New ‘Books+Publishing Junior’ reviews out now
Books+Publishing’s latest Junior newsletter contains 12 reviews of books publishing in September.
The ‘profoundly moving love poem’ Pea Pod Lullaby (Glenda Millard, illus by Stephen Michael King, A&U) received five stars from reviewer Margaret Hamilton. Millard’s text originally appeared in the children’s anthology The Hush Treasure Book, and its transformation into a 32-page picture book ‘offers new meaning in so many ways’, writes Hamilton.
Reviewer Bec Kavanagh also awarded Cath Crowley, Simmone Howell and Fiona Wood’s co-written YA novel Take Three Girls five stars. Kavanagh praises the novel for blending the authors’ voices seamlessly and for focussing on the nuances of female friendship: ‘a theme that has long been sidelined in favour of the trendier romance narrative, and it is a relief to see it growing in popularity particularly in YA fiction.’
Debut YA author Claire Christian’s 2016 Text Prize winner Beautiful Mess (Text) also received 4.5 stars from Angela Crocombe. ‘This is a strong, character-driven story from a talented playwright and novelist, which tackles some hefty issues with lightness and humour,’ writes Crocombe, who interviews the author here.
Also reviewed are:
Picture books:
Bertha and Bear (Christine Sharp, UQP), Once upon a Small Rhinoceros (Meg McKinlay, illus by Leila Rudge, Walker Books), Ponk! (Edwina Wyatt, illus by Christopher Nielsen, Little Hare) and The Scared Book (Debra Tidball, illus by Kim Siew, Lothian).
Younger readers:
Bring it On!: Play Like a Girl Book One (Jo Stanley, Five Mile), The Missing Ace: The Mysterious World of Cosentino Book One (Cosentino & Jack Heath, illus by James Hart, Scholastic), Mr Bambuckle’s Remarkables (Tim Harris, illus by James Hart, Random House) and Opposite Land (Charlotte Rose Hamlyn, Random House).
Young adult:
A Semi-definitive List of Worst Nightmares (Krystal Sutherland, Penguin).
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Category: Recently published by B+P
