Hachette, 2019. ISBN: 9780751576696.
(Age: Adult) This is a story of a wedding, and conversely, and
unexpectedly, a story of a murder. While these two events may seem
incongruous, in this narrative there is such a large amount of
loving friendship, and indeed a large amount of love, that a murder,
in this context, somehow seems even more terrible. Yet the guests
make the decision to put aside the issue of one guest murdered, and
to go ahead with the drinking, partying, socialising and preparation
for the big day.
Unexpectedly, while flying across the US, one woman rather
unexpectedly has a sexual encounter with a man in the toilets of the
aircraft. We read about the great amount of alcohol consumed, while
the pre-wedding drinks and socialising takes place, ironically
entailing the murder of one man. Even more ironically, all four
women, friends since university days, confess to having committed
the murder. Why, we might well ask! It is certainly not easy to
understand their motivation to confess, yet we are persuaded that it
is the bonds of friendship that drive these confessions, obviously
not all being true.
Not a book for younger children, nor indeed for young adolescents,
this is pitched at a mature adult audience, and is most notable for
the mystery at its heart. A light read about a strange group of
people, albeit well educated, who seem to simply be happy to spend
their money on pleasure and frivolity, fuelled by copious quantities
of alcohol.
Elizabeth Bondar
Don't tickle the hippo! by Sam Taplin
Illus. by Ana Martin Larranaga. Touchy-Feely Sound book. Usborne,
2019. ISBN: 9781474968713. 10pp., board book
"Don't tickle the hippo - you might make it snort!" But, of
course with its touchy-feely patch being too tempting to leave
alone, the littlest reader is going to tickle it - and won't they
get a surprise when they do (if the adult has turned on the switch
for the sound effects!).
This is another series in this new generation of board books that
invites the child to interact with the text and the illustrations,
to find the fun in the print medium and start to build up an
expectation that stories are fun, that they have a part to play in
making them come alive and they have the power to do so. Each
creature makes its own sound when the patches are felt and the
cacophony at the end of the book makes for a satisfying conclusion.
It will become a firm favourite bound to generate a thousand giggles
as the child is in control.
Barbara Braxton
The great escape by Anh Do
Wolf Girl 2: Allen and Unwin, 2019. ISBN: 9781760876357. pbk.,
206 pgs.
(Age: 8-14) What can't Anh Do do? He is so talented and his books
are 'awesome' as my students say.
With Ahn's writing career he has managed to make reading achievable
for young reluctant readers. I find reluctant readers have difficulty
in reading and don't want to be seen with low level books. Anh Do's
books and similar book series like Bad Guys and Dog
Man are great to get kids reading. Their illustrations are
great and the stories are entertaining.
With the Wolf Girl series Ahn Do has taken a step further and
has written a more mature type story that looks like a novel that
won't take weeks to finish. His writing style is very easy to read
and I kept thinking one of my kids could have written this book but
you can see that it's written in this way to get kids reading. This
writing style is very smart. I use his books all the time in class
to encourage kids who hate reading and have trouble reading. The
kids seemed to their peers to be reading their level books which
actually gets them reading because they are fun. Wolf Girl 2:
The great escape is all about survival, importance of
teamwork, love, loyalty, bravery and of course friendship. Gwen the
main human character is easily likeable and we read her story and
adventures with her family/pack of dogs. Any dog lover will love the
friendship Gwen has with her pack. Anh Do has also managed to make
something traumatic into a story that is not distressing and very
suitable for younger readers.
As soon as I started Wolf Girl 2 I couldn't put it down but
I got confused about what was happening at the start because I
haven't read the first book so I didn't know the background of
what was happening. The book starts with Gwen in the back of a truck
and you realise that she was kidnapped from somewhere at the end of
book one. Once into the book you could work out the story and what
had happened before. I now have a copy of book 1 and will start it
shortly, that's how much I enjoyed Wolf Girl 2. Oh and hurry
up with book three because I can't wait! The illustrations were great
which broke up the amount of writing on a page. This was good to not
panic young readers with the length.
If you are looking for a good read for primary school kids look no
further, the Wolf Girl series is the book for you.
Maria Komninos
Pip finds a home by Elena Topouzoglou
New Frontier, 2019. ISBN: 9781925594744. 32pp., hbk.
When Pip is discovered wandering around the Arctic by a young
explorer, she tells him that penguins live at the South Pole and
gathers him up and takes him there on their ship. When he eventually
meets up with some penguins, they are very friendly but they
discover he is not one of them. They are Adelie penguins. Perhaps he
is a Macaroni penguin because he jumps like them but doesn't have
feathers on his head. Or maybe an Emperor, although he is too short.
Or a Gentoo but his beak is black and white, not orange . . . Just
what sort of penguin is he?
This is a charming story that introduces young readers to the
variety of penguins that inhabit the Antarctic as well as showing
that there can be friendship and fun amongst us, even if we are a
little different. None of the penguin species shunned Pip because he
wasn't quite like them - he is accepted immediately for who he is, a
nice change from some darker stories I have read and reviewed
recently.
When Pip's species is revealed, it is a surprise and there is more
information about him and his kind on the final page, as well as
brief notes about the species who befriend him. Older readers might
like to speculate about why we do not see Pip and his relatives
today. Very topical.
Illustrated in a manner and palette that is as soft and gentle as
the narrative, this could be the introduction to a study of
endangered and extinct species, starting even the youngest readers
thinking about how gentle they can be on the environment. Teachers
notes are available.
Barbara Braxton
The pursuit of William Abbey by Claire North
Orbit, 2019. ISBN: 9780356507422.
(Age: Adult) Recommended. William Abbey is a truth-speaker. It is a
curse on him, a curse by the mother of a black boy cruelly murdered
by a lynch mob in Natal, a curse for standing by and failing to
speak out and prevent the torture. Abbey is a doctor but he can do
nothing for the charred dying boy. And now his shame will haunt him
forever, as the boy's misshapen ghost relentlessly pursues him
around the world wherever he goes. Each time as the ghost of Langa
draws closer, Abbey finds he can see into the inner heart of whoever
is near him and he is compelled to reveal the truth of what he sees
there, he babbles their secrets, and ultimately whoever he loves
will die.
We learn his story as he gradually reveals it to a nurse at the
bedside of soldier who has had his guts ripped out on the battle
fields of 1917 France. The nurse senses that there is some dangerous
connection between the two men, and is determined to protect her
patient. But will she be able to face the horror of the tale he will
tell? And what is her truth? Is she brave, or will she fail?
Abbey is not the only person cursed to be a truth-speaker. In his
desperate travels to escape his pursuer he meets others doomed to
speak and doomed to lose their loved ones. Can he save the people he
cares about, can he avoid loving anyone, and can he find a cure for
his condition somewhere in the far reaches of the world? There are
those who want to exploit his truth-revealing skills, he is wanted
as a spy; and there are those who want to discover the workings of
his brain, probe and analyse it as the ghost approaches.
Within this framework of mystery, horror story, is a highly
researched examination of the history and politics of the late 19th,
early 20th century world, from the colonial ravages of Africa and
India, to Peru, to the machinations of Europe, to the black white
conflicts of America, to the songline guardians of Australia, North
puts the spotlight on human conflict and failure across the globe.
It is a harsh unflinching look at imperialism and its destructive
interactions, and reveals the moral turpitude of the human race.
Whilst the original premise may ignite interest, fans of mystery or
romance stories may find this book hard going, as the spotlight is
steadily focussed on the complexities of human nature and politics,
and the failings of individuals, and indeed the human race. It is a
serious examination of a particular time in history with
ramifications for present times as well.
Helen Eddy
Ollie and Augustus by Gabriel Evans
Walker, 2019. ISBN: 9781760650711. 32pp., hbk.
Even though Ollie is small (like a pickling jar or a shoebox) and
Augustus is big (like a table or a fridge), they do everything
together, including cycling, painting, dressing up, digging (Ollie's
favourite thing) and stick collecting (Augustus's favourite thing),
as best friends do. But soon it will be time for Ollie to start
school and he is worried that Augustus will be lonely without him.
So he sets out to find him a friend. But none of the dogs that apply
for the position are quite right and so Ollie has to start school
and leave Augustus on his own. All day he worries that Augustus will
be lonely and bored, but is he?
"Big school" is on the horizon for many of our littlest readers,
with all the anxieties that that prospect brings. There will be many
Ollies among them who will worry that their treasured pets will be
lonely, and not being toys, they have to be left at home. So this is
a timely story for them to reassure them that all will be fine and
at least one concern can be alleviated. Perfect for sharing with
preschoolers about to take the next big step in their growing-up
adventure.
Barbara Braxton
Pea and Nut by Matt Stanton
ABC Books, 2019. ISBN: 9780733340673. 24pp., hbk.
Pea the panda and Nut the flamingo are best friends but they are
also great rivals. Anything Pea can do, the boastful Nut can
do better!! So when Pea decides to make a cake, and Nut decides to
make it a baking competition, there is a contest worthy of any seen
in the showstopper category of The Great Australian Bake-Off!
Nut is convinced that his cake will win while Pea's will be
put in the bin and driven by his ego (and a few mind-games from Pea)
Nut begins "a complex production of layers and towers and major
construction." Will he create a cake that meets his ambition
and expectations? Or will Pea's slow but steady approach take the
cake?
Most readers will know that if it is a Matt Stanton book, it will be
funny and this is no exception. The rhyming text, the vibrant,
action-packed illustrations and a concept that will appeal to
younger readers combine to make this one of his best, and it is just
the first in the series for these two oddball friends. But like all
top-shelf picture books there is so much more than the story on the
page - it screams out for experimentation in baking and stacking
shapes; the contrast between the friends' approach and how Stanton
portrays this can teach little ones about characterisation and the
need to look deeply at the detail; and there is also a comparison to
be made with The hare and the tortoise and the lessons that
offers. Children can also ponder Pea's final gesture - is this what
they expected?
A great read for all ages.
Barbara Braxton
Annie and the waves by Louise Lambeth
Illus. by Carissa Harris. Louise Lambeth, 2018. ISBN: 9780648435709.
44pp., pbk.
Holidays are coming and Annie and her family are heading to the
beach for a week. It's their first time and Annie is very glad that
some surf lifesavers have come to her school to teach her about the
nature of waves and how to stay safe in them. But when she is
confronted with the actual thing she is very daunted and it takes
time and a chat with a surf lifesaver to pluck up the courage to
take the first step. But sometimes a little bit of confidence can be
overestimated and Annie finds herself having to put what she has
learned to the test.
Over the Australian summer of 2017-2018, 249 people drowned in our
waters, and while the majority
of these were young men taking risks and drinking alcohol,
nevertheless it could be argued that the lessons learned in schools
about surf safety prevented many more, particularly among children.
So, with warm weather here already and summer holidays being
planned, this is a timely book to share with students to reinforce
those messages. Uncluttered by rhyme and rhythm and extravagant
illustrations, the plot is simple and the message unfettered - you
can be safe in the ocean and here's how. It's not about being cocky
but being confident because you respect the danger and know how to
minimise it.
Although Annie's experiences drive the story, the key theme is
taking care, being able to recognise "safe" waves, knowing the role
of lifesavers, swimming between the flags and never swimming alone.
And while teachers and parents can talk about these for ever, it is
the impact of a story, perhaps coupled with a visit from some surf
lifesavers that is likely to stick and perhaps keep our children
safer. Written by a surf lifesaver who has seen what can happen
firsthand, the rules for beach safety are clearly written at the
front (perhaps inspiring a poster activity to illustrate them) and
reiterated with a quiz at the end, and there is also a link to BeachSafe, a website and app
that provides information about the conditions about every
Australian beach, including rips.
Endorsed by Surf Lifesaving Australia,
this is a critical addition to your health and safety program and
resources. As well as the small book
format, it is also available as a big
book and an education
bundle. There is also an audio book being produced so those
who find it difficult to access print for whatever reason, do not
miss out on this vital message. And although, on the surface, it
appears to be for early childhood, we have many students who have
arrived in Australia older than that who need to hear this message
now and share it with their parents because while the beach can be
our greatest drawcard it can also be our greatest tragedy for those
not familiar with it. Let's do all we can to ensure our students and
their families are safe in the surf this summer. A video is available.
Barbara Braxton
Forgotten fairy tales of brave and brilliant girls ed. by Lesley Sims
Usborne, 2019. ISBN: 9781474966429. 208pp., hbk.
Ask a young child for the title of a fairy tale and you are likely
to be told Cinderella, Snow White, Sleeping Beauty, Ariel or
Rapunzel or whatever the Disney princess-du-jour is. But in fact,
there are many more fairy tales than those that were collected and
written down by the great storytellers like the Brothers Grimm,
Charles Perrault and Hans Christian Andersen. Fairy tales were told
orally for many generations before they were preserved in print,
each being shared a little differently by the teller according to
time, place and circumstance, but each having a fundamental truth at
its core.
For whatever reason, the tales that were collected and written share
common characteristics of strong men and weak women who needed to be
rescued by the male's prowess and those in which the females were
the leading protagonists were almost lost to time. The story
of their discovery and recovery is almost as fascinating as the
stories themselves, and shows the slowly changing attitudes towards
women and their place in society. Food for discussion and debate
right there!
In the meantime, this remains a collection of very readable and
beautifully illustrated fairy tales that deserve to be as well-known
as their more famous counterparts. Perhaps the next Disney heroine
will arise from this anthology. Regardless, stories about brave and
brilliant girls are always good for the soul.
Barbara Braxton
Laetitia Rodd and the Case of the Wandering Scholar by Kate Saunders
Bloomsbury, 2019. ISBN: 9781526611116.
Recommended for readers aged 15+ - Adult readers. Themes: Murder
mystery; Redemption; Religious expression Laetitia Rodd is the widow
of a former English Archdeacon and a very proper woman, living in
rather reduced circumstances since her husband's death. Her history
though has left her with compassion, lots of time and a collection
of very interesting clerical acquaintances. She is also rather good
at solving mysteries - this is the second book where her detective
and observational skills are put to use. Her brother, a renowned and
rambunctious lawyer, gets her involved in an investigation on behalf
of a dying man which leads her to the home of a clerical household -
her match-making skills had enabled their marriage ten years before.
This interruption into her normal quiet life is further complicated
when she becomes involved in investigating a murder. The suspected
murderers seem to be the least likely to have completed the crime,
but all the evidence points towards them. Mrs Laetitia Rodd,
Inspector Blackbeard (a former 'colleague' in investigation) and her
brother as legal counsel all work together to untangle the evidence
and possibly defend the suspects. The complications continue, as
happens in all good murder mysteries, and Mrs Rodd must work hard,
with all her good graces to work our where truth lies. And truth
does get uncovered, and justice is done.
This is a murder mystery, in the style of Television English
clerical murder mystery dramas or even of an Agatha Christie Miss
Marple murder mystery, where confession, faith, goodness,
subterfuge, evil and murder are mixed together in a complex web. Mrs
Rodd is a delightful character able to move through religious
circles, with Oxford scholars, in rich and wealthy homes and with
the poorer members of the community, and with wit and wisdom is able
to unravel all the plot complications of a classic and old-fashioned
murder mystery.
This is a pleasure to read. Set in a time of decorum and mannerly
behaviour, and with faith observances a part of the culture of the
day, the crimes and problems of the day are often hidden with
tactful discretion to be uncovered unobtrusively by the careful
investigations of the gracious central character.
Carolyn Hull
Genesis by Robin Cook
Macmillan 2019. ISBN: 9781529019124.
(Age: senior secondary/adult) Recommended. Robin Cook has set his
sights once again firmly in the medical world. Laurie
Montgomery-Stapleton is Chief Medical Examiner in New York and her
husband Jack is one of the medical examiners who works for her. We
enter the world of autopsies and forensic investigation.
A seemingly routine drug overdose throws up some anomalies, which
pathology resident Aria Nichols is eager to solve. Dr. Nichols is
intelligent, quick, decisive but shows no empathy or courtesy with
co-workers or the general public. Perhaps it's as well she is
working with the dead.
The body count begins to rise but the dots are not joined,
especially when the first victim is not considered to have been
murdered by anyone other than Aria. It is when she meets with the
victim's friend that using ancestral DNA becomes a possibility in
finding the killer. She has concluded with no evidence that the
killer is a married man who has been secretly having an affair with
the victim. The possibility of murder becomes firmer when the friend
is pushed into the path of a subway train.
This escalation continues when medical examiners are confronted with
the body of Aria Nichols in the morgue. Her death is in every way
similar to that of the first victim. Dots begin to be joined, but
the killer is eliminating those with any knowledge, and the final
victim could be Dr Laurie Montgomery-Stapleton.
The most interesting elements of Cook's narrative are the
descriptions of autopsies and their procedures. The characters are
fairly standard with some being stereotypical, even the brash
abrasive Aria is just a shell and Cook doesn't delve deeply into
anyone's psyche. There is a need to confirm thoughts about who
"dunnit", but the most interesting aspects are DNA ancestral
histories and the uses to which they may be used, never envisaged by
the developers.
Themes: Crime, Medical procedure, Autopsies, Mortuary procedure,
Police, DNA.
Mark Knight
Paddington's Post by Michael Bond
Illus. by R. W. Alley. HarperCollins, 2019. ISBN: 9780008357245.
48pp., hbk.
Living with the Browns in London is very different from Paddington's
original home in Darkest Peru and there is much to see and do and
absorb. Using Michael Bond's original stories, Paddington reflects
on the changes and writes letters, draws maps, and creates other
mementos, each of which is enclosed in its own envelope waiting for
the young reader to discover and read.
Since his 60th anniversary in 2018, there has been a resurgence in
love for this childhood favourite and this is another opportunity to
share the love with a new generation. Children love stories that
have letters that they can pull out and read - it adds an extra
layer of intrigue and mystique - and this will be no exception. It
might even inspire them to write to Paddington and tell him about
where they live and the things they like to do.
Barbara Braxton
Juno Valentine and the fantastic fashion adventure by Eva Chen
Illus. by Derek Desierto . Macmillan, 2019. ISBN: 9781250297303. Juno Valentine and the Fantastic Fashion Adventure is a
picture book that has been written to address some of the issues of
the day e.g. promoting "Girl power". Specifically for girls and
particularly American girls, it describes the adventures of Juno
Valentine, a small girl who finds self-expression through fashion,
with the help of some famous women.
The collage inspired illustrations express happiness and buoyancy,
promote the obligatory multicultural cast of characters and include
a focus on fashion items and textile patterns.
As Juno progresses through a time warp type of adventure, she
receives wardrobe help from women through time from Joan of Arc
through to Michelle Obama. At the end of the book there is a
glossary on these women.
This book would appeal to young girls who derive identity from
clothes. Other important values that create a solid sense of self
are not evident. The cast of women role models is particularly
American. Juno Valentine and the Fantastic Fashion Adventure is mildly
entertaining. It would be most appreciated by young American girls
who are interested in consumerism and fashion as self-expression.
Wendy Jeffrey
The Daughter's Tale by Armando Lucas Correa
Simon and Schuster, 2019. ISBN: 9781760851248. pbk., 303 pgs.
(Age: 12+) What would you do for someone you love? A Daughter's
Tale is a fictional story, based on true events of WWII, about
a mother, Amanda Sterling and her daughters and the difficult
decision she has to make to protect her children. The decisions
Amanda had to make were heartbreaking but it was a matter of
survival. We also meet some extraordinary characters along the way
that risk their own lives to help others, while others were . . . .
what can I say?
If you liked reading Nightingale by Kristin Hannah or The
Book Thief by Markus Zusak you probably enjoy this one.
I think Armando Lucas Correa has done a great job writing about a
major event in our history that was very horrific. He has managed to
tell us a story of horrible things that happened during WWII. He
tells us a story about Amanda and Julius Sterling and how their
lives changed in 1939, when the Nazis descend into Berlin. Their
family is broken apart. Correa has managed to keep the details of
their story lighter compared to other historical fiction books based
on events during WWII. The horrific parts are not too graphic. I
think this is good because it won't freak out students as they read.
And I would let them read A Daughter's Tale. Yes, you will
get emotional about some of the stuff that happened but it doesn't
go into graphic details.
The story is also based in 2015, New York. An 80-year-old Elise
Duval receives a phone call from a lady that gives her letters
written to her by her mother during WWII. This is a part of Elise's
past she has forgotten. I personally felt for her. As I was reading
I did recall some of the atrocities of what the Germans did to the
innocent people. I especially, remember hearing about what had
happened in the little French village Oradour-Sur-Glane . . . you
will have to read the book to find out more. Also the French
Resistance.
The characters were likable and you could picture them in your head.
I must say my favourite was the priest at the orphanage.
The one thing I love about historical fiction, you always learn
something you didn't know before and I did reading A Daughter's
Tale. I think this a great read to learn and remember about
what happened during an important part of our history. It's
something that no one should forget.
Also, well done to Nick Caistor on his translation of this wonderful
story into English so we all can enjoy reading The Daughter's
Tale.
Maria Komninos
The Taylor Turbochaser by David Baddiel
HarperCollins, 2019. ISBN: 9780008334178.
(Age: Mid primary - Upper primary) The Taylor Turbochaser is
an action packed story of escapism and camaraderie. This book turns
stereotypes on their heads. The central character, Amy, is a petrol
head like her father. She is also confined to a wheelchair. This
does not diminish her love of cars, speed and rally driving. She is
a natural.
When a complication hits, Amy, Jack, her 14 year old brother, Rahul,
her friend and inventor of crazy devices and Janet (all quirky
characters) head off on a crazy road-trip in the ingenious
contraption, The Taylor Turbochaser. This machine seems to develop a
personality of its own, something like Chitty, Chitty Bang Bang.
All the elements children like, e.g. escaping from parents (who are
likeable) and a police chase in a cross country dash from England to
Scotland exist in this book. It could be read as an auditory
experience because it's full of onomatopoeia and great interchanges
between the characters. Hilarious conversations pepper the action as
the children work together falling into scrapes and ingeniously
escaping.
Of-course there is cow poo and farts and all the rest of it. The Taylor Turbochaser would make a great read aloud for mid
to upper primary ages. The teacher would not have to read much
before children would be lining up to borrow it or begging to have
it read as a serial. Serious themes such as dealing with disability
underlie the fun.
This book is a romp that demystifies disability and celebrates
friendship, resourcefulness and family togetherness. Children need
fun books like this.
Wendy Jeffrey
