Still keeping in touch…

It was wonderful, yet again, to be in touch with the passionate people associated with CBCA in the Blue Mountains.

The meeting was tinged with sadness due to the recent passing of Margaret Hamilton – a tribute from CBCA expressed here. Colleagues and friends shared some emotional and meaningful final moments with Margaret, which will echo her passion and personality when we celebrate at her ‘after party’ sometime soon.

The passions of writers, teacher-librarians, librarians and booksellers and partners in this group were obvious, as ideas and experiences were shared – recollections of the year past, and ongoing plans for the future.

Stitching some of these together was an informal chat from James Roy. He spoke about the inspiration for his writing, about his physical writing process (ask his wife how intense that ‘impression’ is) and the search for ‘real’ on which to create ‘fiction’. He also teased us with snippets about a new book soon (about time!). Many were still keen to get our hands on this one – One Thousand Hills – unfortunately, now out of print, but fingers crossed for a revival. (See a past – 2016 – review here)

Once again, the meeting was anchored by a magnificent meal, hosted by Sheryl, and prepared by Monique from the Farm – so lucky to still have Monique connected to BM CBCA events for her amazing food.

In 2023, CBCA are looking for more ways to promote and encourage children’s enthusiasm for the amazing literature we have around us – here in the Blue Mountains, and further afield in Australia; to get our kids reading both enthusiastically and voluntarily.

Can you connect to promote great books to your students? Start here.

# Margaret’s memoir, Falling Forward, is soon to be released, and will be officially launched at her ‘after party’. See details here.

Picture books – purposeful books

I have been so lucky to receive 2 of the picture books shortlisted for the CBCA awards this year. And both are magical reads.

‘Just One Bee’ by Margrete Lamond, Anthony Bertini and Christopher Nielsen (ill,) follows the determination of a solitary bee to fulfill its purpose in life.

‘In One-bee’s dream, the world is full of flowers…’

One-bee faces opposition and negativity when she meets:

‘a skinny bee,

a shabby bee

a stay-away-from-me bee.’

 

What will happen? (This is often what I ask when reading to young children… don’t you?)

‘Just One Bee’ is a story of hope, the power of dreaming, and working for positive outcomes in life; but perhaps one which needs to be shared with meaningful discussion. It is not a rollicking tale, but one that could inspire those who look at the tiny pieces of our beautiful world, providing usually unseen magic and diversity – and thought for our planet. **

Another mesmerising shortlisted CBCA book is ‘the Boy and the Elephant’ by Freya Blackwood. Showcasing her illustrations, it is a wordless but powerful book.

It follows a young boy – at first through his waking routines – solitary in a busy landscape – to school – at school – at home. His only solace is in a vacant, but verdant, block of land next door, where nature’s friends abound.

Change threatens this solace (what will happen?), when the block is sold. I can imagine asking young readers what they would do, how they would feel, and what this story means to them. Freya uses no words – just intricate illustrations.

The power of picture books.  These, and so many others, transcend younger age groups, but can reach into the young. Put them into the hands of the young, to reach into the hearts of others.

*Anthony Bertini speaks about the value of bees at the end of ‘Just One Bee’ – what they contribute,  the role they play on our planet, and the current threats to their survival.

** What can you do to help bees survive?

*** How do we save our greenery from ‘progress’?

**** Wonder what the other CBCA picture books are like?

Love Objects

At a time when minimalism is so widely promoted, have you ever wondered about the value you place on objects in your home? Are there precious items you would find it hard to throw out? what if someone else threw out things you valued?

In ‘Love Objects’, 45-year-old Nic would definitely not be a fan of Marie Kondo; although she does believe that everything in her house has a purpose and meaning. However, decades of newspapers stacked in the hall do not deter her from scavenging even more leaflets and envelopes that may someday ‘be useful’.

Many other items she gathers make her ponder their past lives, as she considers their new special place in her home (as Marie might also do). It is the quantity of items she loves that provides a catastrophic turning point in her life; Nic has a fall, her hoard comes tumbling down and well-meaning family members arrive to take charge.

Family relationships can be a curious thing – especially when life hiccoughs get in the way. Nic has no children, but has always been close with her niece, Lena. Until her sister, Michelle, moved her family away, she enjoyed fun times with Lena and her brother, Will. Then, time and distance and failed relationships over the years set other securities in motion.

Emily Maguire cleverly introduces the idiosyncrasies of hoarders in the opening chapter – the way she writes, the way she voices what Nic is feeling – and sets up the chain of events to follow. It is awkward reading, but nuanced to the character of Nic.

The web woven for Lena is also cleverly set, as she follows her attraction for a fellow uni student. She is oblivious to his grooming efforts and is soon, so easily, a victim, in spite of some awareness of sexual assault issues at uni. Much of what happens to her, consumes her and looks to ruin her life ambition.

Many questions arise from reading ‘Love Objects’. What would you have done if you were Lena? her mother Michelle? Could you have done something differently, earlier, if you were Nic? an aware Lena? a different sister version of Michelle? Would it have made a difference?

Hear what Emily Maguire has to say about ‘Love Objects’ here:

After you read ‘Love Objects’, what would feature in a sequel? How would you write the future of the Mitchell family?

The Other Side of Beautiful

Life has a way of falling apart sometimes. For Mercy, the solution has been spending 2 years as a recluse in her home. When this house burns down, she is thrown out into the world and flounders to accept the help her ex-husband offers, which can only be temporary anyway.

“This world isn’t easy when your shield shatters. When my character in The Other Side of Beautiful, a woman who hasn’t left her house for two years, watches that house burn down, Mercy Blain has no choice but to be flung into the world.” (Kim Lock discussing her main character, Mercy Blain.)

As this situation is clearly untenable, Mercy comes across a somewhat bizarre alternative. This sees her embark on a physical journey from Adelaide to Darwin, in a beat-up old vehicle with just her dog, Wasabi, as a companion.

For someone who has not left their house for 2 years, this is an amazing challenge, but one that proves to be the physical AND emotional journey she needs.

Mercy’s cautious initial steps mean that she is sparsely equipped, having lost most things in the fire. Her inner struggles also mean that she is often stretched to the limit to move beyond the many barriers she has set up over 2 years. Thus, her journey north is hesitant and full of extreme anxiety.

In Mercy’s steps, we learn about the suffocating effects of panic attacks, and we will her on as she travels north, alongside the movement of grey nomads and other travellers. The characters she meets are totally relatable, as is the Australian countryside they traverse. Those with a  careful blend of friendliness and respect for the privacy of others allow Mercy to feel somewhat comfortable to continue her travels, in spite of early misgivings.

Along the way, certain roadblocks cause anxious situations for her to rise above while forcing her to accept the help and advice of others she meets. We fear her crashing along the way (both physically and literally) – will her solo journey be the end of things, or provide a new beginning? After all, there have been tragic losses in the outback for those unprepared and unwary.

There is a lot to mull over in ‘the Other Side of Beautiful’, including the pressures of social media vs the need to stay in touch. Mercy is trying to overcome past negativity, but needs to stay in communication with the real world she is running from, in order to move forward in life. There could be severe consequences if she doesn’t, but outback travel is not the most supportive in some areas.

Will she make it to ‘the Other Side’?

Note: I loved the references to Australians’ outback travels in RVs and well-appointed vans, but would have preferred Mercy’s vehicle to have been a beat-up old Kombi (but that’s just my personal preference…).

Songbirds

Sometimes, we are blind to things that happen around us. Sometimes, we don’t want to know. Sometimes, it is dangerous to know…

Nisha is a maid for Petra in Cyprus. Petra is a single mother, lucky to have Nisha to care for her daughter while she is at work. In some ways their lives have parallels. In others, they are far apart.

When Nisha disappears one night, Petra begins to realise how little she knows about her maid and how much she needs her presence. Her daughter Aliki pines for Nisha – but she is not the only one.

Where can Petra turn for help to find Nisha? Who might know where she went and why? Who are the people in the local community who might have observed Nisha’s last moves?

At home, Aliki remains distant and sad. Where is Nisha, the one who has basically replaced her distant mother over many years? As a young child, does Aliki have any hints about why Nisha chose to leave – if she actually did?

Christi Lefteri (also author of the Beekeeper of Aleppo) explores many different relationships in Songbirds – in terms of power and control, love and longing, past and future. It is set in her native Cyprus, and much of what she writes in Songbirds is based on conversations with domestic workers there; workers from other lands seeking to better the lives of their families, even at the sacrifice of distance.

Songbirds will leave you feeling sad, frustrated, confused and annoyed. But at its heart, the characters who look after one another and care for individuals will encourage you to look after and appreciate the little ones in life – even if they are as frail and exposed as the songbirds.

Once There Were Wolves

Once there were wolves in Scotland – until they were viewed as too great a threat to farmers and their animals. In fact, in 1577, James VI made it compulsory to hunt wolves three times a year.

Thus hunting them was rewarded, and the last wolf was reportedly killed in 1680 in Killiecrankie (though there are reports that wolves survived in Scotland up until the 18th century). The long-term consequence of this was major destruction of woodland, overrun by the deer population and other herbivores. They were no longer culled naturally by wolves, the apex predator in the forest ecosystem.

Biologist Inti Flynn arrives in Scotland, leading a team of scientists which aims to reintroduce the grey wolf into the remote highlands. The team’s aim is twofold – to increase wolf numbers in the wild and to heal the landscape. Inti also needs to heal her twin sister, Aggie.

Not unexpectedly, the local farmers and villagers are very wary of the scientists’ plans, fearing their animals and families might fall prey to the wolf packs which are to be introduced. They remain blind to the true nature of wolves and their place in nature.

Inti’s passion for her wolves is deep, and due to a rare condition of mirror-touch synaesthesia, she can even sense their feelings, as well those of others she observes. Her childhood experiences with her twin sister, Aggie, provide some extreme examples of this and have left them both broken to different degrees.

With the disappearance of a local man, the ongoing opposition to their rewilding project comes to a head. Who/what will be blamed?

Naturally, Inti fears for her wolves. But who can she turn to? Who can she trust? Will her upbringing enable her to discover the real truth? And can she bring Aggie back to her senses?

Through Inti’s experiences, Charlotte McConaughy writes a sensitive and sensual discovery of the need to accept the role of wild creatures. Some locals are won over, but fear of the unknown echoes through much of the population.

McConaughy provides both poetic and informative descriptions of the wild, while she slowly reveals details about the nature of the people in this tale. In this, there is much to keep you guessing – and much to give you hope…

For more about the reintroduction of wolves to Scotland, start with this article:

Wolf Reintroduction in Scotland

The Paris Library

This is definitely one for book and library lovers – and those who understand the power of reading.

Switching between Paris in the early years of WWII and Montana in the 1980’s, ‘the Paris Library’ (by Janet Skeslien Charles) links the stories of Odile Souchet and Montana teenager, Lily.

Odile is an intense young lady, living in Paris. Her father is keen for her to find a husband, and regularly brings home suitors for Sunday lunch after church. Odile, however, isn’t particularly interested in any of them, and is more concerned with establishing herself in her dream job at the American Library.

When war is declared, the Library staff is determined to maintain their service for the Parisian community, providing books to British and French troops, and constantly work at ways to overcome the obstacles arising from Nazi occupation. Problems arise of course, due to the various backgrounds of library staff, and some reluctantly need to move on and away from their normal ways of functioning as military threats increase.

At times, it seems the library will be closed; something their dedicated subscribers (members such as students, writers, book lovers and soldiers at war) would find so tragic. Thus, the library staff do their best to meet their needs; a band of resistance in perilous times of occupation.

Woven into a tale from the past is the story of Lily, a young teen girl in Montana, as she develops an unlikely friendship with her widowed neighbour. While both are guarded, they begin to warm to one another since they share a love of language and books. Then there are slow reveals of former lives, loves and losses as the tales alternate between 1939 and 1983.

Based on the historical fact of occupied Paris during WWII, ‘the Paris Library’ is written by an author whose interests were piqued when she worked there.  It provides an insight into the actions of brave individuals and the role that the American Library played in trying to normalise life and maintain civility:

With the coming of World War II, the occupation of France by the Nazi regime, and the deepening threats to French Jews, Library director Dorothy Reeder and her staff and volunteers provided heroic service by operating an underground, and potentially dangerous, book-lending service to Jewish members barred from libraries. (Source: the History of the American Library in Paris, https://americanlibraryinparis.org/history/)

The other storyline in Montana will appeal to a young adult audience, as Lily struggles with school, friendships, the loss of her mother and the subsequent change in family relationships in a small country town. How will her growing relationship with her neighbour make a difference?

Both storylines raise questions about love, trust, loyalty and the need to belong. Lovers of historical fiction will enjoy a different insight into the impact of war, both immediate and long-term. Lovers of libraries will enjoy library/literary references, and applaud the tenacity of realistic characters as they continue to provide services in this tragic period in history.

Thus, it is highly recommended for these readers, and a great choice for those wanting something new.

Older reader: A Room Made of Leaves

The challenge of historical fiction – reflecting events of the past, recalling people of the past, and weaving these convincingly into a story. As a favourite genre of many people, it is also one open to critique when it strays too far from the truth perhaps?

In ‘A Room Made of Leaves’, celebrated author Kate Grenville opens up the world of Elizabeth Macarthur. She invites readers to consider a different perspective of life in early colonial Sydney – one not normally addressed by high school history classes – the female perspective.

Historically, John Macarthur is lauded as the pioneer of the wool industry, with his portrait gracing Australian currency over the years. However, his dark side as a scheming, driven personality is what drives this story. In his absence from the colony (fighting Governors and facing a court-martial in England), it seems his wife and sons were the ones driving this pioneering success.

Writing as Elizabeth Macarthur compiling her account of their personal history, Grenville challenges our acceptance of historical records and our assumptions about life for the early settlers. Early on, the reader is warned: ‘do not believe too quickly’, though we quickly become absorbed into this changed view of history.

A clever portrayal of Australian history. One to make you think, question, and consider what history really is. HIStory vs HERstory?

Always… (at last)

It seems it has been a long wait, but finally, we have the last book in Morris Gleitzman’s Once series. ‘Always’ completes the lifelong journey of Felix, the young boy introduced 16 years ago in ‘Once’.

Felix is now in his eighties, living in aged care in Australia. When a young boy is brought to him and left unexpectedly in his care, Felix once again embarks on a journey (with the boy, Wassim) to right wrongs built upon the prejudices and beliefs from history.

Dedicated followers will enjoy many references to characters and phrases used in past books. Some of these voices echo clearly in my mind, having listened to several of the books, particularly with Morris Gleitzman reading them. (Highly recommended audiobooks!)

Endearing, with characters like young Felix, Zelda, and the many strong people determined to fight against the tragedy of the holocaust, this final book in the epic series is gentle in its teaching for young readers. It is also compelling for older readers who are lucky to discover the series when reading alongside young readers – a chance to share and reflect together.

Always stay hopeful. That’s my motto.
You’re probably thinking … what’s he got to be hopeful about? He’s ten years old and look at his life. (Quote from Wassim in ‘Always’, p.3)

You can find a better and deeper review of Always at Kids’ Book Reviews.

And there is always the author’s own revelations and musings at Morris Gleiztman/Always.

# Have you read the whole series?

## Did you find any parts of the stories confronting?

### Are there other books of historical fiction you would recommend?

 

Older readers: Anxious People

From the author of ‘A Man called Ove’, translated from Swedish, ‘Anxious People’ is a humorous book of life observations.

Set in a small Swedish town where nothing much happens, the tale opens with a bizarre bank robbery (at a cashless bank) which then turns into a hostage drama at a nearby apartment building. As a small-town police team of father and son seek to resolve the situation (without relying on the heavy guns from Stockholm), Backman sprinkles the story with the quirks and foibles of those caught up in the drama while viewing an apartment open house.

Cleverly woven links between present and past, among the characters and the building’s location, occur throughout. Similarly, clever comments on normal everyday things – like food preferences, domestic needs, and views on family relationships – give cause for a laugh or two along the way.

The bank robber is, of course, not your typical bank robber – more a result of a series of unfortunate events which culminate in a ‘hostage situation’ – again, not typical.

Each of the characters involved has their own version of what happened, and their own anxieties. Insecurities in relationships and work, perplexities about the impact of their past actions, lost loves and lives – all have left challenges to be overcome.

Even what is told from the police perspective is not completely what it seems. Have they handled the case properly? Why haven’t they had demands from the offender? How could they lose the suspect?

Backman makes some interesting observations throughout ‘Anxious People’ but in doing so, he does it gently and with humour. His characters are quirky but real (even though I disliked Zara, but maybe that was the point). An absurd situation in a little town becomes a feel-good book to make us all think while we laugh out loud.

Are you ready for a light-hearted read that also makes you think?