Review: The Not So Quiet Life of Marcel Marceau

Like most people I opened The Not so Quiet Life of Marcel Marceau knowing very little about the man beyond the typical mime gags. After reading, I was actually disappointed in myself that I had never learned more, for Marcel Marceau was a truly exceptional human being. From fleeing his home in Strasburg as a child and watching friends and family being marched off to concentration camps, to joining the French Resistance and being instrumental in saving countless lives. This was all before becoming a world famous performer who was still touring the world, well into his 80’s.

Review: The Sunbird: Young Readers’ Edition

Sara Haddad has adapted her well-received and highly topical adult novella to this edition for younger readers. While most would try to shield children from the horrors of war, even young kids can – and should – learn of the controversial history of Palestine, through the eyes of those who live there.

Written from a child’s perspective (as a now old woman – Nabila – recalls her early life to a ten-year-old boy called Zane), this slender volume recounts the experience of one child, one family, one homeland during the Nakba.

Until 1948, Nabila lived happily in her village, playing with friends, running amongst the olive trees, excited to soon be starting school – a simple life but one of joys and pleasures. 

Until the bombs start falling.

Review: Powerful Like A Dragon

A dragon is proud, strong, kind. Be powerful like a dragon.

Words that bolster and build incentive to never give up. Never give in. Especially to the ravages and horrors of war. 

One would think that stories centred around this theme would be a thing of the past and yet, the plight of refugees displaced by senseless conflicts remains a global concern to this day.

Powerful Like a Dragon is a compelling piece of storytelling based on award-winning author, Christopher Cheng’s real-life family history. Caught in the grips of invasion in the midst of World War II, many of Cheng’s extended family made the life-saving decision to flee their homeland in Hong Kong and seek refuge in China.

Review: The Boy Who Didn't Want To Die

One doesn’t often read a graphic novel that is autobiographical. I think Raymond Briggs’ is the only one I can recall off the top of my head, but this one by Holocaust survivor and British scientist Peter Lantos BEM FMedSci is an example of how powerful this format can be.

While it deals with an episode of history that is both terrifying and confronting, the format and the narrative from a child’s perspective means it is less so for younger readers, while still delivering factual information.

Peter Lantos, a Hungarian Jew, was 5 years old when he and his parents were deported to Bergen-Belsen, where his father subsequently died. 

Through many adverse and frightening situations, Peter and his mother survived Belsen, and while they were liberated by the US Army, they were, by that time, in Magdeburg which became Soviet occupied territory.

Review: Hidden Treasure

Set in England, 1918, it is the day that her brother Harry is leaving for the Somme that twelve-year-old Bo, a mudlark, finds the Eclipsing Moon jewel on the exposed riverbed of the Thames; washed up in mud. 

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

Review: The Puppets of Spelhorst and The Hotel Balzaar

Long ago in a land called Norendy, there were five puppets whose destiny was unknown. 

They had been lying for some time at the bottom of a trunk with the name Spelhorst, engraved on the outside.

There was a king, a wolf, a girl, a boy and an owl puppet. 

They waited for their story to begin.  

The personification of the puppets allows their voices and opinions to be heard.

An old sea captain owns the name of Spelhorst. 

Totally alone in the world, he spends a lot of time simply gazing out to sea, sharing sounds created by the movement of others around him. 

10 Quirky Questions with author Katrina Roe

1. What's your hidden talent?

I’m great at finding things that nobody else in my family can find. Oh and I make a mean cup of tea. Seriously, you should try my tea.

2. Who is your favourite literary villain and why?
Dolores Umbridge. She is the villain I love to hate. She’s just like the mean girls at school who pretended to be nice while stabbing you in the back.

Review: Jack's Island

Set during WW2, on an island off the coast of Australia, best friends Jack and Banjo seek to experience adventure and excitement at every opportunity, no matter how dangerous or threatening it is. Their motto is, don’t get caught!

For the people of the island, after experiencing the hardship of the Depression, it seems that lack will never end. Lack of food, lack of clothing, and lack of work.

It is a time when teachers are needed. Those that served in the Great War are called back to teaching duty. But there are some still unfit mentally and emotionally for the job.

Dunny cans and red-backed spiders, building billy-carts, the secret manipulation of the law to keep a boy from being put in a home, and a life-threatening swim in dangerous waters to save the boys’ lives, are part of the structure of this riveting story.

Review: Those Girls

Pamela Rushby’s latest book, Those Girls, brings into the limelight the lives of extraordinary women in the Australian Women’s Land Army, and their valuable contribution during the war. 

The story focuses on the lives of the three leading characters – Aileen, Glad and Hilly.

The story begins in 1942. Sixteen-year-old Hilly, with her parents’ permission, and accompanied by her friend Liz, enlist in the Land Army. 

Within a week they are harvesting potatoes on a farm, a task deemed impossible by Liz, who abandons the idea and leaves the first day.

Hilly encounters other girls that are part of a larger enlisted group, but it is Glad, Aileen and Hilly that fit together, and remain working in partnership throughout the war. 

Book Lists: Peace and War

We’ve grouped together some of the many book lists we’ve shared over recent years, in case you missed them the first time around.

We hope they inspire you to pick up a book you’ve not read before, or find a book to help explore and better understand a particular subject with readers of all ages.

Peace and war feature in many books, from picture books for preschoolers and older readers to YA fiction. 

Over the years we've shared more book lists on this topic than any other. While non-fiction can teach us about historical events and people who have had an impact on the world, fiction gives us stories with new and different perspectives, and helps develop empathy. These books are a window into history and a prompt for a better future.

Je suis tolérante - Stories representing different historical and contemporary cultures, and encouraging peace and tolerance. http://www.kids-bookreview.com/2015/01/book-list-je-suis-tolerante.html

Anzac Day - Remembrance - Ten picture books use stories to help remember those who have served in wartime. http://www.kids-bookreview.com/2017/04/terrific-10-anzac-day-remembrance.html

Anzac Day - Experiences of war - These books explore what war is and the impact of the experience of war. http://www.kids-bookreview.com/2017/04/terrific-10-anzac-day-experiences-of-war.html

Picture books about Gallipoli and Anzacs - Stories that are narrative and stories with a strong focus on facts about World War I. These titles include some based on true stories. http://www.kids-bookreview.com/2015/04/book-list-picture-books-about-gallipoli.html

Picture books about peace and hope - Amidst conflict it's important to have hope and seek peace. These stories help children understand these concepts. http://www.kids-bookreview.com/2014/04/book-list-picture-books-about-peace-and.html

Young adult novels about war and conflict - A selection of stories that provide insight into the impact of war, particularly on young people. http://www.kids-bookreview.com/2014/04/book-list-young-adult-novels-about-war.html

Middle fiction novels about war and conflict - Stories told using narrative fiction can help young readers to understand the experience of war and its ramifications on a personal and global level. http://www.kids-bookreview.com/2014/04/book-list-middle-fiction-novels-about.html

Picture books about war and conflict - The complexity of war can make it a difficult subject to talk about. These books are helpful in raising and exploring the concept of war with young children. http://www.kids-bookreview.com/2014/04/book-list-picture-books-about-war-and.html

ANZAC books worth knowing - Five picture books about experiences of the ANZAC soldiers, told from different perspectives. http://www.kids-bookreview.com/2012/04/anzac-books-worth-knowing.html

More books and lists with stories looking at the experience of war http://www.kids-bookreview.com/2016/04/anzac-day-2016-book-list-books-about.html

Review: Anzac Ted 10th Anniversay

Written in rhyming verse, Belinda Landsberry’s timeless story is celebrating its 10^th Anniversary with this Special Edition.

A luxurious cloth cover embraces the contents, which start with stunning end pages.

Not much to look at, Anzac Ted has lots of external flaws, for time has aged him.

For the children who see him at Show and Tell, he is worthless.

 Worn and patched, with missing parts, his value is hidden within the stories he carries.

Review: Absolutely Everything!

This chatty, funny, fast-paced and intelligent book is one for all ages - although technically it’s for 10 - 14 year-olds. It’s exactly the kind of book that adults wish they’d had when they were a kid.

With a welcome mix of remarkable true stories and facts, the revised and expanded version of Absolutely Everything contains a wealth of information to leave you spell-bound. 

A feast for the eyes and brain, this book gets in your ear about random and interesting things - like the interconnections between science, history and the nature of planet earth. And all are broached in the most wonderful, accessible ways.

Review: Wear a Purple Poppy

We wear red poppies to remember our soldiers that served in the wars.

 Purple poppies are worn to represent the animals – trackers and messengers, that served in various capacities during war.

The Dicken Medal and the Blue Cross Medal are awarded to animals for courage and bravery. 

In 2019, the 24^th February was declared National Day for War Animals by the Australian Parliament. This day is also observed by New Zealand.

The roles of horses, mules and camels in wartime are often spoken about.

Review: Until the Road Ends

After years of eking out an existence on the streets, Beau is saved from death by Peggy Alford. The rescue is life-changing for both animal and human.

Mabel the cat, already a permanent resident in the Alford household, is owned by Peggy’s brother Wilf. When Beau joins the family, great discord surfaces between him and the vain, selfish, and territorial Mable.  

Enter Bomber the courier pigeon. Then there were three. It is the animals’ narrative that controls the story.

In Europe, Hitler’s war has broken out. Dogs and cats are being euthanised, food becomes scarce, and children, including Peggy and Wilf, are sent to the countryside for safety.

Mr Alford is not conscripted due to his asthma but is allocated the duty of air raid warden.

Review: Yellow Butterfly - A Story from Ukraine

Wordless but powerful, this extraordinary response to the war in Ukraine will tear at the heartstrings.

Wordless picture books are open to interpretation by the reader. They activate imagination and create discussion.

It opens on darkness. The dark rain of destruction falls, filling the surrounding world. Insurmountable barricades appear; barbed wire fences are erected. A child stands staring through the spikes. A shadow of that same child becomes any child; alone and defenceless.

The child sees the barbed wire reforming, becoming a giant spider trying to devour her. She runs but there is no escape.

Filled with fear, she enters a tunnel.

Review: Inkflower

When a masterful storyteller distils the essence of the past and reinstates it into a meaningful, moving context for those for whom that past never existed, the result is forcibly compelling. Inkflower by Suzy Zail is this and more.

Zail weaves truths and imaginings into a novel for young people that both spellbinds and beleaguers belief. 

She states her father taught her we have to talk about the things that scare us before we can change them, so too must the reader experience some uncomfortable realisations just as teen protagonist, Lisa Keller, is forced to after learning about the terminal condition of her beloved father.

Emil Keller (formerly Rosenfeld) has a successful career, comfortable home and doting family. And only a handful of months left to enjoy them. 

Review: Deadly Waters: Australia's Second World War

It’s 1931. Cliff moves 300 miles from his rural life to Sydney leaving his friends and everything familiar behind. But his passion for cricket is nurtured at his new school, and a memorable view of Charles Kingsford Smith flying the Southern Cross over the Harbour bridge is added to his experiences.

The future brings change and great challenges when Cliff joins the Royal Australian Naval Reserves and trains for war. He is allocated the role of signalman learning flag semaphore. 

On the social front he meets Marie. Called into active service after war is declared, his first dangerous assignment is aboard a mine sweeper patrolling off the coast of eastern Australia. He is later transferred to HMAS Australia during War in the Pacific where he experiences battles and kamikaze (suicide bomber) attacks.

Review: The Riddle of Tanglewood Manor

Mystery. Ghosts. Time travel. The Riddle of Tanglewood Manor really does have it all.

Sam and Harry move with their parents from the city to a remote, dilapidated manor during the COVID-19 pandemic. The boys explore the labyrinth-like house. They find spooky portraits of long-dead people and secret rooms. 

In the dust-coated library, they discover a book in which a riddle appears and transports them back in time to 1919.

With chapter names like ‘The Horror’, ‘The Manor Attack’ and ‘Disappearing Doors’, Tracey Hawkins has created intrigue. The writing propels readers into each new scene. 

Hawkins has created a realistic brother relationship layered with both camaraderie and power shifts. 

Review: You Don’t Know What War Is

Twelve-year-old Yeva tells one story in an ocean of narratives from the heartbreaking invasion of Ukraine. We are very fortunate that hers is an engaging and compelling voice - and that she is willing to share her experience. 

In a perfect world, we’d say: ‘You’re right, Yeva! We don’t know what war is and neither do you, so go enjoy your bowling birthday party with friends and then a happy, safe time with your family.’  

In our imperfect world, we have a twelve-year-old girl and her Grandmother fleeing their ravaged, war-torn home-town of Kharkiv to live as refugees for months, before ultimately finding shelter in Dublin. 

Until you’ve been there, you don’t know what war is. 

Yeva is right. We don’t know. 

Review: The Nightingale And The Bear

At its heart, this is a book about standing up for yourself and making sense of unfathomable events, such as war. 

The book has been created to foster a sense of resilience and the impetus to stand up for yourself/others if you feel there has been injustice. It has the added bonus of generating a sense of optimism and purpose in the face of great odds.

Standing up for yourself, and others, can really matter.

These words grace the cover, along with a bear and nightingale, atop the respective blue and yellow of Ukraine’s flag.