Rita is crestfallen after her failed attempt to win the duck’s Talent Night contest with her poetry. She is ridiculed by the flock and firmly told that writing and reciting poetry is not in the list of rules for the duckpond! Reprimanded by Great-Aunt Myrtle and teased ruthlessly by Vera who thinks she is cleverer, Rita must make amends and is tasked with taking revenge on Clara (find out more about this smart chook in A Clue for Clara if you have not yet read it).
To re-establish herself in the flock, Rita sets out to investigate Clara, who is constantly surrounded by her human friends. Rita decides she needs an army and enlists Tracy; outcast because of her past friendship with the now disgraced and relocated Jubilee Crystal Simpson; and sets about training her, and later, her wayward younger brothers, in the art of unarmed combat based on the actions of the heroic drake, General Wa, which the children mistakenly take for a slick dance move. As Rita follows Clara, Clara is following clues as all is not what it seems in Little Dismal and another crime is being planned and plotted. Through a series of mis-steps and misunderstandings, Rita inadvertently foils criminal acts not realising that her arch enemy is the intended victim until it is too late – or can Rita save the day?
Similar to Clara, Rita creates her own daily and weekly timetable – dictated by the mood and need of the moment, and these timely references wittily break up the action and hint at disasters to come – there are many!
Today (but a different today from the last one) is divided into half past egg, half past training, school o’clock, war o’clock and half past watching (pp. 64-68)
Lian Tanner plays with language throughout – cleverly, facetiously and consistently as window into a duck’s mind with a sub text that critiques human behaviour and aspirations. The embedded duck-eyed perspective is maintained throughout and adds delightfully to this madcap tale to present underlying messages about friendship, honesty, being kind and celebrating difference as well as problem solving and team work. Try navigating a duck’s day and a lengthy week, (is it still half past the egg on Choose Day?) through the eyes of Rita, and support this wilful and stubborn duck as she endeavours to master skills such as reading and writing that Clara has under the wing. Rita’s efforts will have you doubled up with laughter. The first point of view, predominantly through Rita’s jaundiced eyes is artfully maintained and nicely balanced with the unsent letters Tracy writes to her past friend, Jubilee, and through these we see how Tracy is gradually transformed through the attention Rita pays her and this prompts her to reflect on her own behaviour and be welcomed back into the group – and ultimately to amend past wrongs and help save the day.
This book is a quack – from the first paddle to the final flight. Although younger children will enjoy the story, 10 to 12 year-olds will revel in the word play and adults will quack up laughing. Although the story has sufficient background to fill in the gaps, to fully appreciate Rita’s Revenge, you do need to start with A Clue for Clara. Cheryl Orsini’s pencil illustrations add to the frivolity and the various font styles and layout add verve and atmosphere.
Lian has written about the evolution of Rita’s Revenge and the support she got from a group of fellow children’s authors in a recent blog post and you can also join in the fun as Rita opens the first box of ‘her’ books hot off the press.
There are useful Teachers’ tips available to to extend classroom reading experiences and make the most of Rita’s passion, dare I say talent?, as a springboard for exploring and writing poetry. Why not start with an acrostic poem, just like the homework Rita completed for Tracy?
Fly beside me
Rest your wings on mine
I will support you
Even through the storm
Nothing will harm you, because I am a
Duck. (p. 343)
What more can be said?
Jennie Bales 