Run

Run by Sarah Armstrong (Hardie Grant) PB RRP: $18.99 ISBN 9781761214561

Reviewed by Rebecca Fung

Sarah Armstrong, author of CBCA's Notable book Big Magic, presents a fast-paced adventure for middle-grade readers and teens.

Cas is on the run. On the way to visit his Dad, he finds out that the adults in his life have decided for him that he should try living with his father -- a father he doesn't remember ever being there for him. Now he feels he doesn't belong anywhere - not with Dad, nor with the people who want to be rid of him. So, he runs.

Out in the Australian bush, he starts to think that his impulsive decision wasn't such a great one. The bush is filled with scary creatures and he's not sure what might be poisonous or not.

This is a fast-paced read, and Cas's strong emotions about his family, his loneliness, and his need to belong carry the story. We feel Cas's desperation and pain.

I might actually die out here, he thinks, every centimetre of his skin prickling with the truth of this. Tears fill his eyes. I don't want to die. I'm only twelve. I can't die yet. But maybe this disbelief is exactly what people feel before their death. Maybe no one ever expects to die.

Then, he meets a family who help him navigate the ways of the wild. Two girls and their father. They refer to their way of life as 'rewilding' - living off the land. But as Cas spends more time with them, he realises there is much more to their story than that. The girls run for cover when a helicopter is in the area and he overhears mysterious snippets of conversation: they're hiding a secret. All the while, Cas is aching to get back to his aunt and to the way things used to be -- before this whole idea of visiting his Dad entered the picture.  

The adventure involves a tight cast with relatable and memorable voices. The descriptions of the Australian bush evoke beautifully strong images.

The story first opens up a discussion of family and belonging. As it moves along, though, it becomes a more interesting ethical discussion. There are repeated themes of "sometimes it's right to do wrong", whether someone is worthy of your trust and belief, and the importance of family. The story's characters have some concept of flexible morality. This is a story that allows children to ponder their own thoughts about what right and wrong really mean in different contexts.

An original read with strong images and emotions that will stay with the reader well afterwards.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hello Twigs, Time to Paint

Hello Twigs, Time to Paint by Andrew McDonald & Ben Wood (Hardie Grant) Paperback, Junior Fiction, Graphic Novel RRP $9.99 9781761212017 

Reviewed by Karen Hendriks

Andrew McDonald and Ben Wood have created a captivating new funny series for kids. Hello Twigs, is a graphic novel series for young readers. Each book is 48 pages with full-colour illustrations and simple text that can be read aloud. The stories follow a group of twigs and one stump as they explore creativity, nature, emotions, and friendship. Heart and humour are at the core of every book. The world is big when you’re a twig!

Hello Twigs, Time to Paint is about Noodle, a twig who loves to paint. The only problem is she doesn’t have any blue paint. Can blue paint be found in nature?

In this book, bestselling author Andrew Mc Donald shares Noodle’s passion for creating art and what it feels like. ‘Art is how we say our feelings,’ says Stump. ‘Look - I just drew GREAT SADNESS’. Everyone is keen to help Noodle find the right art stuff so that she can paint.

The humour creates such great laugh out loud moments.  Noodle takes off her hat. And looks at it closely. No, Noodle! WE don’t use others to make paint. Without blue paint Noodle is unable to create. Mc Donald cleverly brings in the sky which is an obvious kid choice for blue. But how is it possible to capture the sky’s blue?

Red, who is awesome at surprises, has an idea. Noodle leaps high with shock. But not high enough to reach the sky. The words share the action with Wood’s illustrations and make the reader actively think throughout the story. Noodle points out her idea. She’s going to need help from all the twigs. Ten seconds later… They are all in position. Each word counts, propels the story and captures the reader.

Ben Wood’s colourful illustrations bring such joy to the words. A blue beetle is Noodle’s artist hat and when everyone is looking for something blue the beetle sits hoping not to be seen. But the reader knows and waits and wonders what’s going to happen. The play of launching Red high is not only fun but science visually shown in a playful way. What goes up must come down too and Wood hams up those moments with genius simplicity. His illustrations look deceptively easy and that is their appeal. I love that a child can easily copy his style and draw the characters themselves. The use of perspective plays to the emotion and the drama as the images zoom in and out.

Hello Twigs, How Are You Feeling? is an early reader for children six years and older. It’s part of a new graphic novel series created by an award-winning team. This book is a joyous read aloud and is such a fun interactive read. I love that each book in the series can be a stand-alone read but also forms part of a series. These books are appealing and perfect for those children embarking on independent reading. They will be popular additions to any home or school or library shelf.

Hello Twigs: How Are You Feeling?

Hello Twigs: How Are You Feeling? by Andrew McDonald & Ben Wood (Hardie Grant) Paperback, Junior Fiction, Graphic Novel RRP $9.99 9781761211997

Reviewed by Karen Hendriks

Andrew McDonald and Ben Wood have created a captivating new funny series for kids. Hello Twigs is a graphic novel series for young readers. Each book is 48 pages with full-colour illustrations and simple text that can be read aloud. The stories follow a group of twigs and one stump as they explore creativity, nature, emotions, and friendship. Heart and humour are at the core of every book. The world is big when you’re a twig!

Hello Twigs: How Are You Feeling? sees the Twigs and Stump expressing and showing their different feelings with each other. Stump is sad because he still wants to be a part of the big tree. He tries to find ways to be with the big tree which is his happy place. He discovers that with his friend’s new and happy experiences can be found. Who doesn’t want to experience a twig hug?

Mc Donald is the author of the bestselling Real Pigeons junior fiction series. He gives much insight into feelings by using sentences that speak directly to the heart. He shows that voicing feelings is empowering, and that your friends can help you. Oh, dear, Stump. That doesn’t sound good. ‘What feeling?’ asks Red. The language used is simple and impactful. But Stump sighs. ‘I feel NOT GOOD!’ He plods off. The verb choices and questioning help take the reader right into the heart of the story. His characters’ use of questioning shows young readers questions they too can use. I think because the characters are brave readers can be inspired to be brave, too. I love, love the message that it’s okay to cry. Stump cries, but that’s OK. It’s good to let your feelings out. 

Wood’s bright, expressive illustrations create such emotion and story strength. He is the other half of this award-winning best-selling team. We read that Stump cries but when Wood shows how Stump cries and how distraught he becomes, the message is so much more powerful. Wood’s images masterfully show the extent of the characters feelings. I love the visuals of Stump and the Twigs rolling together down an epic hill. It is pure joy.

Hello Twigs: How Are You Feeling? is an early reader for kids six years and older. Friendship is important to this age group and this story celebrates friendship. The text reads aloud super well and it is engaging from start to finish which makes this series perfect to read alone or to share. Parents and teachers will love these books as much as the children.

Hello Twigs: Surprise

Hello Twigs: Surprise by Andrew McDonald & Ben Wood (Hardie Grant) Paperback, Junior Fiction, Graphic Novel RRP $9.99 9781761211980

Reviewed by Karen Hendriks

Andrew McDonald and Ben Wood have created a captivating new funny series for kids. Hello Twigs: Surprise  is a graphic novel series for young readers. Each book is 48 pages with full-colour illustrations and simple text that can be read aloud. The stories follow a group of twigs and one stump as they explore creativity, nature, emotions, and friendship. Heart and humour are at the core of every book they’ve co-created. The world is big when you’re a twig!

Hello Twigs: Surprise focuses upon Red, a very wild twig who loves surprising his friends. They don’t appreciate his unexpected surprises because they’re busy setting up a snail zoo. Can Red understand that sometimes it’s best to plan surprises to create the most impact?

Mc Donald is the author of the bestselling Real Pigeons junior fiction series. He charms and surprises young readers with his impactful and insightful short sentences. They pack a lot of punch easily and succinctly while allowing the illustrations to shine. All twigs are wild. But some twigs are REALLY wild. The opening sentences immediately entice engagement and a page turn. The dialogue sings as it speaks directly to the child reader. ‘I’ll try giving Stump a surprise,’ he says. ‘He likes a good laugh!’

It makes you wonder what Red is going to do next. The heart-centered and funny characters are well developed, distinct and unique even though they’re twigs. Red loves surprising the others but also wants to make their world more fun. ‘I will give them better SURPRISES!’ says Red. ‘Then they will jump and laugh and be less serious. Red’s character growth from the beginning to the end is satisfying and makes total sense to a child reader.

Wood’s bright and happy illustrations give such personality and strength to the characters. He is the other half of this award-winning best-selling team. A child reader will feel that the twigs are just like real people. The eyes and facial expressions are captivating. Wood’s cleverly created character movement and play splashes out boldly from every page showing his depth and experience as an illustrator. Red believably jumps, sneaks, flings, and shocks. The other twigs respond with surprise and annoyance in a perfectly created world that is totally believable. I can even picture a child talking to their very own imaginary twig friend.

Hello Twigs: Surprise is a true early reader for kids six and older who want to laugh along with characters that go through things that real kids do. The key to early reading is the want to read and this book creates just that. This book and the others in the series are sure to appeal to not only kids but parents and teachers too.