Shimmer by Jennifer McBride & Lynda Nixon (Fremantle Press)
PB RRP $14.99
ISBN 9-781-922-089-434
Reviewed by Neridah McMullin
When I first saw Shimmer,
I wasn’t too sure about it as I admit I have a slight aversion to glittery book
covers. Well, I’m so glad I took the time to (not judge a book by it’s cover –
literally) and go beyond that cover and read it. Here’s a little excerpt:
‘I will not go!’ Kora
folded her arms and looked away from her father.
‘It is not a choice,
Kora.’ The Emperor placed a hand on her shoulder. ‘All genies of royal birth
must go.’
She shrugged off his
hand. ‘I know that, but why now?’ Amurru stood quietly by Kora’s globe. She
strode over to him. ‘Tell them, Amurru,’ she said, jabbing a finger in the air
towards her parents. ‘It is madness to send my away now.’
Amurru’s yellow eyes
blinked slowly. ‘To learn how to rule you must first learn how to serve.’
She stomped her foot.
This was ridiculous. …
… ‘Enough. I will
argue with you no more.’ The Emperor signaled to Amurru. ‘You will leave
immediately, Kora. I command it.’
The air around her
began to stir. Her father’s command had activated her globe and she was being
pulled in against her will. She took one last look around at her home and then
glared at her parents.
‘I hate you,’ she
spat. ‘I hate you both!’
Shimmer is a
story about an angry, teenage genie empress, called Kora, who is sent to live
on earth (Panda Rock in Western Australia, thank you) by her parents. She has
been sent against her will, so that she can learn to serve before she learns to
rule. She’s also been sent away to be protected against an evil
half-human/half-genie, called Vennum (yes, a cool name) who is waging war
against her home planet and wants to kidnap her because she’s the most powerful
genie to be born in centuries.
After arriving on earth Kora meets, and is ‘harnessed’ her
newfound master, a boy by the name of David. By asking her to help him find his
soldier father, who is missing in action in Afghanistan, and by him agreeing to
risk his life to help her own endangered family, David and Kora team up
together and take on the world. Fast- paced and funny; it also has it’s
touching moments.
Shimmer suggests that
working together is more productive than being individuals and as a result there
are wonderful themes of friendship and understanding as well as a cracking adventure
that’s engaging and entertaining.
Shimmer is a
beauty. A coming of age book, but absolutely fun to read for upper primary to
early secondary school students. While Shimmer may be targeted towards
girl readers, there is enough in this story for boys to get their teeth into.
I’m always fascinated by writers who can
collaborate and believe that Jennifer McBride and Lynda Nixon have done an
amazing job. I can’t wait to see what they write together next!
