Walker Books, 2009.
(Age:12-15. Secondary) Recommended. Ella is a ballet dancer and has
ambitions to dance professionally. However her world is turned upside
down when her family moves from Melbourne to Newcastle and she is faced
with sea and surf. Left behind are her boyfriend, Jamie and best friend
Kate. On arriving at her new school she is teamed with another Kate for
a school project and soon learns the most popular pastime of kids in
Newcastle is surfing, something Kate loves to do. Ella tries to busy
herself with her dancing however after she gets a job at the beach
kiosk, she is soon drawn by the lure of the surf. Her initial attempts
to master the waves are disastrous but with the help from some friends
she begins to develop and soon discovers she has a talent. When first
Melbourne Kate and then Jamie come to visit Ella realises how much her
life has moved on and her priorities have changed. As she becomes more
obsessed with surfing she also learns of her mother's links to the
sport.
Ella is a strong character and we learn a lot through the challenges
she faces trying to combine a love of dance with a growing love of
surfing. Eventually one over comes the other but Ella's journey makes a
great read.
Tracy Glover
The Hunger Games: Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins
Scholastic, 2010 ISBN 9781407109367.
(Ages 12+) (Highly recommended). After the breathless read of The
Hunger Games, where climate change has reduced the USA to 12 districts
hanging on between the Rocky and Appalachian Mountains, and to avoid
wars, 2 tributes are chosen each year form each district to fight to
the death in an arena where their every move is televised to the whole
country, I couldn't believe that a sequel would grab me so much. But it
has.
It is a year later, Karniss and her fighting partner, Peeta, have been
called to the Capitol to hear that another games will be held this
year, involving all the winners from the past 20 years, pitched against
each other. No matter that some are elderly, or nearly blind, or have
lost limbs, fight they must. Katniss had used all of her wits and
fighting skills to keep herself and Peeta alive last time, but this
time it is different, there is no way that she will be able to hoodwink
the powers or the audience into saving the pair of them.
The love angle presented last time has almost run its course, and now,
she and Peeta have had to join forces with several others to survive
the appalling arena, full of shocks and death. Just surviving is bad
enough, but all the while, at the back of her mind, she is thinking of
how to kill the others, and then how to save Peeta. The tension is
thrilling and exhilarating, the moral questions abound, as does the
realisation all the way through the story that this band of young
people are killing others to stay alive. But outside the arena, changes
are occurring; the mockingjay brooch that Katniss wears has become a
symbol for revolt. The third volume in this trilogy, can't come soon
enough.
Fran Knight
Stuck! by Charlotte Calder and Mark Jackson
Walker Books, 2009. ISBN 9781921150463.
Picture book, Ages 4-6. A charming story of a kite getting stuck in a
tree will have kids laughing out loud as they watch and enjoy the
antics of the family and friends trying different methods of getting
the kite down. Sticks, a boomerang, a rock, a cricket bat amongst
other things are thrown up at the kite, but all fail to dislodge the
toy. By the time everyone has tried their luck, the tree is full of the
things thrown. In the end the cat races up the tree following a bird,
and dislodges all the things so that everything falls back down. But of
course, now the cat is stuck.
A warm picture book, with delightful illustrations, this book will find
a place in school libraries and classrooms as it shows children trying
things out for themselves, solving a problem they have. The clever
illustrations which use graphite and water colour, show different
perspectives, which could be discussed with the students. Sometime the
picture is of a view looking up at the tree, sometimes the view is from
the tree to the ground, giving quite a different view of the children.
Fran Knight
Delilah's Dream by Ian Trevaskis
New Frontier Publishing, 2009. ISBN 9781921042232.
Picture book, Ages 3-5. Delilah the chook has a dream, she wants to
fly. She didn't want to be like her sisters and just scrabble around
for scrap, she wanted to fly and have adventures. The other chooks
scoffed at her, deriding her dreams and told her not to be silly. While
the other chooks slept, tucked away from Delilah, she kept on dreaming
of soaring like an eagle, of being amongst the stars. One day a fox was
seen in the vicinity of the chook yard. The chooks huddled together in
their henhouse, not knowing what to do. Delilah took steps, she climbed
across the roof, onto the tree and leapt across the gap between the
chook house and the farmhouse, until she got to the bell hanging in the
verandah. She swung form side to side, waking the farmer, and so saved
the day. She had flown after all.
A little fable about following your dreams will be a delight to read
out loud to young children. They will recognize the moral of the tale
immediately and talk of other books which have a similar theme. (A
small point, my chooks always roosted; I have yet to see chooks
roosting in a box!)
Fran Knight
Angel fish by Lili Wilkinson
Black Dog Books, 2009. ISBN 9781742030463.
(Age 10+) Highly recommended. What a talented writer Lili Wilkinson is!
Not only does she write engrossing teenage fiction, but her historical
fiction is outstanding. Angel fish is based on the Children's Crusade
and follows the story of Gabriel a poverty stricken boy who lives in
the French village of Machery. Inspired by Stephan, a boy who made his
head whirl 'round and round with strange thoughts', and who is raising
a Children's Army to defeat the Saracens in the Holy Land, Gabriel
follows him on their desperate march across the Alps to Genoa and onto
the shores of the ocean. Ten thousand children are gathered on
the way and this the story of their tragic march.
Told in the first person narrative by Gabriel, this is a story that
will appeal to both children and adults. In short sentences, Gabriel
recounts what it is like to follow a charismatic leader. He describes
the trials of a prolonged march and I suffered agonies as I read about
the death of countless children as they crossed the freezing Alps. The
descriptions of blind faith and the children's belief that Stephan can
perform a miracle and part the waters of the ocean so that they can get
to the Holy Land are engrossing and difficult to understand in a
secular time. The betrayal of the children by William the Iron and Hugh
the Pig is devastating.
Wilkinson explores the meaning of leadership as Gabriel comments on
Stephan's actions, his self delusion and the conduct of Niklaus who has
also led children to Genoa. Gabriel's faith in Stephan never wavers
even though the reader sees his inconsistencies through the eyes of a
young girl Ines and Fox-boy, who become Gabriel's close friends.
With its themes of charismatic leadership, friendship and religious
beliefs, its beautiful language and touching story, this is a must for
the library and would also be a good choice as a novel for class or
literature circles. There is a thought provoking Author's note at the
end of the book, giving details about history being 'a strange thing'.
A bibliography also points to reading for those who want to find out
more about the period.
Pat Pledger
Why the animals came to town by Michael Foreman
Walker, 2010. ISBN 9781406318012.
(Ages 5+) Recommended. Once again Michael Foreman comes up with a
thought provoking picture book with a theme for all ages. One night a
boy is woken up by the strangest sound: the tramp of animals' marching
feet coming down his street. There are polar bears and reindeer from
the north; grizzly bears and moose and caribou from the west; penguins
and kangaroos from the south and pandas from the east; animals from all
over the world. As the animals dance and prance they sing a song
warning that the earth is in danger and that it is time that something
was done.
The illustrations are fascinating. The pictures of the animals stand
out against a deep blue background colour for the night. Children will
be captivated by the unique expressions on each of the animals and
their babies and the myriad of dancing, prancing animals.
Beautiful language using rhyme and alliteration make this a wonderful
book to read aloud. Even though there is a strong message of looking
after the earth to keep the animals safe, the rhythm and pictures are
so compelling that the story didn't feel didactic to me. However, by
the time the story is over, I believe children will feel that they
should be doing something for the environment and will spread the word
as Foreman suggests.
Pat Pledger
Monster Republic by Ben Horton
Corgi Books, 2010.
(Ages 10 +) Cameron Reilly is on a school trip to a nuclear power plant
when he is caught up in a devastating explosion that leaves his family
believing he is dead. However, Cameron is very much alive and has been
patched up and experimented on by the evil Dr Lazarus Fry, who is
trying to develop his own half human, half robot super powered beings.
The problem is that Dr Fry has been experimenting for quite a while,
and some of his earlier 'rejects' have banded together to form Monster
Republic, a group of half human misfits who are determined to stop
Fry's evil plans once and for all. Cameron escapes Fry's clutches and
is protected by the Monster Republic, even though they fear he is still
under Fry's influence. When Cameron discovers that Lazarus Fry is
planning to kill the prime minister and destroy the Monster Republic he
decides to use his robotic super powers in an attempt to defeat him.
This book is ideal for readers looking for fast action, fisticuffs, a
dollop of gore, super powers and technical information. The superb
front cover was a hit with Year 6 boys in my school who were queuing up
to borrow it.
I did find the blurb's claim of 'graphic novel scenes' mystifying as
these consist of five illustrations placed as an apparent afterthought
at the end of the novel. The illustrations themselves are superb
(Christian Scheurer is a prestigious talent) but would have had far
more impact placed within the story. Maybe there are plans to produce a
graphic version as in the Alex Rider books?
The cover recommends Monster Republic for readers of 11+. There
is one
reference to a 'fit' girlfriend, and our hero is aged about 13, but
there is nothing inappropriate for top juniors. The story line is
nowhere near as terrifying as De Quidt's chilling The Toymaker
for
example. As a series this will be welcomed by readers who enjoy Robert
Muchamore, Derek Landy and Darren Shan and who want action and
excitement without having to work too hard.
Claire Larson
Shadowmagic by John Lenahan
HarperCollins, 2009. ISBN 9781905548927.
(Ages 10-12) Conor is your average American teenager, who enjoys
burgers, going to
the movies with his girlfriend and watching shows on TV. He
lives with his Dad who is not your average guy. He has one hand, speaks
Celtic, has a variety of ancient weaponry at hand and insists on Conor
practicing his swordsmanship. Things go seriously weird when he answers
the door one day and his aunt tries to kill him.
Conor and his dad find themselves in The Land, a place apart from the
real world, but one which his father is very familiar because he is
heir to the kingdom of Tir na Nog. There is a prophecy which
tells of the son of a one handed prince who must die or it will be the
ruin of The Land. Conor's father moved them both to the real world, and
lost his immortality, to protect his son from the prophecy.
Uncle Cialtie, and it seems every one else Conor meets, is eager to see
the prophecy fulfilled. Fortunately magic protects Conor from the
members of his own family who wish him dead. Conor is introduced to the
inhabitants of the land which includes Leprechauns, Banshees, Elves and
Imps. Lenehan has Conor lead us through The Land exploring the various
groups and factions and using Conor's ignorance of their ways and
customs to provide some humorous moments.
The story itself is of no great originality; the fight of good over
evil, romance (of a very chaste type), a battle and the eventual
triumph of the forces of good, despite overwhelming odds, and the
restoration of the proper order. I suppose if you are a reader of
between 10 and 14 there may be some laughs but for those looking for
some serious fantasy it may be best to look elsewhere.
Mark Knight
The Pilgrims by Will Elliott
(The Pendulum
: Book
1). HarperVoyager, 2010. ISBN 9780732289478.
(Ages: 15+) Eric and Case
stumble onto a door to another world. The
concept certainly isn't original, but the world into which they blunder
is
unique. The combination of young journalist, Eric, and elderly,
homeless, alcoholic,
Case, is also an unusual partnership, but one which works well. Levaal,
the
world Elliott has created, is one full of magic of various types,
mages,
giants, winged Invia, and a downtrodden population within the aligned
cities.
Vous, the
world's friend and lord, rules over the castle
and the aligned cities using magic to keep himself immortal and his
subjects
compliant. He is also completely insane. He and the Arch Mage work
together in
an uneasy alliance to achieve domination of the few remaining
independent
cities. Into this world Eric and Case stumble and are swept away by
various
factions, most of the time having no knowledge of the reasons or
background of
the events which swirl around them.
Case is
literally taken under the wing of the Invia and
is given a necklace which among other things provides him with
invisibility. He
also comes to the notice of the Stranger, an enigmatic, powerful
magician who
seems to hover in the background and whose intentions are unclear.
Elliott
seems to be able to understand all the languages of Levaal, even the
incomprehensible chat of the Groundsmen, but can give
no explanation
as to how
this is so.
Both the unlikely heroes
seem to have a charmed life.
This is very evident in this world where life generally is held very
cheaply,
even by some of those the reader considers to be the good guys. Elliott
ramps
up the interest and the intrigue as the tale progresses and by the end
of the
book the reader is almost as exhausted as the protagonists. However,
there are
still a huge number of unanswered questions and riddles to be solved.
There are
still some major players we have yet to meet, such as the Dragon-youth,
and
some who remain enigmatic. It will be exciting when Elliott reveals
where our
heroes are to be taken next. The sex scenes probably make this book
suitable for year 10 and above.
Mark Knight
The Devil's Ladder by Graham Joyce
(Age 10-15) The
author of this marvelous book,
Graham Joyce, was born in England in 1954. He has written many books
but The
Devil's Ladder is one that stood out from
the rest because it
was interesting and had all of Graham's ideas into one book. The
Devil's Ladder is about a teenage girl,
Sophie, who goes to a
rough, crazy school and a teenage boy, James, who is known as 'The
Geek'.
James goes to a posh, private and very expensive school. Sophie and
James have
nothing in common, or do they? They have a
very
special and dangerous talent. They are Savants! A Savant is someone who
can see what others cannot and they
can enter
the world of demons. But when a demon, a Gozard, starts to suck all of
the life out of Sophie's friend they
realize
it isn't a game any more. So Sophie throws herself at the demon to save
her friend's life. But, the Gozard only starts to suck the life out of
Sophie.
Slowly
and
carefully James and Sophie begin to climb, one rung at a time, The
Devil's Ladder.
I,
personally, recommend this book for 10- 15 year olds, due to it having
some
terrifying parts! Enjoy!
Heidi Bigg (student)
The Sorceress: The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel by Michael Scott
Doubleday, 2009. ISBN: 9780385613132.
(Ages 10 +) Following the destruction of Paris, twins Josh and Sophie
Newman are pursued by John Dee and his underlings. They are accompanied
by Nicholas Flamel, the Immortal who has been present during their
Awakening and Sophie's training in the use of several of the elements,
and Clarent, the sword which is linked to Excalibur. Now, they are on a
quest to find the Elder who can continue with their training using the
element of water. Meanwhile, Nicholas' wife, Perenelle is trapped on
Alcatraz and is battling the creatures attempting to hunt and kill her.
This fantasy cleverly introduces a number of fictitious characters
alongside many and various well known names from history and myth.
Although set in the modern day, reference is made to the world and
times from which the characters originated. Flitting between the
different settings and characters, the reader is taken on a wild and
enjoyable ride of adventure.
This, the third book in the series The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas
Flamel, almost manages to hold its own as a stand alone text - apart from
the reader being left hanging and desperate to see how matters will be
resolved in the next title. Not having read the previous two books, I
was still able to follow the premise of the story and gain a reasonable
insight to each of the main characters. I will be keen to go back and
read the original titles and continue the series when the next is
released.
Well suited to the more capable readers of fantasy.
Jo Schenkel
Changes by Anthony Browne
Walker Books, 2008. ISBN: 9781406313390
(Ages 5+ )When his father leaves
to fetch Joseph's mother, he says
everything is going to change. Whilst he is away, Joseph ponders what
his father
means. As he moves around the house, nothing is quite as it was before
his
father left.
Anthony Browne is the master of his
trade. Without his
illustrations, Browne's stories are relatively simplistic yet revolve
around
themes important to the life of the young child. With the addition of
his
illustrations, however, they contain a whole new dimension and can be
pored over
for hours as the reader searches for the new and unusual things
portrayed
therein. The surrealistic style Browne uses in most of his work is
perfect for
this book, as the everyday things in Joseph's home are transformed into
the
weird and wonderful.
This title is suited to use with younger children preparing
for additions to the family but also in units of work which focus on
the acceptance
of any type of change. By reading only to the point at which Joseph
goes into
his room and turns off the light, children can be encouraged to predict
where
they think the mother has been and discuss changes which have occurred
in their
own lives.
As with all of Browne's work, this is
another wonderful
title!
Jo Schenkel
Dark Summer by Ali Sparkes
Oxford University Press, 2009.
(9+)Highly recommended. Eddie feels like a fish out of water after
being sent to stay with his Auntie Kath and ghastly cousins, while his
Mum recovers from a serious illness. He's an outdoor kind of lad and
escapes his disco dancing, gaming obsessed cousins to encounter the
excitement of caving in the Mendip hills. Here he bumps into Gwerren, a
new age girl who knows the caves like the back of her hand and is happy
to introduce Eddie to more fun than a day out at Alton Towers. When one
of Eddie's cousins falls into a concealed cave, Eddie tries to rescue
him and discovers the secret of Gwerren's existence. Meanwhile Wilf, an
elderly relative, who lives with Auntie Kath, is about to be packed off
to a ghastly old people's home. Eddie feels a strong affinity with the
old man and is determined to to save him from this appalling fate, so
he and Gwerren hatch a daring plan.
I became a huge fan of Ali Sparkes after devouring Frozen in Time
and
although her latest novel may be called Dark Summer it is a
sparkling
read with a fantastic plot that weaves the many strands into a
satisfying conclusion. I was particularly impressed by Sparkes' ability
to bring the setting of the Mendip Hills to breathtaking life. Her
characterisation is also strong and I felt like hissing every time
Auntie Kath appeared and cheering at Eddie's determination to protect
the elderly Wilf.
Sparkes has a knack for keeping the excitement and suspense simmering,
while at the same time covering the more thoughtful issues of fitting
in, friendship, the generation gap and lost opportunities. This should
appeal to able readers, both boys and girls, from about 9 to 13, who
enjoy adventure and mystery and are looking for something more
substantial to get their teeth into.
Claire Larson
The Hunchback Assignments by Arthur Slade
HarperCollins, Australia, 2009.
ISBN: 9780732290443
(Ages 12+) When he hears of an unusual baby in a gypsy freak
show, Mr Socrates goes to investigate, buys the baby and takes him
home. Although Modo is a remarkably deformed and unattractive baby, he
has a special ability. He is able to soften or morph his features so
that he resembles another person entirely for a few hours at a time. By
the age of fourteen, specially trained by Mr Socrates, Modo is left out
on the street to prove himself. He meets another agent, the beautiful
Octavia Milkweed, and they team up to investigate the disappearance of
a group of orphans and find the evil Dr Hyde.
This book is described as 'The start of a fantastic new series set
in a
gritty, steampunk world'. Not having heard the term previously, I
resorted to Wikipedia. Steampunk is 'a sub-genre of science fiction
and
speculative fiction, frequently featuring elements of fantasy...set in
an
era or world in which steam power is still widely used... with
fictional
technological inventions like those found in the works of H.G. Wells
and Jules Verne...'. Set in the year 1860 in Victorian London, this
novel
is a dark and exciting trip through the sewers with fascinating
characters and gruesome inventions and lives up to the blurb.
With similar elements to Pullman's His Dark Materials,
Cornish's
Monster Blood Tattoo series and a touch of Skulduggery
Pleasant, this
will no doubt appeal to the more mature readers of fantasy and
adventure who can cope with the dark side. Personally, I can't wait for
the next book!
Jo Schenkel
Barnaby Grimes: Phantom of Blood Alley by Paul Stewart and Chris Riddell
Corgi Books,2010.
(Ages 10+) Recommended. Set in Dickensian England, this is
the fourth outing for the Barnaby Grimes series, although each novel
can be read independently as regular characters are reintroduced.
Barnaby is a tick-tock lad; he delivers anything to anyone and knows
the city streets like the back of his hand, although his preferred mode
of travel is to 'highstack'; to scramble across the rooftops and avoid
the bustle below. As a sideline Barnaby investigates mysteries and is
invited by Clarissa Oliphant to discover the explanation for her
brother's increasingly secretive and bizarre behaviour.
Barnaby's investigations lead him into the embryonic world of
photography and when Laurence Oliphant is found dead, his sister,
Clarissa is charged with murder. But then Laurence's associates begin
to meet with gruesome deaths and Barnaby closes in on the shadowy
Phantom of Blood Alley.
This is a terrific gothic romp, full of creaking floorboards, spectral
figures and housemaids screaming in terror. The look of the novel;
large print, short chapters and plenty of illustrations belie its
contents. Stewart and Riddell offer a heady feast of language that
makes no allowances for fledgling readers. Any writers who can use the
words 'arcane', 'occult', 'infernal' and 'alchemy' in one sentence are
expressing high expectations of their young readers. I'm all for that
as it's wonderful to see children immersed in powerful language, but I
would hate newly independent readers to be put off because someone
decides this looks like an 'easy' read!
With a marvellous setting (who can resist Caged Lark Lane and Cold Bath
Road?) and gruesome details of murder and mayhem, this story seethes
with atmosphere and is not for the faint hearted. For all those
children who clamour for stories oozing horror and gore this is
absolutely perfect!
Claire Larson
