I received this book as an ARC from the publisher.
By: Russell Hoban
Illustrations By: Alexis Deacon
Sixteen Face John is, or was, a shaman, it has been a while since he has done anything particularly shaman-like. The problem now is he and his wife are expecting their first child, a ‘soonchild’ and she won’t come out. John remembers something – that the World Songs are the music that inspires unborn children to leave the womb. With this in mind John sets out to find these World Songs in a Big Dream Trip. On this incredible journey John shifts shapes and sizes, meets up with ancestors and animal spirits. he also faces demons, death, his own past and mortality. Will John return from his dream trip with the World Songs and will that be enough to bring Soonchild into the world?
A rather different kind of read. Dark and surreal, John’s journey takes him from his modern distractions to his true path, where he needs to find the ways to let go of the past and confront his fears and failures. This is a mesmerising story that is an interesting trip through a different type of world. Elements may be familiar to some if you have a little knowledge of particular cultures. As a novel it has gloomy edges, deeper concepts and more than a few nuggets of wisdom. This story is paired with Alexis Deacon’s mystical and darkly intriguing images. Definitely worth a look if you are looking for something with a bit of substance, that may very well leave you thinking. Probably best suited to the younger end of the YA range due to format and style though some of the themes are fairly grown-up.
A fascinating read.
Publisher: Walker Books Ltd
Published: 01 March 2012
Format: Hardback 144 pages
Categories: Adventure, Fantasy
ISBN 13: 9781406329919
Purchase: here or use Booktopia link on side of page
TheKylieVerse 
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