Pigs Might Fly by Emily Rodda

Pigs Might Fly was the very first Emily Rodda book I ever read. It is still my favourite and reading it made me want to read more of her books.

Rachel is bored. She is stuck in bed sick and desperate for something exciting to happen. Her house is so normal. The only exciting person around is Uncle Sandy— who seems to have wonderful things happen to him all the time. Oh, how Rachel wishes she could have an adventure that the unexpected would occur.

“Maybe it will!” her father said. “And pigs might fly!” But pigs can’t fly. Can they?

This book is just so much fun to read. Rodda really goes to town with all her pig references throughout the story. It’s unique and quirky with just the right touch of sentimentality to make it a book you’ll want to read again and again.

After a visit from the beloved Uncle Sandy, Rachel is whisked away to a land where pigs do fly. It’s a land where young girls can ride on unicorn, a land of weird ‘Unlikely Events Factors’ storms. These storms drive people batty, cause the most preposterous things to happen and take people away to other countries and worlds.

But now that something exciting and unexpected has happened, all Rachel wants is to be is back home. Rachel is determined to find her way back. The only person who might be able to solve the mystery has disappeared. And who was that mysterious outsider anyway?

Emily Rodda has created a beautiful, whimsical world where enchanting and unexpected things happen regularly and where against all odds, and with lots of determination, life is put right again.

Happy Reading!

Number the Stars by Lois Lowry

I’m fast becoming a real big fan of Lois Lowry. Actually, without realising, I was already a big fan of hers from way back. Upon seeing a list of books she has written I found one of my favourite, from when I was about twelve, called Anastasia at Your Service.

Lowry’s books are so seamlessly written; they are smooth and take you through the story that she’s telling at a gentle, compelling pace.

Number the Stars by Lois Lowry

Number the Stars is a deceptively simple story. Annemarie is a typical ten-year-old when she and her family make the decision to help their dear friends the Rosen family escape Nazi occupied Denmark and cross the sea to neutral Sweden. Because, as her mother says a number of times throughout the book, ‘That is what friends do.’

In its simplicity this story opened up a whole new chapter for me on Denmark, on the amazing bravery and compassion of people during war and the complicated relationships that countries have with each other.

Lowry has included so many gems in this book that make it a fascinating read. I learned so much about the Danish people’s attitude to Nazi Germany, the Danish resistance and their ingenious way of getting their fellow citizens out of Denmark as well as Sweden’s complex stance of neutrality.

Out of a population of 8000 Danish Jews more than 7000 were smuggled to safety. That’s extraordinary. Annemarie says at one point in the story that all of the Danish people became their Jewish neighbour’s bodyguards. They closed ranks and saved their friend’s lives.

I love the title. One of the most recognised symbols for the Jewish people is the Star of David. Lowry quotes Psalm 147:4 “He (God) determines the number of stars and calls them each by name.”

This is a beautiful book of friendship and what it means to be brave.

Nim’s Island by Wendy Orr

“In a palm tree, on an island, in the middle of the wide blue sea, was a girl.”

This is an absolute gem of a book. I discovered it first as a movie and then couldn’t wait to read the book.

My boys and I have listened to this as an audio book many times, it’s one our favourites. Wendy Orr writes in such a familiar, fun, down to earth style. It’s the kind of nostalgic book that makes you want to nestle down and cheer on the very unlikely hero’s.

Nim lives with her scientist father Jack (who is slightly obsessed with plankton). Her best friends are Fred, an iguana, Selkie, a sea lion and Chica, a green sea turtle. Nim used to have a mother but her mother disappeared while she was investigating the contents of a whale’s stomach. The experiment would have been safe except for the troppo tourists who came up on their huge pink and purple boat and bumped against the whale so it dove deeply into the ocean. No one knew where it came back up again even though Jack and Nim sailed round and round the world looking.

Nim and Jack have an idyllic life. They fish, have a lovely garden and live in tropical paradise doing science and sharing their discoveries with the world via e-mail with their satellite Internet.

One day Jack goes out on his boat for a few days to see if he can find a new type of plankton. Nim is left alone. But that’s okay because she has her friends and her work. Nim makes a new friend over e-mail, the adventure writer Alex Rover whose characters go on daring, dangerous, exhilarating adventures, always triumphing in the end.

When a storm comes in suddenly and Jack isn’t answering the satellite phone what will Nim do? And when Alex Rover—who lives on the top of a very tall apartment building in a bustling city—discovers that Nim is all by herself on an island what will Alex Rover do? 

Just because someone writes about daring adventures and thrilling rescues doesn’t mean that they are brave and strong. And just because a young girl is alone on an island with an erupting volcano, swirling hurricane and crazy tourists doesn’t mean she can’t be brave and strong.

Wendy Orr’s writing style is enchanting; you’ll be swept away to your own tropical island paradise in no time. Nim’s crazy adventures and heart-warming friendships mean you’ve got a smile on your face through the whole book.  

Happy Reading!!

Never Ignore A Possible.

My boys and I listened to this book in the car. Audio books are so fantastic when they are read well. It took us a long time to get through this book about the lovely Sophie. It is a full-length novel for older children. Listening to it for 15 minutes each day really stretched it out. When we finished my youngest, who is four said, “I say yes to Sophie.” We are listening to it for a second time.  

Roof Toppers by Katherine Rundell

It was Charles who found one-year-old Sophie floating on the English Channel in a cello case. The Queen Mary on which he and Sophie had been passengers sank very quickly. No adult females were thought to have survived.

Charles an English scholar, knows nothing about raising children, but Sophie is his responsibility. As she grows up Sophie’s memories of her mother keep her hopes alive. She remembers her mother playing the cello, dancing in trousers and most importantly waving to Sophie. Sophie remembers her still very much alive as the boat sank. But the adults in Sophie’s life, Charles and Miss Elliot the social worker who thinks everything about Sophie’s upbringing is inappropriate think there is no way a one year old could remember. It is impossible... or is it? Charles has taught Sophie to never ignore even the smallest possibility.

Ten years later, and Miss Elliot backed by the government authorities wants to take Sophie away from Charles. Sophie does not want live in an orphanage and she is convinced that her mother is still alive. She and Charles set off to Paris to try and find out who owned the cello case Sophie was found in.

Faced with opposition from the authorities, Sophie is forced into hiding. But it doesn’t stop Sophie from searching for her mother. Enter Matteo.

Matteo lives on the rooftops of Paris. He and his friends introduce Sophie to their dangerous and wildly free world. Like Sophie, Matteo and his friends are thought to be orphans and gather around Sophie in her quest to find her mother. They search Paris at night following the cello music. They encounter dangers from a rival gang and break into the police records building. Are Sophie’s memories just wishful thinking or are they made of more concentrate stuff? 

Katherine Rundell has a lovely way of creating a whole new world on the rooftops of Paris. This action packed and suspenseful novel will keep you glued to your favourite reading spot. It’s a lovely story of hope, friendship and striving towards a goal despite opposition. This is an excellent book. Rundell takes quite a familiar story of a child searching for their lost parent and tells it in a beautifully unique way.

Enjoy

The Sequin Star by Belinda Murrell

Over the last few years I have enjoyed discovering Australian writers and one who has captured my attention is Belinda Murrell. She has written a number of brilliant junior fiction novels mainly for girls where she combines historical events in ways that capture the imagination and make learning Australian history fun. Not growing up in Australia or learning Australian history at school I have discovered so much from her books. Murrell has also written a children’s fantasy series that I’m enjoying at the moment.

The Sequin Star

by Belinda Murrell

The Sequin Star is a fun timeslip novel about a modern day teenager experiencing life in the 1930s. The Depression years in Australia were anything but amusing and yet there were those who tried to alleviate the struggle at least for a short time.

In the present day Claire is struggling with her life; her parents are strict and she isn’t sure that she wants to continue with her ballet lessons. Maybe it would be more exciting to hang out with her friends. Claire finds a mysterious star brooch amongst her wealthy grandmother’s possessions and wonders why she keeps such a tattered, obviously fake and cheap piece when most of the jewels she owns are exquisite gemstones.

The brooch transports Claire to 1932 where she meets a troop of circus performers. The mysterious Princess Rosina of Romani and cheerful Jem take her under their wing and introduce her to a menagerie of circus animals. They also meet sophisticated Kit, son of a wealthy businessman.  

Claire witnesses the opening of the Sydney Harbour Bridge. She celebrates famous Australian racehorse Phar Lap winning the world’s richest horse race. And sees first had the difficulties of life during the depression when tens of thousands lost their jobs. Families were evicted from their homes and forced to live in shantytowns.

Claire’s life in the 1930s is complicated enough with the uncertainty of whether she will ever get home but the mystery deepens as she begins to wonder if she has a far greater connection to Princess Rosina and Kit than just friendship. The chance to perform in the ring under the big top, a kidnapping and a circus fire all add to the exciting adventures Claire has with her friends.

The book is so entertaining and packed with interesting historical facts that bring the past to life. The book is perfect for kids aged 9-13.

Have fun reading!

Binny Keeps a Secret by Hilary McKay

What can I say about Hilary McKay? She writes beautiful books that are so funny and tender hearted. I was first introduced to Hilary McKay novels while I was doing a writer’s course and I’ve tried to get my hands on as many as possible. The Casson Family series is beautiful and I highly recommend it. 

In this post, I’m going to talk about another McKay novel that I found so hard to put down once I started it.

Binny Keeps a Secret by Hilary McKay 

Binny has a problem, she sees things that no one else does, particularly things that get her into trouble.  

Binny’s family have just moved to a new town. Binny is stuck in the middle. She bares little resemblance to her lovely mother, beautiful older sister Clem and younger brother James, who is so gorgeous he has to tell people not to kiss him as soon as they says hello.

Flung into a new town, new home and new school Binny is awkward and shy. She puts her foot in her mouth so many times that after the first day of school everybody hates her and she’s resolved that homeschooling is the only option.

When a freak storm blows the roof off their new house Binny’s family moves into an old family estate. Binny discovers a secret. A secret that she has too keep or else it might just disappear.

One hundred years before Binny is even thought of live Rupert, Peter and Clarry. Every summer holiday the cousins converge on their grandparent’s cottage. One year they decide to make a natural history museum. Rupert is fast growing up and wanting to do anything but be at school, Peter thinks he will die if he is sent to board school and Clarry just wishes everything would stay as it is.

The past and present converge as events from 1913 affect the present.

Hilary McKay is a brilliant writer. She does such an incredible job of portraying family life in a hilariously poignant way.

This book is great for 9-13 year olds as well as adults who love a good children’s book.

Happy reading!

Read, Read, Read

I have been told that one of the best ways to become a good writer is to read and read and read and
read. Well, anyone who knows me knows that I love reading!

So, I’ve decided to share some of the beautiful books that I have been reading. Hopefully it will be a benefit to someone who might be looking for good books to read and also to help me with my writing.

The first thing you’ll notice about my reading list is that most of them are children’s books. Probably, the most obvious reason for this is because I write children’s books. I also know children’s books can be brilliant.

Madeline L’Engle, who wrote ‘A Wrinkle in Time’ said, “If the book is too difficult for grown-ups then you write it for children.”

Of course, not all children’s books are worth reading or writing about but I hope to share some of the books that are, in my little and very biased opinion, gems.

I’ll start with a book that I randomly picked up at the library and absolutely loved.

The Penderwicks by Jeanne Birdsall

 

The Penderwicks are lost, they are on their way to a new holiday destination and their beloved dog, Hound has eaten the map.
This beautiful novel about the adventures of four sisters one summer holiday will have you nestling down and getting lost in their world.
The Penderwick girls are as different to each other as the four seasons. Rosalind, the eldest feels it is her duty to care for everyone in the family, particularly her four-year old sister Batty. Batty was born a couple of days before the girl’s mother died of cancer and Rosalind was given special care of her baby sister. Sky, who comes after Rosalind has her head entirely in the mathematical cloud that surrounds her. Jane can think about only one thing, the story she’s writing. As different as the girls are, their loyalty to their family comes first.
When they have to change their holiday plans at the last minute the family sets off to a little holiday cottage in the mountains. What they find there is a grand mansion with sprawling gardens, runaway rabbits, grumpy bulls and a boy whose life they help change forever. Now if they can only steer clear of Mrs Tifton and rescue poor Jeffery, the summer will be perfect.
The Penderwicks is a hilarious, gentle, heart-lifting story. It will delight readers from ages 8-12 and adults. If you love it, you’ll be thrilled to know that it’s the first in a series of five.