Cooee Baby

by Charles Moberly

Why can’t anyone say what they mean? Why is my mother a Tyrannosaurus? Why did she give me such a stupid name?
Awhina doesn’t know when to stop. She’s a brilliant young scientist at Cambridge University with a good sense of humour but the social skills of a rhinoceros. She lambasts her professor because he’s a dickhead. Whoops. But he is risking the survival of humanity.
A hideous accident on the other side of the world changes everything. Captured and terrified, she displays her usual tactless defiance. If she could escape, a glamorous new career would open up for her. But does she want it?
Cooee Baby is a psychological novel with elements of a thriller. Welcome to the world of Asperger's, remote tribes, movies, and astrophysics.'

209 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 6, 2024

Reviews

[E. Billups · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Novel With Psychological Depth And Adventure

In "Cooee Baby," Charles Moberly's masterful world-building shines through, once again, delivering a psychological thriller that expertly balances character study with adventure. At its heart is Awhina Fernandez (who prefers "Athena"), a brilliantly crafted protagonist whose complexity drives the narrative. A Cambridge astrophysics student with Asperger syndrome, Awhina navigates life with brutal honesty, intellectual prowess, and an endearing inability to engage in small talk—unless the topic turns to her beloved physics.

While comfortable commanding audiences of hundreds during academic presentations, Awhina struggles with social interactions and maintains a contentious relationship with her mother, whom she's dubbed "the Tyrannosaurus" or "T-Rex." Her journey of self-discovery encompasses not only her emerging understanding of her sexuality—finding herself attracted to both men and women—but also a growing awareness of how others perceive her physical beauty, a realization that both intrigues and disturbs her.

The narrative takes a dramatic turn when Awhina embarks on a five-week cruise with her mother. A tragic accident in the Straits of Sundabang leaves her disfigured and stranded, until a Papuan fisherman rescues her and brings her to the Walukek tribe. As her family believes her lost at sea, Awhina finds herself immersed in an entirely new world, learning the ways of her rescuers while grappling with her transformed appearance.

Her story takes another unexpected turn when she's captured by the rival Suamu tribe, who mistake her for Golgola, a prophesied spiritual figure. Moberly brilliantly portrays how Awhina's analytical mind becomes her greatest asset as she walks a precarious line between a revered deity and a discovered impostor. The arrival of a British anthropologist offers hope for escape. But Awhina must risk everything to seize this chance at freedom.

Moberly effectively illustrates how catastrophe can spur personal growth without altering our core identity. Throughout her journey—marked by disfigurement and tribal captivity—Awhina remains true to herself while uncovering new depths of resilience. Her eventual return home and rise to fame raise intriguing questions about identity and authenticity.

"Cooee Baby" transcends the conventional thriller format, offering a profound exploration of survival, identity, and the power of intellect. Moberly has created an unforgettable protagonist whose journey from the halls of Cambridge to the remote tribes of Papua showcases both the vulnerability and resilience of the human spirit. I highly recommend this compelling narrative to readers who appreciate psychological depth alongside adventure.

[Sara Hailstone · Rating 4 out of 5]

Books that stay with me typically pull me through a journey with a well-developed protagonist whose character arc forces me to grow as a reader alongside them. Not always on board, sometimes I take distance, observe, reflect and come back to myself more aware, developed. When this happens, I know I’ve read a well-crafted story.

Awhina Fernandez, the protagonist of “Cooee Baby,” pushed me through a reading experience of contemplation. Her first impression was an affront, her abrasive and sometimes emotionally immature train-of-thought repellant, oftentimes making me want to abandon her story, yet, I didn’t stay away. She made me want to hold on. Her intellect, bordering genius, and sharp tongue forced me through a plotline of unexpected turns and character development. I could not predict what was coming next.

Author Charles Moberly’s 2024 novel, “Cooee Baby,” navigates a series of events in a young astrophysicist’s budding scholarly career. As a Cambridge student on the cusp of breakthrough in her field and beginning her PhD, there is a jerk of trajectory from scientific success to the chaos of life plunged into the wild.

Before Awhina, sometimes referred to as Athena, can begin her doctorate studies, she disappears during a freak accident on a cruise around Indonesia on the Straits of Sundabang and finds herself thrust into a whole other lifeline of survival that will force her to execute the sharpness of her wit to make it out alive. A character arc that flings her into the geography of West Papua, Athena’s enflamed ego and cunning are the internal weapons she will cast for survival.

“Cooee Baby,” is a psychological thriller intended for adult audiences but suitable for mature teenagers. This is the second novel I have read by Moberly and his range of style and extent of diverse subject matter exemplifies an author perfecting their craft. Moberly has carved out a space of knowing that he will play with limitations and knock his readers into uncomfortable states of navigation, achieving engagement and growth. In my opinion, the pillars of a successful writer.

Moberly is the author of four books. Titles include “The Scrotum Toad,” “The Corncrake,” “Try the Leopard’s Mouth” and “Cooee Baby.” Moberly’s latest novel has achieved the B.R.A.G. Medallion (Book Readers Appreciation Group). A reader-recommended book, Moberly also holds other accolades like the ‘A Chill with a Book Reader Award,’ for “The Scrotum Toad,” and a Highly Recommended Award by The Historical Fiction Company for “Try the Leopard’s Mouth.” The author’s experience of living in Africa is threaded through the themes and subject matter of his novels, and, the immense turns that the plotline that “Cooee Baby,” took makes me anticipate future works.

As an educator and writer, Awhina’s characterization was made more profound and intriguing for me with the protagonists Asperger’s diagnosis. Unknown at first, the confrontation and settling into the corners of an abrasive and honest character was refreshing. Not only was I confronted with my own biases and stereotypes, I became invested in a female character who risked losing everything.

I highly recommend “Cooee Baby.” Thank you to Charles Moberly and Coffee & Thorn for the complimentary copy in request for an honest review!

[Lashelle Turner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Charles Morbley’s Cooee Baby showcases a smart, sexually-free protagonist who wittingly guides the reader to an adventure of unexpected events and unique individuals. The novel opens with head strong and book smart Ahwina Fernandez exploring her attractiveness to a young man and woman in her life while contemplating the next the step in her career. She is a young woman who is not afraid to voice her opinions. Morbley from the beginning paints her as an interesting yet flawed character who has a little growing up to do.

Before beginning her PhD, Ahwina sets out on a cruise which set her on an adventure she could have never learn in the classroom. Using an exotic background, Morbley creates a tougher classroom for the know-it-all Ahwina.

Morbley shows the importance of getting lost from outside constraints and inside security blankets to find one’s path in life. Cooee Baby gives a vivid and intricate life study of new adulthood where a young person leaves the safe ways of academia and enters the unforgiving real world. Morbley effortlessly drifts Ahwina from the world of four walls civilization into the tribal world then into the glamourous world of movie making, all showing her really knows nothing about the real world. Ahwina questioning her feelings about David gives the novel a true to life romantic angst which occurs in new adulthood. Through Ahwina’s brutally honest view of her world, the reader gets to see how a person with Asperger’s navigates the world. The mix of a young person finding herself through exploring sexuality, navigating new career opportunities, and finding her place in the world creates a great read.

[Katherine Hayward Pérez · Rating 4 out of 5]

**TRIGGER WARNING: Bad language **

After Try The Leopard's Mouth, I was eager to review another novel by Charles Moberly. I felt a little disconcerted by Awhina’s use of bad language and seeming indifference towards others at the start of the book. I was wondering if I wanted to continue. I decided to take a chance on the book out of curiosity as to where the story would go and so I did continue. I’m glad I did.

I felt for her when she got her Asperger’s Syndrome diagnosis, and I also felt for her because of her difficult relationship with her parents. I was proud of her for getting a First classification in her degree.

I was looking forward to the cruise as if I were going, and I loved the mention of horses since they’re my favorite animals.

I was wondering where things would go with David.

Charles Moberly has done it again!

Cooee Baby has everyday life and academic life as well as mystery and adventure and amazing attention to detail. I really felt as if I was “in” the story. The settings and Indonesia, as well as Awhina’s daily life, had great visuals.

I felt that, through her observations and the Asperger’s Syndrome diagnosis, Charles Moberly makes her someone to root for. He creates good awareness of the condition.

Thanks to Coffee and Thorn and Charles Moberly for my eARC in exchange for an honest and voluntary review.

4 stars.

[Zea Perez · Rating 5 out of 5]

COOEE BABY
By Charles Moberly
A Book Review by Zea Perez
January 2025

This book surprises me wonderfully!

The opening theme embarks upon the main character's young adulthood issues with her parent/s, school authority figures, friendship and love interests while shaping up her identity, until the book brings us cluelessly to its twists and turns down to the very end.

It’s a journey of self- discovery and adventure. And even featured a tribe’s existence and culture, engaging its traditions and practices which along the way unfolds its good and bad sides.

I enjoyed reading the book- its imagination and creativity hold my interest. The main character’s adventure-twist is absolutely unforgettable!

[Robert Cubitt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cooee Baby is a book that works on many levels.

If you just want an adventure story, then great. Five stars all the way. It really works as adventure.

But on the deeper level, as a story about neuro-divergent young woman, there is a lot going on. I’ll cover some of the nuances later in this review.

Athena Fernandez is the neuro divergent young woman. He real first name is Awhina, but she doesn’t like it because people don’t know how to pronounce it, so she changes it, and to everyone other than her parents she becomes Athena. Early in the story Athena is diagnosed with an autistic spectrum disorder (ASD), which is one particular syndrome on the much broader autism scale.

Not only is Athena neuro-divergent, however, she is also a brilliant scholar, with a particular talent for maths and sciences. This takes her to Cambridge University where we start to get a real insight into her personality. This is something I will again return to later in this review.

After graduation with an honours degree, and starting to prepare her PhD proposal, Athena’s mother offers her the opportunity to go on a five-week cruise around the islands of Indonesia. This is not your normal “floating gin palace” type cruise but is on a much smaller ship where more time is allowed to experience the diverse cultures that will be encountered.

I don’t want to give any spoilers, but I can’t tell you about the key story point without revealing some of what happens, but I’ll try not to tell you too much.

Athena is involved in a swimming accident that threatens her life. It also disfigures her. She is rescued and taken to Papua where she is treated by the shaman of a local tribe, the Walukek. She is then kidnapped by a neighbouring tribe, the Suamu, who are in a perpetual state of war with the Walukek.

There is always a risk in placing a European in a situation like this that they succumb to “white saviour” syndrome, trying to modernise the indigenous people for their “betterment”. This was common in 19th and early 20th century literature as it reflected the colonial values of the day. Fortunately, the author, doesn’t succumb to this in Cooee Baby and Athena does nothing that would change the culture of either of the tribes with which she lives. Indeed, the culture of the Suamu is central to the plot.

So, having said at the start of this review that I would award 5 stars for this book as an adventure story, why have I only awarded 4 stars?

The answer is in the development of Athena’s character within the story. Her ASD doesn’t make the person intrinsically unlikeable, but Athena’s character I found very hard to engage with. Her overbearing mother and emotionally absent father must account for a lot of her behaviour, rather than her neuro-divergence.

Because, despite all her bravado, Athena is also very vulnerable. Her outspoken and sometimes obnoxious behaviour is, in part, motivated by her feelings of vulnerability and this isn’t explored in any depth. It means that the picture we get of Athena seems to be incomplete. She behaves like a spoiled brat a lot of the time, but her neuro-divergence doesn’t account for that.

While Athena may suffer from an ASD, she is also capable of analysing both her own behaviour and that of others, which means that beneath the surface she does understand emotions and their functions, but we are offered too few glimpses of that part of Athena’s personality, which means that she remains, largely, unlikeable.

I didn’t expect some damascene conversion from Athena, in which she changed her behaviour significantly. That would not fit with her neuro-divergence. However, she is portrayed as a person in possessions of complex analytical and reasoning skills, so I would have expected her to develop an understanding that the way people act towards her is a reflection of how she acts towards them. But that insight is lacking.

There is also Athena's resilience. People on the autism scale are not known for dealing well with the external environment. They often try to shut out the world. But not Athena. She may be frightened, but she stares down her assailants with a bravery that Jack Reacher would nod his head towards. That too, I feel, speaks of something deeper in her character than can be accounted for by her neuro-divergence. It was this quality that finally won me over and kept me reading the book.

But, if you can get past that characterisation, this book has a great deal going for it. As I said at the top of this review, it is great as an action adventure and if you can read it that way then you are likely to enjoy it immensely.

[Julie Porter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cooee Baby by Charles Moberly is an intriguing captivating book about a protagonist who thinks that she knows everything until she is put into a situation where she realizes that she knows absolutely nothing.

Awhina Fernandez, who sometimes goes by the name Athena, is a woman of great intelligence, plenty to say, and a large ego. She does not get along with her indifferent father and her intrusive mother, the latter of whom she calls, “The T-Rex.” She's a Cambridge student who majors in astrophysics. After graduation and before she begins her PhD studies, Awhina goes with her mother on a cruise around Indonesia and is cast asea during a diving mishap in the Straits of Sundabang. She finds herself stranded in West Papua and is caught in between two warring tribes, the Walukek and Suamu. She has to find the inner strength and resilience to survive in a world where her intelligence and education don't mean anything.

Cooee Baby has an interesting premise with a protagonist who is not always likeable. Awhina is the worst kind of academic who is fixated, insufferable, and extremely arrogant.

While a student, she brags about her arguments with her professors where she insists that she's right and everyone else is an idiot. She has self-deprecating moments concerning her name which is often mispronounced and her appearance which some think of as Polynesian and makes her stand out. She sets herself higher than everyone around her so she has few friends and lovers. She insults everyone around her in a way that is not self-aware but is instead ingratiating.

Granted, Awhina is diagnosed with Asperger's and she marks the symptoms point by point but it doesn't help make her beyond a character sketch of those symptoms without giving her depth beyond them. At times, this Reader wanted her to shut up.

Awhina comes into her own when she is stranded in West Papua. There are comic scenes where since she doesn't speak the language, she uses cultural references and a variety of movements like the haka to communicate with the tribes. She displays some creativity and survival instincts to think on her feet. She bonds with many of the people on the island such as a visiting anthropologist and a female villager, the latter of whom almost becomes a love interest.

Awhina also becomes aware that her actions have consequences. She plays the part of a mythological figure from their legends and gets off on their worship and obedience to her every word. She is told that this is a dangerous move because they might respect her when things are great but will turn against her when things go wrong. She pays no heed to that warning until it happens and she is put into danger. It becomes a huge blow to an ego that needed to get a little bruised before she learned something. It is through this experience that she becomes a better, more enlightened person who learns through failure as much as success.

The ending somewhat drags as Awhina deals with the instant fame that her story brings. At times, she falls back to some of her earlier character flaws but she also acts as a bridge between the person that she was to the person that she becomes.

[Book Reviewer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cooee Baby by Charles Moberly is a compelling narrative that plunges you into the life of Awhina Fernandez, a brilliant yet socially awkward astrophysics student navigating the complexities of academia, family dynamics, and personal relationships. The book masterfully intertwines her sharp intellect with her struggles in forming connections, presenting a protagonist who is both admirable and relatable in her vulnerabilities.

From the outset, Awhina's distinctive voice grabs hold of you, pulling you into a world where academic excellence meets the chaos of personal growth. One of the most striking aspects of Moberly’s writing is his ability to create a simultaneously brilliant and flawed character. Awhina’s journey through the halls of Cambridge is laced with moments of intellectual triumph, but these are often overshadowed by her struggles with authority figures, particularly her contentious relationship with Professor Coulter. Moberly doesn’t shy away from portraying Awhina’s sharp tongue and defiant nature, which, while sometimes abrasive, adds depth to her character. This raw and unapologetic portrayal is both refreshing and a little unsettling, making her a character you root for even when she’s at her most difficult. The book also delves deeply into the tension between Awhina’s scientific mind and her emotional world. Her relationships with her parents, especially her mother, are fraught with misunderstandings and unmet expectations. Moberly paints a vivid picture of Awhina’s internal battles—her need for approval, her desire for independence, and her struggle with her own identity. The narrative touches on her feelings of inadequacy and the pressure of her own brilliance, which is particularly evident in her interactions with her peers and in her pursuit of a PhD. These moments of introspection are where Moberly’s writing shines, offering readers a glimpse into the mind of someone who is both extraordinarily gifted and painfully self-aware. Moberly injects humor into the story, often through Awhina’s sardonic observations and her interactions with others. The scenes where she outwits her professors or navigates the awkwardness of social encounters are both amusing and telling of her character’s complexity. Yet, this humor is balanced with the book’s exploration of serious themes, such as the dangers of scientific hubris and the ethical implications of advancements in technology, which Awhina frequently debates throughout the narrative.

Cooee Baby is a fascinating exploration of the life of a young woman caught between the demands of her intellect and the challenges of her emotions. Moberly has crafted a thought-provoking and entertaining narrative with a protagonist who is as endearing as she is exasperating. This book is a must-read for anyone interested in character-driven stories that explore the intersection of brilliance and vulnerability. It would particularly appeal to readers who enjoy academic settings, complex character studies, and narratives that challenge the status quo.

[Margaret Covey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Vivid Storytelling in a Gripping Psychological Thriller

“Cooee Baby” by Charles Moberly is a gripping psychological thriller that blends adventure with profound character exploration. The story centers on Awhina Fernandez, a brilliant yet socially awkward astrophysics student with Asperger’s syndrome. Her intellectual gifts are remarkable, but her blunt honesty and aversion to small talk often strain her relationships. The novel delves into themes of identity, resilience, and the pitfalls of ego, portraying Awhina as a complex, sometimes unlikable character whose growth keeps readers invested.

The narrative takes a dramatic turn when a tragic accident leaves Awhina stranded and disfigured in the remote waters of West Papua. Rescued by the Walukek tribe, she grapples with her altered appearance and the loss of her former life, forced to adapt to a world devoid of modern conveniences, familiar language, or academic recognition. Her analytical mind becomes her lifeline as she struggles to survive while clinging to her sense of self.

Tension mounts when the rival Suamu tribe captures Awhina, mistaking her for a prophesied spiritual figure. She cleverly manipulates their reverence, relishing the authority it brings, but fails to foresee the dangers of being seen as divine. When a British anthropologist offers a chance to escape, Awhina faces a wrenching choice: risk everything to return home or remain in a world she’s begun to shape.

“Cooee Baby” transcends the typical thriller with Moberly’s vivid storytelling, immersive world-building, and incisive character development. Awhina’s journey—punctuated by humor, shocking twists, and deep psychological insight—captivates from start to finish. This unforgettable novel is highly recommended for readers who crave intellectual depth alongside gripping adventure.

[Carly Rheilan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awhina has the world in her hands and that’s just where she feels it should be. She’s smart – a science postgraduate at Cambridge, with a glittering academic career calling to her. She’s outspoken – not afraid to speak truth to power even in terms which are somewhat less than polite. And she definitely thinks that she could make a better fist of life than her hopeless mother, who gave her a ridiculous name, or her professors who are letting the planet down, or the captain of the ship on which she’s enjoying a cruise. She knows she’s a little bit different from the common run of people – neurodivergence is like that – but she’s going places and nothing is going to hold her back.

Until something does. A devastating accident in shark infested waters leaves her missing, presumed dead, monstrously disfigured and utterly severed from the world that is familiar to her. She is lucky to be rescued by indigenous people fishing along the coast, but with no internet, no university, no phone, not even any knowledge of the language, she is left to construct a new identity and navigate her way through social structures where she might be a goddess or she might be meat. And what a path she takes!

The story is dramatic and unexpected and the desire to know what happens compels one along. But what makes one remember the story is the wonderful depiction of the central character. Awhina is simply mesmerising. Funny, clever, and wonderfully left field, she leaps from the page in a narrative of different voices, all of which surprise. Will she ever find her way home? And if she does, who will she be when she gets there?

[Amys Bookshelf Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Charles Moberly writes a powerful tale with Cooee Baby

In Cooee Baby, the reader is brought into the life of Awhina, aka Athena, who seems like everything in her life is perfect, at least that what she'd like to think. Athena is intelligent persons who just happens to have Asperger's, but that doesn't take away from her in anyway, and in some ways it is an advantage for her. I haven't read anything by this author before, and what a hidden gem. This author has a grand imagination, and talent for showing the story. Awhina, is like others, not just people with Asperger's, but those who are socially inept or awkward, never knowing what is right to say out loud. I'm sure a lot of people can relate, and I found as we get older, we just say what's on our mind, without edit. That's what I love about Awhina. She has a rough relationship with her mother, the T-Rex, as she calls, her but then, something happens, so dramatic, that it gives Awhina a second chance at life, when the world thinks she's dead, but in reality, she is captured after an accident, while on a cruise with her mother. It's a remarkably powerful, I'd like to think of it, as a coming of new age, a new person story, whose battle scars so to speak, transcend Athena. This story is a definite attention grabber, so much I couldn't put it down. This story is amazing! Cooee Baby is a definite recommendation by Amy's Bookshelf Reviews. I read this book to give my unbiased and honest review. Amy's Bookshelf Reviews recommends that anyone who reads this book also write a review.

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm reviewing this as part of a tour with Coffee And Thorn.

The protagonist is Awhina, a student at Cambridge University, and she quickly made an impression on me. I found her to be quite outspoken, in a sassy sort of way. I liked the way she expressed herself, and parts of her initial narrative made me chuckle.

As the story progressed, it took a darker turn that I didn't expect, and it began to feel like a thriller. Its atmosphere became intense and gritty. When I first started reading, I expected a fun coming-of-age story, but it wasn't like that. It was surprising and intriguing, and took me on a journey with Awhina as a character.

Thank you to Coffee and Thorn, and to the author and publisher, for the opportunity to read and review this.

[Barry Litherland · Rating 5 out of 5]

This novel has everything going for it – excellent writing, a thoroughly convincing central character, a range of supporting characters whose authenticity adds to the power of the narrative, and a powerful emotional appeal. I particularly liked the nuanced creation of characters who are a realistic mix of virtues and flaws. Captivating. I was also delighted by the manner in which the narrative developed from a not unfamiliar beginning and widened exponentially in a manner which took my breath away but remained utterly convincing. The author’s depiction of autism and its effect on both the character and those around her was pitch perfect. I can only congratulate the author on a thoroughly engaging and compelling book.

[gj indieBRAG · Rating 5 out of 5]

We proudly announce that COOEE BABY by Charles Moberley has been honored with the B.R.A.G. Medallion (Book Readers Appreciation Group). It now joins the very select award-winning, reader-recommended books at indieBRAG. This award is a testament to this book's quality and the impact it has had on readers.