Category: Book reviews by Elizabeth

Posted in Book reviews by Elizabeth, Book reviews by kids

Book review, 11 Ruby Road: 1900

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11 Ruby Road: 1900 by Charlotte Barkla, Walker Books Australia, ISBN 9781760657949

REVIEWED BY ELIZABETH, 12, NSW

Elizabeth received a review copy of this book.

Dorothy raised the key to the lock, but the door creaked open before she could insert it. 

When ten-year-old Dorothy opened the door to her new home, she also opened the door to a new adventure at 11 Ruby Road. Dorothy insisted to everyone that the door opened by itself which made her feel curious, but no one in the family seemed to pay attention. She had a vivid imagination and was always noticing minor details.

This book is about Dorothy and her family moving from a farm to the city, Brisbane, also known as the new Sydney. Starting school, Dorothy already knew it was not going to be easy. Will she enjoy her new life there?

I am impressed that Dorothy is determined and tenacious. She is an inspiring person to me because she is always eager to share what is right and to include others.  I rate this book 10 out of 10 because it grabs my attention and is thought provoking. This book shows how much a little 10-year-old can do.

This is Book 1 in a historical fiction series with Walker Books Australia.

Elizabeth is a regular reviewer for Alphabet Soup. You can read more of her reviews here. To send us YOUR book review, check out our submission guidelines. Happy reading!

Posted in Book reviews by Elizabeth, Book reviews by kids

Book review: Into the Blue

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The cover of a children's novel showing two children swimming wearing snorkels

Into the Blue by Cristy Burne, Fremantle Press, ISBN 9781760993870

REVIEWED BY ELIZABETH, 11, NSW

The publisher provided a review copy of this book.

For his school holiday, Blair went snorkelling at the beach with his cousin. Blair walked into the ocean slowly as he spat into his snorkelling mask. He and his  cousin, Drew, slowly explored the area around them, but as he was snorkelling just above a shipwreck, he noticed something precious he had  in his hand was missing. Frantically he looked around, carefully pushing the sand away from the ocean floor to find this precious thing. Will he find it, or will he never see it again?

Into the Blue by Cristy Burne is an amazing book because this shows the authentic character of  Blair and what really happens when he owned up and admitted that he lost something that was not his. I like this book a lot because it shows that you should not keep a secret when you have done something wrong.

I rate this book a nine out of ten because there was a moral to the story and I appreciated how Blair tried to resolve the problem. This is an inspiring book  that 7–10 year olds should read.

Into the Blue is out now! Ask for it at your favourite bookshop or local library, or order it online.

Elizabeth is a regular reviewer for Alphabet Soup. You can read more of her reviews here. To send us YOUR book review, check out our submission guidelines. Happy reading!

Posted in Book reviews by Elizabeth, Book reviews by kids

Book Review: Maddy McAllister, Shipwreck Detective

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REVIEWED BY ELIZABETH, 11, NSW

Maddy McAllister: Shipwreck Detective (Aussie STEM stars series), story told by Deb Fitzpatrick, Wild Dingo Press, ISBN 9781925893823

Elizabeth received a review copy of this book.

Six-year-old Maddy McAllister, a shipwreck detective, started her adventure in Wangi Falls – her favourite place to cool down. But then her parents took an unexpected turn. Maddy and her sister Ally changed schools and moved to Pine Creek for their father’s job. It was 225 kilometres from Darwin where they used to live. Then she moved closer to her grandparents because her father found a different job in Perth, which meant Maddy and Ally, could spend more time with their grandparents. Maddy’s grandad was always by her side ever since they moved to Perth, every step of the way, encouraging her every day. He told her stories all the time when they went on fishing trips which her grandad called “on the high seas”.

One day, her grandad told her a story about a shipwreck which made her curious. A few days later, she heard on the radio that there was going to be a lecture about a different shipwreck discovery. Little did she know that this lecture would change her life.

My favourite person in this book was Maddy’s grandad because he was encouraging and supportive of Maddy in every way he could. I can relate to this book because Maddy faced what I faced when I was six years old, which was to leave close friends and transfer to a new school and new town.

This book is by Deb Fitzpatrick who also wrote Ajay Rane that I have written a review for as well. I think that this book Maddy McAllister is interesting and inspiring.

I recommend this book for age seven plus and rate this book 10 out of 10.

Maddy McAllister: Shipwreck Detective is out now! Ask for it at your favourite bookshop or local library, or order it online.

Elizabeth is a regular reviewer for Alphabet Soup. You can read more of her reviews here. To send us YOUR book review, check out our submission guidelines. Happy reading!

Posted in Book reviews by Elizabeth, Book reviews by kids

Book review: Scout and the Rescue Dogs

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The cover of a children's novel: Scout and the Rescue Dogs. The cover illustration shows Scout (a girl with red hair) and six dogs of various breeds. In the background is a blue truck.

REVIEWED BY ELIZABETH, 11, NSW

Scout and the Rescue Dogs by Dianne Wolfer, illustrated by Tony Flowers, Walker Books Australia, ISBN 9781760655860

Elizabeth received a review copy of this book.

Driving in Big Rig – Bill’s truck – Scout, who is in Year 7, and her dad deliver food to the dog shelters in Australia. Scout always wanted to own a dog herself after her mum passed away because dogs always reminded her of her mother. Her father allowed her to choose a dog, but Scout does not know which breed to choose because every dog is special in its own way. But bushfire season has sprung, and Scout discovers there are dogs in the dog shelter that no one wants. What will Scout do now with all the dogs and bushfire season?

What I found interesting was that Scout was being loving and kind to the people that were being disrespectful and rude to her. Two girls from school were laughing and mocking her but still she wrote a loving and generous letter and she forgave them.

I rate this book by Dianne Wolfer 10/10 because it is based on what happens in the bushfire season in Australia. This book has changed my perspective on what bushfires are really like such as how hard it is to live in the bush. 

Read an interview with Dianne Wolfer, author of Scout and the Rescue Dogs.

Elizabeth is a regular reviewer for Alphabet Soup. You can read more of her reviews here. To send us YOUR book review, check out our submission guidelines. Happy reading!

Posted in Book reviews by Elizabeth, Book reviews by kids

Book review: Skye Blackburn-Lang

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The cover of Skye Blackburn-Lang: Eating bugs for the planet by Dianne Wolfer. This is a biography for children. The cover illustration shows Skye (who has pale skin and straight red hair) holding two live crickets.

REVIEWED BY ELIZABETH, 9, NSW

Skye Blackburn-Lang: Eating bugs for the planet by Dianne Wolfer, Wild Dingo Press, ISBN 9781925893694

The publisher provided a review copy of this book.

Have you ever eaten a bug cookie? Well, Skye Blackburn-Lang has.

As the oldest child, Skye was curious about animals that when she was younger she even tried to eat a snail! She lived in Port Macquarie and Sydney where she took home insects to investigate and observe. Skye went to a museum on insects where she found jars of insects and spiders stacked to the ceiling. That’s when she knew that she wanted to be an entomologist. She was so interested in insects and spiders that she had a pet tarantula called Fluffy and she even kept its exoskeleton mounted in a frame!

This book is interesting because it is about Skye’s childhood and how she mixes food science and bugs to make sustainable food. Unlike the other books in this series this book is colourful, has photographs of insects and spiders and has two insect recipes at the end. I thought it was lovely.

I rate this book 10/10. I recommend this for children above 7 years old and those who like bugs.

Take a look inside the book on the publisher’s website!

Elizabeth is a regular reviewer for Alphabet Soup. You can read more of her reviews here. To send us YOUR book review, check out our submission guidelines. Happy reading!

Posted in Book reviews by Elizabeth, Book reviews by kids

Book review: Ajay Rane

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Image shows the cover of a children's book: Ajay Rane, Global Crusader for Women's health by Deb Fitzpatrick. The cover illustration shows a hand drawn illustration of Prof Ajay Rane standing in blue hospital scrubs with hands on his hips and a stethoscope around his neck. Ajay has brown skin, short dark hair and wears glasses. Around him are doodle style drawings of the symbol for woman, a pelvis from a skeleton, and a glowing light bulb.

REVIEWED BY ELIZABETH, 9, NSW

Ajay Rane: Global crusader for women’s health by Deb Fitzpatrick, Wild Dingo Press, ISBN 9781925893595

The publisher provided a review copy of this book.

‘Who is Ajay Rane and why should Australians know him?’ I hear you ask curiously. He is Dr Rane and he is an advocate for women’s health. He saves women’s lives by helping women who suffer from fistula after giving birth.

It all started with Ajay’s paternal grandmother. She told Murli, Ajay’s father, to remember the work he learnt at school. Murli tried his hardest and eventually became a doctor. Then he started a hospital in his home town. This is when Ajay comes into the story. Ajay followed his dad’s footsteps and became a doctor.  

One of Ajay’s patients made me cry. She was a nurse until she had a baby and she could not go to work because she had fistula after giving birth. Then her husband kicked her out of the family. What will happen to her now?

I love this extraordinary book because it takes us back to Ajay’s ancestry. I have learnt so much about Ajay Rane and his family, like when Ajay was younger he celebrated the Diwali Festival with his family. Another section that was funny was when Ajay’s brother went to the toilet in his grandmother’s place in India only to find a pig in the toilet pit.  

I rate this excellent book 10/10.

Take a look inside the book at the publisher’s website!

Read our 2022 interview with the author, Deb Fitzpatrick.

Elizabeth is a regular reviewer for Alphabet Soup. You can read more of her reviews here. To send us YOUR book review, check out our submission guidelines. Happy reading!

Posted in Book reviews by Elizabeth, Book reviews by kids

Book review: Veena Sahajwalla

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REVIEWED BY ELIZABETH, 9, NSW

Veena Sahajwalla: ‘Green’ engineer and recycling champion by Julianne Negri, Wild Dingo Press, ISBN 9781925893250

The publisher provided a review copy of this title.

Veena is an inspiring person to the next generation because she changed the world by inventing green steel. When Veena was little she just liked to ride on her dad’s scooter around Mumbai all the time. But she did not think that she would become the recycling champion in the future. 

From reading this book, I  learnt that Veena is a very diligent, persistent and resilient person. When she was in school she did extra work because she loved doing homework. She was the only girl in the class in her  university studies and she tried her best.

I rate this book 10/10 because this has even inspired me to be an engineer.

Veena Sahajwalla: ‘Green’ engineer and recycling champion is out now! Ask for it at your favourite bookshop or local library.

Elizabeth is a regular reviewer for Alphabet Soup. You can read more of her reviews here. To send us YOUR book review, check out our submission guidelines. Happy reading!

Posted in Book reviews by Elizabeth, Book reviews by kids

Book review: Team Trouble!

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REVIEWED BY ELIZABETH, 9, NSW

Team Trouble! by Eddie Woo & Dave Hartley, illustrated by Mitch Vane, Pan Macmillan Australia, ISBN 9781760983000

The publisher provided a review copy of this book.

Have you ever had a mystery to solve with your friends?  Well, then you should read this book. Team Trouble! is written by Eddie Woo and Dave Hartley and illustrated by Mitch Vane. This book is about Eddie and his sidekicks (DT and Rusty) who all love skateboarding.

In this book, the mystery is about Mr Appleby. Mr Appleby helped Eddie’s Mum and Dad when they arrived in Australia from Malaysia in the 1990s, but now Mr Appleby is old. Mr Appleby’s aged care home is closing down. What do Eddie and his friends do? What will happen next?

I like this book because it has mental and physical challenges for Eddie and his friends. I rate this book 10/10. This book is suitable for age kids 8 and over. 

Read the first chapter of this book on the publisher’s website.

Elizabeth is a regular reviewer for Alphabet Soup. You can read more of her reviews here. To send us YOUR story, poem, artwork or book review, check out our submission guidelines. Happy reading!

Posted in Book reviews by Elizabeth, Book reviews by kids

Book review: Creswell Eastman, the Man Who Saved a Million Brains

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The image shows the cover of a children's biography: Cresswell Eastman, the Man who Saved a Million Brains by Penny Tangey. The cover is predominantly orange and shows a hand drawn illustration of Cresswell Eastman in a white surgical coat, holding a microscope. He's surrounded by doodle style illustrations of a stethoscope, a needs and a glowing lightbulb.

REVIEWED BY ELIZABETH, 9, NSW

Creswell Eastman, the Man Who Saved a Million Brains by Penny Tangey, Wild Dingo Press, ISBN 9781925893526

The publisher provided a review copy of this book.

Creswell Eastman was the smartest child in the class. One day, Sister Francis asked Creswell to follow her in the hall. They walked through the senior school, into the classroom and he saw his older sister. He was tested to see if he was better at maths than anyone else. That afternoon a boy punched him for being better at maths. The next day at lunchtime his teacher, who was a nun, taught Creswell to defend himself. The following day the boy was waiting for Creswell. What would Cres do?

The thing I enjoyed the most about the book by Penny Tangey was learning how Creswell used medicine to help people. It is amazing that he saved so many people’s lives in Asia.

I recommend this book to 8 years old and up because it is wonderful and interesting. I rate this book 10 out of 10.

Read chapter one on the publisher’s website.

Elizabeth is a regular reviewer for Alphabet Soup. You can read more of her reviews here. To send us YOUR story, poem, artwork or book review, check out our submission guidelines. Happy reading!

Posted in Book reviews by Elizabeth, Book reviews by kids

Book review: Bella and the Voyaging House

Posted on by Alphabet Soup
Bella and the Voyaging House by Meg McKinlay illust. Nicholas Schafer

REVIEWED BY ELIZABETH, 8, NSW

Bella and the Voyaging House by Meg McKinlay, illustrated by Nicholas Schafer, Fremantle Press, ISBN 9781760990695

The publisher provided a review copy of this book.

The book I am reviewing is Bella and the Voyaging House. The author is Meg McKinlay and the illustrator is Nicholas Schafer.

In the book, I love how Bella’s grandad made the house so it is like a boat. Merry Annie is a statue which the grandad moulded and polished. Then he tied it on the front of the  house boat but it fell off when they were sailing. So Bella decided to sail with the house and look for Merry Annie. Will they find Merry Annie? Will the house go back home? 

I recommend seven year olds and up to read this book because it is funny and emotional.

I give this 10 out of 10.

Read our interview with the author of Bella and the Voyaging House

Elizabeth is a regular reviewer for Alphabet Soup. You can read more of her reviews here. To send us YOUR story, poem, artwork or book review, check out our submission guidelines. Happy reading!