The Improbable Life of Ricky Bird

Diane Connell: Simon & Schuster, $33

Ricky Bird is not a storyteller to let the truth get in the way of a good story and her vivid imagination is full of them – much to the delight of her little brother, Ollie, who demands to hear at least one daily. The impossible worlds, creatures and wonders she describes help the siblings cope with the sadness of their parents’ divorce, the uncertainty of moving to a bleak new neighbourhood, the unfriendly neighbours and Mum’s new boyfriend Dan, who seems to be an integral part of an already yucky package. Gritty and raw, tender and heartbreaking, this is a beautifully written tale of an ordinary family and the fierce girl at its heart who will stay with you long after the last page is turned and the last tear has dried. LEANNE EDMISTONE