This is the first book in a series, written by two sisters, Shannan and Tayla. This novel introduces the main character of the series, Lola; a nine, soon to be ten-year-old girl from Australia, who has her own vlog on YouTube. She likes chocolate, dreaming big and believes that she needs to keep her fans up to date on everything in her life. Lola is a confident and extroverted fourth grader who has a best friend named Vee. The story begins with Lola planning her fabulous 10th birthday party. She is still unsure who she should invite as the final guest to her party. While contemplating this major dilemma, Miranda, her neighbour and arch-rival, announces she is going to have her own party and outdo Lola's. When hearing that her 10th birthday party could be potentially overshadowed by a water slide and chocolate fountain, Lola wonders what she should do. Still worrying about this, she then meets a new girl at school, Piper. Piper claims to be her #1vlog fan! Lola thinks nothing of this fleeting interaction as she busily prepares and plans her best birthday party. But when you have a #1 fan who is the president, vice president, merchandise director and official photographer AND they are wearing a t-shirt with your face on it and know the name of the bakery down the road from your house and the date of your party . . . what could possibly go wrong!
The Secret Upstairs fan club party is a humorous and engaging story relevant to the digital age. It explores the life of a young vlogger and delves into potential risks when using the internet. The story explores friendships, truth telling and how sharing personal information with online viewers can backfire. The laughable storyline and entertaining characters, including a country-music loving cat named Stampy, will appeal to the young children today; while teaching them valuable lessons on cyber safety, relationship building and family honesty.
Let's Build A House by Mike Lucas is a fun and lively step-by-step introduction to building for younger readers. As a real-life engineer the author has the perfect knowledge and understanding of the steps involved in constructing a house - from digging the foundations through to the finished home. A father and daughter are drawn onto each page and work alongside the builders. Each construction step is clearly introduced and then rhyme is cleverly used to engage the reader to become a part of the building process:
Now for the outside walls. Build them higher brick by brick. Mix some mortar, make them stick. Not too runny, not too thick.
The presentation of the book is upbeat, colourful and busy. The bright and appealing illustrations on each page show many of the tools and equipment that builders use on a daily basis which may foster a wealth of discussion. This vibrant picture book would be a welcome addition to support the Design & Technology Component of the Australian Curriculum F-2 Years and is ideal for home, school or public library.
Themes Builders, Houses, Tools, Rhyme.
Kathryn Beilby
Heartsick by Jessie Stephens
Pan Macmillan, 2021. ISBN: 9781760981549. (Age:Senior Secondary, Adult) Highly recommended.
The title of this narrative nonfiction book is apt. The reader is compelled to turn the page, yet aching for the loss and heartbreak that unfolds for the characters.
It is tempting to skip the preface and or introduction for a book but it is here that the reader learns that the author believes that "There are few things we can control less than how someone else feels about us." It is also where it is explained that Ana, Claire and Patrick are based on the lives of real people. Extended interviews were held before, during and after the writing process.
Ana is in her early forties and has been married to a man she loves for twenty-five years. She loves another man, and has done for twenty-five years. Patrick is in his early twenties and has never had a girlfriend before. He has met Caitlin and now his every thought is shaped around her. Claire is in her mid-thirties and has returned to Sydney from London with her new partner Maggie. This is not the only change that takes place.
The characters tell their stories in turn, and the stages in the relationship mirror each other - the thrill of the beginning through to the devastation at the end. Jessie's writing reminds the reader how easy it is to read a situation when you are not emotionally invested. The writing evokes empathy for the turmoil experienced by the characters and also many moments where the reader is mentally urging the character to stop and reconsider their actions.
There are no platitudes in this book. It delves deeply into the deep despair of the loss of love. The visceral, whole body sensations are richly told. At the end of the book Jessie shares her experience with lost love, along with startling statistics around the impact of lost love on the health of adolescents and men.
Themes Relationships (romantic), Grief.
Linda Guthrie
Talking to Alaska by Anna Woltz
Rock the Boat, 2021. ISBN: 9780861540969. (Age:10+) Highly recommended.
Originally published in Dutch the novel was translated into English.
This novel is easy to read and has the reader invested in the main characters very early in the book. It begins with Parker and Sven who are on their way to their first day at a new school. They both know nobody at their new school and want to fit in.
Parker's life is torn between grief for her dog, Alaska, and also for her parents. During the summer holiday break the family's lives were turned upside down and Parker's Dad has not been able to put it behind him.
Sven has changed schools because he has been diagnosed with epilepsy. He wants to make a good impression before the other students find out. Inside he feels like a loser and a freak.
On that very first day, Parker discovers that Sven now owns Alaska. She observes that Sven doesn't love Alaska the way she does and takes the decision to kidnap Alaska. Parker alters her dad's black woolly hat so it becomes a balaclava and breaks in to Sven's bedroom during the very early hours to take Alaska back.
Told in alternating voices, the development of the characters, Parker and Sven, endears them to the reader. Their friendship develops as they confront their personal trauma and grief together. They learn more about each other and the reader comes to understand that every day people are carrying personal stories that influence their behaviour and habits. This is a heart-warming and enjoyable book.
Additionally, the novel provides the reader an opportunity to build empathy for people with hidden disabilities, and epilepsy in particular. While most information provided about epilepsy is current, the word 'fit' is used interchangeably with 'seizure'. The reader comes to understand the crucial role of assistance dogs in supporting people living with epilepsy. In Australia seizure alert dogs like Alaska are assistance dogs that have received additional training that enables them to alert the owner of an approaching seizure.
In this riveting new novel we are challenged to consider who did write the Ern Malley poems? Was it Ern Malley, who was poorly educated but who was indeed a thinker, who died when he was quite young. Ethel claims to have found the poems after her brother died, and while it seems to her to be quite sophisticated poetry, she simply assumes that he must have been clever, and indeed the poetry would suggest that she is right, if he had actually been the author. She decides to submit the poetry to the Adelaide writer, thinker, social critic, and well-known social commentator of the day, Max Harris. Stephen Orr’s captivating narrative takes us into two worlds and two time frames, the world of poverty and the struggle to survive in Sydney in the 1940s, and of the Adelaide in that same period. Interspersing time frames, Orr takes us into the 1980s. Max was a well-known critic and social commentator, and he befriends Ethel in this story. Indeed they work together to introduce Ern’s poetry, yet both historically and in the present day, the literary world still questions the authenticity of the poetry.
Stephen Orr depicts that older world so vividly, in his descriptions of the city of Adelaide, its streets, university and gardens, and we learn about life, at that time, in the suburbs of Sydney. It is fascinating to read about Max Harris, who was a strong critic of the literary world, a vibrant, intelligent man. In his responses to the Ern Malley poetry, it is obvious that he considers the poetry as powerful, indeed of literary merit, in that it awakens human minds to what life really means. Orr makes us aware that the provenance of the poetry is still open to debate, and that it may well have been a hoax. Yet these claims seem to be secondary to the challenging ideas that are elevated by the lyricism of the poetry that addresses intelligent responses to ideas of what life really is and what it all means.
The novel would be appropriate for older adolescent students, and indeed it would be a fascinating tome, in that we hear about a changing world where literature is rising in popularity, Orr having created such a strong sense of the different historical periods.
Themes Deception, Poetry, Adelaide (S.A.) - History.
Elizabeth Bondar
Waking Romeo by Kathryn Barker
Allen & Unwin, 2021. ISBN: 9781760297152. (Age:14+) Highly recommended.
Wow! I am still thinking about this complex and unusual novel days after I finished reading it. It raises questions about the meaning of true love, all tied up with people using time travel pods to escape the dying world that they have created. Juliet Capulet lives in the now with a group of families who have chosen not to go to the future in search of a better life, but things are traumatic for her. Her love Romeo is in a coma and she has been ostracised by friends and family. When Ellis arrives from the future with a quest to wake Romeo, Jules begins to question her beliefs about love and starts to change her life.
Told from the points of view of Jules and Ellis and in five acts, the narrative jumps back and forwards in time, starting in 2083, flipping back to 2056 and concluding in 2107. The feelings that Jules has for Romeo are intense, and the reader will recognise much of Shakespeare's dialogue from Romeo and Juliet. As the story progresses, it becomes evident that Jules was not Romeo's girlfriend for very long and the author subtly questions Shakespeare's version of true love in comparison to real life. Ellis' connection to the book Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte is slower to appear and more subtle.
While the theme of true love dominates, the concept of time travelling to the future to avoid the mistakes made in the present is a fascinating one, and Barker questions whether the future would be any better if mistakes are not rectified. The effects of climate change are vividly described in the dystopian London that Jules lives in.
There are some surprises for the reader in the clever plot twists and some tense moments when a stranger in a gas mask shoots at the pair. However, all is explained in a most satisfactory way in the end.
This would make a challenging group discussion book or class text. Extensive teacher's notes are available, as well as a video with the author discussing the book, and another video with a special message to teachers and librarians are available on the publisher's website.
Themes Time travel, True love, Romeo and Juliet, Shakespeare, Wuthering Heights, Emily Bronte, Destiny, fate, Sustainability, Climate change.
Lenny is 12 years old and in his first year at 'big school' in Scotland. He is overweight and is a target for bullies both inside and outside of school. Lenny doesn't think much of himself, but we see he is witty, brave, empathetic and talented. He can sing brilliantly and writes insightful haiku poetry such as:
Teen, wearing boxers, Wants to kill his reflection Mirror always laughs
Lenny's parents are distant - his father is a lorry driver and is away from home a lot, while his mother spends most of her days moping around and writing letters to Lenny's absent older brother, Frankie.
To escape his bullies Lenny often skips school and sits on a bench next to the canal. This is where he meets Bruce, a homeless man living in a cardboard house.
Bruce takes Lenny under his wing and builds him up with kindness and wisdom. Bruce says "People are like countries . . . and countries are full of magical things, interesting places, and each one is unique . . . whatever shape or size, you're magical, interesting and unique, Lenny".
The unlikely friendship between Bruce and Lenny is heart-warming and leads them to embark on a road trip. The trip impacts all the relationships in the story and brings to light several truths that need to be told and heard, including the whereabouts of Frankie.
Lenny comes to see that he matters, he is loved and he can bring joy to others, while Bruce eventually opens up about his past and why he lives the way he does. Lenny's many haikus reflect the storyline throughout, becoming optimistic by the end.
Author Brian Conaghan was born and raised in Scotland and writes his characters with gentle humour, believable emotion and vibrant Scottish language. The story can be followed without necessarily understanding every word, but reading the dialect is fun and provides lots of low-pressure opportunities to practice inferring meaning of unknown words based on context clues.
A fantastic educational resource pack available for this book covers important discussion points such as bullying, homelessness, haiku poetry, body confidence and unexpected friendships.
Things don't go well for Tara on her first day at uni. After leaving her bag in a lecture hall she triggers a bomb scare, her hijab associated with the guise of a terrorist. It's not really surprising, she has become used to the looks, and the slurs, and now it seems she has become the bomb-threat girl. However, encouragement from friends sees her standing up for herself and running in the student elections for the Union board. She wants to ensure that students from all different backgrounds can come to the university without suffering harassment.
Haghdoosti’s novel, in exploring themes of diversity and inclusion, breaks down stereotypes in surprising ways. Tara’s parents are successful Iranian Australians; they disapprove of the hijab. Tara as a teenager is having to assert her own beliefs; her hijab provides a sense of worth, of not being dependent on other people’s approval. Her faith gives her strength and confidence.
At the same time she has friends who drink, party, revel in Game of Thrones, and who include a couple in a same sex relationship. Tara finds herself falling for one of the cool rich boys who is a natural flirt, but who might have more to him than just good looks, he might also be brave and honourable.
Many of the things Tara has to contend with are common to all teenagers, parental expectations, the macho culture of the university, even hazing rites, as well as finding one’s own values, and one’s own voice.
And if anyone is looking for how to explain sexual consent to teenagers, this book provides the perfect illustration: two teenagers attracted to each other, wanting to explore further, but one of them needs to take it a bit slower. Haghdoosti presents a respectful relationship, where it is fine to slow things down or change your mind, and consent is based on mutual agreement and understanding.
There is so much to appreciate in this debut novel by Sara Haghdoosti. I highly recommend it for YA readers.
This is an impressive debut picture book from Australian author and illustrator Nici Gregory. Her lively illustrations, that have drawn a comparison to Mercer Mayer's Little Critter series, work effortlessly in drawing the reader into a rich, wondrous world. Through a clever use of space, cleverly chosen colour and scale she somehow succeeds in making each page seem larger than its actual size. The characters themselves are often dwarfed by the greenery around them.
George and his little sister Lola have found Speedy the slug in the garden but when they stop in the kitchen for a snack Speedy disappears. Can they track their friend down? With the help of family and friends they manage to find their lost critter before deciding it's home time for bugs and slugs!
Beautiful frontpapers give tips for going on a bug hunt (complete with a reminder to release the creature at the end of the afternoon 'because creatures have families too'). This is the crux of the story too - a gentle reminder that nature belongs in nature and to tread carefully when enjoying its many wonders. Where's Speedy is for all those kids who love finding creepy crawlies in their garden, and especially those who forget to put them back! Children will love finding Speedy the slug hidden within each spread (he is quite tricky to find sometimes!) and the small humourous moments of the hunt (finding Granny in the bath, Grandad's mishearing). The non-stereotypical family depiction is also pleasing, with Mum fixing the car and Dad baking pretzels.
I could not put down this enthralling intergenerational story that starts in 1914 and spans the years to the end of the 20th century. In 1914 Tom Stott falls in love with Gracie O'Donnell, but she has been contracted to another man and he decides to enlist, first going to Egypt and then to the shores of Gallipoli. Gracie has a baby, Ben, who growing up, also seeks freedom from the constricted life in a small country town and moves to London where he meets Aisling. They have two daughters, Maoliosa and Debbie who too seek freedom in very different ways, Maoliosa as a nun and Debbie going to America. It is not until Debbie's son Noah arrives in Australia that the past will be revealed as he meets his great-grandmother Gracie, his grandfather Will, and other relatives.
Yaxley's narrative is very clever. Divided into six parts, he describes succeeding generations with care. The pre-war life on a farm and narrow thinking of some people in Tom and Gracie's time and the excitement of Kingsford Smith's flights and conquering of the skies in Ben's are vividly portrayed. Religion plays a very important role not only for Tom, but for Maoliosa who decides that the orderliness of a convent is the life for her. However, her sister Debbie finds the music of the 1960's gripping and follows her love to the US, leading a nomadic life, carting her young son Noah from place to place. Finally, when Noah comes to Australia, the truth about his place in the world begins to emerge.
There are hints about what has happened, and the astute reader will realise that the secret that Gracie has harboured all these years is the one that glues the story together and will be happy when it is finally revealed in an age when such things are no longer deemed scandalous. As well as secrets, the quest for love is an overarching theme along with the realisation that a love match may not always live up to one's expectations.
As one would expect from the winner of the Prime Minister's Literary Award in 2018 for This is my song, this is a powerful and touching story of one family’s voyage of discovery.
Land of big numbers is a collection of short stories mostly set in China, by journalist Te-Ping Chen. The first one 'Lulu' tells of twins: Lulu a brilliant university student, becomes more and more embroiled in dangerous online political activism, whilst her brother, less gifted, becomes obsessed with gaming. Lulu is repeatedly arrested by the authorities, each time her punishment more severe. Her brother, however, has the opportunity to fly to Sydney for the global gaming finals. These two themes of government control of people and the opportunities offered by current day technology recur in many of the stories and whilst they paint a picture of the China that Chen has come to know well, they are themes that reflect modern life around the world.
The final story 'Gubeikou spirit' describes people trapped on a train station platform waiting for a train that never comes. They can't leave because the rules state that you must leave from a different station to the one you entered. Any act of rebellion is gradually worn down to passivity as the people await their fate. Only Pan, a young woman, 'exhilarated and afraid' grabs the moment to escape, giving us hope that an individual can stand up and make a difference.
These are just two in a collection of really interesting and unusual stories, offering brief glimpses into people's lives, exploring change and issues of freedom and oppression, tensions between older generations and younger, rich and poor, the individual and the group, and within cross-cultural relationships. And while the stories are ostensibly about China, and fascinating for that aspect alone, they also raise issues that are relevant to all societies, providing a wealth of ideas for discussion.
Themes Short stories, China, State control, Freedom, Oppression.
Superheroes come in different shapes and sizes in this funny graphic novel set in Shipwreck Primary – a school for fish. Great white sharks, octopus and sea cucumbers are part of the teaching staff, and the students are various aquatic species all trying to survive normal school dilemmas. The new kid though seems to be of a different class of creature and Finn and his sea-creature pals try and work out why she seems to be different and a little bit elusive. This revelation is not saved to the end, and their new friend proves to be a speedy and potential rival to the bully Blake Kraken in the annual Great Ocean Race.
With quirky humour and beautifully illustrated graphic frames this will be a delight for lovers of the graphic novel genre. Between the narrative chapters are humorous profiles of the teaching staff. With hints of a super-hero 'Fintastic Four' friendship team and the inevitable conflicts with bullies and teachers, this is just a fun-tastic light-hearted and visually delightful underwater splash. Slightly older readers will recognise the visual humour and satire. A second book in the series is hinted at too!
Allen & Unwin, 2021. ISBN: 9781760876425. (Age:10+) Recommended.
Sky Dragons: Fly Free written by Anh Do is the second book in one of the author's latest series for upper middle grade and reluctant teenage readers. Once again Amber is on the run. She has caught the attention of the evil agents and relies heavily on her power over insects and ability to transform seemingly into a dragon to protect her from dangerous situations. However the Firefighter, known for his abilities with fire, has been sent to hunt her down. They meet and engage in a challenging fight where both are wounded. As Amber glimpses the scars on Firefighter's body a memory is triggered and she begins to wonder about his true identity. Amber escapes and Firefighter is taken to hospital where he is told he is no longer on the mission to capture the Skydragon. He begins to question what Agent Ferris has in store for him especially as triplet secret agents are given the tasks that he would normally have been responsible for. The capture of Amber is the predominant goal of the agent and no stone is left unturned. Fortunately Amber is continually on the move and with the amazing support of insect colonies she is able to outwit her enemies until the triplet agents bring about her downfall. Before this occurs Amber briefly reconnects with her neighbour in order to follow her instinct as to the identity of Firefighter. Amber also learns that her friend Justin has been trying to find her and she is able to have a passing meeting with him.
This second book continues to provide the reader with the perfect blend of excitement and danger. The graphic style illustrations by James Hart provide the readers with visuals to maintain their interest in the story. As with the first book, the ending leaves the reader wondering what will happen next and hoping that the third book in the series will be out soon.
Walker Books, 2021. ISBN: 9781760651374. (Age:Primary and devotees of wombats) Recommended.
Wombats are close to my heart. These rotund little creatures are fascinating and are important to my home state, as the Hairy Nosed Wombat is the SA animal emblem. I was predisposed to enjoy this book and it did not disappoint.
This picture book give lots of insight to the life and habits of the Common Wombat. I knew about the wombat's strong digging skills, their square shaped poo and nocturnal habits but I didn't realise that they have teeth that continue to grow forever or about the generosity of wombats in sharing their burrows for resting. They are territorial creatures and use their bony bottoms as an excellent defence barrier against predators, such as dingoes.
Christopher Cheng has created 2 text types which feature on each page. There is a narrative explaining the wombat's activities and informational text (in a different font to highlight the difference) for straight facts about wombats.
The appealing close up illustration of a wombat looking out from its burrow is a strong feature of the front cover and makes the book's topic very clear. The illustrations by Liz Duthie are a highlight of the book and spread from edge to edge on each page.
There is extra material about wombats at the end of the book and an index to help select different key words or topics.
This book can be read for information or just enjoyment. Teacher's notes are available.
I recommend this book for primary school aged students and all devotees of wombats.
Aussie Stem Star: Fiona Wood is the true story of Australian plastic surgeon, Fiona Wood, who came to prominence during the Bali bombings in 2002. Her life story is one of triumph over adversity. She was born into a poor mining family in a rural village in Yorkshire but was blessed with hard working parents who encouraged their children to strive for their very best and follow their dreams. As well as a champion athlete Fiona was also highly academic and was fortunate to attend an expensive school for her final years of schooling when her mother was able to secure a position there. Fiona had her sights set on becoming an astronaut and knew that she would have to work very hard to achieve high grades and then win a scholarship to university. While at university, Fiona came to love science and maths and followed her older brother in to the study of medicine. In 1987 Fiona and her husband moved to Australia where she was able to eventually continue her works as a plastic surgeon after a number of obstacles were overcome. In 1992 she began growing patient's skin in order to treat a burns victim and in 2002 her hard work, training and determination was put to the test in the treatment of multiple burns victims from the Bali bombings. Fiona Wood has won numerous awards including Australian of the Year for her work with burns patients.
This very interesting and well-written story makes compelling reading either independently or as a class novel. There are detailed teacher notes. There are also another four books in the Aussie Stem Stars series with more to be published in the future. Perfect for a school or public library.
Themes STEM, Auto-biography, Medical Techniques, Burns victims, Persistence, Resilience.
