Flaxroots Productions
  • Home
  • Non-fiction
  • Fiction
  • Plays
  • Other Works
  • Professional
  • Blog
  • FlaxFlower
  • Review index
  • Contact
  • BMCWC

Sequel that’s even better than the first

15/12/2020

Comments

 
Picture
Mophead Tu: The Queen’s Poem
by Selina Tusitala Marsh


Mophead’s, or Selina Tusitala Marsh’s, journey continues in this second delightful book. Note the pun in the short title.
   If you can take the time to click over to my review of the first, Mophead: How Your Difference Makes a Difference,
​
http://www.flaxroots.com/flaxflower/autobiographical-tale-a-delight you’ll appreciate the backstory to this before continuing.
    Now read on.
    Here is a sequel that’s even better than its excellent predecessor.
    The author, having succeeded brilliantly in this country, takes a further huge step in her career when she receives a message from the Head of the Commonwealth. Can she achieve to the same high level in the UK? 
    The book, in hardcover as was the first, makes full use of its 100 pages as even the inside front and back covers are used and, in fact are a vital part of the text. 
    And again, using delightful cartoon-type illustrations and humorous asides, the storyline continues when Mophead, aka Selina Tusitala Marsh, aka poet laureate, is invited to write and perform a poem at a royal occasion in Westminster Abbey. There are rules imposed that must be adhered to.
    The poem she presents, “Unity”, is included right at the beginning – it introduces the storyline and sets the theme –
                        Let’s talk about unity
                        Here in London’s Westminster Abbey
    A simply-written message in rhyming couplets, it clearly states values, personal and universal. 
    In London, with top royals present, the rules are adhered to, but poetry can be subversive, and “Unity” reveals an alternative history and comment on colonialism and the Pacific. 
    “Unity” is a relevant text poem for school study. The whole book, Mophead Tu: The Queen’s Poem, likewise.
    This is a book that looks so simple yet is obviously the result of a great amount of thought, work, writing, drawing, rewriting. It has been well worth all the effort put into it.
In terms of books it’s not lengthy, but it is huge!

Review by Bronwyn Elsmore
Title: Mophead Tu: The Queen’s Poem
Author: Selina Tusitala Marsh
Publisher: Auckland University Press
ISBN: 9781869409449
RRP: $24.99 hardback
Available: bookshops
Comments
    Picture

    FlaxFlower Reviews

    Reviews on this page are of New Zealand books – that is, written by Kiwi authors.   
    They are written by independent reviewers not known to the authors.

    Join the posting list
    If you'd like to receive an email when a new book review is posted, please respond via the CONTACT function above.

    If you are a Kiwi author
    and would like your book reviewed send an email via this site and you’ll be sent further details. Give details of genre, length, short description, and formats available – print, ebook (Kindle, Kobo etc). You will need to provide one book free to the reviewer.

    If you’d like to be a reviewer
    send an email via this site giving details of your experience/expertise what genres interest you, and the formats you will consider – print, ebook (Kindle, Kobo etc). If possible, include a URL of one of your published reviews.
       Offer only if you take the task seriously and are certain you will deliver the review.
    ​

    Archives

    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.