Angus and Robertson, 2017. ISBN 9781460751299
Historical war fiction. This story follows on from Hitler's
Daughter andPennies
for Hitler, however I read it as a stand alone story.
This may explain why I initially found the terms such as Mutti and
Vati confusing.
The story was deliberately set towards the end of 1944 so that the
main characters who are incarcerated in Auschwitz concentration camp
have a chance to survive for the story. It ends in 1972 in
Australia.
Each chapter is set within a specific time and place and about the
experiences of the main characters: Ten year old Johannes separated
from his parents when sent to the concentration camp and German Frau
Marks whose English husband is killed but she is able to send her
son George to England before being discovered by the Germans. She
then resumes her maiden (German) name and nursing occupation.
Through their narratives, the chapters detail the horror of life and
survival or death for their families and others at the hands of the
brutal German soldiers.
Most web sites label this book for 10+ aged readers. It is arguable
whether 10 - 13 year olds have the emotional maturity or historical
context to make sense of the inhuman treatment detailed in the book.
For example early in the book, a two year old boy and four year old
girl being hidden from the Germans in the basement of the hospital
where Frau Marks works are discovered and bayoneted to death while
on Frau Marks' lap. If this were a film the violence would probably
ensure it was rated PG or higher.
Despite the horror there are acts of courage as people like Sister
Columba attempt to save and protect Jewish children - without hatred
in her heart.
Besides Johannes and his parents and Frau Marks another significant
character is Helga and her 'mother' and 'brother'. Helga finds and
helps Johannes after he escapes the camp just before the Allied
liberation. There is a mystery about her.
After the liberation of the concentration camps, the main
characters, find and are reunited with their families in the
displaced persons' camps. Eventually Johannes and his parents, Helga
and Frau Marks (whose son had been sent by his relatives to
Australia for safety) all migrate to work and live in Australia. So
there is a happy ending.
It is when the hate the characters still have for Hitler (the ogre)
can be released and forgiven that the characters are truly free from
the nightmare.
The book is suspenseful with a twist at the end regarding Helga.
According to the end notes, Jackie French based the stories on true
events told to her by survivors of the concentration camps. I found
the horrors too much at times and had to stop reading (while still
wanting to know what happens to the characters and story).
If used as a school text, there is great scope to study the themes
of: The Holocaust and anti Semitism, Friendship and love versus
hate, Hitler's Germany and Nazism, Morality and choice.
The teacher's
notes would be of use to teachers.
Ann Griffin
Pride by Lazaros Zigomanis
Busybird Publishing. ISBN 9781925585247 (Ages: 15+) Highly recommended. Luke is an 18 year old country boy
who loves the regular footy game with his mates, and there is a girl
he's interested in, the daughter of the footy coach. Footy training
has always been casual, nothing too demanding, and he and his mates
enjoy a good drinking session afterwards. The girl, Amanda, has
other ideas, she has serious plans for the future and little
interest in people who seem to be just wasting life away. Luke is
challenged to step up, and the new talent on the field, newcomer
Adam, may be just the person to inspire the team to really commit to
the game and take out the notorious Scorpions, led by the vicious
Rankin. The Ravens coach would also like just once to lead a really
great football team to victory.
It sounds like a simple enough story about teenage life in a country
town, but there is a mystery at the heart of the novel, a mystery
surrounding Adam, the Aboriginal player who just turns up to play
one day, and then after each game disappears to his country the
other side of the playing field. The more that Luke and Amanda try
to find out about him, the stranger his story seems. Who is Adam
really? Where is his family? Where does he go to each night? And why
does Rankin, the Scorpion coach, seem so obsessed with him?
The twists in the story kept me engaged until the end. The mystery
gradually reveals the undercurrent of racism and dispossession that
haunts the Aboriginal player. The descriptions of the football
matches are very gripping and I am not even a football fan, but I
was thoroughly caught up in the action. The writing style is easy to
read, the conversations sound authentic, and the portrayal of the
relationships between people are very realistic; Luke's relationship
with his silent stoic father is especially poignant.
There is a lot to like about this novel, it has humour, action,
mystery, and football! This is the first Young Adult novel by
Zigomanis. Hopefully there'll be many more.
Helen Eddy
101 collective nouns by Jennifer Cossins
Lothian, 2017. ISBN 9780734417978
(Age: Primary) Recommended. Language. Collective nouns. A list of
animals and their collective nouns in alphabetical order from
aardvarks to zebras, is given an entrancing backdrop of endearing
illustrations by Cossins. Lists of these nouns appear now and again,
and sometimes the phrase is used in a book but to see them
altogether is stunning. Children will see the humour behind some of
the words given for a group of animals, and be intrigued to try and
work out just why that word is used. In her introduction, Cossins
tells us that collective nouns have their derivation in
onomatopoiea, or describe behaviour or habitat, but of course, some
do not fall neatly into these divisions.
Children will be able to discuss why a word may be used, and perhaps
suggest some of their own descriptive nouns, as she tells us that
Australian animals are quite often referred to as a 'mob'.
Several took my interest. Those using onomatopoiea as a collective
noun include a flamboyance of flamingo and a parcel of penguins,
while those describing behaviour include, a siege of cranes and a
paddle of platypus, while some reflect their habitat as in a caravan
of camel and a rookery of albatross. Many do not fit these divisions
and it would be fun to try to work out just why that noun has been
given, so reiterating the parts of speech with a class.
I enjoyed it greatly.
Fran Knight
Where's my jumper? by Nicola Slater
Simon and Schuster, 2017. ISBN 9781471146213
(Ages: 2-5) Counting. This fun and humorous book with cut-outs and
flaps counts backwards from 10. It features bold text with number
words in capital letters and retro illustrations of orange, yellow,
blue, pink, red and green. We see Rudy on the front cover, a bright
blue rabbit holding an empty coat hanger and asking 'Where's my
jumper?'. So, off we go, hunting around Rudy's house for his
favourite jumper that was 'a little bit short and showed his tummy'.
In each room he encounters a group of animals, from ten tumbling
cats to two passing foxes. This isn't your average counting book
with 'five kangaroos bouncing, four leaping lizards' though and it
doesn't carry a repetitive or predictable pattern like most other
counting books either. There are fancy-pants llamas jiving under a
disco ball, prima pigerinas pirouetting in the kitchen and dogs
riding ski lifts up the stairs. There are humorous and crazy
illustrations that children will appreciate (a cat wearing jocks, an
octopus taking a selfie in the pool, a shark in the swimming pool
and a crocodile on the toilet). Children will enjoy following the
trail of wool, opening the flaps and exploring the cut-through
pages. The ending is actually a little bit confusing, especially for
the younger end of the target age group: his youngest sister has
taken his jumper but the trail of wool he was following was being
knitted into a new jumper for him. It is great that there is nothing
predictable about this book and that children need to discover for
themselves where there are flaps and to follow the wool trail. It
will be enjoyed by children as young as two for its rollicking
rhythm and bright illustrations but those of preschool and
school-age will get a lot more out of it and be more engaged.
Nicole Nelson
Zombie family reunion by Zack Zombie
Diary of a Minecraft Zombie series. Scholastic, 2017. ISBN
9781743818336
(Age: 7+) What is next for Zombie? He's on his summer scare-cation,
just back from camp and all he wants to do now is stay home, eat
cake and play video games. Unfortunately, it is the time for the
Zombie Family Reunion held every one hundred years. Just for fun, he
invites his human friend Steve who needs a disgusting makeover to
fit in with the zombie way of life. Steve pretends to be Zven an
exchange student from Zveden. Accompanying them on this train trip
to Grand Zombie Canyon is their smelly cousin Piggy. This rail
adventure takes them across familiar Minecraft landscapes.
When they wake up early Monday morning from a night sleeping in
their body bags, little brother Wesley has pulled the pin and
detached their carriage from the rest of the train. Zombies need to
hide from the sun, so they shelter in a cave. Along the way, they
are kidnapped, land in jail and learn to rely on each other.
Familiar places from the Minecraft game are included as screen
shots: there is the Mesa Biome, the Desert Temple and the Steep
Cavern. Little Wesley finally comes to the rescue during a cave-in
and with the help of Mutant and some family members, Zombie, Steve
and Piggy are saved. Zombie family reunion is another humorous junior novel, just
right for Minecraft fans that enjoy reading about their favourite
characters and their zany lives.
Rhyllis Bignell
Raymond by Yann and Gwendal Le Bec
Walker Books, 2017. ISBN 9781406362428
(Age: 5+) Recommended, Dogs, Behaviour. Raymond is a loved dog in
the family. Each year the family treat him to a surprise birthday
party, but one day Raymond has a big idea. Why shouldn't he sit with
the family at tea. And so he does. After that it is a not a big
stretch for him to do other human things, and soon all of the
community's dogs are behaving like humans. They go to the theatre
together, have their cappuccino mornings, and Raymond reads a
magazine called Dogue.
When the family is out one morning, he goes to the offices of the
Dogue magazine and asks for a job. He interviews a range of dogs and
becomes so successful that he is soon a presenter on TV.
But then he is so admired that he needs security dogs to keep back
his followers, a groomer to attend to his coat and nails each day, a
secretary, and soon the only time his family sees him is on TV.
He becomes so stressed with all of the work he needs to do, his
family persuade him to take a holiday.
Lying on the beach a ball is thrown near him and the old urge to
chase the ball sets in.
He is cured and goes back to his family, quite content to be
scratched behind the ears just like he was in the past.
This charming story of being satisfied with what you have, of having
time to smell the roses, will resonate with younger children whose
lives are filled with things that seem important at the time. An
astute teacher could discuss with the class what is important to
them, after reading how Raymond becomes a slave to his job,
forgetting about the things that really made him happy.
The humorous illustrations will tickle the fancy of many readers as
they see Raymond behaving as a human but make them question just
what is most important to them.
With nods to the hipster generation, with its emphasis on screens,
cappuccino and takeaway meals, this up to date picture book will
leave readers with a smile of recognition.
Fran Knight
A-Z of endangered animals by Jennifer Cossins
Lothian, 2017. ISBN 9780734417954
(Age: primary) Recommended. Animals, Endangered animals. Artist and
writer Cossins, has brought her skills together to present this book
about some of the world's endangered animals. Each double page
represents one of the animals in danger, in alphabetical order from
Amir tiger to Zebra duiker. On one side is a brief outline of the
animal giving readers information about their endangered status, how
many are left in the world, what their characteristics are, why they
are endangered and several interesting facts.
M is for Mandrill for example, and we learn that there are only 3000
left in the wild. They live in equatorial jungles in Central Africa
and eat a variety of food. Their habitat is under threat but the
biggest threat today is the search for bush meat. On the right hand
side of the page is an illustration of the animal.
Children will love using this book as an information book but I can
also imagine children reading it from cover to cover. The
information is precise and concise, and paired with the
illustrations gives a fact file about the animal, enough for most
younger students but encouraging others to search further. To this
end, Cossins gives websites for the readers' research and an outline
of what the words used in the book mean: endangered, threatened and
extinct for example.
Fran Knight
Dino diggers: Digger disaster by Rose Impey
Ill. by Chris Chatterton. Bloomsbury, 2017. ISBN 9781408872444
(Ages: 2-5) Dinosaurs, construction, teamwork. This cleverly
combines two things that young children love: dinosaurs and diggers,
and the bright, cartoon-like and action-filled illustrations will
keep them engaged. This is just one in a series of dinosaur
construction stories, each one containing a cardboard pop-out
build-your-own project. This one has a build-your-own dino and
digger. In each story the team of Dino Diggers 'put things right
when they go wrong and never let you down'. This is a great motto
for young children to hear and model their behaviour on. The
dinosaurs have great names and personalities, like the grumpy Mr Ali
O'Saurus and the clumsy apprentice Ricky Raptor. Today the team are
building a car yard but it isn't long before they run into a
problem: they've hit a water pipe. Everyone pitches in to fix the
problem and their great teamwork means that they finish the job on
time. Even the apprentice, who turned the plans upside down and
created the problem is supported and valued, not ridiculed. There is
great modelling here for young children: happy workers who are proud
of their work and a team of boy and girl dinosaurs building, driving
machines and working side by side. The construction language is also
great: backhoe, cracked a water main, digging out the foundations,
tower crane. Little ones who spot a construction site from a mile
away will love this and the fact that the characters are dinosaurs
makes it even more fun.
Nicole Nelson
The Cherry Pie Princess by Vivian French
Ill. by Marta Kissi. Walker Books, 2017. ISBN 9781406368970
(Age: 7-9) Themes: Magic, Princes and Princesses, Castle Life.
Princess Peony lives in a castle with parents the King and Queen and
her six older sisters. Their lives are ordered and organised - even
a visit to the Royal Library is strictly controlled. Whilst the
governess quickly herds the older girls through, young Princess
Peony expresses her interests in the recipe books. After she's
hurried away by the strict Miss Beef, the chief librarian Denzil
Longbeard notices a cooking book about pies and pastries is missing.
For a short while, the youngest princess enjoys cooking in the
castle kitchen, until the King finds out and bans her.
When a baby prince is born, his parents plan for an elaborate
christening party and invitations are sent out to the most important
people including magical creatures. The King refuses to invite the
wicked hag; this of means there will be magical mayhem at the
upcoming event.
The story switches focus to the Hag's preparation of a magical brew
in her cauldron and the three fairy godmothers' plans to attend the
party. Basil the talking cat observes the activities at the palace
and reports to the fairies.
Just after her thirteenth birthday, feisty Princess Peony discovers
that Mr. Longbeard, the librarian, was thrown in the dungeon for
talking to her when she visited the library. She finds herself
locked in the dungeon for speaking out of turn to her father. Of
course, she escapes and with the help of Basil and the other
prisoners, she's in the right place at the right time to foil the
hag's plans to steal young Prince Vincenzo. The Cherry Pie Princess is an easy to read junior novel
written by Vivian French. She is a popular children's author who
understands the interests of her young audience, girls who enjoy
princesses, life in a castle and magical creatures. Marta Kissi's
beautiful and humorous black and white illustrations display the
adventures of the determined and creative Princess Peony.
Rhyllis Bignell
Horizon by Scott Westerfeld
Scholastic, 2017. ISBN 9781743817605
(Age: 12+) Highly recommended. Science fiction, Survival, STEM. On a
flight from the USA to Tokyo, eight teens on the plane are the only
survivors when it crashes. But where they expect snow and ice, is
jungle, with strange birds and even stranger noises. The eight must
work together to work out what is happening to them, but this is
difficult when the oldest in the group, Caleb, sees himself as the
leader, and hates being questioned by the four from Brooklyn Science
and Tech, en route to present their robots at the Robot Soccer World
Championship in Tokyo. In particular Molly and he do not see eye to
eye.
Yoshi goes off in search of water, while Molly experiments with the
device she has found on the plane, something which appears to lift
them off the ground. But once in the air they are attacked by
shredder bird which tear into their clothing and skin, so they need
to plan their journeys.
A wonderful story of methods used by the group to develop an
hypothesis then work out a solution, this story is brimful of
scientific argument and logic, as well as honing in on relationships
and survival.
When some of the group leave to try and find out what its over the
stone wall, the gravity machine comes in very handy to make their
ascent easier. But hiding in a cave they are besieged by tiny
robots, intent on stealing their mechanical objects. All is most
curious until they find themselves inside a set of office like
laboratories and they begin to work out where they are and what has
happened, leading to an idea of how to get out.
This is a heart in the mouth story, Westerfeld cleverly leading the
reader on making them try and work out what is happening, collecting
evidence, using their reason to make deductions and hypotheses. But
as they do not reach their destination at the end of this story,
another story is in the pipeline. Westerfeld tells us that this is
the first of seven books in the series, and is a mixture of Lost,
Lord of the flies and Hatchet. This is easily
accessible science fiction with the themes of survival and
relationships uppermost putting the readers into the skin of the
protagonists, drawing them into the lives on the page. I look
forward to the next in the series.
Fran Knight
Whatcha building? by Andrew Daddo
Ill. by Stephen Michael King. Harper Collins, 2017. ISBN
9780733334153
(Ages: 4-8) Recommended. Construction, recycled materials. Andrew
Daddo and Stephen Michael King have created a multi-layered book
about how our world is changing around us. When the old wooden milk
bar is torn down and replaced with a shiny steel supermarket, Little
Davey collects all the old timber. It isn't until the end that we
find out that Davey has rebuilt the milk bar in his backyard. This
is uniquely Australian storytelling; not only is the builder called
Big Bruce, but the text is littered with Australian slang (g'day,
mate, cubby, fella) and a little bit of Aussie word butchering ('are
ya?'). It even uses the analogy 'Like Melbourne rain'. At its heart,
this is a book about change (new materials vs. recycled, old
buildings vs. new buildings) and is nostalgic for a slowly
disappearing Aussie-ness. It shows the concrete and steel of the
city beginning to encroach on the rustic, woody, natural
environments and the houses with big backyards often associated with
Australia. When reading this many adults will feel a sense of loss
for that easy, laid back lifestyle characterised by a friendly
'g'day' from a stranger, children walking home from school alone and
playing in the streets and a dog hanging out in the back of a ute.
Nevertheless, there remains an optimistic tone that despite
technological and modern advancement a certain spirit lives on in
the children of today (a simple game of backyard cricket with the
skyscrapers of the city in the background, Little Davey's enthusiasm
for building a place to sit down and share a cuppa and a chat). It
isn't shiny new buildings or even a rollercoaster or a skate park
that Little Davey wants; it is the old milk bar on the corner that
he thinks is special. There are many themes and ideas presented here
that will initiate a variety of conversations and explorations,
especially regarding how the world is changing, what is being lost
and what we should try to hold on to.
Nicole Nelson
Is this an emergency? Ambulance. The adventures of Toby the Teddy by Catherine Buckley and Amelia Harrison
Ill. by Emma Stuart. Amelia Harrison, 2016. ISBN 9780646952901
(Ages: 4-6) Medical emergencies, ambulances. An Australian primary
school teacher and an illustrator with experience in emergency
medical services have created this book to fill a specific
educational resource gap. They particularly wanted to address the
high number of prank and hoax calls that young children make to
emergency services. It is aimed at preschool and school age children
but because of its cutesy, somewhat babyish illustrations and tone
it has a limited audience (despite it being a topic that pertains to
much older children as well). I can't help but think that most prank
calls come from children slightly older than this book will appeal
to. The book follows Teddy (a teddy bear) as he faces problems and
shows how he deals with them, each time asking the reader 'Is this
an emergency?' and then explaining what Teddy should do next. It
uses examples that will be familiar to children in the target
audience and that are the most likely and critical medical
emergencies they may encounter in the schoolyard or at home (asthma,
anaphylaxis). The examples illustrate that different actions are
appropriate in different emergencies and familiar adults and
teachers are put forward as examples of people who can help rather
than it always being necessary to call an ambulance. Importantly
though, it is stressed that if no other adult is close by an
ambulance should be called. This will stimulate important
conversations about whether children know their home address and how
to phone an ambulance in an emergency. There are notes in the back
for teachers and parents, including discussion points and activity
ideas. The book is written in a non-frightening way and the language
used is clear and appropriate for young children. It gives children
a language to talk about medical emergencies (allergic reaction,
rash, can't catch his breath, etc.) and Teddy is a perfect
clear-thinking role model. Despite the whole thing feeling a bit old
fashioned (even the telephone depicted is an old wall-mounted
landline . . . with a cord!) it does fill a resource gap and would
be a useful resource for teachers and parents of preschool and
primary aged children, especially in classrooms or families where
there are children with medical conditions.
Nicole Nelson
Never a true word by Michael McGuire
Wakefield Press, 2017. ISBN 9781743054734
(Age: Adult) Recommended for Adults only (and only for those with
political interest) Themes: Politics; Elections; Public relations.
This is a thinly veiled expose of the political process - McGuire
lifts the tent flaps and reveals the soiled undergarments of the
political circus through the eyes of the spin doctor or ringmaster
employed to keep control of the information flow to the waiting
media. This is a fast paced and satirically humourous journey into
the murky depths of politics and the back-room faceless few. The
somewhat grimy revelations and language of those involved are far
from pristine, and we feel the tension of the ringmasters employed
to hold back the 'performing lions and tigers' who perform with
teeth bared in order to be re-elected for another four years.
Although I would not encourage a young voter to lose their trust in
democracy by reading this book, anyone who has had to wield a pencil
in a cold hall more than a few times and whose eyes are open to the
subterfuge of politics and media reporting will probably enjoy the
'naughty' truths that are revealed. The well-described politicians
and media identities are close approximations of people we have seen
or heard, and part of the entertainment of this book is identifying
those who might have inspired the characterisation. Truths and lies
are revealed; raw power and personality faults are revealed in all
their gory glory . . . And our eyes are agog!
Carolyn Hull
Beyond the wild river by Sarah Maine
Hodder and Stoughton, 2017. ISBN 9781473639683
(Age: Senior secondary-adult) Recommended. This is a terrifically
well researched novel, and the story, and indeed the plot, are
finely wrought. I was captivated by the settings, described in rich
detail, from the new city of Chicago to the wild lands and rivers of
northern Ontario. Responding with violence to a burglar, one dark
night on a Scottish estate, a man is killed, a story is constructed,
and a very young Evelyn Ballantyre learns one version of events that
she accepts but with both a sense of having been told what was best
for her to know and a feeling that this version was not the true
story.
From a Scottish estate to the wilds of Ontario, Maine captures a
world of change, taking us from Scotland, on a sea voyage to the
United States in 1893, where the characters visit the Columbian
Exposition in Chicago, described in rich and fascinating detail, and
then go into the wilds of Canada to inspect, we deduce, an
investment of Evelyn's father. This is a fine section, introducing
us to a little known area and history for most readers outside of
Canada or the USA.
The story that ensues is a sequel, in a sense, to that terrible
night on Evelyn's father's estate in Scotland. Strangely, and indeed
oddly, it seems that the characters who were at the estate on the
night of the murder have come together for a journey up the Nipigon
River, in Northern Ontario, 13 years later. We realize that
Ballantyne has controlled all of this, with the characters of the
past all in close proximity for a trip that will be challenging.
Whilst it is not clear to us just what will happen, we are given
plenty of clues so that we are aware that some kind of dramatic
event will take place as the tension builds up day by day on that
journey. The terrain is described in wonderful detail, the
atmosphere of the Nipigon River and the campsites particularly
featuring as places of wonder for the European visitors. We read
about the way that campsites were positioned near the river, how the
fish were caught, and we learn something of the indigenous people of
that region. All of this is absolutely captivating.
That the conflict would be resolved is expected, but somehow the
resolution is just a little tawdry, and the characters involved in
it demeaned by the decisions. Yet in a sense the decisions and
actions are consistent with the characterization. Just as we readers
might have liked a happy ending, her resolution is consistent with
her characterization. Her strengths are in this narrative
consistency, in her richly detailed settings, and in her capacity to
create a story that is reminiscent of its time, its place and the
characters that she has created. This is a fine adult and older
adolescent romantic and historical novel.
Elizabeth Bondar
A patch from scratch by Megan Forward
Penguin/Viking, 2016. ISBN 9780670078295 Living a country life in the city is an appealing prospect for many.
Picking fresh fruit and vegetables from the garden bed instead of
the supermarket shelves; having your own chooks to provide fresh
eggs; recycling waste instead of sending it to landfill - all these
things appeal to Jesse and his family and so they design, plan and
develop their own patch from scratch.
Told from Jesse's perspective, the story chronicles what would seem
to be a real-life experience that shows all the aspects of creating
an edible garden in a suburban backyard. From Lewis' desire to grow
beans like Jack of beanstalk fame, to Jesse's dream of fresh
strawberries and even Mum's longing for chooks, each step is
documented in text and illustrations that show what needs to be done
in a way that draws the reader in and shows them that they can do it
too. In fact, once they start it's amazing how many people become
involved as seeds, seedlings and advice are shared and suddenly
chores like weeding and watering become fun. Jesse starts a plant
diary for his strawberries as he patiently waits for them to ripen.
But why are there five not six? And what is happening to the
tomatoes and lettuce, leaving holes in them? How can the patch be
saved from the robbers?
As well as being so informative, particularly as more and more
schools are developing kitchen gardens to supply the canteen, there
are lots of other issues raised that will kickstart lots of
investigations that should give greater understanding for the future
of our planet. Why are bees critical? If pesticides wipe out bugs,
what will the birds eat? How did people manage when there were no
supermarkets? What happens to supermarket food when it is not
bought? What are the essential elements that need to be included in
the design of a chicken coop?
To round off the story, there is some really useful information and
suggestions for finding out more as well as a flowchart of how the
patch from scratch works. There is also a lot of information on the
author's page
for the book and at the Kitchen Garden
Foundation which supports this concept in schools.
Identified as a CBCA 2017 Book of the Year Notable and with
sustainability being one of the cross curriculum priorities of the
Australian Curriculum this is an essential addition to both the home
and school library as we look to a better, healthier future.
Barbara Braxton
