New ‘Books+Publishing Junior’ reviews out now

Books+Publishing’s latest Junior newsletter contains 14 reviews of books publishing in October and November 2016.

Three books received the highest rating of 4.5 stars in this newsletter. Maxine Beneba Clarke’s ‘beautifully written and incredibly powerful’ The Patchwork Bike (illus by Van T Rudd, Lothian, November) was singled out by reviewer Angela Crocombe for its ability to anchor a seemingly different world in the universal joy children feel when riding a bike. ‘If it isn’t shortlisted for a CBCA Award in the coming year, I will be very disappointed,’ writes Crocombe.

Pocket Rocket (Sherryl Clark & Ellyse Perry, Random House, October), the first book in cricket and soccer star Perry’s eponymous junior fiction series, was praised by reviewer Katie Haydon for depicting a ‘scenario where it is common for girls to participate in what is a predominantly male sport’. Haydon particularly recommends it for ‘girls who want more books that have strong female characters who are passionate about sport’.

Karen Foxlee’s Victorian London romp, A Most Magical Year (Piccadilly Books, October) also received 4.5 stars from reviewer Anna Low. The book features a ‘rich cast of characters’, writes Low, who found it a ‘deeply satisfying and enjoyable read’, with an attention to detail in its depiction of magic that ‘makes this story really special’.

Also reviewed are:

Picture books:

All I Want for Christmas is Rain (Cori Brooke, illus by Megan Forward, New Frontier, November); Blue Sky Yellow Kite (Janet A Holmes, illus by Jonathan Bentley, Little Hare, November); Gwendolyn! (Juliette MacIver, illus by Terri Rose Baynton, ABC Books, October); Mrs Maver’s Magic Cat (Jacqueline Harris & Richard Ghent, illus by Don Ezard, Woodslane, October); and Somewhere Else (Gus Gordon, Viking, November).

Younger readers:

Artie and the Grime Wave (Richard Roxburgh, A&U, October); Battle Royale: The Selwood Boys Book One (Tony Wilson, ABC Books, November); Girl Stuff 8-12 (Kaz Cooke, Viking, October); Into Tordon (Z F Kingbolt, MidnightSun, November); and The Sisters Saint-Claire (Carlie Gibson, illus by Tamsin Ainslie, A&U, October)

Young adult:

Everything is Changed (Nova Weetman, UQP, October).

This month also features interviews with Nova Weetman, Van T Rudd and Richard Roxburgh.

To read the full newsletter, click here. Sign up to the Junior newsletter here.

Category: Recently published by B+P