Children's Book Week Reviews – The Piper's Son

And as the sun sets on another successful and rewarding Children's Book Council of Australia Awards season and Book Week we present our last review.

The Piper's Son by Melina Marchetta:

I'm probably the only person who hasn't read the prequel to this one Saving Francesca. But I will now.

The Piper's Son by Melina Marchetta is a stand alone novel but it returns to the group of friends first presented to us in Saving Francesca. Marchetta quickly has you living with these young characters that become like friends – you want to know what happens to them and you want things to go well. They work in a pub, play music, write songs and worry about life and love. You step inside the thoughts of Thomas McKee who is going through a rough time and has to live with his pregnant aunt while they all cope with family break ups, the death of a favourite Uncle by terrorist bombers in London, try restoring relationships and discover real love.

Life in inner city Sydney is described in detail and Tom's group of friends and family are all believable. It is a well written story with the right mix of humour and heartbreak. Highly recommended to older readers for the story and writing style.

Reviewed by Jasmine

The Piper's Son made it to the Older Readers Book of the Year Shortlist and this section was won Sonya Hartnett for The Midnight Zoo. Congrats to all the authors, illustrators and our reviewers.