JESS JUST READS

A BOOK REVIEW BLOG

Mini Mel and Timid Tom by Ben Hutchings

The feline overlord King Mog has set his loyal subject Tom an impossible task. Luckily, today is the day Tom’s owner insists on joining him.

After shrinking to the size of a mouse, the brave and resourceful Melanie is granted a cat’s-eye view of a fascinating hidden realm.

As they race through gardens, across rooftops and down hidden pathways, a familiar neighbourhood becomes the epic setting of danger and adventure, kindness and cruelty, courage and camaraderie.

Can Mel help Tom beat the King’s favourite, Sir Ronald, and gain the approval of the Court?

Ben Hutchings’ Mini Mel and Timid Tom is a graphic novel for children, filled with exciting adventures and interesting creatures that readers will love.

After shrinking to a small size, Melanie accompanies her cat Tom on a sprawling neighbourhood adventure to find a SPLAT and bring it to the Great King Mog.

Ultimately, the book explores the concept of competition amongst competitors, and also encourages readers to help others and be the bigger person. It’s not about who gets there first, but more importantly, playing fair.

“It’s the only way to sneak you into the cat world. That tree was a magic shrinking tree. You can always tell a magic shrinking tree. They’re magic. And they shrink you.”

Above all else, the book is incredibly fun. The strength lies within the vibrant illustrations and the comic art, with marvellously detailed drawings and comic strips that children will devour.

Mini Mel and Timid Tom is exciting and encouraging for young readers, but it also has some key messages at its core that parents will appreciate.

Some smaller lessons that the book explores include friendship, family, understanding the concept of rejection, and understanding that not everyone in this world is going to like you or pick you or choose you, and that’s okay.

“More like a great fathead. Why do you let them bully you like that?”

“Bully me? That’s just how strong cats talk! I can take it. I’m no kitten. If King Mog likes you, he can make your life wonderful.”

A fun, frolicking adventure perfect for reluctant readers. Recommended for children aged 8+

Thank you to the author for sending me a review copy in exchange for an honest review.

Buy HERE.

Mini Mel and Timid Tom
Ben Hutchings
July 2019
Squishface Comic Studio

Nevertell by Katharine Orton

A gorgeous, snowy adventure, set in the wilds of Siberia, full of magic and wonder, for junior readers.

A world of magic is only a whisper away… Born in a Soviet prison camp, Lina has never seen the world outside until the night she escapes with her best friend, Bogdan. As the pair journey across a snowy wilderness, they are pursued by a vengeful sorceress and her pack of shadow wolves. The children will need every ounce of courage – and a whisper of magic – if they are to survive…

Nevertell by Katharine Orton is a debut children’s fantasy novel about two young kids who escape a prison camp, in search of freedom and family.

Written in third person, Lina and her best friend Bogdan escape a prison camp — the only home they’ve ever known — in search of safety with Lina’s grandmother in Moscow. The escape and subsequent journey is as treacherous as the prison camp itself, which was home to ruthless guards and horrid conditions.

Lina and Bogdan show incredible courage, determination and strength on their journey. Lina must also learn to trust her own magic and powers, and embrace them to fight off enemies.

“They found snowdrifts with the torch and dug shelters with their hands — under Gleb’s instruction. They started low and dug a tunnel upwards into the drift. The angle would help keep warmth in, apparently. Then they scooped out a hollow that could fit one or two people inside, as long as they crouched or lay flat.”

Set in Siberia, setting and atmosphere are the strongest elements of this novel. Nevertell is set during Winter and the reader can really feel the cold temperatures, the snow, the ice, the mist and the dangerous weather that threatens to harm.

Nevertell is also set during Stalin’s reign so at the beginning it feels like a children’s historical fiction novel, but magic is embedded throughout this book and the environment, and the reader is whisked off into an enchanting journey about survival, family and friendship.

Another strength is the pacing — it’s fast, quick, and moves between scenes seamlessly. Every chapter is necessary to the storyline, and I imagine children will love all the twists and turns they find in this book.

“Lina led the way, first of all inching along the dark corridor, then up the spiralling steps of frozen stone, clinging to the gold bannister. The way out ought to be just up these stairs and through the hallway. They were so close.”

Lina’s family history holds many secrets, and it isn’t far into the book that we discover Lina has the unique ability to grow food, which is incredibly helpful to her journey from prison camp to safety. Although, I found the magic in the book a little confusing and under-explained. I don’t know that I fully understood the magic system, just Lina’s special ability. I do think more attention should’ve been given when setting up the system, and explaining it to readers.

Additionally, some of the characters felt a little one-dimensional and stereotypical, with not much to add to the storyline except being a token ‘villain’. But other characters, such as Lina and Svetlana, are fantastic at drawing the reader in and keeping their focus.

“In the stories, Baby Yaga did sometimes help people. Other times, she tried to hurt them. Often, she tried to eat them. One thing was certain , though: Baby Yaga could never be trusted.”

Recommended for children aged 10+. There are some dark themes and plot points to be mindful of, but I don’t think this will deter young readers. If anything, it might just draw them in further.

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

Nevertell
Katharine Orton
November 2019
Walker Books Australia

The Treehouse Joke Book by Andy Griffiths and Terry Denton

Andy and Terry live in the world’s craziest treehouse. They like making books and telling jokes. And now they’ve made the world’s funniest jokebook!

From bears to birds, penguins to pirates and skeletons to space, there are gags galore. Perfect for fans of the Treehouse series! A bumper book of hilarity and craziness, and the perfect Xmas stocking filler.

Q: What’s grey and powdery?
A: Instant elephant mix.

Clocking in at almost 300 pages, The Treehouse Joke Book by Andy Griffiths and Terry Denton is a compilation of hilarious jokes and riddles for children and adults. The Treehouse series may be aimed at children, but this joke book will not just humour kids — adults will find themselves laughing as well.

I’m almost 30 and I have no children and I found this book incredibly enjoyable. I laughed out aloud at many of the jokes, and when I next need to buy a present for a young child, this is what I’ll be getting them.

Here are a select few of my favourite jokes from the book:

Q: Why did Tigger go to the bathroom?
A: He was looking for his friend Pooh.

Q: Why can’t you hear a pterodactyl go to the toilet?
A: Because it has a silent ‘p’

Q: Why do some fish live at the bottom of the ocean?
A: Because they dropped out of school

The book is split up into sections — Bear Jokes, Sheep Jokes, Space Jokes, Food Jokes, Monkey Jokes, etc. There are 26 sections in total. Some jokes I’d heard before, but most of these were completely new to me.

Every single page of the book features some sort of illustration from Terry Denton, and they’re the perfect accompaniment to these jokes. His illustration style is unique and recognisable, that scratchy-looking drawing style that children love to look at.

Many of the illustrations feature further words, jokes or speech bubbles, so a child could spend hours reading this book because there’s so much in these pages for them to browse through. This book is well worth the $12.99 price tag.

Recommended for parents and children.

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

The Treehouse Joke Book
Andy Griffiths & Terry Denton
October 2019
Pan Macmillan Publishers

The Quest Diaries of Max Quest by Jules Faber

Hi everyone! I’m Max Crack and this awesome book is all about me and my quests and my best friend Frankie!

Max Crack is new in Piddown.

He decides that a new town means a new beginning and resolves to embark on a series of quests, such as:
Make a new best friend
Win a trophy.
Solve a mystery.
Find hidden treasure.

He meets Frankie on his first day in town (Quest No. 1: tick). Now all he has to do is win a trophy, solve a mystery and find hidden treasure… The story is presented as Max’s diary, and it’s a visual feast: full of speech bubbles, doodles, asides, highlighted words, and crossed-out words.

Buried treasure, new school, doodles, peanut butter and honey toast, best friends, horrible blobs, mysteries, Meddlyslop, spelling bees (hard words, harder words), more doodles, comics, World War Undies … this book has it ALL.

The Quest Diaries of Max Quest is the debut children’s book from cartoonist and illustrator Jules Faber. Faber is well-known as the illustrator of WEIRDO.

This is a great read for a child aged approximately 10-12. The Quest Diaries of Max Quest definitely reads like it’s skewed more towards male readers, but female readers will find a lot to enjoy about this series.

The writing is very much stream of consciousness — chaotic, manic and fun. Young readers will be able to relate to the style of voice, and many parents will recognise the language and the dialogue.

Scattered throughout the book are detailed comics with speech bubbles and intricate diagrams. A lot of the humour actually comes from the drawings, rather than just the text.

“Frankie’s learned how to hide from attacks in his cool hideout. His hideout is in the attic past his bedroom and the upstairs lounge room. His house is really HUGE too. His dad built it using bricks made by convicts when the country was first settled by Europeans. Frankie showed me some THUMBPRINTS and POSSUM FOOTPRINTS still in the bricks.”

Max and Frankie are both really sweet, thoughtful, and imaginative. They’re kind and considerate, and their creativity knows no boundaries.

Even for an adult, it’s fun to follow Max’s quests. The comics are fun to explore and the chaotic nature of the storyline is enjoyable for all readers, not just young.

“Even with his eye problems he might win it. Especially if he does get super spelling powers. I’m going to have to work extra hard if I want that trophy, and I do. It’s the second quest on my list and, because I’ve ticked the first QUEST off already, I want to keep the streak going.”

I think the illustrations are the biggest strength of this book. The writing is good, but the illustrations are what will really entertain a young reader.

A solid children’s book debut, full of laughs and joy for young readers. Parents should feel confident buying this for their young child, and kids will find enjoyment reading the book and scanning the illustrations and comics.

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

The Quest Diaries of Max Quest
Jules Faber
September 2019
Pan Macmillan Publishers

Sick Bay by Nova Weetman

Meg uses Sick Bay to hide from other kids. She’s struggling with changes at home, wears slippers to school and buries her head in books.

New girl Riley is a type 1 diabetic with an over-protective mother. She’d rather chat with her friends than go to Sick Bay, but sometimes she has no choice.

They think they’ve worked each other out, but what if they’ve got it all wrong?

On the brink of high school, Meg and Riley need a place where they can find the courage to be themselves.

Sick Bay by Nova Weetman is a middle grade novel about friendship, identity and learning how to accept who you are when you’re on the cusp of your teenage years.

Meg and Riley are in grade six and about to finish primary school; they’re both struggling with something that others can’t possibly understand. Meg’s father had died and her mother is in a deep state of depression. Meg’s school shoes don’t fit anymore, so she wears slippers to school because she doesn’t have any money to buy proper shoes. She spends all her time in sick bay because she doesn’t really have any friends and she feels safe in sick bay. She gets attention, care and food.

Riley is a diabetic, and her mum doesn’t let her have any freedom. Her mum won’t teach her how to function with diabetics independently, so she’s forced to rely on her. And she’s starting to grow resentful because she’s adopted by the popular group at school and the girls don’t seem to understand — or care — about Riley’s needs. Riley feels like diabetes is holding her back. She needs to regularly test her glucose levels and log everything that she eats, and she feels embarrassed to do this around her new friends.

“It’s Tuesday afternoon so I leave The Bag at home and carry my dirty clothes, and some of Mum’s, to the laundromat a few blocks away. We do own a washing machine and clothes dryer, although they aren’t exactly operational right now. Dad used to keep everything working in the house, so now he is gone, if things break down they stay broken down. A bit like Mum really.”
MEG

Sick Bay is a dual narrative, switching back and forth between Riley and Meg’s POV. Despite their circumstances being very different, they’re both going through something very similar. They’re both lost, a little unsure of who they are or where they want to go. This is their journey towards understanding themselves and their differences, and embracing them.

At first, Riley and Meg don’t click. They’re very different, and they judge the other on first appearances. But over time, friendship develops. Meg is accepting of Riley, and Riley is understanding of Meg’s situation. And the two girls have to decide what they really want out of their final few weeks in primary school, and who their real friends are.

“Lina beams at me. I smile back but start running scenarios through my head. Maybe I can suddenly get sick the night before the party. Excuse myself that way. It worked last time I was supposed to go into the city with them for an afternoon of shopping.”
RILEY

Sick Bay is emotional and heartfelt — there’s so much depth to this novel, and so many layers to these characters that readers will love. Perfect for readers aged 10-13, Sick Bay is the kind of book that young girls could take guidance from. It’s uplifting and reassuring — validating. It’s the kind of book I would’ve liked to read when I was a young teenager.

This is the perfect book for a young reader who may be struggling with school or friends, or maybe even their family. Sick Bay will remind them that they’re not the only one going through a tough time.

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

Sick Bay
Nova Weetman
June 2019
UQP Publishers