Otis Ottley and the School in the Sky by Will Kostakis

"What else had I forgotten? How much of Mum had I lost without even noticing?"

The opening scene in this book is SO intriguing. Two boys are standing on a lawn in front of an elevator. By page two we discover that this elevator takes kids to the 'School in the Sky' named Manor. You can see it on the book cover (art by Hana Kinoshita Thomson). One huge complication, though, is that his boarding school is for rich kids and Otis Ottely does not come from a wealthy family. Elevators appear in random places in the town of West Orlow but luckily technology can help. The weather radar meteorologist now adds a tiny yellow dot to his weather map showing where elevator has descended in the town and, so on this day, Otis plans to board the elevator so he can join this school. There are, however, lots of holes in this plan including wearing the correct school uniform.

So, what is going on with Otis Ottley and his family? Why is he trying so hard to reach this school? In the beginning it is simply because he would like to attend a different and possibly better school but then he meets one of the students and everything changes.

His dad owns an ice cream shop but recently another business has been opened by Tabitha Tabernacle who is a Manor graduate. This means her ice cream is made with, or better yet curated, with magic. Dad keeps trying to perfect new flavours and he says there is room for two ice cream establishments in their town. But is this really true? Since the death of his mum Otis's dad has withdrawn into his own thoughts.

Otis uses a tennis ball to talk to his mum. It has a Y and an N. He asks a question, tosses the ball and reads the answer. This sounds like a good plan but sadly, Otis has begun to forget precious memories of his time with his mum. Then a boy, called Keean, lands in West Orlow. He has been or is a Manor student and he has been experimenting with something that might just help Otis but others want to reclaim this magic and so the race is on!

I read Otis Ottley and the School in the Sky three times. YES, I really did enjoy it hence the four stars BUT my reading was overshadowed by the publisher listing ages 9-13 recommended. The cover has a younger vibe, but I think this book will better suit readers aged 11+. The main characters are in High School and aged 14. The book references The Merchant of Venice (possibly no 9-year-olds will be familiar with this play); and there are a few language issues with words like pissed and sparrow's fart but on the other hand I really appreciated the sophisticated vocabulary used in this book: words like reminisced; aplomb; gregarious; incredulous; philistine; sheeny; and covert ( and there are heaps more).

The Teacher Librarian in the story is named Mr Darcey (I like this), but he specialises in giving the kids books "that are equal parts gory and romantic, and super sweary." Again, this sounds like a phrase you might use with a Young Adult audience.

I think Otis Ottley will be a perfect book for a young High School (boy) who is a reluctant (but capable) reader who is sure to be attracted by the book length - short - and perhaps the cover (although that does look a little junior to me). There are some laugh out loud moments in this story and the plot twists and turns kept me turning the pages once I conquered the rhythm of Will's writing - he is excellent at leaving a reader to 'join the dots' in the narrative and so demands that, as a reader, you do pay very close attention to every word of every sentence - this is not a book to skim and scan. Behind all the humour, there is also a layer of poignancy and desperation in this story which you can feel from the quote at the start of this post. 

Here is a quote from the Teachers Notes which contains an interview with Will Kostakis: ‘In media, we like to treat drama and comedy as silos, but in life, they bleed together, and I always want my work to honestly reflect that. Getting the balance right is something I’ve learned to do over time, choosing the right joke for the right moment, and trusting that when the book requires it, readers will engage with something serious without me clowning out.’

Bookseller blurb: Otis Ottley is an ordinary boy who yearns to go to the magic school in the sky. And he will stop at nothing to make it happen. A funny and warm middle-grade novel about finding the magic in everyday life, from a much-loved, award-winning Australian author. Otis Ottley lives in the shadow of the Manor School for Magic. Literally. It's an island hovering over his town, and he's determined to reach it. While many kids dream of roaming the prestigious institution's halls, casting spells and conjuring spectacles, Otis has a very specific mission: to seek magical help remembering something very, very important. The odds are stacked against him, but Otis will break into magic school. Or at the very least, he will break a few rules trying.

The story is slightly Harry Potterish with a magical boarding school in the sky, but it also has a beautiful heart as young Otis desperately wants to bring his mum back. I also loved his emotional intelligence as he tries so hard not to upset his dad. Will Kostakis has created a fun side kick character for Otis named LJ - his role is to act as the 'voice of reason' along with supporting Otis as he tries to reach the school and find the memories of his mum. LJ is a terrific friend.

Some of the best scenes (I know this sounds very strange) take place in the nursing home on the outskirts of West Orlow where Otis goes to visit his grandmother. She is a feisty character with huge opinions and colourful clothes. I totally related to her horror of nursing home 'arts and crafts' activities and her 'busy body' personality.

"Nan lives on the second floor in what's basically a hospital room, but she's draped doilies over everything so it feels like home."

There are also some very imaginative ideas in this book such as bilocated paper - it is paper that appears magically and then words appear as if there is an invisible person writing them. Such a fun way to communicate with no need for devices! I also like the name Otis Ottley - the alliteration and the way, when he spells his name, Otis will need to say one 't' then double 't'.

It’s funny, it’s emotional and it’s fast-paced, with short chapters that keep the story moving so readers who don’t like long books, reluctant readers or readers just looking for something a bit lighter if they have been reading a lot of longer stuff can enjoy it. ... many readers will enjoy and find something to engage with, ... there is a sense of seriousness, a gravitas running through that shapes the story and makes Otis the character he is. It helps us as readers understand him and connect to him, and for readers who may have gone through what he has, it is a solid and meaningful reminder that they are not alone in the world and what they might be going through. The Book Muse

Here are some other Young Adult titles by award winning author Will Kostakis. His first novel, Loathing Lola, was released when he was just nineteen, and his second, The First Third, won the 2014 Gold Inky Award. It was also shortlisted for the Children’s Book Council of Australia Book of the Year and Prime Minister’s Literary awards. Will Kostaskis won the IBBY Australia Ena Noel award in 2018.

I had this book from 2014 - Stuff Happens Sean in my previous library - I plan to hunt it out and read it because I really enjoyed the style of writing in Otis Ottley.

Today I attended an event at Gleebooks Kids where Will Kostakis talked about his new book with fellow author Jack Heath (Jack Heath also won our IBBY Ena Noel Award). 

Just stop and think for a minute about these splendid events at Gleebooks Kids. We all know how much work goes into an author visit - most Teacher-Librarians host these important events once or twice a year or maybe in some cases (in wealthy schools) once each term. But think about Rachel Robson who hosts two author/book events EVERY Saturday. Exhausting but also fantastic. 

Back to the author talk today. I actually cheered when Jack Heath listed books that may have influenced Will Kostakis - of course he mentioned the obvious one which is Harry Potter, and also Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator but then Jack Heath named the short story Smart Ice Cream by Paul Jennings. Woohoo - this is a longtime favourite of mine. I have read it to hundreds of kids in my school library.

Here is a summary of Smart Ice Cream from Unreal: An ice-cream seller called Mr. Peppi has special ice-creams that have effects such as making people happier, shortening peoples' noses, removing pimples, and making people smarter. A smart but arrogant boy who is always top of the class gets jealous, because he never ever gets any of the ice-cream and also because one of his classmates becomes as good as him, so he ruins the ice-cream business by destroying all the ice-cream except the one that makes people smarter. He then proceeds to eat that one, only to find out that it actually makes people less smart.

Through the conversation between Will and Jack we learnt that this book Otis Ottley and the School in the Sky not only had long ago origins (back when Will was in Grade One!) but that it went through many drafts and plot changes - a good lesson for young readers about the importance of patience and perseverance along with striving to make your story or book the best it can be for your readers.

A few things Will Kostakis mentioned:

• The magic in the town of West Orlow needed to sound like a natural part of everyday life.
• Otis doesn't express his feelings, but we do know them through his actions (Jack Heath pointed this out).
• Jack Heath also said that Otis Ottley and the School in the Sky has 47 chapters and 47 plot twists all in 150 pages. Then Will explained his plan was for 130 pages but he went slightly over.
• The rich vocabulary used in this story was a deliberate choice (hooray!)
• The name LJ was inspired by the child of a friend.
• Will Kostakis is an author who does his best work under the pressure of a deadline. 
• At a deeper level this story shows the rich poor divide especially between Private and Public Schools - the discussion then turned to the way this is often reflected in the school facilities such as the school library.
• The bookseller's name Arabella Moriarty was a deliberate nod to the famous Australian children's author Jaclyn Moriarty.
• New books coming from Will Kostakis - possibly a sequel to Otis Ottley; a title for the Your Kids Next Read series for young readers (Affirm Press); and a new Young Adult title. 

Questions I didn't ask today (I never ask questions which I know is silly):

Do you think kids need to know the plot of or read the play of The Merchant of Venice which you reference in your story - it seems like quite a key plot point towards the end of the book.

I loved the scenes in the nursing home - can you talk about these - for example do you have an elderly relative living in care? You created such scenes and a terrific character with this grandmother.

It sounds like your editor had a huge role in the creation of this book - can you talk a little more about how this process works?

Companion book (this is a more serious book about a boy who visits an aged care home and all the different people he interacts with):

Not Nothing

Will Kostakis is also the National Judge for the Kids' Cancer Project - Write a Book in a Day. I am one of the State level judges (Primary division).

Hester Hitchins and the Falling Stars by Catherine Norton

Hester's mum has died giving birth to her twin siblings. Dad is a sailor and they have received a message that he is missing presumed dead. The five children are sent to live with a tyrannical uncle. Hester holds onto the word 'presumed'.  Surely her clever father is not actually dead but in order to find him she needs to sail across the world and to do this she needs navigation skills. In a timely coincidence she sees a sign for the placement test to attend a naval navigation school, but it is for boys. Hester is a maths genius. She disguises herself and takes and test and gains the top place and a scholarship, but the school authorities think she is a boy. Her sister works out a way for her to travel to the remote school which is part of a large estate but when she arrives, she is forced to become a maid - a servant with the lowest ranking. You will grimace as she is forced to empty very full chamber pots and carry heavy buckets of coal up many flights of stairs. She does make friends with one of the maids named Mildred and as they clean Mildred sings so beautifully this makes the tasks slightly less awful. 

One of her duties is to clean up the mess in the tutor's bedroom. It is soon clear this school master, Captain Slingsby, is a fraud. Hester is not keen on blackmail or dishonesty, but she now has some important knowledge she can use to her advantage. Her dream of attending the school can come true but then she discovers the lessons are all nonsense. 

Meanwhile the owner of the school and estate Lord Addington is building the biggest telescope. His wife is grieving the death of their only son, and she is clinging on to the hope of seeing him again because a swindler named Mr Ittish has arrived. He claims the impending meteor shower is actually the souls of the dead he is also sure the earth is flat. Lady Addington falls for all of this nonsense. 

There are 41 short chapter in this book, and you can read the first five chapters on the publisher webpage. I do appreciate the book design for Hester Hitchings and the Falling Star. Both of Catherine Norton's books are presented in sturdy hardcover editions with textured covers. 

In this interview with Kids' Book Review Catherine Norton talks about her books. 

Curious readers will want to know more about how a lodestone works, and more about Janet Taylor who was a woman astronomer in 1835. Also, they are sure to want to discover more about steam powered cars and the Leonid meteor storm "which it is estimated that thousands of meteors fell every hour." For myself I need to discover more about these two things - an orrery and an azimuth.

This is an Ornery. An orrery is a mechanical model of the Solar System 

that illustrates or predicts the relative positions and motions of the planets and moons

Girls in particular will relate to the story of Hester who must prove herself better or at least equal to boys at every turn. Her willingness to help other girls – particularly the songstress maid, Mildred – is also admirable. Science-inclined kids will also enjoy the story which includes astronomy and is linked to the development of the first telescope. Reading Time

As well as being a cracking story rich in incident and suspense, there is much fascinating detail that never overpowers the story but makes Hester’s journey all the more immediate and real. I so enjoyed reading about lodestones, star charts, an orrery, mourning clothes, shooting stars, cat-o-nine-tails and smuggling crinolines. ...  Themes of family grief, class, racism are present but the overarching theme that drives the story is the struggle for equal opportunities for girls, something that still resonates today. Story Links

Here is a detailed review from The Book Muse and also one from The Bottom Shelf. 

Blurb from the author webpage: Determined to find him, eleven-year-old Hester wins a place at Addington’s Nautical Navigation Academy, where she will learn to navigate by the stars. But the academy is just for boys, and what’s more, no one seems to be in charge. Bumbling schoolmaster Captain Slingsby doesn’t know anything about navigation. Lord Addington is obsessed with building the world’s biggest telescope and Lady Addington believes that falling stars are the souls of the dead. With the help of a lodestone, her new friends Pru and Nelson, and a dazzling meteor storm, can Hester set things right – and find her own place in the universe?

I saw an image of the cover of this book somewhere on the internet. I previously LOVED this book also by Catherine Norton but I wrongly listed it as a book the CBCA missed adding to the 2025 notables list. This first book by Catherine Norton - The Fortune Maker was published in 2023 this means it SHOULD have been a 2024 CBCA Notable!

The Fortune Maker

The Midwatch by Judith Rossell

"Good gravy. What is actually going on here?"

"Holy mackerel"

Getting kicked out of one orphanage and being sent to another is absolutely the best thing that could ever have happened to Maggie. Yes, I did say the 'best thing'. Sister Immaculata delivers Maggie Fishbone to The Midwatch Institute for Orphans, Runaways and Unwanted Girls. 

Maggie's first impression is that this is a thoroughly dreadful place. I have emphasised some of the words in these quotes to give you an idea about this place:

"The woman frowned, let them in, the closed the door behind them with a heavy thud."

"They were wearing long, grey hooded cloaks, and they walked silently past with their eyes down."

"The gloomy organ music echoed around the hallway. Maggie could feel the sadness seeping into her like a trickle of cold water."

"The woman opened the door into a large, shadowy room full of tables and chairs."

"At the far end of the room was a platform, where an extremely tall lady, as upright as a ruler, was playing the organ. She had a grim expression and a black eye-patch and she wore an old-fashioned black gown that reached to the ground."

You now have an impression of The Midwatch but I have to tell you that you are entirely mistaken. Maggie Fishbone, Nell Wozniak and Sofie Zarescu - the three new girls - are all in for a huge shock. All of those sights and sounds from the first scene are designed to trick the outside world and especially people like Sister Immaculata. 

What is really going on in this place? How are the activities connected with the night monster - a creature that has been attacking people in the Northside of the city.  Why do the girls need to learn codes, German, fencing and even stranger subjects like Hiding and Observing? Why has the librarian Dr Entwhistle been hurt and where is Miss Fenechurch? Surely she was just using the library for innocent plant research. 

Judith Rossell is so skilled at world building and she also knows how to write about delicious food.

"The hot chocolate was rich and delicious and quite different from the watery cocoa they sometimes had at the orphanage."

"Maggie hesitated, then took the closest cake, which was shaped like a frog. It was sweet and crumbly and filled with strawberry cream. She finished it in three slightly messy bites."

"Maggie was very hungry, despite all the cakes. They filled their plates with stew, mashed potatoes and green peas."

"On Sundays, there was no morning bell and no lessons, and there were hot cinnamon waffles with maple syrup for breakfast."

If you look at my labels for this post you will see Steampunk because the world of this book is somewhere in the past and perhaps set in a city a little like London or maybe New York (there are two lions outside the library), but this place also has some modern technology and of course airships like the one you can see on the cover. Here is another illustration:

I don't usually quote cover endorsements but I totally agree with Jaclyn Moriarty:

"A cracking concept, sensational characters and absolutely smashing pictures. The Midwatch is the cat's pyjamas."

I can't recommend The Midwatch highly enough. Pop it on your Christmas shopping list and your school library wish list. If your school library buys the Standing Order service from Scholastic, or the Lamont Standing order, or the standing order from Pegi Williams then you will already have a copy of The Midwatch. Why not take it home to read over the Christmas break - you are sure to thoroughly enjoy this clever, page-turning story. And I love the way the publisher Hardie Grant has produced this book as a scrumptious textured hardback.

I am certain The Midwatch will feature in our 2025 CBCA Younger Readers award lists - Notable title and Shortlist and it would not surprise me if this book is even the winner!

POST UPDATE - This book didn't make the CBCA short list - I am so shocked and desperately disappointed for Judith Rossell. Today (6th May, 2025) I saw this book has now arrived in the US. It has a new cover, amended title and a glowing STAR review from Kirkus:

Cinematic, amusing, and exciting: a slightly subversive, 

delightfully empowering, all-around winner.

Australian review comments:

The biggest children's book of the year! The Midwatch is the long-awaited new middle-grade novel from internationally bestselling author–illustrator Judith Rossell. Readings Melbourne

... even the women running the Midwatch have their secrets and connections that nobody really knows about. This is a fun novel, because it uses the girl detective trope well, and plays with it. It allows the girls to be brave and doing things that nobody expects them to do whilst finding ways to blend in with the society. ... This amazing book is one that has something for all readers who come to this book, and is magical for all ages. The Book Muse

This is a rollicking adventure and mystery that has surprises on every page. Judith Rossell has again created an amazing world that you will easily get lost in. Maggie and her classmates are smart, funny and full of life and the Institute has such brilliant classes! A fast-paced and thrilling story that is sure to be a firm favorite, as the girls prove that they are not to be underestimated, and that friendship and trust and determination can overcome even the most scary situations. I absolutely loved this book and it will suit curious minds, 10 years and older. Lamont Books

Companion books:

Cogheart

The Unadoptables

Sweet Adversity

The Runaways of Haddington Hall

The Mysterious Benedict Society

Crookhaven The School for Thieves

Here are other books by Judith Rossell - she also did the splendid art in her book and I am lucky to own a small piece from Withering-by-Sea.

Withering-by-Sea

Wormwood Mire

Wakestone Hall

A Garden of Lilies

Crookhaven: The School for Thieves by JJ Arcanjo

 

Gabriel Avery and his grandmother are just getting by. His grandmother works as a housekeeper for a wealthy family but the pay is so low that often they only eat one meal a day. Gabriel, however, has a talent for picking pockets. His grand mother does not ask any questions but Gabriel is able to 'obtain' enough money each day so that they don't starve.

In his pocket Gabriel carries a lucky coin but one day, after picking a pocket at the railway station, his coin is stolen. In its place he finds a card inviting him to a town called Moorheart. In this remote and deserted place he discovers a school for crooks. He discovers students with other amazing talents. He discovers why the Headmaster of the school, the aptly named Caspian Crook, stole his coin. And later he discovers just why he was selected to attend this school.

When books proclaim - "Perfect for fans of Harry Potter" - I usually cringe but I found myself saying exactly that as I read this debut novel, the first in a planned series. Actually this book does not use the Harry Potter marketing strategy but it could!

There are heaps of Harry Potter tropes in this book but they do not feel worn out. JJ Arcanjo adds such a layer of intelligence to this story of a school for criminals albeit criminals who will do good deeds.

"The word crook is misunderstood, I think. You steal for the same reason we at Crookhaven steal - to put the world back into balance."

Things about the school:

• Sorting into classes is done by pebbles which leave a colour on your hands - 1A (blue), 1B (red), 1C (green) and 1D (Yelloe). 
• Students can win and loose points. The goal is to win the Crooked Cup.
• There are two types of students - Merits (like Gabriel) and Legacies (offspring of crooks)
• The youngest/newest students are called Crooklings and this year there are 48
• Other years are called Miscreants, Lower Delinquents and the final year students are Robin Hoods.
• The guards around the school are called Gardeners but they are really skilled crooks and the grounds have very sophisticated sensors and cameras.
• Classes - Forgery; Deception; History of Crookery; Tricks of the Trade; Cultivating a Crook; Crimtastics and Tech-nique.
• The challenge - to break into the Headmaster's office and steal something without him knowing that something is missing.
• Friends: Penelope Crook; twins Ade and Ede; and Amira.
• Characters you will want to meet again in book 2 - Leon Marquez (Robin Hood) and Villette  (is she really a villain?). 

One final thing - here is a description of the librarian:

"A slender, red-haired librarian strode past, her burnt-caramel eyes sweeping over the two of them ... she wore black jeans, a thick maroon fleece and thin black gloves, likely to protect the more precious books from fingerprints."

The technology in this book reminded me of  the Artemis Fowl series.  If you want to read another book with Harry Potter overtones try to find this one (sadly it is long out of print)

The Hound of Rowan - The Tapestry Book One

Huge thanks to Beachside Bookshop for my advance copy of Crookhaven: The School for Thieves (Hodder/Hachette) which will be released in March 2023. 

The Calling of Jackdaw Hollow by Kate Gordon

In the book The Heartsong of Wonder Quinn we meet Wonder's special friend - a crow named Hollowbeak. In this newest book, fans of this series can now discover more about the young boy Jackdaw Hollow - a boy who will become Hollowbeak.

This newest instalment begins with a prologue. Here we read about Jackdaw's tragic beginning. His beautiful parents are killed on a stormy night and baby Jackdaw, who is now an orphan, is taken to Direleafe Hall. He is given in the care of Mrs Beekman who runs this school for girls. Jackdaw is a boy and a baby but Mrs Beekman agrees to take him.

"But now ... Now, Mrs Beekman had a boy. And he was to be her son. Mrs Beekman looked down at this baby - her new baby boy - and finally, after all those years, she felt something inside her crack and the almond within it was sweet. She felt joy returning to her soul. It might be mad peril, sure enough, but loving this boy might be the making of her."

Jackdaw has a happy childhood. He is a keen student and he is deeply loved by Mrs Beekman but something is missing in his life. He is sure he needs a calling or a purpose. Why did he survive when his parents both perished? He meets three young girls who also live at Direleafe Hall. They are ghosts and they befriend Jack and encourage his friendship with a young local girl called Angeline. Angeline is suffering but she has a plan to run away - to run away and join the circus. Is it up to Jackdaw to rescue Angeline? Is this his true calling?

Kate Gordon creates memorable characters in this book especially Jack himself of course but also young Angeline who is both brave and vulnerable, suffering horribly and yet also optimistic. I also loved the distinct voices of the three ghosts - Nell, Lucy and Florence. As for scenery, the idea of cartwheeling through a field of tulips is so appealing. 

"The girl in the tulip field turned, heels over head, like foam-topped waves rolling to shore. Above her moonlight made the shape of her, the paleness of her, more stark, more visible. She seemed at odds with the landscape. A thing outside, separate. Above it all."

Can you see thistles on the cover? 

"Hope is a tulip in springtime. Hope is a thistle that grows through the cracks, that grows on mountainsides, where nothing else will grow. Hope is a bird that takes flight, over and again, even though flying seems an impossible thing. Even though it's dangerous. Hope is a baby who survives."

The Calling of Jackdaw Hollow will be available on 29th March. Huge thanks to University of Queensland Press for this advance copy of this book. I recommend this book for readers aged 10+. even though this is officially the third book in this series I would actually recommend you could begin the series here. 

Here are the three books in this series by Kate Gordon. Look closely and you can see a seasonal reference in the background of each image - Winter (Book One The Heartsong of Wonder Quinn); Spring (Book Two The Ballard of Melody Rose); Summer (Book Three The Calling of Jackdaw Hollow).  This makes me wonder if Book four is planned. 

Kate Gordon lives in Tasmania and she won the IBBY Australia Ena Nöel award in 2016. Since then her writing seems to have gone from strength to strength.

Aster's Right Good Thing

Xavier in the Meantime

Dolls of Hope - a Friendship Dolls book by Shirley Parenteau

Dolls of Hope is the second book of three from the series Friendship Dolls.  You might begin by reading my thoughts about the first installment - Ship of Dolls. I so enjoyed my discovery of these historic events when I read Ship of Dolls earlier this year.

In Dolls of Hope we meet Chiyo. She is living in a remote rural village in Japan but her sister is promised to a wealthy older man from a larger town. Chiyo is told she must stay home during the omiai or meeting where her sister Masako will meet Yamada Nori. Chiyo is desperate to see this man, to discover what he is like, to see his house, to perhaps stop her beloved sister making what she thinks is a big mistake so she stows away in a basket on the back of the family cart. She is breaking all the rules and most of all not showing herself as modest quiet girl which is what everyone expects of her.

She disrupts the family meeting and so it is decided she will be sent away to Tasuchiura Girls School. She is told she must model herself on the behaviour of a girl called Hoshi the daughter of a General but Chiyo soon discovers, while adults admire Hoshi, in reality she is a wretched bully.

At the end of Ship of Dolls we watched 12,000 dolls sail away to Japan. In Dolls of Hope they have arrived and now a ceremony in Tokyo is planned where the dolls will be officially welcomed.

After a very rough start at her new school, thanks to Hoshi, Chiyo joins the choir. The children are learning a welcome song and six girls will have the honour of attending the ceremony in Tokyo. Chiyo earns a place and the girls visit a display of the dolls:

"Under no circumstances are any of you to touch the dolls. We will walk past the display and admire only with our eyes. I do not wish to see any of you put even a finger on a doll."

Chiyo has no plan to touch the beautiful dolls with their blonde hair and blue eyes but the horrid Hoshi pushes against the display table and calls out a warning. Acting on instinct Chiyo catches one doll, Emily Grace, just as she is about to fall onto the floor.  So begins a series of events Chiyo could never have imagined. She meets the mayor of Tokyo, Emily Grace is gifted to her school and she meets a master doll maker who is working on one of the 86 special dolls that will be sent from Japan to America. But at every turn Hoshi tries to thwart her. Several times I found myself holding my breath hoping against hope Hoshi would not hurt Chiyo or the precious doll Emily Grace.

 Here is the Kirkus review. Here is an interview with Shirley. You can read about the restoration of one of the friendship dolls here.

I do have one little connection with this book. Chiyo has a kokeshi doll which she names Momo. I found this one from a shop and they say momo means peace although I don't imagine Chiyo's doll looked like this. Just a warning sensitive readers may find the scenes where Hoshi takes Momo quite distressing.

I found this cover of a Japanese version of Dolls of Hope.

If this topic interests you I have discovered another book by Kirby Larson which I plan to read. And of course I have book three from The Friendship Dolls series - Dolls of War on my list too.

Figgy takes the city by Tamsin Janu

Figgy takes the City is the third book in the series that began with Figgy in the world and continued with Figgy for President.  I said the second book didn't disappoint and I will say this again about the third installment and now we have the exciting news that this book and another by Tasmin Janu have been selected for our CBCA Notables list.

Figgy and her friend Nana sit for a scholarship exam and both of them are selected to attend Hope College in the city of Accra. Figgy knows her friend Nana is clever and that he has studied hard to earn this honour but she is not so certain about why she has been selected.

"Principal Alfoso smiled. And he said, 'You deserve it for a number of reasons.' My breath caught in my throat when he tapped my cheek. Just below the spot where my second eye should be. I was not getting a scholarship because I was good at reading, sport or maths. Not even because I was in a movie I was getting a scholarship because I was missing an eye."

When the children finally arrive in the city after an eventful journey and a confusing first week they go to stay with Uncle Philmond.  Figgy is struck by the poverty she sees. "It was the biggest slum I had ever visited. It seemed to go on forever."  We know Figgy feels concern for the slum dwellers but it is Nana who takes practical steps to help them. Nana can see Uncle Philmond is rich and yet he often fails to send much needed money to Grandma Ama. Nana wants to make money to pay Grandma back for his care. He joins the slum kids each weekend scavenging in the dump instead of staying with Uncle Philmond. Figgy is both curious and furious. Nana seems so different and mysterious - is he still her friend? He won't answer her questions so one evening she follows him.

Tamsin really lets her readers inside a scene and this one is especially graphic.  Here Figgy is following Nana :

"The alleyway was not as busy as the street. I had to be careful Nana wouldn't see me ... The ground was muddy, slippery, and littered with bits of glass and plastic. I almost cried out when I tripped over a cow's head, which was surrounded by a cloud of flies. The cow's mouth was wide open, as if it had been yelling as it died. Most of it's skin had peeled away and what remained was being eaten by maggots."

Here is a review in Reading Time.  I especially like the way the three covers all link together and I thank Tasmin Janu for allowing me to spend a little time in Ghana with Figgy - watching her growing up and taking on new challenges.

The Princess and the Suffragette by Holly Webb

Historic events and fictional characters are carefully interwoven to introduce a new generation of girls and boys to the struggle against inequality fought by women decades ago ... 

Library Girl and Book Boy

I picked this book - The Princess and the Suffragette -  in a bookshop recently for two reasons.  Firstly the title - I am fascinated by the suffragette movement in England prior to WWI and secondly I liked the cover but when I sat down to read it a couple of days ago I made an odd discovery.  On the cover it says "A sequel to the much loved classic A little Princess."  I had no idea about the book A Little Princess and wrongly assumed it was also by Holly Webb.  I searched all over this new book for a clue.  I looked at some bookseller sites and eventually I discovered A Little Princess is a book written by Frances Hodgson Burnett in 1905.  I wonder why the publisher didn't put this detail somewhere on the book.

This is the second 'sequel' book I have read by Holly Webb.  About a year ago I read Return to the Secret Garden - a sequel to another book by Frances Hodgson Burnett - The Secret Garden.  Holly Webb is not the first person to pen a sequel to A little Princess - I have also found a book by Hilary McKay called Wishing for Tomorrow.

Knowing this was a sequel I needed to find A little Princess.  Luckily it is available through Project Gutenberg.  I will say I do think it is essential to read this classic first or as a short cut you could read this plot outline from Wikipedia..  I found the early chapters of The Princess and the Suffragette very confusing before I realised this was a special kind of sequel.

At the end of A little Princess, Sara is rescued by her father's business partner and moves in to the house next to Miss Minchin's school and it seems her life will now be perfect.  The Princess and the Suffragette picks up the story nine years later.  In this story the main character is Lottie who was left at the school aged 4.  Now aged eleven Lottie has begun to question her situation.  Why won't her father come to visit?  Would he have abandoned her if she was a born a boy? What does her future hold?  Then she sees the school's scullery maid wearing a mysterious badge.  She demands to know the truth.  Living a sheltered life in the school Lottie knows nothing of the Suffragettes but Sally has newspapers and pamphlets and over the coming year Lottie learns about the struggle, the suffering of Suffragettes who have been imprisoned and the movement of 'deeds not words'.  She is invited to the races by Sara. It is the Derby where Emily Davison runs onto the track and is killed.  In the final fast-paced scenes Lottie discovers the truth about her mother, who she had been told was dead, and she is able to confront her absent father.

Older Primary students who enjoy historical fiction should look for this book.  I really appreciate the research done by Holly Webb.  For example she mentions this slogan.  From Prison to Citizenship.

Sally has this poster in her attic room but Lottie has no idea what it means.  Factory Acts Regulations for Women - They have a cheek. I've never been asked.

One more connection.  I have long had a memory of a Shirley Temple film where two little children are sleeping in an attic.  Someone comes in the night and transforms the space providing floor rugs, furniture and a soft beautiful bedding.  I now discover this scene is from is the movie of A little Princess. Actually there have been many movie and television adaptions of this famous book.

Holly Webb is such a prolific author.  She has written over 90 books.  Here is a review with more story details.  You can listen to an audio sample which begins from page 4.

Here are some covers for A little Princess.  It is fascinating to see the different ways illustrators and publishers have presented this book. 

Cartwheeling in thunderstorms by Katherine Rundell

After reading Rooftoppers I knew I wanted to pick up another book by Katherine Rundell.  I started Cartwheeling in thunderstorms early this afternoon and finished it before the sunset.  This is a fabulous book and as Philip Pullman says on the back cover Katherine Rundell has a 'distinctive voice and a wild imagination.'

Will (Wilhelmina) has a blissfully free life in Zimbabwe.  Her friends are the wild animals, her horse and the neighbourhood boys especially her best friend Simon. The farm where she has lived her whole life is owned by Captain Browne and Will's dad is the foreman.  Wills' mum, Lilibet, was a very special lady who also embraced life in the wilds of Africa but sadly she died when Will was only five.

"Seven years after his wife's death, William Silver started running a temperature.  The next day he collapsed on the packed earth floor of the stable."

The story now references Cinderella.  Captain Browne takes a wife. She immediately plots to get rid of little Will.  She organises to send this wild child to an English boarding school.

I love this description of Cynthia (Captain Browne's new wife).  "Cynthia Vincy was well-dressed, strong jawed, long-legged, conscious of her power over men: formidable. ... Cynthia smiled down at Will.  The smile marred the woman's perfect poise; it was a square smile, like a letter box. Cynthia was aware of this and rarely smiled."

Everything about the school is horrid.  The food, the tiny room she has to share with one of the school bullies, the bitter cold and the endless rules.

"She discovered that times tables had nothing to do with time, not in fact with tables; that history was not a thousand stories building up into the colossal, strange, heart-stoppingly beautiful present; that knowing about cows and snake bites and birth and umbilical cords was irrelevant in science class.  She also learned that shorts were wrong and she had gypsy hair and she wasn't funny, wasn't clever, and looked like a mad tramp in her thick socks and muddy boots."

Will finally escapes after an especially distressing incident where a gang of girls force her into a cold bath.  She wanders the streets of London.  It is Winter and she is only wearing shorts.  She spends a night at the zoo, a night in Hyde Park and tries to hide in a corner of Harrods department store.

While at the zoo she has a chance meeting with a young boy.  He shares his Mars bar and gives her half of his comic book.  Later she sees an address scribbled on a corner of this comic.  Perhaps she can at last find somewhere to feel safe and take refuge.

After reading Cartwheels in thunderstorms you might look for Duck for Danger (sadly long out of print), Callie and the Prince (also out of print) and Figgy in the world.

Take a minute to watch this video with Katherine Rundell where she describes her own childhood in Zimbabwe.  You could also read the beautiful speech she gave at the Horn Book awards.

I do need to mention the title - Cartwheeling in thunderstorms.  After her journey, both physical and emotional, Will now accepts that for now she needs to learn how to cartwheel in thunderstorms.

Kirkus have given this book a star!  Here is an extract from their review :

There is an excellent balance of characters both villainous and helpful as readers follow the fiercely independent Will 

through hardship and into triumph. 

They cannot help but dearly love Will and her motto of 

“Truth, ja, and courage.”