Illus. by Bruce Whatley. Puffin Books, 2020. ISBN: 9780143795094.
(Age: 6+) Highly recommended. The incredible true story of Saroo
Brierley's life is presented in this edition for younger readers,
stunningly illustrated by Bruce Whatley. With 80,000 children going
missing in India each year, five year old Saroo was one of many who
arrived at Kolkata railway station, not knowing where he was.
Falling asleep on a train the night before, he woke to find himself
locked in, travelling on the train until it reached Kolkata where he
was able to escape. Luckily another child took him to the police
station, and from there he went to an orphanage and thence to
Australia with his adoptive parents.
All the while Saroo dreamed of his home town, his mother and
siblings, his house and his streets where he lived. When at
university in Canberra he befriended Indian students and they
encouraged him in his search using Google Maps. Over a number of
years, his search continued until one night following yet another
train line, he saw the water tank near his house, the bridge where
he played and recognised the village where he lived.
From there he went to India to find his family, and after a small
hiccup, was reunited with his mother and several of his siblings.
His brother whom he loved to distraction had gone missing the same
night as Saroo, an incredible double blow for his family.
Children will love reading of Saroo and his search for his family,
strengthening the ties that bind us all. Brierley's tale is
laudatory in its strong theme of family, as he finds that they never
forgot him and welcomed his return, just as he never forgot them.
Whatley uses a range of techniques to present the story, including
pastel and pencil, creating pages filled with colour, accompanied by
smaller pencil illustrations underneath the text. The darker colours
used to create the background of life in India, particularly when he
is lost on the train, contrast with the Australian light and the
colour filled pages when he finds his family. The struggle of people
fitting onto the train at Kolkata station must have been
overwhelming for a five year old boy from a tiny village, and this
image like others n the book will create talking points for children
reading of Saroo.
Subtitled, A long way home, readers will be in awe of the
journeys Saroo took: locked on a train, the struggle to survive in
Kolkata, living in an orphanage, the voyage to a new life in
Australia, and the search for his family, followed by another
journey back to India, each journey plucking at the readers'
heartstrings.
Theme: India, Adoption, Homeless, Children. Loss, Village life,
Google maps.
Fran Knight
Consolation by Garry Disher
Paul Hirschhausen book 3. Text Publishing, 2020. ISBN:
9781922330260.
(Age: Adult - Senior Secondary) Highly recommended. Disher visits
the small South Australian town of Tiverton once again as Constable
Paul Hirschhausen begins to investigate a series of crimes that is
plaguing the region. Someone is stealing older women's underwear
from their clothes lines. He has received a call about a child who
might be at risk and one about a farmer who is angry about the
treatment his child has received at the hands of the principal of
the local school. At the same time winter is closing in and
frustrations are growing.
Disher is a master at creating a setting: the dry, cold loneliness
of outback of South Australia comes alive in his descriptions as
Hirsch makes his routine visits to outlying farms and properties,
checking that all is well with these isolated people. He knows the
disparate inhabitants of the small community of Redruth, which is
his patch, and the inner workings of the police in a small town and
their relationship with the city police, are exposed as he traces
the movements of the armed farmer and his son, so angry about
everything, that they have gone on the run.
Hirsch is a likeable character who is easy to relate to. The reader
can sympathise with him as he struggles to work out what to do about
the young woman who appears to be stalking him, and delight in his
relationship with Wendy and her daughter Katie. The wry repartee
between Hirsch and many of the well-fleshed out characters in the
book gives some lighter moments throughout the book.
The pace is fast and Disher juggles several sub-plots with ease
drawing them all together by the conclusion of the book, giving a
vivid insight into the life of a small-town police officer.
I am a fan of all of Garry Disher's books, and have really enjoyed
reading about Hirsch in Consolation as well as Bitterwash
Road and Peace.
Fans of Jane Harper (The
lost man and The
dry) and Sarah Thornton's Lapse
are sure to enjoy this series.
Pat Pledger
A tale of witchcraft by Chris Colfer
Hodder & Stoughton 2020. ISBN: 9781510202191.
(Age: Young Adult). Highly recommended. Brystal Evergreen and her
band of magical friends are back to entertain in A tale of
witchcraft, sequel to 2019's A
tale of magic. The Fairy Council have defeated the evil
Snow Queen and negotiated for the emancipation of women and the
lawful use of magic throughout the four kingdoms. Brystal is now in
charge of the magical academy founded by her mentor, Madame
Weatherberry, and has welcomed magical beings from across the land
to the school. However, from the novel's opening page we know that
something is once again amiss. Legal tolerance of magic does not
automatically equal social acceptance and the ascendance of magic
users has given rise to a movement of magic-haters called the
Righteous Brotherhood, who are determined to stamp out fairies and
their ilk once and for all. If this isn't concerning enough, a
mysterious witch with dark intentions arrives at the academy to
recruit students for her rival school. Brystal knows it is only a
matter of time before the mankind vs magic conflict begins again . .
.
While Chris Colfer's books may be set in fantastical lands with
little similarities to our own, there are always parallels to be
drawn between his plots and our own society. As once marginalised
and oppressed minority groups become more accepted and vocal in the
community, so to do reactionary movements intent on returning things
to the status quo. A tale of witchcraft is in part an
allegory for our times. It is also an entertaining and fitting
sequel for A tale of magic and readers will be thrilled to
follow Brystal and her friends as they once again battle to save
themselves, their community and all of humanity.
Themes: Magic, Magical creatures, Witches, Friendship, Cults,
Adventure, Schools.
Rose Tabeni
Whitney and Britney: Chicken detectives by Lucinda Gifford
Scholastic, 2020. ISBN: 9781743836057.
Highly recommended. Whitney and Britney are back and determined to
help their beloved friend Dora. The fabulous chooks are performing
with Dora, having lots of fun but poor Dora is feeling glum. She is
missing Gloria. The chooks are determined to help their beloved
friend find Gloria and get together and hatch a plan to find her.
They talk to lots of people; they even try disguises but still come
up with nothing.
In the end they meet up with someone who knows what happened to her
and Dora and Gloria are finally reunited. Dora is happy and
they all play Jazz together.
The illustrations in this book enhance the story and help to draw
the reader into the book.
I highly recommend this book. I can't wait to see what these
chickens get up to next.
Karen Colliver
When this bell rings by Allison Rushby
Walker Books, 2020. ISBN: 9781760651947.
(Age: 10+) Highly recommended. When eleven year old Tamsin, daughter
of the housekeeper, finds herself part of the investigation into the
disappearance of her next door neighbour, she is at a loss as
to who to trust. Her neighbour, Edie St Clair is a well known
children's novelist and is a working on the concluding chapters of
her graphic novel, the last in a series of ten books called London
of the Bells, so successful that journalists are camped near her
front verandah, eager for an interview. Tamsin is asked inside after
showing her an illustration of the min character, and once there she
is drawn into the mystery, becoming part of the illustrations which
cover the walls of Edie's house.
Tamsin finds herself in the world created by Edie, and here the
significance of the bells of the London churches and the children's
rhyme, Oranges and Lemons, takes on a sinister meaning as the ravens
from the Tower of London have taken over the city, using the bells
to summon the populace to do their bidding. It is a creepy world,
spectacularly reflecting known aspects of London, but equally taking
this knowledge and using it with an unsettling malevolence.
Cleverly entwining the story of Edie St Clair with the novel she is
writing, her characters are given life as the text moves from the
present to the fictional world she has created. But some of the
characters seem to know why Tamsin is in their world, and even seem
to understand that they are a creation of a novelist's imagination,
and seem to be directing Tamsin, but she has no idea where she is
going or why. Eventually Tamsin realises that they are all worried
about what will happen to them when number ten is finished, and they
toss her out of their world, telling her to write an ending which
will please everyone, but a twist brings her much closer to their
world than she expects.
Just like Tamsin, readers are mystified as to what is going on, and
like her, develop a strong idea of place and time as we begin to
piece the jigsaw together, enthralled at its multi layered
complexity.
I loved Rushby's previous novels, The
mulberry tree, The
turnkey and The
seven keys, and their complexity foreshadows the
involving read offered in When this bell rings, a wholly engrossing
and captivating story. Teacher's
notes are available.
Themes: Fantasy, Graphic novel, Writing, Authors, Time travel,
Characterisation.
Fran Knight
365 Real-Life Superheroes written by Valentina Camerini
Translated by Moreno Giovannoni. Piccolo Nero, 2020. ISBN:
9781760642471.
(Age: 9 - 12). Recommended. 365 Real-Life Superheroes would
be a worthwhile addition to the children's section in a public
library, a primary school library or classroom. This illustrated
paperback is filled with short uncomplicated snapshots showcasing
365 superheroes both past and present. These include sportspeople,
scientists, journalists, explorers, doctors, astronauts, musicians,
artists and activists. Each person profiled has a symbol imprinted
on the page to show the value or talent they have displayed. These
include generosity, determination, courage, intelligence,
creativity, justice and curiosity. Many of the superheroes will be
unknown to both adults and students but all have contributed in some
way to the betterment of the world and time they lived in or who
were able to initiate change. Some of the lesser known profiles
include Bill Haast who let snakes bite him and ended up donating his
blood for scientific research and fifteen year old African American
Claudette Colvin who refused to give up her seat on a bus for a
white person and was arrested. There are more famous profiles
including the band Queen who played to Soviet citizens in a time
when there was animosity between the Soviet Union and the western
world and Malala Yousafzai who defended everyone's right to study
especially in her home country of Pakistan. Two well-known
Australians profiled in the book are Lowitja O'Donoghue who was the
first Aboriginal woman to study at the Royal Adelaide Hospital and
Eddie Mabo who fought for the right to his land.
While this book does not contain an introduction or contents page
and would benefit from both, it does have an index of those
discussed. Students in the middle grades often have a fascination
with the lives of people who have made changes both in recent and
historical times and sharing this book with students may encourage
and inspire further research. Themes: People Who Changed the World,
Role Models, Non-fiction.
Kathryn Beilby
Peter and the Tree Children written by Peter Wohlleben
Illus. by Cale Atkinson. Piccolo Nero, 2020. ISBN: 9781760642518.
(Age: 5+) The author of The Hidden Life of Trees, Peter
Wohlleben, has written a children's picture book, Peter and the
Tree Children, which explains the connection between adult and
young trees. In the story he writes about the way trees communicate
between each other, how they feel and what is necessary for growth.
In particular he looks at the majestic beech tree. The story begins
with Piet, a little squirrel, who feels sad and alone because he
does not have a family. Peter the Forester takes pity on Piet and
they begin a journey through the forest. Along the way Peter shares
his knowledge of trees with his focus on searching for tree children
to show Piet. They find a tree-felling machine on their journey and
with great sadness Peter tells Piet how the tree machine compacts
the soil so young trees cannot grow. They discover a clearing where
the young trees are not growing well as the soil is poor and they
have no shade protection from the adult trees. Finally they find a
grove of young beech saplings which have grown from beechnuts hidden
by Piet last fall but which he had forgotten where he had buried
them. Peter is excited by the discovery of these new tree children
in the beautiful beech forest and they happily return home to the
forest lodge. However Piet is still upset about not having a family
and Peter offers an important solution.
The illustrations by Cale Atkinson are colourful and reflect the
text well. The author provides a note for the reader in the
beginning as well as facts at the end about trees and their
families. Themes: Science, Nature, Environment, Trees.
Kathryn Beilby
The devil and the dark water by Stuart Turton
Raven Books, 2020. ISBN: 9781408889657.
(Age: Senior secondary/adult) Recommended. In the mid 1600s the
Dutch East India Company had cornered the spice trade and were
powerful, extremely rich and ruthless where trade was concerned.
Turton has set his extraordinary tale aboard the Saardam sailing
from Batavia to Amsterdam. Any voyage from the East Indies to Europe
was dangerous, but this one had some extra dangers to contend with.
Jan Haan the Governor General of Batavia was returning home with his
wife, daughter, mistress and a very valuable cargo of spices. Also
on board as a prisoner is Samuel Pipps a celebrated detective on his
way for trial in Amsterdam, which may lead to his execution,
and his protector Arent Hayes. Just as the company is boarding the
ship a disconcerting and eerie incident takes place at the docks. A
figure dressed in rags like a leper foretells disaster for the
voyage before bursting into flames.
Unease among an already superstitious crew, and fear among
passengers that there may be a demon among them multiplies as
peculiar events take place. Strange marks appear over the ship,
animals are slaughtered, the dead leper stalks the ship and a fierce
storm almost sinks them.
The endpapers of this edition provides a map of the ship which shows
the layout of the cabins in which many of the main characters
reside. And as the book is 550 pages long, a guide is most welcome.
Stuart Turton weaves a complex mystery with its origins in the past
which connects many of those on board. Greed, lust for power and
revenge are the elements he uses while the Saardam itself is
an oppressive force which links all the characters. There are many
twists and turns in Turton's narrative which make it nigh impossible
for the reader to solve the crimes committed on the ship. He creates
a genuine atmosphere of fear which keeps the pages turning and the
interest piqued.
Inspired by the true story of the Batavia shipwreck, one of
Australia's most thrilling maritime stories, this novel is the
second written by Turton, whose first novel, The seven deaths of
Evelyn Hardcastle was acknowledged as Best First Novel of
2018.
Themes: Power, Dutch East India Company, Java, Batavia, Dutch East
indies, Ships, Murder mystery, Historical novel.
Mark Knight
The traitor by Anh Do
Wolf Girl book 4. Allen & Unwin, 2020. ISBN:
9781760877866.
(Age: 10+) Highly recommended. In number four in the series, Wolf
Girl, Anh Do and illustrator, Lachlan Creagh add to the
adventures of Wolf Girl as she battles giant snakes and Komodo
dragons.
Avoiding the forests which were full of soldiers, Gwen and Rupert
struggle through the grasslands until they find a place to rest.
Gwen has given Sunrise her mother's shawl to sniff and seek out the
woman, but he seems disinterested. Both children are concerned that
they have not found their parents, but vow to keep searching. When
Sunrise disappears over night taking the shawl, Gwen is mystified.
Feeling their way through dense scrub they find they are fighting an
anaconda, and further on realise that they have stumbled into a
derelict Reptile World. Excitement rules as they fight off the
anaconda bent on eating Tiny, but escaping over the roller coaster
they come across a bunch of Komoda Dragons, ready to take them all
on. Eagle is able to help from the air, but the ferocity of the
fight between the two children and the three dogs is intense.
A tough dystopian future is the background for this thrilling
adventure series, aimed at mid to upper primary students, but also
encouraging middle primary readers with the exciting and vivid
illustrations, giving a darker wash to the tale.
Themes: Dystopia, Future, Adventure.
Fran Knight
Fish by Brendan Kearney
Penguin Random House, 2020. ISBN: 9780241439470.
(Ages: 4-8) As with the recent publication Mama
Ocean this book addresses the significant problem of
ocean pollution, however, Fish takes a much more didactic
approach, explaining to the reader exactly what we can do to resolve
and reverse the problem. The problem and solution is encased within
the story of elderly fisherman Finn and his quest to catch a fish
for dinner. We get early clues to what is coming, with rubbish
floating in the water and some unhappy seals grappling with plastic
bags under the water. Finn, with his dog Skip for company, is having
absolutely no luck. There are no fish biting in their favourite
fishing spot. 'Suddenly, Skip spotted something bobbing in the waves
. . . and with a huge SPLASH he jumped in to investigate'. A
double-page spread shows the reader the enormity of the situation;
there is rubbish of every kind hiding just under the surface. Finn
works to scoop out as much of the rubbish as he can and before long
the small boat is inundated. Hungry and tired they head to shore and
are met by a group of young children who offer their help. 'We're
beach cleaners' the girl explained. 'We pick up litter that has been
washed ashore by the tide, so that it doesn't get swept back into
the sea'. What follows is the children explaining to Finn why
rubbish, especially plastic, is so destructive to the ocean and what
we can do on a simple level to help (recycling, repairing and
reusing, avoiding single-use plastics and spreading these messages).
The book hints at the other significant ocean problem of
unsustainable fishing with the juxtaposition of the huge fishing
boats in the marina next to Finn's tiny wooden boat, but this is not
directly addressed. It could be a conversation starter though. There
is a nice message here for children about their ability to influence
attitudes and make a difference in the world. It also reflects the
current climate where young people are taking a stand for the
environment, educating older people and becoming harbingers of
change. Unfortunately, the didactic portion of the book feels a
little tacked on to the actual story and the seemingly instant
revival of the ocean a little too optimistic. Themes: Ocean
pollution, Rubbish and recycling.
Nicole Nelson
Aster's good, right things by Kate Gordon
Riveted Press, 2020. 189pp. ISBN: 9780648492573.
(Ages 11+) Highly recommended. Aster is an 11-year-old girl who
attends an alternative style school in Tasmania. We soon learn,
through her first-person journal, that she is troubled and on the
outer and more importantly we know what she is thinking in contrast
to how she is acting. She also has an interest and passion for
flowers and their symbolism. Aster is convinced that the only way
she can survive is by doing good, right things for others but she
rarely feels accomplishment or joy for herself. She volunteers most
of her school breaks in the library but one day she finds refuge in
the school yard and meets Xavier and his rabbit Hollyhock. Their
friendship grows through their openness about their mental health
and Xavier's quirky dress and behaviour. Another important character
at the school is Indigo who thwarts her need of love and rescuing
behind aggressive behaviour. On the home front Aster's mother has
left her and Aster's loving father. This has a huge impact on them
both and Aster blames herself. Fortunately, her Aunt Noni supports
them and then Indigo as well. Gradually Aster develops a group of
like-minded friends around her and we have hope for their futures.
Ultimately intelligent communication and love heals all their lives.
There are certainly other stories with characters experiencing
anxiety and depression, family breakup and friendship issues.
However, this story is deeply perceptive and true. It is right to
acknowledge that all mothers don't love their children and that
adults can be selfish and unwise. Kate Gordon captures the
physicality of anxiety and the need to hide away. Gordon really gets
into the mind of an 11-year-old and short unflowery sentences convey
Aster's astute thoughts well. Sometimes these strings of thoughts
are quite poetic.
Stories like these are so important for developing
empathy for others. It suits a middle years audience well because it
is not too graphic and shocking. Although it is a serious book it
does have a whimsical quality which matches Aster's personality. Teacher's
notes are available.
Jo Marshall
Kitty is not a cat: Bath time by Jess Black
Hachette, 2020. ISBN: 9780734419798
(Age: 5-7) Highly recommended. Bath time is one of a series of
junior fiction books based on the popular animated television series
Kitty is not a cat produced by BES Animation based in
Melbourne. The TV series has screened in over 85 countries and is
voiced by well-known Australian actors and comedians. So, it is no
surprise that the book series, written by Jess Black, has been very
well received.
There are 4 books so far; Lights
out! , Teddy's
bear, Hired hound and Bath time.
In this series Kitty arrives at the front door of a house filled
with stray cats who love making music and parties. The cats have
strict rules about not allowing any humans in their house, but this
human seems to believe she is a cat. She is dressed in an orange cat
suit and only purrs, meows or hisses. Slowly the clueless cats take
on the task of teaching Kitty how to be a human, in the hopes of
sending her back to the human world, and in this book they tackle
the task of keeping clean. But cats and water are never an easy mix
and it seems Kitty also shares their aversion to the idea of getting
wet. But with furballs seriously cramping her singing abilities
Kitty needs to stop licking herself clean and take the plunge. The
cats just need to work out what will make the bath attractive enough
for Kitty to jump in.
This easy to read novel uses illustrations that match the graphics
from the TV series except not using full colour, just blacks, greys
and orange. It is a funny and engaging novel for early readers.
Themes: Girls, Cats, Baths.
Gabrielle Anderson
The naked farmer by Ben Brooksby
Pan Macmillan, 2020. ISBN: 9781760981068.
(Age: 17+) In 2017, Ben Brooksby posted a photograph of himself on
social media. The photograph showed him lying naked on lentils in a
truck. At first, he thought that his followers might learn about the
importance of agriculture, but his own recovery from anxiety attacks
after a difficult childhood suggested another goal. Ben founded the
Naked Farmer movement to encourage people in rural areas to speak up
about their experiences of mental illness.
In The naked farmer, Ben has assembled thirty-two stories
about men and women who have confronted challenges ranging from
grief, depression and chronic illness to marriage breakdown and the
disclosure of same-sex attraction. Any of these experiences would be
difficult to deal with in a city but in the country, sufferers can
face the additional problems of loneliness, a culture of stoicism
and remoteness from health facilities. This book does not provide
expert medical opinion. Instead, it presents a variety of
experiences of mental illness and the ways in which sufferers have
dealt with them. Common threads emerge, including the need to
discuss the problem with an understanding relative, friend or health
professional, and the eventual realisation that every life has
value. Some of the stories are told in the first person and one has
been written in verse, but most have been reported by Ben and a team
of storytellers. All the stories are told in a down-to-earth style
that readers can experience as conversations with or about people
who have revealed that they have been mentally ill. Their bravery
explains the photographs. Ben believes that just as it takes courage
to be photographed naked, it also requires courage to both admit to
having a mental health problem and ask for help.
Ben Brooksby calls his book a 'conversation starter'. The naked
farmer will have served its purpose if it encourages people
who work in agriculture to discuss their mental health issues. It
may also provide other Australians with insights into some of the
difficulties confronting those who live in rural areas.
Elizabeth Bor
Dash and Lily's Book of Dares by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan
Allen & Unwin, 2020. ISBN: 9781760878283.
(Age: 15+) Recommended. A reprint tying in with the Netflix series,
readers will be sure to enjoy the original book first printed in
2010. Rachel Cohn and David Levithan have again produced a sparkling
collaboration, with two main characters, Lily and Dash, passing
dares. Dash finds a red notebook full of dares from Lily on a shelf
in his favourite bookshop. He decides to take up the challenge over
the Christmas holidays and leaves dares for Lily as well. They both
have lots of fun leaving messages and carrying out weird dares, but
will they be able to get along when they first meet each other in
real life?
I really enjoyed this book. I loved the humour and some of the witty
repartee had me laughing out loud as Dash and Lily went out their
funny and exciting dares. The fact that much of the book was taken
up with a flirtation through a red notebook made it even more
enjoyable and I was sorry when their journey ended. Their love of
books and the many literary allusions made the story one for book
lovers as well.
Dash and Lily were such likeable characters that I was compelled to
follow their story virtually in one sitting. Even though Dash's
nickname is Snarly, he comes across as a caring boy who looks out
for his friends. I loved that Lily played soccer and followed her
gradual coming of age, gradually convincing her large extended
family that she could manage on her own. All the supporting
characters were well rounded and interesting, especially Lily's
homosexual brother Langston, who instigates the notebook dare and
Boomer, Dash's friend. These supporting characters added to the
depth of the story and gave the reader an insight in Dash and Lily's
personalities.
The humour, funny banter and amusing events, as well as an
engrossing romance, make this a compelling read for the mature teen.
Their story continues in The
twelve days of Dash & Lily and Mind the Gap,
Dash & Lily.
Pat Pledger
Slinky Malinki's Christmas 123 by Lynley Dodd
Puffin, 2020. ISBN: 9780143775355.
(Age 1+) Highly recommended. Right from the front cover, with its
cheeky little black cat, clutching a toy Santa and surrounded by
Christmas decorations, any young reader will be enticed to open the
book and see what Slinky Malinki is up to. Turning the page, Slinky
is seen creeping up to a beautifully decorated Christmas tree - 1
one creeping cat, followed by 2 two red-nosed mice, 3
three shimmering shells, with Slinky getting closer and closer
to the tree. Finally, 10 ten busy hands put all the
decorations back on the tree with the end papers, showing Slinky
peering out from behind the top branches. Oh, Slinky Malinki.
Happy Christmas!
This is a joyful book that is just perfect to read aloud in the days
before Christmas. The colourful illustrations are exquisite, and any
cat lover will recognise the actions of Slinky as he pounces on the
decorations and plays with those he gathers from the tree. The glee
on his face will bring smiles to the reader's face, too. And readers
will have fun guessing which decoration he will grab next and
counting numbers 1 to 10 as he plays havoc with the tree. Big bold
black text will help a beginning reader as well.
This is a delightful, durable and strong board book, that would be a
perfect Christmas present for cat lovers and young children. It
would also be a lovely bedtime story.
Pat Pledger
