The Book of Chance

The Book of Chance by Sue Whiting is a page-turning mystery/suspense novel for readers aged 10 to 14 years set in Wollongong, NSW. It tells the story of almost thirteen-year-old Chance Callahan’s quest to find her own truth, only to discover that her life is in fact a big fat lie – #biggestfakeever! 

Inspired by a true crime, the novel explores truth and lies and the grey area in between, the impact of social media, the importance of family, and ultimately ponders the notion that maybe being truthful is really just a great big lie.

Spy within a Ruby

Spy within a Ruby by Stefan A. Nicholson (Envirosupport) PB RRP $18

ISBN 978-0-9804604-9-0

Reviewed by Stacey Gladman

Spy within a Ruby is the perfect book for those who love a little crime and mystery in their life.

The story centres around the Mayfair Mews hotel, where 16 year-old Eric lives with his parents who run the hotel. Eric and his childhood sweetheart Ruby - who unfortunately for him, hates him, as she hates life in general - get recruited by MI6 operative James Batholomew Watt, AKA Roger Davis, to perform a secret mission.

Living within the Mayfair Mews Hotel, Eric is a prime candidate to gain access to hotel guests - specifically two - who happen to be Russian and Chinese spies who are negotiating to buy classified defence from the Cigar Club.

He decides to enlist Eric to help keep an eye on the guests after deciding any of his fellow operatives would be uncovered in their espionage attempts. The agreement starts of well, with Davis questioning his decision to ask two teenagers for help in a situation of national intelligence. “All I am asking is that you note the time of day these people come and go…but only if you happen to notice…note no deliberate spying on them…and maybe if you can tell me who picked them up…or a car registration. Absolutely no more than that! Do I make myself clear?”

Unfortunately, the warning could have been too late for Ruby, who is shortly after abducted as a bargaining chip of sorts against Davis. Surprisingly, it’s the very people that the pair are spying on in the first place who attempt to come to Ruby’s rescue, but the questions is, will they make it in time to save Ruby?

From exploding boats, to suspense and international secrets, Spy within a Ruby has it all. I would recommend for those who like to think about their stories and try and predict the plot.

Ben Hall

Ben Hall by Jane Smith (Big Sky Publishing)       PB RRP $14.99                                                     ISBN 9781922132697

Reviewed by J Wishart

This straightforward and informative non-fiction book is part of the Australian Bushrangers series produced by Big Sky Publishing. The information is historically accurate and is written by librarian and researcher, Jane Smith, for readers aged around 7 to 12 years. Smith says historical research can be like solving a mystery; in this book she has unearthed many facts and articles that document the life and times of Ben Hall, born in 1837.

Hall’s story starts out well. He worked as a stockman and later partnered with his brother-in-law to lease a cattle station in New South Wales. Later circumstances, however, including his wife leaving, made him unhappy and vulnerable. It was at this time he befriended Frank Gardiner, the charismatic cattle thief, who introduced Hall to a life of crime.

Hall’s escalating exploits are described, as is the support he and his gang received from a general public who initially admired the bushranger’s daring. In time this support turned to anger, leading to Hall’s eventual betrayal. Smith describes the life of a bushranger as one of ‘discomfort, violence and constant danger’. To add interest and bring this to life, the book includes ephemera such as maps, police reports and photos – including one of Hall’s revolver, which is now held in the National Library of Australia and has his initials clearly carved into the butt.

Smith has also incorporated stories within stories, such as that of Sir Frederick Pottinger, a policeman with troubles of his own, who became fixated on Hall and initiated some questionable actions against his family. These side stories effectively break up longer sections into smaller, more manageable blocks, as well as linking to the other books in the series. 

Packed in this way, with curious and ‘collectable’ facts, Ben Hall explores themes such as dissatisfaction, perception and the allure of notoriety, and offers an insight into Australian colonial history for young readers.

Riggs Crossing

Riggs Crossing by Michelle Renee Heeter (Ford Street Publishing)

PB RRP $19.95

ISBN 978-1-921665-70-7

Reviewed by Francine Sculli

What happens when there’s a part of your past, or a part of who you are, that you’d just rather forget? And what happens when that very past catches up with you and makes you question everything you think you know about yourself? Riggs Crossing, the debut novel by Michelle Renee Heeter, excels as a story of loss, belonging, memory and upbringing.

When Len, a fourteen-year-old girl, is found in a car wreck near Wollombi in NSW, surrounded by spent bullet casings, bloody clothing, she quickly learns what it means to lose something. She wakes up in a hospital with severe injuries and psychological trauma so deep, she has completely erased any memory of what happened to her in the accident. She doesn’t even know her real name and is given the nickname ‘Len’ by the nurses, based on the name embroidered on the jumper she was wearing when she was found.

She is taken to a children’s refuge in Sydney where she encounters a supporting cast of intriguing characters that challenge, confront and annoy her, which leads Len to display signs of aggression, reclusive behaviours, racism and defiance toward her peers and the social worker, Lyyssa. Her battle does not stop with the people in the refuge, as time passes patches of memories start to resurface and Len starts to piece together the puzzle of who she really is and what really happened to her. She remembers her father as a marijuana cropper in Riggs Crossing and the shady characters that surrounded their life. Soon, she is closer to the truth than ever before, but the truth catches up with her before she has a chance to fully uncover it. The men responsible for the car accident and the shooting of her father find her in Sydney and try to put an end to Len and her story, once and for all.

In the events that follow, Len’s story unfolds before her and she discovers that her real name is Samantha Patterson, whose mother and father were both tragically murdered. As she comes to terms with her loss of family, belonging and identity, Samantha starts to work toward a path of recovery and healing, as she learns to find her place in the world that abandoned her.

Riggs Crossing is a poignant tale, written with a strong and identifiable voice, which raises important issues about morality, racism, choices and upbringing and is a significant read for those wanting to explore the underbelly of human existence.

People’s Republic

People’s Republic by Robert Muchamore (Hodder/Hachette)

HB RRP $29.99

ISBN 9781444906103

Reviewed by Hilary Smillie

This is the first book in the second series of CHERUB, written by a London-based author who was a private investigator prior to becoming a best selling children’s author. CHERUB is a branch of British Intelligence whose agents are children between the ages of ten and seventeen. Recruited mainly from orphanages and care situations, the children (and younger siblings) live on a campus with a huge staff to educate and train them to become agents. This only happens if they pass a 100 day test of endurance and self reliance.

Ryan Sharma, twelve years of age, has passed the test and is recruited for a mission infiltrating a crime empire based in Kyrgystan. His task involves befriending the grandson of the woman who heads the evil Aramov Clan, Ethan Kitsell, who goes to a school in California. Ryan finds being an agent is not easy and his attempts to win over Ethan includes inadvertently harming him. He wonders if the whole project is worth it.

Enter an eleven year old Chinese girl, Fu Ning. Her story illustrates the difficulties of having a criminal for a father, and an alcoholic stepmother. When her father is arrested, she embarks on a dangerous escape from China, enduring torture, kidnapping and detention. The reader is exposed to the way desperate people are victimised, manipulated and abused. Ryan and Ning eventually meet which sets the scene for the next book in the series.

People’s Republic ticks all the boxes for coarse language, sexual reference and violence, although to its credit it does portray a sense of conscience and empathy. Halfway through this book I gained the impression I was reading an adult crime story in which, strangely, two children played the main roles. It is certainly a page turner, but also a reality hit which, to me, overshadows the fictional storyline. The tag NOT SUITABLE FOR YOUNGER READERS found on the back cover is important for discerning parents aware of the influence of the written word.