wendy harmer – Aussie Reviews

Ava Anne Appleton: Accidental Adventurer, by Wendy Harmer

Every now and then Ava thought about taking Angus away on a great adventure. Maybe to cross the vast, roasting African deserts in a camel train; travel the frigid Arctic Circle in a sled; or to see the wide prairies of America where the buffalo roam.
But it would be just too dangerous, she decided.

Ava Anne Appleton lives with her parents Anne and Alan, and her dog Angus, in Australia Avenue. Everything in her life is A_OK and that suits her just fine. She likes everything to be neat, orderly and predictable. Then her father surprises her by turning up in a motorhome and announcing that the family will spend a whole year living in it and travelling wherever fancy takes them. Ava is horrified. What will happen to her orderly way of doing things?

Accidental Adventurer is the first in a new series from author and comedian Wendy Harmer. Easy to read, but with plenty happening, the book will suit junior primary readers who are becoming acquainted with the novel format. Each chapter is complemented by one or two grey scale illustrations and the design of the book is visually appealing. Most importantly, though, the story is fun and engaging, leaving readers eager to see where Ava’s adventures will take her in future instalments.

Accidental Adventurer, by Wendy Harmer
Scholastic, 2013
ISBN 9781742838755

Available from good bookstores or online.

Pearlie and the Flamenco Fairy by Wendy Harmer ill Gypsy Taylor

It was a bright and beautiful afternoon when Pearlie flew into sunny Spain.

From the back of Queen Emerald’s magic ladybird she had a wonderful view of the plazas, fountains and the royal palace in the lovely old city of Madrid.

It was a bright and beautiful afternoon when Pearlie flew into sunny Spain.

From the back of Queen Emerald’s magic ladybird she had a wonderful view of the plazas, fountains and the royal palace in the lovely old city of Madrid.

Pearlie is off on a new adventure, leaving her home in Central Park and winging all the way to Spain. After she lands in The Royal Botanic Garden, Pearlie meets up with her new friend, Florentina. Florentina has a surprise for Pearlie: she has organised a party so Pearlie can meet all her friends. But in a less welcome surprise, Florentina has planned dancing lessons and a dancing exhibition for the party. Pearlie is anxious, when it comes to dancing, she has two left feet. She must quickly learn to dance or she will embarrass herself and her friend. As the party time approaches, Pearlie’s anxiety grows. <a href=”http://www.fishpond.com.au/product_info.php?ref=271&id=9781742755403&affiliate_banner_id=1″ target=”_blank”><img src=”http://www.fishpond.com.au/affiliate_show_banner.php?ref=271&affiliate_pbanner_id=46024611″ border=”0″ alt=”Pearlie and the Flamenco Fairy”></a> is fully illustrated.

It’s very exciting to visit friends, particularly when you are keen to see more of their beautiful home. But it can also be daunting if you discover that they are expecting you to join them in dancing when you have no skills in that area. But Pearlie wants to please her friends and puts all her energy into learning the unfamiliar steps. And she’d be happy to be able to dance as beautifully as her friend. But lest the reader think Pearlie is being too compliant, the visiting fairy takes control of her outfit for the night. She takes comfort from looking gorgeous, even if she’s sure she won’t be able to dance well. Pearlie, of course, triumphs as only a fairy so far from home could! Recommended for lower primary readers.

Pearlie and the Flamenco Fairy, Wendy Harmer, ill Gypsy Taylor
Random House Australia 2012 ISBN: 9781742755403

review by Claire Saxby, Children’s Author

www.clairesaxby.com

Avaialable from good bokstores or online from Fishpond.

Pearlie in Paris, by Wendy Harmer & Gypsy Taylor

It was springtime in Paris! From high on Queen Emerald’s magic ladybird, Pearlie could see many grand buildings, the Eiffel Tower, and beautiful parks bursting with fresh flowers.

‘Hurly-burly!’ sang Pearlie. She was thrilled to be visiting one of the world’s loveliest cities when it was at its prettiest.

Pearlie arrives in Paris for a holiday with Fifi, a fairy who lives in the garden of the Royal Palace (Jardin du Palais Royal). Instead she is met by a flustered, slightly bossy French fairy. After an initial misunderstanding, Pearlie helps Fifi prepare for the showing of her new Spring fashion collection. Pearlie is overwhelmed by the gorgeous, if slightly impractical for her, gowns. When disaster strikes overnight, in the shape of a runaway snail, it’s up to Pearlie to save the day. Illustrations are full colour and share the ‘joie de vivre’ of Paris in the springtime.

Pearlie in Paris is the 14^th adventure with Pearlie, the fairy who normally resides in an inner Sydney park. She’s a hard-working fairy, so it’s good she also gets to take holidays. Even if, on those holidays she also gets to solve problems and avert disasters. Pearlie is a very good-hearted fairy, never taking offence and always finding ways to help out. But she does get to tour around Paris in the end, even if it’s not with her new friend, Fifi, who is presumably too busy filling orders after her spectacular fashion show! Fans of Pearlie will enjoy this instalments and new readers of this series will want to search out other Pearlie adventures. Recommended for newly independent readers and for younger children as a read-to.

Pearlie in Paris, Wendy Harmer & Gypsy Taylor
Random House 2011
ISBN: 9781741663808

review by Claire Saxby, Children’s Author

www.clairesaxby.com

This book can be purchased online from Fishpond.

Friends Like These, by Wendy Harmer

Not so long ago Jo Blanchard was the deputy principal of the exclusive Darling Point Ladies’ College. That was before she discovered her husband was having an affair with one of the society matrons who run the school’s fundraising efforts – and decided to out the woman in question at a school function…

The disgraced deputy headmistress of Sydney’s most exclusive private girls’ school. That was the caption under Josephine Margaret Blanchard’s photograph every time it appeared in the newspaper.

But at 45 Jo has decided on a new path. She’s retrained as a marriage celebrant and is putting her past behind her. If only her ex wasn’t making life difficult by avoiding settlement, her new clients weren’t looking for non-traditional marriages and her best friend Suze hiding a huge secret.

Friends Like These is a witty novel from well-known funny lady Wendy Harmer. But while there are some good laughs, this is also a story of triumph – over the past, over adversity of different types, and over threats to happiness. Jo is a strong character who cares about the people around her and sees the best in them. Readers will enjoy seeing her fight her battles , supported by good friends and family.

A wonderful blend of humour, romance and life lessons.

Friends Like These, by Wendy Harmer
Allen & Unwin, 2011
ISBN 978174175166

This book is available in good bookstores, or online from Fishpond.

Pearlie in Central Park, by Wendy Harmer

It was a crisp winter morning and Pearlie was riding high in the sky on Queen Emerald’s magic ladybird. Her home was far, far away. Down below, she could see the whole of Central Park, New York City.
‘Hurly-burly!’ cried Pearlie. ‘This place is huge! Crystal must be the busiest fairy ever.’

Pearlie, the fairy, is more commonly to be found in Sydney, but in this adventure she’s off to see her friend, Crystal. She flies there on a magic ladybird and is enchanted with the view of the snowy park. But when she lands, she discovers there’s been a misunderstanding. Instead of holidaying with her friend, she discovers she is to look after the park while Crystal is off on a holiday of her own. Swallowing her disappointment, she makes friends with some squirrels, who promise to show her how to look after the park and its inhabitants. Full colour illustrations from Gypsy Taylor bring colour to the snow-covered park.

Pearlie always makes the best of things, so her initial disappointment at not seeing her friend soon abates. She is filled with curiosity and fun, and keen to learn about a very different park in a very different climate. Pearlie soon discovers a way to have fun AND convince the greedy birds to share their food. Her enthusiasm and creative problem solving show that being a leader and helping others can be rewarding in many ways. The Pearlie books are halfway between picture and chapter books and will be enjoyed by young readers and pre-readers happy to flit though the illustrations just as Pearlie does.

Pearlie in Central Park, Wendy Harmer ill Gypsy Taylor
Random House 2010
9781741663778

review by Claire Saxby, Children’s Author
www.clairesaxby.com

This book can be purchased online from Fishpond. Buying through this link supports Aussiereviews.

I Lost My Mobile at the Mall, by Wendy Harmer

Remember what it was like when you lost a baby tooth and your tongue just couldn’t help itself from exploring the new squishy gap in your gum? My fingers are like that. They’re out to explore without any supervision from me and keep reaching for the phone that isn’t there. Tap-tap-tapping on the non-existent keypad.
🙁 HLP me. Im dyng.

When Elly Pickering loses her mobile phone – not for the first time – she thinks her life is over. How will she keep in touch with her friends, most importantly her gorgeous boyfriend Will? Her parents refuse to buy her a new phone, and soon it seems her life is spiralling out of control. Things with Will are rocky, someone has posted embarrassing photos of her on the internet, and then she finds herself without a computer, too.

I Lost My Mobile at the Mall is funny reality fiction about one teenager’s dependence on technology and what happens when she loses that technology. At the same time it explores issues including cyber bullying, peer pressure, and being an individual. As well as being an entertaining story, the book offers teens a chance to extend their reading experience through an interactive website accessed through scanning a special code on the back of the book.

A funny read likely to appeal especially to teenage girls.

I Lost My Mobile at the Mall, by Wendy Harmer
Random House, 2009

This book can be purchased online from Fishpond. Buying through this link supports Aussiereviews.

Roadside Sisters, by Wendy Harmer

Nina scrambled back into the cabin, slammed the door after her and shouted out the window: ‘Jam your six P’s up your arse, brad! If I’ve broken the TV aerial, I’ll fix it. Like I’ve fixed everything else in the house for years!’
She wrenched the monster motorhome into drive and accelerated. She remembered to release the handbrake. Too late. She clipped the letterbox and hit the bluestone guttering at speed. In the passenger seat Meredith grabbed at the door handle to stop her head banging into the window. In the back Annie’s champagne bottle was flung from the table into the stairwell, its contents gurgling down the steps, under the door and out onto the roadway.Twenty years ago Nina, Meredith and Annie toured together as part of Sanctified Soul. Now they are back on the road – in a borrowed motorhome – driving from Melbourne to Byron bay for Meredith’s daughter’s wedding.

Meredith is the elegant, newly divorced, owner of a boutique homewares shop. Annie, the youngest of the three, but turning forty, is single and a successful real estate owner. Nina is married to a returned football legend and mother of three teenage sons. They seem to have little in common, but Nina has somehow convinced the other two to take this road trip and along the way they’ll either have fun or successfully ruin their friendship. Right to the end, it is not clear which will happen – but there are plenty of mishaps, soul sharing, romantic encounters and laughter.

Roadside Sisters is a funny but genuine look at female friendship and the search for identity and contentment. Each woman has her own set of problems, but also her own strengths and blessings, and as the trip progresses, each is forced both to confront those problems and count those blessings in equal measure.

Female readers are likely to see themselves in one – if not all – of the characters, and to nod, laugh and, perhaps, even cry. A heartwarming read from the wonderfully insightful Wendy Harmer.

Roadside Sisters, by Wendy Harmer
Allen & Unwin, 2009

This book can be purchased online from Fishpond. Buying through this link supports Aussiereviews.

Pearlie and Great Aunt Garnet, by Wendy Harmer

Pearlie was busy hanging her beautiful clothes, frilly pillow cases and feather curtains in the warm sun, when her friend Jasper the elf flew straight into her wet pyjamas.

Pearlie and Jasper decide to host a surprise birthday party for their friend Opal. They write invitations for everyone except Scrag and Mr Flea. Next there are games to organise and food to order. Of course there must be a big birthday cake too. Scrag and Mr Flea hear about the party and decide to hold their own. Pearlie takes Jasper to Great Aunt Garnet’s wonderful shop. Great Aunt Garnet will deliver the cake later. Scrag and Mr Flea have a shopping list too, which also includes an enormous birthday cake. Great Aunt Garnet has two cakes to deliver. What could possibly go wrong?

Pearlie and Great Aunt Garnet is the latest in the ‘Pearlie’ series from Wendy Harmer. The illustrations are bright and the text accessible to readers making the transition from picture books to less illustrated works. Younger children will also enjoy having the story read to them. The book is a good size for small hands to hold. The credits refer to the animation experience of the illustrator and it’s easy to imagine these stories as an animated series. The story is simple, with a positive resolution and is sure to appeal to young readers.

Pearlie and Great Aunt Garnet, by Wendy Harmer
Random House 2007
ISBN 9781741667316

Pearlie and the Christmas Angel

Jasper thought for a minute. ‘Will you take the angel’s place…just for one night?’ he asked Pearlie.
‘Me?’ exclaimed Pearlie. ‘But…I’m so shy…and…I…’
‘Go on, mate,’ said Opal. ‘You have to do it for the children. A tree without an angel? It just wouldn’t be Christmas!’

It is nearly Christmas and Pearlie and her friends can’t wait for the Carols by Candlelight in Jubilee Park. But then a fierce summer storm hits the park and the decorations are ruined. Pearlie and her friends manage to redecorate the tree and clean up the rubbish, but the angel from the top of the tree has been damaged and has caught a cold. Pearlie’s friends encourage her to overcome her shyness and save Christmas Eve for the children.

Pearlie and the Christmas Angel is a delightful story for Christmas or any time of the year. Pearlie and Opal the fairies and Jasper the elf, along with their various animal friends are cute characters, brought to life in full colour illustrations by Gypsy Taylor, based on original character illustrations by Mike Zarb.

This is the sixth story in the Pearlie series by author and comedienne Wendy Harmer, and will especially appeal to to kids aged 4 to 8.

Pearlie and the Christmas Angel, by Wendy Harmer
Random House, 2007

Love and Punishment, by Wendy Harmer

“Dear Francie,
My boyfriend left me for my best friend a year ago and now he wants me to come to counselling with him to help him get over the guilt. What do you think?”
Of course once Francie would have thought it was a good idea. Two people sitting down like adults and resolving their conflict. But not now.
She typed: “Take to his car with a hammer and tell him the only place you’ll go with him is to a panel beater.”

When Francie was given the job of writing the Seriously Single column she’ d thought it was a bit of a joke – after all, she was madly in love with Nick and, she thought, practically married. But she’s managed to make a success of the column, and now that she’s found herself single again, she has more material to write about. But Francie doesn’t want to be single. Nick, the man she thought she would marry, has dumped her for an older woman. And not just any woman, a famous actress, which means Francie can’t escape from photos, news stories, even posters, rubbing the new relationship in her face.

Francie moves into a new shared house and starts to learn to live the single life, but there’s something she doesn’t want anyone to know – an act of retribution against Nick and his new woman which could ruin her career and all her friendships. Did Francie go too far?

Love and Punishment is a funny exploration of the lives of thirty-something singles. Filled with humour, it also has a serious side as Francie struggles to understand why her relationship didn’t work, and why her family is so dysfunctional. Her friends, too, have their own problems, which are played out in the background of Francie’s dramas.

Popular television funny-girl Wendy Harmer shows once again that her writing skills are as wonderful as her stand-up work.

Love and Punishment, by Wendy Harmer
Allen & Unwin, 2006