FROM MINIATURE MOUSE TO WORSHIPPED WARRIOR: My daughter’s review of Samantha Wheeler’s new book Wombat Warriors (UQP 2017) by Niamh Moriarty (age 10).
I have only now finished reading Sam Wheeler’s new book Wombat Warriors and I already think that if someone asked me to include details about what I DIDN’T like about this book, I wouldn’t have anything in my mind.
Something about this book that I like is how Mouse, the main character, was originally from Brisbane. This is because lots of books are set in different countries, and it’s good to have one set in my home town.
I love animals and I love reading books about them, too. I love how all Sam’s books are about native and endangered Australian animals. My favourite character in this book would probably be the cheeky wombat called Miss Pearl.
The descriptive words in this book make it seem like you’re really there, in the outback of Australia.
Somehow, Sam has managed to include art and drawing in this novel – I love that because not a lot of books I’ve read have a character who is so passionate about art like I am, and I like that in this book, art is used to solve a problem.
Some of the amazing ideas in her plot are: Mouse, the main character, a little 10-year-old girl who finds it hard to express herself, has to move to South Australia, leaving her parents behind. She stays with her aunt who loves wombats with all her heart. In the small farming town, she meets one friend, Harry, a nearby farm boy who is one year above her grade. He too is passionate about wombats, like Mouse and her aunt. But the wombats they are trying to save always seem to be getting into new and complicated troubles each day. Harry’s mum though, Mrs Campbell, makes it terribly hard for the two kids to send their message to the farmers as she is against wombats and wild animals coming into her farm. Therefore, Mouse and her Aunt Evie have to hide their animals and they appear to be dragging Harry along with them in their adventures.
Mouse doesn’t get involved in just one adventure, every second she’s facing a new catastrophe eg:
‘”Miss Pearl!” I called in one last desperate attempt. The dimming light was making it impossible to see. Darts of rain stung my face and made dark patches where they pelted the dust.
Miss Pearl could be anywhere by now.’
This is just one example of some of her problems.
I learnt a few lessons from the novel, such as how deep the deepest wombat burrow was. I love how at the end of each of her books, Sam writes some dot points and facts about the Australian animal that she has written about in her story.
The book would certainly suit people who love wildlife and are interested to learn about native Australian animals. I would certainly say that this book would be good for any ages, even adults, or for parents to read out loud to their children.
This book was worth reading. It was very well written and all in all, I can safely say that this book is exhilarating and fascinating. I think many people will benefit from reading Samantha Wheeler’s book. I encourage Sam to continue to write about Australian animals. I loved her past three books and still have them on my bookshelf ready to read again.
Wombat Warriors – Samantha Wheeler
