The Mushroom and The Flower

The Mushroom and The Flower, written & illustrated by Sally Soweol Han (Thames & Hudson) PB AU$26.99 ISBN 978-1-760-76472-2

Reviewed by Robyn Gillies

Mushroom has the coolest hot pink hat with snow-white speckles and a velvety touch. Mushroom stands out in the forest of green and is, in Mushroom’s words, ‘A true masterpiece of nature…’.

Mushroom provides shelter and shade to the smallest of the forest’s creatures until one day something pokes up beside it. Mushroom is not happy about this thing being so close to him and asks it to ‘kindly move along’. But the thing continues to grow and bloom until it hogs Mushroom’s view. How will Mushroom manage this situation?

This is a tender allegory about feelings and friendship. The mushroom is chatty and doesn’t understand why the flower doesn’t speak or move farther away. The flower is different.

The core of the story is told in Mushroom's voice, but the reader also ‘hears’ the flower's thoughts, demonstrating to young readers that even the softest voices are valuable.

But this is also a story about friendship, that what may seem uncomfortable at first can bloom if you just give it time, emotional growth, and about a very special gift.

This story is told simply with language that the youngest audience would understand, but as an allegory, there are multiple layers which more mature young readers will also appreciate - that of the circle of life, the balance in a healthy forest, that even beautiful things don’t always last, and also of sacrifice.

 The story also reads well out loud, and as an award-winning illustrator for her first picture book, Tiny Wonders, Sally Han has again created illustrations that tell their own beautiful story.

The Last Word

The Last Word Written by A.L. Tait (Scholastic Australia) Tween Romance RRP AU$17.99 ISBN 9 781761 646874

Reviewed by Robyn Gillies

Matilda Bell starts Year 8 without her best friend Gemma, her only real friend since kindy. Matilda knows that her classmates think she is an almighty nerd, but without Gemma by her side to laugh or complain with, the year is not looking good. Without Gemma, there may also be no debating team, her other love. And then there is the ‘Cat Pack’ to deal with, a group of girls who have taunted and bullied Matilda and Gemma ever since they hadn’t turned up to Matilda’s eighth birthday party. Surely, it couldn’t get worse.

Enter Will O’Connor, the new boy at the school. Cool, good-looking, disruptive, and annoyingly clever without effort. He gets under Matilda’s skin in a way that no one else ever has. Then, he’s put on the debating team! It just got worse.

Can they find a way to work together so they win as a team, or will they end up hating each other?

From the very first chapter, the story moves along at a cracking pace, and the reader quickly develops a strong sense of the key character, Matilda Bell, a perfectionist who loves learning, which draws unwanted attention. But Matilda has learnt through the years to deal with it – focus, then focus some more. She is also thoughtful, caring and resilient, and she reads others with a high level of maturity, but can she read herself?

Alison Tait taps into a sophisticated understanding of how young people experience the often-difficult years of becoming teenagers, school life, friendships, bullies, love, and romance, and creates a compelling, multilayered story.

The language is clear and simple, but effective. The story is tight, with every word moving the story along. The title is clever and apt.

Alison Tait is a gifted writer in this genre, and she has delivered a wonderful book that captures the sometimes awkward time of first love, when strong feelings can be difficult to understand.

This is book #3 by Alison Tait in the Two Hearts series of standalone romance novels for tween readers 10+ years, and it’s also a great read for those who are young at heart.

 

Ten Bush Babies Let’s Add

Ten Bush Babies Let’s Add Written by Grace Nolan & Illustrated by Nancy Bevington (Big Sky Publishing) PB RRP AU$24.99 ISBN 9 781922 896582

Reviewed by Robyn Gillies

This is an adorable counting-to-ten book featuring Australian bush babies. As they race to win the cup, young readers can have fun learning to count to ten using rhyme, rhythm and a touch of repetition.

Well-known bush babies are used in the story, and other, less well-known ones are introduced, providing a great opportunity to explore beyond the book for inquisitive minds.

The illustrations are lively, fun, colourful and full of ‘baby’ antics. The pages include numbers and symbols for addition to support the language being used.

There are counting activities at the end that provide an opportunity to reinforce learning, but the story stands on its own in terms of enjoyment.

This book could be described as having at least three layers: it tells a simple story, its illustrations are delightful on their own, and it introduces symbols to demonstrate numbers.

This is book two in a series of three early learner books by the same author and illustrator: Ten Naughty Numbats Let’s Count & Ten Lively Lorikeets Let’s Subtract.

The Best Teacher Ever!

The Best Teacher Ever! By Dianne Bates (Woodslane Press) Junior Fiction RRP AU$16.99 ISBN 978 1 923350 08 3

Reviewed by Robyn Gillies

Mia lives on a hobby farm with her parents and her younger sister and brother. Her family is struggling financially so their mother returns to work, and this puts additional responsibility on Mia. Mia loves all the farm animals, but she has a special connection with her pet goat Iggy.

The new school year is about to start, and Mia is worried that she won’t make new friends as her best friend isn’t coming back. But Mia is teased by the other children when Iggy escapes from her tether and tries to board the school bus on the very first day of school. Enter Ms Arthur, the new schoolteacher, who recognises Mia’s anxieties and encourages her to try new things. Can Mia overcome her fears, and can her classmates also learn some valuable lessons?

This story taps into a common theme for many young people when they start the new school year: being anxious about making friends.

Mia is a thoughtful and respectful girl beyond her years who demonstrates emotional intelligence and sensitivity when her new friend Evie finally shares her secret with Mia.

There are several little side stories which add depth and dimension but primarily this is a tale about the realities of life and loss on a small, hobby farm, about how everyone needs to pitch in together to make it work, and about family relationships, self-growth and how we all live differently.

This is a great book to demonstrate that sometimes life isn’t always smooth and straightforward but with good friends comes good support, and that together, you can help each other when times are tough. 

The role of the teacher is key to this story, but it plays craftily in the background without taking over.

Loved the little outline pictures between chapters and sections. They are just perfect, and they add a visual element that will be appealing to young readers.

This is a junior fiction chapter book that will suit children around 5-9 years.

An A-Z of Ocean Creatures

An A-Z of Ocean Creatures written and illustrated by Myke Mollard (Woodslane Press) Non-Fiction RRP AU$29.99 ISBN 9 781923 350038

Reviewed by Robyn Gillies

This is large-format non-fiction book, and each page is a flood of underwater colour. The illustrations show discerning details of the marine life of our world’s seas and oceans. This book gives ‘a whale’s eye view’ and challenges your perspective to look at a world map not from the land masses and continents that we are most familiar with, but from the interconnectedness of the earth’s oceans.

The author uses the 26 letters of the English alphabet to list the diverse range of fishes, jellyfish, crabs, snails, animals and other underwater life that call the ocean home. It makes you want to know more about some of them such as the dumbo octopus, the vampire squid, the unicorn fish, the yeti crab, and a personal favourite, the leafy sea dragon, also the marine emblem of South Australia.

There is an illustration of each of the creatures listed on the related page which create a great activity for ‘find the creature’. And at the end of the book are diagrams showing each one of them numbered so you could check how well you did. But this is not a book you have to start from the beginning and work your way through. Open any page and it will challenge young minds.

Additional small sections highlight some facts and provide further information about coral reefs, sea birds, crocodiles and sea snakes etc. but do not overtake or overwhelm from the main purpose.

This book provides a glimpse into the planet’s incredible underwater biodiversity and interconnectedness of the birdlife dependent on the world’s waters. It’s a fun book with a gentle message about opening our eyes to our amazing environment.

This book is one of a series of wildlife titles by the same author.

A Not So Scary Visit

A Not So Scary Visit by Lee Williams & illustrated by Claudia Ranucci (Five Mile Press) PB RRP AU$24.99 ISBN 978 1 92309 178 8

Reviewed by Robyn Gillies

It’s that special time of year, Halloween, when you can expect scary visitors so it’s no surprise that two very terrifying monsters appear in the middle of the night to try and frighten a young boy. But he has been expecting them and he has a plucky plan to send them away.

This is a terrific picture book. It’s funny and entertaining, and the illustrations balance beautifully with the story adding to the narrative. It’s full of expressive characters and colour and is ideal to capture the attention of young readers. It is easy to read, and the storyline flows effortlessly, with some imaginative ideas and a great twist at the end that will no doubt make readers laugh out loud.

It’s a wonderful book for any time of the year but perfect for Halloween and a great one for educators of young children who are looking for books to create a Halloween theme. It’s ideal for toddlers and early readers as it explores early literacy skills in an amusing way.

The King’s Conservatorium

The King’s Conservatorium by Emma Cameron (Wombat Books) Junior Fiction Novel RRP AU$16.99 ISBN 97819761112270

Reviewed by Robyn Gillies

Garlan and Cadell are brothers. Garlan is very protective of Cadell who is mute. The brothers become orphaned and go to live with a farmer and his wife. The farmer is kind and caring, the wife is nasty and cruel. The boys are forced to flee and together they begin a journey into the unknown.

The brothers dream of a time their parents told them about, a world where there was singing and music. Now, all such things are banished from the kingdom of Elatha where they live. They’ve heard of a kingdom on the other side of the border of the great wall where you can sing and play music without being persecuted. Thus, they begin a perilous journey, always being pursued by the King’s Guards. But even if they get to the other side, what will they find? Are the stories true? And will they be able to stay together?

This is a junior fiction historical fantasy novel of 174 pages. It moves along at a gentle pace using simple language. The story takes the reader on a journey of brotherly love and selflessness, of having to grow-up quickly in an adult world without the guidance of a loving parent. On their travels, the boys are met with mostly the kindness and generosity of strangers but with a good twist at the end.

This book is available in print, ebook and audiobook and is likely to appeal to lovers of fantasy.

Kenneth and Queenie

Kenneth and Queenie by Raymond McGrath (Affirm Press) Graphic Paperback RRP AU$14.99 ISBN 9781923046252

Reviewed by Robyn Gillies

Kenneth is a bumble bee and Queenie is the almost queen bee of her hive who delights in reminding Kenneth and his friends of that fact whenever she can.

Kenneth and Queenie are best friends but they have very different approaches to pollinating flowers to save the world. One likes to work precisely with attention to detail, the other just likes to buzz around, have fun, and make a mess along the way. They don’t understand each other’s very different approaches. Will they ever agree? And what will Queenie decide when she decides it’s time to return to her hive – go back or stay with her bestie?

This is a graphic novel of 56 pages divided into three parts designed for ages 4-8 years. Every page is filled with engaging graphic images using a warm palette in the colours of bees and flowers which should appeal to the age group.

The story takes a quirky approach to resolving differences of opinion and includes a gentle message about the importance of pollination by bees and insects. The dad-style-joke humour using word play is very appropriate for the intended audience.

This is a story about big ideas using simple language coupled with lots of imagery that makes it an easy read.

This is the second book in the series of Kenneth and Queenie.

We Won’t All Survive

We Won’t All Survive by Kate Alice Marshall (Affirm Press) Novel RRP AU$22.99 ISBN 978 1 923 293 977

Reviewed by Robyn Gillies

Eight contestants are recruited to participate in a reality TV survival show set in an off-grid location. Last the game, and you win a massive cash prize. But when the gates close, something doesn’t feel right, and when one of the participants turns up dead, it’s no longer a game.

Wow, from the very first pages this novel draws you in. The action-packed pace makes it a page turner and its clever use of words offer rich visual images that make you begin to feel as though you are there with them trying to survive.

Each of the characters are compelling with individual voices that create the necessary tension between them to make their reactions and behaviours with each other believable. Their backstories are cleverly woven into the narrative, each providing their personal motivations for participating in the game. And the key protagonist, Mercy Gray’s backstory was critical to her role.

Mercy had been marked by media as a hero for her role in saving lives during a shooting two years earlier, and she carries the fragment of a bullet lodged in her back as a result. But it’s not the physical injuries she sustained that trouble her, it’s the invasive thoughts, the nightmares and her inability to trust again. But it’s trust that she will need to survive this event. Her character is rich and complex.

The author has skillfully and convincingly described characters in a way that are moving and insightful, which helps the reader to understand the long-term effects of trauma on people’s lives.

There are multi-layers to this story, such as the dangers of obsession or of cult-like following but it is also a story about courage and compassion. And peppered amongst it all, some clever humour, targeted for the intended audience, showing how the human mind copes under challenging situations.

This novel would suit mature young adult readers and is one that I highly recommend for those who enjoy a story about survival, murder and understanding the human condition.

Horror in Pleasantville

Horror in Pleasantville by Caleb Finn (Penguin Random House Australia) Collection of short stories RRP AU$17.99 ISBN 978 1 76134 589 0

Reviewed by Robyn Gillies

This book is a series of intriguing short stories that challenge the normal. Each story contains a different theme covering the paranormal, the mystical and the supernatural. There are zombies, fun-parlour mirrors that suck you into your own image, strange creatures, not of this world, that take over your body, and grocery stores with everchanging aisles from which you can’t escape.

Each of the strange phenomena are investigated by the Anomaly Restriction Committee (ARC) with their findings reported at the end of each story. But employee #203, Gordon Thatcher, one of their senior entry processors and archivists, has his own distorted truth.

These stories are dark and chilling, ghoulish and twisted and not for everyone. But young readers who love the unexplainable, who want to challenge their imagination and who have the emotional maturity needed will relish their content and be absorbed into mysterious worlds.

Each story is told from the perspective of the subject, a person generally in their teens based in Pleasantville, who is at the receiving end of each experience. The language realistically reflects that of a young person as they try to understand what is happening to them albeit there is little to no differentiation between the key characters in each story. They tend to come across as same, same. Descriptions of scenes beyond known realms are given a life of their own and allow for beyond the possible to be believable.

The stories can also be viewed as allegories such as, be careful what you wish for or a message to society about the impacts of consumerism, climate collapse, resource depletion and war. But, they are craftily built into the stories, each of which shine on their own.

This book contains a content warning informing readers that some of the horror scenes may be unsettling. The themes include: body horror, the supernatural, violence and psychological horror. The content warning proposes that the book is intended for those over the age of 14 which is both appropriate and accurate for this book. There are no happy endings. There are also useful resources for both Australian and New Zealand readers if someone is finding it difficult to talk about a situation that is troubling them and who feel they can’t talk with family or friends. 

This is the author’s second book of short stories in this genre.

 

Speechless

Speechless by Aron Nels Steinke (Graphix an Imprint of Ashton Scholastic) Graphic Novel RRP AU$22.99 ISBN 978-1-76172-109-0

Reviewed by Robyn Gillies

Mira is starting middle school but there is just one problem: she struggles to speak in class. The thoughts form in her head but they just don’t come out of her mouth as words. And the more she tries, the harder it becomes. At home it’s a very different story - she talks all the time with her parents and her annoying little sister. Mira’s parents are unaware of what is happening at school until they receive a call from one of her teachers.

To make things worse, Mira discovers her mother has offered to let Chloe, her once inseparable best friend but now her sworn enemy, stay with them for a few months while Chloe’s mum goes away to care for her sick mother.

To help her cope with her social anxiety, Mira channels her creativity into making short films using stop animation. She works for hours on end and anonymously publishes them online. Kids love them!

Can she find her voice, make new friends and mend the rift between her and Chloe?

This is an easy-to-read graphic novel but one that cleverly speaks to any young person who suffers with social anxiety. The detailed illustrations, also by Steinke, add layers of depth about the challenges that can be experienced in middle school which become amplified if you feel you are different from other students. Specifically, it deals with selective mutism and draws on the author’s own experience of growing up in a world of social anxiety making it authentic and believable. The story shows that with support, help, and a formal diagnosis, that there is a way forward and that sometimes it can come in surprising ways. This book would suit middle to upper primary ages and could easily be used in the classroom for a range of learning activities.

The author provides some useful resources at the end of the book for children who may suffer from selective mutism or social anxiety. Teaching Notes can also be found on the Ashton Scholastic Australia website.

Ghost Detectives Terry Fide and the Bakery Ghost

Ghost Detectives Terry Fide and the Bakery Ghost by Jeanette Stampone, illustrations by Jasmine Berry (About Kids Books, Australia) Paperback RRP $14.99 ISBN 978 0 9946428 1 3

Reviewed by Robyn Gillies

Terry Fide is nine years old and dreams of becoming a brilliant ghost detective just like his dad and his ancestors though the ages. But it’s not easy being a ghost detective if you are afraid of anything scary!

Terry’s dad must travel to Sydney for work for a few weeks but there is a ghost at the local bakery causing chaos. The new baker, Miss Quibble, can’t wait for Terry’s dad to return, she wants the ghost to be dealt with straight away, business is not doing well.

Terry, together with his friends Max and Avery, and his beloved ghost dog Bones, deal with the spooky problem.

Max is good at collecting clues and Avery is an inventor, but it is Terry who knows that the way to deal with ghosts is to find out why they are there, if only he wasn’t so afraid.

Together, they discover that the ghost is looking for a secret recipe book which might just help Miss Quibble’s bad baking and bring back customers.

This is an amusing mystery adventure which conjures up terrific images with its simple but descriptive language. It is a chapter book that moves along without missing a beat. Spooky scenes are just a little scary but not too much for young readers aged 6-9.

Each character has their own unique talents, but it’s when they work together and help each other, that the three friends find the answers, especially if you don’t give up when you are not quite sure what to do. 

An entertaining, enjoyable read about facing your fear with the help of friends. There is also a nod to the benefits of using science and innovation to solve problems.

Where will their adventures take them next? Perhaps this is just the beginning of Terry becoming the greatest ghost detective. It seems the veterinary surgery may need his help. Look out for more books in the Ghost Detectives series.

The World of Maxime

The World of Maxime by Lucile de Pesloüan & illustrated by Jacques Goldstyn (Aldana Libros Greystone Kids) PB RRP AU$29.99 ISBN 978 1 77840 054 4

Reviewed by Robyn Gillies

Maxime is 10 years old, and her favourite things are her books and her cat Tumeric. She feels life is regimented, always having to do what others want to fit in. She finds it hard to make friends as she feels different and the loud noises they make hurts her ears. Maxime reads while she is eating breakfast, when she finishes her class activities before other students, during recess and lunch, after school and under the covers with her torch when she is meant to be asleep. She tells Tumeric about her school day and what she is thinking. Tumeric doesn’t tell her what to do and doesn’t judge her. But there is a new girl at school who is reading one of Maxime’s favourite books Matilda. Maxime would like to make friends with her, but she doesn’t know what to do.

On the way home from school one day, she sees some mysterious bowls hiding in the bushes with kitty food. How did they get there! She dresses as a detective to solve the mystery and meets Catamou, an old lady who knows all about cats and how to help those that don’t have their own home. Together they discover that not all people judge you for being different. Catamou helps Maxime with ideas on how to approach the new girl in school. Can she face her fear and discover a new friend?

This is a lovely story set in Canada about being different, friendship - including intergenerational -- and of the rewards that facing your fears can bring when you find things in common with each other.

The complementary theme of the importance of pets in a child’s life is understated but is so important to Maxime’s life and adds richness and depth to the story.

This is a picture book for older children aged 7-10 years. The book is 103 pages but is filled with Indian ink, watercolour, pencil and coloured ink illustrations that are full of life and tell their own story of the neighbourhood in which Maxime lives.

There is an afterword which provides some helpful hints about what to do if you come across cats that you think could be lost or injured. Albeit they are in the Canadian context, they mostly apply to an Australian environment.

This story was originally published in French in 2022 and translated into English for publication in 2025.

The quality of the hard cover is beautiful and feels like satin in your hands. The book is a lovely read.

Harriet & Will, The Secret Rings

Harriet & Will, The Secret Rings by Debra Clewer (King’s Ink Imprint Lilly Pilly Publishing) Novel RRP $14.95 ISBN 978 0 6455168 0 7

Reviewed by Robyn Gillies 

Harriet is a history fanatic, so when her class is given a project to research a time and place from the ancient past, she is elated. But she is not prepared for the magic that takes her there to witness first-hand the very things she has only read about or seen on the history channel. 

Harriet and her friend Will partner up as study buddies for their class project and together they time travel to three different countries where they get to experience the daily life of the people from an earlier time.

But Harriet isn’t one to stand by when she sees an event that she thinks is unfair or unjust, so she takes action to help others, even if at times her ideas seem a little fanciful. 

Readers of this story get to learn a little about ancient Rome and Greece and medieval England during the time of Robin Hood. They will learn a few facts by osmosis and even some new words in a different language.

Young readers of about 8-12 years-old who enjoy the magic and fantasy of time travel are likely to enjoy this book as it moves along at a steady pace with simple language. It’s short chapters also mean young readers will feel they are racing through it when they say, ‘I’ve read three chapters.’

Every classroom has children like Harriet, students who are enthusiastic about their learning, and who are the defenders of the good. This book will especially appeal to those students.

The author has developed activity sheets and colouring pictures that parents or carers can download from her website, and for anyone who purchases the paperback version from the author’s website, a beautifully illustrated bookmark will be included.

The Surface Trials

 

The Surface Trials by HM Waugh (Allen & Unwin) Novel RRP $18.99 ISBN 978176118 788

Reviewed by Robyn Gillies

Set in 2605, Ammy Antares and 99 fellow competitors, all chosen from various planetary worlds, compete in the final three-day quest for the right to join the elite interplanetary Starquest Academy. Only 20 will succeed in the Surface Trials.

The competitors are placed on a little-known planet full of gigantic carnivorous plants and insects big enough to carry away a person. All they must help them get to their pick-up point is three clues, meagre rations and their collective wits. And, while all this is happening, the entire event is live streamed across the universe. All the worlds watch their every move and vote for their favourite candidate, which for Rian, uber-famous and expertly disguised heir to the universe's two greatest dynasties, adds further challenges.

And then, there is the mysterious artefact, that challenges their world view of the galaxy and the realisation that all the preparedness in the world sometimes isn’t enough when things don’t go to plan.

From the very first page, the reader is quickly drawn into the planetary world of the contestants. The language is descriptive, but not fussy: economical word choices cover a lot of ground and allow the imagination to run wild.

The key characters are young adults and their personality traits surface early so the reader gets a good sense of who they are and what is motivating them to participate in the Surface Trials which is different for each of them.

The story is full of action and surprises and moves along at a great pace, ideal for the recommended age group of 10-14 (Upper Primary/Lower Secondary).

This novel has a lot of depth to it. Yes, it’s a futuristic action-based story set on a hostile alien planet with man-eating-size carnivorous plants and other creatures, but it’s also about working together and the strength of teamwork, overcoming the fear of difference, challenging your belief systems when they don’t reconcile with what you are observing and feeling, acceptance of difference and recognition of strength in diversity. It’s also about resourcefulness, problem solving and friendship, it’s about accepting help and kindness from others when life gives us challenges that we can’t resolve on our own and seeing it as a strength and not a weakness. It’s a story about trust, resilience, overcoming genuine fear, survival against overwhelming odds, all with a touch of humour.

This book has a lot going for it. It’s definitely a page-turner and easy to recommend to young people who love action sci-fi with clever young characters. And, there’s space for a sequel! A terrific read.

There are also some great teaching resources available from Allen & Unwin’s website for educators

Hikaru in the Light!

Hikaru in the Light! (A Graphic Novel: Volume 1) By Mai Matsuda (Graphix) PB RRP $17.99 ISBN 9781761645822

Reviewed by Robyn Gillies

This is a manga novel (comic) which is read from right to left and top to bottom in the traditional Japanese reading pattern. It tells the story of Hikaru, a middle-grade school student who works after school in her family’s bathhouse where she uses the natural acoustics to sing, often old songs for her grandfather. Her family and customers think she has the voice of a songbird. Hikaru though dreams of performing with a microphone not a mop.

When her best friend Ran, who was a former girl group idol, returns to the town she encourages Hikaru to try out for the national auditions for the pop star survival camp. But Hikaru suddenly finds herself competing against hundreds of other exceptionally talented young girls and she doubts her ability.

Hikaru’s parents are not so supportive of her thinking about singing as a career. They think Hikaru should be studying more and considering a livelihood that will provide her with a secure future.

This is a story about transitioning into young adulthood, about recognising what it is you want to do and, more importantly, believing in yourself to give it your best even if you sometimes doubt yourself. It is a story about the power of positive thinking and overcoming others’ discouraging words.

There is a graphic illustration to guide the reader on how to read manga, but it takes a few pages to adjust to reading in reverse, when left to right is your norm. 

There is also an explanation of how Japanese honorifics are added to the end of Japanese names and what the different honorifics mean, some of which are used in the story.

This story is likely to appeal to ages 8-12 years, upper to middle primary year level. It is 192 pages in length, but each page is filled with images and minimal text making it an easy read.

This story was originally written in Japanese and a few of the phrases don’t seem to have translated well. However, they do not detract from the overall flow of the story.

The story creates wonderful learning opportunities to explore how manga comics work and exposes young people to a little about the Japanese culture. It also demonstrates that young people, no matter where they come from, often have the same dilemmas.

 

The Cartoonists Club

The Cartoonists Club by Raina Telgemeier & Scott McCloud (Graphix) PB RRP $19.99 ISBN 9781761648304

Reviewed by Robyn Gillies

This is a graphic novel of 288 pages that tells the story of four young people who come together to create The Cartoonists’ Club in their local school. It is also a book about creativity, self-expression, friendship, and of the strength of coming together, of recognising each other’s skill sand of collaborating and supporting each other.

There is Makalya, who has an abundance of ideas but doesn’t know how to make stories from them, Howard who loves to draw but whose dad thinks comics are a waste of time, Lynda who thinks her artwork is full of mistakes and Art who is passionate about making things. Together, they learn about the artistic and technical skills of creating comics with the help of Ms Fatima, the school librarian.

Using the storyline, both the characters and the reader learn new terms about different elements in a comic such as speech and thought balloons, narrative boxes, sound effects and background language e.g. fonts and styles used on a shop front. Character development and visual impact such as colour palettes are also covered.

The story line is easy to follow and read and the pacing of the story is appropriate for the age group 8-12 years. It would be great for developing readers for transitioning into longer stories and reluctant readers who would feel they have read a lot in a short time.

The novel stands alone but there are free downloadable support materials from www.scholastic.com/cartoonistsclub  which could be used for educational purposes, fun classroom learning activities to develop students understanding of storytelling techniques using a combination of pictures and words, and for starting a cartoon club.

The illustrations demonstrated the essence of what cartoons and comics are about and depicted diversity. The language used raises the notion of gender-neutral pronouns. It was easy to imagine the key characters’ individual personality traits as typical of young people their age e.g. impatient, anxious, unsure.

There is a Glossary of terms in the back of the book (love the term ‘plewd’) and further information about the technical skills used for making the book.

 

 

On the Edge of Everything

 

On the Edge of Everything by Miranda Luby (Text Publishing) PB ISBN: 9781923059306

Reviewed by Robyn Gillies

Lucy is still grief-stricken from the tragic loss of her older brother, whom she adored and who ‘got’ her. It’s now eleven months after her brother’s death, and her parents are trying desperately to get her out of her room and back to living an everyday life. But Lucy isn’t like them, pretending everything is OK when it’s not.

The story starts with an endangered bird that flies into her bedroom window one evening. Lucy sees it as a sign. When it survives the night, she takes it to a local wildlife sanctuary the following day, where she meets Ben, one of the workers. The sanctuary is looking for summer staff, and Lucy decides to apply. For the first time since her brother’s death, she sees the slightest glimmer of a possible meaningful summer, which is then whisked away when she takes a risk that backfires in more ways than one.

Lucy’s grief is tangible and perceptively portrayed. The most seemingly banal events trigger deep dives into intense sorrow, but how can others understand her when she doesn’t understand herself? However, this is also a story about growing up, friendship, new experiences, and competing and conflicting emotions—how can you feel so happy when you feel so sad? The impacts of urban development on the delicate balance of nature are also woven seamlessly throughout.

The reader is drawn into Lucy’s world, darting seamlessly into and out of her internal and external domains. We travel with her on a rollercoaster of emotions as she tries to make sense of her life, of her very existence, and as she learns how random acts can have long-term consequences. But her journey ultimately takes her to a place of possibility.

Lucy’s character is complex and sensitive, and the story is multi-layered and well-paced. The simple but beautiful language creates authentic individuals in a believable, sensory time and place.

This deep, thoughtful, reflective story gives considered and compassionate insight into how a teenager may experience loss. It is a sincere story that anyone who has lost a young person should read.