Quercus, 2020. ISBN: 9781529408881. 376pp.
(Age: 16+) The phenomenon of the circus has mesmerised authors and
readers alike.
With a chequered history, but always an intriguing one, the lives of
circus people have made great subjects for storytelling - Angela
Carter's Nights at the Circus, Erin Morgenstern's The
Night Circus, Sara Gruen's Water
for Elephants, Roald Dahl's Matilda,
to name a few. This debut novel by Nydia Hetherington brings the
circus to life with all its magic, passion, and dangers. The
nameless narrator, thrown into the circus spotlight, soon becomes a
great tight-rope walker; in the course of her story, she reveals the
glory days and the heartaches of the circus life, weaving folklore
and fantasy as the reader follows her path to celebrity. Woven
through her tale is the search for a lost child - 'I should really
be writing about the child, about how I lost her and why I must find
her, even after all these years. It's why I am writing all this
down.'
The author brings her acting and theatre experiences to her writing
- she established her own theatre company in Paris - and this
successfully engages the reader in a world now lost and largely
forgotten. The writing is fresh; I enjoyed its novel approach the
subject.
Julie Wells
I'm ready for swimming by Jedda Robaard
Penguin Random House Australia, 2020. ISBN: 9781760895976.
(Ages: 2-4) Recommended This is one of the latest in a beautiful
series of board books illustrated by Australian artist Jedda
Robaard. Featuring cute Australian animals the I'm Ready
series talks children through exciting milestones and events
(previous publications include I'm
Ready for Easter and I'm
Ready for the New Baby). These are fantastic toddler
books that bridge the gap between first concept books and longer
narrative books. They also look and feel distinctly Australian and
their relevance to the lives of the target audience make them
engaging and meaningful.They are perfect for reading to young
children in the lead up to specific events but will also be enjoyed
year round as they cover subjects that young children just love! I'm Ready for Swimming follows a little possum preparing for
its first solo swimming lesson. Told in first person we hear the
varying emotions of the possum ('I'm excited and nervous at the same
time', 'I feel proud') and about how fears are allayed (goggles
stopping water going in eyes, mum and dad sitting and watching,
being lifted into the pool by the teacher). The story shows a
gentle, patient teacher who listens to the child's voice and
anxieties and helps children to know what they can say if the are
feeling anxious ('The other kids blow bubbles underwater but I'm not
ready yet'). At the end is a recap that reinforces achievements that
can feel monumental for a small child: 'I got into the pool by
myself. I swam by myself. I went underwater by myself.'
A perfect introduction to first swimming lessons for little ones or
for those graduating from swimming with parents to independent
lessons. Themes: Swimming lessons, Board book.
Nicole Nelson
More than mere words: Essays on language and linguistics in honour of Peter Sutton edited by Paul Monaghan and Michael Walsh
Wakefield Press, 2020. ISBN: 9781743057551. 298pp.
Ethnographer and contrarian: Biographical and anthropological essays
in honour of Peter Sutton edited by Julie D Finlayson and Frances
Morphy
Wakefield Press, 2020. ISBN: 9781743057568. 282pp.
(Age: 18+) Wakefield Press, an independent publishing company,
established in 1979 and based in Adelaide, continues to produce
quality Australian fiction and non-fiction titles. Peter Sutton,
born in 1946, is an Australian social anthropologist and linguist,
who, for almost 50 years, contributed to the understanding of
Aboriginal languages, art, culture and society. More Than Mere
Words and Ethnographer and Contrarian collect essays
from various academics exploring these subjects further, or linking
their investigations and observations specifically to Peter's work.
Included throughout both books are figures, maps and tables. The
lists of contributors show the extraordinary influence that Peter
Sutton has had on the anthropological Australian landscape. Detailed
lists of references follow each essay and the index in both texts
will prove invaluable for the general interest browser and the
in-depth readership. Both works are academic in nature but would be
worthwhile additions to the shelves of school libraries to assist
teachers and students in the study of Aboriginal Australia.
Julie Wells
Ready, Aim, Fart by Adam Wallace & James Hart
Fartboy book 2. Scholastic 2020. ISBN: 9781743832622.
(Age: 7-9) Fartboy Martin returns in his second funny adventure,
fighting the evil villain Madame Wax who is terrorising Sparkletown
with her own ear wax sculptures. Filled with fart jokes, loads of
silliness, an accidental hero and a long-lost grandma, this
continues the tidiest boy in town's tale. Martin Kennedy is held in
high regard; he is so neat and tidy that he's never even farted. Of
course, that all changes when an unfortunate incident occurs.
When the Baked Bean Factory explodes, unleashing an epic fart gas
Martin's life changes dramatically. His parents disappear and he
ends up living with grandma, who is an excellent fart teacher. When
a gross villain, Madam Wax comes to Sparkletown to frighten
everyone, it falls on Martin to save the day.
With an abundance of gross body humour, plenty of vomit and a large
amount of disgusting earwax sculptures this book is just right for
the developing reader ready for a chapter book with fun cartoon
illustrations. Themes: Humour, Flatulence, Superheroes.
Rhyllis Bignell
Sword in the Stars by Amy Rose Capetta & Cori McCarthy
Rock the Boat, 2020. ISBN: 9781786077011.
(Age: 16+) Recommended. Although I have come to this sequel without
having read Book 1 of the duology Once & Future, it is
possible to pick up the threads of the story reasonably quickly.
However, time-slipping back from future disasters and space-enabled
power dramas, back into the world of Arthur and Merlin has its
complications, especially as now Arthur is a woman (Ari), who is in
a relationship with Gwen. Merlin has left behind his love interest
from the future, and his magic must be used wisely to right some
wrongs, but he is desperate to return to Val (also known as
Percival). Time travel though must not unwrite the story and disturb
the future too much, but it must give them the opportunity to
return, restore and repair the rifts and despair that magic has
woven into the future. The main characters, from Arthur to his
Knights and his mage, are on the queer spectrum and so their return
to the Middle Ages instantly creates social distress and conflict as
they confront Binary gender expression and sexism from the Middle
Ages, and yet they are all ready to fight for what they think is
important and to remedy the magical cracks that have appeared in the
future they have come from. There is excitement, magic, sword fights
and adventure galore as Ari and Gwen confront Arthur and Old Merlin,
and with young Merlin's help try to make a difference within the
Myth of Arthur and his Knights.
This story is very different. Time travel would automatically make
complications appear, but in combination with magic and a well-known
myth set in a real period of history, the authors have skilfully
made a captivating tale. The variations of gender, transgender or
gender expression and gender pronouns do sometimes create some
confusion for the reader, especially as characters may have more
than one name as they transition from the future to the past or may
have chosen a particular non-binary gender expression. I did
sometimes need to re-read sentences to work out which character was
referenced based on the gender pronoun used. (Ari was referred to as
'she' but was deemed to be a future representation of Arthur. This
confusion may be a representation of the world of LGBTIQ and perhaps
is only a problem for those of us who have a more binary
background.) The story is exciting and twisted in plot, chronology
and magical interpretations and teens who enjoy speculative fiction,
mythology and gender-queer relationships will get a kick from this
updated re-make of Arthurian legend.
Recommended for readers aged 16+ (Not recommended for younger
readers.) Themes: LGBTIQ; Mythology - King Arthur and Merlin; Time
travel; Magic; Learning from mistakes; Queer Romance.
Carolyn Hull
The Fire Star by A. L. Tait
A Maven & Reeve Mystery. Penguin Books, 2020. ISBN:
9781760897079. 306pp.
(Age: 10 - 14) Highly recommended. The word 'mystery', and the
prospect of a series to come, are drawcards for young readers today.
All good ingredients make this book appealing - a mystery, a
historical adventure, an unlikely partnering of a squire and a maid,
and rather frightening villains. A. L. Tait is the best selling
author of The
Mapmaker Chronicles and The
Ateban Cipher; she is also well experienced in
magazines, newspapers and online publishing. This helps to explain
the fast-paced narrative in this intriguing story, which promises
further adventures. There is a strong historical feel to this novel
- the cover suggests medieval heraldry and the reader gains insight
into the importance of a coat of arms to family. The story shows how
small decisions can lead to big events. The language of the novel
gives it historical authenticity too.
We are intrigued by the solving of a mystery by Maven and Reeve,
their 'partnership' reminds the reader of Sherlock Holmes and John
Watson both working to solve the crime.
Julie Wells
Roxy & Jones: The great fairytale cover-up by Angela Woolfe
Walker Books, 2020. ISBN: 9781406391374. 254pp.
(Age: 8 -12) Numerous children's authors have been playing with
traditional fairy tales for years. The original stories evoke such
amazing characters and places - no wonder they keep emerging in
films, plays and books. Libraries produce lists of fractured fairy
tales for the avid reader of these all too familiar tales. We all
remember The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs by Jon Scieszka
and Lane Smith. Recently my 8 year-old granddaughter has been
enthralled by the Whatever After series by Sarah Mylnowski.
This clever book Roxy & Jones brings together numerous
fairy tales as the 2 heroines battle a false memory enchantment.
There is plenty happening in this rather complicated but very
enjoyable story. The dialogue is slick and clever - just right for
those young readers with minds for mix-ups, knowledge of
fairy-tales, and good senses of humour. They will love it!
Julie Wells
Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbitt
Bloomsbury, 2020. ISBN: 9781526615251. 214pp.
(Age: 8 - 12) Bloomsbury has republished this delightful story,
originally written in 1975. With beautiful cover illustrations
and chapter headings created by Melissa Castrillon, this edition is
one to treasure. The story of Winner Foster, who is kidnapped
by the Tuck family, learns in time of the family's secret of
immortality, once its members have drunk from a spring in the wood.
It is a classic tale, not lengthy, and simply told, and it has
endured through past decades, thoughtfully revealing great wisdom
about life and death. Natalie Babbitt was awarded the
inaugural E. B. White Award for achievement in children's
literature. Tuck Everlasting has been adapted into two
feature films and a Broadway musical.
A must read for all generations.
Julie Wells
Bluey: Verandah Santa
Puffin, 2020. ISBN: 9781761040610. hbk., 32pp.
Bluey is a six-year-old blue heeler pup who loves to play. Along
with her friends and family, Bluey enjoys exploring the world and
using her imagination to turn everyday life into an amazing
adventure which resonates with the young readers and viewers.
In this story, it's Christmas Eve and Bluey, Bingo and Muffin decide
to play a game called Verandah Santa! Just because their house
doesn't have a chimney, doesn't mean Santa won't come. What will
Santa bring them? As well as having lots of fun, Bluey also learns a
valuable lesson about what being good means and why it is not just
about getting presents. Bluey has been a phenomenal
success since airing on ABC KIDS in October 2018 and is the winner
of an International Emmy for Most Outstanding Children's
Programme. As well as helping our youngest readers learn some
of life's lasting lessons, the link between screen and media is a
critical one as they learn about the value of being able to take
their time with print, examine the illustrations and read it again
and again whenever they want - all critical concepts about print.
To accompany the storybook, there is also a sticker
activity book which encourages little ones to actively engage
with the story rather than just being passive listeners.
Perfect for Christmas stockings.
Barbara Braxton
Applesauce and the Christmas Miracle by Glenda Millard
Illus. by Stephen Michael King. ABC Books, 2008. ISBN:
9780733322495. hbk., 32pp.
This book arrived for review just before Christmas 2008 (just before
the tragic Black Saturday bushfires in Victoria) and things being
what they are, Christmas snuck by and it sat looking at me, begging
for a review and being ignored. Now it seems the delay was almost
prophetic for the first few lines are: "One orange evening,
tiger-striped with blackened trees, a pig sat reminiscing. With eyes
shut tight, she saw her valley as it had been: a breeze blew and the
swing swayed, gently, from a willow bough. But then the raging
bushfire had come and licked the earth bare. Applesauce sighed,
dawdled up the hill and settled in the dust by the shed, where Joe
and Marigold had lived since the fire."
Applesauce is convinced that there can be no Christmas this year -
her heart, where Christmas comes from, is as small as a gumnut and
there was no Christmas in it at all. But then something special
happens and Applesauce discovers that Christmas does not need to be
all about glitzy decorations, fancy foods and expensive presents. It
does indeed come from the heart.
This is a fabulous story that will give those affected by any
disaster, hope. Even though Christmas may be some time away and they
can't see past this day or, at most, this week, there is a strong
message of life continuing, albeit it differently. Stephen Michael
King's watercolour illustrations are delicate and haunting, some
showing sights that have become too real for too many. But they are
a perfect accompaniment to this story.
In the hands of a sensitive adult, this is a book to be shared with
a littlie needing to know that things will not always be as bleak
and black as they are now.
It was shortlisted for the Early Childhood category of the
Australian Children's Book of the Year Award and five years since
its publication it is still one of the most highly recommended
Christmas titles amongst the teacher librarian community.
Barbara Braxton
All the young men: How one woman risked it all to care for the dying by Ruth Coker Burks and Kevin Carr O'Leary
Hachette, 2020. ISBN: 9781409189114.
(Age: 14+) Highly recommended. Ruth describes this book as a memoir
of love, AIDS and chosen family in the American South. The reader
will find this book is about genuine human kindness and selfless
compassion.
Ruth's life takes an unexpected turn one day when visiting her
friend, Bonnie, who is in hospital for cancer treatment. Observing
nursing staff reluctant to care for a patient calling for help, Ruth
takes action to support a young man as he takes his last breath.
This happened in Hot Springs when the AIDS epidemic had heightened
fears and homophobia in the general public. Misinformation about
ways the disease was contracted marginalised sufferers, and those
who supported them.
The reader comes to understand more about Ruth, her daughter Allison
and her ex-husband. Ruth has a complex history that forged an
enduring resilience and positivity that drove Ruth to create
innovative ways to assist and protect AIDS sufferers. As news of her
special qualities spread, the numbers she supported swelled to being
in the hundreds.
Ruth describes herself as a regular person, however the depth of her
compassion and her capacity to create connections/relationships in
order to advocate for the young men sets her apart from a regular
person. Because of that, this book is difficult to put down and the
reader is moved to tears and/or anger as Ruth describes the
behaviours of families, medical professionals, religious leaders and
community members along with the ways the public health system
failed to take the epidemic seriously. Ruth's selfless love for
others, combined with a persistence and willingness to take
calculated risks meant the world to the young men abandoned by
everyone else and that makes this is an important book for today.
Ruth continues to advocate for the LGBTQ community and decided to
write this memoir following the sharing of an unauthorised film about her work.
Themes: Relationships (family, friends), Homophobia, AIDS, Religion,
Ethics (medical).
Linda Guthrie
Australia under the sea 1, 2, 3 by Frane Lessac
Walker Books, 2020. ISBN: 9781760652272.
(Age: 1+) Highly recommended. Stunning illustrations and easy to
understand information about marine life make this an outstanding
picture book. The reader will be enticed in by the beautifully
designed front cover with its green/blue background and shiny sea
creatures and once inside will be fascinated by the detail not only
of the illustrations but by the information that is offered.
Starting with counting the ocean creatures, 1, 2, 3 on a coral reef,
the opposite page then gives facts about coral, with all the text
set in easy-to-read black type against the ocean with a myriad of
creatures living in it. Following this is a magnificent giant whale
shark that covers both pages to show its size and from then on
readers will be enthralled with pictures of 2 shy dugongs, 3 playful
clownfish, 4 clever dolphins and so on until they reach 12 tired
seahorses. The information about each creature and its habitat is
organised in one or two concise, easy to read sentences that will
give young readers enough to stimulate their interest, while older
readers will want to go on to deeper research.
Astute readers will want to pick out each of the colourful creatures
on the summary page about the importance of coral reefs and then
return to the front pages after reading the book to see if they can
find and identify all the creatures that have featured in the count
to 12. There is also a final double page spread with the numbers 1
to 12 and the corresponding creatures for an easy way to continue
counting to 12 for the young reader.
This book is a wonderful introduction not only to counting from 1 to
12, but to the unique marine life that lives in a coral reef.
Teachers will be able to use this when looking at the ocean, and it
is particularly useful if children are interested in the Great
Barrier Reef and conservation.
A companion to Australian baby animals, this would be ideal
in any library and classroom and is certainly a keeper for me.
Pat Pledger
Christmas wishes by Enid Blyton
Hachette, 2020. ISBN: 9781444957198. pbk., 316pp.
After a year like no other, when things that have been taken for
granted for decades have suddenly become novelties, Christmas is
coming again - almost the one certainty - and people are returning
to the old classic rituals and routines in a way unseen for many
years. It is as though the security of the past is bringing comfort
in this uncertain present and so it seems logical that we should
also turn to the stories that have endured and given such joy in
previous times.
If any writer of previous generations has survived that test of time
it is Enid Blyton and in this collection of 30 Christmas tales taken
from her series and short story collections of yesteryear, young
readers will be taken back to a time when there was just the written
word, the imagination and the magic. Even those who are not as
old as me and who don't recall Blyton being an integral part of
their reading history will revel in the sheer innocence and joy of
these simple stories. From a dog who discovers the joy of Christmas
to Santa Claus who gets himself out of a muddle with a little help
from his friends, these stories celebrate shared times, festivities
and wonder. Even if there is no opportunity to organise a full-blown
Christmas Countdown, sharing just one story a day as a family
or a class will bring back that sense of calm and normality in a
world that seems to have gone mad.
This is a collection that holds so many memories for me that I'm
passing it on to Miss 14 and Miss 9, knowing they will enjoy
them regardless of their ages and that they are likely to hang on to
it for that distant day of their own families. Thanks Hachette for
adding to the nostalgia.
Barbara Braxton
The fifth season by Philip Salom
Transit Lounge, 2020. ISBN: 9781925760644.
(Age: Adult) Jack is a writer, and an ill man. He is intrigued by
the discoveries of unidentified dead people such as the Somerton Man
or the Gippsland Man, still mysteries today, and he is writing a
book about them whilst sojourning at Blue Bay. There he meets Sarah,
owner of the house he is staying in, a young woman obsessed with the
disappearance of her sister Alice. Sarah has become a member of the
Missing Persons Advocacy Network and as an artist paints large
murals of the face of her sister and other missing people around the
country in the hope that somebody will see them and provide a clue
as to their whereabouts. The Somerton Man or the Gippsland Man must
also be known and missing by somebody, surely, so their interests
have some overlap and draw them together.
The story becomes complicated by the fact that the previous lodger
at Sarah's house was also a writer and artist, now missing, and he
has written a book about the local townspeople including Sarah, and
possibly Alice, but how much is based on life or is fiction becomes
very confusing. This intertwining of the known and the unknown, the
real and the imagined, become threads of thoughts and ideas about
life, death, art and writing. There are pages readers will want to
go back over to grapple with the suggestions and possibilities.
It is a book for intellectuals, but at the same time has some really
grassroot renderings of iconic Aussie conversations in the local
bar, and the veggie shop, a vein of humour that lightens the tone a
little.
What is the fifth season? Maybe it's another dimension, maybe it's
time, maybe it's the unknown. That should give you the clue that
this is not your usual mystery story. It is a challenging read, but
it is full of interesting ideas, and I'm sure the book will find its
readers.
Themes: Missing persons, Unidentified dead, Loss, Mortality,
Obsession, Writing, Art.
Helen Eddy
The strays of Paris by Jane Smiley
Pan Macmillan, 2020. ISBN: 9781529052985.
(Age: Middle school/secondary/adult) Highly recommended. A group of
animals lives on scraps and their wits around the Eiffel Tower in
Paris. The horse, Paras is left in her stall after a race, and when
no one comes to take her home, nudges open her gate and walks out.
Following her nose she comes to a broad expanse of wonderful sweet
grass, close by a very tall tower. Here, a dog called Frida
befriends her, and a raven, Raoul, tags along, followed by two
ducks, Syd and Nancy. The gardener chooses to ignore them, as animal
issues are not his concern, people at the markets give the dog
scraps and are amazed when she gives them money in return. The raven
pontificates about the essence of freedom, the ducks squabble about
responsibility, the rat is worried about finding a mate, and the
horse just loves the fresh juicy grass and a place to roll around.
They are watched by an eight year old boy, Etienne, who lives with
his 97 year old blind great grandmother, and one day he takes the
horse home.
A beautifully written story of friendship, the tale enfolds all
readers with its humour and charm, allowing us to believe that this
could really happen.
Etienne keeps the stabling of the horse in their house a secret,
although several shop keepers nearby become aware that something is
not quite as it should be. The baker is sure she is hallucinating to
see a horse in the city streets, and gives her oats and bran, the
butcher provides scraps of meat for the dog, while the greengrocer
is good for carrots, apples and greens, and the gardener happy to
collect the horse poo for the garden. Each separately provides for
the animals as well as Etienne who shops each day for his great
grandmother, but each does not think beyond themselves, only coming
together after the old woman dies, to discuss what happened.
This beguiling story of love and friendship, tugs at the idea of
responsibility. But all comes to a wonderful denouement, more than
any reader could have hoped for, as each delicate strand is woven
together to make a satisfying conclusion. The Parisian background is
an absolute delight, and the characters, both human and animal whose
lives we follow are astonishing in their grasp of their place in the
world.
Themes: Animals, Paris, Humour, Homeless, Love, Loneliness, Freedom,
Friendship.
Fran Knight
