How to recycle your feelings by Amy Molloy illustrated by Melissa Mylchreest

 

Emotions - we all have them.  

Worried; angry; shy; sad; lonely; or hurt.

"They're all part of the bits and pieces of life"

This is not the style of book that usually appeals to me but I found myself appreciating the advice found here.  "You can recycle your feelings - reduce them, reuse them, swap them, share them, store them or repair them."

I liked the idea of borrowing a confidence coat from a friend (when you feel shy) and when you feel lonely putting the feeling in a jar with a label. 

Melissa Mylchreest’s clear, graphic illustrations support the minimal text to help the reader locate their feelings and then use them in positive and constructive ways. Reading Time

A couple of weeks ago we were given multiple copies of this book (published January 2020) at the Westmead Children's hospital Book Bunker. In this video the author reads her book. Amy Molloy is a qualified counsellor. Her adult books include 'The world is a nice place' and 'Wife Interupted'.  I think this book would be a good addition to a Primary school library or a preschool bookshelf. How to recycle your feelings won two awards - Purple Dragonfly - Health (First Prize) and Growing Pains (First Prize).

Publisher blurb: Sometimes, we all end up with too many emotions, Or emotions we don’t have a use for anymore… But that doesn’t mean you have to throw them away. Because no emotion is ever really a waste. The first title in the series, How to Recycle Your Feelings is a children’s book with grown-ups in mind too. The fictional story – which shows that 'no emotion is ever really a waste' – draws on therapeutic techniques such as reframing, reflection and detachment packaged in a way that is understandable (and enjoyable!) to readers of all ages. Perfect for parents, grandparents, carers and educators alike, it shows the power of imagination and positive intention to cope with the overflow emotions that can clutter our emotional worlds!

Threads of Blue by Suzanne LaFleur

I looked out over the sea again, but the light had changed, and I couldn't see our country anymore. 
It was gone, gone, gone. 
I had promised to work for the Examiner for the whole of the war.
I'd run away twice.
And I had promised to be with Megs.
Like she'd promised to be with me.
But I'd run away from that too.

Beautiful Blue World is one of the most powerful 'children's' books I have ever read. Please begin here with my comments from just over one year ago. At that time I mentioned the sequel Threads of Blue. I have waited and waited for this to be released in paperback but finally I could wait no longer and so I bought myself the hardcover copy as a birthday present ($26.95).

In this second installment Mathilde is on the run. Bombs have been dropped on the school at Faetre where she and the other gifted children had been set to work for Sofarende decoding, making maps and predicting where bombs will land. Mathilde had been given a special assignment to befriend a captured enemy soldier but through weeks of talking with him she comes to see he is just as confused as she is and that to truly understand another person you have allow for a different point of view. When bombs start dropping and the school catches fire everyone evacuates. The plan is for all the children and a few adults to head north to the sea where they will catch boats to Eilean. Every child is given identity papers, a travel permission card and a bundle of important documents to carry.  Mathilde is torn. She simply cannot leave the prisoner Rainer. He has become a person to her not the enemy. She leaves the group at the very last minute and runs back and sets him free. She is now a traitor. And worse her best friend Megs knows what she has done.

Mathilde heads north but she does not find the group. Eventually she reaches the coast.  Her military pass means a fisherman has to take her across to Eilean. Continuing her journey she finds herself in a refugee camp. Sofarende has been captured and many children have been sent to Eilean to keep them safe. Mathilde has all her official papers but until her identity can be confirmed she must stay and work in the camp. She is desperate to know about her family, she is desperate to find her best friend Megs and explain her actions, she is desperate to find the group from Faetre so she can complete her assignment and deep inside she wonders if Rainer is still alive.

You can hear the first chapter here. Here is the author web site. These two books make for a gripping and powerful reading experience. The tension created by Suzanne LaFleur in both books and the way she describes and, through Mathilde, provides a commentary on the futility and impact of war mean these two books deserve a very wide readership. I highly recommend Beautiful Blue World and Threads of Blue for sensitive mature readers aged 10+.

I would follow these two books with The Midnight Zoo by Sonya Hartnett and Close to the Wind by Jon Walter. You could also look for Toby Alone by Timothee de Fombelle which has a similar tone of questioning the world and political decisions by adults.

Mathilde is unforgettable as she narrates her tale in an uncensored stream of consciousness, ever vulnerable, brave, headstrong, compassionate, confused, and always trying to hold on to the values she holds dear. There can be no happy ending, but there is a kind of heart-wrenching separate peace that readers will find comforting. Kirkus Star review

... a brilliant novel about the ravages of war, but it is also a story about holding on to who you really are even when it causes you trouble, and facing life with bravado, honesty, and hope in a world where none seems to exist. These are two books not to be missed. The Children's War

Mike by Andrew Norriss

"We're talking about someone that only you can see, only you know exists, and whose name is Mike. ... What's your name? Your full name?'  'Floyd Michael Beresford,' said Floyd, and it took a second for the penny to drop ... "

My local book shop kindly gave me an advanced reader copy of Mike. I read the blurb and put this book to one side. I did not think I would enjoy this book. I am utterly surprised that I did. In fact, as one reviewer suggested, I read it quite quickly over two sessions. I do need to say right at the start, though, that I think this book would be best placed in a High School library for readers 12+.

Recently I was talking with a friend about sport stories. Out of all the books I have read not too many have been about sport and given my small sample size I cannot recall even one title that has really appealed to me yet here we have a book about tennis. And yes I enjoyed it. Of course it is not just about tennis but readers who enjoy competitive sport will certainly relate to Floyd.

What is this book about?

Floyd is a tennis player. His parents met at a tennis event, they own a tennis court business, they have been coaching Floyd to play tennis since he was two years old - this is a family that live and breathe tennis. Except for Floyd. When he was young and the game was fun every thing was fine. Floyd won a match when he was just five years old and his parents gave him a fish. At this point a few alarm bells rang with me. Is this bribery? Does Floyd really have a passion for tennis or does he prefer fish?  Take a fresh look at the cover design above. I think it is perfect.

"Floyd had loved it. And he was good at it as well. Astonishingly good. And his parents watched his progress with delight and considerable pride."

"It was only a little club tournament but Floyd played three matches that day and won them all. As a reward his parents took him to a pet store and told him he could choose anything he wanted. To their surprise Floyd asked if he could have a fish ..."

By the time Floyd is fifteen there are five huge fish tanks in his room all filled with a huge variety of fish.

Then one day Mike shows up and Floyd is forced to face his fears and real ideas about tennis. Accepting his true feelings about playing tennis at the highest level though, is only the beginning. Mike has other things to show Floyd - life changing things - perhaps he is the guide we'd all like who leads us to our perfect destiny.  The ending of Mike is sure to make your romantic heart smile.

Mike will surprise you. The premise is clever. The themes of identity and staying true to yourself are explored in a thoughtful way. Three cheers for Floyd who is now following his dreams.

Read some reviews:
Mr Ripley's Enchanted Books - " this absolutely bowled me over and really developed my understanding of the complex nature of growing up with a talent."

Book Bag - "There's a wonderful sense of amusement in the tone, and I think this is what keeps the energy quite light the whole way through."

Booktrust -  Floyd is courageous and full of hope, while Mike’s role is somehow simultaneously subtle and ground-shattering, steering Floyd in completely new and surprising directions, an enigma everyone wants solve. This is a beautifully told and enormously uplifting coming-of-age story.

Here are two text quotes to give you a flavour of this writing which will appeal to sports fans.

"By the time he was thirteen, Floyd's schedule had developed into the full blown routine of a professional athlete. Each weekday he would be up at six and out on the court by quarter past. ... Floyd practiced his serves, played a few rounds of flash tennis and then spent the remaining time returning the lobs, back-spins and volleys that his father fired at him from the ball-gun."

"(Barrington) tried to break-up the smooth flow of Floyd's game by lobs that drove him back from the net. He tried to wear his opponent down with shots from the base line that would make him run from side to side and tire him out. ... and even resorted to psychological tricks that players sometimes used to break their opponent's concentration like asking for balls to be changed ... or stopping to retie his shoelaces."

Finally here is the US cover - I do prefer the one from UK above - which do you like?

Beautiful blue world by Suzanne Lafleur

Over the last few weeks I have visited many bookshops in the US and Canada.  On my last few days I needed to grab a few books to read on the journey home and so I visited Kidsbooks in Vancouver.  This is a fabulous book store set out over two large shop spaces with an enormous collection organised into ages.

It is odd that I find selecting books quite difficult. I can easily buy books for my school library and Kidsbooks had hundreds I would have gladly bought but browsing the Middle Fiction section looking for a book to read myself took a long time.  One of the young staff was very helpful but nearly every title he recommended I had already read. We both ended up laughing about this. I finally picked up this book -  Beautiful Blue world and another simply splendid one by Canadian author Kenneth Oppel which I will talk about later.

Suzanne LaFleur is a US author and Beautiful Blue World is her fourth book.  I am so glad I have discovered her writing because I devoured Beautiful Blue World in just one sitting (well before my long travel day).  I made this choice based on the cover and the words on the blurb "kindness can be a weapon, and children have the power to see what adults cannot."

Beautiful Blue World is set during a time of war in an invented world with fantasy names such as Tyssia, Sofarende and Eilean, but this book is not a fantasy.  As the story opens Mathilde and her family have to take shelter from bombing and air raids (look closely at the cover and you can see images of planes called aerials).  There are posters around their town asking for young recruits :

CHILDREN AGES 12-14
SERVE YOUR COUNTRY NOW!
SIGN P FOR THE ADOLESCENT ARMY
APTITUDE TEST AT YOUR SCHOOL!

The family of children who are recruited will receive a large amount of money and regular payments "you would be provided with room and board for the duration of your service and, at eighteen, your university education."  The catches are - the children cannot return home, they cannot send or receive letters and if they are successful with the test they are then committed to serve.  All of this is a huge dilemma for the family.  Father does not want Mathilde, who he calls Big, to go but this might give her opportunities far beyond what the family can provide.  Mathilde is called Big because she has two younger sisters.  I love this idea :

"I used to be Little, a long time ago, before Kammi came, but since she was born when I was four, I have been Big. When Tye came, Kammi became Middle.  Little, Middle, Big."

Mathilde and her friend Megs sit the test.  The questions are very strange and complex.  Megs is one of the smartest girls in the school but she is not chosen instead Mathilde is given the news that she has been selected - the only student from her school.  She travels by train to a strange old house where she finds other children working on solving puzzles.  The military people are using the children to make predictions about bombing patterns and raids by the enemy.  Mathilde feels she has no skills for this.  She is set a different assignment.  Talking with a captured soldier.  Over many weeks she forms a relationship with this young man and makes an important discovery about human frailty and kindness.  Take a look at this review for all the plot details.

I absolutely loved this book.  Mathilde is a deep thinker, problem solver and most importantly she has a deep emotional intuition.  I rarely give ratings but this is a five out of five book.

Listen to an audio sample of the first pages here.  There is also a map at the front of the book which will help with your understanding of the threats facing Sofarende.

Deeply emotional, compelling, and brilliant. Kirkus

Writing in the first person, LaFleur crafts a protagonist who is compassionate and resourceful, in a war-ravaged world in which children are, by turns, exploited and empowered. The tension is high and danger ever present.   School Library Journal

Mathilde is one of those characters whose resourcefulness you want to teach your children, whose loyalty is unsurpassed, and whose penchant for kindness is one we all should model. Happily Ever Elephants

Good news there is a sequel - Threads of Blue.