Fiona Wood, How to Spell Catastrophe, Pan Macmillan, April 2022, 320 pp., RRP $16.99 (pbk), ISBN 9781760984908
Fiona Wood’s How to Spell Catastrophe is a beautifully written middle fiction book for young readers, specifically the audience finishing primary school and starting high school. In the novel we are introduced to Nell McPherson whose character narrates her story, and we go along on her journey of finishing primary school, making new friends, trying to maintain relationships, and accepting new people into her life.
The structure of the story is linear and easy to read. I would say this book could be aimed for the audience of older primary school students, but also could be put in junior fiction at high schools, as it was a simple story, but still interesting and gripping even for a teenager.
Nell’s experiences are authentic and easy to relate to. Even though this book is set in an Australian school and an Australian suburb, anyone from around the world could connect with its universal messages of trying to find belonging and acceptance. For example, How to Spell Catastrophe also addresses the nerves associated with starting high school, which every primary school student feels no matter where they live.
Another important message is that not all heroes wear capes. Nell’s Grandma is a massive role model in her life, as she tells Nell stories and always encourages her to follow her dreams. Even though she lives across the world, Nell and her grandma share a warm and wonderful connection, showing strong relationships over a long distance are possible.
Overall, this book is a rollercoaster of emotions, and very relatable making it a good book for tweens. Fiona Wood skillfully captures the nervousness of becoming a teenager and building new relationships.
Reviewed by Lyla Reber
