Author: Schizanthus Nerd

Feeling Worried – Kay Barnham

Illustrations – Mike Gordon

Feeling Worried is a great little picture book aimed at children from 5 to 9 years and is part of the Everyday Feelings series.

Ava helps her brother understand his maths homework that he’s been worried about all week. She advises her friend Bahar to talk to her parents because she’s worried about her parents’ divorce and which parent she’ll be living with when they separate. Ava helps the new girl at school, Mila, overcome her worry about having a different accent than the other kids in their school. Now Ava is worried about going to the dentist tomorrow. Will she ask anyone for help with her worry or keep it to herself? Can she overcome her worry?

Kay Barnham has done a great job of making a scary feeling not so scary. The message is clear in the different scenarios in the book that when you’re worried it can help if you talk to someone about it. There’s the sense in reading this book that having worries are understandable and there’s no judgement attached to them. There’s also positivity shining through the book, with the constant hope that things will be okay. Feeling Worried would make a great starting point for discussions with children about what worries them personally.

There’s a section at the back of the book with suggestions for other books relating to this topic along with a very useful section for parents and teachers. This section provides ideas for the adult to make the book interactive with the child or children they’re reading it to, with questions and activities aimed at exploring worry more.

Mike Gordon’s illustrations are also easy to ‘read’. The expressions on the faces of the people make it clear when someone is worried and when they feel better and the pictures line up well with what’s happening in the story. There’s a softness to the colours used, along with some brighter areas, that make the images calming to look at. I loved the style of the illustrations. There was a quirkiness to the pictures that really appealed to me, particularly the expression on the cat’s face and the tooth picture on the wall in the dentist’s office. The illustrations in this book remind me of Quentin Blake’s style, but in colour.

I can see this book being used for bedtime reading and also at libraries, schools and childcare centres. While I haven’t read any others in the series I would anticipate that this book along with the other books about being angry, jealous, sad, scared and shy would make a great set to help teach children to identify and deal appropriately with their feelings.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Free Spirit Publishing for the opportunity to read this book.

Rating: 5 out of 5.

Once Upon a Blurb

Anna is there to help her friends and her little brother with their worries, showing them how to talk it out, ask for support, and face new challenges. When she faces a visit to the dentist, though, Anna feels what it’s like to be worried herself. Will she take her own advice and help herself not worry?

Everyday Feelings Series: Young children face many strong feelings, some of which can be difficult to handle. This series uses humour and compassion to show children how to help others — and themselves — feel better when dealing with challenging emotions. Lively art illustrates the stories with charm and energy. At the end of each book, a special section for adults presents ideas for helping children deal with feelings in healthy ways, as well as a list of recommended books for further reading. Also available is a free downloadable leader’s guide for this series with additional information, discussion questions, and activities.

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Lighter Than My Shadow – Katie Green

Katie’s troubles with food began when she was a young child hiding toast in her bedroom and throwing food away. After experiencing bullying Katie’s doubts about herself really take root, especially after she compares her body to others and thinks hers is out of proportion. She begins deliberately restricting her food intake, then becomes obsessed with nutrition and calorie counting. Her father takes her to see a doctor at 17 and in the doctor’s ‘wisdom’ she suggests Katie eat ice cream. Surprise, surprise … this is not the solution. I know! Shocking, huh?!

Finally Katie is taken to hospital where she’s diagnosed with anorexia nervosa. Her parents withdraw her from school so she can be monitored at all times and she begins to see a psychologist and a dietician. Katie then uses the same perfectionism that got her into trouble in the first place as she begins to work towards recovery. Her intense need for control ensures she feels like she needs to do everything she attempts perfectly to make her feel good enough, but of course that doesn’t help.

Katie is very honest about her struggle with food and about instances of sexual assault she later experiences. Her discussions with her therapist about her anorexia, binge eating and effects of sexual assault are difficult to read but so important. Those who have experienced any combination of these issues will see themselves in Katie’s experience of healing and those who haven’t experienced them will gain valuable insight into the thought processes that accompany such painful experiences. Katie’s experience, while it certainly highlights how difficult recovery is, tells us that recovery is indeed possible.

Katie’s illustrations in this graphic novel are fantastic. I loved how well the story came to life through the pictures alone. It was clear how all of the people were feeling in each panel and the depiction of Katie’s thoughts and illness hovering over her head worked perfectly for the story. I applaud Katie for her strength and courage in not only telling her story in the first place but in sharing it with the reader.

I personally appreciated all of the “me, too” moments I felt while reading, as if Katie was speaking directly to my experience in specific sections. There was also a very significant lightbulb moment for me that I expect will help me immensely once I’ve had a chance to process the magnitude of the revelation I received. While it’s not all about me (except when it is) I’d like to personally thank Katie if she ever comes across this review because her courage in telling her truth is causing a ripple effect in my life. Thank you, Katie! I’ll be revisiting this book whenever I’m looking for wisdom, strength and understanding.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Diamond Book Distributors for the opportunity to read this graphic novel.

Rating: 5 out of 5.

Once Upon a Blurb

Like most kids, Katie was a picky eater. She’d sit at the table in silent protest, hide uneaten toast in her bedroom, listen to parental threats that she’d have to eat it for breakfast.

But in any life a set of circumstance can collide, and normal behavior might soon shade into something sinister, something deadly.

Lighter Than My Shadow is a hand-drawn story of struggle and recovery, a trip into the black heart of a taboo illness, an exposure of those who are so weak as to prey on the vulnerable, and an inspiration to anybody who believes in the human power to endure towards happiness.

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Ruby Wishfingers #4: King of the Castle – Deborah Kelly

Illustrations – Leigh Hedstrom

I’ve read all of the Ruby Wishfingers books that have been published so far and really enjoy the positive characters, Leigh Hedstrom’s adorable illustrations and the imaginative storylines. I confess I’ve already read Ruby Wishfingers: King of the Castle but during my first read I didn’t find it as enchanting as the previous novels.

I was interested to find out if a second read would change my mind about this one or if I’d work out what put me off the first time around. I’m glad I did as it turned out I loved this the second time around and have concluded that during my first read I must have been having one of those ‘nothing is ever good enough’ critical days where I just needed to get over myself.

Ruby inherited her Wishfingers magic from several generations ago. When she’s granted wishes she feels a tingling in her fingertips and to use them she makes a wish and blows on the tips of her fingers. Ruby is a lovely girl and usually ends up using a lot of her wishes to help other people or to fix problems that arise due to the unexpected fallout from previous wishes. She’s learned to be very careful regarding what she wishes for and remembers that it is very helpful to always have a spare wish, just in case.

Ruby is not the only Wishfingers with magic. Granny inherited some magic as well and she is helpful in providing guidance to Ruby. Also, Ruby has recently discovered that her younger brother, Jellybean, has inherited some magic of his own! In the previous book, Hide-and-Seek, Ruby loses one of her wishes and it is still missing at the beginning of this book.

When Ruby gets mad at Jellybean after wasting three of her new wishes on remedying problems he has created, she manipulates Jellybean into doing whatever she wants by declaring herself Queen Ruby and playing a game of Queen Ruby Says with him. Cousin Todd comes to visit and with Ruby still on her power trip, she begins bossing him around. Todd finds Ruby’s missing wish and decides that no one will be able to tell him what to do if he’s the King of Australia. Chaos ensues!

I definitely enjoyed this book more the second time around. I love that there are consequences for any poor decisions made, lessons are learned and children apologise for bad behaviour without having an adult tell them they have to. I look forward to reading the fifth book, Funny Money, upon its release and am interested to discover how the twist at the end of this book is explored.

Thank you very much to NetGalley, Wombat Books and Rhiza Press for the opportunity to read this book.

Rating: 4 out of 5.

Once Upon a Blurb

Ruby is back, with twelve new wishes! And one missing wish from last spring that is still floating about in the garden somewhere …

Jellybean is once again making mischief for Ruby, until she discovers the perfect way to make her little brother do exactly what she says. But Cousin Todd isn’t so keen on doing what Ruby says.

When Todd stumbles across Ruby’s missing wish he decides to teach her a lesson about being bossy, and make a few rules of his own.

Meet Australia’s new king and explore a country where school, homework, manners and peas are all banned. Discover monster trucks, giant jumping castles, furious principals and hungry crocodiles along with plenty of laughs in an all new Ruby Wishfingers adventure.

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Ventura Saga #2: The Glow of Fallen Stars – Kate Ling

DNF @ 42%

I really enjoyed The Loneliness of Distant Beings and so I was intrigued to find out what lay in store for our castaways after living their entire lives until now travelling through space with no hope of ever setting foot on land. While I’m allergic to romance I actually thought the forbidden romance between Seren and Dom in the first book was adorable.

Imagine my surprise when after the initial awe of exploring this unknown land along with Seren, Dom and their companions I wound up bored. I would’ve been happy to plod along had it not been for the extremely unbelievable development at 41%. I stopped at 42% because even though it was slow going beforehand the unnamed spoiler took me right out of the book and made me wish the author had left The Loneliness of Distant Beings as a standalone.

Having said that I’m certainly interested in The Truth of Different Skies because I love a good prequel and I’d like to find out how the events in Loneliness came to be. If I enjoy that one I’ll be revisiting this book because I’m hopeful that the prequel gives some sort of explanation that turns my unbelievable stance into an “oh, so that’s why that happened!”. If/When I make it to 100% on this one I will update this review.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Hachette Children’s Books, Australia for the opportunity to read this book.

Once Upon a Blurb

I longed so hard for all the things that make life life, and I never thought they’d be mine. But now … now they are. Now I have something to lose.

Seren and Dom have fled their old lives on board spaceship Ventura in order to be together. They crash-land on a beautiful, uninhabited planet, which at first seems like paradise.

There is no one to answer to … but no one to ask for help. And with each new day comes the realisation of how vulnerable they truly are.

This planet has secrets – lots of them. Uncovering them could be the key to survival, but at what cost?

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Tyrannosaurus Ralph – Nate Evans

Illustrations – Vince Evans

Can an ordinary kid become a heroic dinosaur?

After being taunted by a bully and getting flattened by a dinosaur, Ralph wakes up in a secret lab under a garage … as a Tyrannosaurus Rex! Professor Overdrive tell Ralph that his brain was put into the body of the T-rex and shows Ralph a message from King Clobberus Crunch who is demanding earth send their designated champion to fight in his gladiator style arena or else the planet will be destroyed. Professor Overdrive then drops the bombshell that Ralph is going to be earth’s champion!

Fights to the death with champion fighters from rival planets remind Ralph of when he and his friend Dave play video games fighting fantasy monsters, only this time it’s real. Thud! Crunch! Smash! Kaboom!

With a cast including aliens, a T-rex, a hunchback, a Professor and heroic kids (male and female), delicacies like pizza and blood grub pies on the menu, atom smashing wedgies, flaming farts, time travel, the threat of barf, and intergalactic gladiator fights, kids are going to have heaps of fun reading this graphic novel.

Along for the ride with Ralph and Professor Overdrive, we meet Lugnut, the Professor’s hunchback assistant, Joona, a girl alien who may be friend material, along with a host of cute, gruesome, scared and mean aliens all battling it out to save their respective planets from annihilation at the hands of evil Clobberus Crunch and his ugly minions.

Seasoned and reluctant readers alike will be drawn in by the non-stop action, the humour and the interesting facts about gladiators at the end of the story. The illustrations are brilliant – bright, full of humour and action themselves, and with the best expressions you’ll probably ever see on a dinosaur.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Andrews McMeel Publishing for the opportunity to read this graphic novel.

Rating: 4 out of 5.

Once Upon a Blurb

Tyrannosaurus Ralph is the story of fourth-grader Ralph, whose brain is uploaded to a T-Rex body by mad scientist and then is expected to battle in an alien arena to save Earth.

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Depression & Other Magic Tricks – Sabrina Benaim

poetry and i usually don’t mix / we repel like opposing ions / my synapses don’t fire / when sparked by verse / however / a flame was lit at the start / kindled by depression and anxiety / yet heartbreak’s oxygen did not fan the flames / satisfied yet / desiring more like / explaining my depression to my mother / a conversation

i don’t know sabrina benaim / never heard her voice / yet depression and i are old buddies / we dance around each other / and make somber music / in the dark recesses of my mind / we love yet hate / one another but / we continue our duet

at times i am sure my getaway car / has obscured my shadow in dust / then i turn the corner / and the sunlight causes me / to glance behind with horror / my shadow has grown large / absorbing the light / and creeps closer / as it follows / sabrina you exhale with eloquence / shine light upon the dark / adjust focus so we can see / the hope depression conceals

anxiety can pick me / out of a line up / loneliness of knowing / in a crowded room / i’m the only one / from my tribe / despair at lack / of understanding / treated like a curiosity / different / not enough

heartbreak / a foreign land / i am an alien there / yet made clear / by hearing sabrina

dark / depression / loneliness / heartbreak / anxiety / despair / swirl into one / flood of emotion / aching / desert of nothingness / numbness / muddy clay that distorts / yet resilience / hope / light

gratitude / netgalley / gratitude / button poetry / gratitude / independent book publishers association / my thoughts for free / lasting impression / set aside other words / drink in this offering / to be returned to again / and again / to sip / to guzzle / to absorb / no regrets

Rating: 4 out of 5.

Once Upon a Blurb

Depression & Other Magic Tricks is the debut book by Sabrina Benaim, one of the most-viewed performance poets of all time, whose poem “Explaining My Depression to My Mother” has become a cultural phenomenon with over 5,000,000 views. 

Depression & Other Magic Tricks explores themes of mental health, love, and family. It is a documentation of struggle and triumph, a celebration of daily life and of living. Benaim’s wit, empathy, and gift for language produce a work of endless wonder

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Nothing – Annie Barrows

Finally! A book that comes with its own cover story!

“What are you reading?”

“Nothing.”

The banter between Frankie and Charlotte hooked me before they’d even finished their first conversation. I loved their friendship! They were both fluent in sarcasm, were self-deprecating and funny. They got frustrated with one another. They knew each other so well and supported each other, even when supporting meant tough love. They were real! The way Frankie and Charlotte talked and thought reminded me of a rapid fire Gilmore Girls script. I could definitely imagine a teenage me being friends with these girls.

Nothing unfolded through alternating chapters. Charlotte’s first person written account of how nothing interesting ever happens to them was followed by third person prose that focused more on Frankie. This type of format can be hit and miss, but this time it worked for me. There weren’t gaping holes in the narrative where you needed to catch up and the changeover between first and third person didn’t feel disjointed.

I don’t exactly know how the author managed it but this book about nothing and how boring it is that nothing ever happens is actually quite interesting and very entertaining. Between the nothingness and the boredom, there are friendships (obviously), families, first kisses, parties, a road trip, drugs, alcohol, school, mobile phones, swearing, a stick figure, driving lessons, and plenty of ridicule aimed at YA book clichés, although not in that order.

The style had me believing that this could easily have been written by a teenager. Not in a condescending ‘ugh’ way, but in a ‘the author captured the teenage experience, including the way they talk’ way. I’d happily sign up for another instalment of the nothingness and boredom of these girls’ lives.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and HarperCollins Publishers Australia for the opportunity to read this book. I’ll be checking out the author’s back catalogue and will be on the lookout for future releases.

Rating: 4 out of 5.

Once Upon a Blurb

Nothing ever happens to Charlotte and Frankie. Their lives are nothing like the lives of the girls they read about in their YA novels. They don’t have flowing red hair and hot romantic encounters never happen—let alone meeting a true soul mate. They just go to high school and live at home with their parents, who are pretty normal, all things considered. But when Charlotte decides to write down everything that happens during their sophomore year to prove that nothing happens and there is no plot or character development in real life, she’s surprised to find that being fifteen isn’t as boring as she thought. It’s weird, heartbreaking, silly, and complicated. And maybe, just perfect.

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Rizzoli & Isles #12: I Know a Secret – Tess Gerritsen

I adore the Rizzoli & Isles TV show and have watched every episode at least once and sometimes about five times. I love the friendship between Jane and Maura. I love the stories about their families and the crime scenes they attend and the murders they solve. I love that I get to observe Maura doing the job that should have been mine.

I adore Rizzoli & Isles books even more. You’d think after 12 books, the whole Rizzoli & Isles things would be stale. I’m delighted to tell you it’s not! I’ve been waiting so long for this book and now begins the wait for Rizzoli & Isles book 13. After not being completely overjoyed by the last Tess book I read, Playing with Fire (please forgive me Tess), I was approaching I Know a Secret with some trepidation. However I needn’t have worried as this book instantly reminded me of the Tess whose writing I fell in love with, admittedly after I’d already fallen in love with her TV characters.

I don’t want to discuss the plot for fear of accidentally giving something away but I couldn’t wait to find out how it was all going to unravel. I’m pleased to report that I got some of the big reveal correct but I’m equally pleased that I was completely wrong about some of it too. I hate books where the ending is telegraphed from about page 6 but I’ve never encountered that problem with a Tess book.

The only person I know who’s about to read this book is my mother (also a huge Tess fan) but she’s got half a book to go before she starts this one and I may well explode before I get to discuss it with her and find out what she thought about the things that surprised me and what didn’t, and all the things I loved about this book.

So, here’s the information you need to remember. If I’m found as an icky, explodey jumble of splatter in the next couple of days, please tell Maura when she does my autopsy that I couldn’t hold in my excitement about this book any longer and accidentally detonated myself, and I’m very sorry about the mess.

Bring on book 13!

Rating: 5 out of 5.

Once Upon a Blurb

In the twelfth gripping novel featuring Jane Rizzoli and Maura Isles, the crime-solving duo — featured in the smash-hit TNT series Rizzoli & Isles — are faced with the gruesomely staged murder of a horror film producer.

The crime scene is unlike any that Detective Rizzoli and medical examiner Maura Isles have ever before encountered. The woman lies in apparently peaceful repose on her bed, and Maura finds no apparent cause of death, but there is no doubt the woman is indeed dead. The victim’s eyes have been removed and placed in the palm of her hand, a gesture that echoes the terrifying films she produces. Is a crazed movie fan reenacting scenes from those disturbing films?

When another victim is found, again with no apparent cause of death, again with a grotesquely staged crime scene, Jane and Maura realize the killer has widened his circle of targets. He’s chosen one particular woman for his next victim, and she knows he’s coming for her next. She’s the only one who can help Jane and Maura catch the killer.

But she knows a secret. And it’s a secret she’ll never tell. 

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Fish-Boy – Vanita Oelschlager

Illustrations – Mike Blanc

Fish-Boy is an Inuit folk tale told by Vanita Oelschlager. It’s a wonderful book in which the story of Fish-Boy is told to a young child by Teragloona, a wise old Inuit man. Fish-Boy is the origin story that explains why there are so many sea-parrots (Atlantic puffins) on the stony islands of the far north. This is a story of fathers and sons, kindness and rejection, hospitality to guests, friendship and some magic.

I loved the story and found the glossary very helpful and well written. The illustrations by Mike Blanc are what initially grabbed my interest in this book and are absolutely brilliant. I loved the people, the backgrounds, the use of colour, and the way they immerse you in the story.

I adore the tradition of teaching origin stories to each generation by the elders in so many Indigenous cultures. I’ve had a huge interest in learning about Indigenous cultures, their traditions and stories since I was a child. I had a computer program called 500 Nations with audio by Kevin Costner and I’d lose all concept of time as I explored the richness of cultures I knew nothing about. This book has really whet my appetite again and I want to learn more about the culture of the Inuit people.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Vanita Books for the opportunity to read this book. I hope to see more books retelling other Inuit folk tales by Vanita and Mike.

Rating: 5 out of 5.

Once Upon a Blurb

The Arctic region of North America is a land of long days, icy cold, hardy people and peculiar creatures. The Inuit people there have made traditional use of remarkable folk tales to find truth and explain the mysteries of an astonishing world.

In Fish-Boy, An Inuit Folk Tale, Vanita Oelschlager retells a tale passed down by a wise old Inuit. It’s an origin story involving a little magic and a very odd boy with a large heart for friendship. On a journey with his new father, he must confront misfortune and the malice of cold hearted villagers. But he has a way … and a lesson for all in the virtues of kindness and hospitality. 

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Happy Birthday! – Mamoru Suzuki

Happy Birthday! by Mamoru Suzuki is a love letter of sorts from a mother to their child where the mother recounts from the anticipation of her child’s birth through to the child’s ability to walk, then run. It then looks forward to when the child branches out on their own and assures the child that wherever they are their mother will always love them.

This book is intended as a birthday gift and children will love to hear about how loved they are. I expect children this book is read to who take everything literally will be eagerly waiting for the time when they gain the ability to fly as the looking forward part shows two children flying in the sky Peter Pan style. The illustrations are cute and use soft warm colours except for the end of the book when the Darling children follow Peter Pan to Neverland.

Thank you very much to NetGalley and Museyon Inc. for the opportunity to read this book.

Rating: 3 out of 5.

Once Upon a Blurb

The occasion of a birthday provide the opportunity to look back at the long days spent waiting patiently for the baby to be born, the special day it arrives, and the miraculous perfection of every stage of its growth. Soft, warm colors and cozy images are accompanied by a spare text that perfectly captures the all-encompassing love parents for their children. This birthday book will resonate with anyone who has loved a child. It is a gift that every child deserves.

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