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If you want other people to know which books your children and grandchildren enjoyed share a review.

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email me on  judy.wollin@gmail.com

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Judy

  Lucky loves to run. It is forbidden at her elite finishing school and gets her into trouble. The best part of school is her friend Emma.

Lucky’s world is turned upside down when her grandfather, who owns the railway company, wants to her father out West to manage the building of the new railroad. Grandfather and Aunt Cora think she should stay with them in town at school in the East.

Lucky is torn, she wants to be with her father, but leaving her friends behind will be hard. The excitement of going out West wins over in the end. Her father insists she go with him, and Lucky wants that too. The train ride takes three long days. Lucky sees a mustang – a wild horse – out the train window and wonders what will become of it.

Settling in Miradero is hard. Lucky wants to make friends at school but finds herself having to sort out who is friendly, and who is not. There are not many children and two camps, the horse riders and the girl that doesn’t ride horses – it’s too common.

When Lucky realises two girls are riding into danger, she must take extraordinary steps to save them.

I enjoyed the enthusiasm Lucky had for adventure and her willingness to give things a go.

Recommended for MG

Published by Scholastic Australia 2019

Read and reviewed by Judy Wollin

Dawn has moved from sunny California to New England. She joins a baby-sitting club to earn some money, make friends and have fun. It doesn’t all go to plan.

Dawn struggles to get on with the other girls in the baby-sitting club. She gets lots of work from one family, but it doesn’t run smoothly. The mother doesn’t tell Dawn important information like allergies and her contact details and that makes it hectic and dangerous for the children. It is way more stressful than Dawn thought.

Dawn has to be courageous to sort it out.

I enjoyed the realism of the responsibilities of baby-sitters in this baby-Sitters Club graphic novel. 

Recommended for MG 10+

Published by Graphix Scholastic 2017

Read and reviewed by Judy Wollin

This story presents a main character who is lost literary and figuratively. A mystery surrounds why his family came to Australia. Generations of displacement and a desire to forget the past are what the main character remembers.

The unnamed main character tells his story in first person. Driving in Redfern he hears a thump. He is sure he has hit someone and seeks them out. Befriended by a thin woman of indeterminate age, they search for the accident victim together. He calls her Poetess. Her past is as mysterious as his. Her present desperate and dangerous.

The main character recalls his childhood as current events prompt memories. A life of foster homes, neglect, and loneliness. Early adulthood lost and broken.

The search for the victim is endless. Danger immediate. They run.

I enjoyed the weaving of past and present events. The namelessness of the central character added to the mystery. A book to read over and over. I bought the book after reading a library copy.

Miles Franklin Literary Award Shortlist 2020

Recommended for YA and adult. 

Published by UWAP 2019

Read and reviewed by Judy Wollin

  Clem has had an unusual summer holiday. The family have moved into the new house. The old one burned down a couple of years ago. Her best friends went away for the whole holiday. Clem’s marking ff the days on her calendar waiting to see them again.

Boobs, or the lack of them worry Clem. He friends both have their period and Clem lies saying she does too. Brid has boobs and is boy mad, always wondering who it cute and what the latest news is. Ellie isn’t so fascinated by boys but Sammy likes Ellie.

Clem has worked out that telling Mum bits of news means that she can get away without telling her everything. Mum, Dad, and Clem all go to buy gelati shop together. Clem’s enjoying her ice-cream when a girl from school makes a mean comment. 

School is complicated too. Who to sit next too, who to avoid and what it all means? School camp looks like it will be even trickier. How does Clem work out who are her friends anymore?

I enjoyed the dilemmas the teens experienced.

Recommended for Tweens 10+

Published by UQP 2021

Read and reviewed by Judy Wollin

This collection of ten short stories is a great read. Each mystery is different, fast paced and has a twist.

Recommended for MG. A great choice for reluctant readers struggling with longer stories.

Published by Scholastic Australia 2021

Read and reviewed by Judy Wollin

Nikki Smith has reached out to women moving into motherhood in an emotional way. This book addresses changes associated with birthing and finding your feet as a mother. The tone and direction of the book is permission to find your mothering style. Nikki provides important details about things often left out of mothering manuals. The new mothers’ and family’s response to the sore perineum, cracked nipples and over full breasts, total lack of sleep and thoughts you are a failure. She provides self-caring strategies to help build up new mothers.

The author suggests mothers practice the art of self-compassion. Don’t set out to be perfect, and give yourself a hug when things don’t go to plan. She suggests building insight into yourself, your parenting style and how you were raised will all help a new mother find their way forward. Being mindful, in the moment, not worrying about what’s not done, what needs doing and whether or not you’re getting it right will help the new mother build close ties with their baby, help her work out what the baby wants and gain confidence in her own parenting style.

I enjoyed the realism of the book.

Recommended for about to be new mums and parents wanting to explore a more compassionate self-caring model.

Published by Radiate Publishing 2021

Read and reviewed by Judy Wollin

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