JESS JUST READS

A BOOK REVIEW BLOG

The Outcast by Taran Matharu

Enter an immersive world where the chosen few have the ability to summon demons …

Arcturus is just an orphaned stable boy when he discovers he has the ability to summon demons from another world. He is sent to Vocans Academy where the lost arts of summoning, spell craft and demonology are taught to the noble children of the Empire.

As the first commoner gifted with this ability, his discovery challenges the nobility and the powers that be and Arcturus soon makes enemies. With no one but his demon Sacharissa by his side, Arcturus must prove himself as a worthy Summoner …

The Outcast by Taran Matharu is the prequel novel to the bestselling children’s fantasy series, Summoner. It’s about young kids who have the rare gift of being able to summon demons from another world.

This novel is most enjoyable, taking the reader on a fun, adventurous journey full of orcs, dwarves, demons and magic. Whilst the characterisation is pretty weak — the characters are not really relatable and their motivations seem very stereotypical — the pacing is great. Each chapter ends on a note that wants you to keep reading, and the book definitely drew comparisons to the Harry Potter series.

‘Prince Harold, why do you think your father has sent me away?’
‘Lord Forsyth, the reasons are threefold. The first is that in the last dwarven rebellion, the noble families suffered several deaths, and this could happen again if the ongoing altercations with the orcs become any worse. With commoners to swell our ranks, we will be able to take fewer risks, giving the more dangerous missions to them.”

At its core, the novel explores racism and prejudice. Everyone is so surprised that a commoner has the ability to summon a demon, but they treat Arcturus terribly and two students even try to kill him. However, over the course of the novel, Arcturus learns to trust other students and he forms strong friendships with a few other kids in the academy.

The novel is subject to quite a few significant flaws. It’s unrealistic how Arcturus is privy to so much sensitive information, even from the the beginning of the book. This is noticeable in most scenes where Obadiah is present — a powerful man like that wouldn’t tell him as much as he does, and he wouldn’t have his students discussing and understanding all of the political knowledge of the land and school. It feels a lot like an info dump to the reader.

“Now he could see the animals, like the deer of the north but with twisting horns and a ribbon of black separating their white-furred bellies and the sandy coat above. They were strange creatures to be sure, and he had no idea what they were.”

Arcturus actually spends very little time at the academy learning how to control demons and magic. He’s there for a very short time before he’s out in battle trying to stay alive. Realistically, he should be terrible. He’s a novice. But somehow he seems really experienced? This is very unrealistic.

The ending of the novel is also unrealistic. It ends too abruptly. This prequel storyline is too complex to be captured in a four-hundred page novel. The pacing may be good, but Taran has squished too much information and history and plot into this novel.

“Arcturus fell to his knees, the pain of Sacharissa’s injury flaring like lightning across his brain. He could barely see through the agony, only feel the tremors of the Phantaur’s approaching steps.”

Younger children will love this, but adult readers aren’t the target audience. This is not a crossover fantasy series, so I’d recommend this to young eyes, and to parents/family looking to buy a gift for a younger reader. The Outcast is a prequel, so no prior knowledge of the series is required. I haven’t read any of this series and I followed along just fine.

Thank you to the publisher for mailing me a review copy in exchange for an honest review.

The Outcast
Taran Matharu
May 2018
Hachette Book Publishers Australia

When the Mountains Roared by Jess Butterworth

When Ruby’s dad uproots her from Australia to set up a hotel in the mountains of India, Ruby is devastated. Not only are they living in a run-down building in the middle of the wilderness surrounded by scorpions, bears and leopards, but Ruby is sure that India will never truly feel like home – not without her mum there.

Ever since her mum died, Ruby has been afraid. Of cars. Of the dark. Of going to sleep and never waking up.

But then the last remaining leopards of the mountain are threatened and everything changes. Ruby vows to do all she can to protect them – if she can only overcome her fears…

When the Mountains Roared is Jess Butterworth’s second middle-grade novel, following on from Running on the Roof of the World. It’s a vivid, warm and atmospheric adventure set in the mountains of India.

Jess Butterworth is really skilled at capturing setting — I could feel the warmth of that blazing sun and the silence of the mountains. I could sense the seclusion and the danger that lurked. The language is descriptive and engaging, simple enough for young children to understand but detailed enough so that readers of all ages will be lured into this story.

“The mountain is covered in pieces of shiny grey slate. The same slate the roofs in the village are made of. I climb down and with a chalky stone I write a message to Praveen on some slate, before propping it against a branch in the tree.”

Ruby is a determined, courageous young girl, not afraid to face danger to save the defenceless. She does have more spine and more confidence than her father, who actually felt like a really weak, naive character.

He felt a little underdeveloped — a cardboard cut out of a character. He disregarded his daughter and while he cared for her, he didn’t come across as a very smart man. I think the reader is supposed to sympathise for him, but really I just pitied him and disregarded his character altogether.

“I see that his face is now drawn and worried. And I realise that’s the problem. I don’t trust him. No matter how hard I try, after everything that happened in Australia with the moneylenders, there’s still a part of me that doesn’t. A big part.”

When the Mountains Roared explores hope, courage and family. It also illustrates the importance of identity and the discovery of one’s place in the world.

Jess has blended so many different emotions into Ruby’s characterisation — grief, loss and wonder. Ruby is forced to navigate this new life, whilst also learning how to let go of her old life. She has to understand that she can enjoy life without her mother being in it, and even though life will never be the same again, that doesn’t mean it won’t be enjoyable and full of wondrous experiences.

Any children who have experienced loss will really relate to Ruby.

“My stomach twinges as I recognise the buildings and criss-crossing roads outside.
Perth.
It was where we had Mum’s funeral.
She died on a Friday, the same day the roses bloomed. She’d been watching and waiting for them to open every day.”

Jess Butterworth has crafted a fast-paced, entertaining story for children, set within the beautiful Himalayan mountains.

When the Mountains Roared teaches young readers about Tibetan and Indian culture. It also educates readers on animal protection and poaching, but that education feels like osmosis. Jess isn’t beating readers over the head with information, but rather, allowing children to learn the culture and the importance of animal protection slowly as the plot develops. This is fantastic for a children’s novel, because the last thing kids want is to feel like they’re *learning* when reading a fictional novel.

This is a really great book for middle-grade readers, and I actually think it’s a lot stronger than her debut. The characters are more evocative and three-dimensional, and the story is much richer and much more pacy. Young readers will love this story. Animal lovers will devour it.

Thank you to the publisher for mailing me a review copy in exchange for an honest review.

When the Mountains Roared
Jesse Butterworth
April 2018
Hachette Book Publishers

Missing by Sue Whiting

Mackenzie da Luca’s mother is missing – she’s vanished without a trace in the jungles of Panama. Now, 116 days later Mackenzie and her dad are in those same jungles. Her dad is desperate to find out what’s happened to his wife. And Mackenzie is desperate to make sure he doesn’t …

Missing by Sue Whiting is a debut children’s novel about a young girl’s search for her missing mother. It explores family, friendship and love. The book also shows readers what it’s like when a family is searching for answers — when people are struggling to cope with the unknown and they feel forced to take matters into their own hands.

“My face is burning up. Memories are too hard. I try to shove it out of my head — it’s safe that way — but it won’t budge and I’m already back at the gallery and thinking about how we strolled around and my scientific mother tried her best to look intrigued.”

This is an incredibly emotional debut. It’s told from the perspective of Mackenzie after her mother has been missing for a number of weeks. Her and her father venture to Panama after local authorities fail to locate Mackenzie’s mother.

This is a confronting read. Over the course of the novel, we are thrust back into the past so we can come to understand how strong Mackenzie’s connection was with her mother, and just how special she was in their lives. The disappearance of Mackenzie’s mother has a monumental effect on her life, and it’s pretty heartbreaking to read this.

Missing is warm and touching, but it’s also heartbreaking. You follow Mackenzie and her father as they try to find this missing piece of them, and a sense of dread forms in the pit of your stomach. Deep down, you know what’s going to happen at the end of the novel.

Mackenzie’s father is broken, and I liked how Sue portrayed his mental health. He’s depressed and has been struggling ever since his wife went missing, and he doesn’t shy away from that around Mackenzie. Yes, at some points he tries to hide how he’s really feeling, but he is a really emotional character and Mackenzie can see how much he’s hurting. Their relationship is quite complicated and fraught at times, but given the situation they’re in, I think Sue illustrated this really effectively.

“Dad’s the same, because as the day wears on and the breeze gets stronger and the clouds hang lower and lower, threatening to pour, he becomes edgier and edgier. Why is he torturing himself like this? It’s hard to watch.”

The storyline is quite confronting for children to read, but the writing is strong and rich with emotion. The dialogue is believable and the characters relatable. I loved the connection that Mackenzie shared with her grandmother — she relies on her grandmother a lot since her mother went missing and it is sweet to see the bond they share.

I think you have to stretch your imagination with the storyline though. Mackenzie’s father pulls her out of school to go to Panama so they can both search for her mother? And they leave Mackenzie’s grandmother at home worried? It would’ve been more realistic if her father left her behind with the grandmother while he went searching for the mother, but then that would mean there wouldn’t be a story to tell. Still, I found the plot to be a bit unbelievable.

I recommend this to young teens, and children who are in the upper end of primary school. It’s middle grade novel, so primarily it’s aimed at children 10-14. I think adult readers might be intrigued by the mystery of Mackenzie’s mother, but I don’t think that Missing will necessarily appeal to adult readers. The protagonist reads quite young, and this book is cemented in the children’s literature space.

Thank you to the publisher for mailing me a review copy in exchange for an honest review.

Missing
Sue Whiting
March 2018
Walker Books Australia

Review & Author Interview: Laugh Your Head Off Again and Again

9 authors. 9 stories to make you laugh your head off again and again!

A scary shower + three twisty little pigs + a choose your own adventure + a Halloween chicken + a demonic clown + an unexpected gift + terrible twins + a famous dancing dog + a running race like no other = one hilarious book.

Laugh Your Head Off Again and Again is the third compilation from Pan Macmillan, featuring hilarious short stories from some of Australia’s funniest and most well-known children’s authors.

One of the first things I noticed about this book was its bright orange cover, with neon green text and illustrations. Each new story is also titled on bright green paper, with Andrea Innocent’s illustrations scattered throughout the book. The whole package is really striking and I imagine the book would be really eye-catching for a child in a bookstore.

“Ever since I’ve been old enough to have showers I’ve been trying to find a way to fill a shower cubicle up with water. If I put a face-washer over the plughole I can get the water as far up as my ankles, but it always ends up leaking out through the gaps in the door.”
ANDY GRIFFITHS

This book would be a lot of fun for kids. There are plenty of fart jokes, name calling, clown jokes and sibling rivalries. There’s some tongue in cheek humour and lots of sarcasm. My particular favourites are Andy Griffiths, Tristan Bancks, Tony Wilson and Deborah Abela.

“I have another flashback to the painting over my bed, the night he slipped out over the frame and tried to suffocate me with the world’s unfunniest clown fart. It smelt like dead mice, ginger beer and cauliflower. I was drowning in it.”
TRISTAN BANCKS

These stories are imaginative and very funny, and I’d recommend this to kids both female and male. The stories are very gender neutral so the book didn’t feel too much like it was aimed at male readers.

***

AUTHOR INTERVIEW WITH TRISTAN BANCKS

What’s your favourite part of being a children’s author?
Having an outlet for my imagination on the page and then finding ways to bring that story to life in live talks and online.

What was the inspiration behind your story in ‘Laugh Your Head Off Again and Again’?
My story is called ‘Death By Clown’. When I was a kid there was a picture of a very tall, very skinny clown hanging over my bed. I was terrified of it and used to take it down off the wall and put it behind a bookshelf before I went to school. But when I’d get home the clown would be back on the wall and I was never quite sure if it was my mum who had put it back up or the creepy clown himself.

What do you think is essential when trying to write humour for kids?
Don’t hold back. If a crazy, gross or dark idea occurs it’s best to write it and then decide later if it’s totally inappropriate. Most often it’s fine. Kids like stories that push the boundaries of ‘what’s allowed’ and editing ideas in your mind too early robs the reader of the most interesting possibilities.

What are the different challenges between writing for kids and writing for teens?
It’s really just a gear shift in your mind, in the same way that you might tell a verbal story differently to a kid or to a teenager. You highlight different parts of the story and leave out others. Teens can find certain things trivial or annoying that younger children find thrilling or hilarious. I write darker, more serious stuff for older readers (Two Wolves and The Fall) and sillier, funnier stuff for younger kids (My Life series and stories for Laugh Your Head Off). But there’s humour in the older books and a touch of darkness in the younger. I like writing both.

Between writing and appearing at schools & festivals, do you have a routine? How do you juggle your workload?
I spend about seven months of the year writing, four months touring and I have a month off. I’m still writing while I’m touring but not as much and I try not to panic or get frustrated about that. I try to enjoy it all. I’m starting to work on adapting my books for the screen, too, and that’s exciting. I started out in film and TV and I love the work of re-thinking the story for a different medium.

Which Australian author would you love to collaborate with?
I am actually longing to do more collaborative work right now. It gets boring working alone all the time. In saying that, co-writing can be tricky, especially on a book. I really admire Morris Gleitzman’s stuff. I love working with Gus Gordon on the My Life books. Claire Zorn’s books are excellent. I love Markus Zusak’s early Ruben Wolfe series. Not sure if I want to collaborate or just read more of their books!

And finally, what are you working on next?
I’ve just finished editing the latest My Life / Tom Weekly book of comedy short stories for 2018 release. Gus Gordon is illustrating it right now. And I’m writing a novel about a lockdown in a school. It’s inspired by a couple of drills I’ve been part of during school visits. It’s for upper primary / early high school readers and I’m enjoying watching it unfold.

You can read more about Tristan and his books at his WEBSITE.

Thank you to Pan Macmillan for sending me a review copy in exchange for an honest review.

Laugh Your Head Off Again and Again
Featured Authors: Andy Griffiths, Alex Ratt, Tony Wilson, Meredith Costain, Tristan Bancks, R.A Spratt, John Marsden, Deborah Abela and Alan Brough
November 2017
Pan Macmillan Publishers

A Skinful of Shadows by Frances Hardinge

This is the story of a bear-hearted girl…

As a young child, Makepeace Danners was sent by her mother to sleep in the graveyard. Told it was to build her defences against the spirits that lurked there, she spent night after night bedded down amongst the ghosts, with only mice and rats for company.

As she grew older, Makepeace realised that she had a strange talent. There is a space inside her which can be filled by the spirits of the dead. This talent marks her as very interesting to the Felmotte family, the rich and powerful ancestors from whom she has inherited it. Her mother hopes her childhood training will protect her from them, but one fateful day Makepeace lets her guard down, and now she has a spirit inside her.

The spirit is wild, brutish and strong, and it may be her only defence when the Felmotte family come to claim her as one of their own. There is talk of civil war, and they need people with talents such as hers to protect their dark and terrible family secret.

But as she plans her escape and heads out into a country torn apart by war, Makepeace must decide which is worse: possession – or death.

Frances Hardinge’s A Skinful of Shadows is a strange and mysterious novel set during the English civil war, filled with magic and adventure.

The novel’s protagonist, Makepeace, is the illegitimate daughter of the aristocratic Fellmotte family. Growing up, she never knew anything about her father. Her mother fled from the family and has been living a secret life for as long as Makepeace can remember. Unbeknownst to Makepeace, she shares the Fellmotte’s supernatural gift of being able to hide ghosts inside her mind.

As Makepeace descended again, past the silent children and the chandler’s wife, she was sure she must look guilty. The sour-faced woman gave her a searching look.
‘Still alive, is he?’ she asked with slight disdain.
‘Sinking, I think,’ said Makepeace.
‘You don’t look too good yourself.’ The woman narrowed her eyes, suspicious, and withdrew a step.

When the ghost of a wild, angry bear unwillingly seeks refuge inside Makepeace’s mind, it causes havoc. She starts to lose track of her whereabouts. Her remaining family are unable to cope with the monster inside of her, so they track down the Fellmotes and Makepeace lives with them for a time. Their unique ability – to catch ghosts and absorb them into their own minds – scares Makepeace because it’s clear that the Fellmottes don’t have good intentions and they frighten all who are around them.

“We believe in second chances, for the people who don’t usually get them.”

Makespeace is bold, brave and resourceful. She has been born into a family that wants to constrict her, and she soon realises that she wants something different. She trusts her instincts and does what she thinks is right, and is quite intelligent. For young children, I imagine she’d be a fantastic role model when reading this book.

Makepeace heard her own yell become more guttural, a long, open-throated roar. And now her face was pressing against the bars with bruising force, squirming, trying to force its way through. Her vision was marked by black spots.

Ultimately, this book is about a young girl’s quest to shape her own destiny. The book is incredibly well-written, with rich description and detailed imagery and flowing prose that is a joy to read.

A great oaken throne placed near the hearth was clearly intended for the lord of the manor, but neither Lord Fellomotte nor Sir Thomas was in evidence. Instead it was occupied by Symond, who seemed to be revelling in his lordly role.

Despite this, I did have to force myself to finish the book. It’s over 400 pages and the plot moves quite quickly and I found it really difficult to connect with Makepeace. I often found myself quite lost in the plot and I wasn’t sure what was happening. In the end, I skimmed the last hundred pages just to finish.

I think this is a fun book, but it would definitely be for sophisticated child readers. Kids who don’t read much or who don’t enjoy reading probably aren’t going to stick with this book (like I almost didn’t). Suitable for children aged 12-15.

Thank you to the publisher for sending me a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

A Skinful of Shadows
Frances Hardinge
October 2017
Pan Macmillan Publishers

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