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Wylah the Koorie Warrior #1
Guardians
Meet Wylah: warrior, hero and friend. Her adventures have been 40,000 years in the making!
Wylah is brave, clever and strong-willed, and all her best friends are giant megafauna animals. But she isn't a warrior. Not yet, anyway.
Then comes the day when her family is stolen by the dragon army, and her life is forever changed. She must find the courage to set out on a journey to save them. What will it take for Wylah to become a warrior, like her Grandmother before her?
Wylah is brave, clever and strong-willed, and all her best friends are giant megafauna animals. But she isn't a warrior. Not yet, anyway.
Then comes the day when her family is stolen by the dragon army, and her life is forever changed. She must find the courage to set out on a journey to save them. What will it take for Wylah to become a warrior, like her Grandmother before her?
Kindle Edition
First published May 31, 2022
11 people are currently reading
174 people want to read
About the author
Jordan Gould
5 books5 followersJordan Gould is a Peek Whurrong man from Warrnambool, Victoria. He performs Welcome to Country ceremonies at corporate and private gatherings. He is passionate about teaching and talking to groups about culture, language and reconciliation.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews
May 27, 2022
Wylah was taking over the teaching from her grandmother, the Koorie warrior, and was in the caves with the children, mixing ochre for the art lessons. When the children decided throwing the ochre at each other was better than lessons, Wylah decided to introduce them to her animal friends, with a ride on the kangaroo. But when it was realized Po was missing, she left the children with her grandma and headed back to the caves. The suddenness of the falling rocks, blocking the entrance, meant Po and Wylah were trapped and when one of her pets dug them out, the world as she’d known it was changed.
Dragons had stolen her family, stolen all the village people and only her grandmother, lying on the ground, had been left behind. Wylah had to find her courage deep within to become the Koorie Warrior she needed to be, and it meant searching for the five Guardians so they could defeat the dragons and return the people to their land. But would she be able to do it? Her animal friends would all help…
Guardians is the first in the Wylah the Koorie Warrior series by Aussie author Jordan Gould and illustrated by Richard Pritchard. Inspired by First Nations history, this imaginative journey is grounded in culture and will be an informative and fun adventure for children aged 8-14 years. Book two will be coming soon, and I look forward to continuing Wylah’s adventure, along with her furry, feathered and scaley friends. Recommended.
With thanks to Allen & Unwin AU for my ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.
Dragons had stolen her family, stolen all the village people and only her grandmother, lying on the ground, had been left behind. Wylah had to find her courage deep within to become the Koorie Warrior she needed to be, and it meant searching for the five Guardians so they could defeat the dragons and return the people to their land. But would she be able to do it? Her animal friends would all help…
Guardians is the first in the Wylah the Koorie Warrior series by Aussie author Jordan Gould and illustrated by Richard Pritchard. Inspired by First Nations history, this imaginative journey is grounded in culture and will be an informative and fun adventure for children aged 8-14 years. Book two will be coming soon, and I look forward to continuing Wylah’s adventure, along with her furry, feathered and scaley friends. Recommended.
With thanks to Allen & Unwin AU for my ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.
May 31, 2022
Meet Wylah (pronounced Wheel-la). She is confident in her artistic ability but not so much in the skills you’d find in the average warrior. Her claim to fame to date has been winning a throwing competition (she was the only competitor because everyone else was sick that day).
Wylah is going to need to find the warrior within though because the dragon army have stolen her Tribe and their animals, and it’s up to Wylah to save them.
I loved that when most of the characters were introduced I learned the meaning of their name. There’s also a glossary in table form at the end of the book that tells readers both the English and Peek Whurrong words for names, their meaning and how to pronounce them. For the animal characters, their species is also included.
Without a doubt, Wylah’s name meaning has the most significance. Wylah comes from the word Wilan and means yellow-tailed black cockatoo. This is absolutely perfect because the yellow-tailed black cockatoo is author Jordan Gould’s tribal totem.
Wylah doesn’t immediately fully embrace her new role as the Koori Warrior, which made her more relatable. She has doubts about her abilities and she doesn’t magically become skilled in all of the areas she will need to be. It’s especially evident when she’s training that this isn’t going to be a success only journey.
Despite her lack of experience, Wylah has the heart, courage and determination of a warrior, and I’m keen to watch her grow into her new role as the series progresses.
I’m interested in finding out how old Wylah is. This would have been important to me as a kid as I preferred to read about kids who were my age or older.
I liked all of the animals (even the dragons) but my favourite was Bunyip, who’s not quite as fearsome as they may like to think they are. The Guardians spoke and some other animals did as well. However, some didn’t and I’m not quite sure yet what the distinction is between those who speak and those who don’t.
I really enjoyed the illustrations. The megafauna are realistic and the people are expressive.
The chapters where we follow Wylah were told in first person and had a boomerang picture above the chapter numbers. Those that focused on what was happening with the rest of the tribe were in third person, the pages were grey and the picture above the chapter numbers changed to an amulet. The boomerang and amulet were both appropriate design choices and the distinctions prevented me from ever having to wonder what perspective a chapter was being told from.
As I’d expect in a book that’s introducing a series, the premise was set up and I met some of the characters who will be important in future books. Some answers were provided but there are multiple plot points that will be ongoing.
I did have questions about a particular event in this book that weren’t answered.
Content warnings include .
Thank you so much to Albert Street Books, an imprint of Allen & Unwin, for the opportunity to read this book. I’m rounding up from 4.5 stars.
Blog - https://schizanthusnerd.com
Wylah is going to need to find the warrior within though because the dragon army have stolen her Tribe and their animals, and it’s up to Wylah to save them.
‘You can do this, you can save our people, Wylah, the Koorie Warrior. Rise up, rise up within.’To do this, Wylah and Po, a fellow artist, will need to find the five Guardians.
‘Guardians are the protectors of Tribes and the lands they live on. Powerful creatures that reside inside Totems’When I was growing up there were an abundance of books available with characters I could easily identify with so I can’t imagine what it must be like to not have that. The first in a new series, Wylah is the Indigenous hero that’s been missing from the shelves for too long.
I loved that when most of the characters were introduced I learned the meaning of their name. There’s also a glossary in table form at the end of the book that tells readers both the English and Peek Whurrong words for names, their meaning and how to pronounce them. For the animal characters, their species is also included.
Without a doubt, Wylah’s name meaning has the most significance. Wylah comes from the word Wilan and means yellow-tailed black cockatoo. This is absolutely perfect because the yellow-tailed black cockatoo is author Jordan Gould’s tribal totem.
Wylah doesn’t immediately fully embrace her new role as the Koori Warrior, which made her more relatable. She has doubts about her abilities and she doesn’t magically become skilled in all of the areas she will need to be. It’s especially evident when she’s training that this isn’t going to be a success only journey.
Despite her lack of experience, Wylah has the heart, courage and determination of a warrior, and I’m keen to watch her grow into her new role as the series progresses.
I’m interested in finding out how old Wylah is. This would have been important to me as a kid as I preferred to read about kids who were my age or older.
I liked all of the animals (even the dragons) but my favourite was Bunyip, who’s not quite as fearsome as they may like to think they are. The Guardians spoke and some other animals did as well. However, some didn’t and I’m not quite sure yet what the distinction is between those who speak and those who don’t.
I really enjoyed the illustrations. The megafauna are realistic and the people are expressive.
The chapters where we follow Wylah were told in first person and had a boomerang picture above the chapter numbers. Those that focused on what was happening with the rest of the tribe were in third person, the pages were grey and the picture above the chapter numbers changed to an amulet. The boomerang and amulet were both appropriate design choices and the distinctions prevented me from ever having to wonder what perspective a chapter was being told from.
As I’d expect in a book that’s introducing a series, the premise was set up and I met some of the characters who will be important in future books. Some answers were provided but there are multiple plot points that will be ongoing.
I did have questions about a particular event in this book that weren’t answered.
Content warnings include .
Thank you so much to Albert Street Books, an imprint of Allen & Unwin, for the opportunity to read this book. I’m rounding up from 4.5 stars.
Blog - https://schizanthusnerd.com
June 4, 2022
Fun, magical, and also informative! This historical fantasy middle fiction title inspired by First Nations culture and stories. It’s action-packed, funny, and heartwarming - a very well rounded story.
Wylah (pronounced Wheel-la) is such a strong and likeable protagonist who loves art but finds herself in the position of having to become the next Koorie Warrior after her grandmother dies and her tribe is captured. I loved watching Wylah grow and build on her strengths as a leader while never losing a sense of who she is. And I loved meeting the side characters, which included a range of megafauna Guardians and adorable animal companions. Bunyip was my personal favourite.
If your kid is a fan of Wolf Girl, this needs to be their next read! Perfect for ages 8+
Overall, this was a great introduction to a new series and I can’t wait to see what happens in book 2!
Wylah (pronounced Wheel-la) is such a strong and likeable protagonist who loves art but finds herself in the position of having to become the next Koorie Warrior after her grandmother dies and her tribe is captured. I loved watching Wylah grow and build on her strengths as a leader while never losing a sense of who she is. And I loved meeting the side characters, which included a range of megafauna Guardians and adorable animal companions. Bunyip was my personal favourite.
If your kid is a fan of Wolf Girl, this needs to be their next read! Perfect for ages 8+
Overall, this was a great introduction to a new series and I can’t wait to see what happens in book 2!
November 21, 2022
This was such a great middle grade book!
Wylah is such a strong, fierce character, but she doesn’t always believe in herself. She doesn’t think she can be the Koorie Warrior and I love her journey toward reaching that destiny over the course of this book.
The sense of humour, especially amongst the animals, was fun and adorable in equal measure.
The artwork is also really gorgeous. I think the artwork in this book was one of my favourite things about it.
I’ll definitely need to read the next book!
Wylah is such a strong, fierce character, but she doesn’t always believe in herself. She doesn’t think she can be the Koorie Warrior and I love her journey toward reaching that destiny over the course of this book.
The sense of humour, especially amongst the animals, was fun and adorable in equal measure.
The artwork is also really gorgeous. I think the artwork in this book was one of my favourite things about it.
I’ll definitely need to read the next book!
June 30, 2022
A fast paced adventure story that weaves in knowledge about First Nations culture. We need more of these kind of books for young readers. Fans of Anh Do’s Wolf Girl will enjoy this new series.
August 10, 2024
Lots of characters to keep track of and moves along v fast.
August 2, 2025
I read this book because I was recommended to teach it to my year seven class. I have three year seven classes, and all of my classes are reading this book as a class. This means I have to read it at least four times. I am never blindly listening to a recommendation for my classes’ book study again.
It is criminally boring. The main character Wylah has no real personality. She is “strong and brave” and is going on a mission to save her tribe because as her Grandma said, “it is [her] destiny now”. WOW, who could have seen that coming? Everyone. This story has been done a thousand, million times over. Something destructive happens and the only person who can save everyone is a tween who is destined to be a hero because of… tradition, bloodline, whatever other predictable stuff you would like. Been there, done that.
However, it’s been done a million times because it is a trope that sells and it can easily be made interesting and fresh. This trope is not interesting in Wylah. Nothing is interesting in Wylah because of the awful writing style. Gould was never taught “show, don’t tell”. It’s so dry. It is insulting to the readers. It feels like it was written for children who have no inference skills. It feels like it is treating the audience like they are dumb. I feel that this book’s writing style insults the target audience.
There is also barely any descriptions in the book. Every chapter you get teleported to a new location and there is almost NO world building. This lack of descriptive world building is due to Gould’s lack of ability to put ANY detail into the setting other than 1-2 plain, unflavoured, “telling” sentences.
All of the characters are unmemorable. Wylah is supposed to be strong and brave, but there is just not a sufficient amount of her internal monologue to make her journey interesting. There is nothing to her other than fulfilling the overused trope of a girl who is brave and is the chosen one. There is nothing that defines Wylah as a person, apart from that trope. That is all she is, a trope. How disappointing. The same goes to all of her animal friends, although they are not even much of a trope, they just suffer from a lack of defining personalities. Their names could be switched around at any point in the book and I wouldn’t notice because their personalities are indistinguishable.
I don’t like the art either. It feels as if Pritchard could not choose between a realistic art style or a cute art style and tried to go somewhere in between. This in between style doesn’t work. I also find a lot of the artwork looks out of proportion or a bit off. It’s like he didn’t take the time to make sure the art was finished. The art lacks a lot of personality, making it very fitting for this novel.
I took a week’s break from reading this book and when I went back to it, I could remember barely anything about the book. I couldn’t remember any of the characters other than Wylah. I could barely remember what the story was about.
This book is popular enough that it is up to book four or five of the series. I am hoping that indicates that there are people who enjoy this book. I genuinely hope my students get enjoyment out of this book. I sincerely hope that they do not find this book as mind numbingly dull and painful as I did because I do not want to put someone through what I experienced when I was reading this. I am already excited for next year when I know not to choose this book for my students.
It is criminally boring. The main character Wylah has no real personality. She is “strong and brave” and is going on a mission to save her tribe because as her Grandma said, “it is [her] destiny now”. WOW, who could have seen that coming? Everyone. This story has been done a thousand, million times over. Something destructive happens and the only person who can save everyone is a tween who is destined to be a hero because of… tradition, bloodline, whatever other predictable stuff you would like. Been there, done that.
However, it’s been done a million times because it is a trope that sells and it can easily be made interesting and fresh. This trope is not interesting in Wylah. Nothing is interesting in Wylah because of the awful writing style. Gould was never taught “show, don’t tell”. It’s so dry. It is insulting to the readers. It feels like it was written for children who have no inference skills. It feels like it is treating the audience like they are dumb. I feel that this book’s writing style insults the target audience.
There is also barely any descriptions in the book. Every chapter you get teleported to a new location and there is almost NO world building. This lack of descriptive world building is due to Gould’s lack of ability to put ANY detail into the setting other than 1-2 plain, unflavoured, “telling” sentences.
All of the characters are unmemorable. Wylah is supposed to be strong and brave, but there is just not a sufficient amount of her internal monologue to make her journey interesting. There is nothing to her other than fulfilling the overused trope of a girl who is brave and is the chosen one. There is nothing that defines Wylah as a person, apart from that trope. That is all she is, a trope. How disappointing. The same goes to all of her animal friends, although they are not even much of a trope, they just suffer from a lack of defining personalities. Their names could be switched around at any point in the book and I wouldn’t notice because their personalities are indistinguishable.
I don’t like the art either. It feels as if Pritchard could not choose between a realistic art style or a cute art style and tried to go somewhere in between. This in between style doesn’t work. I also find a lot of the artwork looks out of proportion or a bit off. It’s like he didn’t take the time to make sure the art was finished. The art lacks a lot of personality, making it very fitting for this novel.
I took a week’s break from reading this book and when I went back to it, I could remember barely anything about the book. I couldn’t remember any of the characters other than Wylah. I could barely remember what the story was about.
This book is popular enough that it is up to book four or five of the series. I am hoping that indicates that there are people who enjoy this book. I genuinely hope my students get enjoyment out of this book. I sincerely hope that they do not find this book as mind numbingly dull and painful as I did because I do not want to put someone through what I experienced when I was reading this. I am already excited for next year when I know not to choose this book for my students.
June 26, 2022
Reader Age - 7+
Wylah (Wheel-la) is preparing her new art lessons for the children of her tribe. She learnt how to cave paint from her grandmother who is their tribe leader. Wylah is keen but nervous about teaching her first lesson.
Things don't quite go to plan with excited children, and suddenly her art lessons are far from her mind. The ground begins to leap under their feet followed by a cacophony of noise.
Wylah wakes up inside the cave with only one of her students. After digging their way through a rockfall they discover they are alone in the village. An even bigger blow is to come, but not before she learns she is her people's only hope. Her village was attacked by dragons, her people taken in giant cages. She must now step into her grandmother's shoes and become the Koorie Warrior.
A warrior? She only knows about art and how to care for her animals, nothing about being a warrior. The quest that lies in front of her is very clear. Find the Guardians of each tribe and collect their totems. Only then will she be strong enough to defeat the dragons and men who took her people.
But that means travelling far and stepping into other tribe's territory - dangerous all on its own. With her furry friends at her side - two giant koalas, and a Tasmanian tiger, she sets off with her grandmother's totem. This is a boomerang that Wylah must master. Inside each tribe's totem is a powerful creature of their land.
With courage and her grandmother's spirit and reputation, she sets off on her quest, surefooted and confident one moment and worried she's far from warrior status the next. With each gathering of totems and yet another tribe's respect with her, Wylah is closer to her goal - to save not only her tribe but them all.
The ultimate historical quest - based 40,000 years ago!
Wylah is part of an indigenous tribe of Australia. Her companions are a mix of fantasy and Australian megafauna. Mythical characters also play a key part as a Bunyip becomes part of her army.
This is not only a fast-paced, exhilarating and roaring read for young readers, indigenous words and their meanings are part of the story. These are backed up by a glossary at the back of the book which includes correct pronunciation.
Alongside Wylah's journey, another perspective is shown from members in the slave camp guarded by the dragons. The reader learns why the tribespeople have been taken and what Wylah will be facing when she arrives with her Guardians.
Looking forward to the next adventure and the engaging window into a cultural history I haven't read about before.
Wylah (Wheel-la) is preparing her new art lessons for the children of her tribe. She learnt how to cave paint from her grandmother who is their tribe leader. Wylah is keen but nervous about teaching her first lesson.
Things don't quite go to plan with excited children, and suddenly her art lessons are far from her mind. The ground begins to leap under their feet followed by a cacophony of noise.
Wylah wakes up inside the cave with only one of her students. After digging their way through a rockfall they discover they are alone in the village. An even bigger blow is to come, but not before she learns she is her people's only hope. Her village was attacked by dragons, her people taken in giant cages. She must now step into her grandmother's shoes and become the Koorie Warrior.
A warrior? She only knows about art and how to care for her animals, nothing about being a warrior. The quest that lies in front of her is very clear. Find the Guardians of each tribe and collect their totems. Only then will she be strong enough to defeat the dragons and men who took her people.
But that means travelling far and stepping into other tribe's territory - dangerous all on its own. With her furry friends at her side - two giant koalas, and a Tasmanian tiger, she sets off with her grandmother's totem. This is a boomerang that Wylah must master. Inside each tribe's totem is a powerful creature of their land.
With courage and her grandmother's spirit and reputation, she sets off on her quest, surefooted and confident one moment and worried she's far from warrior status the next. With each gathering of totems and yet another tribe's respect with her, Wylah is closer to her goal - to save not only her tribe but them all.
The ultimate historical quest - based 40,000 years ago!
Wylah is part of an indigenous tribe of Australia. Her companions are a mix of fantasy and Australian megafauna. Mythical characters also play a key part as a Bunyip becomes part of her army.
This is not only a fast-paced, exhilarating and roaring read for young readers, indigenous words and their meanings are part of the story. These are backed up by a glossary at the back of the book which includes correct pronunciation.
Alongside Wylah's journey, another perspective is shown from members in the slave camp guarded by the dragons. The reader learns why the tribespeople have been taken and what Wylah will be facing when she arrives with her Guardians.
Looking forward to the next adventure and the engaging window into a cultural history I haven't read about before.
July 4, 2022
"Wylah, the Koorie Warrior... Rise up, rise up within..."
A fantastic book I read in two sittings and needs to be in all primary school libraries around Australia. I went into this book initially thinking this was a Middle Grade adventure however after reading it, I believe it probably sits among the more junior readership yet it is a book that can be enjoyed by older readers and adults. This is the first time I have read an adventure/fantasy story that centred around an Indigenous girl, dived deep into Indigenous culture, language and traditions which was set in our first nations history. We really do not have enough of these stories and I am hoping this particular book has paved the way for more.
I loved Wylah which her strong willed, caring nature and her determination to save her tribe but still has much to learn. Her offsider, Po, is a wonderful character whom I loved very much. Po's humour and hunger to help was very heart warming. The characters were very cleverly written as they ranged from human to Indigenous mythology to creatures and how they all came together was quite unique.
Above all, the way the author weaved a fantastical story which was used as a metaphor for colonial settlement (invasion) was very clever and my favourite part of the book.
"Think weak, be weak... Think strong, be strong... The rest is time and effort..."
Loved the art throughout this fast paced adventure. It wasn't overwhelming nor did it take away from the story. If anything, it was great to see Indigenous characters sporting their traditional dress - again, something I never see and hope to see more of.
With special thanks to Allen and Unwin for sending me a review copy of this book. Highly recommend!!!
A fantastic book I read in two sittings and needs to be in all primary school libraries around Australia. I went into this book initially thinking this was a Middle Grade adventure however after reading it, I believe it probably sits among the more junior readership yet it is a book that can be enjoyed by older readers and adults. This is the first time I have read an adventure/fantasy story that centred around an Indigenous girl, dived deep into Indigenous culture, language and traditions which was set in our first nations history. We really do not have enough of these stories and I am hoping this particular book has paved the way for more.
I loved Wylah which her strong willed, caring nature and her determination to save her tribe but still has much to learn. Her offsider, Po, is a wonderful character whom I loved very much. Po's humour and hunger to help was very heart warming. The characters were very cleverly written as they ranged from human to Indigenous mythology to creatures and how they all came together was quite unique.
Above all, the way the author weaved a fantastical story which was used as a metaphor for colonial settlement (invasion) was very clever and my favourite part of the book.
"Think weak, be weak... Think strong, be strong... The rest is time and effort..."
Loved the art throughout this fast paced adventure. It wasn't overwhelming nor did it take away from the story. If anything, it was great to see Indigenous characters sporting their traditional dress - again, something I never see and hope to see more of.
With special thanks to Allen and Unwin for sending me a review copy of this book. Highly recommend!!!
Read
March 14, 2023I'm an adult and therefore not the intended audience. I bought it for my kids then read it for a reading challenge.
The book finishes half way through the mission. The story is 100% preparation for a battle, then there's no battle. I know they want to sell the second book, but even in a series each book should be a complete story. I would wait to give this to a child until the second book is published otherwise they'll be very frustrated.
The themes are as subtle as a sledgehammer, for example, the white man (villain) says: "Our powers are far superior to yours, and our knowledge goes beyond what you could possibly imagine ... There are many benefits of what we bring: knowledge, medicine, tools. All we ask for in return is for you to obey our every command."
Nearly everything happen merely to further the plot. For example, a guardian is severely hurt so they're forced to sit out a battle, then a small child makes medicine for them and then they're almost instantly fixed, ready for the next battle.
I assume both lack of nuance and deus ex machina are common to books for this age group, but as an adult I found it tough going.
As an adult I also found it tough going that an adult who is supposed to be an ally forces Wylah to undergo a test that almost kills her. In fact, all the adults send her into danger instead of themselves.
There are some excellent things about the book including having an Aboriginal girl as a protagonist, lots of important information about Aboriginal lives, and lots of references to various Aboriginal dreamtime narratives, such as the seven sisters and Tiddalick the frog. I loved all those references. This is a starting point, I hope to see many more super hero books with Aboriginal children as the protagonists.
The book finishes half way through the mission. The story is 100% preparation for a battle, then there's no battle. I know they want to sell the second book, but even in a series each book should be a complete story. I would wait to give this to a child until the second book is published otherwise they'll be very frustrated.
The themes are as subtle as a sledgehammer, for example, the white man (villain) says: "Our powers are far superior to yours, and our knowledge goes beyond what you could possibly imagine ... There are many benefits of what we bring: knowledge, medicine, tools. All we ask for in return is for you to obey our every command."
Nearly everything happen merely to further the plot. For example, a guardian is severely hurt so they're forced to sit out a battle, then a small child makes medicine for them and then they're almost instantly fixed, ready for the next battle.
I assume both lack of nuance and deus ex machina are common to books for this age group, but as an adult I found it tough going.
As an adult I also found it tough going that an adult who is supposed to be an ally forces Wylah to undergo a test that almost kills her. In fact, all the adults send her into danger instead of themselves.
There are some excellent things about the book including having an Aboriginal girl as a protagonist, lots of important information about Aboriginal lives, and lots of references to various Aboriginal dreamtime narratives, such as the seven sisters and Tiddalick the frog. I loved all those references. This is a starting point, I hope to see many more super hero books with Aboriginal children as the protagonists.
Read
May 31, 2022This is a fantasy adventure series that is inspired by First Nations history and aimed at ages 8-14.
A clever and inspiring story that is full of action, I was highly invested in Wylahs journey and growth. I immensely enjoyed the various sprinkles of humour throughout, and I adored the megafauna characters in this story. I appreciated the depth of Indigenous culture throughout and the inclusion of language in the story. The illustrations are beautiful and really helped to visualise the characters and story.
Wylah is on a journey to gather all five guardians to save everyone from the dragons that have come and destroyed her village.
People and animals have been captured and they are made to work for the human traitors by digging for gold.
To save them, Wylah must journey to five different Chiefs and gather all five Guardians. As Wylah meets each Chief, a new challenge presents itself that must be overcome in order for that Guardian to join Wylah. Each task also helps her to grow stronger and this growth helps her on her way to also become the Koorie Warrior.
This book ended strong and in a fantastic place to continue the series. I cannot wait for more of Wylah in book 2.
A clever and inspiring story that is full of action, I was highly invested in Wylahs journey and growth. I immensely enjoyed the various sprinkles of humour throughout, and I adored the megafauna characters in this story. I appreciated the depth of Indigenous culture throughout and the inclusion of language in the story. The illustrations are beautiful and really helped to visualise the characters and story.
Wylah is on a journey to gather all five guardians to save everyone from the dragons that have come and destroyed her village.
People and animals have been captured and they are made to work for the human traitors by digging for gold.
To save them, Wylah must journey to five different Chiefs and gather all five Guardians. As Wylah meets each Chief, a new challenge presents itself that must be overcome in order for that Guardian to join Wylah. Each task also helps her to grow stronger and this growth helps her on her way to also become the Koorie Warrior.
This book ended strong and in a fantastic place to continue the series. I cannot wait for more of Wylah in book 2.
May 25, 2023
Wylah is a young Koorie girl who just wants to be a good art teacher for the children of her tribe. But one day, the children and animal companions are stolen by dragons. With her dying breaths, Wylah's grandmother bestows upon her the boomarang of the Koorie Warrior that houses the Guardian of their tribe, Pippy, and tells Wylah that she must find the other four guardians in order to save her people from the dragons.
What a fabulous book! This Aboriginal fantasy story is a fantastic way to give young readers lots of cultural information while still being entertaining and imaginative. I loved that the writing was simple and accessible, and the little footnotes describing the meaning of some of the Indigenous language. I enjoyed seeing references to some of the stories I know such as Tiddalik the frog. There was plenty of humour, but also the underlying allegory of stolen children and a race of outsiders thinking they know better and seeking to destroy the land for their own gain.
Overall, this book would be a great read for fans of Pokemon, Wings of Fire, and Wolf Girl, and a great introduction to some really interesting Indigenous culture and stories.
What a fabulous book! This Aboriginal fantasy story is a fantastic way to give young readers lots of cultural information while still being entertaining and imaginative. I loved that the writing was simple and accessible, and the little footnotes describing the meaning of some of the Indigenous language. I enjoyed seeing references to some of the stories I know such as Tiddalik the frog. There was plenty of humour, but also the underlying allegory of stolen children and a race of outsiders thinking they know better and seeking to destroy the land for their own gain.
Overall, this book would be a great read for fans of Pokemon, Wings of Fire, and Wolf Girl, and a great introduction to some really interesting Indigenous culture and stories.
July 7, 2025
Guardians, the first book in the Wylah the Koori Warrior series, is a story that brings Indigenous Australian culture and mythology to young readers in an accessible, engaging way.
Backed by Kickstarter, this book introduces Wylah, a brave and determined young Koori girl, on a journey of courage, identity, and connection to Country. The language is simple, making it a great read for middle-grade audiences. Words from Wylah’s native language are sprinkled throughout, with helpful footnotes that explain their meaning and provide insight into cultural practices.
What makes Guardians special is how proudly and purposefully Australian it is. From the animals and plants to the cultural practises and settings, the story is rooted in the landscape and traditions of First Nations peoples. The beautiful illustrations throughout the book help bring Wylah’s world to life and support readers’ understanding.
It’s wonderful to see a series that centres First Nations voices and stories. Guardians is a great starting point for kids to explore Indigenous culture in a way that is respectful, informative, and fun.
Backed by Kickstarter, this book introduces Wylah, a brave and determined young Koori girl, on a journey of courage, identity, and connection to Country. The language is simple, making it a great read for middle-grade audiences. Words from Wylah’s native language are sprinkled throughout, with helpful footnotes that explain their meaning and provide insight into cultural practices.
What makes Guardians special is how proudly and purposefully Australian it is. From the animals and plants to the cultural practises and settings, the story is rooted in the landscape and traditions of First Nations peoples. The beautiful illustrations throughout the book help bring Wylah’s world to life and support readers’ understanding.
It’s wonderful to see a series that centres First Nations voices and stories. Guardians is a great starting point for kids to explore Indigenous culture in a way that is respectful, informative, and fun.
September 30, 2022
I was really excited about this book. I 100% was on board with reading a novel set in the time of the megafauna with First Nations protagonists. I had been waiting for this book!
It was quickly apparent that the novel was fantasy and stretched reality. It was also a book for quite young audiences (perhaps 8 years old). However, the telling of the story is quite chaotic and strange. I tried to embrace this as a Dreaming-esque like tale, but I just couldn't feel connected to the characters and often didn't know what was going on. I was grateful for the illustrations to help bridge my understanding. And I did love the illustrations. (When I saw a diprotodon in the first few pages I was so keen.)
Further, this novel finishes on a cliff hanger... When the book is quite long anyway, the fact that it couldn't even conclude is disappointing.
I can't help but think this story would have been better as a graphic novel than in its current format.
It was quickly apparent that the novel was fantasy and stretched reality. It was also a book for quite young audiences (perhaps 8 years old). However, the telling of the story is quite chaotic and strange. I tried to embrace this as a Dreaming-esque like tale, but I just couldn't feel connected to the characters and often didn't know what was going on. I was grateful for the illustrations to help bridge my understanding. And I did love the illustrations. (When I saw a diprotodon in the first few pages I was so keen.)
Further, this novel finishes on a cliff hanger... When the book is quite long anyway, the fact that it couldn't even conclude is disappointing.
I can't help but think this story would have been better as a graphic novel than in its current format.
March 29, 2025
Excellent, would suit upper primary OR a stage 4 English class, or combined HSIE ENG project based learning class.
Wylah is a great protagonist who shows determination and resilience, as well as thinking divergently to solve new problems. The story had a range of metaphors suitable to consider the impact of colonialism and the Culture of early Indigenous Australians is strongly, beautifully and creatively represented. As an adult reader, I quite enjoyed the humour of the Bunyip as well as the illustrations of many mythical and megafauna characters. The definitions included on each page make for easy comprehension and the table of pronunciation is a great source for both HSIE and ENG uses.
How wonderful to have this book for our young learners, I enjoyed learning more about characters from my own childhood like Bunyips and Tidalik.
Wylah is a great protagonist who shows determination and resilience, as well as thinking divergently to solve new problems. The story had a range of metaphors suitable to consider the impact of colonialism and the Culture of early Indigenous Australians is strongly, beautifully and creatively represented. As an adult reader, I quite enjoyed the humour of the Bunyip as well as the illustrations of many mythical and megafauna characters. The definitions included on each page make for easy comprehension and the table of pronunciation is a great source for both HSIE and ENG uses.
How wonderful to have this book for our young learners, I enjoyed learning more about characters from my own childhood like Bunyips and Tidalik.
June 11, 2022
Wylah is about to take over teaching the young children of her village the art of cave painting. But while she is in the caves disaster strikes when her village is attacked and all her mob is captured and carried away by raiding dragons.
And so Wylah must take on the quest of saving them.
As Wylah travels from village to village seeking support she learns much more about her Grandmother - who she learns was known as the Koorie Warrior - and finds the courage to now take no this role.
As well as being a non-stop adventure story for middle grade readers, this book is also a great teaching tool for all of us to learn more about First Nations history, culture and traditions.
Thanks to Allen and Unwin for the review copy of this book.
And so Wylah must take on the quest of saving them.
As Wylah travels from village to village seeking support she learns much more about her Grandmother - who she learns was known as the Koorie Warrior - and finds the courage to now take no this role.
As well as being a non-stop adventure story for middle grade readers, this book is also a great teaching tool for all of us to learn more about First Nations history, culture and traditions.
Thanks to Allen and Unwin for the review copy of this book.
December 28, 2022
Great fantasy book for kids 5-12, especially early readers. Once my 8yo picked it up (which took her a few weeks) she ate it all up, and asked me to read it, taking over to read out long passages to me at times. Before this she was hesitant to read aloud, but the humour hooked her. Clearly delineated character voices tell of an adventure through an ancient First Nations culture, based on Jordan Gould's own people of the Maar Nation and sprinkled with their Language, Peek Whurrong. A must for fans of Anh Do's Wolf Girl and other series.
June 10, 2023
3.5 stars
An enjoyable and interesting read incorporating First Nations culture and stories. The illustrations are fabulous. There are a few mix ups with tense which make some sections read strangely. The ending was much too abrupt. Of course the author is allowing for the continuation of the story in the next book but this book just suddenly stopped in the middle of an adventure. But I will still be looking for the next book in the series as Wylah is a fierce and inspiring warrior for her people.
An enjoyable and interesting read incorporating First Nations culture and stories. The illustrations are fabulous. There are a few mix ups with tense which make some sections read strangely. The ending was much too abrupt. Of course the author is allowing for the continuation of the story in the next book but this book just suddenly stopped in the middle of an adventure. But I will still be looking for the next book in the series as Wylah is a fierce and inspiring warrior for her people.
October 28, 2024
ok so first of all the koalas at the beggining are supposed to be blind then poof all of the suddon they turn blind and also how come you are getting 13 year olds reading this book for 7 year olds i honestly dont understand and the fact that they dont even get to the point of the main plot in ths first book!
WHAT THE HELL! IT IS POOPOO!!
ps: sorry if i got a LITTLE bit defensive
*passive aggressive smile :)
ps: as a personal 7 year old myself this poinion is obviosly wright!!!!!!!!!
ps; this so so bda that it makes u typr like this ahu jgmdsioffokdlkfds;lkfdporewpokw
WHAT THE HELL! IT IS POOPOO!!
ps: sorry if i got a LITTLE bit defensive
*passive aggressive smile :)
ps: as a personal 7 year old myself this poinion is obviosly wright!!!!!!!!!
ps; this so so bda that it makes u typr like this ahu jgmdsioffokdlkfds;lkfdporewpokw
March 27, 2023
A fantasy based on First Nations history, with a young female warrior. What is not to like about this rather unique middle grade novel. I loved the illustrations, references to traditional lifestyle, and the wit. Unfortunately I felt that the quality of the writing was not consistent and at times rather slow. Regardless, I'll be recommending this.
July 26, 2022
A fantasy book based around Indigenous mythology and spirituality, a great concept and a fun way to introduce kids to this culture and history. The use of megafauna creatures is fabulous.
Read by Sam-Ellen
Read by Sam-Ellen
October 26, 2022
I was a bit thrown initially as I had been expecting a YA novel based on the cover image where Wylah looks like a teenager. The book is more suited to middle and upper primary. A nice story incorporating Aboriginal language and culture in a very accessible way for young readers.
July 9, 2023
A young aboriginal artists home is ruined while her clan is taken by dragons. She wields the power of her clans Guardian to save them. Set 40,000 years ago in Australia.
I loved this book so much. I really hope children pick this up and experience this world
4.5 srars rounded up
I loved this book so much. I really hope children pick this up and experience this world
4.5 srars rounded up
December 18, 2023
Very episodic. Plotted like a video game. But grows into it as it goes along and finishes super strong. Last but really establishes the main character as someone you root for. Makes me want to see what happens in the next book.
Would make an amazing TV show in the right hands.
Would make an amazing TV show in the right hands.
July 6, 2022
Read for review - review coming soon
September 18, 2022
An exciting book for young readers wanting to challenge themselves with more complex novels but scared of the size of the book.
October 11, 2022
Read this with my 7 year old. We loved it. Cannot wait for the next one!
November 7, 2022
3 1/2 stars. Aimed at junior level rather than teenage
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January 24, 2023Wylah is such a g
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