Review: Nowhere House

If a spooky cover and an intriguing title are what draw you to pick up a book, then Adrian Beck’s Nowhere House is for you – but only if you also like tension, mystery and the potential for ghosts and drama.

The opening words of this brilliant story have the main character, Nate, muttering “I’d rather be dead,” as he sits in the car with his family on the way to their new home ‘in the middle of nowhere’.

Be careful what you wish for, Nate!

Nate’s parents have just purchased their new home at a bargain deal and it soon becomes apparent why they managed to get it for such a price. It’s rundown, a 90-minute round trip to the nearest school and it has a history. Not a very nice one either.

Review: Don't Let Them Leave

Sometimes a title alone is enough to draw you to a book. Pair that with a somewhat ominous cover showing a shadowy house in the middle of a stormy sea, an author who can get readers laughing in one book and quivering in the next and a killer logline, and you just can’t help but be hooked.

And that’s before you even read the prologue!

After their parents are killed in a car accident, Charlotte and her younger siblings, Jack and Emily, find themselves on a train to Cornwall – a place they’ve never been – to live with a grandmother they never knew they had.

Right from the start, there's something off about the solicitor, Mr Frankelweiss. And from that point on, nothing seems to add up.

Review: Swearwolves

Do not let the title of this book turn you off straight away. Hear me out first because the subject matter is treated in an exceptionally mature way and, let’s be honest, those words are out there and being used by our children (but not by Steve Worland in this book).

Luna Wilkinson has not long started at her new school and she’s having trouble fitting in. Everyone has their friendship groups and little cliques and there doesn’t seem to be space for the new kid who is rapidly getting a reputation for being a bit weird.

As Luna sees it, her one chance to stand out – and fit in – lies in wowing the crowds at the upcoming audition for Bite Me – The Musical. Luna doesn’t just want to be given a part; she wants to be cast in the lead role. 

Review: Hagtale: A Macbeth Origin Story

Macbeth would come pretty close to being my favourite of the Bard’s works certainly its very creepiness is totally beguiling. And, of course, it is arguably one of the best-known, right up there with Hamlet and Romeo & Juliet. It also has those associated superstitions e.g. not uttering its name backstage. But this takes the whole deliciously eerie and supernatural vibe to an entirely new level.

It is seriously compelling reading. A small feral child raised by wolves is ‘rescued’ by a trio of witches, who raise her as a human – a species that is very foreign to both child and hags. Their combined knowledge and skills provide Wulva with what she will need to fulfil their own ends. They plan a future role that remains completely unknown to the girl until the realisation comes too late.

Review: When I Was Death

Debut YA novel When I Was Death by Alexis Henderson may sit within the horror genre, but it is deeply immersive and reflective — a slow burn that lingers long after the final page.

Roslyn Volk has never recovered from the mysterious death of her sister, Adeline. A year after her passing, Roslyn is still haunted by the unanswered questions surrounding her death. Consumed with grief, she barely hesitates when an enigmatic group of girls with ties to Adeline roll into town and invite her to travel with them. But the girls share a dark secret: they have all been spared from death in inexplicable ways. In exchange for their continued lives, they travel the country doing Death’s bidding.

As Roslyn becomes more entangled with the group, especially its enigmatic leader, she must confront what she is willing to sacrifice for the closure she seeks. And ultimately, she faces a chilling choice: to strike her own deal with Death and perhaps find out the truth about her sister or walk away forever.

Guest Post: Fiona Dalwood on When Ghosts Hide In Plain Sight

I used to look out of the train during my commutes and notice graffiti in unusual places. 

How did someone manage a giant wheat paste on a wall without being seen? Did a hooded figure dangle someone upside down from the thirty-second floor? Had they taught themselves to draw and write upside down? 

These short glimpses sparked countless questions—moments that felt magical in their mystery or mildly frightening, depending on how tired I was.

Review: Ellie Engle Saves (The World) Herself!

A story about the true nature of power and where it comes from, this Middle Grade fiction book has everything going on! It’s a little bit fantasy/mystery, a little bit rom-com and a whole lot of heart.

Ellie Engle is a normal 12-year-old girl who really doesn’t want to stand out in order to fit in. 

So, when she wakes up after an earthquake with the newly acquired super-powers of supersonic hearing and smell, along with the ability to bring dead plants back to life, it feels like a lot. And it is.

Ellie’s best friend Abby (who Ellie might be a little bit in love with), thinks that the two friends should do all in their power to get rid of Ellie’s new gift and keep it very hush-hush in the meantime. Abby prefers to ‘make a mark’ by being popular, not strange or freakish.

Review: If You Could See The Sun

Alice Sun has always felt invisible at the Airington International Boarding school, where she stands out from the crowd of China’s richest teenagers. 

But after her anxiety is triggered by her parents’ financial situation and inability to pay the schools tuition, she starts uncontrollably turning invisible. 

After weeks of trying to harness her invisibility power, Alice decides to use her power to her benefit, turning to her rival Henry Li for help with her new project, The Beijing Ghost. But soon after she starts her work, she uncovers hidden secrets about her classmates, and that their lives were not as perfect as she once thought. 

Soon her tasks started escalating from scandals to crimes. In order for Alice to succeed, she must decide if her education is worth losing her conscience or her life.   

I really enjoyed If You Could See The Sun. It is amazingly written and explores parts of being a teenager that not many books confront. I enjoyed seeing the growth of Alice Sun and how her relationship with Henry and her classmates grew throughout the book. 

I highly recommend this book for anyone 12 and over.  

Title: If You Could See The Sun
Author: Ann Liang
Publisher: Ink Yard, $19.99
Publication Date: 3 November 2022
Format: Paperback
ISBN: 9781335915849 
For ages: 12+
Type: Young Adult

Winner: The Ghost Locker

Our lucky winner is...

Angie Johnson, QLD

Congratulations!

You have won a copy of this supernatural middle grade fiction, The Ghost Locker by Allison Rushby.

Thank you to ALL who entered. Again, we had a veritable treasure chest of excellent entries!

Giveaway: The Ghost Locket

Eleven-year-old Lolli must return to London and break a promise she made to herself — to never again enter the house in Spitalfields, an historic building managed by her family. There, Lolli must face up to what she saw in the house several years ago and make things right for two ghosts, one friendly and one decidedly not, and open her heart to people in both the living and twilight worlds.

You could be one of the first to be captivated by this new atmospheric supernatural mystery, The Ghost Locker, set in a house haunted by secrets from the past by acclaimed author, Allison Rushby thanks to our enigmatic friends at Walker Books Australia.

For the chance to win a copy of this mysterious middle grade novel, tell us in 25 words or less about your favourite family heirloom?

Attention Harry Potter Fans - Miles Of Magic Photo Competition

We get more than a little excited here at KBR when the offer of free books is on the table so imagine our heart rates when we learned of this awesome opportunity to upgrade your book collection both at home and at school.

Our great friends at Bloomsbury Publishing Australia are delighted to launch the MILES OF MAGIC photo competition, which gives Australian and New Zealand Harry Potter fans the chance to win $1000 worth of books for their home library, PLUS another $1000 worth of books for their local school’s library.

To enter, fans are invited to take a photo of a Harry Potter book in a favourite location in Australia or New Zealand. And in max 100 words explain what the Harry Potter books, and what the photo location, means to them. 

Review: The Supernatural Survival Guide

If you’re anything like me, knowing everything you can about the looming alien invasion, the rise of the kraken, and how to avoid ghostly things that hide in haunted houses is very, very important.

And luckily for me (and you) there’s a book that is here to help. The Supernatural Survival Guide will tell you everything you need to know about EVERYTHING supernatural. Everything to be wary of and how to deal with it if it comes knocking on your door (or creeping round your yard!).

Review: Pony

This is so completely and utterly different to anything in the Wonder suite but it is every bit as engaging, gripping and heart-warming. 

With an historical setting that references the customs, time and place of late 19th century America, Pony is the story of Silas Bird, his unique gift and a friend named Mittenwool.

Silas has been raised by his father single-handedly, his mother having died in childbirth. Pa is a bootmaker but has a passion for ‘photography’ – that is  the daguerreotype process which he has improved upon to such an extent that his skilful work in creating portraits has almost eclipsed his cobbling trade. 

For as long as he can remember Silas has had the company of Mittenwool. He realises at a very early age that it is only he who can see, hear and even touch Mittenwool and as he grows older he realises that his best friend is, in fact, a ghost – and not the only one that Silas can see.

When three rough horsemen come in the middle of the night and take Pa away by force, Silas is left alone with his fear but luckily with Mittenwool for some small comfort. A strangely marked pony which had been with the kidnappers returns the following morning, as if as a sign to Silas, who takes control of his fear, and despite Mittenwool’s stern warnings, the boy follows the trail of his captive father.

The wild and often frightening adventure that ensues, crosses wilderness unknown to Silas and the dubious help of a grizzled old US Marshall, who claims to be hunting the same gang, is little help to the boy who battles his constant struggle to keep his emotions in check. Along the way, Silas’ wonderings about his father’s true history, and thereby his own, becomes overwhelming and he also realises that whatever the outcome, his journey of discovery is only just beginning.

Silas’ quest for the truth about his father, his mother and Mittenwool lead him far away from his childhood home and the narrow confines of his life with his pa. The revelation of the terrible wrongs against the First Nations people, the sad history of the soldiers involved in the Mexican Wars and the impending grief of the Civil War all become part of the fabric of Silas’ journey and shape the rest of his life.

An adventure, a tale of love, courage and resilience with some history thrown in filled with memorable characters and dramatic incidents, this will become a firm favourite with many readers. Those who have quickly become fans of Oddity (Eli Brown) will certainly be keen as this echoes that same sort of setting. Although the publisher (and others) suggest ten years upwards, I am suggesting this for readers a little older as there is no doubt that some of Silas’ ‘ghostly’ encounters could be quite confronting for some readers.

Title: Pony
Author: R J Palacio
Publisher: Penguin, Imprint: Puffin, RRP: $26.99
Date of Publication: September 2021
Format: Hardback
ISBN: 9780141377056
For Ages:10+
Type: Middle Grade Fiction

Review: Rowley Jefferson's Awesome Friendly Spooky Stories

Looking for a new series of books similar to The Diary of a Wimpy Kid, then this book is for you. Bestselling author Jeff Kinney introduces us to Rowley Jefferson and his Awesome Friendly Spooky Stories.

If you love the dark and being scared, then prepare to laugh out loud and be terrified at the same time as you encounter vampires, zombies and ghosts.

These comical, rollicking stories evolve from Rowley Jefferson’s vivid imagination. With over 14 stories featured in this instalment you will certainly be entertained while there is an underlying message we can all learn from.

One of the characters in the stories is Rowan, who discovers his hairy chest and uses hair remover only to discover a well-kept family secret.

Then there is Jasper, the town prankster who wakes up, only to realise he was dead? Did that mean he was a ghost?

Review: Super Geeks #2 Planet Pancake

Zeek and Arnie are back to implement Plan B to take over the world. And this time it starts (and ends!) with pancakes.

Dynamic duo and best geek friends Zeek and Arnie want to take over the world. Well, really it’s Zeek’s obsession, but Arnie's happy to tag along and help his friend achieve his goals.

Plan B is about finding treasures at the edge of the world, because money equals power and power equals world domination!

So Zeek and Arnie build a ship and head out across the ocean in search of gold.

Review: Monster Hunting for Beginners

Do you feel the itch for adventure? Are you pretty sure there is something out there waiting for you? Do you wish your dad would stop being so protective and scared all the time so you can go out there and find your calling?

Jack does.

Jack lives with his dad. His dad is a safe man who likes everything to be safe and likes to stay safe all the time. He doesn’t like adventure or risk. 

Jack craves adventure. He senses there is something more for him, but he loves his dad, so he follows all the ‘safe’ rules.

But then Jack's dad disappears, and a strange woman turns up claiming to be Jack's aunt. She isn’t very nice, and Jack is suspicious. And then an ogre appears, and Jack knows for sure something very odd is going on.

Junior Review: Left-Handed Booksellers of London

It is 1983 and 18 year old Susan Arkshaw has just been wrapped up in a surprising, frightening world. First, she discovers her mother’s friend, Uncle Frank Thringley, is a Sipper (some sort of Vampire). 

Then she meets Merlin, a handsome blonde-haired man who explains to her the ways of two worlds - the one the humans live in that we call ‘Reality’ and another that is called the ‘older world’. Sometimes these worlds merge and monsters can emerge from the shadows.

Susan has been attracting unwanted attention from all sorts of monsters, from scaley goblins to dangerous Fenris wolves. 

The booksellers in all their shops agree she is a danger and their Great Aunt Merrithew and Great Uncle Thurston think of her as a definite threat.

Junior Review: The Boy Who Stepped Through Time

When Perry into a Roman ruin while on a holiday in France, the last thing he expected was to be transported back 1700 years to Villa Rubia.

Now he must blend in as a slave (giving himself the name Peregrinus) to avoid arousing suspicion while he struggles to find his way home.

This adventure creates a lot of joy and curiosity as Perry gets entangled in the ancient ways of the Romans at Villa Rubia in a life he could never have envisioned.

When new threats arise and a friend is in danger of a terrible fate, Perry is confronted with an impossible choice. What is more important - his family or the life of an ancient friend?

I really enjoyed this book! As soon as it began, I was on the edge of my seat waiting to discover what would happen next.

Review: Echo in the Memory

What an enjoyable read.

This is a very original story, told in two separate viewpoints, both teenage boys called William, separated by 200 years of history.

The contemporary boy, Will Richards is a fifteen-year-old boy just trying to do his best in the face of neglect. 

He lives with his sister and mother, but his mum sometimes locks herself up in her room for days on end, leaving Will to care for himself and his sister Rosie.

His dad has other priorities. 

Nunn handles the next part of this delicately – Will’s mother is hospitalised, but the reader is not explicitly told why. 

Review: Oddity

I really enjoyed this quirky alternate-history fantasy novel. 

Set in the US in 1800's, where America is at war with Bonaparte's France, the story follows the adventures of thirteen-year-old Clover Elkins.

It has beautifully detailed line drawings by Karin Rytter that capture the  historical vibe perfectly.

Clover knows very little about her dead mother, other than she was a collector of "Oddities": regular looking objects that contain supernatural powers, such as a wineglass that flows with a never ending stream of wine (and drowns all onlookers). 

As these Oddities could be used as weapons in the war, there is a bounty on them. 

Clover is fascinated by the possibilities, but her father forbids Clover from seeking Oddities, knowing that they cannot be fully controlled and that ruthless forces are hunting them.