Ruby on the Outside by Nora Raleigh Baskin

And the truth is I’ve never had a real friend. A best friend, not just a condo friend. 

I think, partly it’s because of my secret-keeping. I think the thing about having a best friend is that you don’t have any secrets, at least not from each other. 

Most girls I know, and even boys I know, have one really, really important friend 

that rises above all the others who are just regular friends.

When Ruby was just five years old her mum left her at home alone late at night. Mum has gone with her new husband and stepdad to Ruby to rob a convenience store. Guns were involved, the man fled but mum stayed beside the dying teenager. Jump forward six years and Ruby now lives with her aunt and they make a weekly visit to the prison. Ruby was so young when all this happened, but she has fragments of memory. More than this, though, she deeply misses her mother. She names her aunt Matoo - meaning second mum. Ruby learns it is best to keep all of this a secret, so she lives two lives - Ruby on the outside and Ruby on the inside. Mum will be in prison for 25 years and so Ruby will be aged 31 when she is released.

Ruby works hard to be a 'good student' and to make sense of the world. She has one friend a girl named Kristin but even Ruby knows this girl is not really a true friend. Over the summer Ruby meets Margalit and it seems she might have found that longed for true friend but navigating a friendship is new territory for Ruby and she is terrified she will 'mess it up'. 

I started this book yesterday on a bus trip and completed it this morning. I already knew some of the plot which at first distracted me but then I reached the best plot twist ever! I cannot spoil this but all my worry about Ruby and her precious new friendship evaporated.

Bookseller blurb: Ruby's mom is in prison, and to tell anyone the truth is to risk true friendship in this novel that accurately and sensitively addresses a subject too often overlooked-from the author ofThe Summer Before Boys. Eleven-year-old Ruby Danes is about to start middle school, and only her aunt knows her deepest, darkest, secret: her mother is in prison. Then Margalit Tipps moves into Ruby's condo complex, and the two immediately hit it off. Ruby thinks she's found her first true-blue friend-but can she tell Margalit the truth about her mom? Maybe not. Because it turns out that Margalit's family history seems closely connected to the very event that put her mother in prison, and if Ruby comes clean, she could lose everything she cares about most.

Hopefully your students who read this book will not have had the same experience of weekly visits to a prison or correctional facility or jail but sadly this is a reality for some children. I used to be a Teacher-Librarian in a town with a maximum security jail. There are parts of this story that will break your heart but I promise the ending will help heal it. 

Here are some text quotes to give you a flavour of this heartfelt first person narrative.

We put all our belongings in a locker, showed our IDs. But we still had to go through all the security: the metal detectors, the wand search, the hand stamp, the gated doors, the big black bars, the hand stamp check, the sign-in, more bars, and finally we got to the visitors’ room where we were assigned to a table.

So lying in the dark, I try to smile. I force my mouth to turn up at the corners. I think I am smiling and I wonder what my mother is doing. She is in her cell by now, the steel bars pulled shut and locked. Maybe she is asleep. Maybe she is thinking about me. I try to smile but I feel the wetness leaking out of my eyes and dripping down my cheeks onto my pillow. I miss my mother so much.

I’m sure it’s raining in Bedford Hills, too, and that thought comes into my head but I know if my mother is in her cell, she can’t see it. I wonder if she can hear it. I wonder if there are other ways to know if it’s raining. Can she hear it? Do the COs come into work and talk about the weather? What is it like not to see the sky when you wake up in the morning?

I rack my brain. I consider every possibility for how to live with this terrible truth and not lose my very first, very best friend. For a crazy second, I want to call my mom—which, of course, I know I can’t do—like I used to when I was little. I want her to put her arms around me and make everything all right. Or at least tell me what to do. And then I realize my mother can’t fix anything. Because she’s the one who broke it.

The officer behind the glass stamps my hand with an invisible stamp. Today it is the right hand. Yesterday must have been left. I am not sure why they switch it every day, but I am sure it has something to do with preventing the prisoners from getting out. Or the wrong people from coming in. ... Here there is a little machine that you have to put your hand under and suddenly, there it is, the glowing stamp they just put on your skin. I used to think that was so cool, so magical. Not anymore.

Visitors are not allowed to wear green, but that’s not a problem for me. I’ve made sure I don’t own one green thing. Not a shirt, or a sweater, a sweatshirt, or pants. Not even green socks.

A deeply compassionate exploration of an experience underrepresented in children’s literature but overrepresented in the real world. Kirkus

Australian readers may not be familiar with the game Ruby plays with her friend - carrom. It is a board game. Read more here. Also, you will want to read one of my favourite books - Sarah, Plain and Tall. 

Here are some other books I have read with jail settings:

A Wish in the dark

The Warden's Daughter

Born Behind Bars

All Rise for the Honorable Perry T Cook

From the desk of Zoe Washington (The Faraway Truth)

Bob and Dob by Sean E Avery

There are words (in English) that make me shudder. I think I should make a list of them but the one from today is dobber or dob. Perhaps because I don't have siblings, the act of dobbing did not really feature in my childhood and so that might explain why this word seems so utterly dreadful to me. 

The next thing you need to know is I have a fairly finely tuned "didactic" meter. IF a book even feels slightly agenda driven I usually either switch off or just reject it. Kirkus agree Bob and Dob is not overly didactic saying: A thrilling tale with a gently conveyed moral.

These two things - my dislike of this word and my 'allergy' to didactic stories - could mean I might not enjoy this new book - Bob and Dob and yet somehow Sean E Avery pulls this off. Yes, it is about dobbing (by Dob) and there is a lesson to be learnt but it is done with a light touch, humour and appealing illustrations. Each page has a varied and interesting layout, and I do like the purple and maroon/red colour palette. 

Dobber definition: a person who secretly tells someone in authority that someone else has done something wrong.

The earliest known use of the noun dobber is in the 1830s in the UK and I am not entirely sure the word dobber is used in the US. There is also a complication with defining the word dob because search engines wrongly assume you mean the acronym Date of Birth! 

On the back cover the word dobber has an asterix and at the bottom of the cover there is a word list: blabber-mouth, big-mouth, grass, informer, nark, rumour-monger, sneak, snitch, tattle-tale, whistle-blower. (see also crying wolf). 

Here are some other synonyms for dobber:

Back to the story. Bob and Dob are brothers. 

"Dob was a small bird who enjoyed telling tales. He enjoyed telling small tales, big tales and especially enjoyed telling tales that would get his brother Bob into trouble."  Into trouble with their mother. 

And yes, as the definition suggests, he did this quietly - whispering to his mother when he saw Bob 'breaking the rules' such as flying too high or hunting for worms alone. 

Bob is fed up of course but over time his mother also gets tired of the dobbing by Dob. 

Now the story flips. It might be good at this point for you to think about the story of the boy who cried wolf. Dob sees Bob in real danger from a crocodile but now his mother will not listen. SNAP - Bob is gone. How can Dob save the day? If I was reading this book to a group I might stop at the SNAP page and ask how Dob might save the day.

This book is sure to delight your young reading companion or library group. It is noisy, funny and contains fantastic words such as outrageous, ridiculous, audacity and best of all egad! And of course, this book is sure to be a fabulous discussion starter about this important topic because I know young children often love to dob in their classmates. Congratulations to Walker Books on anther terrific book. I am sure we will see this book listed as a 2026 CBCA Early Childhood Notable. 

Here is a further quote from the Kirkus review - how thrilling to see our Australian book reach this prestigious review journal even though it is clear the word dobber is not used in the US:

Avery presents the events in carefully manipulated vignettes, employing a narrator’s description as well as word bubbles containing characters’ statements placed within the illustrations, which depict Bob as blue, Dob as red, and Mother as an imposing purple. Their every expression is captured by slight changes in their beaks, pupils, or eyebrows, indicating joy, consternation, or anger. Little ones will love reading this story and returning to find new details. Though the word dobber isn’t defined, its meaning is clear in context.

You already know I loved Frank's Red Hat by Sean E Avery.

Frank's Red Hat

Look in your library for versions of The Boy who cried wolf:

The Only Branch on the Family Tree by Sherryl Clark illustrated by Astred Hicks

Gemma's teacher sets a school assignment - draw and present your family tree. Everyone seems to be able to this easily - all except Gemma. Her family is just two people. No grandparents, no dad, no siblings, no cousins. Luckily Gemma is a problem solver so she decides to make a collage of pictures of 'mum and me'.

I started with the old photos

she'd put away

in boxes

and saved on the computer.

...

I found pictures of Mum

with her mum and dad

it's awful that they're gone

'they died,' she said

but then I found one photo

on the computer

that said something different.

Gemma discovers she does have a grandmother, and that she is alive, and even more surprising she does not live very far away. 

So now as a reader you will have lots of questions:

• Why did mum tell Gemma her grandmother had died?
• Will Gemma be able to find her grandmother?
• What will her grandmother say when she meets Gemma?
• Can Gemma solve this mystery and can she be brave and confront her mum about this lie?
• And are we heading for a happy ending for this family?

As with all good verse novels there is a deep emotional layer to this story. Readers aged 9+ are sure to enjoy this book and because it is so very short it is also perfect for reluctant readers. I also think this book might hook a few kids onto reading. Congratulations to UQP on the fabulous cover design - very appealing. 

This lovely verse novel from UQP and Sherryl Clark looks at family dynamics from a different perspective – about estrangement and isolation within families, because not every family is the same. ... Whilst the book doesn’t touch on the specifics of the conflict and estrangement, I think this is what makes it so much more powerful and allows readers to see themselves in this novel, especially if they have been through similar experiences to Gemma. The Book Muse

A couple of weeks ago I read Just Like Jackie. It is such a similar story and would be a perfect companion book to read after The Only Branch of the Family Tree.

Just like Jackie

I was so excited when UQP offered to send me this new verse novel by Sherryl Clark - I am a huge fan of her work and we had a brilliant day many years ago when she visited my school. I read all of these to children in my school library over many years:

This is one of my favourite Verse Novels

I need to find a copy for my own shelves

Hope you can find this one - perfect for all girls in Grade Six

Motormouth

 Mina and the whole wide world

POST UPDATE: I just discovered another book that includes the plot point of drawing up a family tree as part of a class project. I have added this book to my own "to read" list.

Publisher blurb: It’s the first week of middle school, and Ash (don’t call her “Ashley”) already has a class assignment: Make a family tree. But how can Ash make a family tree if she doesn’t have a family? Ever since she was four years old, Ash has been in foster care, living with one so-called family after another. Now she’s stuck with Gladys. And the only place Ash feels safe is in the branches of her favorite tree, drawing in her sketchbook, hidden from the view of Gladys’ son Jordan. As Jordan becomes harder to hide from, and more dangerous to be around, Ash isn’t sure who she can trust. A new friend, an old friend, some teachers at school? Sometimes the hardest part of asking for help is knowing who to ask.

Here is the Kirkus Star review.

The Boy in the Suit by James Fox

Right from the beginning of this book it is clear this young boy has a fraught relationship with his mother and also it is clear that she is suffering from a serious mental illness. When he was born, she named her son Solo. This name means Solo has to suffer lots of bullying and name calling at school. 

On page two we read a description of Morag's clothing:

"Morag was wearing her favourite party outfit: a black leather jacket, black hat with lace that partially covered her eyes, smart black skirt with black tights, and black boots that came up to her knees."

Then we read about her moods:

"Morag got in a mood like this sometimes. She had a special name for it: the Big Bad Reds, or the BBRs for short. Apparently, an evil red mist would descent into her eyes, and all she could see was how rubbish the whole world was. Whenever Morag was suffering from the BBrs, her voice went snappy and the words she used didn't sound anything like the real her .. There were so many words like depression and anxiety floating around, but I wasn't sure that's what Morag had. All I knew was that some of her mood were trickier than others."

Dad left long ago and now mum (Solo calls her Morag) has lost her job. It is clear they will be evicted very soon because the rent has not been paid. As a way to find food Morag takes Solo along to funerals. They sit though the church service and then 'gate crash' the after party. Solo wears an old charity shop suit which is way too big for him but it does have large pockets. He also carries small plastic bags. He collects the buffet food surreptitiously and then deposits it Morag's large handbag. Solo hates doing this and he is also in desperate fear they will be found out. It is even worse when Morag finds the free drinks at the 'party' and often becomes quite drunk.

Then comes the funeral where they are 'found out'. And even worse a newspaper publishes photos of Solo and Morag and the social media world goes viral. And Solo get a new horrid name - Funeral Boy.

The part of this book that made me shudder is the description of the way Solo's teacher treats him. She has absolutely no emotional intelligence, no empathy and is at times, even cruel towards Solo who clearly is suffering. He has no food, the wrong clothes and with no access to proper hygiene I am sure he must smell. All she can do is give him demerit points and threats. The scenes near the end of the book when she learns the truth about Solo and his dreadful life circumstances left me feeling hollow. Her apology feels somewhat fake especially when she tells Solo her own mum also had mental health issues. I was left wanting to scream at her for her terrible behaviour. Luckily there is a teacher's aide in the school who does see Solo needs help. She is able to give him shoes and information about a local food bank. Sadly his mum will not accept charity and so they do not visit the food bank and she refuses to complete the necessary forms. The other wonderful character in this book is a new girl called Chetna. She is kind to Solo, she is patient with him, and she is even willing to take huge risks when Morag goes missing and Solo makes a plan to travel to a seaside holiday resort by running away from a school excursion. 

There are other adults who want to help Solo but he is so protective of Morag - these parts of this story will break your heart. 

The Boy in the Suit is a stark portrayal of the cost of living crisis and its impact on children. It highlights those invisible children who can easily slip through the cracks if other adults in their lives are not checking in and providing support (without waiting for the child to ask). Empathetic, sensitive and honest, this story is one that will stay with readers long after the book is finished. Scope for Imagination

While it highlights the reality of life with a parent experiencing mental health issues and the difficulties caused by child poverty, it also carries a message of hope, the value of friendship, and the courage it can take to accept help from others.  Book Trust

There are more plot details and some discussion questions here. 

This book will be available here in Australia in May 2025. Somehow a copy arrived in the Westmead Children's Hospital Book Bunker library so I borrowed it last week. The cover makes this look like a Young Adult title and indeed The Empathy Lab collection for 2025 put this book into their 12-16 book set. Other reviewers, however, say 9-11. In my view this is one of those cross over books - it will appeal to mature readers in Grade 6 but it could also be enjoyed by students in Grade 7 and 8.

Here are the 2025 Empathy list book titles:

Companion books:

The wrong shoes

Small as an Elephant

Giraffe Island by Sofia Chanfreau illustrated by Amanda Chanfreau translated by Julia Marshall

Vega lives on an island with her father. Her grandfather lives nearby. The island, when viewed from above, is shaped like a giraffe.

"there's an island shaped like a giraffe - it you look at it from above or on a map and use your imagination. It has three legs and a small tail, a large body and a long neck which ends in a head. In the middle of its body is a big lake, called Giraffe's Heart. The water in that lake is as sweet as lemonade ..."

The main town on Giraffe Island is called Capital City not because it is the capital but because the word capital means head and that's where the town is located - on the head of the giraffe. I guess you can already anticipate this will be a very inventive and imaginative story. 

Vega has a special gift. She can see all sorts of fantastical animals. Her father cannot see them but luckily she shares this gift with her grandfather and he has lots of these creatures in his wonderful garden. Her father likes things to be organised and he strictly keeps to a routine - even with the sequence of their meals and he won't answer any questions about her absent mother. Verga can read his moodsby looking at his eyebrows. When they eat dinner together he draws a chalk circle around the table (this seems very curious) and he always sings a special goodnight song but just lately all of these routines have changed after a strange woman arrives. Everything about her feels cold. There's even ice forming beside her white car. Verga used to share all her school news with her father every night. She has just been given a letter from a pen pal and she is so excited about all the possibilities of a new friend but her father is so changed, and he seems so distracted that she decides it might be better not to tell him. 

At least Vega can talk to her Grandfather Hector (even though he also won't talk about her mother). On her visit Vega hears something moving under the blueberry bushes and then a boy emerges. His name is Nelson and he also goes to her school. They are in different classrooms side by side and their teacher Ms Hum runs between the two rooms to teach both groups. (I love this idea and the classroom names are also very different). Nelson is a collector and he has a special book where he keeps notes of his curious discoveries. He also carries an old tape recorder and he uses it to record laughter. He has 33 laughs in his collection.

"There was something about Nelson that made Vega want to tell him everything. He was like a hungry puppy, pouncing on everything and gobbling it up. Like a waterfall that never stopped. He never frowned when he explained something like the other children at school. And there were no clouds above his head either."

Together Vega and Nelson begin collecting facts. Vega's pen pal lives with a circus troupe. Vega's grandfather Hector seems to have a connection with circuses. They closely examine an old photo of Vega's mum and find more hints. Then Vega and Nelson they decide they need to make the journey to the mainland because Janna, the pen pal, and her circus will be performing there. Vega has never taken the long ferry trip across the open sea but there is no need to worry because Hector has the most amazing car called a Muffinmobile. Yes it does make muffins, but it can also travel on land and on the water. The journey is wild but they do arrive at the circus eventually. That is great but Dad and Viola (that freezing cold woman) have followed them. Vega is sure she will uncover the truth about her mother and her past by asking questions at the circus but they have to hurry and so far none of the performers, interviewed mainly by Nelson, seem able to help.

You have already worked out this is a quirky book. The lake tastes like lemonade. In the town where Vega lives there are a number of disused factories. Think about these hamsters!

"Many of the buildings' windows were broken and you could glimpse old, rusted machines inside that no one knew how to use anymore. Rats and voles had built nests inside the furnace and control rooms, and escaped hamsters used gears and old conveyor belts as exercise equipment."

I love the names of the animals invented for this book: frudbimbles, spoonlurks, fasterer, trunktoothed rumpling and fourfentipedes. The black and white art in this book is also very special - it reminded me of the drawings by Judith Rossell in her Withering-by-sea books. You can see the illustrations here. 

You can read Chapter Two here. 

There were two things that drew me to this book when I saw it on the shelf at a local book shop - Three Sparrows.  Firstly, the publisher is Gecko Press - they always deliver fabulous books. Secondly when I saw the words "winner of the Finlandia Junior prize" on the back cover I knew this was a translated book. If you think about book translation, especially of a novel like this with over 200 pages, the book has to be worth this process. I have no language skills but I can appreciate that it must take hours and hours to translate a book - maintaining more than the words - keeping the spirit and essence of the story. Read more about the translation of this book here. This book originally comes from Sweden.  I have included the cover at the bottom of this post. When I see a book has been translated I usually discover a fabulous story - that is certainly true of Giraffe Island. 

I highly, highly recommend Giraffe Island. It would be a perfect book to read aloud to your child or to a Grade 4 or 5 class. 

This is the first children’s novel for primary and Intermediate readers that I have read for at least a year and I can assure you that you will not read a better story this year. It is a fantasy adventure mystery story with a dose of magic thrown in. ... Once you start will will not put it down. Bobs Books Blog

Full of magical realism, this story is fun to read, fascinating to look at and will capture your imagination. This is a book that is all about family, love and friendship. Giraffe Island was the winner of the Finlandia Junior Prize and was nominated for the Nordic Council Children’s Young People’s Literature Prize. It deserves a place on your bookshelf and in your heart; it is a truly magical read and I am so glad that I got to read it. Just Imagine

Publisher blurb: Far away in the middle of the sea there is an island shaped like a giraffe. Nine-year-old Vega lives there with her father and grandfather—a gardener and former ringmaster. Their shed—the Paraphenalium—is filled with every possible thing you didn’t know you needed. Vega’s bathroom is home to a gray bear with shampoo-lathered fur, and every day she talks with the asphalt beaver and crosswalk zebra on the way to school. Her best friend is Nelson, who observes things others don’t notice and keeps a notebook of mysteries and facts. Vega and Nelson set out to save Vega’s father and find her mother in a search that leads them to a unique circus and unexpected answers.

Companion book:

The What on Earth Institute of Wonder

My Mum is a Bird by Angie Cui illustrated by Evie Barrow

Mum is coming to school but my mum is so different. It is Parents and Carers Day. Visitors come to school, talk to the class and then enjoy morning tea of cup cakes in the playground. But mum doesn't walk her daughter to school she carries her dangling from her claws. Mum doesn't talk to the class - she sings. And mum is not interested in the cup cakes so she perches high in a tree. There's a funny implication here about the possibility of bird poo raining down on people sitting under that tree. Then a spider lands on the head of a parent. Everyone rushes about but no one can catch it until mum swoops down and saves the day. This is an important turning point for her daughter. Mum is a hero. Mum has made her proud. So together they fly away home. 

So is mum really a bird? 

The word allegory might come into your mind when you read My Mum is a Bird. An allegory is a simple story which has a symbolic and more complex level of meaning. Characters, setting, objects and colours can all stand for or represent other bigger ideas. 

I am going to suggest mum depicted as a bird could be designed to show she is neurodivergent; or has a disability; or she might be a non-English speaker; or have some mental health issues. She could even be an alternate life-style advocate - hence the seeds for morning tea? Because we don't know this - you and your students will have plenty to discuss. This is a question with no right answer, and I am sure your students will have lots of interesting ideas and also personal stories to share.  

I did enjoy the moment of heroism when mum swoops in and eats that huge spider. The classroom or school learning goals are very appropriate - gratitude, empathy and mindfulness - I like these better than the three 'buzz' words used on signage at a school near me: opportunity, excellence and community and the words from my former school - respect, responsibility and personal best. To my eye personal best sounds so mediocre - no striving for excellence or setting yourself bigger learning or life goals. 

One important thing to notice in this story relates to the embarrassment felt by this child - surely this is a universal feeling. It made me think of several funny scenes in Greetings from Sandy Beach by Bob Graham - the little girl in that story is so embarrassed by her dad wearing baggy board shorts and also when mum has toffee wrappers stuck to her bottom. Also, the embarrassment felt by Emmy Lou in Sloppy Kisses (one of my favourite books).

The bookseller blurb says: A delightfully absurd and touching story about celebrating differences and loving your family - feathers and all. 

Image source: Evie Barrow

The author says: Writing My Mum is a Bird was a deeply personal and meaningful journey for me. Inspired by the real-life experiences of a dear friend, I set out to create a story that celebrates individuality and the beautiful diversity that sets us apart from one another. Witnessing my friend’s struggles and triumphs in embracing their identity and navigating family relationships moved me to craft a narrative for those who feel different or misunderstood. My hope is to inspire young readers to accept and celebrate who they truly are, while recognising the unique gifts that diversity brings. 

There is a tiny detail in the end papers - at the front all the feathers are in an ordered pattern but at the back one feather is slightly off set in the corner. This might spark an interesting discussion with your library group. You can see inside this book on Evie Barrow's web page. Read more about Angie Cui here.

You can download teachers notes from the publisher page. The notes suggest also reading That Bird Has Arms by Kate and Jol Temple but I thoroughly disagree because these two books are designed to explore very different themes. You might find a companion book in this Pinterest collection from my friend at Kinderbookswitheverything. You might also have a book in your library from 2015 called If my Mum were a Bird by Jedda Robaard. This one could also be an interesting companion book:

Never, Not Ever!

Thanks to UQP (University of Queensland Press) for my advance copy. My Mum is a Bird will be published on 1st April 2025.  If you live in Melbourne this book you can meet the author Angie Cui and the illustrator Evie Barrow at a special story time held at Readings Books in Carlton. 

I am a huge fan of art by Evie Barrow. I previously talked about these books:

I saw Pete and Pete saw me

Cub and Brown

My Mum is a Bird is a debut picture book for Angie Cui. Her next book will be published in June.

The Other Shadow by Tania Ingram

Thomas is only ten at the start of this book, but his life is so complex. His dad has died and mum is not coping. There is no food at home and she often stays in bed all day. Thomas needs food for himself and his little sister, who is only two years old, so he is forced to beg and steal. Then one evening mum goes out and she does not come home. 

Thomas and Tilly are taken to their first foster home. The parents in that home are kind but after just two weeks Thomas and Tilly find themselves back with mum. A social worker is assigned to visit but this will only happen once a week, then once every two weeks and then the social worker goes away and no one comes for six weeks. Mum becomes very ill again and so Thomas and Tilly are taken to a different foster carer. This place is not a kind home. The older son from this family is cruel and violent. Eventually Thomas and Tilly are taken to another foster home and this one is good. The children get their lives back and there is love and food and clean clothes and a new school for Thomas which means he can and does make a fresh start. But ... then they have to go back to mum and it is clear things will again spiral out of control. 

Reading this book is a roller coaster ride. I started my reading late at night and then had to put the book down after one especially violent incident. I resumed my reading this morning desperately hoping no other truly bad things would happen to these kids. 

Terrible things do sadly happen to these children but then someone steps into help. That's the roller coaster. I cried and then I sighed. I gasped and then I felt some relief. Chapter 13 is one turning point where Thomas feels able to talk to an adult and the loss of his dad and the moods of his mum. In Chapter 20 he talks to Em his foster sister about the Other Shadow. I am a little confused about the role of the shadow - at times it feels connected with Dad because it offers some wisdom (which Thomas doesn't always follow) then at other times the shadow is a distraction. The shadow is a tall thin man with a mop of curly hair - no one else can see him and Thomas worries that seeing this shadow might be sign that he also has bipolar like his mum. 

Here's how The Book Muse explains the shadow: Throughout the novel, Thomas has an invisible friend, I guess you could call it, that he refers to as the Other Shadow who turns up at various stages throughout the book. The Other Shadow is a protector of sorts and makes Thomas feel safe at times, but at other times, he wants it to go away so he can settle and be calm again, be able to move on with his life. ... It is almost a manifestation of his worries at times, the thing that he is unsure of, and unsure of how to deal with, but there is also a sense of hope as Thomas starts to feel like he can talk to people about it 

I have read quite a few middle grade books about parents (often mothers) who have a serious mental illness. I have also read other middle grade books about the experience of living in foster care. Tania Ingram does not spare her readers in this, at times harrowing, story of Thomas and his little sister who have to navigate their complex life circumstance following the death of their dad. It seems especially hard that Mrs Douglas, the social worker, cannot offer more help but I guess that is actually the reality of our Mental Health system. I did celebrate the ending of this book but I am not going to spoil this. 

In the interest of disclosure - all of life experiences do influence us - I had a very strong reaction to this book. As a teenager I did experience very similar confusions to Thomas - I won't go into any details here, but my own family relationships made this book, at times, very hard to read. 

The reviewer at Just So Stories loved this book and she goes into a lot more plot detail: This is a book that will go straight to the heart and will remain with the reader for a very long time. I believe it is a book that will speak to those children who are in the most fraught of circumstances and will give others an insight into the tragedy of some families. ... I cannot urge you strongly enough to get hold of it – I know the cover is not one that jumps up and grabs you – but this is the time for discerning readers to look past that and walk a mile in another kid’s shoes.

I do agree it is an important book and it is sensitively told but this is a book that I would only share with very mature readers aged 11+ or better yet 12+.

Just a word of warning. The Scholastic teachers notes for this book make NO concession for class groups where a student or even more than one student has had an experience like Thomas. I was so shocked to read their suggested activities. As the child of a parent with mental health issues I would have found these tasks very confronting:

Thomas’s mother has bipolar disorder, which, while it can be well-treated with medication these days, as we see in the novel, a severe case like Thomas’s mother can also be difficult to treat because people often dislike how the medication makes them feel. How common is bipolar disorder, and how does it affect people? In pairs or small groups, research more about how it manifests, how it can be treated, and how it affects the person who has it, as well as their family, when it is untreated. What are some other mental health conditions that you have heard of? As a class, name as many of them as you can, and then write down next to each one what you know of it. In pairs or small groups, choose one mental health disorder that you have named, and research it further.

In my view these two activities are highly inappropriate for a Grade 6 Primary school class. 

Tania Ingram is an internationally published author of children’s picture books, novels and poetry. She has a master’s degree in clinical psychology and prior to becoming an author, worked as a child psychologist.

This book has been added to the CBCA 2025 Younger Readers Notables list, but I think it better suits the Older Readers category. If you are considering this book for your school library or if you received it as a part of a Standing Order package, I strongly suggest you read it yourself before recommending it to a student and I also strongly caution against using this book as a class read aloud. 

This book might make you think of the mother in Goodnight Mister Tom and also The Illustrated Mum by Jacqueline Wilson. Other companion books:

Small as an elephant

The Secrets we Keep

Waiting for Normal

How I saved the world in a week

The Star outside my Window

This book explores the experiences of foster care

Something Somewhere by Richard Yaxley

"From his earliest memory, it had always been just his mum and him. Which was not perfect by any means, but it was okay because there was a pattern to how everything operated. Malt understood the dips and rises. ... 

How to recognise his mother's, her shifts between flashing anger or deep love, 

her wins and losses, her desire for something somewhere."

It has always been just Malt and his mother Bonnie. Their lives are unsettled, chaotic and fragmented.  Then one day she declares they are moving to Pembrook her childhood town and they are moving in with Malt's Grandmother. Malt, aged eleven, has never met his grandmother Zelda Zeglar. She lives alone in an old house with a small cherry orchard. So much is left unsaid in the relationship between this mother and daughter. It is clear Bonnie does not like her mother. There are some obviously heart-wrenching topics that neither will discuss. 

Bonnie decides Malt will not go to school so his days are spent wandering alone in the bush. He is free to roam but he is forbidden to visit a place called Bushman's Valley.

Malt and his dog Banjo enjoy exploring the countryside. Then out of the corner of his eye he thinks he sees someone. A girl appears in front of him.

"He was about to move forward when he glanced slightly to his left and saw her: a girl in a pale dress. She was standing within the trees looking in his direction. She seemed older than him, maybe fourteen or fifteen. ... She was very still and vigilant, like a wild animal checking it's surrounding. Her face was so white and expressionless ..."

At home, Bonnie declares Malt will now meet his father. Willo is the name of Malt's father. Bonnie tells Malt his father in in Greece, Alaska and other wildly fanciful places:  "his mother would spin the world globe, she'd been given as a gift on her last day of being a cleaner. when the globe stopped spinning she'd point to a country. 'There.' ... 'Don't tell anyone, but he's fighting a secret war ... "

Thinking about this book - How do you create a memorable character? 

• Give him an interesting name - as I have already said - in this book the main character is a boy named Malt. (I love the way Emily calls him Malteser).
• Give him a problem or worries or some difficulty in his life - in this case throughout his whole life Malt has tried to please his mother. He has learnt to read her moods and he knows how to carefully answer her questions. He endures her bad television and movie taste and worse, he somehow copes when they constantly have to pack up and move on in the hope of finding something somewhere. Malt has had to become a loner because they move way too often for him to form friendships. He also has no compass that might allow him to check the validity of the tales his mother spins especially about his absent father. 
• Give your readers reasons to feel deeply compassionate about, in this case, Malts welfare and awful live circumstances.

Add this this a wonderful, loving and wise grandmother and, as is often the case in books like this, add that she is able to cook delicious food which goes beyond just nourishment.

This is a thoroughly engrossing story with a plot line that you may have encountered before but that does not take away from this wonderful reading experience.

Familiar pieces of the plot that I am sure I have read in other stories:

• A lonely child encounters another child in a remote location - probably in a place he has been forbidden to visit
• The lonely child does not tell any adults about this new friend - there is strong sense this should all be kept a secret
• The new friend is somewhat mysterious. There are small pointers that something is not quite right but this is usually knowledge reserved for the reader and not the main character of the story
• The clothes of the other child are often slightly strange or old-fashioned or perhaps their manner of speaking is different (other worldly)
• The new friend is often braver and more fearless - the sense of danger is strong
• Through the course of their friendship the main character changes, growing more confident or gaining a stronger identity
• The lost child (the new friend) needs to complete a tasks or tasks to be 'set free'
• There can be themes of grief, mental health, missing children, mystery, and the setting is usually a forbidden bush land or forest

I did put the label 'ghost' on this post but please do not think of it as a lighthearted simple 'ghost' story. In fact Emily herself says she is not a ghost:

"Are you a ghost?' he whispered. 'Not in the way that you're thinking. Ghosts like that are a human invention. Believe me, there are no ghosts, not like people imagine them. None of that silly haunting stuff, like eerie noises and clanking chains ... I'm in between.  ... Ever since I left, I've been stuck in the middle."

"I'm a Middle ... which means my body isn't alive anymore, but my other part is. The trouble being, it hasn't been released to wherever the other parts go. Certain things need to happen, and until they do, I'm stuck."

After reading Something Somewhere please go back and read the first chapter 'Before'. 

One of the powerful parts of the writing in this book come from the descriptions of Bonnie and her driving. I was so sure on many occasions that Bonnie would have a major car accident. Her driving filled me with real terror. And if you need a scene for a book talk read the Christmas scene in the chapter entitled 'Puppets'. 

Another strength of this book is the way a fragment of an idea or a few words in phrase resonate with meaning. Look at these sentences:

This is the scene in his grandmother's kitchen - you can feel the possibility of kindness and comfort: "Inside the vase was a single flower, its pink petals basking within a final ray of sunlight."

And these words confirm her kindness: "she put her hand on Malt's shoulder ... It felt odd to be touched  in that way by someone else, but good because his grandmother's hand was light, like having a tiny friend perched there."

These words hint at the transience of their lives: "his mother was leaving ... Only the faint smell of her perfume lingered, and then not for long."

This is beyond my expertise, but I think Richard Yaxley included the owl as a visitor to Malt because in some mythologies such as Celtic mythology the owl "is a messenger from the otherworld, bringing knowledge and insight to humans." (Source). I also read this: "In Greek mythology, owls are associated with the goddess Athena, who is often depicted with an owl on her shoulder. Owls are seen as symbols of wisdom, knowledge, and protection in Greek mythology."

I am certain Something Somewhere will be a 2025 CBCA Younger Readers Notable title, and I do hope it is also shortlisted. In some ways this book made me think of the famous Australian movie Picnic at Hanging Rock.

It is both compelling and poignant, and the mystery unravels in a hugely satisfying way. Most of all, the reader will feel like cheering when realising that Malt will stay with his grandmother, safe and loved and nurtured, while his mother flits off into the sunset. I know I did. Just so Stories

Yaxley’s voice is compelling, you feel like you are experiencing what Malt does. ... Yaxley has a way with words that creates a world that is both believable and immersive. He knows and understands the dynamics of relationships between people and how their own life experiences and circumstances determine how they interact with others. His language choices and dialogue are strong and placed expertly in the right place at the right time. Malt has learnt to act small and knows how to react to his mother and her actions. As the story unfolds, and more characters are woven into the story little pieces of the puzzle slowly unfold. The reader is left asking the same questions as Malt. ... It is a gripping read that will not disappoint its young readers. Buzz Words

Companion books:

Ettie and the Midnight pool

Sunshine

Waiting for Normal

Small as an elephant

The Midnight Children

Pieces of Georgia

Being Jimmy Baxter

The Book of Chance

Who is Richard Yaxley?

Richard Yaxley lives in Queensland. His main writing is for Young Adults. WriteLinks have an event with Richard Yaxley in February 2025. 

• Leonardo Forever (Scholastic 2023)
• Harmony (Scholastic 2021; Long-listed for the ARA Historical Prize – CYA Section)
• A New Kind of Everything (Scholastic 2020)
• The Happiness Quest (Scholastic 2018; CBCA Notable Book for Older Readers 2019)
• This Is My Song (Scholastic 2017; ACU Book Of The Year 2019; Winner of the 2018 Prime Minister’s Literary Award for Young Adult Literature; Finalist in the 2017 Queensland Literary Awards; also published in the Czech Republic by Albatros Media)
• Joyous and Moonbeam (Scholastic 2013; Finalist in the 2014 West Australian Premier’s Awards for Young Adult Literature)
• Spring Rain (Self-published 2011)
• Drink the Air (Strictly Literary: Winner of the 2010 Queensland Premier’s Award for Young Adult Fiction)
• Bloodlines (Strictly Literary 2009)
• The Rose Leopard (University of Queensland Press 2003)

Awards

• Medal in the Order of Australia (OAM) in 2011 for services to education, literature and performing arts
• Winner of the 2024 StoryLinks Short Story Competition for Fly High
• Recipient of the 2022 Queensland Writers Centre – Varuna Fellowship for Established Writers
• Judge for the 2021 Prime Minister’s Literary Awards (Children’s and Young Adult Literature)
• Recipient of a 2015 May Gibbs Literature Trust Creative Time Fellowship for the creation of This Is My Song
• Winner of the 2016 FAW NSW Walter Stone Award for Life Writing for Homecoming