Wolf Siren by Beth O'Brien

"I think about this chain of violence that began with human greed, the desire to take and take until the trees lost their protectors and many wolves and humans lost their lives."

Red lives in a village with her mother and younger brother and sister. The village is controlled by the mayor and by the fear of attack by the wolves who live in the forest. In past years wolves attacked the village men but not the women so, while everyone lives behind a high fence, the men especially can never leave. The mayor controls everything including the distribution of food, marriage and the dispensing of punishments.

Red's father has been killed many years ago - purportedly by a wolf. Her grandmother has also disappeared and Red has not seen her for many years but as this story opens Red does meet her grandmother in the forest. People from the village are not supposed to visit the forest but Red feels a strong affinity with the trees - they even seem to reach out and touch and caress her. Then her grandmother shows her something even more surprising. Red is able to summon a small pack of wolves. They gather around her and walk in a diamond formation. There are two women who can be found in the forest - an old lady who is suspected of witchcraft called Ms Blaeberry and the woodcutter - a woman named Caragh. It is not directly stated in the story but there is an implication that Caragh has been banished to work as a woodcutter because she refused to marry the mayor. He is so jealous of Raif because he an Caragh are in love and in fact have a plan to run away. 

The changes to Red continue when she discovers not only can she summon her wolf pack but she herself can transform into a wolf. This ability coincides with the menarche. There are all sorts of rules about girls and their periods. This is considered a dark secret and even the water she uses to wash her rags can only be disposed of after dark in a secret place. Red knows she is in great danger if anyone, especially the mayor, finds out that she can transform. Added to this is the worry that her sister, Aerona, might also be able transform too and the day of Aerona's first period is approaching. 

One of the most interesting characters in this story - that I was desperate to know more about - is the wife of the mayor. His treatment of her is an example of domestic violence but Nova also gives tiny signals to Red that seem to mean she has a deeper knowledge of her oppression. 

There are some interesting life rituals and manners explored in this book such as the way people greet each other and their procedures following a death.  Girls are also expected to wear skirts - another sign of control and oppression. 

I also loved the way, as a previously explained, the trees support Red:

The woods seemed more alive after the rain, as though the very air was releasing a sigh of pleasure. But there was something else there, too, a feeling that was much harder to identify. The tree curled her twig branches over my shoulder as though she was preparing to steady me, and I covered the rough twigs with my hand to reassure her. I turned slowly, looking from tree to tree, scanning the ground, peering up into the lower branches for whatever the woods thought deserved my focus.

Beth O'Brien uses language so skillfully.  Think about her word choices in these sentences:

"The thud of the plate and cup sounded dismal in the quiet house."

"The cacophony is beautiful, the disjointed sounds creating a melodious echo."

I recommend this book for very mature readers aged 11+. Here is a list of other "Little Red Riding Hood" based books for Young Adults aged 13+. 

Publisher blurb: Red is not allowed to go into the woods. Everyone knows that they are dangerous – because of their strange magic and the wolves that lurk there… But Red finds herself increasingly drawn to the woods and the place where her grandmother disappeared without a trace three years ago. When the woodcutter fails to return home one night and wolves are spotted close to the village boundary, fear drives a deep and dangerous divide between the villagers and the nature they live alongside. Only Red seems to hold the key – but she has a secret, and exposing it could ruin her family forever …

You can read a chapter sample on the Harper Collins (Australia) webpage. This book was published in 2025 and I picked up my print copy here in Australia from a local bookseller for AUS$18.

Here are a few text quotes:

"Father was one of many men to be taken by the wolves. Where once our village had been famous for its lucrative wolf-fur trade, courtesy of our skilled hunters, soon it was associated with nothing but violent attacks. No matter how many men the mayor conscripted to try and keep the wolves at bay, our losses continued to mount up. Shortly after my father’s death, the mayor was forced to admit defeat, disband the hunters entirely and forbid all men and boys from entering the woods. This worked in so much as the attacks stopped. But the restrictions the mayor placed on our village after that meant the fear of the wolves was impossible to forget."

"I want you to imagine there’s a wolf in front of you. She has her back to you and she’s going to stay in front of you wherever you walk.’ There was a pause as she let me form that image in my mind. ‘Now, to your left and to your right are two more. They come up to your waist and if you reach out your hands, you’d be able to brush their fur, but they are no closer than that.’ Another pause. ‘Finally, there is a fourth wolf. This one is behind you, so the four of them form a diamond."

"I turned my own face up to smile at Grandmother and saw she was holding a bundle out towards me. I stood up and my wolves parted, letting me step closer to her. It was a coat. By full daylight, it would be a vivid scarlet, but under the dappled light of the trees it looked much deeper, much darker. More like blood."

"The mayor depends on us all being frightened of the woods, whether it's fear of attack or of shame."

"Nearly all the girls and women of this village know the woods aren't a bad place. They're a place where bad things happen, ... but bad things happen within our village wall, too."

Wolf Siren is a debut novel for UK author Beth O'Brien. She is the author of four adult poetry books. Having been born visually impaired and with an upper-limb difference, Beth is passionate about the representation of disability in literature and is currently studying for a PHD researching the (mis) representation of disability in fairytale retellings. She is the founder and editor of Disabled Tales.

Here is a map of Young Adult Fairy tale retellings:

Image source: Epic Reads

I think my interest in these 'grown-up' versions of fairy tales goes back to my reading a book by Donna Jo Napoli although it was not about Red Riding Hood. 

I found this collage of versions of Little Red Riding Hood on Library Thing. When you go to the link you can hover over each title for a brief plot summary.

Image Source: Library Thing tag "Little Red Riding Hood"

I have had this book, Red, on my to-read list for a long time so this might be the next "Red Riding Hood" based story that I read:

The Wrong Way Home by Kate O'Shaughnessy

"... we know Dr Ben certainly isn't perfect - we all know he has a nasty temper. 

He doesn't lose it often, but when he does watch out."

This is such a powerful story, but my descriptions might surprise you. All through the story I wanted Fern to fail. I know that sounds very strange, but she and her mother have fled the cult where Fern has lived since she was just six years old. Fern has of course been totally indoctrinated by the cult leader but readers aged 12+ are sure to insights that go beyond the way Fern sees her former life.

Opening sentence: "Before we came to live at the Ranch, Mom and I were like tumbleweeds."

Early on in the story there are hints that the leader of this place - Dr Ben - is all about control. The girls and women are all sitting in room knitting. Fern is watching her friend Meadowlark struggling with this task. When Dr Ben walks into the room everyone falls silent. 

"He drops in like this occasionally. It's never on a schedule - sometimes he'll surprise us twice in three days; other times he won't come around for months ... I'm not the only one who's nervous. I see a flash of eyes all around me, the tucking of hair behind ears and shifting of bodies."

"Everything we have - everything The Ranch provides us - is because of him. ... And as long as you live up to his ideals, life is beautiful. It all makes sense."

Dr Ben has come to summon Fern to his office. Once there he tells her it is time for her rite. He also says she should 'prepare for the unexpected.'

"After your rite, you're considered an adult, and you're entrusted with a lot more responsibility. Most of the time it happens around the spring equinox of the year you turn fifteen. But I don't even turn thirteen for another six months."

Every part of the conversation between Dr Ben and Fern feels like a manipulation. As a reader I found him very sinister right from the beginning. Something is very wrong here - he is asking her to do the rite when she is so young. The last time some kids were sent to do their rite a boy named Rain died. You will also read that Fern's mum has been put on a water diet so she can refocus her thinking. 

Have you noticed these names - Fern, Meadowlark, Rain and mum's name is Magnolia (real name Jamie Silvana) - yes everyone has changed their name when they joined this cult. 

"Choosing a new name - one that reflects the beauty of nature - is something everyone does at the Ranch. For your first few months you aren't called anything at all. Dr Ben says it's so you can 'readjust your self-perception' ... to strip yourself of your old identity entirely, so you can commit yourself to a new one. ... I'm not sure how the name 'Dr Ben' relates to something in nature, but I'm sure it does. I've always been too nervous to ask, because I bet it's short for something obvious, and I'd feel stupid once it was explained to me."

I do need to say Fern does not even know the word cult let alone have any understanding of what this means. That word is not mentioned until page 242. When she and her mother escape and re-enter the 'real world' there is so much that Fern (her real name is Frankie) has to learn. The children don't go to a regular school at The Ranch. It's purpose is to raise:

"A generation who will understand how to live in harmony with the land. How to be ready to survive the fallout of war, climate change, of disaster. I do not take this responsibility lightly. Because it's coming, sooner than society thinks. And to survive you need to be tough. You need to go through the gauntlet of hardship and come out the other side stronger."

Think about all the things Fern might not know - computers, American history, money, the enjoyment of reading a fiction story, sweet treats like croissants, and that television is not dangerous. She also encounters lots of new words such as Amish, VIP, tag sale, marzipan, and bewildered. Thank goodness for Fern's new friend Eddie, for her wonderful science teacher and for library books and helpful librarians. 

When Fern and her mother reach the other side of America, Fern begins to plan their return. In her mind life at the Ranch was good and that is the place where she felt cared for and supported.  She knows there are no mobile phones (not true) at the Ranch and no computers so she decides she should write a letter to Dr Ben. The post office lady cannot help and of course stamps and envelopes require money. Then she realises she does not have an address. She is enrolled at school and another student reluctantly shows her how to search the internet. Fern finds the name of a local private detective but when she visits his office he asks for $300. How can Fern raise that much money? Luckily Mum didn't pick this town by chance - she knows a lady who lives there. Bab's is so kind. She offers Fern a job clearing out the old rooms above her tearooms. But all of this takes time. Fern is in a rush to get back to the Ranch but this time allows her to grow in her realisation that perhaps life was not quite so perfect and that Dr Ben was not trustworthy - but then she does post that letter, and her world comes tumbling down. I think I held my breath through the final chapters of this book I was so worried about Fern.

I sometimes wish I could have read a book for kids that I’ve encountered today as a child myself. This is one of those books. At what point does the average reader figure out that Fern may be in the wrong? When do their loyalties switch to the mom? Do they ever? While the adults amongst us are screaming “DON’T GET IN THAT VAN!” at the book, do kid readers feel the same way? I can’t help but think that this book would be an amazing bookclub read with children. Their reactions would be incredible.  ... Fuse8 Betsy Bird - please read her whole review!

Betsy also says: It’s a cleverly written and supremely literary story, while also remaining pretty gripping in its telling. Trust me, you won’t know what hit you after you finish it.   

A strong, emotionally intelligent story. Kirkus Star review

The Wrong Way Home is an unforgettable, propulsive story of a girl learning to trust her inner voice. With a fresh premise, compelling characters, and an atmospheric setting, this book is impossible to put down. It tackles cults, a rarely mentioned subject in children’s literature, with age-appropriate sensitivity and is sure to spark plenty of discussion in and out of the classroom. Reading Middle Grade

I learnt a new word in this book 'kasha' - it is a type of buckwheat.

Here is an interview with the author Kate O'Shaughnessy (note this page is full of advertising). And here is her web page where you can find her other books. 

Publisher blurb: Twelve-year-old Fern believes she's living a noble life--but what if everything she's been told is a lie?  This is a huge-hearted story about a girl learning to question everything—and to trust in herself. Fern’s lived at the Ranch, an off-the-grid, sustainable community in upstate New York, since she was six. The work is hard, but Fern admires the Ranch's leader, Dr. Ben. So when Fern’s mother sneaks them away in the middle of the night and says Dr. Ben is dangerous, Fern doesn't believe it. She wants desperately to go back, but her mom just keeps driving. Suddenly thrust into the treacherous, toxic, outside world, Fern can think only of how to get home. She has a plan, but it will take time. As that time goes by, though, Fern realizes there are things she will miss from this place—the library, a friend from school, the ocean—and there are things she learned at the Ranch that are just...not true. Now Fern will have to decide. How much is she willing to give up to return to the Ranch? Should she trust Dr. Ben’s vision for her life? Or listen to the growing feeling that she can live by her own rules?

I read an ebook copy of The Wrong Way Home. Here in Australia this book will be available in June [9780593650769]. Watch this video where Colby Sharp talks about his reaction to this amazing book. The wrong way home is a 2025 Newbery Honour book. 

The most obvious companion book in my view is this very old Australian title:

People might Hear You

Giant by Nicola Skinner illustrate by Flavia Sorrentino

Dear Child,

Having a giant as your servant is an honor.

But it is also a big responsibility.

You will be paired with your giant until you turn twelve, when you will kiss them, 

turning them into stone to rebuild our island.

Sadness is not permitted at the Goodbye ceremony.

Remember: they are not your family.

You may feel fondness for your giant, but you must not mistake that for love.

FROM YOUR FRIENDS AT THE

GIANT MANAGEMENT COMPANY

Minnie is different. She lives in a very structured and controlled society. Children are given giants as servants when they are very young and then after years of time spent together, at age 12, the children have to relinquish their giant in a strange and very cruel ceremony. This town is located on an island which is regularly wracked with earthquakes. Humans live on this island, but giants live there too. In the past there have been years of dreadful wars. The humans have now taken over the island and enslaved the giants who are assigned to the children. Other 'bad' giants are forced to live in an inhospitable place on the other side of a high mountain range. Children are warned to never go there because these giants are extremely dangerous. The servant giants are assigned to the children because the Giant Management Company, who control everything, make use of a surprising discovery that if a giant is kissed by a child it turns to stone. Stone is a valuable commodity in this place because it is used to rebuild the town after the regular earthquake events.

Children learn the rules from a young age:

• Giants are your servants not your friends
• You must not love your giant
• Giants must never ask children to keep secrets
• Everyone should be happy at the Goodbye Ceremony. 
• Giants and children cannot stay together forever.
• Never go to the No-Go Mountains

Back to Minnie. She is not pretty. Her parents are poor. In fact she looks quite neglected. She is also very small and in constant pain. Twice each day she has to inject pain medications. Her father is working on ways to predict and stop the earthquakes but the authorities keep rejecting his plans. Oh, and you need to know Minnie has broken several of the rules - especially the one about loving your giant. Her giant is called Speck because she is unusually small for a giant (she is still quite enormous). As the story opens there has been one of the largest earthquakes ever. Minnie is not due to say goodbye to Speck for many months but the town rulers, have ordered all ceremonies to be brought forward to tomorrow. Minnie cannot bear the idea of turning her beloved friend into a stone statue. While playing a game, Speck has shown Minnie a route to safety. Minnie thinks if she runs away, she can delay or even stop the ceremony. Along the way Minnie makes two important new friends - a jackal she names Twist and a young rubbler named Robin. Rubblers are the lowest eschalon of this society. They dig through the rubble and assist with all the town rebuilding. It is back breaking work which even children are forced to do and their lungs are filled with dust and they live in poverty. 

Here are a few text quotes:

"Would future children of the island shudder a little too, when they passed Speck's statue. Would they look up into her stone face and know, or care, that she had looked after Minnie Wadlow, and swum in a lagoon for forty-five glorious stolen minutes. Or would they not even see her, would she just fade into the background, as many of the statues did after a while? How would they know that Speck liked watermelon slices, and broke a plate every day, and had a specially soft voice if Minnie ever cried?"

"Then she gently, put her hand on the top of his head. It was the first time she had ever touched a jackal. She let her hand stay there, and he allowed it. She took in the solidity of his skull, the warmth of his flesh, and the softness of his fur, all at one - all this strength and fragility under her fingers, and she was humbled by what he had done for her, after she had rejected him."

"There's a possibility of survival if you keep going. If you stay, you're going to get crushed. Dad always said, once things start falling, don't wait around hoping things will get better. They won't. Get out when you can."

The journey undertaken by these three is so dangerous and the final showdown and battle with the hunters intent on their capture will leave you reeling. I just raced through the final chapters - 41-53 desperate for that all important happy ending.

Publisher blurb: There’s absolutely nothing wrong with Minnie’s island. Nothing, that is, apart from the earthquakes, which pull buildings and schools and houses down on a regular basis. Luckily, the island’s inhabitants have found a way to fix their crumbling walls: giants. Giants look after human children, like eleven-year-old Minnie. When Minnie turns twelve, she’ll kiss her giant, turning her into a stone statue forever. The stone will be used to repair buildings. And there’s nothing wrong with that either . . . or so Minnie thinks. But when a dreadful earthquake strikes, Minnie realises she’s not quite ready to say goodbye to her giant – not forever – not yet. So Minnie goes on the run, betraying her parents and everyone she knows. The secrets she uncovers on her journey threaten to pull everything down: and so begins a desperate race against time in which she will confront the truth about her island, her giant . . . and ultimately herself.

Despite the playful language and imaginative setting, this book packs some serious punches as Skinner tackles unnerving concepts head on. Providing an undercurrent throughout the plot are the ongoing implications of colonisation and totalitarianism, where in this unequal society giants are forced to live either as servants or are cast out to the No-Go Mountains. ... This may sound rather heavy for a book perfect for the end of Year 4 upwards, but in the big-hearted and wildly inventive hands of Skinner such themes are skilfully and subtly explored. It is love, however, that is the real driving force behind this story – particularly the love story between Minnie and her giant Speck. A mesmerising triumph, this book would enrapture a class as a read-aloud and has enough meaty themes to make a great whole class text. Just Imagine UK

This is a long book with over 390 pages but I almost read the whole story in one day!  YES it is that good. In fact this is going onto my list of top favourites. I expect to see this book on lots of award lists. The paperback is a really good price so I highly recommend you add this book to your library shelves today! Reading this book adults might think of the movie The Help. 

Take a look at all these book covers by Flavia Sorrentino. I am now very keen to read other books by Nicola Skinner.

Starboard Kirkus Star Review; Storm Kirkus Star Review

The Last Human by Lee Bacon

"Humans were unpredictable/illogical/ reckless/deceitful/dangerous. 

And now so was I. Because of Emma."

XR-935 is a robot with an assigned task as a solar installation bot He completes his work each day along side two other robots SkD, who communicates using emojis, and Ceeron, a huge robot with a backpack. 

"My schedule never changed. I woke at at the exact same time every morning. After eighteen hours of work, my batteries drained from a long day of installing solar panels, I returned home. I plugged myself into the charging dock. I went into sleep mode. The next morning I did it all over again. And again. And again. For twelve years, four months, one week, and three days, this was my routine. Until my steady, predictable life was shattered by the paradox."

The paradox is a young girl called Emma. For thirty years robots have ruled the world and humans have been elminated, exterminated, massacred. But somehow Emma has survived and our three robot heroes discover other humans have too. They are living in underground bunkers but now it seems everyone is dead or dying from a serious disease. Emma seems to be the only survivor. Her parents have given her a map and she has set off to travel over 40 kilometres to possibly safety. Luckily XR_935 and his two 'friends' are keen to help but they are breaking every rule of their society. Unluckily the robot President has detected them and he has sent out his huge HunterBots to capture this illegal lifeform.

Here are some text quotes to give you a flavour of this book:

"My operating system shivered with an unfamiliar buzz. I had never kept a secret before. This was my first. It would not be my last."

"Sometimes, the human brain was as mysterious as a falling leaf."

"Robots have only been in charge for a few decades. We have done our best to overcome nature. We cleared the land, paved pathways with smooth cement, installed shelters to protect ourselves from the weather. But now, far from our familiar surroundings, I was suddenly aware of just how treacherous the world can be."

"I could measure the sugar and acidity of an apple, chart the size and firmness. But I would never know what it was like to sink my teeth into brand-new food, to feel completely a unexpected taste explode in my mouth. Maybe eating was not a flaw after all."

The Last Human (2019) has been on my "to read/to buy" list for a couple of years so I was delight to see it at a recent charity book fair for just $2. I sat down yesterday to read a chapter or two and then found myself running late for an appointment because I need to devour the whole book! Devour!! I haven't been in a reading slump but it has been a while since a book grabbed me so strongly that I just had to read and read and read right to the end. I highly recommend this book, which has binary numbers as chapter headings for added interest, for readers aged 10+. I hope I have not made this book sound too serious - there are plenty of human jokes which puzzle XR-935 and I really enjoyed trying to interpret the emoji communication by SkD. And of course there are issues such as food for Emma and power for the three robots which add a delicious layer of story tension. There is political layer in this book too, where we read how The President manipulates selected information which he broadcasts to his robot subjects. This is a terrific example of propaganda. 

If you follow my blog you have probably formed a picture of my book taste and you might know I love dystopian fiction and robots (and other themes too).  The Last Human combines a dystopian world and three fabulous robot main characters alongside a young girl who might quite possibly been the last human. 

Publisher blurb: Humans went extinct thirty years ago. Now the world is ruled by machines. And twelve-year-old robot XR_935 is just fine with that. Without humans around, there is no war, no pollution, no crime. Every member of society has a purpose. Everything runs smoothly and efficiently. Until the day XR discovers something impossible. Until the day XR discovers a twelve-year-old human.

Here is a review with more plot details. Listen to an audio sample. 

I have talked about lots of robot books here on this blog. I would pair The Last Human with these: 

The Wild Robot

Troofriend

Fake by Ele Fountain

"There's a lot of money to be made from keeping people in one place, with only their screens. Think of all the shopping for a start. Why change things if most people are happy? ... 

The ones making all the money are smart. 

They're very generous to the people who made the laws, so they won't rush to change them."

The best authors of dystopian fiction do not reveal everything at the start of their story - they carefully insert tiny fragments of information so as a reader you can 'join the dots' and infer the way of the world in this future time. I adore this style of writing. 

As this book opens, Jess who is fourteen is about to head away to school. She is leaving her beloved younger sister Chloe behind. On the first page we read the word ROOM (I am not going to tell you about this you need to read Fake to understand this). Then on page 15 there is a mention of a portal watch which Jess uses to connect with her friend Finn. It is some sort of video phone.  Chloe and Jess also have a pet kitten. Surely this is not a problem but then Finn comments "Keeping a pet. That's an offence." It is now time to leave but how will Jess get to her new school. We read that the transport has been charged.  

"No transport has space for luggage - big transports waste electricity. ... Families used to have massive cars which could carry everything. Transports only have room for seats, to save energy."

Then we read these chilling words "mum warned me that some students will never have met another child before." and there is a mention of live-learning. The other students take health supplements and have their online shopping delivered by drone. In her trunk Jess has bought some of her fathers precious books. Mae, her room mate has never touched a paper book. 

In this world of the future, children learn on screens at home so they are protected from diseases until they are fourteen when their immune systems have developed.  

"After the antibiotics stopped working I thought they made all kinds of laws to protect us. ... But that was twenty years ago during the Scarlet Fever epidemic."

There is no money, only credits. Chloe needs expensive medicines and her parents, who live on a farm, have very few credits and the price of the medicine keeps rising. Jess has learned about coding and computer hacking. She has a plan to help her family but days in the new school are busy and tiring and working on complex coding at night might not be a good idea because mistakes can easily happen. Mistakes with shocking consequences for her precious family. 

This book is such a terrific commentary on our modern world - on our use of and dependence on technology; on the implications of disease such as the Covid Pandemic; and our concerns with personal privacy when the State collects so much data about our lives. Heavy stuff!  Yes. I nearly gave this book five stars but, to me, the ending was a little rushed and perhaps a little too perfect but this aspect of the story is sure to deeply satisfy young readers aged 10+. 

" ... a compelling thriller with fantastic characters set in a futuristic world where everyone is isolated from each other in their homes."  Books up North

"Well, this is an absolute corker of a story, one that feels slightly surreal as you read and relate to particular events and situations. There is a true link to what we have endured during the initial Covid 19 lockdowns and fear from society."  My Shelves are Full

Companion reads:

Chance of Safety

Where the River runs Gold

Catch me if I fall

Among the Hidden

The Girl who could Fly

The Callers by Kiah Thomas

"Everything I have ever known is a lie,' said Quin, finally admitting out loud the truth that had been building inside him since he'd arrived."

"His heart beat faster as they neared the field from earlier, and he quickened his pace. On one level he understood that his being Vine-touched was an impossibility, but on the other hand he seemed to have grown a plant simply by touching it."

I am going to begin here by restating the labels I have listed for this book - Science Fiction; Dystopian World; Control; Politics; Betrayal; Corruption; Thieves; Other Worlds; Consumerism; Exploitation.  Are you beginning to get a sense of this story. Some reviewers and book sellers list this book as a fantasy but I think Science Fiction is a better choice of genre. 

In the world of Quintus Octavius, a place called Elipsom, very special people have the gift of calling. If they want something they can "call" it into existence.  There are rules about this but everything they have comes from calling. In this society there are people who do not agree with this way of life. These people live as outcasts in the Spurges. Quin has read a little about this place because one day his friend Milo just disappeared from school. Quin now knows people who "move to the Spurges and willingly live a life without Called Provisions" have all their data removed from the Council's system. They give up access to the food supply and central medical services.

So we have a stratified society but there is another layer to discover. On the other side of this planet is a place called Evantra. This is the place where things actually "come" from and the people who live there are almost like slaves under control of Callers from Elipsom. 

Quin finds himself in Evantra and he discovers the truth but why is he so special? What can one young boy do to right this dreadful wrong? 

I read this book in one sitting - it is the perfect page turner. I absolutely guarantee you will be sitting on the edge of your seat and when the action takes a huge twist in Chapter 16 you will be gasping for breath hoping everything will be okay for Quin and Allie. (I confess I actually had to take a quick look at the last page just to reassure myself ... well I won't spoil the ending).

As a bonus Kiah Thomas (this is her debut novel) gives all her characters creative names which perfectly match the Science Fiction focus of this story. In Elipson we have Davina - Quin's sister; Adriana Octavius - Quins mother and Chief Councillor. Milo Valerious and his mother Cecelia live away from Elipson in the Spurges. And in Evantra we meet Allie; Marcus; and Demetrius. I am also very keen to see a rhinodrite but you will need to read The Callers to discover what they are.

The action will keep readers avidly turning pages ... Kirkus

This book will be published in May, 2022.  Thanks to Beachside Bookshop for my advance reader copy. The ending hints at a possible sequel but I actually don't need this - it is just fun to imagine the new and much better future that awaits Quin and Allie. I have included the UK and US covers at the top of this post. Which one do you prefer?

This book reminded me a little of the Edsel Grizzler series by James Roy.  

People who enjoyed The Giver by Lois Lowry will want to read The Callers and you could also look for this older book by Monica Hughes:

And this book could also be linked with:

And if topics like control, stratified societies and dystopian worlds interest you try to find:

Where the River runs Gold

Begone the Raggedy witches by Celine Kiernan

When I love a book I usually fly through the pages. That didn't happen with Begone the Raggedy Witches which has taken me several weeks to read. Many of the review points made here resonated with my experience of this book. There are however, some clever plot ideas in this story and some memorable characters especially Mup and her new friend Crow.

Mup (her real name is Pearl) lives in our world with her mum (Mam) Stella, her Dad, and her little baby brother named Tipper. They have a loyal old dog called Badger. Aunty Boo, who has been protecting the family, has just died. Then the witches arrive:

"There were men witches and women witches, and they leapt from branch to branch, racing along at tremendous speed. They were nothing but shadows among shadows, so that Mup had to strain her eyes to see them."

Mup has no idea about her mother and her heritage. Stella is the sister of the evil queen. Dad has been taken as a way to lure Mam over the border. Mup follows her taking her dog and her baby brother who is luckily transformed into a young puppy which means Mup does not need to carry him or worry about food etc. Aunty Boo is now has a ghost like form and she comes along to help Mup and rescue Mam. 

The evil Queen (who is somewhat like the Snow Queen or the Queen from the Narnia series) has murdered hundreds of citizens and imposed dreadful rules on people who do not conform to her rules. People are forced to speak in rhymes, dancing and music are banned as are colours. This reminded me of the Chain of Charms series by Kate Forsyth. Also Fire Girl and Fire Witch which are set during the time of Cromwell (links below).

The use of rhyme as a means of controlling communication is central to maintaining the Queen's hold on her subjects. If they don't speak in rhyme, this alerts the Raggedy Witches to their whereabouts. If they do speak in rhyme, the constraints that places on real communication keep the outlaws in their place. Reading Zone

Mup must journey to the castle to rescue her dad and find her Mam. Of course all of this is also leading to a huge confrontation with the Queen. Read more plot details in this Book Bag review. 

Publisher blurb:  When witches kidnap her dad, Mup is swept up in a wild tide of magic that carries her to another world. Can she reunite her family and find her way back? On the night that Aunty dies, the raggedy witches come for Mup’s family. Pale, cold, and relentless, the witches will do anything for the tyrannical queen who has outlawed most magic and enforces her laws with terror and cruelty — and who happens to be Mup’s grandmother. When witches carry off her dad, Mup and her mam leave the mundane world to rescue him. But everything is odd in the strange, glittering Witches Borough, even Mam. Even Mup herself. In a world of rhyming crows, talking cats, and golden forests, it’s all Mup can do to keep her wits about her. And even if she can save her dad, Mup’s not sure if anything will ever be the same again.

I would recommend this book for readers aged 10+ with reading stamina and readers who enjoy fantasy (with a touch of humour - Tipper made me laugh). 

Companion reads:

The Wild West Witches

Fire Girl and the sequel Fire Witch

The girl who drank the Moon

This is the first book in a trilogy. Here are the next two books:

Ghostcloud by Michael Mann

The evil Tabatha Margate rules the Battersea power station using a mixture of fear, severe punishments and frightening threats. Hundreds of children are suffering in this horrible underground environment where they work long hours shovelling coal into huge burners. It is incredibly dangerous work.  This is a debut novel from Michael Mann and he is sure to make you feel every cruel moment.

"There was a squeal of pain down the line, then the sizzle of hot ash on naked skin. A solitary sob echoed through the hall."

"The front line kids have to throw coal in the fire with their bare hands. The flames jump out and burn off their fingernails.  One kid lost an eye the other day."

The London of this dystopian world is covered in a dangerous smog. Children are regularly kidnapped to work for Tabatha. Areas of the city are now either uninhabitable or filled with make-shift shelters and people living in poverty. The tunnel between England and France is blocked. Meanwhile rich people ride around in vehicles with smog-sealed doors. 

Naturally Luke and his mate Ravi are desperate to get out of this place. There is a system where the children can earn a golden ticket and so that is their goal until the night Luke meets a ghostcloud named Alma. Backing up a little, Luke is working at his shovelling when Tabatha arrives. There is a new girl on the line called Jess. It is clear she has no idea how to shovel and so everyone on this line will be punished and worse still it will take longer to earn that golden ticket. Luke leaps the line to rescue Jess but everything goes terribly wrong and so Luke and Jess are sent to clean the sewer in the East Wing as a punishment. After several fairly fruitless hours of cleaning this utterly filthy place, using strips of their own clothing, Luke suggests Jess take a nap. At this point he discovers a girl trapped behind the glass wall of the incinerator. He is able to rescue her and then he discovers she is a ghostcloud and better yet Luke himself has ghostly abilities too. 

Now the race is on to reach freedom but of course this is not simple. Freedom will also come with a cost because Tabatha certainly won't let these children go free. She will hunt them down. So who is this woman called Tabatha? Why is she using the children in this way? what is she hiding in her laboratory? Where does this smog come from? And can Luke stay safe when the skies are filled with ghouls?

I suggest readers in Australia may need a map of London to make sense of all the places mentioned in this story but don't let that stop you grabbing hold of this book - I think all the damaged and altered landmarks in London just add to the dystopian flavour. I recommend this book for readers aged 10+.

Ghostcloud has odd pricing. The hardcover was released on 7th October and is priced over $30 here in Australia. Some sellers list the paperback (due at the end of October) for under $20 while others have it listed over $25. Whatever the price I would add this book to your own or library shopping list. 

I would pair this book with The Wonderling by Mira Bartok.  This is a book that many of you may have missed reading but can I suggest you hunt it out (soon) because it is splendid. 

And you are also sure to enjoy The Middler by Kirsty Applebaum. 

Tabatha and her evil ways and her obsessive drive for power reminded me of these book characters

Matilda by Roald Dahl - Miss Trunchbull

The Girl who could fly by Victoria Forester - Dr Hellion

The Unadoptables by Hanna Tooke  - Matron Gassbeek

Beetle Boy by MG Leonard - Lucretia Cutter

The Lost Children by Carolyn Cohagan - The Master

Eloise and the Bucket of Stars by Janeen Brian - Sister Hortense

The Middler by Kirsty Applebaum

This book is breathtaking and brilliant. I loved every page! 

Maggie is a middle child. In her small community people live their lives in great fear of the Quiet War. Every day the children sing songs and recite words reinforcing the only way to stay safe. 

Our eldest are heroes. Our eldest are special. Our eldest are brave.

Shame upon any who holds back an eldest and shame upon their kin. 

Most of all, shame upon the wanderers. 

Let peace settle over the Quiet War, truly and forever.

Every family must send their first born child to a special camp where they will be trained to assist with the war effort. In the town people put up black out curtains each evening and everyone follows the rule of staying inside the village which is surrounded by barriers. Outsiders are dangerous. They are called Wanderers. Every child knows these people are: Dirty. Dangerous. Deceitful.

Maggie knows her brother Jed, who is about to turn fourteen, will soon be sent to camp. Maggie is an obedient girl and she does follow all the town rules but she cannot help feeling some resentment. Eldests get so many special privileges. 

"You eldests get everything - big parties, the best clothes, you win all the prizes, you get praise for stuff you didn't do, we even chant about you every day in assembly."

Then everything changes. Maggie meets Una Opal. Una is a Wanderer. Maggie sees an opportunity for glory, for recognition. If she can hand Una and Mr Opal over to Mayor Anderson then maybe someone will finally notice her. But over time she gets to know Una and slowly, one fragment at a time, the truth is revealed and everything Maggie has believed as true turns out to be the most dangerous of lies.

Kirsty Applebaum creates the most amazing world in this gripping story. Adults are sent to work in the fields, water is a commodity that has to be collected in a container called a Cleercan, every citizen is given a billy lamp. From the way these are described I think they might be solar lamps and it is very clear they are precious. Maggie finds a whole pile of them in a house where Jed and his friend Lindi are being held.

"A hole pile of billy lamps? Who has a whole pile of billy lamps behind their desk?  You only get one when you're born, and you jolly well have to look after it because there isn't another one coming your way any time soon."

Cars are also rare and electricity is unreliable. I loved the way each of these details is given as a tiny story fragment. 

This is a wonderfully conceived and slickly executed dystopian novel set in a seemingly idyllic town, but with an undercurrent of secrets to send a shiver down the spine. Book Trust

Careful, serious, indelible. Kirkus

This debut set in a dystopian near future is an absorbing story of boundaries tested, forbidden friendships made, propaganda and questioning, and developing the courage to find your own voice and speak the truth. Library Lady

My labels for this post may give you some further ideas about the themes of the story. I highly recommend The Middler for all readers aged 10+. Here are some companion reads:

Beautiful Blue World

Where the River runs Gold

Forest of Wonders

Chance of Safety

Mouseheart

The Girl who Drank the Moon

I also loved these books by Kirsty Applebaum. She is certainly an author who leaves you with lots of things to think about:

The Life and Time of Lonny Quicke

Troofriend