Hachette, 2020. ISBN: 9781869713850.
(Age: Adult - Older adolescents) This most unusual narrative is
about the donation of body parts to those in need, captured in a
narrative that is riveting, heart-warming, and thought-provoking.
When her young son is killed in a traffic accident, Grace decides to
donate as many parts of his body as would be useful for those in
need. This decision will change her life.
Mourning her son's death, Grace feels very lonely. Spending time
alone pondering her life, she decides to create a new family by
asking all of the recipients of his body parts to meet her and thus,
potentially, to become linked, as it were, like a family. Most are
somewhat skeptical of such a connection but gradually see her
rationale and so decide to accept her offer to meet. This decision
is not suggested by the medical experts as appropriate, yet the
connection is surprisingly accepted and becomes something that
changes how they view their lives.
This narrative would be suitable for older adolescents and adults as
Pellegrino raises some interesting points that reflect aspects of
the modern world in terms of both medical and social issues.
Elizabeth Bondar
My shadow is pink by Scott Stuart
Larrikin House, 2020. ISBN: 9780648728757.
(Age: 4+) Designed to get kids talking about body image, self esteem
and being yourself, My shadow is pink offers the tale of one
boy, a child in a long line of men who are nothing like him. He
prefers pink; his shadow is pink, he prefers wearing dresses, he
loves dancing around, twirling and wearing sparkles. But he is told
by one and all that these are not meant for him, for he is a boy.
His big, hairy Dad tells him it is just a phase, and that he must do
what boys do. But when the first day at school comes along and he is
asked to bring along a dress up, he takes his dress. Dad is very
worried about how he will be received, and Dad's fears are realised
when the boy is laughed at and jeered.
But Dad comes into his bedroom where he is cowering under the bed
covers, angry and sad, and Dad is wearing a dress too. He explains
that although his shadow is blue, sometimes it lives in a disguise.
He tells his son of all the family who have lived with a shadow that
is different from the one expected; one uncle was an artist, one
loved dancing, one loved acting. One aunt's shadow liked other
girls, one preferred fiddling about with engines. Each was different
and did not conform to what was expected. Dad concludes that just
because his shadow prefers pink, does not mean that he should
conform to the images that others impose: he encourages him to stand
up and be himself, to wear his dress to school and Dad goes along
with him in his dress.
Themes: Self image, Confidence, Mental health, Emotional health,
Self esteem, Difference.
Fran Knight
Mini Rabbit must help by John Bond
HarperCollins, 2020. ISBN: 9780008264888. 32pp., hbk.
Mother Rabbit has written a very important letter to Granny Rabbit
and Mini Rabbit offers to take it to the post box. His mother agrees
he can do this but he has to be very careful and he also has to get
to the post box before five o'clock because that is the last
collection. So Mini Rabbit packs some cake, some slime and a stick
and sets off. What could possibly go wrong?
Not only is this a charming tale that will make young readers laugh
at all the mishaps Mini Rabbit has, but they will also have fun
predicting what might happen next. It is also excellent for mapping
the events of the story to help them understand sequencing and the
language of time.
A new series from a British creator that will become a favourite.
Barbara Braxton
Sherlock Bones and the Sea-Creature Feature by Renee Treml
Allen and Unwin, 2020. ISBN: 9781760525262.
Highly recommended for ages 7-12. This is the second entertaining
and educational graphic novel in the Sherlock Bones series
by author and illustrator Renee Treml.
Sherlock Bones is a tawny frogmouth skeleton who lives in a museum
with his two trusty sidekicks, Grace and Watts. Grace is a lively,
chocolate-obsessed raccoon while clever Watts manages to keep up and
share his great sense of humour despite technically being a
taxidermied parrot.
When the trio overhear rumours of a monster and a missing octopus in
the new Reef to Shore exhibit they embark on a fun mystery monster
hunt. Their hunt takes them through the museum while they tell
jokes, interact with displays, learn new words and facts, meet
interesting creatures and try to crack open a secret chocolate
device.
The mystery has a few twists along the way and comes to a satisfying
end. At 291 pages this is a considerable size novel, but manageable
chapters, a fast-paced story and plenty of full-page illustration
panels make it an easy page-turner.
This novel is ideal to share with younger readers who will
appreciate the obvious humour and engaging grayscale illustrations.
Older readers will enjoy looking for the extra small details in the
illustrations, including the scientific names and facts on various
labels and signs displayed throughout the museum.
Renee Treml has used her background in environmental science along
with her experience in children's writing to create a truly
enjoyable follow-up to her first graphic novel, Sherlock
Bones and the Natural History Mystery. Teacher's
tips are available.
Kylie Grant
One of us is next by Karen M. McManus
Penguin Books, 2020. ISBN: 9780241376928.
(Ages: 14+) Highly recommended. Author Karen M. McManus has done it
again - written a fabulous YA mystery novel that readers won't be
able to put down. One of us is next takes readers back to
Bayview High, the setting of her first book, One
of us is lying, with a different cast of characters.
Phoebe, Knox and Maeve are the key characters in this story, which
starts out detailing the notoriety of the case that took over the
school and the media the year before - the death of Simon Kelleher
(see One
of us is lying). These three characters are high school
students at the same high school where Simon died, and while he is
now gone, his 'legacy' has continued. Other students have vied for
the top position of gossip-monger, but after the school cracked down
on it, things settled down. That is, until now. The entire student
population of the school gets a message from 'Unknown', inviting
them to play 'Truth or Dare'. After the first student, Phoebe,
refuses to respond, her 'Truth' is revealed to the whole school. The
rest of the school learns to always take the dare.
Coming from each of these three main characters' points of view, the
narratives are interwoven so well that the story flows incredibly
smoothly. The suspense builds nicely, with plenty of drama,
intrigue, changing relationships and mystery. There is a lot of hype
around Karen McManus's books, and after having read this book, I
have to say it is well deserved. I highly recommend this book, along
with her other two One
of us is lying and Two
can keep a secret. Ideal for readers who enjoy
contemporary YA mystery and suspense novels, more suitable for older
readers.
Themes: Secrets and lies, Relationships, Social media, Mystery.
Mel Phillips
I believe I can by Grace Byers
Illus. by Keturah A. Bobo. Balzer & Bray, 2020. ISBN:
9780062667137.32pp., hbk.
One of the downsides of this new instantly-connected world with its
emphasis on social media is that there is a generation growing up
who are becoming dependent on external validation for everything
they do, who view their self-worth through the lens of the number of
likes and friends they have, and whose self-belief and
self-confidence as a person is very low. In this look-at-me world,
resilience seems to be in low reserves and what came naturally as
previous generations dealt with what we encountered, is now
explicitly taught.
In this companion to I
am enough, young children of all shapes, colours and
sizes are encouraged to be their best selves and to reach their
potential by believing that they can, without needing approval from
outside sources. They let the power of their
imaginations project them into the future and know that because they
are just who they are, they can achieve those dreams. They can be as
fierce as the lion's roar and as powerful as the dragon's flames,
and even though they might falter and make mistakes or not succeed
at what they try, they learn from those experiences to build on what
they tried and take another step forward.
It is aimed at our younger readers in the hope that they can build
their sense of identity and worthiness before they are old enough to
officially be on social media platforms (COPPA
restricts membership to 13+) and promote positive mental health, an
area that's of increasing concern amongst our youngest.
While the dark side of social media is now being recognised and
explored and talked about in mainstream media, this video shows
what can be achieved through the power of self-belief. Molly
suffered horrendous epileptic seizures from the age of 2 and in an
effort to save her life, had a third of her brain removed at 16.
Look
at her go!!!
A must-have and a must-promote in any mindfulness collection and
program.
Barbara Braxton
Helping our planet by Jane Bingham
Usborne, 2020. ISBN: 9781474982764. 240pp., pbk.
As our students become more independent they start to hear the
message about the plight of the planet more loudly and realise that
even though they are still young, there is much they can do as
individuals to contribute to the solution rather than the problem.
Focusing on issues such as saving energy, reducing waste, cutting
down on plastic, water conservation, shopping and travelling
thoughtfully and caring for the planet's plants and creatures, this
book presents more in-depth information that respects the reader's
growing maturity and understanding. It includes a section on how
they can make their voice heard so others take notice so rather than
just becoming aware of the issue, they understand that they can also
take action on a broader scale.
By this age, students will also have a feeling for which particular
area attracts them the most, so the accompanying Quicklinks
also offer a way forward for greater awareness and action. With
information in manageable chunks alongside lots of illustrations,
this is one for those who are ready to take their journey to the
next step.
Barbara Braxton
Looking after your health by Caroline Young
Usborne, 2020. ISBN: 9781474982757. 224pp., pbk.
(Age: 8+) While we teach our younger students about eating well,
exercising and getting enough sleep, the emphasis on maintaining
physical health seems to drop off after those early years and while
there is a growing awareness of encouraging positive mental health,
our bodies don't get much attention in literature for some time
until puberty approaches.
This book is a part of a series from Usborne targeting those middle
years readers from about 8 years, encouraging them to stay aware of
and be committed to the issues they encountered at an earlier
age. Using information in accessible chunks accompanied by
lots of black and white images, the book tackles aspects of good
health such as diet, sleep, exercise, and mental health, providing
more in-depth information that respects the reader's growing
maturity, understanding and search for knowledge. As usual there are
also the Quicklinks
which offer more to explore.
Young people with questions that they might be reticent to ask, for
whatever reason, will appreciate this book, as well as those who are
keen to maximise their well-being as they grow and develop.
Barbara Braxton
Out of Copley Street, A working-class boyhood by Geoff Goodfellow
Wakefield Press, 2020. ISBN: 9781743057575.
(Age 14 - adult) This is a powerful memoir that tells the story of
the young Geoff Goodfellow growing up in a working-class suburb of
Adelaide in the 1950s and 1960s. In an innocent, intelligent and
brutally honest narrative, Goodfellow tells the story of his boyhood
in the northern suburbs. The narrative plunges us into the reality
of Geoff's life with his family, their struggle to make ends meet,
and his determination to find work to help the family by earning an
income, even though he knows that he ought to complete his
schooling.
We are positioned to see the man he will become in the photograph on
the book's cover, his grin suggesting a friendliness and sense of
humour that is very much reflected in his narrative. Deciding to
make a life for himself that is true to his personality and apt for
his situation, he initially takes on work as a milkman. Finding that
this does not work for him either, he works with a local butcher for
a short while but finds that this too is not right. We are aware of
his father's struggle to work, his experience fighting in the war
having left him deeply troubled. Geoff's decision to take on work on
an oil rig shows his determination to find a way to earn an income,
and thus to help his family by supporting himself.
This narrative is vividly persuasive, as it becomes evident to the
reader that Goodfellow's talent lies in his ability with words, in
his vivid evocation of his experiences throughout his childhood and
adolescence, seen so vividly in his storytelling. This compelling
narrative would be suitable for all readers from early adolescence
through to adults.
Elizabeth Bondar
The great Godden by Meg Rosoff
Bloomsbury, 2020. ISBN: 9781526618511.
(Age: secondary) Highly recommended. 'The actors assembled, the
summer begins', is the last sentence of the second chapter in this
captivating read.
The unnamed narrator, watching all from the tower above the house,
often using a telescope to survey the proceedings below, is in love
with Kit as he winds his way into all their lives, just as markedly
as his glowering brother does not.
This summer is just like every summer in the past, a family staying
in their beach house, their good friends, Malcolm and Hope nearby.
The second child, Mattie falls for Kit and the two become
inseparable, although only on Kit's terms, while Hope and Malcolm
prepare for their wedding at the end of the summer. Malcolm learns
his lines to star in a new production of Hamlet, Tamsin the
narrator's younger sister goes off riding most days and the fourth
child, Alex spends his time hunting down nature, often under the
floorboards.
The story is woven around the theatre: Kit hopes to go to RADA,
Malcolm learns his lines, Mattie the beautiful poses for England,
Mum sews for the opera company, Kit and Hugo are the LA raised
offspring of a minor actress, but all have a part to play this
summer. Kit and Hugo are staying with Hope and Malcolm while their
mother works on a film in Yugoslavia. These two young men change the
usual dynamics of summer at the beach.
The weeks moves along, the narrator getting part time work at the
local shop, Dad returns to London for work, while the girls help
sew, choose bridesmaid dresses and prepare for the wedding.
Tamsin has seen people illegally netting birds on her rides, a sail
around the bay is due to take place and the two families meet every
day for swimming, cards, barbecue and idle chat. The scene it
instantly recognisable, families lounging at the beach, happy in
each other's company, mulling over past holidays, eager about the
changes in store.
Each of the characters is masterfully developed: the reader knows
each one intimately. The unnamed narrator is a wonderful creation,
tugging at the readers' imaginings, playing with the perception that
readers have of just who is telling the tale. Rosoff builds the
story step by step, succinct and mesmerising until the bubble
bursts, surprising us all, the families unaware of the power Kit has
over them all.
Theme: Friendship, Families, Relationships, Growing up, Power.
Fran Knight
Vincent and the grandest hotel on earth by Lisa Nicol
Puffin Books, 2019. ISBN: 9781760890681.
(Age: 10+) Highly recommended. When Vincent's grandfather dies
leaving him his shoe shine kit, he dreams of leaving the mediocre
town of Barry where everyone works for the cat food company,
living under the constant smell of cat food.
Vincent takes his small kit to the railway station hoping to make
some money just when Florence from the Grand Hotel arrives looking
for someone to shine shoes at her establishment. She offers him the
job, expecting him to turn up the very next morning to stay at the
hotel before starting work. His family is overjoyed.
Staying the first night, Vincent is made aware of all the luxuries
the place has to offer, as well as the staff it employs and the
guests who visit. Each of the guest rooms is different, offering
amazing opportunities, while every guest is given a small dog to
have for the duration of their stay, a pocket dog.
The description of the palatial hotel is spectacular, drawing the
reader in to its opulence, wondering why such a place exists and why
Florence has been left by her globe trotting parents to run it by
herself. The reader will question how the place runs and will laugh
out loud at the descriptions of the odious hotel guests who demand
attention from Florence: the family which has seen and done
everything, the father threatening to sue, and the family where the
son rules, while several others are just as impoverished as
Vincent and his family. All is very mysterious, but engrossing,
magical and very funny, told with a wry sense of humour, revealing
an acute observation of precocious families. At home, his family
copes with Vincent's young brother, a non verbal hurricane who
demands everyone's attention, Thom.
Vincent is desperate to find out what will happen to his
family, and his goes into one of the forbidden rooms. But in doing
something he has been told not to, betrays his new friend, and
foreseeing future incidents, puts him in a grave position.
A wonderful story full of imagination and wonder, Vincent's dilemma
is very recognisable, doing something he was told not to do, so
putting at risk his new found friendship.
Themes: Magic, Fantasy, Imagination, Friendship.
Fran Knight
Where is the green sheep? by Mem Fox and Judy Horacek
Puffin, 2017. ISBN: 9780143501763. 32pp., board book. Here is the blue sheep, and here is the red sheep. Here is the bath sheep, and here is the bed sheep. But where is the green sheep? There are some stories that you can recite word for word even if it's years since you last read them, such is their power and the insistence of the little ones in your life to "Read it again, Grandma!" I owe a debt of gratitude to Mem and Judy because this is the story that Miss Now-9 learned to read on and when Grandma got tired, Miss Now 14 was able to take over the reading duties. No other book, no matter how well promoted, ever came close to the demand for this one and so with Puffin's 80th birthday celebrations in full swing, it seems timely to promote it to a whole new generation of parents and grandparents so they too can achieve this particular rite of passage. With its rhyme, rhythm and repetition and simple illustrations that help the youngest reader to predict the text and share the joy when it is confirmed, Fox and Horacek have hit on the right recipe for a story to encourage our youngest readers to love the sound of our language. Given Mem's background in working with and writing for littlies though, this is hardly surprising and you know any book with her name on the cover will be a winner. In fact, so iconic is this title from one of Australia's most-loved author-illustrator partnerships that there is even a 2020 edition that really puts the icing on the cake of this special year. There can be no greater tribute. Barbara Braxton
Hairy Maclary from Donaldson's Dairy by Lynley Dodd
Puffin, 2010. ISBN: 9780143504450. 34pp., board book.
Remember this ? "Out of the gate and off for a walk went Hairy
Maclary from Donaldson's Dairy." And by the time you got to the end
of the book he had been joined by his mates Hercules Morse (as big
as a horse); Bottomley Potts (covered in spots); Muffin McLay (like
a bundle of hay); Bitzer Maloney (all skinny and bony); and
Schnitzel von Krumm (with a very low tum). How proud and posh they
were until they met .
Almost every child born in New Zealand or Australia in the last 30
years knows what happens next! Who could bring down such a bold band
of brothers? Children love the sound of the rhythmic and rhyming
language and the repetition of the characters on each page which
make it a perfect read-aloud as your listeners will be joining in
and eagerly anticipating who will join this canine crew., as well as
enjoying the pictures which work with the text perfectly, as they
should. The board book format makes it perfect for little hands,
ensuring that this will be much-loved by this generation as those
before.
And it is fitting that on the 5th anniversary of forgoing a trip to
Hobbiton in favour of finding the sculpture to this remarkable dog
and his mates on Tauranga in the pouring rain, that it is time to
remind our new parents of this classic series so another generation
can be as enchanted with him as all those of the last 30 years.
Barbara Braxton
Skydragon: Take to the skies by Anh Do
Skydragon Book 1. Illus. by James Hart. Allen & Unwin,
2020. ISBN: 9781760876364.
(Age: 10+) Recommended. This is the first book in the author's
latest series for middle grade readers. Nine year old Amber and her
older brother Reggie survive an assumed meteor strike on their home
but sadly both their parents pass away. Reggie is unconscious and in
a coma while Amber, who suffers a severe burn on her right cheek, is
kindly taken in by her older neighbour. There is mystery surrounding
the meteor as it appears firstly as a glowing purple ball which
leaves purple goop dripping all over the house. The National Service
cordons off the house and no one is allowed in. Fast forward five
years and Amber is fourteen years old and attending Woodville High
School. She is a loner and bullied by the mean girl Trish and her
cronies. Reggie is still in a coma and Amber struggles to fit in.
While on a field trip she finds the beginnings of friendship with
Justin, a popular geek. Both have an interest in insects,
particularly dragonflies, and it is on the trip that Amber realises
she has super powers around insects. She begins practising using
different commands and is able to speak to the insects and control
what they do. This leads to interesting revenge on her bullies over
time.
Amber finds an old derelict cabin in the woods and begins to prepare
it for her escape from others. Over time her friendship with Justin
evolves but comes to a crashing end in Amber's mind when on the
night of the school dance she is informed that her brother has
passed away. However all is not what it seems and Amber has escaped
to the cabin and lives there quietly on her own foraging for food
and using the insects to help her. She slowly becomes notorious and
is known as the Skydragon. Meanwhile the National Service has
created a new secret agent known as the Firefighter who has special
powers to track and arrest supposed criminals and will eventually
have an exciting showdown with Amber.
This story is by no means over and Book 2 is coming soon. Themes:
Fire, Tragedy, Insects, Fantasy, Conflict, Bullying, Friendship.
Kathryn Beilby
Indigo owl by Charlie Archbold
Wakefield Press, 2020. ISBN: 9781743057322.
(Age: 14+) Recommended. Imagine the world has ended and the last of
the human population has escaped to other planets. They are building
a new world but don't want to make the mistakes of the past.
Population on Galbraith has to be controlled with quotas, only one
child per family. That means controlling fertility; the solution on
Galbraith is an anti-pregnancy vaccination. But what if there is
something seriously wrong with the vaccine? Scarlet's mother is a
scientist involved in genetic tests, but now she has disappeared,
despised as a drug addict, and presumed dead. Just as Scarlet is
leaving her home for induction into the elitist Arcadia Institute
her father whispers words of warning, to keep safe from her mother's
enemies.
Thus the reader is drawn into another world where lives are ruled by
a corporation that does not allowing any questioning of its methods.
For different reasons, three young people become drawn together as
they begin to uncover the ruthlessness of the Galbraith Executives.
Scarlet and Dylan are Solitaires with unusual psychic abilities, and
the spirited Rumi is a master of technology. Each is on a quest to
uncover the truth; they have to trust each other, but constant
surveillance puts their lives at risk, and they don't know who else
can be trusted.
Readers of dystopian fiction will enjoy this story that moves
rapidly with interleaving chapters from each of the three main
characters. Archbold has created a futuristic world of holotabs,
catseyes, robots and space pods without lengthy explanations; we
learn how things work as the action draws us along. Similarly we
learn about the different classes of people, the elite Cardinal
group holding the power, the threats to the psychically sensitive
Solitaires, the Malachite scientists and the Willows faithfully
following orders. A central question is the balancing of the needs
of society with the rights of the individual. What if society is
doing something wrong, and a few people find out? When is it
important to obey and when should one speak out?
All the threads of the story come together in a satisfying
conclusion but one can't help but think there is still opportunity
for a sequel and the three friends could be challenged again. I'm
sure there would be a ready audience waiting to read more.
Themes: Science fiction, Dystopia, Population control, Surveillance,
Freedom.
Helen Eddy
