Reviews

True Blue? On being Australian by Peter Goldsworthy

Allen and Unwin
(All ages) What an introduction to the range of peoples that make up Australia today, Goldsworthy has drawn together excerpts from books, speeches, newspaper articles as well as poems and short stories to show us what it means to be an Australian. Ranging from David Malouf to Michael Leunig and John Clarke to High McKay, the pieces included here will engender some debate. Produced by Allen and Unwin with the support of the Curriculum Corporation, Australia Day Committee and the Australian Government Department of Education, Science and Training, the book has the feel of a text for schools, but is enjoyable reading for a range of interests.

Many of the stories are unforgettable, as people struggle on with their lives, despite all adversity. One of the most endearing is that of Hieu Van Le, now the Lieutenant Governor of South Australia. His first sight of Australia escaping from Vietnam in 1975 is one that will live with the reader for all time, and is in sharp contrast to the 'welcome' dealt out decades later to people in a similar plight escaping from the Middle East. This one is a stand out for me, but all add to the vast range of people that make up Australia, and give it its broadness.

For students in the classroom, that favourite topic, What it means to be Australian, will be well served with a class set of this book. Students will be able to dip in to read authors they have heard of and many they have not seen before, and argue with their class mates about what is an Australian, what should have been included or not included, what best describes us. Some may notice the lack of children's voices or the dearth of women's voices, some may question the Anglo Saxon predominance, some may want a greater representation from expatriate Australians, but all will bring their own views and values to the book, adding space for discussion and debate. Students will be invited by an astute teacher to put together their own list of what could be included in such a book, sending them to a wider reading and selection of Australian writing, and photos and films will be watched to tease out other quotes and mythologies.
Fran Knight

Sunny side up by Marion Roberts

Allen and Unwin, 2008
(Age 11-14) This book has Sunny, the optimistic but introverted daughter of a naturopath, giving the readers a warts and all account of her life. She and her best friend, Claud run a pizza delivery service on Friday nights, Sunny's mum is about to have her boyfriend, Carl move in, along with his two obnoxious kids and a cat, Sunny's dog, Willow is a bum sniffer and on it goes, a litany of stories all set to collide in an amazingly funny way.

In between, Sunny's tangent monitor rings, as she not only describes what is happening but goes off in different directions, many of which have little to do with the plot but all add a different dimension to the girl's character. All in all, a very funny read for upper primary and lower secondary readers, happy to be diverted with a clever and humorous story, written with charm and alacrity.
Fran Knight

Ana's story by Jenna Bush

(Age 12+) The subtitle, A journey of hope, of this colourfully produced book tells it all, then when you read it is by Jenna Bush based on her work with UNICEF, you know that you are in for a sentimental story of the life of one of the girls Jenna Bush met when working in Africa with AIDS affected children. Although it is sentimental and openly aimed at gaining the readers' sympathies, it does give a lot of information about AIDS and AIDS in Africa and the lives of some of the people affected by this disease and the political pulls which affect their progress.

Ana was born with AIDS, passed on by her mother who died within a few years. Her story is one of courage as she develops strategies to live with the disease and its consequences. When students have read novels like Chandra's secrets by Allan Stratton or The heaven shop by Deborah Ellis, then they have been well informed about the disease and the prejudice which meets people so affected. This book will add to their knowledge. Some of it is mawkishly written, and purple prose abounds, but I know lots of girls will find it absolutely charming. And the photos are stunning, showing life worlds apart from our students. A portion of the proceeds from the sale of the book go to UNICEF and there is a website that students can access.
Fran Knight

Game as Ned by Tim Pegler

Angus and Robertson, 2007 ISBN978073238576 0
(Age 13+) When Tim tries to speak, his body clams up, his head pounds and he feels sick: so he doesn't. Left in grade 6 for 3 years meant he saw a lot of the inside of the library, sent there because of his failure to respond in the classroom.  And here he learns about Australia's bushrangers, Ned Kelly in particular. With a father killed in Vietnam, and a runaway mum, he lives with his grandfather, a man who refuses to allow his autistic grandson to be experimented on with drugs and therapy.

Working at a sheltered workshop, he meets Erin, employed to be the cook and general dogsbody.  She has problems of her own, but sensing a kindred soul, she teams up with Ned, chattering away to him, while he remains silent. But the town bullies intervene and put pressure on both these young people, and Erin and Ned must stand and fight.

A wholly absorbing read which took me back to the 1970's, with its setting of a small country town, where girls were sluts and boys' behaviour ignored. Passing mentions of the Vietnam War and Skyhooks added to the backdrop. The treatment of both protagonists will evoke a strong reaction from the readers, and they will be gripped by the final few chapters, as Ned tries to relive his hero's and namesake's actions.
Fran Knight

Antarctic close-up by Hazel Edwards

Chelonia Green, champion of turtles by Christobel Mattingly

(Age 8+) This is a breathtaking account of the damage done to the environment by the users of the sea. Chelonia and her family live on an island off the coast of Queensland. Chelonia loves the turtles and sees them as her special friends, but is distraught when one of her favourites, Caretta, turns up dead on the sands. Chelonia and her father unwind the metres of fishing line wound around the turtle's head, and together they begin the arduous job of picking up the rubbish which litters the beaches.

Writing letters to the local yacht club, newspapers and government officials seems to have no response until on one weekend a number of people turn up to help clean up the beaches. A beautifully written story by the admirable Christobel Mattingley, who always writes convincingly about environmental issues, Chelonia Green is a salutary reminder of the damage done to our coastlines and to the animals which live along it. Chelonia Green will be enjoyed by a range of students from beginning readers to upper primary and would work really well, being read aloud.
Fran Knight

Monster-Blood Tattoo: Book 1: Foundling by D.M. Cornish

(Ages 11+) When Rossamund leaves his home, Madam Opera's Estimable Marine Society for Foundling Boys and Girls, ready to travel alone to High Vesting where he will begin his apprenticeship as a Lamplighter, he can have little idea of what will befall him. He lives in the Half Continent, where monsters have lived for centuries, ready to trap the unwary, looking in some cases like humans, but often strangely disfigured. Told to meet the captain of the cromster upon the Humour, he is taken aboard by Poundinch whose trade is of a type never spoken of, but Rossamund, coming across crates in the hold that feel warm, realises that he is aboard the wrong boat and is in mortal danger.

Jumping from the boat in the night, he cowers in some shrubbery for cover and is eventually saved by a lady and her driver, and accompanies them on their journey. He realises that she is a fulgar, a monster slayer, and becomes involved in a fight to the death with a group of grinnlings, after she has killed their friend, the ettin. Wounded, the lady Europe becomes dangerously ill, and Rossamund follows her instructions making a draught which will revive her. But the inn in which they are staying does not want such people staying there, so trouble ensues.

Confronted with the phenomenal range of creatures which inhabit this land, from the small Freckle, to the nasty grinnlings and the strange ettin, or humans who are twisted like Poundinch, Rossamund must use his skills learnt at the Society to good use, and not judge those he meets at first sight.
The background of this story took eleven years to develop and it shows. Not one word is out of place; all the creatures have histories and descriptions which are finely crafted to meld with the others. Each has a position in the story. Lovers of fantasy will gobble up this book, feeling at one with the courageous Rossamund as he finds his way in life, cheering with him as he overcomes the most appalling of difficulties, and shedding a tear when things happen which are out of his control. Coming across people with tattoos made up of the blood of the monster they have killed, gives the reader a frisson of excitement, as Rossamund and the reader foresee where the story may be going.

Students aged 11-14 will love this highly original fantasy, the first in a trilogy called Monster-Blood Tattoo.
Fran Knight

Volcano by June Colbert

Lothian, 2007 ISBN 978073440852 5
(Age 11+) A book that starts off detailing the gross ways to die as a result of a volcanic eruption is a winner, capturing the imagination of any reader from the first words. When Sara introduces herself and her family, the workers with AusDAR, the group which travels the world hotspots, testing, then warning local inhabitants about possible volcanic eruptions, and tells the reader about how they are universally hated whenever they come to town, then we know we are in for a rollicking journey.
Sara and the other teenagers traveling with their specialist parents are sent to an international school in their latest hotspot, a small volcano in Columbia, but here the other students are from well off mining engineers' and mine managers' families, and so are very resentful of Sara and her friends whose parents are imposing restrictions on the mining activity and insisting on extensive safety gear. A dare between the two groups results in the richer kids camping overnight on the mountain and when it begins to show signs of an eruption, then a daring plan is hatched to rescue them before the lava flows.
An exciting survival story which gives a whole new series of words for the astute reader, Volcano is an easy to read book for the middle school.
Fran Knight

Wibbly Pig's silly big bear by Mick Inkpen

Hodder Children's, 2007
(Age 2-5) This is an endearing story with beautiful illustrations from Mick Inkpen . Wibbly Pig's friend is a big bear who cannot eat his peas with a spoon or brush his teeth or comb his hair but Wibbly Pig loves him anyway.
A short entertaining picture book, the engaging illustrations will appeal.The story will reinforce the idea for young children that it doesn't matter how skilful or clever you are, someone will still love you. Bear is enthusiastic and loving and this is what counts.
Young children are sure to love Wibbly Pig and adults who read this aloud will be left feeling happy and satisfied with this story.
Pat Pledger

Peak by Roland Smith

Allen and Unwin, 2007
(Age 11-15) Peak, named by his father, a mountaineer, is climbing. His face freezes on the wall of ice and while he is working out how to unstick his face without tearing his skin, a helicopter zooms in, telling him to catch hold of the rope. The opening sequence is stunning, as it tells the reader many of the quirky things about climbing, and showcases some of the dangers. But all is not what you think, Peak is actually doing something very illegal, he is climbing a skyscraper in New York.

Once down, he is immediately taken to a Juvenile Detention Centre and appears in court the next day. He is shocked by the anger of those around him until he is told that a boy died trying to copy his style of climbing buildings. As a result the judge is gong to send him back to the centre until he is 18, but his father appears on the scene, offering to take him out of the controversy, back to the Himalayas where he works. And so Peak is set to climb Mt Everest. Peak's self absorbed father is not interested in helping his son, but wants him to be the youngest person ever to climb the mountain, thus ensuring the survival of his flagging business.

I thought I would be bored by this story, but it took me in. The American style of writing, of telling you about what people are feeling, and having a lot of asides in parentheses, annoys me intensely, but the story was so involving that I quickly learnt to ignore these idiosyncrasies. I am still at a loss to understand in any way why people want to risk their lives climbing Everest, but along the way I learnt a whole lot of information about climbing, the risks involved and about the Chinese occupation of Tibet. The last few chapters particularly held me totally, as the boys found bodies of failed climbers along the last part of their ascent, while working through for themselves their motives in doing the climb. Boys particularly will enjoy this rather long read (246p) and there is a web site where they can learn more about the author.
Fran Knight

The night of the burning by Linda Press Wulf

Bloomsbury, 2007
(Age 11+) Set in Poland at the end of World War One, The night of the burning tells, from a child's perspective, the horrors of being in a small village, surrounded by war. They see the soldiers coming to take men for the war, returning the narrator's uncle only when he is near death, no longer of any use. They see typhoid take many villagers, and know the hunger that gnaws at their bodies. It is a gripping story, based on the memories of stories told in South Africa, the place of safety where many hundreds of Jewish orphans came in the 1920's.

Devorah and her sister see their parents die, and living with their aunt, are saved by her at the night of the burning, August, 1920, when the Cossacks, drunk and eager to kill, mow down the Jews in the villages in the area. The girls are found the next morning under their aunt's body, by a neighbour, who sends them to an orphanage at Pinsk. Here they are chosen by a benefactor from South Africa, Isaac Ochberg, in Poland to take 200 Jewish orphans back with him. It is an amazing story of courage and luck as the two girls survive and find their way to life in South Africa, where they are adopted by two quite different families. The Ochberg orphans' stories are kept alive in this sometimes sentimental book, but it will be a fascinating insight for those who have only known peace.
Fran Knight

Our little secret by Allayne Webster

The story of the grooming and eventual rape of young teenager, Edwina, is shocking and salutary. Shocking because the scenes detailing her rape are graphic with nothing left to the imagination, and because everyone who reads this book will be able to see just how easy it is to seduce a young girl. Salutary because it gives the readers a valuable insight into the minds of such people. So it should be read as widely as possible.

Edwina is just noticing boys, and is flattered by the attention she receives from 25 year old Tom, who works with her father. He often calls at the house, talking to, then tickling, then finally kissing Edwina, before taking her out of the town in his car. He hurts her but insists that 'our little secret' is just that, and continues to abuse her. When the suicide of  a girl in the town who has been raped alerts teachers to the fact that Edwina has changed, one of them talks to her, drawing her story out until she admits that something has happened.

This book deservedly will cause a stir, some parents will not like its graphic nature, and some will not like it because it talks about such a subject candidly. But it will alert girls and parents to the predatory nature of some men and how their children can be groomed to accept their advances. So have it in your library. Some may like to attach a senior fiction label, some may have it for parents, some may keep it on a restricted shelf, but have it available because kids will ask for it, their network is much faster than ours.
Fran Knight

Ruby roars by Margaret Wild and Kerry Argent

Allen & Unwin, 2007. ISBN 9781741146134
(2+) This delightful story by award winning author and artist is perfect for reading aloud. Ruby is a little Tasmanian devil who loves making scary noises. She shouts 'Screekle!', 'scrunch!' and 'scrrr!' at the animals near her but fails to scare them. What is she to do? Then she gets an idea and is 'ready to rip and roar' with a plan to scare her parents…

The alliteration of the text and the great animal noises will ensure that young children will want to read along, roaring out the sounds with Ruby. Adults will enjoy reading it out loud. Fascinating illustrations by Kerry Argent ensure that the reader comes back to look at Ruby's facial expressions and to follow her adventures with the animals around her.

Having the threatened Tasmanian devil as the main character is a bonus as teachers will be able to use this wonderful picture book in units about Australian animals and endangered species. Part of the royalties for the book go to the Save the Tasmanian Devil Appeal at http://www.tassiedevil.com.au

This book is a keeper.
Pat Pledger

Uncle Montague's tales of terror by Chris Priestley

Bloomsbury, 2007
(10+) This book of short stories loosely bound together by Edgar's visit to his uncle Montague, will set teeth chattering, as Edgar realises that some of the stories must be true, and must be set close by in the woods surrounding his uncle's house. Several of the stories are vaguely familiar, but told so well, with sinister overtones and matchless descriptions, that they are truly creepy.
When Harriet meets a young girl in the hallway next to a door which doesn't normally open, she follows her new friend, but to her chagrin, for the child is from the doll's house, and the door, one which takes Harriet away. The Un-door is at once familiar but very spooky with its hints of supernatural intent. Many of the stories come together at the end, as Edgar leaves his uncle's house, wanting desperately to return to the normalcy and calm of his parents, but what he meets in the woods terrifies him even more.
Fran Knight

In the city by Roland Harvey

Allen &Unwin, 2007. ISBN 9781741144130
(Ages 5+) This book is highly recommended for the joy it gives its readers as they follow Frankie, Henry and Penny through the city on their holiday. Harvey takes us to many fascinating places including the city sewers, a museum where Ned Kelly's iron underpants are displayed, the market with its stinky fish, an aquarium, and a zoo. At the same time he shows the amazing diversity of life in the city through his amazing pictures.
By showing the city through the three children's eyes, Harvey is able to give a variety of opinions and interests that will appeal to different children. Frankie is obsessed with the aquarium and fish life, Henry's wry observations and humour are very enjoyable and Penny's checklist of zoo animals and collection of a baby taipan are delightful.
Harvey's witty and humourous prose and the enthralling illustrations will have both young and older readers returning again and again to pour over the intricate pictures and find new things on each page. The production of the book is great, with fascinating end papers and a double page spread for each person's observations of their visit and a lovely dedication to the author's mother.
This is a wonderful book to have near comfortable seats in the library, where readers can pick it up and find funny and fascinating new things each time they look. It is sure to bring children back into the library on repeat visits.
Pat Pledger