Janeen Brian

Representation: N/A
Trigger warnings: Implied disappearance or death of parents, abandonment of a child, physical injury and assault, blood depiction, death of another person
Score: Five points out of ten.
This review can also be found on The StoryGraph.

First off, I tried to find any representation in this novel, but it turns out that I couldn't find any. What a shame. Fortunately, at least the book I'm reading now at the time of writing this has so much representation, which I appreciate. Now with that out of way, I still didn't enjoy this book, and I will refrain from reading books from this author if she doesn't improve her writing. She released a new book, which might be good. Or not. It starts with the main character, Eloise Pail, or Eloise for short, living in an orphanage since someone dumped her in a bucket at birth, hence the surname. She was trying to find her birth certificate when she got caught by a nun (that orphanage is Christian after all) and got a scolding. From then on, the book slowed significantly which dampened my reading experience, considering that I didn't like or connect to Eloise. She's not well written enough and can even come off as cold, maybe if she was someone I could root for and like I would have given the story a higher rating. Alas. I did not. The book continues to drag right until the end when after Eloise was researching such ideas like the moon, forbidden concepts (like unicorns), she discovered something, but honestly? I. Did. Not. Care. Nor did I care if another orphan came to the orphanage and formed a somewhat tenuous connection with Eloise, she wasn't an outstanding character either. The ending was a talk between the two remaining nuns and that's it. Wow. It fizzled out. Come on.… (meer)

Bruno is celebrating his birthday and wishes that this special Thursday would never end. Bruno and his friend, Bert, go on a mission during the night to find Thursday and see where it went and why it had to leave. Birthday's are big celebrations and Bruno cherished every minute of his special day. However, when it was over he was sad. During his search for Thursday, he found something better. He remembered everything about his special day and used those memories to turn his sadness into joy. The connection between the shining moon going away and the balloon that Bruno had for his birthday allowed Bruno to have closure on why Thursday had to end. Time is a gift. It is something that should be cherished because of how fast a day can slip away.… (meer)

Yong is the oldest son of a man who is headman in the village and owes money to the money lenders after the famine in China. To pay this back, he gathers a group of villages and Yong and they travel to Victoria in the 1850s to try and find gold to pay off their debts. Yong is not happy about this as he wants to stay at home with his grandmother and siblings but it is his duty to follow his father. Yong can speak English but is forbidden to reveal this fact to the others on the trip by his father. The group lands in South Australia and must walk the 500 odd kms to Ballarat lead by a very dodgy bullock driver. Yong can understand what's going on but it is not until his father becomes very ill, that he has the nerve to explain to the others what is happening. Suspenseful and very true to life.… (meer)