March Book Club
This month on Franc’s Book Club we have two awesome options to get stuck into. A beautiful new graphic novel featuring a talking octopus for tweens and a new subgenre of YA romance – the hockey rom-com.
INKED (Junior Novel)
Karen Wasson and Jake A Minton
Graphic novels have certainly been having a moment of late and are not showing any signs of slowing down in popularity.
INKED is a beautiful offering within the genre, boasting both stunning, full colour illustrations from Jake A Minton and a really well-conceived (and funny!) storyline from Karen Wasson.
When 12-year-old Sid discovers a talking octopus in his family's fish shop, he is NOT happy. Sid is trying to keep a low profile from the bullies at school while he waits to get into the art school of his dreams – so the last thing he needs is a pesky, know-it-all, opera-singing octopus called Otto following him around!
But when auditions open in town for a new TV talent show, Sid and Otto have the chance to win enough prize money to solve all their problems. Can these frenemies work together to win so that they can go their separate ways, or will it all end in a full-blown televised disaster?
Or even worse … will Sid and Otto realise they actually make a pretty great team?
Perfect for readers 8+.
Fun Fact: The manuscript for INKED was the first ever graphic novel shortlisted for the Ampersand Prize.
Rival Darling (YA)
Alexandra Moody
The first book in the ‘Darling Devils’ series (and totes, TikTok famous), Rival Darling has all the components of the perfect feel-good rom-com – from dashing leading man to HEA, (which incidentally is now the standard abbreviation for ‘happily ever after’).
When Violet is left heartbroken by the captain of her school’s ice hockey team, she vows never to date a jock again. But to prove she’s moved on, she turns to the most unlikely person: her ex’s biggest rival, the notorious captain of the Ransom Devils.
Reed Darling is gorgeous, mysterious, and intimidating—the only thing people love to talk about more than his hockey skills are his exploits as a ruthless heartbreaker and bad boy. Who better to serve as Violet’s fake boyfriend until her ex gets the message, right?
But of course big feelings soon get in the way leading to romance on ice.
Writer Alexandra Moody is an Australian author who writes romance novels for young adults who has written over 20 books.
Perfect for fans of Lynn Painter and Jenny Han, the series is addictive easy reading – and readers are in luck as book two; Grumpy Darling is also soon to be released.
