Reviews

The Constant Rabbit by Jasper Fforde

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Hodder & Stoughton, 2020. ISBN: 9781444763638.
(Age: Adult). Recommended. Jasper Fforde is back with a satirical, absurd but surprisingly relevant novel, The Constant Rabbit. Known for his Thursday Next series helmed by The Eyre Affair, Fforde is no stranger to outlandish and humorous stories. What he has managed to do with this book however is to intertwine the ridiculous with the less savoury aspects of recent times.
Set in an alternate England where rabbits have anthropomorphised into six feet tall talking humanoids, The Constant Rabbit centres on Peter Knox, a mild-mannered father living in a small village who is forced to make a moral choice. Peter works for the Rabbit Compliance Taskforce and his job is to ensure the largely segregated rabbits are following human laws and living peaceably in society. When Prime Minister Nigel Smethwick of the UKARP (United Kingdom Against Rabbit Population) party announces a plan to forcibly move all rabbits into a facility in Wales, Peter is torn between his job and the concerns of his fellow villagers and his increasingly complex relationships with rabbit neighbours and friends.
The novel paints the picture of a society where xenophobia, paranoia and "fake news" are the norm. The story is an irreverent but clear dig at contemporary British society where racism, anti-muslim and anti-immigration sentiments and Brexit concerns have dominated the social and media landscape in recent years. It is a challenging though excellent read and the reader will be constantly pulled between the witty, dry jokes and the realisation that the plot is hitting too close to home. This book is recommended for fans of Fforde's previous work as well as those who enjoy cutting but humorous observations of human life. Themes: Rabbits, Xenophobia, Humour, Satire, United Kingdom.
Rose Tabeni

When she was good by Michael Robotham

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Cyrus Haven Bk 2. Hachette, 2020. ISBN: 9780733644849
(Age: Adult - Senior secondary) Recommended. Following Good girl, bad girl, comes a thrilling instalment in the lives of Cyrus Haven and Evie Cormac. At the end of Good girl, bad girl readers were left pondering the mystery of just who Evie was and why she had been hiding for so long. She has been safe in a secure home when Cyrus is called in to investigate the murder of Detective Superintendent Hamish Whitmore. As he follows the trail left by the detective, he gradually grows closer to finding out the secrets of Evie's past. However, Evie knows that it is very dangerous for Cyrus to be uncovering what has happened in the past and both she and Cyrus are in peril from some very powerful people in high places and the evil hitmen hired by the leader.
Told in alternating chapters by Cyrus and Evie the story of Evie's past gradually unfolds. The tension was so great that I devoured this book in a few sittings as I followed Cyrus' investigation of what has happened, heart in my mouth as I saw how dangerous it was for Evie and appalled at the child abuse, manipulation and murder that she had witnessed. It was horrifying but totally engrossing to find out Evie's background, while also seeing Cyrus develop as a person and to find out more about his broken childhood.
Evie's ability to tell when a person is lying is a strong thread in the story, as is the question about whether the past should stay buried and monsters left alone. The ability of powerful people to manipulate the police and the justice system was also highlighted.
Robotham's clever plotting, character development and twists and turns keep the suspense alive the whole way through to the unexpected and exciting conclusion. Although the main mystery of Evie's past is uncovered for the reader in When she was good, fans will be happy that some options have been left open for Cyrus and Evie to continue working together, using their unique skills and backgrounds.
Pat Pledger

LEGO Batman : Batman vs. The Joker by Julia March

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Dorling Kindersley, 2020. ISBN: 9780241409404.
If you are a fan of LEGO and Superheroes, then this book is for you! In this brightly coloured comic-ish style book fans will see the ultimate list of superheroes vs villains and be able to choose for themselves who is the final winner!
In the never-ending saga, Batman wants to show The Joker that he is the boss of Gotham City and brings his friends Robin, Nightwing, The Flash, and Wonder Woman (to name just a few) to help him out. The Joker also has a team behind him comprising of bad guys such as Lex Luthor, Poison Ivy and Scarecrow (plus many more). They also bring their trusty vehicles along which many kids will love.
As children move through the book, they will see a huge range of LEGO Batman sets and minifigures which are used to create the illustrations for this book. All of which are said to be the latest toys - making it the perfect book for LEGO Batman fans!
This book is full of facts and information about the characters and their nemeses, pitting them up against each other in 4 different sections: vehicles, Gotham City, wider world, and loyal friends.
As a LEGO fan from my childhood, and now with LEGO loving children this was a great read. Although it was limited on words, it meant that both my 10 and 6 year old could enjoy it together and were able to both get enjoyment out it. They loved the 'Did you know?' section and often had to get up to tell Daddy (another LEGO fan) what they had read about. When I asked what their favourite part was they both loved the real LEGO sets and figures (especially their facials), with the only criticism from Master 10 who would have loved a list of the actual sets with item numbers so he could look them up to purchase! The two added LEGO figures (Batman and The Joker) were fought over for days, but a lovely tactile addition none the less.
Overall, this would be a great book/gift for a LEGO or Superhero loving child.
Lauren Fountain

The Great Godden by Meg Rosoff

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Bloomsbury, 2020. ISBN: 9781526620538.
(Age: Senior secondary - Adult) Highly recommended. I am a great fan of Meg Rosoff's books (particularly There is no dog and Picture me gone) which are complex, challenging and unforgettable. The great Godden is no exception, a book that highlights manipulation and loss of innocence. One large messy family stay in a holiday house by the sea every summer, but this year there is a difference, the Goddens, charming Kit and morose Hugo, are staying with older cousins nearby. It is a summer when unexpected consequences will unfold, told in the unforgettable voice of the unnamed narrator.
Everyone talks about falling in love like it's the most miraculous, life-changing thing in the world. Something happens, they say, and you know . . . That's what happened when I met Kit Godden. I looked into his eyes and I knew. Only everyone else knew too. Everyone else felt exactly the same way. pg. 1.
There are four teenagers in the family, beautiful Mattie who immediately attaches herself to Kit, Tamsin who is obsessed with horses, younger brother Alex, who loves bats and wildlife, and our unknown narrator, who loves to draw and observes everything that is going on. Initially life continues as normal with swimming and games and then there is a wedding to plan for Mal and Hope (known affectionately as Malanhope), but Kit is an unexpected storm on the family's horizon. Mattie is not the only one who comes under Kit's influence, even though the morose but ultimately surprising Hugo tries to warn the narrator about his nature.
Rosoff's description of the way that Kit manipulates Mattie, playing on her emotions, attentive one moment and cold the next, will be a lesson for all about the manoeuvres of a master controller and the devastating consequences of sex without feeling. There are some shocking revelations about Kit's actions and how he sways the whole family.
The great Godden has been compared to Rumer Godden's The Greengage Summer, a tale of loss of innocence. It is a coming of age story that will linger in the memory, ideas to be brought out again and again to examine and think about. The manipulation here could also be compared to that in The lost witch by Melvyn Burgess.
Rosoff is a skilful writer and it is easy to see this story becoming a modern classic and it would also make an ideal TV series.
Pat Pledger

Kitty is not a Cat: Teddy's Bear by Jess Black

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Hachette, 2020. ISBN: 9780734419774.
(Age: 6+ years) Recommended. Kitty is not a Cat: Teddy's Bear by Jess Black is one of four books being released this year by Hachette. The book series is based on the Australian animation television series which has been sold around the world. Orange is the theme colour of this book and the other remaining books are blue, purple and pink. The story begins with a brief introduction to the characters and an explanation of the context of the story. Kitty is a girl who is dressed in a bright orange costume with ears, a tail and paws. She joins the clutter of cats that live in the mansion on the hill. Each cat has its own name and special qualities it brings to the group. In this particular story the cats decide to find a teddy bear for Kitty. Each cat brings what they think a teddy bear is to the others but one interpretation causes absolute mayhem. Eventually a teddy bear is found for Kitty and peace reigns once more.
This book is a very readable story that will entertain young developing readers who are ready for short novels. The fact that it is series will also appeal to those students who will benefit from word repetition. The book contains very detailed illustrations and highlighted text where emphasis on a specific word is important to the flow of the story. Themes: Cats, Friendship, Bears.
Kathryn Beilby

Baby touch : Opposites by Ladybird

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Illus. by Lemon Ribbon Studio. Ladybird, 2020. ISBN: 9780241427408. 10pp.
(Age: 0+) A bright colourful touch-and-feel book, Opposites is sure to make any baby happy as they explore the vivid pictures and find the areas that they can touch and feel. Right from the front cover, which has a touch-and-feel pale blue felt circle, the young child will have a sensory experience. They will be able to feel the fur on the dog and giraffe, the cut-outs and corrugated cardboard on the balloon and car, the soft texture on the elephant, the rough on the snail and feel and see the iridescent purple of the fish. At the same time, they will begin to learn new words: short and tall, up and down, big and small, above and below, slow and fast.
The colours of this very sturdy board book are gorgeous; the animals all have smiles on their faces, and I loved the little baby soaring up in a balloon, while a monkey drives a car.
Babies are going to love exploring the textures and parents will have fun talking about the things that are opposite to each other.
Pat Pledger

Lockdown by Peter May

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Riverrun, 2020. ISBN: 9781529411690.
(Age: Senior secondary - adult) Highly recommended. D.I. Jack MacNeil treads on many toes in his investigation into the discovery of a child's skeletal remains. In normal times this crime would have hit the head lines, however, this is London under martial law, dealing with an epidemic of a deadly virus.The discovery of a bag and its contents mean that the excavations for a new emergency centre in Lambeth is a crime scene and work must stop, which upsets the government and the workers, who are getting good money to get the job done.
The bones of a small child have been stripped of flesh and cleaned and are quite fresh.They also reveal she has had the virus but one which has been developed in a laboratory. She also has, surprisingly, a severely cleft palate that has had no corrective surgery.
Amy Wu, a forensic odontologist, is called in to give her opinion on the remains and she feels a bond with the child that may well have shared her ethnicity. She makes the decision to do a facial reconstruction. She names the child Lyn and her empathy grows for this 10 year old with her terrible deformity.
Meanwhile as MacNeil begins his investigation, based on the most basic evidence he finds he has a guardian angel. When following a lead, he heads into an ageing housing estate where he encounters a gang of youths armed with baseball bats and lengths of pipes and only escapes with his life when two of the gang are shot. This recurs when he finally tracks down his lead, a worker in the old Battersea Power Station which has now become a crematorium on an industrial scale. During his confrontation he is attacked and again is saved by the anonymous sniper. It would seem the shooter is not protecting MacNeil but eliminating any links to the young girl.
As the investigation proceeds it becomes evident that a large pharmaceutical company Stein-Franks is involved. They were the producers of an anti-viral drug, Flu-Kill, in which they had invested huge capital and built manufacturing centres, but which in the end had not proved effective against the virus and orders had dried up leaving the company financially vulnerable.
Peter May began researching and writing Lockdown in 2005 but the story was consigned to a folder in his dropbox. His publishers didn't believe his version of London in lockdown could possibly happen, and as some of his other novels were published the story was shelved. How prophetic it was to become.
May has woven his murder mystery around the fear and apprehension created by a deadly virus, and the race to develop and market a cure by the major pharmaceuticals  a story all so believable with the on going pandemic at present. Lockdown is a great read which also provides plenty of food for thought. I most heartily recommend it.
Themes: Pandemic, Fear, London, Pharmaceutical companies.
Mark Knight

Agent Asha : Mission Shark Bytes by Sophie Deen

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Illus. by Anjan Sarkar. Walker Books, 2020. ISBN: 9781406382723. 240pp.
(Ages: 10 - 12) Recommended. It isn't long until we learn 11 year old Londoner, Asha, has been recruited by CSA, Children's Spy Agency, and her mission is to save the internet. Asha's ability to hack and upgrade her nannybot Drone and enhance Tumble, her hamster robot, have alerted CSA to her amazing talents. Sharks have been chewing through undersea cables which provide vital internet connections between continents. Simple everyday things we rely on like mobile phones and instant news, stop working. Her boss Hedy (a hologram!) sends her to uncover essential data from ShellyInc. This company is headed up by Shelly, a 17 year old tech entrepreneur of a globally popular IT company. However Shelly is definitely up to no good and aims to take control of the internet and increase her vast wealth. Asha goes above and beyond her mission in order to prevent Shelly being successful and Drone and Tumble assist her along the way, as well as other CSA operatives.
Needless to say this is a totally implausible but enjoyable spy adventure. It is fast paced and quite clever with humorous spy tropes. There are crazy inventions like the "What-a-bottle," a water purifier with inbuilt gadgets like a laser torch and diamond glass cutter. Asha is the Bond-like, risk-taking, main character with an Indian cultural background. She is a good role model for young women who may be keen on STEM. I liked the CSA motto too, "Think for yourself. Question everything." The author may be a bit too keen to slip in some didactic IT lessons, such as the importance of strong passwords, algorithms and Bluetooth. The overuse of farts was an obvious pitch to young readers but I guess it works! There are many really fitting illustrations and fact files provide further information. Another hook for readers is they can join CSA via a QR code, no adults allowed.
Jo Marshall

Little White Fish under the ocean by Guido Van Genechten

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Catch a Star, 2020. ISBN: 9781922326102.
(Age: 2-5) Recommended. Little Fish is curious. 'How deep is the ocean?' he asks the jellyfish, who tell him to stay away as it is too dangerous to go down to the depths of the sea. But he really wants to know and even though Little Goldfish tells him to be careful, he continues his journey through the really dark water. Despite more warnings from the Turtle and Octopus his curiosity gets the better of him and he swims on past the coral and seaweed to where the water is pitch black and ice cold. Fortunately, he gets help from the anglerfish who turns on her little lamp and guides him back to his friends. He is glad to be home!
Set against a black background the vivid sea life and bodies of the fish stand out beautifully and will intrigue young readers as they get to name much of the underwater life. Each little bit of marine life has a smiling face and happy eyes and it is fun to follow little White Fish's quest to discover how deep the ocean is. Little White Fish is very curious and is prepared to take risks to uncover what it is like deep down in the sea, but he has good friends who counsel him about the dangers and one fish who helps him home.
A message of needing to have good friends, the joy of taking risks and the happiness of coming home are ones that children will enjoy.
Pat Pledger

Ellie's dragon by Bob Graham

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Walker Books, 2020. ISBN: 9781406387629.
(Age: 4+) Highly recommended. Ellie finds a baby dragon in the egg carton at her supermarket. She calls him Scratch and installs him along with his box of dragon litter, in her doll's house.
Through the years of Ellie's growing up, through kindergarten and then school, right up into her post primary years, the dragon is there. Scratch goes with her to see her Dad, goes to school where he entertains the other children, curls up asleep in Ellie's room. All of her friends can see the dragon but not her parents or the teachers. Ellie takes Scratch to kindergarten but not to school. Now that she is older she does not need Scratch nearly as much and misses his first flight. But he is always there in the corner of her room where she knows he will be. The older Ellie gets, the less visible the dragon becomes until one day in her teens she can see right through him, and that night he takes flight and does not return.
Even though she is older she spies him now and again and knows that he is with another child who needs his company, because she catches a glimpse of his tail or a wisp of his smoke over the fence.
This wonderful tale of growing up with a close friend will appeal to all ages. Everyone will remember the stages of their development and how they coped with each change. And to see Ellie change from a small child to a teenager, will heighten their recollections. Her development is put alongside the dragon's development from a baby dragon, through his learning to breath fire, to growing too big for the doll's house, and then learning to fly. Each stage of the dragon's development parallels Ellie's own stages of growth.
Ellie is lucky to have a companion such as Scratch, a warm hearted, affectionate friend to guide her through the wonders of growing up, and readers will recognise their own stages of growth and wonder at the dragon who grows up alongside Ellie.
Bob Graham's beautiful illustrative technique is used to perfection here. His use of quiet understated colours, his depiction of the ordinary, the everyday, all done with such attention to detail, impels the readers to look again at the things seen in their own neighbourhood with fresh eyes. I love the supermarket and the school bus, the people in the street with their prams and bikes, the picture theatre and the doll's house, all drawing the eyes in to wonder at the things we often see but again do not see. Graham evokes in us all a greater awareness of our domestic surroundings. Teacher's notes are available.
Themes: Imaginary friend, Humour, Friendship, Family, Growing up.
Fran Knight

The lost soul atlas by Zana Fraillon

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Hachette, 2020. ISBN: 9780734419934.
(Age: 10+) Recommended. Twig is in the Afterlife - we know that his life ended somehow, and he is supposed to follow the path to a blissful place without cares or memories. But something tugs at him; he wants to know what happened to his Da and his friends. And there is a skeleton raven, Krruk, a guardian who is willing to accompany him back into his memories, into the world that was before, on a quest to find his father and free the world from the evil of the Hoblin.
Twig has a map and a bag of bones, each bone a key to a special place on the lost soul atlas, a crossing that must be unlocked to free past memories. In his quest he joins up with a group of street urchins living in a graveyard, and befriends Flea, a courageous leader of androgynous gender. Together they try to outwit the treacherous Hoblin, and find a way to safety.
The lost soul atlas is a quest story; there are six crossings to be opened after answering the riddle posed by each sentry. But with each crossing Twig is sent back into his past life, and it is harder and harder to remember the quest. He succumbs to the influence of the Hoblin and commits a horrible betrayal, like that of Edmund in The chronicles of Narnia.
In her 'Author note' Zaillon writes about the millions of children living on the streets, the gangs and the struggle to find food and shelter, the fear of police and authorities. It is this that comes through most strongly in her book - she has created a strange combination of mystical fantasy world and the very real day-to-day struggles of children living on their wits.
Readers who enjoy the fantasy world of quest adventure stories will enjoy The lost soul atlas, at the same time gaining insight into the real lives of street children living with the fear of abuse and persecution. It is a strange combination of the worlds of fantasy and reality, alleviated by the humour of the hard talking raven Krruk and the scurrying of the Meeple stick figures tugging at Twig's sleeves. It is easy to imagine the book as an animated movie that would capture readily children's imagination.
Themes: Quest, Fantasy, Adventure, Street children, Homeless children.
Helen Eddy

The Poppy Wife by Caroline Scott

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Simon & Schuster, 2019. ISBN: 9781471187674.
(Age: 16+) Highly recommended. A poignant and emotional story of love, loss and hope set upon the backdrop of World War I. In 1916, Francis Blythe enlisted in the Great War, knowing that his brothers Will and Harry would follow him anywhere. Five years later, in 1921, Edie, Francis' wife, has accepted that Francis' status as 'missing in action' may very well be permanent. Then she receives a mysterious photograph of Francis in the post; reigniting her resolve to find him. Meanwhile, Harry has been hired by grieving families to provide what little closure he can by photographing gravesites throughout the country where he himself fought just four years prior. When Edie requests that he locate and photograph Francis' grave, Harry and Edie set out to discover the truth of what happened to Francis. When their paths converge, they uncover many startling truths that redefine their understanding of the past and plans for the future.
A truly beautiful story with complex, compelling and utterly realistic characters that find their way into the heart of the reader along the course of the story, Scott's meticulously researched debut breathes life into the world and lives of the characters; taking the reader on a cathartic and emotional story that will touch their heart and stay with them long after they turn the last page. Highly recommended for readers with an interest or passion for historical fiction and in particular the Battle of the Somme and World War I in general. Warnings should be heeded for graphic, war-related violence, descriptions and references to suicide and strong themes relating to mental health.
Daniella Chiarolli

The promise witch by Celine Kiernan

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The Wild Magic trilogy bk. 3. Walker Books, 2020. ISBN: 9781406373936.
(Age: 10-14) Highly recommended. Following Begone the raggedy witches and The little grey girl comes the striking finale to what has been a unique and enthralling series. Witches Borough has been struck down with a terrible drought caused by the old queen, the rivers are drying up and there is little water in the wells. Mup's parents are doing their best to bring peace to the land and begin a school to educate all the children but the drought threatens everyone's existence. Then the witch Magda comes back and sweeps Mup and Crow off on a dangerous journey, determined to give them to Mup's grandmother, the old queen. Mup knows that the old queen's power must end for the good of the land and uses all her ingenuity to try and find a way to do this.
Readers who have followed the adventures of Mup and Crow and the little grey girl in the first two books will be enthralled with this magical and very exciting conclusion to the series. Both Mup and Crow grow into their powers and use them for the good of the land. They learn that they must obtain the help of others and cooperate to overcome evil and readers will cheer their efforts to stop the old queen. There are some heart-breaking moments that will bring tears to eyes as Crow desperately tries to bring his father back to life and the fate of the little grey girl is decided.
It is the beautifully descriptive and emotive writing that keeps the story going along at a fast pace and readers will be fully engaged in the characters and events in Witches Borough. This is a series that can be highly recommended for its portrayal of good and evil, the resilience of the characters and the uniqueness of the stories.
Pat Pledger

Hawk: a Maximum Ride novel by James Patterson and Gabrielle Charbonnet

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Penguin, 2020. ISBN: 9781529120011.
Hawk is a skinny 15 year old with a black mohawk, multiple piercings and a tough attitude. She has to be tough, living in the City of the Dead, a place abandoned long ago. Now it is home to the homeless, drug addicts and gangs so Hawk has to keep her wits about her as she ventures out each day to find food for the small band of misfits she calls her family. Every day for the past ten years she has turned up to the street corner where her parents told her to wait, for a specific time, but they have never come. Now she and her group live in the children's home where they would starve without Hawk's foraging and where they live in fear of being taken off to be experimented on like other children, who never came back. Life is brutal in this post-apocalyptic world of constant video streaming of government propaganda and mind scrambling 'Voxvoce' sounds. Six powerful gangs control the city. Hawk's secret weapon is that she has wings and can fly, helping her escape difficult situations. When a new prisoner is brought to the jail adjoining the children's home the government broadcast declares he is a child killer, the worst of the worst, but is he?
This is the tenth book in the Maximum Ride series but stands alone quite well. There were a lot of characters and the members of Hawk's family were a bit sketchy apart from Clete; the rest are probably better developed in the other books and this might just encourage new readers to go back and read more of the series. Hawk is a great teen character, veering between personal angst and responsibility to her family and she even has a rather unlikely love interest. The book is fast paced and action packed as the Flock fight a corrupt leader in a violent world, though I found their willingness to join in the violence, dropping bombs regardless of collateral damage, disturbing.
This will be snapped up by readers of the series which traces its origins back to Patterson's 1998 novel When the wind blows and will appeal to a new generation of younger readers looking for a fast paced dystopian fantasy novel.
Themes: Science fiction, Fantasy, Dystopia.
Sue Speck

Know your place by Golriz Ghahraman

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Harper Collins, 2020. ISBN: 9781775541424.
(Age: 16+) Highly recommended. What an amazing woman! Golriz Ghahraman came to New Zealand as a nine year old with her refugee parents from Iran. She went on to become a human rights lawyer working on United Nations tribunals around the world, and eventually became the first refugee to be elected to the New Zealand parliament.
The first part of her autobiography describes the situation in Iran that led her parents to flee. Ghahraman's mother was a psychologist, her father an agricultural engineer; they were secular, intelligent and progressive, political activists in the time of the Shah, but shocked by the hijacking of the revolution by Islamic fundamentalists. Determined that their daughter should know freedom not oppression, they escaped, eventually seeking asylum in Auckland, in a country where they were immediately given food, legal rights and community support on arrival.
However her early experience of being an outsider, identification with minority groups, a growing awareness of race issues, and later experience of an abusive relationship, all combined to lead to a career in human rights and political activism. It was a definite choice - sitting down to think about what she wanted her life to be about and how to go about achieving it.
The book includes Ghahraman's maiden speech in the NZ House of Representatives, and her speech in response to the Christchurch mosque terror attacks, both inspiring reading. There are coloured photographs from her life, from the hijab-wearing little Iranian girl, to her citizenship ceremony as a teenager, to her swearing into Parliament as a member of the Green party, to her welcome to refugee Behrouz Boochani in Auckland Airport following his escape from Australia's Manus detention camp.
For students interested in politics, human rights, and social activism, I would put this book alongside The power of hope by Kon Karapanagiotidis and How powerful we are by Sally Rugg - it is another truly inspiring story of an individual with decent moral values and a determination to make the world a better place for others.
Themes: Refugees, Human rights, Activism, Racism, Black Lives Matter.
Helen Eddy