety keeps her housebound. She is homeschooled and lives primarily in her attic bedroom with her cat, Knuckles, and her messenger pigeons, Pudding and Plonk, who deliver her homework and library books.

One day, she receives an unexpected delivery: a parcel from an anonymous sender. It includes a letter, a beret and a book. The book is titled The Grey Berets Guide to Surviving the Odds, Volume One, and the note advises her to follow its guidelines, as they may save her life. It also highlights the Grey Berets’ motto: PREPARE FOR THE WORST. IT IS SURELY PREPARING FOR YOU. This book is right up Odie’s alley, especially now that her dad wants to take her on a cruise, which she is predicting to be a complete disaster.

The Grey Berets Guide to Surviving the Odds is the first instalment of an upcoming middle-grade trilogy. The humorous tale is packed with adventure and chaos and includes themes of anxiety, resilience and friendship.

 

The Casting Dilemma

The Casting Dilemma by Lynne Stringer (Rhiza Press) PB RRP $14.99 ISBN: 9781761113246

Reviewed by Kellie Nissen

Insecurity at any age is hard to grapple with, but for teens who are often pulled between independent adulthood and the need to fit in, it can be debilitating.

For Year 10 student, Kate, it’s her appearance that causes her self-doubt – particularly her nose. Even with encouragement from her parents and best friends, Tash and Michael, she must force herself not to let it stop her from auditioning for the lead role in the school musical.

Kate knows she performed so much better than the others on the day – even top contender, Ashleigh – but then she overhears her teachers’ conversation and her initial hopefulness is once again muddied with doubt. Will she get the role? If she doesn’t, will she really want to settle for another role?

The weeks leading up to the performance are full of highs and lows as Kate continues to struggle with self-confidence and pride.

The Casting Dilemma homes in on the internal struggles that all readers, irrespective of age, will face at least once in their lives – the fear of failure, the feeling of never being enough, and the overwhelming desire to succeed.

A school musical is the perfect backdrop to explore these emotions, which could equally apply to other settings such as sport tryouts, job interviews and writing or art competitions – anywhere you must put yourself out there to be measured up against others.

Lynne Stringer has managed to capture this internal emotional hotpot, making Kate a relatable character we instantly connect with and want to cheer on as we ride the roller coaster of self-doubt, excitement and disappointment with her.

The Casting Dilemma is another addition to the Rhiza Press ‘Rhiza Shorts’ series of bite-sized but complete narratives with strong storylines for teens who may either be reluctant readers or time-poor booklovers.

In a world where our attention spans are in rapid decline at the hands of a technology obsession, the Rhiza Shorts series – with its Minimal Words Maximum Impact promise – aims to bring reading back on the agenda.