Reviews

The boy at the back of the class by Onjali Q. Rauf

Orion, 2018. ISBN 9781510105010
(Age: 10+) Highly recommended. Themes: Friendship. Refugees. Bullying. Resilience. Tolerance. This is a really enjoyable story about 4 young friends at school who are intrigued by the mystery surrounding the new boy in the chair at the back of the class. They have many questions, but it is hard to find the answers; the boy Ahmet goes into 'Seclusion' in break times, and after school he is collected by a woman who doesn't seem to be his mother. He doesn't even seem to speak English. He is unlike anyone they've had in class before, a strange brave boy with the eyes of a lion. The friends gradually discover that Ahmet is a refugee child from war-torn Syria, and in his long trek across sea and land to find safety he has lost all family.
Learning that Britain is about to close its gates to refugees from Calais, the four children hatch plans to help Ahmet find his family before it is too late for him ever to be reunited with any of them. They come up with 'The Greatest Idea in the World'. But nothing ever goes smoothly, there are school bullies to contend with, and a bid to get help from the Queen leads to an amazing escapade which gets the attention of all the newspapers.
The story is narrated by a nine year old, and because the author does not give away whether it is a girl or boy speaking, each reader will identify in a way that suits them. And although the underlying subject matter is serious, the story has a lot of humour, particularly in revealing the thoughts and ideas of the nine year old friends. Drawings of their plans by illustrator Pippa Curnick add another element of fun.
Author Onjali Q Rauf is the person behind the 'Making Herstory' campaign for women's rights and prevention of abuse and slavery of women. She is also involved in delivering emergency aid packages to refugee families. The boy at the back of the class is her first novel, and is a wonderful way to draw in the interest of a young audience, helping them to understand issues that they can't help but overhear in the news and in adult conversations. The story is a great adventure, with themes of friendship, tolerance and understanding towards others.
Helen Eddy

It looks like this by Rafi Mittlefehldt

Candlewick Press, 2018. ISBN 9781536200430
(Age: 15+) Recommended. The cover reflects LGTBQ+ themes in one glance - rainbow silhouettes of two youths. Thankfully, neither the title nor the writing defines the narrator and main character. Fifteen year old Mike has a gentle temperament. He has three friends, counting his sister, Toby, and two burgeoning geeks, Jared and Ronald. He is not into sports until a basketball player at his new school invites him to hang out. His father would like to see him on a sports team, but he likes to draw. Interestingly, Mike is largely responsible for the daily well-being of his younger sister and the family dog, all of whom are less enthusiastic about church than their devout parents.
Even though he likes going to church on Sundays about as much as his unruly sister, Mike is resilient and grateful - he doesn't sweat the small stuff, and is just trying to make it through adolescence in the Bible belt, reasonably unscathed. He's an artist - observant of details and mindful. There is a genuine naivety, at least on Mike's part, about his burgeoning friendship with Sean Rossini, the jock, whose parents are members of the same church as his own family. Mittlefehldt draws out Mike's self-discovery so slowly that we could mistake his debut novel to be autobiographical, but in the acknowledgement to his family, we learn that the author was by contrast, tremendously supported by his family.
So what does it look like for Mike and Sean? For one brief moment it looks like the novel's opening sunrise, written by a boy in love for the first time. But very quickly a dysfunctional bully named Victor, uploads a film of the boys making out to YouTube and tips off both dads. Not merely unsupportive, one father is physically abusive and the other sends his son away to a Christian camp where "conversion therapy" is considered a treatment for homosexuality. Thus for the most part, it looks like: secrecy, cyberbullying, public shaming, ostracism and inevitable tragedy. Whose choices were responsible? Not the choice to love and be loved. Indeed, Mrs Pilsner, Ronald's mother, assures Mike, "You did nothing wrong. Ever, in any of this..."
Readers will be drawn to Mike and his inner circle of friends, more so than Sean whose character is not fully developed, making him ostensibly a ghost from the beginning. Despite the modern format and the omission of speech marks, the book will seem anachronistic to those who are savvy about LGTBQ issues, but for those young adults and parents living in peevish backwaters, It looks like this will be serve as both a cautionary tale and a strong indictment of Christian hypocrisy.
Deborah Robins

Are you my bottom? by Kate and Jol Temple

Ill. by Ronojoy Ghosh. Allen and Unwin, 2018. ISBN 9781760631642
(Age: 4+) Highly recommended. Themes: Bottoms. Animals. Research. When the little panda steps out of his bath, something is missing. There is a hole where his bottom should be, so he sets out to find it. The following pages with their four lines of rhyming lines will delight younger readers as the panda asks a host of other animals if their bottom belongs to him.
Readers will squeal with pleasure as the panda picks the most incongruous of animals to see if they are wearing his bottom. He talks to a lemur, a giraffe, a blue feathered bird, a moose, a baboon and his dad, all to no avail.
Readers will love the rhymes, predicting the coming rhyming word, and getting into the rhythm of the stanzas, as the adult reads it out loud. With rereading many children will pick up their favourite lines to learn and read out as they are approached. They will learn all the different words for bottom: butt, bot, rear and behind, and shriek with delight as they get to the last page trying to work out what rhymes with flummox.
As a way of diffusing the snickering that surrounds the word bottom, this is a sure winner, making the absurd readable and invoking lots of laughter. And all without the poo/bum words that some authors seem to think is necessary in a book for younger readers.
Ghosh has received awards for his work in advertising, but his passion remains in children's books, where he was amongst the CBCA Notables for I'm Australian too by Mem Fox.
Fran Knight

The magic spell by Linda Chapman

My secret unicorn series. Penguin, 2018. ISBN 9780241354223
(Age: 6-8) Themes: Horses. Pets. Fantasy. Linda Chapman's My secret unicorn series has been republished for a new generation of girls who love horses, unicorns and magic. These simple, easy to read stories are great beginning chapter books with realistic pencil sketches by Biz Hull. They capture the imagination and show that special relationship between a young girl and her first pony.
When young Lauren Foster moves to Granger's farm in the Blue Ridge Mountains she finally knows her dreams will come true. Her parents have promised her a pony and she can barely wait to pick one out at the horse and pony sale. He brother Max has his own ten-week old bundle of energy, a Bernese mountain dog, now it is Lauren's turn. She has a favourite story written especially for her when she was three, "My Little Pony" all about a beautiful snow-white pony looking for a perfect owner. Now she's nine it's time for a real pony!
A scruffy, grey pony captures her heart at the sale, and with the help of her Mum they purchase everything they need to look after Twilight. A chance encounter at the local bookshop opens Lauren's eyes to the fantasy world of unicorns and she starts to wonder if her new pony is something extra-special.
Linda Chapman's quick-paced story, delightfully weaves the fantasy world into Lauren's everyday life. My secret unicorn is just right for young horse and unicorn enthusiasts.
Rhyllis Bignell

Unofficial Minecraft STEM lab for kids by John Miller and Chris Fornell Scott

Quarry Books, 2018. ISBN 9781631594830
Apparently, 74 million people play Minecraft each month, one of those is Miss 12 who is now hooked on coding, and many of whom are in schools where the game is being used in many scenarios as part of the everyday learning experience. For some time, the teacher librarian networks I belong to have been peppered with queries about how it can best be used and so a book that specifically focuses on its use in the science, technology, maths and engineering strands will be of great value to teachers whose students are clamouring for these sorts of experiences but whose personal knowledge and skills of the game are not as developed as those of those they teach.
Beginning with a thorough explanation of what Minecraft is, how it works, how it can be used and played and purchased so that parents and teachers understand its value both in school and beyond - the book's focus is 'to connect the Minecraft player(s) in their life with STEM learning... to help bridge the gap between game-play and engaging STEM concepts" - it moves on to six themed quests, each of which presents four labs, which, in turn, have two parts - an out-of-game activity that requires hands-on exploration and an in-game building and crafting activity.
Quest 1: Pistons, Rails, and Redstone
Quest 2: Construction Zone
Quest 3: The Sky is Not Your Limit
Quest 4: Rocks, Minerals, and Gems
Quest 5: Cycles in Science
Quest 6: Engineering Challenge
In terms of the quality of content, Miss 12 would probably be a better reviewer than I, but in her absence, this review by a Minecraft expert suggests that it is "outstanding" and gives a comprehensive tour of the contents and layout. The credentials of the authors also convince me of its authority. However, as a non-Minecraft person who wears a teacher's hat, it would seem to me to be the perfect tool to not only capture an audience who prefer gaming to reading but also to use its user-friendliness to explore things not necessarily intellectually or physically in the teacher's toolbox. Added to that is this article which shows that onscreen adventures are leading children to discover their origins in print.
I'm beginning to see what all the conversations have been about and why there is such excitement about this game that demands so much more of the student than pressing buttons or manipulating levers.
Barbara Braxton

Run, riot by Nikesh Shukla

Hachette, 2018. ISBN 9781444940688
(Age: Older teens and Young Adult) Recommended. An action-packed thriller novel that slowly builds to a crescendo of events that continually surprise the reader. "Run Riot" is a powerful novel for Young Adult audiences who enjoy reading about the reluctant everyday hero and who can relate to issues that affect many young people living on the fringes of society. This is a novel that explores how community is a valuable network which must be supported and defended by all members. Young high school students MC Taran and her twin brother Hari, no longer live their lives as an isolated family because they feel a connection to the people they share Firestone House with, they feel that they somehow belong and are part of something.
Unfortunate circumstances have forced Taran, Hari and their parents to move to the Housing Estate that is not in a desirable part of town and which has a negative reputation. They would rather live somewhere else. But, just as Taran was beginning to envisage a way out of poverty with the hope of recording something worthwhile, and Hari working towards University after school, tragedy happens and it is happening to them, their new friends, romantic friends, family and their community.
They and their 2 friends Jamal and Anna, are on the run from tough bad guys, the police and other powerful entities. They run but in doing so, they realise that they must stand up for themselves, each other and the occupants of flats at Firestone House - their community and neighbours. They must stand up to corporations who want to redevelop their 'Home' in order to house wealthy people in grand apartments and uncaringly destroy the lives of many people by doing so. All of this happens in just 24 hours.
The big issues of police brutality, gentrification, young people growing up, love and relationships and general helplessness of the less fortunate in society, are brilliantly highlighted in tense and adrenaline packed language and banter which resonates with young people.
About the Author - Nikesh Shukla.
Nikesh is a writer, writing for a literary Journal "The Good Journal", co-editor, writer of a short movie "Two Dosas", he has worked for the BBC and he is currently writing as a columnist for "Observer Magazine". Nikesh's writing has earned him recognition and a Best Novella at the Sabotage Awards. Nikesh has made his first attempt at writing for teenagers with this new novel "Run, Riot".
Maria Burford

Greta Zargo and the amoeba monsters from the middle of the Earth by A. F. Harrold

Bloomsbury, 2018. ISBN 9781408881774
(Age: 8-12) Greta Zargo, an independent young girl who lives alone in her inherited house, returns in this second book to save from the world from further disaster. This time she has to contend with giant amoeba she has unwittingly released from her own garden. They are making their way around the village, Upper Lowerbridge, consuming a variety of its inhabitants.
Meanwhile Greta has to discover the whereabouts of her missing Aunt Tabitha, a great inventor, who is hosting TAFoNS, the Thirteenth Annual Festival of new Stuff.
Visiting inventors to TAFoNS have some unusual innovations such as cows who poo hamburgers (cow patties not cow pats), a new way of detecting the colour orange and miniature ostriches.
An interesting inclusion in this book are the many notes written on the side margins of the pages. These add extra quirky information to the story.
A. F. Harrod is a poet and wordsmith and loves to play around with names, my favourite being the "Hester Sometimes Conference Centre and Immobile Library".
Maps at the beginning of the book show Greta's village of Upper Lowerbridge, not to be confused with Lower Upperbridge.
Joe Todd-Stanton's illustrations are scattered throughout the novel and add to the appeal of the book.
The first Greta Zargo book is entitled "Greta Zargo and the Death Robots from Outer Space" and A. F. Harrold has also written the "Fizzlestump" series.
This novel will appeal to children aged 8-12 who love quirky, silly humour and a good laugh.
Jane Moore

Obsidio by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff

The Illuminae Files book 3. Allen and Unwin, 2018. ISBN 9781925266726
(Age: 15+) Recommended. Themes: Science Fiction; Warfare and conflict; Sabotage and Resistance; Technology; Artificial Intelligence; Space Travel. In this epic conclusion to the "Iluminae Files" series, we are again launched at warp speed into the phenomenal world of space conflict, where big business and humanity grapple for survival in the most extreme of environments. The fight-to-the-death battle rages between the forces to protect the interests of the corporation that has most to gain and opposed to them are the insurgents, the workers, teenagers and human faces that are just keen to survive. Linked within this conflict is the Artificial Intelligence voice and coding of AIDAN, whose 'personality' waxes and wanes between heroism, villainy and friendship. Is there a moral aspect to his AI actions, or is he programmed to act when no human could, and all in a world of complex code . . . with more than a hint of personality?
This book is told through the files, reports and documents gleaned from surveillance footage, text, messages, illustrations and computer logs and files that were made at the time of the conflict - all kept and compiled for posterity and for evidence of the 'good and the bad' events leading up to the final moments. The variety of text type formats to tell the story makes this a non-traditional narrative, and consequently this is not for the faint-hearted. This can be hard work at times, but the epic storyline and the incredible efforts and intelligence of the teenage heroes will make this a worthy escape for Sci-fi lovers. Even though I read the "Illuminae Files" book 2 some time ago, it did take me some time to reconnect all the intricacies of plot and characterisation that continue in three books. This series might be best read as a 'binge-read' in order to keep the complex threads in some order. YA readers will love this series, and will probably want to devour all three books in the series. The romantic interests of characters also make this appealing for female readers too, as it is not just an action-war story, set in space. The authors of this book have done an amazing job at writing a compelling series in a very different style of multi-format text communication.
[Note: An interesting technique of 'blacking out' all swearing in the book gives at least some credence to those who do not want this in YA fiction . . . but it is still patently clear what lies beneath the 'black blanket'! But I must credit publishers or authors with at least minimising the blatant impact of coarse and offensive language. ]
Recommended for Sci-fi lovers aged 15+
Carolyn Hull

My Girragundji by Meme McDonald and Boori Monty Pryor

I got a chicken for my birthday by Laura Gehl

Carolrhoda Books, 2018. ISBN 9781512431308
(Age: 5+) Highly recommended. How would you like a chicken for your birthday? It could be good - fresh eggs and a friend to talk to. Maybe? Well not this chicken! Our young lady wanted tickets to the amusement park but she was sent a chicken by her grandmother. She tries to be excited and responsible. She feeds the chicken but the chicken wants cotton candy. She gets excited about fresh eggs but the chicken is too busy. Before she knows it, the chicken has stolen her dog and her cat and has written a huge list of wants - nails, wood, a horse, helmets, a bucket, a lamb, geese and milk. What is this chicken up to? Could this chicken turn out to be the worst gift ever?
"I Got a Chicken For My Birthday" is a hilarious and well illustrated picture book. The funny looking chicken is a great discussion point - is it like a real chicken, what is different about it, what is the same about it, are all chickens the same . . . . . Excellent for practising observation skills. Children can also make predictions about what the chicken is up to and create their own stories. The text is simple and easy to read, matching well with the illustrations. It is highly recommended for readers (and their carers) aged 5+ as well as independent readers aged 7+. You are never too old for a funny picture book.
Kylie Kempster

Good night stories for rebel girls 2 by Elena Favilli and Francesca Cavallo

Timbuktu, 2018. ISBN 9780997895827
(Age: 5 - Adult) Highly recommended. Themes: Women. Read aloud. Like Good night stories for rebel girls 1, this volume has 100 stories about women, some well known (Beyonce, Madonna) and many less well known (Chimamanda Ngozi Adiche, Beatrice Vio). Each woman has a double page spread, one side with information about how the woman managed, some times overcoming great odds, to achieve their dreams. 60 different female artists have illustrated the book, and each fabulous portrait of the woman described adds to the reader's understanding of their personality.
The book is set out beautifully, each entry a joy to read, making it a book that is sure to be a keeper in any family's library. It was immediately grabbed when spotted in the bookshop by my 9 year old granddaughter, who already had and loved the first book. It is a book that responds to being read aloud as a bedtime story as the one page entries are just right for a short bedtime story with the story, the dates of birth and death, and the illustration providing great entry points for discussion. The book equally responds to having the reader pick out different inspiring women to read about silently.
The book will inspire all readers with its tales of real women from the past and the present, who have changed the world. It is sure to appeal equally to boys as well as girls as the information is not only informative but also written in a clear, interesting and easily accessible manner. Adults will find it equally fascinating as they read about women known and unknown to them (Agatha Christie, Sophia Loren).
Pat Pledger

Tom Gates: Biscuits, bands and very big plans by Liz Pichon

Tom Gates book 14. Scholastic, 2018, ISBN 9781742998183
(Age: 8+) Recommended. Themes: School stories. Family life. Music. Art. Liz Pichon's award winning Tom Gates series returns for the fourteenth time in Biscuits, bands and very big plans. What a giant book, jam-packed with doodles that sprawl across the pages, curls and swirls, crazy characters, funny family members, zombies and so many opportunities to add your own doodles! Tom's running commentary on his school and home life is always humorous, his love for music and food shine through.
At break time Tom's class mates discuss their favourite songs and bands, One Dimension's 'Let's All Sing' is the most popular song. Marcus, Norman and Tom realise they need to write some new songs for their band 'DogZombies' and Tom's ideas of course are based on food - biscuits. Tom thinks their band needs a new look as well, not like the old bands he's seen in Delia's Rock Weekly magazines, singers wearing flares and big poodle hair. He's finding it difficult to return these magazines which he took without Delia knowing. Tom's sneaky foray also leads him into reading her diary and this causes some family tension leading to funny false information being shared with interesting consequences. Delia believes that the family's buying a new dog much to her horror.
Everyday events like band practice have that added extra touch of drama. Norman brings his little brother Alfie who turns out to be a whirling dervish, escape artist and mess maker when his rice shaker instrument explodes all over Tom's bedroom. Tom's coerced into singing in the school choir and after some initial concerns, he enjoys the experience, although wearing t-shirts spelling out the choir's name proves interesting.
Tom Gates: Biscuits, bands and very big plans brings back all the familiar characters and settings whilst upping the ante on silly situations, family fun and adding mega amounts of art. Liz Pichon's Tom Gates series is perfect for reluctant readers who enjoy stories told through visual representation.
Rhyllis Bignell

Jasper juggles jellyfish by Ben Long

Ill. by David Cornish. Ford Street, 2018. ISBN 9781925736038
(Age: 3-6) Themes: Rhyming book. Learning. Persistence. Jasper is a bit of a disinterested learner (dragging his tentacles off to school) and he would definitely rather juggle jellyfish than count them. Imagine his surprise when his learning to juggle (he wants to give up with this when it becomes too hard) also results in him learning to count.
Rich, shiny illustrations give an under-the-sea sheen but the illustrations falls a little flat, perhaps let down by Jasper the octopus not having a form that allows for any facial or bodily expression. This is disappointing as the story focuses heavily on Jasper's attitudes to learning, failure and success and while there is an attempt to counter this through the text ("He crumpled with a sigh") it doesn't quite hit the mark. The little jellyfish are more animated but they are secondary characters and singular faceted in their emotions.
The story is an important reminder to children that learning can be useful and fun and a nice reminder to parents and teachers that there is more than one way to learn and that children learn best when they are active participants engaging with the world around them.
Nicole Nelson

And my heart crumples like a coke can by Ali Whitelock

Wakefield Press, 2018. ISBN 9781743055342
(Age: Adult) Highly recommended. Poetry. The evocative title And my heart crumples like a coke can struck a chord with me, and I knew I was going to enjoy reading Whitelock's poems. Even the cover, with the image of the poet with the direct confrontational gaze, drew me in. If you read down the contents page, there is sure to be something to pique your curiosity - 'what you must do you must keep your mouth shut', 'please do not pee in the sink', 'let me eat cake and go quietly to seed' attracted me. Other readers may be drawn to the poem about the dog with arthritis, or the friend's vagina, or making a chocolate cake, or dead man farting. The themes of the poems grapple with aspects of life most of us have experienced - death and grief, love, lies and infidelity, illness, having babies or not having them, therapy, racism, unexpected friendships.
The language pours out like a rant, it is blunt, there is swearing. There are also amazing images like the crumpled coke can. There is minimal punctuation, no capitals or full stops, but as you read the lines, you realise there is a structure; the broken sentence with the carefully placed word on the next line is almost like the staggered emphasis of rap poetry.
The language pours out but it is crafted; Whitelock says that writing a poem could take 'one week or fifty-two it depends'. And in the poem about the not-friend in the fish and chip shop she describes the process as 'haemorrhaging internally while reaching for the light'. There is beauty and harshness together.
It is a slim book, easy to pick up, read, and return to again. My husband, who does not usually read poetry but happened to pick it up, has his bookmark at a different page to mine. We're taking turns reading.
Helen Eddy

Hello to you, Moon by Sally Morgan

Ill. by Sonny and Biddy. Little Hare, 2017. ISBN 9781760125462
(Age: 3-5) When little people draw the curtains on the day, snuggle down and close their eyes, little do they know that a whole different world is waking up.
From the fading of the light through to the twinkling black and on until the dawning of the new day, as the constellations shift across the heavens and Moon completes its journey for another night, across the world nocturnal creatures are getting on with their lives, each paying homage to that timeless orb that will outlast and outlive them as it has done for generations of their forbears. From the kangaroo coughing at the moon at dusk in an Australian desert, to the jungles of Asia where sun-bears snuffle and grunt and to the still silence of the extra-long Antarctic night where penguins scurry and honk, the planet is populated by species that prefer the cool light of the moon to the bright heat of the sun. And while not all of them are strictly nocturnal, nevertheless all respond to the moon through movement and sound that little ones will like to mimic.
Stunningly illustrated in the details, textures and colours of the night, and building as a counting story, author and illustrators have brought the after-dark to life introducing the youngest readers to the nocturnal world in a way that will make them want to learn more about what else is up and about while they sleep and why they choose dark over light. It may also encourage curiosity about the Moon - why does it change shape; where does it go in the daytime; why can we sometimes see it in the day and not at night - but my favourite activity is to get them to listen to the sounds of night falling and imagine those things that are tucking themselves in for the night as they are and those things that are waking and greeting their new 'day'.
Formal teaching notes are available.
Barbara Braxton