The Making of Martha Mayfield (Jo Dabrowski, Affirm)

In The Making of Martha Mayfield, Jo Dabrowski (Get Your Act Together Doris Kozlowski) tells the story of 11-year-old Martha and her quest to overcome her shyness ahead of the school captain campaigns. With support from her quiet mother, impulsive sister Iris and the shopkeepers and schoolmates in her close-knit community, Martha slowly begins to find her voice. At her grandmother’s house – a place without rules or expectations – she’s free to simply be herself. Her grandmother’s own embrace of individuality offers Martha a quiet kind of encouragement to do the same. Narrated through Martha’s keenly observant lens, the story offers an authentic glimpse into a world of hypervigilance, niche interests and carefully rehearsed conversations. While the book doesn’t label Martha as neurodiverse, her intense focus, sensitivity and tendency to overthink reflect the many different ways children experience the world. Dabrowski’s prose alternates between vivid description and bursts of rapid-fire internal monologue. At times this creates a fragmented rhythm, but it mirrors Martha’s emotional state and allows readers to feel her overwhelm firsthand. Charming and engaging, this is a great read for ages 9–12 or for sharing aloud in classrooms. Exploring themes of identity, personal growth, leadership and inclusion, Dabrowski weaves humour and insight into the different relationships children may navigate. Highly recommended for readers who enjoy books by Nova Weetman, Zanni Louise and Emily Gale.

Books+Publishing reviewer: Tenille White is a freelance reviewer and has been a primary school teacher and librarian for over 10 years. Books+Publishing is Australia’s number-one source of pre-publication book reviews.

Books+Publishing pre-publication reviews are supported by the Copyright Agency Cultural Fund.

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