Wylah the Koorie Warrior: Champions by Jordan Gould and Richard Pritchard

In the fourth book of the Wylah series, Wylah, the Koorie Warrior continues her quest to rescue her friends.  This time it is her koala friends from Megabeast Island. Meet Annabel who is hosting the annual “Dragon Queen’s Champion Tournament” where the victors win freedom for their people.  Wylah and her new team who are Gaelic, Hindu, M'aori and Samoan must compete in increasingly dangerous challenges that test her skills and loyalty.  Wylah must find a way to win and overcome Annabel’s evil plans and control over the megabeasts. 

The story introduces readers to information about her new friends’ culture and traditions as well as First Nations history and culture.  The book includes First Nations vocabulary and practices and other cultures with the inclusion of the Samoan Siva Tau (also known as a haka).  Information surrounding these practices and a glossary at the end provides readers with clues as to how words are pronounced and their meanings. 

I enjoy the Wylah stories, but they are not a series I have been invested in as they are hard to read at times with new language and stilted sentences.  The writing is hard to define as at times I was confused about who or what characters were or if they were human, animals or guardian, and the added confusion of megabeasts.  However, I think younger readers will be able to suspend the overthinking of an adult reader and just immerse themselves in the story and action.

I would recommend these for independent readers or older readers who are looking for an action-adventure fantasy novel in an easier to read format.  The book lends itself to being read independently as there are times when I needed to return to previous sections of the story to remind myself of characters, totems or guardians.  The illustrations certainly help to make this an enjoyable read and the information about First Nations allows for discussions and education to occur wholistically.  A good addition to any library shelf.

Themes: Adventure, Fantasy, First Nations, Cultures, Beasts, Challenges.

Mhairi Alcorn