Illus. by Connah Brecon. Omnibus, 2019. ISBN: 9781742994987.
(Age: 4+) Highly recommended. Themes: Humour, Poultry, Illustrative
technique. A very funny look at a chook, Ray who does not realise
that he is a book chook, a two dimensional drawing that has a place
only on a page. He is appalled and checks himself out. He realises
that his feathers are flat, he has no smell near his behind, while
he talks in rhyme. He calls out to the audience to help him escape
from the page, by calling his name, and as the pages are turned he
is begging them to call out more loudly. Janine all the while waits
patiently while his attempts to escape fail, and tells him to
rethink his plans. After all does he realise what a chook does all
day? Does he know that they cannot read and write? And finally she
convinces him that he is better off where he is with Janine for a
friend.
This delightful story will have eager readers asking it to be read
out again and again, so that they can help Ray escape from the book
by calling out his name. Audience participation will be loud and
encouraging, and they will laugh out loud at his antics to get off
that page.
The clever illustrations give each of the main characters wonderful
facial expressions, revealing what each is feeling as Ray attempts
at escape. I can imagine readers grabbing all the books about chooks
from the shelves in their libraries, comparing just how chooks are
illustrated and perhaps coming to the conclusion that Ray is better
off with his friend. And they will laugh at the contrast between
real chooks and those shown in picture books.
A lovely read, extolling the phrase, 'there's no place like home'.
Fran Knight
Say something by Peter H. Reynolds
Scholastic, 2019. ISBN: 9781760664992.
(Age: 4+) Recommended. Themes: Discussion, Communication, Sharing.
Encouraging kids to speak out, to say what they feel and make
themselves heard is the basis for this picture book aimed at lower
primary kids and made for a class where issues are discussed openly.
The opening endpaper sings out its themes: justice, peace, onward,
stay strong etc impelling readers to add their own words and phrases
showing their beliefs. Kids will be encouraged to find their own
voice and as they turn the next pages will see examples of what they
can do to make the world a better place. If you see someone who is
lonely, speak to them, if you see an empty canvas, add your paint,
if you see an empty garden plot, sow something and watch it grow, if
you invent something, share it, if you are angry tell someone why.
Each double page begins with 'if you', putting the reader in the
place of the person on the page, asking them to discover for
themselves what they can do about the situation. In this way, the
reader is given the task of doing something about a situation which
they may have felt was outside their control. It is now in their
hands, and the book continues encouraging, prodding, reminding just
how much they can do to make things better.
The figures on each page are reflected against a brightly patterned
background, readers seeing the child in sharp contrast to its
surroundings. This heightened image again impels readers to think
about what they want to say, and on the last page, Reynolds leaves
the page full of empty conversation outlines for them to add their
own words. He urges readers to use their voices to 'inspire, heal
and transform' and in the classroom where a sympathetic teacher will
use this book to advantage, this will be encouraged.
Fran Knight
Tilly Maguire and the royal wedding mess by Emma Grey
Angus and Robertson, 2018. ISBN: 9781460755051.
(Age: Young adult) Tilly Maguire and the royal wedding mess
by Emma Grey is a contemporary romance novel catered towards a young
adult audience. We follow Tilly Maguire, a bubbly and fresh out of
high school eighteen-year-old as she embarks on a gap year in London
working for a major PR company set to cover a royal event. When
things go awry Tilly is swept up in a whirlwind of social media
scandal and a heart throbbing romance with her childhood celebrity
crush.
The characters in this novel were oftentimes one dimensional and
cliched. No character seemed to stray from their assigned position
in the story e.g. villain wanted to ruin the main character's life
for no special reason and the love interest immediately falls in
love for no reason beside the main character being 'not like other
girls' he has dated. The diversity in this story felt somewhat
forced and added as a bonus to appeal to the younger generation
instead of actually being genuine or well informed about the LGBT+
community.
The plot was typical of the young adult genre. It heavily focused on
the romance and nothing much else. Things moved too quickly for
there to be any emotional build up or for the readers to form
connections with the characters.
The imagery and language choices were also rather cliched e.g.
'she looked like a model' etc . . . This seemed to counteract the
whole point of having diversity in the story as there was seemingly
nothing diverse about the way the characters or settings were
described.
Overall, I would recommend this book to a younger audience. It is
fast paced and easy to read. However, there is nothing unique about
the plot or the characters but if you enjoy a book with a heavy
romance element to it I think the cliche aspects of the story could
be overlooked.
Amy Folker (Student)
Jae-Dee survives the home of many mothers by Jae-Dee Collier
Balboa Press, 2018. ISBN: 9781504315692.
(Age: 14+) Highly recommended. Jae-Dee's sad story of abandonment to
an Adelaide orphanage as a three year old in the 1950s is
fictionalised, told from the point of view of the child. So it's the
child's voice we hear as she struggles to make sense of the world
she finds herself in, longing for love but always receiving
rejection and humiliation from Sster, as the children call the nun
in charge. Sster Grace couldn't be more removed from the idea of
grace; she is harsh and cruel, beats the children in her charge and
subjects them to cruel taunting and humiliation. Jae-Dee is a
bed-wetter, and as a three year old has to drag her sheets to the
laundry, hand-wash them, and drag the clothes basket to the
clothesline.
Jae-Dee has beautiful memories of her parents, a handsome couple
gliding across the ballroom. She longs to be with them. But whilst
they are good intentioned, they are a fragile couple, her mother ill
and teetering on depression and her father too fond of the drink.
Nevertheless, for Jae-Dee it is the love of her mother and father
that she constantly craves - she desperately wants to be reunited
with them and with her younger sisters. It is the abuse and lack of
love in the orphanage that becomes the most damaging experience.
Collier clearly writes from her memories; she captures exactly how a
three year old struggles with the stairs, planting both feet on each
step, and then how she skips to keep up with the nun's quick stride
along the corridor. We share in the child's love of warm sweet food
like rice pudding, and her detestation of boiled vegetables. And we
empathise with her humiliation and embarrassment as she wakes each
morning in a wet bed. From time to time, Collier adds a comment as
an adult, reminding us this all really happened - children who were
so in need of love and care, were kept in the most cold and uncaring
environment, in an institution that was supposed to stand for love
and charity.
At the end of the book, Collier includes the transcript of the Prime
Minister's 2009 apology to the Forgotten Australians and former
child migrants; a recognition and regret for the experiences of
children who suffered neglect and abuse in orphanages, and a
reminder that the protection of children is a sacred duty. It is to
be hoped that in writing her story, Collier finds release from some
of the memories, and strength in knowing she is a survivor.
Helen Eddy
The quiet at the end of the world by Lauren James
Walker Books; 2019. ISBN: 9781406375510. 352p; p/b.
(Age: Middle secondary+) Recommended. In a future where the human
race is infertile, the last two people to ever be born confront the
fear of loneliness when a mystery disease rages through an
already dwindling population.
It's difficult to discuss what makes this book good, because its
best aspects hinge on a plot twist that shouldn't be spoilt. It
tackles some interesting ethical issues that are becoming
increasingly relevant today, and some thought provoking takes on the
future of humanity. Don't worry though, it's not all heavy futurism
- the novel also contains some quite personal themes of love and
secrets. It's quite engaging, with a unique narrative device of
reading through archived chat-logs online, interspersed at
precisely paced intervals with more traditional narration. The
representation in the cast is inspiring - bi and trans will last as
long as humanity does.
You will just have to read it yourself, it is a wonderful read. The
book is suitable for middle secondary-aged readers due to the themes
discussed, however it can be a good conversation with classes as to
the diversity and power of humanity.
Vincent Hermann
Sea Bear: a journey for survival by Lindsay Moore
Greenwillow Books, 2019. ISBN: 9780062791283. 48pp., hbk.
Imagine you are a polar bear.
Your coat is thick. Your teeth are sharp.
Your front paws are paddles, your back paws are rudders, and you can
swim for miles.
Your home has always been the sea and the ice.
A sea bear, far north in the Arctic, hunts and naps and raises her
young. She moves with the ice, swimming, running, stalking seals,
resting. She follows the rhythm of the sea and the seasons. But what
happens when those rhythms change? What happens when there is no
ice?
Told from the perspective of a female bear, the reader is taken on a
journey of the Arctic seasons starting in spring when the ice is
thick and the baby seals numerous, through to summer when the water
warms and the ice melts, making it too thin to stand on and the
seals more wary and quicker. Smelling land on the offshore breeze,
the bear starts to swim to shore for food but it is a long arduous
and perilous journey filled with lots of other creatures of the cold
seas. But above all, polar bears are patient and so she continues
knowing that the world will turn, the time will pass and winter will
come again. Courage, determination, resilience - even in the animal
kingdom.
As well as the evocative text, it is the illustrations which make
this book a stand-out. Using a palette of a myriad of blues, the
reader is treated to all the moods and times of this wonderland
- starry night skies, ocean depths and shallows, the aurora borealis,
the breaking ice pack and isolate seashore. While it could be a
story of any sea bear, using the first person builds a connection
with the reader so we are invested in her survival as well as that
of all her kind. Her companions of the deep become less threatening
as they pass by each other as Moore's illustrations reflect her
Master of Science in Medical and Scientific Illustration.
A page of information about sea ice and polar bears and another
introducing the creatures she passes on her journey to shore add to
the value of this book which shines a light on the plight of Arctic
(and Antarctic) creatures as global warming continues and the amount
of sea
ice declines each year.
A valuable addition to your environment and sustainability
collection.
Barbara Braxton
The boy: His stories and how they came to be by Oliver Jeffers
HarperCollins, 2018. ISBN: 9780008294342. 168pp., hbk.
In 2004, Oliver Jeffers set out to do a painting of someone trying
to do something impossible - a boy catching a star with a butterfly
net - and that idea evolved not only into the book How
to catch a star but into a series of four stories
including Lost and found, The way back home and Up
and down.
Now collected into one collection, this book also offers a unique
look behind the scenes at the development of each book. As well as a
letter from Jeffers himself explaining how the series grew (and may
still do so, although that is unlikely), it contains more than 100
distinctive sketches, notes and ideas that he has chosen from his
archives that show the thoughts, events and incidents that shaped
the stories.
Apart from its inherent beauty, this book has much to offer about
how stories grow in the minds of their creators, giving it an appeal
and a use far beyond the target audience of the original stories
themselves.
Barbara Braxton
Mummy Cuddle by Kate Mayes
Illus. by Sara Acton. ABC Books, 2019. ISBN: 9780733339431.
(Age: 1-5) Highly recommended. Themes: Bedtime, Parent and child,
Mothers, Feel good book. A lovely gentle but very humorous book Mummy
cuddle tugs at the heartstrings and leaves the reader feeling
happy after reading it. Bunny creeps out of bed and 'brum brum',
pushes a little car down the stairs and asks Mummy to play. Mummy is
very patient and carries him back upstairs on her back and quietly
answers questions while trying to get Bunny to sleep.
The narrative is sparse with most double page spreads having only
two words: 'Mummy play?' Mummy talk?' 'Mummy brush?' 'Mummy pat'
until finally 'Mummy dream' and 'Mummy cuddle'. Children will have
fun predicting just what Bunny will come up with next in the quest
to stay awake and many will know just what will happen. Sara Acton's
outstanding illustrations done in soft pastels, with Mummy and Bunny
outlined in black, are enchanting. The characteristics of both are
clear - Mummy is such a loving, unflappable parent while Bunny is
persistent but loving as well, even covering Mummy with a blanket as
she sleeps on the floor. The endpapers are worthy of close
examination, the front ones showing Bunny having a bath and getting
ready for bed, while the back ones show an exuberant dance.
This would be an ideal book to share with children on Mother's Day
in particular, but the message of parental love is one for any time.
I can see it becoming a cherished book that celebrates the bond
between mother and child.
Pat Pledger
On the come up by Angie Thomas
Walker Books, 2019. ISBN: 9781406372168.
(Age: Young adult) Recommended. On the come up by Angie
Thomas is a hard-hitting contemporary young adult novel novel that
brings light to topics such as racial stereotyping and
discrimination of people due to their social class.
Bri has always dreamed of being a famous rapper like her dad so when
she gets the chance to compete in an amateur rap battle in her
inner-city neighbourhood she jumps on it. She believes that becoming
a rapper is the key to saving her family from poverty and to rise
above the racism and hate she experiences from being African
American in her community.
The characters in this novel were realistic and unique from each
other. Their personalities and ambitions in the novel were memorable
and special to that character. This made you feel like you were
getting to know and forming real relationships with the characters
in the novel.
The plot was unique and spoke about racial inequality in a way that
clearly highlighted the injustices minorities face daily in real
life. These heavy topics are delivered in a non-graphic and easy to
interpret way so readers young or old will feel as if they have
gained knowledge and a deeper understanding of racial prejudice.
The imagery and language choices were true to the setting of the
novel which is a predominately African American neighbourhood. It
felt as if I was transported to America and could hear the
characters through their realistic dialogue. The language choices
were clear and easy to understand which is most likely because this
book is aimed at young adults.
Overall, I would recommend this book to a younger audience who would
like to know more about the injustices racial minorities face in
modern day society. It is a fast paced but still emotional impactful
read. If you enjoy realistic characters and an action packed plot
this is the book for you!
Amy Folker (student)
52 Mondays by Anna Ciddor
Allen and Unwin, 2019. ISBN: 9781760523480.
(Age: 8+) Highly recommended. Themes: family, dolls, childhood,
Jewish customs. Anna is a young Jewish girl growing up in 1960's
Melbourne, Australia. The story follows Anna, her two sisters and
her extended family through a year of celebrations, illness and the
hunt for the perfect antique doll. The story revolves around the
hunt that is created by Anna's desire to own a doll just like the
one in her favourite book Hitty, the life and adventures of a
wooden doll, which she has borrowed from the library. Anna's
mother is a willing participant in the hunt and after Anna reads in
the final chapter that Hitty's final owner purchases her through an
auction house; the family spends every Monday looking through a
local auction place for the perfect antique doll.
The story also highlights the changing face of the world as the
story looks at the changes within the family and the world around
them, the excitement of making Deb mashed potato or eating kosher
chicken from the supermarket rather than Nona having to make it.
Anna includes the excitement of buying a half penny ice-cream from
the Mr. Whippy van and the joy of shopping in the city.
Her imagery and gentle tone makes this book an easy read and will
engage readers who are interested in history, family life and
childhood memories. This would be a fabulous book to open up the
lines of communication between the generations and encourage talk of
childhood memories when there were no seat-belts in cars, being the
chalk monitor was the highest honour at school and children drank
free milk at recess.
Mhairi Alcorn
Master of Sorrows by Justin Call
Gollancz, 2019. ISBN: 9781473222878. 577 pages, paperback.
(Age: 12+) Recommended. Contains violent scenes and depictions of
death. High fantasy. The Academy of Chaenbalu has stood against
magic for centuries. Hidden from the world, acting from the shadows,
it trains its students to detect and retrieve magic artifacts, which
it jealously guards from the misuse of others. Because magic is
dangerous, something that heals can also harm, and a power that aids
one person may destroy another. Of the Academy's many students, only
the most skilled can become Avatars - warrior thieves, capable of
infiltrating the most heavily guarded vaults - and only the most
determined can be trusted to resist the lure of magic. More than
anything, Annev de Breth wants to be one of them. Master of sorrows is a strongly written dark fantasy novel,
similar in tone and feel to the likes of We are blood and
thunder by Kesia Lupo. Call does not hesitate to highlight the
dark side of humanity, with the themes of lies, deception,
discrimination, wars, and death featuring prominently in the novel.
His worldbuilding is astounding and makes the story's setting feel
grounded and real. He crafts a deeply flawed, young protagonist who
bears too much at too young an age, making you feel empathy for
Annev, rejoicing at his triumph and despairing as he falls while he
fights for his chance in the sun. While Master of sorrows
follows a trend of stories with academy-trained warriors, thieves
and assassins, it stands out from the rest due to the protagonist's
desire to rise above the brutality and act with mercy and
compassion, which are often lost in similar stories. We see this
empathy was developed through his bond with his mentor and as Annev
experiences discrimination due to physical deformities, which in the
novel, mark him as a vile agent of evil. Call speaks against this
cruel and misinformed idea as he presents Annev as a flawed but
deeply caring individual.
While this novel's themes are evident, the events seem jumbled and
plot points were touched upon then never raised again in a way that
felt unfinished or not explored to its full potential. There are
also extremely disturbing descriptions not suitable for a younger
audience. Despite this, this was a strong high fantasy novel full of
both gritty realism and the buoyant kindness of the protagonist. I
would recommend to people who enjoy stories such as Nevernight
by Jay Kristoff and We are blood and thunder by Kesia Lupo.
Stephanie Lam(Student)
Cowboy and Birdbrain by A. Wallace and J. Hart
Scholastic. 2019. ISBN: 9781760661588. 185p
(Age: 8+) Highly recommended. Cowboy is not a ringer - nor an NRL
footy player. He's an actual boy with a cow's head! He and his
partner Birdbrain, also a hybrid creature, work for a delivery
company called 'Iffy'. You guessed it, their motto: 'We Deliver
FARTS - Fast And Reliable Tracking Services'. After a call-in from
the Company Secretary, Ms Hambacon, (pronounced Harm Bayshon) Cowboy
and Birdbrain are grudgingly given an important delivery deadline by
their boss. Between their own incompetence and the interference of a
rival delivery team, the duo must overcome a number of impossible
hurdles to complete their mission.
This graphic story can't miss. Adam Wallace's far-fetched narrative
is littered with funny word play and acronyms. The adventure melds
perfectly with James Hart's quirky caricatures in a rich parallel
narrative.
The mandatory page of stickers is an unnecessary incentive because
middle schoolers will be lining up for the unavoidable giggles.
Deborah Robins
The secret runners of New York by Matthew Reilly
Macmillian, 2019. ISBN: 9781760559076. Paperback, 352 pg.
(Age: Upper primary - Secondary) A must read for thriller and
dystopian readers. Think of Gossip Girl meets Mad Max.
The story is about a shy girl, Skye, who moves to New York with her
brother Red. They move in with their mum's boyfriend in a very
affluent building. Skye tries to keep her head down at school but
gets caught up with the elite kids of New York. Within the group
Skye and Red join, are the Secret Runners of New York group who can
gain access to a ground portal that transports whoever enters to the
future which was effected by a Gamma Cloud.
Matthew Reilly writes about everyday life of a teenager and how they
cope in society, while every day is leading up to a Doomsday when a
Gamma Cloud is going to appear to end the world as we know it. As
the runners keep going through the porthole they realise that the
Gamma Cloud is real and they see what happens in the future.
Overall, I found the book easy to read and enjoyable. I was hooked
from the start wanting to know what happened to the missing females
from the same school and whether Skye would become one of them as
well.
In schools, some great discussions you could have with students
would be about bullying within the school and how it affected kids.
Another topic would be about the poor, middle class and the rich and
how what happened in the world affected these people.
All up, I found The secret runners of New York a great read.
I did laugh at the dedication at the front: 'This book is for
everyone who went to high school... and survived.' Cause yes I'm
one of those people.
Maria Komninos
Ninja switch by Anh Do
Ninja Kid book 3. Scholastic, 2019. ISBN: 9781760662820.
186p.
(Age: 8+) Recommended. Themes: Family, Humour. Nelson, Kenny, and
their gutsy grandma deliver another hilarious adventure. Nelson,
tired of being the school nerd, wants to let his cover slip a little
at the annual athletics carnival. Despite Kenny's enthusiasm, both
Mum and Grandma put the kybosh on his plans to win an event or two.
We sense rebellion is afoot until unintentionally, Grandma's latest
invention tampers with Nelson's super powers. In the same vein of
Damian Young's, My Nana is a Ninja, Grandma takes on the
mantle of Ninja. Sadly, Nelson's feeble performance at the Athletics
Carnival is more dismal than ever and worse, he can't impress Sarah,
the girl's champion. Ironically, it's a blessing in disguise since
the new Carnival sponsor is very interested in the highest
performing students. Too interested perhaps? Can Nelsen and his
eccentric family, foil Dr Kane's plans to kidnap and unmask the
Ninja Kid?
Nelson has Kenny and Ahn Do has Jeremy Ley to draw the pictures.
Together they make a very amusing adventure for middle-schoolers and
STEM students who will be inspired to construct gadgets which are
functional and fun. One certainty is that everyone is bound to get a
kick out of the much anticipated 3rd volume in the Ninja Kid
series.
Deborah Robins
Courting Darkness by Robin LaFevers
His fair assassin, Counting darkness duology, book 1.
Anderson Press, 2019. ISBN: 9781783448265.
(Age: 16+) Highly recommended. Themes: Historical fantasy, France -
History, Brittany, Assassins. After devouring the three books in the
award winning His fair assassin series, I was thrilled to read the
story of Genevieve, a young girl who has been undercover for so
long, that she is no longer sure that she will be called up as a
daughter of Saint Mortain by the convent. She becomes embroiled with
a prisoner and manages to take matters into her own hands. Meanwhile
Sybella from Dark
triumph, returns and is accompanying the duchess on her way to
be married to the King of France. She is surrounded by enemies and
her only hope is to get help from the novitiates who had been hidden
in the French court so many years ago.
Although Courting darkness could be read as a stand-alone, with the
author giving enough information to set the scene, readers would
enjoy the book more if they had read the first three books in His
fair assassin series, Grave mercy, Dark
Triumph, and Mortal
heart.
The story is told from two points of view, that of Sybella and
Genevieve. Sybella relates the travails of Anne of Brittany, who is
trying to save her country. Sybella is terrified for the safety of
her two sisters and is desperate for help. Genevieve's involvement
with the unknown prisoner and her uncertainty about Saint Mortain,
give another view of what is going on, and the mystery surrounding
the prisoner is tantalising.
The world of medieval France is enthralling, with the descriptions
of the intrigue, the power mongering, the fear and the prisons
taking the reader right into this time in history. Peopled with real
characters as well as the fantasy daughters of Saint Mortain, it
makes for a fascinating read for lovers of historical fantasy.
A difficult wait for the second book in the duology is in store for
the reader, who is left on a tantalising cliff-hanger. Readers who
like Juliet Marillier's books, the Witchlands trilogy by
Susan Dennard and the Lumatere chronicles by Melina
Marchetta are likely to enjoy Counting darkness.
Pat Pledger
