How to help: when you really want to help addresses that sometimes awkward moment when it is not clear that someone wants help. Each page presents a different event that explores the help that can be offered. In this way the book models the response needed when someone can see a need.
From wiping up baby’s spill as she eats in her high chair, to offering accommodation when it is needed, to sharing a pillow to snuggle, each softly illustrated page shows children how to help. From physical help, making something, baking, wiping and so on, come many offers of help that are an emotional response. Opening your heart, being part of a choir where your voice is shared, to listening to a story read by Grandpa, the list of things people do to help others is widened.
Observation is the key to these offerings. A bird is found in need of help, so a box is made for the animal to revive in; a lost cat is advertised on the neighbourhood trees and is returned home, showing how others have helped the family get their pet back.
Neighbours can check out the person over the fence, checking they are alright and offering help if needed. Showing up for the match either as a supporter or participant helps a range of others, the team can now play their games; the supporters can barrack together. Children can help on clean up days, where a neighbourhood or beach or park is cleaned by a large group of people, or simply by one.
The book gives children a range of large and small things they can do to make a difference, at home, or in the neighbourhood, at school or in the wider community.
Supported by soft pencil and water colour illustrations, the book will encourage interest and discussion.
Themes Helping, Humour, Family.
Fran Knight
The girl and the ghost by Jacqueline Harvey
Penguin, 2025. ISBN: 9781761349409.
Josephine Eloise Thomas — “Jet”— is a lively 12-year-old girl whose life is abruptly interrupted by a sudden move to the countryside of France. The adventure begins when she finds a mystical locket hidden underneath on of the panels in the bottom of her wardrobe; a locket that introduces the existence of a mischievous (and often infuriating) ghost, Prince Louis?XVII.
The Girl and the Ghost is a historical fiction based in rural France and its past. The book delicately pieces together the tragic story of Louis?XVII and life in nineteenth?century France. Several delightful subplots such as teenage confusion, light-hearted romance, and sibling quarrels add a humorous and relatable touch to the story.
At first, the book seemed to pursue history and adventure, but seemed to run off the tracks as I read. While subthemes of family and love are introduced and elaborated on throughout the book, it is rather vague compared to the rest of the thrilling story. Jet’s exciting adventures with Louis are the focus of the story, with the subplots falling short as they struggle to keep up with the pacy plotline. There are momentary instances when new themes are introduced, such as typical sibling rivalry and the connection Jet has with her stepmom, but the book fails to elaborate on them later on in the story and leaves the audience feeling a vague, unfulfilled feeling. Overall, The Girl and the Ghost is a compelling novel that manages to intricately bring together two genres but fell short of my expectations in other areas such as expressing subthemes such as familial bonds. It would be the ideal book for lovers of history and adventure, but not such a great recommendation for those who wish for softer genres such as a heart-warming read.
Jahnavi B. (Student)
Themes France, French History, Restoration, Ghosts, Art theft.
The pull of the moon by Pip Smith
UWA Publishing, 2025. ISBN: 9781760803032. (Age:13+) Highly recommended.
Many would associate Christmas Island with the location of a refugee detention centre, but Pip Smith’s novel begins with the search for the endangered pipistrelle, a microbat that Coralie’s mother, Hannah, tries desperately to track down and protect. Christmas Island is also host to a massive annual red crab migration through forests, across roads, even through buildings, in their determination to reach the sea. The island is a lush natural environment that Coralie can roam freely, though perhaps a little more cautiously through the jungle, reputed to be haunted by ghosts. The export of phosphate and the import of refugees just carries on quietly in the background. That is, until the day an overladen wooden boat is tossed by the waves against the cliffs, smashing bodies on the rocks.
With the changing phases of the moon, the narrative voice changes from that of Coralie to Ali and his family fleeing from Iran, buying passage on a boat from Indonesia to Australia. Their story vividly brings to life the plight of the refugee and the reasons they might desperately seek safety. There is a section in the book where a woman furiously rants against Immigration interviewers, with a speech that should shock every reader into reassessing Australia’s refugee policy. It is a speech that passionately advocates for better understanding and compassion.
Each section of the novel takes place during a different phase of the moon, emphasizing the pull of the natural world and all the creatures within it. At times the perspective is that of a bird riding the thermals in the sky, looking down on the island in the sea. In her author’s note, Smith writes that an Afghan man once told her that he missed the ‘tiny lives of the plum trees’ and her realisation that each blossom was ‘a whole life, a whole world’. This is the feeling that flows through her book, of all the different lives that ebb and flow, lives saved and lives lost, the crabs that make it to the sea and the crabs that are crushed, the refugee who miraculously leaps to safety, and the refugee who is drowned.
At thirteen, Coralie is going through a difficult time, her friends have moved on, the pipistrelles disappear, her mother leaves on prolonged fieldtrips, her father seems at a loss, and then she witnesses the horror of the wrecked refugee boat. She fiercely wants to believe the boy Ali has survived and determines to find him. Smith absolutely captures the feelings of the distraught teenager, the angry words flung at a parent, the passion that drives her, and then the loneliness and confusion when she starts to doubt herself.
The writing style is beautiful, concise and vivid, so many dramatic moments captured so perfectly, moments like the father with his beard ‘speckled with the mince that the stove had spat at his face’ and the mother stabbing her spaghetti with a fork and twisting it ‘slowly, like a knife in the back’.
It is a moving story that young teenagers could read and readily empathise with Coralie and Ali; but the themes of the decline of the natural world and how the moon could just be the earth ‘but in the future, when all the trees and animals have gone’, refugees and imprisonment, the cruelty of chance, all would make it a thought-provoking read for adults as well. Highly recommended for teenagers and adults. Teacher's notes are available.
Themes Christmas Island, Environment, Biodiversity, Refugees, Trauma.
Dedicated to ‘those who are wounded and surviving’ Coburn’s gentle and emotive verse novel shares intimate feelings of loneliness and soul-searching in a way that allows readers to empathise and grow with him towards a better understanding of self and one’s place in the world. The verses tell the story of a young person caught in the middle of his parents’ arguments, as they grieve the loss of their elder son, horribly thrown and stomped by a bull. Grieving himself, Sam feels unloved and unwanted. It is only when an equally troubled young neighbour calls him to help save a seriously injured foal caught in barbed wire, that he makes a connection outside his closed world and gradually develops a relationship that frees him from victimhood and builds his self-esteem.
The verse novel comprises poems that could stand alone, but each adds another chapter to the story, simply written and expressive, telling of two teenagers who, in caring for the foal and gaining its trust, come to trust and care for each other as well. It is first young love between two bruised souls, enabling them to find their inner strength and a path towards a better future.
Whilst the themes include family violence, depression and suicide ideation, it is written in a way that that arouses compassion and empathy, the main focus being on saving the injured foal, an animal that would usually be shot to save its suffering, rather than slowly nurtured back to good health. The writing style is simple and direct, easy for young readers to engage with, and appreciate. It is an achingly beautiful story. Robbie Coburn is clearly an author to watch out for; don’t miss this one. Teacher's notes are available.
Themes Coming of age, Grief, Domestic violence, Depression, Self-esteem, Love.
A deceptively small book, easily read, with large sections being in a format akin to a free-verse novel with double line spacing, Kate Gordon's Aster's next, good thing packs a punch. The reader meets Aster again - the Aster of the CBCA Award-winning world of Aster's good right things. In Aster's good right things, Aster is performing a ritualistic pattern of behaviours which all started when her mother abandoned her. She believes that if she is faithful to performing one good right thing/day, everything will be alright. One year on, in the sequel, Aster's next good thing, Aster is not doing well at all. She believes that she is not important to anyone, that, if she floated away no-one would even notice. This is exacerbated when her Dad and his new partner Nella announce that Nella is pregnant and expecting a new baby. Aster has to cope with change.
Use of the free-verse structure creates an impactful emotional experience for the reader. Although Gordon employs the first person narrative of Aster throughout the book, sections where Aster's thoughts are particularly intense and internalised break into free verse where sentences are broken into phrases and individual words- one/line. The structure accentuates and mirrors Aster's broken thoughts.
From the hiding and ritualised behaviours of the first book, Aster's thoughts are disintegrating. Tragically, she believes that no-one sees her, that she is not needed or important and she begins to think that rather than hiding and performing good deeds she needs to escape and run away. Gordon describes the worry that the family have trying to deal with Aster's mental health beautifully. They walk on egg shells. Importantly, Aster does have two special friends: Xavier from the school for gifted kids which they both attend and Esme from the milkbar. They "see" her. Indigo, lives in Aster's home, part of the unusual family structure which gradually is explained. She challenges Aster..." Why do you always think it's all about you, Aster? Why do you think the world revolves around you? This isn't the Aster show, you know." (p.66) It is disturbing to read about Aster's wrongheaded thinking and to know of the consequences if a depressed person doesn't receive intervention and care of the right sort. Gordon writes with great insight.
Aster reaches crisis point and acts. Compassion for little, bullied Armelle, who appears to be "on the spectrum", the reactions of her family to her escapade, the help and insights of her friends and the birth of the new baby Sylvie work to ground Aster into finding her identity.
Aster's next, good thing is about recognising that love exists, about finding your place in the world and being a friend to others. It is a recognition of "otherness" and the need for belonging; that "acting up" is a call for love and identity. For readers, who may be struggling with feeling a lack of belonging, this story may be easy to identify with and therefore comforting as it describes Aster's struggles so clearly. Gordon describes some of these feelings, with the helpful use of metaphor. An example is Xavier, who while hospitalised because of a decline in mental health, describes an ocean in the head, with ebbs and tides, something you can't control but you can..."put a mermaid in your ocean". Delightful and powerful metaphors such as this combined with other quiet wisdom and the empathetic unfolding of the storyline make this a warm-hearted, reliable book that is recommended for those who might need to read of struggles, mistakes and gains in understanding of self and others when mental health becomes a worry.
Aster's next good thing is a warm, wise, delightful and helpful book.
Subtitled A First Nations journey around Australia’s traditional place names, gives a sound idea as to what will be found when the book is read.
On the title page is a map of Australia with the fifteen places shown, and this will intrigue children as they see the places known to them perhaps by a different name. From Gulmerragin in the north, to Rubibi, known as Broome, to Boorloo and Tarndanya, the places across the north of Australia are shown, the illustrations reflecting some of the things to be found in that vicinity.
Each double page with its contemporary artwork using traditional decorative methods, shows animals and flowers, birds and vegetation, as well as geographic features associated with the named place.
I love the lurking crocodile featured on Borroloola, the hammerhead shark in the background of wetlands Boigu, the bunya pines of Meeanjin country, and the whales on Gadigal land. Each page presents something to search out, to recognise and marvel over. Kids will love to copy the names using the motifs presented, and learn how to say those unfamiliar to them. The Canberra name will intrigue, encouraging students to look at the meaning of the name and why it was selected as the name for our capitol city. In the snow gums can be seen the kookaburra, a particular motif of the area.
Ryhia Dank’s journey around Australia helps the readers learn about some of the more well known places, just as Dank wanted to journey to learn more about her land.
I love listening to ABC RN with its acknowledgement of where each radio show comes from, and this book gives some of those names and we can see how these are written, so expanding the knowledge of these traditional names. Kids will love spotting the array of things shown on each page: jelly fish, lizards, the Aboriginal flag, footprints and loads of insects, to name a few.
Themes Aboriginal flag, Aboriginal names, Journeys, Australian animals.
Fran Knight
Inkbound - Meticulous Jones and the Skull Tattoo by Philippa Leathley
Inkbound - Meticulous Jones and the Skull Tattoo has a female protagonist about the same age as the intended reader as on her tenth birthday, Meticulous 'Metty' Jones receives her fate, as all children do, in the form of a magical tattoo on her hand. She hopes that her tattoo will reveal an exciting destiny: travel, discovery or adventure. What appears is a skull in the palm of a violet glove - Metty's fate is to be a murderer. When Metty's father disappears in mysterious circumstances, Aunt Magnificent takes her to the glittering city of New London, filled with magic, wonder and enchantment. But when Metty hears rumours of a shadowy organisation known as the Black Moths, she begins to suspect they are connected to her own dark fate.
The genre 'fantasy adventure' is described as combining "the elements of fantasy (supernatural, magical, and often imaginary worlds) with the adventure genre (epic journeys, quests, and exciting undertakings), resulting in stories with magic, danger, and exploration." Unique landscapes, societies and cultures are the background to seemingly ordinary human characters embarking on personal quests that involve action, risk and danger and usually in company or conflict with imaginary beings to quell the malicious intent of those who seek to harm them. As they seek to ensure that good triumphs over evil, often with unique and mysterious powers, they also learn much about themselves, who they are, what they stand for and what they can accomplish and achieve as regular people.
Popular since the days of Enid Blyton's Magic Faraway Tree series when young readers transported themselves away from the horrors of World War II to lands where fairies, elves and other magical beings dwelt and life was so different to their lived reality, continued through the 50s as my generation went through the wardrobe into Narnia, then brought into the realm of the modern young reader through the exploits of Harry Potter and his friends and the making of the movies based on Tolkien's classics of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings trilogy, and perpetuated through any number of video and computer games, it is a firm favourite with independent readers across the ages. Those written for children not only allow the child to dwell in an alternative world that may be more appealing than the one they are in, but also enable them to become the hero with both power and powers that the real world denies them. They are in charge, they are calling the shots and making the decisions - something rare in the pre-teen's life.
Inkbound - Meticulous Jones and the Skull Tattoo fits the genre, the demand and the library collection perfectly. It features those essential elements of the fantasy adventure genre with fast-paced narrative that draws the reader into both the setting and the action, while dropping tiny but important clues along the way whose significance only becomes apparent as the climax approaches. There are elements that echo the reader's world making the transition to the imaginary one seem more seamless as they take on the role of the protagonist as they are able to relate, perhaps even empathise, with the struggles they face, yet each features a lightness of touch that makes them ideal read-alones or read-alouds. They also all seem to set themselves as the possible beginning of a new series that keen readers will seek out.
Currently, in the school library in which I volunteer, it is series like these that seem to be constantly circulating, so to be able to bring some new reads to the selections will definitely spike interest as our long winter nights approach.
Penguin Random House Children's UK, 2025. ISBN: 9780241739594. (Age:Young Adult) Recommended.
The glittering edge, the first of a gothic fantasy duology (The Idlewood Duology series), is set in and inspired by the rural Indiana towns and high school experience of the author - Los Angeles based Alyssa Villaire. The journey of the main character Penny with her mother through doctors, hospitals and palliative care is inspired by the author's own journey with her father. Villaire hopes that young readers who are likewise seeing their parents suffer may find some hope and determination through reading The glittering edge.
Appropriately titled, The glittering edge evokes the idea of an enticing, magical fragility - a brittle brink that one may reach which, in the book, is both physical and psychological. The front cover equally indicates, the type of story (described as contemporary gothic fantasy) that embraces some visceral, nightmarish qualities.
Structured with the omniscient authorial voice focusing alternately in separate chapters on the three main characters (Corey, Penny and Alonso) the reader has a bird's eye view of the characters' actions and thoughts as the plot unrolls. From the initial setting, a fourth of July high school graduate party in a fictional mid-western town called Idlewood, the reader meets the characters and the nature of the generational feud between the De Luca witches and the wealthy Barrion family begins to reveal itself. The curse changed families' fates and was that if a Barrion falls in love with you, you die. In the front pages family trees are provided and include the Emberly family because Penny's mother is the latest victim of the curse.
With all the trappings of a modern day Romeo and Juliet, The glittering edge is about a forbidden, dangerous love affair (worse - love triangle) and the danger that Penny Emberly faces as she tries to save her mother's life and her own heart.
Villaire shares content warnings for those considering reading The glittering edge. These include: alcohol consumption, bullying, cursing, death and injury of parents and family, emotional abuse, grief, gun violence, medical content, mental illness, murder, panic attacks, terminal illness, classism, racism, misogyny, infidelity and sexual and suicide content.
This is a heart-in-the-mouth story complete with bloody and bewitching scenes and action, friendship, courage and heart. Fans of Maggie Stiefvater's The raven boys would enjoy The glittering edge.
Themes Witches, Family curses, Love, Illness and death of a parent, Teen "chaos", Anxiety.
Wendy Jeffrey
I dreamed of you by Sharna Carter. Illus. by Gabby Grant
Affirm Press, 2025. ISBN: 9781923046429. (Age:3+)
The story of a mother’s love, dreaming dreams which resulted in a baby, one to be loved and looked over, cuddled and held, from the time when the baby was a wish when candles were blown out, to the time when tiny fingers and red ruby cheeks giggled at mum from the cradle. Rhyming stanzas tell the story, of the dreams held by mum as she anticipates then holds her baby.
Each page turned reveals another of the dreams mum had when expecting her baby. From dreaming of them skipping together and holding hands, to making sand castles, blowing bubbles and dancing to a song. Each activity mentioned is one mum and her growing baby do together, showing the child’s development to a time when friends are made and another stage of development begins.
At the end of the book, a pregnant mum is seen, happy that her dreams are materialising, as the baby comes and is installed in a baby carrier, close to mum’s heart. All of her dreams have come true. Children may note that it is only about the mother and her baby, leading perhaps to discussions about single parent families.
Soft illustrations cover each page, reinforcing a story of love and anticipation. Children will enjoy following the baby’s development and noting the baby’s stages through the illustrations. They will be able to discuss the various stages they have gone through and note what is still to come.
Themes Family, Mothers, Babies, Stages of development, Anticipation.
Mercedes Mercier introduces us to the grim reality of prison life in Black lies. Dr Laura Fleming is a psychologist at Westmead Prison and is asked to interview Tomas Kovak, a prisoner who has been locked away for life for a brutal murder of a young pregnant woman. He is dying from cancer and the authorities are desperate to find out where his victim’s body is buried. He has refused all contact with psychologists in the past and as Laura talks to him, she becomes convinced that he does not fit the usual profile of a murderer. She begins to investigate, interviewing people from his background. Is Kovak the murderer or is there someone lurking and watching her from the shadows?
The background of prison life makes this stand out from other mysteries featuring psychologists as the main investigators. Mercier vividly describes life in prison and how desperate it can be for some offenders. The story is told with flashbacks to the past, gradually revealing what has happened and keeping the reader in suspense wondering what is really going on.
Mercier has created a very relatable character in Laura, a very clever woman who refuses to ignore her intuition even though it brings her into danger. I found myself holding my breath in the later parts of the novel as she gradually unravelled twisty past events with a stunning outcome.
Although this is the second book featuring Dr Laura Fleming, it reads well as a stand-alone, although readers may want to find White noise, the first in the series. And people who enjoyed the Joe O'Loughlin and Cyrus Haven series by Michael Robotham are likely to enjoy Black lies.
Themes Murder, Psychologists, Mystery, Prisons.
Pat Pledger
Wombat dreaming by Caz Goodwin. Illus. by Zoe Bennet
Affirm Press, 2025. ISBN: 9781923046603. (Age:3+)
A wombat doing yoga does not seem the most compatible exercise regime for the squat short legged animal, but Lil is one determined little wombat. She joins her friends on their yoga mats one Sunday morning, ready for stretches and some fun.
Emu and Dingo both show what they can do, encouraging others to follow their lead. But each time Lil tries she wobble and falls over. She so wants to join the group, and be as good as the others, but all to no avail, she simply can not do it. As tears fall, she goes back into her burrow, and thinks about what she can do to overcome her inability, to do the poses the other animals do. She makes her way to the class the next Sunday morning. There she shows the animals her move. She calls it Wombat Dreaming and has her rolling over to land on her back and then spend some time lying down. The other animals cheer and clap, eager to practise the new move.
A lovely story to engage readers with a host of well drawn Australian animals: seeing them in yoga poses will cause laughter, especially with the very round wombat finding it difficult. But we all have skills we might not be aware of, and trying to find that skill means thought and practice. Lil keeps on trying to find her skill to join in with the others, and eventually finds something they can all do well.
Children will love recognising the Australian animals shown, and work out why some can do things the wombat cannot do. The images show a range of animals doing the strangest of things, a frog on one leg with arms pointing upward, or the little mouse joining in. But the best is that of all the animals following Lil’s lead and lying on their backs, looking very relaxed after their efforts.
The story will encourage readers to think about how they relax, and the value of exercising as a group.
Themes Yoga, Exercise, Wombats, Australian animals, Determination, Relaxation.
Fran Knight
Hey Zazou! by Tony Thompson
Ford Street Publishing, 2025. ISBN: 9781922696420. (Age:14+) Highly recommended.
Set in Nazi-occupied Paris during World War 2, in Hey, Zazou!, Thompson has combined his interest and knowledge of both music and history to write a gripping coming-of-age story that is as informative as it is riveting.
At 15 years old, Charlie Martin is faced with making many conflicting decisions. Fascinated by the Zazou sub-culture, he dresses the part and busks, playing jazz in the streets and bars. This puts him in the spotlight of the French ‘Loyal Youth’ and the Nazi soldiers, especially when he includes Roma (gypsy) and Resistance members in his band. He is also dealing with the regular absences of his beloved mother, and the increasingly strange behaviour of some of his acquaintances.
As he becomes more involved in what he realises is the Resistance movement, Charlie faces constant reminders about the difficulties of knowing who to trust, who to remain loyal to, and whether friendships and shared passions can overcome differences of allegiances and loyalties.
Thompson has painted a vivid picture of what it would be like to live under a regime increasingly ruling by fear and intimidation. Charlie’s moral compass is constantly challenged as he weighs up his options in a dangerous time, caught between the brutality of the Nazi soldiers, the loyalty required by Resistance members and the danger and fear experienced by the persecuted Roma population.
Against this background of historical accuracy and musical influences, is Charlie’s developing romance, eventual heartbreak, and ongoing love of music. His dyslexia at times presents difficulties but also potentially lifesaving benefits for him.
Highly recommended as a thrilling adventure story and an easy entry into WW2 and jazz history as well as Zazou and Roma music and culture.
After reading Bone lands by Pip Fioretti, I was keen to pick up Skull River featuring Gus Hawkins, mounted trooper and veteran of the Boer War. It is 1912, and Gus has rejoined the mounted police. He has been sent to the gold town of Colley, NSW and is in charge of much of the surrounding district. On his first day he and his young officer are ambushed and the young man is gunned down. Gus manages to escape only to find that the police station has been burnt to the ground with the prisoner inside dying. Gus barely manages to hold on to his sanity, his post traumatic stress ruining his sleep with horrific memories. However with a drunken detective in charge of the case and a clever gunman out to kill police troopers, Gus must use all his ingenuity and intelligence to hunt down the killer.
Bone lands was set in the pastoral district of far western New South Wales and gave the reader insight into rural and small town life in Australia after Federation. In Skull River Fioretti demonstrates her expertise in writing about Australian history, this time taking the reader on a memorable journey into how life in a small town changes when the lure of gold fades. Colley is eight hours ride from Bathurst and when Gus needs urgent help from his commanding officers, he must send a telegram or use his wits to delve into the secrets of the town. Fioretti deftly brings a historical time to life, while penning a mystery story that has enough twists and turns to keep the reader glued to the page and plenty of action-packed scenes that are riveting reading.
Readers who enjoy accounts of Australian history will appreciate the depth of Fioretti’s research, while mystery lovers will eagerly follow Gus’s investigation, trying to follow the clues and red herrings that are scattered throughout the book. While waiting for the next in the series, which is hinted at in the conclusion of the book, readers may like to try Wild dogs by Michael Trant, with its lone bushman trying to overcome bad memories.
The blurb of this book says "Every day we come across many tricks that keep the world from being a truly equal place. This book helps kids and their grown-ups to learn the tricks that are holding us all back so that together we can smash gender stereotypes and create positive change".
This is Jennifer Bain's first book, born out of her dream of creating stories to help children to feel comfortable navigating the world. Equality and respect are important topics for young people, and this book helps children to identify, call attention to, and reject unconscious sexism and biases in everyday life.
'The Trick' is capitalised, and is explained as being something you might hear but that you know isn't true. Statements such as "Girls can't climb trees" or "boys don't cry" or even a teacher asking for "big, strong boys" to help move furniture are all examples of The Trick.
This is because we know for certain that girls CAN climb trees, that boys DO cry, and that girls are just as capable to help move furniture!
The book explains the patriarchy in very simple terms and goes on to encourage readers to look out for The Trick and to point it out to others. Only through noticing The Trick and calling attention to it, will the world become a more equal place. We see Gran fixing toys, Pa baking biscuits, princesses saving the day, boys playing tea parties, and many more fabulous examples of equality, and respectful relationships.
The cartoony illustrations by Scott Stuart are excellent, really expanding on the equality theme. The children depicted have a wide range of appearances and abilities, including one with a cochlear implant, one with glasses, a variety of skin colours, a wheelchair user, a child with vitiligo, and another with a prosthetic limb. All are equally involved in playing and learning together.
A note for families and teachers at the end of the book explains that "unpacking these themes and making positive change will involve more than one conversation". This book is a great place to start!
This book is about a new girl named Quinn who arrives in a new town and attends a new high school with her brother, so that her family can care for their grandmother. She quickly finds friends at school and even meets a cute, nice guy named Logan. Her friend, Kashvi, invites her to watch a new D&D game to see if she would like to join the next campaign, but suddenly, Logan acts cold and unwelcoming. Quinn wonders if he is like that because of one of the rules: no dating group members. But Logan keeps on dropping hints, and Quinn knows she has to stay away, but it gets tough when her grandma thinks they are destined to be together. And it seems like one of the players, Sloane, might know something!
This book was so captivating and interesting that it was hard to put down. I had no idea what Dungeons and Dragons was, but after reading this book, it makes a bit more sense to me, and it might be worth giving the game a try. Highly recommended for girls aged 12-15. The themes of friendship and relationships are very good, and I loved the love story between Quinn and Logan, along with the forbidden romance. My favourite character was Kashvi because she seems like the ideal best friend anyone could want, and she is genuinely kind. The author was inclusive of transgender characters, particularly Sloane. It’s wonderful to see authors embracing inclusivity. Overall, I was incredibly impressed with the writing style, character depth, and engaging plot. Reading this book was such a great experience, and I’m thrilled that I had the chance to discover it. If you’re in the mood for a story that combines elements of magic and heartfelt connections, you won’t want to miss Dating and Dragons.
