Ill. by Bruce Whatley. Scholastic, 2018. ISBN 9781743817599
(Age: 4+) Recommended. Themes: Drought, Outback, Sheep, Water. Bruce
Whatley's recognisable colour wash and graphite pencil illustrations
will entice readers into the domain he recreates, that of a land
where no rain has fallen for several years. The parched outlook,
dying sheep, withered trees, grassless plains, speak volumes as to
the harshness of the lives of the people and animals who inhabit
this world, reminding us that this is happening more often.
An older woman peers out at the barren hills, telling her
granddaughter that droughts take their own time. Their garden is no
longer watered, their showers reduced to a a few minutes with rank
water, the sheep are sold so they can be fed, the crops have
withered in the field, everyone is hoping for rain.
Jackie French talked to a group of children in outback New South
Wales and it is their words she uses to create her couplets, pairs
of rhyming lines, bringing closer a world far removed from most
Australian children. The lines on each page show a different
perspective of drought for these families, reliant on the rain for
all their needs, unable as town and city kids, to turn on the mains
water.
Her spare lines are splendidly illustrated by Whatley, his sympathy
for the Australian landscape a standout in this picture book.
A homage to the collegiate spirit of Australians is given towards
the end where truck loads of food, clothes and books are taken to
the outback to be distributed to those in need. The image of the
convoy of trucks, their headlights shining the path from the city to
the bush, highlights the link between city and country.
The pictures could be a useful introduction to class work about the
Australian weather and its climate, the disasters and triumphs, the
iconic images that endear the Australian bush to us all, and how all
of us are tied together during a disaster.
Fran Knight
The learning curves of Vanessa Partridge by Clare Strahan
Allen and Unwin, 2018. ISBN 9781760296797
(Age: Young adult) Vanessa Partridge is a young, exceptionally
bright girl from a wealthy family who attends a prestigious school,
does well academically, is a wonderful cello player and is always
the 'good girl'. Last exam for the year and she is daydreaming about
- boys, a boy in particular. Her attempts at the exam are less than
minimal. Is this the first sign that Vanessa (Van) is following her
own desires and thoughts rather than complying, being polite and
doing what is expected without making her own choices? Is Vanessa
'going off the rails' or is she just growing up and realizing there
is a world outside of her own 'bubble'? Learning Curves of Vanessa Partridge has insights into the minds
of many typical teenage girls growing up into adulthood. Their
hormones are raging and hence their thoughts are unexpected yet
perfectly normal. They are becoming more independent and take the
risk of making decisions while taking responsibility for these
choices even though there may be consequences. BUT - if a situation
arises where others force their views or manipulate young people for
ulterior reasons, this is when young people need the support of good
friends, family and loving parents to help them be resilient,
realise their inner strength and speak up for themselves. Acceptance
and having strength to hold on to the belief that they can be true
to themselves, truly loved and that they have a voice which deserves
to be heard and understood.
This novel highlights the ongoing social situation of consent and
power while challenging the reader to be active in advocating and
supporting women caught in compromising situations in a world still
dominated by men. It also moves the reader to re-examine and enjoy
the beauty of nature and the peace that abounds in the natural world
which must be preserved.
Various short quotes and personal statements are worthy 'tattoo
statements' which carry much meaning to multiple generations of
readers. Very witty dialogue, self-reflection statements and
relatable yet interestingly complex characters make this a fun yet
moving and heartbreaking novel that is difficult to put down.
Maria Burford
A-Z of Australian animals by Jennifer Cossins
Lothian, 2018. ISBN 9780734418586
(Age: 4+) Recommended. Cossins is a Tasmanian author and artist with
a passion for all things animal. Her previous titles, all published
within the last few years, include 101 Collective Nouns and The Baby
Animal Book. This title uses her signature illustrative style and is
formatted and organised in the same way as her previous book A-Z of
Endangered Animals. It includes a contents page listed by alphabet
letter rather than page number (e.g., A-Azure Kingfisher) which is
great for helping young children understand alphabet sequence. It
contains many well-known native Aussie animals (koala, platypus,
wombat, etc.) as well as many that children may not have heard of
(imperial jezebel, variegated fairy-wren, etc.). There is a lovely
two-page introduction (probably more suited to adult readers than
children) that explains Australia's native fauna and her choices for
inclusion. Each animal is given two pages (one with text and one
illustration of the animal). The illustrations are shiny, realistic
representations of each animal without much background except to
give a basic indication of their habitat. The information on the
opposite page includes scientific name, height or length, three
paragraphs detailing the animal's unique features, behaviours and
habitat and one interesting fact. The book as a whole is probably
too long for children to take in during a single sitting but is
definitely one they will like dipping in and out of or could be used
as a reference book. It is not a comprehensive compendium of
Australian animals, nor does it comprehensively cover the 26 animals
it features. However, it is visually appealing (especially because
it is minimal) and beautifully written with plain but not simplified
English. It doesn't shy away from using big words or technical
language (monogamous, incubate, etc.), nor does it feel the need to
explain them all, and is all the richer for it. This also means it
will resonate with a very wide audience, from the very young to
adult. The illustrations (for those not familiar with Cossins' work)
lie very flat on the page but use line and colour to create texture
and intricate detail.
Nicole Smith-Forrest
I have lost my way by Gayle Forman
Simon and Schuster, 2018. ISBN 9781471173721
(Ages: 14+) Recommended. Themes: Friendship, love, acceptance, loss.
Around the time that Freya loses her voice while recording her debut
album, Harun is making plans to run away from everyone he has ever
loved, and Nathaniel is arriving in New York City with a backpack, a
desperate plan, and nothing left to lose. When a fateful accident
draws these three strangers together, their secrets start to unravel
as they begin to understand that the way out of their own loss might
just lie in helping the others out of theirs. I have lost my way by Gayle Forman is a book about
friendship, love and finding yourself when you feel like all is
lost. The story is told over one life changing day and is told from
alternating perspectives. One of the main themes in this book is
loss. The three main characters, Freya, Harun and Nathaniel, have
all lost something important to them. Freya has lost her voice
during the recording of her debut album, which she has spent the
last few years of her life working towards. Harun has lost the love
of his life, the only person that truly understood him. Nathaniel
has lost everything and now, he has nothing left to lose.
At the start of the book, not much is known about each of the
characters, but as the story progresses, we learn more about their
lives and what lead them to become who they are today through
flashbacks. I absolutely loved how mysterious they all were and the
fact that they all had different backgrounds, religions and sexual
orientations just made them seem all the more real. The diversity in
this book was amazing and it was represented really well.
A definite downside of this book is that it took me quite a while to
get into. In my opinion, it was difficult to figure out which
character's perspective it was being told from and the fact that it
would jump from third person to first person during the flashbacks
made it slightly confusing and hard to follow at times. It was also
very fast paced and since it was told over a single day, I found it
less believable than if it had been told over the course of a week.
Overall, I have lost my way is a really nice story about
love, loss and acceptance that teenagers everywhere would enjoy,
especially if they feel like they have lost their way too.
Grace Austin (Student)
When the mountains roared by Jess Butterworth
Hachette, 2018. ISBN 9781510102118
(Ages 9-12) Highly recommended. Themes: Grief. Fear. Wildlife
conservation. India - Family life.
Jess Butterworth drew inspiration for When the mountains roared
from her own family stories, her grandparents' travels to India in
the 1960s and her own childhood experiences living with them at the
foot of the Himalayas. She descriptively captures the sensory
experiences, the diverse sights and sounds, cityscapes and
countryside and wildlife encounters. Her understandings of the
Indian way of life resonate here. The imprint of the leopard, from
the roaring white silhouette and the rich yellow and brown markings
of the covers that continue as bold chapter headings, set the scene
for her message of wildlife conservation.
Coping with the death of her mother, Ruby is overcome by her fears,
afraid of the dark, of travelling by car, going to sleep and not
waking up in the morning. She lives with her father and grandmother
in Western Australia in a rural hotel which has fallen into
disrepair and her father has borrowed money from loan sharks to save
the property. Desperate to escape from their problems they abandon
their home, take only a few possessions, their collie dog Polly, and
drive through the night to Perth. Along the way they collect a baby
joey which Nan hides in her luggage.
Nan's afraid of flying so they board a cruise ship bound for India.
Their tiring journey finally brings them to the bottom of the
Himachal Pradesh and a haunted mountain. Life for the family is
confronting, their new hotel needs a large amount of work, with the
owners involved in wildlife poaching. Ruby captures photos of the
beautiful world around the hotel; she is an observer, listening to
secret conversations and trailing her father's employers. There are
moments of fun and laughter, the colourful Holi festival, caring for
Joey, watching Bollywood films, making friends with Praveen and
dancing to Bollywood music with Dad and Nan.
Ruby's bravery in tracking the poachers, searching for the elusive
leopard, attests to her strength of character, overcoming her fears
and grief. With her Grandma and loyal friend Praveen they embark on
a treacherous journey into the mountains, each show courage in the
face of danger. The resolution brings both closure and hope for the
future, the author concluding with a heartfelt message about the
need to conserve and protect native wildlife and the risk of
invasive species taking over the natural environment. When the mountains roared is a beautifully crafted story,
where each of the main characters comes to terms with the loss of a
loved one, and is an emotive journey amongst the beauty and
splendour of the Himalayan foothills. Share this with a middle
primary class, explore the detailed and descriptive narrative, the
insightful poignant journey Ruby undertakes, then research the
endangered wildlife and the impact of the poaching trade.
Rhyllis Bignell
The price guide to the occult by Leslye Walton
Candlewick Press 2018. ISBN 9780763691103
(Age: 14+) Recommended for people with an interest in mental health
and magic. TW: This novel contains self-harm. This is certainly a
novel that would be difficult to walk past, The price guide to
the occult is both loud and distracting with neon yellow on
black surrounded by red-edged pages.
The novel follows a cursed family of Blackburn women, all of whom
are destined to have a three-day romance in which a child is
conceived and denied by a man descended from the original eight of
Anathema Island. Together with the curse of heartbreak, each
daughter is 'gifted' with a burden of magical talent, some stronger
than others. Fern Blackburn, the eighth daughter, received the gift
of always getting what she wanted. However, the one loophole in her
gift was never being able to have Quinn Sweeny, the love of her life
and the father of her daughter, Nor. Fern's obsession with
possessing Quinn is all encompassing, and she will stop at nothing
to secure his love - even if that means sacrificing their daughter.
Nor is only a teenager. Her only worries should be grades and boys.
But she is also a Blackburn woman... with a secret. Fear of her
mother has made her tame and afraid of her own powers, for indeed
she is the first since the matriarch, Rona, to possess more than
one. When Fern returns, Nor's fear only grows until she is unable to
keep her power in check. A storm is brewing, and only one Blackburn
woman will prevail. The price guide to the occult was engrossing. Despite the
many references to self-harm and the gruesome murders Fern commits,
it was an enlightening exploration of the relationship between a
neglectful mother and her child. Similar in ways to Practical
magic and Little shop of horrors, it was certainly an
enjoyable read. Recommended for ages fourteen and up with an
interest in mental health and magic.
Kayla Gaskell, 22
Missing Marvin by Sue deGennaro
Scholastic, 2018. ISBN 9781742769509
(Age: 4+) Recommended. Themes: Bullying. Practical jokes. Feelings.
When Marvin finds his friends' jokes are just too much, he goes
missing, so it is up to the friends to find him, reassure him, and
for Marvin to say how he feels when they tease.
Marvin and his friends work for Baggage Handlers United and get
along very well. They all do the baggage handling work that is
required, and while Marvin really likes his work, his friends feel
the need to play practical jokes on their workmates to fill the
time.
Barry, Shelley and Ivan sometimes place balloons on the luggage
causing it to rise out of reach, sometimes they put fish in the
water cooler, and sometimes have a bucket of water placed on a door
so that when Marvin opens the door, he gets covered in water. He
becomes less and less amused with their pranks, and begins to think
that they only seem to be targeting him. And one day when he is wet
all over, he goes home and stays at home for several days. Meanwhile
his friends begin to notice that he has not returned to work, and
play the jokes on each other. They come to see that they are not so
funny after all, and when Marvin returns the next day, they are able
to tell each other how they feel.
All is resolved and each of the friends is happy. Each has been able
to understand the other and Marvin has been able to tell them how he
feels when they plays jokes.
I do love Australian author and illustrator, Sue deGennaro's work (Milly
loves ants, Peas and quiet, Reindeer's Christmas
surprise and The vegetable ark come to mind) with her
soft illustrations, full of humour and not a little pathos when
needed. Kids will laugh out loud at the looks on the faces of the
animals she chooses to use as her protagonists and scan the
backgrounds of each page to glean more jokes.
I can easily imagine this book being read out loud and an astute
teacher using the interest in the story to discuss gently how people
feel when they are on the receiving end of a joke, or point out the
similarities between making a joke and bullying. And I do like the
double meaning of the title.
Fran Knight
Spot goes to the swimming pool by Eric Hill
Puffin Books, 2018. ISBN 9780241327074
(Age 1-4) Highly recommended. Board book. Themes: Swimming. Fear. A
delightful way to introduce the idea of swimming at a swimming pool
to very young children, this board book is sure to be a hit with its
intended audience. Spot is a bit nervous about the water, thinking
that it could be cold but Mum encourages him to try it out and with
her help and encouragement is soon letting go of the side of the
pool and splashing around in his safe rubber ring.
The bright colours bring to life the poolside, water and swimming
accessories. The wonderful expressions on the faces of Spot, his
mother and friend Steve are delightful and leave the reader
appreciating the joys of a mother who is patient and loving and
helpful friends. The pages are sturdy and should stand up for heavy
use by little hands, as this is sure to become a firm favourite.
Spot has been a favourite of children for many years and Spot
goes to the swimming pool will be a lovely way to introduce a
new generation to this lovely little dog and then perhaps follow up
with some of the many books that Eric Hill has written about him.
Pat Pledger
Best buds under frogs by Leslie Patricelli
Candlewick Press, 2018. ISBN 9780763651046
(Age: 8+) Recommended. Themes: Friendship. School. Moving from the
city to Pine Lake where she must catch a bus to school, Lily is
apprehensive, and barfing on the first day does not endear her to
the group of friends who had assembled around her. But Darby takes
her on, and soon the two are best of friends, with sleepovers and
catching the bus together.
So begins this amusing story of fitting in, of starting a new school
in year four, of finding someone who will be your best friend. Darby
and Lily set up a club, the Rizzlerunk Club, named after the sea
captain who ran aground in the lake, his head mysteriously becoming
attached to a giant octopus and climbing into the old boat shed on
the shore near Darby's home. Fun and mayhem follows the girls, as
they contend with the remarks from the others in their class and are
somewhat baffled when they take on the club the two have created for
themselves.
Darby's stories are all about ghosts and ghouls and Lily is even
more apprehensive the first time she goes to her house and meets her
family, a large group of people who all look like Darby, even down
to the glasses they all wear. They are all pleased that Lily is
Darby's new friend, who they think is much better that Darby's
former fiend, Jill, who has moved away. But alarm bells ring when
she unexpectedly moves back to the lake, bringing with her her own
sense of the funny and dramatic which embroiled Darby in many
mishaps in the previous year.
Patricelli's first novel for mid-primary people is most successful,
pitched at their concerns, fitting in, finding friends and coping
with family issues. She has included funny little illustrations,
many of which can be found through the text.
Fran Knight
The Lily and the Rose by Jackie French
HarperCollins, 2017. ISBN 9781460753590
(Age: 15+) Highly recommended. The Great War is over but that
doesn't necessarily equate to peace. Sophie Higgs is soon to come to
this realisation as she re-establishes her life in Australia, taking
over her late father's business empire as an independent confident
young woman. Alongside her is the circle of women who have become
her ongoing support network in a society that is no longer defined
by the old norms.
It is not only politics and world affairs that are clouded for
Sophie. She is still torn between her love for Nigel, Earl of
Shillings, the strange attraction of Dolphie the German aristocrat,
and in a new twist, a stranger, John, who is trying to expiate his
own war by carving crosses into rocks until he feels at peace.
A call for help from her old friend Hannelore sees Sophie becoming
even more daring as she goes to wartorn Germany on a rescue mission
from which she returns even more confused in her emotions.
Those thoughts remain until a crisis with Nigel's health sees her
racing to England via the unheard of method of flying with female
pilots around the world to reach her beloved and at last the two are
married with their whole future ahead of them. Or is it?
Jackie has left this tapestry with some small waving threads that
will have every reader hanging out for the next instalment. Again a
superlative storyteller takes us on a magical, romantic and
adventurous journey and my recommendations remain glowing for the
mid-teens upwards.
Sue Warren
The old man by Sarah V and Claude K Dubois
Gecko Press, 2018. ISBN 9781776571918
(Age: 5+) Highly recommended. Themes: Compassion. Homelessness.
Paris. Age. This gem of understatement stopped me in my tracks and
I'm sure it will for everyone as they read of the plight of one
homeless old man.
A young girl wakes and gets ready to go to school. Nearby an old man
also wakes and struggles to rise from the pavement where he has
spent the night. He is cold, wet and hungry and walks to keep warm,
rummaging in a bin for food. He is tired and so puts down his
blanket to sleep until someone tells him to move on. He heads for
the shelter for warmth and food, and when one of the volunteers asks
his name, he cannot remember. He climbs aboard a bus and finds
warmth, falling asleep in his seat until more passengers get on,
complaining of his smell and he must move again.
Finding a spot in the park, he covers himself with his blanket and
it is here that a young girl approaches, offering him her sandwich.
This tiny act makes him feel warm inside, he has an idea of who he
is, of being part of the world he lives in and he can smile.
The spare prose burrows its way into the readers' imaginations as we
see this old man, learning a little of his life as the story
proceeds. What we learn of him makes him not just a homeless man, a
smelly man, someone whose feet hurt or whose blanket is wet. He is
given a context and the kind act of the young girl makes us realise
that he is part of all of our worlds. The compassion the young girl
shows contrasts heavily with how he is perceived by all the adults
who pass him by, or ask him to move on, or simply ignore him.
The innocence of the child shows us all how we should all respond,
without rancor, prejudice or bitterness.
The loneliness of the old man is beautifully detailed by the
wonderful watercolour pencil illustrations, showing the lack of
colour and warmth in his world. The images are soft and redolent of
the life this man lives on the streets, and like the text, compel us
to show more compassion to those we see living in such a way.
First published in Paris in 2017, this has been republished in
Australia by Gecko Press.
Fran Knight
The disturbed girl's dictionary by Nonieqa Ramos
Lerner Publishing Group, 2018. ISBN 9781512439762
(Age: 14+) Recommended.
Macy Cashmere is a teenager living in the ghetto trying to survive
life the best she can. Her father is in prison, her mother
entertains a constant stream of male 'guests' and her little brother
has been taken away by Child Protection Services. She battles
constant hunger, poverty and the need for her family to be together
again like it was before her father went to prison.
At school she has only two friends (Alma and George) who she is
fiercely protective of and is constantly in trouble for not
conforming and thus considered a 'disturbed' student. Despite this,
school is really her constant in life. Her way of keeping track of
her life is by her entries in her dictionary which is not really a
diary as we know it but more of a memory keeper.
Macy's only true constant in her life and the one she holds onto
dearly is her friendship with Alma. Alma is a shining star, kind to
her peers, a good student and a loving sister to her young siblings.
When Alma starts to drift away, Macy tries to find out why she isn't
talking to her and what has happened in Alma's life to make her drift
away from the friendship.
This story is raw, full of language and themes not suited to a
younger audience. It is exactly how you would imagine life in the
ghetto to be and the daily struggles of those who live there and
those who try to help those who live there. Don't expect happy
endings but rather an insight into who Macy is, why she does what she
does and how she copes with the actions of those who mean something
to her.
Themes in this book are: poverty, neglect, hardship, friendship and
sexual promiscuity. I would recommend this book to students 14+.
Gerri Mills
The long class goodnight by Sammy J
Five Mile Press, 2018. ISBN 9781760409531
(Age: 9-12) Recommended.
Sammy J, comedian, musician and author takes us on a whirlwind
ride in his debut novel The long class goodnight. Imagine if the
school bell doesn't ring at the end of the first day and the
students of Mount Willow Secondary are forced to stay overnight.
What a night it becomes!
Justin Monaghetti learns he comes from a long line of losers at
breakfast on his first day of high school. Armed with a pair of
'German-made,' reinforced wedgie-proof underpants he sets out to
break the family's losing streak. All Justin wants to do is survive,
find a chess club and make some friends. Unfortunately Principal, Dr
Featherstone, runs a tightly controlled school, every rule must
be followed; they are outlined in the Mount Willow Secondary School
Handbook. For Justin there are more lows than highs, he endures
being bullied, meets with the principal, barely survives a gym
lesson and he's given detention. He meets Eliza who is cunningly
planning to escape at the end of day one by creatively following the
school rules and has a chance encounter with the school gardener
also helps Justin in understanding how to survive at school. To
avoid detention and keep Eliza from escaping, Justin uses his lucky
pawn to stop the school clock. No-one is allowed to go home, staff,
students and principal. What happens next is an afternoon and night
filled with crazy antics, desperately hungry students, cunning
escapes and laugh-out-loud scenes, this is a rollercoaster ride of
hilarity and drama! The long class goodnight is a fast-paced funny story, just right
for middle grade readers who will sympathise with Justin's
determination to make his own destiny. Read aloud to a class, this
novel explores friendships, dealing with bullies, developing
resilience and unique ways to solve problems.
Rhyllis Bignell
Found in Melbourne, a counting adventure by Joanne O'Callaghan
Ill. by Kori Song. Allen and Unwin, 2018. ISBN 9781760523411
(Age: 4+) Recommended. Themes: Melbourne. Numbers. Also published in
Simplified Chinese, this book about Melbourne reflects the visitor's
eye looking at a new place, using a map to find their way around,
visiting the iconic places that make up that city. Two mid-years
children navigate their way past many known landmarks in Melbourne.
Carrying an umbrella (it is Melbourne, after all) they begin with
the one and only, Luna Park. Setting off for the Concert Hall there
are two people on the stage, and three trams are spied along St
Kilda Road. Each page is illustrated with a place in Melbourne, and
two rhyming lines describe the scene beginning with a number;
starting with one for Luna Park, then going sequentially up to 12,
Twelve fancy cakes at the Hopetoun Tea Rooms is reached. Thereafter
the numbers increase to 100 for the butterflies at Melbourne Zoo,
1000 triangles at Federation Square and 1,000,000 stories in the
State Library of Victoria. Melbourne is showcased in this remarkable
book for younger readers as the two visitors stroll around the city.
They take the tram, walk, ride a bike, take the Puffing Billy, visit
the MCG, Art Gallery, Zoo and Concert Hall. Each of the
illustrations takes in a view of the place visited, giving an array
of detail sure to catch the readers' eyes.
The illustrator, Kori, lives in Hong Kong while the author, Joanne
once lived there, now residing in Melbourne. The two share their
love of Melbourne in this book, bringing a Chinese perspective to
the city and its attractions. At the end of the book, a double page
has a thumbnail image of each of the illustrations with a paragraph
of information about each of the places depicted in the book.
This would be a most useful book to have in the library for leisure
reading, work about cities and tourism and along with the Chinese
edition, a worthwhile pair of books to use to promote language
study.
Fran Knight
I am Sasha by Anita Selzer
Penguin Books, 2018. ISBN 9780143785743
(Age: 13+) Highly recommended. Themes: Holocaust. Identity.
Survival. Resilience. Born in Poland before the Second World War,
Sasha lived on his own with his mother after his father's early
death. This sadness was not the only difficulty that he would face.
The advent of the Second World War added another level of challenge
to their lives as Jewish citizens. Family and friends were in
constant states of fear as the juggernaut of the German advance came
ever closer to their lives in Poland. Sasha's mother Larissa is
incredibly strong and resourceful as she seeks to protect her young
son from the horrors of war and the anti-Semitic response displayed
by soldiers and fellow citizens. Eventually she has a plan to
protect her young son from detection as a Jew - she convinces him to
dress and masquerade as a girl, so that he cannot be exposed 'with
his pants down'. Suffering the indignity of giving up his identity,
Sasha must learn to hide his true self in order to survive. Family
and the resistance movement provide some additional support, but
there is always hunger, threat and inescapable fear. This is an
amazing story based on the real-life survival of Sasha and his
mother, written by his daughter. The sadness that so many died in
horrific circumstances pervades this story of survival.
This is an awesome story for those who do not want the terrible
truths of our global past to be swept under the carpet. What happens
when humans act inhumanely towards one another is always horrible,
and remembering should help to prevent a repeat of the actions or at
the least to provide an opportunity to examine one's own prejudices.
Although the horrors of World War II are not hidden, there is not
too much detail to make the story too graphic for a younger reader.
Highly recommended for age 13+
Carolyn Hull
