The Making of Martha Mayfield

By Jo Dabrowski

Reviewed by Lauren Spencer

Jo Dabrowski is an Australian author who has proven her capabilities as a diverse writer for children’s books. With her back-and-forth letters between boy and Broccoli in Dear Broccoli (2025) and the hilarities of awkward pre-teen life in Get Your Act Together, Doris Kozlowski (2023), Dabrowski creates authentic characters whose differences make them all the more charming and relatable. But it is in her latest release, The Making of Martha Mayfield, that Dabrowski’s characterisation mastery really shines through, making space for the quietly observant, slightly nervous and highly underestimated protagonist.

Martha Mayfield is a painfully shy 11-year-old whose quiet, nervous nature has seen her overlooked many times, especially in school. But when Martha’s equally shy mother loses her job, Martha decides she has had enough of being labelled the ‘quiet kid.’ Determined to prove to herself and others that she is capable of more, Martha runs for the Year Six school captain. For her to win votes from her peers, Martha needs to find new and interesting ways to advocate for herself and her ideas. Navigating through changes in her personal and school life, Martha uncovers her own strengths and inspires newfound confidence in herself, while unconsciously igniting change in those around her, because ‘all the what ifs don’t compare to the what if I never try.’

Dabrowski creates characters that are idiosyncratic in the best way, including Stella, Martha’s grandmother, who refuses to be called Grandma, or her older sister Iris, whose bedroom décor changes with each new boyfriend. Even the store owners of the Charlotte Street Shops all come together to form the little pieces that make up Martha’s world. As well as discovering Martha’s unusual palate for Black pepper on ice cream, we become privy to Martha’s hypervigilance and her intense emotional and sometimes painfully awkward reactions, which makes for a refreshing change to the usual coming-of-age protagonist and offers an affirming representation for sensitive kids. Martha’s ‘Paper People’ is a clever plot device that works to highlight themes of personal growth and self-reflection, as she uses them to rehearse conversations and past interactions, revealing her capabilities and offering another side to Martha.

The story’s pace reflects Martha’s subtle growth, avoiding any pretension in dramatic change to deliver a fun, quirky and original story. Whether you’re an anxious fifth grader or not, The Making of Martha Mayfield is an endearing and highly relatable read, with multifaceted characters that you’ll fall in love with.

Suitable for ages 9 – 12 years.

Affirm Kids 2025

Jo Dabrowski