Middle-grade fiction is one of my favourite genres to read. There are some excellent options for books for the 9-12-year-old market below. And as these books are so beautifully written and superbly crafted, they are wonderful books for adults to read as well!

• The art of taxidermy by Sharon Kernot – a historical verse novel set in Australia after the Second World War, this is one of my favourite books for the year. Lottie, from a German family who have lived in Australia for many years, has seen so much death in her life, and wants to bring back the dead creatures she collects on her walks. She tends to their dead bodies with care but her aunt can’t abide her interest – it’s not suitable for a young lady. Sharon’s writing is so lyrical and beautiful, her descriptions of animals sensitive and observant and her Lottie is a unique and compelling character.

• How to make a movie in 12 days by Fiona Hardy – eleven-year-old Hayley plans to spend her summer holidays, with her brand-new video camera, finally making the movie she dreamt of making with her recently deceased grandmother. But with friends who aren’t always as passionate and committed to her movie as she is, and an unknown person who is making life difficult for her movie career, Hayley has to negotiate family, friends and setbacks. A perfect book for any creative reader who has longed to make something of value – funny and heartwarming.

• The girl, the dog and the writer in Rome by Katrina Nannestad – this is the first book in a trilogy – the third one has recently been published. Freja has been sent to live with an unknown friend of her mother’s, crime writer Tobias – cheerful, creative and absent-minded. Freja manages to forget her sick mother (sometimes) and has an amazing adventure in Italy. Miss 13 and I have read the first two and I am hoping she will receive the third one in her Christmas stocking so I can read it! Quirky and funny, with a strong plot and loveable characters, this trilogy is well worth reading.

• Queen of the sea by Dylan Meconis – written as a comic book, this quite extraordinary story is a historical book about Margaret, who lives on a remote island with the Elysian nuns in the time when King Edmund ruled. Margaret is curious, active and intelligent, and readers view her life in the convent through her eyes. But the outside world of royalty and sailors and prisoners intrudes on Margaret’s peaceful life. This is a dynamic story, told in an equally dynamic way through both illustrations and words. it’s a beautiful hardback book to keep.

• Being Brave by Sema Musson and Hester Leung – Being Brave is about two friends, Ellie and Alyssa, leaning into each other in an Australian adventure about courage and inner strength. Ellie and Alyssa are different in many ways – one chatty, one shy, one adventurous, the other considered, one Australian, one with Chinese heritage. Yet they support each other. Ultimately, their friendship guides them through obstacles and setbacks as they find their way. The story aims to bring out tools that can help children overcome the inner critic to build self-esteem and confidence. Full disclosure – this is a book I edited but I am so happy to include it here!

• The list by Patricia Forde – This one is more for 12-14-year-old readers, as the theme of environmental issues may be too complex for younger readers. I recently read The last word, the sequel, and loved it as much as The list, reading just one more chapter each night. It’s dystopian fiction, set in a world where words, food and resources are limited and all in the Ark must follow an authoritarian rule. Letta, apprentice to the Wordsmith, is allowed to use more than than the usual 500 words on the list. But her words may not be enough to protect her once she becomes embroiled in a battle with the leaders of the Ark.

• Crossover by Kwame Alexander – I loved, loved this one. I borrowed it from the library but I’ll buy my own copy. It’s a verse novel, which means the story is told in poems. The character is 12, so be aware that there are older issues here – his twin brother has a girlfriend and his Dad is not well.  The rhythm, language and rhyme – as well as the fabulous plot – really makes this book worthy of the Newberry Medal. Look at this clip where Alexander reads one of his poems – his writing is just as warm and humorous as he is. Imagine opening up your kids’ eyes to the possibilities of a story being told in poems, with a thudding basketball rhythm to boot. So awesome!

• Sick bay by Nova Weetman – Sick bay tells the story of two grade 6 girls, who don’t have much to do with each other at school but end up getting to know each other in the sick bay. Riley has diabetes, Meg relies on breathing in brown paper bags to keep her calm. The story is told from both girls’ perspectives in alternating chapters. Meg’s mother is not coping very well after Meg’s dad’s unexpected death. Riley’s mum is protective (controlling?) about her daughter’s diabetes. Chapter by chapter, the girls edge towards friendship with a few hiccups along the way. For anyone who feels a little different and has tried to hide it, this is a perfect book for 10-12 year-old girls. It’s an age for friendship dramas, and the end of grade six is such an important stage. Sick Bay thoughtfully presents a range of characters whom readers will adore.

• Catch a falling star by Meg McKinlay – set in 1979, a space station is supposedly falling back to Earth. But this was the space station that launched the night Frankie’s dad went missing, so while the rest of Frankie’s town is amused or concerned by the space station, Frankie and her younger brother have bigger emotions around Skylab. This book will be loved by young science readers and avid readers alike.

• Lenny’s book of everything by Karen Foxlee – this was another of my favourites. Lenny’s younger brother Davey has a condition where he keeps growing taller and taller. At six years old, he is as tall as a man. Lenny’s mother is busy working full-time, being a single mother and keeping Davey in clothes and food. But Lenny and Davey are lucky enough to be given a set of encyclopaedias, to be delivered in instalments month by month, which opens up their world. Heartwarming – grab the tissues for the last chapter!

Happy reading!

 

While I love reading fiction, I also love learning so I read quite a few non-fiction books on a range of topics. If you are looking for a present for a non-reader or a non-fiction reader, some of these books might give you some ideas.

Memoir – Clare Bowditch’s Your own kind of girl was my favourite memoir this year. I was so pleased I went to her launch and loved reading about her journey through owning her music and overcoming her anxiety. You can read more about it in a longer post here.

Spirituality – Gabrielle Bernstein’s latest book, Super attractor, is a book about manifesting your dreams and overcoming your limitations. She writes with a modern sensibility, and while her books could be described as a little ‘woo woo’, there’s so much that makes sense and so many quotes to live by.

Health – Dr John Sarno’s The divided mind – this is a medical book on overcoming chronic pain. As someone who has had migraines for over 20 years, I’m learning a lot of useful information that I’m applying – with success – to reducing my migraines. Maybe it’s not Christmas present material but it could be useful reading for anyone who suffers from chronic back, neck, knee, migraine pain.

Design – I received Maison, Parisian chic at home last Christmas and it’s one of the most gorgeous coffee table design books around. Written by Ines de la Fressange and Marin Montagut, it showcases twenty or so Parisian apartments, decorated in all kinds of styles. It has droolworthy photos – just look at the cover! My favourite photo is one of a pair of green velvet armchairs in front of a window with a typical Parisian outlook of grey rooftops. One day …

Just do it! – If Nike had a category, Marie Foleo’s book Everything is figureoutable would be number one! Full of practical tips and encouraging stories, Marie’s book is written in her usual no-nonsense style to help you achieve anything and everything in all areas of life. I am muttering the phrase – everything is figureoutable – right now as I’m aiming to meet an editing deadline, attend numerous Christmas and birthday functions and keep up with everything else December throws at me!

Cookbooks – My recipes come from a variety of cookbooks. None of them are new this year, but some of them might be new to you. Lola Berry always offers a variety of healthy meals, full of rainbow colours – her smoothies from Food to make you glow are divine. Tenina Holder has a range of Thermomix cookbooks which are quick and easy and delicious – we all love her taco beef salad. I’ve been cooking Karen Martini’s roman pork sausage ragu for years and we eat regular salads and vegetable dishes from Hetty McKinnon’s Community cookbook.

Creativity – I have a few books by Julia Cameron, including her most well-known, The artist’s way. This book would be inspiring for an artist in any field from photography or weaving, painting or gardening. I also love flicking through my books on sewing and drawing for inspiration, and I’m looking forward to starting a creative project or two in January.

Mindfulness – my favourite author on mindfulness is Jon Kabat-Zinn. He writes without judgement and his stories about his family and clients are heartwarming and encouraging. He has written many books on mindfulness in health and parenting. Kate James, a lovely Victorian writer, has written a few beautifully presented books on mindfulness and simplicity with small, actionable steps to lead you to the life of your dreams. Perfect summer reading – summer holidays and a fresh year equals mindful reading!

Travel – I’ve had a copy of Pia Jane Bijkerk’s My heart wanders on our coffee table for a few years. It’s such a beautiful book to pick up and leaf through – the blue-grey cover is so tactile. It tells the story of Pia Jane’s travels through Paris and Amsterdam with visits back to her Sydney hometown and how she has made herself a home in each place, even on a houseboat in Amsterdam. It’s a gorgeous mix of travel, story and design.

Writing – I have a lot of writing books but my favourite one is by US agent Donald Maas – The emotional craft of fiction. He provides lots of exercises with thorough explanations to go deeper in your writing and bring a layer of perception and compassion to your characters. I’m planning to go through his book again in January when working on the next draft of my manuscript.

Parenting – The conscious parent by Dr Shefali Tsabary is an intense read but worth it. She is currently running a free masterclass  which I’ve signed up for here but haven’t listened to yet. Her premise is that raising children brings up all sorts of unconscious beliefs and attitudes about our own childhoods and it’s only in understanding our biases towards parenting and our children, that we can raise them with conscious awareness. I also found Raising our children, raising ourselves by Naomi Aldort extremely useful. My husband and I still use her SALVE method – Separate yourself, Attention back to the child, Listen, Validate and Empower.

The art of living  – for want of a better category, I’ve come up with this one! I’m working my way through all of Brene Brown’s books again. She’s a social researcher, and her TED talk a few years went viral. She also has a netflix show which will give you a great understanding of her work. I bought her latest book on leadership for my husband. Her six books cover topics such as shame resilience, vulnerability, leadership at work and home, community, relationships, perfection. Brene is a wonderful storyteller and her data-based research, combined with her stories, are powerful.

Craigh Wilson’s Intuitive has been on my list to read for a little while, and his publisher Michael Hanrahan, kindly gave me a copy. It’s fascinating – the idea that everyone is intuitive and can tap into their intuition to make decisions is inspiring. I’m only halfway in but I’m looking forward to flicking through this book again in January when I have time to delve in more deeply.

I hope you find something in here to help with your Christmas shopping or summer reading!

Thank you to everyone who left a comment on my last blog post. The winner is – Rachel! You have won yourself a copy of Sonia Orchard’s Into the fire. I’ll be in touch to organise delivery, Rachel. Happy reading!

 

 

So many favourite adult fiction books I’ve read this year! I hope these brief reviews – in no particular order – give you some ideas for Christmas shopping for summer reading. There’s a variety of authors – female, male, Australian and international, and a variety of themes – family, friendship, ageing, art, mistakes, death.

As a thank-you for being such lovely supportive blog readers this year, please leave a comment telling me which book you would love to read by Thursday 5 December, 5pm. All readers with comments will go into a draw to win the book of your choice! The winner will be announced in my blog post on Friday 6 December. Good luck!

• Gravity is the thing by Jaclyn Moriarty – This book is quirky and endearing with beautiful language. Abigail is a woman in her mid-30s who is still looking for her missing brother who disappeared when he was 17. She’s a single mum in Sydney who accepts an invitation for a weekend retreat for people who once received separate chapters from a self-help book called The Guidebook as teenagers. This novel is full of lyrical phrases, slightly whacky situations and characters who are wonderful and flawed. I’m almost ready to read this one again.

• The Dutch House by Ann Patchett – A young sister and brother are evicted from their childhood home – an acclaimed house built by a Dutch family – by their stepmother when their father dies. They spend their lives mourning the loss of their home and identity, until the unexpected appearance of their mother changes their lives again. This would make a wonderful bookclub discussion. You can read a longer review here.

• A ladder to the sky by John Boyne – This was on my bookclub reading list, and we all enjoyed it. It’s told in a few different sections by different narrators who cross the path of Maurice Swift, a writer at different stages of his life. Maurice first appears as a young man, who cultivates a friendship with an older writer and cajoles him into telling a shameful story set in war-torn Germany. Maurice is so hell-bent on becoming not only a writer but a famous one that he writes his mentor’s story and publishes it to critical acclaim. Our bookclub had a great night discussing who owns a story and who has the right to tell it. Clearly, it’s a book to be discussed and was definitely a page-turner.

• Into the fire by Sonya Orchard – It’s a story about womanhood and friendship. Lara, the protagonist, and her friend Alice, become friends when they meet in the Women’s Studies department at Melbourne University but as they grow into young adults, they make different choices which leads to a drifting in their friendship. Readers know from the beginning that Alice was killed in a home fire. The story begins when Lara is returning to visit Alice’s husband and three children, a year after Alice died. You can read a longer review here.

• Boy swallows universe by Trent Dalton – This is the story of Eli Bell and his older, mute brother August. After their junkie mother and heroin dealer stepfather are caught up in a drug scandal, the boys are sent to live with their father, whom they haven’t seen for years. Eli has a compelling voice, the novel has an original concept and the ending had me turning pages swiftly to find out what happened next.

• City of girls by Elizabeth Gilbert – This is New York 1940s style glamour with theatre business against a backdrop of war. Vivian moves to New York to live with her theatre director aunt and ends up designing costumes for her shows and hanging out with the actors and show girls and socialites of New York. It’s her downfall – and it’s catastrophic for the time – that leads her, eventually, back to New York and to a life she couldn’t imagine. Great summer reading, full of history, scandal, glamour and love.

• Bridge of Clay by Markus Zusak – this story of five brothers living alone is told with a strong, distinctive voice and so much heart. There are many moments of beautiful tenderness – ‘It’s a mystery, even to me, how boys and brothers love’. The characters are real and messy and flawed and beautiful. We’re shown the best and worst of them. The narrative flips around in time, so that we have an understanding of how the characters grow into their later selves. The breadth of the novel is astonishing – we have Michaelangelo, horse-racing, a typewriter, a few animals, a piano, Greek mythologies, running, two marriages and a divorce, an artist and of course, a bridge.

• The lost man by Jane Harper – This is another fabulous crime novel from Harper, this time without detective Faulk. The setting is outback Queensland on a cattle property, where three brothers have spent most of their lives. But one of them is dead, and the remaining two brothers search for answers. This would make a wonderful summer read as one of Harper’s strength is her descriptive settings, particularly in the heat.

• Normal people by Sally Rooney – Irish writer Sally Rooney has created an intimate world for Connell and Marianne, two teenagers at school in the west of Ireland. The book focuses on their metamorphosis from uncertain teenagers into young adults with dreams, dramas, relationships, politics and problems. I felt I knew them both well because Rooney focuses with such detail on their lives and shows the awkwardness and uncomfortable feelings and tenderness without becoming sentimental.

• The weekend by Charlotte Wood – I’ve only started this one but I’m already gripped. It’s the story of three women in their seventies who go away for a weekend to help sort out a deceased friend’s beach home. There’s an excellent review in The Sydney Morning Herald here. Wood wrote this when she had her writer in residency at the University of Sydney’s Charles Perkins Centre with opportunities to speak with health professionals on campus.

 

 

 

 

I love the idea of Advent as a time of waiting – being patient and preparing for Christmas.

Our family have used an Advent calendar for the last thirteen years. Miss 13 was only a three-month-old baby when I bought it, her younger brother wasn’t even born and so her older brother at age three had the honours all to himself for that first year. Now Mr 15 barely remembers when it’s his turn to open the calendar and it’s really up to Mr 10 to organise his siblings.

Secretly, they all still love it.

Our Advent calendar is a wooden frame with 24 small hinged doors to open up a little space to reveal a surprise. I have always used handmade notes, with the occasional chocolate. Our notes have loops so they can be hung on the Christmas tree after being read. The notes say things like –

• Let’s put something under the giving tree at school
• Be extra kind to someone today
• Today we’re making peppermint bark
• Let’s wrap up presents for our cousins today
• Today we’ll make Christmas decorations

Can you see why the kids roll their eyes at my attempts to remind them that Christmas is about giving, not just getting?!!

This year, we will carry on our tradition, but with a difference. For the first time, I have my very own Advent calendar.

The Literary Tea Company have an Advent calendar with a different tea for the 24 days leading up to Christmas. Mine has already arrived (Rhiannon is extremely organised and accommodating!) and it is even more beautiful than the photos show. It’s going to be a long wait until the first of December!

Every morning, the first thing I do is put on the kettle. Our puppy, Cleo, knows that I’m up when she hears the kettle so she demands to be fed. Then I take my tea into the study, drink it and read for fifteen minutes before checking in on the rest of the family.

I can’t wait to try a different tea, like Charlotte Bronte or C. S. Lewis or Virginia Woolf.

Our Advent calendar is chipped and a couple of the doors won’t close properly but I know this is a tradition we’ll continue for quite a few years. Let me know if you have an Advent calendar tradition or a morning tea ritual. And have a look at the Literary Tea Company’s website – so many choices for a Christmas stocking!

Readings bookshop had their annual 20% off sale for subscribers yesterday. And yes, I was there with a huge list! It took me a couple of trips back to the car when I finished my shopping.

My list included books for the five of us for Christmas and two family birthdays, plus Christmas books for a couple of extended family members and teachers.

I did pretty well to stick to my list but of course, I added a few extras in as well! (Note to husband – it was 20% off!)

I bought a mix of classics and new releases, a mix of fiction and non-fiction. I like to give books that I’ve read before so I know the recipient will love it. I also think it’s my responsibility in life to put good books into good people’s hands – if they’re readers, they’ll appreciate books and if they’re not readers, they might become one!

When it comes to Christmas day, I know that sometimes a book is not the most exciting of presents. The gadgets or jewellery or perfume or toys are more tactile and more instantly pleasurable. But come Boxing Day, a book really comes into its own, accompanied by all the delicious leftover food. And then there’s the long summer holidays when it’s too hot to go outside or the batteries in the new toys have run out.

Bookshops can also stock lovely literary gifts, like notebooks, diaries, mugs, games etc, so there are more than just books to browse.

I’m putting some posts together with book suggestions for kids and adults over the next few weeks. Happy book shopping!

Monday evening, city lights, dear friend, book launch – such a perfect combination. On Monday evenings I am usually in the depths of kid-chauffeuring to basketball training and Coles shifts, as well as dinner and dishes – nothing so inspirational as a book launch.

A friend and I met at the Athenaeum Theatre for Clare Bowditch’s book launch for her memoir, Your own kind of girl. We were given a copy of her book, Jamila Rizvi introduced Clare and Dr Susan Carland interviewed her. And then Clare sang – of course, she sang!

I am such a big fan of Clare as I’ve attended her Big Hearted Business conference, as well as a few of her Tea with Jam and Clare sessions. She’s creative, inspirational and she keeps it real.

Her memoir covers her early childhood to her late 20s. She was raised in a happy Catholic family who suffered a great loss when Clare’s older sister Rowena died at age seven, after spending two years in hospital. Clare found food gave her comfort through this harrowing time, and her weight alternated from one extreme to the other throughout her childhood, teen years and early adult life. Her anxiety and nervous breakdown while travelling were a rock-bottom period, but ultimately the catalyst for overcoming adversity and finding a gentler way to look after herself. She learnt to tell her inner critic (named Frank!) to back off and that the stories we tell ourselves are often not the truth. Her return to playing guitar, writing songs and singing led to forming a band and meeting Marty, her husband. Clare speaks her truth in a compelling, compassionate voice – she’s a true storyteller in book and song.

Clare wrote a list of things she wanted to achieve in her ‘amazing life’ and Susan Carland checked them off on stage – make an album, write a book, get married and have kids, help people – big ticks. She still needs to learn a language and run fast!

It felt like an honour to witness Clare’s story, to see her hold a light to her shame and doubts about her body, anxiety, and songwriting and singing ability.

Being a creative, sensitive type myself, it always makes me feel less alone to read or hear of another creative, sensitive type’s outlook on life. Thank you, Clare.

Best Monday night ever!

There’s not too many of us who haven’t faced a bully in school, work, a sporting team, or even a bus. Kathryn Apel’s verse novel is a positive and inspiring story without being preachy – perfect for 6 and 7 year-olds to read with a parent, and fabulous for 8-10 year-olds to read by themselves. It would make an excellent resource for school libraries and classrooms, too.

Young Leroy loves his family, his home and school. But he doesn’t like travelling from his farm to school each day on the bus because DJ, a high-school student at a different school, bullies him. She pinches and prods him, empties his schoolbag, steals his food and calls him names.

Ruby, Leroy’s older sister in grade five, tries to help and stands up to DJ when she notices but often she’s chatting with her friends.

The bus driver, a friendly man who sees his job as delivering children safely to and from school, has to concentrate on the road.

But once Mrs Wilson, Leroy’s teacher, understands what’s going on, she helps Leroy with some tricks and tips and enables him to gather up his bravery. The wonderful resolution shows Leroy figuring it out for himself but with the support of his family, Mrs Wilson and the bus driver.

As this is a verse novel, there’s not too many words so younger readers will feel a big sense of achievement from reading such a ‘thick’ book.

The book is divided into short poems, like the one below. Unfortunately, the wonderful formatting of this poem with every second line indented to emphasise the brevity of each line, did not come through when I typed it –no matter what type of formatting I tried, it wouldn’t save.

Drop Offs

Bus stops
door opens
kids off
goodbye chorus.
Door closes
stories chopped
words flung
through windows.
Bus moves
pulls away
driving off
leaving kids
silent actors
miming words.
On the bus
faces pressed
to the glass
calling out,
‘I can’t hear you!’

And the driver
changing gears
doesn’t hear
doesn’t want to,
in a world
of his own
eyes the road
straight ahead.

Does his job.
Drives the bus.
Drops the kids
home safe.

I was bullied in my mid-twenties at my workplace, and I can identify with Leroy that sinking, stomach-churning feeling of having to walk into the office each morning, not quite knowing what was ahead of me. I look back now and think of many things I could have said and done – even without the type of support Leroy has – but hindsight (and age!) is a wonderful thing.

Anyone else have a bully story to share?

 

It’s almost exam time again for the end of school year in Australia. If you have a kid facing an English exam, these tips might help.

Of course, English teachers are your best source of knowledge. I have tutored students from Grade 3 to Year 12 in English on and off for about 25 years, but I have no teaching qualifications. These tips are specific to the Victorian curriculum.

The following suggestions are general exam techniques addressed to students studying English. I’ll follow up with a later post for specific suggestions for text responses and language analysis, as well as timing in exams.

 

• Reread the texts – or read them for the first time! Your chosen books are complex and are worth reading again and again to gain new insights and knowledge. Your teachers or examiners are looking for how well you engage with the text and how familiar you are with it. Read your texts with a pencil in hand to mark the important passages and write notes.

 

• Quotes – learn the important quotes. Write them down on small cards and flick through them on your desk. Type them and stick your print-out on the bathroom mirror. Record your voice reading the quotes and listen to it again and again. It is better to attempt to include a quote, even if you can’t remember the exact wording, then not put it in your essay.

 

• Statistics – make sure you know the exact title of the book, play or movie, the writer or director and the year of publication or release date. Make sure you know all the settings and how to spell them, and what timeframe the text was set in. Check you can spell all the main characters’ names correctly.

 

• Write as many practice essays as you can under exam conditions. This means setting a timer for 45 minutes or an hour – however long you will have to write your essay – without using your book as a reference. The aim is to take away the fear of the blank page, where you can’t think of what to write. Do enough practice essays and they will become a task to complete, rather than an hour of fear.

 

• If you are writing two or three essays – a language analysis, a text response and a comparative text response, write the language analysis first. You can use the reading time to read the article, and it will be fresh in your mind. If you do a text response first, you’ll need to reread the article again later.

 

• Timing – make sure you allow time for proofreading. You need at least 5 minutes in total to read through your essay carefully, checking for obvious things like spelling, grammar, clear handwriting. You also need to check that you have communicated your arguments and examples clearly. Check to see if you can add in an extra quote or small example from the text. Check that your concluding sentence in each paragraph is strong and links up to the question.

The wonderful thing about the VCE English curriculum is that students start to learn how to write essays from year 7, gradually building up their knowledge of exam techniques and essay writing skills. While you may not write an essay on Lord of the flies in year 12, writing an essay on this text in year 9 will help you learn essay writing skills for year 12.

Good luck!