Washpool

by Lisa Fuller

A magical middle-grade adventure about two sisters who need to rely on their own wits and each other when they're pulled into a new world, from black&write! fellow and bestselling author, Lisa Fuller.

This world looked as though it had been drawn in weird crayon colours ... There were no bird calls. No distant rustling of animals in the scrub. No breeze teasing the tops of the trees. Everything was still.

Bella is shy and thoughtful. Her big sister, Cienna, is popular and brave. One thing they have in common is their love for Washpool, the local swimming spot. But one weekend when they dive into Washpool, Bella and Cienna surface in the strange new world of Muse.

Lost and confused, the sisters find themselves working with magical creatures on an eye-opening quest. Lady Dragon - keeper of the land where an important Summer Feast is held - has lost her egg. Can Bella and Cienna save the egg in time? And how will they ever find their way home?

A transportive middle-grade fantasy adventure.

'A fun, heartwarming and insightful exploration of family and kinship . . . A fantastic read for fans of Rick Riordan and C. S. Lewis' BOOKS+PUBLISHING

'A blend of classic Alice in Wonderland elements with First Nations mythology, Washpool is funny, smart, and also subtly explores themes of bullying, racism, friendship and environmental destruction' SATURDAY AGE

236 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 26, 2025

About the author

Lisa Fuller is a Wuilli Wuilli woman from Eidsvold, Queensland, and is also descended from Gooreng Gooreng and Wakka Wakka peoples. She won a 2019 black&write! Writing Fellowship, the 2017 David Unaipon Award for an Unpublished Indigenous Writer, the 2018 Varuna Eleanor Dark Flagship Fellowship, and was a joint winner of the 2018 Copyright Agency Fellowships for First Nations Writers. She has previously published poetry, blogs and short fiction. Lisa is an editor and publishing consultant, and is passionate about culturally appropriate writing and publishing.

Lisa is a member of Us Mob Writing, the Canberra Speculative Fiction Guild, the First Nations Australia Writers Network, and the Canberra Society of Editors.

Reviews

[Nikita Maree · Rating 3 out of 5]

Preface: I am not the intended audience for this book, and by that I mean it's middle grade and the writing are meant for an audience much younger then myself.
So it was no surprise that at times I found it as gripping as reading my sons homework readers.

But that is not why I read it.
I read it because I wanted to see an indigenous author seamlessly integrate her culture with fantasy. It was no surprise that it worked splendidly.They have the dreamtime after all, story telling is ingrained into their history.
There were so many lessons and learnings in this book. Something as simple as the differences indigenous culture has the characters upbringing and how they perceive the challenges that arise. To some very well placed political and societal stances, prejudices and casual racism, all from through the lenses of children.
It really is a must read for all middle-grade Australian children, and everyone else.

[Gaby Meares · Rating 5 out of 5]

Outstanding, original middle grade fantasy with an indigenous perspective.
Thank you to the Australian Children's Book Council for the opportunity to review this book.
Please read my full review on Readingtime.com.au

[Poppy Solomon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful and fun, filled with whimsy and great characters.