Shakespeare in the Orchard by Danielle Binks

"I suppose we'd like to feel human again' ... A small, mean part of him wanted to make fun and mock - a bunch of Germans wanting feel human in the middle of a war that their lot had started, by play-acting death and destruction, ... but then he heard the others murmuring their agreement with Georg's answer, and he swallowed the acid words he was thinking."

The real strength of this story (apart from learning about Internment camps here in Australia, in particular in Victoria) is the way, very gradually, Jack grows in his understanding of humanity. 

This quote comes near the end of the book:

"All those stories we tell and get told, it's to make them less human ... you know that, because you know them. It's not true, it's just easier to be cruel and look away from what we have in common ... It's harder to kill a man if you know him."

It is 1914 and World War I has just begun. At first Jack is swept up in the war propaganda of Germans as the enemy and of course he is so proud of his brother heading away to train as a soldier. Jack is also learning some army skills himself through his replacement teacher Mr Kempster who is a war fanatic and actually a very dangerous man but not as dangerous as one of the horrible soldiers, Lance Corporal Wright, who has been sent to guard the enemy aliens who are now imprisoned in the rural community of Langwarrin on the Mornington Peninsular. 

Jack has joined the cadets and at first he enjoys the training along with his good friend Walter. But then he witnesses several things in his town which cause him to question the idea of 'the enemy'. Meeting the German prisoners who are sent to help in the apple orchard allows Jack to move beyond that word 'enemy' and understand that these are real people who just happened to be born in a different country and who happened to be here in Australia when we decided people from 'over there' were our enemies.

"if he was honest, there was a lot he hadn't told his mother lately - like the conversations he'd found himself having with the prisoners and his odd curiosity about their lives before the war. Not to mention the Maberly's white feathers and his agreeing to pass Lotti's letters onto Georg (her father) ..."

Jack and his mum anxiously wait for letters from Jack's brother Matt. There is a moment of terrible tension in this story when one of the letters arrives but before Jack can read it to his mother (I am guessing she may had have dyslexia) the letter is lost (Chapter 32). The dreadful Lance Corporal Wright has attacked Lottie (daughter of one of the German prisoners) and he has violently bashed Jack's friend Walter. This horrific incident and my worry over that important letter kept me turning the pages hoping that letter would be found - but it wasn't. 

Blurb from the author page: The whole world is at war. In Langwarrin on the Mornington Peninsula, fourteen-year-old Jack Thorning is the best marksman in military cadet training. His brother, Matt, taught him everything he knew, after their father died. But now Matt has joined the war effort, and it’s up to Jack to hold down the home front and help his mother run the family orchard. When a group of ‘enemy aliens’ are sent to Langwarrin to be held prisoner at the Military base, tensions in the town run high. For Jack and his best friend, Walter, the war feels closer than ever. Like the rest of the town, Jack and Walter want nothing to do with the German prisoners. But as the war progresses, the inmates at the camp are put to work doing manual labour on the farms around Langwarrin, including Jack’s family orchard, and Jack begins to see that the prisoners are people, too. What could Jack possibly have in common with the people responsible for keeping his beloved brother at war? And can Shakespeare bring them all together?

Five years ago I talked about another book based on Internment camps here in Australia (Interned by Pamela Rushby) and in that post I used this article to talk about the features of a good historical novel. I am going to repeat them here because I am so happy to say Danielle Binks does all of these things and she does them brilliantly:

1. Have fun with the research but do your homework. 

This should go without saying, but I’ll say it anyway. Borrow some good reference books. Become comfortable with the time period. Try to understand both the larger scope of the period, while examining aspects of daily life. This will help create an authentic backdrop for your novel.

2. Let the characters engage with the historical details. 

This goes along with that “show don’t tell” truism writers are told all the time. Rather than just dumping a bunch of facts on the poor reader, let your characters interact with these details with all these senses. Let them smell the offal dumped onto the cobblestone streets. Let them squint in the fading light of the tallow candles. Let them feel the tingling sensation as the physician places a leech on their bare skin.

3. Allow your characters to question and explore their place in society. 

This will help reveal the larger political, social, cultural context of the time. What were the expectations for women? For sailors? For criminals? How did people from different parts of society interact with one another?

Interned

By coincidence as I finished Shakespeare in the Orchard I picked up our Sydney Morning Herald and saw an article by Danielle Binks under the heading Empathy.

“I am an author who writes sad kid’s books, and I maintain that children are a lot stronger than we give them credit for, and their inner universes so much more complex than we acknowledge. I never try to make my readers upset, I just hope they care enough to feel empathy for the characters I’m giving them.” Danielle Binks Sydney Morning Herald 27 June 2026

She goes on to say:

The book is set during World War I and is inspired by the true events of Australia’s home-front war that unfolded in my hometown of Langwarrin. In 1914, the Australian government suspended habeas corpus for the first (but not the last) time, and imprisoned “enemy aliens” of German and Austro-Hungarian descent. I chose to tell the story from the point of view of a 14-year-old boy named Jack, a military cadet whose brother has joined the war effort and who is being fed a jingoistic form of hyper-nationalism, right when the military reserve across the way from his family’s apple orchard opens its doors to German prisoners. It’s a true but shameful tale of Australia’s war history; a moment when our government arguably did the wrong thing, for the right reasons. The book also tells the true story of how those German prisoners staved off boredom and retained their humanity in the face of such adversity: with theatre. When Jack overhears the prisoners practicing Hamlet, he’s shocked and horrified by their humanity – and his curious response to it.

In this Instagram post you can hear Danielle Banks describing her book. Shakespeare in the Orchard was published yesterday - 7th July. Huge thanks to Gleebooks Kids for loaning me the advance reader copy. 

Daneille Binks suggests her book is for ages 10+ but I am going to say it will better appeal to readers aged 12+ firstly because it is long book (300+ pages) of very small print; secondly because the motivations of several of the Anti-German characters such as the teacher Mr Kempster and Lance Corporal Wright are distressing and complex; thirdly because I think readers will appreciate this book if they have some understanding of or have studied the Shakespeare play Hamlet; and finally because the main character, Jack, is aged 14. I did start this book three times but I kept putting it aside. Then I read a review on social media and the reviewer convinced me to start again and stick with this book - she was right. From about chapter 23 (of the 45 chapters) onwards I was able to read in a more sustained way.

It is a thoroughly heart-warming story demonstrating that prejudices and intolerance are so often created by pure ignorance and willful misunderstandings. A particularly resonant episode is the underlining of the most violent, dangerous and intolerant person in the plot – one of the soldiers reputedly safeguarding the community, not one of the prisoners who remain docile albeit dejected – a thoroughly nasty piece of work. Just so Stories

High School history teachers could make really good use of the letters from Matt that are included in this book especially if the topic is the lead up to the Gallipoli campaign. Here is some background reading about internment camps in Australia. And here are some stories/first-hand accounts. Here are more details in an article from The Conversation. 

Companion books:

Red Day

Our Castle by the Sea

Love in the Library

Turtle Tears by Megan Albany illustrated by Paul Seden

"The turtles there cry like we do ... Except when they cry butterflies flutter around 
and drink their tears."
"Turtles live a long time ... because they share their tears."

Grief is a complex emotion and we often struggle to know how to respond. In this book Nan is deeply grieving the loss Pop. She cries a lot and her little granddaughter Ruby is not sure how to help. Then Nan talks about a holiday she went on years ago where she heard that when turtles cry, butterflies drink their tears - such a lovely image to ponder.

I love the way this book openly explores grief and tears and the way Nan is still allowed to cry - the grief has not gone away it has just eased a little. 

Gently ignoring stereotypes, the story ends on a beautifully hopeful note. It also reminds the reader that, even if you or someone you love is very sad, that doesn't mean you can't also have moments of joy and chase butterflies. Reading Melbourne

Blurb from Magabala Books: This heart-warming picture book gently reassures children that it is both natural and healthy for adults and children to cry when they are sad. Narrated from the voice of a child, Ruby, it centres on her no-nonsense Nan who is grieving for her late husband. She tells the child about the turtles she and Pop saw, while on holiday in South America. They cry tears as humans do, and butterflies drink their tears (factual). 

Thanks to Magabala for sending a review copy of Turtle Tears.

I found this information about butterflies and turtles:  Butterflies in the Amazon engage in a behavior known as lachryphagy, where they sip tears from turtles to obtain vital sodium and minerals necessary for their survival. This unique interaction sees butterflies flocking to freshwater turtles, taking turns to land on their heads and drink their tears. The sodium in turtle tears is crucial ... As butterflies drink the tears, they quickly absorb the salt and dispose of the leftover liquid through their rear end. This process allows butterflies to acquire a crucial nutrient that is otherwise difficult to find in their usual diet of plants and other sources. The butterflies’ need for sodium drives them to seek out the tears of turtles, forming a symbiotic relationship where both the turtles and butterflies benefit. While the turtles produce plenty of tears, the butterflies only consume a small quantity, making this interaction sustainable for both parties. Besides butterflies, other insects such as bees and moths also partake in tear-drinking behavior. This fascinating natural occurrence highlights the interconnectedness of different species in their pursuit of survival ...  Butterflies rely on the turtles to provide enough sodium through their tears, ensuring their continued survival, while turtles remain largely unaffected by the butterflies’ feeding habits.  

Read more here. Here is a video of lachryphagy in action (2 minute video suitable for older primary students or background information for teachers).

This phenomena of butterflies drinking tears is probably mentioned in some non fiction books about butterflies - I need to dig deeper in a library to check.

Paul Seden is an author and illustrator of picture books for young readers and he is descended from the Wuthathi and Muralag people of North Queensland. Kick with My Left Foot was a Notable Book in the 2015 CBCA Book of the Year Awards and short-listed for the Speech Pathology Book of the Year Awards – Indigenous Children category. Crabbing with Dad was short-listed in the 2019 KOALA Children’s Choices Award and also for the ABIA Children’s Book of the Year in 2017. Paul loves illustrated text and lives in the Top End of the Northern Territory.

The Shop Train

Megan Albany is a proud Kalkadoon woman. Megan lives in the Northern Rivers of NSW. Her debut black comedy novel, The Very Last List of Vivan Walker (Hachette 2022), was one of four works shortlisted for The Banjo Prize.

The Queen on our Corner by Lucy Christopher illustrated by Nia Tudor

Begin with the title - the queen (clearly from the cover this is not image of a queen); our corner - so this is set in a familiar neighborhood. Our not the corner. Think about a shared responsibility to help others. 

"I've been trying to tell Ma about the Queen on our corner. She's right there at the end of our road, in the plot of land that never got built on. ... I didn't notice her before either. Like everyone else, I just walked by."

After she warns the people in the town of a dangerous fire late at night things change.

"The people on our street stop and look. And then they see her. They thank the Queen finally. They give her water and blankets but I know what she wants best is her own palace."

Well not a real palace - just a home. 

Blurb: Nobody notices the unhoused woman on the corner. Nobody, that is . . . except one young girl. Through her eyes, the woman who dwells in the abandoned plot is a warrior queen, with many battles fought and won. When, one day, danger comes to the street and the queen on the corner sounds the alarm, the little girl must find a way to thank her. Can she bring the community together to turn the queen's corner into a home?

This book is an Empathy Lab title. And you could use it to talk about two of the Sustainable Development Goals - 1. No Poverty and 2. Zero Hunger.

I don't always notice dedications but this one from the author is poignant: "To those who see Queens."

The Queen on our Corner is available in paperback so it is title you could consider purchasing for your school library. 

This hopeful tale uses a youthful view of the world to imagine what our society could be like if all people and their experiences were valued and respected, though it leaves caregivers on the hook for explaining to justice-seeking children why the story’s resolution is unlikely in real life. The illustrations match the innocence of the text. Kirkus

The little girl believes the people on her street haven’t noticed the queen and it isn’t until the end of the story, when the queen is hailed as a heroine, that the people ‘see her.’ This would be an interesting theme to explore with children. Is it actually the case that people haven’t seen her? Why might they walk by the queen and not acknowledge her? What does it mean to ‘see’ someone? Should a person, homeless or not, need to prove their worth to be accepted? Just Imagine

Companion books:

Home for Grace

I saw Pete and Pete saw me

This Old Man

The Invisible

It's a no money day

Here are some other books illustrated by Nia Tudor:

The Bicycle by Patricia McCormick and Mevan Babakar illustrated by Yas Imamura

"When Mevan was a little girl she lived in a land where figs fell from the trees and the air smelled like honeysuckle."

Mevan lived in Kurdistan in the north of Iraq. 

"But the ruler of Iraq had always made the people in Kurdistan feel like they didn't belong. ... Then he sent soldiers to force them out of their homes."

Mevan and her family have to leave. Mevan tries to stay small and invisible. After trying to find a home in many different countries and after two years of dangerous travel the family arrive in the Netherlands. Looking out of the window Mevan sees kids and grown-up riding their bikes with big smiles. What she doesn't know is that someone has been watching her. It is Egbert, the building maintenance man. 

"He bought blankets to one family, a lamp to another, a coat to one family, a flowerpot to another."

Have you guessed his gift for Mevan? You will be in tears when you read the epilogue to this story. As an adult Mevan is able to go back to the Netherlands and through social media she finds Egbert. 

The author asks you to think - "in a world where there are many people running from war, from hunger, from hatred ... what's one kind thing I can do?"

As an adult reader, when you pick up this book, do not skip past the author's note on the first page. Kirkus say this too: An important, stirring tale—just be sure to read the backmatter.

"Millions of children all over the world are refugees like I was. As I write, there are more than 43 million children who have had to leave their homes because it isn't safe for them to stay there. ... Our family went from Kurdistan to Türkiye, Azerbaijan to Russia, the Netherlands and finally the United Kingdom. Over the course of four years we travelled by car, by boat, by foot, by ferry, by plane and by train. In Russia we were robbed by people who pretended to help us and left us stranded, we told the police but instead of helping us, they ripped up our refugee papers. Being a refugee will always be a part of who I am ...But it's also taught me about the miraculous power of kindness."  Mevan Babakar

Read more about this true story here. And the author talks to the UNHCR in the UK.

My friend alerted me to this book which she discovered because she keeps an eye on titles listed for the Read with Empathy Collection. If you work in a school or public library these lists contain a wealth of fantastic books. The other bonus is that exploring these lists you might discover publishers that produce other great books. The publisher of The Bicycle is Farshore (imprint of Harper Collins).

Welcome to Farshore! We are dedicated to our mission of making every child a proud reader, with books that will delight children of all ages – from early years to primary, secondary, and beyond. Whether they are a seasoned bookworm, reluctant reader, or somewhere in the middle, we’ve got titles that will inspire, challenge, and make them laugh out loud.

With our Australian children it would be good to pair this book with The Wobbly Bike - and then have a discussion with your older students about the different life experiences of the two children in these books - a refugee child and a child living in rural Australia. 

The Wobbly Bike

You might also have this book in your library:

I previously shared these books illustrated by Yas Imamura who lives in the US.

Love in the Library

Do Something for Someone else

This is a book you really should add to your library collection. 

The Lions' Run by Sara Pennypacker illustrated by Jon Klassen

Compassionate and complex. Kirkus Star review

Occupied France, 1944. Lucas Dubois lives in an abbey orphanage. There are rule and constraints but Lucas has some freedom because he works as a delivery boy for a local town greengrocer. Once his deliveries are completed he can enjoy a little free time and some fishing but on this day he sees two of the older orphanage boys stuffing some kittens into a sack. 

"When Marcel cinched the sack, Lucas squeezed his eyes shut. There was nothing he could do, either. Two against one; the two known to relish brawls. Lucas famous for running from them."

But not this time. Lucas follows the boys the bridge. He desperately tries to bargain with these bullies and hands over his precious fishing lure "but Claude didn't hand over the sack. He swung it out toward the canal and let go. Then both boys ran off laughing."

Perhaps all is not lost. Lucas grabs the bag and yes he saves all but one kitten but what will he do with the five that are left? There is an abandoned stable up in the hills above the town. To get there he has to ride past the Nazi maternity home - this is a place he visits regularly with his deliveries. On arrival at the stable Lucas makes an amazing, and life-changing, discovery. There is a horse in the stable and a girl. Alice is hiding her racehorse because:

"The Germans issued orders ... All healthy horses are to be seized for the war effort. They don't mean the racing horses still here - the Germans love their horse facing too much. But Bia doesn't race, so they would take her. They would probably use her to move artillery in Poland where the roads are gone until she was wounded or dropped dead of exhaustion. Then the soldiers would eat her."

The lives of these two kids in occupied France now collide. Lucas needs help to keep the kittens alive and safe; Alice needs Lucas to keep Bia, her horse, a secret; and then there is the further twist when Lucas steps in to help the local resistance movement helping Mme Garnier headhouse keeper at Lebensborn. 

"Lucas lay wide awake that night. Beneath his pillow was a slip of paper Mme Garnier had dropped. She had been so afraid of those Germans discovering this paper that it could mean only one thing: She was in the Resistance and it was a secret message."

As expected, this all puts Lucas in grave danger - this tension will keep you turning the pages of The Lions' Run desperately hoping Lucas, Alice, Bia and those kittens will all survive. Do NOT flip to the end of the book - the ending you will arrive at is unexpected and more.

This is the second book where I have read about the Lebensborn.

"to be accepted, the pregnant girls must pass all these tests. Not just blue eyes and blonde hair. They measure their heads, they measure the space between their eyes, everything. It's called 'Aryan,' what they're breeding for. Some with the men, the fathers ... Two blonde parents are most likely going to have blonde children."

Adding to all the complexities of this story - Lucas meets and talks with Clare, one of the young pregnant girls. As an orphan himself he is so dismayed when he hears that her baby will be taken away and she will never see him again. 

This immersive story is driven by Lucas’ emotional yearnings and the sometimes complicated relationships among the well-drawn characters, ... the history and the specific setting are accurate and carefully delineated, creating a strong sense of place. Kirkus Star review

... this a book the reader won’t be able to put down. Historical Novel Society

Pennypacker’s tale feels both relevant and necessary. She captures the idea that bravery doesn’t always look grand or heroic; sometimes it’s found in the smallest, most private choices. A Book a Week

Please read this interview of Sara Pennypacker by Betsy Bird. The Lions' run is available in hardcover for a really good price here in Australia (shop around I've seen this book between AUS$18 and AUS$25) so I highly recommend you add this book to your library collection. The cover by Jon Klassen is perfect - you need to stretch it out to see the front and back images together. Listen to an audio sample of Chapter 5 and you can read chapters one and two here.

There are so many books for readers aged 10+ about aspects of World War II but I highly recommend you consider adding this one to your school library. The story is a powerful one and yet also very personal. Lucas is an orphan and this drives his desire to firstly help the kittens and later the baby. Alice is wise beyond her years and a character to cherish. The important work of the resistance is woven into this story and this adds a very real layer of tension. (Click the label Resistance Fighters at the bottom of this post to find other books that explore the heroism of people who worked so hard to thwart the enemy). 

Companion books:

Waiting for the Storks

All the Beautiful Things

Faceless

Birdie

I am a huge fan of Sara Pennypacker.

Pax; Pax: The Journey Home

Summer of the Gypsy Moths

Leeva at Last

Sparrow Girl

Emmie Builds Something New by Marjorie Crosby-Fairall

Emmie was little. But her ideas were big. ...

Everything was just the way she liked it. Until one day ...

Turn the page - an enormous shadow fills the space - yes, it is a cat. Emmie has read lots of books about cats such as "Care of Cats"; "Puss in Boots"; and "Cats in Wonderland".

Image source: Marjorie Crosby-Fairall

This cat is terrifying so Emmie hides inside her little home, but Emmie is a problem solver. She is determined to scare that cat away. As with the way with all good stories she tries three times to make the perfect robot-like monster which she is sure will work. Her final creation sprays water all over the cat and at this point Emmie realises something - this little soggy cat is not scary at all. Is there a way to fix this situation? Perhaps the word 'sorry' will help. 

Thinking about the book design - the end papers are terrific and I love the illustration on the title page. With your library group talk about the use of a cog to dot the 'i' in the title and the choice of font and use of capital letters. You might notice Emmie is wearing glasses - do these make her look smarter? Does it matter that the bell has a crack? Opposite the title page Emmie is surrounded by a tangle of wool - why does she look triumphant? Compare this with the second last page after your reading. And this is also a 'noisy story' which means it will be perfect to read aloud. 

Sprang! Crash! Bang! Boom! Bash! Swooped! Crash! Bang! Boom! 
Stamped! Stomped! Splashed! Yippee! Hooray!

On the whole, it’s a welcome reminder that it’s just as important to be kind as it is to be smart. A sweet social-emotional book that’s the cat’s (and the mouse’s) pajamas. Kirkus

This delightful story not only entertains but also inspires young readers, especially girls with a passion for STEM. Join Emmie on her roller-coaster journey of discovery, where every challenge is an opportunity to create, learn, and ultimately build a bridge of understanding with her newfound companion. Ultimately Emmie finds a way to coexist with the cat and discovers that empathy is the pathway to peace and friendship. A Book and a Hug

The cool-toned palette--full of teals, coppers, and dusty greens--adds to the atmosphere, giving the attic world a muted glow that feels both forgotten and full of potential. The perspective shifts and textured lines bring Emmie's world to life with energy and wit. The illustrations brim with mechanical marvels and visual riddles, and the story hints at broader ideas: that even long-held assumptions, like cats and mice being enemies, can be reimagined through curiosity, creativity, and a little kindness. Shelf Awareness

In your school library or Kindy or Grade One classroom it would be fun to explore either the topic of inventions or the topic of the rivalry between the cats and mice. With an older group you could investigate women inventors such as Joy Mangano; Hertha Ayrton; Ada Lovelace; Margaret Eloise Knight or Josephine Cochrane. I am sure you can think of many others. Take a look at this Pinterest from my friend at Kinderbookswitheverything. It is could also be interesting to talk about the reversal in this story where the mouse has the upper hand over the cat. Your senior students could look at Mr Maxwell's Mouse as a comparison text. 

Here are some sketches by Marjorie Crosby-Fairall from her book. 

I had Emmie Builds Something New in a basket of books I borrowed from a school library at the end of 2025. Today I saw someone on social media say this was their favorite Australian picture book of 2025 - that's a big call so I knew I needed to look more closely at Emmie Builds Something New. I do like Emmie Builds Something New - surely it will be listed as a CBCA Notable Picture Book in 2026. 

Here are other books illustrated by Marjorie Crosby-Fairall. I previously talked about Summer Blue.

The art in Emmie Builds Something New reminded me of this wonderful book:

The Tin Forest

Talking about cats and mice try to find this really old (very funny) book:

This one is great too:

A most Mysterious Mouse

My name is a gift by Zeshan Akhter illustrated by Asa Gillano

When I met Daddy and fitted in his hands, I didn't have a name. 

So Daddy and Mommy whispered one in my ear. 

My name is the first present I ever got. 

It came wrapped in Daddy and Mommy's love.

Publisher blurb:  On the day Sitara is born, she receives a very special gift from her parents—her name. As Sitara grows, some people tumble up her name in their mouths until it's not her name anymore. So Sitara learns about the history, tradition, and culture that went into choosing her name, giving her the confidence to help others say it right. This heartwarming story not only teaches us the significance of our names, but it also highlights that trying to say names correctly, or asking if you're unsure, goes a long way.

"People I meet have never heard my name before." - this means they make up names or miss out letters. If you don't know how to say someone's name - just ask. The little girl in this story will also show you a world map as a way to explain where her name comes from. Her name means 'shine like a star'. Her name is Sitara. 

"When someone says my name carefully and kindly, it lights up my heart."

Names are so important. I have two sad stories to share about names. When my little mum moved into an aged care facility (it was a dreadful place) each of the resident names were displayed on the door of their room - I went to set up her room a few days before her arrival only to discover her name was spelt incorrectly - I really think there is absolutely no excuse for this. To my horror the registered nurse who had printed the sign was quite "put out" that I dared to ask for it to be corrected. The second example is from the same facility. My name has a silent letter. Many of the staff have English as a second or even third language but the nurse who needed to tell me when my mum needed help or had fallen could never ever get my name right in spite of repeated corrections. At first my friends thought this was very funny but over time it really upset me. Her way of mangling my name actually sounded quite rude. My name actually means "pearl". 

My name is a gift is an Empathy Lab title. It was published in 2024 and is available in paperback. I think this book should be an essential purchase for all Primary school libraries. Take a look at this post for other book titles that explore names. 

I am Nefertiti

Song of a Thousand Seas by Zana Fraillon

Days are for watching listening playing planning but

nights are for adventure

Houdini the octopus is a girl but in the world of this book, which we see through her eyes, she refers to herself as we (due to the fact octopuses have nine brains).

Not Welcome

Our nine Octopus brains have a lot we'd like

to say to the Waves of People who

come every day to stare and gawk to

squeak and squawk to squeal to bang on our glass

we'd have a lot to say if only they

knew how to listen

The first thing we'd say is

GO AWAY!

Houdini lives in an aquarium. It is not large and I find that so awful:

We want to say that in the day we

do not hunt at all. The Sea is so very

big so very full but our tank is so

very small so

very empty.

Far too empty

for too small for

hunting.

Like being safe is all

that matters. Like a tank two arms long in

all directions is

any kind of Home. Like

the bubbles from the pump

are enough of an ebb and flow to make us happy

when we know

to be happy is to be free.

Her keeper (is that the right term) is named Paul. In fact I dislike that title keeper - and I am not a fan at all of animals in captivity so I come to this story with a high level of empathy and also quite a bit of rage. Have you twigged about the name Houdini - yes she is an escape artist and who can blame her. Octopuses are not meant to languish in an aquarium for our (human) viewing pleasure. She needs to get back into the ocean - think about the title - her heart needs to hear the song of a thousand seas. 

Luckily Houdini is very clever and yes she can escape but she also knows she has to be very careful of Paul because he is sure to 'fortify' her tank even more and then escape might be impossible. Then we discover Houdini has two human friends, Joe the cleaner and Juno, Paul's daughter, and they do have enough emotional intelligence and also enough understanding of the plight of animals in captivity to know Houdini needs her freedom. I think this is because Joe and Juno also have experienced pain. 

Every night Houdini tries to find her way to the pipes in the bathroom because they lead to the sea but she doesn't quite make it before she needs to be back in the water and so Joe carefully carries her back to her tank. As a reader I was holding my breath hoping that she would make it and be free again. 

Zana Fraillon is one of Australia’s most interesting writers for young children, experimenting with form and voice and offering layered and intelligent narratives. ‘Song of a Thousand Seas’ is a lyrical verse novel of homecoming and friendship focusing on Houdini the octopus who lives in an aquarium, but she misses her home in the wild sea. This is a thought provoking and compelling story ideal for readers aged 8-12, and a great read aloud for teachers. Paul Macdonald 

Here are some very detailed teachers notes.

Do you ever think about author names? I think the name Zana Fraillon is a perfect one for an author. It sounds exotic and mysterious to me. Also I am giving this cover by Aviva Reed top marks - it is fantastic. Australia is a relatively small country and yes I agree we do have some really good authors who write for children but there are a few that are way beyond just good - authors whose work can stand up with the very best in the world - one of those authors is Zana Fraillon. Make sure you pop this book onto your library shelves - the readers in our lives and libraries deserve to read the very best books and this is one of them.

You can see Zana Fraillon talking about her book on this video. Houdini was a real octopus - you must share this with the readers in your library. Thank you to University of Queensland Press (UQP) for sending an advance copy of Song of a Thousand Seas (due for publication 2nd September 2025)

LAUNCH - Song Of a Thousand Seas will be officially launched! Come join the wonderful @kmildenhall and me in conversation @readingskids in Carlton on Saturday the 6th of September from 2pm. There will be sea stones to decorate, awesome octopus tattoos, cupcakes and an octopus quiz with octopus prizes so be sure to brush up on all those octopus facts! All books signed will include the one of a kind ‘signature’ by the real Houdini. Tickets are free, but registrations are necessary.

I have talked about lots of verse novels here on this blog - click that search term on my sidebar.

Companion books:

My Friend the Octopus

Odder

The One and Only Ivan (look for the sequels too)

In 2018 Zana Fraillon's book The Bone Sparrow was our IBBY Australia Honour book title. This means her book goes into a very important international book catalogue and also becomes part of a travelling exhibition. 

Zana Fraillon is an internationally acclaimed, multi-award-winning author of books for children and young adults. Zana's books have won the Amnesty CILIP Honour Award, the ABIA Book of the Year for Older Children, the Readings YA Prize, NSW Premier's Literary Awards and the CBCA Honour Book Award. The Bone Sparrow was chosen as the biennial book to represent Australia for the International Board on Books for Young People. Zana was born and lives in Naarm (Melbourne) but spent her early childhood in San Francisco. She has degrees in history and teaching and is undertaking a PhD in Creative Writing at La Trobe University.

Other books I have talked about by Zana Fraillon:

The Way of Dog

A small collection of Happiness

This should be the CBCA Younger Readers Book of the Year 

but alas it didn't even make the notables list - I am still in shock about that.

The Raven's Song

Very young readers might also look for another book by Zana Fraillon called Etta and the Octopus illustrated by Andrew Joyner.