Kupala village lies near the spirit wood, Driada. Liska Radost knows about the spirits who haunt it through family and village stories in nearby Stodola where she lives. Liska has always been able to see spirits but she also has magic which mostly she has used to heal animals but it has more recently led to tragic consequences. Liska’s mother is Stodola’s folk healer and she recognizes in her daughter a wild magic which is difficult to control. Liska is urged to live quietly to avoid being denounced by the villagers as a witch. Fear of spirits and demons is very strong where people live close to the Driada which is ruled by the demon Leszy. On the night of the solstice it is said the fern flower will bloom, legend says that if you pick the flower it will grant a wish. Liska plucks up her courage and enters the Driada, hoping to find the flower and wish away her magic power forever so she can live in peace like a normal person. Inside the Driada Liska is beset by spirits and loses her lantern, stumbling about in the dark until a glowing white stag appears. Rather than killing her it leads her into the wood as she follows its glowing footprints only to fall prey to a rusalka, a demon disguised as a beautiful woman, only her magic preserves her, coming unbidden to fight off the demon. She finally finds the fern flower but it is another trap, this time set by the Leszy, the warden of the wood, the white stag. She eventually agrees to serve him for a year after which he will grant her wish.
Gothic fairytales are always popular, allowing us to escape into magical realms and fantasy worlds especially in our complicated modern times. This one is beautifully told, uncovering folklore from the author’s Polish background. The exotic names, like the kikimora, rusalka, stryzgon, skratzky, each with its characteristic origin and power give an authentic feel to the tale and the protagonist’s resilience and courage, along with a wry sense of humour, finally help her find her place in the world.
A funny, captivating roam around the neighbourhood of mums and the moggies that attach themselves, is offered in this wonderful picture book, full of colour and fun, family and just a bit of nonsense. Four cats of different hues stroll across the title page, their eyes firmly watching the reader, readying them for the fun to be had when the page is turned.
Just as there are many names for the mother in the family, so too are multi names for cats. From then on are a series of full page images of mums and their cats, snuggling together, to building or cooking together. Each page shows a companionable relationship between the cats and the mums, paralleling the closeness of the family and the things stye do together.
Mixing mum with milky dog shows mum in the kitchen baking. There are several helpers, a couple of kids licking fingers and making a mess, while the cat licks up the overflow from the bench. Handy mag with a helpful go shows the mum changing the car’s tyre with the dog operating the jack. Meeting mum with a messy dog shows mum at the computer trying to do some work while the messy go spreads her papers all over the floor Seesaw mum with a sliding go shows mu and a child playing on the seasaw, the dog sliding up and down between them.
Every page presents a wonderful image of mum and what they do with their children, accompanied by a cat. The mogs are wonderful with their streamlined bodies and nonchalant looks, while the mums range from extreme wakefulness to resting and camping, playing hide and seek to reading, sledding down the hill with the children and the cat to playing the trumpet and playing with their kids on the playground equipment.
This is a wonderful celebration of mums and the roles they play in a child’s life. Full of colour and fun, wisdom and humour, the pages are a treat, inviting readers to make up their own alliterative phase about their mum and their mog.
I loved the various images of mogs and mums, and the extra details on each page to ponder over, while the cover has the faces on the front, peering out at the reader, and the backs of heads on the back cover.
Lots of fun will be had producing the alliterative word on each page, and then making up their own once the book has been read.
Albert Street, 2024. ISBN: 9781761068607. (Age:6-10)
Deep under the ocean in the Shallow Side of Chumville Finley the reef shark lives with his dentist parents Su and Shi, and his siblings, Dash, Smash, Crash, Flash , Splash and Bash. During the day Finley goes to school with his mates Hunter the tiger shark, Gnash the pointer shark and Gilleon the lemon shark, but at night, they are secretly the super-famous rock band JAWSOME!
In this, the second in the series, the band is off to play at Euro-fishin, and international music competition, where there will be bands like Swim Shady and Mertallica. But at the airport as departure time draws closer, Gnash (aka Gnarly Gnelson) hasn't turned up, and a phone call to his parents reveals that he is missing. Immediately suspicious, and the police not taking the matter seriously, the band members find themselves deep in mystery and intrigue which includes stopping evil A.B.B.A. (Alliance of Brutally Bad Anglerfish) agents from destroying the ocean. Then, in the second story, unmasking a strange new band called the Killer Wails, that everyone seems to follow, and having to use all their rockstar skills to save Chumville from becoming mindless zombies.
This is a fun series for those emerging readers who like a light-hearted read, peppered with pun humour and plenty of illustrations. Verging on a graphic novel because so much of the action happens in the illustrations as it does in the text, it will also appeal to those students who like to be seen with thick books - it has over 300 pages because of the large font and copious graphics. With most of the puns printed in bold, it is also a good opportunity to investigate that literary technique and how its use adds humour to many situations, as well as identifying the common elements and themes of such stories so readers start to understand the concept of genre, in this case the tropes of spy stories.
Released at a time when so many of our students are swept up in the Swifties craze as Taylor Swift tours the nation, this is an engaging and enjoyable read on many levels that will have wide appeal.
Themes Sharks, Secrecy, Musicians, Crime.
Barbara Braxton
Engineers making a difference by Dr Shini Somara
What on earth books, 2023. ISBN: 9781804660270. (Age:12+) Highly recommended.
In this detailed lengthy hardcover book, Engineers Making a Difference, 46 engineers are showcased and celebrated. The book begins with a contents page divided into the following 12 chapters with a number of engineers included under each heading:
1. Human Needs 2. Climate and Environment 3. Powering our future 4. Infrastructure and construction 5. Healthcare 6. Advanced materials 7. Communication 8. Smart Manufacturing 9. Transportation 10. Entertainment 11. Robotics and Artificial Intelligence 12. Exploring beyond our planet
The introduction talks about the diversity of the engineers who are on inspiring journeys. In this book, ten of the most common types of engineers are considered: aeronautical, biomedical, chemical, civil, environmental, computer, geotechnical, electrical, materials and mechanical.
Each engineer is discussed over two or three pages beginning with their name, occupation, project title plus photo. There is also a fact file and career highlights section. Biomedical engineer, Jennifer Olsen is passionate about making prosthetics better. She was named as one of the Top 50 Women in Engineering in the UK in 2021. Professor Mischa Dohler is an electronics engineer who works on bringing creativity to engineering and innovation to art. He co-found Worldsensing. Dr Lynsey Melville is a Professor of Environmental Engineering who is involved in making waste useful. She has a PhD and her own laboratory to work with students.
While this book is about engineers in the UK, it does give a valuable insight to possible career choices for those students considering engineering. It would be suitable for a secondary, tertiary or public library.
Nick and Charlie are nearing the end of high school and facing the reality of Nick going away to university. They have also come to a point in their relationship where they both feel comfortable with each other and the talk in their peer group is starting to be about taking relationships to the next level. Charlie is managing his anxiety and eating disorder better but Nick is very aware that making a wrong move might have adverse effects. Nick is also worried that choosing a university course a long way away would disrupt their lives and he is unsure of what he wants to do anyway. A road trip to various U.K. university open days with friends Tara and Elle is a good opportunity to get some perspective on a lot of things and to imagine possible futures. As with all this graphic series, Alice Oseman’s consistent characters ooze emotion often with just a few lines. I loved the second frame down on page 1301 where a sleeping Nick has echoes of a Picasso sketch. Readers of the previous four graphic novels will be invested in their story but the issues and personal challenges these young adults are wrestling with are universal, not just for the LGBTQ community and new readers will still enjoy seeing the growth possible as the characters mature. While the series is now a live action Netflix series, these simple black and white graphics on newsprint have an immediacy that still appeals, and new readers can read up on the story and illustrations on the website.
Themes LGBTQ relationships, Friendship.
Sue Speck
The most amazing thing by Ian Hayward Robinson and Matt Shanks
Allen & Unwin, 2024. ISBN: 9781761180118. (Age:5-8)
What is the most amazing thing? What a great conversation starter before you even open the cover to read the first page.
One rainy, dark day Henry is stuck inside with nothing to do. His family are all occupied. "Sorry. I have to finish this chapter", says his mother when he goes to her first. Her suggestion of drawing 'the most amazing thing' is an interesting one though, so off he goes with a big sheet of paper and some crayons. Too bad he can't think of the singular most amazing thing! Life, says his sister Greta. 'It is so vibrant and exciting'. The mind, says his brother Simon. 'The human mind doesn't just know things. It also knows that it knows things', he says. More confused than ever, Henry asks his mother for help. 'The most amazing thing is you', she says. 'Did you know there is nobody else in the world world exactly like you?'' Finishing on a lovely message regarding the importance of having your own opinion and about the different ways of finding wonder in the world, this is a classic tale that will work well for all ages. Not only does Henry realise there is not one answer to the question, but he realises that every person in the world is equally special.
Smatterings of visual humour will add to the engagement level as will the wonderfully warm and comforting illustrations. Outside is dark, cold and dreary, but inside we are treated to the warm glow of Henry's well-lit house, with friendly family members around every corner.
When Sawyer Taft finishes her shift as an auto mechanic in her small town’s car garage, the last person she expects to see is the grandmother she has never met and has never heard a positive word about.
Lillian Taft, the matriarch of a powerful and immensely wealthy Southern family, has an offer – and a contract – which Sawyer finds hard to refuse. All Sawyer must do is live with Lillian for nine months and participate in a debutante season. Afterwards, she will be half a million dollars richer. Sounds easy, right? Wrong. Sawyer has barely come to terms with her new wardrobe, living quarters, makeover, and family before she is unwittingly drawn into an environment of deceit, backstabbing and blackmail that could only be perpetuated by teenage girls. Along with her cousin Lily and new friend Sadie-Grace, Sawyer must navigate a world in which money is no object, rules are meant to be broken and public scandal is the greatest sin of all.
Jennifer Lynn Barnes, author of the bestselling The Inheritance Games series, is excellent at bringing to life ‘fish out of water’ stories. Sawyer is a sassy, clever and no nonsense heroine who manages, despite increasingly trying circumstances, to take everything in her stride. Her calm and pragmatic narration is the ideal foil to the more dramatic characters and situations around her. At its heart, Little White Lies is a mystery story with just enough romance, friendship and danger to keep it interesting.
Told with short incisive sentences, readers will absorb the richness of the life the baby (buwaarr) has been born into, which offers a wonderful future. With her mother (miimi) she will hear and learn language, see and be part of the marvellous environment and see and learn the totems of her people.
As each page is turned, readers will marvel at the blend of colour and design, wanting to see what each page means and how the text relates to the images.
The land is called Budaarr, the ocean that can be seen is the totem of the people, one that cleans and heals.
Some pages refer to the rivers and creeks which surround the land. Many of the pages refer to gaagal, the ocean, where these people live, and the text reflects on the wisdom passed down to the baby. Miimi wants the child to be able to walk on their land, confidently knowing who she is, while being guided and protected by the sun (ngyan), the moon (giidany) wrapping the baby with love.
A beautiful hymn to a newborn baby, full of the mother’s love and plans for her future, this story encompasses the environment a child grows up in, and how each part of that environment adds to their knowledge nad confidence.
As with her other books, Melissa incorporates words in the Gumbaynggirr language of those people of the mid north coast of New South Wales and her beautiful illustrations full of colour and traditional motifs will inspire readers to take another look at what is shown about that environment.
At the end and beginning of the book more information can be read about the language, and of Melissa and her work.
Themes Aboriginal story, New South Wales, Babies, Environment.
Fran Knight
The Goblins' revenge by Andy Prentice and Tom Knight
Usborne, 2024. ISBN: 9781803706467. (Age:9+)
For 93 years the land of Sibele has been ruled by the evil wizard Darkmoon, and now he is hunting down the last few rebels who dare to oppose him, and the only one who can save them and end his reign is the reader. With a horde of undead warriors on the trail and a series of blood-curdling dangers ahead, it would be a terrifying task for anyone - but you're just a goblin, which makes things even more challenging. Confronted by menacing monsters, ghostly magic and a thrilling race against time in this spectacular fantasy adventure gamebook, the reader becomes the hero whose decisions and choices determine the outcome.
Decades ago the choose-your-own adventure genre hit the shelves and were an instant success with those who like to insert and immerse themselves in the stories, and this 21st century version combines that genre with the gaming craze, combining three loves of the current generation - video games, fantasy and a story in print which becomes a new adventure with every choice made.
It begins with instructions on how to play complete with items, weapons and abilities, a logbook to keep track of the relevant details of the quest as well as all the other things needed to play a game and complete a quest in this modern era. There are crucial picture puzzles to solve along the way, and although a computer is not needed to play, there are links to an online dice roller if physical dice (needed to play the combat system) aren't available as well as a printable logbook.
I am the first to admit that this is not my sort of game and my granddaughters gave up in frustration as they tried to teach me some of theirs, but nevertheless, this seems to be something that teacher librarians should be aware of so they can capture the imagination and minds of those engaged by this sort of activity, thus demonstrating that the library has resources that are relevant to them. In fact, while the publisher suggests this is suitable for 9+, it could be one to give to your gamers for feedback on suitability both for reading /comprehension age as well as future releases in the series.
Themes Wizards, Goblins, Good and evil, Magic.
Barbara Braxton
Island of Whispers by Frances Hardinge. Illus. by Emily Gravett
Two Hoots, 2023. ISBN: 9781529088076. (Age:12+) Highly recommended.
I am a fan of Costa Book Award-winning Frances Hardinge’s books (The lie tree,Cuckoo song and Unraveller) and was intrigued when I read that she and award winning illustrator Emily Gravett had collaborated in a picture book. And what a stunning collaboration! Hardinge’s wonderful authorship brings to life the story of Milo, a young boy who lives on the island of Merlank. His father is the ferryman who carries away the Dead who must not be allowed to linger as their ghosts can kill. When his father is killed, he must take over the job, and what a difficult job it is. All the shoes of the dead must be collected so the ghosts would follow onto the ship and then there is a hazardous journey though dangerous seas until the Dead could be left on another island to join their friends and family. Meanwhile a young girl has just died on the island and her father the Lord of Merlank is determined to bring her back to life. He follows Milo’s ship and with the help of two magicians tries to wreck it. Milo must use all his ingenuity to complete his task and evade the Lord and his magicians.
Accompanying Hardinge’s lyrical prose are Gravett’s black, blue and white illustrations that add depth and feeling to the story. The eerie atmosphere of the ghosts on the ship is perfectly captured and the headless bird is very frightening. I loved the gorgeous cover with its silver moths and the character of Milo is drawn with a few brushstrokes.
This is not a picture book for young children but one that will appeal to readers aged 12+ who will need the maturity to deal with the idea of the dead being ferried to their resting place. The themes of coming of age, kindness and use of imagination as well as dealing with grief will also appeal to adults and readers who enjoy books by Neil Gaiman.
Themes Death, ghosts, Magic islands, Coming of age.
Pat Pledger
Fall of ruin and wrath by Jennifer L. Armentrout
Macmillan, 2023. ISBN: 9781035027408. (Age:Adult)
Calista spent her childhood struggling to survive, an orphan who was always hungry and always in danger. Now, at twenty two years old, she is ensconced in a very different world. Part courtesan, part advisor and part spy to the powerful Baron of Archwood, Calista spends her time trying to comprehend both the future and other people’s secrets because Calista has a gift that sets her apart from other mortals. She calls it her intuition and it allows her to read thoughts and glimpse the future. Her powers only have two constraints, she cannot divine her own fate and she cannot read those of the immortal Hyhborn beings that rule the land. Protected from the harshness of the world outside the baron’s estates, Calista is content to live her life proving her usefulness. That is until one night when she inadvertently stumbles across Thorne, a highborn prince close to death and finds herself entangled in a plot that will have repercussions for the realm. Calista intuits that their fates are irrevocably intertwined, and she will not be able to untangle herself from him, despite the danger she is now in.
Fall of Ruin and Wrath is a typical story by Jennifer L. Armentrout, the seasoned author of many fantasy romance novels. Big, brawny and bossy alpha males and self-effacing and submissive female leads generally typify her books, and this one is no different. While the plot and characters are interesting enough, most of the book seems constructed solely for the purpose of creating increasingly laboured circumstances to throw Calista and Thorne together. Nevertheless, Fall of Ruin and Wrath will likely satisfy fans of Armentrout’s particular style of dramatic writing. However, any potential reader must consider the extremely explicit language and themes that make this novel suitable for adult audiences only.
Saturday always means that pancakes are made and eaten in this household, but for once, Henry does not feel like pancakes. It is up to dad, Milo, and the twins to find out why. When they get to his room, he tells them he feels unwell, but when his temperature is taken, it is normal. The twins decide to make something that will appeal to Henry, and raid the pantry, the fridge and the freezer for the ingredients for their concoctions. And what concoctions! Readers will laugh and scream with disgust at the combinations the twins come up with to tempt Henry out of bed. Spinach and ice cream, pasta with sardines and hundreds and thousands, were amongst the creative recipes, but Henry was still unimpressed, hiding himself under the blankets.
They try all sorts of things, and it is only when they make a recipe using heart shaped cake tins, that Henry comes downstairs. He realises that he is loved and wanted and throws off the blankets to join the family.
Fabulous illustrations cover each page, some look like cameos, others full page spreads showing the family trying to help Henry to get back on track. Loads of humour will be found in the illustrations, amongst the incredible detail, shown in a different drawing style which is quite beguiling.
Fun, food and family are combined to give this funny tale its focus, as they all try to get Henry back with the family. The deeper meaning of inclusiveness, of being aware that some will be feeling out of sorts, that you can help them overcome their sadness, will hearten younger readers who perhaps see someone their family or friendship group feeling this way and now can see a way to help.
This disarming picture book will have wide appeal. And what young reader will not laugh out loud at the combinations of foods described and think about what would get them out of bed.
Themes Family, Depression, Food, Recipes, Humour.
Fran Knight
Amanda Commander: The Blues-day Tuesday by Coral Vass. Illus. by Heidi Cooper Smith
Amanda Caomhanach (aka Amanda Commander) is nearly nine and likes nothing more than hanging out with her two best friends Lucia Cazzoli (aka Rainbow Fudge) and Mai Le (aka Plum Flower). Together they make up the Dolphin Squad meeting at their beachside HQ and solving problems like why Amanda didn't receive an invitation to Eve's birthday, the only one in the class not to have one.
This time, Amanda has a tough time fitting back into the friendship groups at school after having a sick day, and so, when Eve has several days off, Amanda is determined she will not face the same issues, even if it means she, herself, is excluded.
This is the fourth in this series for the newly independent reader, particularly girls, which focuses on the sorts of issues that eight and nine year olds face as they navigate the world of greater independence and making and maintaining friendships. Thus, it will resonate with many who will see themselves in the stories, and start to think about what they might do in the same circumstances. If someone returns to school after an absence or is new to the school, how will they respond so the transition is smooth and welcoming.
Using all the textual devices that support those making the transition to novels, this is a series that will be a sound stepping stone.
Despite the image on the front cover, the glass house in Buist and Simsion’s book is the nurses’ station in a hospital’s Mental Health Service’s Acute Unit, but the image is very apt as the patients that go through the service are like exotic plants that may live or die according to the conditions they encounter. Hannah Wright is the new intern in the psychiatric ward, and she must make the decisions that could drastically impact people’s lives, comparable to the confronting edge-of-the-knife scenarios of the recent British medical comedy-drama television miniseries ‘This is going to hurt’.
We encounter the whole range of psychiatric cases - postpartum psychosis, suicide ideation, PTSD, morbid anorexia nervosa, schizophrenia, depression, histrionic personality disorder. It’s like reading short stories but they all link up and the reading becomes addictive as we go from one case to another. All of this is within the framework of a high pressure, underfunded medical service that has its own issues of bullying and unresolved trauma among the staff. And to keep us engaged there is also the subtle thread of a possible romance, if that’s possible between people working in the same pressure-cooker environment.
I really liked the way the authors give insight into the personal doubts and dilemmas of the main protagonist, Hannah, but at the same time we are shown how she steps up time and again to say and do the tough things required. She is a strong personality despite her misgivings, and all readers will wish her success in the career she has chosen. No doubt the authenticity comes from the lived experience of the author psychiatrist Anne Buist.
I found the book a little hard to get into at first; there seemed so many people to keep track of, but as I read on I became more and more engaged, as the evidence behind the cases is built up and the discussions between the young professionals and their personal experiences are elaborated. The patient scenarios are dramatic and one can’t help wondering how they will be resolved. It’s a book for the general reader but would also be of especial interest to anyone considering a career in psychiatry or related field.
One thing I have overlooked mentioning is the humour. Despite the serious issues, it is actually very funny, a modern tragicomedy. Buist and Simsion know how to toss in the humorous remark that undercuts the tension, the secret thoughts that belie the spoken words, and the mad-cap scenarios that escalate in the psychiatric communal areas. So there is much laughter amid the tears.
When James went to the museum with his class, he spied a triceratops on the shelf in the museum shop. James loved dinosaurs and he loved miniatures, so this little dinosaur was just what he wanted to fill a space on his shelf. But he had no money, so when no-one was looking, he put the little model into his pocket. At lunchtime, he found he could not eat his sandwich and on the bus going home, the dinosaur in his pocket seemed to get bigger.
He had to put it into his back pack, and run to his room when he arrived home to hide it in his wardrobe.
But when the family were together they heard a loud noise coming from the bedroom and opening the door found a triceratops as big as the adults. James had to explain. Hie parents did not shout or yell, but instead were very disappointed and they decided that the next day the little toy would be returned to the museum. Overnight it grew even bigger and it just fitted into dad’s truck ready to be take back to the museum.
James had to tell the assistant what he had done, and the dinosaur became smaller. And James’ guilt was diminished.
This lovely story of problem solving will be taken to heart by the readers. James’ guilt grows just like the dinosaur that he stole, making his guilt feel overwhelming. The solution, to return the stolen toy, cost him his pride, but his guilt was lifted from his shoulders, as the dinosaur shrank.
The story underlines the idea of owning up to things you have done, reassuring the reader that people will not be angry but supportive in solving the problem. Problems that seem overwhelming can be solved when working together, to find a simple solution. Readers will be enchanted by James’ miniature collection, perusing all the detail in the illustrations, poring over the endpapers, and saying the names of his collection out loud, following the words in the book. The problem presented is one which most children will recognise, as they all will have wanted their parents to buy something for them and been disappointed. They will not all have followed James’ example but they will see that his guilt at doing something wrong is palpable and encourage them to see what the right course of actions should have been. Teacher's notes are available.
