4 Stars | Lost in a Good Book

The Sour Grape (#6) by Jory John

31 May 2024 Leave a comment

by Amy in 4 Stars, The Picture Book Corner Tags: children's picture book, food group series, jory john, pete oswald, picture book, the food group, three stars

Published: 1 November 2022
Publisher: HarperCollins
Illustrator: Pete Oswald
Pages: 40
Format: Picture Book
★ ★ ★ ★ – 4 Stars

The Sour Grape holds grudges for every reason under the sun. Lime never returned a scarf they borrowed? Grudge! Orange never called back? Grudge! But when a friend holds a grudge against the Sour Grape without listening to an explanation, the Sour Grape realizes how unfair grudges can be. Could a bunch of forgiveness and compassion be enough to turn a sour grape sweet?

Another course in the Food Group picture books introduces us to Sour Grape. It is a great story, not overly sweet or cute, but it was an interesting and reflective story. One that followed Grape as they told their tale of woe and sorry.

What I enjoy about John’s books is there is often a reason why a character becomes the way they are. This book is no exception as it demonstrate people often have reasons for their behaviour; things happen outside their control, something has happened in their past that can affect their present selves, or sometimes mistakes just happen. What is also wonderful is John makes sure there is a chance to develop as a character and grow by the end of the story. In this case realise so many issues are not a big deal if you communicate and have understanding.

I enjoyed the physical effect of being sour had on Grape, how it affected their outward appearance as well as their interactions with other people. John is great at storytelling and putting messages forward without wedging them in unnaturally, or worse, by having a large neon sign that says “here is the lesson”. The tone of the book is reflective, the message clear, but never unnatural.

I liked the message of this one and it’s is certainly one we could all learn. It’s not telling the reader they can’t be grumpy, or can’t let things annoy them, but it does ask to take things into perspective and have a little understanding. Focus on the positives in the world not the negatives. Let things pass, understand accidents happen, and people will make mistakes. Try not to let it consume your life to your own detriment and others.

John’s food puns on point again as always. I love how they suit the food in question, they aren’t generic and instead have purpose to their story. Oswald also comes through with adorable illustrations of various fruits. A banana walking a dog raises all sorts of questions but in the world of the Food Group gang it’s best not to think about it too much.

You can purchase The Sour Grape via the following

QBD | Booktopia | Blackwell’s

Dymocks | Wordery | Angus and Robinson

Fishpond | Amazon | Amazon Aust

169-Storey Treehouse (#13) by Andy Griffiths

28 May 2024 Leave a comment

by Amy in 4 Stars, Audiobook, Junior Fiction, Treehouse Series Tags: andy griffiths, Audiobook, four stars, stig wemyss, terry denton, Treehouse Series

Published: 5 September 2023 (print)/5 September 2023 (audio)
Publisher: Macmillan Australia/Macmillan Australia Audio
Pages: 272/1 hr and 37 mins
Narrator: Stig Wemyss
Format: Audiobook
Genre: Junior Fiction
★ ★ ★ ★ – 4 Stars

Now, Andy and Terry have built their biggest and most astonishing treehouse yet! It has everything they – and you – could wish for, including an electric pony stable, a Santa Land, a NOISY level, a kangaroo-riding range, a weather dome (where you can have whatever weather you want whenever you want it), a 100% edible gingerbread house and a potato-powered translation transmitter that allows you to talk to everything everywhere all at the same time.

There’s also a hall of funhouse mirrors, which is the perfect place to hide from Mr Bunkoff who is trying to catch Andy, Terry and Jill in order to send them to SCHOOL.

But Anti-Andy, Terrible Terry and Junkyard Jill, their trouble-making opposites, are trapped in one of the mirrors – and they want out. (Oh, and Mr Big Nose wants them to write their book … RIGHT NOW.)
Well, what are you waiting for? Can our heroes escape school, do battle with their doppelgangers AND meet their book deadline? Come on up to find out!

After thirteen books the Treehouse series has come to an end. It doesn’t feel that long ago since The 13-Storey Treehouse came out, but here we are thirteen books later and it’s all over. After a rocky previous book I was so glad this one was back on point. It was funny, it had classic Andy and Terry bits, classic absurd logic while still being realistic in universe, and a great new set of levels to enjoy.

I enjoyed the throwback to a level full of Santa clones, a nice reminder of the slightly forgettable 156-Storey book. There is also a fun level with a treehouse in the treehouse. I would like to see a giant wall sized poster of each level because a treehouse level could be an open flat landing, or it could be an enclosed space with rooms, I have seen both through this series so it would be nice to see a definitive look now that we’re finished.

After thirteen books of antics it’s finally addressed that these kids should be in school. The principal is the typical adult who is loud and unreasonable. I enjoyed the depiction of school as something strange and unwelcoming. As it’s described to the trio it isn’t that far from the truth, but it is also described in a way that would be unappealing to those used to running free. It would definitely be a fun read for kids currently being forced to attend school against their wishes.

One of the new features I loved was the WHATEVER-THE-WEATHER-YOU-WANT dome. What makes Griffiths’ writing great is the way Andy and Terry play off one another and this new storey was a perfect example. The banter and bickering between them starts off funny, goes on long enough to keep being funny, but stops just shy of becoming too much. There is an unspoken self-awareness of how long Terry’s ineptitude should be and Griffith balances it great in the book.

A reoccurring theme is signage, the use of signage, and Terry’s inability to follow signage. A great repeating gag that works well. Terry’s antics are fun as stand alones, but there is something fun about an ongoing joke, especially when executed well as Griffith usually does.

There is a lot of use of the new levels, I always find it more interesting to have new levels introduced and them being used. Nothing worse than adding thirteen new levels and have them never seen again. I know some of them don’t always add to the plot and are very nonsensical, but a few books in the past have made good use of them into the plot and this is another great example. The mirror trio that come to cause trouble are fun and it’s interesting the way the opposites are shown.

One of the joyful things about the Treehouse series is how it defies logic while also having its own set of rules for their universe. Flying cats, aliens, translators that work for animals, and cloning machines make sense in the forest but rules like injuries and gravity do still apply.

Stig’s voice shines through as he narrates the host of characters in this story. I will miss his exasperated tones as Andy and his befuddlement as Terry. Not to mention his wonderful way of bringing the illustrations to life with his chatter from the various creatures Denton draws on the page.

After thirteen books it’s a little sad to see this series come to an end but in true Andy and Terry form it’s an entertaining conclusion to the series. The formula remains and is integrated into the plot remarkably well, it’s hardly noticeable. We get a final Mr Big Nose book, a great additional break in the fourth wall, antic, chaos, a lot of laughs, and an ending that makes you know the trio will be living their best Treehouse lives in the forest.

You can purchase The 169-Storey Treehouse via the following

QBD | Booktopia | Dymocks

Wordery | Angus and Robinson | Blackwell’s

Fishpond | Amazon | Amazon Aust | Audible

A Fox Called Herbert by Margaret Sturton

17 May 2024 Leave a comment

by Amy in 4 Stars, The Picture Book Corner Tags: children's picture book, four stars, lgbt, LGBTQIA, margaret sturton, picture book

Published: 3rd April 2020
Publisher: Anderson
Illustrator: Margaret Sturton
Pages: 32
Format: Picture Book
★ ★ ★ ★ – 4 Stars

Meet Herbert, the rabbit who knows he was born to be a fox. When his mommy isn’t looking, he puts on pointy fox ears, makes himself a bushy tail, and asks his sister to paint him orange, just like a fox. But Mommy doesn’t understand; why can’t he just be a good rabbit?

This delightful picture book is a true celebration of being ourselves and supporting our loved ones. Let this joyful tale inspire you to be who you are and follow your dreams.

The story is a simple one about identity, there is no bigger meaning or explanation. Herbert feels like a fox and wants to look like one.

I liked that it isn’t an explicit animal allegory for trans or gender diverse kids, it is an entry level to identity and being able to be the identity you feel inside with support and understanding. The fact you have to find meaning yourself is fantastic because it can mean so many different things to different people on a range of different levels. The simplicity of it means you can read whatever you want into it without the text telling us what it’s meant to mean.

The illustrations are cute. Sturton’s designs are playful and she captures the playfulness and childlike innocence of Herbert. The colours are great and the full page spreads juxtaposed against the white space and the text works well in telling the story.

There are certainly other stories out there more complicated, more literal, and more detailed about identity but I liked that this doesn’t put Herbert in any particular category. He isn’t labelled, he isn’t trying to change anything right now. He only wants his mum to understand he doesn’t feel like the rabbit she thinks he is. Feeling like you are in the wrong body can mean a lot of different things, and the fact Sturton doesn’t choose one path for Herbert means this book can be interpreted by a lot more people, and maybe help them understand that there is nothing wrong in finding a body you are more comfortable in.

You can purchase A Fox Called Herbert via the following

QBD | Booktopia | Blackwell’s

Dymocks | Wordery

Fishpond | Amazon | Amazon Aust

Good Girl, Bad Blood (#2) by Holly Jackson

02 Apr 2024 Leave a comment

by Amy in 4 Stars, Audiobook, Young Adult Tags: a good girl's guide to murder, Audiobook, clare corbett, four stars, holly jackson, Jot Davies, kristin atherton, luke poli, maryam grace, richard hughes, young adult

Published: 30th April 2020 (print)/9th September 2021 (audio)
Publisher: Electric Monkey/Harper Collins
Pages: 417/11 hrs and 45 mins
Narrator: Jot Davies, Clare Corbett, Kristin Atherton, Luke Poli, Maryam Grace, Richard Hughes
Format: Audiobook
Genre: Young Adult
★ ★ ★ ★ – 4.75 Stars

Pip Fitz-Amobi is not a detective any more. With the help of Ravi Singh, she released a true-crime podcast about the murder case they solved together last year. The podcast has gone viral, yet Pip insists her investigating days are behind her. But she will have to break that promise when someone she knows goes missing. Jamie Reynolds has disappeared but the police won’t do anything about it. And if they won’t look for Jamie then Pip will, uncovering more of her town’s dark secrets along the way… and this time EVERYONE is listening. But will she find him before it’s too late?

The storyline of the second Good Girl’s Guide to Murder book takes place not long after the events in the first. Having come off the notoriety of her first investigation, Pip is trying to settle back down to real life again as promised but soon becomes involved in a missing persons case and so much more. The angle Jackson takes to justify Pip’s involvement this time round is valid. Jamie is missing, the police are otherwise engaged, and Pip’s ongoing curiosity and the pleas of her friend are hard to ignore.

Jackson weaves in the aftermath of book one as Pip recaps her first investigation formally to a wider audience. This also leads her into her second in a natural way. The characters who are impacted in the first book get to continue their story which is satisfying. It isn’t forgotten and the effect on the whole community is still there.

The story builds from a slow start into a gripping conclusion. There is a lot of mystery to work with and while it takes time to get going, there is still a finger on the pulse. The ending stayed with me much longer than the rest of the book, but that wasn’t because the rest of the book was bad. The slow start builds and builds, a complicated network of crimes and new development take you down various paths into a new uncovered piece of information. The connecting plot points play out well, stung along to one new discovery then another. The sordid world of various crimes growing with each chapter.

There is a wonderful exploration about the complexity of human beings. How circumstances can change someone, how trying to do the right thing isn’t always enough. It is a different approach compared to book one where there is a sole cold case to work through. Now, a real time missing person lends itself to more fervent behaviours, more panic as one thing leads to another, and a real time reaction of the public.

The story explores morally what is right, about who is really a bad person, and who is in the right, if anyone. What justifications are there for anything anybody does? It’s also incredibly sad, realising how unforgiving people can be. The right to be judge, jury, and executioner. Mob mentality, small town judgement, and people’s expectations are on show in full force and as intricate the story is, the simplicity of it is heartbreaking.

The ending was amazing, not only in the twist which, looking back, was laid out wonderfully, but also the outcome of the big finale. I’m impressed Jackson went in that direction, especially as it substantially darkens the series, and makes it more real for Pip. The whole book felt more real. Even with the completely possible events in book one, somehow this was more believable.

Once again I loved the formatting of the book. The inclusion of the podcast adds another element which is ideal for the audiobook. Having transcripts in the book is great but having them acted out in the different ways is a nice advantage for an audiobook to have. Usually things are slightly lacking from the physical copy – pictures, emojis and what have you.

The narrators did a fantastic job and Pip comes to life once more with Atherton at the helm. Her fear, her frustrations, and her passion are evident, and her youth and uncertainty are there as well. All the narrators did a great job with their characters, it didn’t feel like a radio drama, but at the same time having a whole cast of characters with their own voices made it feel like a full story.

This is an interesting second book, obviously there is more to come because the aftermath of this book is going to have ramifications both to Pip personally and the wider community. It’s already going down a dark path so it will be interesting to see what comes next.

You can purchase Good Girl, Bad Blood via the following

QBD | Booktopia | Dymocks

Wordery | Angus and Robinson | Blackwell’s

Fishpond | Amazon | Amazon Aust | Audible

Kill Joy (#0.5) by Holly Jackson

28 Mar 2024 Leave a comment

by Amy in 4 Stars, Audiobook, Young Adult Tags: a good girl's guide to murder, Audiobook, four stars, holly jackson, kristin atherton, mystery, richard hughes, young adult

Published: 18 February 2021 (print)/04 March 2021 (audio)
Publisher: Electric Monkey/Electric Monkey
Pages: 160/2 hrs and 59 mins
Narrator: Kristin Atherton, Richard Hughes
Format: Audiobook
Genre: Young Adult Mystery
★ ★ ★ ★ – 4 Stars

Pippa Fitz-Amobi is not in the mood for her friend’s murder mystery party. Especially one that involves 1920’s fancy dress and pretending that their town, Little Kilton, is an island called Joy. But when the game begins, Pip finds herself drawn into the make-believe world of intrigue, deception and murder.

But as Pip plays detective, teasing out the identity of the killer clue-by-clue, the murder of the fictional Reginald Remy isn’t the only case on her mind…

Find out where it all began for Pip in this prequel to the best-selling A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder and Good Girl, Bad Blood.

This prequel to A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder is a captivating read. It’s definitely one I would suggest reading after you’ve finished book one, there isn’t spoilers per se, but there is a lot dependent on knowing what happens in book one that makes it more impactful. I thought it was much better to read an origin type story knowing the end with an understanding of who these characters were. Especially since they can be fleshed out much better in the novel length format.

Having said that, it’s a fantastic story on its own; Pip’s deductive mind, the great costumes, and the roles everyone plays while still being themselves all make this short novella a thrilling story. Jackson keeps the tantalising mystery alive and delivers thrills to the reader with unexpected events and surprises and a night that doesn’t entirely go to plan.

Jackson’s use of language and Pip’s imagination lead you to into theories of your own about whether they might be there only for a fictional murder or if something more nefarious is going on. Being a #0.5 prequel you have a little knowledge that nothing major will happen, but that doesn’t mean you are safe either. It is easy to become caught up in the hints of mysterious footsteps, shadows in corners, missing party members, as well as the unknown factor about what is on other people’s character cards.

There are hints to the first book, reminding us that this is a town with a real murder, and it shows how fresh it was on Pip’s mins when her project starts not long after these events. But at the same time it remains its own fun story about a fun evening between friends and a great story on its own.

It introduces us to the characters, the town, and a new side of Pip. I love how we get to see the small spark of Pip’s deduction skills and having read the main book first see how far she can go when given a real mystery to dig her nails into.

I adored the ending. I was fascinated at Jackson’s approach to the murder mystery and old style Poirot type investigations. The various levels of commitment from each person, as well as the switch between being in character and being themselves adds another level because while it is played like a real murder, it is still a group of teenagers playing a game.

It is a great book to read if you have read A Good Girl’s Guide and it’s a great introduction if you haven’t. There’s a great sense of Pip’s character if you know how she works through the main book, and it’s a wonderful lead in to see the friends and some of the main players in the bigger story.

You can purchase Kill Joy via the following

QBD | Booktopia | Dymocks

Wordery | Angus and Robinson | Blackwell’s

Fishpond | Amazon | Amazon Aust | Audible