Sonny and Tess by Nova Weetman

Publisher blurb: It’s the end of year 7 and Tess wants a summer job. She’s keen to earn her own money and buy her own clothes. But her mum has other ideas: it looks like Tess will be stuck at home babysitting her twin brothers. Thirteen-year-old Sonny is tired of moving around. With his dad up north, he’s staying with his uncle and aunt above their fish and chip shop. And it just so happens his uncle is hiring extra staff for the holidays. When Sonny and Tess crash into each other outside the shop, sparks and dim sims fly. Soon they’re both wondering if the other feels the same way – but, as Sonny loves to say, it’s complicated. Over hot chips and chicken salt, can these two work out what they really want?

This is a sweet story of first love set in a fish and chip shop. All three main characters have complex things going on in their lives as is often the way with Middle Grade and Junior Young Adult books.

1. Sonny (Samson) - his mum abruptly left the family a number of years ago. Dad won't talk about mum and Dad is often absent because he is a geologist who takes up work in remote locations. Sonny has changed schools too many times and he is confused about his relationship with his dad.

2. Tess (Theresa) - lives in a busy family. Mum and Dad have frantic jobs and Tess has younger twin siblings. Tess is often expected to stay home and 'babysit' this pair of wild kids. Tess wants some independence and that's why she secretly takes on a job at the fish and chip shop even though she knows her mum will go 'ballistic'.  

3. Tin and Sonny met at Kinder but then he moved away. He now lives near the fish and chip shop and so Sonny and Tin easily reconnect. Tin's dad was injured at work and so he just sits in a chair all day at home with the television on. Tin is a good friend to Sonny but equally Sonny understands things are difficult for Tin. 

Sonny especially shows a level of emotional intelligence beyond his years and I really enjoyed getting to know him through this story. I would put this book into a high school library but it could be enjoyed by readers aged 11+ as the publisher suggests. Thanks to UQP for my review copy. There are very detailed teachers notes and a book extract also on their web page. This book was released this week on 1st July. 

Here are a couple of text quotes:

"My primary school years were interrupted with trips for dad's work, so I was always stepping in and out of friendships. It's left me lacking confidence in some ways. Which is why I've decided to return to school so late in the year. I figure it's better to slide in at the tail end of the year when nobody is aware of the new guy."

"And without thinking I reach out and touch her hand, and she doesn't move hers away. Her skin is warm but I pull back because I am not sure what I'm doing."

There are a couple of other minor characters in the story Sonny's aunt and uncle - Marion and Frank.  I would love to meet Marion and thank her for her kindness and gentle care of Sonny. She treats him with such wisdom - never crowding or imposing her own views and she shows her love of this young boy in such a beautiful and heartfelt way. And in his own way Frank deeply cares about Sonny too. I loved their sparing over music on the radio.

"Frank has called me boy for as long as I can remember. Sometimes I tease him that he's forgotten my name, buy I learnt ages ago that it's just his way of showing affection. I asked him once why he chose boy as my nickname, and he said he grew up eating Sunnyboy icypoles after school - the joy of finding free stamped inside the packet has never left him. They don't make Sunnyboys now, but that doesn't stop Frank romanticising them. He's stitched together with nostalgia".

We also meet Jemma who is Tessa's school friend. I was worried when this pair had a serious argument that would be the end of their relationship - thank you Nova Weetman for the scene on pages 175-178.

This is a charming, character-driven story with refreshingly little high-stakes drama. There is emotional complexity in the way of family frustrations and challenges to friendships, but all are ultimately resolved with maturity and compromise, showcasing productive examples of conflict resolution, without being didactic. The adults are relatable, the young people feel authentic, and the first-job-first-crush set up is beautifully age appropriate for readers 11+. You’ll close the book feeling warm all over, and hungry for hot chips! StoryLinks

I really enjoy books with alternating voices - here are a few I have read recently:

Not Nothing

The Last Apple Tree

Greetings from Nowhere

I previously talked about these books by Melbourne author Nova Weetman:

The Jammer

Sick Bay

The Secrets we Keep

Fox and Sons Tailers by Paddy Donnelly

This idea seems so original to me. Tailers who make tails! You are sure, also, to enjoy all the tiny details in the illustrations. 

In the street scene you will see a shop called Harecuts and a stork delivery service. Among the myriad of city dweller animals I saw a koala, walrus, zebra, flamingo and several elephants. This reminded me of books illustrated by Australian illustrators - Andrew Joyner (The Swap), James Foley (Stellaphant), Gus Gordon (Herman and Rosie) and Tohby Riddle.

On the shelves of the tailer's workshop the book titles are so funny - The big book of tiny animal tails; Fairy Tails; Folk Tails; and The art of Tailering. Rory comes from a family with generations of tailers. Rory is learning the trade. Tails are needed for all sort of occasions - parties, weddings, starting school and so on. Rory, though, has become a little tired of the way every day is the same and the way his dad follows such strict tail making rules. Surely there is room for a little creativity. Rory sketches his ideas and then late at night he makes tails that are sure to be way more fun for the customers. 

One day an important customer arrives. He sees one of the tails created by Rory and in a lovely moment of affirmation his dad accepts that Rory does have wild and wonderful ideas. So, they set to work and make the customer the most amazing feather tail and the family business is saved and once again popular with all the people (animals) of the town. 

You can see inside this book here. I highly recommend adding this book to your school library. It is funny, yes and clever, yes, but it is also heartwarming to see dad accept Rory has really good, creative ideas - so further generations will enjoy their working years at Fox and Sons (and maybe even daughters) will join the family firm. 

Bookseller blurb: Rory's dad, Fox, is a tailer. The BEST in the business! Animals come from all over to have their tails made by him. Rory helps his dad in the shop and one of his jobs is measuring the customers for the tails - which isn't always easy! But Rory is bored of making the same old tails. He has his own amazing ideas ...

This is an absolutely beautiful, heart-warming book about the power of creativity and the special father-son relationship. It also reminds adults and children that we should never forget to try thinking outside the box every now and again. Paddy Donnelly’s illustrations are full of adorable detail, from lovely background touches to a cast of sweet, characterful animal characters. Book Trust

Paddy Donnelly is an Irish illustrator now living in Belgium. He has over 15 years' experience as an illustrator and designer, and especially loves working with a textured, painterly approach. With a fondness for illustrating the sea and animals, Paddy tries to inject a touch of humour to his work wherever he can. Coming from a graphic design background, Paddy is comfortable working in different illustration styles depending on the needs of the project.

Awards for Fox and Sons Tailers: 

• LAI Children's Book Awards: age 0-5 - 2023
• Literature Association of Ireland - Winner
• IBA2022-Shortlist-Kids-Junior
• Children's Book of the Year (Junior) - 2022
• Irish Book Awards - Short-listed
• Children's Picture Book Awards
• The English Association - Short-listed
• ULKA Book Awards: 3-6+
• UK Literacy Association - Short-listed

Here is an interview with the author. I was pleased to see he mentions our Shaun Tan and his book The Rules of Summer. 

Here are some other books by Paddy Donnelly:

All Through the Night by Polly Faber illustrated by Harriet Hobday

"The sky is getting dark. In a big city, a little girl is eating her dinner, brushing her teeth and getting ready for bed. Meanwhile her mother is putting on her coat and getting ready to go to work. 

But where will she go?"  Blurb

I so appreciate the way Polly Faber sustains this narrative using reader curiosity. On the first page mum heads off the work. We are told she has "an important job to do".  Then over the following ten double page spreads our narrator, her daughter, talks about all the people who work through the night in her city but of course as a reader we really want to know where mum has gone.

I loved the way the child gives each worker a personal name. Sammy is an office cleaner; Georgio is a security guard (I have a soft spot for security guards which I always link with the book Corduroy); Hassan and Amina are police on patrol; Kisi is a news reporter; Lem plays the saxophone in a band on an outdoor stage; Eva sells hot pies, coffee and doughnuts from her van; Ravi is a delivery diver; Luigi uses flour and eggs to make bread ready for breakfast tomorrow; Jonny, Dot and Isaac complete repairs to the trainline: Dani and Todd drive their ambulance to the hospital where Fiona works to welcome new babies to the world. But what about Mum?  What has she been doing all night?

Sorry I am not going to tell you except to say there is a hint on the front cover and on every page! Oh and we have diversity done so naturally and women and men in all kinds of roles (no stereotypes here).

You can see inside this book on the Nosy Crow (they do such fabulous books) page. Here is a video where Polly Faber talks about her book (perfect to share with a young class).  Polly Faber is the author of the charming book series Mango and Bambang. You can see more art from All Through the Night on the illustrator (Harriet Hobday) web site. 

Image Source: Harriet Hobday

A comforting bedtime story, especially if parents are heading out to work. ...  This reassuring tale also calls attention to people who might be overlooked.  Kirkus

Read All Through the Night alongside these:

Nights with Dad

While You're Sleeping

Hound Dog True by Linda Urban

"I'm Mattie Breen ... I'm bold and friendly"

"There are laws that says she has to be in the classroom to learn fractions and spelling and survival of the fittest. But there are not laws about going outside at recess time. And there are not laws about where to sit at lunchtime."

There is a raw honesty and a tenderness in this book which I just loved. But this is balances with some sweetly funny moments and small touches of kindness. Mattie feels like an outsider. Life confuses her. She has changed towns and schools so often. "Mama never owns more than can fit in a pickup truck." She longs to fit in. She longs to make a friend. Her anxiety makes everyday life very hard. But Mattie is a problem solver. She has worked out a terrific way to survive at her newest school. Mama and Mattie have gone to live with Uncle Potluck. Uncle Potluck is the school Janitor. Right now it is the summer holidays and because mama is at work Mattie is tagging along to the empty school to help her Uncle. Mattie thinks if Uncle Potluck will take her on as his assistant then all her worries about recess and lunch breaks and interacting with the other kids will be solved because she will be busy working as a custodial apprentice.

"She will spend the next four days writing and learning and being professional next to Uncle Potluck, proving herself worthy of being a true custodial apprentice. Proving how once school starts, he should keep her by his side, instead of making her go to lunch or recess or be with whatever wild kids might be at Mitchell P Andersen Elementary. That is Mattie's plan."

Back in her old school another student got her hands on Mattie's precious notebook. "Most nights she had slept easy. Until fourth grade. Until Star." - Please read chapter five to your class if you do a book talk about Hound Dog True. 

But will her plan to be a janitor work? And what about the pesky girl next door called Quincy? And what if Mama wants to move them on again?

Publisher blurb Harper Collins: Do not let a mop sit overnight in water. Fix things before they get too big for fixing. Custodial wisdom: Mattie Breen writes it all down. She has just one week to convince Uncle Potluck to take her on as his custodial apprentice at Mitchell P. Anderson Elementary School. One week until school starts and she has to be the new girl again. But if she can be Uncle Potluck’s apprentice, she’ll have important work to do during lunch and recess. Work that will keep her safely away from the other fifth graders. But when her custodial wisdom goes all wrong, Mattie’s plan comes crashing down. And only then does she begin to see how one small, brave act can lead to a friend who is hound dog true.

Hound Dog True was published in 2011 and while it is perhaps still available, here in Australia is very expensive so I hope you might find a copy in a school or public library or you could read, as I did, the ebook version. Either way I highly recommend this heartfelt story which continues to linger with me. Oh and I am not going to answer your lingering questions - why is he called Uncle Potluck (read chapter 25) and what exactly does hound dog true really mean? You need to read this book to discover this for yourself. And I do need to mention this is not a book about dogs.  Look below - Kirkus use the word OUTSTANDING in their review. 

I ached for Mattie. And now that the book is over, I wish I could spend more time with her. Jen Robinson

And I would add to this quote by Jen Robinson by saying I just wanted to find a sweet little mouse-shaped button to sew back onto Mattie's pyjamas. 

"Once there lived a button named Moe. Moe was a mouse-shaped button. He was stitched onto some pyjamas with strong thread. The pyjamas belonged to a girl. She was not strong. Sometimes at night she worried. When she worried she twisted Moe on his thread until she fell asleep. Moe did not mind. One night the girl could not fall asleep. The girl worried and worried. She twisted Moe for a long time. The next day the pyjamas went to the laundromat. Moe was in the washing machine. water flooded in. The other clothes pulled and tugged at him, and Moe's strong thread snapped. ... Moe was alone. He didn't yell for help. He knew he would never be heard. Moe was lost forever."

Uncle Potluck has such a unique voice:

"I shall have to watch myself now that I know you are recording our custodial endeavours for posterity."

"As I'm sure you are aware, great writing is a solitary pursuit."

"The gourmands of Mitchel P Andersen favour pizza, and it is the rare lunch tray that even has a crust left for disposal."

"Want to give this your janitorial scrutiny?"

"And it seems like maybe I ought to be the only one doing the saluting too. For propriety's sake."

"Accomplished with dexterity and finesse."

Combining Mattie’s poignant writing and interior monologue, exquisite character development and a slow, deliberate pace, Urban spins a story that rings true.  This outstanding, emotionally resonant effort will appeal to middle-grade readers. Kirkus Star review

Nights with Dad by Karen Hesse illustrated by G. Brian Karas

US Cover with a different title

This is a book which gives young readers a glimpse of a life that might be unfamiliar but it is also a life that will have links to every school child - after all who does clean your school? And when do they work? What exactly do they do in each school space?

In a well practised routine our story narrator describes how each Friday evening he packs up food in a lunch box and then he climbs onto the back of his dad's motor bike. 

Yes I did say lunch box but the pair are not heading out for lunch. Dad works at the boy's school. He is a night cleaner but it takes eleven pages to make this discovery such is the power of storytelling by Karen Hesse. It is Friday night but we can infer the boy goes along because he can sleep in tomorrow. 

At 10pm the lunch box is opened:

"Dad leads the way to the courtyard, where we unwrap our egg salad sandwiches, with their triple dollop of mayo and heaping teaspoon of chopped pickle. We take big bites that fill our mouths and chew and chew and chew until there are only crumbs left. And then we chew those, too."

While is dad cleans the library, the young boy reads aloud to his dad until he falls asleep. At 4am the pair head home where they both fall asleep dreaming of better times ahead.

Hesse’s poetic, calm text is matter-of-fact in conveying the love between parent and child and the bonding occurring through their shared work. Karas’ mixed-media illustrations, employing a soft focus and a muted, nighttime palette, help to relay this bond as well as the excitement of riding on the back of a motorcycle at night. Kirkus Star review

You could pair this book with While you're sleeping:

This book is perfect to read as part of your discussions of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 8 - Decent Work and Economic Growth.  Read more about the 17 goals and find links to fabulous books to use here. My post takes you to eighteen posts by my friend from Kinderbookswitheverything along with her splendid and comprehensive Pinterest sets of books for each goal. 

If you are looking for a book to share with older students where you can explore different and very effective page layouts Nights with Dad is perfect. You can see inside this book here. And read more about the inspiration that lead to the writing of this book by Karen Hesse. 

I have read and enjoyed quite a few books by Karen Hesse:

Out of the Dust

Come on Rain

Letters from Rifka

Sable

Lavender

Wish upon a Unicorn

Here is a list of books illustrated by G. Brian Karas. I am especially a fan of his easy chapter books - High-Rise Private Eye.  I was also excited to discover G. Brian Karas provided the cover illustration for Freddie the Frightened and the Wondrous Ms Wardrobe which is a book I used to enjoy reading in my school library. Our Australia cover is by Terry Denton (a long time before his fame with the 13 Storey Treehouse series). And he did the art for Ivan - the Remarkable True story of a Shopping Mall Gorilla by Katherine Applegate. 

A Thousand Glass Flowers by Evan Turk

A Thousand Glass Flowers - Marietta Barovier and the invention of the Rosetta Bead.

"Her father ... as a true maestro, a master of the glass. He performed miracles with it, turning the molten sand into elegant forms as clear as water, as white as milk, or as richly coloured as precious stones."

A Thousand Glass Flowers is a perfect book to share with your library groups this year - The International Year of Glass.

Publisher blurb: Marietta and her family lived on the island of Murano, near Venice, as all glassmakers did in the early Renaissance. Her father, Angelo Barovier, was a true maestro, a master of glass. Marietta longed to create gorgeous glass too, but glass was men’s work. One day her father showed her how to shape the scalding-hot material into a work of art, and Marietta was mesmerized. Her skills grew and grew. Marietta worked until she created her own unique glass bead: the rosetta. Small but precious, the beautiful beads grew popular around the world and became as valuable as gold. The young girl who was once told she could not create art was now the woman who would leave her mark on glasswork for centuries to come.

You can see some pages inside this book at Seven Impossible Things before Breakfast. And here is a wonderful, generous and detailed interview with Evan Turk by Elizabeth Bird at the School Library Journal. 

In this book you will read about glass making in 1496 alongside the expectations levelled at girls and women. Marietta is such a wonderful role model for young girls who want to pursue their own passion. There is an extensive author's note at the back of this book where you can read more about glass making, Marietta, her family and the rosetta beads. These are also called millefiori which means 'a thousand flowers'.  The beads are made from segments cut from long ropes of layered glass. This technique was first used in Egypt thousands of years ago. 

"Marietta Barovier grew up in a world that did not typically allow women to own businesses, or reward women who worked instead of married." 

Clearly a labour of love, this ethereal and striking selection incorporates imagination, art, creativity, and women’s history in a story that emphasises dedication, resilience, and innovation.  An enchanting tale of a 15th-century artist that emphasises attributes and skills we need today. Kirkus Star review

A Thousand Glass Flowers is an intimate and beautiful story of an artist’s relationship with her father and what blossoms when she’s given the ability to grow into her talent. I’m happy that Marietta Barovier’s story fell into the talented hands of Evan Turk. I’m also very grateful to know Barovier's name, work, and legacy — and I hope that children will enjoy her story as much as I did. Horn Book

Brick by brick by Heidi Woodward Sheffield

 

Mi papi es fuerte - my papi is strong. He's a bricklayer. His arms are like stone.

Each day Papi heads off to work and Luis heads off to school. Luis imagines his papi working with the bricks and mixing the mortar to build the city. When Luis sits down to enjoy his lunch papi is also eating "mama's special empanada" and he is drinking cinnamon horchata. 

Luis has a dream that one day his family will have a house of their own and perhaps he will even be allowed to have a dog. Finally one weekend, Papi tells Luis he has a surprise. Luis puts on his father's big hard hat which covers his eyes. The pair drive across the city and arrive at their new house where his mother is waiting and yes there is a new puppy too. 

"Tonight I dream in my house. Nuestra casa papa siempre - our always house."

As you can see this is partly a dual language text in English and Spanish. The illustrations are made using collage which at times seems almost tactile. This warm-hearted story of a hard working family shows that dreams can come true. When you look into the background of the illustrations you will see the important story words - build, dream, I can, hola, adios and bye. Time is marked in this story by tiny details. It clearly took time to build their new house. As the story opens there are spring flowers in their apartment window box and on the day of the surprise visit it is Halloween. 

Publisher blurb: Papi is a bricklayer, and he works hard every day to help build the city, brick by brick. His son, Luis, works hard too–in school, book by book. Papi climbs scaffolds, makes mortar, and shovels sand. Luis climbs on the playground and molds clay into tiny bricks to make buildings, just like Papi. Together, they dream big about their future as they work to make those dreams come true. And then one Saturday, Papi surprises Luis with something special he’s built for their family, brick by brick.

When I see the words "Nancy Paulsen Books" on the cover or in-print information on a book I always anticipate a book of the highest quality and as you can see this book is an Ezra Jack Keats award winner (2021) too. In this video Heidi reads her book. Here is an interview with Heidi. Here is one quote:

Picture books are like haikus, in their brevity but also in their condensed meaning. They are the perfect marriage of words and images. I believe picture books are for all ages. There’s an initial simplicity that gives way to nuance, and a boiling down of word and picture that leads to a beautiful richness.

Take a look at the extensive Pinterest of Construction books collected by my friend from Kinderbookswitheverything. Here are some companion reads:

Contagion by Kerry Greenwood

"He told me that this flu is not just an epidemic. It is a pandemic. All over the world, people are dying of it. They have it very badly in America. And in Europe."  Charlotte McKenzie 1918

"The worst thing is that all the people who don't usually get the flu are getting it, and there is no-one to look after them but old people and children" Charlotte McKenzie 1919

"This is a new disease: it burns hot like a bushfire and it'll burn itself out. In the end." Doctor Barnes 1919 quoted by Charlotte McKenzie.

At first glance it seems Kerry Greenwood (author of the Phryne Fisher books) has been busy and very efficient producing a book this year that echoes our times with COVID-19 - a book about the 1919 Spanish Flu pandemic. Yes Kerry Greenwood has penned a compelling tale but she didn't write this book in 2020. Contagion was originally published in 2002 under the title A different sort of real - the Diary of Charlotte McKenzie then again in 2012 under the title The Deadly Flu (My Australian story series) and now again in 2020 with an appealing new cover and title - Contagion. So it's really the publisher Scholastic Australia who have seized the moment.

I highly recommend Contagion for readers aged 11+. If you were using this book with a group of students it would be good to talk about the work of cover designers. These three copies of the same book have such very different covers. Here is a set of comprehension questions written to accompany the 2012 edition of this book.

Charlotte begins her diary as World War One ends. Her soldier father has come home but he is suffering from severe shell shock. There are four children in the family and Charlotte's mother is a nurse. She works through the night and much of the care of the younger children falls to Charlotte along with laborious household duties. The process of washing sheets for example, takes a whole day and three women. "It takes both me and Amelia, one on each end, to wring out a sheet over the copper stick ... "

In her diary Charlotte shares her daily life from 16th October, 1918 up to 8th February, 1919. This is a short period in history but a momentous one. The historical notes at the back of Contagion explain - the Influenza Pandemic of 1918-1919 killed 27 million people world wide. It killed 5,000 people in Victoria and about 13,000 in Australia but Charlotte does not talk about these statistics. Her daily reality is about life and death as she works as a nursing assistant to her neighbour, Doctor Barnes. Travelling from home to home she witnesses shocking poverty, extreme sickness and distress. Charlotte demonstrates her enormous courage, her outstanding work ethic and best of all we can read about her personal life and the compassion she offers her own family and the families of strangers.

I often think about the rhythm of reading. Contagion (my copy was The Deadly Flu) has a definite rhythm to the writing which helps to keep the diary style format moving forward. Charlotte has a strong and compelling voice.

Here are few comparison observations between the times described by Charlotte and our lives in 2020.

Sewing - Charlotte's sister Amelia begins to sew as part of her recovery from the flu which has just claimed the life of her sister Lily. Amelia is sewing shrouds."Doctor saw that she wanted occupation and bought her a great basket of cloth. It's just straight seams with a frill around the neck and she can make them very fast, especially the little ones. She's sewing shrouds. ...  we can't send them naked into the earth, can we?" In 2020 people are sewing and selling masks.

Closures - "They are holding up trains at the border between New South Wales and Victoria." and "The government have closed all the cinemas, pubs, theatres, racetracks and music halls." Charlotte McKenzie tells us in 1919. By the 24th January 1919 the decision is made to close the schools. And in 2020 we have nearly all  the same closures.

Masks - In 1919 Charlotte wears a carbolic mask when she helps the doctor on his daily home visits - Carbolic is a disinfectant and masks were soaked in this liquid as a protection against the flu. In January 1919 the NSW Government made the wearing of masks compulsory. In August 2020 the Victorian Government also did this.

Shopping - "Dad went down to the grocer's shop himself. You have to hand in your list and the grocer puts the bags on the floor, a safe distance away. You put the money in a dish of carbolic on the floor." In 2020 we stand 1.5 metres apart and pay with a tap of a credit card!

Temperatures - Charlotte writes in 1919: "Doctor told the husband to keep giving her asprin and water and he would call in the evening. Her temperature was 105 degrees, almost at the top of the thermometer."  In 2020 I've had my temperature checked in shops, visiting the hospital where I volunteer and at a school reception. Explaining the numbers -  98.6 Fahrenheit is normal or as we measure it now in Australia it's 37 Celsius. 

Treatments for the influenza in 1919 - They use "Carbolic masks, as we think it might be airborne. Cool drinks, soup, cold sponging to bring down fever, aspirin, orange flower water ... fresh air, constant attention. That's all. .. (there is) no cure."

Charlotte McKenzie is an invented character but it is obvious Kerry Greenwood did a huge amount of research for this book. It is sobering to read her thoughts (written in 2002) on the final pages of her book:

"It could happen again. This time it would travel by jet, not by troop ship. The World Health Organisation has a disaster plan should another Spanish Flu come along, because there are a lot more people in the world now, and the flu would move much faster."

A Bridge to Wiseman's Cove by James Moloney

2018 marked the 40th Anniversary of A Bridge to Wiseman's Cove (I am a bit late) and reading it this week I am happy to say it has totally stood the test of time. A year ago I was helping a friend in her Primary School library. We were culling the older books when I saw this one. It is a Young Adult title and so, even though it is an important and terrific book, I knew we had to move it out of her library. I bought it home to read.

Last week someone was talking about Displaced Person by Lee Harding. This book was published at about the same time and it won the CBCA Book of the Year in 1980 and I still had my old copy which I then read. Looking along my shelf I spied A Bridge to Wiseman's Cove.

I read A Bridge to Wiseman's Cove in just one sitting. Yes it it that good. In this book you will find strong characters, a wonderful setting and a powerful emotional journey.

Carl, Harley and older sister Sarah have the same mum but different dads. Sarah is often left alone looking after the younger boys when mum takes off for a week or two but this time mum is gone and so is Sarah. Carl, aged 16, and his brother Harley aged 9 are sent to live with Aunt Beryl. She is not welcoming and when people in the town learn the boys carry their mum's surname of Matt they are treated with open hostility. Carl desperately misses his mother. He does not know why everyone despises him. He has to take care of Harley and that is not easy because Harley is running wild - shoplifting and worse.

Beryl tells Carl he has to earn money to support the family. He finds work as a deck hand on a barge which travels to Wiseman's Cove. Joy and Skip, owners of the barge, have their own sadness and reasons to dislike anyone with the name Matt but they give him a chance and Carl's hard work and problem solving make a huge difference to their profits but the old wounds go deep and there are many things that still need to be resolved.

If you can find a copy of A Bridge to Wiseman's Cove it would make a great Summer read for 12+.

You can read more plot details (spoiler alert) in this Wikipedia entry.

A Bridge to Wiseman's Cove won the CBCA Book of the Year in 1997. You can listen to an audio sample here.  You might find other books by James Moloney in a school library. He has a huge range of books from Aussie Nibbles, Aussie Bites, Aussie Chomps up to other Young Adult titles. I loved his middle grade titles - Swashbuckler and The Disappearing Act.

I was pleased to read A Bridge to Wiseman's Cove was one of Megan Daley's favourite books when she was a teenager. Here is a set of very detailed teachers notes. In an interview with James Moloney he lists a few of the books that influenced him - some of these are certainly favourites of mine - Homecoming Cynthia Voigt, Missing May Cynthia Rylant and Goodnight Mister Tom by Michelle Magorian. Here is a more recent cover.

Heartwood Hotel : A True Home by Kallie George illustrated by Stephanie Graegin

I am so lucky that a friend with an amazing school library is happy to loan me her books. Last week she handed me A True Home - the first book in a four book series called Heartwood Hotel. Now I know why she was smiling!  This is SOME book. I loved it from page one to page 162 and I read it all in one sitting.

A plucky mouse finds her true home in this warm, 

winning tale. Kirkus

Mona the Mouse is lost in the forest. It is cold and raining. She stumbles upon the Heartwood Hotel -

We live by "Protect and Respect",

Not by "Tooth and Claw".

The hotel owner Mr Heartwood (a badger) takes pity on this small, wet, frightened mouse and agrees she can stay and work as a maid but only for a limited time. Mona is set to work with Tilly (a squirrel). Mona tries to be friendly with Tilly but in return all she receives is criticism and her bad tempered responses. Everyone is busy at the special hotel as they prepare for the First Snow Festival but the Mona learns there is huge danger lurking close by. It looks as though the festival will need to be cancelled.

Here are some story quotes to give you a flavour of this storytelling:

"With a squeak of wonder, Mona stepping inside to warmth, light, and the delicious smell of roasted acorns.  The room was large - very large for a mouse ... Across from the door was a small hearth, unlit but decorated with a garland of colorful leaves.  A mossy rug lay in front of it ... and from the ceiling hung rings of candles, casting a soft golden glow."

"Inside was another marvelous sight, and a much more lively one! Rabbits, chipmunks, squirrels, hedgehogs, birds! Even a lizard. and largest of all, a badger."

"Against one wall was a table stacked with food: mushrooms, juniper berries, licorice rots, and acorns - oh the acorns! Mashed, steamed, fried, souped ... And in the center of the table, a giant honeycomb with cups beside it to scoop out honey to drink."

"Different guests prefer different sorts of bedding. Rabbits like dried grass or oak shavings. Squirrels like crumbled leaves and twigs. Birds like nests of moss, and moles dirt and some leaves."

Right from the beginning Mona shows good sense, courage and we know coming to this hotel is not a coincidence. She has a tiny acorn case with a engraving of a heart and this same symbol is on the door of the Heartwood Hotel.

I mentioned there are four books in this series and this is to match each season.  Book One - A True Home is set during Winter.

After you read A true home click here to see the series web site.  It is a real treat. You can book in to the hotel and complete a quiz to select the perfect room. So much fun! The publisher even sent his kit to their book reviewers. Inside was grass and bedding and two tiny pillows.

If you need more plot details read this review in Quill and Quire. Here is a conversation between Kallie George and Stephanie Graegin. Three books from this series are available on iTunes. I also found a site with ideas for going beyond the book and making the little hotel with props. I would follow the Heartwood Hotel series with the Poppy books by Avi, Tumtum and Nutmeg and the Bambly Hedge books.  I am also keen to read another series by Kallie George - see picture at the end of this post.

Mona the mouse is a character who starts off feeling scared, lonely and a little insecure, and ends up finding she's brave, courageous, a good friend, and strong in knowing who she is.  Mundie Kids