Karen Foxlee is the bestselling and award-winning Australian author of Lenny’s Book of Everything and Dragon Skin. Earlier this year, BR Kids readers were introduced to The Wrath of the Woolington Wyrm, book #1 in Foxlee’s new series Miss Mary-Kate Martin’s Guide to Monsters. It’s a delightful junior adventure story that will appeal to readers aged 6+, perfect for fans of The Travelling Bookshop or the Magnolia Moon series.
The Trouble with the Two-Headed Hydra is the second mystery story in this fantasy-adventure series, and we love it!
Mary-Kate and her mother are visiting Galinios, an idyllic Greek Island filled with history and surrounded by the shimmering Aegean Sea. An ancient mosaic has been unearthed at the local sardine processing plant and Professor Martin must investigate, leaving Mary-Kate to enjoy a few days of sunshine and antiquity.
But a message asking for help changes everything. A wrecked boat and smashed jetty have recently disrupted life on this tranquil island and point to a monster-sized mystery. Could the local legend of the Two-Headed Hydra be more than a story? If so, what could make this historically serene sea creature so angry?
With Greek music playing on board a ferry and a monster swiftly under the surface, readers are instantly transported back into Mary-Kate’s uniquely interesting world. Mary-Kate’s mum is a professor of archaeology, and her profession means that they’re always on the move, this time taking them to Galinios.
Armed with her glitter pens and strawberry-scented notebook, Mary-Kate Martin learns about the legend of the Two-Headed Hydra, and she’s determined to find answers. She might be scared of heights, but there is no problem too big for her to solve.
As with the first book, The Trouble with the Two-Headed Hydra caters well to children with quotes at the beginning of each chapter, foreshadowing what’s to come. There’s also a handy map of Galinios and lively line illustrations by Freda Chiu throughout that capture the mysterious tone of the novel.
Although anxious, Mary-Kate shows what it’s like to face your fears – and that doesn’t necessarily mean monsters – while staying true to yourself. In The Wrath of the Woolington Wyrm, we saw Mary-Kate apply various methods to overcome her anxiety, and it seems she has these methods more down pat in book #2. We can clearly see her growth as she navigates her mental health, friend-making skills and bravery in this novel. Any child who is anxious, worries about change, or is going through a transitional phase (and aren’t they all?) will continue to relate to Mary-Kate.
Full of humour, fantasy and magical realism, The Trouble with the Two-Headed Hydra is the ideal story for early readers, and perfect for warm springtime reading.
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