Here is a sneak peek at the dozen or so books on my August 'to read' pile - or part of it anyway. I will be adding picture books and an occasional non fiction title over the month too.
Books I purchased from Beachside Bookshop:
The collected works of Gretchen Oyster by Cary Fagan
Why did I select this book? The cover - YES it looks SO good and I have previously read another book by Cary Fagan and it is a slim book (173 pages) with colour (yes colour!) illustrations. And finally the title is so intriguing. The cover art is by Felicita Sala.
Blurb: Who is Gretchen Oyster? The discovery of a series of mysterious handmade postcards distracts Hartley from trouble at home. A poignant novel for fans of Rebecca Stead and Holly Goldberg Sloan. Hartley Staples, near-graduate of middle school, is grappling with the fact that his older brother has run away from home, when he finds a handmade postcard that fascinates him. And soon he spots another. Despite his losing interest in pretty much everything since Jackson ran away, Hartley finds himself searching for cards in his small town at every opportunity, ignoring other responsibilities, namely choosing a topic for his final project. Who is G.O. and why are they scattering cards about the town?
The Midnighters by Hana Tooke
Why did I select this book? I adored a previous book by Hana Tooke - The Unadoptables, I am not often swayed by endorsements but The Midnighters is endorsed by the wonderful Katherine Rundell and it has a Kirkus star review.
Blurb: Ema Vasková has always felt different. In a family of famous scientists, there's not much room for superstition or omens - but they seem to follow Ema wherever she goes. It doesn't help that she appears to predict events before they happen, and has a peculiar fear of shadows . . . When Ema is sent to stay with her eccentric uncle in Prague, she fears she'll lose the chance to ever fit in. But then she meets Silvie - a girl who finally sees Ema for the extraordinary person that she is. Soon the girls are meeting for secret midnight adventures, and facing Ema's fears together. But then disaster strikes. Silvie goes missing - and it's up to Ema to find her. Now she must gather the courage to hunt the city, find her friend, and uncover the secrets of the one clue Silvie left as to where she might be - inside the mysterious Midnight Guild . . .
No words by Maryam Master
Why did I select this book? I enjoyed the previous book by Maryam Master - Exit through the Gift Shop. I like the cover and this is a refugee story. I am collecting refugee stories for a planned IBBY Australia presentation. Here is an interview with Maryam Master by Joy Lawn at Paperbark Words.
Blurb: Hero doesn't feel like a hero, but sometimes she feels as if the universe is asking her to be one. When Aria, a mysterious boy who never EVER speaks, starts at school and is picked on by His Royal Thug-ness Doofus (Rufus), Hero and her bestie Jaz feel compelled to help. But they're far too chicken to actually do anything heroic, so they befriend Aria and try to uncover the truth about him. What happened to his voice? Where did he come from? What are those three dents on his middle finger? This is the story of a 12-year-old refugee who's trying to establish a new life in Australia, grapple with his past and, most importantly, find his voice. 'Cos, boy, does he have a story to tell.
Other books I purchased today:
Maria's Island by Victoria Hislop
Why did I select this book? When I was talking about The Island at the End of Everything by Kiran Millwood Hargrave I saw Maria's Island listed as a companion text. I'm also happy to read a shorter book (125 pages) with colour illustrations.
Blurb: The absorbing story of the Cretan village of Plaka and the tiny, deserted island of Spinalonga – Greece’s former leper colony – is told to us by Maria Petrakis, one of the children in the original version of The Island. She tells us of the ancient and misunderstood disease of leprosy, exploring the themes of stigma, shame and the treatment of those who are different, which are as relevant for children as adults. Gill Smith’s rich, full-colour illustrations will transport the reader to the timeless and beautiful Greek landscape and Mediterranean seascape.
My Own Lightning by Lauren Wolk
Why did I select this book? Lauren Wolk is the author of Wolf Hollow; Beyond the Bight Sea and Echo Mountain and each of these books had a profound effect on me.
Blurb: It’s been several months since the tragic events set in motion by bully Betty Glengarry, and the routine of daily life in Wolf Hollow has slowly returned. But for Annabelle McBride it’s hard to move forward and make peace with what feels like threadbare justice. Newly warm summer days are about to bring a jolt of change on the winds of a powerful storm. In its wake, the search for her brother’s missing dog will set Annabelle on a new path that brings her to unfamiliar doorsteps and reunites her with a too-familiar adversary—Andy Woodberry, who was complicit in Betty’s most terrible acts. Growing up and blazing her own trail will soon force Annabelle to reexamine deeply felt truths—about people, about justice, about herself—that had once seemed so uncomplicated.
Shelter by Christie Matheson
Why did I select this book? It is a hardcover book for less than $20 and the shop was offering a 20% discount! It has a dust jacket and under the dust jacket there is an embossed image - I love it when publishers take the time and care to add special design features like this. This book is fairly new published in 2021 and it is an example of realistic fiction about the important topic of homelessness. The publisher blub mentions two books I previously enjoyed One for the Murphys by Lynda Mullay Hunt and Paper Things by Jennifer Richard Jacobson.
Blurb: Fifth grade can be tough for anyone. There are cliques and mean kids and homework and surprise math tests. But after tragedy strikes her family, almost-eleven-year-old Maya has a painful secret that makes many days feel nearly impossible. And today might be Maya’s toughest yet. Her family is on edge, she needs to travel alone across the city, a bully is out to get her, and Maya has to face this winter’s biggest rainstorm without a coat or an umbrella. But even on the rainiest days, there’s hope that the sun will come out soon.
Advance reader copies (huge thanks to Beachside Bookshop)
How to be the new person by Anna Branford published by Walker Books due October, 2022
Anna Branford is the author of the Violet Mackerel series.
A girl called Corpse by Reece Carter published by Allen and Unwin due October, 2022
Reece Carter originally comes from Western Australia. This is a long book with 327 pages. In the UK this book will have a different title (sigh) The Girl, the Ghost and the Lost Name. Here are the two covers.
Mia and the Lightcasters by Janelle McCurdy published by Faber due August, 2022
You can see the cover here (sorry I doesn't really appeal to me but again I am not the intended demographic).
Runt by Craig Silvey illustrated by Sara Acton published by Allen and Unwin due October, 2022
Craig Silvey is the author of adult books including Jasper Jones.
Tilda by Sue Whiting published by Walker Books due September, 2022
I have previously talked about other books by Sue Whiting - Beware the Deep Dark Forest; The Book of Chance; Pearly and Pig and the Great Hairy Beast and A strange Little Monster. Many years ago I read her book Battle of the Rats some of the plot still lingers with me.
Honour among Ghosts by Sean Williams published by Allen and Unwin due September, 2022
I previously read and gave five stars to Her Perilous Mansion by Sean Williams. Sean lives in South Australia.
How did I go last month? Here is the post where I list the titles on my June and July 2022 reading pile.
The Book of Wondrous Possibilities by Deborah Abela FIVE STARS
Miss Penny Dreadful and the midnight kittens by Allison Rushby
The Wintrish Girl by Melanie LaBrooy Blog post coming soon
Ember Shadows and the fates of Mount Never by Rebecca King
The Great Fox Illusion by Justyn Edwards
The Deadly Daylight by Ash Harrier
The Runaways of Haddington Hall by Vivian French
Cress Watercress by Gregory Maguire
All four quarters of the Moon by Shirley Marr Blog post coming soon
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