The Fabric of Us by Aditi Anand

Papa's sewing machine fills the house with sounds and colourful fabrics but one day the house falls silent. Now it is just the little girl and her Dad and the silence seems to stretch on and on. How can the little girl help restore their happiness.

I saw this book promoted on Social Media and the illustrations looked so special. This is a new book published in 2026. The paperback from Walker Books is an affordable price.  You can see Aditi Anand speaking about her book here. You can see more art from Aditi Anand on Instagram.

Publisher blurb: The sound of Papa’s sewing machine fills the family home: Snip! Whirr! Clank! Click Click Click! But one day everything changes and the house is silent... This is a poignant and moving picture book about dealing with grief and bereavement, as a little girl copes with the death of one of her fathers. The family bond over Papa’s love for sewing, and in this sensitively told story, the little girl rediscovers this hobby with her father and together, they find a way to remember Papa.

Anand’s vibrant mixed-media illustrations, full of childlike ingenuity, supplement her spare text. Visual cues such as Hindi newsprint in the collage images, Papa’s kurta and footwear, and a turbaned Sikh man in a bazaar establish the setting as India. Color is used effectively to plot the protagonist’s emotional journey. Full-bleed spreads burst with warm hues until Papa’s death, when the colorful backgrounds become steeped in gray-blue. The final illustrations of a patchwork memory piece that Dad and the child create to remember Papa cleverly combine fuchsia, orange, and yellow patterns from the fabrics worn by this family unit and signal a return to color—and perhaps even joy. Kirkus

Anand's art is absolutely beautiful. I love the collage technique incorporating swatches of text into the image, calling to mind swatches of fabric like Papa must use as a tailor. The muted tones of the illustrations also complement the tone of the story about a girl and her father dealing with the loss (or absence) of her other father. Glass of Wine, Glass of Milk

Aditi Anand is an illustrator, author, and printmaker from India. In 2024, she graduated with distinction from the MA in Children’s Book Illustration at the Cambridge School of Art. She is the winner of the Picture This prize and in 2024 she won the Emerging Illustrator V&A prize for illustration. The Fabric of Us is her debut picture book as an author illustrator. Here is another book illustrated by Aditi Anand:

Read the Kirkus review

The Wild Unknown by Emily Gale

The year is 2045 so it's not that far into the future. There are plenty of ideas in this book that actually could happen such as personal assistants worn in the ear called 'mica'; body transplants such as hearts from animals; food orders delivered by robots called 'Goodbots'; government surveillance drones everywhere; student progress monitored by robots at school with reports sent regularly to parents; and talking appliances!

The idea of humans with body parts from animals is a key concept in this story but you might over look it.  It links with the strange changes happening to Eddie and a couple of his classmates and is introduced about two thirds of the way through the book. Eddie begins to grow feathers; he is fully awake at night and so exhausted all day; his eyes seem to have changed to night vision; he can run like an athlete way beyond his usual pace; and he can even stay under the water for a long period with no ill effects.

What is happening? How did this start? Eddie receives a delicious food delivery during the school holidays.

The Goodbot "was the size and shape of a stocky black labrador with a flat face consisting of two shining eyes and a fixed smile. It made it's way to the gate on wheels and rose to smoothly unlatch it. Then it activated its legs to navigate the step and padded towards Eddie like a cat approaching prey. ... (the treat) had to be eaten within the hour, it must be something fresh and delicious. ...the smell was something else - an aroma of fried chicken, freshly baked bread and something mysterious but delicious. ... Maybe it would taste as good as it smelt, instead of as bad as it looked. It did! Wow! WOW!"

Eddie does not question this gift from his dad even though his dad has never sent a food gift like this before and more importantly his father never uses and is even suspicious of Goodbots.

Meanwhile a boy named Theo is missing. You also need to know Eddie's mother works as a fact checker for an organisation called TruthUp because in the past "deep fakes and news-bots had turned the world upside down. No one had been able to trust a single thing they read or watched. TruthUp was trying to make news real again." Luckily Eddie has help to solve or partly solve all of this, his own body changes and the missing boy,  from his friend Kit, Kit's sister Romy and his own computer-game playing brother Jude. 

There is an interesting if somewhat minor theme explored in this story is about politics. A new political party has emerged - it is called Revive and it consists of dead former Prime Ministers. That part did give me a jolt. 

Blurb from author page: It’s 2045 and the world is full of tech. Eddie has a bot in his ear giving him advice all day, a bathroom scale that identifies illnesses, and classroom bots keeping track of him at school. The streets are full of delivery bots and game tech is amazing. But tech can’t help the police find a missing boy called Theo, who was last seen at the river. When they abandon the search, Eddie and his friends sneak down to the river to look for clues. What they find doesn’t make any sense. Then strange things start happening to Eddie. He’s never been sporty but suddenly he’s a brilliant runner. When a friend is caught in the bottom of the pool, Eddie rescues her from drowning by holding his breath for a suspiciously long amount of time. He has excellent night vision – and there are hair-like feathers growing out of his skin. It’s exciting. It’s terrifying. How can it be both? And what do the changes in Eddie have to do with Theo’s disappearance?

I did read this book quite quickly which means the story held my attention and I did enjoy the "hopefully invented" world of the future. Sadly though, two things let this book down - one, in my view, is the pastel colour choice for the cover and the second is the rushed and slightly unresolved ending - I don't think a sequel is planned. By the end of the book (spoiler alert) I was still unsure why the kids had been used in this experiment run by Theo's parents. I did find a reviewer who loved the cover - these things are always so subjective and personal. You can read more plot details here. Here is a Q and A with Emil Gale. Emily also talks about her book on this podcast (40+ minutes).

The Wild Unknown is a thrilling and suspenseful novel that explores the consequences of AI reliance and how this will shape our future. Emily Gale opens up a discussion, prompting children to ask what the benefits of AI are, and what should they be concerned about? She also hints at how AI might influence people in complex spaces, such as political parties misusing it for their own ends, or the media manipulating it. Through Eddie’s transformation and search for Theo, Gale highlights the importance of human relationships, of being able to turn to each other for help and support, and the beauty of the natural world. For ages 9+.  Readings Melbourne

(Its's) an unsettling, yet a compelling mystery that reminds us that human connection, using our own smarts and working together is better and more effective than the most up-to-date technology. It shows that we need a balance, to save humanity, to keep the world safe, and to make sure we don’t destroy the environment. This is in part a warning, and in part an examination of what could happen if gene modification and manipulation become weapons against humanity. Emily Gale has done a wonderful job of exploring this, departing from her usual historical fiction which I adore. A great example of not letting technology rule our lives. The Book Muse

The manipulation of humans using animal parts reminded me of this very old book (part of a series of three):

Our Sister, again by Sophie Cameron

"Welcome to Project Homecoming and exclusive trial by Second Chances Ltd.

You are part of one of the most ambitious and pioneering projects ever carried out in the field of Artificial Intelligence. 

One that, if successful will change how we think about 

and experience life and death forever."

Life is a mystery and so is death but we do know that when someone dies we cannot see them again. In books there is an unwritten rule that death is never reversed or so it seems to me. In this book a young girl is 'brought' back and this has huge implications. This book will most certainly make readers think deeply about grief, death, what it means to be human and also the implications of technology in our lives.

Isla's sister has died. Mum is wrapped up in grief and so when she reads about a way to bring Flora back to 'life' she readily agrees. What does this mean? What are the implications for the family of agreeing to the Second Chances Homecoming Project. What are the implications for the community who have all signed confidentially agreements? And what about the other teenagers who were friends with Flora? They have grieved and attended her funeral and now she is back. But they are older because three years have passed. If this version of Flora is frozen in time and only has the memories. possibly unreliable memories, collected by Second Chances, is she a real person? Mum does not want to see the truth and dad is sure this is totally wrong, so he has left the family and moved away from their island home. Now that Flora is back should she go back to school? Is there any point in sitting exams? And of course, the kids in her class from before have left the school and are at college.

Is Flora person or a robot? "As Flora turns towards the harbour steps her hair falls to the side and shows the back of her pale neck. ... Carved into her skin, only just visible above her jacket, is a small square."

Is this Flora, really Flora? "The returnee has been created using vast amounts of data, in addition to photos, videos and extensive interviews with your loved one's friends and family."

"Our returnees look entirely human ... We are confident that this new arrival will be an extremely close match to the person you remember. However, please be aware that there are some differences. Returnees do not need to sleep, they cannot be fully submerged in water, (they do not need to eat), and they don't fall sick with human illnesses."

The food part about the returnee made my stomach squirm. In the first few days Flora does eat with the family but the food goes into a food compartment in her body and she has to regularly empty it. Eventually she just gives up this charade of eating. 

"Losing Flora so young made me realise that growing old is a gift not everyone gets."

Dad "doesn't think she's human ... He says you can't rebuild a soul and you can't be a human without a soul."

Exploring a number of ethical questions, Our Sister, Again is simultaneously an intriguing mystery and a moving story of grief, family bonds, and what it means to be human.  Book Trust

It's an emotional story, and heartwarming too. The Book Bag (read this full review - it is very thoughtful)

This is an incredibly powerful, compelling and absorbing read that raises issues around personhood, ethics and social media.  ... And, that ending – it brought tears and smiles – and was exquisite! Book Craic

Saskia Spark-Lee Trading Trouble by Rebecka Sharpe Shelberg

I picked this book up by mistake. The second book from this series is a CBCA Younger Readers Notable title but anyway I did enjoy this first installment (published 2023). In fact this easy chapter book was a total surprise. I expected it would be a fairly light weight story, but this story explores deeper themes of honesty, jealousy, problem solving and remorse.

Saskia is a collector especially of things that sparkle (think about her name). She lives with her two dads. One is a great cook. Saskia has a wonderful friend at school and each day the pair of them have fun guessing what might be in their lunch boxes and then swapping the different treats and sandwiches. At lunch time one day Saskia sees a girl from her class with a wonderful large piece of sparkling quartz. It would be a fabulous addition to her collection. Without thinking about the consequences Saskia tells Athena about the real diamond she has at home. Saskia offers to swap her tiny diamond for the lovely piece of quartz. Does Saskia really have a diamond? No. But how can she undo this terrible lie.

I love the role adults play in this story. Dad (Da) has a great idea about how to tell the truth but also smooth over this relationship. At the same time, unknown to Saskia, Athena's mum also has a solution which means as readers we can all enjoy the resolution to this problem and it feels realistic, kind and very satisfying. 

Here are the Scholastic Standing Order teachers notes. 

I have been reading my way through the 2025 CBCA Younger Readers Notable titles. Saskia Spark-Lee Trading trouble is the first book in this series featuring Saskia Spark-Lee. The second book Fundraiser Fail is a CBCA Notable and tomorrow the short-listed books will be announced. There are 14 books in this category I have not read (although I did browse through a few of the pop titles - reading just their first few pages until the word 'fart' was mentioned then I thought I should really spend my time on books that I think meet the CBCA criteria because this is a literary award not a pop one). I will need to hunt out this book because it is an important part of the CBCA judging that books from a series must stand alone. Here is the webpage for Rebecka Sharpe Shelberg. 

Here is the notable title from the CBCA 2025 Younger Readers list:

Publisher blurb: Saskia Spark-Lee loves animals – she’s almost adopted a whole zoo-worth! But when Da and Dee say they can’t add another to the collection, she must come up with a new plan to continue supporting her furry friends. With some help from Nanna, and the amazing fundraising skills of her friends, Saskia may find where there's a will there's a way!

The Younger Readers 2025 CBCA judges said: This book is ideal for the younger end of the category. Although only 64 pages, it’s packed with substance – excellent plotting with tension maintained throughout, and good authentic characterisation with a strong voice. The topics are appealing to the age level, and the book is accessible with illustrations in halftone and line. The themes of prioritising competing values, animal conservation, advocacy and charity are explored in a way that is accessible to the intended audience and this series does not talk down to readers. Similarly, it includes some vocabulary that will challenge readers such as ‘solemn’ and ‘dilemma’. There is also a diverse representation of characters including Saskia’s two dads and her multicultural classmates. This book will entice but not intimidate younger readers.

The Swallowtail Legacy: Wreck at Ada's Reef by Michael D. Bell

Meadowlark Elizabeth Heron-Finch is known as Lark and she has returned to the island where her mother lived as a child. Lark has come with her sister Pip (Sandpiper Alanna Heron-Finch), with their stepfather Thomas and his three sons.

"When I was five, and Pip was three, our dad died ... That same summer Thomas's wife was killed by a falling tree branch when she was jogging in Central Park. Four and a half years later, Mom married Thomas. ... So we had kind of a Brady Bunch thing going for a couple of years but then, three months ago, Mom died, and what was left? Thomas and his kids, and then Pip and me. I don't know what we are exactly, but it doesn't quite feel like a family."

The Island of Swallowtail is holding a mystery. One resident now claims the island is his because of an inheritance. He has a plan to develop the island with holiday houses and a golf course but one resident - Nadine Pritchard - is desperate to find the truth and stop this dreadful development which will ruin their tiny island home. Nadine was Kate's (that's Larks Mom) best friend. She is also the granddaughter of a man who was killed in a boating accident many years ago off the coast of the island. This is where describing this story could get a bit complicated.

Captain Edward Cheever was born on Swallowtail island. His wife and young daughter Ada died during the flu epidemic. Edward Cheever has only one brother named Gilbert. 

"So, when Captain Cheever dies, he owns all this land, everything north of this line. Something in the neighborhood of five hundred acres, or almost twenty percent of the island. A lot of land. Unfortunately, the only will that the captain leaves behind is one written in the 1930s that, naturally, leaves everything to his wife and daughter. One little problem: they're already dead. So who gets it all? His only living heir, the brother he hates, Gilbert."

So now we have several mysteries to solve. Did Captain Cheever write a new will? If so where is it? What do his dying words (will, safe, two bells, Ada holds the key) mean? Was the boating death of Albert Pritchard really an accident? Did one of the witnesses leave something important out of the inquest into his death? Why is the woman at the Cheever Museum so nasty? You need to read this book to find all the answers to these and many more questions.

There are a lot of characters in this story and I did find at times I was a little bit confused but that may be because I read this book a little too quickly. It might have been helpful if the author had popped a character list at the beginning of the book perhaps.

Here is the publisher blurb: Twelve-year-old Lark Heron-Finch is steeling herself to spend the summer on Swallowtail Island off the shores of Lake Erie. It’s the first time she and her sister will have seen the old house since their mom passed away. The island’s always been full of happy memories—and with a step father and his boys and no mom, now everything is different.When Nadine, a close family friend, tells Lark about a tragic boat accident that happened off the coast many years before, Lark’s enthralled with the story. Nadine’s working on a book about Dinah Purdy, Swallowtail’s oldest resident who had a connection to the crash, and she’s sure that the accident was not as it appeared. Impressed by Lark’s keen eye, she hires her as her research assistant for the summer.And then Lark discovers something amazing. Something that could change Dinah’s life. Something linked to the crash and to her own family’s history with Swallowtail. But there are others on the island who would do anything to keep the truth buried in the watery depths of the past.

Each character, historic and contemporary, sparks with life. Lark’s process and the reveals are perfectly paced. Descriptions of the island and weather, plus some dramatic moments on rough water, help build atmospheric tension.  Kirkus Star review (this reviewer also said Readers will be hooked—more, please!)

I love the way Thomas inserts wise quotes into his everyday conversations by people like Marcus Aurelius, Aristotle, and Cicero.

If your reader aged 10+ loves a good mystery story they are sure to enjoy Wreck at Ada's Reef. I would pair this book Out of the Wild Night by Blue Balliet. And the publisher links this book with The Parker Inheritance.

The Parker Inheritance

Here is the website of Michael D Bell. And here is an interview where he talks about is book. Nearly everything is resolved at the end of the first installment in this series except we do need to know more about the little bird that Lark found in her bedroom and also more the book that was carved inside to hold this little treasure. The second book from the series The Swallowtail legacy was published in 2023 and it takes up this part of the mystery.

Here is the Kirkus review

Budgie by Joseph Coelho illustrated by David Barrow

 

Miles loves to climb trees even though there are not too many of them outside his tower block of apartments. As he reaches the top of one tall tree an old man named Mr Buxton shouts at Miles and scares the young boy and his friends. The next day Miles finds tiny bird - a little yellow and green budgie. 

"I dart forward and carefully scoop it up in my hands. Its body feels weak, like an empty eggshell, but its heart is strong. I can feel it thumping through its body. I cup the budgie to my chest and rush home."

Miles names the little bird Pippin. He settles the tiny creature into a small box and feeds it some bread crumbs and water. 

"I run my fingers over the crayon box of its feathers, the bright sunburst of its head, the apple candy of its tummy down each wing with their black and yellow flecks. Its feathers feel a-kiss-on-an-eyelid soft."

The next morning Miles sees the box is empty and the window is open - I gasped - but it is okay Pippin is happily flying around the kitchen. Sadly, this is his final flight and day of life. I know this is a spoiler but if you are planning to share this book with a young child, I think you need to know that Pippin does die. Later we discover this is a very old budgie. He belonged to Mr Buxton and so now the story focus shifts to why Mr Buxton was so upset to see Miles climbing trees and how Mr Buxton came to own the budgie he named Lemon. I would suggest this book is for readers aged 7+.

The connection between Mr. Buxton and Miles is not only touching but encourages those intergenerational friendships which seem to be so undervalued in society. As the elderly are forgotten, so are their stories. Yet Mr. Buxton reminds us that we can learn so much from older people and their experiences and that they need connection too.  The Bread Crumb Forest

I have been waiting for quite a while to read this book. The cover really appealed to me especially because I once had a little budgie exactly like the one on this cover. 

Easy to read by readers of a wide range of ages, Budgie shows that stories that carry big emotions can be simply written. Julia Eccleshare LoveReading4Kids

Deep and meaningful stories do not need to be long to leave a lasting impression. Joseph Coelho’s Barrington Stoke debut proves that they can be short, wonderful, moving and accessible to young readers ... A word about books

I need to make a special mention of the art in Budgie by David Barrow. You can see his work on Instagram. Budgie is a title from the Little Gems series - click that label at the bottom of this post to see more of these gems!

Here is my other most favourite book about a budgie - Pete and Roland by Bob Graham. Sadly, this book is very very old and long out of print but I do wish I could read Pete and Roland to young child straight after Budgie by Josephy Coelho.

Here is another old Australian junior chapter book featuring a budgie - this one is from the Solo series. 

Budgie

I didn't know Budgerigars live in England. I discovered: The English Budgerigar, often referred to as the English Budgie or the Show Budgie, and the Australian Budgerigar, commonly known as the Australian Budgie or the Budgie, are two distinct variations of the same species, Melopsittacus undulatus. ... The English Budgie is larger and more robust compared to its Australian counterpart. It exhibits a more substantial and rounded head, with a broader face and a prominent forehead. In contrast, the Australian Budgie has a slightly smaller frame and a slimmer head, giving it a more streamlined appearance. ... Another significant difference lies in their plumage. The English Budgie is renowned for its luxurious, long, and profuse feathers. Its plumage displays an array of vivid colors and intricate patterns, ranging from vibrant blues and yellows to striking grays and greens.

This article went on to explain the English budgie does originate from our Australian one. Breeding over time has changed their size and feathers. In the early 19th century, British naturalists and explorers started bringing budgerigars from Australia to England. These birds captured the attention of breeders due to their captivating appearance, intelligence, and ability to mimic sounds and words.

Inside the front cover of Budgie (by Josephy Coelho) you can read some budgie facts:

• They live 7-15 years
• They have 3000 feathers
• Their heart beats 500 times per minute
• They love to eat vegetables such as broccoli, spinach and peas

The Jammer by Nova Weetman

Publisher blurb: Fred has moved around her whole life, one small town after another, and never minded starting over. She’s always had her mum, her dad, and her love of roller derby. On the track she’s Fred or Dead, the star jammer, a gun at smashing through a line of bodies and scoring for her team. But Fred’s life has fallen apart, and now she can’t imagine ever putting her skates on again. On a road trip to Melbourne with her dad, Fred meets a bunch of people who think they know what’s best for her. And although Fred tries to avoid it, roller derby has a way of barging back into her life. A true jammer could push through anything, but Fred doesn’t know who she is anymore. What do you do when the thing that could save you is the thing that hurts the most? This moving story of broken bones and healing hearts is a must-read for Nova Weetman’s fans and will find her many new ones.

I found this blurb a little bit strange - most the story takes place in Melbourne and that is where Fred meets people who want to help her - not "on the road".  Also in the story Fred catches a tram with her new friend Sammy. The book says they pull the cord on the tram but if this book is set in 2022 (which I think it is) I'm confused. I thought I used a button on a Melbourne tram on my recent visit to the city, but Nova Weetman is from Melbourne so perhaps I am wrong. 

This is sweet story of self discovery. Fred is a memorable character. I have read stories exactly like this in the past with a grieving father and angry confused child so there is nothing especially original here but readers aged 10+ will enjoy this book. As an adult reader I was not especially interested in the roller derby scenes but readers who play sport - especially roller derby - are sure to really enjoy these references and games. 

Here is Nova Weetman's web site. And here are a set of teachers notes for The Jammer. Read more of the plot here in the Reading Time review. And here is an extensive author interview by Joy Lawn on her blog Paperbark Words.

There are plenty of words that seem appropriate to describe this story; heart-breaking, heart-warming and poignant being amongst them. But the two words that sprang to mind for me were real and raw. Weetman has spoken about hers and her children’s grief after the death of her partner, and how that grief fed into this book. This story gives a palpable sense of that period in Weetman’s life. However, at no stage does the story feel morbid or hopeless. Story Links

I have previously talked about these books by Nova Weetman.

Sick Bay

The Secrets we Keep

Honour Among Ghosts by Sean Williams

"It is good that the hoodlum gives to the poor, but it is bad that innocent people are blamed, and it very bad that there are poor people in the first place. How can we solve all this at once? We cannot. It is too much. All we have is ourselves, but we are small and we are quick and we are smart. People are not afraid of us. They will tell us things we need to know."

"Sorcerers and scribes use words to change the world, but they do not stand apart from the world, and so the question of how one can avoid changing oneself in the process of casting a spell remains."

Someone is meddling in magic. Things are being stolen and innocent people found with stolen goods and then declared guilty by the town magistrate. Mab (apprentice scribe), Penny (daughter of the town stone mason who is in jail), Colm (son of the magistrate) and Niclas (an orphan traveller boy) will need to work together to solve this mystery and also to set all the adults free from jail. 

Here are some text quotes to give you a flavour of the delightful turn of phrase used in this book:

"There was no 'Upper Rudmere', which occasionally prompted passers-through to suggest changing the welcome sign to read just Rudmere. But what was writ was writ, as the saying went, and who knew what might befall a town if its name on the kingdom's maps was altered?"

"The girl, Mab Grimmer, apprentice to  the village scribe, took the hawthorn twig in her right hand and scratched a series of quick letters into the boy she now held pinned facedown beneath her."

"Ever since the King's proclamation that all traveller troops were to be disbanded, on the grounds of wanton lawlessness across all counties and in every corner on the land, the idea that travellers were thieves was ingrained in the mind of everyone who wasn't actually a traveller."

'it saddened Mab to see her father reduced so. His opinions and prejudices might irk her at regular intervals, but his passion was admirable, and to imagine him thinking, even for a moment, that the constant flow of his protests might cease was oddly troubling ... "

"Dawn the nest morning was noted by clock and candle ... " "Clouds crowded low and threateningly over the village."

"The butter came from cows painted with charms designed (it was claimed) to enhance their milk's flavour." 

I really enjoyed the inventive names in this book - Magistrate Nightwick; Penny Athelbert, Colm Nightwick; Mab Grimmer; Niclas; Mistress Penalune (the town scribe); and Sofia Phronesis.

A class teacher could make really good use of this character description of Inspector Armitage:

"an imposing, bespectacled man wearing a single-breasted sack coat with matching check trousers, all in shades of grey. The glass in his spectacles were smoked, hiding the shade of his eyes. ... (he had) a fine tenor voice and rounded vowels. Removing his hat ... exposed a lumpen and utterly hairless dome with the faintest tracery of scars stretching from one ear to the other, like a web he had walked through and not wiped away."

Here are some wonderful expressions:

• compulsive fabricator
• mortified curiosity
• exonerate one of your own
• you continue to obstruct the truth
• she waved a beringed hand at Colm

Honour among Ghosts is another book I would use to talk about genre labels in a library (I am not a fan) because this book would need numerous stickers - fantasy, mystery, ghost story, magic and crime. I recommend Honour Among Ghosts for mature students with reading stamina aged 10+. This book will be published in September, 2022. Thanks to Beachside Bookshop for my advance copy. 

Read my post about a previous book by Sean Williams:

Her Perilous Mansion

Bored: Milo finds $105 by Matt Stanton

"Why didn't I stay inside yesterday morning? If  I'd watched TV instead of riding my bike then someone else would have found the money. Then everyone would be hassling them. Actually, they probably wouldn't be. If anyone else had found it, they would have just put the money in their pocket and never said a word to anyone. That's what a normal person would have done."

There are only six houses in Turtle Place. Milo lives in number one, her has new neighbours, then there is Evie Watson's place, Rocco's house, Zak and Luisa live next to Rocco, there is one empty block of land and an elderly couple called Mr and Mrs Katz. 

"A one-hundred-dollar-note is sitting in the middle of the street. I've never seen one beofre. I didn't even know what colour they were. There's a five-dollar-note too. One hundred and five-dollars in the middle of Turtle Place. It's a miracle."

Can Milo keep this money? It is not his. Who could have lost it in his quiet Cul-de-sac? Not to mention the complications that come from all the new relationships he needs to navigate now that Frog has moved in next door. And Milo is desperately missing his brother and what's going on with Frog - there's more to this kids than meets the eye. 

"Suddenly all I can think about is that Frog better not fall in love with Evie Watson. I already have so  many obstacles to overcome. For starters, I'm a year younger than her. Then there's the fact that she's way cooler than me. Also, I'm mostly too shy to actually say anything to her. It's all quite exhausting and I am not ready or mature enough to cope with a love-triangle situation."

You can see I have given this book five stars.  YES it is that good. 

• You will never guess where this money has come from
• In the spirit of a good 'who dunnit' every neighbour is under suspicion
• These kids have distinct personalities
• Milo is able to express his raw emotions in such a genuine way - love and tears
• This is a book boys (and girls) will enjoy which contains a welcome level of emotional intelligence - I loved this aspect of the story
• This book manages to be both funny and poignant
• Milo is a real kid and you will enjoy listening to his honest voice 
• With just over 200 pages of large print and lots of white space young readers will easily race to the end

Bored: Milo finds $105 would make a terrific class read-aloud book for your Grade 4 or 5 class. It is the first book in a planned series. This book will be published in April, 2022.  Huge thanks to Beachside Bookshop for my advance copy.  You can read the first twelve pages here.  Companion reads:

Mr Chickee's Funny Money

Junk Castle

The Parker Inheritance by Varian Johnson

 

I was reminded of a multigenerational story idea—a story that tracks a family’s experience with racism from the early 1900s to today—and I realised that this was the story that I needed to pair with the puzzle. Varian Johnson

I like to think of The Parker Inheritance as a mash-up: part contemporary fiction, part historical fiction, part mystery— even part middle-grade novel and part young-adult novel. That being said, I’m proud of the historical parts of the novel. I think it’s important that we write historical fiction—we don’t want to forget the sacrifices that others made in the past to make the world a better place for us today. Varian Johson

Candice and her mother have moved to Lambert, South Carolina. Her grandmother has left Candice a letter which contains a puzzle. From the letter Candice learns there might be a huge amount of money hiding in this small town but to find it Candice will need to solve a complex puzzle and make some discoveries about some very disturbing events from the past. Luckily Candice has made a new friend - the boy who lives across the road called Brandon. He is good at puzzles too.

Varian Johnson uses alternating voices - Candice from the present and characters from the past beginning with 1914 and progressively moving through time. It feels a little as though each character takes a microphone to share his or her role in the mystery.  Take a minute to read this wonderful review by Elizabeth Bird in the School Library Journal. She sums this book up by saying: Come for the puzzle, then. Stay for the biting glimpse of America’s intolerant past.

We are in lock down here in Sydney and so it was good to have an absorbing book to read yesterday. I started and finished The Parker Inheritance in just one day and it is 337 pages of fairly small print. The two covers above are the paperback edition (top) and the hardcover edition. I prefer the hardcover one - which one appeals to you? Listen to an audio sample from Chapter two. The Parker Inheritance is a Coretta Scott King Honour Book. Here are some teaching notes.

The town of Lambert brims with intrigue, keeping readers entranced until the very last page. A candid and powerful reckoning of history.  Kirkus Star review

When Candice finds a letter in an old attic in Lambert, South Carolina, she isn't sure she should read it. It's addressed to her grandmother, who left the town in shame. But the letter describes a young woman. An injustice that happened decades ago. A mystery enfolding the letter-writer. And the fortune that awaits the person who solves the puzzle. So with the help of Brandon Jones, the quiet boy across the street, she begins to decipher the clues. The challenge will lead them deep into Lambert's history, full of ugly deeds, forgotten heroes, and one great love; and deeper into their own families, with their own unspoken secrets. Can they find the fortune and fulfil the letter's promise before the answers slip into the past yet again?  Social Justice Books.

The puzzle aspect of this story reminded me of books by Blue Balliett and the issues of racial prejudice reminded me of The Watsons go to Birmingham by Christopher Paul Curtis and Stella by Starlight by Sharon M Draper. 

I enjoyed the way US History especially from the 1950's was woven into this story. Before reading this book here in Australia a reader aged 11+ will perhaps need to do some background reading about segregation; Brown v. Board of education; and civil rights.  In the US this book is listed for 9+ but in my view that is way too young. There is one very violent scene in this book which might disturb a younger reader.

This book refers to The Westing Game (1978) by Ellen Raskin which I have not read but have added to my 'to read' list. 

The Summer we saved the Bees by Robin Stevenson

"How do you plan for the future when your own parents 

don't believe you have one?"

Wolf works on a school project. His project is about the importance of bees and the way our agricultural and land clearing practices mean bees are in danger. Bees are vital for pollination. Pollination is vital for our food crops. 

"We destroyed animal habitats. Overfished the oceans. Cleared forests to plant crops. Turned grasslands to deserts."

"You know what we wouldn't have, without bees to pollinate the plants?  ...  Apples. Pears. Cherries. Blueberries. Apricots. Nectarines. Raspberries. Peaches. Watermelon. Cucumber."

Wolf knows bees are important but it is his mum who has taken these ideas to another level. She has decided it is vital to spread the message. To tell anyone and everyone about the importance of bees and the dangers they face. She decides to take her family across Canada in a small van (powered by used cooking oil) stopping along the way in public places and presenting a show. She has co-opted her son Wolf, twins Saffron and Whisper aged 5, her partner Curtis and his daughter Violet.  Violet is fifteen and she has no interest in all of this. She does not want to leave her high school and most especially she does not want to leave her new boyfriend Ty.  The twins are expected to dress up as bees and distribute flyers while Jade (mum) performs with juggling balls as a way to explain the imminent danger our world now faces. 

Saffron does not mind the dressing up but little Whisper (her real name is Juniper) has stopped talking, she is hardly eating and she seems very withdrawn. Wolf is so worried about Whisper. He does not want to dress up as a bee. He knows the messages are important but it feels as though all his mum cares about is the bees and not her family which seems to be disintegrating. 

"Because that's how you act. Ignoring what we want, dragging us off on this trip, acting like it isn't making everything worse."

This is a strong story about the importance of family; sibling relationships; and the, often urgent, need for truthful communication. Robin Stevenson is a Canadian children's author. Take a look at this Kirkus review. 

Companion reads on the topic of the importance of bees:

How to Bee

Where the River runs Gold

The Book of Bees

The list of things that will not change by Rebecca Stead

 

This is a heartfelt personal account where Bea (Beatrice) gives us an insight in to her family and the changes she has to navigate during the year she has turned ten.

Mum and Dad have split up and so Bea now spends time in each of their houses. It all seems quite complicated but I am sure many middle grade readers will identify with arrangements like these: 

MONDAY dad; TUESDAY mum; WEDNESDAY dad; THURSDAY mum; FRIDAY is part of the weekend; the weekend is Friday and Saturday. The weekend alternates. SUNDAY also alternates. 

Luckily Bea has a list of things that will not change. Her mum and dad love her; mum and dad love each other "but in a different way."; Bea's two homes will never be far apart; and "we are still a family, but in a different way."

The difference is dad has found true love in a new same sex relationship. Bea really likes his new partner Jesse. She also likes Jesse's sister Sheila. Bea has one very special friend - Angus and over time she has developed a friendly relationship with her counselor who offers good advice and coping strategies. Everything in Bea's life should be okay but she carries some heavy guilt. Now dad and Jesse are getting married which is also fine but Bea discovers Jesse and Shelia have a brother called Mission. The aptly named Mission is on a mission to stop the wedding and it was Bea who sent him the invitation.

Colby Sharp loved this book - he says "it will burrow into your heart."  "An unforgettable novel."

Uplifting without sentimentality, timely not trendy, and utterly engaging. Kirkus Star review

You can read more plot details on these reviews from Book Page, Ms Yingling and Book Trust.  I would pair this book with these:

To Night owl from Dogfish