Ill. by Elise Hurst. Puffin, 2018. ISBN 9780143787167
(Age: 7+) Recommended. Themes: Confidence. Courage. Determination.
The girl hesitantly watches from her perch in the upper reaches of
the buildings. She is unsure and stands there for hours, just
looking at what she must do. Finally she steps out onto the wire
stretched before her leading her across to the building in the
distance. She curls her toes around the wire, and pushed forward,
inching her way across the wire. The wind whips around her and when
she allows herself to look down she sees how impossibly high she is.
Unsettled she drops to the wire, calling for help, and a response
comes from the other side, telling her that she is there, waiting
for her but she must traverse the wire herself.
The illustrations in this book like those in Adelaide's secret
world (2016) are strangely fantastical, recreating an almost
mythical place which is nearly as we know it but not quite. It is a
place that seems just out of reach with its swirling winds and
leaves, the indistinct buildings an the ghostly faces peering out.
The illustrations form a breathtaking backdrop to the tension within
the story of a young girl setting out on life's journey and
overcoming obstacles on her way through life. She must keep going,
despite the pitfalls and diversions, knowing someone is waiting for
her.
Her courage is there for all to see.
Fran Knight
The other wife by Michael Robotham
Hachette, 2018. ISBN 9780733637933
(Ages: Senior secondary-Adult) Highly recommended. Themes: Crime.
Thriller. Family relationships. Those familiar with Robotham's
novels will be eager to read his next Professor Joe O'Lloughlin
episode. It certainly does not disappoint! His writing flows and
leads the reader on but does not take the audience for granted.
Joe's life is turned upside down when his father is taken to
hospital after a fall down stairs. He is in an induced coma and his
outlook for recovery is bleak. On his visit to the ICU he discovers
the first of a number of bombshells about his father. The first is
that the person at his bedside is not his mother but his other wife
of twenty years.
In trying to find the 'real' William O'Loughlin, retired eminent
surgeon, distant and disapproving father, possible bigamist and
leader of a double life, Joe delves into lives that he knows nothing
about. His relationship with the police deteriorates as they try to
persuade him to let them investigate without interference.
Ruiz as ever acts as a stabilising influence, gathering information
and providing protection when needed. All his preconceptions about
his family even his childhood memories seem as if they need to be
recast or at least viewed from a different perspective. His own
family is also vulnerable as he charges head on with finding
'truths'. His daughters, especially Emma, are fragile after the death
of his wife six months before and much is left up to Charlie who has
stepped in to take on some of the household duties.
Of course there is his Parkinsons which is beginning to play a
larger role in the life of Joe O'Loughlin.
Joe finds the truth eventually, but not before family memories are
reviewed and found wanting, old friendships are lost and his
father's image is changed and tarnished, but for the better or worse
he is not sure. He discovers that his father was at least human not
a distant and perfect icon.
Mark Knight
Alpacas with maracas by Matt Cosgrove
Scholastic, 2018. ISBN 9781743816349
(Ages: 4+) Recommended. Themes: Alpacas. Verse. Rhyme. Read aloud.
We met Macca the alpaca in a book of the same name, where he had to
deal with a bully, Al the shaggy alpaca. Now Al and Macca are the
best of friends, and have decided to enter a competition, a talent
quest.
But what to do. Everything they try seems to end in tears: Al gets
his head stuck in the harp strings, and his nails break the top of
the drums, while Macca finds the noise of the symbols a little
overwhelming. They try out a rock band but everyone else wants them
to stop. They keep on trying lots of other pieces of musical
instruments as well as stage acts like a choir and a dance sequence
with little success. The readers will be highly entertained seeing
their antics, and breath a sigh of relief when they find something
they can play together with some dexterity, the maracas. The pages
following are a delight, showing the two alpacas playing the maracas
as if they were born to do it. They wriggle their bottoms in time
with the beat, play around on the stage and eventually win a prize.
Not quite the prize the reading audience will think they deserve,
but one which rhymes with blast. The rhyming couplets carry the
story, inviting young readers to predict the rhyming word, and learn
some of the pairs of lines as they read.
The laughter filled pages invite further inspection by the readers
as the vibrant, colourful spreads reflect a variety of movements,
music and fun. A great read aloud.
Fran Knight
Waterhole by Fiona Bell
University of Qld Press, 2018. ISBN 9780702259999
(Ages: 11+) Sunny is home from boarding school - the first school
holidays since her mother died in a single-car accident. She clashes
with her stepfather and secretly blames Kevin, who is working alone
on their farm in North Queensland.
Sunny is overwhelmed by glimpses of her dead mother, and as a
result, believes a missing local teenager to be dead. She is
interested in Matthew, who is older and has an unsavoury reputation,
at least according to another boarding school student, Zara, who
befriends Sunny to relieve her holiday boredom. Sunny and Zara both
briefly work part-time jobs at Leanne's takeaway.
Leanne is invested in helping both Kevin and Sunny cope in the wake
of her best friend's death but Sunny's problems mount as Kevin seems
to be a person of interest in young Dylan's disappearance. Should
Sunny tell someone about her visions or leave town and a burgeoning
romance, to try to find her biological father?
Younger readers may identify with Sunny and her expressive
oversharing narration, but for the more well-read, this ghost story
will seem somewhat old fashioned.
Deborah Robins
Boy swallows universe by Trent Dalton
Fourth Estate, 2018. ISBN 9781460753897
(Age: 16+) Recommended. Violence, gore and extreme language. Eli and
August are two brothers growing up in 1980s Brisbane and for the
most part, their world and daily life experience, depicted amazingly
well by the author, is instantly recognisable to those who recall
the era. Perhaps not every aspect however, given that they live
amongst heroin dealers and are exposed to unspeakable acts of
violence inflicted as punishment and to eliminate competition.
August is the eldest, who abruptly ceased speaking years before and
communicates only by invisible 'air writing' and facial expression.
Eli yearns to be a newspaper reporter and develops the capacity to
recognise a story at an early age. Whilst their parents undertake
relatively small scale heroin deals and yearn to make the score
which they believe will allow them to escape the trade, the brothers
are watched over by a retired criminal Slim Halliday. Famous decades
before, Slim had wasted most of his life in incarceration, much of
it in solitary confinement, for the murder of a taxi driver and
subsequent prison escapes.
In viewing the bleak plight of these boys who grow up in a
threatening environment, surrounded by people who are either
hopeless or dangerous, the reader is caused to recognise the
inevitability of a life's course. Major crime is never excused or
glorified in this novel, however the author crafts characters who
perform according to a script determined by their parentage,
geographical location, limited opportunity and exposure to sinister
criminals who manipulate and exploit.
The story demands consideration of what goodness remains in people
who are undoubtedly criminal, sometimes ruthlessly bad and perhaps
even murderers. Do acts of kindness counter previous misdeeds? Can
the worst criminals be considered 'good' if they are on your side?
Mysterious elements prevail throughout the tale and Eli follows his
nose and summons what limited help is available to him in a bid to
discover the truth.
I found this story to be very sad. Whilst vicious violence and
cruelty is pivotal to the story, there are many poignant and moving
moments. Little boys yearn for family stability and for their broken
mother to be happy after stumbling from one miserable situation to
the next. At the same time they enjoy a typically childish delight
at the prospect of a Paddle Pop whilst existing insecurely in
poverty.
Touching and amusing moments temper what could be a depressingly
grim novel which is unmistakably exciting and captivating.
Rob Welsh
Charlie by Ronojoy Gosh
Puffin Books, 2018. ISBN 9780143785026
(Ages: 4+) Highly recommended. Themes: Lions. Appearance. Zoos.
Illustrator of highly acclaimed picture book I'm Australian too
(Mem Fox) and author of several picture books, Ronojoy has developed
a wider use of his skills after many years in advertising. In
Charlie, a lion who loves good food and art and the beach, finds
that when he takes the bus somewhere, people are afraid of him and
shy away. He does not like to frighten people so decides to wear a
disguise. This he does with much success, going to the beach and the
art gallery and into restaurants without a qualm. In the art gallery
he is able to stand next to many portraits of people with a disguise
such as his, while in art classes he is able to hold his own with
the other participants. At the aquarium, he feels sorry for the
penguins so knits them all a coat. His stomach begins to grumble
while he is out watching stars and he goes to a fine restaurant
where he eats a splendid meal, while afterwards he needs to find
somewhere to wash his disguise now full of the remnants of his meal.
Back at the Zoo for the night, he is satisfied that all has gone
well, he has had a terrific day and looks forward to new adventures
tomorrow.
Readers will enjoy watching Charlie's antics as he dons his disguise
and begins to do things that lions certainly do not do, laughing
with him as he tries to blend into the groups of people. His
disguise is seen in different places in the book so will cause
readers to seek them out, while classes may like to make the
disguise themselves and wear it while reading.
Discussing disguises, children may make the link to being different
and blending in, of the disguises we wear each day so that we do not
stand out.
Fran Knight
The mapmakers' race by Eirlys Hunter
Gecko Press, 2018. ISBN 9781776572038
(Age: 8-11) Themes: Perseverance. Adventure. Map drawing. Eirlys
Hunter's The mapmakers' race is set in a harsh mountainous
environment where a new railway line needs to be built. The
alternate world has mechanical horses and luggage-carrying clouds
and nefarious characters who will use any means to win the 28 day
race and the prize money of five hundred gold guineas.
The Santander family are desperately poor; their father, an explorer
and trail finder, has disappeared and mapmaker Ma and their children
desperately need to win the prize-money. Unfortunately on their
train trip to Grand Prospect where the race starts, Ma leaves the
rail carriage to search for Joe who's filling the water flasks and
she misses the train. Sal, Joe, Francie and little Humphrey decide
to enter the race anyway. All their possessions are on board, and
they believe Ma will catch up along the way. With Carrot the parrot
along for comic relief, this arduous undertaking that will test
their skills of survival and their support of each other. Sal is a
skilled mathematician great at calculating, Francie's special skill
is her ability to project into the upcoming environment and map the
upcoming route. Fortunately, they meet a knowledgeable local lad,
Beckett, who helps the family; he's skilled with animals, a great
cook and has wilderness experience.
In this fast-paced adventure the children overcome many natural
forces, fighting tough conditions, encounters with bear, bees, a
bat-filled cave, dangerous river crossings and cliff falls.
Ingenuity, inventiveness, dogged determination, bravery and support
of each other are qualities that assist the family to push through.
Francie's maps with places named by the children are key elements
that illustrate their twenty-eight day journey.
Eirlys Fowler's descriptive and exciting narrative is suitable for
middle primary students. Her world-building adds depth and interest,
what can a mechanical horse do, what advantages are there to clouds
carrying luggage? Complemented by Kirsten Slade's pen and ink
sketches and maps, this story is a great adventure, with strong
non-stereotypical characters.
Rhyllis Bignell
Sleep by Kate Prendergast
Old Barn Books, 2018. ISBN 9781910646229
(Age: 3-6) Recommended. Themes: Animals. Sleep. Kate Prendergast's
non-fiction picture book uses vivid illustrations to show where animals
rest and sleep. Her bright close-up paintings use a colour palette
reminiscent of 1960's children's books with swirls, dark shading and
patterns of oranges, reds, yellows and greens. Each animal is shown
asleep, some at home, in the barn, in the field or nests. Whilst
creating this engaging book, Kate discovered the plight of most of
these animals facing destruction of their habitat by humans. As you
share this story with a young audience, take time to discuss the
different ways animals rest or sleep, how and where this occurs and
why sleep is important to both animals and humans.
Harvest mice sleep curled up in their nests, whilst snails sleep in
their shells atop a resting tortoise. Bats sleep during the day and
fish sleep with their eyes open. Take time to wonder about the
places, physical conditions as you share the easy to read facts,
sometimes with added notes that accompany the close-up
illustrations. Prendergast includes 'Some Amazing Animal Facts' just
right for starting to engage with scientific facts and for
researching. Discover facts about cathemeral harvest-mice, mobs of
meerkats sleep in heaps, giraffes that sleep for only 20 minutes a
day and hibernating bears. Sleep by Kate Prendergast is a factual picture book, a great
resource for pre-schoolers and junior primary classes developing an
awareness of the needs of living things and beginning to investigate
how the environment supports life.
Rhyllis Bignell
The Red Fox Clan by John Flanagan
Ranger's Apprentice: The Royal Ranger book 2. Random House
Australia, 2018. ISBN 9780143785903
(Age: 12 - Adult) Recommended. Genres: Adventure and
fantasy. This story is about a group of military men called The
Rangers. In this group a Princess called Maddie is being trained as
a Ranger and has just finished the 3rd year of a four year
apprenticeship where she just about passes as the top ranger in her
year.
She returns to the Royal Castle for the break and to relieve her
boredom she goes exploring. Whilst exploring she discovers some of
the castle's secrets.
Meanwhile the King, her father, has left the castle to find and
destroy a local rebellious group called the Red Fox Clan. This group
has risen because the laws on the succession to the throne have
changed to allow women to ascend to the throne.
They first challenge the King in the provinces and then challenge
the castle itself.
The story comes to a climax when Maddie saves her father against the
forces and she discovers who the Red Fox is from behind his mask.
One of the major themes to come out of this story is loyalty to the
Rangers and their code of honour.
I would recommend this book to anyone in the age group of 12 to
Adult
Chris Mills (parent)
Leave taking by Lorraine Marwood
University of Queensland Press, 2018. ISBN 9780702260117
(Age: 11+) Recommended. Themes: Death, Leaving home, Family,
Connections. "Toby and his mum and dad are leaving their family farm
after the death of Toby's younger sister, Leah. Together, they sort
through all their belongings and put things aside to sell or throw
out. It's a big task, and Toby doesn't want to leave the only place
he's called home. As his last day on the farm approaches, Toby has a
plan - a plan to say goodbye to all the things and places that mean
something special to him and Leah, from the machinery shed and Pa's
old truck to the chook house. With the help of his best friend,
Trigger the dog, he learns what it means to take your leave."
(Publisher)
I found this book to be quite moving and at one time I even had
tears in my eyes. Do not be fooled by the cover - it is certainly
not a read for the younger audience. I would be recommending if for
students aged 11 and up. I am not sure if it resonated with me so
much because I grew up on a farm and know the strong attachment one
can have to the land or the fact that Toby was having to deal with
the death of his younger sister. It evoked real emotion discussion
the memories one can have attached to physical things. The journey
that Toby takes around the farm is attached to so many happy
memories associated with his sister and shows one that although
someone is not physically with us anymore, it is so important to
hold onto happy memories. The story was written in verse which I am
not normally a fan of but I really enjoyed it. It touches on themes
such as leaving, death, family and connections.
Kathryn Schumacher
The strange fascinations of Noah Hypnotik by David Arnold
Random House, 2018. ISBN 9780451480477
(Age: 15+) Highly recommended. Noah Oakman, is the classic anti-hero
if ever there was one. To avoid the labour of time-consuming
choices, he wears his own daily "uniform" - a t-shirt emblazoned
with the name,"Bowie". He spends much of the book making the most of
a back injury to avoid swimming training, which to his parents
equates to a college scholarship.
Being a concise history, the book begins by reconnecting with his
two best friends, twins Alan and Val, who drag him along to a party.
After meeting Circuit, who attempts to hypnotize him, things get
surreal and the central quest begins. Genuinely trying to find
explanations for the changes and coincidences he experiences over
the coming weeks, he doesn't know whether he is suffering from
paranoid delusions or is onto something revelatory. Allusions to The
Matrix foreshadow the answer.
Noah takes his readers on a comical and poignant mission to confront
his obsessions and coincidences and discover how they are related.
What happened to youtube's Fading Girl? Who is OMG (Old Man Goiter)?
Hypocritically, Noah resists watching the film, "Breakfast at
Tiffany's with his younger sister Penelope, who has her own
obsession with Audrey Hepburn.
Noah's complex frustrations reach fever pitch until Alan is
seriously injured and Noah gets a grip on reality. Paramount is
already busy turning Noah's adventure into a film as evidenced by
the official trailer.
"The Strange Fascinations of Noah Hypnotik" is compelling reading,
written by an edgy YA writer who knows how to keep us turning pages.
Deborah Robins
Minecraft: The Crash by Tracey Baptiste
Century, 2018. ISBN 9781780897776
(Age: Teens) Bianca (the main character) is never one to plan ahead:
she, like most people nowadays is 'act now deal with consciences
later,' but on top of that she's a bit of a scatterbrain so most of
the time it's 'act now have someone else deal with consequences'.
When Bianca and her best friend Lonnie are in a car accident that
Bianca might have caused she is incapacitated. After gaining full
consciousness, she is introduced to a VR version of Minecraft and
finds new friends and finding Lonnie in an apparently broken skin
while attempting an 'End dimension run'.
This book is the 2nd in a series, and the first one is a good read
as well. I will tell you that both books are not related apart from
being the first Minecraft series to be sponsored by Mojang and being
in the same series. They are part of a Mojang sponsored program to
get people of all ages reading.
The whole idea of the 'End dimension run' is Bianca trying to run
into her past, to before the car crash happened and it is also seen
through flashbacks that Bianca really depends on Lonnie to help her
with everything, plus that the car accident is a result of her being
a scatter brain. Bianca tries to slip into her past with Lonnie
(whose skin is glitching and has her stuck as a villager) but you
cannot run into your own past.
Bianca feels guilty about causing the crash and tries to complete
Lonnie's plan for the 'End run.' However, thanks to this new VR
version of Minecraft you can control your skin with your mind, but
it also means your deepest darkest insecurities will spawn mob's
most of which will try to kill you. Her guilt about causing the
crash and her obsession about completing the 'End-run' manifests
into an Enderman with a white scar which is the same as the other
car she crashed with. This Enderman will postpone the 'End run' and
attempts to stop the 'End run'.
One more thing, the ending is too obvious. I mean a good book hints
at a spoiler, but this book does it excessively. So much that ANYONE
can guess what it is. This is a HUGE spoiler and that is just not
okay!
Dante C. (Student, Year 7)
White rabbit red wolf by Tom Pollock
Walker Books, 2018. ISBN 9781406378177
(Age: 14+) Recommended. Themes: Twins, Mental illness, Bullying,
Genetic engineering, Spies, Murder Revenge, Deception. What starts
off as a book about a boy with extreme anxiety issues quickly
develops into a rollercoaster thriller. Peter Blankman must overcome
his terror and panic attacks to solve the near-fatal stabbing of his
mother and find his missing sister. He uses mathematics (his mild
super power), to suppress his anxiety and to solve the issues at
hand. Who wanted his mother dead? And why has his twin sister
disappeared leaving him on his own? There are murders, torture,
missing persons, spies and highly questionable genetic engineering
involved in this fast-paced story. Peter must unravel the past to
come to terms with what is happening in the present. There are
twists and turns and deceptions that shock and leave you questioning
what is real.
I enjoyed reading this book, it was a page turner, dark and
disturbing and left my pondering the life of the mentally ill and
our understanding and treatment of them.
I would recommend this for senior high school students (14+) who
enjoy a somewhat dark story.
Joyce Crawford
Duck! by Meg McKinlay
Ill. by Nathaniel Eckstrom. Walker, 2018. ISBN 9781925381535
(Age: 3-6) Recommended. Themes: Ducks, Farm Animals. Duck races
around the farmyard, annoying all the farm animals by shouting
'Duck!' The noble, tall horse who is busy swishing his tail doesn't
like Duck's rude interruption and is cross with the bird's loud
exclamation. He races around, jumping on the cow's back, disturbing
the wallowing pig, making each animal more and more angry. No-one
will listen to his warning. When Duck finally changes his one-word
exclamation, the animals finally realise that they should have
listened to him.
Meg McKinlay's charming story is a delight to read aloud, with the
repetitions, exclamations and animal descriptions perfect for
audience participation. 'Don't be ridiculous! You are a duck and he
is a horse and I am a cow . . . you have funny webbed feet and I
have these fine cloven hooves.' The animal characteristics will
stretch the reader's vocabulary, making for some engaging
discussion. The author's extended play on one word is fun and
surprising.
Nathaniel Eckstrom's autumnal illustrations are the perfect visual
narrative, foretelling the disaster about to strike the farm. Duck's
frustrations are evident, in his frantic movements, his wide-open
beak, pointing wings and final addition of the bucket hat are
delightfully portrayed. The other animals are shown with their more
boastful sides, eyes closed, sneering and grumpy mouths. There's
even a reference to a famous children's novel in the final scenes,
something wonderful to discuss with a preschool or junior primary
class!
"Duck!" by Meg McKinlay is reminiscent of the tale of Henny Penny
and her falling sky and is a fun and surprising story that will be
read over and over again.
Rhyllis Bignell
Stink: Hamlet and Cheese by Megan McDonald
Ill. by Peter H. Reynolds. Candlewick Press, 2018. ISBN 9780763691639
(Age: 8+) Themes: Humour, Shakespeare themes. Given the choice of
staying home with his sister Judy, or going to Shakespeare camp,
Stink takes the camp with his friend, Sophie of the Elves. She tells
him that it will not be anything like what he imagines, and seduces
him with tales of swordplay and cursing, enough to whet his appetite
for him to take on the role of a sprite. But his arch enemy, Riley
Rottenberger is being a Sprite, too, so things are about to happen
that not even Stink could have predicted.
All good fun with lots of puns and mock speeches, and lots of
information about Shakespeare and his plays to engage younger
readers.
This is the eleventh novel about Stink and his adventures all of
which are humorous, engaging and very readable.
Fran Knight
