This is a great book for science fiction readers, by master Australian storyteller, Garth Nix. It is a story about the gap of trust between an older brother (Kim) and a younger sister (Eila), the sister being a prodigy. The story is told from the perspective of Kim’s eyes. The story takes place in an alternate Canberra, Australia, in 1975. It starts with a little backstory, when a scientist accurately presumed the sun went out, while the other scientists said it was just a functional error. But the Sun did
go out, reality had rippled and bent, and there was something new on Earth that hadn’t been there before …
Kim rides down to the lake with Bennie, his best friend, while Eila rides with Madir, her best friend. Kim and Bennie talk while they walk, when all of a sudden, Eila marches straight into the lake and retrieves a globe. Eila names it Aster, and it is the size of a world globe. The globe begins to glow a bright and brilliant gold. It reaches into Kim’s and Bennie’s minds, with tiny tendrils reaching into his head, as Kim describes it. Kim manages to save Bennie, but not Eila. There, the story begins.
The rest of the story is about how Kim and his group of friends spy on Eila and the globe, until one day, Aster strikes. Kim not only has to save his sister from Aster, but also the world!
I think this is a heartwarming story of family and friends, knowing when to continue and stop, and always listen to your heart.
Happy reading!
Reviewed by Owen, Year 6, Churchie, Brisbane Qld
Age Guide 9+
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Garth Nix has been a full-time writer since 2001, but has also worked as a literary agent, marketing consultant, book editor, book publicist, book sales representative, bookseller, and as a part-time soldier in the Australian Army Reserve.
Garth’s books include the Old Kingdom fantasy series: Sabriel, Lirael, Abhorsen, Clariel, Goldenhand and Terciel and Elinor; SF novels Shade’s Children and A Confusion of Princes; fantasy novels Angel Mage and The Left-Handed Booksellers of London; and a Regency romance with magic, Newt’s Emerald. His novels for children include The Ragwitch; the six books of The Seventh Tower sequence; The Keys to the Kingdom series and Frogkisser! His short fiction includes more than 60 published stories, some of them collected in Across the Wall and To Hold the Bridge.
He has co-written several books with Sean Williams, including the Troubletwisters series; Spirit Animals Book Three: Blood Ties; Have Sword, Will Travel; and Let Sleeping Dragons Lie.
More than six million copies of Garth’s books have been sold around the world, they have appeared on the bestseller lists of The New York Times, Publishers Weekly, The Bookseller and others, and his work has been translated into 42 languages. He has won multiple Aurealis Awards, the Ditmar Award, the Mythopoeic Award, CBCA Honour Book, and has been shortlisted for the Locus Awards, the Shirley Jackson Award and others.
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