Rabbit, Soldier, Angel, Thief

Rabbit, Soldier, Angel, Thief by Katrina Nannestad, illustrated by Martina Heiduczek (ABC Books) HB RRP $19.99 ISBN: 9780733341465

Reviewed by Dannielle Viera

Ten-year-old Sasha sits up in a German hospital bed, looking at things he has stolen. He knows that each item has a special meaning, but he can’t remember what it is. When Doctor Orlova brings him a bouquet, the ‘blue, blue cornflowers’ trigger the first of many memories for Sasha. He begins to tell his story to a rapt audience of staff and patients. As each swiped item slips into place like a puzzle piece, Sasha relives his escape from German soldiers in Russia, his adoption by a company of Red Army soldiers, his anointment as the Angel of Stalingrad, and a Berlin bomb that shatters his chance at happiness. Or does it?

Katrina Nannestad paints with poignancy, each textual stroke adding a new layer of intensity and intrigue. Powerful imagery entices the senses and weaves a three-dimensional world where the stark line between good and bad, love and hate, right and wrong, soon becomes blurred. Katrina’s use of present tense immerses middle-grade readers in a flood of emotion and action, propelling them page-by-page to the bittersweet conclusion.

Martina Heiduczek’s atmospheric black-and-white illustrations are the perfect way to set the scene for each of Sasha’s story sessions. But even before the book is opened, the boy’s eyes peer earnestly from Martina’s glorious cover image, compelling youngsters to join him on a memorable journey. The warmth of the sun’s rays and the colourful blooms in his hand reassure readers that the protagonist finds joy among the ruins of his life.

Played out against the brutal backdrop of World War II, Rabbit, Soldier, Angel, Thief is a heart-rending tale of loss, survival, resilience, and love. Battered by the waves of fate, Sasha refuses to go under – his determination and devotion eventually deliver him to the shores of hope.

The Castle of Inside Out

The Castle of Inside Out by David Henry Wilson, illustrated by Chris Riddell (Alma Books Ltd)  PB RRP $14.99

ISBN 9781846883965

Reviewed by Daniela Andrews

A girl follows a talking rabbit to a magical place where language play abounds and with word games aplenty. The magical land is ruled by pigs that have thrown the humans outside the castle and are now mistreating them in retaliation for their own former treatment of animals. Confused about which book I’m reviewing? It is neither Alice in Wonderland nor Animal Farm, but this fast-paced, gripping fantasy novel has been aptly described as a meeting of the two.

The politely inquisitive protagonist, Lorina, is on a mission to find a mysterious castle for her school project. A black rabbit offers directions, but he warns her to stay away from the ‘outsiders’, the horrible green people. He reassures her that those in the castle, ‘the insiders’, are lovely, educated and civilised. Lorina bravely sets off to find the truth for herself, wondering if her rabbit guide is, in fact, misguided. She also wants to know why there are toxic fumes spilling out from the castle.

Originally published in 1997, this novel makes a welcome return to today’s bookshelves. The illustrations by the talented Chris Riddell, Children’s Laureate, are black-and-white, deeply detailed drawings rich in texture. They manage to convey absurdity and sense at the same time, thus suiting the novel perfectly. 

Readers are introduced to a vast array of cleverly named animals, such as the ‘bureaurat’, the ‘super-viper’, a ‘farmadillo’, a ‘custoadian’ and the egotistical leader – the ‘piggident’. The writer shapes the characters’ dialogue around their animal sound. The cat, for example, says ‘niaobody’ and ‘niaothing’ and the gobbling turkey (‘turnkey’) says ‘problobloblem’ and ‘followollowollow’. There is a stand-out alliterative passage showcasing the menu of the cuckoo (‘cookoo’) that made me want to put the book down and burst into applause. This novel begs to be read aloud – perhaps a reflection of the author’s prior success as a playwright.

The story casts a satirical spotlight on government and asks the reader to question the effect of power upon compassion. Though the novel is quite whimsical in nature, older readers won’t miss its darker undertones. The emotive distance with which these issues are raised does make the story accessible to younger readers. I’d recommend the novel for readers aged 8–12.

Snowy Night

Snowy Night by Tilde Michels, illustrated by Reinhard Michl (Starfish Bay Children’s Books)

PB RRP $12.99

ISBN 9780994100221

Reviewed by Leigh Roswen

Snowy Night written by Tilde Michels and illustrated by Reinhard Michl is a picture book told in verse.

Peter lives in a cottage near the forest. One stormy night a rabbit, then a fox and finally a bear come knocking on his door seeking shelter. Can all these natural enemies spend a peaceful night together? And who should they fear the most? This is a tale of kindness and cooperation with a thoughtful twist at the end.

This is not simply a rhyming picture book it is a verse story with over 20 stanzas of 2-10 lines each. It would be a joy to read aloud to 4 to 8 year olds. The text is not so suited to independent reading due to the long word count and the fluency required to keep the rhythm flowing. The story is clear and the concepts not difficult, so it is an ideal text to introduce a child to poetry.

Perhaps there are times the rhyme is a bit clunky but this can be forgiven because the verse never fails to move the clever plot along. In the hands of a good reader children will not notice this at all. There are also parts when the verse is beautiful and bouncy and would be a delight to read aloud:

Meanwhile the snowflakes keep on tumbling,

The wind keeps howling, roaring, rumbling,

The strongest trees are bending, breaking,

The little house is shivering, shaking.

The drawn illustrations in this book are a standout and complement the story on every page. The soft textures of fur and cloth and the facial expressions of each character are depicted beautifully. The middle spread of Peter and all the animals asleep in the house is just gorgeous.

This is a cosy bedtime book, like a lullaby, it is meant for settling and snuggling. It also has a message about cooperation in times of need, about honesty and human responsibility.

Reviewer website: www.leighroswen.com