The cover
alone, with a large clump of black (in the form of Jo’s furry, feathered head)
amidst a rainbow of colour and texture, is enough to cause a double take. A tad
risky for a children’s picture book - yet so perfect.
When Jo
first saw the No, Jo didn’t know what it was.
‘Shoo, No!’
said Jo.
The No
didn’t go.
The day the river first speaks to Bo and she sees the first vision.
It is a day of revelations. She meets Billy River and notices someone watching her through binoculars from the ridge.
The day a stranger chases her through the lanes to steal the jewel from her.
Bo and Billy’s lives will become entwined. Both changed forever.
With great celebration, her impoverished family lists the things they could buy with the money when the jewel is sold.
But Bo
cannot be parted from the precious item which becomes the centre of hers and
Billy’s world, with its magical purpose that slowly reveals itself.
Then, together, Bo and Billy find the second jewel, the Brightest Sun, which will fulfill a promise on the night of the eclipse, a few weeks away.
There are many that will do anything to get their hands on the Jewels of the Eclipse, and the secrets that come with them.
A brilliant story, written in emotive and immersive prose about grief, love, friendship, sacrifice and redemption from the author of The Miniaturist.
Another
complex, carefully designed plot takes the reader on a journey through the
impossible, using twists and turns that will magnetize.
The descriptions are magical pictures created by a writer who paints with words. Her use of language is extraordinary.
This is a book readers will never forget. The
characters are outstanding. People are not who they first appear to be. This does not become apparent until the curves in the story are all set.
The settings are so descriptive that at times it feels like the reader is in the story, watching things happen from up close.
You can
almost hear the crashing of the waves, the whistling and sighing of the wind.
This is the best thing I have read this year. Don’t miss it!
Title: Hidden Treasure
Author:
Jessie Burton
Publisher: Bloomsbury, $17.99
Publication Date: 13 March 2025
Format: Paperback
ISBN: 9781526662897
For ages: 12+
Type: Middle Grade Fiction
One step,
two steps, what can you find?
This book,
with its sumptuous illustrations and specially cut-out pages, celebrates all of
the good things about a walk on the beach.
From two
award-winning creators and told from the visual point of view of a small child,
the book takes us on an adventure through the high tide line, finding treasures
large and small from both under and out of the water.
The story dives into the life and death of Hannah Baker, a high school student who takes her own life. But before she does, she leaves behind a series of cassette tapes. Each one is meant for someone who, in her eyes, played a role in her decision.
This innovative narrative draws readers into
her mind, allowing us to hear her voice directly and feel the weight of her
experiences. It’s raw, personal, and often uncomfortable , but that’s what
makes it so effective.
The story begins when Clay Jensen, one of Hannah’s classmates and someone who once quietly admired her, receives the tapes.
The terrible Grimshaws appear pillars of kindness and charity to the community, due to maintaining friendships with people in high places.
But they are far from that.
The foster kids are used as a source of income through generous donations for the children’s care. In reality, they are treated with heartless cruelty.
Finn is locked in the basement for great lengths of time. But his resourceful nature and strong-mind has discovered ways to really educate himself.
He has cultivated a friendship with Riya, from an apartment opposite, via flashlight signals and notes hidden in a special place.
Carnivorous plants hold many secrets.
They are eclectic with their food choices and are meat-eaters by necessity. Few are vegetarians.
Over time they have mastered the skill of catching the type of food they need to survive.
A good example is the Venus Flytrap, that
snacks on spiders, flies, and mosquitoes amongst other living delicacies.
Ariana is a kind, clever and always optimistic
problem-solver. Her mum trusts her implicitly.
Alex Baker and his mum are new in town. Mrs Treasure meets them and asks them to pop in and have a look around the store.
Ariana has a favourite book inscribed by her late Grandpa, which they read together constantly.
When mum inadvertently sells the book, Ariana is desperate to get it back.
But there must be an exchange for it. What can Ariana give to get her book back?