Fallout by Lesley Parr

I head home to face the music, but Mam and Dad won’t care about the suspension, just about the money to replace the broken equipment. Because to them I really am bad. 

Which is just how they want me. ... you can’t trust a Pritchard. Everyone knows that. ...

In 1980 the world was thinking about the possibility of a nuclear war. Marcus discovers his neighbor, an elderly man, has built an underground shelter filled with food, comfortable furniture, a toilet and even some exercise equipment. Mick Rowlands scoffs at the official brochures which advise citizens to hide under kitchen tables - that is why he has built a way more effective shelter in his back yard but as Marcus points out how will he know when it is safe to emerge back into the world and what if everyone else has been killed.

I flick through the pages. It does look pretty stupid; all about making a fallout room and inner refuge. There’s even a drawing of a man putting a wardrobe in front of his windows – as if that’s going to stop a nuclear blast! Gavin’s window couldn’t even survive a stone from our rockery. And page seventeen is just gross. ‘People are supposed to take the bottom off a chair and poo in a bucket?’ Mick nods. ‘Not here though.’ He waves towards the bathroom. ‘All mod cons here.’ He seems really proud and, looking around this place, I think he should be. That makes me feel bad for sneaking in. Maybe I do owe him an explanation.

Marcus comes from a family of petty criminals. One brother is in jail, the other is practicing for his own life of crime and dad is planning the next big robbery. Marcus does not want to be involved but in his family there is no way to say no. His mother seems to favour his brother and because she enjoys the spoils of his fathers 'work' she is happy to go along with his plans.

Into this mix comes a girl named Emma. Emma has had a very different life. She has been home schooled, there is no television in her home, the family are vegetarians and everyone in her family is very well read. Emma herself has joined an activist group to protest about the possibility of a nuclear war - 'Give Peace a Chance' - and that is how Marcus and Emma's lives collide. 

I keep seeing this book on lists and as a recommendation on various social media platforms. The best part of this book is the tension Lesley Parr creates as we witness Marcus trying to navigate his life and right a wrong. His family are so cruel in stark contrast to the kindness and encouragement of Mick. 

This story is set in Wales so there may be some unfamiliar references for Australian readers aged 10+ but the voices in the story and the compelling narrative, where as a reader you just want Marcus to succeed against the odds of his terrible family, I think means young readers will just 'get on with reading' this book and not worry at all about occasional unfamiliar word or two.  Make sure you notice the way the chapter headings are designed:

Bookseller blurb: Marcus has one brother in a youth offender centre and the other is working with their dad on plans for their next theft. Everyone assumes Marcus will follow in their footsteps, but he has other ideas, different hopes. When a mysterious accident lands a man in hospital, it confirms what everyone in their community expects and Marcus gets the blame. He feels trapped. Only new girl Emma - with her peace protest banners and political badges - questions this story. Can they work together to clear his name – and help Marcus become the person he really wants to be?

‘Fallout’ is a truly exceptional story, with its very title reflecting how cleverly its many elements are woven together. Poignant, thought-provoking, compassionate and compelling, there are not enough adjectives to convey just how much I enjoyed it! One to put at the top of your TBR pile! Through the Bookshelf

The three characters form a genuine cross generational friendship. Historical Novel Society

Fallout is a raw, honest story of family dynamics and finding your own way. It is a reminder that we all have choices about the future but it takes real courage to be true to ourselves and turn away from those who seek to hurt us. The power of kindness shines through Emma, Mick and eventually Marcus as he learns what it feels like to be loved. Readers will be challenged to think twice before making assumptions about someone based on their family and to give everyone a second chance. Scope for Imagination

Here are some text quotes:

This is a Cold War, which, as far as I can tell, means world leaders make threats about pushing their nuclear buttons, but no one will. They just want us to think they will. And this lot have fallen for it.

In this family, we don’t get pocket money for jobs around the house, like mowing the lawn, or doing the dishes. Me and Gavin earn it by helping in other ways. For me, as the youngest, it’s mostly being a lookout when Dad and Uncle Tony are doing a deal, or on the rob. For Carl, the oldest, it ended up at the Farm School; the borstal over in the next valley.

I open it and can’t believe what I’m seeing. It’s like the TARDIS on Doctor Who. I don’t really know what I expected, but it definitely wasn’t this. I’ve seen pictures of air raid shelters from the Second World War. Glorified sheds with bunks, shelves and a heater in the corner if you were lucky, but this … this is something else. There’s a room with a double bed all made up with a flowery bedspread and pillows. And there’s a settee, and a kitchen area with a table and two chairs, a sink and cupboards and – is that a fridge? The walls are lined with shelves of books, board games and even some ornaments.

Here is another book by Lesley Parr:

The Valley of Lost Secrets

Running my own Race by Abena Eyeson

This story is a little clichéd, but I imagine most young readers will not identify all the usual tropes. I have read other books like this so here is my list:

• Injustice - Poor 'black boy' finds a place in posh 'whites only' school
• Talent - The coaches immediately see this boy has great running ability
• Bullies - The kid assigned to 'help' him is an angry and jealous bully
• Underdog - Kofi is selected for the running team and yes he beats Miles (the bully)
• Excuses - We learn that Miles has some difficulties in his home life - as though this somehow excuses his dreadful behaviour
• Peer group pressure - Miles holds some power over other kids in the school and so they readily believe the rumors Miles spreads about Kofi.
• Friendship - luckily the other scholarship kid - a girl named Christine - steps in to help and encourage Kofi
• Siblings - Kofi has a terrific sister who surprises him by offering good advice and support
• Old friend - Charlie has been Kofi's friend forever but this friendship seems to be in danger now that they no longer go to the same school
• Winning the race - spoiler alert - of course Kofi wins that big race even after Miles hurts him badly and he is forced to miss many weeks of training

The only part of this story that did surprise me was the way the school fairly quickly accepted that Kofi was the victim and that the story told by Miles that Kofi hit him first was a total lie. It was good to see the school Principal accept the need for restitution and also it was good to read the scene where Coach mediates this meeting. The contrition by Miles did feel real.

Nosy Crow consistently produce good books so I was keen to dive into this one. My friend shared the books sent to her library by Pegi Williams (South Australia) from their standing order. 

I am sure the cover of Running my own race will appeal to readers who love sports. 

Publisher blurb: Kofi’s mum is determined he’s going to be ‘somebody’. But when Kofi is given a place at a prestigious private school because of his athletic ability, everything changes. Kofi dreams of being a professional athlete – but he soon finds following your heart isn’t an easy road. Under pressure from his mum to make the most of his academic opportunity, his best friend who doesn’t want him to change, his community to make them proud, and a rival who will do anything to make sure Kofi doesn’t outshine him – Kofi isn’t sure where to turn. Can Kofi find a way to follow his own path?

In time, though, with help from a new friend (a fellow scholarship student), his athletics coach, and loving family, Kofi finds the courage and strength to stand up for himself and to forge his own lane. Radiant with empathy, Running My Own Race tackles big topics in a brilliantly relatable style that’ll have readers punching the air with joy after walking in Kofi’s trainers every step of the way. Love Reading 4Kids

Abena Eyeson was born in Ghana but has lived in the UK since the age of 12. She has won accolades for the FAB Prize, Jericho Prize and TLC Pen Factor. She writes picture books, educational non-fiction and has self-published YA. Abena lives just outside London with her husband and three children. It was her children that inspired her to put Black characters at the heart of her stories. Running My Own Race is her first middle grade novel. Here is an interview with the author. There are some resources on the author web page.

A better series that I have thoroughly enjoyed reading recently which has a focus on the same themes as this book - Running my own Race - are the Tracks books by Jason Reynolds.

Ghost is the first book in the series

Gossamer by Lois Lowry

Where do dreams come from? For myself, my dreams are really vivid stories, and I have several each night - many are repeated scenes and many involve dangerous situations such as being lost or in an out-of-control car or with no way to make a phone call home. Perhaps our dreams come from the tiny creatures in this book but where do they get the ideas to create our dreams? Littlest One is learning to do this. Each evening she goes with her teacher and she practices touching objects very softly, using her gossamer touch, so she can gather happy memories. These are then threaded together and sent into the ears of the humans in the house.

Who lives in this house? There is an older lady who is living alone but then a young boy arrives. He is coming for foster care. He has been so badly damaged, and his response is to react to everything with violence. Littlest One and Thin Elderly work hard to gather tiny fragments of happiness for young John but there is danger and it is close. Have you considered nightmares - these are given to us too, but these come from Sinisteeds. Littlest One can hardly bare to think about these awful creatures and knows she and Thin Elderly will need to work really hard to protect John from revisiting his worst experiences.

Each morning Littles One and Thin Elderly return to their gathering place called The Heap:

"This gathering, this dwelling place where they slept now, heaped together, was only one, a relatively small one, of many. It was a small subcolony of dream-givers. Every human population has countless such colonies - invisible always - of these well organised, attentive, and hard-working creatures who move silently through the nights at their task. Their task is both simple and at the same time immensely difficult. Through touching, they gather material: memories, colours, words once spoken, hints of scents and the tiniest fragments of forgotten sound. They collect pieces of the past, of long ago and of yesterday. They combine these things carefully, creating dreams."

This book is a strange mix of magic and sweet fairy-like characters juxtaposed against extreme domestic violence that has been metered out to a very young child and his mother. There were times, reading this slim novel of 140 pages, that I just had to walk away and take a breath. I would recommend this book for mature readers aged 11-12+. If you believe in magic and crave stories with a happy ending this might be a book to explore.

Wikipedia have a detailed entry with the full plot of Gossamer and a character list. You can see other books by Lois Lowry here - of course you probably know her famous titles such as The Giver; Number the Stars; and I have talked about Tree Table Book; Bless this Mouse; The Windeby Puzzle; Gooney Bird Green; The Willoughbys; and the sequel The Wiloughby's Return.

Publisher blurb: Where do dreams come from What stealthy nighttime messengers are the guardians of our most deeply hidden hopes and our half-forgotten fears This imaginative novel from New York Times bestselling author Lois Lowry confronts these questions and explores the conflicts between the gentle bits and pieces of the past that come to life in dream, and the darker horrors that find their form in nightmare. In a haunting story that tiptoes between reality and fantasy, two people—a lonely, sensitive woman and a damaged, angry boy—face their own histories and discover what they can be to one another, renewed by the strength that comes from a tiny, caring creature they will never see.

For such a slim work, the characterizations of Thin Elderly and Littlest are strong—she the sprightly little girl learning her trade, he the bemused and patient elder. The prose is light as gossamer; the story as haunting as a dream. Kirkus Star review

Kirkus gave Gossamer a star but Ms Yingling had the opposite reaction. 

Companion book for younger readers:

The Night Fairy

The Foal in the Wire by Robbie Coburn

Sam lives on a farm. His father is a horse trainer. There has been a dreadful accident and Sam's brother has died aged only seventeen. The accident happened three years ago but Sam still has nightmares, and his mother and father's relationship has descended into fights, arguments and screaming matches. Sam tries to stay invisible. 

Julia lives next door. Her father has driven her mother away after one beating too many. He is a violent man who is fueled by alcohol. 

A foal becomes caught in the wire of a fence. Sam hardly knows Julia but together they rescue and care for the young foal and over the days and weeks their own gentle relationship begins. Sam tells Julia about his brother and also about his one friend - a boy from school who is actually not a friend - he is a dreadful bully but Sam clings to this dysfunctional relationship. But then comes the day Alex verbally attacks Julia and Sam fights back. As I reader I cheered when this toxic relationship ended. 

Julia also confides in Sam. She desperately misses her mother and is afraid of the violence from her father. Then Julia cannot take it anymore and she swallows some pills. The authorities swoop in and she moves away to live with relatives. Sam loves Julia and now she has left. 

This is important - do not let the cover trick you. Yes, this is a book about a horse and yes, it is a 'thin' book with only 117 pages BUT this book contains topics only suitable for readers aged 15+. Hopefully bookshops won't 'accidently' put this one on their junior shelves. Oh, and YES, the cover by Tannya Harricks is truly wonderful so do put this book into your high school library. Young Adult fans of verse novels and of books filled with raw emotions will devour this one.

Did you ever see the movie of Forest Gump - do you remember Jenny the young girl next door. Do you remember the dreadful violence she was subjected to by her father - that is a part of this story too. Look at the labels I have assigned to this post - violence, death, accidents ...

The Foal in the Wire is certain to be listed as a 2026 CBCA Notable. 

This is a short book, but it deals principally with big questions and sometimes intense, formative experiences. Verse novels are deceptive in what would appear to be limited space for establishing depth in a story and characters. As both a lover of poetry and young adult literature, I find verse to be the perfect form to capture a story, particularly in dealing with difficult and confronting subjects. When writing for a young adult audience, free verse perfectly conveys a character’s internal language without the addition of unnecessary explanation. Each word must be chosen carefully, and no language wasted. The impact of poetry can be remarkably strong and effective in conveying emotion, while also adhering to brevity and trusting the reader to visualise and fill in the empty space on the page.~ Robbie Coburn 

In this piece for Paperbark Words Robbie Coburn talks about his poetry and about writing this book. Megan Daley and Your Kids Next read talk about The Foal in the wire here (listen from 2.50). You can hear Megan reading the blurb. Megan likens the language choices and expressive writing in this book to Sonya Hartnett and John Marsden - that's a big call but I do agree. 

Read this interview with Just Kids Lit. See inside The Foal in the wire and read some endorsements on the publisher page. And here is an interview with Hachette. And book club notes and Scholastic notes. 

Verse novels grapple with topics like trauma and loss in different ways than prose. It’s a little more subdued and evocative, with serious undertones that show that everyone lives a different lives. They can bring emotions that teens may be feeling to light, and give them space to talk about them safely. It gives them a voice to explore these feelings; explore the things teens might experience that they don’t think they can talk about with anyone else. This makes them powerful vehicles for discussion as well. ... This is the power of verse novels – they play with emotions and pull at the heartstrings. They invest in characters emotionally. The brevity makes it work well – the details aren’t needed, because you can fill them in yourself. The Book Muse

Here is the poem that made me shudder:

my only friend at school, Alex,

always makes fun of our house

and the way it doesn't look like

other people's. ...

he makes fun of my clothes

and the food mum makes me

that I bring to school for lunch.

he tells me I should be embarrassed

that my parents are poot

and says we are bogans

for racing horses.

he says my brother

is lucky he died

so he doesn't

have to be embarrassed

by me and my family anymore.

The Other Shadow by Tania Ingram

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Small as an elephant

The Secrets we Keep

Waiting for Normal

How I saved the world in a week

The Star outside my Window

This book explores the experiences of foster care

The Lovely and the Lost by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

Kira has been a lost child. She has been rescued by Cady and her son Jude but she still has scars - visible and invisible that have damaged her from her time 'alone' in the wilderness. 

Cady is an expert with training and using tracking dogs. Kira, perhaps because of that time spent alone surviving in the wild, has a special bond with the dogs especially a rescue dog named Saskia. Cady has been called to the small town where she grew up because a very young girl named Bella is missing. But as the story unfolds finding this missing girl is not the only reason Cady needed to come home.

This is one of those stories where reading feels like viewing a television show. Nearly every character has a back story and as a reader you will want to know more about each key person and discover how they are interconnected. Of course, the plot is also driven by the desperate need to find young Bella. 

Readers who enjoy survival stories and who have a special affinity with dogs are sure to love this book. The ending will be a surprise and as with all good Young Adult titles there are still a few loose ends. 

I recommend this book for readers aged 13+ mainly because there is a very violent scene towards the end when Kira is taken for interrogation by the local sherif. He is a vicious and nasty man who exposes parts of Kira's story that are utterly dreadful and harrowing. If you look at my labels for this post you will have a better idea of some of the issues raised in this story.

I bought this book by accident but I am glad I found and read it. I was browsing one of our city bookstores (Abbey's York Street). As usual I had found one book to buy but I decided I needed two! Abbey's have a good shelf of front facing newer titles and this one caught my eye. I thought I had heard of the author Jennifer Lynn Barnes but in fact she is new to me. High School readers, this is a Young Adult book, are sure to have heard of her book series The Inheritance Games. The Lovely and the Lost was published in 2020 but my copy is the UK 2025 edition. 

You can read a long description of the plot on the US publisher page. 

Blurb from the author page: Kira Bennett's earliest memories are of living alone and wild in the woods. She has no idea how long she was on her own or what she had to do to survive, but she remembers the moment that Cady Bennett and one of her search-and-rescue dogs found her perfectly. Adopted into the Bennett family, Kira still struggles with human interaction years later, but she excels at the family business: search-and-rescue. Along with Cady's son, Jude, and their neighbor, Free, Kira works alongside Cady to train the world's most elite search-and-rescue dogs. Someday, all three teenagers hope to put their skills to use, finding the lost and bringing them home. But when Cady's estranged father, the enigmatic Bales Bennett, tracks his daughter down and asks for her help in locating a missing child, Kira's memories threaten to overwhelm her at every turn. As the danger mounts and long-held family secrets come to light, Kira is forced to question everything she thought she knew about her adopted family, her true nature, and her past.

How did I decide this was a Young Adult title? What are some things I should have noticed?

• The print size is very small
• The bookshop price sticker (these are always worth exploring) says "Young Adult Fiction"
• The cover endorsement - 'A propulsive mystery-thriller ... You will cling to this book until you reach the end' Maureen Johnson - not a name I know - this should have been a strong hint

The hardcover edition of this book certainly has a Young Adult image:

Raven Winter by Susanna Bailey

Billie and her mum have moved out of the family home because dad has been sent to jail following a crime involving money (sounds like a white-collar crime). Now mum has found a new partner but he is a horrible and aggressive man who holds an enormous amount of power over her mum. He has excluded their friends and he demands the house be kept spotlessly clean. He has 'hidden' all of her dad's possessions in the garage. Dad loved the outdoors and especially birds and he and Billie share a very special bond and so Billie desperately misses him and she is sure he has no idea that they have moved. She is also certain mum and dad can get back together and that dad can help mum understand Daniel is dangerous. 

Billie decides she needs to find her dad and this decision becomes even more urgent when she discovers letters from her dad hidden in a box under her mum's bed. When she first leaves home she finds a young raven with an injured wing. She abandons her plan and smuggles him into her room. Luckily this is the week Daniel is not home because he is a long-distance truck driver. For her second attempt to run away she decides to look in those boxes in the garage. Daniel is away again and she wants to find her dad's bird books but just as she is unpacking the boxes Daniel arrives home. His violent reaction is utterly terrible. So now Billie really does have to go. But how? Her new friend Nell has accidentally offered the perfect way to do this and Billie now has to stowaway as Nell and her grandmother drive to a market near where dad has been staying. 

Blurb: Ever since Billie’s kind and nature-loving dad went to prison, her life has lost its shine. And now, Mum’s new boyfriend has moved in and home is full of sharp-glass silences. Billie’s never felt more alone. Until one day she discovers an injured young raven and in nursing him back to life, Billie finds friendship, hope and a letter that might bring her one step closer to reuniting with Dad. Raven Winter is the story of friendship, family and the belief in a very special relationship with a young raven set against the beautiful and the wintery backdrop of the Yorkshire Dales.

This is a harrowing story, but I was sure Susanna Bailey would provide a happy ending or at least the glimpse of a better future so I kept reading Raven Winter even though at times I just had to stop, walk away and take a breath. This is a book for a very mature reader aged 11+ and not recommended for sensitive readers. Read a text sample here. 

Raven Winter does suggest domestic abuse and a parent who is absent due to being in jail – tough topics – but I think it is done sensitively and gently. ...  The bigger theme of the book in my view though is how children can find comfort in nature, how non-judgmental animals can help a child who feels alone, and how caring for someone or something outside of themselves, can be cathartic. Julia's Books

There are many strands to this powerful story and binding them together is a celebration of nature and its power to heal: what the author has achieved is a fine balance between sadness and beauty. Not everything is resolved but father and daughter are reunited and there’s hope for the future. There’s also a reassuring message to any reader in a situation similar to Billie about the importance of going to a trusted adult for help. Red Reading Hub

Companion books:

Dragon Skin

The Star outside my window

Here are other books by Susanna Bailey

Tyger by SF Said illustrated by Dave McKean

 

When you see the cover of this book do you immediately think of the famous poem - that's good because the words of the poem are sure to resonate as you are reading this riveting novel by SF Said.

Tyger Tyger, burning bright, 
In the forests of the night; 
What immortal hand or eye, 
Could frame thy fearful symmetry?

In what distant deeps or skies. 
Burnt the fire of thine eyes?
On what wings dare he aspire?
What the hand, dare seize the fire?

And what shoulder, & what art,
Could twist the sinews of thy heart?
And when thy heart began to beat.
What dread hand? & what dread feet?

What the hammer? what the chain,
In what furnace was thy brain?
What the anvil? what dread grasp.
Dare its deadly terrors clasp?

When the stars threw down their spears 
And water'd heaven with their tears:
Did he smile his work to see?
Did he who made the Lamb make thee?

Tyger Tyger burning bright,
In the forests of the night:
What immortal hand or eye,
Dare frame thy fearful symmetry?

There is the most amazing dystopian world in this story. It feels like we are in London but this is a divided city. Rich people separated from poor. Migrants separated from - well I am not sure what to call the people who claim they have always lived in this city - especially since Adam was born in the city and so was his friend Zadie but they do not have the same rights as others because their families come from the "Middle East". Think about those words - the "Middle East". What does that mean? Adam is Muslim and Zadie has dark skin but why should that matter? Yet every day, as he does deliveries for his parents of garments from their shop in the ghetto, he has to stop at a check point and answer questions by a soldier.

"The soldier was a guardsman in a red coat, with a bristling white moustache. He looked Adam up and down, taking in his skin, his hair, his eyes. The fact that everything about him was just a little different, just a little darker. ... 'And where are you from, boy?"

Love Reading for Kids explains the setting: In this alternate universe slavery was never abolished, which has left the UK in a sorry state with rich overlords ruling over a sprawling poor and people with origins anywhere apart from the UK particularly vulnerable to abuse and exploitation. That includes Adam’s family of shopkeepers.

When Ben crosses to the other side of the checkpoint. He bumps into a man who leads him to a remote area intending to rob him but then a huge creature appears. It is the Tyger. 

Here is a text extract from Chapter two - you could use this in a book talk with your students:

And then something erupted out of the darkness, moving so fast, he saw only a blur at first. A streak of black and gold, leaping down from the roof beams to land on all four paws beside him.
An animal! A gigantic animal stood by his side, growling at the man with the knife. With one huge stride, she put herself between him and Adam. Then she threw back her head and roared, as if protecting Adam from the knife. The man screamed. He ran. He fled through the door he’d come in by and was gone. Adam couldn’t run. The animal still stood between him and the door. He could only stand there, staring at her, his senses filling with a sweet, high, musky scent, like honeysuckle growing wild. In her presence, everything else just melted away, even his fear. His skin was prickling and his eyes were wide. But inside him was a feeling stranger than fear. For this animal had come down from the darkness to defend him. Why?

And . . . what was she?
A flash of lightning revealed more of her form. She was ten feet long from her whiskers to her tail. So broad, she filled the doorway. Her fur was fiery gold with coal-black stripes. Time seemed to stop as she turned to look at Adam, and Adam looked back at her. He couldn’t look away. He’d never been so close to any animal before, let alone one so huge and wild. Her eyes burned like liquid golden fire. They were shining with a light that was different to any light he’d ever seen. Yet he thought he saw pain inside them, too. And now that she was facing him, he could see that she was wounded. There was blood on her fur, between her stripes, dripping wet and red. He breathed in sharply. Whatever she was – this animal was wounded. She shuddered as a blast of thunder shook the building. She turned and snapped at something over her shoulder, then growled when she couldn’t reach it. As she twisted and turned, Adam crept round to one side – and froze as he saw the shaft of an arrow, sticking out of her shoulder. On the other side, he could see the arrowhead. 

Ben helps the Tyger but now he is caught up in the danger of the situation. An evil man named Maldehyde is hunting Tyger. Why? I am not going to explain this - except to say be ready for a wild ride of twists and turns and danger and courage. There are some confronting scenes in this story so I would say it is for mature readers. 

I don't normally quote endorsements but these all ring so true for Tyger:

• 'An out-and-out-masterpiece' Piers Torday
• 'Next level excellent . . . This book is a gem' Malorie Blackman
• 'A masterpiece' Frank Cottrell-Boyce
• 'Profound . . . A triumph' Jacqueline Wilson
• 'Perfection' Sophie Anderson
• 'Beautiful, brilliant, perfect!' Peter Bunzl
• 'A timeless classic' Sita Brahmachari
• 'Visionary & exciting & hopeful & deeply-dreamt & truly-lived' AF Harrold
• 'A glorious triumph' Berlie Doherty

It is a book designed for readers of 9 to 99 who enjoy escaping into other worlds. Much anticipated and destined to be a classic that will be shared and enjoyed everywhere.  Love Reading4Kids

This book has been on my to read list for a long time (since October 2022) but I needed to wait for the paperback edition to arrive here in Australia. I need a word to describe a book so wonderful that I read it in almost one sitting. So wonderful that I read it at 2am. So wonderful that I wish I could immediately pass this onto a reader aged 11+. 

Here is a video with SF Said. Please read this interview where SF Said talks about his book - here is a quote that resonated with me:

There are times I feel extremely doomy and apocalyptic. But there are times I’m extraordinarily moved and inspired to see the work that people are doing to build a better world. And that starts, for me, with children and the books they read, and the stories that fill their imaginations – the work I see teachers, librarians, booksellers, reading helpers, journalists, readers of all sorts, doing – there’s a lot of people working very, very hard, every single day, to inspire kids to love reading and books, and to get them the best possible books, the widest range, the most diverse, inclusive kinds of books, so that every child could see themselves reflected, so that every child can feel they could be a reader.

SF Said is the author of Varjak Paw - another book I adored. My blog post from 2009 is way too brief. Sometime soon I reread the two Varjak Paw books and pen a longer blog post.

Wanderer by Victor Kelleher

"Remember Dane, ... You're more than a wanderer now. You've become a keeper of the old knowledge. A Book Holder. It's who you are, who you're meant to be ... 

one of the precious few ..."

In the Golden Years people had books and libraries and perhaps life was easier? But they must have some terrible things because the world is now so damaged. The Clans hold power using terror and violence against people who are barely surviving in small settlements. These fierce warriors are ruthless and extremely dangerous but animals are dangerous too. What did the people from the past do to the wild creatures of the earth?

"It could have affected the animals too ... Is that maybe why they hate us so much?' ... 'Think about it Put yourself in their place ... You're a dolphin, say or an orca, or a big cat in the forest, and people do cruel things to you. They take away your food, you hunting grounds, your freedom."

Dane has seen the death of his parents and he has become a wanderer. His grief is deep so it feels as though he is actually running away. He has a few essential tools such as a flint and knife along with his precious kayak. As this story opens Dane sees some smoke on an island. He decides to investigate and he meets a wise woman who has survived several attacks by the Clan. 

Megan offers him food and advice. Dane's kayak is in need of repairs. Megan tells Dane about a skilled craftsman named Garth and so after spending a short time with Megan, Dane sets off to find Garth little knowing this will be the beginning of a long and perilous journey. He also has no idea he is about to meet his travelling companion  - a girl named Lana. Lana has an amazing skill. When she sings, she is able to calm wild animals on land and in the sea. Lana can also sense danger well before it arrives in fact all of her sense are very finely tuned and this is because she is blind but there is no way this is an obstacle for Lana. She is a fearless and loyal companion and she and Dane make a wonderful team out in the wild ocean. Their purpose it to reach Elysia where there is supposed to be a library. Dane has one book (books are rare and precious objects in this future world and nearly all have been destroyed by the Clan). He also has a book from Megan and later a small collection of ten titles rescued when the clan attack Garth's hideaway. 

The writing in this book is powerful. You will feel the danger, the cold, the hunger and the pain from horrible wounds inflicted on Dane by Kurt, leader of the Clan. Kurt has his own motivation for chasing Lana and the longer his hunt goes on the more a madness overtakes him making a very dangerous combination of rage, deadly weapons and insanity. 

Along the way Lana and Dane meet other wise people one of whom is a woman named the Sealer. She tells them to avoid two dangerous islands as they travel south to Elysia - when I read this part of the story I desperately hoped Dane and Lana would heed her warning but alas they do not. The scenes on Skull Island and later Barter Island are filled with dreadful violence which is why I am listing Wanderer as a Young Adult book for ages 13+. These places reminded me of Where the world ends by Geraldine McCaughrean. Elysium is from Homer's Odyssey and means a place or state of ideal happiness - a paradise.  

Here are a few descriptions to give you a flavour of this story:

The clan: "Even at this distance Dane could make out their fur tunics, their heavily tatooed arms and face, their hair tied into upright tufts. ... Like Danes own weapons, clipped to the side of the kayak, they were fashioned mainly from the debris of another age - one long-since passed - a fabled time known widely as the Golden Years."

"Karl had bought just ten warriors with him. They entered the square in a single phalanx, each of them dressed resplendently in feathered cloaks and painted leather tunics and leggings. Colour ochres had been smeared across their tattooed faces giving them a fierce animal appearance ..."

I do need to also mention there are some interesting book references scattered through out the story many of which  are shared in the evenings by Lana and others they meet. Stories such as Shakespeare, Hans Christian Andersen fairy tales, Hansel and Gretel, The Hobbit,The Piped Piper, Moby Dick, and Charles Dickens. It was interesting to hear Karl quote Tamburlaine because I recently read this book - Tamburlaine's Elephants. The story is also book ended with two lines from an poem by Arthur Hugh Clough (1855). You can hear the whole poem here. 

"Say not the struggle nought availeth, the labour and the wounds are vain."

You can read the blurb for Wanderer here.

Wanderer is also a homage to the power of books and stories, in the hope that if they keep the books safe they can help rebuild their world. Lamont

The novel explores themes of courage and tenacity, resilience and ingenuity, loyalty and friendship, survival and hope. And it is a celebration and testament to the power of story and books, and the wealth and comfort these provide to us mere mortals. Kids' Book Review

Wanderer was short listed for the NSW Premier's literary award - Patricia Wrightson Award. Here is what the judges said:

With danger at every turn and constant action that grinds to a dramatic climax, Wanderer by Victor Kelleher grips the reader from the start, never letting up on the drama, tension, and conflict. This novel stood out for its strong narrative voice and for its child protagonists who remain in control of their own destinies throughout. Theirs is a high-stakes, life-and-death struggle against the decaying, lawless world around them as they must battle and attempt to outwit adults, wild animals, and nature itself. 

This middle-grade novel is set in a dystopian future where ocean levels have risen and society has crumbled. Young Dane and his new friend, Lana, must complete a perilous quest that focuses on special treasures: precious, rare books. And, yet, Wanderer is also much more than this. It’s a tale of friendship, courage, endurance, and a warning of what the future may hold for humanity. Eagle Books an imprint of Christmas Press

This is the first book written by Victor Kelleher in many years. I loved his previous books - The Forbidden Paths of Thual (1979); The Hunting of Shadroth (1981) and Taronga (1986). I did enjoy this newest book especially the cliff hanger scene just twenty pages from the end. Victor Kelleher is a highly awarded Australian author so I was a little puzzled that this newest book did not have a list of all his past titles. This is a book feature I use check off other books I have read.

I have a funny anecdote about this author. I worked in five schools as a Teacher-Librarian.  In 1996 I visited my former/final school for the first time. This appointment was a transfer not a merit position but the Principal decided to interview me. She asked a senior primary teacher from her staff to attend this "interview". The Principal considered this teacher to be well read and so between them they had set up a "trick question". The teacher asked do you have a favourite book by Victor Kelleher.  Looking back this seems so funny. I wonder why they picked him.  I answered with the three books I listed here - I think this means I passed the "test". 

Taronga

Companion books - Wanderer made me think of books about Vikings and other people from ancient times rather than dystopian worlds:

The Young Vikings

She Wolf

Tarin of the Mammoths book one

Children of Stone City by Beverley Naidoo

 

Publisher blurb: Set in a world where Adam and Leila and their friend Zak live as Nons under the Permitted ruling class. Then, when Adam and Leila’s father dies unexpectedly, their mother faces losing her permit to live in the Stone City with deportation to where she was born. Before music-loving Adam can implement his plan to save Mama, Zak is arrested for a bold prank that goes wrong, with far-reaching repercussions for them all . . .

This book is filled with the most dreadful undertone of fear. Adam loves to play his precious grandfather's violin. Each day he and his sister walk to school and then then walk to their music lessons but all the while they must be so careful not to meet the police and not to come face to face with Permitteds. 

Permitteds can simply take the homes of Nons and without the right paper work Nons can be banished from the city.  Adam and Leila's mum could be sent away so as the story opens we read that their father is working on gathering all the necessary papers to stop this happening then suddenly and tragically he dies. A few days later Adam sees the home of his neighbour has been taken by Permitteds and all the family possessions are strewn on the footpath. Adam is carrying his precious violin coming home from his music class when he stumbles on the scene.

"Fearing it would break open and Grandfather's violin would crash to the ground, Adam let go. He watched the stubby fingers push open each catch and lift the lid. The man's eyes rested briefly on the violin before shifting back to Adam ... what if the man just took it?"

For Adam, music is everything. It is his connection to his family history, it is his solace and he hopes his music can save his mother. He works hard with his teacher to perfect Vivaldi so he can play perfectly it at an important concert which is just one month away. 

BUT (you knew there would be a but) one day Adam and Leila meet up with their old friend Zak who has been in hiding since the eviction. While the friends are playing on Zak's skateboard at the park there is an incident with some Permitted youth. Things escalate and Adam and Zak are arrested and subjected to dreadful torture by the cruel, sadistic police. These scenes are dreadful - so I suggest his book is for mature readers aged 11+. There were times reading this book when I just had to stop and take a rest from these horrible scenes.

Beverley Naidoo says

"My concerns about this division between Permitteds and Nons stems from being born in South Africa, where I was classified at birth as a 'Permitted'. My birth certificate states 'Race: European'. Had I been born in occupied Europe in 1943m with my Jewish mother, I would have been classified as a 'Non'."

I have spent a few days in Melbourne exploring book stores. I picked this book up at a splendid store called Younger Sun. Children of the Stone City is a new book published in 2022. The story completely gripped me from start to finish.

I do have to say I do not like the US cover:

Kirkus said: Naidoo presents an evocative, heartbreaking dystopian story reflective of current and historical prejudices and injustices, addressed in her thoughtful, nuanced author’s note. Though the plot is heavy and full of trauma, the racially ambiguous characters use music, stories, and poetry to maintain hope and pursue freedom. Themes of equality, human rights, and justice prompt readers to reflect on how they can improve the world.

I absolutely loved two other books by award winning author Beverley Naidoo - The other side of Truth and Journey to Jo'Burg.

Cop and Robber by Tristan Bancks

Nash Hall has a complex life. His father claims they are related to the famous bushranger Ben Hall. His father was once a boxer but recently he has turned to crime and has almost been sent to jail. Nash is so worried about his father's behaviour and now he discovers his father owes a huge amount of money to some dangerous looking criminals. In just three days Lyle Hall has to come up with $256,568. If all of this sounds dreadful and impossible there is one more thing you need to know. Look at the title of this book. I have talked about the robber - that's dad and he has just held up a service station - but what about the cop? Well, that's mum. 

There are some violent scenes in this book so I suggest it will appeal to readers (especially boys) aged 11+. 

Publisher blurb: If your mum was a cop and your dad was a criminal who needed your help to commit a crime, would you do it to save him? At what cost? Nash Hall's dad is a criminal who just can't seem to go straight. He wants Nash to help him commit a robbery. A big one. The trouble is, Nash's mum is a cop. And the robbery is at Nash's school. But Dad owes a lot of money to some very dangerous people and if Nash doesn't help him do the job, it could cost both their lives.

Tristan uses humour as well as conflict to add light and shade to his story.  He uses Nash’s dilemma to explore complex themes of loyalty, love, honesty, and especially forgiveness. This makes it such a satisfying and memorable read, but beware, once you start it you will drop everything until you’ve finished it. Storylinks

Here is a very detailed set of teaching notes from the publisher - Penguin Random House. Here is Tristan Banks web site. 

Take a look at other thrilling stories by Tristan Bancks:

Two wolves

Detention