Hachette, 2019. ISBN: 9780733640841.
(Age: 15+) Recommended. Themes: Dystopia, Science fiction, End of
the world, Refugees, Biological warfare, Dispossession, Stolen
Generations. With excerpts from Wilfred Owen's poems as epigraph for
the first chapter, and descriptions of soldiers struggling amid mud,
barbed wire and corpses, the reader would be forgiven in initially
thinking this novel is set in the trenches of World War 1, however,
reading on, we discover that the action is taking place 'far from
Country, trapped on a planet light years from Earth', and the
soldier we have been reading about, Corporal Shane Daniels, is
actually a woman (an Aboriginal woman), fighting a battle to protect
the Earth and other planets of the Federation against attacks from
the alien Conglomeration forces. The fearless and dashing fighter
pilot, Romeo, with a reputation of being caught out in other
people's beds, is also a woman - a clever reversal of stereotypes by
the author Claire G. Coleman. Shane Daniels and Romeo are caught in
a battle fought around space stations overrun with refugees, human
and non-human, from planets in the Federation.
Other characters are on-the-run escapee, Jimmy; a strange
malnourished waif, Itta; Walker, struggling alone in a desert
somewhere; and Williams, a surgeon imprisoned in a laboratory cell.
How their lives are connected is not revealed until the end. The
common thread is the turmoil that has overtaken the Universe, the
violence and suffering as beings are pitted against each other, the
stampede of people fleeing danger, spaceships pitted in battle with
space stations, and no safe haven anywhere. As we read on we
gradually become aware of parallels with the current situation of
refugees fleeing danger around the world, the use of biological
warfare, past atomic testing on Aboriginal lands, Aboriginal
soldiers denied recognition and rights on return from war, and
children stolen from their parents. Coleman has found a highly
original way to present themes from Australian history in a science
fiction format that will engage readers who like that kind of
exciting action drama.
Helen Eddy
Jinxed! The Curious Curse of Cora Bell by Rebecca McRitchie
Illus. by Sharon O'Connor. Angus and Robertson, 2019. ISBN:
9781460757642.
(Age: 9+) Highly recommended. Cora lives an ordinary life with her
friend, Dot. Each day she leaves her house in the wall and goes out
collecting bits and bobs, returning each night to share her finds
with Dot who is no longer as agile. One day Dot asks her to find
shoe polish and so Cora spends all day searching the city of Urt,
running from scavengers and trappers and finally just as she loses
hope she finds a tin of shoe polish and a wooden box. Cora opens the
box and sets off a chain of events that lead her on a wild and
magical journey away from Urt with the help of two fairies, Tick and
Tock.
Cora's journey takes her to many magical lands as she attempts to
escape from a furious warlock and a Jinx, find out who and what she
is and discover where Dot is. Together with her fairy friends, Cora
meets hobgoblins, trolls and many magical beings, some of whom are
willing to help her, as she tries to escape the warlock and the Jinx
and find herself.
This book is an easy read for competent younger readers with
adventures, a couple of mild scary scenes, (but nothing that will
lead to nightmares) and a great story line. The author has created a
story that children will want to believe in and want to visit.
Cora's backstory and the journey she takes in this book encourages
children to think beyond themselves, wonder what life would be like
if you didn't know who you were or where you fit and to imagine what
life would be like if like Cora, you could only remember waking up
with one eye and Dot looking after you.
My one gripe about the book is that it ends with "to be continued"
which is also how the author ended her first book, Whimsy and
Woe. I feel this is an unnecessary addition to the story as I
felt that the characters had reached a conclusion. I look forward to
reading more about Cora's adventures but felt that this made the
story feel unfinished.
Mhairi Alcorn
I am so clever by Mario Ramos
Gecko Press, 2019. ISBN: 9781776572496.
(Age: 4+) Recommended. Themes: Fairy Tales, Red Riding Hood, Wolves.
In a turned about version of Red Riding Hood, we have a wolf
who thinks he is very clever, being outsmarted by the girl in the
red cloak.
The story begins in the usual way with Red Riding Hood taking a
basket of goodies to an ailing grandma on the other side of the
woods. The wolf convinces her to tarry, picking flowers for grandma,
while he scurries off to the house to eat her up and be ready for
the little girl as dessert.
With Grandma nowhere to be seen, the wolf puts on her nightgown,
taking her place in bed, ready to eat the girl when she appears. But
first he must wipe away his paw prints from the doorway and when he
goes outside to do this, the door slams and shuts him out.
He encounters the woodsman searching for his glasss, and spies the
bears, three little pigs, a prince looking for Sleeping Beauty and
seven dwarves off for a shower. He sees Red Riding Hood and tries to
accost her but falls flat on his face, his feet tripping over the
long nightogown, so breaking his teeth and leaving him with egg on
his face. He is shamefaced, not eating the two people he expected to
eat that day. Too clever for his own good.
This engrossing version of Red Riding Hood will have readers
recalling other versions and telling their own stories about the
characters met during the reading. I do like the inclusion of the
other tales as background to the wolf's meanderings in the woods,
and love the turn about of the original story. The illustrations
will appeal to the readers, especially watching closely the various
expressions on the wolf's face as he changes from a confident and
clever wolf to one despairing, embarrassed wolf at the end.
Translated from Le Plus Malin (2011) I turned the page
expecting a little more.
Fran Knight
The Astrid Notes by Taryn Bashford
Pan MacMillan, 2019. ISBN: 9781760552213. 337p; p/b.
As Astrid Bell, classical singer, secret pop songwriter, grapples
with career-threatening stage fright, and Jacob Skalicky, Indie
singer, loses his bandmates to a fatal accident, their paths
intertwine as they help each other overcome their fear of falling
into a forgettable life. The novel is massively character-driven, so
having relatable leads is important, and Bashford fleshes them out
perfectly. The consistent switches of perspective help highlight
their different ways of seeing the same world. Some more minor
characters are less fleshed out, as comes with a lack of
'screen-time', but even that can enhance the point sometimes, as you
feel like you don't know anything about Jacob's absentee parents,
just like him. It also seems that some other characters may be
fleshed out more in a previous novel, without this one depending at
all on having read it. This depth of character allows the novel's
plot to flourish, as the reader is gripped by characters coping with
their tumultuous lives.
The novel juggles its three themes of loss, parentage and ambition
effortlessly, weaving them into each other to become more than the
sum of its parts. The dual perspectives of the novel's leads allows
for multiple valid takes on each, so it never fells like the reader
is being judged for how they see things, but still allowing them to
open their minds.
The story is set in modern-day Sydney, which isn't anything special
- but that's exactly what's right to help the leader better relate
to the characters and plot.
Vincent Hermann
Mermaid Holidays: Magic Pearl by Delphine Davis and Adele K. Thomas
Puffin, 2019. ISBN: 9780143796497.
(Ages 6-8) Theme: Fantasy. Mermaid Holidays continues in the latest
addition to the new series by Delphine Davis. This time, the story
is told from Willow Waves' perspective, as she hosts a sleep-over
for her friends, where they make necklaces.
This is the second book in the series. It is aimed at the same
audience as the first book, for both new and returning readers, as
we get to see Turtleton and the adventures through Willow's
perspective. It is a story of friendship and working together, yet,
at the same time, learning and growing as an individual to find a
solution to the problem that Willow advertently causes.
It is enjoyable to see how the author has created the characters and
stories to be fun, yet teaching young readers about responsibility
in a fun, subtle way.
Ideal for students keen to dive into chapter books, it is a bit
wordier than Billie B Brown or an Ella and Olivia,
with pages swimming with fun illustrations to break up the text. The
characters in the story are full of expression.
Donna Isgar
Oi duck-billed platypus! by Kes Gray
Oi duck-billed platypus! by Kes Gray
Illus. by Jeff Field. Hodder Children's Books, 2019. ISBN:
9781444937336. pbk.
(Age: 4+) Highly recommended. Themes: Animals, Verse, Word play,
Alliteration, Humour. Following on from the success of the zany fun
filled humour of the "Oi" books (Oi Frog
(2014) Oi Dog
(2016), and Oi Cat
(2017)) this paperback version follows a slightly different
variation as the frog finds it difficult to find a rhyme for some of
the animals that appear before him, waiting to be seated. What do
you rhyme with a duck billed platypus or a hippopotamus, an ostrich
or a meerkat. Frog, cat and dog are puzzled and platypus is not very
patient, reminding the trio that he is waiting, as he points out the
queue behind him of other animals also waiting for their rhyme
before being seated.
Eventually the Frog asks for their first names and they find it much
easier to use their first names rather than their second to find a
rhyme that fits. So Dolly the duck-billed platypus sits on a brolly,
Kate kookaburra sits on a gate and Lemony lobster sits on an
anemone. Everyone is satisfied, the alliterative names of the
animals used to make a nice rhyming seat until a kangaroo happens to
come along, with the fearful name, Amelia Esmerelda Honeydew
HigginbottomPinkleponk-Johnson. The resolution will have children
trying vainly to find a rhyme and like frog, telling the kangaroo to
sit where she likes.
Full of humour, reflected in the appealing illustrations, the tale
will bring laughter from all readers, recognising the alliteration
and how it teams with the animal's name, seeing the rhyme that frog
comes up with, perhaps offering an alternative, all the while
looking closely at the expressions on the faces to see what a
quandary frog is in. In a class emphasis could be the word play,
rhyme and alliteration, while discussion with younger readers about
first and last names would be appropriate.
All readers will love looking out for the seat of each of the
animals and delight in the end papers with Field's platypus
panorama.
Fran Knight
Playing with collage by Jeannie Baker
Walker Books, 2019. ISBN: 9781406378665.
(Age: 6+) Highly recommended. Themes: Collage, Arts and crafts,
Invention, Recycled materials. The front cover invites the readers
to look more closely at the image, working out what it is made of
and what it could be. For those who know Jeannie Baker's work, the
background knowledge that she plays with collected items from nature
will stand them in good stead as they scan the cover. But those who
do not know her work, and there can be only be a handful, then this
will be an eye popping read.
Aimed at a younger audience, but with enough information and
instructional images to appeal to anyone with an interest in art,
Playing with Collage is a joy to read.
Each chapter involves a double page of information with illustrative
photographs, allowing the reader to see just how her work is done,
as she gives the most basic of instructions that will make every
reader believe that they can do it too, even someone new to the
field.
After the introduction, three more double pages talk about Tools,
Tips and Playing with Materials. After these the book is divided
into four parts, each dealing with a different aspect of collecting
materials. The first is Paper which encourages readers to collect
all sorts of paper, then play around with it, making different
shapes and images. This is followed by Out in Nature, where she
shows the readers the sorts of things they can collect when out in
the field. Again, On the beach shows a range of things that can be
collected while beach walking, and the last section, In the Kitchen
showcases the sorts of things that are right under our noses.
Baker goes on to discuss Translucency encouraging the reader, as
always, to try it out for themselves, and the last section shows a
variety of found materials and asks the reader to guess what
materials she has used in her egg box collage.
And this then is the aim of this beautiful book. Readers will be so
entranced that they will go out and try her techniques for
themselves, marvelling at her work, seeing her work with fresh eyes.
Readers familiar with her work will be astounded at the range of
materials she collects to use in her collages and look more closely
at the books when they come across them. For others this book will
initiate collection and storage then experimentation as they try out
some of the techniques she espouses.
This is a beautiful read from every point of view: an instruction
manual, an art book, a book espousing the art of collage, a peep
into Baker's talents, an inducement to re-look at Baker's other
books.
Fran Knight
The little wave by Pip Harry
UQP Books, ISBN: 9780702260476.
(Age: 8-13) Highly recommended. Verse novel. Themes: Friendship, Pen
pals, Surfing, Courage, Bullying, Families, Grief. What a wonderful
heart-warming story this is! Pip Harry has written a verse story for
younger children which will become a favourite. When a Manly school
decides to host a country class for a visit to the seaside, the
children involved all face challenges. Noah loves to surf, but
doesn't know how to stop his friend from bullying him. Lottie lives
with her grief stricken father who hoards enormous amounts of junk
and Jack is a great cricketer, but often doesn't turn up to school
and has family problems.
The free verse structure of the novel works really well and would
make for a great read aloud or class novel. The story, told in the
voices of the three main characters, flows along beautifully and the
reader gets to know each of them really well and can easily identify
with the problems that they are facing and the emotions that their
challenging lives bring. The letters that each send expand on their
lives and likes. I particularly liked the letters between Lottie and
the teacher, Miss Waites who shows her that it is OK to be totally
engrossed in something, (bugs in Lottie's case). Both Miss Waites
and the teacher Mr M are warm, friendly, caring people who make a
difference in their students' lives and other parents and carers are
portrayed compassionately and in depth.
The contrast of the setting of the beach and surfing in Manly to
Mullin, the tiny country town where Jack lives, is vividly
described. Noah's love of surfing, the beach and the sand and city
life is quite different to the swimming hole where Jack goes, and
small town life. Themes of bullying, dysfunctional family life and
friendship problems are deftly handled and will be easily recognised
by children.
There is much to like in this memorable book, which would be
wonderful as a Literature Circle or class novel. Teacher's
notes are available.
Pat Pledger
Argh! There's a skeleton inside you! by Idan Ben-Barak and Julian Frost
Allen and Unwin, 2019. ISBN: 9781760631635.
(Ages 4-8) Highly recommended. Themes: Human Anatomy, Skeleton,
Hands. This simple, interactive and very enjoyable picture book
seeks to give young children a look inside their hands to discover
what makes them work. The aliens Quog and Oort need to get to a
party but their spaceship needs repairs. Neither of them has hands,
which makes it more difficult to make their repairs. Through some
clever interaction Quog grows what he needs to make the repairs and
in the process the reader comes to understand how their skeleton,
muscles and nerves work together to make their hands the useful
things they can be.
The bright, simple but informative illustrations make this an
extraordinary introduction to human anatomy for young children. The
interactive parts of the story were particularly popular with the
children who heard this book read aloud; putting their hands onto
the page so that Quog could see inside made the book come alive for
the young audience.
At the end of the entertaining story the authors give us more detail
about what is inside our hand and how it works, just in case we
would like to grow another hand. Very well thought out and
informative for all who read it.
The duo that produced this book also gave us Do not lick this
book, (it's full of germs) and this one will be just as
popular with young readers. Great addition to every primary school
library.
Gabrielle Anderson
Stuck in the mud by R. A. Spratt
The Peski Kids, book 3. Puffin, 2019. ISBN: 9780143796350.
(Age: 8+) Recommended. Themes: Brothers and Sisters, Country Life,
Competitions. Mud, mud, glorious mud, presenting the annual
Currawong Mud Run Festival, where a huge muddy obstacle course is
built throughout the town! The Peski kids return in another
exciting, slightly dangerous, drama-filled story. While their mother
(a spy) is still imprisoned in a rather horrible European jail, the
family undergo some difficult changes. Ingrid the Swedish au pair
from next door is about to be deported and Mr Peski has been talked
into a pretend marriage to keep her in Australia. She moves into
their home, much to the resentment of the kids. April and her rather
aggressive little companion dog Pumpkin are also extremely upset
when neighbour Loretta Viswanathan also moves in taking over April's
bedroom.
All three siblings quickly become involved in the race preparations.
Fin wins the opportunity to design the course with bulldozers, heavy
machinery and mountains of mud to transform the town. April's temper
sees her suspended from school and she joins the women's team run by
an Olympic medallist keen to win the race. April's forced to run
with the new student in her class who's vision impaired. Joe is
tempted by baked goods from the local baker and bribes from the
school staff, and he must win the race at any cost!
What could possibly go wrong on the big day? When the prize money is
stolen in a well-planned bank robbery, which one of the Peski kids
will step up and save the day?
R. A. Spratt's Stuck in the Mud delivers a fast-paced
adventure, plenty of family drama, quirky characters and another
Currawong community crazy event. Her humorous and witty style of
writing make this another exciting addition to the series and a
fantastic class novel for students in the Upper Primary. What's next
for feisty Peski Kids? She adds a teaser - Near Extinction.
Rhyllis Bignell
First how things work encyclopedia: A first reference book for children by DK Publishing
DK Australia, 2019. ISBN: 9780143795032.
(Age: 5-10) Highly recommended. Themes: Technology, Encyclopedias.
DK has produced another wonderful reference book, with its
characteristic high quality photographs and information. Topics
include many that are studied in STEM subjects, such as inventions,
machines, levers, movement, gases and liquids, energy, light and
sound, computers and radio and TV and the internet. Cutting edge
technology is also described. Each topic is explained in simple
language and the layout of small bites of information with bold
headings and complementary photographs and illustrations make a very
attractive presentation of how many things work. Children and adults
will be fascinated by the description of just what technology is and
how it impacts on everything around us as well as learning about how
everyday machines like refrigerators and electric guitars work.
Timelines also put inventions into an historical perspective.
As well as containing a well-designed Contents page, there is a
section at the back with quizzes and a clear Glossary and Index.
This would be perfect for any library and would also be very useful
for children to have at home as a first reference book. It would
really appeal to children who are interested in science and
technology and its ease of use makes it an ideal tool for homework
projects, or just to dip into for interesting and informative ideas.
Pat Pledger
One small island: The story of Macquarie Island by Alison Lester and Coral Tulloch
Puffin Books, 2019. ISBN: 9780143789253. pbk, 40p.
(Ages: 6-12) Highly recommended. Themes: Macquarie Island,
Australian history, conservation. This is a new and updated
paperback edition of the award-winning publication about World
Heritage Site, Macquarie Island. In the Southern Ocean, remote
Macquarie Island is a haven for both sea and land creatures. This is
a non-fiction text written with an easy to follow narrative, from
the geological forming of the island, to its use as a base for
sealers and the introduction of destructive mice, dogs, rabbits and
cats. It details the loss of native species such as elephant seals
and the Macquarie Island parakeet. It touches on Douglas Mawson's
connection with Macquarie Island on his way to Antarctica and his
role in calling for its protection. It details the trials and
challenges that have been faced in trying to protect native species
while eradicating domestic species and opens young reader's eyes to
the delicate balance of ecosystems and how even the smallest thing
can cause major ripples. But while it is brutal and honest in
depicting the destruction of Macquarie Island it maintains hope and
reminds us that every effort to protect our world, however small, is
important and could be transformative. There are oodles of extra
information here, including a timeline, glossary, primary sources
such as letters and diary entries, maps and more but the main text
can be either read alone or along with the supporting information,
depending on age and ability. This is both a beautiful and supremely
important book for children of all ages.
Nicole Nelson
Sweet sorrow by David Nicholls
Hodder and Stoughton 2019. ISBN: 9781444715415.
(Age: 12+) Highly recommended. Sweet sorrow is a lament to the
end of childhood and to first love. A bildungsroman, the novel
follows Charlie Lewis on his quest to get to know the lovely Fran
Fisher, amateur actor and Shakespeare aficionado. In an attempt to
impress, or get her number, Charlie agrees to join a production of
Romeo and Juliet that the Full Fathom Five Theatre Co-operative are
organising over the Summer. Without his mates to join him in his
scorn, Charlie finds himself intrigued with the players and the
drama students.
While he scoffs at theatre sports, Charlie finds himself with
friendships completely different to the friendly scuffles and
drunken antics of those he's known before. Being part of the play
allows Charlie not only to get close to Fran, but also to grow as a
person independent of the politics of the boys and rebelling against
his parents' expectations. But the pressure of looking out for his
father and navigating the ditch between his parents and him and his
sister is almost too much. When the walls Charlie built to keep
himself and his dad safe start to crumble, everything quickly comes
crashing down.
Told both in the present and retrospect, Sweet sorrow
follows the summer Charlie threw off social expectations he'd come
to respect in school, he starts to work to pull his life together
after the stress of his father's erratic behaviour, bankruptcy, and
divorce sends him down a dark and spiralling path of failure. I
would highly recommend this novel to boys twelve and up who struggle
to fit in and achieve at school as they might find some parallels
with Charlie.
Kayla Gaskell
Winston and the Wondrous Wooba Gymnastics Club by Tamsin Janu
Omnibus, 2019. ISBN: 9781760662509.
(Ages: 8-14) Highly recommended. Themes: Friendship, Adversity.
Australian country town life is at the heart of this story, and its
theme is the challenge to improvise when the going gets tough, while
remaining positive through adverse difficulties.
Winston and his mother Carol, live in the little town of Wooba, home
of Big Bread, a towering monument to local wheat farming. Winston is
very proud of everything in Wooba (especially the decrepit Big
Bread) and is eager to share it all with his new family from Dubbo,
in particular, his new sister Macy.
But the move to Wooba dashes Macy's dreams of becoming an Olympic
gymnast, and she's making her feelings known to all. How is Winston
going to help Macy resign herself to living in the tiny town, and
make progress towards her dream, while also saving the Big Bread and
the economy of his home town. These are big challenges and Winston
won't be able to rise to them alone.
The story follows the up and downs of the children as they bring
adults alongside, learn lessons from life, from their friends, and
from the adults who support them. And learn a lot about gymnastics
along the way. Teacher's
notes are available.
Long live the spirit of the Australian country town.
Donna Isgar
Wilder girls by Rory Power
Macmillan Children's Books, 2019. ISBN: 9781529021288. (Age: 14+) Recommended. Wilder girls is a gory dystopia,
with the Tox mutating the systems of students at Raxter School for
Girls. The mutation affects each of the girls differently, from
coughing up blood and teeth to having dual hearts. Their only hope
for a cure is the Navy and CDC who are desperately researching the
Raxter phenomenon.
With restrictions on food and other resources, the girls are half
wild with the Tox, a new order has been established from the old
with fights and power struggles upheld by the remaining two teachers
- Welch and Headmistress and the three Boat Shift Girls. Taylor,
Carson, and Julie are charged with keeping the peace among students
as well as the dangerous task of retrieving supplies dropped at the
pier at irregular intervals.
The story follows Hetty and her friends Reese and Byatt. Having
established their friendship prior to the Tox, the girls ties are
only strengthened by their trials - that is until Hetty is called
upon for Boat Shift and Byatt goes missing. People die all the time
at Raxter but something about Byatt's disappearance is different.
Hetty is determined to find and save her friend, no matter the cost.
And the cost is bound to be high.
Brutal and thrilling, Wilder girls captures the fear similar
to The
natural way of things and The promised Neverland
whilst remaining highly engaging. With the grittiness of This
mortal coiland the familiarity of a high school
setting, this novel has a feeling of authenticity as the girls
struggle with not only the effects of the Tox but the social issues
to do with violence, self-preservation, and the realities of
survival. I would recommend to girls fourteen and up.
Kayla Gaskel
