Overall Rating: 4.5 stars. A lovely book that explores the complications children can face when navigating friendships. The author has handled the sensitive subject beautifully and created a story that will help both children and adults to understand the difficulties and dilemmas often faced. The main character of Jess and her friend Victoria are sweet girls and even Sam, the character who demonstrates some bullying behavior gains understanding by the end. I loved the resources that the author provided to help with understanding the book. These can be downloaded free online. (Michelle Marshall)

Overall Rating: 4.5 stars. I believe that ‘The Funky Frecks’ will become a classic children’s story. Jess’s mum is in the military and they’ve moved to a new area. Jess and her brother, Jake, must start at a new school. While both Jess and Jake have freckles, Jess’s differences don’t stop with freckles. She also has white (not blonde) hair and her eyes are different colours. She worries that she will be teased again, like she was at her last school. On the first day, it appears her fears are unfounded, and she finds a wonderful friend to show her around the school. Sam is in her first class and was the first to volunteer to be Jess’s buddy. All seems to be going well, but slowly, little things Sam does has Jess worried that all is not as it seems. And then Sam calls her ‘Frecks’. Jess explains that she doesn’t like it and it seems that Sam understands, but then she calls her ‘Frecks’ in front of her class. What is Jess to do? Luckily, she has another friend in Victoria, a cute little redhead with as many freckles as Jess has. Together they work out how they can all be friends and the crisis is averted. The Funky Frecks is more than a story book. It comes with a resource pack that teachers can use to help children navigate the treacherous world of friendships, helping them to distinguish between healthy and unhealthy friendships. This should become curriculum, or at the very list, required reading for parents and children alike: for parents so they can help their children understand the difference between good and not so good friends, and for children, so that they can learn how to be the good friend that everyone needs. (Phoebe Wilby)

Overall Rating: 4.5 stars. Jess is a sweet, spunky girl who finds herself starting over in a new school thanks to her Army family. She is excited to make new friends. She doesn’t like her appearance; she hates her freckles and her mismatched eyes. And she certainly doesn’t want to be called Frecks! Naturally, the first new friend she makes unfortunately calls her Frecks, and proceeds to do more and more uncomfortable things– hogging her attention, separating her from potential other friends, asking for money and threatening to snitch on something that didn’t even happen. Poor Jess’s struggles are well-written and easily relatable. We have all been there; we’ve all made friends that acted like this and we tolerated it because we felt we had no choice. The characters of Sam, Jess and Victoria were achingly realistic. Even the adults and the way they handled things felt exactly like real-life. The pacing was perfect, and felt believable. The dialogue stood out and was unique; a great feat especially with children’s literature. The scenes flowed and were well-written. My only complaint is that the ending felt too neat and tidy; but that’s just my personal opinion. Some typos and errors here and there, but otherwise this was an excellent read; very important to raise awareness about toxic friendships to kids early on. (Sophie Jupillat Posey)

Overall Rating: 4.5 stars. A well written book with an important message to deliver. I think the author understood the difficult dynamics often faced by school children and wrote sympathetically about the situation. I personally would have liked the story to be a little longer and there were a few editing issues here and there. Overall though, I'd recommend it. (Tim Marshall)

Overall Rating: 4.5 stars. Excited to start at her new school, Jess soon makes friends but it isn’t long before one friendship makes her feel uncomfortable. How can she get the help she needs to sort out the problem? An ideal children’s book, for younger and older age groups, to teach everyone about learning and friendships. Informing readers that it’s okay to ask for help, and receiving support, this is a brilliant book that every child should read. I love how the illustrations aid the story.  (Yvonne Marrs)

Overall Rating: 4.5 stars. The Funky Frecks is a heartwarming children's book that explores the journey of Jess, a young girl excited about her new school and newfound friendships. However as she faces the challenges of friendship dynamics, the story beautifully addresses the theme of speaking up when something doesn't feel right. Through Jess' courage and self discovery young readers learn valuable lessons about seeking help, embracing their uniqueness, and the power of self love. This story is a delightful blend of friendship, self acceptance and empowerment making it an important addition to any child's bookshelf. (Bronwyn McKay)

Overall Rating: 4.5 stars. Funky Frecks is a delightful children's story that is both entertaining and educational. The characters of Jess and Victoria are completely endearing and teach important morals about self worth, self esteem, speaking out for others, standing up to bullies, embracing differences and being comfortable in your own skin. The Author skilfully weaves these valuable life lessons into the narrative making it easy for young readers to understand and relate to. All of the characters are relatable and likeable in their own way and children will find themselves rooting for them throughout the story. One of the standout aspects of Funky Frecks is the inclusion of valuable resources for teachers. These resources provide additional materials and activities that can be used in the classroom to further explore the themes presented in the story. This makes the book and excelled tool for educators who wish to promote positive values and encourage discussions about self acceptance and empathy among their students. There are some minor editing issues but these can easily be addressed. Overall Funky Frecks is a heartwarming and engaging children's story that not only entertains but imparts important life lessons. It is a valuable resources for both parents and teachers who want to instil positive values in children and help them develop a strong sense of self worth and acceptance of others. (Kirsty McKay)