Silvermay

Silvermay by James Moloney (HarperCollins)

PB RRP $24.99

ISBN 9780732292034
Reviewed by Vicki Stanton


Silvermay is the first in a new trilogy from best-selling and award-winning author James Moloney. Told primarily through the eyes of sixteen-year-old Silvermay Hawker, the tone and feel of the book is lyrical and engaging. I was enthralled from the very first words when Silvermay says, 'Should I tell you of the first time I saw him, when he was still just a figure on the road like so many others ...' 


Silvermay is talking of Tamlyn who enters her village with a woman Nerigold and her baby boy Lucien. Just as Silvermay falls for him, so did I. Tamlyn is, however, wrestling with his very nature.  


Themes of love, trust, betrayal and destiny are all explored in this story. Silvermay's world of Athlane has a familiar feel of historic Europe: villages, healers, kings and lords, horses, hunters. It is inhabited by commonfolk and the Wyrdborn, a handsome magical race who cannot feel empathy, generosity or love. They are selfish and desire power and wealth, believing in a philosophy of each for his own for they cannot share even with their own kind. The Wyrdborn provides a fantastical element which adds to the intricacy and the depth of the story. 

Powerful forces hunt the three travellers and Silvermay becomes caught up in their journey. She joins them as helper and carer for the weakening Nerigold. The most dangerous threat comes from Coyle Strongbow. Lucien is his son but his reasons for the chase reveal even more of Wyrdborn nature.


I thoroughly recommend Silvermay and defy anyone to put it down once they have started reading. I will be lining up for the release of the second book in the series Tamlyn.

Buzzard Breath and Brains

Buzzard Breath and Brains by James Moloney (a re-release from UQP)

PB RRP $19.95

ISBN 9780702233920

Review by Jo Burnell

Having just finished Swashbuckler I couldn’t wait to start on this sequel and I wasn’t disappointed. Even though I get tired of bullying stories, Buzzard Breath and Brains is different.

How can a bully change his ways? Will the old friends let him walk away? Who would want to befriend someone who’s been pushing others up against walls for years? Is there another sort of bully too? One who doesn’t even know that what they do is a form of bullying?

Rex loves sardine sandwiches. One whiff and you’re gasping for breath. Tony is small, but he’s Rex’s best friend. Rex always does what Tony says, even if his stomach clenches with misgiving. You have to do what your friend asks, don’t you? Isn’t that what being a friend is all about?

When the terrible two are suspended from school for something they didn’t do, the danger escalates. Tony wants revenge.

Natalie has always thought her cousin Rex was a thug. Now she realises there is more to people than what you see. Resolving to help him, her own controlling behaviour is challenged.

Buzzard Breath and Brains is a complex tale about what constitutes bullying. It is perfect for both boys and girls. While showcasing the destructive power of physical abuse, it also looks at the insidious effect of exclusion.

A must read for grade 3 upwards.

Jo Burnell is passionate about hooking reluctant and struggling readers into the world of books. Her current project for Middle Primary students is about an Aussie hero. Her uncle Roy was a fighter pilot in World War 2. 

Swashbuckler

Swashbuckler by James Moloney (A re-release from UQP)

PB RRP $19.95

ISBN 9780702228254

Review by Jo Burnell

Re-releases can be dated and irrelevant to today’s world. Filled with misgivings, I opened Swashbuckler, ready to be irritated . To my delight, I couldn’t put it down.

Being the newcomer, Peter is the latest target for school bullies, but his saviour arrives in an unexpected form. Swinging on a tree rope, the mini Scarlet Pimpernel drops his sword ad loses his mask, but manages to distract the tough guys. Why won’t Anton admit he is the hero in disguise and what is his obsession with historical heroes?

Both Peter and Anton are struggling with their dads. Peter’s is a compulsive gambler whose habit loses the family home and forces them to move. Peter’s dad has hardly been seen since the move, but he reappears when  Peter’s mum comes into a bit of money.

Anton’s anguish with his dad runs deep, but he’s not telling what it is. Can he finally trust Peter with his pain? Can Peter help Anton fight the fierce dragon before it’s too late?

Coping with terminal cancer is heartbreaking, especially the physical changes that occur as the body fades away. Coming to terms with problem gambling is challenging in different ways. It is trust that corrodes, rather than the body.

James Moloney is still opening the doors to coping for kids in this timeless tale and he does it with an essential ingredient: Humour.

Jo Burnell is passionate about hooking reluctant and struggling readers into the world of books. Her current project for Middle Primary students is about an Aussie hero. Her uncle Roy was a fighter pilot in World War 2.