Picasso and the Greatest Show on Earth (Anna Fienberg, A&U Children’s)

Anna Fienberg has had a long and illustrious career in children’s writing, with over 40 books and a swag of awards under her belt. Her latest, Picasso and the Greatest Show on Earth, is a lyrical celebration of art, nature and friendship. Thirteen-year-old Frances has a lot of new things in her life: a new house, a new school and a new puppy, but an old secret to do with the loss of her younger brother plagues her. She channels her anxiety into meticulously drawing viruses and bacteria until she meets a new friend, Kit, and her world opens up. He introduces her to the bushland surrounding their suburb and they bond over art, but Kit is harbouring family secrets and insecurities of his own. Together, they will have to confront the big, scary monsters hiding in their past in order to heal. Richly observed and laden with vocabulary and metaphor that will delight teachers and students alike, Fienberg has crafted a beautifully complex story for readers aged 10 and up. Her subtle observations of people and the environment build to a moving climax that does great justice to these skilfully drawn characters, while continuing to keep the reader guessing along the way. Push this into the hands of anyone who loved Storm Boy or Lenny’s Book of Everything.

Books+Publishing reviewer: Annie Waters sells books, writes about books and podcasts about books. Books+Publishing is Australia’s number-one source of pre-publication book reviews.

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