Reviews

Father Christmas's Fake Beard by Terry Pratchett

Facing the flame by Jackie French

The Matilda Saga bk 7. HarperCollins, 2017. ISBN 9781460753200
(Age: 14+) Highly recommended. I didn't need to re-read the last in the series to be utterly enthralled by this latest right from the get-go. In fact, this was a complete binge, read in one night because it was just too good and too gripping to put down.
Jed Kelly is the happiest she has ever been. She's married to Sam, and pregnant with their first child. Her hearth and home are a haven. Young Scarlett is doing well at uni and carving out a newly independent life.
Then cracks start to appear. The dry weather is worsening with many old-timers predicting the worst of fires ever. The man she fears most re-appears in Jed's life, intent with malice and revenge. A young girl blinded in an accident is creating issues at the River View facility. But Gibbers Creek is one tough and tight community where there is immense support for each and every one of their whole.
When the tiny spark finally escalates into the worst imaginable fire, the community is galvanised into action and though Jed passes through a frightening and dangerous episode and one could say her baby almost has a baptism of fire, the loyalty, intuition and the indomitable spirit of old Matilda resonates through the township and surrounds.
This is a cracking story filled with rich characters both old and new and imbued with all that we hold dear about Australian love of country and mateship.
Highly recommended for readers of around 14 upwards. If you don't have the complete series yet, this is one worth investing in for your collection particularly for Middle/Upper school and wide reading of Australian spirit/identity.
Sue Warren

This mortal coil by Emily Suvada

Penguin 2017. ISBN 9780141379272
(Age: 12+) Highly recommended. When the plague breaks out and all hell breaks loose Cat thinks she is safe enough living with her father, a genius gene-hacker, and his assistant, Dex. But everything changes when Cartaxus, the organisation responsible for messing up her father's Influenza X cure, comes to take them both away. Cat knows that it is important she remains hidden, otherwise Cartaxus might use her against them. Little does she know, that is not the only reason. When Lachlan dies, he sends a blackout agent to Cat to protect her along with the message that she holds the cure for the dreaded virus, Hydra, which has been turning people into mindless zombies and forcing the Wrath down on those who have continued to live above-ground. With the arrival of Cole, Cat is soon to learn she is much more important then simply being Lachlan Agatta's daughter or the Skies best hacker. She is the cure and the only hope for the survival of the human race. But can she stay out of Cartaxus' hands long enough to spread the cure and redeem her father's legacy?
Emily Suvada's This mortal coil is a thrilling young action fiction which will glue you to your seat. Having completely exceeded my expectations I would highly recommend this for people aged twelve and up. A dazzling novel about gene hacking, this apocalyptic techno-dystopia hits all of the tropes, while keeping the love interests understated, allowing Cat's strong female character to shine.
Kayla Gaskell, 21

Little dog and the summer holiday by Corinne Fenton

Ill. by Robin Cowcher. Black Dog Books, 2017. ISBN 9781925381160
(Age: 4+) Highly recommended. Themes: Holidays. Summer. Animals. Journeys. Caravans. A wonderful caravan holiday is anticipated as the family sets out from Melbourne headed for Sydney in the 1960's. With Dad at the wheel of the FJ Holden, Mum in the passenger seat and two kids, Jonathan and Annie, in the back with their dog, Little Dog, they set off along the highway.
Each night they stop at a caravan park, meeting the neighbours, cooking their tea on a primus stove, and playing with the other kids. The whole is redolent of the seemingly more relaxed lifestyle of the times where TV and electronic devices were nowhere to be seen, where families traveled together playing Eye-spy, ad cards, quoits and games at night. They stop at the border between Victoria and New South Wales, the Dog on the Tuckerbox, finally crossing Sydney Harbour Bridge. They visit the sights, Bondi Beach and the Blue Mountains, until it is time to return.
This is an affectionate look at family holidays in the past, brim full of touches of the 1960's in the clothing, caravans and cars, as well as the choice of food, equipment, drink and games.
The story encourages readers to look at the differences between their holidays and those of the family, asking how many have holidayed in a caravan. Questions about the range of things dotted on each page ask to be discussed: the fly spray atomiser, the fly swatter, the esky, primus stove and lamp, camera, canoe and so on. Some of the things point out the negative aspects of such a holiday: mosquitoes and flies, lamp light at night, keeping the primus filled so that Mum could cook, the lack of refrigeration, bunking together in a small caravan. But the whole is a nostalgic look at how families holidayed in the past, beautifully illustrated with soft water colour images full of detail, urging the eyes to pore over each page, perhaps seeing that the holiday might not have been so restful for the parents.
Fran Knight

The Whiz Mob and the Grenadine Kid by Colin Meloy

Ill. by Carson Ellis. Penguin Viking Books, 2017. ISBN 9780143787860
(Age: 8+) Charlie Fisher Junior, the son of an American diplomat, is on a semi-permanent vacation in Marseilles. His Mother, Sieglinde Duhrer, tired of being a mother and desiring to pursue her acting career, suggests that Charlie should live the life of a professional diplomat's child from this point forward, and so Charlie is sent to live with his Father. Charlie Junior is lonely, bored and often left to his own devices and the reader quickly feels empathy for him.
The novel is written in a very clever way, where for the most part, the author describes the pursuits of Charlie, but with occasional reference to something the audience should observe or understand.
Charlie has a certain vulnerability, but also status because of his father. On an ordinary Tuesday morning, Charlie witnesses a well-planned heist and members of the mob are pursued by the Gendarmes. With Charlie's reputation and on his good word, Amir is set free. Charlie's bargain? He asks to learn the tricks of the trade. Charlie is quickly immersed in lessons on coat pockets and soon is invited to join an international organisation known as The Whiz Mob.
As soon as Charlie gets wrapped up in this secret world, the reader will notice a dramatic change to the way language is used in the novel. Amir and the Whiz Mob virtually have an entirely new language that the reader must wade through. Thankfully, the story comes with a glossary of terms at the back - it is quite necessary I assure you!
Charlie finds himself grappling with a tough decision. He can either continue the path of danger and unlawfulness that comes with befriending pickpockets or to get out - which would leave him bored and lonely once more. This is a story of great adventure, unlikely friendship and is also tinged with sadness for young Charlie.
The black and white drawings by the author's wife add a charming simplicity to the novel.
Clare Thompson

Kids like us by Hilary Reyl

Text Publishing, 2017. ISBN 9781925498912
(Age: Older teens - adults) Themes: Autism. Relationships. Family. Friendships. French setting. Martin's mother is directing a movie set in a French Chateau, the family have rented a small cottage for the summer and Martin is attending the local French school for experience while keeping in touch with his friend Layla from his Los Angeles school 'The Center' for kids with challenges. They both have a form of autism where they are attached to stories. Layla has an affinity with the TV series 'Downton Abbey' while Martin frames his world through the lens of the novel 'In search of lost time' by Marcel Proust, introduced to him by his French father.
Being the son of a movie director means the 16 year old is popular with his peers, Layla calls these sort of people Moths, drawn to the flame of celebrity but Martin, who is very observant and analytical, is surprised to find himself enjoying interacting with the local kids, especially a girl who he finds closely resembles Gilberte, one of the characters in his book. Martin is good at swimming, cooking and is passionate about particular passages of music. He is observant and a good listener which helps him interact with and translate for the French group. But relationships have always been a challenge because of his autism, he is more comfortable living in his own bubble and he is still struggling with his parents' divorce and his father's imprisonment for fraud. When his mother and older sister Elizabeth both start new relationships Martin struggles to adjust but he courageously engages all of the coping mechanisms he has been taught and with the help of his support network, finds his world expanding "My body craves the unknown. I've never craved the unknown before. I've always hidden from it. This is totally new." p109.
Martin sometimes gets his pronouns mixed up, a legacy of his delayed language development, which adds an interesting dimension but he always tells his story clearly and with purpose. The family relationships are convincing but the French friends are sketchily drawn.
This is a coming of age story from a new perspective but which underlines our common need for family, friendships, love, understanding and acceptance.
Suitable for older teens and adults, may be a bit slow for younger readers.
Sue Speck

Learning to swear in America by Katie Kennedy

Bloomsbury Children's Books, 2016. ISBN 9781619639119
(Age: 14+) Highly recommended. Minor sexual references. Katie Kennedy's gripping first novel brings the reader a suspenseful, compelling yet touching story. Learning to Swear in America follows the trials of Yuri Strelnikov, a 17-year-old Russian physicist prodigy who must put his skills to the test to save the world from a potentially planet-destroying asteroid. Despite being respected as an expert in his theory of antimatter back in Russia, Yuri finds himself fighting to be heard in NASA's Jet Propulsion Lab, often undermined due to his age. Just as the pressure Yuri is carrying on his shoulders begins to take its toll, he meets Dovie Collum, his perfect antithesis. Artistic, caring and poetic, Dovie provides the scientific and systematic Yuri with a different way of seeing the world, and acts as his motivation to save it. Yuri's arrogance and intellect, which may be difficult for some readers to connect with, is well-balanced by Dovie's humour and compassion, allowing a wide range of readers to find a relatable element in either of their personalities. Touching on sci-fi, action, adventure and romance, Kennedy's debut novel finds the reader holding their breath as they devour page after page of nail-biting action. The reader will be unable to peel their eyes away from the book, determined to discover how and if Yuri will be able to save the world, accompanied by expertly crafted characters that draw the reader further into the world of the novel. This is a novel that will not only touch your heart, but will stay with you long after you turn the last page.
Daniella Chiarolli (university student)

Provenance by Ann Leckie

Orbit Books, 2017. ISBN 9780356506968
(Age: Adult) Highly recommended. Themes: Science fiction, Coming of age, Power, Sibling rivalry, Theft, Alien culture. Ingray, in a desperate bid to outwit her brother and impress her mother the Netano, frees a thief from Compassionate Removal, a prison planet from which nobody has ever returned. She returns home to her planet where she finds things are unsettled and when she is the first on the scene of a murder in a public park, danger escalates.
This is a stand-alone novel set in the Imperial Radch universe, where her award winning Ancillary Justice was based, but it is not necessary to have read any of the other novels that the author has written. The background of the space station, the alien Geck, the strange customs of collecting artefacts and the family dynamics are all vividly described, but it is the character and action of Ingray that grabs the reader's attention and keeps it focused on the story. At first glance Ingray seems to be rather an ineffectual young woman, a bit prone to losing her hair pins and crying, but as Captain Tic comments, give her 10 minutes to fall apart and then she will come up with an outlandish but workable solution to any problem that is facing her. The problems include getting a thief off an inaccessible planet, solving a murder, being diplomatic with an important Geck ambassador and rescuing her mother and orphan children when they are held captive by an invading army.
The family dynamics are fully fleshed out, with Ingray desperate to gain her foster mother's attention, while putting her brother Danach in his place. As the story progresses so does Ingray's growth in understanding of what she wants for herself and what is the best position for her in the family. A fascinating side plot is the reverence that artefacts hold for members of the planet, and the fact that they could be fraudulent but still important in the eyes of the populace.
Provenance introduced me to the author, winner of the Hugo, Nebula, Arthur C. Clarke and Locus Awards, and I will definitely be picking up her first three books,
Pat Pledger

Saving Marty by Paul Griffin

Text Publishing, 2017. ISBN 9781925498868
(Age: 10-12) Themes: Friendship, Family Life, Pets, Music. Saving Marty is an honest story of family life, love, friendship and sacrifice. Eleven year old Lorenzo Ventura has a difficult life, physically he's over six feet tall and 250 pounds and his life with his mother and grandfather on a failing peach orchard is a constant struggle to survive. Renzo's soldier father is deceased, all that is left are his letters to his son, his guitar and his Bronze Star. Music is an important part of Renzo's life; he enjoys playing the guitar with his best friend songwriter and singer Paloma Lee.
When Renzo returns home after school to find his mother has sold Reggie and her piglets to the butcher, he is saddened but that's just part of life. In the barn he discovers their dog Bella has had her puppies in the pigpen and hidden in the straw is a fuzzy piglet, the runt of the litter. Marty (named for his dad) becomes Renzo's special project, saving him from Mum's desire to sell him off, feeding him up and stopping the rapidly growing pig from destroying property.
For a school project on their personal heroes, Renzo delves into his father's life and death, discovering conflicting and confronting details. Paloma's songs and poignant lyrics provide a contrast to the vicissitudes of Renzo's life. As the months pass, and Paloma leaves for music camp, Marty becomes the one constant friend in Renzo's life.
Paul Griffin's Saving Marty champions the underdog, the boy who doesn't fit in, and friends, family and music bring the light and shade to this story. His characters are realistically portrayed, even Marty the pig who grows to 350 pounds is a loveable friend with his dog-like antics. This is a realistic portrayal of the effects of war and to the struggles of everyday life.
Rhyllis Bignell

Hugo makes a change by Scott Emmons

Ill. by Mauro Gatti. Flying Eye Books, 2017. ISBN 9781911171218
(Age: 3-5) Themes: Diet and Nutrition, Vampires. Hugo the vampire is a carnivore, he's 'crazy for red, juicy meat!' After dark, he prowls through town looking for a meal. He' a hungry young creature with only one thing on his mind, gobbling up 'hot dogs, a roast and a ham, a T-bone or two and a big leg of lamb.' Hugo Makes a Change is an entertaining rhyming story all about nutrition and eating a balanced diet. Emmons and Gatti have created a lively tale with bright, bold digital images.
Hugo discovers his meat only diet leaves him bloated, slow, and lacking any energy. He comes to the realisation that he needs to change his food choices. Instead of visiting steakhouses and diners, he drops into a vegetable garden where he sees new foods with wrinkly leaves, red lumpy blobs and long green mystery objects. Hanging upside down on an apple tree he tastes a small juicy fruit and discovers a new taste sensation. One big white fang pierces the skin and Hugo's life changes. Back to the vegetable garden he walks, sharing a delicious picnic with his friendly black cat. His kitchen bench is filled with a variety of fresh produce and he plans delicious meals using meat, fruit and vegetables. Hugo's energy levels rise as he enjoys raisins on a moonlight ride and has healthy snacks watching television.
Emmons' simple poetry is engaging and this story provides teachable moments and opportunities for discussion about healthy food choices. Toddlers and preschoolers will enjoy the graphic pictures, vibrant backgrounds and identifying the foods mentioned in the rhymes.
Rhyllis Bignell

The Doldrums and the Helmsley Curse by Nicholas Gannon

Greenwillow, 2017. ISBN 9780062320971
(Age: 9-12) Themes: Good and Evil, Adventure stories, Friendship. Nicholas Gannon's beautifully crafted sequel The Doldrums and the Helmsley Curse brings Archer's infamous explorer grandparents' home after a lengthy and mysterious disappearance. Their return causes much controversy in Rosewood with the Chronicle newspaper printing false accusations about them orchestrating their iceberg shipwreck and supposedly cursing the city with Arctic weather. With the help of his close friends, Oliver and Adelaide, Archer sets out to find out the truth because family loyalty and honour are worth fighting for.
Grandma and Grandpa Helmsley are summoned to a grand banquet and to give an account of their actions to the members of the Society. Archie, Oliver and Adelaide use their time to explore the rooms in the huge building, uncovering more secret plots and learning of the Society's President Herbert Birthwhistle's plans to destroy the Helmsley's reputations. While Oliver's father continues to print the truth in The Doldrums Press, townsfolk aren't convinced and set out to banish the explorers.
The three friends learn to rely on each other as the creatively plan to unravel the mystery, outwit unscrupulous villains and narrowly escape from some dangerous situations. Visits to the delicious Duttonlick's Sweetshop, creating special chocolates with behaviour altering Doxical Powder makes for a funny party scene. Adelaide's wooden leg does little to hinder her full engagement with the activities and the addition of a new friend Kana further assists their plans. As the blizzard worsens and Christmas approaches, Archer's determination to help his grandparents heightens the excitement. Their derring-do capers include the use of a ham-radio, a crazy ride in a three-wheeled van and the judicious use of a dumbwaiter.
Nick Gannon's architectural drawings, stylised colour illustrations, black and white spot sketches add definition to the literary text. The Doldrums and the Helmsley Curse presents a new world, brimming with charm, relatable characters, with plenty of action and intrigue, perfect for confident readers.
Rhyllis Bignell

My humans by Anita Green

Ill. by Michelle Ferguson. Little Steps Publishing, 2017. ISBN 9781925545326
(Age: 4-6) Animals, Perception, Dogs. A story of the place a beloved dog has within the family is told from the dog's perspective, as he tells us about his family, those people who selected him from the dog rescue home and took him to the vet and took him home to be part of their family. Each person within the family plays different roles with the dog, Mum feeds and bathes him, the youngest child, Harry snuggles into him, Millie takes him for walks and dresses him up, Dad lets him in at night and sometimes lets him sleep on the couch.
Through the story and illustrations we see the things the dog does within the household and what part the dog plays with the family, reinforcing the responsibilities that dog ownership entails. For younger readers this is an informative look at the role a dog has within a family and the love between the family and the dog. Many of the illustrations show the dog eating food that perhaps he shouldn't be eating, giving children a further valuable lesson in dog ownership.
Fran Knight

A jigsaw of fire and stars by Yaba Badoe

Head of Zeus, 2017. ISBN 9781786697981
(Age: 13+) Themes: Magical Realism, African folklore, Human trafficking, Resilience. A Jigsaw of Fire and Stars is a fast-paced present tense narrative told from fourteen year old Sante Williams' point of view. As a baby she was tucked in a treasure-filled sea chest and thrown overboard from a sinking African refugee boat. Sante was rescued by a ragtag bunch of adults who live on the edge of society performing as Mama Rose's circus troupe. Together with Cobra the snake handler, her closest friend and Cat the knife thrower, these children grow up within the confines of a unique close-knit family environment. Sante's companion Priss the golden eagle is her constant friend, a powerful protector in troubled situations. Sante is a mind-whisperer too, she conjures up dreams and memories of the past when she plays on her bamboo flute.
When Sante's musical performance is observed by two mysterious characters, Grey Eyes and the African, her life begins to unravel. They seek the treasure from the sea chest and employ unscrupulous measures to capture Sante, her friends and the goods. The rescue of a troubled teenager Scarlett from drowning, soon adds a much darker element to Sante's perilous situation. She is running from a drug and human trafficking ring and Sante, Cat and Cobra join forces to help her. Sante's headstrong ways lead them into many precarious situations, narrow escapes, fleeing across Spanish rooftops, stealing motor scooters as she calls on her spirit guides and eagle Priss for assistance.
Badoe's lyrical novel draws imagery with powerful alliterative descriptions, unusual dream sequences and intuitive scenes. Sante's world is peopled with flawed characters out for their own gain, even those close to her have different agendas. The author takes the young adolescent reader into some topical issues - sexual exploitation, human trafficking, the near-suicide of one character and the killing of refugees by sinking their boats. The main character has a distinct voice, driven by the desire to learn about her heritage. A Jigsaw of Fire and Stars is an unusual story alternating between action that rushes chaotically and dream sequences that conjure up sensory memories of her past African life.
Rhyllis Bignell

Timeless : Diego and the rangers of the Vastlantic by Armand Baltazar

Harper Collins, 2017. ISBN 9780008258955
(Age: 10-14) Highly recommended. What would the world look like if the past, present and future collided together? Timeless : Diego and the Rangers of the Vastlantic describes that world in words and approximately 150 beautifully executed illustrations.
Diego Ribera lives in a merged world, created during the catastrophic Time Collision. At the beginning of the novel, Diego's parents who have come from two different time periods, are celebrating his thirteenth birthday. His father Santiago, a gifted engineer, gives Diego his present, a gravity board which allows him to fly a skateboard type device. More importantly, Diego also learns of another gift, a special inherited skill that allows him to develop the same amazing talents of his father.
Santiago, New Chicago's top engineer, is abducted by the evil Aeternum and his followers, who are trying to alter the Time Collision's world. It is up to Diego, his teenage friends and a small band of pirates to try to rescue his father and other prisoners.
This novel is an epic accomplishment for Armand Baltazar, a former art director for Disney and Pixar. The intensely coloured plates show a world where dinosaurs walk alongside robots and steam punk, fantastical machines exist beside WWII planes.
Illustrations imitate a movie and students who have enjoyed this same cinematic style in Brian Selznick's, The invention of Hugo Cabret will appreciate this colourful version.
This is obviously the first book in a series as the final pages reveal a surprise that will encourage the reader to continue with this fantasy/science fiction world.
I highly recommend this novel for students from middle primary school to early high school years.
Jane Moore

The Sorcerer's Tower by Ian Irvine

Ill. by D. M. Cornish. Second Look Publishing, 2017. ISBN 9780994528032
(Age: 8-12) Tamly and his friends Kym and Mel live in the fictional mediaeval village of Meadowhythe. Tamly, the main protagonist, is an orphan who lives with his great uncle, after his parents were killed by magic. He is treated very badly by members of the townsfolk including his uncle, because of his lack of magical skills. Mel is the blacksmith's son, who is being taught metal magic. His best friend Kym knows 100 spells, but always seems to get into mischief and cannot teach Tamly anything.
Tamly quickly learns that his magic was taken from him, after a prophecy promised that he would be a great danger to magic. Everyone else in the town has varying degrees of magic and the town itself is built on a key stone book of spells. Predictably, this leads to trouble; which takes the form of two dark sorcerers determined to raise their supreme ruler from a 400 year sleep.
Tamly, as the only person without magic, is the only hope for the town! He (with his friends volunteering to come along) must embark on a number of dangerous missions to save his town from evil forces that threaten it. Of course good will out, but with many twists and turns that draw the reader into Tamly's world.
The interactions of adults from the town with the 3 main characters is a point of interest. All the children of this series seem to be varyingly mistreated by the adults, which would be an interesting theme to focus on if using for a class novel.
This is the perfect place to begin the genre of Fantasy Adventure for Middle Primary aged readers. This book combines the four Sorcerer's Tower novels; Thorn Castle, Giant's Lair, Black Crypt and Wizardry Crag. Each of the novels is eight chapters with about 70 pages. It would also be very suitable for high interest low vocab older readers with a lower comprehension level because the four novels are written using very straight forward and basic language. While the writing style is aimed at 8 year olds, I would suggest that with frequent appearances from skeletons, sorcerers and the undead, readers new to the genre may trip on the language and concepts of fantasy if they are unfamiliar with them.
Clare Thompson