The Key to Rondo
by Emily Rodda (Omnibus/Scholastic, 2007)
audiobook read by Edwina Wren (Bolinda, 2010)
A manifestly competent tween quest fantasy that does most things right, if perhaps leaning a little too heavily into established fairytale elements. When betting on opening chapters (against those of, say, Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone), put your money on Rodda.
The Disappearing TV Star
by Emily Rodda [with Mary Forrest] (Scholastic, 1994); audiobook read by Rebecca Macauley (Bolinda, 2005)
Not much of a mystery. Also, while the Teen Power kids prove fractious as ever, Richelle’s character is difficult to stomach in the first person. Her surprise revelation (which would have made sense from Nick’s POV) comes across as an authorial cheat.
The Glimme
by Emily Rodda; ill. Marc McBride (Scholastic, 2019); audiobook read by Andrew Scott (Bolinda, 2020)
A dreamy, somewhat melancholic children’s fantasy by Emily Rodda, rendered even more so by Andrew Scott’s audiobook reading. (Most young readers will prefer the hardcover, which is brimming with lush, full-page colour illustrations courtesy of Marc McBride.) Neatly plotted and pleasingly self-contained.
Cry of the Cat
by Emily Rodda and Mary Forrest (Ashton Scholastic, 1995); audiobook read by Rebecca Macauley (Bolinda, 2006)
Although the Teen Power kids argue amongst themselves and display a refreshingly real-world dynamic, the mystery itself is spoiled somewhat by their dubious decision-making and an authorial recourse to the worst kind of tropey plot twist. The audiobook reading is nicely Australian.