Crowbar Media, 2017. ISBN 9781925658002
Themes: self-belief, friendship, superheroes. Leon and Daisy have
been friends since primary school, but when 17 year old Daisy
declares she is going to be Australia's first megahero, her first
target being eco-villain, Dr Green who aims to destroy people for
damaging the planet, all Leon can do is be supportive and suggest
she might be overreaching her abilities. Undaunted Daisy adopts the
name "Appendix Man" after an operation. Both their parents go
off on an unexpected holiday together leaving the friends to find
all the accoutrements needed for a megahero in an underground bunker
in the backyard where Daisy's Dad has been experimenting with hi
tech gadgets. They team up with the author of a crime-busting
website, Ash; added into the mix is Hong, the martial arts teacher
whose teaching involves sitting in a red room doing nothing, and the
Ginger Ninja who also needs to be defeated before she joins forces
with Dr Green and his family.
Set in Melbourne at some time in the future when Koalas are extinct,
the story has an unlikely cast with a different twist around fixing
the planet. Appendix Man's gender seems to confuse even the author
and there are more errors in the text than there should be. I found
it difficult to suspend disbelief as the plot became more and more
extreme, including genetically modified drop bears with the
denouement hinging on preventing the villain finding an organic
self-destruct button. However it is essentially a story about
friendship and support which may entertain younger readers looking
for something a bit different.
A website is available.
Sue Speck
Rain Fall by Ella West
Allen and Unwin, 2018. ISBN 9781760296834
(Age: 12+) Highly recommended. Themes: Murder. Crime. Thriller. New
Zealand. Coal mining. Rodeos. Horses. Annie is running late for her
basketball game when she spots what looks like a raincoat floating
in the river. Then her whole neighbourhood is cordoned off by police
who say that her neighbour is dangerous and has a gun. She doesn't
believe that her neighbour Pete would hurt anyone and hopes that he
has got away. When riding her horse, Blue, on the beach, she comes
in contact with a new boy riding an amazing horse, but not trusting
strangers is careful to brush away any signs of Pete. Then a body is
found and Annie becomes embroiled in the mystery.
The constant rain provides a good background for this crime thriller
and it is easy to visualise the wild coast of New Zealand. The story
of coal mining and its demise also provides an interesting backdrop
to the tale as West describes what happens when a community loses
its only means of livelihood. Annie's father drives the coal train
and when the mine begins to fail, so do the jobs that keep the town
going. Annie's having troubles at home as well, with her father
uncertain about his job and the family is faced with the prospect of
moving away from their home.
However it is the mystery that really grips the reader, who becomes
immersed in what is happening. Why was the man murdered? Is Pete
really to blame and where has he gone? How far can Annie trust Jack
the new boy who is so attractive and can she keep her actions a
secret from her parents for very long?
This is a great read and will appeal to people who like mystery and
suspense, with a touch of romance and interesting background. In
addition there are two wonderful horses, some information about
rodeos and likeable characters, all adding up to a most enjoyable
story. Readers who haven't read Night vision by Ella West
would want to pick up this excellent book as well, and teachers
could find this a useful class novel or literature circle text. Teacher's
notes are available on the publisher's website.
Pat Pledger
Lucky Button by Michael Morpurgo
Ill. by Michael Foreman. Walker Books, 2018. ISBN 9781406371680
(Age: 8-11) Highly recommended. Themes: Orphans and Orphanages,
Classical Music, Wolfgang Mozart, Friendship, 18th Century Britain,
Bullying. Michael Morpurgo's Lucky Button is a thoughtful
time slip story set in the present day and in The Foundling
Hospital, Britain's first home for abandoned children. This charity
was started by philanthropist Thomas Coram in 1739 with the
assistance of British painter William Hogarth and composer George
Frideric Handel.
Young Joshua Trelawney's life is divided clearly into two halves. At
home he cares for his wheelchair bound mother while at school he's a
loner longing for a friend while suffering the taunts of the bullies
who make fun of his name with Moby Dick taunts. Music is Jonah's
solace; he loves to sing and desperately wants to join the school
choir. Jonah escapes from the bullying seeking refuge in the chapel
originally part of the Foundling Hospital. Finding a small gold
button and meeting a ghostly organist helps Jonah to understand his
current circumstances and to find happiness.
Nathaniel Hogarth shares his life story, abandoned as a baby at the
Foundling Hospital, then sent to live with kind foster parents in
the country. Music provides solace for young Nathaniel when he's
returned to the hospital, and he meets Handel and is chosen to sing
in The Messiah. Foundling 762 grows up to be apprenticed at the
artist Hogarth's stable and takes his surname. Fortuitously young
Nat moves on to Sir John Sullivan's estate where he becomes a
companion to young Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Woferl. Lucky Button celebrates the power of music, with Morpurgo's
touching narrative beautifully told through Michael Foreman's
detailed watercolour paintings showing strongly drawn historic and
contemporary characters. This is a story that resonates with hope,
friendship and resilience rising above adversity, a story perfect
for sharing with students in Years 3-5.
Rhyllis Bignell
Race to the bottom of the sea by Lindsay Eagar
Walker Books, 2017. ISBN 9780763698775
(Age: Year 4+) Highly recommended. Can a clever young inventor
uncover a ruthless pirate's heart of gold? When her parents, the
great marine scientists Dr. and Dr. Quail, are killed in a tragic
accident, eleven-year-old Fidelia Quail is racked by grief - and
guilt. It was a submarine of Fidelia's invention that her parents
were in when they died, and it was she who pressed them to stay out
longer when the raging Undertow was looming. But Fidelia is forced
out of her mourning when she's kidnapped by Merrick the Monstrous, a
pirate whose list of treasons stretches longer than a ribbon eel.
Her task? Use her marine know-how to retrieve his treasure, lost on
the ocean floor. But as Fidelia and the pirates close in on the
prize, with the navy hot on their heels, she realizes that Merrick
doesn't expect to live long enough to enjoy his loot. Could
something other than black-hearted greed be driving him? Will
Fidelia be able to master the perils of the ocean without her
parents - and piece together the mystery of Merrick the Monstrous
before it's too late?
What a fantastic book for our Year 4 and up students, in particular
girls, to read. Fidelia encompasses many things that girls wish to
experience. This is a powerful book with a strong protagonist who
encounters pirates, treasure, adventure, mystery and suspense.
Fidelia is smart, nerdy and brave but also extremely compassionate.
She is very strong willed and does not let those around her deter
her intentions, though at times this can result in encountering
sticky situations. Fidelia's knowledge of marine biology, partly due
to her parents' occupations, will hopefully inspire many to look
after the ocean. A must have for your library.
Kathryn Schumacher
Love and gelato by Jenna Evans Welch
Walker Books, 2017. ISBN 9781406372328
(Age: 13+) Recommended. Themes: Secrecy. Romance. Italy.
Self-perception. Diaries. Feel good book. Teens Top Ten 2017.
Goodreads Choice Award Nominee for Young Adult Fiction 2016. Lina
has come to Tuscany to live with Howard, the father that she has
never met. Devastated by the death of her mother, Lina begins to
read the journal she has left behind of her early time in Italy and
with Ren, her cute neighbour follows in her footsteps. What she
uncovers is the truth about her father as well as learning about
herself.
This is an ideal book for anyone who enjoys stories about other
countries. The author captivates the reader's imagination with her
vivid descriptions of Tuscany, Florence and Rome and the life that
Howard leads in the American Cemetery where he works. Not only are
the wonders of the Italian architecture and sculpture described by
Lina but the reader is taken on a culinary tour, almost being able
to taste the gelato that she loves.
Told in the first person by Lina, and interspersed with extracts
from her mother's journal, the reader is led into the feelings and
loves of both mother and daughter. The style is breezy and easy to
read and the characters are very likeable. The mystery of what
happened to her mother so many years ago also keeps the reader glued
to the page as Lina follows the clues left in the journal about X,
the man her mother fell in love with.
I finished this book in one sitting - it had everything to make it
an outstanding contemporary romance - charming characters, wonderful
setting and feel good vibes.
Pat Pledger
The Kindness Club: Chloe on the bright side by Courtney Sheinmel
Bloomsbury, 2017. ISBN 9781681195315
(Age: 8+) Fifth grader Chloe Silver is good at looking on the bright
side. But staying positive has been difficult since her parents
divorced and she had to start at a new school. When Chloe is given
the chance to try out for the exclusive It Girls club, things are
finally looking up again. Then Chloe is assigned a science project
with offbeat Lucy Tanaka and brainy Theo Barnes. Together they
create an experiment that tests how people react to different acts
of kindness. Officially forming the Kindness Club, Lucy and Theo are
fun to be around, and their new club means a lot to Chloe. But the
It Girls don't want to share Chloe with anyone else. Can she find a
way to be kind to all of her friends, and still stay true to
herself?
This is a feel good book that will develop into a successful series.
I think the underlying themes of friendship, family and kindness
will resonate with many. Many children will be able to make strong
connections with Chloe, who may be experiencing divorce and having
to start at a new school. I like how the story looks at the meaning
of a true friend and the qualities they possess and that it is
possible to be friends with different groups of people. Acceptance
is a huge part of a child's life and Chloe seems to tackle it head
on in a kind way. This book has a great lesson for all readers -
that it is not always easy to do the right thing. The author
cleverly does this in a unique way ensuring that the novel maintains
interest and one develops feelings for the main characters.
The snippet of the second book at the end of the book is a very
clever marketing tool. Children 8 and up will enjoy this book.
Kathryn Schumacher
100 scientists who made history by Andrea Mills and Stella Caldwell
DK, 2018. ISBN 9780241304327
Throughout history there have been so many perceptive pioneers,
brilliant biologists, medical masterminds, clever chemists,
phenomenal physicists, incredible innovators and other scientific
superstars who have challenged the known to change our lives that to
choose just 100 of them must have been a taxing task.
Nevertheless, in this brand new release from DK, the achievements of
people as diverse as Aristotle, Alexander Fleming, Louis Pasteur,
Ernest Rutherford, Alan Turing and Edwin Hubble are all described in
typical DK format with it characteristic layout, top-quality
photography, bite-sized information and accessible language. But
there is so much (and so many more). Although not being of a
scientific bent, while many of the names of those in the clear
contents pages were familiar, there were as many that were not, and
sadly many of those not were women.
But the authors have included many women in the lists - who knew
that Hildegard of Bingen, aka the singing nun, born in 1098 could
have had such an impact on medical treatments through her study of
and writing about the medicinal uses of plants? Or that of five of
those credited with having such an influence on the development of
computing, three were women? Or that Mary Somerville correctly
predicted the existence of the planet Neptune in the early 19th
century and that there were many 19th century astronomers who were
female?
This is a wonderful book for everyone - not only because it will
introduce a new generation to those who discovered so much of what
we take for granted today - they didn't make history because they
became famous, they made the history we look back on so we can move
forward - but also to inspire - 'If them, why not me?' Challenge
your students to find another scientist who could have been included
and have them develop a page for them using the DK format as a
model.
I know a budding scientist who needs this book!
Barbara Braxton
36 questions that changed my mind about you by Vicki Grant
Hot Key Books, 2017. ISBN 9781471407086
(Age: Senior secondary) Highly recommended. Deciding to take part in
a psychological survey about discovering whether two participants
can get to know one another through asking and answering a series of
questions, Hildy, a high school student, 18 years old, intelligent,
and anxious because of her parents' worsening relationship, is
partnered with a young man, of a similar age and seemingly quite
different to her, with whom she will exchange answers to a series of
36 questions created to reveal their sociability, intelligence and
attractiveness to the other participant. Paul is doing it for the
money.
Their answers reveal many differences in their childhoods, family
and social circumstances. The questions are challenging and
personal, their answers revealing much about themselves. The
discussion generated gradually brings them together despite his
suspicion that she is 'out of his league'. The gentle flowering of
the relationship is captivating, and heart-warming, as we notice how
each offers the other an honest response to the questions, and
sometimes more emotional responses than they would have expected.
This is a well-constructed depiction of relationships in the modern
world, depicting the lives of two young people living in quite
different circumstances in the west coast of the USA. We are drawn
into their personal lives both through their question and answer
times and in Grant's narrative sections where she reveals more
detail about the two young people. The questions are intriguing and
challenging and their determination to reply honestly gradually
enables them to understand both themselves and their Q/A partner
better.
This is a delightful and intriguing new 'novel' about young people
and their relationships. I would highly recommend it for senior
school students, parents and teachers as both an unusual and
delightful introduction to how adolescents work out their place,
ambition, and how they wish to live in the modern world.
Elizabeth Bondar
48 Hours: The Vanishing by Gabrielle Lord
Scholastic, 2017. ISBN 9781743629758
(Age: 12+) "One kidnapping. One cold case. Two amateur
investigators. Only 48 hours to solve the crime . . . Jazz's best
friend Anika has been kidnapped! She can't call the cops, so Jazz
forges a shaky truce with her brilliant nemesis, Phoenix, to help
her investigate. Together, they uncover clues and crime scene
evidence. Sneaking into a forensic lab, they test DNA, fingerprints
and more, to piece the clues together. The results are shocking.
Could it really lead to a twenty-year-old murder case? In a race
against time, Jazz and Phoenix only have 48 HOURS to collect the
evidence, profile the kidnapper and find their schoolmate's
location, or Anika will die. The clock is ticking . . . (Publisher)
This is the first book in a series based around two inquisitive teen
detectives who must solve three intriguing yet dangerous crimes.
Jazz, the female lead character is obsessed with crime and solving
them. When her best friend, Anika, is kidnapped she thinks she is
the best person to find her. To make matters worse the friends were
having an argument, as friends often do, before Ankia was kidnapped.
As a result, Jazz feels terribly guilty. I absolutely loved this
book and found myself picking it up whenever I had the chance. The
lead characters are 14 so it is a read for an older audience. It is
action packed, with each page leaving you on the edge of your seat.
Persistence, determination, friendship and the ability to follow
things through will resonate with the reader.
A must read for both boys and girls 12 and up who love criminal
investigation, code breaking, forensics and kidnapping.
Kathryn Schumacher
How to get rid of a vampire by J. M. Erre
Bloomsbury, 2017. ISBN 9781846884221
(Age: 9+) "Zazie has just received a beautiful new notebook, and
decides to keep a diary. Brimming with imagination, she writes down
her impressions of her cat Roudoudou, her awful cousin Lucas and her
new teacher, Mr Labat - who, with his pale skin and blood-red lips,
must surely be a vampire! In order to save her life and those of her
classmates, Zazie must find a way to get rid of Mr Labat - and what
better way than by following the advice found in Bram Stoker's Dracula
. . ." (Publisher)
This is an entertaining read that will resonate with those with a
wacky sense of humour. The brave and likeable heroine, Zazie will
have readers falling in love with her as her imagination takes its
course. There is a slight Roald Dahl influence in the story with
Zazie making up some words of her own - something that certainly
appeals to many children. Many of the audience will be able to
connect with the lead character as she is always in trouble at
school and at home - simply because adults do not get her!
This is a funny book that would be a perfect fit for both boys and
girls aged nine plus. We know that many children love the magical
world of vampires and I am sure it will become popular with many.
Kathryn Schumacher
Perfect Petunias by Lynn Jenkins
Ill. by Kirrili Lonergan. EK Books, 2018. ISBN 9781925335583
Loppy LAC is very worried about not doing his homework well enough.
He is always focusing on what he hasn't done rather then what he
has, and he becomes very frustrated. So, his friend Curly teaches
him about how petunias grow - in lots of different, imperfect
directions that we can't control! Loppy learns that by trying to
control whether he makes mistakes or not it's as if he's always
trying to grow 'perfect' petunias. Sometimes he just needs to
accept that things go a certain way and to change his definition of
'perfect' to mean trying his absolute best.
This is the third in a series
to help Loppy the LAC (Little Anxious Creature) deal with his
anxieties, in this case not being satisfied with anything that he
sees as being less than perfect. Children like Loppy are present in
every class, either being afraid to start something in case it is
not perfect on the first attempt or giving up in tears, frustration
and even anger, so a story and strategies that help them focus on
the things that they have done well rather than the 'mistakes' they
have made can go a long way towards helping them accept themselves,
their activities and other people with all their imperfections.
Helping them to see the glass half-full, the silver lining, the
rainbow rather than the rain can lay the foundations for strong
mental and emotional health in the future. Developing a mantra of "I
can" rather than "I can't" is so important if they are to take risks
to try new things that will open up so many new worlds to them.
Barbara Braxton
Little Dog and the summer holiday by Corinne Fenton
Ill. by Robin Cowcher. Walker Books, 2017. ISBN 9781925381160
(Age: 3-7) Highly recommended. Themes: Holidays, Dogs, Family Life.
Corinne Fenton and Robin Cowcher's delightful nostalgic story
continues in Little Dog and the Summer Holiday. Little Dog
and his family set off on an exciting caravan trip through Victoria
and New South Wales stopping at iconic places along the way. Their
destination is a caravan park in Sydney where they enjoy nights
playing with new friends. Little Dog enjoys chasing the other dogs
and experiencing all the new sights with his family. Jonathan and
Annie love to include their dog in all their experiences, at the
border crossing, in front of the Dog on the Tuckerbox and even on
the ferry to Manley.
"The long, lazy days of summer holidays waited like parcels in a
lucky dip." Fenton's story has a lyrical quality, with alliterative
and imaginative phrases conjuring up the special times the family
share. Each place they explore holds wonder and excitement: the
busyness of the city, a ride on the sparkling carousel at the Fun
Fair and the Three Sisters standing tall and proud in the Blue
Mountains.
Robin Cowcher's beautiful ink and watercolour paintings uncover a
time gone by when life was simpler, and families were happy in tiny
caravans packed full of holiday gear. Picturesque scenes are washed
with blues, sandy yellows and the colours of nature seamlessly
complimenting Corinne Fenton's story. So much is explained in the
little details, Mum's Brownie box camera, men dressed in suits even
on holiday, ladies dressed up with scarves and hats, old style
Holdens and the green and yellow double-decker buses crossing the
Sydney Harbour Bridge.
One piece bathing suits with ruched elastic, jellybean sandals and
picnics under shady beach umbrellas take me back to my childhood
memories in the 1960s. As the story is shared with a family or young
learners, question the similarities and differences between their
own experiences and those of Little Dog's family. Little Dog and
the Summer Holiday is a lovely introduction to Early Years
HASS, exploring Then and Now, Transport - changes over time and
family life in another era.
Rhyllis Bignell
The Fifth Room by Allison Rushby
Scholastic, 2017. ISBN 9781742762548
(Age: 12+) Recommended. Themes: Science, Self experimentation,
Ethics, Secrets. Miri is asked to join a secret society which offers
four students the chance to self-experiment in order to push the
boundaries of medical research. When Miri discovers her boyfriend
Sheen is also a member of the group she must hide the fact that she
knows him, and when she uncovers the fact that there is a fifth
student, one she doesn't trust, experimenting in the fifth room at
the bunker, she begins to question just what is going on. Then
things begin to get out of hand and the group members have to decide
how far they will go with the experiments, and some are willing to
go further than others.
This is a very different plot to the one that I was expecting, and I
found it very intriguing. I was fascinated by the notion of
scientists experimenting on themselves to find out the limits of
medicine and willingly followed the experiments of the four students
as they put their theories to the test. The competition between the
students brings out the worst in some of them as they battle for the
large cash prize and status of having the best experiment. The four
characters are highly intelligent and competitive and must make some
difficult decisions about medical ethics. Miri narrates the story in
the first person and the tension builds to a dramatic climax and
some very unexpected twists and turns.
As well as a tense plot, Rushby has created believable characters
who have to examine their own motivations and work out how far they
are prepared to go to achieve fame and money in their scientific
field. Miri's relationships with her father and her best friend are
good and her feelings for Sheen, a most likeable young man, add a
touch of romance to the story.
This was a very readable psychological thriller which will appeal to
any student who likes an unusual and gripping plot and characters
that might not be trusted.
Pat Pledger
The Caldera by John Flanagan
The Brotherband series book 7. Random House Australia, 2017.
ISBN 9780857980137
(Age: 11+) Highly recommended. Themes: Survival, Rescue, Kidnapping,
Piracy, Team work, Sailing. Charged with the task of rescuing a
kidnapped Emperor from a far-flung volcanic island fortress, the
Brotherband (led by the extremely capable leader - Hal) are again
able to demonstrate their highly honed fighting and sailing skills.
This crew of mostly young Skandians is able to sail the small craft,
the Heron, with fearless expertise and superb teamwork. Despite
violent opposition from pirates and the elements, yet again the crew
take on a mission that will push them to the brink . . . but a life
depends on them acting quickly and putting the rescue mission before
their own safety.
John Flanagan writes with great flair to produce an action-packed
adventure that all readers will enjoy for its adrenaline rush and
wonderful introduction to the world of skilful sailing.
Note: the book also includes a bonus Ranger's Apprentice
short story. This is a surprise gift at the end.
Highly recommended for readers aged 11+ (even if you have not read
any of this series before book 7)
Carolyn Hull
Fox in the night by Martin Jenkins and Richard Smythe
Walker Books, 2017. ISBN 9781406355154
(Age: 5-8) Subtitled: A Science Storybook About Light and Dark.
Fox is hungry so she emerges from her dark den to look for food only
to find it is still daylight outside. (It's dark in Fox's den
because the daylight doesn't reach inside.) When she does finally
emerge, it is night and she is even hungrier and so she ventures
into the nearby town in search of dinner. There she is helped by all
sorts of light sources to find what she needs - and to escape!
Science surrounds us - it is not limited to people in white coats in
sterile laboratories that television news crews choose to use to
report breakthroughs and in this story very young readers will not
only enjoy Fox's adventure but also learn about light, why it is
important and where it comes from as there are simple explanations
that match the storyline on each page.
It also includes an index, bibliography and extra questions and
experiments to get young readers thinking about the science behind
the story and for them to explore further - a perfect parent-child
activity to do together. It suggests that the child compares the
length of their shadow over a couple of hours and this is a great
activity to do with a class if you get them to trace each other's
shadow in chalk in the morning, noon and afternoon.
It teaches them so much about the sun's path as well as measurement.
This is the first in a new series from Walker and I look forward to
many more.
Barbara Braxton
