.
.
.
"[An]
outstanding
debut novel....[Austen's] writing cuts
straight to the heart. She delivers a wise, rich novel, wonderfully
compelling for children and adults alike."
-
The
Globe and Mail
"In this impressive debut
novel, Josh keeps a journal to chart his feelings and thoughts,
allowing readers to follow his journey from sadness to acceptance and
the eventual return of cohesion in his family. Given the subject
matter, the story is never maudlin, and Josh’s voice rings
natural and true. An elegantly crafted volume of lasting power." - Kirkus
Reviews
Austen's protagonist is an
endearing blend of smart-aleck and lost boy. The story - recounted in
journal entries - deftly tackles such weighty topics as atheism, grief,
and the ties that bind a family together."
- Montreal
Review of Books
"This novel’s refusal
to sentimentalize loss or to accept quick or predictable solutions in
conjunction with its ability to create a realistic and complex
protagonist allows for a refreshing perspective on the story of the
loss of a parent." - Canadian
Literature,
Spring 2011
"Austen
is both unsentimental and unapologetic in her employment of
precise and elegant prose, and the complicated and often humorous
reactions to grieving practices lend themselves to an enjoyable read."
-
School Library Journal,
February
1, 2010
"While professionals may find
this novel useful as bibliotherapy, Walking
Backward is much more than
a therapeutic tool. With its well-drawn characters and depth of
understanding, this work of children's literature should withstand the
test of time....Highly recommended." - CM
Magazine
"Satisfying
and realistic....Recommended." -
Resource
Links, October 1, 2009
"...perceptively
gives weight to the....ways
bereavement can change a family..."
- Bulletin
of the Center for Children’s Books,
October 2, 2009
"Austen
breaks from the pack with this confident and peculiar
debut....a refreshing change of pace."
- Booklist,
October 15, 2009
"...will
admirably answer the call when young patrons ask for 'sad' books...." -
NMRLS
Youth Services Book Review,
December 1, 2009
"A
definite success. Recommended."
- Library
Media Connection, January 1, 2010
"[A]
very powerful, moving and realistic portrait of grief."
- VOYA,
April 2010
- An
Ontario Library
Association 2009 Best Bet
- A
Manitoba Young Readers'
Choice Award 2010 nominee
- A
Saskatchewan Diamond
Willow Award 2011 nominee
- A
British Columbia 2011/2012
Red Cedar Award nominee
- A starred selection in the
Canadian Children's Book Centre's Best Bets 2011
- A
finalist for the 2010
Quebec
Writers' Federation Prize for Children's and Young Adults' Literature
- A
finalist for the
Canadian Library Association's 2010 Book of
the Year for Children Award
Add
your review of Walking Backward
on Goodreads.
"Austen
very aptly conveys both information about Egyptian mythology and a
depiction of the simple but complete relationship between the boy and
his pet... This book would be a particularly useful classroom resource
for ancient civilizations units and is recommended for children aged
five to eight." – Canadian
Children’s Book News,
Spring 2011.
"A
boy’s clever comparison of the Egyptian goddess and his
family cat who shares the same name comprises the narrative of a
picture book full of laugh-out-loud humour and brimming with feeling."
– Cooperative
Children’s Book Center,
University of Wisconsin (Book of the Week, May 30, 2011)
"You’ll
love the comparisons between the Egyptian Isis and Isis, the pet cat."
– Portland
Book
Review,
June 2011.
"Cat lovers and young
Egyptologists will enjoy the offbeat parallels between Isis and her
divine namesake as author Catherine Austen lists interesting facts
about the Egyptian goddess (who began as a minor deity but grew more
popular with every generation) and contrasts her with Isis the cat (who
started out as the runt of her litter but grew bigger and stronger
thanks to her owners)." -
Suite 101.
"A history lesson by default, a
young boy reading about Egypt compares
his cat, page by page, to its namesake, the goddess Isis....
No value judgment accompanies the young narrator's declarations, which
adds to the book's gentle humor." - ForeWord
Reviews.
"Cat
lovers in particular should enjoy the humorous descriptions of the
cat’s life. - Kenneth and Sylvia Marantz, Children’s
Literature
"Kids
intrigued by ancient Egypt and cats will appreciate the
narrator’s evident love for both topics." - Booklist,
April 2011.
"The
book works as an introduction to characters in Egyptian mythology..." -
School Library Journal
"Cat
lovers will enjoy My Cat Isis
[with] lavish illustrations by Montreal artist Virginie Egger."
– Winnipeg Free Press,
April 19 2011.
Add
your review of My Cat Isis
to Goodreads.
26
Tips for Surviving Grade 6 is a
simply told yet fast-paced and colourful blend of humour and drama
[with] well-rounded, credible characters....This book will certainly
appeal to female readers. Highly recommended." (CM
Magazine)
"All
Good Children is a smart,
polished novel, peopled with realistic characters in a well-developed,
futuristic world....a
narrative that strikes the delicate balance between fantasy and
plausibility. There are no superheroes here, no larger than life
antics, just a slow-building tension
that rewards the reader both
rationally and emotionally." - Quill
& Quire.
"Whether you need a rebuttal
for someone who stubbornly insists on stigmatizing the YA genre, or
you’re looking for a great read for yourself or a teenager
you know, Catherine Austen’s novel All
Good Children is an excellent
choice....Strong characterization as well as a thrilling and
horrifyingly plausible plot all combine to make All
Good Children a
wonderful read. Great literature is never limited by its genre." - The
Montreal Review of Books.
"Fans of the dystopian genre
will be very satisfied with Austen's take on a future gone
awry....Highly recommended." - Canadian
Materials.
"Austen writes with cinematic
definition, driving the action with taut dialogue and unremitting
menace. By alternating recognizable adolescent struggles with dystopian
horrors, she makes the threat of totalitarian mind control all the more
visceral.... Action packed, terrifying, and believable, this
entertaining novel will provoke important discussions about
subservience, resistance, and individual freedom." - Booklist,
November 15, 2011.
"In its use of race, gender,
social class and technology, All
Good Children can stand with the
best
of the [dystopian] genre." - Resource
Links, October 1, 2011,
"Austen’s first novel
for teens wears its influences proudly...while delivering an
entertaining and creepy story....[T]he social commentary and character
development make it a worthwhile journey.
Publisher's Weekly.
"This edgy saga offers distant
parallels to underground railways in other periods of history.... Some
intriguing themes here, including a warning about the use of medication
for behaviour control and a tribute to the power of art." - The
Star Phoenix.
"The readership age here is
intended to be young adult, but anyone who enjoys being taken out of
their every day should find lots to recommend about All
Good Children." -
January Magazine
"The book's stark view of
humanity is buoyed by Max's witty commentary and his warm relationships
with both his best friend and his little sister...
Given Max's knack for getting out of a tight spot, [the book offers] an
organic and satisfying conclusion to a harrowing tale." - The
Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books,
January 2012.
Add
your review of All
Good Children to Goodreads.
Check
out the News
page
for the latest reviews of all my books.
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