The Fix-it Man

The Fix-it Man written by Dimity Powell, illustrated by Nicky Johnston (EK Books) HB RRP $24.99

ISBN 978-1-925335-34-7

Reviewed by Elizabeth Vercoe

Grief, love and loss are a natural part of life and The Fix-it Man broaches them all. In the hands of Dimity Powell and Nicky Johnston, the treatment of this often challenging subject is accessible, masterful and most importantly of all, age-appropriate.

A young girl believes her dad to be the king of fixing things. After the death of her mother, both the child and her father discover that broken hearts are not as easily repaired as damaged toys or cracked teapots.

The media release calls this, ‘A hopeful story of life, loss and love,’ and it is definitely that. It is also a celebration of what children do so well – living in the moment. It is important to note that this is a book for everyone, not just those who are moving through the challenges of grief and loss. It’s divine.

What is not spoken out loud through the text is delicately conveyed through detailed pen and wash illustrations. Together the text and images work in tandem to create a colourful, uplifting and profoundly affecting narrative. I particularly love the snippets of rhyme which provide an unexpected change of pace at significant moments.

The ability of this work to travel into sadness and move through to the other side with joy is remarkable. Every element of this picture book has been explored deeply, to create a work of strength and hope.

The story, with its subtle directives for dealing with grief and loss in young children, cuts to the heart of what it means to live and to love. Reading this book actually warmed my heart.This is a simply beautiful picture book for 4-8 year olds.

Substantial teachers’ notes from the author are also available.

Jodie’s Rescue

Jodie’s Rescue by Diane Fagan (A&A Book Publishing) PB RRP $19.99

ISBN 9780994329479

Reviewed by Kel Butler

Jodie is a teenage girl struggling with the loss of her mum and the emotional loss of her father, whilst dealing with the isolating displacement of having to move house and start at a new school.

Feeling alone, helpless and misunderstood, Jodie finds solace in Sea Mist, her little sailing boat gifted to her by her grandfather. With Sea Mist, she revisits the places special to her mum and avoids the stark emptiness in her life.

When Jodie meets Sarah, the daughter of her dad’s client and a classmate at her new school, she starts to feel connected to the world again.

Like Jodie, Sarah struggles, dealing with the suffocation that comes from overprotective parents, who expect way too much, whilst having her very identity trashed on a daily basis through racist bullying. Through each other they discover acceptance and friendship, as they try to wade their way through life’s murky confusion.

What I liked most about Jodie’s Rescue by Diane Fagan, was the emotional journey it took me on. Each character has a deep personal struggle they are trying to understand and overcome and through those struggles the stories evolve and relationships are formed. An engaging read for primary school girls aged 8 years and up.

The Dog, Ray

The Dog, Ray by Linda Coggin (Allen & Unwin)

PB RRP $16.99

ISBN: 9781471403200

Reviewed by Anastasia Gonis

Here is a unique concept, wrapped in a well-constructed storyline that drags the reader in from the first sentence and holds their interest till the last word.  I read it in one sitting without a break. Its themes include grief and loss, friendship and family.

The story is heard initially through the voice of Misty, a new born dog, who inherits the recycled soul of Daisy, a girl who has just died in an accident. Misty is later renamed Ray by Pip, the boy who finds and keeps her.

Several main stories and sub-stories exist. The main one is Daisy’s voice that comes through Ray. It is full of humour, but also carries an element of sadness for the irretrievable loss of her parents. We share all her thoughts as she tries to communicate them to Pip, but of course can’t.

Pip’s mother has died and he sets out to find his father with just a name and a photo, and Ray. His journey is poignant and moving.

Jack, a minor character, draws attention to the plight of the homeless and their vulnerability. Other small but significant entrances and exits are made by other minor characters as well which extend the backstory.

Linda Coggin has created a highly inventive novel of quality. With characters that are interesting, dialogue sizzles, and important themes, this is a book not to be missed.

My Brother

My Brother by Dee Huxley with Oliver and Tiffany Huxley (Working Title Press) HB RRP $24.99

ISBN 9781921504853
Reviewed by Vicki Thornton

My Brother is a beautiful story in so many ways. The text is simple. A creature is searching for his lost brother: he searches the places he used to go, the lovely places and the scary places. He searches and searches but can’t find him. Only when exhaustion overtakes him and he sleeps does he wake to find his brother is not lost, but with him everywhere.

The illustrations are what make this story so ethereal and surreal. They are black and white as the creature hunts, and when he realises that his brother is always with him does colour become a major impact.

There is so much detail in these illustrations, from the beginning, where two coats and hats and sets of gumboots silently wait, to the discovery of nursery rhyme characters in later pages. The cow jumping over the moon, the mouse running up the clock, the owl and the pussycat in their boat (one assumes pea green).  A gentle touch with both text and illustration leads the reader on a journey of loss from a sibling’s perspective.

This warm and gentle book looks at grief and loss. Although aimed at children of middle primary school age who have lost a sibling, I think this book would be suitable for younger primary age children as well, especially as it gives the option for parents for further discussions.  Highly recommended. 

Note that Dee Huxley has worked as a freelance illustrator, graphic designer and author and has illustrated many picture books for children. She has been shortlisted twice for the Children’s Book Council Picture Book of the Year Award.

The Journey

The Journey by Francesca Sanna (Walker Books)

HC RRP $27.99

ISBN 9781909263994

Reviewed by Anastasia Gonis

This is a story about migration, told with compassion, deep thought and consideration. Author/illustrator Francesca Sanna, spoke to many migrants that escaped from war zones about their experiences, before deciding to create this book. These are all the stories in one, for they seem to be the same. Her voice speaks for all the voices that remain unheard.

It’s a story of loss: of the parts of their life before the war, sometimes of family members, belongings they leave behind and what they shed along the way, and of their homeland.

Here, a mother loses her husband to war. She is determined to find a safe place to rebuild a future for her children. To preserve their hope, she tells them it is an adventure. She hides her fear, but in the night when her children sleep, her emotions are released through silent tears.

There are walls to scale; visible and invisible ones. The endless roads they travel are danger traps. Then they must survive the stormy seas.

The illustrations are powerful and expressive. Dark and haunting, they depict the emotions the family experiences on their quest to reach a safe country to call home. These fears and emotions are portrayed by huge mouths, monsters, overpowering shapes and shades.

The strangeness of the future - the cities, forests and animal illustrations are magnified in size to represent the family’s imaginings. The tiny size of the people against the enormity of everything else, shows how diminished they are by their loss.

This is a stunning book. Its theme is uniquely represented by its illustrations which enhance and magnify the text. Sanna has achieved what she set out to do, and that’s to call attention to the plight of immigrants forced to take desperate measures to reach safety because of war.

This book is an ageless picture book for a more mature readership. Some younger children might find some of the illustrations scary. Adults must use their discretion.

A Dolphin for Naia

A Dolphin for Naia by Northern Beach Writers’ Group

(Self-Published) 

PB RRP $15.99

ISBN 978-0-9942006-1-7

Reviewed by Francine Sculli

When a book conjures multiple story questions and powerful themes that leave you yearning for the answers in the first few pages, you know that you are in for an absorbing read -- which is exactly how A Dolphin for Naia starts.

Within moments of opening this novella, I was chasing the answers to the story questions raised: What happened to Naia? Where are Grams and Mase going? Who is the Parliament? Why have this family separated and why is Mase so angry with his parents? These questions create a flawless narrative tension that drive through the book like an unrelenting heartbeat.

We travel right by our thirteen-year-old protagonist Mase’s side, on a mysterious and hair-raising adventure as he searches for some of these answers himself. A year after losing his little sister Naia, we are thrown head first into the family dynamics as Mase and his Grams take on the important job of decoding his parent’s cryptic messages and driving a truck across New South Wales to deliver his parent’s very important invention to them in Manly; a dolphin-looking robotic that has seemingly made Mase’s life hell for the past year.

But as Mase and his Gram zoom down the highway – escaping waiters, receiving text messages from the robotic dolphin, recruiting the services of old circus folk, breaking down and calling on “the parliament” for an emergency escape –  the answers start to present themselves to Mase and the very thing he once thought was the reason for his family splitting apart quickly becomes the thing that brings them back together. The dolphin holds a lot more importance than Mase could ever have imagined and when he is finally reunited with his parents at Manly Beach, he discovers that they too have been coming to grips with the death of Naia and fighting for the very thing Mase wished for – his sister to be with them.

A Dolphin for Naia is more than just a thrill-a-minute. It’s a touching tale of the love, family, memory and loss and all the tiny things that connect us. The Northern Beach Writers Group has outdone itself for their second co-written and co-illustrated teenage novella, and it is hardly surprising that this book has taken out the 2014 WABIAD prize for ‘Best Book.

When I See Grandma

When I See Grandma by Debra Tidball, illustrated by Leigh Hedstrom (Wombat Books)

HB RRP $19.95

ISBN 978-1-921632-59-4

Reviewed by Peta Biggin

Visiting Grandma can sometimes be sad but with a little imagination and thought, a little girl and her brother brighten Grandma’s dreams. 

When I See Grandma is a beautiful book.  The story follows a young girl as she visits her grandma, who is unresponsive in a nursing home.  By bringing in the special parts of her own life, the young girl tries to bring some happiness to Grandma’s dreams.

                  I love singing in the school choir.

                  The songs are happy and bright.

                  Grandma loves singing too…

                  When I see Grandma I sing her a song,

                  For her dreams to dance on.

Apart from the beautiful relationship depicted between the girl and her grandmother, what I especially loved about the book is that there is no shying away from reality.  At no point does the grandmother magically awaken; in fact the story ends, rather sadly, with her death.

                  I don’t like it when Daddy goes away for work.
                  I miss him a lot, but I think about how much he loves

                  me until I see him again.

                  I give him a big kiss before he leaves.

                  Grandma loves kisses too…

                  When I see Grandma again, I kiss her goodbye.

Although poignant, it is also a celebration of memories, family relationships and the simple things in life – music, laughter, having your hair brushed.

Leigh Hedstrom’s illustrations are the perfect accompaniment - fun with lovely little details and warm colours. They are also a little understated which suits the gentleness of the story. 

When I See Grandma is a heart-warming, touching and sentimental book.  Overall, I loved it and would recommend it as a must have for any child’s book collection. 

Debra Tidball is a social worker, parent and author.  When I See Grandma is her first book and was drawn from her own experience of having a parent with dementia.  She lives in suburban Sydney with her husband, sons and furkids.  She can be found online at:

http://www.debratidball.com/

Leigh Hedstrom is a freelance illustrator with over 10 years’ experience illustrating for educational and children’s media.  She has illustrated for school readers and children’s magazines.  When I See Grandma is her first picture book.  She can be found online at:  http://leighhedstrom.carbonmade.com/

Goodbye Grandma: helping young children cope with bereavement

Goodbye Grandma: helping young children cope with bereavement by Melanie Walsh (Walker Books)

HC RRP $24.95

Reviewed by Anastasia Gonis

Death is the most difficult thing for children to cope with or even understand. ‘What does dead mean?’ ‘Where do people go when they die?’

Many adults have been asked that question. This thoughtfully produced book about the inevitable for every living thing is a great tool for when words and thoughts fail.

The book is designed with cut outs that form frames, and pages cut in different shapes. The paper is thick with bold lines, brilliant colours and illustrations that focus on the point being made, or the question being asked and answered. The text is subtle and satisfying.

Created entirely with the child’s reception in mind, it gives an adequate explanation in simple language, to the harder questions that children throw at us.

It also addresses the adult reaction to death. Loss, like grief, is an ageless issue. At a Wake, adults share their memories and the things they knew about the person that’s passed. Children can see that older people too, feel the same way as they do.  The book also stresses the importance of remembering.

I found this a fantastic resource and one that should be included in Libraries and schools, for there are few books that handle the issue of bereavement so well. Another outstanding book on this subject is Shona Innes’ Life is Like the Wind.

Here In The Garden

Here In The Garden written and illustrated by Briony Stewart (University of Queensland Press)
HB RRP $24.95
ISBN 9780 7022 5010 1
Reviewed by Jo Antareau

Pets play a special role in a child’s life as they love the child unconditionally. But sadly, every child who has loved a pet will one day have to deal with the loss of their dear friend, playmate, confidante and partner-in-crime. Briony Stewart has captured the essence of a child’s wistful heartache beautifully. The story follows the bittersweet memories a boy has of sharing his garden with a fun little rabbit.

Briony Stewart’s words and illustrations bring the cute bunny to life – then gently remind us that he is no longer with his loving owner.

Written sparingly with a light touch and a lack of sentimentality, this book focuses on how the bereaved child rebuilds his love of the garden he and his much-loved pet once shared and played in, now that he is there alone.

This is a difficult topic for a book for young readers, but I think the author has managed it. I believe it would appeal to a wider age-range of readers than most picture books do, because the theme is not hammered as it may be in a more wordy text. The simple phrasing and soft illustrations carry the subject matter well.

Surfacing

Surfacing by Nora Raleigh Baskin (Walker Books)
PB RRP $16.95
ISBN 9781406347937
Reviewed by Anastasia Gonis

Maggie is different. She unwillingly attracts people who have secrets to tell. But they all withdraw from her after their confession. She also keeps a secret about what happened on the day her sister Leah drowned. Her parents have been at each other’s throats since their daughter’s death, and life at home is unbearable for the teenage Maggie.

Maggie has strange ways of dealing with her traumas although she has her competitive swimming to escape into. Her favourite escape is into lucid dreaming. This leads to the loss of true love and the further damaging of her teenage life. This last is greatly juxtaposed with the fact that her sister died while swimming.

Maggie must wade through all her guilt and surface to start life again. Can she find her way up?

This is a poignant and moving coming of age story about loss and facing life’s blows. It is told intermittently in the voice of Leah, but mainly in third person narrative. The prose, poetic and strong, moves up and down like water in a pool, then surfaces like the book’s title.

Coaltown Jesus

Coaltown Jesus by Ron Koertge (Walker Books)
HC RRP $ 24.95
ISBN 9780763662288
Reviewed by Anastasia Gonis

Deeply moving and often funny, this sparse verse is clever, philosophical and reflective. Writing a verse novel is an art and gifted poet Ron Koertge has created something significant that should not be overlooked.

Walker’s brother Noah has recently suicided. Walker can’t understand why with his mother’s nursing home full of people waiting to ‘check out’, Noah gets taken. His mother is broken, and Walker calls for divine intervention to put her together again.

Jesus appears, but only the boy can see and speak to him. The casual and friendly conversations between Jesus and Walker expose Noah’s life, the trauma his passing has left behind, and the growing detachment between mother and surviving son. The use of the Jesus figure is a unique device which complements and soothes this immensely interesting novel about grief and loss.

All That’s Missing

All That’s Missing by Sarah Sullivan (Walker Books)
HC RRP $24.95
ISBN 9780763661021
Reviewed by Anastasia Gonis

Arlo is in the sixth grade. His world is made up of his grandfather Poppo, his best friend Sam, and his running. Poppo is slipping in and out of time in his mind and Arlo is covering up about his life at home, and for the things that Poppo does. How long can Arlo keep their secret?

When Poppo has a stroke, everything goes haywire in Arlo’s life. Facing foster care, he sets out to find his ostracized paternal grandmother Ida whom he didn’t know existed, who lives hundreds of miles away. What he discovers changes his life completely, when a series of events forces the unknown story of his parents’ love for one another and their life together.

Evocative, filled with metaphor, and with a ghostly tale filtering through it, this book won’t be put down till the last word. It’s themes of loss and grief, and the importance of identity and belonging, meld together to form a moving tale about family love and loyalty. It also exposes the desolation of keeping secrets till death, and their effects on the living. Highly recommended.

See You at Harry’s

See You at Harry’s by Jo Knowles (Walker Books)
PB RRP $ 16.95
ISBN 9781406346077
Reviewed by Anastasia Gonis

Fern at twelve years old feels invisible to her family, especially since the arrival of her brother Charlie, three years ago. When Charlie dies after a fall whilst in Fern’s care, guilt and anguish swallow her up. How does one cope with grief when they are invisible and unable to get the comfort they need?

Fern’s brother Holden is bullied mercilessly on the bus and at school because of his sexual orientation. Sara her older sister, shields herself behind a bad attitude while searching for her place in life. Dad is filled with dreams and plans to expand the restaurant he inherited from his father, while mum has a room she escapes into to find her inner peace.

All these singularly interesting family members are drawn together by their grief. This grief gives birth to hope when they realize that life continues through the desolation of loss, and that love is the only answer.

Beautifully written and held together by fantastic characters, this novel places emphasis on the conflict and issues that confront most families, and their resolution. It simultaneously concentrates on what it is that holds a family unit together.

Often alternately humorous and tragic, this novel has much to say. But it’s what’s left unsaid that gives it a delicate and deeply moving touch.