SMOKE & MIRRORS BY BARRY JONSBERG, PUBLISHED BY ALLEN & UN WIN

Grace McKellon loves magic. It’s the one thing in her life she can depend upon. She knows it’s not everyone’s cup of tea, but then again, neither is she. School is something to be endured, along with a seriously troubled relationship with her mum. Gran is the only person she truly enjoys spending time with.

When Gran is given a terminal diagnosis, Grace steps up to be her main carer. It’s not something most high school kids would put their hand up for, but Grace’s mother can’t be relied on and neither can her Uncle Mike.

During this unsettling time, Grace is approached by a fellow student with a business proposition. Grace agrees to get a TikTok following and perform at kids’ parties to make some cash. As her followers grow, Gran’s health declines. Grace must juggle making TikTok content, caring for a dying woman, dealing with an alcoholic mum and dreams that haunt her about the car accident where she was the sole survivor.

Barry Jonsberg has given readers an exploration of grief, survivor guilt, family and the power of believing. Strong themes of assisted-dying and trauma are played out here in a way that is realistic and sensitive. His characters are so well formed that you’d wish you had a Gran as feisty as Grace’s and a friend as steadfast as Simon. Grace herself is strong and brave but at breaking point. She trusts no one and as she wades through her life, she begins to realise that trust runs both ways.

For Ages: 11 – 14 years

Number of Pages: 272

Published: January 2024

Themes: Family, resilience, guilt and self-belief

Purchase here: https://www.allenandunwin.com/browse/book/Barry-Jonsberg-Smoke-&-Mirrors-9781761180750/