The Queen of Dreams series, book 2. Macmillan Children's
Books, 2016. ISBN 9781447291145
(Age: 10 - 16) Highly recommended. Fantasy. The Hunting of the
Princes is the second book in The Queen of Dreams by
the famous science fiction author Peter F Hamilton. This is his
first ever children's fantasy trilogy. The first book of the series
title is The Secret Throne.
In the first book of the series Taggie Paganuzzi learns that she is
the Queen-To-Be of the magical first realm as her father is an
otherworldly prince in exile. He had been overthrown by the King of
Night. Taggie has to learn very quickly how to use magic to succeed
in defeating the King of Night. The Hunting of the Princes continues the adventures of Taggie
and her younger sister, Jemima. Someone tries to assassinate Taggie
as she is cycling home from the local swimming pool in Samford,
England. Taggie, with the aid of Jemima and other friends, sets to
solving the mystery of who is trying to kill her. She learns that
someone has been killing royal heirs throughout the magical
kingdoms.
Peter F Hamilton grabs and holds the attention of the reader
throughout the happenings and adventures of Taggie and friends as
they use all their skills and reasoning to solve the puzzle of who
is behind the assassinations of the royal heirs and to avoid being
killed themselves. The reader will not want to put the book down.
This book is reminiscent of books written by Enid Blyton such as The
Famous Five series.
This series is an excellent introduction to fantasy novels for all
young readers.
Glen Avery
1918 by Libby Gleeson
The Great Australian War series. Scholastic, 2018 ISBN
9781743622513
(Age: Middle school) Highly recommended. Themes: War. The Great War.
World War One. Villers-Bretonneux. Western Front. The last in the
series, The Great Australian War, 1918 is written by
Libby Gleeson who also wrote the first in this fine series, 1914.
Aiming to introduce a new generation of readers to Australia's
involvement in this brutal war, each in the series gives a different
hero and his perspective of Australia's involvement in the war. Set
during the last year of conflict, the main character is Ned from
Gilgandra, one of the young men caught up in the Cooee March, (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Snowball_marches)
fighting for his life in the trenches that make up the Western
Front. Too late to
land at Gallipoli, he was sent to Northern France where they have
dug their way in and out of trenches for two years. At this stage
the Russian Revolution has occurred and the new government has
withdrawn Russia from the war, allowing the German forces to
concentrate on getting to Paris.
Ned and his weary soldier mates are sent into battle at the small
village of Villers-Bretonneux. They have been told that a win here
will end the war, but this has been said before, all these men want
to do is get it over and done with and head back for home. Ned wants
to survive, particularly after meeting a young nurse, giving Gleeson
the opportunity to explore how nurses fared in this conflict, while
discussing the theme of bravery, treatment of the wounded, and key
events including the fallout from the the aftermath of the
conscription referendum of 1917. I enjoyed reading about the nitty
gritty of the men at war, the letters from home, their opinion of
those in charge, washing their uniforms, sneaking out at night to
meet the nurses. All gives a reality which younger readers will
appreciate, as they learn of the actions of their forebears fighting
in the Great War.
Gleeson takes the readers through the final stages of the war, the
mopping up campaigns, minor skirmishes, and hope for peace. Rumours
abound in the last few months, at the front and at home, and it is a
relief to all of them that Armistice is finally signed. Gleeson
shows her young hero fighting a battle within himself about his
paralyzed brother and this plays out against the backdrop of war.
Readers will learn a great deal about the strategy of war, and
Australia's heroic commander, Monash, along with the ordinary people
at the front.
Fran Knight
The endsister by Penni Russon
Allen and Unwin, 2018. ISBN 9781741750652
(Age: middle school) Highly recommended. Themes: Supernatural.
London. Family. Sisters. Humour. Endsisters, sixteen year old Else
and four year old Sibbi relate the story of their family's move to a
house in London after a great aunt died and left the property to her
only living relative, their father, Dave, an ex-lawyer trying to
live off the land in Australia.
Between their sections, other chapters relate the events from the
perspective of the three male siblings, Oscar, Finn and Clancy,
making an engrossing tale of this family and its relationship with
the ghosts.
Outhwaite House is home to two resident ghosts, Almost Annie and
Hardly Alice, so old that they cannot remember why they are there,
but watch with interest the changes that occur in the world around
them.
Into their world come the five siblings, each with their own
characteristics, the twins unhappy, Sibbi throwing tantrums, Else
deliberately leaving her violin at home in Australia, Clancy
harbouring fears of bullying. But Sibbi seems to be foundering, Mum,
Olly cannot go outside, Dave becomes more interested in the legal
work he is doing, and Clancy develops a friendship with the girl
next door. Else meets a violin maker and learns to love her music
once again, and it is this catalyst which finally cements the
family, allowing them to open up and be honest, to make decisions as
a group. A close family, their equilibrium is upset by the ambience
of this new house.
Gently spooky, the tale's two ghosts want the best for the children
in the house, listening to the arguments between them all, feeling
saddened by their unhappiness. The music brings back their memories,
so like the family, they can resolve issues from the past and better
make decisions about their futures.
Russon is the author of a group of books I really enjoyed, The
Undine series, and I am pleased to see another book from this
author. Her writing is spectacular, and the themes involving the
supernatural, subtle and moving. No blood lust, no vampires, ghouls
or monsters, just two gentle old ladies who are a little
transparent, hovering just out of anyone's sight, but disturbed as
is the family of what may lie behind the locked attic door.
Russon's descriptions of the house and environs in London are
infused with reality, sparking an enthusiasm for the city which is
effervescent.
Fran Knight
Bobby the plain-faced cattle dog by Amy Curran
Pink
Coffee Publishing, 2017. ISBN 9780648239314
Bobby was the last of Peggy's litter of Australian cattle dogs to
find a new home - some of his brothers and sisters had already
moved to new homes - but he was OK with that because he was just a
puppy. His mother consoled him and told him not to worry
because he would find friends and 'be accepted by others.'
Because Bobby was different. Instead of having the regular
markings and patches of his breed, his face was plain.
He didn't know he was a bit different until the other cattle dogs at
his new home, when a farmer finally came to claim him, wouldn't play
with him and this saddened him. In fact it wasn't until he
befriended Mother Duck and she had him look in a pool of still water
that he noticed the difference. Was he going to spend his life being
different and alone? It would seem so until something happens that
makes Bobby a hero and finally he is accepted for who he is inside
rather than what he looks like.
Based on a real dog and his experiences with other dogs, this story
has a strong message of being accepted for who we are rather than
what we look like.
Bullying, in all its facets, is certainly at the top of the agenda
following the suicide of Amy 'Dolly' Everett and there are calls
from all quarters for it to be addressed, with the brunt of the
expectations falling squarely on the shoulders of schools.
While the other dogs don't nip or bite or otherwise abuse Bobby in
what is the overt form of bullying, excluding him because of his
looks is just as damaging and it makes a good discussion starter to
raise the issue with young children so they can understand that
bullying can take many forms and each can have unforeseen and unseen
consequences.
Written for young, almost independent readers, this is the first in
a proposed series that is designed to teach young children to look
beyond exteriors because 'It's what on the inside that counts.'
There are
teachers' notes available as well as a plush toy that will
give the story extra meaning.
Barbara Braxton
Dolls of war by Shirley Parenteau
Walker Books, 2018. ISBN 9780763690694
(Age: Year 5+) Recommended. "In 1941, eleven-year-old Macy James
lives near the Oregon coast with her father, the director of a small
museum. Miss Tokyo, one of fifty-eight exquisite friendship dolls
given to America by Japan in 1926, is part of the museum's
collection - and one of Macy's most treasured connections to her
mother, who recently passed away. When the Japanese bomb Pearl
Harbor, many of Macy's neighbours demand that Miss Tokyo be
destroyed. When her brother joins the Navy and devastating news from
the war begins to pour in, Macy starts having doubts - does
remaining loyal to Miss Tokyo mean being disloyal to America? "
(Publisher)
Author Shirley Parenteau has done a magnificent job of bringing to
life this real life little known story. She provides an interesting
insight into the hatred to the enemy held by many Americans. It is a
well written historical fiction book where the young girl, Macy, is
torn between the loyalty to her mum and the beautiful Miss Tokyo and
the patriotism for her country. The doll is a constant reminder of
her recently lost mother. The local people in the town see her as a
Japanese symbol that should be destroyed. We see a good friend of
Macy's sent to an interment camp - something which Macy struggles to
deal with.
This is a well written book that is descriptive and would make an
excellent read aloud for Years 5 and up. For fans of historical
fiction this is a must read and will no doubt spark an interest in
the reader to investigate the facts more.
Kathryn Schumacher
Hickory Dickory Dash by Tony Wilson and Laura Wood
Scholastic Press, 2018. ISBN 9781743811160
Mother Mouse - the one in the rhyme, the one that climbed the
clock at one, then ran back down - is frantic with worry and in a
desperate hurry to find her two bold sons. They had been
playing outside in the moonlight when the cat pounced quite
unannounced and they scarpered for safety. Now Mother
Mouse is searching the house for them with the cat hot on her tail.
Where can they be? They are not in the playroom or the
kitchen; not the pantry or the garage or even the backyard.
Every room in the house is visited in this desperate dash, as
wherever she searches the cat is there, ready to pounce but being
bamboozled each time either by mouse savvy, swiftness or
circumstance.
Finally, exhausted and sobbing after two hours of searching, Mother
Mouse sits on the verandah almost without hope - and then she has an
idea . . .
Even if this hadn't been selected for the 2018
National Simultaneous Storytime it would have been an
automatic hit with a wide range of readers. As with his first
book, The Cow
Tripped Over the Moon, Wilson has drawn on a familiar nursery
rhyme and given it new life with his own twist and message of
perseverance and the lengths a parent goes to for the love of their
children. Clever rhymes move the story along at a dashing pace and
with the cat in hot pursuit, the reader wonders if this will have a
happy ending. As well as the suspense there is also humour -
the cat's fate in the nursery will produce a LOL moment - as each
time Mother Mouse narrowly escapes a horrible fate. Laura
Woods' illustrations use so many different perspectives that we can
feel Mother Mouse's fear as well as using light and shade cleverly
to bring the house at midnight alive and put critical elements
in focus. Suggestions
for using the story as part of NSS 2018 are available but as May 23
draws closer there are bound to be more and more available as it
lends itself to many facets of the curriculum, including
maths. But even without formal curriculum-related activities,
this is just a rollicking read that is likely to become raucous as
the children are drawn into to its almost vaudeville-like
humour. Watch out, Mother Mouse!
See Tony Wilson's invitation to NSS here.
Barbara Braxton
Lucky button by Michael Morpurgo
Walker, 2018. ISBN 9781406371680
(Age: 9+) Recommended. Jonah has always struggled to fit in at
school. He's too busy caring for his mother to make friends. But
when he finds a lucky button, it connects his world with
Nathaniel's, a foundling boy from the eighteenth century. Can
Nathaniel's story help Jonah? And can the lucky button work its
magic again? A moving story about friendship, fortune and music.
The mastermind of story writing, Michael Morpurgo has done it again.
It certainly piqued my interest in investigating the Foundling
Museum further after reading the brief summary at the end of the
book. The descriptive language is enticing and allows the reader to
gain a clear vision of the world Morpurgo creates. The clever
intertwining of the two boys' lives is evidence of true friendship.
Themes such as hardship, loneliness and compassion are throughout
the book. The beautiful illustrations by award winning Michael
Foreman are absolutely stunning. Children aged nine and up who are
lovers of historical fiction will love this book.
Kathryn Schumacher
Marvellous Miss May: queen of the circus by Stephanie Owen Reeder
Heritage Heroes series. National Library of Australia, 2018.
ISBN 9780642279156
(Age: 10+) Highly recommended. Themes: Australian history, Women,
Circuses. In this sumptuously presented book, with copious
illustrations and reproductions of advertising banners and circus
ephemera, Reeder tells the story of May Wirth, a tiny acrobat and
equestrienne travelling with Wirths Circus around Australia and
overseas in the early part of the twentieth century.
The life and times of the circuses that toured Australia is
beguillingly presented, giving the reader a glimpse into a life now
rarely seen and a theatrical experience much changed.
Besides the main story of May is the story of the circus and the
lives of the circus folk, the precarious way they lived, the
training and dogged determination to succeed at their craft, with
sections showing us how the circus travelled, the animals that were
part of the circus menagerie and other circuses around the world.
Readers will thrill with the array of animals, then the main
attraction of the circus, and marvel at the world wide fame of
Little May Wirth.
Abandoned by her parents when she was seven, May was adopted by the
Wirth family, and trained to be an acrobat and eventually a bareback
rider. So skilled was she that she came to the attention of larger
circuses, eventually travelling overseas, and touring with the
Ringling Brothers, and Barnum and Bailley in the USA, and circuses
in England and France. An amazing life is portrayed for us in this
highly readable account, liberally accompanied by coloured
illustrations and circus mementos, drawing the reader's eye to every
page, taking in every detail. I loved the circus posters and the
maps showing where they went, the photos of the circus people going
about their daily tasks, the views of the ships with the equipment
and animals aboard.
Included is information about how circuses developed and what they
are like today, and the whole is accompanied by an excellent index
and glossary, along with author notes, making this a valuable tool
for children researching circus life as well as the life of May
Wirth.
Stephanie Owen Reeder is the author of the Heritage Heroes
series published by NLA, and information about these involving books
presenting heroes of the past can be found here.
Fran Knight
The truth and lies of Ella Black by Emily Barr
Penguin Books, 2018, ISBN 9780141367002
(Age: 15+) Highly recommended. Emily Barr presents a fast-paced,
adrenaline-filled novel that keeps the reader on their toes right
until the end. The novel follows Ella Black, a teenager who believes
battling her inner darkness - which she has named 'Bella' - is her
biggest challenge. That is until her parents take her out of school
and whisk her away to Rio. Frustrated with her parents' refusal to
provide her any explanation for their spontaneous trip, Ella's
curiosity culminates in her finally discovering out for herself the
purpose of their trip. The information proves to be devastating and
Ella finds herself unable to cope with the result of her prying. She
chooses to run away, and in doing so, uncovers even more deep, dark
secrets about her life. Consequently, Ella must learn to cope with
these revelations, whilst simultaneously exploring and coming to
terms with who she really is.
An important tale about being comfortable with you are and where you
come from, this novel is appropriate for ages 15 and up due to its
references to violence and mature themes.
Ella is a fantastic protagonist, as her internal conflict and
adventures keep the reader engaged, and unwilling to put the book
down. The characters that she meets on her journey are realistic,
wonderful, whole people that you will take with you even after you
close the last page. If you're a fan of adventure, mystery and
romance, you will not regret picking up this book!
Daniella Chiarolli
The rules of magic by Alice Hoffman
Simon and Schuster, 2017. ISBN 9781471168987
(Age: 14 - adult) Recommended. This novel takes the reader into a
world of magical possibility! Magic 'works' in this story of family,
love, loyalty, jealousy, war and peace. Deeply embedded in the New
York of the past, its settings are rich in detail, its stories and
characters resonating with anyone who loves a good plot set in an
interesting and vibrant city.
Plunged into a world of different possibilities we are told that,
through magic, things can be changed - and sometimes revenge can be
exacted on those who have hurt others. Grounding her story firmly in
the idea of witchcraft as a gift to be used carefully and
intelligently, Hoffman describes the witches as understanding the
extraordinary aspects of human behaviour - and who know how to use
the aspects and matter of the world to bring about change.
Hoffman's characters are deftly drawn, and so comfortably human that
it would be impossible to not be convinced of their authenticity. We
are drawn deeply into the world of the novel, reading about the
violence, hatred and fear that some characters endure, in America
and in Europe during the terrible conflict of the Second World War.
The comfort and healing that is offered by witchcraft is evident in
the narrative - whether by medical intervention, nursing, magic or
love, or a combination of these gifts. Through her superb
characterisation, her deft handling of situation, and her
description of how magic works, Hoffmann imbues this world with
credibility.
Accepting the magic or suspending disbelief, in this captivating and
enjoyable novel we discover a fine tribute to human endeavour. At
its heart it is about people and families in good and bad times, and
about how we find ways to cope during such times. This narrative
glimmers with the possibility of forgiveness, love and loyalty in a
world where kindness is often scarce. I would recommend it as a
well-constructed narrative that addresses important human issues -
suitable for high school students and adults.
Liz Bondar
A wrinkle in time by Madeleine L'Engle
Time quintet book 1. Penguin, 2018. ISBN 9780241331163
(Age: 8+) Highly recommended. Themes: Science fiction.
Individuality. Time. STEM. This movie tie-in edition of the classic
novel first published in 1962, will bring L'Engle's wonderful book
to the attention of many more readers. This was the first time that
I had read the book and found that its timeless themes of being true
to yourself and fighting evil would still resonate for today's
readers.
Accompanied by her brother Charles Wallace and friend Calvin, Meg
Murry goes on a quest to find her missing father, who had been
experimenting with time travel. Helped along the way by Mrs Whatsit,
Mrs Who and Mrs Which, they travel through time to another dimension
where they encounter the evil It, who wants everyone to conform to
its idea of perfection.
L'Engle has high expectations of her young readers and their ability
to follow difficult concepts, but at the same time has written an
exciting adventure story that has great appeal. The book is
sprinkled with quotes from philosophers and scientists and she
explores scientific and mathematical concepts along the way. Readers
undoubtedly will be pursuing the meaning of the word 'tesseract' as
they follow Meg and her companions' dangerous journey through time
and space.
Meg's character stands out. She is often in trouble at school and
doesn't fit the expected mould but when she is faced with danger,
she is able to come up with solutions with courage and
determination. Her relationship with her brother and Calvin are
realistic and the actions of Mrs Whatsit, Mrs Who and Mrs Which will
keep readers enthralled as they try to work out just who and what
they are.
I believe another generation of readers will be inspired by A
wrinkle in time, whether it is read aloud to them or they
discover its adventure and challenge for themselves. Readers will
also find the section at the back with information about the author
to be very informative as well.
Pat Pledger
Maisy goes to the bookshop by Lucy Cousins
Walker Books, 2018. ISBN 9781406377071
(Age: 2-5) Recommended. Popular author and illustrator Lucy Cousins
first created her Maisy Mouse character in 1990 and her picture
books continue to be much loved family favourites. Her bright
colours, familiar characters and everyday settings are just right to
share with toddlers and pre-schoolers. Maisy goes to the bookshop is the latest adventure in this
popular series. The young mouse enters the shop to discover her
friends busy choosing books from the colourful displays and shelves.
She enjoys reading a bear book, a noisy truck book, a long fish
book, even a book about drawing and painting. Her friends are there
to share in the fun; Charley the crocodile imagines he's a pirate,
while Eddie the elephant looks at a first aid book; will he be a
doctor or a firefighter? After story time with Ostrich the
shopkeeper, Maisie and her friends enjoy cupcakes from the cafe.
After a bus ride home, Maisie is happy to share her new bird book
with her pals.
Lucy Cousins' stories with their recognisable formats, simple
settings, easy to read text and familiar characters are great
resources for teaching narrative to early years students.
Rhyllis Bignell
Stephanie Chiocci and the Cooper's Hill cheese chase by Matt Porter
Footy Stars series. Ford St, 2018. ISBN 9781925272888
(Age: 8+) Recommended. Themes: Girls in sport. Football. Cheese.
Humour. Sports training. Bullying. This easily read, shorter story
tells the story of Stephanie Chiocci going to England to compete in
a cheese racing competition. The captain of Collingwood Football
League Women's team, Stephanie is the main character in the first of
a new series of books based on the lives of elite football stars.
Rolling a cheese down a hill is far harder than it seems, especially
when the fate of a family owned cheese business is at stake.
Stephanie must not tell her coach where she is or what she is doing
as it may interrupt her training regime, but here she finds the
skills she needs to catch the cheese are just the same as those she
practices for the football match. At first she finds following the
cheese difficult, but putting her football skills into practice
makes it much easier.
Through the lightly told story is a strong background of football,
the skills required, the sportsmanship, the team work, training, and
even an outline of the football field. At the end of the story is a
brief biography of Steph, and some hints about playing a game of
football.
This is the first in a new series called Footy stars,
featuring AFLW stars like Chiocci and its humour and fast paced
action make them highly readable.
Fran Knight
The art garden by Penny Harrison and Penelope Pratley
EK Books, 2018. ISBN 9781925335590
Sadie loves playing with colour and finding patterns and shapes in
unlikely places, looking at details of lines and texture with the
eye of an artist. More than anything she wants to be a painter, just
like her best friend, Tom whose brush dances across the page,
swooshing and swirling into shapes and stories and drawing Sadie
right into them. But whenever Sadie picks up a paintbrush her
colours slip and slurp, splatter and splodge and her paintings don't
look anything like the real thing. So instead, she spends her time
working in the garden or playing with Tom. But, one day, when she
ends up painting herself instead of a picture, Sadie chucks a
tantrum in frustration and climbs her favourite tree - and suddenly
gets a look at things from a different perspective and makes a big
discovery about herself and her own creativity.
This is a unique story, charmingly illustrated in watercolour, that
will offer a new perspective to those who don't see themselves as
creative just because they cannot paint. It opens up lots of
potential for discussion about how each of us is creative even if
'we can't draw a straight line', whether it's working in a different
medium such as stone or fabric or in a different field such as words
or music or movement. While we each interpret our environment
differently. each one of us is creative and it is creativity that
drives us forward.
Like many kids, Sadie focuses on and is frustrated by the things she
can't do rather than paying attention to that which she does well
and her self-talk of doubt takes over. Sadly, sometimes negative
language is all that some of our students hear so they need to learn
to think 'I can...' rather than 'I can't...' with the help of
visible affirmations so maybe get the students to write a personal
'I can't...' statement relating to something they really want to
achieve, then rephrase it into an 'I can...' mantra that can
start to change their inner voice and the thinking that drives it.
Quality picture books are like the seeds that Sadie planted... an
engaging story that is the beautiful flower but so much more beneath
the surface that is grounding it and helping it grow. This is
quality.
Barbara Braxton
Scythe by Neal Shusterman
Arc of a Scythe, book 1.Walker Books, 2018. ISBN
9781406379242
(Age: 14+) Recommended. Teens Top Ten. 2018
Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers, Goodreads
Choice Award Nominee for Young Adult Fantasy and Science Fiction
(2017), Michael L. Printz Honor (2017). Themes: Dystopian fiction,
Death, Good and evil, Violence. Citra and Rowan are two teens who
have been chosen to be the apprentices of Scythe Faraday, one of the
Scythes who ends life in a society where hunger, poverty and even
death itself has disappeared. This is the only way to control the
population size and the pair have to learn how to choose and glean a
life. However Scythe Goddard, who really enjoys killing, begins to
change the rules about taking a life and Rowan and Citra find that
they are in danger of being killed in the political fallout.
Shusterman has written a riveting but also challenging book that
looks at what would happen in a world that has conquered disease and
death itself. He has described a world where creativity seems to
have disappeared and little innovation is necessary as the
Thunderhead, an impartial cloud computer, has oversight of
everything except the work of the Scythes. At the same time he keeps
the reader's interest with the action packed adventures that Citra
and Rowan are faced with as well as the ethical dilemmas with which
they have to come to terms.
Diary entries break up the narrative and provide readers with time
to pause and think about what it means to live in that society, the
feelings of the Scythes about killing and what death means to an
individual. Amid all the bloodshed and violence, there are glimpses
of humour, and readers are faced with the question that Citra and
Rowan must face as Scythes - could they kill another person?
A fabulous cover, fast paced action and a world that should be a
utopia but isn't, all make Scythe a most memorable tale and
enthralling beginning to the series.
Pat Pledger
