Harry’s Secret (Anita Heiss, Scholastic)

Harry lives in the New South Wales town of Cowra and enjoys a life of fishing, footy and skateboarding with his mates. He also really loves to draw but feels like he needs to keep it a secret from his friends, particularly because bossy and slightly bullying Gav has made it clear that drawing is not cool. Harry sneaks away to do his drawing but forces of nature—wind, fire and a magpie—conspire to steal his work away from him. However, Harry’s ambition to enter a local art competition force him to come clean about his talent. Of course, his very perceptive friend Lulu (a wonderfully written tomboy) has already realised the truth. There is no doubt that Anita Heiss is a good writer and I loved the depictions of contemporary Indigenous life in Cowra, however, some of the scenarios Harry finds himself in felt a little farfetched. Overall, this is a fun story about being true to yourself and your talents, aimed at readers aged eight and up. It will be enjoyed by boys and girls who enjoy realist fiction, particularly those who are more creative than sporty.

Angela Crocombe is the children’s book buyer at Readings Carlton

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

Category: Reviews