The Mapmaker Chronicles
Race to the end of the world
A. L. Tait
2014
Lothian

The story: Quinn is a farm boy with a remarkable visual memory, a gift he keeps hidden. He is chosen to sail on board the ship Libertas in a race to map the end of the world – the king of Verdania’s idea – but he doesn’t want to go. He’d rather stay with his family on their farm, but his family need the money he would earn. Onboard with Zain, (the king’s slave and ship captain), his friend Ash, (the stowaway, a girl disguised as a boy) and the rest of the crew, he works as the mapmaker. On their journey, they encounter fights, a benevolent sea monster and competition from the other two boats, racing to find the end of the world. [Read more…]

Song for a scarlet runner

Julie Hunt
Allen and Unwin
2013

The story: Peat, a nine-year-old girl, lives with her sister at the Overhang, a place four days’ walk from the nearest village. They tend cows, make cheese and wait for their aunt to bring supplies once a month. When a traveller brings sickness to the village, Peat is blamed – her looks do not fit in with the village. [Read more…]

Molly and Pim and the million of stars

Martine Murray
2015
The Text Publishing Company
Children’s fiction

The story: Molly lives with her Mama in a house that is next door to the horrible Grimshaws. Molly’s Mama, who knows all about herbs and potions, decides to plant a quick-growing tree to distract the Grimshaws from the noise of their rooster. But, Molly’s Mama accidentally turns herself into the tree, and it is up to Molly to work out a way to free her Mama. Instead of trusting her best friend Ellen with her terrible secret, Molly turns to Pim, an unusual, one-of-a-kind sort of boy. Molly needs a combination of courage, tears, friendship and potions to make everything turn out for the best. [Read more…]