A river I must be by Kate Foster

I want to walk away.

I want to scream and shout.

I want to cry and hide.

I want to make it all go away.

But I don't.

I must get away.

I must release what's inside.

I must be strong.

I must ...

But I won't.

I can't speak.

I can't hear.

I can't feel.

In this story we are privileged to hear the inner most thoughts of Bec. At times, though, her journey feels almost way too hard 'hear'. Is there no one who understands why she feels things so acutely. Why her uniform reacts so badly against her skin? Why she finds the school rules so confusing? Why she feels the need to wear a mask and copy the facial reactions of others? And worst of all - Why her teacher seems to hate her? 

Monday means school.

School means masking.

Masking means hiding.

Hiding is exhausting.

Thank goodness Bec does have one glorious outlet - she loves sport and more especially she loves and excels at gymnastics. Even better at gymnastics Bec is able to almost let her guard down as she spends precious time with her one true friend Clover. Sadly though, Clover attends a different school which means she cannot support Bec in the hostile school environment.

Bookseller burb: Rebecca Tapia has started at a prestigious new school and is overwhelmed by the rules and expectations. With her mum away and her dad facing challenges of his own, Rebecca's only way of surviving is to mask her autism.

My uniform suffocates me.

I fasten the top button,

yank at the cardboard collar,

adjust the cardboard sleeves,

retie the striped tie,

tightly

for good measure.

Strips of cloth

around necks.

Why?

I picked up this book in one of our large city chain bookstores and read the whole book in one sitting. Yes, it does have 260 pages, but the verse novel format and compelling story mean you will just fly through this heart wrenching story even though at times I did have to stop and take a breath.

I'm no one.

And no one listens

to fussy

little

girls

like me.

If you work in a High School library go out now and grab this book - this is an essential purchase. I also expect to see this book listed as a 2027 CBCA Notable title. Kate Foster has completely embraced the verse novel form for this book - it is hard to believe this is her first foray into this style of writing. 

Is anyone else always

aware of their heart 

beating?

Can anyone else always

feel their clothes and skin

touching?

Does anyone else always

have to concentrate on

breathing?

Does anyone else always

have a mind constantly

wandering?

Can anyone else always

sense the presence of others

living?

Is anyone else always

fit to burst form so much

thinking?

The teacher in this book - Mrs Rivers - is despicable and this might seem strange, but I am glad Kate Foster resisted the idea of her redemption. I can only hope (spoiler alert) that the school Principal now has enough information to remove this dreadful person from the school and even from the profession of teaching!

Click on this review from The Book Muse for a detailed plot summary: (The verse novel is) a gorgeous way of telling this story, and vastly different to Kate’s previous work. All of her books feature autistic characters, and each character’s autism is different. Yet telling this story in verse form felt very suitable, because it gave Rebecca’s story the voice and gravitas it needs to have the great impact it had on me and that I hope it has on younger readers who might be able to see themselves in Rebecca or understand what being autistic might be like for their friends. It’s powerful in its quiet way, yet also a loud advocate for autistic people and what they go through each day.

You may know I am not a fan of endorsements and there are so many on the first six pages of A river I must be, but I did find myself agreeing with so many of the comments by well-known Australian writers. Here are a few quotes:

"Tender, honest, heart-wrenching ..." Sarah Armstrong

"a pummeling rapid of sadness and joy, anger and celebration, churning and thundering ... it will leave you breathless." Sophie Beer

"Kate Foster's words are a lyrical advocacy for inclusivity, and Bec's story will offer hope and understanding to many young readers." Karen Comer

"We are in desperate need of voices like this that uplift and make visible, the lived experience of disability while highlighting what discrimination and allyship looks like." Shirley Marr

Here are the teachers notes from Scholastic.

Age recommendations: Here we go again - please, please publishers don't suggest young readers for books that are clearly intended for a Young Adult audience - ages 12+. The publisher says 10+ but I suggest this is a book for a High School library not Primary. I am SO pleased to see this book on the High School list of the Scholastic Standing order. 

Like a river,

I must keep flowing,

finding a way through

if I want to survive.

I will adapt

no matter the pain this causes me.

I will paint on a mask

and hide my struggles.

But can I be strong

like a river?

I previously talked about these books by Kate Foster:

The Unlikely Heroes Club

Small Acts

The Fire, the Water, and Maudie McGinn by Sally J. Pla

I thought my summer would be safe. 

That I’d left all my troubles behind in Texas. 

But maybe troubles trail along with me like sparks along a fuse. 

Maybe I’m the trouble. 

Bad luck all the way around. 

What if there is no safe place for me to be?

Maudie spends term time with her mum and dangerous step father and holidays with her dad in a different part of the US. Her time with her dad is joyous and calm but just as she arrives a wildfire breaks out, her dad's cabin is burnt to the ground and so Maudie and her dad are forced to move to a caravan part at the beach in California. The park is in the area where her dad grew up. Dad finds it hard to get work which means money and food are scarce but Maudie discovers she can surf. At the end of summer this town hosts a famous surfing competition and one category is beginner. The prize money would certainly help Maudie's dad - so now she has a goal - to win!

Maudie has a very dysfunctional mother (and as a said a dangerous and abusive step father). Her mother is all about fame and appearances. She tolerates her but it is so clear that she wishes Maudie could change into the perfect daughter she imagined. Her mother fancies herself as a star of social media. 

I remember once Mom told her viewers, “Imagine if your only child refuses to give you so much as a hug,” which was a lie. Mrs. Jills, my therapist, trained me up to hug. So I’ll do it. But Mom told the camera: “Having a child like Maudie? I confess, while I love her dearly, sometimes it feels like God is testing me.” Well, I sort of think maybe God is testing me, too. The year I was ten, Mom put lots of blush on my pale cheeks so I would look healthier and made me come on her show with her. She said to the camera, “Maudie’s growing up so much! We hardly ever have to deal with her meltdowns or tantrums anymore. She’s so much more under control!” Then she grabbed my hand and swung it up, as if we’d won a race. Which was weird.

Obeying Mom was my job. Obeying Mom. Obeying Mrs. Jills. And now, I guess, obeying Ron.

A perceptive, poignant tale of self-discovery. Kirkus

I like the use of the word perceptive in the Kirkus review final sentence. Maudie does have autism but she is also deeply self-aware and this helps the reader gain a deeper insight into her reactions to other people and to the changes in her life. One thing you will quickly notice is that the autism makes Maudie hyper aware of smells and sounds. 

The Australian distributor has the first five chapters of The Fire, the Water and Maudie McGinn on their webpage. One of the great features of this book for readers is that while there are 72 chapters each chapter is only a page or two. This book is also a hybrid with verse novel sections interspersed between the narrative pages.

Here are a few text quotes:

I hate it when Mom calls Dad a lump of clay. If that’s what he is, then Mom’s a beautiful shard of glass: so pretty, you forget about her sharp, jagged edges. I’d rather be clay, like Dad. If you’re clay, you can mold and adapt to the new. And that’s what I always do. Mold myself into this or that kind of kid. Adapt. For teachers, for Mom, for Mrs. Jills, for Ron, for the other kids at school . . . I try hard to be the right kind of Maudie for each situation, for each thing. I’ve always felt sort of ashamed of this, but maybe it’s also a skill. To remold, instead of shatter. So yeah, there may be different versions of me for different times and different people, but they’re all made from the same clay of me.

I remember Ron swearing and swooping me off the step. Don’t remember much of anything else. Just a sort of tornado of rage. His hands grabbing my arms. His blood-red face. And I remember feeling like I deserved it all. That I was a dirty, broken kid. Not a nice, capable, normal kid. That’s why my mom had to hide herself, close herself off from me. She was ashamed of me. She had given up on me. That’s why we needed Ron, I guess. Because I was too much trouble for Mom to handle alone. I was too big a disappointment.

About why Dad and I understand each other so well and have a special bond. He hyperfocuses on woodworking, I hyperfocus on reading or writing or surfing. Dad gets overwhelmed sometimes, and so do I. He has a scatter-brain about some things, and a hyperorderly brain about other things. So do I. And we both are deeply uncomfortable around new people and new situations. . . . My insides are all squiggly with strange new feelings. I’m a little irritated, to tell the truth. I wish Dad had talked more to me about this before now. It would have helped me to feel less alone.

If I still worked in my former school library I would be very keen to share this book with Grade Six students because that school was located beside the beach and many of the students were keen surfers. In The Fire, the water and Maudie McGinn, Maudie learns to surf, displays some talent, and she is mentored by a surfing champion. Every surfing scene felt so authentic.

Before I know it, I’ve paddled out past the break, my arms pumping like machines. It’s choppy out here, but I turn and watch the horizon, watch the sets, and I find my waves. I pounce on everything I can possibly ride. I feel supercharged, like I’m in some kind of high-energy trance. I fall a few times, but I definitely get in a few good runs, too.

Awards:

• American Library Association Schneider Family Book Award
• Children’s Literature Council of SoCal Juvenile Fiction Award
• Publishers Weekly Starred Review
• NY Public Library Best Book
• Bank Street Best Book (starred for outstanding merit)
• Cybils Awards Finalist
• Oklahoma Sequoyah Award Finalist
• Alabama Yellowhammer Award – Honor Book
• 2024 Dog-Eared Book Award Winner
• “Reading MG” Top 15 Books of the Year
• Imagination Soup Best Books of the Year
• Mr. Colby Sharp’s Best Books of the Year

Bookseller blurb: Maudie always looks forward to the summers she spends in California with her dad. But this year, she must keep a troubling secret about her home life—one that her mom warned her never to tell. Maudie wants to confide in her dad about her stepdad's anger, but she’s scared. When a wildfire strikes, Maudie and her dad are forced to evacuate to the beach town where he grew up. It’s another turbulent wave of change. But now, every morning, from their camper, Maudie can see surfers bobbing in the water. She desperately wants to learn, but could she ever be brave enough? As Maudie navigates unfamiliar waters, she makes friends—and her autism no longer feels like the big deal her mom makes it out to be. But her secret is still threatening to sink her. Will Maudie find the strength to reveal the awful truth—and maybe even find some way to stay with Dad—before summer is over?

Read this detailed review from Ms Yingling. And here is an audio interview with the author.

Here is a quote from the interview:

I wanted it to be a book of hope and overcoming and realizing how important it is to speak out. And I guess maybe that’s partly from my own. I got diagnosed on the autism spectrum as an adult, and it took me a while to be able to speak out about it myself. And once I was able to talk about all the failures and the struggles of my past and what brought me to this point and all that stuff, it’s just so healthy to be able to talk about that, just to be open.

Given the physical and verbal abuse Ron has apparently dished out regularly, being trashed by waves is kid’s play for Maudie. It sure feels like Maudie has found her passion, and it is easy to imagine her and Dad together full-time, living in this great coastside town. Could that ever really happen? You can’t help wondering and hoping for a big break for Maudie and Dad (and a few broken bones for Ron). A Book and a hug

I picked up The Fire, the Water and Maudie McGinn because I previously really enjoyed this book by Sally J Pla:

The Someday Birds

Tree Table Book by Lois Lowry

"I'm going to tell you three words. I'm choosing them at random. Listen carefully. This will be important.

House.

Umbrella.

Apple.

Remember those. I'll explain later."

Sophia (known as Sophie) is aged eleven and her best friend is Sophie Gershowitz. Sophie is eighty-eight years old and she lives next door to Sophia. Sophia wants to tell us the story of Sophie. Sophia once received some advice about writing: "Begin on the day that is different."

Ralph is a kid in her neighborhood. Ralph's dad is a pediatrician and so he owns a copy of The Merck Manual which is a reference book for doctors. And there is Oliver who is seven and on the autism spectrum. So, Sophia has three friends - Sophie her Friend of the Heart; Ralphie her same age friend; and Oliver.

Sophia loves check the Merck. Sophia needs the Merck because she has overheard a conversation about her best friend Sophie's health. Sophia is also a medical hypochondriac and her medical dilemmas are sure to make you laugh.

"There is something about a book; the feel of it, the weight of it in your hands, the way the pages turn (pages in the Merck are very thin and extremely serious-seeming, the cover is leather, and there are built-in index tabs."

Aaron, Sophie's son, is coming from Akron. Sophia's parents tell her Sophie will take a test to check her memory or we would say cognition. This gives Sophia  a brilliant idea. She can help Sophie pass this test - all it will take is some training. Sophia is sure Sophie has good eyesight and good hearing but sometimes she seems to miss smells and often Sophie finds very stinky things in her fridge. She also sometimes forgets to turn off her kettle. 

If you have an elderly parent or grandparent you might be familiar with the tests for dementia - one of the questions involves remembering three objects - hence the title of this book - the short-term memory test. Over several days, as Sophia asks the test questions, we gain an insight into Sophie and her life in Poland, her husband, and the holocaust. Sophia uses the three-word test as a way for Sophie to recall her childhood and Sophie tells three stories - the tree with the berries picked too soon by the children; the table at the baker shop that Sophie was not allowed to visit; and the book of fairy tales that her mother returned to the rich owner - the house where Sophie was hidden over the war years.

Lowry is famous for dealing with difficult subjects in her work, which has occasionally been banned, and as young Sophie encourages older Sophie to delve into her long-term memories, it becomes clear that this is also a novel about surviving the Holocaust. Three brilliantly told stories from Sophie’s Polish childhood form the climax of the novel, contrasting very effectively with young Sophie’s charming, insouciant 21st-century kid voice (captured to perfection by the 87-year-old Lowry). The Historical novel society

When the test prep unlocks memories of Sophie G.’s childhood in Poland during World War II, Lowry conveys with sensitivity and realism Sophie W.’s sorrow upon realizing that things she’s only learned about in school have had a painful, lifelong impact on her beloved friend. Book Page

Read more plot details here.

Readers aged 10+ who enjoy personal stories and stories about kindness are sure to enjoy Tree Table Book. Sophia has such a determined attitude and voice. You should also look for these in your local or school library:

Girl 38 Finding a Friend

I'll keep you close

Small Acts by Kate Gordon and Kate Foster

What if

we are all

searching for meaning

in all the wrong places.

What if we are

looking

in

mirrors,

websites

and catalogues

when meaning is not a thing that can be seen,

or clicked on 

or bought.

What if it is only something that can be given,

pushed out

into the world.

What if our own,

individual

meaning

does not exist,

but can only be shared,

like air,

like breath.

What if the only true meaning

is kindness?

In Small Acts we meet two kids - Josh and Ollie (Olivia). Both have issues and both find school and life itself can be difficult to cope with. Luckily in their Grade Five class they have the most wonderful teacher Mr Parham. As an aside if I could meet Mr Parham I would like to give him a huge hug and thank him for his kindness towards Josh and Ollie. He does not make a fuss about their autism - he just sets things in place which help both of them cope with their school day and he is always ready to listen. Oh, and unlike Josh, I think if I met him, I might make a comment about liking his red things - marker, socks, tie etc. 

Josh and Ollie do have things in common such as their autism and the fact that both of them have lost their very best friend - a truly devastating life change. But I love the way this book shows or tries to show that autism affects kids in very different ways and also the ways these two kids set up their own coping strategies are very different. And another interesting addition to this story is the character of Auntie Olive who is an autistic adult. Ollie's mum is her sister and when Aunty Olive was young she was lost in the bush for several days. This explains why Ollie's mum is so very protective her daughter Ollie. 

Both kids, independently of each other, decide the best way to get on in the world is to be kind. Josh is desperate to join one of the many clubs at school but none of them seem like a good fit. He decides to start a club of his own based around kindness. Meanwhile Ollie loves art. She sees a boy in the park who looks lost and alone. Her heart reaches out to him but she is so shy there is no way she could easily talk to this stranger so instead she makes a small sculpture and leaves it on the park bench for him to find. 

Here are some text quotes from Small Acts which is a narrative with a few sections in the form of a verse novel:

"Ollie was autistic like him and had been at Emu River as long as Josh, but he'd never really paid her much attention."

"It's okay. I was running with my eyes closed.' The boy smiled. It was like sunshine."

"Why was it so hard to make Ollie smile? Maybe he was only making Ollie smile on the inside. But how would he every know? He needed an outside smile."

"Ollie was more like Josh than he realised. Actually, Ollie was better at doing kind things than he was! Wow. Kindness was ... was contagious. That was a great word. Maybe doing kind acts wasn't only about making people smile; it was also to encourage other people to do kind things as well."

"I don't want to be one of your small acts ... I want to do Small Acts of Kindness, myself."

"... on that day Millie had broken her heart (and) Ollie had decided that she didn't deserve kindness. She didn't deserve friends. She didn't deserve people to like her. And so she would do everything she oculd to make sure nobody showed her kindness again."

If you are reading this book and you have not heard about the television series Bluey you will need to hunt out the episode called Sticky Gecko (referred to on page 133). Ollie also talks about her favourite book about a witch - The Worst Witch by Jill Murphy.

Small Acts will at times, break your heart, but under the skillful care of Kate Gordon and Kate Foster it will be made whole again by the end of the book not in a fairy tale way but in a very emotionally satisfying way. I highly recommend Small Acts for readers aged 10+. If this book was published in the UK I am certain it would be included on the Empathy Lab book list. If you read this book with a class your students could write their own lists of kind acts - and it would be even more powerful if they each did a small act of kindness anonymously. It seems obvious but an important part of reading a book about children autism (or any other 'disability') is that the story allows a child reader to enter the world of another child with a different set of life experiences or it shows a child who feels a like Josh or Ollie that they are not alone. If child is struggling with a 'label' like autism I'm not saying this book will make the experience any easier but perhaps it will help to both see the different ways Josh and Ollie experience peer relationships, the way they work hard to understand themselves, each other and others and also the way they bring others together through kindness.

The two Kates have collaborated to create an inspiring and optimistic, yet simple story, explaining how to learn what acts of kindness are; their value to those who receive, and equally, if not more, to those who offer them. Kids' Book Review

The book tackles significant real-world issues such as mental health, disability, and the impact of acts of kindness. By addressing these topics with sensitivity, the book offers readers a thought-provoking exploration of how individual actions can influence and improve the lives of others. It’s a compelling read that encourages empathy and understanding. Better Reading

Small Acts is a CBCA 2025 Younger Readers Notable title. I would not be surprised to see it make the shortlist of six.

Companion books:

The Unlikely Heroes Club (notice this is also by Kate Foster)

The Kindness Project

If you want to read another book about an inspirational teacher try to find this one:

Zoe, Max and the Bicycle Bus

Bernie Thinks in Boxes by Jess Horn illustrated by Zoe Bennett

Bernie keeps a sense of control over her life by putting the things in her world into boxes in her mind. She has a school box filled with the classmates, the teacher and school routines and equipment. She has Nanna box filled with the enjoyment of shared times at Nanna's house, nighttime stories and the love of Nanna's dog. She even has boxes for meals - certain things belong in each meal box - breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Inevitably there comes a day when her boxes are disrupted. Bernie sees her teacher at the grocery store. 

"Bernie did not talk to Miss Williams that day."

Mum gives her eggs for dinner.

"Bernie had gone to bed hungry that night."

Then comes the biggest problem of all. Toby from school is having his birthday party at the park. 

"But the park was where Bernie played with Molly. Molly was in Bernie's Park Box. Her school friends were not. And nor were parties."

The whole situation is way too overwhelming for Bernie and she just runs away from the party. How can she make this up to her friend Toby? Is there a way to do something at school that is "just a little bit outside the box"?

At times I think I am a little like Bernie. I do like order and I do look for patterns and I do tend to group things into categories or compartments. I am also sometimes puzzled when friends do this to me - putting their own friends into groups. While I hear about these other people I am never 'allowed' to meet them - sorry I am not expressing this very well. I guess in some ways even as an adult I related to young Bernie. Is she shy or 'on the spectrum' or perhaps autistic? I don't think that matters. This is a book many younger children will relate to and for others it might give them a glimpse into the life of a classmate who reacts differently. 

I am really glad we have this book to share with groups of young children and also side by side with a young reader. I do hope it is a CBCA Early Childhood notable and perhaps even makes the shortlist. Jess Horn talks about her book with Paperbark Words. This is a debut picture book for Jess Horn. She also talks about her book here with JustKidLit. 

I previously talked about Ruby's Repair Cafe illustrated by Zoe Bennett. 

Bernie Thinks in Boxes is a beautifully told story and a valuable conversation starter that encourages and empowers children to embrace their individuality. In a picture book market where the topic of diversity is being widely recognised, Bernie Thinks in Boxes is a standout. Story Links

These companion books that show it is okay to sort things into categories but of course Bernie thinks in boxes also shows that being flexible and thinking about things in a different way does not have to be too scary. We all have to cope with change in our lives.

All Sorts

What's inside?

Simon Sort of Says by Erin Bow

"Who wouldn't want to live in a place with no internet and no cell phones and no TV or radio? Who wouldn't want to live surrounded by emu farms in a town that's half astrophysicists and half people who are afraid of their microwaves. I mean isn't that the American Dream? Hint: no."

I am only going to give brief details about the plot of this book because I do not want to spoil your reading experience. Erin Bow drops tiny hints (Betsy Bird calls them breadcrumbs) which gradually give you the details of what has happened to Simon back at his old school. Here are a few of them:

My father got fired - the hilarious reasons are outlined in chapter one. Simon's mother is an undertaker. Undertakers can work anywhere. "And that's why we came here. Anyway, that's what I tell people."

"I would have moved to Mars if it got me away from what happened in Omaha."

"I don't like the stiff and clearly brand-new backpack, but I never got the old one back ... "

"I was home-schooled all last year, and I asked my parents not to include the records from before that."

"The bell is loud - it's a real bell, being hit by a real hammer, sounding like a real emergency - and my body slams backwards into the chalkboard, the eraser tray jamming into my hip. But none of the other kids notice."

There are some terrific plot devices in this story - no internet means no one can Google Simon to find out about his past. The name of the town Grin and Bear It allows the author to create a small town in America with so many quirky shops and other businesses including the funeral home which is called Slaughter and Sons. I love the other fun towns Erin Bow "invents" (perhaps they are real) Truth or Consequences, New Mexico; Come by Chance, Newfoundland; and Intercourse, Pennsylvania. There are emus in this story which is funny to me because I am here in Australia - we never do find out why Agate's neighbour has an emu farm. I also adore the minor adult characters in this story - Simon's mum and dad just seem so real and Erin Bow describes them so well; Agate has a wonderful eclectic family and even though we don't meet her dad until the final chapters I just wanted to hug him and Mrs Van der Zwaan. Mum has a deep coffee addiction - so funny to me especially as a non-coffee person. Read this:

"I need a proper mocha ... seventy two percent dark Madagascar chocolate, microfoamed almond milk and two shots of espresso, Yirgicheff bean, lightly washed."

If you want to read more the Kirkus review contains the main plot spoiler.

Adroit, sensitive, horrifying, yet hilarious. Kirkus Star review

Betsy Bird sums up this idea too, of not spoiling the story:

I almost fear telling you too much about it, in case you don’t come to it with the same clean slate that I had. The fact of the matter is that Erin Bow has created a masterpiece of tone with this book. Combining a legitimately horrifying situation with humor, heart, and the occasional Jesus squirrel, this is both the funniest book you’ll read this year, and the best-written. Would that I were joking about that. In three words: I am not.

BUT Betsy does go on to say do not read her review if you want to avoid possible spoilers!

The book itself has this summary:

"Two years after a tragedy saddles him with viral fame, twelve-year-old Simon O'Keefe and his family move to Grin And Bear It, Nebraska, where the internet and cell phones are banned so (that) astrophysicists can scan the sky for signs of alien life, and where, with the help of two new friends, a puppy and a giant radio telescope, Simon plans to restart the narrative of his life."

I love the final words of Betsy Bird's review:

This is for the kid who likes their humor to be complicated, their writing to be scintillating, and to never, ever, know what an author is going to do next. One and all, please be so good as to meet the most memorable book of the year.

Here are some detailed discussion questions.

Some time ago I joined an online book discussion group. I don't read every book but this one intrigued me. I am about to do some traveling so I have bought a small Kindle and I added this book to my Kindle library. Over the last few days while I had a small mountain mini break I decided to test out reading on the Kindle and I picked this book as a perfect one to try. Simon sort of Says is such an engrossing story with a plot structure I really appreciate where the author gradually reveals past events and also where other kids, not by design or on purpose, gently help the main character recover from a trauma. I do like to highlight sections as I read and in the past with Kindle titles I previously easily did this on my ipad but it took me a few tries to master this on a different device. The highlighted notes give me access to text quotes and also jog my memory about plot details and also a way to join the online discussion questions posted earlier this year. 

Companion books:

The Probability of everything

The Midnight Children

The Unlikely Heroes Club by Kate Foster

Blurb from the author web page: Eleven-year-old Oli is spending his school holidays at Heroes Club, where kids can build friendships and learn about their emotions, but Oli just wants to be home … where it's familiar, not-so-boring and he can play his favourite game. But when Oli and the other kids at the club see a stray dog who keeps disappearing into a soon-to-be-demolished building across the street, Oli and his four fellow heroes hatch a daring rescue plan to save the dog before it's too late. It's going to take bravery, some seriously smart teamwork … and a few broken rules.

One of the best insights into Oli's autism comes when he talks about his sensory issues - fabric of his clothing that at times feels so uncomfortable; the smells around him good and bad - he has an acute sense of every smell; bright lights; and of course, noise. Oli is also a boy who needs routines, and I loved the way his mother and sister were able to accommodate this. His sister only has a small role in this story but I did want to offer her a hug for her kindness and deep understanding of her brother. I also wanted to know a little more about each of the kids in the club - especially Brian; Layla and Max.

Here are brief teachers notes from the publisher. 

A beautifully evolving story of finding the strengths within. Reading Time

This review has lots of plot details. You can meet Kate Foster in this interview with Paperbark words. 

The Unlikely Heroes Club is a 2024 CBCA Notable title in the Younger Readers category. I did shed a tear at the end when all the kids in the Heroes Club write honest appraisals of each group member. 

My only reservation with this book is that I feel it is important to know Oli will still be Oli at the end of the story - this club experience is not designed to 'cure' Oli but rather to give him coping strategies and also the extra benefit of making new friends who also find aspects of daily life difficult. 

CBCA Judges comments: Contemplating the world from the perspective of 11-year-old Oli, the reader of this book vicariously joins Oli, his family, peers and therapists as they participate in a holiday program. The program supports young people to build social skills and develop friendships with other neurodiverse preteens. However, they learn the best from their team effort to rescue a stray dog, which adds mystery and intrigue. The love and struggle of families living with autism are presented in a way that is humorous whilst being painfully close to the truth. This book affirms autism and provides a nuanced view for those seeking a better understanding. Its design features are age-appropriate and engaging. A delight to read, it sensitively explores inclusion, respect, challenge, acceptance, family relationships, and neurodiversity.

How to Build a Hug by Amy Gugliemo and Jacqueline Tourville illustrated by Giselle Potter

How to Build a Hug: Temple Grandin and her amazing squeeze machine 

Many Grade 4 classes here in NSW are reading a book called The Thing about Oliver which is a story told from the point of view of Oliver's sister. Oliver is severely autistic and this makes life very hard for Tilly. It seems everything they do is organised around the needs of her brother. Tilly lives on edge feeling responsible to keep her brother safe. Her own dreams are always pushed into the background.

Publisher blurb for How to Build a Hug: As a young girl, Temple Grandin loved folding paper kites, making obstacle courses, and building lean-tos. But she really didn’t like hugs. Temple wanted to be held—but to her, hugs felt like being stuffed inside the scratchiest sock in the world; like a tidal wave of dentist drills, sandpaper, and awful cologne, coming at her all at once. Would she ever get to enjoy the comfort of a hug? Then one day, Temple had an idea. If she couldn’t receive a hug, she would make one…she would build a hug machine!

You can see inside this book here. You can hear the book here - it begins at minute 4.25. How to Build a Hug was published in 2018. It is still available but sadly it is quite expensive here in Australia. 

I think it would be excellent to share How to Build a Hug after reading The Thing about Oliver. Temple Grandin is an autistic woman (albeit not as severely affected as Oliver) and this book we read about how she makes a success of her life. Dr Temple Grandin is now a professor of animal science and an advocate who shares her personal experiences of autism. Reading this book may give students a more balanced view of autism and other neurodivergent conditions. Also, this story is told from Temple's point of view which could allow some good discussion and comparison with The Thing about Oliver. 

"Sometimes when Temple was having a really bad day, she crawled under the sofa cushions and asked her little sister to hop on top. The smoosh of the heavy pillows felt cozy."

Temple Grandin is well-known for being an autism advocate, and this peek into her younger years, and her aversion to hugs is wonderfully done. We see the bright little girl struggling to enjoy something she knows others enjoy and how hard that is for her to live with. Stories like these help children understand how other children on the spectrum might think of touch and sound and could be comforting for children struggling to avoid touch – they are, after all, not alone. The Children's Book Review

You might like to explore other books illustrated by Giselle Potter. If you are interested in reading more picture book biographies (perhaps of people like Temple who I had not heard of) my friend from Kinderbookswitheverything has a splendid Pinterest collection which is well worth exploring. 

I do not agree with the way our NSW English units intensively study one text but if you want to see the Grade 4 (Stage 2) unit on the book The Thing about Oliver here is the link. I do wish the syllabus writers had considered including a list of other books to read either after or alongside The Thing about Oliver such as How to build a Hug.

Dogtown by Katherine Applegate and Gennifer Choldenko illustrated by Wallace West

"Your heart is a muscle. 

It just grows stronger the more you use it."

Dogtown, the home for stray dogs, is now home to Chance. Months ago, her loving family left for a sabbatical and they couldn't take their loved dog - Chance. The family did employ a dogsitter to look after her in their home but this girl did not love dogs and when her boyfriend moved in things became violent and unbearable for Chance. There are other sad details to this part of the story but I will let you discover these for yourself. 

As the story opens, we meet Chance she now lives at Dogtown. Luckily the Manager of the facility has quite quickly decided Chance is a lucky dog. She doesn't know that a tiny mouse (great friend to Chance) made sure this human would think Chance was special. So Chance is free to wander about Dogtown. She is does not have to be confined to a cage. This means she is the perfect narrator - able to describe the other dogs at the shelter and watch all the comings and goings. Unfortunately, this shelter also takes in robot dogs. You will laugh when you read that they even have fleas.

"Most of the robot dogs at Dogtown were known by their breed names: eDog, iDog, Aibo, RoboRover, or Pup1000. But those aren't real dog breeds like pug and pointers and Pekinese. Nothing is real about a metal dog. ... Besides a lot of them are in bad shape by the time they get to Dogtown.Tails broken, wires poking out, charger missing. Nothing sadder than a plugged in pooch who can't wag his own tail. He'd go straight to the e-waste heap." Hear this on the audio sample.

One of these robot dogs is very strange. He is not broken. He sits in his cage reading his instruction manual. Then one day some kids arrive at the dog shelter. They are part of a reading program and one boy, Quinn, is somehow able to bond with Metal Head. Over time the little boy learns to read his favourite book - Green Eggs and Ham. But then the book is destroyed and Quinn is no longer allowed to come to the shelter. It turns out one of the dogs - Buster - has chewed it up. Why? Because Metal Head has been given a top position in the shelter which means he, and other robot dogs, are likely to be adopted by loving families well before they choose a live dog. Bottom line - jealousy!

If a dog is left at the shelter for too long their name goes on a List. All of the dogs at the shelter love an old Saint Bernard named Geraldine. Her name is on the List. Metal Head seizes his opportunity. He makes a bargain. If he can ensure Geraldine is adopted, Chance and Mouse must help him escape. Metal Head is desperate to be reunited with his young owner James. The next scenes reminded me of the mayhem of Toy Story - I raced through these chapters hoping little Chance would find her all-important happy ending. Could there be a way Chance could find her precious family again?

Bookseller blurb: A story of kindness and finding a home. Dogtown is a shelter for stray dogs, misbehaving dogs, and discarded robot dogs, whose owners have outgrown them. When two dogs - and a mouse - embark on an adventure to find their forever homes, there is danger, cheese sandwiches, a charging station, and some unexpected kindnesses along the way. ... Dogtown is a shelter for stray dogs, misbehaving dogs, and discarded robot dogs, whose owners have outgrown them. Chance, a real dog, has been in Dogtown since his owners unwittingly left him with irresponsible dog-sitters who skipped town. Metal Head is a robot dog who dreams of being back in a real home. And Mouse is a mouse who has the run of Dogtown, pilfering kibble, and performing clever feats to protect the dogs he loves. When Chance and Metal Head embark on an adventure to find their forever homes, there is danger, cheese sandwiches, a charging station, and some unexpected kindnesses along the way.

Every page of this book made me sigh with happiness.  I have been a small reading slump so thank goodness I found Dogtown which I read in one gulp! This book would be a terrific class read aloud for Grade 2 or 3 and a wonderful book to share in a family - the chapters are mostly only one or two pages. I highly recommend you add this book to your library or Christmas book shopping list. It has only just arrived here in Australia - October 2023 - in paperback so you are sure to easily find a copy in your local independent bookstore. Oh, and you do know I LOVE books about robots (and dogs too). 

I expected to see a Kirkus Star for this book but alas no.

Eminently readable and appealing; will tug at dog-loving readers’ heartstrings. Kirkus

I love it when books surprise me, as it doesn't happen often. The format of Dogtown threw me. ... There are definitely cute moments, but there's also a LOT more depth than I was expecting! It's definitely more of a middle grade book, and I'd give it to fourth grade readers and up. With the prevalence of ChatGPT, Metal Head's story will resonate with readers who question what it means to have feelings and emotions. Ms Yingling Reads

Short chapters and Chance’s snappy narration keep the pace rolling, but Applegate and Choldenko adeptly make space for gently poignant moments along the way. An accessible, appealing romp that provides a dog’s-eye view of the nature of hope, belonging, and found family. The Horn Book Magazine

Listen to an interview with Katherine Applegate and Gennifer Choldenko. 

At the end of the day, I think the most important thing is that you write a book that, even if it’s just one child, they hug it to their chest and love it. It’s so important to be entertaining. ...  And so, if one kid picks this up and loves it and laughs and maybe thinks a little bit more about friendship and kindness, I think we’ve done our job. Katherine Applegate

Back in 2011 I read No Passengers beyond this Point by Gennifer Choldenko. Click here to see her webpage. It is wonderful that these two authors have collaborated to write this emotional, at times funny, truthful and warmhearted story about two dogs and a sweet little mouse. 

Other books by Katherine Applegate:

Look for these junior novels and picture books:

Choosing Crumble

Spunky tells all

Wondrous Rex

Let's get a pup!

Finding you

Stormy

Mutt Dog

Three

Charlie's Checklist

I Always Wanted one

And here are other books for readers aged 10+ that I highly recommend:

Sunshine

The Way of the Dog

Talking to Alaska