The Experiment

The Experiment by Rebecca Stead (Text Publishing) PB RRP $17.99
ISBN 9781923058576

Reviewed by Kylie Buckley

Nathan lives in New York with his mother, father, and cat Toto, but they are far from your average family. Nathan’s mother and father were born on planet Kast and came to Earth as part of an experiment to assess if they could, if necessary, permanently maintain human form on Earth. Thorough records are kept and are constantly reported back to the Kast leader. Nathan’s family and the 9 other Kast families are sworn to secrecy about their identity. The Kast families have been sent to live in different states, so once a month the ‘Kast kids’ meet online to chat. The children are forbidden to communicate to each other without a parent present; however, Nathan and Izzy find a way and eventually form a friendship.

When some of the kids start disappearing from the online meetings without explanation, Nathan gets curious. However, it is not until Nathan discovers he is growing a tail, and is summoned to the Kast mothership that he can no longer ignore his gut feeling that something sinister is happening. He develops a plethora of questions; questions that cannot remain unanswered.

The Experiment is a middle grade science fiction novel that would appeal to readers aged 9 years and older who enjoy original and imaginative stories. The book’s themes include identity, friendship, first crush, change and manipulation.

 

 

The Lost Library

The Lost Library by Rebecca Stead & Wendy Mass. 2023 Text Publishing. Paperback RRP $16.99.  e-Book $9.99. ISBN 9781922790477

 Reviewed by Debra Williams

A collaborative work from two U.S. authors, The Lost Library tells the tale of a little free library which appears mysteriously overnight in the town of Martinville, USA. The little free library is guarded by a large orange cat, Mortimer (although people don’t know his real name and call him by a couple of others). When 11-year-old Evan McClelland chooses two books from the little library, he is unaware that his life, and that of the town, will soon change.

One book is titled How to Write a Mystery Novel. Evan becomes engrossed in trying to solve his own mystery, when he discovers an old library card inside the book with his dad’s name on it. The town library burned down 20 years earlier in mysterious circumstances and the case was never solved. It seems to be something the adults don’t want to talk about. Along with his friend Rafe, the two boys try and put the puzzle pieces together. What will they discover? Is Evan’s dad hiding a long-kept secret?

This story is narrated in first person by an apparent ghost librarian, Al. POV shifts to Mortimer and Evan’s stories which are interspersed throughout and keep the reader’s interest with various story twists and turns. There are delightful interludes involving mice, which add a particular charm to the story.

This is a middle-grade novel, suitable for the 8-12-year age readership.

The Lost Library

The Lost Library by Rebecca Stead and Wendy Mass (Text Publishing) PB ISBN 9781922790477

When a mysterious little free library (guarded by a large orange cat) appears overnight in the small town of Martinville, eleven-year-old Evan plucks two old books from its shelves, not suspecting that his life is about to change.

Evan and his best friend, Rafe, discover a link between one of the books and a long-ago event that the adults don’t want to talk about. The two boys start investigating the mystery. What they find will transform the town.

Told in turn by a ghost librarian named Al, an aging (but beautiful) cat named Mortimer, and Evan himself, The Lost Library is a timeless story and choosing the life you want and the power of a good book.

Targeted at children aged 9+ years.

Liar and Spy

 Liar and Spy by Rebecca Stead (Text)

PB RRP $16.99

ISBN 9781921922947

Reviewed by Nean McKenzie

Packed with quirky characters, this book for older children has mystery and suspense alongside more realistic truths about growing up. The story is about Georges (pronounced George) a twelve year old boy who moves into a apartment block in New York. He sees a sign in the basement : SPY CLUB MEETING — TODAY! which leads him to a boy called Safer who drinks lots of coffee and doesn't go to school. Now the adventures begin.

Since his best friend left him for the 'cool table,' school hasn't been much fun for Georges, who sometimes wishes his name didn't look so much like gorgeous. Home hasn't been great either. His dad lost his job and his mum is always at the hospital, working double shifts. Georges and his mum communicate through scrabble tiles, rearranged each night before and after he goes to sleep. 

Georges' worries recede when he joins Safer and his sister Candy in surveillance of the mysterious 'Mr X' who lives in their building. Georges is encouraged to be brave, to do things he wouldn't normally. He doesn't worry about the bullies at school so much, because now he has a new friend. However, as the title suggests, maybe not everyone is telling the truth. This is bound to make things a bit complicated.

Liar and Spy is a book about friendship, courage and the importance of facing up to things. Written in first person, the voice of Georges is very believable as a twelve year old boy. He is not always a reliable narrator (as the reader realises slowly towards the end of the book) and this is a great technique which adds to the mystery element of the story. I would recommend this for older primary school children, boys or girls.

First Light

First Light by Rebecca Stead (Text)

PB RRP $16.95

ISBN 9781921758256

Reviewed by Nean McKenzie.

Set on the ice in Greenland, this is the story of two teenagers, Peter and Thea, who come from very different places. Peter is visiting from New York with his glaciologist father on a scientific expedition. Thea lives beneath the ice in a land that never sees the sun. As the story progresses the lives of Peter and Thea intersect and secrets are explained. This is fantasy fiction suitable for older primary or younger secondary school students.

Thea lives in Gracehope, underneath an arctic glacier. Her ancestors retreated here after being hunted, generations ago. Ingenious inventions enable the population to breathe, build houses and eat. They skate everywhere and each person has a dog as a companion. Thea longs to go up to the surface, also a dream of her late mother.

Peter has just started noticing strange visual sensations, followed by a headache. His mother also gets headaches, and is withdrawn for periods of time. Although he doesn't understand, Peter knows that his parents are searching for something. As the visual disturbances increase, Peter finds himself more and more drawn towards finding out about his mother.  

The highlight of this book is Gracehope, a vividly imagined world with its own unique customs and people. The tie-in to the 'real' world is global warming which is a topical subject. However sometimes the explanations by Peter's parents can be quite expositional. The point of view swaps smoothly between chapters from Peter to Thea, eventually combining when they meet. The preface, with a vital clue to the secret, immediately sets the scene in fantasy.    

First Light is about having the courage to search for important things. It will be enjoyed by young adults who like to stretch their imaginations.