My Cousin, My World

My Cousin, My World by Sharara Attai and Michelle Pereira (Allen & Unwin)  ISBN 9781761180972 RRP $25.00 (HB)

Reviewed by Jude Mullen

In this bright and joyful picture book we meet a young girl who introduces us to her many, many cousins and her wider family circle.

They are our first friends,                                                                                                                                                                our best friends,                                                                                                                                                                               our forever friends

We discover that her cousins come from near and far; that some eat sushi, while others eat kibbeh and knafeh. One cousin speaks German and another can understand Samoan. Special events are celebrated with large gatherings of not only cousins but also aunties, uncles and grandparents. We get snapshots of her forming childhood memories - going camping, playing games, at birthday parties – which she will no doubt look back on with her cousins when they are older.

The illustrations convey lots of movement and activity, adding to the lively, joyful tone of the story. Depicting many of the characters and events mentioned in the text, they add meaning and enrich the narrative and bring it to life.

Told in simple yet poetic language, in a voice oozing with warmth, young readers will feel the love, joy and security of being part of an extended family as this story is read to them.

Suitable for children aged 3 – 7 years.

Cat on the Run- Episode 3: Hidden Layers

Cat on the Run- Episode 3: Hidden Layers by Aaron Blabey. Scholastic 2025. Paperback JF graphic novel 189 pages. RRP $16.99. ISBN 9781761294549.

Reviewed by Debra Williams

‘From the New York Times bestselling author of The Bad Guys comes another hilarious illustrated series starring a pampered cat who is way tougher than anyone realizes.’ (Amazon)

Brains washed! Internet wiped! Villains unmasked! Who knew being the World’s #1 Cat Video Star could be so dangerous? This is it! Princess Beautiful has had enough! It’s time to clean out the litter tray. It’s time for CAT ON THE RUN- EPISODE THREE!

This is the promotional paragraph on the Scholastic website. Those familiar with the first two books will no doubt pick up on this latest storyline, where the President of the World-Thaddeus Cash (a large cat who, strangely, has a hairstyle and clothing the same as a current world leader), is trying to brainwash the world at large into believing in him. Princess Beautiful is out to stop him. Thaddeus tries to force Princess into an engagement with his son, Catrick. But she has other ideas, especially after Thaddeus wipes video interviews from the internet. Princess foils his plans and ends up as Madam President.

This graphic novel has a lot of cartoon-style action illustrations with minimal dialogue. It is aimed at the 7-10-years of age readership.

The Lost Notes of the Soul Spinners

The Lost Notes of the Soul Spinners by Reece Carter. Allen & Unwin 2025. Paperback MG novel, 337 pages. RRP $18.99. ISBN 9781761066801.

Reviewed by Debra Williams

From the author of A Girl Called Corpse and The Lonely Lighthouse of Elston-Fright comes the third and final book involving ghosts, Girl and Corpse, their human friends Flip and Nan Little, a giant Huntsman spider called Simon, and an assortment of ghoulish and otherworldly and magical friends and foes.

When a ghost-eating wraith appears in the forgotten seaside town of Elston-Fright searching for the magical lost Notes of the Soul Spinners, it’s enough to make any kid ghost a bit nervous. Faye de Corail may have the townsfolk under her spell, but Girl, Corpse and their friends are determined to stay out of her way. After old foes resurface and a child is snatched, Girl and Corpse begin to piece together a sinister plan that not only threatens the lives of their friends, families and the people of Elston-Fright, it may send them all to Death Proper too. 

The two ghosts must track down the notes to prevent Faye from being granted an evil wish. With a tightly woven and involved plot, the reader is taken on a journey that has much mystery in the background, especially regarding Corpse and Girl’s real-life identities before becoming ghosts. There is a surprise twist as the notes are revealed as something quite different to paper notes, which was what everybody thought they were looking for.

This novel is aimed at confident readers aged 8-12 years.

Ocean Forged: The Wicked Ship

Ocean Forged: The Wicked Ship by Amelia Mellor (Affirm Press) PB RRP $16.99 ISBN 9781922992390

This is the first book in a new series for lower middle-grade readers. The epic saga is packed with action, adventure, and ancient legends that will take them on a heroic high–sea and high-stakes adventure!

The realm of Aquinta has fallen into a dark age. And no one knows better than 13-year-old Cori, fighting for her life in a pirate crew more beastly than Aquinta’s sea monsters. But Cori’s life changes when she finds the Oceanforged Gauntlet, a piece of armour belonging to the legendary Champions who once ruled the islands. Whoever wears the armour wields the Champion’s magic and has the power to return Aquinta to its lost glory. Cori must begin a treacherous journey to find the rest of the armour. But first, she’ll have to escape from her captain, who craves the gauntlet’s magic for himself.

Resist: A Story of D-Day

Resist: A Story of D-Day by Alan Gratz (Scholastic) RRP: $12.99 ISBN 9781761649172

Reviewed by Rebecca Fung

Alan Gratz has written many stories for younger readers with war as a theme, including the novel Allies. Resist: A Story of D-Day is a short, bonus book that expands on the character Samira Zidane, who was introduced in Allies; however, the book can also be enjoyed as a standalone adventure.

Samira lives in Nazi-occupied France in World War II. She and her mother are spies. When Samira's mother goes missing, Samira tries to rescue her with a dog, Cyrano, as her companion. During her rescue attempt, she discovers an interesting secret about the Allies' strategies in the war.

This short book plunges us immediately into the action. The pace doesn't let up; there's no wasting words or diversion into unnecessary subplots. Gratz keeps the language and story on point, which suits this thrilling adventure.

I don't know how historically accurate the description of strategies and behaviours by both the Allies and Nazis are, but they make for a compelling read. A younger audience would undoubtedly be fascinated by details such as the scenes involving the paratroopers in the war. Samira's role as a spy makes her a character who takes initiative. She demonstrates strength, self-sufficiency, and quick thinking, and she is a fantastic character for a children's story. As she searches for her mother, children will relate to her feeling of anxiety and admire her courage and resourcefulness.

The story is careful not to be too explicitly violent and to ensure the "good guys" are portrayed as having a strong ethical framework without being overly preachy.

With a brief book of this kind, Gratz cannot provide much information about World War II generally. Some knowledge is taken for granted. However, the snapshot it gives of a girl acting bravely in the war would appeal to many children.

Moreover, the doggy companion, Cyrano, assisting along the way, adds to the story's charm.

This is a quick historical adventure that won't bore readers.

On the Edge of Everything

 

On the Edge of Everything by Miranda Luby (Text Publishing) PB ISBN: 9781923059306

Reviewed by Robyn Gillies

Lucy is still grief-stricken from the tragic loss of her older brother, whom she adored and who ‘got’ her. It’s now eleven months after her brother’s death, and her parents are trying desperately to get her out of her room and back to living an everyday life. But Lucy isn’t like them, pretending everything is OK when it’s not.

The story starts with an endangered bird that flies into her bedroom window one evening. Lucy sees it as a sign. When it survives the night, she takes it to a local wildlife sanctuary the following day, where she meets Ben, one of the workers. The sanctuary is looking for summer staff, and Lucy decides to apply. For the first time since her brother’s death, she sees the slightest glimmer of a possible meaningful summer, which is then whisked away when she takes a risk that backfires in more ways than one.

Lucy’s grief is tangible and perceptively portrayed. The most seemingly banal events trigger deep dives into intense sorrow, but how can others understand her when she doesn’t understand herself? However, this is also a story about growing up, friendship, new experiences, and competing and conflicting emotions—how can you feel so happy when you feel so sad? The impacts of urban development on the delicate balance of nature are also woven seamlessly throughout.

The reader is drawn into Lucy’s world, darting seamlessly into and out of her internal and external domains. We travel with her on a rollercoaster of emotions as she tries to make sense of her life, of her very existence, and as she learns how random acts can have long-term consequences. But her journey ultimately takes her to a place of possibility.

Lucy’s character is complex and sensitive, and the story is multi-layered and well-paced. The simple but beautiful language creates authentic individuals in a believable, sensory time and place.

This deep, thoughtful, reflective story gives considered and compassionate insight into how a teenager may experience loss. It is a sincere story that anyone who has lost a young person should read.

 

 

My Mum is a Magician

My Mum is a Magician by Damon Young, illustrated by Peter Carnavas  (University of Queensland Press, 2018) HB RRP $24.95 ISBN 978 0 7022 5994 4

Reviewed by Sylvia Forbes

Some mums gulp green tea, with bitter barley blends.

But my mum is a magician ... her cup of coffee never ends.

This is a spellbinding picture book celebrating Mums everywhere. In My Mum is a Magician, you'll meet all kinds of Mums - each of them as wonderfully diverse as the next!  Pilot mums, superhero mums, chorus line mums and sword swinging mums. But nothing (it seems) tops magician mums!

Damon Young has created a highly entertaining, energetic and frivolous text using rhyme and alliteration. The rhythmic pacing is engaging and makes it a pleasure to read out loud.

Peter Carnavas's excellent illustrations cleverly add another layer of wit and vibrancy to the text. (Like the kid being sprung by magician mum with his hand in the cookie jar ... and the chorus line mum with a prosthetic leg!) While the various animals on every page are adorable, they add tiny narratives.

Some mums light lamps that hang low on weeping willows.

Some mums stick stars that sparkle over soft pillows.

After all the boisterousness and excitement of My Mum is a Magician, I love how the mood shifts and everything quietens down over its four final page turns. Here, the text and illustrations work seamlessly to create a soothing dreamscape where mums and their children are seen tucked closely together and the light becomes softly subdued in gentle sunset tones ... then, as the book comes to a restful close, the magician mum has the final say.

'Every day' mums may not be represented in this book (the lunch makers, the missing sock finders, and the mess cleaners). But when you think about it, alongside all the tireless, often thankless little things they do for us, they are our superheroes who will stop at nothing to nurture, protect and keep us safe. Even swing swords if necessary! They are extraordinary, and they show up for us every single day, regardless of how they might be feeling. So all mums are magicians in my eyes!

This award-winning author/illustrator duo has delightfully created My Mum is a Magician, a timeless celebration of mums and caregivers everywhere. The book is a joy to read and suitable for preschoolers.