Karen Foxlee’s young adult novels The Anatomy of Wings and The Midnight Dress were published
internationally to much acclaim. Her
award-winning books for younger readers include Ophelia and the Marvellous Boy, A Most Magical Girl and Lenny’s Book of Everything. She lives
and writes in Queensland, Australia.
Which children’s book are you
currently reading?
I’m
currently reading The Slightly Alarming
Tale of the Whispering Wars by Jaclyn Moriarty.
Can you tell us in two
sentences what the book is about?
It’s
a fantastic fantasy novel about a mismatched band of friends from two rival
schools who must join forces to outwit the evil whisperers.
How much did you enjoy/are
enjoying this title?
I love it so far and I’m only about eight chapters in. Although it’s set in the same world as
Moriarty’s The Extremely Inconvenient
Adventures of Bronte Mettlestone it is wonderfully different and full of
new characters that I’m falling in love with already. Moriarty writes brilliant
page-turning adventure stories that are filled with both humour and spirit and
I just love them. I recommend them to every child I meet!
What made you choose this
title? Was it a review, advertising, the cover, the blurb, the author/illustrator,
or the subject/genre?
I
was lucky enough to be given a copy of Jaclyn’s first children’s book The Extremely Inconvenient Adventures of
Bronte Mettlestone and adored it. As soon as I saw this on a table at Allen
& Unwin in Sydney I knew I had to read it.
What other titles are on your
bedside table /To Read Pile?
I
have Sam Wheeler’s Everything I’ve Never Said
which I can’t wait to read. Also, there
is brilliant middle grade advanced reading copy of Rise of the Dragon Moon by Gabrielle K Byrne, an American debut
author. It’s so good!! So scary and thrilling and so beautifully written.
How did you come by these
titles: personal choice/request, publisher’s review copy, or other?
I
went to Sam Wheeler’s book launch and purchased her book. It was such a lovely book launch. We have all
her other books at home here and my daughter loves them. Byrne’s book was sent
to me by her publisher. And I was lucky
enough to come by Jaclyn Moriarty’s book when I was visiting my publisher, Allen
& Unwin, in Sydney.
Do you have a favourite genre?
If so, what is it, and why do you prefer it?
Lately
I’ve been reading a lot of middle grade, as well as grown up, fantasy. I love how authors can create such perfectly
realised worlds and how differently the magic works in each. I like magic that makes me feel excited, that
makes my heart beat faster. And I love unpredictable
fantasy stories that make me feel scared or worried about what is going to
happen next. In this category I recently
loved The Girl who Drank the Moon by
Kelly Barnhill and The Hawkweed Prophecy by
Irena Brignull.
Do you read from printed books
or some other medium? Please expand a little on the why of your choice.
I
mostly read printed books because I do love them as objects. Our house is stuffed
to the rafters with books. It’s so good to keep a book that has touched you on
a bookshelf, so you can return to it when you need it. Occasionally, though, I read on my screen or
in manuscript form. Lately my daughter
and I have been listening to Tolkien’s The Hobbit in an audio book and really
enjoying that new experience.
You can enjoy our review of Karen's latest book, Lenny's Book of Everything, here.
