Wolf girl book 1. Allen and Unwin, 2019. ISBN: 9781760525095
(Age: 8-13) Recommended. Themes: Adventure, Survival, Dogs, Drama.
In a book (and series) that is very different to Anh Do's humorous
stories, this is an adventure tale set in a dangerous situation that
is both full of action and intensely serious. In the opening scenes
the main character, Gwen, and her family attempt to escape from
impending disaster. Gwen ends up isolated and alone in the wild and
eventually is surrounded by a collection of animals - mostly canines
of various varieties. The pack work together developing survival
skills and exercising their own talents to enable them all to
survive. What starts out as an impossible and motley combination
proves to be a cohesive unit as they are forced to work together.
Set in an unspecified conflict or dystopian context, the requirement
for personal survival skills is of paramount importance. The
inclusion of a wolf into the troop suggests that this is not an
Australian context. The book ends with a cliff-hanger . . . the need
for Wolf girl book 2 to follow quickly will be important.
Anh Do has created an exciting book with intrigue and drama that
young readers will be happy to discover (once they have accepted
that it is not laced with humour). There is a lightness to the story
that still makes this very suitable for the young reader looking for
an exciting story.
Carolyn Hull
Now what? a Math tale by Tobie H Harris
Illus. by Chris Chatterton. Candlewick Press, 2019. ISBN:
9780763678289.
(Age: 4+) Recommended. Themes: Maths, STEM, Problem solving. Puppy
is full of energy but also likes to snooze. He has a pile of
differently shaped blocks and for his snooze, looks at one which is
a rectangle with one long side. Is this the one he needs for a bed,
he ponders. Problem solving skills will be at the fore of every
reader's mind as they turn each page. The enticing little dog picks
up the blocks, wondering how to put them together and how to
use each to its best potential. Each block is described, some
rectangles, some squares and some triangles, while each individual
block is described with its angles and sides mentioned, teaching a
young reader about the difference between the shapes he or she sees.
Wanting a bed, the puppy tries out each of the shapes and decides
why the ones he has tried are not the shape of size he needs. He
eventually begins to combine the shapes into a larger shape that
will prove to be useful. By this time, readers will be calling out
which shapes to use, seeing the configuration that is needed to make
a bed.
Lots of fun will be had reading this book, playing with shapes on
the floor to replicate what the puppy is doing on the pages, and
having all the readers try out the sequence for themselves.
The bold illustrations have the wooden shapes as the main focus,
unhindered by background colour or distraction, making the clear
focus of the book the shapes the puppy is playing with. The playful
dog helps the readers work out exactly what the dog is doing and so
enable the readers to join in and try for themselves.
Fran Knight
Promise me happy by Robert Newton
Penguin Random House, 2019. ISBN: 9780143796442.
(Age: Adolescent - Adult) Recommended. Plunging us immediately into
the world of Nate, recently released from juvenile detention, Robert
Newton begins his novel with the poignant words spoken by this
troubled young man who wonders 'if it is possible for people to
change'. He decides to return to his old home in a country town,
surrounded by peaceful lakes and friendly people, and is
unexpectedly offered work.
We are captivated by this charming and peaceful little world,
nestled in the trees and sitting by lakes and the sea. Yet Robert
Newton writes of Nate's difficulty in settling back in this society
after spending time in 'juvie', given that Nate has also lost both
of his parents. When he finds that his willingness to get involved,
to work, to make new friends, and to settle down in this little
town, enables him to be accepted, and indeed to be supported, and he
is stunned. Newton evokes a powerful emotional response in the
reader as we sense the loving care and friendship offered by this
community to Nate. He meets a young woman but is shocked to discover
that she has to face a great challenge, harder than he can imagine.
They become strong friends, finding in each other both kindness and
love that offers great strength for both of them.
Robert Newton has constructed a strong narrative that is utterly
captivating, yet gentle and life-affirming. His narrative glows with
a vivid sense of place as do his lyrical descriptions of the little
town, its buildings, people and the extraordinary beauty of the
water that surrounds them, capturing and holding our imagination.
Quirky, but intensely moving, are the moments when he sees the dog
appearing to wink at him, this dog that acts as an agent of change.
He feels as if the dog is aware that he needs help and is simply
determined to be part of his life. The loving care that Nate is
offered, by humans and dog alike, and the gentle acceptance of his
presence, are monumental in someone so damaged by life.
This rich, vivid and compelling novel would be entirely suitable for
adolescent readers and indeed is a thought-provoking read for
adults. Teacher's
notes are available.
Elizabeth Bondar
Saved!!! by Lydia Williams
Illus. by Lucinda Gifford. Allen and Unwin, 2019. ISBN:
9781760524708.
(Age: 4+) Highly recommended. Themes: Sport, Outback, Australian
animals, Aboriginal themes, Persistence, Determination, Self belief.
Multi awarded goal keeper for the Australian Women's Soccer Team,
Lydia Williams encourages young Australians to be involved in sport.
She borrows on her childhood where she and her family moved about
with their tent, camping in the outback, beautifully rendered here
with all its sparse red glory. Against this very recognisable
backdrop Lydia imagines the animals are her friends, and in Saved!!!,
uses them as a platform for playing different sports until she finds
one that she both likes and is successful at.
Younger children will recognise the repetitive phrases when Lydia
plays a sport, reading 'This isn't the sport for me' followed by the
reason that she has been beaten. But not to be outdone, she keeps on
trying.
First she plays high jump with a kangaroo, but the roo can jump much
higher than she, next she tries running, but the emu she choses to
race speeds past her, then she teams herself against a koala in
catching a football, but the koala climbs up her back and catches it
before she can.
Just when Lydia goes into her tent doing up the zip, she hears the
kangaroo ask about trying soccer. Intrigued Lydia looks at the round
ball, and the animals divide into two teams. Readers will love
seeing the animals all playing soccer displaying their unique
skills, while during the game, Lydia finds her best skill is between
the goal post as a goal keeper.
A wonderfully positive book for Indigenous and non Indigenous kids
alike, Lydia's commitment to finding a sport is empowering for all
those who find some sports out of their reach, while endeavouring to
find one that suits them shows courage and determination.
Accompanied by humorous pencil and watercolour illustrations,
readers will enjoy watching the various animals play the sport at
which they excel, while eager eyes will note the variety of animals
and flora portrayed and become aware of some of the animals'
attributes.
Fran Knight
Heads and tails underwater by John Canty
Berbay Publishing, 2019. ISBN: 9780648397359.
(Age: 3+) Recommended. Themes: Sea, Sea animals, Heads and tails
(game), Humour. Every double page shows an illustration of the head
and tail of two underwater creatures. Sometimes a description is
given, with some clues about what it might be, and readers will have
a go at guessing the name of the animal before turning the page to
find out what it is. They will be able to derive information from
the sparse text while delving into the world of searching for clues
for themselves and find there is lots to discover, talk about and
take in. This book is a great start for kids setting out on the
research journey, learning to look for clues in text and
illustration, and learning to discuss things with others to share
and disseminate knowledge.
The wonderful illustrations sourced from a nineteenth century text,
will amuse and delight as the readers turn the pages. Pen and ink
and water colour have been used to great affect. The animals are
inventively illustrated; some needing only a swathe of colour to
give the image as with the jellyfish, while others needing more
detailed pen work as with the crab. All of the animals drawn are
lovely to look at, easy to identify and offer traits about the
animals which younger readers can observe and absorb. And they like
me will enjoy the excitement of seeing what is over the page from
the front cove to the back cover. Wonderfully designed with an
intriguing font and eye catching use of white space on each page, it
is sure to be a hit with younger readers, especially with the
appearance of the shark at the end, pointing in quite a different
direction.
Fran Knight
Kat Wolfe takes the case by Lauren St John
Illus. by Daniel Deamo. Macmillan, 2019, ISBN: 9781509874217.
(Age: 10-14) Highly recommended. Themes: Mysteries, Detectives,
Palaeontology, Pets, Conservation. When a landslide on the cliffs
above Bluebell Bay reveals a rare fossilized 'dragon' dinosaur and
uncovers a human skeleton, it is time for detectives Kat Wolfe and
her best friend Harper Lamb to investigate. Who was responsible for
the death of an amateur fossil-collector?
The town soon becomes overrun with reporters, scientists, fossil
hunters and attracts famous actors. Harper's palaeontologist father
immediately begins to lead the team in the preservation of the
dinosaur, whilst others are out to steal the skeleton for its
special medicinal qualities.
Kat's pet sitting service Paws and Claws provides opportunities for
her to listen, observe and gather information as she walks dogs and
cares for Mr B the python. Horses, dogs, her pet Tiny an F1 Savannah
cat, a stolen lynx and the python play important roles in the
discovery of an evil plot hatched by a dangerous group of people. A
weekend spent with Kate's grandfather, the British Minister of
Defence at his stately home also provides insight into the Bluebell
Bay mysteries. Kat's high-level computing skills (hacking) proves
crucial as well. Added to the danger of the investigation, the
animal catcher is determined to catch Tiny who loves to disappear at
night.
Author Lauren St John excels with this multi-layered, tense plot,
filled with fascinating characters and an array of pets. She
promotes a vegan lifestyle, explores the dynamics of family
relationships and delves into the illegal trade in exotic animal
products and the extinction of wild animal species. Her descriptive
narrative and detailed settings, her ability to lay the groundwork
and draw the threads together into a thrilling conclusion, make this
an engaging novel. Daniel Deamo's sketches, includes ninjas fighting
on a rooftop and a python curled in a driver's seat, combine with
the catchy chapter headings focus the reader's attention and build
the drama.
'Kat Wolfe takes the case' an excellent novel for readers from 10 to
14 years, opening conversations about conservation and environmental
issues.
Rhyllis Bignell
Rebellion at Eureka by Alan Tucker
Scholastic, 2019. ISBN: 9781742994314. paperback, 281pgs.
(Age: middle primary) Oh where, oh where was this novel when I was
teaching about the Goldfields to my class? Would have been awesome
to read it as a class novel. My class would have loved reading a
true-life adventure about the Goldrush. I think Rebellion at Eureka
would be a great addition to any school collection for students
studying the Goldrush. I will be buying copies for my school.
I found the story of 13-year-old Alf and his mum moving from
Melbourne to Ballarat goldfields an engaging story about life on the
goldfields leading up to an Australian historical event, the Eureka
Stockade and what happened during the event. The story is about Alf
and what he sees during his time on the goldfields. He finds himself
and gains his independence from mum while experiencing the events
during the stockade. I liked how Tucker showed how people who lived
on the goldfields helped and supported each other. Rebellion at Eureka was beautifully written and very easy to
follow which is a bonus as a class novel and would easily engage
students to imagine living during the Goldrush and experience the
hardships and treatment of the miners and families back in 1854. I
can't believe the corruption back then. You learn so much about the
Troopers.
The novel also includes references to historical figures like James
Scobie and Peter Lalor and the parts they played in real life at
Ballarat. At the back of the book you will find historical notes
which I found interesting.
Oh yeah, Joe the dog was quite a character too. Maria Komninos
The Bad Guys Episode 9: The big bad wolf by Aaron Blabey
Bad Guys. Scholastic, 2019. ISBN: 9781742993737.
(Age: 6+) Highly recommended. Themes: Humour, Adventure,
Superheroes. Another wacky, hilarious episode of the bad guys is
sure to be a favourite with all the fans of this series. This time
Mr Wolf has been blown up into an enormous size, and he is
determined to go about destroying things. The rest of the Bad Guys
find themselves with problems to solve. How will they get Mr Wolf
back to his normal size and temperament and how will they stop the
alien invasion? Together with the International League of Heroes,
they all have to do some quick thinking and act in dangerous ways in
order to save the world, using their new superpowers.
Fans will have no problem jumping right into the funny story, while
people new to the series will still be able to follow the story and
characters, but will certainly want to go back and read the previous
episodes. There are some over the top incidents that will have
readers laughing out loud. I loved how Mr Snake got into Mr Wolf's
ear and using his superpower, tries to whisper him back to his
normal self. Of course, this proves exceptionally difficult, and it
is only when he reverts to his normal bossy self and tells Mr Wolf
off, that things begin to change.
A boon for reluctant readers and children who have difficulty
reading longer books, The big bad wolf is another winner for
Blabey.
Pat Pledger
The Red Scrolls of Magic by Cassandra Clare and Wesley Chu
The Eldest Curses book 1. Simon and Schuster, 2019. ISBN:
9781471162145. paperback, 350pgs.
(Age: 14+) This was my first taste of Cassandra Clare's fantasy
world of the Shadowhunters. I tend to see a copy in the hands of my
students frequently so really wanted to try this book.
The Shadowhunter Chronicles is a young-adult fantasy
franchise by American author Cassandra Clare. The series is so
popular with young adults that there are now companion books,
graphic novels, manga, film, and TV series adaptations. Each of the
books, as my students say, follow the supernatural conflict between
the Shadowhunters, a group of powerful human-angel hybrids, and
Downworlders, a society of mythological beings, and their battle
against demons. The Red Sea Scrolls of Magic is the first of a new series
after the Mortal War. It is co-written with Wesley Chu. This story
follows the High Warlock Magnus Bane and his new boyfriend Alec
Lightwood who is a Shadowhunter.
I found the book very easy to read and follow and wanted to know
more about the characters. The Red Sea Scrolls was a love
story between two people who should not be together due to who they
were. Magnus and Alec decide to take a relaxing romantic vacation
together through Europe. Vacation, I think not. Magnus' past catches
up and he is accused of putting a cult together called the Crimson
Hand. Magnus and Alec are on the hunt to find the real leader of
this cult and along the way they encounter vampires, werewolves,
demons and many other people and creatures.
It is action packed, full of love and great twists and turns, while
the reader also learns more about the past of both characters which
was very interesting. I actually did enjoy reading this LGBT,
fantasy love story book and can see why young adults love the
series.
The ending did leave me thinking, 'Will Magnus tell Alec the massive
secret of who his father really is'? Will have to read the next book
in the series to find out.
Maria Komninos
The ghosts of Mars by Ian Napier
Pegagus Publishers, 2019. ISBN: 9781784654528.
(Age: 13+) Recommended. Themes: STEM, Space travel, Mars, Science
fiction. When David arrives in San Francisco after his father moves
from Australia to take up a post at Silicon Valley, he links up with
a friend he met while at a NASA camp during the previous summer
break, Sierra. She and David are space fanatics, so for David to
come from Australia to the camp was impressive. That they hooked up
made their time at the camp even better. But now in San Francisco,
their interest is rewarded, when the heads of department at NASA
come to call.
It seems a door has been found on Mars, an actual door, and it must
be investigated. But NASA is ten years away from suspended animation
for long distance space travel, and an imperative has been added to
the mission to Mars; a meteor is headed its way. The only successful
suspended animation trials have been conducted on children, so David
and Sierra are asked to volunteer.
The premise on which this science fiction tale is based is luminous
- it is so believable, made more so by the writing which oozes with
an infusion of background knowledge. Napier's career in space makes
his setting more than credible: the words, descriptions and
scientific language are easily digested, the position the two are in
seems like something that could happen, the voyage they take seems
almost possible. Readers will love moving about in this engrossing
science fiction story aimed at teens.
The city the teens find on Mars rivals many of the CGI inspired
cities of recent films and the written word brings them to life.
With nods to 2001, a space odyssey, The terminator
and Star trek amongst others along with a splash of The
chariots of the gods (Erich von Daniken) thrown in to stir the
pot, this is a rich read of science fiction and I hope a second
outing for David and Sierra is in the air.
Fran Knight
Alfred Deakin by Belinda Beattie
Little Steps, 2019. ISBN: 9781925545777.
(Age: Primary - Middle school) Alfred Deakin by Belinda Beattie is
an interesting picture book showcasing the contributions made by our
second Prime Minister. The book is fact based, and delves into many
parts of his life, not just politics, but his physical features,
likes and dislikes and family situation. I thought this book was
extremely informative, giving me a broad understanding of who Alfred
Deakin was and where his ideals came from. I liked that they did not
paint a rosy portrait of him and told of his racist views towards
the Indigenous Australians. Belinda Beattie did this in such a way
that it was just another part of the story and it did not 'taint'
the ending.
The illustrations by Maxwell Tilse are lovely, with many of the
characters showing the feelings of the times through facial
expressions and colour. I felt that the pictures really added depth
and further understandings to the text.
One of my favourite parts of the story were the little tid-bits of
information like the total number of days he was in office (1174),
the meaning behind the name of his house 'Llanarth' and his love of
books and speech-making!
I think that this book would be a good addition to any library for
the use of primary to middle school students learning about past
Australian leaders. It is factual, thought-provoking whilst being
easy for a multitude of students to read.
Lauren Fountain
Goodnight, little tough guy by Michael Wagner
Illus. by Tom Jellett. ABC Books, 2019. ISBN: 9780733339356.
(Age: 2-5) Highly recommended. Themes: Bedtime, Sleep. The
bestselling creators of Why I
love summer and Why I love footy team up again to
bring us a wonderful bedtime story that will appeal enormously to
all the very active young children who need to settle down and go to
sleep after a very busy day. This is a delightful read aloud that
adults will enjoy reading to their children, and kids will love the
alliteration that forms an engaging part of the narrative:
'The lounging lion tames are lazily lapsing into the land of Nod,'
and 'The cowboys and cowgirls are completely cactus'.
The book shows a multitude of activities that the tough guys of both
genders may have engaged in during the day, starting off with the
'astronauts who are already asleep', resting wrestlers, firefighters
'fitting in forty fabulous winks', soldiers and pooped pirates.
Each activity is illustrated with humourous pictures of the little
tough guys as they gradually go to sleep, all done in glorious
bright colours. Jellett's many details will bring smiles to
everyone's faces as they read about the different characters, both
boys and girls, who are exhausted after busy day. It was fun to see
the little tough girl who was a 'beefy builder' and a soldier and
the loving relationships in the household pervaded all the drawings.
Bedtime routines like having a bath, cleaning teeth and reading a
bedtime story were all shown in the illustrations, and children will
delight in the many ways that imaginative play is portrayed.
This is a delightful book that will promote healthy sleep to even
the most active child. It is a keeper, one that is sure to become a
big favourite.
Pat Pledger
Catwoman: Soulstealer by Sarah J. Maas
Penguin Books, 2018. ISBN: 9780141386898.
(Ages 16+) Recommended. An action-packed and engaging novel based on
the DC comics super heroine of Catwoman. One of the four books in
the DC icons series in which popular Young Adult authors write
origin stories focusing on the teenage years of DC comics heroes.
Caring for her terminally ill sister, Selina Kyle will stop at
nothing to keep her safe. Battling dangerous enemies in the boxing
ring night after night to pay for her medical bills is just the
beginning. When she is finally cornered by the police, with nowhere
to go and the threat of her sister being thrown into a dingy foster
home that wouldn't care for her medical needs, Selina is offered a
deal she can't refuse. Her sister safe in a suitable, upper-class
foster home, Selina is brutally trained as an assassin. Two years
later, she returns to Gotham City as Holly Vanderhees, a wealthy and
mysterious socialite, by day and Catwoman by night. Joining forces
with Poison Ivy and Harley Quinn, the group wreak havoc across the
city and spark the attention of Batwing, who is proving himself as
the protector of Gotham while Batman is away on a vital mission.
While her expertise helps her thrive as Catwoman, as Holly, Selina
finds herself clueless when it comes to her wealthy, handsome
neighbour, Luke Fox, who she discovers may just have some hidden
depths to himself as well; for in Gotham, no one is really as they
seem. However, Selina's desperate game of cat and mouse is only
exacerbated when a dangerous threat from her past looms in the
background; threatening her ability to pull off her most important
heist yet. While the novel is action-packed, and has vibrant and
complex characters, the descriptive language of Maas can be
difficult to follow. Knowledge of the DC Universe is useful and
presumed by the author, with little explained throughout the book.
Exciting and representative of important issues such as LGBTIQ+
relationships and mental health, Maas launches the reader into the
dangerous and fascinating world of Gotham City and brings them along
a journey they won't easily forget.
Daniella Chiarolli
Dread Nation by Justina Ireland
Dread Nation book 1. Titan Books, 2019. ISBN: 9781789092219.
(Age: 14+) Highly recommended. Themes: Horror, Zombies, Alternative
history, Racism. What a roller coaster of a ride - thrilling action
and a complex story that looks at racism and slavery makes this an
engrossing historical adventure about an alternative America. Jane
McKeene is just about to graduate from Miss Preston's School of
Combat in Baltimore, a place where Negro girls are trained to fight
the undead. When families begin to go missing from the area, she and
her colleague, Katherine, are caught up in a deadly conspiracy that
sees her in a deadly struggle not only against the zombies but
against a group of Survivalists who view her and her companions as
fodder for the undead.
I picked this up as it kept appearing on literary awards for young
adult books in the fantasy and science fiction genres (Hugo Award
Nominee (2019), Nebula Award Nominee (Andre Norton Award) (2018),
Locus Award nominee (2019), and Goodreads Choice Award Nominee
(2018)), and I was not disappointed. Ireland's very skilful
narration brings the characters to life while maintaining a very
fast pace. Jane is a feisty and intelligent girl who has outstanding
leadership skills which she uses often while fighting the Shamblers.
But she also has some flaws - she is impetuous and often says things
that get her into trouble. Katherine is her opposite, determined to
remain ladylike in all situations. When trouble strikes them both,
they manage to put aside their differences to fight the evil around
them.
Fans of the zombie genre will want to read this, while fans of
historical fiction will become engrossed in a story that has its
combat school system based on the real Native American boarding
schools, as the author's note explains. And readers who like a good
action story, well written with likeable characters, and which also
explores slavery and racism, will find this difficult to put down
and will be impatient for the sequel that is to come. The complexity
of its themes could also make it a literature circle text, promoting
lively discussion.
Pat Pledger
The boy in the big blue glasses by Susanne Gervay
Illus. by Marjorie Crosby-Fairall. EK Books, 2019. ISBN:
9781925335996.
(Age: 5+) Recommended. Themes: Sight, Glasses, Difference. EK Books
has a tagline 'Books with heart' on issues that matter, and
thankfully Susanne Gervay is one of their authors. Gervay is able to
write about issues that matter with an understated ease allowing
students to read the story as any other story not one that sets out
to make a point. So it is with The Boy in the big blue glasses.
Encouraging children to wear their glasses when a problem with their
sight has been diagnosed can be awkward, and for Sammy, he is loathe
to make himself different from the rest of his class.
Adults do the 'right thing' in trying to be supportive, but they
miss the point altogether. His parents and Gran all talk of the
handsome boy in his glasses, making him a little tense. His aunt and
teacher follow the same line, asking about the handsome boy, the
superhero. But Sammy does not want to be a superhero, he does not
want to be different. His best friend, George is the only one who
points out his new glasses, and Sammy feels that no-one else can see
past the glasses to see him, the same boy, not different at all. He
leaves his glasses behind when the goes to the doctor, he loses them
in the house, Mum finding them under his bed, he takes them off at
school when the others tease him when his friend George is away. But
in doing this everything becomes blurry, and he makes faces at the
funny things he sees and he begins to laugh. The rest of the class
laugh with him, his teacher as well, telling him how funny he is.
When George returns they play the same game, the cardboard box being
the pirate ship, only this time the whole class joins in, seeing him
not as a boy with glasses, but as himself.
A satisfying story about difference, readers will offer all sorts of
tales about difference and the way people are seen by others. The
book lends itself to discussion within the classroom, without being
overly didactic.
Fran Knight
