Adele Broadbent's Blog, page 9

Lord of the Flies

Ralph treks between the trees and past small ponds. His school uniform is torn and dirty and there is no one from his plane anywhere to be seen. He finally breaks the treeline to see a beach ahead and a cool deep pool in front of him. The thrill of a swim wipes everything from his mind as he sheds his uniform and plunges into the water.

When another boy appears, Ralph hardly notices, still full of the excitement that they seem to be grownup free. He soon cartwheels across the sand, enjoying the space and wildness of where they have found themselves.

It’s only when the other boy speaks of the flames in the plane, and the possibility of other boys…

When Ralph finds a large shell, the other boy explains what it is and how it can be blown. Doing so, brings a trickle of small boys in torn, dirty uniforms from between the trees. Along behind them is a line of older boys – led by a boy named Jack. And this is where their troubles begin.

Who is going to be leader? What are the rules going to be, or should there be no rules at all?

The longer they are on this tiny island, their clothing is shed, their hair grows longer, along with their inner wildness. Jack likes to hunt and stirs up the boys away from rules, order and kindness into ruthlessness and chaos. Will they be their own downfall?

 

I have never read the original Lord of the Flies, but knew it was a tale of boys lost together on an island, trying to survive, taking sides and turning feral.

This beautiful graphic novel of this classic captures the initial joy of boys without grownups, and then their slow slide into a pack mentality, chaos and blood.

  Snippets of William Golding’s text appear throughout the novel, capturing the original feeling of the novel, and the beautiful illustrations portray the wilderness of their new lives on the island. Time before and after the crash that left them marooned is shown, where main character Ralph loved the wildness of the countryside when he was even younger. Living rough for months however is much harder than ever imagined, even without the powerplay of an older boy.

This luscious hardback graphic novel is the perfect way to introduce so many more readers to this classic. It is however violent (not as much as the original) and requires reader age guidance.

 

Author – William Golding

Adapted & Illustrated by – Aimee de Jongh

Age – 13+

Graphic Novel

 

 

 

(2025, Graphic Novel, Classic, Survival, Feral, Control, No responsibility, No grownups, Wilderness, Deserted Island, Murder, Pig hunting, Adventure, Animals, Betrayal, Bullies, Murder)

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A Kids Book About Depression

Depression is more common than we think, and can affect people of all ages.

Depression can be a scary word for some, and also something that is hard to understand. This book helps explain Depression and how people can help sufferers and even more importantly what it is, so it can be recognised, which can than lead on to getting help.

This series of books, ideally to be read between a child and grownup, are written by those who understand the topic personally. In A Kid’s Book About Depression, author Kileah first introduces herself and then the topic.

She highlights that it can sound scary, but then explains the feelings that came with depression and how confusing it was.

A fog descends upon depression sufferers, blotting out any happiness, colour or security and the overwhelming sadness is hard to tackle. Even feelings themselves were blocked out. Kileah explains more of what it’s like to have depression to help recognise the symptoms.

But as in all of the books in this series, solutions are provided, and with depression it begins with talking to someone about how you feel, or don’t feel. First steps are given to get the help needed for those with depression. Everyone is different and multiple options are discussed to help find the right solution.

Asking for help is one of the key options, along with talking to someone you trust.

There are no pictures within this book series, but fonts and colours throughout help tell the story.

 

Author – Kileah Mcllvain

Age – 7+

 

 

 

(2025, DK, Penguin Random House, Series, Feelings, Sadness, Melancholy, Depression, Fog, Sad thoughts, Understanding, Talking to someone, Getting Help)

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Left To Nowhere

99 steps from the end of your street is the edge of Nowhere in Particular. It might be nowhere, but it is somewhere to the creatures that live there. It’s in fact somewhere special.

This is a land of riotous colour. A land of colourful balloons that swim in the sky. A Sunday family activity is to pop a balloon – but this activity soon becomes a national past time, popping more and more balloons, with bigger, better, stronger machines. No longer is a stick with a pin enough, as the sound of the Pop! is so satisfying.

Before long, the colour leaves the sky, as less, and less, and less balloons float above. Until there is only one.

Can their desire for the Pop! be overcome to allow the last balloon to survive?

When they realise their mistake, instead of joy, there is conflict and blame.

Can they fix their huge mistake?

 

A sophisticated tale of diversity, threatened by power, control and mistakes made by the masses. The creatures portrayed in a land called Nowhere in Particular might be rabbits, but they are all black with a human eye. They walk on two legs too and use machines to achieve their desires.

They realise almost too late, that they have destroyed the diversity that they cherished in their world. Only one voice is speaking reason among them.

This is a powerful and sobering tale about our environment, working together to take care of it, and taking stock of what we want and what we actually need.

Readers can enjoy the rabbits and colours, or dig deeper in a classroom environment to lead to discussions of diversity and responsibility.

 

Author / Illustrator – Ian Chapman

All Ages

 

 

(2025, OneTree House, NZ Author, Aotearoa, New Zealand, Environment, Diversity loss, Community, Forward thinking, Care, Responsibility, Sophisticated Picture Book)

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COVEN

The Witch Coven have been busy. They have helped bring a truce between the Fairy and Troll Kingdoms and Sea Dragons are now safe from vicious pirates.

Back home, deep in a forest and adding their payment to their awards for bravery, Hester, Anadil and Dot ponder their roles in the world since graduating from The School for Good and Evil.

Dot wants to be a peacekeeper, Hester wants to be famous, and Anadil just wants to stay on dry land for a while. But it’s not long before they are summoned again to someone’s aid. Messages from somewhere named The Red Isle pour in the window, but these witches have never heard of this place. Only rolling out the map of their world, do they find it on the edge, far from anything they know.

Meanwhile, the Red Isle is suffering. Two races live on this isle. There are the Dark and the Light. The Dark live simply, honouring their land and life force called Raaka deep in the ground. But it is Raaka that powers the land of the Light and this is being mined ruthlessly, killing everything in its wake. When strange deaths begin to occur in the lands of the Light, they are quick to blame the Dark.

The plea for help has come from the people of the Dark, but the Coven find powers even stronger than their own. Can they investigate each side’s claims and prevent an all out war? As they delve further into the Red Isle’s problems they must also heal the hurts among themselves. Only then can they discover and defeat the true horrors of this fracturing land.

 

A gripping, action-packed, page turning, full colour fantasy novel by the author of the hugely popular The School for Good and Evil.

Three witches, Dot, Hester and Anadil are the Coven, putting things right around their world between fairies and trolls, saving dragons and answering the call to anyone in need. They bicker and squabble, but when it counts, together they are unstoppable – almost. Just when you think they have defeated their foes, evil rises up again to stop them in their tracks. They’re also often funny as they battle together between two races fighting over a resource they both need.

The comparisons to Earth’s resources and those using them to the detriment of all, is clear between the pages, all whilst a thrilling story is told. Joel Gennari’s illustrations held my gaze as the action played out with witches, princes, murders and monsters! The body count rises as malevolent forces do, with only three witches in their way.

Completely enthralling!

 

Author – Soman Chainani

Illustrator – Joel Gennari

Age – 10+

 

 

 

 

(2025, Harper Collins, Fantasy, Action, Murder, Mystery, War, Friendship, Courage, Conflict, Horror, Witches, Coven, Vigilante Detectives, Magic, Dark, Light, Blame)

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BEAR

Jasper is NOT happy. There’s lot he’s not happy about. His name to start with. What were his parents thinking? Why couldn’t they just pick a surname and be done with it. Why does he have to have two! Jasper Robinson Woods. That’s just for starters. He misses his Nana who always made him feel seen. He misses his Pop who made his Nana happy. He misses his dad who after an argument with his mum, drove off one day without looking back.

And to top it off? His goldfish looks seriously ill. He certainly isn’t living up to his name – Han Solo. Mind you, he never was a very energetic fish, and the green slime around his bowl probably isn’t helping. This just makes Jasper feel even worse, even though he knows it’s his fault.

Everything just feels so hard. His mum’s news about her boyfriend moving in doesn’t help, or the looks from his Year 9 Dean when he’s late for school, again.

But the worst thing, the worst of everything is the bear.

It turned up in his dreams when he was younger. It seemed to go away for a while, but it was back. Telling Jasper how useless he was and he was going to get him once and for all. Jasper’s lack of sleep is not helping at all, and when he realises the Bear has followed him to school – he snaps. More trouble.

The only light between all the dark thoughts and feelings swallowing him bit by bit is Nina. She’s smiled at him, and been kind when others laughed. Jasper has no friends any more, but maybe Nina might be a friend one day?

Before that can happen, Jasper goes through even worse turmoil, pushing everyone who loves him away, leaving his mum distraught, confused and worried. Jasper knows he must change. He knows he must confront the Bear.

 

Winner of the 2024 Storylines Tess Duder YA Award, BEAR is funny, tender, painful and beautiful as m/c Jasper emerges from anxiety and depression with love and care of those around him.

This journey is far from smooth, destructive, angry and hurtful sometimes, but through art, support, love and understanding, this 13 year old boy fells his inner foes and learns to deal with his outer ones.

Another special element of this YA novel is the dozens of pencil sketches throughout as Jasper tells his tale. Along with the larger font and white spaces the illustrations help provide, this make BEAR an much more engaging read for reluctant readers.

Perfect for any teen struggling with dark thoughts, self doubt, or anxiety, as Jasper is funny, relatable and authentic. 

 

Author – Kiri Lightfoot

Illustrator – Pippa Keel Situ

Age – 13-16

 

 

 

 

(2024, Allen & Unwin, Winner of the 2024 Storylines Tessa Duder YA Award, Anxiety, Depression, Worry, Worries, What Ifs, Self Doubt, Change, Missing Dad, New Stepdad, Relationships, Trouble, Anger, Lashing out, Destructive)

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The Party

It’s Spring break, which means it’s time to party! Bessie’s friend Allegra and her twin brother Fergus have planned something amazing for the break. Their parents own a bonafide castle, and it’s in the early days of refurbishment. Now there is electricity for the builders but no one around for the weekend, it’s the perfect venue for a secret party to remember.

Allegra is known for her epic events and everyone is keen to attend. With many more on their way, Bessie and her close group of wealthy friends stop for supplies in a small town not far from the venue. Chatting to a local, Bessie learns there is fierce opposition to the castle’s development by the locals. They would prefer it remained as it has always been – not land cut up by developers.

Without a care in the world, they arrive at the castle, gaping at a real live moat that surrounds it. It’s not long before rain begins to fall. It becomes torrential, blocking many partygoers out, and Bessie and her friends in. Can they still have a party with only a handful of them?

But numbers are soon the least of their worries. One of them falls victim to the storm. Then another is found dead. What is going on? Does it have anything to do with the violent graffiti in the cellar? Is an environmentalist from the village on the rampage?

Questions race around Bessie’s mind, along with memories of a car accident nearly a year before. No one wants to talk about it, but their close friend group was badly shaken by what happened that night. By the end of this night, the car accident is nothing compared to the carnage inside the castle.

 

A thriller, horror mashup, with teenagers all ready to party hard but all falling foul of a plot to annihilate them all. These friends are all privileged and wealthy, and lying to parents about what they are up to for their spring break.

The close knit group falls apart as blame and inner fears fracture them mercilessly, and the blood flows. Readers will be kept guessing until the exciting conclusion. I can see this as a movie – along with the age old advice – don’t split up, don’t go off yourself to try and save the day, and never trust everyone completely.

The villain of this tale is particularly vicious, surprising readers and main character Bessie. An easy, ruthless read set in a atmospheric, shadowy castle with an ever rising moat surrounding them.  

 

Author – Natasha Preston

Age – 15+

 

 

 

(2025, Bonnier, Hot Key Books, Horror, Crime, Friendship, Betrayal, Murder, Mystery, Action, Family, Grief, Revenge, Memory, Accident, Memories, Blame, Castle, Building development, UK, England, Rural township, Bodies)

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Te Kura Huna o te Aranga / Easter Surprise

Easter is nearly here and Rabbit has jobs to do. With rolls of ribbon, bundles of paper and envelopes Rabbit knows it’s time to get to work.

(But having Mum rabbit to help is even better)

First there are lots of notes to write, envelopes to write and deliveries to make! Rabbit has lots of friends around the farm, in lots of different places.

Cow lives in the paddock and Pūkeko lives besides the pond. Ell lives in the creek and Chicken in the coop. Snail is the smallest and the very last stop. Delivering all the Easter notes is fun.

(But having mum rabbit to help is even better)

 

The seventh in this bilingual early reader series, Te Kura Huna o te Aranga / Easter Surprise focuses on all things Easter. Of course, you have Rabbit, then notes to deliver and lovely gifts to hide for friends.

With bilingual text on each page in short sentences, these full colour picture books have soft palettes, adorable creatures and some repetitive text throughout the story. There are many full page spreads to enjoy and the text is clear on the page or inside speech bubbles, allowing early readers to learn both English and Māori together.

 

Author – Norah Wilson

Illustrator – Kimberly Andrews

Age – 5+

 

 

(2025, Scholastic NZ, Aotearoa, New Zealand, NZ Author, NZ Illustrator, Easter, Series, Animals, Bunny, Rabbit, Giving, Gifts, Letters, Surprises, Friends, Bilingual,  Māori, English)

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Wolf Siren

Red lives in a small village ruled by fear, rules and a tyrannical mayor. He has control of rations and who receives them, has had towers built with lookouts on the edge of the forest, and has stirred a constant undercurrent of distrust amongst the townsfolk.

The lookouts keep an eye out for wolves creeping near the town’s boundary with the forest. Many men have been lost to wolves over the years – even Red’s father. But they need the forest too for fuel for warmth, cooking and funeral pyres, of there have been many. Magic is said to lurk amongst the trees too, just as dangerous as the wolves, and once a proud hunting town, now men and boys are banned from entering the forest.

Women and girls however, have never been harmed by anything in the forest, and despite the warnings and rules, it is Red’s favourite place in the world. She knows of the wolves and magic, and neither have ever caused her harm. In fact it has always been the opposite, and with only partial sight, Red welcomes their help as she wanders amongst the trees.

Her grandmother has taught her the wonders of the forest, but just as she appeared one day after being gone since Red’s mother was a child, she is gone again, leaving Red lost and lonely for someone who understands her love for all that is forbidden.

Three years of searching for her grandmother has left Red without hope of ever seeing her again. But soon Red has bigger things to deal with. She has begun her periods – and painful and scary as they first are, they signal something else in her life. Something her grandmother was trying to prepare her for.

Suddenly all she loves, both inside and outside the forest is in jeopardy, and pulling all the recent mysterious events together, Red knows she’s the only one who can put things right, once and for all.

 

Whilst studying and during PhD research on fairytales, the spark of an idea for Wolf Siren came to author Beth O’Brien. The result is an intriguing world of magic, wolves, suspicion and love of nature.

Red inhabits two different worlds – whilst in her village, and even her home, she is careful what she says and who she speaks to, goes about her daily chores quickly and head down. But in the very place she is forbidden to be, she is free from worries, feeling safe and happy and loved by the forest around her.

This brings a compelling mixture of good and evil as in favourite fairytales, but tipped upon its head. Wolf Siren is primarily a tale of womanhood, with strong female roles, and those who stand together with loyalty and courage to defeat all the wrong in their small world.

After all… inside every girl is a wolf.

 

Author – Beth O’Brien

Age – 11+

 

 

 

 

(2025, Harper Collins, Adventure, Magic, Animals, Family, Friendship, Courage, Fantasy, Grief, Growing up, Historical, Murder, Mystery, Secret, Wolves, Trees, Wood, Forest, Control, Fear, Grandmother, Wolfwomen, Beliefs, Fairytales, Folklore, Loyalty)

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Hidden Treasure

It’s 1918, and Bo’s beloved big brother Harry is going off to do his bit in the war. Bo knows there will be a huge gap in their small home while he is gone, leaving her and their mum waiting for his return.

Bo knows how to keep busy however, as she loves to spend hours and hours mud larking down on the banks of the nearby Thames river. Along with her best friend Eddie, they have found all sorts of treasures in the river silt when the tide is low.

But one day, Bo hears a voice and as she follows what it says, she finds a strange moon shaped disc. Washing it clean, she and Eddie see that it is covered in jewels. They both know these jewels can pull Bo’s family out of poverty while Harry is away. It can change everything.

But Bo can’t bring herself to sell it off. She knows somehow that it is something special, and part of something much more important than money. It makes her see visions of a past she doesn’t know, but Eddie won’t believe her – urging her to sell it.

Bo is drawn back to the Thames even more than before, and this is where she meets Billy. She is relieved that when she finally tells him of the visions and then what she found, he instantly believes her. Between them and her new school teacher, Miss Cressant; they unravel a mystery of what the disc is, where it came from and what it can do.

Bo soon finds that her visions are much more than she first thought, and those helping her so much a part of the whole mystery. A mystery that goes back hundred’s of years.

 

Wow. Such a gripping read! Set in London in 1918, this middle grade novel has everything. Mystery, love, family, crime, secrets and something quite unnatural too.

Bo is a strong, likeable character and Jessie Burton’s exquisite writing had me right alongside Bo and her friend Billy’s side as they unravelled the secrets of an ancient artefact.

We see both Bo’s and Billy’s view on their lives – Bo living with her mum and missing her big brother, and Billy living in an old brick mansion that was once grand and looked after. This novel holds surprises for readers and although I picked up on one before its reveal, there are others that thrilled me as I reached the conclusion of the story.

Jessie Burton is an award winning author of both children’s and adult novels. I loved her writing so much in Hidden Treasure, I’m going to seek more of them out.

 

Author – Jessie Burton

Age – 9+

 

 

 

(2025, Bloomsbury Children’s Books, Penguin Random House, Historical, Friendship, Family, Grief, Crime, Secret, Mystery, London, 1918, War, Brothers, Siblings, River, Thames, Ballad, Clues, Visions)

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The Cartoonists Club

Makayla is full of ideas for stories. She can happily escape to them during her day, day dreaming up more and more ideas.

Howard loves to draw, so much so he gets in trouble in class. He hopes the teacher won’t tell his dad, because he thinks comics are a waste of time and doesn’t even like Howard reading them.

Lynda is an excellent artist, not that any of her classmates know, as she never shows anyone. In her eyes they aren’t good enough.

Art loves to create. Baking, science experiments, music and more. When he sees the flyer for a new Cartoonist Club in school, he’s keen to try creating something new.

Ms Fatima is the school librarian and with her love of comics, The Cartoonists Club becomes a favourite part of each student’s week. She guides them in working together, developing and combining their skills and also helping spark new friendships. These in turn help the students themselves with anxieties inside and outside the club.

Soon they are producing their own printed comics and are keen to join a local Comic Convention. Will anyone believe that they too are real cartoonists?

 

Raina Telgemeier has a huge following with her Smile series of graphic novels/comics, and The Cartoonists Club is also sure to be a big hit. Not only for her fans around the world, this graphic novel shares all the things young artists and writers need to know about developing your own comics.

There is a lot to learn, but readers will learn along with the characters how to develop their skills right up to and including printing and selling their comics.

Woven into the story are reasons why graphic novels/comics are just as good for the imagination as full text novels. Author Scott McCleod has several books about this topic to his name.

Perfect for any budding cartoonists or illustrators.

 

Author/Illustrators – Raina Telgemeier & Scott McCloud

Age – 7+

Graphic Novel

 

 

(2025, Scholastic, School, Graphic Novel, Cartoonist, Drawing, Creatives, Creativity, School Club, Friendship, Comics, Comic Convention, Story, Skills, How to draw a comic)

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