Eva is already sprouting some feathers. She is desperate to
rescue her father from being permanently trapped in owl form as well as to stop
her own transformation. To add to the drama, there are the Hunters who roam
looking for those who are Gripps-affected and effectively isolating them and
banishing them.
Eva loves their new little weird and quirky house and she also likes Farwood very much but she is pretty much an outsider and friendless until she meets new boy, Harvey. Harvey also has secrets but he quickly becomes her staunchest ally and her partner in her mission to find the mysterious and long-hidden book that will reveal answers to help not only the girl and her family but all those who are in the grip of the Gripps.
Sunshine Coast resident Jayne says that as a child, growing
up and being home-schooled on K’gari (aka Fraser Island), she loved the
old-style classic fairy tales and mystic adventures but was also enthralled by
the bush, our native animals and that pervading sense of Australian-ness. She
has brought those all together in this fabulous narrative.
Bringing themes of loyalty and friendship, resilience,
persistence, the prejudices fomented by ignorance, class/wealth division and
suspicion and identity this is a narrative that will fully engage young readers
from around Year 4 to Year 7 who will not only eat up this one but eagerly
await the next instalment. It is an exciting
and fresh middle grade fantasy/adventure, the first in a trilogy and a fantastic debut, one that holds such promise for a new career
as a successful children’s writer.
Once again, we see a sensational cover design from Tamlyn Teow (she really is SO good) and this hardback edition, with touches of gloss and texture, just screams quality. As for the adventure itself, magical realism at its best is how I’ve described it to many since I first read it.
Title: Feathers of Farwood and the Gripps CursePublisher: Riveted Press, $22.99
Date of Publication: February 2026
ISBN: 9781764256704
Format: Hardback
For Ages: 9+
