Sixteen-year-old Deka cannot wait for the Ritual of Purity. On that day she will finally be able to prove to her family, friends and community that she belongs. When she is cut by the priest, she is sure that her blood will run red. She cannot bear to imagine what will happen if she bleeds gold . . .
When Deka's village is attacked during the ceremony by the violent and fearsome deathshrieks, Deka saves her loved ones but is revealed as a gold-veined 'demon'. Subjected to torment and torture and forced to die over and over again by those she once considered family and friends, Deka is finally rescued by the enigmatic White Hands, a woman who promises absolution if Deka will join the Emperor's newly formed army of girls as impure as herself. Whisked away to the capital to train as a warrior, Deka discovers troubling secrets about her growing abilities, her past and the empire she has sworn to protect, that may change everything she is working towards.
The Gilded Ones is an excellent debut from Sierra Leonian-American author Namina Forna. Weaving together elements of fantasy and traditional West African society, Forna has created a compelling and unique world for readers. Young adult fantasy by African authors is gradually gaining more traction in a genre heavily dominated by European and North American fiction. The Gilded Ones is a worthy contribution to this growing group. It must be mentioned however that Forna does not hold back on her portrayals of the abuse and trauma suffered by women living in patriarchal societies. Readers should be aware and keep this in mind when determining whether to read this book.
Simon & Schuster, 2020. ISBN: 9781760854478. (Age:Adult - 17+)
This riveting new book opens to a sense of tension as Mim, the mother of two young children, is washing her hands while trying to calm her mind as she considers the inherent problems that she has been made aware of: that her husband is missing. He has been working in a mine in Indonesia – a cooperative venture between China and Australia. Questioned as to what she knows, which we know is really not much, she sits drinking tea in her home with the offer of help from the visitor from The Department, visiting her with an offer of support, but actually there to discover if she knows anything about her husband, which is nothing. As they leave they decide to take all three passports, hers and those of the children. The era is one of great oppression, The Department ruling with an iron hand and enforcing rules that are obeyed or the consequences are dire.
We are immediately plunged into anxiety, drawn in by her fear, her awareness of being a geologist in this new era, a time of great oppression and regulation overseen by powerful, manipulative governments. A decision is vital, she believes, and she sets off almost immediately, telling nobody of her plans. She travels up through the Northern Territory, and thence, she hopes to find a way to go to Indonesia by seeking a fairly innocuous fishing vessel to take her and the children. Her second dangerous decision, to cut out the micro-chip from each of their palms, is one that she considers terribly risky but she believes that it offers the only possibility of their not being able to be traced as they journey from Australia.
It is a terrifying narrative in many ways, full of fear and exploring how difficult it is to live with her deep anxiety about both her husband’s future and saving the lives of her children and her own life. A deep and terrifying tension underlies the narrative, and we are caught up in her fear, sometimes unsure of her decisions, and choices made, but understand clearly her terror and driving need to alert her husband to the questions that he is likely to face.
This book would only be suitable for adults and older adolescents as neither its topic nor the level of tension, are appropriate for younger readers.
Andrew Joyner is a master at saying a lot with few words. His playful illustrations (in black and white with pops of green), combined with carefully chosen words call children to action and instil them with agency. This is a call to arms, letting children know that they do have the ability to change their world, as well as reminding adults to support them (and join them). It is poignant that it is the adults listening to and following the lead of the children, as this is what we have seen happening around the world (Greta Thunberg being just one example). Some of these young people are profiled in the back of the book, highlighting what they are speaking out about and how they have got people to listen.
The text itself is made up entirely of two word sentences, the second word of which is 'up'. From 'wake up' to 'meet up' to 'think up' to 'listen up' it chronicles a short period of time in a young girl's life. After attending a climate change demonstration she watches the environmental degradation shown on the evening news. A sleepless night leads to her taking action: thinking, writing, sharing with others and initiating change. Not only does the book champion speaking out but it shows practical actions that can make a big difference: recycling, cleaning up our beaches, walking rather than driving, growing our own vegetables and swapping clothing. The illustrations also depict a wonderfully diverse community.
This is a hopeful and important book that can and should be used to initiate rich discussions about sustainable practices. Fans of Joyner's similar title The Pink Hat (about marching for women's equality) will be particularly happy.
This adventure, with a hint of magic, is set in Scotland in 1647. It is told by Art Flynt and begins when she has to hide in the ceiling from English soldiers. Her mother and other women are being arrested for witchcraft and sent for trial in England. Suspects usually have no chance of surviving and most of the women really just have extensive knowledge of the healing powers of plants. Art sets off on her extraordinary horse, Lady, with the aim of finding and freeing her mother. On her long journey she must ride through forests and be on her guard. However, she is also helped by a mysterious woman. After Art saves a teenage girl called Mercy from death, the two become friends and plan to free Art’s mother from a castle.
This has many pleasant illustrations and is written in present tense with short sentences. It is easy to read and has a lot of action, but you aren’t emotionally bound to the characters. It is based on a real person, the WitchFinder General, and it is interesting to learn about the travesty of his witch trials. However, the reader needs to suspend their disbelief when it comes to many of the events in the story, omens, thought transference with animals and the implausible skills of the girls. For example, how could Art make such a long journey (600km) in such a short time? Historical endnotes would help young readers have more context regarding the truth, since these aren’t the witches of modern fantasy. Nevertheless, Amy Raphael has made teenage girls the heroes in this medieval world, which is unusual in books for this age group and may appeal to readers of fantasy.
Themes Strong female characters, Medieval history.
Jo Marshall
Be not far from me by Mindy McGinnis
Katherine Tegen Books, 2021. ISBN: 9780062561633. (Age:15+) Highly recommended.
A Top Ten Best Fiction for Young Adults 2021 suggests that this is an outstanding read and I certainly could not put it down. It has all the ingredients for an enthralling story, engrossing plot, terrible odds and wild forest and a great heroine in Ashley. After a fight with her boyfriend and drinking too much at a party in the woods of the great Smokey Mountains, she flees through the trees and becomes lost. She pushes herself to her absolute limit, trying to find her way home, determined to survive against the odds even though her foot is badly injured, and she has little food or water.
The book is divided into three sections by an atmospheric illustration of the trees and Smokey Mountains, and little illustrations appear at the top of each chapter as well. Told in the voice of Ashley, the reader is carried along on her harrowing journey (some incidents are not for the faint-hearted), while at the same time learning much about Ashley, her ability to run, the poverty that she endures and the friendships that she realises mean so much to her. Davey Beet, who taught her how to survive in the wilderness when she was at summer camp, is another character who adds tension to the story. After disappearing somewhere on the mountains because his girlfriend had broken up with him, the reader is left wondering whether he is still alive.
Readers who enjoyed Hatchet by Gary Paulsen, Not If I Save You First by Ally Carter and Nowhere on Earth by Nick Lake will be happy to move onto Be not far from me, and I am looking forward to reading more books by Mindy McGinnis.
Lady Venessa Blake returns to her holiday home on Mustique to organise the birthday celebrations for her goddaughter Lily. She has received a phone call from her which unsettles her, Lily is not her usual self. The island which has always been tranquil and private is giving a different vibe. Perhaps it is because many of the villas are empty, their owners having returned to their other lives, or perhaps it is the threat of the looming Tropical Storm Cristabal.
The island's only police officer DS Solomon Nile’s usual quiet life is jolted by the disappearance of the Heiress Amanda Fortini. The islanders can offer no helpful insights, but Lady Vee as she is known by her intimates on the island soon offers her help and local knowledge to solve the mystery.
The peace of the island is certainly shattered when the Fontini luxury residence is torched and is destroyed. Then the body of the main suspect is washed ashore. He has most definitely been murdered. Pieces of dead coral are being left with strange symbols carved into them. Lily’s work on regenerating the coral reef seems to be a major factor. But who could be trying to sabotage such a beneficial scheme?
DS Nile is suspicious of a large yacht anchored off shore, but oddly he has been warned off boarding or searching it by his superiors. Things come to a head as Cristobal nears the coast and Lady Vee, Lily and Nile count themselves lucky to have survived.
Anne Glenconner is old school: an aristocrat who loves to name drop, and of course Mustique gives many opportunities for Princess Margaret’s name to be slotted into the narrative. Of all her characters, DS Solomon Nile, is the one who resonates most with this reader. Lady Vee has the utmost confidence in her own abilities and in her position as “lady of the manor”.
A good read when lying on the beach or killing time in the airport lounge.
Based on the Bluey episode of the same name, this is a humorous look at how the boring things in life are often important for ensuring a fun time. It's a hot summer's day at the Heeler household and the kids don't want to brush their teeth. 'Boring things are important too', says Mum. As Bluey fans will know, Dad can be a bit of a big kid sometimes. He bursts in with the pool noodles and the water guns and declares a trip to Uncle Stripe's pool. 'Don't forget the swim stuff', calls Mum. But everyone is already out the door. A comedic sequence follows, wherein Dad, Bluey and Bingo realise they are missing all the boring but important things that make a pool outing enjoyable: thongs, sunscreen, rashies, hats, floaties...and snacks. Luckily Mum arrives just in time, with all the stuff they left behind. A fun family outing ensues. 'So boring things are important sometimes then?' asks Mum. 'Yes!' agrees Bluey.
This accompanying title will be much loved by children already familiar with the accompanying episode. Parent knowledge of the episode will also aid in making it a successful read-aloud, allowing them to use the intonation and distinctive vocal style of the characters. There is a beautiful message here about families working together and of appreciating the different qualities that each person brings to the group. It's also a handy line of reasoning for parents to use too: boring things are important too! - remember when Bluey and Bingo went to the pool without all the things?!
Sunny Dae (and yes, that is his name!) is the ultimate bullied nerd. He impresses no one, is Asian-American in a wealthy Californian suburb and is comfortable only with the two other game-play nerds that similarly are tagged as losers within their school environment. Sunny’s older brother, Gray Dae (!) has left home to pursue his rock star career in nearby Hollywood; his parents are 24/7 work and screen focused and Sunny is…. just average and ordinary. When a female family friend, Cirrus, enters Sunny’s arena he fakes his identity by borrowing his brother’s clothes and career interests to impress her and attempts to become the cool ‘Rock-star’ kid that he thinks she might like. The lie grows and his faithful friends are pulled into the whirlpool he has created and must form a Rock band and perform. Lies are seldom easy to maintain forever, but Sunny really wants to continue being Cirrus’ boyfriend… but will she forgive the lie?
This joyful journey into teen romance is written with a refreshing voice and with insights into the world of teens engaged in Cos-play and gaming and their attempts to find their people. The crossover to the world of music and life in an American highschool adds some quirky elements. But David Yoon’s writing is not cliched or lame, rather it is clever and insightful while still being joyously cynical. This is a young person’s story, but it is clever and invigorating and quirkily fun. All readers will love Sunny and his friends.
Themes Coming-of-age, Romance, Nerds and Bullies, Truth and lies.
This novel is a sequel to Preservation, over 32 years on, Sydney born Eliza Grayling, a mature spinster, looks after her blind, alcoholic, grieving and reclusive father, the former Lieutenant Joshua Grayling. She knows that his behaviour is influenced by an old enemy from the past.
Through the influence of the former lascar, Srinivas, Joshua is offered the chance for a reckoning with his nemesis. Unable to dissuade her father Eliza is forced to join him as his carer and eyes, on their chartered boat the Moonbird. A voyage ensues into Bass Strait and the Furneaux Islands in search of a missing ship, its cargo, and the elusive Mr Figge.
A saga of incidents unveils as the additional party consisting of a pair of convict brothers, a doctor studying marine life, and the cross-dressing master, sails from one island to the next in search of the missing ship. On the way they meet strangers who are sealers and their 'tyereelore' wives and George Robinson’s men who are attempting to round up the indigenous people.
The dangers of venturing into the islands give an atmosphere of foreboding, mixed with wonderful descriptions of the dangerous marine environment, birds and rugged islands. Jock Serong’s writing evokes the landscape in vivid detail and his characters are well drawn, especially Eliza who narrates the story in the first person. As historical fiction the reader perceives the period depicted in the book as an accurate reflection of the lives of the island inhabitants. I felt the plot was a little too contrived at times but readers who stay the course will be rewarded with the outcome.
Clouds by Angie and Alli Simpson. Illus. by Lucy Fleming
Aladdin, 2021. ISBN: 9781534439535. (Age:6+)
Clouds is a thoughtfully written rhyming story about the treasured memories of growing up and the bond between a mother and daughter over a period of time. Making shapes and dreams out of clouds has long been a past-time for children and adults all over the world. This book expands on that and tells of a mother remembering and sharing her daughter’s journey as she walks along a beach.
The illustrations by Lucy Fleming are quite striking in their own right and complement the text beautifully.
Clouds was inspired by Australian singer Cody Simpson’s lullaby. He is the son and brother of the authors, Angie and Ali Simpson. At the end of the book is personal information of how the story evolved.
Themes Clouds, Imagination, Mother/Daughter Relationships, Life Journey, Dreams.
Kathryn Beilby
Hugo's Runaway Legs by Alys Jackson and Leigh Brown
With rhyming language that just begs to be read aloud, this amusing picture book is sure to be a hit with young children.
Hugo Holt woke up one day to find his legs had run away. Without the slightest sigh or fuss they hopped aboard a local bus.
Hugo is determined to recover his runaway legs and tries out different legs to see if they are fast enough to catch up with the bus. He tried a toad’s legs and children will laugh out loud at the pictures of him hopping and leaping. Then he tries out a deer’s legs, hippo’s legs, penguin’s feet, brown bear’s legs, cheetah’s legs and giraffe’s legs none of which can catch the bus. Each set of feet is accompanied by hilarious illustrations by Leigh Brown that complement the text and very small children will have lots of fun guessing what animal owns the legs before the verse is read out to them.
The refrain is sure to be one that children will want to sing out as well.
' This,' he wailed, ' is pure disaster. These legs are fast but the ... bus ... is ... faster! ’
They will be relieved when Hugo finally uses a horse’s legs to catch the bus and discover that Hugo’s legs have run away because they were not used enough. The final stanza will have children in fits of giggles, while they learn about appropriate amounts of exercise and sitting:
And so his legs agreed to stay and Hugo plays and plays ... all day! In fact he never thinks of sitting and that is why his ... bum is quitting!
The humour, easy flow of language and illustration on the front cover will ensure that this is a favourite with young children.
Themes Legs, Exercise.
Pat Pledger
The left-handed booksellers of London by Garth Nix
Allen & Unwin, 2020. ISBN: 9781760631246. (Age:14+) Highly recommended.
It is 1983 and Susan Arkshaw is on a quest to find her father. She travels to London, hoping that crime boss Frank Thringley can help her, but Merlin kills him with a silver hatpin before she can get any answers. With creatures from the Old World after her, she joins up with Merlin and his sister Vivien, who are looking for the murderer of their mother and must overcome incredible odds to keep the modern world safe.
Nix’s wonderful imagination takes the reader into a world where there are left-handed booksellers who fight evil, Merlin being one of them, and right-handed booksellers like Vivien who are intellectuals and solve problems. Anyone who has travelled to London and visited the big bookstores there will recognise the authenticity of their description and enjoy the idea of left-handed booksellers. The combination of the world in 1983 and the fantasy world of legends is handled deftly, and I had no problem with suspending belief as I followed the amazing adventures of Susan and her book-selling friends.
The main characters are fully fleshed out. Susan is a determined, brave and thoughtful young woman, while Merlin is enormously attractive, whether dressed as a young man or woman. Vivien is clever while the villains in the story are dastardly.
The Left-Handed Booksellers of London was even better on a second read and will go on my shelf of feel-good reads to be turned to when I need an outstanding action-packed story, beautifully written and with memorable characters. Fans of A corner of white by Jaclyn Moriarty and Diana Wynne Jones would enjoy this. Teacher’s notes are available from the publisher.
In Basra province, Iraq, in 1978, two young girls vow friendship, cutting their thumbs and combining their blood; sisters forever. Huda is the common village girl and Rania is the privileged daughter of the sheik. Then time leaps forward to Baghdad 2002 and we learn that something has come between the two friends, they have become distanced and distrustful. The country is Iraq during the time of Saddam Hussein, a time of oppression and brutality at the hands of the mukhabarat or secret police.
Then a third woman enters their lives, accompanying her husband’s posting as deputy ambassador. Ally is a friendly but naive Australian seeking to unravel the secrets of her American mother’s life in Iraq many years ago. Huda, winning a highly prized position as secretary in the Australian embassy, is coerced into becoming an informant for the mukhabarat, befriending the Australian woman, and reporting on her movements.
At the heart of the novel is the question of friendship. Can there truly be friendship between people of different wealth, different life experiences, different responsibilities and expectations? Huda and Rania are trapped in a world of fear and oppression. The foreigner, Ally, can step out of it at any time. Their lives intersect, there are secrets and betrayals, but can there also be an authentic connection despite their world situations?
In her author’s note, Wilkinson tells us that the novel was inspired by her experience living in Baghdad under Saddam Hussein, with one of her closet Iraqi friends a secret police informant reporting her every move. That puzzle of their relationship, vacillating between warm friendship and doubting distrust underscores the novel, and is a question that many travellers may confront at some time as they navigate worlds with vast discrepancies in wealth and freedoms.
The other question this novel raises is the issue of cultural ownership – who has the right to tell which stories? Having spent many years travelling the world, Wilkinson argues for the commonality at the heart of our lives. However the question arises, would Huda or Rania assert a claim to a more authentic voice, if they were the writers? Can Wilkinson really know what their lives were like, the pull of history and religion, the fear and betrayals? These are all issues worth exploring. Discussion questions at the end of the book could be helpful conversation starters.
When apricots bloom is a powerful story, of brave people forced to make difficult decisions in order to protect their loved ones, forced into deceptions but trying to still maintain core values of friendship, love and loyalty. And the reader will also discover the many beauties of Iraq, the art, legendary cities, sights and smells, and the apricot blossoms.
Girl of Fire and Thorns, bk. 4. Greenwillow, 2020. ISBN: 9780062691903. (Age:14+) Highly recommended.
I eagerly picked up this outstanding fantasy novel, based on the name of the author. I had really enjoyed the Girl of Fire and Thorns trilogy many years ago and was delighted to see another book in that extraordinary world. Carson has given her fans a stand-alone novel telling the story of Red Sparkle Stone as she grows into a young woman. The court will not accept her as one of Empress Elisa’s heirs, so she decides to join the elite Royal Guard, a group which has never had a woman warrior in it.
Red is indomitable, determined to prove her worth as a guard, but also as a young woman making her way in a man’s world. She allows herself to gradually befriend some of the new recruits and when danger faces the empire, she works with Ivan another young recruit and friend of the prince Rosario, to find who is trying to oust the empress.
There is plenty of action and adventure for thrill seeking fans, but the theme that stood out for me was that of soldier sickness. The story is told in both the past in chapters titled Then and the present entitled Now. Red’s heartbreaking upbringing and treatment as a child slave is disclosed in flashbacks, while what is happening with the recruits and her gradual emergence as a leader is told in the present. Red occasionally has moments when her past overwhelms her and she sometimes needs to find a safe small place to sleep, but she has learnt to live with this. The author gives an enlightening note about PTSD at the back of the book.
This is a coming-of-age story and will appeal to fans of Tamora Pierce while older readers may enjoy going on to A deadly education by Naomi Novik. I found myself rereading the Girl of Fire and Thorns trilogy and can see why fans of the book asked Carson to write Red’s story.
Pip (or Pip@256X#YY.3_7 to be precise) is exactly what the title of this novel implies, a future friend. She lives 1001 years in the future and has little contact with anyone except her immediate family and pets. She has many amazing gadgets but is constantly confined to her living space due to an unhealthy outside environment. Her only real company is a robot, Pip 2, who is her exact duplicate.
Pip accidently stumbles into a time travel portal created by her inventor parents and arrives in the year 2019. She exits the portal through a toilet seat in Rahul’s parent’s shop. Rahul (who also loves to invent) is missing his friend, who has moved away, so it is no surprise that lonely Rahul and Pip easily begin to enjoy each other’s company. Rahul must keep Pip’s real identity a secret from his parents, school and the wider community. This becomes even harder when Pip’s two pets also travel through the portal.
Rahul struggles to help Pip work out how to return to her time, thwart Pip 2 who is up to no good back in 3020, keep the future pets (who have full command of the English language) hidden and try to make everything seem normal. No problem! The situation is not helped by the presence of a nosy, bully of a classmate who believes in a multitude of conspiracy theories.
David Baddiel has mixed humour with a time travel adventure and gives the reader an insight to a possible future world. This novel is about friendship and helping each other and the story highlights the importance of caring for an environment now, so that in the future it does not resemble Pip’s original world.
I enjoyed the twist at the end of the novel that clearly demonstrated how the future is created by the present.
David Baddiel is a bestselling author and his background as an English comedian is evident in his writing, as his stories use humour to capture and entertain his readers. The appealing, colourful book cover and black and white comic style illustrations by Steven Lenton add to the comedy and action of the novel.
You can watch David Baddiel read an extract of the book here .
