Hachette, 2020. ISBN: 9780734419798
(Age: 5-7) Highly recommended. Bath time is one of a series of
junior fiction books based on the popular animated television series
Kitty is not a cat produced by BES Animation based in
Melbourne. The TV series has screened in over 85 countries and is
voiced by well-known Australian actors and comedians. So, it is no
surprise that the book series, written by Jess Black, has been very
well received.
There are 4 books so far; Lights
out! , Teddy's
bear, Hired hound and Bath time.
In this series Kitty arrives at the front door of a house filled
with stray cats who love making music and parties. The cats have
strict rules about not allowing any humans in their house, but this
human seems to believe she is a cat. She is dressed in an orange cat
suit and only purrs, meows or hisses. Slowly the clueless cats take
on the task of teaching Kitty how to be a human, in the hopes of
sending her back to the human world, and in this book they tackle
the task of keeping clean. But cats and water are never an easy mix
and it seems Kitty also shares their aversion to the idea of getting
wet. But with furballs seriously cramping her singing abilities
Kitty needs to stop licking herself clean and take the plunge. The
cats just need to work out what will make the bath attractive enough
for Kitty to jump in.
This easy to read novel uses illustrations that match the graphics
from the TV series except not using full colour, just blacks, greys
and orange. It is a funny and engaging novel for early readers.
Themes: Girls, Cats, Baths.
Gabrielle Anderson
The naked farmer by Ben Brooksby
Pan Macmillan, 2020. ISBN: 9781760981068.
(Age: 17+) In 2017, Ben Brooksby posted a photograph of himself on
social media. The photograph showed him lying naked on lentils in a
truck. At first, he thought that his followers might learn about the
importance of agriculture, but his own recovery from anxiety attacks
after a difficult childhood suggested another goal. Ben founded the
Naked Farmer movement to encourage people in rural areas to speak up
about their experiences of mental illness.
In The naked farmer, Ben has assembled thirty-two stories
about men and women who have confronted challenges ranging from
grief, depression and chronic illness to marriage breakdown and the
disclosure of same-sex attraction. Any of these experiences would be
difficult to deal with in a city but in the country, sufferers can
face the additional problems of loneliness, a culture of stoicism
and remoteness from health facilities. This book does not provide
expert medical opinion. Instead, it presents a variety of
experiences of mental illness and the ways in which sufferers have
dealt with them. Common threads emerge, including the need to
discuss the problem with an understanding relative, friend or health
professional, and the eventual realisation that every life has
value. Some of the stories are told in the first person and one has
been written in verse, but most have been reported by Ben and a team
of storytellers. All the stories are told in a down-to-earth style
that readers can experience as conversations with or about people
who have revealed that they have been mentally ill. Their bravery
explains the photographs. Ben believes that just as it takes courage
to be photographed naked, it also requires courage to both admit to
having a mental health problem and ask for help.
Ben Brooksby calls his book a 'conversation starter'. The naked
farmer will have served its purpose if it encourages people
who work in agriculture to discuss their mental health issues. It
may also provide other Australians with insights into some of the
difficulties confronting those who live in rural areas.
Elizabeth Bor
Dash and Lily's Book of Dares by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan
Allen & Unwin, 2020. ISBN: 9781760878283.
(Age: 15+) Recommended. A reprint tying in with the Netflix series,
readers will be sure to enjoy the original book first printed in
2010. Rachel Cohn and David Levithan have again produced a sparkling
collaboration, with two main characters, Lily and Dash, passing
dares. Dash finds a red notebook full of dares from Lily on a shelf
in his favourite bookshop. He decides to take up the challenge over
the Christmas holidays and leaves dares for Lily as well. They both
have lots of fun leaving messages and carrying out weird dares, but
will they be able to get along when they first meet each other in
real life?
I really enjoyed this book. I loved the humour and some of the witty
repartee had me laughing out loud as Dash and Lily went out their
funny and exciting dares. The fact that much of the book was taken
up with a flirtation through a red notebook made it even more
enjoyable and I was sorry when their journey ended. Their love of
books and the many literary allusions made the story one for book
lovers as well.
Dash and Lily were such likeable characters that I was compelled to
follow their story virtually in one sitting. Even though Dash's
nickname is Snarly, he comes across as a caring boy who looks out
for his friends. I loved that Lily played soccer and followed her
gradual coming of age, gradually convincing her large extended
family that she could manage on her own. All the supporting
characters were well rounded and interesting, especially Lily's
homosexual brother Langston, who instigates the notebook dare and
Boomer, Dash's friend. These supporting characters added to the
depth of the story and gave the reader an insight in Dash and Lily's
personalities.
The humour, funny banter and amusing events, as well as an
engrossing romance, make this a compelling read for the mature teen.
Their story continues in The
twelve days of Dash & Lily and Mind the Gap,
Dash & Lily.
Pat Pledger
Slinky Malinki's Christmas 123 by Lynley Dodd
Puffin, 2020. ISBN: 9780143775355.
(Age 1+) Highly recommended. Right from the front cover, with its
cheeky little black cat, clutching a toy Santa and surrounded by
Christmas decorations, any young reader will be enticed to open the
book and see what Slinky Malinki is up to. Turning the page, Slinky
is seen creeping up to a beautifully decorated Christmas tree - 1
one creeping cat, followed by 2 two red-nosed mice, 3
three shimmering shells, with Slinky getting closer and closer
to the tree. Finally, 10 ten busy hands put all the
decorations back on the tree with the end papers, showing Slinky
peering out from behind the top branches. Oh, Slinky Malinki.
Happy Christmas!
This is a joyful book that is just perfect to read aloud in the days
before Christmas. The colourful illustrations are exquisite, and any
cat lover will recognise the actions of Slinky as he pounces on the
decorations and plays with those he gathers from the tree. The glee
on his face will bring smiles to the reader's face, too. And readers
will have fun guessing which decoration he will grab next and
counting numbers 1 to 10 as he plays havoc with the tree. Big bold
black text will help a beginning reader as well.
This is a delightful, durable and strong board book, that would be a
perfect Christmas present for cat lovers and young children. It
would also be a lovely bedtime story.
Pat Pledger
The wizard in my shed: the misadventures of Merdyn the Wild by Simon Farnaby
Hodder & Stroughton, 2020. ISBN: 9781444954388. 323p.
(Age: 10+) Recommended. Merdyn the Wild was the world's greatest
Warlock in the 6th Century before the showdown of Chapter One
wherein his nemesis Jerabo discredits Merdyn in King Paul's eyes,
before casting Merdyn into the rivers of time as punishment. Will
Merdyn ever see Princess Evanhart again?
Meanwhile in the 21st Century, Rose doesn't fit in at school and is
harangued afresh by a group of bullies after auditioning for the
school Talent Show. Suzy, her mum, is still grieving the loss of
Rose's father who was always the one to assure Rose that she would
develop one exceptional talent. Rose had hoped it was singing, which
makes it easier to aid and abet a crazed magician who promises to
give Rose the singing spell to fulfil her destiny.
Merdyn is like a fish out of water and causes havoc at every turn.
The fun begins when the broken but hospitable family realizes that
Jerabo has followed Merdyn through time, to finish him off, crown
his own descendent as king of the world, before returning to the
Dark Ages to marry Princess Evanhart and murder the King. Along the
way, Merdyn's down to earth logic changes Kris (Rose's brother),
Suzi, Rose and all her friends and neighbours more than the
spectacular magical spells.
One couldn't be blamed for misjudging this book as frivolous fare
with Claire Powell's cover design and illustrations reminiscent of a
feature animation. The Warlock's name seems a spin off of Merlin,
history's most famous fictional wizard. Lastly, we have watched a
wise but ditzy medieval wizard in the 1970's television sitcom, Catweazle.
But Simon Farnaby is no lightweight author claiming his inspiration
came from all children's books and films where children encounter
magical creatures.
Farnaby's characters and what happens to them is thoroughly
believable despite the impossibility of spells, talking guinea pigs
and time travel. In addition to the embossed neon cover, over 300
pages is bursting with publishing gems to flesh out the reader's
total experience. Bold fonts emphasise the really awesome stuff.
Footnotes explain the meanings of Olde English insults and phrases.
Chapters end with rhyming teasers before appending a guide to
grasses to highlight natures magic and function can be seen in a
blade of grass.
Farnaby's unpredictable narrative entertains and educates through
epic events bisected by myriad themes of identity, grief,
self-confidence, power, faith, friendship, nature, history, belief
and more. Readers of all ages will look forward to future titles in
the series and the inevitable movie version. Meaty enough for
read-aloud and study, we can but hope Simon Farnaby keeps writing
and gives up acting! (Horrible Histories and The
Dectectorists) Themes: Fantasy, Magic.
Deborah Robins
The Carbon-Neutral Adventures of the Indefatigable Enviroteens by Andrew Martlew
Allen & Unwin, 2020. ISBN: 9781760526122.
(Age: 10-13) Cover indicates the author as: First Dog on the Moon.
This is a nonsensical adventure that is a cross between a cartoon
spoof adventure and a 'wimpy kid' exploration of climate change. At
no stage is it a serious attempt to address a grave issue, rather it
is sheer nonsense with 'heroes' that variously use baked goods to
inspire their super-powers, are animals with quirks that defy
description and have skills that enable them to create machines with
impossible qualities. One might almost imagine that the author was
having his own environmental meltdown when he wrote this weird and
whacky cartoon story. With language that has been comedically
created, villains that are almost insane, and illustrations that are
naive and silly, there are moments when this book is almost cleverly
absurd and other moments when it is just inane. Young readers may
find some joyous humour amidst the chapters, despite the fact that
Chapter 3 goes missing and must reappear later in the book in a
cameo appearance.
Although there is some vocabulary that will challenge some young
readers, mostly this is just a written cartoon with word play woven
around an important theme. Some of the humour is actually quite
clever and will fly over the heads of a young reader, but older
discerning readers will recognise the ironic amidst the idiocy.
Readers aged 10-13 may find this spoof appealing. Themes: Climate
Change; Comedy.
Carolyn Hull
Bindi by Kirli Saunders
Illus. by Dub Leffler. Magabala Books, 2020. ISBN: 9781925936667.
(Age: 10+) Highly recommended. Seedlings. Cinders. Sprouts. These
are the three sections of this beautifully written heartwarming
story of Bindi, a young girl living on Gundungurra country, learning
from her Elders, enjoying the freedom of life outdoors with her
family, dogs and horses, and then facing a 'canbe', or fire, like
none their community has ever experienced before. From planting the
gum seedlings, to escaping the fire, to rebuilding afterwards,
Bindi's own life goes through a similar cycle. She is tossed from a
horse, and has to nurse a broken arm, just like her totem, the
garrall, or black cockatoo, with a broken wing. She and her bird
friend have to heal, gain strength and then venture out again. Bindi
learns from the Elders about cool burns that regenerate plants, new
sprouts that will grow. She is on the path to becoming a leader,
chosen to give expression to her talents in the design of an art
mural for the school.
The story is written in verse that flows easily, interspersed with
words from the Gundungurra language. It's not hard to work out their
meaning, but there is a glossary to refer to at the end if needed.
Black and white illustrations by Leffler give the impression of
fire-burnt charcoal drawings, with fascinating detail of insects,
feathers and plants, and the soaring of the black cockatoo on the
endpapers.
I love the humour and intimacy of the descriptions of family life
over the curried sausage dinner and rock melon dessert (soft fruit
because of Dad's teeth), potato bake made with French onion soup
mix, and other comforting food. I love how Bindi takes her
paintbrush 'for a walk' on her bedroom wall and her Dad acts
surprised or mad until he actually looks at the outcome. And I
haven't even mentioned the whole exciting world of school hockey.
But within this happy environment there are also small reminders of
more serious issues - Bindi's mother was a 'taken' child.
Saunders' story of Bindi and her loving family, good friends and
strong community is a positive affirmation of caring for others,
learning from Elders and taking care of Country; a junior fiction
novel clearly well deserving of the Daisy Utemorrah Award, and
hopefully the beginning of a series to be published by Magabala.
Themes: Fire, Caring for Country, Leadership, Respect, Aboriginal
culture, Aboriginal language.
Helen Eddy
Harry Potter: Christmas at Hogwarts: a movie scrapbook
Bloomsbury Children's Books, 2020. ISBN: 9781526628244.
(Age: 8+). Highly recommended. Fans of the Harry Potter
phenomena will be thrilled to receive this latest offering to add to
their collection. Christmas at Hogwarts takes the reader on
an intimate and fascinating journey through the Christmas scenes
showcased in the film versions. The book goes into great detail
about the decorating of Hogwarts, the Yule Ball, the Slug Club
Christmas party in addition to other key Christmas events. As well
as offering the avid reader of the series new understandings into
the wizarding world at Hogwarts and further afield, there are
numerous interesting facts about the films that many fans would not
have known - such as the special effects department added witches on
brooms circling the top of the Christmas trees or that the costume
department kept a dedicated knitter on hand for all eight films to
produce Molly Weasley's jumpers and scarves. This collectible
scrapbook contains removable objects to entice the reader to delve
deeper with anticipation into its pages. There are bookmarks,
stickers, posters, sketches, illustrations and pre-drawings. Of
particular interest are the sketches of the costumes worn at the
Yule Ball. Behind the scenes photographs from the movies are
explained carefully and provide a valuable insight into the
complexity of creating the movie version as true to each book as
possible. This movie scrapbook has a beautiful cover with raised
gold writing and will unlock more of the Harry Potter curiosities
and make a wonderful addition to a Harry Potter fan's Christmas
gifts. Themes: Harry Potter, Wizardry, Witchcraft, Christmas, Magic,
Wonder, Film effects.
Kathryn Beilby
Tashi and the stolen forest by Anna and Barbara Fienberg
Australia Reads. Illus. by Kim Gamble. Allen and Unwin, 2020.
ISBN: 9781760878566.
(Age: 5-8) Highly recommended. Tashi has become a classic character
whose stories have been around since 1995 and have won a place in
the hearts of many children around the world. This book was part of
the Australia Reads campaign in November 2020 and can be
read as a stand-alone but regular Tashi readers will recognise all
the characters who bring this story to life; Much-to-Learn,
Wise-as-an-Owl, Lotus Blossom, Uncle Tiki Pu and of course the evil
Baron.
In this story Tashi discovers that the ancient forest is
disappearing quickly, and the villagers are running out of wood to
heat their homes. So, he goes out to find out who is responsible for
their theft and prevent the whole forest from vanishing forever.
This also means that Wise-as-an-Owl is extra busy with medicines and
potions for the sick villagers, so when he also falls ill, his son
Much-to-Learn must try to carry on alone. Much-to-Learn is working
on a new spell to make a fire potion that will keep everyone warm.
But disaster strikes when Much-to-Learn goes missing and Tashi needs
to work fast to find him and free him. There are Pirates involved
and that means extra danger and the need for a very clever plan for
Tashi to succeed against the Baron and his cronies.
The story is as captivating as all the other Tashi books and the
lovely line drawings by Kim Gamble are at just the right spots in
the book to enhance and keep the youngest of readers enthralled with
the story. Themes: Forests, Magic, Storytelling.
Gabrielle Anderson
Instant karma by Marissa Meyer
Macmillan, 2020. ISBN: 9781760983468.
(Age: 12+) Recommended. Prudence Daniels is the eldest in a family
of five children named after Beatles songs. The family own a shop
that sells vinyl records, and music features throughout the story
through references, Karaoke sessions and the title of the book.
Prudence is a perfectionist and the reader meets her as instant
karma begins to bite. Prudence then accidentally received a blow to
the head (moving on to the second line of the Beatles song). As a
result of the blow, Prudence finds she has the ability to deliver
instant karma (positive and negative) - and she uses it. Being a
perfectionist, Prudence judges harshly and a focus for her efforts
is her lab partner, Quint Erikson. She believes Quint is responsible
for her receiving a C grade for their team report. However, all her
efforts to ensure Quint suffers karmic justice backfire.
Prudence (Pru) will stop at nothing in her bid to raise her grade.
Pru volunteers at a local animal rescue centre as part of her deal
with Quint to redo their assignment. Pru discovers that Quint's
mother owns and manages the refuge and that Quint also works at the
refuge. Here we see Pru, at times an unlikeable and flawed
protagonist, learn to challenge her assumptions and trust others
enough to work with them collaboratively.
This easy to read romance provides an insight into the world of
animal refuges. The author relied on information provided by the
Pacific Marine Mammal Center to expand on the operations of the
centre as well as the rescue, rehabilitation and release of seals
and sea lions.
Pru tentatively develops a respect for animals and re-evaluates her
estimation of Quint. Their relationship blossoms amid
misunderstandings, storms and accusations of theft. This is the
perfect book for the person restrained, in working with or trusting
others, by perfectionism.
The print is small and the margins close to the edge of the page.
For some readers this will influence their choice to read this book.
Themes: Relationships (family, friends), Romance, Animal
sanctuaries, Karma.
Linda Guthrie
The boy, the wolf and the stars by Shivaun Plozza
Penguin Random House Australia, 2020. ISBN: 9781760893453.
(Age: 9-12) Highly recommended. Bo is a young boy, abandoned by his
mother at an early age and taken in by an old woodcutter. But to the
nearby villagers Bo is looked upon as cursed because he survived a
night in the dark without being eaten by the ravenous Shadow
creatures that have inhabited the dark since the Wolf ate the stars.
Mads feeds and cares for Bo as long as he does his chores. One day,
when Bo loses the special powder that he must spread around the
oldest tree in the forest, the magical tree begins to die.
Unknowingly Bo has unleashed a giant wolf who comes to find Mads
hoping to get the keys that will release his brother wolf (who ate
the stars). On his deathbed, after fighting the wolf, Mads sets Bo
the task of finding the keys and releasing the stars to save the
world from the bad magic.
An elaborate quest begins and has so many unexpected twists and
turns that it is a difficult book to put down. The story is set in a
complex world and the book includes a helpful map and pages that
explain the history of the land of Ulv. There are marvelous
characters who join Bo on his mission: Bo's best friend Nix, the
little fox who seems to be able to communicate with Bo and keeps him
safe. Tam, a fearsome Korahku, half bird half man and sworn enemies
of the Irin (Bo's people). And Selene, the very imaginative, and
orphan girl who is trying to hide her magic powers.
Bo puts himself down constantly through the story and often voices
the fact that no-one has ever cared for him enough to miss him. But
slowly he comes to realise his anger at Mads, his mother and his
situation needs to change for him to be truly happy and have a
fulfilling life.
The book has a powerful message for children who need a boost to
self-esteem, and it would make a great read-aloud to middle and
upper primary students. Themes: Good and evil, Fear, Locks and Keys,
Magic, Rejection.
Gabrielle Anderson
The book collectors of Daraya by Delphine Minoui, translated by Lara Vergnaud
PanMacmillan, 2020. ISBN: 9781529012323.
(Age: Adult) Highly recommended. How do you even begin to describe
this book? For most people, Syria is a far-off place in the midst of
a war that not many could say what it is about. We just know that
cities are being destroyed and its people are fleeing as refugees.
President Bashar al-Assad has painted the rebels as militant Islamic
terrorists led by Daesh or ISIS. However journalist Delphine Minoui
stumbles on an online photograph of the secret library of Daraya,
the Damascus suburb under siege by Assad's forces. It shows young
men browsing before neatly arranged shelves of books. It is an
underground library of books rescued from the rubble of bombs, each
book with the previous owner's name meticulously recorded on the
first page, in the hope that one day the book will be reunited with
its owner. In the meantime, the library is the haven of the young
rebel fighters, not terrorists, but idealistic young men who want
freedom and democracy for their country. They collect the books and
share them; the titles range from the love poems of Nizar Qabbani to
Shakespeare, to Saint-Exupery's Little Prince, to American
self-help books, to J.M Coetzee and Paulo Coelho. The library
becomes a safe meeting place for ideological discussions and English
language classes.
Outside the library the inhabitants of Daraya faced the ongoing
barrage of barrel bombs, sarin gas attacks and napalm. Minoui tells
us the story through snatched moments on WhatsApp, FaceTime and
Skype, text messages and shared photographs and videos. We get to
know each of the young men who protect the library, their passion
for books, photography, art, and poetry, and their dreams for a
better future for their country.
Daraya falls in the end, the besieged inhabitants beaten by
malnutrition and starvation. But Minoui's book remains a testament
to the courage of the young men who fought back against a cruel
dictator and aspired for a better world.
Themes: Books, Libraries, War, Resistance, Freedom, Syria.
Helen Eddy
Little Jiang by Shirley Marr
Illus. by Katy Jiang. Freemantle Press, 2020 ISBN: 9781925816471.
(Age: 8-10) Recommended. After moving from China to the small town
of Honeywood, in Australia, Mei Ling Pang and her parents are
struggling to fit in. Her father's sight is failing, and her
mother's health also seems to be slowly deteriorating. Desperate to
find a friend and make her parent's restaurant popular in their new
home Mei will try just about anything to help. Then the creepy
mortician from the Morgue next door uses a potion to wake the dead
and a small boy vampire (Little Jiang) arrives at school and starts
to follow Mei around. He has strange clothes, green skin and fangs
and seems to be very hungry all the time. He is not the friend Mei
so desperately wanted but he seems harmless enough.
Mei has always been able to see the spirits of the dead and speak to
them but in her Aunt's opinion she is just cursed. In some ways the
ghosts help her and in this case one is particularly helpful. The
Peony Princess is a very interesting character, part princess, part
giant fox with the ability to change faces and shape according to
her needs. When the townspeople start to turn into drooling
Chi-sucking vampires (Jiangshi) it is up to Mei, her spirit friends
in Ghostland, her parents and the Bagua Master to save the day. A
trip to Ghostland with the Peony Princess, some very quick thinking
and lots of sticky rice balls save the day in the end.
This book is a great mix of rollicking adventure and ancient Chinese
mythology and will appeal to young readers who are already attracted
to stories with zombies and other creepy characters. Mei is a
character that shows them that having the right attitude and
fighting for your beliefs will win over your harshest critics in the
long run. The twelve black and white illustrations add important
detail and enhance the story for the readers. Teacher's
notes are available. Themes: Chinese Folklore, Vampires, Luck.
Gabrielle Anderson
A Guinea Pig Night before Christmas
Guinea Pig classics, photographed by Phillip Beresford, sets
made and designed by Tess Newall. Bloomsbury Publishing, 2020 ISBN:
9781526613561.
(Age: All) Recommended. Guinea pigs photographed in cute costumes
are the feature of this rendering of the classic Christmas story The
night before Christmas. The publishers have not changed the
text of the original poem at all, they have just used the guinea
pigs and a cute little stuffed mouse as the"actors" in this story.
The detail of each costume is amazing, my favourite being the line
of guinea pig reindeers in the centre of the book, priceless.
Many children who saw this book commented that the lead reindeer was
not Rudolf, but the publishers have added 'the ninth reindeer' in a
cute little cameo at the end of the book with an explanation as to
why he doesn't appear in the original poem. There is a brief
paragraph towards the back of the book about pets being abandoned
around the Christmas season reminding us that we can support local
rescue centres with donations in the holiday season. The Guinea Pig
actors are also credited at the end of the book.
This book is one of a growing number of adorable titles in this
series with some of the other titles including The Nutcracker,
A Christmas Carol, A Guinea Pig Nativity,Romeo
and Juliet, Oliver Twist and Pride and Prejudice.
A Facebook page "Guinea Pig classics" is also mentioned by the
publishers on their website. Themes: Christmas, Guinea pigs, Classic
stories.
Gabrielle Anderson
The werewolves who weren't by T.C. Shelley
Bloomsbury Children's Books, 2020. ISBN: 9781526600806.
(Age: 10-12). Recommended for mature readers who have read the first
book. Follow up to 2019's The
monster who wasn't, which is a must-read before picking
up this one. This story continues from the events in the first book
and there are multiple concepts and relationships that are difficult
to make sense of without the earlier background.
Sam looks like a normal boy but has a unique secret. He is half
monster and half fairy, hatched only 4 months ago, with great
strength and heightened senses. He is adopted by a human family and
settles into a human life, including starting at school.
At school he meets three other students who smell nice to him but
initially act very oddly. It turns out they have a secret too, one
that makes them just as strange as Sam is, and so the foursome
quickly form a strong bond.
Then a figure from Sam's past returns and seems to be using fairy
dust to subdue and gather up monsters. Sam's friends vanish and new
threats emerge as Sam races to figure out what's happening and why.
He must weigh up where his loyalties lie and what he is willing to
lose, and this sets the scene for a mighty struggle for survival.
This story is quite complex overall, rather wordy in parts (I found
myself skipping through some of the longer descriptive passages
between action scenes) and full of wonderful detail about various
types of fanciful monsters. A younger reader may find this book
difficult and/or frightening.
For the mature reader though it has lovely themes of belonging,
identity, loyalty and friendship. West Australian author Shelley
includes some humour too showing Sam still getting used to human
life and speech (at one point he says "mistaken toe" where he means
'wrong foot'). The ending is hopeful and very intriguing, obviously
paving the way for book 3 which is due in 2021.
Themes: Monsters - fiction, Gargoyles, Families, Fairies,
Relationships, Dogs, Werewolves, Adventure.
Kylie Grant
