Aggie Flea is NOT a Liar!

Written by Tania Ingram

Illustrated by A. Yi

Reviewed by Annaleise Byrd

South Australian author Tania Ingram has published various picture books, junior fiction stories and the middle grade novel The Other Shadow since making her debut in 2013. Before becoming a full-time author, she was a child psychologist specialising in brain injury, disability and adolescent mental health.

Aggie Flea is NOT a Liar! is the hilarious first book in a highly illustrated junior fiction series about a girl whose vivid imagination frequently lands her in trouble. Aggie is in Year 5 and lives with her mum and older brother.

The trouble begins when a new neighbour moves in during the night. Between this, his hearse-like car and a letter from the Red Cross, Aggie decides he must be a vampire. So when an article-writing competition is announced at school, Aggie tells everyone she’s going to interview a vampire. She subsequently befriends her neighbour and learns he’s not a vampire but simply a nice old man, but decides to write the article anyway. To Aggie’s credit, she wasn’t planning to submit it – merely show it to her nemesis then pretend to lose it – but thanks to an over-helpful friend, it ends up being submitted anyway.

This delightful book is full of kid appeal – and a fair dose of adult appeal too! Written in first person present tense, the story rollicks along with frequent quirky similes and metaphors and entertaining childlike observations. Black and white illustrations by A. Yi are on almost every spread, and some words are highlighted in bright pink text. There are several multipage inserts from Aggie’s favourite graphic novel series, Princess Zombie. Although the very pink cover indicates the publisher is targeting young girls with this series, it would make a great read for all kids. There are some solid lessons about friendship, apologies and the blessings of a big imagination – and a fun twist at the end too.

Aggie Flea is NOT a Liar! was a Notable in the 2024 CBCA Book of the Year Awards. Its sequel, Aggie Flea Steals the Show!, is currently shortlisted in the 2025 Awards.

Scholastic 2023

Tania Ingram

Annaleise Byrd is the author of middle grade portal fantasies Losing the Plot and Down the Plot Hole, and the picture book You Are Not a Pup!