Big Bash League book 6. Penguin Random House, 2017. ISBN
9780143782292
(Age: 8-11) Recommended. Themes: Cricket; Overcoming difficulty.
The Kangaroo Flat Galahs are a team of junior cricketers who come
from a small but supportive community and have to battle uphill in
order to make a mark in the regional competition against the
Edenhope Eagles. They are desperately under skilled and don't even
have a full team - even if you count Fatty Bumbar, the coach's bull
mastiff. But then a mystery cricketer revitalises their team.
Allunga seems to come out of nowhere, but her gentle manner and her
amazing cricket skills combine to instil hope and success in the
ragtag team as they make their way to the State T20 championships to
represent their region of Western Australia. With star cameo
appearances from the real T20 stars, this is a wonderful book for
young readers who love cricket. Ironically I read this book while
the T20 competition was in play, and I felt genuinely impressed in
the way some basic cricket skills were communicated within an
appealing story for young readers. I will be recommending this to
both male and female readers who enjoy sport, or who just enjoy a
story where the central characters need to face difficulty and work
together in order to have any hope of success. It has real
heart-warming qualities.
Carolyn Hull
The Polar Bear Explorers' Club by Alex Bell
Ill. by Tomislav Tomic. Faber and Faber, 2017. ISBN 9780571332540
(Age: 8-11) Recommended. Themes: Fantasy, Explorers and exploration.
Stella Starflake Pearl was saved as a young child from the Icelands,
an unexplored land and adopted by her rescuer Felix. This pale white
girl lives in a beautiful mansion with a polar bear, unicorns, pygmy
dinosaurs and mean Aunt Agatha who wants to send Stella off to
boarding school. Her one desire is to be an explorer, a navigator
and sail away with her father on his next expedition. He is a member
of the Polar Bear Explorer's Club that bans women from embarking on
their adventures, much to Stella's disgust. She is surprised and
delighted when Felix relents and the very next day, Stella and her
unicorn Magic set sail aboard The Bold Adventurer.
Stella is feisty and fearless. She soon befriends Shay the captain's
son and wolf whisperer and Beanie who is studying to be a medic.
They are handicapped by the Ocean Squid Explorers Club who are
accompanying them especially Ethan, a self-centred boy who dislikes
Stella, Beanie, and Shay. The fast-paced adventure includes an
ingenious escape from a collapsing ice bridge, navigating
subterranean caves and tunnels, problems with wolves and a herd of
woolly mammoths. With the young explorers separated from the others,
they learn to deal with the extremely cold conditions by relying on
each other's abilities.
Tomic's black and white sketches are styled to look like 19th
century drawings recorded by explorers. As the four young explorers
journey across the ice and snow, we see the daring sleigh ride
across the ice bridge, the magnificent sparkling castle rising in
front of them and the opulent entrance to the Polar Bear Explorers'
Club. Alex Bell's magical world captures the imagination, her
settings are detailed, her narrative lyrical, with her magical
creatures and humans filled with both wonder and danger. Read aloud
to a middle primary class, this fantasy promises to keep the
students engaged, and there are more adventures ahead for Stella and
her friends.
Rhyllis Bignell
The Wolf, the Duck and the Mouse by Mac Barnett
Ill. by Jon Klassen. Walker Books, 2017. ISBN 9781406377798
(Age 4-10) Highly recommended. This is a modern day humourous pour
quoi or origin fable that explains why wolves howl at the moon. A
mouse gets swallowed by a wolf and in the belly of the beast meets a
duck. "I may have been swallowed, but I have no intention of being
eaten", the duck declares over a fine breakfast of bread and jam.
So, does duck want to get back to the outside? Of course not: down
here is no need to worry about being gobbled up! The two new friends
feast, dance and feast some more but all this ruckus is giving the
wolf a stomach ache, making him the perfect target for a hunter. "We
must fight. We must try. Tonight we ride to defend our home",
declares the mouse. So scare away the hunter they do, and are in
exchange for their help the wolf grants them a favour (gobbling them
up again, of course!), thereby resigning himself to a lifetime of
howling at the moon in pain ("Oh woe! Oh woe!).
While definitely a quirky tale, this never seems to stray to the
ridiculous. The friendship formed between the duck and the mouse is
endearing and the way they save the wolf and live (somewhat)
harmoniously with it in the end is pleasing and chortle-worthy.
Jon Klassen's illustrations are fantastic, especially when mouse and
duck are dining at a long dining table dressed in their Sunday best,
white top hats over their eyes and red wine spilling from their
raised glasses. Their charge (brandishing hockey sticks and kitchen
utensils) to scare away the hunter is also spectacular. Washed out
browns and greys lend the book a sombre feel but despite its macabre
subject matter it is really rather upbeat and the inside of the wolf
is warm and homey (walnut brown tones). Both the illustrations and
the language have an olden day, fairy tale feel (the hunter's
tobacco pipe, record player, "flagon" of wine, duck wears a nightcap
to bed, "Oh woe, oh shame", "I fear this is the end").
This really is a timeless tale that despite its uniqueness seems
somehow familiar. It will appeal to old, young and probably everyone
in between.
Nicole Nelson
I'll keep you safe by Peter May
Quercus, 2018. ISBN 9781784294946
(Age: Adult) Although a murder mystery, I'll keep you safe is also very
much a love story. Niamh and Ruairidh Macfarlane are a husband and
wife team, successful fabric weavers from Scotland, who are now much
sought after in the Paris fashion world. But Niamh has just received
an email saying that her husband is having an affair with fashion
designer Irina Petrov. Is that the explanation for his recent air of
distraction, and the secret messages he seems to be getting? When
from the window she sees Ruairidh leave their hotel to meet Irina in
the courtyard below, she rushes downstairs to see them departing in
Irina's car. Running to follow them she sees the car explode in a
ball of fire, both occupants killed instantly.
Looking back over their life together, Niamh tries to understand
what has happened. Is her husband still her one true love, the man
who promised to always keep her safe? Their lives have been
intertwined since they met as children when they were first brought
together by a moment of danger, and there have been moments since
then, when their friendship has been tested, but in her heart Niamh
has always known that Ruairidh was the only person she wanted to
spend her life with.
Lieutenant Sylvie Braque has the task of solving the crime,
following the leads thrown up by family feuds, broken friendships,
and the competitive fashion industry. An underlying theme throughout
the novel, is the question of values, how does one balance love,
duty, and family ties? Is it only when confronted with death that
each person is forced to work out what their true values are?
The setting for all this is the wild and brooding world of bog
marshes, sea spray and storm ravaged cliffs - the Isle of Lewis, in
Scotland, is a stark contrast to the fashion world of Paris. Connecting
it all is the Dark Web, where a killer can be hired to destroy with
a car bomb. The reader is compelled to read until the last page to
find out just what happened between Niamh and Ruairidh.
Helen Eddy
Meet the Flying Doctors by George Ivanoff
Ill. by Ben Wood. Penguin Random House Australia, 2016. ISBN
9781408876787
(Age 7+) Recommended. Most Australians have heard of the Royal
Flying Doctor Service and many owe their lives to its support.
Meet the Flying Doctors by George Ivanoff and Ben Wood will help
children to appreciate the organisation by explaining how it was
formed. The title is one in the Meet series, which aims to
introduce younger readers to people who have played significant
roles in Australia's history.
The story is told by a young, fictional narrator who explains why he
believes that his life has been saved by the Reverend John Flynn.
This device enables the author to begin with a kitchen table
discussion about the man on the $20 note, and end with the
narrator's journey to hospital by plane. Between these two events is
a straightforward telling of Flynn's arrival in the outback, and his
determination to create an aerial medical service after reading
about the death of an injured stockman. Ivanoff has explained the
steps taken by most of those involved in helping Flynn to realise
his dream. Alfred Traeger, inventor of the pedal-powered radio, is
not mentioned in the text but his achievement is included in a
detailed timeline at the end of the book. The timeline appears to
have been written for adults, who can use it to answer questions or
provide additional information in a classroom. A map of Australia
marks air base locations but does not name them. Information about
current technology has been incorporated into the narrative. The
text is written in a medium-sized font. Sentences are short and
clearly written. Wood's engaging illustrations reproduce the colours
of the outback in soft shades of ochre and green. Like aerial
photographs, two of the pictures represent the landscape from a
pilot's point of view.
Younger readers, who read or share Meet the Flying Doctors,
can enjoy learning about a remarkable aspect of Australian history.
Elizabeth Bor
Funny kid stand up by Matt Stanton
HarperCollins, 2017. ISBN 9780733335983
(Age: 7+ years) Highly recommended. Max Walbert is the boy who can
make others laugh, the funny kid. Only . . . he's lost his funny. On
the eve of Redhill's local talent quest, Max pulls a prank on his
new teacher, but nobody laughs. By the time the auditions come
around, Max has managed to put a lot of people off side, including
the other entrants. His best friend Hugo remains on his side, but
after a few poor life choices of late, Hugo is now angling to be
Max's life coach. Begrudgingly and after being spectacularly heckled
by a clown named Tumbles, Max accepts that to win the talent quest
he is going to have to find some new material. But then his grandpa
goes missing from the nursing home, and Max suddenly has a lot more
serious matters to consider; especially when he is the one who
discovers that his Grandpa has been kidnapped.
Children from about seven or eight will find the style of this book
very easy to read.
This novel is for fans of Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Tom
Gates and similar. It took me a little while to work out that
the speech used by comic pictures in the book was part of the text
and not separate from it, but kids familiar with this style would
pick it up straight away. From the outset, the novel will have
readers laughing out loud. Max's narrative, for a book about a kid
who is unfunny, is definitely fun to read. Author Matt Stanton is
definitely creating a reputation for himself in comedic prose,
including upcoming titles in the Funny Kid series, Fart
Monster series and This is a Ball series.
This book comes highly recommended for middle Primary years students
and also for reluctant readers.
Clare Thompson
Witch snitch by Sibeal Pounder
Witch Wars series. Bloomsbury, 2017. ISBN 9781408892046
(Age: 9-10) Recommended. Sibeal Pounder's Witch Snitch : The
Inside scoop on the witches of ritzy city is another addition
to the popular Witch Wars series. This book is all about
Tiga's first Witchoween, which is a celebration of how wonderful
witches are if you were wondering, and her entry into the film world
when she is asked to help make a documentary about the most
interesting witches in Sinkville. There are 18 fantastic,
interesting witches for them to interview and each one for their own
special reasons. One develops the bestselling mouldy jam cat food
with a hint of fairy flavour, another the owner of a secret cafe and
another who has a museum dedicated to mermaids and owns over 100
pairs of mermaid -print leggings. All interviews scenarios are
funny, and filled with problems to be solved by Tiga and her crew.
Although it is part of a series I found that it was a good
standalone book as the book is full of character profiles, craft and
cooking activities and fun facts about the witches of the Witch Wars
fame. Dedicated fans of this series or newcomers could easily follow
the ideas and create their own Witch Wars party as intended by the
author.
This book is quite girly, in that there is a lot of talk of fashion,
style and fairies, plus the majority of the characters are female.
It would be ideal for a reader who struggles with the jump to longer
chapter books as the illustrations and activities provide a nice
interlude and distraction if needed.
I particularly enjoyed the funny character names such as Fluffanora,
Sluggfey and Melodie McDamp! I think young readers will find the
humour in these names.
Sibeal Pounder's writing is lively and interesting, keeping readers
entertained and hooked to the story. I have not read any of the
other Witch Wars stories, however if they are written in the same
way then I feel that this would be wonderful series for readers
around 9/10 years old.
Lauren Fountain
The Getaway by Jeff Kinney
Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Book 12. Penguin, 2017. ISBN
9780143782797
(Age: 7-12) Recommended. Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Getaway
is the 12th book in the long standing, award winning series by Jeff
Kinney. Just as in book 9 The long haul, this story depicts
the Heffley family going on vacation. The structure of the book is
the same as the previous titles, written in a diary style and filled
with the line drawn pictures that are synonymous with this series.
As usual there are many struggles and issues that Greg and his
family face. From the beginning there are problems and it is easy to
see that this is not going to be the relaxing Christmas break that
they had hoped for.
The issues include a fear of flying, navigating unknown and
interesting local animals, annoying parents, and stomach troubles to
name a few! Most of these would be very real to children when on
holidays and I think that this book, even though it is total
fiction, deals with them in a funny way and shows that even after
all sorts of incidents and problems you can still enjoy a holiday
with your family.
It is over 200 pages long, however it is an easy read with the
pictures adding interest and especially humour to the story. It is
written for primary school aged children and it fits this criteria
perfectly. The topics are relevant, it is very funny and the
illustrations mean that even children who are not confident readers
will find enjoyment in the series. There was not as much toilet
based humour as in the previous books I have read, but the tropical
paradise holiday craziness makes up for that.
This is the 4th book of this series that I have read and I can see
why so many children love it. I recommend this book to children aged
7-12, especially readers who may struggle with longer chapter books
as the pictures break up the text very nicely. I give it 4/5.
Lauren Fountain
We're going on a bear hunt (Snowglobe Gift Book) by Michael Rosen
Ill. by Helen Oxenbury. Walker Books, 2017. ISBN 9781406377736
(Age: 2-7) This is a special edition of the classic 1989 picture
book, featuring a snow globe window in the front cover. The timeless
picture book depicts a long journey and a quick retreat. It can be
chanted, sang or read and is just as well known now as a standalone
song. Part of its charm is that children of all ages love joining in
with the sound effects ("swishy swashy!", "Squelch squerch!") and
the catchy refrains.
It is a favourite of educators because it is enjoyed by children of
all ages and provides opportunities for many follow-on activities.
The last page, where the bear walks alone on the beach, also
provides a great discussion point. This is an attractive new version
of the book, but is probably suited to home libraries rather than
public or schools due to the plastic snow globe insert in the cover.
While it is fairly sturdy it does make the book more prone to
damage.
Nicole Nelson
You belong to me by Colin Harrison
Bloomsbury, 2017. ISBN 9781408886298
(Age: Adult) Recommended. Themes: Murder; Greed; Maps; Drama
(Thriller). You Belong to Me! Greed, jealousy, desire and ambition
clash violently in this tense drama set in New York amongst the
upwardly mobile and the rich and well-connected. Paul Reeves, the
central character is a twice married, but now single lawyer with a
passion for old maps of the New York region. This passion borders on
obsession and impacts his current relationships and direction. His
neighbour, Ahmed Mehraz, is of Iranian extraction and has
successfully risen to great heights within American society and
particularly in the complex world of global business. His beautiful
wife, Jennifer, is an adornment and possibly a 'possession' that
might prove to be a future political asset as proof of his
'neo-American' success, but she hides a past with rough edges. Into
this cauldron of external success and the rise-to-the-top arrives an
ex-flame for Jennifer, an all-American ex-serviceman - William
Wilkerson, whose relationship with Jennifer fractures the surface of
the veneer of success. The successful Ahmed sets in motion an
engineered solution to prevent the interloper from destroying his
plans for the future and with Paul and Jennifer also embroiled in
keeping William from Ahmed's attention, the circumstances of their
life become very complicated. Tension, violence, and organised crime
enter the otherwise perfect world of the richly connected
neighbours. Even though past horrors of Tehran's history have been
left behind for the Mehraz family, the reader feels the tension as
current horrors involving Mexican assassins and murder slowly twist
what seemed to be glamour and success into a miry mess. And into all
of this we see the wheeling and dealing of Paul Reeves as he tries
to get his hands on his own prized possession - an antique map of
New York.
Harrison has written a slowly ratchetting thriller, that uses New
York and its locale as a contributing influence in the tension. I
loved the insight into Antique Map collecting and the
uber-successful business world with its flashy botoxed-facade as the
setting for this slow-burn tense drama. With some quite violent
moments, this is not for the faint hearted, and definitely for an
adult audience as jealousy, sexual pursuit and obsession take over -
who belongs to whom?
Recommended for adult readers who enjoy the Drama/Thriller genre
(with some violence)
Carolyn Hull
We see everything by William Sutcliffe
Bloomsbury, 2017. ISBN 9781408895986
(Age: 12+) Highly recommended. War. Terrorism. Drones. Using drones
to target and kill people who are enemies of the regime is given a
sophisticated outing in this menacing dystopian novel by award
winning author, William Sutcliffe.
Alan is a failure to his single mother. Disinterested in school he
seems to have no drive but gaming is his passion and he is chosen to
train for a position within the government secret service, to use
drones to watch and kill terrorists. Alan loves the uniform, the
money, the prestige but finds his mother is appalled that he has
taken such a job.
Meanwhile in The Strip, an area within Central London full of
homeless and displaced people, bombed out of their homes, surrounded
by no go zones and barbed wire, Lex takes on a courier job for his
activist father, taking messages to houses within the ruined city
where they live, aware of drones constantly overhead monitoring
their every move. People caught in The Strip still manage to live
with handouts and aid, some things smuggled in via the tunnels.
Lex's ability with gaming gives him an edge with his deliveries, he
knows how to avoid detection, to check out the route ahead, to stay
safe and so learns his role quickly. He uses money earned selling
cigarettes to buy himself a secondhand bike and this gives him some
freedom, but Alan watching from above, sees a boy and his
relationship with his father helping him restore the bike, a
closeness he has never known. He becomes involved with the two that
he watches, developing an empathy for them both, the boy only a
little younger than he, the father teaching him things possibly
meant to help him survive when he is gone.
Set in London, Lex's life is bound by a small section of the inner
city, with barbed wire keeping them contained, but it could be
anywhere, and astute readers will make the link between other places
around the world where people are suffering behind walls, contained
in bombed surroundings, often refugees in their own country,
tunnels, bombing and barbed wire all part of their everyday lives.
And this story shows us that the watched and the watchers are people
living out their lives surviving as best they can. But in this case
the drones are a formidable piece of armory.
Told in alternate chapters, one from The Strip where Lex delivers
his messages, and the other from the control room, where Alan
watches, guiding his drone to collect information. But the day is
coming when Alan will be asked to use his drone to kill.
The film 'Eye in the sky' (2015) introduced audiences to the
power of using drones, and this is shown with more intimacy in this
book as Sutcliffe reveals the two boys and what motivates them,
their lives coming inexorably closer. A thriller that is sure to
engage the most jaded of readers, the links to the gaming world are
intoxicating.
Fran Knight
The Firefly Code by Megan Frazer Blakemore
Bloomsbury, 2017. ISBN 9781681195278
(Age: 10-14) Recommended. Themes: Science fiction. Genetic
engineering. Utopias. Friendship. Megan Frazer Blakemore's science
fiction novel The Firefly Code explores friendship and life
in the beautifully crafted utopian world of Old Harmonie. Everything
from a regulated diet to strict guidelines for living is adhered to
by the residents. Parents can genetically design their children and
when they have their thirteenth birthday they learn their genetic
makeup and choose their latency a special gift.
Twelve year old Mori and her friends, Julia, Theo and Benji live in
cookie cutter houses on Firefly Lane. They love riding their bikes,
swimming and hanging out together. Mori's curious about the history
of her environment, and she loves to explore deep in the woods right
near the fence separating the outside world from hers. When new girl
Ilana moves into the vacant house, she seems to be too perfect, and
the friends are curious about her textbook life and family, her past
and her sometimes strange behaviour.
Mori and Ilana form a special bond; Mori's inquisitiveness is piqued
by Ilana's actions causing her to carefully observe her behaviours.
The two girls build a secret retreat they call 'Oaksedge' in the
woods, a special retreat where Mori nurtures her special trees. When
the friends decide to explore the abandoned house left by the
founders of Old Harmonie, friendships are tested and questions are
raised. Mori takes Dr Varden's notebook explaining the origins of
the society based on genetic engineering of bees and their
behaviour. With an unexpected fire, the disappearance of Ilana and
Mori's determination to uncover more about her great-grandma's role
in starting this special place, this is an exciting story.
Blakemore's novel told from Mori's perspective is an engaging read,
exploring everyday life, friendships and realistically discussing
the role of genetic engineering and the impact of life in a utopian
society. The Firefly Code is a suitable science fiction
narrative for the middle grades as a class novel.
Rhyllis Bignell
Horses wild and tame by Iris Volant and Jarom Vogel
Flying Eye Books, 2018. ISBN 9781911171324
(Age: 7+) Recommended. Horses are of endless fascination to many
people and this book will satisfy both children and adults who are
very familiar with them as well as those who seek information about
them.
The contents page is comprehensive and the reader can read from the
beginning of the book starting with the Introduction and What is a
horse right through Horse gaits, Wild horse, Legendary horse and
many more finally coming to Horse care and the Index. Those who are
interested in specific topics can also peruse horse topics that
might interest them, e.g. the impact that the story Black Beauty had
in its time or Sports horses in the Modern Olympics.
Rich illustrations in deep greens, mellow browns and vivid blues
stand out and complement the text that is concise and interesting to
read and could be managed by an independent reader. It is also a
book that is good to flick through - the beautiful colours and
drawings draw the eye, and the reader just has to stop and read. I
was fascinated by the legendary horse Pegasus and the drawings of
war horses made me stop to read about them.
This would be a very worthwhile addition to any library or
classroom.
Pat Pledger
The history of bees by Maja Lunde
Simon and Schuster, 2017. ISBN 9781471165689
(Age: Senior secondary - Adult) Highly recommended. The history of
bees is told as three story strands in different settings and times:
William, a biologist in England in 1852; George, a beekeeper in the
United States in 2007, and Tao, a worker in China in 2098. They are
separate stories that gradually draw closer together, told in short
alternating chapters that grab your attention and make you want to
read on. The theme of bees and their role in pollination is what
unites the stories but there are also overlapping themes of parents
and their dreams and expectations of their children. It is here that
Lunde's writing is most powerful, as she captures so subtly and
perfectly the misunderstandings, the unexpressed feelings, silences
and disappointments between husband and wife, and between parent and
child.
At the same time we learn the history of bees, of the invention of
the first man-made beehives, the burgeoning industry of beekeeping
and commercial pollination, the disaster of Colony Collapse
Disorder, and the repercussions for future humankind with the loss
of the bee and its pivotal role in nature. There is so much we can
learn from the bee - the unity and dedication of the bee community
is contrasted with the selfishness and self-centredness of man. This
book sounds an environmental warning about where humans are headed;
it is a story painted in pictures with the lives of three families
who also seem on the brink of collapse, struggling to understand
each other and live together in harmony. However, there is hope, and
William, George and Tao each contribute to the answer.
Helen Eddy
A necessary evil by Abir Mukherjee
Vintage Publishing, 2017. ISBN 9781911215127
(Age: Senior secondary to adult) Highly recommended. Themes: Crime
fiction, India, Historical fiction, Racism, British Raj. When
Captain Sam Wyndham and his sergeant Surrender-not Banerjee attend a
local prince who is in Calcutta for talks about cooperation between
the principalities in 1920's India, they did not expect to be
witnesses to the man's assassination. Surrender-not is mystified,
the prince was an acquaintance from school, and he must go to the
funeral in the principality of Sambalpore to ensure that he and Sam
can investigate further.
But the palace is not what they expect: no one can be trusted, least
of all the major in charge of the investigation, having already
seized someone as the culprit.
Wyndham's opium craving comes to the fore, clouding his judgement
and making him impatient and suspicious of those near to him.
His one time lover, Annie Grant is also in the palace, a guest of
the prince's brother, Punit, now heir to the throne, and Sam is able
to use her to get closer to the people he wants to question: the
women within the court closed to him, a white male.
These books make fascinating reading, recreating the India of the
Raj in the 1920's with a backdrop of unrest, of wanting the British
gone, of racism, the wealth of the principalities and the caste
system. The first in the stories introduced the former Scotland Yard
detective Sam Wyndham and his sergeant, Surrender-not, in A
Rising Man (2016) a duo with underlying tensions as
Surrender-not, the Harrow educated man of considerable depth and
knowledge is subordinate to the flawed Wyndham. Forays into the
zenana, the private world of the harem, a tiger hunt and splendid
dinner with the maharaja with a silver train on the table taking the
champagne to the guests, all add spice to this multi layered story.
For lovers of crime fiction, historical fiction, tales of the Raj or
simply a tale of the tension between the two main protagonists, this
is a treat.
I thoroughly enjoyed every word particularly the foreshadowing of
the eventual demise of British rule in India.
Fran Knight
