A Clock of Stars: The Shadow Moth

 

A Clock of Stars: The Shadow Moth by Francesca Gibbons, illustrated by Chris Riddell (HarperCollins) PB RRP $17.99 ISBN 9780008355050

 Reviewed by Nikki M Heath

Imogen is a disgruntled eleven-year-old, frustrated with her mum, her mum’s newest boyfriend, and her younger sister Marie, when she follows an unusual-looking moth through a door in a tree. But finding herself lost in a monster-infested parallel world is not the worst of it: Marie has followed her through the door. Together the sisters convince a prince and a huntress to help them find their way home - but can they also help the embattled kingdom redress its wrongs along the way?

From the colourful front cover to the ominous final words, this opening book in the A Clock of Stars series lures the reader into a luscious fantasy world. The idea of a magical mystery world hiding through forest fairy doors is an evergreen one for good reason. Children large and small alike find it irresistible to imagine what may lie beyond -- but they rarely envisage the hideous, fanged troll-like creatures that initially appear to be the nemesis of this story.

The plot resolves itself into a layered exploration of past wrongs, ambition, friendship, and bravery. With one exception, none of the characters are either wholly good or wholly evil. They are unique, complex souls with individual peccadillos, interests, and strengths. That said, the evil stepmother-in-waiting appears to have stepped directly out of Cinderella or Snow White. It will be interesting to see if the reader is given the chance to reconsider her position as the ‘bad guy’ in future instalments.

The forest flora is given a refreshing amount of focus, with plants and insects taking centre stage instead of the furry animals which usually dominate children’s books. The detailed line drawings are magnetic, drawing the reader back again and again to study features and expression. The gallery of character portraits is a particularly engaging way to introduce the story, although I would have loved to see a map as well.

There is an attempt to explore Imogen’s anxiety through her internal interaction with what she thinks of as ‘worry creatures’. While any focus on anxiety in children’s books should be encouraged, Imogen’s worry creatures probably needed to be introduced in the otherwise excellent early scene-setting chapters and integrated more smoothly throughout. While Imogen seems able to easily brush her worry creatures aside, it would be more interesting to see her working to overcome them in a way that feeds into the plot.

The Shadow Moth is a fun, quirky adventure novel which rings emotionally true, and will appeal to fantasy fans aged 8 years and above. Clocking in at 477 pages, it could be the perfect summer holiday read.

Ottoline and the Purple Fox by Chris Riddell (Pan Macmillan Australia)

RRP $19.95 ISBN 978-1-4472-7792-7

Reviewed by Ramona Davey

The moment I saw this book I could not help myself but to touch its beautiful hardback cover and turn it over to study the ornately gold decorated spine. It is a beautiful book to look at and hold.

Ottoline and the Purple Fox is the fourth book in the series about a young girl Ottoline and her companion, the strange hairy Mr Munroe. Together they have adventures as Ottoline’s parents travel the world seeking to find interesting objects to add to their ever-growing collection.

In this book Ottoline organises a dinner party. Guests get an unusual invitation that tells them what to wear. The reader gets one, too. This is a great idea. The book is full of ways to encourage the reader to interact with the story. Labels are scattered throughout the pages.  And the games played at the party are the type that the reader could try out with his or her own friends, for example:

Truth or Stair: Tell a true story or climb the stairs

Or

Pillow Island Hopping: Jump from pillow to pillow without touching the floor.

The book is heavily illustrated and there is so much to see, so many tiny details to stop and look at in Chris Riddells’s intricate drawings. The illustrations are in very thin black pen with the odd splash of purple. There are menus to browse, lists to check, poems to ponder and Ottoline’s notes to read.

There are lots of references to Chris Riddell’s other books within the illustrations so the reader can check out his other stories.

The book is a great fast read and can be read in one sitting. It is ideal for 8-10 year olds.

The Castle of Inside Out

The Castle of Inside Out by David Henry Wilson, illustrated by Chris Riddell (Alma Books Ltd)  PB RRP $14.99

ISBN 9781846883965

Reviewed by Daniela Andrews

A girl follows a talking rabbit to a magical place where language play abounds and with word games aplenty. The magical land is ruled by pigs that have thrown the humans outside the castle and are now mistreating them in retaliation for their own former treatment of animals. Confused about which book I’m reviewing? It is neither Alice in Wonderland nor Animal Farm, but this fast-paced, gripping fantasy novel has been aptly described as a meeting of the two.

The politely inquisitive protagonist, Lorina, is on a mission to find a mysterious castle for her school project. A black rabbit offers directions, but he warns her to stay away from the ‘outsiders’, the horrible green people. He reassures her that those in the castle, ‘the insiders’, are lovely, educated and civilised. Lorina bravely sets off to find the truth for herself, wondering if her rabbit guide is, in fact, misguided. She also wants to know why there are toxic fumes spilling out from the castle.

Originally published in 1997, this novel makes a welcome return to today’s bookshelves. The illustrations by the talented Chris Riddell, Children’s Laureate, are black-and-white, deeply detailed drawings rich in texture. They manage to convey absurdity and sense at the same time, thus suiting the novel perfectly. 

Readers are introduced to a vast array of cleverly named animals, such as the ‘bureaurat’, the ‘super-viper’, a ‘farmadillo’, a ‘custoadian’ and the egotistical leader – the ‘piggident’. The writer shapes the characters’ dialogue around their animal sound. The cat, for example, says ‘niaobody’ and ‘niaothing’ and the gobbling turkey (‘turnkey’) says ‘problobloblem’ and ‘followollowollow’. There is a stand-out alliterative passage showcasing the menu of the cuckoo (‘cookoo’) that made me want to put the book down and burst into applause. This novel begs to be read aloud – perhaps a reflection of the author’s prior success as a playwright.

The story casts a satirical spotlight on government and asks the reader to question the effect of power upon compassion. Though the novel is quite whimsical in nature, older readers won’t miss its darker undertones. The emotive distance with which these issues are raised does make the story accessible to younger readers. I’d recommend the novel for readers aged 8–12.

Fortunately, the Milk…

Fortunately, the Milk… by Neil Gaiman, illustrated by Chris Riddell (Bloomsbury)
HC RRP $17.99
ISBN 9781408841761
Reviewed by Anastasia Gonis

What kept dad from bringing home the milk for his children’s breakfast? It seems it was the fault of a whole series of quirky and incredible events that took place, according to dad. He claims he was abducted by aliens, then jumped out of the spacecraft onto a pirate ship where he was saved by a rope ladder dropped from a hot air balloon piloted by a stegosaurus, and the list of unbelievable excuses goes on.

During all these escapades that include time-travel, fortunately, dad still keeps hold of the milk, thinking about his children who can’t have their breakfast without it.

This is a rip-roaring, fun-filled, senseless bit of ridiculous entertainment that children aged 7+ will totally enjoy. Neil Gaiman is a master of spin and he comes up with the most amazing one-liners that are sure to be repeated in the schoolground.

The immensely talented Chris Riddell has again proven that he can translate anything into pictures with humour and intelligence. This is the third book that these two masters have worked on together.

‘You know we don’t believe any of this’ his daughter tells him at the end of his lengthy, detailed tale of fiction. Fortunately the milk did arrive regardless of dad’s exploits.