April Book Club
Rabbit, Soldier, Angel, Thief
A bouquet of flowers, a knotted piece of rope, twelve matchboxes filled with ashes, and a ushanka, soft and fluffy.
Beautiful, delicate words and a story rich in small kindnesses provide the perfect basis for this powerful tale set in WWII Russia. Rabbit, Soldier, Angel, Thief tells the story of Sasha, a six-year-old boy trying to survive a war without family and without a home. Although the hero is six, the book is definitely for older tweens who will be able to comprehend the complex mix of emotions that is love, compassion, confusion, being scared and feeling lost – and often all at the one time.
Author Katrina Nannestad is Australian and has researched thoroughly to craft such a detailed novel, her dedication and diligence showcased on each page. Her unique style of narrative is also on display throughout the book, with the heavy historical topic balanced with an overarching sense of family, friendship and belonging.
Given the current state of the world, this book is a particularly timely read with the realities of War brought to life in a way that is realistic though not explicit. A good way for tweens and teens to begin to understand such monumental historical events from a first-person perspective.
A beautifully written and thought-provoking book that handles a very mature topic with grace – and makes for an ideal conversation starter with your tween.
Available at QBD Books!
How to Make A Monster, Prometheus High
Mrs Mallory’s dead calico cat – lay on the operating table. He had been hit by a car on Monday, buried on Tuesday and exhumed by Athena on Wednesday.
Inventive, action-packed and undeniably quirky, it’s just another typical day at Prometheus High where students learn to resurrect the dead (among other more bookish pursuits), aboard a specially converted ocean liner.
While Athena Strange's first semester may have started with a bang, her lessons in reanimation, robotics and skulkers soon move too slowly, causing Athena to take matters into her own hands and that’s really when the excitement begins.
A debut novel from Melbourne-based author Stuart Wilson, this is a fun, light-hearted and unexpectedly lively romp into the world of learning the art of resurrection.
Available at QBD Books!
Ella at Eden; The London Thief
Following on from the Ella Diaries series comes the Ella at Eden series, which sees Ella growing up and attending boarding school. The London Thief is the sixth book in the series which sees Ella return to solve two new mysteries, this time involving a multi-million dollar painting from a London art gallery.
A junior fiction story (9+) for confident readers, this book can be read alone but is best read in order, starting with book #1 New Girl.
Available at QBD Books!