Tag Archives: family changes

May24

The Sideways Orbit of Evie Hart – Samera Kamaleddine

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Harper Collins Australia

May 2023

  • ISBN: 9781460762653
  • ISBN 10: 1460762657
  • Imprint: HarperCollins AU
  • List Price: 17.99 AUD

For many tweens the transition from child to teen is a tumultuous time, and Evie Hart is one such who is struggling to feel secure and grounded as so much impacts on her life.

Her much-loved stepfather, Lee, is moving out and it’s not just the awful jolt of her parents’ separation, but the fact that Lee is relocating all the way to Dubbo, hundreds of kilometres and many hours away that is a major traumatic event for young Evie. Then there are the constant niggles and passive-aggressive bullying from her classmate, Nicole, in particular the gibes about Evie’s mum. While her class is learning about astronomy, with Evie’s favourite teacher Miss Clark, Nicole takes to ridiculing astrology, which is how Evie’s mum earns her living.

But Miss Clark’s engaging teaching about the wonders of the universe, and the endless possibilities provide Evie with much needed solace and relief for her anxieties as she ponders the bigger picture in both life and space. Just pondering the vastness of the cosmos gives Evie latitude to consider the boundaries and hopes of her own sphere, and the pluses of the trajectory her life is on.

There are some marvellous characterisations in this novel, with primary and secondary characters created with authenticity and appeal, in particular, Evie’s garrulous friend, Farrah, and neighbour, Nance O’Neil, whose pink-iced buns are a weekly salve to the family’s ups and downs.

Evie’s journey from her fretful worries to a more confident person, finding some security in her own identity, is a pilgrimage that most young people take, as they grow into the adults they will become.

The symbolism of the backdrop of the endless universe,and the complexities it holds is no coincidence to the big questions of life. The interspersing of fantastic facts is a delightful bonus, including, I am happy to say, the information on First Nations’ astronomy and its importance to our Indigenous Australians.

Sameerah’s Matilda Prize winning first novel, Half my Luck, proved her ability as a YA author and this second novel for MG has demonstrated a versatility that is exciting and fresh. Readers from around ten years upwards will enjoy this thought-provoking and warm-hearted narrative and I am pleased to recommend it to you for your middle/upper primary readers.

Apr23

Huda was Here – H. Hayek

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Allen & Unwin

ISBN:9781761068430

Imprint:A & U Children

RRP: $15.99

This is a really fun read but more than that, it’s a delightful look at family relationships and community interactions. When their dad loses his job as the neighbourhood security guard, Huda and Akeal set out on a campaign of mischief, with the goal of pressuring the Body Corporate to reinstate him. They’re not criminals as such, but they do become known as the Crimanimals (due to Huda’s spelling error in their first foray into graffitti). They don’t want to hurt anyone or steal anything so all their misdeeds are aimed at low-level misdemeanors like knocking over all the rubbish bins, running off with the shoes outside the mosque door and ‘kidnapping’ their baby brother. They narrowly escape some police attention and run into older boy Fadey, who becomes their chief ally, and along the way they uncover a nasty plot of fraudulent financial management from the very Body Corporate who have given their dad the sack.

Huda reminds me very much of Kevin from Home Alone – that same quirky kind of kid who is a cross between super-smart and super-annoying, but definitely precocious and passionate. There is no doubt she is very single-minded in her goal to get her dad back in his job and in their family home.

Unsurprisingly, given H. Hayek has based Huda and her family on her own, there are strong themes here of identity, being Muslim and Lebanese-Australian, and the funny and sometimes fraught interactions between family members.

While it is a light-hearted read in many respects, there are also opportunities to explore more serious aspects and it would lead to some interesting conversations around what is right and wrong and when, if ever, being ‘naughty’ or breaking rules is acceptable or justified.

This would make a terrific serial read aloud for any class from around Year 4 upwards and a great reading circle title. Recommended for kiddos from around 8 upwards.

Feb9

The Lorikeet Tree – Paul Jennings

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Allen & Unwin

January 2023

ISBN:9781761180095

Publisher:A&U Children’s

Imprint:A & U Children

The Master returns, proving yet again that he can still enthral readers of all ages with the most marvellous narratives. It would seem that being almost an octogenarian is no bar whatsoever to remaining a writer as brilliant as the titular birds in this story.

Even as I read, I could discern that not only did we have familiar themes but that there was much biographical influence in this one (especially as I’d read and reviewed Paul’s memoir a while back – if you haven’t yet read it, why on earth not?!

Twins Emily and Alex are quite different – Emily, practical and pragmatic, and devoted to the regenerated forest and wildlife sanctuary her father has created; Alex, sensitive and, at times, whimsical, believing that building his treehouse rooms will magically save people and avoid disasters. The teens lost their mother at a very young age and now they are faced with the loss of their father, who has been diagnosed with a terminal brain tumour.

Each reacts in a completely different way as would be expected and their usual conflicting personalities become even more pronounced as they try to cope with the sad reality of the diagnosis. When Alex adopts a tiny feral kitten, Emily’s emotions boil over and the resulting fracas is not only distressing but potentially dangerous for both the teens and their dad’s increasingly fragile health. While Alex continues to assimilate his feelings in his creating and building, Emily pours her emotion into the memoir she is writing for her English lit class (which is the narrative we read).

Her writing takes her in a direction that is most unexpected but one that ultimately proves to be a salvation for both herself and her brother, not to mention making the last months of her father’s life joyful.

As one would know already, it is beautifully written. There is no cloying sentimentality or mawkishness here and, as always, Paul has completely captured the voices of his characters with absolute authenticity – in itself, an amazing gift.

I binge read this last night in little over a half hour (at less than 200 pages it is not lengthy) and was completely engrossed with this snapshot of one family’s tumultuous life episode. The tragedy of their situation is offset by the beauty, renewal and hope of the planted wild bush around them and the achievement of their father which will become his legacy.

It is really the most wonderful read and I highly recommend it to you for readers from middle primary to middle secondary.

Once again Paul, thank you – your audience continues to evolve as new generations of readers discover your wonderful talent.

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Jul25

The Pony Question – Jackie Merchant

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Walker Books

July 2020

ISBN: 9781760651640
Imprint: Walker Books Australia

Australian RRP: $16.99
New Zealand RRP: $18.99

I’m not really a horse-y person and now that the Kid is no longer riding neither is she so horse-themed books are a little bit of uncharted territory for me. However many years ago Ruby Ferguson’s Jill’s Gymkana (#1 Jill’s Ponies) was a very enjoyable read for me and this reminded me strongly of that pleasure.

All that being said, this is not merely a horse story but a heart-warming narrative of family, friends and community with an additional bonus of being set in a location fairly familiar to me (Blue Mountains and Lithgow NSW).

Essie and her mum now live in a small community in a quirky somewhat shabby house after her father abandoned them for a younger woman and a new life in pristine perfection. Despite money being a little tight the two are very happy in their new surroundings with their warm and welcoming friends and life is moving along nicely as Francesca’s small business of restoring furniture gains traction. Essie’s antipathy towards her father and his cold and bottled-up new wife is almost tangible and she is particularly irritated by his offer to install her in an exclusive private boarding school with the promise of a new pony and more.

It was her father’s overweening attitude of control and competitiveness that ruined Essie’s promising success as a dressage rider two years previously when he, unbeknownst to anyone else, doped Essie’s pony in order to enable her to compete in a qualifier for a state team. When the ‘nobbling’ was discovered it was of course Essie who bore the brunt of the disgrace and the subsequent disqualification from competition. Her pony, Chet, was sold and though her dad promised to get her another horse, Essie just can’t bring herself to re-enter the fray.

Well all that’s about to change when Essie and her mum accidentally buy a neglected pony at a clearing sale and faced with either taking it home or re-selling to the local knacker, of course they keep the pony – at least for the time being. Poor Moxie has fallen from star pony to half-starved and half-wild beast in just a couple of years. She is in a bad way and really nobody is even expecting her to survive.

Essie’s journey of healing Moxie, along with the support of her mum and circle of friends, despite her father’s opposition is also a healing for herself as she faces difficult situations and arrives at answers providing the reader with a beautiful story of reconciliation in a very divisive and unhappy circumstance. No doubt there will be many for whom this will resonate, with or without a horse involved.

It is a testament to the engaging story that I read this in two sessions and in fact, read past my usual ‘lights off’ time, all unknowing! This is Jackie Merchant’s second novel and I know that I, for one, will look forward to more from this author.

Highly recommended not only for your horse-tragics but all your upper primary and lower/middle secondary readers who enjoy a contemporary story with real depth.

Jul12

Clementine Rose: Collection Five – Jacqueline Harvey

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Penguin Australia

  • August 2020
  • ISBN: 9781760897437
  • Imprint: Puffin
  • RRP: $19.99

Don’t wait around to get your hands on this fifth and final bind-up of stories about this delightful little girl!

This collection contains Clementine Rose and the Wedding Wobbles, Clementine Rose and the Bake-Off Dilemma and Clementine Rose and the Best News Yet.

In case you have been in iso for longer than the past few months, Clementine Rose is the cutest child ever. Rather than being delivered in a hospital, she arrrived via a baker’s van and her adoptive mother, Lady Clarissa, wouldn’t be without her. Along with her teacup pig, Lavender, Digby Pertwhistle the butler and the redoubtable, and often critical, Great Aunt Violet plus Pharoah the sphynx cat, Clementine lives in a large and somewhat ramshackle house surrounded by friends in their local village, Penberthy Floss.

These three stories follow the exciting developments around Lady Clarissa’s wedding and the extension of their happy family and naturally there are adventures, problems and satisfying outcomes along the way.

These bind-ups are a super gift idea but obviously for all your dedicated CR fans also a must-have for your collection.

I know the copies in my libraries have always been on a constant turn-around so the addition of these is a great idea. Highly recommended for your readers from around Year 1 upwards.

Aug17

Celia and Nonna – Victoria Lane/Kayleen West

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Celia and Nonna – Victoria Lane/Kayleen West

ISBN 978925000603 (hardback) 978192000601 (paperback)

September 2014

Ford St Publishing

RRP $24.95/$14.95

Ages 4+

9972-Celia-Nonna-HB-Cover-front-WEB

Some very apt books have come my way in the last week or so and this is one of them. This gentle and loving story of a little girl and her much-loved Nonna, and the changes that occur when Nonna’s memory starts to fail is so very pertinent to our family at the present time.

It is difficult for little ones to understand that aging family members cannot always remember things, or indeed that they may change where they live. On Friday we celebrated my mother’s 88th birthday and at times it is tricky for the two youngest great-grandchildren to understand why Nanny now lives in the place she does, or why she doesn’t remember everything.

Celia loves sleeping over at her Nonna’s place. She always has a fuss made of her and she and Nonna cook together and play special games, but when Nonna starts to forget things, locks herself out of the house and so on, Nonna moves to a special place where people can help to keep her safe. There is no room for Celia to sleep over any more and nowhere to cook – but there is room to put lots of drawings up on walls of the fun things that are special memories. In just the same way, Miss Just-Turned-Five spends much time creating beautiful artwork for her great-grandmother, just to make sure Nanny knows how much she is loved.

It was difficult for me to read this without emotion because of the intensely personal circumstances but this is a superb book to share with little people who are facing changes in their family due to aging, dementia or Alzheimer’s disease.

The text and illustrations are simple, gentle and suitably engaging for a young audience – the endpapers are truly gorgeous (many of my friends and students know about my rapture over endpapers!).

Highly recommended for home and library shelves for sharing with small people from around 4 and up.

 

Check out Kayleen’s website and Victoria’s here.