Home of the Brave by Katherine Applegate

The night Ganwar lost his hand was the night I lost my father and brother, the night of men in the sky with guns, the night the earth opened up like a black pit and swallowed my old life whole.

Why am I here, when so many others are not? Why should I have a desk and a pair of fine jeans and a soft place for my head to rest? Why should I have the freedom to hope while my brother and father sleep in bloodied earth?

Kek arrives in America on a freezing cold winters day. He has come by airplane from Sudan. He has watched as his father and brother have been killed and he has had to leave his mother behind after their refugee camp was attacked. Kek is picked up by a social worker named Dave. Kek does have an aunt and cousin in America so he will be able to live with people from his family. On the way to their apartment Kek sees a lonely cow standing in the snow. He has asked Dave to stop the car so he can get close - Kek cared for his father's cattle back in Sudan. And so this story begins ...

You can have your dogs and cats, your gerbils and hamsters and sleek sparkling fish. But you will have lived just half a life if you never love a cow.

This is an early verse novel from Katherine Applegate - here are some text quotes that really show her skill with this form and her brilliant word choices and placement:

I am a tall boy, like all my people. My arms stick out of the coat like lonely trees.

I try some English, but my mouth just wants to chew the words and spit them on the ground.

Six long scars line his forehead, the marks of manhood I watched Ganwar and my brother receive in our village ceremony. How jealous I had been that day, too young for such an honor.

He had many cattle, my father, and the respect of our village, but it was his voice that made him a rich man among men. His voice was deep, like a storm coming, but gentle, like the rain ending.

It’s a strange pain to be with those you belong to and feel you don’t belong.

I have my father’s will, my brother’s eyes, and my mother’s light. She is like newborn sun, fresh with promise, the just-beginning moments before the day fills like a bucket with good and bad, sweat and longing. Even her laughter has sun in it. Always when I think of her I see a cloudless day blooming full, I feel warmth on my shoulders, I know hope’s embrace.

I don’t have the cattle for such a fine desk as this. Oh, she says, you don’t have to pay for this desk, Kek. School’s free here. You just bring your mind and your smile every day, OK?

Bookseller blurb: Kek comes from Africa. In America, he sees snow for the first time and feels its sting. He's never walked on ice, and he falls. He wonders if the people in this new place will be like the winter--cold and unkind. In Africa, Kek lived with his mother, father, and brother. But only he and his mother have survived, and now she's missing. Kek is on his own. Slowly, he makes friends: a girl who is in foster care, an old woman who owns a rundown farm, and a cow whose name means "family" in his native language. As Kek awaits word of his mother's fate, he weathers the tough Minnesota winter by finding warmth in his new friendships, strength in his memories, and belief in his new country.

Home of the Brave was published in 2008. I read an ebook version as, I expected this book would now be out of print, - but luckily it is not so can I suggest you add this book to your library shopping list or make a request to your local public library to add this book to their shelves. 

If you are book talking Home of the Brave I would use the 'chapter' entitled "How not to wash dishes". I was reading this part, and I just had to stop because I knew a huge disaster was coming. 

The free verse writing makes it a quick read, although I found myself pausing to reflect on the story or just admire Applegate's word choice. YA Books Central

Each week I travel on a bus and train to volunteer in a hospital library. This gives me plenty of time for reading. Today I started and completed Home of the Brave. As I stepped off the bus the lady sitting beside me commented on the form of this book. She had never seen a verse novel before. I was so happy to talk about this format and how books told as verse novels usually contain very emotional stories and that this book - Home of the Brave was no exception. 

I only have one tiny quibble which is why I gave Home of the Brave (perfect for readers aged 10+) four and not five stars. When Kek meets the owner of the cow Lou, he tells her he comes from Africa - but Africa is not a country. I hoped he would say the name of his country - Sudan. 

There are four parts in this book and each begins with an African proverb:

When elephants fight, it is the grass that suffers.

You only make a bridge where there is a river.

One doesn’t forego sleeping because of the possibility of nightmares.

When spider webs unite, they can tie up a lion.

Companion books:

Moo

The Colour of Home 

(This is a picture book which I often share with Grade 6 students)

Australian Prime Minister's Literary Awards 2026 winners

 

From Facebook: Offering the richest prize in the nation, with a tax-free prize pool of $600,000, the Awards recognise the outstanding talents of Australian writers, illustrators, poets, and historians.

“Congratulations to all of this year’s winners, whose work demonstrates the depth and diversity of Australian literature. Our stories connect us across generations, cultures and communities, and allow the world to see Australia through Australian eyes.”  — Prime Minister of Australia, the Hon Anthony Albanese MP

Meet the winners: 

📗FICTION: ‘A Piece of Red Cloth’ by Leonie Norrington, Merrkiyawuy Ganambarr-Stubbs, Djawa Burarrwanga and Djawundil Maymuru 

📗NON-FICTION: ‘The Red House’ by Kate Wild 

📗POETRY: ‘Two Hundred Million Musketeers’ by Ender Başkan 

📗AUS HISTORY: ‘The Southern Frontier’ by Rohan Howitt 

📗YOUNG ADULT LIT: ‘Drift’ by Pip Harry  

📗CHILDREN'S LIT: ‘Song of a Thousand Seas’ by Zana Fraillon

I gave both of these FIVE stars and both are Verse Novels which is a form I love and admire. In 2022 the judges also selected a verse novel in the Children's Literature category - Mina and the Whole Wide world. Click the label Verse Novel on this post to discover more books using this format. I have talked about other books by Pip Harry and Zana Fraillon on this blog too. 

Drift by Pip Harry

Song of a Thousand Seas by Zana Fraillon

The Prime Minister's Literary Awards began in 2008. Some previous winners include:

2014 Silver Buttons

2015 One Minute's Silence

2016 Sister Heart

2017 Home in the Rain

2018 Pea Pod Lullaby

2019 His Name was Walter

2021 How to Make a Bird

2022 Mina and the Whole Wide World

2025 Leo and Ralph

A river I must be by Kate Foster

I want to walk away.

I want to scream and shout.

I want to cry and hide.

I want to make it all go away.

But I don't.

I must get away.

I must release what's inside.

I must be strong.

I must ...

But I won't.

I can't speak.

I can't hear.

I can't feel.

In this story we are privileged to hear the inner most thoughts of Bec. At times, though, her journey feels almost way too hard 'hear'. Is there no one who understands why she feels things so acutely. Why her uniform reacts so badly against her skin? Why she finds the school rules so confusing? Why she feels the need to wear a mask and copy the facial reactions of others? And worst of all - Why her teacher seems to hate her? 

Monday means school.

School means masking.

Masking means hiding.

Hiding is exhausting.

Thank goodness Bec does have one glorious outlet - she loves sport and more especially she loves and excels at gymnastics. Even better at gymnastics Bec is able to almost let her guard down as she spends precious time with her one true friend Clover. Sadly though, Clover attends a different school which means she cannot support Bec in the hostile school environment.

Bookseller burb: Rebecca Tapia has started at a prestigious new school and is overwhelmed by the rules and expectations. With her mum away and her dad facing challenges of his own, Rebecca's only way of surviving is to mask her autism.

My uniform suffocates me.

I fasten the top button,

yank at the cardboard collar,

adjust the cardboard sleeves,

retie the striped tie,

tightly

for good measure.

Strips of cloth

around necks.

Why?

I picked up this book in one of our large city chain bookstores and read the whole book in one sitting. Yes, it does have 260 pages, but the verse novel format and compelling story mean you will just fly through this heart wrenching story even though at times I did have to stop and take a breath.

I'm no one.

And no one listens

to fussy

little

girls

like me.

If you work in a High School library go out now and grab this book - this is an essential purchase. I also expect to see this book listed as a 2027 CBCA Notable title. Kate Foster has completely embraced the verse novel form for this book - it is hard to believe this is her first foray into this style of writing. 

Is anyone else always

aware of their heart 

beating?

Can anyone else always

feel their clothes and skin

touching?

Does anyone else always

have to concentrate on

breathing?

Does anyone else always

have a mind constantly

wandering?

Can anyone else always

sense the presence of others

living?

Is anyone else always

fit to burst form so much

thinking?

The teacher in this book - Mrs Rivers - is despicable and this might seem strange, but I am glad Kate Foster resisted the idea of her redemption. I can only hope (spoiler alert) that the school Principal now has enough information to remove this dreadful person from the school and even from the profession of teaching!

Click on this review from The Book Muse for a detailed plot summary: (The verse novel is) a gorgeous way of telling this story, and vastly different to Kate’s previous work. All of her books feature autistic characters, and each character’s autism is different. Yet telling this story in verse form felt very suitable, because it gave Rebecca’s story the voice and gravitas it needs to have the great impact it had on me and that I hope it has on younger readers who might be able to see themselves in Rebecca or understand what being autistic might be like for their friends. It’s powerful in its quiet way, yet also a loud advocate for autistic people and what they go through each day.

You may know I am not a fan of endorsements and there are so many on the first six pages of A river I must be, but I did find myself agreeing with so many of the comments by well-known Australian writers. Here are a few quotes:

"Tender, honest, heart-wrenching ..." Sarah Armstrong

"a pummeling rapid of sadness and joy, anger and celebration, churning and thundering ... it will leave you breathless." Sophie Beer

"Kate Foster's words are a lyrical advocacy for inclusivity, and Bec's story will offer hope and understanding to many young readers." Karen Comer

"We are in desperate need of voices like this that uplift and make visible, the lived experience of disability while highlighting what discrimination and allyship looks like." Shirley Marr

Here are the teachers notes from Scholastic.

Age recommendations: Here we go again - please, please publishers don't suggest young readers for books that are clearly intended for a Young Adult audience - ages 12+. The publisher says 10+ but I suggest this is a book for a High School library not Primary. I am SO pleased to see this book on the High School list of the Scholastic Standing order. 

Like a river,

I must keep flowing,

finding a way through

if I want to survive.

I will adapt

no matter the pain this causes me.

I will paint on a mask

and hide my struggles.

But can I be strong

like a river?

I previously talked about these books by Kate Foster:

The Unlikely Heroes Club

Small Acts

My late July and August reading pile

The books at the top of this post are some of the Kindle titles I will read on my way to the IBBY Congress in Ottawa.

I have finished My So-Called Family, but it is such a harrowing story I need to wait a while before I talk about it here. I found it because I read Strays also by Gia Gordon. I wanted to read another book by Chanel Miller because I loved/adored Magnolia Wu Unfolds It All. And I have read two books in the series by Kelly Yang: Front desk and Three Keys. 

I don't pen these posts every month. Perusing my last one, which was my April list, there are a few I still haven't read - Rima's Rebellion by Margarita Engle; The Bone Sparrow by Zana Fraillon; and My Sweet Orange Tree by Jose Mauro de Vasconcelos.

I am about to finish the third book in the Callers series by Kiah Thomas - 'The Journey Home'. I will talk about the second book over the coming days. 

Other books on my 'to read' pile are:

The Magician's Nephew by CS Lewis

This is a re-read book - I have a plan to read this whole series again. The Magician's Nephew was published in 1955 and is considered a prequel to the series - I was gifted The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe as a young child. I picked this book up from a charity book fair.

Bookseller blurb: One touch of a magical ring sends two friends hurtling into another world and accidentally releases an evil sorceress from her enchanted sleep. Hungry for ultimate power, she's determined to destroy everyone - and every world - in her path. But a song from the Great Lion, Aslan, awakens a new hope and a new world: Narnia, where anything is possible. And this is only the start of the adventure. The Magician's Nephew is the first book in C. S. Lewis's classic fantasy series, The Chronicles of Narnia, which has captivated readers of all ages with a magical land and unforgettable characters for over seventy-five years. This is a stand-alone novel, but if you would like to journey through the wardrobe and back to Narnia, read The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, the second book in The Chronicles of Narnia, the greatest epic fantasy series of all time.

The Shrapnel Boys by Jenny Pearson

Publisher (Usborne Books) blurb: When war comes to London in 1939, Ronnie Smith is scared and excited: scared of the bombs that fall at night, but excited to race his friends to collect the best bits of shrapnel every morning. But for Ronnie, the battles aren't just in the sky and on the streets. They're at school and at home too. His little brother is up to no good with a secret job and dangerous new friends, and Ronnie's worried he's getting himself into big trouble. Ronnie's desperate to help his little brother. But he isn't expecting to uncover secrets that could change the fate of the whole war...

Little Bones by Sandy Bigna

I have already read this book back in 2025 but recently a bookseller told me she is sure this will win a prize in our CBCA Book of the Year awards. I gave this book four stars back then - mainly because I felt I had read this plot previously in other books (but of course young readers will not have that experience). Take a look at my previous post. 

Wolf Road by Alice Roberts

I picked this up at a recent charity book sale (AUS$3) because I do enjoy survival stories and I enjoy books set in prehistoric times (Wolf Brother Michelle Paver and sequels; The Cave Victor Kelleher; Tarin of the Mammoths by Jo Sandhu).

Publisher blurb: Tuuli is a prehistoric girl, travelling with her tribe through the seasons – making camp, hunting for food and protecting themselves against the many hazards that the climate throws at them. Tuuli knows there’s a bigger world out there, and when she spots a strange boy lurking outside their camp, she realises that he might hold the adventure she is looking for. He is from another tribe, sent to find safer ground and as he and Tuuli strike up an unlikely friendship, they set out on a journey that will impact the rest of human history. 

Horses of the Dawn: Star Rise by Kathryn Lasky

I am not usually drawn to books about horses but many years ago I read Guardians of Ga’Hoole by Kathryn Lasky and more recently I read Faceless and The Secret of Glendunny. I am going to wait before reading this one because I didn't realise it was book 2 in the series - the first one is 'The Escape'. 

Blurb from author page: The first horses in the New World, Estrella and her herd, were carried across the sea by gold-seeking men, only to be cast into the ocean when the ship became too heavy. Yet despite the odds, the horses did survive and became the first herd to run wild across this untamed land. But now, they're facing their greatest challenge yet. An army is pursuing the herd, eager to force them back into captivity and hard labor. Estrella wants nothing to do with men ever again, but then she meets a boy who's been exiled from his village- a child with a mysterious ability to communicate with animals. If Estrella rejects the boy, he will surely die alone in the wilderness. But if she takes him in, she'll put the other horses at risk. With their hard-won freedom slipping away at every turn, Estrella must decide what it means to be a leader ... and what it means to be a herd. 

Hamlet is not Okay by RA Spratt

I really enjoyed a previous book by RA Spratt - Romeo vs Juliet and Rachel Robson at Gleebooks enthusiastically recommended this earlier book also based on a Shakespeare play. I saw it at the charity book fair for only AUS$2.

Publisher blurb: Selby hates homework. She would rather watch TV – anything to escape the tedium of school, her parents’ bookshop and small-town busybodies. So, Selby didn’t plan to read Hamlet. She certainly never planned to meet him. This novel transports Selby, and the reader, into the cold and crime-ridden play itself. Here she meets Hamlet: heavy with grief, the young prince is overthinking and over everything. Selby can relate. But unlike Hamlet, Selby isn’t afraid of making decisions. In her world, Selby is used to feeling overlooked. But in the bloody, backstabbing world of Shakespeare, Selby’s good conscience and quiet courage might just save some lives . . . hopefully before Hamlet stabs one of her classmates.

A Wolf Spell by Karah Sutton

Yes, I did pick up another book with a wolf on the cover at the charity book sale! Here is the Kirkus review (the reviewer didn't love this book).

Publisher blurb: Since she was a pup, Zima has been taught to fear humans - especially witches - but when her family is threatened, she has no choice but to seek help from the witch Baba Yaga. Baba Yaga never does magic for free, but it just so happens that she needs a wolf's keen nose for a secret plan she's brewing . . . Before Zima knows what's happening, the witch has cast a switching spell and run off into the woods, while Zima is left behind in Baba Yaga's hut--and Baba Yaga's body! Meanwhile, a young village girl named Nadya is also seeking the witch's help, and when she meets Zima (in Baba Yaga's form), they discover that they face a common enemy. With danger closing in, Zima must unite the wolves, the witches and the villagers against an evil that threatens them all.

BOOKS SUPPLIED FOR REVIEW

The Lost Island by Samantha Wheeler illustrated by Anke Noack (210 pages)

I previously read Everything I've never Said by Samantha Wheeler. This is new book from UQP due for publication on 4th August.

Publisher blurb: Theo thinks there’s nothing worse than being stuck on a Pacific cruise with his dad, new stepmum and annoying stepsister. But when he’s thrown overboard during a storm and washes up on a desert island, he suddenly has much bigger problems. As Theo tackles castaway life – finding food, water and shelter – he discovers the island is full of mysteries: spooky noises, possible ghosts and the strangest birds he’s ever seen. With survival getting tougher by the day and no rescue in sight, Theo is desperate to get back to his family. But to escape the island, he must first unlock its secrets – and reckon with the power of nature.

Game of Pets by Aaron Blabey (Advance copy from Gleebooks) Book One: The boy who knew too much.  Due for publication September 2026 Here is the web page for Aaron Blabey.

Publisher blurb: OK, here's the situation: Thanks to a diabolical intergalactic game show, we are all cooked. Luckily, Griff, an 11-year-old kid with innumerable allergies, just got told by a talking axolotl named Bob that Griff is the only one who can save us. I mean, that's kind of good news, right? Trouble is, Bob's prophecy comes with a warning: 'Watch your back, man . . . your PETS are not what they seem . . .' Prepare to have your mind blown and your cats and dogs under heavy suspicion. It's time to buckle up for an insane, laugh-out-loud new series, 260 million years in the making . . .

Otis Ottley and the school in the sky by Will Kostakis Due for publication September 2026.

I have started reading this book. The premise feels a little like Harry Potter. I am enjoying the complex writing and rich vocabulary.

Blurb from author page: Otis Ottley lives in the shadow of the Manor School for Magic. Literally. It’s an island hovering over his town, and he’s determined to reach it. While many kids dream of roaming the prestigious institution’s halls, casting spells and conjuring spectacles, Otis has a very specific mission: to seek magical help remembering something very, very important. The odds are stacked against him, but Otis will break into magic school. Or at the very least, he will break a few rules trying.

Six Weeks by Matt Goodfellow illustrated by Joe Todd Stanton

"I love you mum.

Please help me.

I don't know what to do without you."

There is such a level of tension in this verse novel that you just need to read on and on. Alfie lives with dad, his dad's new wife and their young baby Alice. Alfie's mum has died and early on we learn this happened when the baby was born about one year ago and we also read that Alfie absolutely never wants to see the man who lived with his mum ever again. As a reader you will have no idea what has happened between this man and Alfie but over the six weeks of the story Matt Goodfellow gradually lets us step into Alfie's life, and we can hear Alfie's questions which naturally are about life and death and we see first-hand complex human relationships along with the importance of grieving.

I have been a bit of a reading slump lately - I had a couple of new books to read and review but neither of them really grabbed me. I thought about the "Rights of the Reader" by Daniel Pennac. His number two rule is: The Right Not to Finish a Book – It is acceptable to stop reading a book at any point and his number ten rule is: The Right to Enjoy Reading – Above all, reading should be pleasurable and free from pressure. Facing a long day with a few serious life stresses I decided to put away the two books that I was struggling with and pick up Six Weeks. I knew this book would be good, but I didn't know just how good - I was totally absorbed by this story, and I read 150 pages in one gulp before lifting my head and 're-entering' the real world. Six Weeks is a winner! Please put this book into the hands of the readers in your life aged 10+. The powerful storytelling in this book 'blew me away'.

Matt is an exceptional storyteller, and his use of verse is incredibly effective at conveying Alfie’s internal world.  Books for Topics

Six Weeks is a book you have to just sit with after you've finished it so you can fully absorb everything. It's a book I hugged at the end (between the tears). It's a book full of heart-break, healing and hope.  K and O Bonkers about Books

When I’m asked about my favourite books, I always say lots of children’s books and that more adults should read them! Six Weeks is the exemplification for why I say that: it is a subject matter which hits young and old and it particularly resonates with the grief journey I’m on. Your heart will break for Alfie at the start and slowly, that love and hope will begin to be rebuilt. Matt is an exceptional storyteller and his use of verse is so effective to convey such important messages. Check 'em out books

If you read my blog you may know I am not a fan of book endorsements, but I wholeheartedly agree with the comments by these authors:

• 'Utterly magnificent' Liz Hyder
• 'Matt Goodfellow's best novel to date' Sarah Crossan
• 'Brilliant, brilliant, brilliant' Phil Earle
• 'Goodfellow has pulled off something astounding' Anthony McGowan
• All at once beautiful, tender, funny and sharp ... a triumph' Katya Balen

I adored these two previous verse novels by Matt Goodfellow:

The Final Year

One Big Open Sky by Lesa Cline-Ransome

Daddy says Momma (Sylvia), Lettie, Silas and Elijah are going to move. It is time to have their own land and not have to work for some else. There is no more slavery. It is time to be truly free. The journey will be long, but they have shelter in their covered wagon, and they will not be alone - this family group will travel with others all determined to reach Nebraska. Ten families heading West out of Mississippi to take advantage of the land promised by the Homestead Act of 1862. But food will be short, along the way small towns will charge enormous prices for basic supplies and there are dangerous rivers to cross. Luckily along the way they do pick up a young woman who is hard-working and wise. And when a dreadful catastrophe befalls the family, young Philomena is able to step in and help with their two faithful mules Charly and Titus. 

All the land you want 

Free 

he said to me 

All we got to do is go on and get it 

Take what’s ours 

I looked down at the paper 

that didn’t say none of what he was 

Any colored who want it 

Come with some money too right? 

I looked at his eyes 

shining in the lamplight 

bright 

Who was I to dim their light? 

To take from him what white men 

masters 

loss 

and years of fieldwork left of him 

He asked pointing down at the paper 

And they even give you a wagon?

Here is what they pack: 200 pounds of flour 10 pounds of rice 5 pounds of coffee 25 pounds of sugar 1 bushel of beans 20 pounds of salt 1 bushel of cornmeal 1 keg of vinegar 100 pounds of bacon 25 pounds of dried fruit Daddy’s good rifle and gunpowder two pistols lard, candles, lye powder matches and soap frying pans and a coffeepot our old stew kettle and Momma’s sharpest knife nails one washtub A tent and blankets blankets for Charly and Titus plus their feed too even the cradle Momma wanted was packed in tight.

The journey could take four or five or even six months. This story is about the journey not the destination but readers are left with enormous hope that the family will prosper in their new home. 

From where we sat we could see the lantern lighting up the cabin and imagine the warmth inside our new home in the West in Nebraska with a fire in the hearth and beds stacked with quilts Silas, Elijah, Momma and Miss Pratt inside But me and Sutter liked it best curled in close together warming each other best as we could in the tent Momma let me pitch outdoors.

There are three voices in this verse novel so you do have to pay attention at the start of each section or chapter. It is very significant that these are three women - Lettie is a young girl born after the end of slavery but also born into a time when women are expected to marry, have children, and of course have no rights and no vote. Her mother Sylvia is brave and loyal to her husband but she has to sacrifice so much to make this enormous journey to find a place her husband believes will be 'a promised land'. Philomena is a young, newly trained teacher who values her independence. She has been promised a teaching job in Nebraska and for Philomena this means she can support herself without the need for a husband. 

When I was in Primary School (Elementary) here in Australia I read and loved, like so many kids of my generation, books about American pioneers such as Little House on the Prairie and all the sequels but even more I loved Children of the Oregon Trail. That goes part of the way to explaining why I simply devoured One Big Open Sky. As usual I have no idea how I came across this book and then why I added it to my 'to read' list as a title I could pop on my Kindle. I started this book on a two-hour bus and train journey and then completed it on the way home. I am happy to see the paperback edition of this book is available [9780823460625].

Publisher blurb: Three women narrate a perilous wagon journey westward that could set them free—or cost them everything they have—in this intergenerational verse novel that explores the history of the Black homesteader movement. 1879, Mississippi. Young dreamer Lettie may have her head in the stars, but her body is on a covered wagon heading westward. Her father, Thomas, promises that Nebraska will be everything the family needs: an opportunity to claim the independence they’ve strived for over generations on their very own plot of land. But Thomas’ hopes—and mouth—are bigger than his ability to follow through. With few supplies and even less money, the only thing that feels certain is danger.

This map shows their journey:

This is a beautifully crafted novel in verse: Cline-Ransome once again demonstrates her incredible literary skills as characters’ personalities are revealed by their actions. The intergenerational voices provide depth as the events unfold, and the emotionally resonant writing is rich in details that add texture and meaning to this unique depiction of African American homesteaders that’s full of resilience and hope. Kirkus Star review

The vast amount of walking, the limited food supplies, the dangerous river crossings, and the various other threats to survival are all fascinating; I loved this type a book when I was in elementary school because I liked to think how I would fare under similar circumstances. Lettie is keeping notes about the journey and logging costs, and I love how interested she is in the one newspaper that her father buys for her. Philomena is a fantastic character who is taking control of her own life, and even finding romance with another traveler who accepts her as an equal. The challenges of the journey are not sugar coated at all ... Ms Yingling

In the final analysis, the entire book emphasizes the bonds of family, both immediate and extended. This exquisite novel is geared for children 8-12 years but can be cherished by readers of all ages. A classic, and in a perfect world it would be required reading in all elementary schools. Historical Novel society

Awards:
A Coretta Scott King Author Honor Book

Winner of the Virginia Library Association Cardinal Cup Award

A Bank Street Best Children's Book of the Year

A Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection

One of Evanston Public Library's 101 Great Books for Kids

A CSMCL Best Multicultural Children’s Book of the Year

An ALSC Notable Children's Book

A CLA Notable Children's Book in the Language Arts

Companion book:

Prairie Lotus

Away by Megan E Freeman

“For several months, the governor’s office and the Colorado Investigation Bureau have been monitoring a series of credible threats across Colorado. 

On Friday, we received intelligence of an imminent threat jeopardizing the safety of thousands of residents. We immediately launched a noncombatant evacuation operation named Operation Relocate Freedom. 

We do not know how long evacuations will last, and the state remains on emergency alert.”

Each section in this book begins with a definition such as this one:

There are four kids voices in this hybrid verse novel and Megan E Freeman makes it easy to keep up with each kids because they each use a different form of writing. The kids are Ashanti Johnson, aged 12, her mum is a doctor; Grandin Stone, aged 14 - his parents are farmers; Harmony Addams-Paul, aged 12 - she aspires to be a journalist, she has a fabulous teacher and mum her is a pastor; and Teddy Brenkert, aged 11 - he is homeschooled and lives with his grandmother who is a local amateur theatre producer. All of these kids live in Colardo. Ashanti and Grandin use free verse to tell their story; Teddy writes film proposals and scripts and often references famous classic movies and as you would expect Harmony writes as though her pieces are ready for publication in a newspaper. Then comes:

These four kids plus Harmony's little sister Pax, are thrown together when everyone in their area is evacuated due to some unexplained toxic danger. Along with many other people they are taken to a holding camp where they are given food and safety but no one is allowed to use a mobile phone, the authorities do not answer any questions and they are kept there for over two years!

“This is the Colorado National Guard. Mandatory evacuations are now in place for your area. Proceed immediately to designated embarkation zones for further instructions. Local law enforcement will provide additional guidance specific to your location. ... The specific cause of the evacuations is not yet known, but there are unconfirmed reports of a pipeline explosion, possibly multiple explosions. Sources at the state capitol say a major threat could be imminent, and terrorism has not been ruled out."

"Cell phones have been compromised and are not safe to use. As a matter of state security, all cell phones must be deposited in designated receptacles located throughout the station. Compliance is mandatory."

These kids all have talents which when combined are able to work out not just what is going on but also how to inform the adults and how to expose the conspiracy and they also luckily do find a few left-over pieces of technology which they are able to put to good use.

We are going to be muckrakers. Shine a light on what’s wrong in the world. ... Journalists who specifically investigate and report on stories to expose corruption or exploitation or other stuff like that. They rake the muck of society.

As you might expect there are lots of theories and rumors about why whole communities have been evacuated:

One girl said she’d heard a train carrying chemicals had derailed. Another heard there had been explosions in a mine shaft and a dam had broken. Someone else said a pipeline had burst. A kid from the Western Slope insisted “nonhuman biologics” were colonizing remote parts of the Rocky Mountains. One boy said his mom thought it was a nuclear accident, like the ones in Fukushima and Chernobyl. Do we even have nuclear reactors in Colorado? I have no idea.

Publisher blurb: After an imminent yet unnamed danger forces people across Colorado to leave their homes, a group of kids including an aspiring filmmaker and a budding journalist find themselves in the same evacuation camp. As they cope with the aftermath of having their world upended, they grow curious about the mysterious threat. And as they begin to investigate, they start to discover that there’s less truth and more cover-up to what they’re being told. Can they get to the root of the conspiracy, expose the bad actors, and bring an end to the upheaval before it’s too late?

Away is the companion volume to Alone - companion volume means while you do need to read BOTH books the order does not matter. 

Alone

In my review of Alone I said: I did want that all important happy ending but somehow the final three pages let me down. I wanted to know more. I need know why!

And now I do know why because I have read Away.

A couple of weeks ago I had a long ten-hour journey by bus, plane and train. It is always SO good when I have an engrossing and brilliantly constructed book like this to pass the time. I absolutely devoured Away. You can see I have given Away five stars but I do agree with Kirkus who say: The plot and the whole scenario require a major suspension of disbelief, but to readers who can roll with it, Freeman delivers an engaging tale in which young crusaders strive to overcome both parental passivity and corrupt authorities to discover and expose a dastardly scheme.

Here is a long interview with Megan E Freeman where she talks about Away and Alone. You can either listen or read the transcript. 

Awards for Away:

• Instant New York Times Bestseller ​
• Barnes & Noble Best Book of 2025
• Amazon Best Book of 2025
• Barnes & Noble Children's Book Award Shortlist
• Golden Kite Award Finalist
• Reading the West Awards Shortlist
• TOME Society Junior Book Award Winner
• KNEA Reading Circle Choice for 2025
• Colorado Children's Book Award Shortlist
• Horace Mann Upstanders Award

This unique story is about friendship, survival, and how curiosity can lead to revelations, and the power of hope. Away was hard to put down because you need to know what is happening and why. Youth Services Book Review

The voices of the different characters are all very unique, and they are easy to tell apart. ... This is a good choice for readers who like dystopian books ...

The voices of the different characters are all very unique, and they are easy to tell apart. Ashantae doesn't use capitalization and references lots of mythology, Grandin is very matter-of-fact, Teddy often frames scenes as storyboards or film scripts, and Harmony's point of view is delivered in letters or news reports. The evacuation is realistically portrayed; if someone came to my door and told me I had to leave, and I saw all of my neighbors packing up, I probably would, too. Camp Rogers slowly evolves over the long time that people are there, with everyone pitching in to help out. ... This is very different from Alone, but readers who picked up that story will find it interesting to see what the experience of others who were not abandoned was. Ms Yingling

Radiant by Vunda Micheaux Nelson

Sometimes 

I want to be white. 

White— 

like new snow 

or angel wings. 

White— 

like fresh milk 

or cumulous clouds. 

White— 

like just-washed sheets 

dancing on the clothesline. 

White— 

a full moon on a clear night.

Cooper is named after her Grandfather. I do like to think about names. Her name could be a source of teasing or worse but no, the bullying all relates to the colour of her skin mainly from one boy in her class. She is having a hard time in school - firstly with a dreadful bully named Wade Carter and also with her teacher Mrs Keating. But Cooper has a goal to shine:

I look up “shine” in the dictionary. It means a lot of good stuff. The kind Mama means: “To radiate. To give off light. To be made bright by polishing. To sparkle and shimmer with luster." It means brilliance and splendor. —That’s what I want. I want to shine. To be brilliant. To be radiant. “Radiant” is one of the words.

To shine at school means scoring good grades and 'winning' over Mrs Keating. At times this seems to be an almost impossible goal.

Then there is Wade who takes every opportunity to be so nasty to Cooper. Spoiler alert - in stories (and maybe in real life too) there is often a deeper reason for the bullying - and in this book it is true that Wade is going through some very tough stuff at home but I have to say I found it very hard to be sympathetic (even when his mum died). 

I wish Wade hadn’t heard me say I want to shine. I wish I hadn’t said it out loud. I do want to shine. I want to shine so bright, so bright that I blind Wade. Color blind him.

I wonder, is Wade scared? Scared of me? Or is he just mean?

Cooper, quite rightly, would like different colours for Crayola crayons - different colours to use for skin tones. This could be a good discussion point with a reading group. 

And why does my skin matter so much? Nobody cares if I wear a red blouse or a blue one. Why should they care if I wear black skin or white skin or purple skin?

Then for Christmas Cooper is gifted a small transistor radio and she also discovers the famous pop group - the Beatles. 

Kate and I read about John Lennon Paul McCartney George Harrison and Ringo Starr (with two r’s). We learn some new British words, like “gear” and “cuppa” “lift” and “kip.”

It is also an important turning point for Cooper when another 'black' student arrives in her class. I loved this boy - he is confident, he is kind, He is so proud of his heritage and most of all he is so friendly to everyone. 

There are references to other books in Radiant - The Wizard of Oz; Charlotte's Web; and Langston Hughes poetry. 

Australian readers will be unfamiliar with many of the historical references in this book - the assassination of JFK, Martin Luther King Jr, and the Klu Klux Klan along with all the references to racial discrimination but many kids will identify with Cooper's need to find herself, her voice, her own place in the world and her desire for representation - where are the kids like her in stories and films. They will also cheer as she conquers school and gains good results on her end of year report card. I would share this verse novel with mature readers aged 10+.

Publisher blurb: As school begins in 1963, Cooper Dale wrestles with what it means to “shine” for a black girl in a predominantly white community near Pittsburgh. Set against the historic backdrop of the Birmingham church bombing, the Kennedy assassination, and Beatlemania, Radiant is a finely crafted novel in verse about race, class, faith, and finding your place in a loving family and a complicated world.   Cooper’s primary concern is navigating fifth grade, where she faces both an extra-strict teacher and the bullying of Wade Carter, the only child of a well-to-do white family, whose home Cooper’s mother cleans for extra income. How can she shine when her mother works for the meanest boy in school? To make matters worse, Cooper quietly wishes she could be someone else. It’s not all bad, though. Cooper and her beloved older sister have fallen for the Beatles, and Cooper is thrilled to have something special they can share. And what she learns about her British idols adds new complexity to Cooper’s feelings about race.

This verse novel examines complex themes of identity, forgiveness, self-love, and self-actualization through writing that’s accessible to young readers. Nelson intentionally and deftly uses details to situate the novel with history, and she’s crafted an endearing, three-dimensional protagonist in Cooper, whose voice and authentic struggle to make sense of her experiences will resonate in a work that presents fertile ground for discussion. Kirkus

Companion books:

One Crazy Summer

Blended

Ten years ago I read another book by Vunca Micheaux Nelson - Possibles.