Tor Books, 2023. ISBN: 9781250889935. (Age:15+) Recommended.
The key to deceit is second in the series featuring Electra McDonnell (Ellie) and follows A peculiar combination. It continues the story of a family once engaged in breaking open safes and theft and now engaged in working for the government. Ellie misses the adrenaline thrill she once had when unlocking a difficult code but is more than happy to serve her country. When Major Ramsey wants her to unlock a bracelet on the wrist of a woman found floating in the Thames she agrees and they become involved in uncovering a spy network working for the Germans.
Set in London just before the beginning of the Blitz in 1940, The key to deceit will delight readers who enjoy a suspenseful spy thriller with plenty of danger. Ellie is a feisty young woman who uses her skills to break the codes on locks and her intelligence to work out clues to the espionage ring. Major Ramsey is the strong silent type and there is a hint of romance with both the Major and Ellie’s friend Felix on the scene. A secondary mystery thread is Ellie’s search for evidence that her mother did not murder her father and she slowly gains some new insights into this as the novel progresses.
This can be read as a standalone but beginning with A peculiar combination will flesh out the characters for the reader. It is an easy-to-read book that should appeal to readers who like historical fiction combined with a spy thriller and murder mystery. I will be sure to pick up the next in this series, Playing it safe.
Themes Mystery, Espionage, World War 2, London.
Pat Pledger
Who am I? I'm a duckling by Liv Wan, illus.
Catch a Star, 2023. ISBN: 9781922326850. (Age:1+) Recommended.
One in a number of books in the Who am I? series published by New Frontier, the book about a duckling will have instant appeal to the very young, just learning to hold and open a book. Study board books are great introductions, and combined with am engrossing theme concerning a variety of animals, told simply and surrounded by wonderful bright illustrations, younger children will be enthralled.
In the duckling book, various traits are given about an animal, then the question ‘Who am I?’ is posed, answered by opening a flap to find the picture of the animal. In this book, children will see the difference between a cow, a horse, a duckling, pig, when on the last page the flap reveals a mirror, subtly including them in the carnival of animals. The background detail shows a little of the environment in which these animals live, and a few other animals are included, encouraging recognition by the reader. They will love this board book, sturdy and strong, brightly coloured and detailed, giving range to a host of learning about animals.
Themes Animals, Farm life, Recognition, Question and answers, Lift the flap, Board book.
I loved The agency for scandal and when I saw that the second in the series, A season for scandal, had been published I had to read it immediately. Laura Wood has done it again – writing a witty, romantic mystery with wonderful characters and a delightful background featuring Bloom’s Florist shop and the meaning of flowers.
Marigold Bloom accidentally drops a book on Oliver Lockhart’s head in a bookshop, and bursts into tears with this latest misfortune in her day. Her fiancé has broken off their engagement, his father has propositioned her and put the family business into danger. Oliver gives her a card for the Aviary, an agency to help women in distress, and there she finds not only assistance for her plight, but the chance to become an investigator. Oliver Lockhart needs the help of the Aviary to uncover the truth behind the return of his long-lost sister, and Mari finds herself masquerading as Oliver’s fiancée in his cold Yorkshire castle.
The trope of dark, ill-tempered hero and optimistic heroine is managed with a light hand by Wood. Readers who read The agency for scandal would remember Oliver from there, and it was great to see him gradually being drawn out of his isolation by Mari, who has a sunny nature but is also well organised and a very skilled botanist. The romance takes centre stage, but the mystery is also gripping as Mrs Finch and her detectives try to work out just why Oliver’s newly discovered sister might be a fraud.
I eagerly await the next in the series and continue to read Wood’s backlist. These books are feel-good escapist reads and lovers of mystery and romance are likely to enjoy them and perhaps books by Eva Ibbotson and Georgette Heyer could also be recommended.
Casey Henderson, aka Casey_Flow, came to notoriety through her gaming ability in the game Skywake. Her involvement in a gaming tournament introduced her to a group of teammates and in Skywake: Invasion (Book 1 of this series) they were abducted by aliens and needed to use their gaming skills to fight back. In this final book in the series, they are again back on earth and needed to bolster the local resistance’s efforts in overcoming the alien invaders. In the course of Casey’s adventures in the cosmos she has unlocked telepathic and telekinetic skills that are needed to fight against the alien forces acting against earthly existence. The world is in turmoil, and it seems that the young gamers and their new friends in the resistance movement are the only ones agile enough to have any hope to counter the formidable oppression of the invaders with their advanced technology. Casey and her friends must intervene in the search for an array of additional hidden alien technology which would unfairly bolster the current invaders’ power. Can they get there in time, and will Casey’s brother, Pete, be a hindrance or a help to their efforts?
This is the kind of sci-fi adventure that will impress gamers and young teen readers. The heroes are from the quick-witted gaming community that are used to jumping, shooting, blasting and problem-solving in a constantly evolving, rapid-fire environment. They come from different backgrounds, but their combined talents make them formidable opponents. When pitted against aliens (and enabled with some alien enhanced abilities too) they become ‘super-human’ in more ways than one. Adults are superfluous in this game-like environment. I was impressed by the excitement and tension created in this sci-fi adventure and wish I had read all the books in the series. The young characters had quirky, adventurous qualities (as all good gamers do), tempered by occasional teenage reticence in the face of life-threatening danger, and yet they display courage in the face of fire. I admired their perseverance and quick spins out of danger. This is the kind of book (and series) that the 10-14 year old cohort will love. It has strong male and female characters, action aplenty, intriguing aliens and weaponry, and twists in the plot that are unexpected. A worthy book to recommend to this age group that will keep them away from their own gaming pursuits. (I also loved the homage to some older games - eg space invaders, and game arcade history.)
Jack and his middle school friends are aboard Public-School ship 118 which is stranded on Earth after the rest of its human population has mysteriously vanished. This book is a sequel to Seventh Grade vs. the Galaxy and continues the story which I would describe as a Science Fiction version of a Percy Jackson adventure. Jack, Ari and Becka are continuing their space training around the empty cities while their ship is being repaired. Once they finally take off in the PSS 118 it is captured by a robot army who are commanded by the powerful Minister. Jack and his friends are working hard to find out what happened to their families from Earth but there always seems to be someone on the inside ruining their efforts. Could there be a traitor in their midst?
The narrative is interspersed with diary entries which gives different perspectives and reveals much about each character’s thoughts and feelings. There is an abundance of action and fight scenes to keep the story moving and many references to futuristic tech and weaponry to satisfy the fans of this genre. Robots and robot technology play a major part in the story and the questions about whether robots could take over the world could form an interesting discussion for classrooms in Technology.
Themes Science fiction, Robots, Aliens, Life on other planets.
Gabrielle Anderson
Has anyone seen Charlotte Salter? by Nicci French
Simon & Schuster, 2024. ISBN: 9781398524095. (Age:16+, Adult) Recommended.
The author duo Nicci Gerrard and Sean French have written a memorable thriller that not only describes the investigation into the disappearance of Charlotte Salter but the effects that the disappearance has on her family and friends. When Charlotte Salter does not turn up for her husband’s 50th birthday party, her children, especially fifteen-year-old Etty, become increasingly worried. It is not like her to be late, but when Etty contacts the police, her fears are brushed aside. When Charlotte’s coat is found by the river and the body of her friend Duncan Ackerley is found in the river the police conclude that the pair were having an affair and that Duncan murdered her and then committed suicide. Thirty years later Morgan Ackerley, now a successful documentary maker, comes back and persuades his brother Greg to join him in making a podcast about the disappearance. This stirs up trouble with a suspicious fire turning to murder. Detective Inspector Maud O’Connor is sent to Glensted to take over the investigation and uncovers secrets from the past.
The novel is divided into three parts: Part 1 1990 events around the disappearance, Part 2 2022 the podcast, and Part 3 the investigation by O’Connor. French writes sympathetically of the Salter family, each member coming alive, with their characters, with flaws and strengths, giving a vivid picture of the family dynamics. Charlotte Salter is beautiful and loved by all, while Alec Salter is shown as a faithless husband. I was most drawn to Etty a strong and determined teen.
One of the highlights of the novel for me was the portrayal of the damage that never knowing what happened to Charlotte had on the whole family. Etty at 15 is bold and strong, living a life of a teenager with friends and parties. Thirty years later, she is tightly controlled and mourning the loss on one brother. Meanwhile Morgan Ackerly, an unpopular young teen, has achieved international success and is confident and sure of his ability to uncover some of the secrets surrounding Charlotte and his father.
The third section of the novel is given over to police procedure as Detective Inspector Maud O’Connor casts fresh eyes not just on the death by arson, but on the missing woman and dead man from thirty years ago. She is intelligent and intuitive and comes to a stunning conclusion that was a complete surprise for me.
Has Anyone Seen Charlotte Salter? is a gripping story with enough twists and turns to make it hard to put down.
Fiona McIntosh brings back DCI Jack Hawksworth in the 5th mystery featuring this charismatic detective and his off-siders. This can be read as a stand-alone, as I did, but I am sure that readers will want to go back to read others in the series to see the development of the characters. In Foul Play, McIntosh examines extortion of superstar athletes as her main theme. When footballer Luca Bruni receives a photograph showing him in a hotel room with a woman, he swears that he was not involved and refuses to pay the ransom, instead getting in the police to investigate. Hawksworth and his team uncover numerous counts of athletes being swindled, all of whom have paid the ransom money, rather than going through the police and facing the inevitable media scandals. Luca Bruni is stubborn and is determined to bring the perpetrators of the extortion racket to justice, even though he must navigate marriage problems with his pregnant wife. When a brutal murder that Jack’s colleague Geoff is investigating overlaps with the extortion case the suspense is ramped up as the two teams investigate.
The action and tension were well paced and the sporting background and issues surrounding celebrity gave depth to the mystery. I particularly liked reading about young Luca’s life as a potential football star and the work and sacrifices he had to undergo to become a megastar. Jack is a very likeable character and details about his personal life were enjoyable, as were details about his teammates Kate and Geoff.
Foul play was hard to put down and easy to read because of its gripping plot. I certainly will be seeking out more books featuring Jack and his team.
Basil and Terry are neighbours, but they have nothing in common.Terry is passionate about sport but needs help with his reading to improve his schoolwork.Basil is an avid reader, so he is roped in to help Terry every Saturday morning, a task he is not looking forward to.They begin by reading from an old copy of The complete Fairytales of the Brothers Grimm, and when Basil accidentally opens a magic portal, Gretel lands in his bedroom asking them for their assistance. She needs them to help her to find Hansel, who is missing from his fairytale and must be found before disaster strikes fairytale land. She transports them to Fairytale land, and they must unravel the mystery of Hansel's kidnapping or face Deep Trouble (which is an unknown punishment, but scary nonetheless). Filled with all the witches, princesses, princes, conmen and troublemakers from all the fairytales you can think of, readers will be amused by the antics of these characters when they are not in their particular stories. Basil and Terry are well developed through the story and come to appreciate each other through their experiences together, proving that the even the most unlikely children can become friends.
This is a very entertaining story revolving around fairytales and the characters in them.It gives the reader a completely different perspective on these stories.It will even appeal to some older readers and would be a great read aloud in class.
Pirates of Darksea is a spellbinding tale that will captivate readers of all ages with its irresistible blend of adventure, magic and heart. Catherine Doyle’s masterful storytelling transports audiences to a world where the impossible becomes possible.
Eleven year old Chris desperately wants to join the legendary pirate kings who sail the seas of Darksea. He heads down to the shores on the night of a full moon with his younger brother, Max, but is left deeply disappointed with no ship appearing on the horizon. Sending a note, he hopes for another opportunity to sail amongst the magical world.
Two years later, Chris has become gravely ill and is in hospital, and Max is really struggling without his older brother at home. When a nuisance bird named Squawk appears with Chris’ letter, Max is tricked into following him; thrusting him into an adventure he never imagined.
Heading over the rogue wave to cross the horizon, Max’s adventures begin on the famous ship, the Stolen Sunrise. He must learn very quickly to navigate the magical waters of Darksea, as there is great darkness there at the moment. The stardust is waning and the captain of the ship, Eliza O’Malley has lost her courage to protect the magical ocean.
Max finds a trusty ally in Ruby and together they decide to tackle the malicious vessel, the Dreadmaker, who is destroying Darksea’s good magic. Along the way they encounter a myriad of challenges, each more daunting than the last. Can Max defeat the evils of the Dreadmaker and restore Darksea, or will it be destroyed forever?
Catherine Doyle masterfully crafts a landscape teeming with vibrant imagery and intense tension, drawing readers in with interwoven danger and wonder. Max's journey is one of resilience and determination, as he confronts his fears head on in a bid to restore balance to Darksea and fight for his brother. His unwavering bravery in the face of adversity serves as a poignant reminder of the power of hope and the resilience of the human spirit.
On the way to school by Vikki Conley. Illus. by Lucia Masciullo
New Frontier Publishing, 2023. ISBN: 9781922326928. (Age:3+) Recommended.
Going to school may be a common activity for children around the world, but many get to school in very different ways. This delightful rhyming story shows children on foot, catching a bus, riding a cablecar, crossing on a bridge, by canoe and toboggan. All with the same aim of getting to school.
Many different environments are shown giving a hint as to where each child lives. We see snowy streets, streets which are more familiar, children riding a donkey in a mountainous region, children rushing for a bus, canoeing down a river, some walking hand in hand through the fields, one brave child on a sling going across a ravine, catching a very fast train, walking through streets where cows roam freely.
The happy dancing, laughing children move across each page, encouraging the readers to laugh along with the children they see. It will an interesting discussion about where these children are, expanding the life views of the readers. A map at the end of the book will help the readers locate the place where these children live.
Wonderfully exuberant illustrations encourage the reader to join in the fun shown on each page. The illustrations reveal a diversity of children and methods of travel, and how some children overcome the barriers put in their way making travelling to school ore difficult for them. Teacher's notes are available.
Themes Diversity, Travel, School, Difference.
Fran Knight
Tonight, I burn by Katharine J. Adams
Lothian Children's Books, 2023. ISBN: 9780734421975. (Age:Adult, 18+) Recommended for fantasy devotees.
Penny is a young witch living with her mother, grandmother, and sisters in a coven of Thorn witches. Their role in their warped and damaged world is to repair the veil between life and death, as instruments of the Warden, a man whose power plays can only be described as evil. The Thorn witches can only do their job by passing into death themselves, through a process of immolation - ritual burning. A return to life after their journey into Death is possible but fraught with risks, and Penny is looking ahead to her first burning with trepidation. Her coven is also responsible for transforming others in their world into virtual puppets to the Warden - masked and diminished, and sadly less than they were. So much has been damaged in the world of magic and Penny seems to have more power than most to affect a possible repair, but first it seems that she has to rescue someone close to her. Unfortunately though, she places herself in greater danger and makes a risky covenant with a formidable, but intoxicatingly magnetic person existing in Death. What begins with a burning, escalates into something that blazes in intensity and power for Penny and all who exist in Life. There is no turning back.
This is an intense fantasy saga embroiled in the black and sombre environment of witches, dark magic, and death - not a happy place for this reviewer! Despite that, there is the redeeming aspect of characters who love, who display loyalty, who fight for the good of others, and who go to extreme lengths to overthrow authority that does not consider those around them. There is even romance within this dark tale (that almost extends to the erotic at some points, with both same-sex and heterosexual attraction and expression - there is more than one way to burn!). The dark journey into death is also quite confusing and the fantasy world created by Adams is intensely complex, and so this book is only for those with mature fantasy interests - there are no magic wands or fairy dust in this magical world. The plot begins in a very intense way and there is no let-up in the intensity as more and more complexities are woven into Penny’s role as potential rescuer, and in the restoration of her world. There is violence and danger scattered throughout the story, and readers will champion the fearful Penny as she faces up to her role in overcoming what seems to be an awful future. And this is only Book 1! Although I am not a fan of this kind of darkly magical and depressing fantasy, I accept that there will be some who will find Adams’ fantasy story writing craft as compelling and will become trapped within the pages of her Thorn Witch Trilogy as they follow Penny’s journey. This is not a light-hearted or child-friendly fantasy.
Well-known Kamilaroi and Euahlayi author and illustrator Gregg Dreise has brought together his proud knowledge of his own traditional art and culture in this beautiful picture book Circles of Life. In this gentle book readers are taken on a journey alongside two young girls and shown how to create a traditional painting of Gabayindah Guroos or Thank You Circles that are a celebration of the different elements of our world. Using ochre from Mother Earth, sticks and stones, readers are encouraged to create their own Thank You Circle.
The painting begins with a small circle in the centre of the page representing Father Sky. This is followed by circles placed around Father Sky which represent Mother Earth and what she brings. More circles follow representing water and trees, followed by even more dots representing animals. Ancestors who have cared for Country surround the circular formation, followed by Elders and then children. The last layer is perhaps the most poignant, a wish for the children of the future - that they have a sustainable Country to connect with. After the completion of each layer thanks is given for what nature has provided.
Written in careful and reflective verse, surrounded by striking illustrations in bright and bold colours, this book is wonderful introduction to an aspect of traditional art and story. The dramatic endpapers show a handprint amidst many Thank You Circles.
Circles of Life deserves to be read slowly, savouring the words while creating a thoughtful Thank You Circle. This book would be an excellent resource for Harmony Day as it sends a message of being in harmony with the land by connecting to Country, and listening to Songlines through the words of Ancestors and Elders.
Themes First Nations People, Art, Drawing, Country, Connection, Culture, Respect.
Kathryn Beilby
Loki by Melvin Burgess
Hachette, 2022. ISBN: 9781399701549. (Age:Adult)
Trickster god, Loki, details the time of the gods, creation of many of the norse myths and gods and their lives, along with politics, relationships and the god families. Travel through the creation of time and see how it all began, how humans came to be and how the gods spent their time - all through the eyes of Loki. With tricks up his sleeves, Loki is sure to be up to something to annoy the other gods.
While the actual story is well paced and well written, I would not recommend this for a school library due to the frequent coarse language, which adds nothing to the story, with the narrator of the story, Loki, constantly referring to the reader as ‘arse-born’, which is of the milder of language used. Definitely for readers older than 18 years. The story incorporates norse myth, which would be interesting, but again, it is written in an insulting way to the reader, as though the reader is beneath the narrator’s worth or even beneath the dirt that the narrator walks on. Some readers may enjoy this immensely, others will find it tires quickly. Never having read much Norse mythology, I was looking forward to finding out historical pieces of information in this regard, however this book leads the reader to believe that nothing is based in research, and that the narrator is extremely unreliable, even if the mythology is correct (I have been so discharmed that I have not looked anything up).
Catch a Star, 2024. ISBN: 9781922326867. (Age:1+) Recommended.
One in a number of books in the Who am I? series published by New Frontier, the book about a puppy will have instant appeal to the very young, just learning to hold and open a book. Study board books are great introductions, and combined with am engrossing theme concerning a variety of animals, told simply and surrounded by wonderfully engaging illustrations, younger children will just love the puppy book, being closer to home than the others about animals from far away, and love seeing the difference between a dog, a cat, fish and and themselves, after viewing their image in the mirror after the last flap is lifted. A variety of options are given about a range of animals that children will know. The background detail shows a little of the environment in which these animals live, and a few other animals are included, prodding recognition by the reader. They will love the board book, sturdy and strong, brightly coloured and detailed, giving range to a host of learning about animals that they are able to see in their neighbourhood.
Themes Animals, Difference, Lift the flap, Series, Board book, Dogs.
This narrative is told in two time periods, 1832 and the present time. Constructing this novel, Julie Brooks places her characters in these different times, drawing us into the worlds in which the characters, coming from the same family, live their lives. The story told both in England and the story told in Samoa enables us to be drawn into two very different worlds. Julie Brooks writes a narrative that challenges the reader, where we feel close to the world of the individual character, one who makes decisions without having to gain acceptance of her choices by any other family members.
Prudence Merryfield inherits the family house and property, and she is very strongly determined to live a life that lifts her out of the world into which she was born. Deciding to leave England, her new life begins in a place so different to the English world, and she enjoys her choice, although she must adapt to a new world that is very different to that in which she has lived her life so far. Devon, London, Samoa, Singapore, the South Pacific in its broader sense, is described as we read about Australia, as seen by an Englishwoman who knew little about the world itself.
Overall, we read the narrative that tells of Prudence’s choice of places to live for a time, seeking to be in a world that is not like home, one that challenges her to find a way to live in a totally new world. Essentially, the narrative addresses the idea of ambition, a desire to live in an unknown world, and face how to make choices by one’s self and how they will live and thrive in this different place.
At the heart of this narrative we become aware of the denigration of women in that time, where other family members were adamant in expecting Prudence to marry, which will give her male partner the ownership of the house and land. Prudence realises this and is determined to stay single, deciding that she wished to run her own life, neither to share it with a man, nor to have a man as prime in their relationship. A relative is expecting Prudence to consider marrying a man, and this man will thence run and essentially own the property. Julie Brooks writes of a woman who rejects that kind of life, and thus, taking us into their world, we can see how difficult it was for a woman to be independent, and similarly how a woman would not be considered to own this property once married. If she marries, her inheritance will belong to her male partner, and if she dies, then the property and house will go to a male relative of her father’s.
Eliza, the inheritor, realises that she can find very little information about Prudence. Having disappeared more than 180 years earlier, Prudence has left little for an inheritor to discover. Living in the modern world as she does and having moved into her house, Eliza is appalled at the notion of a woman not being expected, in her time, to own and run a house without a man.
In the summer of 2024, Julie Brooks closes this narrative and leaves us wondering how well Prudence Merryfield lived her life, having left behind a world that would have supported her richly. However, clearly Prudence represents a woman who is determined to make her own life, to choose her place to live and how to make that life count for her. The narrative is brilliant, challenging, richly descriptive of the worlds of this narrative, and intensely memorable.
Themes Women, Inheritance, Social conditions - 19th century.
