Lady Astronaut book 3. Tor Books, 2020. ISBN: 9781250236968.
(Age: Adult - Senior secondary) Highly recommended. Award winning
Mary Robinette Kowal returns with another Lady Astronaut, Nicole
Wargin, in her alternate history about flight to the Moon. Following
The
calculating stars and The
fated sky, Earth is facing problems with the Space
program, with sabotage and demonstrations arguing against it. With
her husband, the Governor of Kansas, she uses her intelligence and
skills to try to keep the program going and is thrilled when she is
chosen to make another trip to the Moon colony. However, she faces
danger as things begin to go wrong and it is clear that someone from
the crew and colony on the Moon wants to disrupt life there. Will
she be able to survive and help save the program?
The story is narrated in Nicole's voice, and the reader can easily
relate to what she is feeling and thinking and get to know the other
characters that surround her. It was different to have an older
woman, in her fifties, with arthritis in her feet and a difficulty
with eating when under stress as the main character. Despite her
health difficulties her will power, skill with piloting, and sheer
intelligence for working out complex problems came across clearly.
The setting of the Moon base, the personalities of the people who
inhabit it, and the science around living on the Moon, all are
described in a credible way. Each chapter has a news story about
disasters that are happening on Earth and they add to the suspense
as the reader finds out how badly the Earth is suffering.
With a mystery to solve, some heart-wrenching moments, an alternate
history that is fascinating, codes and ciphers and a heart-warming
marriage, as well as themes of racism and feminism, The
relentless moon is a wonderful read. The conclusion was
wonderful and unexpected. And for those who are wondering about
Elma, the heroine from the first two stories, there are hints about
what happens to her.
This is a really good science fiction series, with The
calculating stars winning the Hugo Award, Nebula Award
and Locus Award in 2019. The relentless moon is as well
researched and finely written and could well be a contender for more
awards for Kowal.
Pat Pledger
Fly on the wall by Remy Lai
Walker Books 2020. ISBN: 9781760652654.
(Age: 8+) Recommended. Twelve year old Henry Khoo lives in Perth
with his mother, grandmother (Popo), older sister Jie and dog,
Maomi. His Dad works in Singapore and the family usually spends the
school break there. When the family decide to stay in Australia for
the break Henry decides he will secretly travel to his Dad's on his
own. This is remarkable as not only has he never even caught a taxi
on his own but Henry's mother, sister and grandma hover over
everything he does. He is shy and quiet with a best friend, Pheebs,
but she has become distant since an incident at her birthday party.
As a distraction Henry secretly starts an online web comic at school
called Fly on the Wall posting gossip, and hurtful
observations about other students. It gets a lot of attention and he
keeps posting cartoons even though he is terrified his secret will
be revealed and he will be suspended. To boost his confidence he
imagines himself as a character in a Wuxia drama his grandmother is
so fond of. The disciple is faced with a number of trials where he
follows the guidance of a wise mentor to defeat his enemies, face
personal challenges and emerge having learned kindness and wisdom.
As he embarks on his secret journey Henry faces many challenges,
shows kindness and develops some insight, most noticeable in his
sketches as his arch enemy, Tim Aditya, transforms from mouse to
frog and finally a boy very like Henry. Told in the form of Henry's
secret journal with sketches, there are engaging diagrams and comics
scattered through the text and there is a second style that he
learned at school which distinguishes his Fly on the Wall
posts. A nice touch, when his notebook is missing, shows entries
written on serviettes. He finds that it might be better to have a
helicopter family rather than an indifferent one but the
relationship he is seeking with his father still seems a bit
elusive.
An attractive book for a difficult age group, funny, lightly told
with no heavy moralising. Recommended for a wide range of readers
from eight years, especially those from a non-English speaking
background. Teacher's
notes are available.
Themes: Friendship, Family, Adventure, Humour, Multicultural
fiction, Illustrated novel.
Sue Speck
The thank-you present by Jane Marino
Illus. by Annie White. Smiling Mind 1. Penguin, 2020. ISBN:
9781761040054.
Subtitled A book about gratitude, this book is also the
first in a five book series by the Australian mindfulness
organisation Smiling Mind.
The story follows two best friends Evie and Lola who share a major
love for many things including their birthday month July and opening
presents!
With the help of Lola's Dad, the two girls look for ways to show
their gratitude/thankfulness for each other's friendship. They aim
to make the greatest presents ever, for the most amazing friend in
the world.
Once they have made their respective gifts, both girls show worry
and excitement. Will their friend like their gift? Will it show how
they feel about their friend?
I liked the concept of this story (showing gratitude for people in
your life) and thought that it was written in a way that young
children could understand and relate too.
This book would be a great edition to a school/kindergarten library
for use in lessons within the topic of kindness/gratitude or even
for individual use when potential issues arise.
The back of the book also provides some extra activities and
information for readers to create their own thank you presents, or
letters. There is also information regarding a Smiling Mind
meditation which is designed for children and young people. This is
a great addition to the book and a nice introduction to the Smiling
Mind app and general meditation.
Overall I liked the story and will be interested to read the other four
in the series, and use them as part of our classroom curriculum
resources.
Lauren Fountain
Our shadows by Gail Jones
Text Publishing, 2020. ISBN: 9781922330284.
Centred around three generations of Irish extraction and the gold
mining town of Kalgoorlie first we meet poor families in Ireland,
many of whom fled the potato famines of the 1850s, sailing to
America and Australia in search of better lives. Paddy Hannan was
one of those and it was he who stumbled upon the Kalgoorlie gold
deposits, becoming wealthy, living every prospector's dream. Digging
the wealth from the ground provided work for generations of miners
in the hot, dusty outback town which has grown to have the biggest
open cut goldmine, the Superpit. In 1977, when their mother died
giving birth, baby Frances, and her sister Nell, 18 months, were
sent to Kalgoorlie to be brought up by their grandparents, miner
Fred, Else and their aunt Enid.
The fragmented narrative shifts between reflecting on the life of
Paddy Hannan and the lives of the family, shifting between Fred and
Else's lives, the girls' childhood memories and adult struggles.
Reflecting on what is shared and what is suppressed and the damage
done by greed, war, mining and emotional repression the author picks
away at their lives sorting through seemingly trivial memories that
pivot on significant moments in their lives. I tired of the constant
analysis of the character's emotional states and questioned some of
the feelings assigned to the historical figure of Paddy Hannan. I
was ready for the book to end at page 227 when Part Two was
introduced. While it was a nice addition and I felt the character of
Val was beautifully drawn, it seemed to be there to fill the need
for an indigenous voice.
Lovers of historical fiction and Gail Jones' other works will enjoy
this book and it shines a light on Australia's biggest goldmining
town.
Sue Speck
A deadly education by Naomi Novik
The Scholomance, book 1. Random House, 2020. ISBN:
9781529100860.
(Age: 14+) Highly recommended. Easier to read than Uprooted
and Spinning
silver, which I loved, A deadly education is set
in the Scholomance, a school for those with magic. El is a mouthy
heroine whose magic is so strong that it could be disastrous for
everyone. And Orion Lake is a young man whose whole purpose in life
is saving people from the deadly creatures that haunt the school.
When the two clash after Orion saves her life, secrets begin to show
themselves, and El must find a way to stay alive and maybe save
others at the school.
El is a grumpy, sarcastic heroine whose asides will have readers
grinning, but at the same they will begin to relate to her as her
life story gradually unfolds. Orion Lake too is a hero who is only
appreciated for his magic powers and El is the first person who has
seen him as lonely and needing real friends. El has always been
aloof, but when the Scholomance is under threat she must find some
allies and work with Orion to help defeat the monsters.
The descriptions of the life that the pupils must endure in the
Scholomance are fascinating. Everyone needs mana (magic) to survive
and there are unique ways of obtaining it, the dark magic is malia,
and those who wield it to master spells pay for it later in life.
Novik also explores the class system that operates in the school.
There are privileged people who belong to enclaves, coming from rich
and powerful families. Those who do not have these connections
scurry around looking after them, in the hope that they will be
accepted into an enclave after graduation.
Readers who enjoyed the Harry Potter books and the Magisterium
series (Iron
trial by Holly Black and Cassandra Clare) will be happy
to move onto this series, as will those who liked Sorcery
of thornsby Margaret Rogerson.
An eye-opening cliff-hanger conclusion will ensure that anyone who
has read the first book will be eagerly waiting the next in the
series.
Pat Pledger
We are all kind by P. Crumble and Jonathon Bentley
Scholastic, 2020. ISBN: 9781760972363.
Highly recommended. "I really really really . . . LOVE this
beautiful book!" writes Magda Szubanski on the front cover and I
really really really . . . think the same thing. I read it to
my co-reviewers, a year 5 class, just to see if I was on track and
yes, they agree.
Jonathon Bentley's illustrations delight the reader on the front
cover and throughout. The smiles on the faces of the animals are
full of interest, concern and suggest a team approach.
Each double page contains a 4 line verse beginning with repetition
of "We are All KIND" with the second and fourth line rhyming. As
each page is turned the same pattern and rhythm are repeated with a
comforting poetic effect - delightful for the reader and delightful
for the child.
Softly sketched and coloured illustrations of different animals
appear on each page. The scenarios include lending a hand, the
healing power of love, mending hurts, strangers becoming friends,
hospitality, steadfastness, healing loneliness, sharing, inclusion
and forgiveness. Larger themes about mutually caring for the earth
and doing what is right as an individual in order to look after the
group are the culmination of the book.
This book is worthy of multiple re-readings. It's so full of love
and joy. I can see it as a home staple bed time story, a favourite
in the Junior School library and on every discerning grandparents'
shopping list. With values like this, presented by such an engaging
author, read by a loving adult, the lucky child will be cocooned in
kindness and motivated to do what is kind.
Wendy Jeffrey
Wreck this picture book by Keri Smith
Puffin, 2020. ISBN: 9780241449455.
(Age: 6+) Highly recommended. Subtitled How to make a
book come to life this irreverent, funny and instructive book
will be adored by its readers, seeing such a range of different
words, uses and applications attributed to a book. A book this
author says, only comes to life when it is being used. It is not
meant to live its life sitting on a shelf, but to be taken down and
used.
And the uses to which this author puts the book are fanciful and
exceedingly funny. The old rules assigned to a book involves not
throwing them, not being rough, not folding the pages etc. have put
the book under wraps as if it it were something very precious,
needing to be kept under glass. But not so. A book needs to be woken
up, shaken, stirred, dressed up, played with, touched and tasted.
The whole encourages children to do all of these things: to interact
with the book, to feel it, smell it, taste it and fold it. Each
double page shows a different use to be made of the book,
encouraging imaginative play with the book, showing in the images
just what can be done. You can wear the book, or read it upside
down, throw a party for the book, hide a secret message within its
pages, be the storm described in the book, and hug the book.
Designed to take kids out of their comfort zones regarding books,
the text and images plays with the use they usually consign to
books, encouraging them to see what else can be done, how they can
interact with a book, and widen their use of them.Wonderful
illustrations, alive with colour and imagination, different fonts
and symbols, instructions and mandates, reading like a manual and
guide book cover each page, ensuring the readers will be equally
enthralled following the tutorial of how to wreck a book.
Themes: Books, Reading, Humour.
Fran Knight
Timeline Science and Technology: A Visual History of Our World by Peter Goes
Gecko Press, 2020. ISBN: 9781776573004.
(Age: 8+) The author of two previous non-fiction books, Timeline:
A Visual History of our World and Rivers: A Visual History
from River to Sea, Peter Goes, has continued his theme with
his latest book Timeline Science and Technology. This new
addition looks at the history of inventions, discoveries and
technology that has shaped our world from the Stone Age to the
present day. This book is presented as a large format read and has
different coloured double pages marking the various periods of time
discussed. There is a paragraph synopsis explaining the time under
discussion and then a visual timeline that gives consideration to
important discoveries, inventions and events. The written
information curves around the clever and comical graphic images and
while the text is rather small and confusing to follow at times, it
presents many interesting and obscure facts. For example in the high
middle ages a curfew bell rang in the evening as a signal to put out
all hearths and fires, in order to avoid blazes in wooden buildings
and in 1974 Art Fry created the first Post-It Note using the
low-stick adhesive formulated six years earlier by his colleague.
This is a book to be shared between one or two readers or perused by
an individual. There is so much information and knowledge to be
discovered and those who love non-fiction facts throughout history
will value this very different read. Themes: Timelines, Science,
Technology, Entertainment, Medicine, Inventions, Discoveries.
Kathryn Beilby
Australia's wild weird wonderful weather by Stephanie Owen Reeder
Illus. by Tania McCartney. National Library of Australia, 2020.
ISBN: 9780642279637.
(Age: 8+). Highly recommended. This is a beautifully presented and
informative non-fiction book which highlights Australia's vastly
different weather patterns across our huge country. The contents
page focuses on seven main areas:
1. Seasonal weather
2. Precipitation
3. Sound, Light, Movement
4. Disastrous Weather
5. Weather Forecasting
6. Climate Change
7. Researching Weather
Within each of these chapters are three main topics presented on a
double page spread. The text is of a very readable size and relates
to the visual images; charts, maps, illustrations and diagrams
located close by. After the introduction of What is Weather?, the
book moves on to Bush Forecasting which concentrates on how well
Indigenous Peoples have managed and adapted to living on the land
for thousands of years. Cloud formations, lightning, rain, heat,
wind, weather disasters and extreme weather are some of the topics
covered. The chapter on weather forecasting begins with animal
antics. The behaviour of some animals is said to predict the weather
e.g. sheep huddle together for protection when a storm is coming,
making a big woolly blanket. Some farmers say, 'When sheep gather
together in a huddle, tomorrow we'll have a puddle.' There are
chapters on reading and measuring the weather plus a section
dedicated to climate change. Exploring the Weather is the final
section of the book and it gives an historical perspective with
interesting facts as well as photographs from the National Library
of Australia''s own collection which incidentally provided the
information throughout the book. At the end of the book is a
detailed glossary of weather words, a list of weather resources plus
a comprehensive index. This book will be a valuable addition to any
school, public library or home.
There is further information about the book on the NLA
blog, as well as an entertaining book
trailer and Scholastic's Teaching
notes. Themes: Australia, Weather, Indigenous knowledge,
Climate change.
Kathryn Beilby
Masquerade in Lodi by Lois McMaster Bujold
Penric and Desdemona (Publication order 9), Spectrum
Literary Agency, 2020. ASIN: B08L88PCTP.
(Age: 15+) Highly recommended. Another novella in the Penric
and
Desdemona series is always welcome and this time Bujold
takes us back to an earlier time in Penric's life. Falling between Penric's
Fox and Penric's Mission, the story takes place in
Lodi on Bastard's Eve, a time of celebration for the people living
in this canal city. Penric is hoping for time off but finds himself
called to minister to a madman who appears to have been taken over
by a wild demon. What follows is a wild chase to try and capture the
runaway man, and when this doesn't happen easily Penric asks for the
help of the saint in finding him and taking the demon out of him.
Bujold has added another city to the wonderful world that Penric and
Desdemona inhabit, and it was fun to follow Penric's adventures as
he travels across to islands, uses canals and searches the
warehouses of this water bound place. The saint too, is unexpected,
a young inexperienced girl, who is intelligent and has hidden
talents. Other characters are fully fleshed out, and some plot
twists will keep the reader wondering what will happen next.
Fans of the series will enjoy the warmth of this novella; Bujold
always manages to write a feel-good story that leaves the reader
satisfied. Those new to the series would probably enjoy them more by
starting with the first one, and reading them in chronological
order, rather than the publishing order.
Pat Pledger
The Bad Guys: Episode 12: The One?! by Aaron Blabey
Scholastic, 2020. ISBN: 9781760668679.
(Age: 7+) Highly recommended. Mr Wolf and his friends are back in
another amazing adventure that will thrill fans of the series.
Carrying on from Episode
11: Dawn of the Underlord, where we found Snake turned
into a Dark Lord, after opening a door into another dimension, this
time Snake is trying to use his terrifying powers to deal with The
One. Agent Fox appears to have mysterious powers and the group forms
into Team A and Team B to stop Snake and the scary dark lords. And
who is The One?
As with all the predecessors, this is a hilarious chapter book that
will delight fans and even newcomers to the series as it has enough
background for readers to work out what is going on. The references
to dark lords, The One, and the Master will bring grins to the faces
of readers, while they will chuckle aloud at the doorway that is
found in Granny Gumbo's poop burgers restaurant. All the
uproariously funny narrative is accompanied by equally funny
illustrations that complement the text. I love the Snake portrayed
as a Dark Lord and Mr Piranha as The Oracle is a delight, their
facial expressions sublime.
Beginning readers will love this chapter graphic novel with its bold
black text and big print, while older readers will just love the
humour and references to stuff going on in society today. And the
cliff-hanger will have them begging for the next episode.
This series is a must purchase for every library as it caters not
only to people who love humour, but reluctant and beginning readers
as well. A note on the front cover reads "Soon to be major motion
picture from Dreamworks" so the popularity of the series can only
increase.
Pat Pledger
The incredible runaway snot by Josh Pyke
Illus. by Heath McKenzie. Scholastic, 2020. ISBN: 9781760971083.
(Age: 3+) Children will be sucked in right from the first incredible
illustration of a huge nose with a tiny, big eyed green snot peeking
out. "Eric the snot liked his life quite a lot stuck up a nose in a
cosy old spot" and managed to stay safe from nose-pickers, enjoying
his quiet life. But lots of other snots came to Eric for tips for
staying out of the way of fingers, so he decided to start a Snot
School. However, he is inundated with requests for help and has no
time for any fun. What can he do?
Children are always fascinated with bodily functions, no matter how
gross they may seem, so this book about snot will be a winner. The
rhyming text by award-winning singer/songwriter, Josh Pyke makes it
a fun book to read aloud, and beginning readers will appreciate the
humour and short sentences, while laughing aloud at the end when
Eric takes the plunge to leave his home and go on an adventure to
find peace.
Heath McKenzie's illustrations are always hilariously funny, and
readers will enjoy following the adventures of Eric. The book starts
with end papers with pale white tissue boxes drawn against a sickly
yellow-green background and sets the colour tones. Eric is also
green with big white eyes and mouth and eyebrows outlined in black.
His facial expressions range from peaceful as he dozes in the nose,
thoughtful as he decides to start a Snot School, authoritative as he
teaches and gleeful as he waves to his friends.
This is a fun book for children who certainly will enjoy the humour
and illustrations.
Pat Pledger
Dog by Shaun Tan
Allen & Unwin, 2020. ISBN: 9781760526139.
(Age: All) Highly recommended. Dog (2020) is a reissue of a
story published in 2018 in Tales from the inner city, which
explored many vistas of city life and the relationship between the
city and its inhabitants. In this excerpt, Dog, Tan explores
the relationship between humans and dogs, showing the continuous
cycle of life and death, of rebirth and renewal, seen through the
panoply of time and place.
'Every time I see people walking their dogs at my local park, I
never cease to be heartened by the endurance and affection of this
bond, its strangeness, its apparent naturalness' (Tan, included as an
afterword in this book)
He goes on to tell stories of dogs mourning their owners' deaths,
one waiting patiently at a railway station for nine years,
underlining the bond that exists between people and their dogs.
Over millennia, dogs have been brave, loyal, trusted companions, and
Tan shows this in his glorious images produced with thickly applied
oil paint, covering each double page.
In the beginning a person and a dog see each other across the way
and walk together side by side. Tan shows the pair walking across
the yellow sun lit pages, a stunning contrast to the pages which
follow: black, greys and dark blues showing a death, separation and
a decline in the relationship between human and dog. Following,
Tan's half dozen or so pages uncover the progress of history. In
great luminous spreads of colour, Tan reveals a range of historical
eras, fires, ice ages, the advent of agriculture, the industrial
revolution, the rise of the railway and roads, the last unveiling a
look passing between a dog and a woman on the other side of the
road. They come together, appropriately on a zebra crossing, and
walk on as if they have never been apart. In this way the pair seem
destined to walk together for millennia to come, a natural place for
both to be, a stunningly positive note on which to end.
Tan's images are stunning, with hints of Jeffrey Smart adding to
their realistic portrayal of our surrounds. The swathes of colour
across each page recall journeys, roads, destinations, pilgrimages,
bridges, rail lines, as the person hunts, fishes, toils in the
field, fights in a war.
Children will pore over the images, reading the sparse prose for
greater elucidation, developing their understandings of how an
exceptional artist works.
Themes: Understanding, Dogs, History.
Fran Knight
The 130-Storey Treehouse by Andy Griffiths
Illus. by Terry Denton. Pan Macmillan, 2020. ISBN: 9781760786168.
(Age: 6+) Highly recommended. The 130-Storey Treehouse by
Andy Griffiths and illustrated by Terry Denton is another fast-paced
and action-packed read in this on-going Treehouse series.
Young readers have been waiting impatiently for the release of this
new addition. The new levels added provide the friends with so much
more to do. Some of these levels are:
Soap bubble blaster
Non-stop dot level
13-storey igloo
GRABINATOR
Extraterrestrial observation centre
Time-wasting level
Toilet paper factory (very necessary in COVID-19 times)
TFB-treehouse fire brigade
Best bookshop-in-a-treehouse-in-a-tree-in-a-forest-in-a-book in
the whole world
The story begins with Andy annoyed by a pesky fly. He tries
everything to get rid of it. Terry uses his laser eyes to try to
destroy it but sets the treehouse on fire. Jill has enough sense to
call the fire brigade to save the day. The fly is caught in a bug
catcher but the friends realise that they also caught in some sort
of dome and they are abducted by a UFE - unidentified flying
eyeball. They are taken to Planet Eyeballia where they are
surrounded by millions of eyeballs. They are then ordered to take
part in an Intergalactic Death Battle against other abducted aliens.
They hide in the treehouse while the battle rages around them. The
story becomes more complicated as a blob from Blobdromeda stows-away
on the treehouse, becomes an umbrella from the sun; they travel to
another galaxy to save the blobs from a mud-sucking blob toad and
finally the fly returns!
These stories are exhausting for the reader but highly entertaining
and page turning. You just have to find out what happens next. The
143-storey treehouse book is coming soon.
Themes: Humour, Friends, Tree House Living, Fantasy, Creativity,
Intergalactic adventure.
Kathryn Beilby
The Tower of Nero by Rick Riordan
The Trials of Apollo. Penguin Random House, 2020. ISBN:
9780141364087.
(Age: 11+) Recommended. In a return to Percy Jackson's world, Apollo
- in his human form as teen, Lester Papadopoulos - must go into the
final battle against the opposition of Nero and his extreme power,
to enable Apollo to return to Mount Olympus. The fight is also
against every awful and mythological enemy that has come under the
power of the last emperor Nero. Meg is at his side and she is trying
to overcome her history as Nero's adopted daughter while being
Lester's 'Master' in the fight. The engagement of oracles,
underground troglodytes and other demi-gods all work together to
assist Lester (Apollo) to finally face the worst of the conflicts,
but there is wounding, fear and the possibility that Apollo may lose
his challenge and be trapped in human form without the opportunity
to return to his godly form . . . and does he even want to give up
his humanity?
In the world of Greek Mythology and the Percy Jackson
series, this is a concluding story in the Trials of Apollo.
Although it would best be read after the preceding four episodes of
the trials, it is not impossible to read without prior knowledge.
Fortunately, there is a glossary to explain all the mythology
terminology and creatures. Rick Riordan has been able to introduce
young readers to ancient mythology through his exciting quest and
battle scenarios and they love the 'fantasy' elements and the
adrenaline-charged action. With Haiku to foreshadow each chapter and
fast-paced writing, there are no dull moments. Needing some maturity
to deal with the aggressive combat within the myths of ancient
worlds, this is best suited to readers aged 11+. But they will love
the action! Themes: Mythology; Action/Adventure.
Carolyn Hull
