Fiction - 9 up

Australian Writer and Illustrator

Bill Condon, Illustrated by Beth Norling

The Simple Things

Allen & Unwin 2014  $15.99pb 160pp

ISBN 978 1 7433 1724 2

Themes:  Family Life/ Friendship/ Growing up/ Old Age/ Solo Mothers  

Stephen really doesn’t want to go and stay for three weeks of his precious holiday time with boring old Aunty Lola even if his mum and dad will be there as well. For Heavens Sakes she’s nearly 80 and he’s never met her before although she does send him money on his birthdays. Like the title of the book, this is a simple story about family values, loyalty and friendship and with a totally unexpected surprise near the end!  It would be a pleasure to read aloud to the right group of say 9 and 10-year-olds and probably (and I apologise if this sounds rather sexist) an all girl gathering.

In my opinion, the cover does not do justice to the story it enfolds.

Year 5 up/ Age 9 up

Note: I have started using a colour code for the four categories of books I review:

Magenta: Picture Books

Blue:        Fiction

Red:        Young Adult 

Green:     Non-Fiction