DK, Penguin Random House, 2019. ISBN: 9780241343494.
(Age: 9+) Highly recommended. Themes: Science, STEM, Technology,
Experiments. Robert Winston has collated an immensely practical book
that shares fantastic, child-friendly ideas for budding scientists.
With detailed plans for everything from levitating balls, suspension
bridges and even home-made guitars (plus many more), this book will
provide hours of fun for a STEM/STEAM-focused child. There are
explanations for the scientific principles at play in all of the
activities, as well as the photographic and written procedures for
each construction or experiment. Additional ideas to expand the
scientific thinking and exploration are also included for some of
the tasks. Experiments are organised under the following headings:
Forces and Motion, Liquids and Reactions, Shapes and Structures and
Light and Sound.
This is a wonderful book for a child who would enjoy putting
scientific principles into action. It is visually appealing and well
organised so that equipment could be gathered and prepared by the
child to make all of the projects. (Some tasks may require adult
supervision.) Teachers may also like the ideas in the book for
technology and science extension activities.
Carolyn Hull
The rip by Mark Brandi
Hachette, 2019. ISBN: 9780733641121.
(Age: Adult) Recommended. Themes: Crime. Thriller. Drug abuse. A
young woman, a drug addict, is living on the streets with her friend
Anton and her bull terrier Sunny. Although Anton has been in jail,
possibly for manslaughter, he actually is someone she can trust, and
the two of them manage to get by, scrounging money and always on the
lookout for the next drug hit. The drugs are her way of finding an
upside to a life that for her has always been on the downside. Anton
even has dreams of maybe getting a flat someday, a place of their
own. She knows it's only a dream, but at least she has a friend, and
the dog as her faithful companion.
Then, one day, Steve turns up, someone from Anton's past, and
instinctively she knows that he's dangerous and not to be trusted.
But it is hard to hold onto any thoughts or plans when the cravings
hit in. And both she and Anton find themselves getting deeper and
deeper into dependence, like swimming out past the rip, and not
knowing how to get back. There's a strange smell in Steve's flat,
like something chemical, something bad, and his moods can swing
violently.
The tension in the novel builds up; we as the reader know that she
is in danger, she needs to get away, but the need for the drug
release clouds her judgement, and she always procrastinates. She
creates different explanations, builds illusions, rather than face
reality and act.
Brandi's novel is a compelling thriller, drawing you into the mind
of a young person who has experienced abuse and manipulation. She is
intelligent, but she's only ever known the worst things in life. She
does encounter some kind people, but most react with fear or
aversion. Until she can find her own inner strength, she is always
going to seek the sweet release of drugs. And that puts her right in
the path of the worst manipulator of all, where she, Anton and
Sunny, will be lucky if they come out alive.
Brandi has created yet another disturbing story, a worthy successor
to his acclaimed first novel, Wimmera.
However, school libraries are forewarned about strong themes of
drugs and addiction.
Helen Eddy
We are okay by Nina LaCour
University of Queensland Press, 2019. ISBN: 9780702262562.
(Age: 15+) Recommended. Winner 2018 Michael L. Printz Award. This book is a compelling story told by
Marin who is attending college in New York. Isolation is front and
centre from the first page where we find Marin alone in the school
dormitory. Told from Marin's perspective the reader becomes aware of
events through the feelings and memories she acknowledges. Her
determination to close herself off is seemingly impenetrable. She
has convinced school administration that she had no family or
friends to visit for Christmas and so has been permitted to stay in
the school under the indirect supervision of the groundskeeper.
The reader immediately finds this information to be unreliable as
Marin begins to prepare for a three day visit by Mabel, a friend
from Marin's previous life in California. Marin's preparation is
methodical and yet heartbreaking. She spends a day decorating her
side of the dorm room so it will no longer be empty, but give the
appearance of a space belonging to someone who is happy and not the
person who has not responded to Mabel's texts and calls for the past
three months.
Marin's love for Mabel washes over her as she comes to terms with
Mabel's presence - and her boyfriend back in California. LaCour
sensitively describes their past sexual relationship and the
delicate manner in which Mabel establishes new boundaries in their
friendship.
The arrival of Mabel begins the elaboration on grief. The writing is
subtle yet packs a powerful punch as the reader is led to understand
the story of Marin, her mother, her grandfather and Mabel. In the
last chapters of the book the reader cannot help but mourn the
losses with Marin, and feel her hope as her insights shift and she
realises they will all be okay.
This is a powerful book where the themes of grief, first love,
sexuality, family relationships, friendship and solitude are
explored sensitively.
Linda Guthrie
Rodney by Kelly Canby
Fremantle Press, 2019. ISBN: 9781925815320.
(Age: 3-5) Highly recommended. Themes: Dreams, Turtles, Perception.
Rodney the turtle dreams of being high above the ground in the tree
canopy, where the monkeys say they will be able to play with him,
the giraffe tells hi that the juiciest trees are there for him to
eat, while the birds tell him of the fabulous views. Rodney is stuck
on the ground, barely able to see over the weeds underfoot.
Still the animals taunt him: the sloth tells him he can relax at the
top, the squirrels invite him to chase them, the fruit bats ask him
to hang about with them where the air is crisp.
He leaves the forest where the animals all live up high, and as he
does he seems to be getting bigger. He can see the juiciest leaves
at the top with the caterpillar, and loll about on the high branches
with the beetle, get up on high with the ladybirds and have fun with
the treehopper and look at the view with the praying mantis. He has
found the crisp air amongst the tall branches of his world.
A remarkable story of perception, Rodney dreams of living amongst
the tree tops, and the animals tell him how wonderful it will be.
But life on the ground is just as wonderful, he can play with other
beetles, lie on the top branches, climb to the top of the leaves,
commune with the ladybirds and look at the views with the praying
mantis. Perception is all as he sees that he has all he needs on the
ground.
Readers will laugh out loud as they see Rodney being satisfied with
the environment around him, communing with the insects and animals
at his level.
Wonderfully bright illustrations by Canby invite readers to look
more closely at the forest and its animals, to see the eyes and
faces peering out, and marvel at the range of animals that inhabit
this book.
I love the subtle humour behind the words used to describe the
animals: hanging out with the bats and relaxing with the sloth,
inviting discussion amongst the readers about the animals'
characteristics.
Fran Knight
The dog who saved the World by Ross Welford
HarperCollins, 2018. ISBN: 9780008256975.
(Ages: 9-12) Recommended. Themes: Time Travel, Virtual reality,
Family Life, Dogs. Set in the near future Ross Welford's The Dog
Who Saved the World takes us on a fast-paced journey into the
world of virtual reality and time travel.
Eleven-year-old Georgie lives in Whitley Bay with her dad, brother
Clem and dad's girlfriend, Jessica. Unfortunately, Jessica is
allergic to Georgie's rescue dog Mr Mash and he's returned to St
Woof's dog shelter. Georgie volunteers at the shelter and loves to
take Mr Mash on beach walks joined by Ramzy Rahman her best friend.
Their lives change forever when Georgie's over exuberant animal
knocks an old lady down, eats her swim cap and scratches her watch.
Little did they know; this encounter was a master plan devised by Dr
Emilia Pretorius who needs the assistance of Georgie and Ramzy to
test her secret project. She also demands that they don't tell their
parents - alarm bells should be ringing!
The doctor is an eccentric genius who has built a VR machine capable
of sending people into the future. Some of the trips become quite
scary; a giant scorpion attacks them and split-second
decision-making is needed. At the same time, a deadly canine disease
sweeps across the country and Georgie's pet, Mr Mash, falls ill.
Georgie and her dog are both needed to save the world.
Welford's The Dog who saved the World is fantastical,
scientific, dramatic and even humorous. He builds the tension and
drama as he sends his feisty protagonist into the future to find
answers needed for the current issues. Realistic emotions underpin
the narrative, family relationships, friendships and the special
bond between a girl and her loved pet make this an exciting novel
for readers. Shared with an Upper Primary class, there are engaging
discussion points and research links, with changing the laws of
quantum physics, scientific espionage, future travel and the impact
of deadly global diseases.
Rhyllis Bignell
Twin Spin by Adam Cece
Scholastic, 2019. ISBN: 9781742991856.
(Ages: 9-12) Recommended. Themes: Twins, Musicians, Reporting,
Deception. Twins Anna and Steph are so identical, their mother only
buys the best looking set of their school photos. While Anna is
super-organised and extremely neat, rapper Steph lives for her music
and doesn't worry about her clothes or room. Told from alternate
viewpoints we gain insight into the ultimate case of deception and
sibling rivalry! Anna's a reporter for the Kidz Beat TV show; she's
ready to meet Odd Socks the ultimate boy band and set up for their
live interview next weekend. Steph loves their music so much, she's
followed them from their early days and their first EP.
Early on Saturday morning, Steph borrows Anna's clothes, turns off
her alarms and races to the studio ready to meet Hamish, Thomas and
Duke. She leaves an apology note for Anna, who's in shock when she
realises what her twin has done. What follows is a madcap ride,
unfortunate accidents and fan dramas, with Steph's encounter with a
large microphone resulting in a black eye. Anna realises the swap
needs to continue and she's forced to take Steph's place in an
acapella rap contest, even though she isn't musical! Heightened
dramas with aging TV stars, humourous scenes and farmyard encounters
all make for a disastrous week for both Anna and Steph. When Steph
insults Evian Lockwood the band's manager, then tells Thomas he
should return to the band's earlier style of music, not pleasing
their millions of pop fans, things go from bad to worse. Anna's
stress levels rise as she's forced to perform a Freestyle rap at the
Pitch Pilgrimage concert. Both girls even begin budding romances and
come to appreciate their sibling's talents and abilities.
Adam Cece's Twin Spin is an enjoyable novel filled with a
cast of slightly crazy characters, set in the exciting world of
music and television. He realistically portrays the individuality
and style of each protagonist, as he shares their passions, talents
and points of view. Funny scenes and slapstick humour add to the
excitement of this junior novel just right for readers from nine to
twelve.
Rhyllis Bignell
Human body: A children's encyclopedia by Richard Walker et al.
DK: Penguin Random House, 2019. ISBN: 9780241323069.
Highly recommended. Themes: Human Biology; Health. Dorling
Kindersley non-fiction publications are always brilliantly
presented, and this book is no exception. With exceptional clarity,
the intricate detail of the way the human body functions is
explained in language suitable for younger readers. Utilising small
text boxes of information; amazing photographic and scientific
diagrams and illustrations; and the occasional 'Wow!' bubble of
information, the format is very visually appealing and will be
enjoyed as a reference source for young readers.
[Note: The 'Life Cycle' Chapter is sensitively presented with detail
that is appropriate for a youthful audience. With a greater emphasis
on growth and change and genetics, rather than multiple pictures of
anatomy or genitalia, this is not a book that will need to be looked
at with adult supervision and libraries with younger students can be
comfortable with the content.]
Highly recommended as a reference text for young readers interested
in Biological Science.
Carolyn Hull
Brilliant ideas from wonderful women: 15 incredible inventions from inspiring women! by Aitziber Lopez
Ill. by Luciano Lozano. Wide Eyed Editions, 2019. ISBN:
9781786037053.
(Age: 8+) Highly recommended. Themes: Women, Inventors, Inventions,
Biography, STEM. Illustrated with cartoon like figures, which
children will enjoy, this book presents 15 great inventions that
women have pioneered in the 20th century. They are: Car heaters,
Monopoly, Disposable diapers, The dishwasher, Domestic surveillance
system , Kevlar, Maritime flares, Anti-reflective glass, Wi-Fi,
Syringes, Submarine periscopes, Diagnostic tests, Lifeboats,
Windshield wipers, and Ebooks, all things that are very useful and
have become common place in the modern world.
Each woman has an insert giving her biographical details, then
details about why she invented the product and what it was used for.
It was fascinating to read about women who invented things that made
their home life much easier to manage, and which have lightened the
domestic load for women everywhere. Marion O'Brien Donovan invented
the disposable nappy using a waterproof nappy cover from the
material that parachutes are made from. She went on to invent dental
floss and other useful things. Josephine Garis Cochrane invented and
marketed a dishwasher. In the medical sphere, many lives have been
helped by the invention of the medical syringe in 1899 by Letitia
Mumford Geer, and the first diagnostic tests for different diseases
by Helen Murray Free.
The illustrations are very humorous and complement the text, giving
the reader a very good idea of why the invention was so useful. The
humour of the drawings will ensure that not only will readers enjoy
the fun, they will remember the circumstances that inspired the
invention. The large illustration for the windscreen wiper, 1903,
invented by Mary Anderson, shows the frustration of the tram driver,
who had to stop the tram and get out and wipe the windscreen,
whenever it rained or snowed.
This will be a useful book to have in the classroom or library when
children are looking at inventions and inventors, and will inspire
many to think about how these women overcame many obstacles to make
the world a better place.
Pat Pledger
Fantastically great women who worked wonders by Kate Pankhurst
Bloomsbury Children's Books, 2019. ISBN: 9781408899274. Paperback,
32 pages.
(Age: 7-14) Highly recommended. Themes: Women, Biography, Inventors,
Explorers, Mathematicians,. Kate Pankhurst, descendent of Emmeline
Pankhurst, is back with another wonderful book about women that is a
must for libraries and classrooms and will be eagerly sort after by
the fans of her previous books, Fantastically great women who
changed the world, Fantastically
great women who changed the world activity book and
Fantastically great women who made Historyby Kate
Pankhurst.
The list of women includes Junko Tabei, Sophie Blanchard, Maria
Merian, Elizabeth Magie, the London Matchgirls, Rosa May
Billinghurst, Katherine Johnson, Annette Kellerman, Katia Krafft,
Rosalind Franklin, James Barry, Madam C.J. Walker, and Lotte
Reiniger. These women's lives and achievements, which span many
centuries and many careers, will fascinate readers who may not have
heard of them before. This introduction will also give children
inspiration about the types of careers and pathways that they too
could have if they are prepared to be bold and follow their talents.
Illustrated with appealing quirky figures, each woman has a double
page which gives her main achievements, and then inserts expand the
information. The layout is one that will be particularly appealing
to young readers who like little bites of facts. Two women who stood
out were Maria Merian and Annette Kellerman. Maria travelled to
South America in 1699 in a quest to study exotic insects and her
drawings and work helped to transform people's knowledge about the
natural world. Annette Kellerman was an Australian pioneer,
demonstrating that women could lead more active healthy lives. Her
exploits as a swimmer encouraged to women to swim rather than bathe,
and changed the nature of bathing costumes so that women could move
in the water, rather than be dragged down by heavy bloomers.
This book would be very useful when looking at people who have
changed the world and the way it is seen. What fun to tell children
that Lotte Reiniger invented the multi-plane camera, a breakthrough
for animation, each time they watch a Disney animated film.
Pat Pledger
When the war is over by Jackie French
Ill. by Anne Spudvilas. Angus and Robertson, 2019. ISBN:
9781460753026.
(Age: All) Highly recommended. Themes: War, Australia at war, Peace,
Freedom, Education for girls. A powerful hymn to the end of all war
is sung in these multi layered verses by French, illustrated with
measured assurance by Spudvilas. From the first stanza, 'When the
war is over . . . You'll come back to me, to the last, Now the war
is over . . . You've come back to me,' the book presents an overview
of each of the wars Australia has been involved in, a four lined
poem responding to each war and its fighters, the illustrations
reflecting the immense toll taken on the returning soldiers and
their families.
Each has a reunion, a coming together of the soldier and his family,
a change for each person, a new beginning for most, perhaps a burial
for some. Turning the pages reveals a new war, a new ending, a
different reunion.
Between the first and last pages, readers will be emotionally
involved in the telling and the images, reflecting on the immense
cost that these wars bring to the population, thinking about our
nation being asked to send troops to places outside our area of
influence.
I found it hard to read without a tear, memories of relatives and
friends' actions in these wars reminding me of the futility of their
sacrifice.
But French tells us their sacrifice is justified if just one girl
can go to school with impunity, if one small space in the world is
free, even though that freedom may be like tissue paper, drifting on
the wind.
Readers will gain an understanding that war is ever present, that
Australia has been involved in many wars, and want to research the
ones they have not heard about. They will discuss the absence of war
and what can be achieved by places being at peace. This book reveals
a range of issues which could be debated in the classroom, but above
all it is about the ending of war.
Spudvilas' illustrations are simply superb, detailing instances in
families' lives when war is at an end, showing what this ending
means, a reunion and a new beginning. Her paintings are to be looked
over with a fine toothed comb, the details absorbed, the setting for
each so well defined. Readers will spend a long time looking into
the images created by Spudvials, perfectly complimenting the text on
every page.
Fran Knight
Imprison the sky by A. C. Gaughen
Elementae series, book 2. Bloomsbury, 2019. ISBN:
9781547602544.
(Ages: 12+) Highly recommended. Themes: Fantasy, Air, Magic,
Slavery, Science - Experiments. Aspasia was captured by the
Trifectate as a young child from her family. She was sold as a slave
to a ruler called Cyrus and made to do slave trading. Secretly she
is an Elementae with air powers. As time goes by, she puts together
a crew of Elementae on one of Cyrus's ships, the Anorca, to free as
many women, children and Elementae they can get their hands on so
they don't have to suffer slavery. Cyrus is close to discovering
Aspasia's secrets that could kill her. She searches the vast ocean
trying to find her brother, Gryphon, and her sister, Pera, before
Cyrus finds them and sells them off to slave masters, whom would
kill them. Aspasia travels to a slave sale in the Trifectate and
buys three new recruits who all hold an Elementae power. She
purchases two girls and one boy who has an extraordinary power that
she has never seen or heard of before. Aspasia's crew and new
recruits suddenly find themselves right in the center of a boiling
war that will cover every last millimetre of the ocean. Will she get
her freedom or will she die in the hands of Cyrus?
This heart stopper and page turner of a story will make you want to
read more. Each time I put the book down, my heart was racing and I
was breathless as if I just ran a race. The way the story was set
out and the way the characters acted and behaved made me feel as if
they were real people who lived in this world. At one point I was
going to ask my parents if we could fly to the Wyvern Islands and
visit Aspasia and her crew of Element. Personally, I was so on the
very edge of my couch that I actually fell off. This story is about
freedom and power and how saving people can bring good and bad. This
magical tale of Aspasia and her crew was absolutely a show stopper.
I would recommend this book for 12+ and I think I would give it out
of 5 stars probably 4.5 personally.
Ruby O. (Student, year 7)
Underdog edited by Tobias Madden
Black Inc, 2019. ISBN 9781760641344.
(Age: 14+) Highly recommended. Short stories. Underdog is a
collection of short stories by new Australian writers, covering a
range of themes that will resonate with teenage readers. The first
in the collection, 'Meet and greet', is the poignant story of
Cooper, a young man attending the book-signing event of an author
who has most perfectly captured the heart-break of the forced
break-up of his first gay relationship, an exact mirroring of
Cooper's own experience. But in the book-signing queue he meets
someone he has always admired on social media - ABoyMadeOfBooks...
and just maybe it is the start of a new friendship.
There are other stories about the tentative exploration of sexual
identity, and the struggle to balance wishes and dreams with others'
expectations, but themes also include the chaos of our dystopian
future as the planet is destroyed by human induced climatic events.
There is even something for the ghost or horror story reader.
For a reflection of Australia's rich multicultural world, read 'The
Chinese Menu for the Afterlife' a story that shares with us the
memories a boy from Wagga has of his 'Ong', and the importance of
traditional Chinese dishes in commemorating his life. Another story
'Afterdeath' tells the tragic consequences of the young love between
Romy and Muslim girl Hulya.
I think all young readers would find something of interest in this
collection that has grown from the grassroots campaign #LoveOzYA
celebrating Australian YA authors. There is such a variety of
stories, sure to inspire yet another generation of writers. And on
top of that, there is an excellent foreword by Fleur Ferris on how
to get yourself published.
Helen Eddy
Watch us rise by Renee Watson and Ellen Hagan
Bloomsbury, 2019. ISBN 9781547600083.
(Age: 12+) Highly recommended. In this novel, Renee Watson and debut
novelist Ellen Hagan give voice to Jasmine and Chelsea, two teenage
best friends who are frustrated with the sexism and racism that
comes their way unnoticed. Creating a blog called 'Write Like A
Girl' as part of a Women's Rights Club they establish within their
school, they post poems and essays about feminism. While the blog
goes viral, and the girls are flooded with positive responses to
their creative content, some trolls emerge and things escalate
within the school, leading to the principal shutting the club down.
Refusing to be silenced, Jasmine and Chelsea risk everything to keep
their voices, and the voices of other young women, heard.
This is an empowering story about undying friendship, loving
yourself and others for who they are and the importance of fighting
for what you believe in no matter the challenges you face. With
poems, essays and journals scattered throughout, this is a powerful
read with the ability to inspire young 'art-ivists' to use their
artistic talent to speak out about the social issues they feel
strongly about. An important novel with a lot to say, particularly
in today's political climate, Watch us rise will have a
lasting impact beyond the reader turning the last page.
Daniella Chiarolli
The flying light by Yuanhao Yang
Starfish Bay, 2018. ISBN 9781760360535.
(Age: 4+) Recommended. Themes: Imagination. Insects. Cities. The
words, 'one dull morning' invite the reader to look closely at the
accompanying illustration, a bird's's eye view of a city square,
where a strange lizard appears resting on the cobblestones, a man to
the side, watching. The soft watercolour illustrations detail a town
and each page adds more detail to this almost medieval city and the
land which surrounds it.
In climbing aboard the lizard the pair casts off, flying after a
luminous insect they have spotted. They spend time searching for
this insect, and when they find it, realise that it is one amongst
many searching for flowers which replenish their light. The man
takes a flower and plants it in his town, attracting the light
filled insects to the place, changing it from a dull environment to
one full of light.
The wordless picture book and accompanying intriguing illustrations
invite readers to use their imaginations, to ponder over the deeper
meanings, to see a moral to the story which they can understand.
Within their view of the world this story can apply to understanding
a concept, making friends, understanding environmental concerns,
looking at the needs of animals, the list is endless, and I'm sure
teachers and parents will be amazed at the discussions which ensue
after reading this book. For me the inter-reliance of man, animal
and environment stands out, one so dependent on the other, making me
think of bees and their interdependence on our use of herbicides
which is destroying their ability to harvest the flowers and so
pollinate which is necessary for our food source.
Fran Knight
George and the great bum stampede by Cal Wilson
Ill. by Sarah Davis. Scholastic, 2019. ISBN 9781742762753.
The Peppertons really are the most surprising family ever. We know
this is a comic novel dedicated to nonsense as soon as we meet
George's peculiar family. The key driver is George's mother,
Professor Pippa Pepperton. Dad barely makes an appearance likely
because Philpott is not an inventor. Their children's names are
equally nonsensical. First we have Pumpernickel Pepperton, a
high-schooler; then Poco and the twins, Paprika and Pilates. George
is the last born but he isn't the smallest because Poco had been
shrunk to the size of a lemon with Professor Pippa's Shrink Ray
invention.
Life is never boring living with an inventor but the trouble begins
when the pretentious Finley family move in next door. Princely
Farnsley Finley is in George's class at school and immediately
starts buying friends. This bugs Poco more so and he coerces George
into taking their mother's new Replicator Gun, to school. Of course
it is a hit, but the villain engineers a few mishaps whilst stealing
the gun, including the replication of Maddison Addison's pinching
fingers and Mr Rickets droopy big bottoms - not once but 500 times!
Chaos results from the march of a thousand disembodied body parts -
especially the stench of fartles(sic) emanating from all the bums.
This comic novel is utter verbal nonsense complemented by attention
grabbing title pages, cartoons, bold headings, various fonts, and
lists of rules, inventions and definitions - all illustrated by
Sarah Davis who lures us fully into the surreal realm created by Cal
Wilson, with an irresistible cover. Good for a giggle or two. Watch
the trailer.
Deb Robbins
