chrissy mcyoung | Lost in a Good Book

AWW 2021 Wrap Up

So my AWW plans for 2021 derailed so far there isn’t even a good analogy or example to describe how badly it failed. NEVERTHELESS! Originally I thought I only had 7 but I went through my reads of last year and found a few more bringing it up to a grand total of 14. Yay… They’re also mostly picture books which is a weird one, wasn’t expecting that. But from my plan of reading 40 and reviewing 35 I am just glad I’ve gotten something. It was a shame too because 2021 was the last year of the challenge (the official challenge, you can still do your own AWW challenge) and it would’ve been nice to go out on a win. I have included some that were read previously but I reviewed in 2021 so blurring some lines there but at this point I need to take what I can get.

Coinciding with, but not as a result of, the AWW ending I’m pulling back my challenges this year. I’ll still have my bingo card, but a less official AWW, plus I’m going to see how long I can go not having a Goodreads challenge and try not to stress myself on my reading habits. Even though having these challenges has helped my reading, I am curious to see how I go without them.

So many unread Aussie women are on my shelves and I have got to find the push to make me pick them up. It frustrates me so much to have the desire but never actually picking them up. I think it’s still the fact reading a physical book seems harder than audios, but even they have fallen by the wayside of late. Who knows! But enough depressive talk, these are my beautiful 14 books I read for AWW 2021.

AWW 2021 Books Read and Reviewed

Heart and Soul by Carol Ann Martin

Hello to You, Moon by Sally Morgan

Hello, Honey Bee by Felicity Marshall

The Artist by Alison Binks

Joey and Riley by Mandy Foot

Who Cares? by Krista Bell

Alphabet Dating by Monique McDonell

The Flywheel by Erin Hough

Rusty by Chrissy McYoung – Review

The Fire Wombat by Jackie French

Theodore the Unsure by Pip Smith – Review

Darkest Place by Jaye Ford – Review

Meet Me at the Intersection ed. Rebecca Lim and Ambelin Kwaymullina – Review

The Incredible Adventures of Cinnamon Girl by Melissa Keil – Review

Rusty by Chrissy McYoung

Published: March 2019
Publisher: Hairy Phish Publications
Illustrator: Chrissy McYoung
Pages: 56
Format: Picture Book
★ ★ ★ ★ – 4 Stars

Rusty is a dog that is going through the foster care system. Rusty is struggling to cope with all the rules and controls in his life and as such – keeps behaving in ways which cause his carers to leave. Rusty wants to give up and disappear, until things change. Rusty meets Rose.

I had the chance to hear McYoung talk at the Write Here! Festival a few weeks ago and hearing her talk about this book was fantastic and getting to chat with her a little bit afterwards as I bought her book was a delightful experience.Rusty’s story is about fostering and McYoung uses Rusty’s story to talk about how he can’t live with his mum and dad, and the troubles he has as he moves from home to home. This is such a powerful story because McYoung doesn’t hide from harsh truths, and she doesn’t sugar coat the experience of being cared for by multiple strangers and how scary that can be.

Through Rusty’s experience we see him go to multiple homes and be looked after by lots of people. Rusty’s feelings and thoughts are told and we see how he feels confused and unsure about his situation. There’s also a wonderful exploration about how when Rusty feels scared and trapped he will lash out. As a metaphor for a struggling foster child, as well as for an actual dog, this is a powerful message. Making people understand that there are real feelings and thoughts for those in Rusty’s situation and that everything feels too big, and out of control.

Even though Rusty is portrayed as a dog, his actions fit those of a child. He attends school, wants to phone his parents, and wants to play with friends but he’s confined by strict rules he doesn’t understand.

Through amazing illustrations we see Rusty’s thoughts and confusion about why people go away and not understanding why his carers act the way they act. So much is said in them and the way McYoung conveys Rusty’s feelings are impactful. There is humour as well, McYoung adds funny scenes and moments in pictures to bring up the mood like Rusty living under the sea or in a castle guarded by a knight, but the heart of the story and the emotional impact remains true.

What makes this story wonderful is that while there isn’t a perfect ending – there is hope. And hope and imperfection is important especially for children who see their own lives reflected in Rusty’s story.

There are eight additional pages of amazing facts and helpful resources at the back of the book to explain that Rusty’s story is based on real people McYoung has worked with (with some creative licence). She provides information about the various out of home care that kids are placed into in Australia as well as the variety of guides in how to help people who experience some of the intense emotions and reactions that Rusty experiences

This is an important story about an important subject and one that is explored well through this medium. Rusty’s story is one that needs to be told not only because it educates everyone but it might help someone find comfort in a similar situation.

You can purchase Rusty via the following

Publisher