Book Review: A Little Spark by Barry Jonsberg

A Little Spark

by

Barry Jonsberg 

 

From the bestselling multi-award-winning author of My Life as an Alphabet and A Song Only I Can Hear  

 

Publisher: Allen & Unwin

 

Publication date: 2nd August 2022 

 

Genre: Middle Grade

Pages: 256

 

 RRP: $ 16.99AUD

Format read: paperback

Source: Courtesy of the publisher

My thoughts

A Little Spark is a wondrous story of love, imagination, friendship and heartbreak.

Thirteen-year-old Caitlyn Carson's parents have been divorced for 7 years. She spends every second weekend with her father and they have adventures to spark the imagination and believe in the impossible.

Barry Jonsberg has written an inspiring book about building on a child's imagination past the early childhood years. Don't let that little spark go out!

Many opportunities arise throughout the book for classroom discussion with themes of divorce, a child's rights, how divorce affects the children in a relationship and parent responsibilities.

 

The story is narrated by Cate and she is extremely likeable and comes across as a very mature and open 13 year old, wise beyond her years. I was relieved when there was a scene of screaming and door slamming because I feel the character needs to be relatable.

A Little Spark highlights strong parent/child relationships and a fun and supportive friendship with Cate and best friend Elise. It is filled with magical encounters featuring UFOs, a unicorn, a beach serenade and a flash mob orchestra, just to name a few.

A Little Spark is a book that will ignite your imagination, make you laugh and break your heart.

My rating 4 / 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Publisher recommended age 10 - 14

I feel even those 15 -16 would enjoy this engaging story.

About the author

Barry Jonsberg has won numerous awards for his books, both nationally and internationally. He has been published in eighteen countries and translated into many languages. His bestselling novel, My Life As An Alphabet, was recently made into an award-winning film, H is For Happiness, released throughout the world to great critical acclaim. The same production company is now working on television and film adaptations of his last two novels, A Song Only I Can Hear and Catch Me If I Fall.

Barry lives in Darwin, in the Top End of Australia, with his wife Anita and his crazy dog, Zorro.

 

 

Book Review: The Breakfast Club Adventures by Marcus Rashford

The Breakfast Club Adventures

THE BEAST BEYOND THE FENCE

by

Marcus Rashford with Alex Falase-Koya

Illustrated by Marta Kissi 

 

Publisher: Macmillan Children's Books

 

Publication date: 31st May 2022 

Genre: Middle Grade / Illustrated

 

Pages: 256

 

RRP: $ 16.99AUD

 

Format read: Paperback

 

Source: Courtesy of the publisher

 

My thoughts

 

I loved this book right from Marcus Rashford's welcome note. He pens words of encouragement to broaden our horizons, dream big and celebrate our differences. Ask questions, listen and learn. When someone is low pick them up.

 

" Enjoy every word at your own pace and remember there's no rush to get to the end" - Marcus Rashford MBE

Meaningful words of encouragement for a child who is struggling with their reading.

 

Lots of items are mysteriously going missing from the Rutherford Secondary School. Twelve-year-old Marcus has lost his football and with it his confidence. He can't seem to kick a ball anymore.

When new girl Stacey asks him to join the Breakfast Club Investigators, she is certain they can find out what happened to Marcus' ball, Marcus is nervous at first but he really wants his football back. The team consists of four members; Stacey, Lise, Asim and Marcus with each member bringing different skills to the team.

What ensues is an action packed story rich in suspense, adventure, danger, bravado and imagination as they encounter a deadly mythical creature and a furious head mistress.

 

Will Marcus get his ball back and be able to play football again??

 

The Breakfast Club Adventures - The Beast Beyond the Fence is a story of friendship, adventure and fun. Delightfully illustrated throughout by Marta Kissi

Different styles of typography are used throughout the book to convey the message and give a striking visual element to the reading journey.

 

Marcus Rashford, in collaboration with Alex Falase-Koya, has written an entertaining book that will be read and enjoyed over and over.

 

Recommended age 8 - 11 years

 

My rating 5 /5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

 

About the authors

 

Marcus Rashford MBE is Manchester United's iconic number 10 and an England International Footballer.

 

Alex Falase-Koya is a London native. He was a winner of Spread the Word's 2019 London Writers Awards for YA/children's.

 

About the Illustrator

 

Marta Kissi studied BA Illustration & Animation at Kingston University and MA Visual Communication at the Royal College of Art.

 

 

Book Review: Click by Kayla Miller

 Click

by

Kayla Miller

Illustrated by Kayla Miller 

Places everyone.... Olive just wants to find hers

 

Publisher: Walker Books Australia

 

Publication date: 6th October 2021

 

Series: Click #1 

 

Genre: Middle Grade, Graphic novel

 

RRP: $17.99AUD 

 

Pages: 208

Format read: Paperback

Source: Own purchase

 

Dot's Review

 

I rated Click five stars because some people, like me, can actually relate to the problems in the story.

 

My favourite characters are Olive, because she never gave up and always tried to be brave, and Aunt Molly, because she helped Olive and supported her.

Click is all about friendship and trying to find your place. I really liked the ending. This was my first graphic novel and I want to read more in this series.

Dot's rating 5 / 5  ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

 

I haven't read the book but here's the blurb:

Olive “clicks” with everyone in the fifth grade—until one day she doesn’t. When a school variety show leaves Olive stranded without an act to join, she begins to panic, wondering why all her friends have already formed their own groups . . . without her. With the performance drawing closer by the minute, will Olive be able to find her own place in the show before the curtain comes up?

 

Recommended age:  8+ 

 

About the author

 

Kayla Miller is a New York Times bestselling author and illustrator living and working in New York. They have a BFA in Illustration from the University of the Arts in Philadelphia. When not busy working on graphic novels, Kayla enjoys watching bad movies, trying to cook new recipes, playing games (both board and video) and reading other people’s graphic novels.

 

 
 

Book Review: Stunt Kids by Trent Roberts

 Stunt Kids

by

Trent Roberts

 

Publisher: Pan Macmillan Australia

 

Imprint: Pan Australia

 

Publication date:  31st may 2022

Genre: Middle Grade, Children's Fiction

Pages: 272

RRP: $16.99

Format read: Paperback

My review

Gretel's parents are super cautious, wrapping her in cotton wool so she doesn't get hurt. She is home schooled, is not allowed outside and twelve-year-old Gretel has no friends.

When Gretel's parents win a very boring holiday they enroll her in a STUNT camp, which they thought was a Sensible, Totally, Undangerous, Never Thrilling camp.

I liked how Gretel, who changes her name to Glory, was reserved and nervous when she joined the camp but slowly, with the encouragement of the leaders and other children, she starts to relax and join in. Along the way she discovers strengths she didn't know she had.

There is plenty of silly humour that will have readers laughing out loud. I did find the start of the story a bit slow as Roberts sets the scene and the main characters, 3 boys and 3 girls, get to know each other.

Once the action starts it is full on. The pre-teens face a giant octopus and laser shooting hummingbirds. The stunt kids must work together and draw on the stunts they learnt at camp to survive and save the day.

Brimming with fun trivia facts and a couple of unexpected twists, Stunt Kids is an adventure filled book with themes of facing your fears, never giving up, finding your strengths and team work.

We are looking forward to book 2 and seeing what adventures the stunt kids will have next.

 

Ages: 8 - 12 years

Rating 3.5 / 5   ⭐⭐⭐½

*Thank you to the publisher for our copy to read and review

About the author

Trent Roberts is a screenwriter and author who lives in the western suburbs of Melbourne with his partner, two kidlets and French bulldog, Ziggy. He loves the ocean, weird animals, indie pop and choc-tops. While he can't do any of the stunts described in this book, he can do a half-decent forward roll and, in perfect conditions, remain upright on his surfboard for a few seconds.

Book Review: Dex the Bilby (The Lolly Shop #2) by L,B & E. Hackney

 Dex the Bilby

by

L, B & E. Hackney

 

Publisher: Self Published

 

Publication date: 2nd January 2022

 

Series: The Lolly Shop #2

 

Genre: Children's / Middle Grade

 

Pages: 164

 

Format read: paperback

 

Source: Courtesy of the author

 

My review

 

Dex the Bilby is book 2 in The Lolly Shop Series.

 

Baxter and Ethan now have their magic lolly making well under way and have decided to have a magical sports carnival. All the citizens of Manly start training.

 

Back at the lolly shop a portal opens and a bilby appears. He need the boys' help to save his world from the evil Vulpes and his reptilian snake guards. 

 

A record breaking building climb, a close encounter with a shark plus plenty of action and adventure combine to make this humorous story bubble with tension and danger.

 

We really enjoyed the second book in The Lolly Shop series. The only thing that let it down was a lack of good editing. There are many spelling errors and incorrect punctuation throughout the book which I am hoping will be addressed by book 3. 

 

Dex the Bilby ends on a cliff hanger which will have fans eager for book 3. 

 

Our rating 3 / 5  ⭐⭐⭐ 

 

About the author

 

 

Lauren lives in a seaside suburb of Brisbane. She lives with her beautiful man, Geoffrey and their two boys Baxter and Ethan.

Together they love exploring, trying new things, laughing and being amongst nature.

 

Another pastime of theirs is story telling. Whether it be a bedtime story, a campfire story or a road trip story - they love each taking a turn and seeing where the story takes them.

They love their animals at home. They have chickens, fish, cockatiels and a recently adopted dog.

 

For many years Lauren worked in aviation however the pandemic put a stop to that so together they decided to put pen to paper and wrote this story.

 

 

 

Book Review: Brave the Storm (Sky Dragon #4) by Anh Do

 Brave the Storm

by

Anh Do

 

Publisher: Allen & Unwin

 

Publication date: 29th March 2022

 

Series: Sky Dragon #4

 

Genre: Children's Middle Grade

 

Pages: 175

 

RRP: $15.99AUD

 

Format read: Paperback

 

Source: Courtesy of the publisher 

My review

 

Brave the Storm, book 4 in the Sky Dragon series, is a fast paced adventure story.

Dot is an avid reader of Ahn Do's Wolf Girl series and she loves reading about intelligent, fearless girls.

Brave the Storm was her first Sky Dragon book and she really enjoyed Amber's courageousness. 

 

In book 4 Amber has lost her powers and goes to the Sennam rainforest with Irene to rest and recuperate. Although there is not much resting when a large corporation arrives to mine for diamonds and destroy the rainforest running the peaceful villagers, who are protecting the area, out of their homes.

 

Brave the Storm has plenty of action and danger to keep the reader immersed. We did get lost with some areas of the plot having not read the previous books.

Dot is now keen to read the first three books in this series.

 

Our rating 4 / 5  ⭐⭐⭐⭐

About the author

 

Anh Do is a comedian, artist and also one of the highest selling Australian authors of all time, with total book sales approaching 3 million.

Anh’s first book, The Happiest Refugee, is his enormously popular memoir recounting his perilous childhood journey in a tiny boat from war-torn Vietnam to Australia. The book became an instant hit and has won numerous awards including Australian Book of the Year.

Anh has since turned his attention to children’s book writing. 

It’s clear that Anh is an exciting voice in literature, able to delight across age ranges and different genres with great success, and he isn’t planning to slow down any time soon.

 

 

Book Review: Push Pin Art Projects by Candy Berg

 Push Pin Art Projects

by

Candy Berg

 

Publisher: Self Published

Publication date: 14th February 2022

 

Genre: Children's

 

Pages: 40 (20 images + 20 blank)

 

Format read: eBook

 

Source: Courtesy of the author

 

My review

 

This was a fun activity that kept the children amused during the school holidays. We did it over a couple of days as it takes some length of concentration.

 

Promotes hand-eye coordination, fine motor skills and elements of patients and concentration.

 

The book comes with 20 cute spring designs plus blank pages to work with. We used thick coloured craft paper and hung the finished product on the window - like a light catcher.

 

You  will need  a thump tack, bulldog clip or paper clip and something soft to place the sheets on so the pin will prick through. I used sheets of EVA foam.

 

The book is available on Amazon and there are also other themed books in the series.

 

Jay aged 5 wasn't keen on sitting still and creating so he coloured his in. Craft should be relaxing and creative and I try not to be restrictive in his attempts.