Blue Wolf Reviews

Tag: courage

  • A Fraction Stronger

    A Fraction Stronger

    Mark Berridge was a man who had it all; a stellar career, a lovely wife, three children and a group of mates he enjoyed going cycling with, until his ‘had it all’ came to an abrupt pause, as he found himself flying over the handlebars of his bike, crashing into a stormwater ditch, crushing two vertebrae in his spine.

    His costly, actually marked down from $300 to $150, helmet saved him from a far worse fate. The helmet had a huge dent in the side where his head hit the ground with extreme force. In that pivotal moment so very much changed for Mark Berridge but that change, dramatic and drastic as it was, was to see him re-evaluate his life. In his words his ‘identity was fractured’, along with is body.

    He could no longer continue with his international corporate career with a spinal injury and needed to rebuild on the skills he had gathered over a lifetime, but first he had to begin to rebuild himself.

    A Fraction Stronger is his story; one that shows that from the very depth of despair there is a way forward, even though, at times there does not seem to be any choices left. As he says often, sometime the way forward is only a merest fraction, but it is there.

    Looking for inspiration he drew on the story of Alan Marshall who wrote the much loved I Can Jump Puddles, about his life growing up in the Australian bush after having been afflicted with Polio, a crippling and often deadly disease.

     This story along with many others helped him work that fraction longer, to regain some of the mobility lost. Berridge has designed his story to be read in segments, or when there is a need to find some motivation, not necessarily to be read from cover to cover.

    As time has moved on so too has Mark Berridge, who now enjoys a life of doing what he loves best, helping to motivate people; to encourage them to go that fraction further, to help people understand that recovering from a serious injury takes time. To re-discover self-worth often takes longer but can, with help, kindness and acceptance along the way, be achieved.

    A Fraction Stronger is a comfortable read that reaches out and helps everyone understand a little better, the enormous effort it takes on a daily basis, by someone recovering from a massive trauma, to be just that fraction stronger.  A truly inspirational read.

  • These Unlucky Stars

    These Unlucky Stars

    Annie is a lonely girl. Her mother left the family and with just her father and brother in the house, she feels the family is lopsided. To complicate matters, her brother is a model student, competent and kindly. Annie on the other hand is a dreamer, who loves to sit on the roof outside her window and daydream about the distant mountains. When she is not dreaming, the girl sketches and draws. This is not the way to develop friendships, and to socialise.

    Moving into year seven means that Annie must become more independent and aware. By mistake, the girl meets a neighbour, who has had an accident, and she begins to care for her. Overcoming a fear of dogs, and dealing with a grumpy old woman challenges Annie, along with her sadness at having no friends, and seeing herself as unlucky.

    As the story unfolds, we begin to see that Annie has talked herself into believing that she is unlucky. Gradually she becomes aware that life presents good and bad challenges, and it is how we face these that is important. These Unlucky Stars deals with loss and courage, friendship, and loyalty. It also shows how we are all different and that is to be celebrated too.

    These Unlucky Stars is an entertaining story with a moderately complex text for older readers to enjoy. It shows that we can all change the way we think no matter how old, and that making friends and listening to people helps us see the world differently.

  • Tilda Tries Again

    Tilda Tries Again

    A Big Bright Feelings Book

    Tilda Tries Again is part of a series by Tom Percival called “BIG BRIGHT FEELINGS,” and has been written to assist people talk about mental and emotional health. The story is aimed at young children but will also be a great platform for adults to use when talking about emotions. The large picture book format is perfect for this introduction to a topic. It is brightly coloured, has interesting illustrations and will lend itself to be read out loud.

    Tilda is a happy bouncy girl with friends, books, and toys. Then one day her world turns upside down. There seems to be no reason for this, but nothing is the same anymore. She wants to give up trying until she sees something that inspires her to keep making an effort. Even though her world looks different, she ventures out and joins her friends until gradually things become clear again.

    Tom Percival has made this story feel quite dramatic, with a sudden change from colours to black, white, and grey. The illustrations serve to show how bewildered and sad Tilda is while the upside-down writing shows the girl’s confusion. The text is simple and easy to read, and the message is clear; keep trying and talk to someone about how you are feeling.

    This series Big Bright Feelings is one that needs to be introduced to young children as it covers issues such as friendship and anxiety. It has a place in all Libraries.

  • Take Me Home

    Take Me Home

    When life decides to hand out unlooked for change, it often comes with hidden benefits which at the time are very hard to discover. It is this theme, along with the beauty of Scotland, that captured the imagination of Karly Lane as she follows the story of Elle Kinnaird and her beloved grandmother ‘Gran’, as they travel to Scotland, the birthplace of her Gran, to complete a journey that lasted a lifetime.

    Take Me Home is a rich and gloriously heartfelt story of Gran’s final journey back to her beloved Scotland and concurrently, Elle’s journey of learning to believe in herself, to have courage to leave the small country town of Jessup’s Creek in the New England area of New South Wales, to discover who she is and what she really wants to do with the rest of her life.

    She and Gran had always discussed taking a journey to Scotland but as Gran was now dead, Elle was having to face up to not just the loss of her Gran, but that real poignancy of never having done what they had planned so many times over the years. But once the Will is read, the house, also Elle’s home, is to be sold and just to make life a little more distressing, losing her job at the supermarket, she was having to seriously make the decision, pushed by Gran, to take Grans ashes to Scotland; Stormeil Castle to be exact.

    Karly Lane has captured the ancient mystical ambience of Scotland perfectly as she travels from Edinburgh through the stunning Glens and Lochs of Scotland to the beautiful, mysterious Isle of Skye to complete the last request of her beloved Gran. The problem is Gran has decided to come along as well as very distinct voice in Elle’s head, a voice that comments on just about everything, including that rather handsome Scot that Elle meets on her quest to find the illusive Stormeil Castle.

    As the days pass Elle gets to meet and is accepted into her Scottish relatives lives, in a manner that makes her feel comfortable for the first time in a long time and the story as to why Gran and her father were the only two of a close family to migrate to Australia, never to return, is uncovered.

    Take Me Home is set far away from Karly Lane’s beloved Australia, in the land of ancient history and culture. It is also built around the love of family and how they can influence your life, but always there is the thread of home is where you choose to make it, regardless of whether that be Jessup’s Creek or the romantic and mystical countryside of Scotland.

    Take Me Home could more than very easily be considered as Karly Lane’s finest work to date.

  • Courageous Lucy

    Courageous Lucy

    The Girl Who Liked to Worry

    Some children are born worriers. Lucy was one of those children. She worried that her shadow would turn into a black hole and eat her; life seemed to be extremely dangerous. The beautiful illustrations from Cara King show her mother as calm and unaware of the horrors that Lucy faced each day.

    Many children do not overcome their fears until they mature and gain strength and confidence. However, Mrs Hunt, the teacher, had decided to put on a class musical. Lucy watched on as children volunteered their songs, their pirate costumes, their dances, and musical instruments.

    She would have love to be involved in the musical, but “How could she help?” Finally, with bravery she did not know she had; Lucy told the teacher that she wanted to be on the stage.

    That one brave statement changed Lucy’s understanding of being fearful and always worried. With a modified role planned by a clever teacher, the young girl was able to achieve her dream and act in a very well received performance.

    Courageous Lucy, the girl who liked to worry from Paul Russell captures with easy words and lovely pictures, Lucy facing up to her worries and understanding that even though she is still a worrier, being brave can bring rewards and joy.

  • The Restless Girls

    The Restless Girls

    Released in 2018 as a hard cover edition The Restless Girls from Jessie Burton with elegantly crafted illustrations from Angela Barrett, returns to the bookstores as a slightly smaller paperback edition, telling the very modern fairy-tale of the twelve daughters of Queen Laurelia’ who died in a motor accident and their father King Alberto, a man so sunk in grief he could not bear to consider that anything terrible may befall his beautiful daughters.

    He is so fearful that he has them locked in a special room where nothing at all can harm them, which was all very well for their father, not for the girls, as their mother had always encouraged them to be independent and to think for themselves.

    The Restless Girls is a skilful combination of old and new as the story of Princess Frida and her sisters look at their options, their dancing shoes and what they would like to achieve in life, if or once or when they get out of the rooms their father keeps them in.

    As in all good fairy stories, modern or otherwise, there is dashingly handsome Prince, a rather excellent plot, a fantastic ending and in this case a good dose of magic involved, which encourages the girls to believe in themselves and their dreams, but most importantly to have the courage to do something about it by using the things that can never be taken away; their ideas, their wits and their spirit of adventurer.

    Based on the traditional The Twelve Dancing Princesses from the Brothers Grimm, this is a modern adaptation to enchant and also, as in all fairy stories, carry a message to those reading the words that courage, family, bravery and imagination are things that never ever go out of fashion.

     

  • Mulan: The Story of the Legendary Warrior

    Mulan: The Story of the Legendary Warrior

    Mulan, created as a paperback picture book is a retelling of the folk song from China’s Northern Dynasty (439-589), about a remarkable girl. She was taught to read and write by her father and mastered many disciplines such as weaving, horse riding, using a sword and bow and arrows. One day the Emperor sent a messenger to summon Mulan’s father to fight in a war. He was incredibly old, and Mulan’s brother was too young to take his place. Mulan decided that she would go to represent the family.

    For twelve years Mulan fought with the army, her gender never discovered. Her skills were so advanced that she fought in the front lines. When at last the war was over the Emperor wanted to reward his bravest heroes, and it was then that Mulan revealed her gender. She was offered rewards but asked for a fast horse to take her home to her family.

    The legend is beautifully presented in this book. The paint wash pictures are pastel and give a gentle feel to the story. The text is written in English followed by simplified Chinese characters, which makes it quite interesting to follow. The text is easy to read except for the two pages where it is written over the paint wash.

    For people looking for a non-European legend, or to introduce Chinese characters to young children, Mulan is a good example. It is also important to look at strong female characters in these tales. The loving family model is authentic and satisfying.

    Mulan is told in both Chinese and English.

  • Not That I’d Kiss a Girl

    Not That I’d Kiss a Girl

    Lil’ O’Brien’s story is an authentic look at her life, without sparing the uncertainties, the drama and the knowledge that she was different to most other girls of her age. Growing up in New Zealand, Lil was a happy tomboy who was quite naïve and had little understanding of sexuality. On reflection, she had always admired the girl heroes in the books she read and felt drawn towards the female characters in the movies. She didn’t understand what was so interesting about boys, but nor did some of her school mates.

    As she matures, Lil realises that she is gay and at age nineteen, her parents overhear a conversation she is having with a girlfriend. They confront her and insist she leave the house immediately. Lil’s story moves on from there. She describes how good friends help her to find her feet and how learning to become an adult in a gay world has complexities that many people could not imagine. With very little family support Lil makes her way through study and the School Ball where all of the girls stayed at a Motel. She eventually moves into the working world.

    In the acknowledgements, Lil gives thanks to Rainbow Youth, an organization that supports young people who have gender issues. They inspired and helped her so much that eventually she was asked to share her story with High School students. This eventually led to her writing this book.

    It is such a frank and honest retelling that any young person who may be questioning their gender would benefit from reading it. Any person who doesn’t have questions about their gender would also benefit by reading this. To understand the struggle that Lil went through, and how a happy family can be shattered by her coming out makes us realise how difficult this process is. Happily, she is settled and willing to help others in their journey.

  • Running with Sherman

    Running with Sherman

    Running With Sherman, the tale of a down and out donkey who made good, is an absolute delight. Christopher McDougall has crafted a story that will remain in your heart and mind for a very long time, as it tells the tale of a hapless donkey who had been loved almost to death, buy an obsessive owner, being rescued by a kindly soul in the same community, who realised the animals this man loved so much, were suffering badly.

    McDougall, well known for his best seller Born To Run, had no idea he really was looking for a rescue donkey, until he was asked to house this donkey in with his already attitude prone group of assorted animals, to give him hope of a better life, if at all possible.

    After much discussion with his wife and daughters the answer was of course, was Yes, until the poor creature arrived, almost too far gone to be saved: but with the help of friends and neighbours, a lot of love, a compete extrovert of a goat named Lawrence, Flower, a larger than life donkey, Tilda, a miniature donkey who loved to be first, and eventually The Amish Running Club, Sherman was given a fresh new lease on life.

    This heart-warming story of Sherman, how he conquered his fears, of which there were many and became strong enough to compete in the World Championship Pack Burro Race held in Colorado, a gruelling race for the humans, and enjoyment pulse for the Burros, is a complete pleasure from the first page.

    But there is far more to the story than rescuing Sherman, as in the process of getting him fit and able for the race, Chris learned much about the human and donkey spirit, as Sherman’s needs reached out to offer a pathway forward for a struggling young athlete, saw the world of the Amish people embrace the challenge of this somewhat temperamental donkey, a donkey who touched the hearts of everyone who had contact with him.

    Christopher McDougall is a born storyteller who has woven life’s journey with that of a donkey called Sherman, into a tender-hearted story and one in which the wonderful healing bond that occurs between animals and their humans was never more apparent.

    Running With Sherman simply portrays that no matter how bad things sometimes can be, a helping hand, offered with love, understanding and respect, makes sure that anything at all is possible.

  • A Life Of Her Own

    A Life Of Her Own

    Following on from her last best seller Making Peace, Fiona McCallum tackles a what can be a very deeply personal but debilitating issue, that of bullying, looking at the power knowledge and understanding bring towards making change.

    A Life Of Her Own sees Alice Hamilton at a crossroad in her life. She has just completed a mature aged Arts degree, but can’t find work in her chosen field, that of history so is temping, taking whatever work is offered.

    Her partner of the past four years, David, is a man who is a workaholic, a driven man always looking for the next big business deal, the next step up the Corporate ladder, having little sympathy for Alice and her employment woes.

    She is offered a well-paying marketing position in a friend’s firm but declines, instead taking a position with a major real estate company; a position she feels she is well qualified to undertake, one she feels she will enjoy and excel at in her role of PA to Carmel Gold, agent extraordinaire.

    The unexpected death of an old friend sees her returning to her home town of Hope Springs, where she takes a long, hard and serious look at the family left behind, her ex-husband who has grown up considerably in the past few years, apologising for the stress he put her through during their marriage. She comes to the conclusion the best thing she ever did was leave!

    But things begin to go terribly wrong when Carmel Gold turns out to be something other than what she portrays, breaking Alice’s spirit, crushing her mentally and almost destroying her sanity. During all this David is often away, and Alice has once again to assess just what sort of relationship she has with a partner who is showing all the same traits of her mother and sister, that of narcissism.

    With the help and support of long-time friend Lauren and her Uni friends she eventually begins to understand what is happening to her and what she needs to be able to do to make changes, to once again have a life of her own.

    Inspiring, moving, with an all too real storyline, Fiona McCallum has created a wonderful story full of hope and courage which will resonate with many.