The Followers is a tale of girlhood bullying and redemption. Image: Supplied.
The Followers (Maree Spratt, Allen & Unwin, Australia, 2026, cover design Christa Moffat, Christabella Designs, cover illustrations Nastia/Adobe Stock) is a whip-smart fiction, delving into the dark hothouse that girlhood can be from pre-puberty, through teenhood and into young womanhood.
There was a time when we could easily leave our girlhoods behind if we chose to, but contemporary life provides the ever-present temptation of social media and its ability to peer into the lives of people with whom we grew up.
Told mostly in the voice of Teresa, the story follows her ache to be one of the “in crowd” – a desire which encourages, nay demands, the surrender of a moral compass.
Queen Bee of the in crowd in Teresa’s life is Lacey, whose power to command obedience in her acolytes seems endless. Nevertheless, this wealthy child leads a rudderless life of parental neglect, finding her philosophy through popular glossy magazines.
The school playground populace is held thrall via the weapon of the marble competition. Lacey’s group rules the roost, determining who can play and who cannot.
Into the mix comes the socially disadvantaged Carmel Strongman, who becomes the whipping boy for the elite group, is treated abominably and then disappears from their lives. She is soon a thorn in Lacey’s side via her outstanding skill at marbles.
It is probably not too much of a giveaway to reveal that the abominable bullying of Carmel is not the last word and that in her way Carmel steals that from the later life Lacey, who has, also not surprisingly, become a hugely popular wellness and lifestyle Influencer.
The author has deftly managed to subtly direct the reader’s attention to the diverse parenting styles and models of family we expect to see in contemporary society. How well children survive their early years is equally as diverse and not dependent upon wealth, but upon love.
Whilst we are deep in the mind of Teresa for much of the story, the book invites us to question the reliability of this prime witness, who even in adulthood seems to be skewing her memories in order to not look so bad – such a human thing to do, it must be said.
In her examination of human nature, Maree Spratt proves herself to be an astute and curious observer. She sometimes makes us cringe; at other times we recoil in horror at the darkness of the human soul. We equally fist pump the small victories. It’s a clever and complex piece of writing but also always entertaining.
Pocket-loving Poppy reminds us of the value of small treasures and of helping friends. Image: Supplied.
A gentler view of girlhood is to be found in Jemima Parker and Karen Erasmus’ Poppy makes pockets (EK Books, Australia, 2026, (Book design Mark Thacker).
Jemima Parker’s charming story of a creative and resourceful little girl reminds us of the importance of following through one’s ideas, of valuing small treasures and of helping one’s friends.
Poppy is determined to have garments with pockets so that she can collect natural treasures when she’s out walking in nature – after all, who doesn’t love a garment with pockets so there is somewhere to put one’s things!
With laudable economy and the help of her family, she repurposes old T-shirts to make pockets, which she decorates with hand stitching. She then goes a step further and offers then freely to all comers at her roadside stall.
By incorporating a stream of friends from diverse cultures, the author gets another message into the story whilst also pointing to the wide range of interests our friends can have.
It’s a story with clear but not preachy messages of inclusivity and creativity, co-operation and gratitude, of the fulfilment we feel when we do something worthwhile that can both satisfy our own needs and help others.
The book also includes instructions for readers to make their own pockets.
Karen Erasmus has created the perfect visual story alongside the words. Her pictures are expressive of the personalities of the characters and full of interesting details that children will love. This is a joyous book.
