Another week, another reading session for sports-mad Terry with bookworm Basil. But rather than Terry’s usual reluctance, he stands at Basil’s door grinning, because today might be another opportunity to use the golden swan bookmark to travel into the fairytale world of the Brothers Grimm.

Terry begins reading and they find that a word has disappeared. When they check other stories, words are missing there too. They know that any holes in the plots are dangerous. They need to return to that magical world and alert the book’s characters before things get worse. Besides, Terry would like to see Gretel again, and Basil is rather fond of Briar Rose – better known as Sleeping Beauty. It’s to Gretel’s story they decide to travel but, as usual, something goes wrong. They land uncomfortably in a kitchen within another story altogether where Clever Grethel should be plucking chickens … but there’s nothing in her hands. They discover that it’s animals that are missing from the stories. Have they been stolen?

Meanwhile, a blushing Terry meets Gretel again, and Basil fills in for the role of the Prince in Sleeping Beauty – where he gets to kiss Briar Rose (if he’s brave enough).

The boys discover that characters whose end in each story has been gruesome are sick of going through this time and time again. Some characters have been allowed ‘workarounds’, but now the animals are sick of being mistreated. To try to solve the problem to everyone’s satisfaction, Terry must use his physical prowess while Basil must use brains.

Both boys must also overcome their nervousness around the female characters. That problem might just be the hardest to solve.

Reviewed by Bob Moore

Age Guide 8+

Read a book review of Losing the Plot by Annaleise Byrd

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Annaleise Byrd grew up on a farm in Queensland, ignoring most farm-related pursuits in favour of reading books. She then spent nine years in England and Canada, neglecting a variety of jobs in favour of reading books. Eventually, she realised the best way to get away with this was to become an author.

Annaleise now writes funny books for kids and lives in Brisbane with her husband, two young sons and rescue greyhound. She is particularly fond of lamingtons. Annaleise’s debut middle grade novel, Losing the Plot, was published in March 2024.

Visit Annaleise Byrd’s website