Reviews

Skylarks by Karen Gregory

All of this is true by Lygia Day Penaflor

Bloomsbury, 2018. ISBN 9781408890936
(Age: 15+) Unusually scripted, this novel is not constructed in the common form of a novel related by a known or unknown narrator. Daring to be quite different, this new form of storytelling is constructed through the use of a various personal and written interactions, using narrative accounts of experiences, scripted interactions and television interviews. As we read the individual 'parts', we are challenged to build a story of the events, as we understand them to have happened, and it is in our recognition of what we gather that appears to be a valid account of the truth of the events as we think they have occurred. We are certainly drawn into the world of the text by what we realize as the wrongful use of data, collected without the permission of the characters concerned.
Its 'story-telling' methods consist of television interviews of people involved in the events, of other apparently on-line interviews, of excerpts from a New York magazine, of one character's story, and of passages from the novel that engendered the whole 'story' that we gather as it emerges. It is through these repeated models that Penaflor chronicles events, past and present, to construct her book. We construct our idea of the story, and indeed of what we decide is 'truth' or 'lies', and indeed of the element of 'betrayal', by linking what we discover in the various models.
The novel begins with the script of a television interview and the story evolves through each passage, as the novel segues between the various models. The narrative is constructed through articles in the New York City Magazine, interviews of characters involved in the 'story' by unrevealed interviewers, excerpts from a new book written by this television interviewer, using, illegally, it is alleged, the adolescents' opinions and stories, as gleaned from the TV 'chats'. Added to this is the questioning of the young people involved by an unnamed interviewer, through which we glean sufficient understanding to create a 'story', As readers, we work to make sense of the events, and thus we are drawn into the affront felt by the characters, those emotional responses of those whose words, in interviews, were used by the writer of the novel, without permission, to construct her new novel.
Complex, challenging and emotive, this new work is powerful, set absolutely in the world of modern media, both private and public, and responding to the ideas of betrayal and loyalty, and of naivety. Penaflor has created a 'text' that is very vibrant, and reflects that part of life where adolescents must decide on their set of values, of aspirations, of what matters in this world, of who they are and what they will become, and most of all, what they will value. This is appropriate for adolescents, and would be apt for adults, especially those who work with young people.
Elizabeth Bondar

Shelter in Place by Nora Roberts

Piatkus, 2018. ISBN 9780349417820
(Age: Adult) Recommended. Themes: Mass shooting. Mystery and suspense. Romance. The best-selling author Roberts has tackled a very timely and difficult topic in "Shelter in Place". The book opens with a very gripping and horrifying chapter in Part one, Innocence Lost, where Roberts introduces her main character, 16 year old Simone, who is the witness to the terrible carnage of a mass shooting at DownEast Mall, outside Portland, Maine. She is the first responder, after seeing what was happening in the cinema, managed to hide and contact police. Because of this there was a quick response and although the massacre lasted only eight minutes there were many deaths. The actions of other survivors were also described, including that of Reed Quartermaine and his friend the manager of a video store, and Essie a police woman.
In Part 2 of the book, Roberts follows the effects that the shootings had on the survivors, describing how each managed to live with the memories as they grew into adults. Reed became a detective dedicated to the law, Simone found an outlet in her art and Essie continued to mentor young police, while yet another survivor lived in anger. But there is one person who wanted all the survivors to die, and this person is plotting to bring them all down. Part 3 concentrates more on the growing romance between Simone and Reed, but there are many tense moments there as well. The villain of the story is drawn as a chilling, heartless person, and her intelligence and cunning make it very difficult to hide from her.
Roberts is a master of romantic suspense and this is another of her novels that can't be put down. She builds up the tension to fever pitch and she gives the reader a thorough idea of what it would be like to live through a massacre and then endure the after effects of it.
Pat Pledger

Miss Lily's lovely ladies by Jackie French

Harper Collins Publishers, 2017. ISBN 9781460753583
This is a lovely story about love and high society and what women were able to achieve during the war. Sophie Higgs is the daughter of Australia's king of corned beef. She finds herself in Europe learning how to be a lady, with a selection of other upper class girls. As she gets to the end of her season war breaks out. Sophie is forced to make decisions she never thought she would have to make, about love and life.
Miss Lily teaches the girls the skills of how to charm a man in a variety of situations, and little does Sophie know how important what Miss Lily teachers her will be in the future.
This book highlights the efforts and the courage of the women who played a vital role in the war efforts during the First World War. It also highlights the hidden heroism that many women did during the war years with little recognition and little thought of themselves.
I really enjoyed this book and can't wait to read the next book in the series.
Karen Colliver

Nobody Real by Steven Camden

HarperCollins, 2018. ISBN 9780008168384
(Age: 16+) Real or Not? This book teeters between reality for the central character, Marcie, and the world and life of her imaginary friend, Thor. The reader is always in a state of uncertainty as the world of imaginary friendship is revealed. This is not a straightforward or juvenile revelation. Marcie (or Mars as she is often called) is dealing with an uncertain future as she stands on the cusp of leaving school and facing the prospects to come. Her secret 'friend' Thor is facing a transition of his own . . . a transition that is revealed through his counselling sessions. Maturity comes with all sorts of challenges.
Marcie's family life is complex and Thor has enabled her to survive through the traumas of her childhood, but what will happen now that childhood is disappearing? Her real-life friend, Cara, is ready to launch, but Marcie is far from ready and their relationship is showing the first signs of complication. Will Thor be able to manipulate circumstances and her attitudes so she is ready to be the person she should be? Coming out of her corner is fraught with problems. Her father is a writer battling his own life-blocks and with limited input into the personal dramas that she faces. His battle with creativity is in juxtaposition to Marcie's imaginary creation and the closeness and comfort that Thor brings. The angst of the teenage Marcie, is replicated in the creative struggles of her father.
This book is highly original, captivating and complex and requires extreme persistence to unravel the unique floating 'voices' that communicate Marcie's realities and the world of the imagination. This confusion is part of what makes this an interesting read and adds a level of intricacy and perhaps a hint of the manic or perplexity that a mature reader would find worthy of persistence. I liked the idea of the imaginary friend (creature) who is not ready to fade from his critical role as confidante; but the complexity of the journey will only be appreciated by those who read in 'meal-sized' portions, rather than a 'snack and nibble' approach, as confusion will be a companion. If the identity of the narrator was clearer (perhaps with chapter heading hints), then the reader would not need to spend critical time re-reading sections to identify whose voice is being heard, and whose feelings and identity is being revealed. (Note: differing fonts used for different 'voices' do not always clarify the confusion.) 'Living inside someone's head' is inherently confusing, so the author has deliberately created mystery as he reveals what is real and what is not.
Carolyn Hull

Star Wars Maker Lab: 20 Galactic Science Projects by Liz Lee

DK Children, 2018. ISBN 9780241314234
(Age: 8+) Highly recommended. What person won't be tempted to pick up this book and see just what craft and science projects can be made using the ever popular Star Wars brand? This book has 20 projects that can be made at home or in a maker lab. Some of them include making a lightsabre beam, kyber crystals, Jabbba slime and a Mustafar volcano, as well as a Hoth snow globe and galactic planets.
There is a 'Before you start' section which emphasises safety, a note to parents that the projects may require parental supervision, how to use the templates found at the back of the book and where to get supplies. Each project gives a level of difficulty from easy, medium to tricky, tells the maker what supplies they will need with clear illustrations and then gives a step by step instructions, accompanied by pictures. Much of the equipment is stuff that would be found around the house, but some needs to be specially purchased, like batteries and light pens, and The Death star tractor beam, for example, needs a glue gun.
Each project gives a Star Wars context with pictures and there is a 'How it works' section that explains the science in clear concise language and an illustration. A glossary at the back gives definitions of many of the scientific terms, as well as references to the Star Wars Galaxy.
This would be a very useful addition to a school library with a maker-space, but would be an equally ideal gift to a child, giving lots of inspiration for things to do during long holidays.
Pat Pledger

Headstrong daughters by Nadia Jamal

Allen and Unwin, 2018. ISBN 9781760293314
(Age: 16+) Highly recommended. Non-fiction. 'An absolutely fascinating and illuminating read' is how Annabel Crabb describes this book which is like a next chapter to follow Amal Awad's Beyond veiled cliches. That book provided insight into the real lives of Arab women in the Middle East. Jamal's book provides insight into the lives and concerns of the new generation of Muslim women in Australia. They include young working women, single and married, some mothers, women from a variety of cultural backgrounds including Lebanon, Iraq, Bangladesh and Somalia. Jamal explains that some of their thoughts and attitudes draw on 'cultural traditions and interpretations rather than actual religious teachings'. For readers unfamiliar with the teachings of Islam it is an important distinction. It provides context for the variations in customs and concerns of the women she introduces to us. Yet all of them seem to be determined to live with integrity within their beliefs. The women's stories provide us with insight into Muslim practices such as choosing to wear the hijab, making the hajj pilgrimage, marriage arrangements, divorce settlement, and funeral practices, but also describes their thoughts about modern issues such as dating, contraception, IVF treatment, abortion, adoption and foster care. In grappling with these issues, they seek always to be true to themselves, their families and their faith.
The stories reveal different viewpoints, and different paths, but the thing they have in common is their desire to honour the teachings of Islam. Some of the stories may surprise readers who have absorbed the common media stereotypes of Muslim women. These women are strong and independent, in the decisions they make and in their determination to honour the moral and ethical teachings of their religion. And the issues they grapple with are common to young women of all backgrounds. For that reason, this book is recommended for young adults regardless of their background; the principles of honesty, compassion and integrity applied to modern issues are of relevance to all.
Helen Eddy

I am an artist by Nikki Slade Robinson

Starfish Bay, 2017. ISBN 9781760361013
(Age: 4+) Themes: Art. Nature. Creativity. 'I am an anywhere artist ... my imagination is all I need.' New Zealand author illustrator Nikki Slade Robinson draws inspiration from nature and the natural elements in this imaginative picture book. Written from the young girl's point of view, each page starts with an 'I' statement - I can, I don't need, I find, I pick up and I collect. Simple, carefully created sentences, full of alliteration and adjectives describing the found materials are a delight to read out loud. As the little girl spreads the strands of seaweed along the beach she states, 'I collect salty shells. I shape sand. I spread curly seaweed out'. The text appears handwritten with curly tails with some written in a larger size for emphasis. There is a creative flow to the story, which builds anticipation what setting is next, what will inspire her?
Robinson's combination of photographs, natural backgrounds and the movement of the young artist seen from different viewpoints is visually engaging. She leaps across the page trailed by beautiful golden flowers, she searches amongst lush green forest ferns and lies on a lawn of green grass and makes cloud art inside her head. There is a celebration of creativity, she is not limited by paints, brushes and paper, the scope of her artistic creations is only limited by her imagination.
I am an artist by Nikki Slade Robinson opens up the world of environmental art to families, pre-schoolers and early years teachers. A plethora of experiences unfold, collecting found objects from backyards and beaches, forests and parks, sharing the simple joys of cloud watching, simple activities just right for sharing. Seasonal adventures, making sculptures, multi-dimensional art and whole class collaborations - Robinson's gorgeous picture book provides the springboard for creative expression.
Teacher's Guide is available.
Rhyllis Bignell

The nowhere child by Christian White

Affirm Press, 2018. ISBN 9781925584523
(Age: Mature 16+) Recommended. Themes: Mystery and suspense. Cults. When Kim Leamy is approached by a stranger during a break in her work, he tells her that he believes that she is Sammy Went, a child who went missing 28 years ago. Kim can't believe it - she has had a happy home life with people who love her, but once she starts investigating her past, she finds anomalies that take her off to Manson, Kentucky. While trying to solve the mystery of the disappearance of Sammy Went, she faces danger as the secrets of the town begin to unravel.
This was a compulsive read that grabbed me from the beginning as Kim begins to try and find out what happened to the little girl Sammy and why the stranger believes that she is that girl. The atmosphere of the Southern town of Manson is vividly described and the reader is taken into the home of the Went family, its problems and the deep religious beliefs of the Went mother. The religious cult of snake handling is explored in detail that is quite disturbing. It makes the story darker and more fascinating than many other mystery thrillers that are available.
Not for the faint hearted, The nowhere child will have readers on the edge of their seats as Kim traces step by step the journey that Sammy Went undertook. There are plenty of red herrings to lead the reader astray and the final denouement is chilling and unexpected.
Pat Pledger

There's a dragon in your book by Tom Fletcher

Ill. by Greg Abbott. Puffin, 2018. ISBN 9780141376127
(Age: 4+) Recommended. Themes: Dragons. Humour. With the opening page warning of the egg which is about to hatch, eager fingers will turn the page with glee, anticipating what may happen next. A baby dragon appears from the egg and the book asks the reader to tickle her nose which has a not unexpected consequence, a sneeze, which makes small spot fires around the page. Readers will be puzzling over what to do next as they watch the cheery little animal joining in the quest of how to put out the fires. Her suggestion put into place, the book gives another warning to the reader as the problem escalates, each time a solution begetting another problem to solve. Readers will laugh out loud at the situations she finds herself in, and admire the solutions, seemingly the one that is needed.
When all is peaceful once again, the dragon flies off, only to find another heap of problems around the corner.
A funny, involving text with illustrations that beg to be closely looked at, this dragon book will keep readers amused to the end, not only reading a highly amusing tale, but learning a lot about dragons along the way.
A sequel to the highly successful, There's a monster in your book.
Fran Knight

The perfect leaf by Andrew Plant

Ford St, 2018. ISBN 9781925736007
(Age: 4+) Recommended. Themes: Autumn. Perfection. Playing outside. Cooperation. Two girls romp and play in the thick golden autumn leaves spread across the ground under some beautiful large trees. They are in awe at the variety, shapes and colour of the leaves, and Plant cleverly grabs the attention of his audience as they too, will peruse the pages looking at the array of difference amongst the leaves. The girls are searching for the perfect leaf, and shuffle through the many on the forest floor, rejecting them because there is a small blemish, or a hole or spot. But each is still beautiful, full of colour and light, enrapturing the attention of the readers. And the search for the perfect leaf may not result in one being found, but their enthusiasm and imagination makes the perfect leaf a part of their journey as they play in the forest. Full of the joys of autumn, of the beauty of the falling leaves, of playing outside with friends, rugged up against the coming winter chill, this book explores the idea of perfection and its attainment, while extolling the virtues of cooperation with friends.
Children will love the golden hues across each page, and look more closely and the varieties of golds and yellows, browns and white that Plant has used in his illustrations, and will look more closely to find the insects hidden on some of the pages.
Fran Knight

Zoo house by Heath McKenzie

Scholastic, 2018. ISBN 9781742767628
(Age: 4+) Highly recommended. Themes: Zoos, Animals, Housework, Humour. When Oscar gets out of bed in the morning, he steps upon a snake. Undeterred he goes to the loo where he finds a gorilla or two, but on the stairs is a pair of brown bears. In the kitchen he finds baboons and chimps, while the bathroom is crammed with an elephant, rhinoceros and hippopotamus. What is going on, children will ask, but turning the page the reader will find a frazzled mum trying to keep the housework up to scratch with all these visitors.
McKenzie presents a dilemma in this uproariously funny verse story of how a house becomes a zoo, and how mum tries to turn things around so that everyone helps with the chores. She calls a halt to doing all the work herself, and writes up a chart with everyone's name on it and the chore they must do. Each animal is quite prepared to help, but the results are not quite what everyone expected.
Children will laugh out loud at the things the animals do in the house and their attempts at doing housework. Small moments of humour abound an readers will love following the antics of each, watching how the other children and dad behave along the way. Among the funny digitally executed illustrations, full of movement and humour, eager readers will find eleven koalas hidden within the pages.
All children will have great fun with this book, recognising the various animals and their incarnation within the pages, predicting the rhyme on each page, following the antics of each animal and checking out all the chores that are needed to keep a house going. The funny illustrations beg to be pored over and some readers may try their own hand at drawing an animal in the McKenzie style. I loved the endpapers with their paw prints, adding another level of research for readers, working out which print belongs to which animal.
Fran Knight

Zoom by Sha'an D'Anthes

Lothian Children's Books, 2018. ISBN 9780734417633
(Age: 4+) Highly recommended. Themes: Planets, Solar system, STEM, Astronomy. For an introduction to the planets in our solar system and the order in which they appear from the sun, this is a wonderful book. With clear, bright and inviting illustrations bound to entice the youngest reader, the text tells us of Scout a young inventor, explorer and dreamer. Each day he thinks about things and builds his space ship, ready to be launched in his back yard. In space he visits each of the planets in our Solar System in turn, naming them and showing some of their details. Each of the planets is likened to an animal encouraging the smaller reader to associate that planet with something known and in reading this book, learn the order of the planets. So the first planet, Mercury, the smallest of the planets is fashioned as a small teddy bear lying on a rug, the second, Venus is shaped like a kangaroo, and shown to be a very bright planet.
The third rock from the sun, Earth, is given the shape of a large bear, tickled by people walking across her belly. Earth is followed by little red Mars, a fox smiling at the passing astronaut. Then a whale, the mighty Jupiter, and Saturn, an elephant girdled by its rings, followed by Uranus, a green crocodile and finally Neptune, a blue tiger, the last of the planets. With a flurry of noises and lights, Scout realises that he is running out of fuel. He puts out a call for help and gets a response from the tiny frozen dwarf planet, Pluto, but before anything can happen, Pluto sneezes and Scout lands in his own backyard. Scout the adventurer has had a very busy day.
This joyous book will give younger readers a basic understanding of where the planets of our Solar System sit in relation with each others, and give them a little information about each planet through Scout's adventure.
Independent author/illustrator Sha'an has produced a stunning read aloud book which will find a place in school libraries, homes and classrooms. Eager readers will see the link between the planets and Scout's mobile above his bed, reflecting the animals shown as each planet.
Fran Knight

Riding a donkey backwards retold by Sean Taylor and Khayaal Theatre

Ill. by Shirin Adl. Otter-Barry, 2018. ISBN 9781910959305
(Age: 4+) Highly recommended. Themes: Read a loud, Myths and legends, Middle Eastern stories, Trickster. Uqman Ali and Eleanor Martin set up the Khataal Theatre, devoted to performing the poetry, stories and tales from Muslim culture, many of which feature Mulla Nasruddin, a trickster whose stories figure in the myths and legends of countries from Asia to Turkey. Some of Mulla Nasruddin's tales are brought together in this book, retold by Sean Taylor and illustrated by Shirin Adl, stunningly reflecting her Iranian background. Reading these stories is an absolute treat, learning why Nasruddin sleeps in his bed in the thieves' house after his goods were stolen, or why he rides his donkey backwards, or what 'the other side' means to someone already on the other side. Beguiling, full of humour, wisdom and jokes, while begging to be read out loud, children will love the use of language and the seeming simplicity of the tales as Nasruddin tells of incidents in his life. One very short tale tells of Nasruddin walking with his umbrella. When it begins to rain he opens it and sees it is broken. A young girl asks him why he brought it if it was broken. He replied was that he didn't think it would rain.
Another story details Nasruddin's early days at school where he fell asleep when he was supposed to be drawing. When the teacher woke him and asked him to come to the front of the class and show his drawing, he only had a blank piece of paper, but he used this to explain that it is a donkey eating grass. Scoffing, the teacher was then told, that the donkey ate the grass and when it was all gone, it left.
Teamed with vibrant, energetic illustrations reflecting the Iranian motif, they are filled with detail and delight for young readers to absorb. An introduction gives readers background to the stories across the Muslin world, and a glossary at the end will help explain some of the unfamiliar words. A worthwhile addition to any school library wanting a range of stories from across cultures and religions.
Fran Knight

The day war came by Nicola Davies

Ill. by Rebecca Cobb. Walker Books, 2018. ISBN 9781406376326
(Age: all) Highly recommended. Themes; War, Refugees, Displacement, Children in war, Education. The things we take for granted are all turned upside down in this picture book showing one child's torment as she loses everything she holds dear, to war. We expect to be safe, to be housed and fed, to have access to clean water and food, and be able to go to school. But when war comes, imposing its mayhem on a small town where the children are at school, and the parents at home or at work, everything that is known and accepted is no longer the same. The town is razed to the ground, noise and dust and debris separates the girl from her peers and family, and without possessions or friends, she must follow others as they head to a place of safety. Finding a town she is shunned by the occupants. War has got to them too.  Finding a school, she asks to be let in, but war has taken hold there too, and she is rejected, the teacher saying there is no chair for her to sit on.
This heart breaking story will resonate with children when they see how so simple an excuse can be given for the child not being accepted. It symbolises the plight of refugees the world over, being rejected, or left in detention camps, allowed to live out their lives without hope. And with echoes of the 'no room at the inn' story, this is a book that will engender much discussion in the classroom.
The beautiful illustrations will haunt the reader, the wide open expressions of the children, the devastated village contrasting so explicitly with the colour and uninterrupted life of the unscathed town, the symbol of the chair. The story offers hope after the children bring along chairs for the refugee children to sit upon and the stunning endpapers begin with a double page of empty chairs, and at the end all of them filled with children, safe and learning.
An end page tells the background of the story, initiated by the UK rejection of 3,000 unaccompanied refugee children in 2016, and hearing a tale of a child being refused entry to a school because there was no chair for her. Now chairs appear online supporting refugee children and their right to education.
This is a memorable and moving book. Classroom ideas are available.
Fran Knight