Reviews

Mr Postmouse goes on holiday by Marianne Dubuc

Book Island, 2017. ISBN 9781911496045
(Age: 3-5) Mr Postmouse goes on Holiday continues the mouse family's adventures, begun in Here comes Mr Postmouse as they travel by camel, hot air balloon and cruise ship to deliver parcels and visit with family and friends around the world.
Marianne Dubuc's lively illustrations are entertaining, filled with small detailed scenes just right for investigation and discovery. Similar in style to Richard Scarry's picture books, there are cutaway diagrams of plants, buildings and landscapes. Her background colour palette of earth and sky tones and careful placement of the main characters encourages development of directional tracking and anticipating the story text.
The story is a simple narrative, translated from Canadian French to English by Greet Pauwelijn.
This large picture book is suitable for sharing one to one, but is difficult to access for a larger group reading.
Rhyllis Bignell

Darkmouth by Shane Hegarty

Harper Collins, 2017. ISBN 9780007545612
(Age:11+) Highly recommended. Darkmouth is the first book in a fantasy adventure series of the same name. Boys and girls of all ages will be instantly hooked on the reluctant anti-hero and his rite of passage to become the 43rd Legend Hunter of Darkmouth. Finn is dreading his "Completion" deadline on his 13th birthday, when he takes over from his dad - Hugo the Great - perhaps the most successful Legend hunter of them all. Finn's predicament is demonstrated by his inability to defeat a Minotaur in the opening chapters, despite having him in his Desiccator's sights. Of course, Dad comes to his rescue yet again.
The seaside town has more than its fair share of monsters entering Darkmouth via an increasing number of portals. There seems to be an invasion afoot just as Hugo is offered a place on the esteemed Council of Twelve. Friendless, as his father's inept successor, Finn begins to rise to his destiny with the arrival of Emmie - daughter of Steve, an equally inexperienced Legend Hunter.
Broonie, the messenger of the evil Gantura, is reanimated by Finn to deliver a prophesy of the rise of an army of Legends and the fall of the last Legend Hunter's child. Gantrua is the leader of the Fomorians of Irish myth - hideous giants who inhabit the 'Infested Side'. How will Finn, aided by Emmie, defend Darkmouth without his father?
Shane Hegarty is an Irish journalist of some note yet the novel borders on high fantasy. Though we have many ordinary reference points in the town, the "Infested Side", where the Legends live, would sate the imaginations of fans of Ransom Riggs, Rick Riordan or Terry Pratchett.
James de la Rue's sparse illustrations are perfect aids to our imagination, but the premise and the character development makes the battle between man and monsters deliciously dynamic. Hailed by Eoin Colfer as "the next big thing," the film rights were sold in 2015 for a six figure sum. But first boys and girls, you need to devour this series in print to appreciate the origins of this epic of cinematic proportions. Official trailer. There is a prequel to the series here.
Deborah Robins

Worlds explode by Shane Hegarty

(Age: 12+) Highly recommended. The second book in the quirky, action-packed Darkmouth series, finds Finn still 11 months away from becoming a fully-fledged Legend Hunter upon his 13th Birthday. A prologue outlines the previous events for those who haven't read the first book in the series. When Hugo does not return from the land of behemoths, it falls on poor Finn to defend Darkmouth. Yet his quest to find his father on the 'Infested Side' means that he must battle monsters and discover more long lost family members than he bargained on.
The history of previous skirmishes on the Infested Side, is documented in a sub-text called 'The Chronicles of the Sky's Collapse'. It runs parallel to Finn's search for the map and his father. The journey through another realm filled with monstrous 'Legends' takes a mammoth 400 pages and might put tweens off - hopefully long enough so that the diehard fans of Darkmouth bk. 1 can get their hands on it in the school library!
Not wishing to dampen desires to experience it for ourselves, the language and the subject matter are still to easily managed in the middle school although the sequel is more demanding in many ways.
Darkmouth bk 3 : Chaos Descends will be much awaited. Meanwhile, devotees can view the trailer and even immerse themselves in all things Darkmouth by watching a dozen or more explainer animations on the Darkmouth youtube channel. There is a prequel to the series here.
Deborah Robins

Rock pool secrets by Narelle Oliver

Walker Books, 2017. ISBN 9781922179357
(Age: 4+) Highly recommended. Sea, Animals, Rock pools, Camouflage. This beautifully illustrated book gives younger readers an taste of what to expect when they look into a rock pool at the beach. Oliver's linocut prints wonderfully extol the virtues of the rock pool and its inhabitants as children eagerly seek out the animals hidden on each page, the excitement mounting as they lift the flaps to discover more secrets.
With her sparse text, Oliver introduces the animal and gives clues as to how it hides, so encouraging the child to pick it out. The rich colours of the sea and rock pools will delight the eye, the scampering of some of the animals, protected by their camouflage almost heard as the page is turned. Looking for the animal in the seaweed or on the rocks, or hidden by the cloud of ink will entice readers to look for these themselves when they are at the beach and be more aware of what is around them.
Oliver includes an array of animals: anemone, hermit crab, decorator crab, shrimp, shellfish, octopus, sea slug, Goby fish and Turban sea snail. Each is shown in its habitat, and two pages at the end of the book give more details about each of them, while the glorious double page before, has open out flaps which reveal the whole vista of the rock pool with all of the animals mentioned. Children will adore having the things they learnt as they read this book, reiterated in the form of a game to end the book. Classroom ideas are available.
Fran Knight

A letter from Italy by Pamela Hart

Hachette, 2017. ISBN 9780733637544
(Age: Senior secondary) Recommended. This richly detailed novel, a war-time story, takes us back to an Italy that few of us would know, or even dream of, so different is the Venice painted by Pamela Hart in her powerful narrative of the 1914 - 1918 War as told by an Australian war correspondent. Hart explores just how strong a woman had to be at this time to compete with men in such a traditionally male dominion. Neither retiring nor shy, she is clearly intending to fulfill her role as well as, or better than a man, despite the male correspondents who demean her role. In fact, her courage, determination and intelligence are at the heart of her strength, and it is on these that she will draw in the dark days of a city on the edge of that terrible war.
Newly married to a serving Australian officer, the young woman is left alone when her husband is sent away and she hears nothing from him. The crucial element of danger becomes more evident as she becomes aware of the enemy's moving closer to the city, and of the nature of the attacks that she discovers. As she pursues intelligence regarding specific war incidents, we are aware of this as a critical point in her career. Supported by new friends, she is determined to pursue a particular inquiry. The depth of her growing understanding of various incidents encourages her to pursue the story of one specific attack, and so to reveal the real story. It is her pursuit of truth and her determination to write the truth, that gain her a strong reputation in the world of war-time reporting.
This is a story that grows better as the narrative progresses. It is about goodness and bravery, decency and treachery, love and hatred. It begins with a lightness that seems typical of a romantic novel. Yet this is not its outcome, as Hart draws us into the narrative and leaves us with a sense of recognition of decency, of good character, loyalty, friendship - in this case evidently emblematic of the elusive quality at the heart of a strong narrative.
I would recommend this novel for senior students. Its initial romantic tone, that makes it see to be a lighthearted romance, is misleading. I found that, as the reality of the strength, talent, determination and decency of Australia's first female war correspondent is revealed, the novel gained in strength and credibility.
Elizabeth Bondar

Hotaka by John Heffernan

Through my eyes: Disaster zone series. Allen and Unwin, 2017. ISBN 9781760113766
(Age: 11+) Highly recommended. Tsunami. Japan. Hope. Friendship. Grief and loss. Corruption. This is a story of disaster and hope seen through the eyes of the young boy, Hotaka. In March 2011 a massive earthquake generates a devastating tsunami that destroys major coastline districts in Japan. John Heffernan places us with Hotaka to experience this horrific natural disaster with huge impacts; we feel the horror of the shaking ground and see the ocean wave claim huge sections of Hotaka's home community. With indiscriminate fury and unbelievable power this wave consumes buildings and local residents who have no hope against the ferocity of the tsunami's energy. The dramatic retelling of this part of Japan's history has incredible loss and trauma woven into the life and experience of Hotaka, but we also see the impact in his community of the incredible grief, greed and sense of loss that follows in the recovery period. However the central thrust of this story is that there is also incredible strength revealed in the survivors. The Japanese respectful response to those in authority, traditional Bunraku puppetry, Kendo martial arts and traditional Shaman and Buddhist beliefs are also revealed within the context of the story.
The essence of this story is of the power of the youthful voices that speak out against corruption, and also give hope back to their community through the planning of a festival event that will restore a positive spirit to their lives. This is a compelling narrative and revealing of the Japanese people's journey following this enormous disaster and their capacity to recover. It is also a story of friendship and restoration in the lives of individuals.
(Note: Although the Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant destruction is part of the story of Hotaka's friend, it does not become the prime focus of this story.)
Carolyn Hull

The Bench Warmers by David Lawrence

Ill. by James Hart. Ball Stars series. Random House, 2017. ISBN 9780143781639
(Age: 7-9) Basketball Australia has collaborated with author David Lawrence to promote this sport in a fun and positive way. This junior novel introduces the Bench Warmers the new basketball team at Robdale Primary School.
When Danny Davis and his family move to their new home, his Dad coaxes him out of his computer gaming world and introduces him to basketball and Danny's life changes. Soon, his Mum and Dad begin to worry that shooting hoops is taking over his life. Luckily, for Danny, he teams up with another new student Crystal and instantly becomes friends. They are both placed in 6W with Miss Wright who is also nervous about her first day of teaching.
Danny, Crystal, Angie, Omyr, Leanne and Cody form the Bench Warmers team and practice hard to win the lunchtime basketball games. Self-centered Greg McGuffin, a basketball hotshot and class member, taunts the new team and makes their lives difficult. Miss Take, the principal, gives poor Miss Wright the job of coaching the basketball team. When things do not go to plan, the principal takes over as coach (she is clueless about the game) and they have to train themselves.
The Bench Warmers is filled with basketball moves, techniques and funny commentary and sportsmanship as the team learn to work together supporting each other's abilities and differences. Miss Take's character is more caricature; she is self-obsessed and does not really reflect any positive qualities.
This is a fun, easy to read novel for basketball fans.
Rhyllis Bignell

Running from the tiger by Aleesah Darlison

Empowering Resources, 2017. ISBN 9780994501066
(Age: Mature readers 11+) Running from the tiger explores the power of friendship, trust and courage as a counterpoint to the darker themes of domestic violence, child abuse and the dynamics of families in crisis.
Eleven-year-old Ebony's lonely life is filled with school, chores, minding her little sisters and treading carefully around her father. Her dad is the tiger, an alcoholic gambler who rules his family through physical and emotional abuse. Ebony's mother is heavily pregnant and she relies on her oldest daughter to help around the house. She makes excuses for her husband as he suffered a difficult childhood as well. Ebony even steps in and takes the punishment instead of her little sisters, and she bears the scars of her dad's rage. Darlison uses strong statements, short clipped phrases and the analogy of the powerful cat to heighten the story's difficult scenes.
Ebony is a loner at school; she does not have any close friends until Teena and her family move into town. The girls become close, sharing a love for dragons and athletics. Teena has secrets as well; her mother has passed away and her Dad moves them from place to place, finding difficulty managing their finances and family life without his wife. Teena's strength helps Ebony to confront her father and finally stand up to him.
Darlison's novel is suitable for a more mature reader. It was written to inform and empower victims, to create an empathetic understanding and contacts for help are included at the end.
Ebony's gripping story is one of triumph over tragedy.
Rhyllis Bignell

Hero by Jennifer Li Shotz

HarperCollins, 2016. ISBN 9780062652218
Hero, a retired search-and-rescue dog, is not prepared for a stray puppy to come into his life. But when he and twelve-year-old Ben find Scout injured and afraid, the new addition leads them down an unexpected and dangerous path. When Scout goes missing, it's up to Hero to use his search-and-rescue skills to find Scout and bring him home.
This is a compelling story about the bond between a boy and his dogs and the lessons Ben has to learn about sorting out priorities as he promises that he will keep up his schoolwork and grades if he is allowed to keep the puppy, Scout. But it's hard when you have friends and baseball also vying for your time.
More for the independent reader, nevertheless it would make a great read-aloud to a class or younger person who loves dogs, with just the right amount of tension and a happy ending.
Barbara Braxton

Henrietta the greatest go-getter by Martine Murray

Allen and Unwin, 2017. ISBN 9781760112417
Childhood. Imagination. I wouldn't be surprised if Martine Murray has used Whimsy and Miss Chief to help her in this bizarrely creative romp through the childhood excursions of imaginative play. With word permutations and positional wizardry, text floats in and out of reason in the world of Henrietta. This is actually a rebinding of three of Henrietta's tales, each as odd as the other, and deliberately quirky. Henrietta presents as a three or four year old, who is not bound by reasonable or logical interpretations of the world, and her excursions to places such as the Wide Wide Long Cool Coast of the Lost Socks demonstrate that there is no reason why we have to be bound by rules of normality. Were it not for the fact that I remember my daughter telling me equally bizarre stories in her early years of 'creative bedtime narratives', I might have discarded this book as a nonsense. It does have an odd quirkiness for an adult reader. I wonder though will young children understand the vagaries of someone else's odd imaginative expeditions and flights of fancy, or is this an adult interpretation of where a young child might travel in the dreamy half-light of imagination?
It is difficult to know what the target audience is for this book. Although the central character is quite young (pre-school age probably), the format and presentation with deliberately odd line drawings in a naive style and with floating and varied text formatting would be more suited to an older more independent reader. One hopes they would still remember their own eccentricities as their imagination took flight.
Recommend this to a child with the oddest of imaginations!
Carolyn Hull

Highest mountain deepest ocean: a pictorial compendium of natural wonders ill. by Page Tsou

Five Mile Press, 2017. ISBN 9781760406387
(Age: 6+) Recommended. Lists, Comparisons, natural world. Akin to a Guinness Book of Records or books of lists (which I love) this book will encourage avid readers of facts to delve deeper into the book, as they are assailed with information about the largest animals or the tallest trees, the highest mountains and the longest animal migration. Each double page has a range of illustrations with information about each thing represented. I was fascinated by the page of biggest storms. The sepia style of illustrations gives the page an old fashioned, woodblock look which reflects the time scale of storms represented. So we have a range of storms given: ice storms, hurricanes, typhoons, cyclones, hailstorms, lightning storms and sonic storms. Details are given about each type of storm with information about one of the most severe storm in that category. I can imagines lots of readers being drawn into each page, relishing the information given and poring over the pictures.
The old fashioned style is used throughout the book by illustrator, Page Tsou, to wonderful effect.
The endpapers are visually exciting showing the flight of a bird over the double page, a thrilling introduction and ending to the large format book. So to find out which is the fastest animals, or the longest living, the highest mountain, the deepest burrowing animal or the distance from the earth to the moon, this is the dip in book to read.
Like many of these sorts of books, it will be hidden on the non fiction shelves, so needs promoting to readers.
Fran Knight

Fly on the wall by E. Lockhart

Hot Key Books, 2016. ISBN 9781471406041
(Age: 14+) Recommended. Fly on the wall promises all the workings of a cheesy disaster of a teen read. The old Freaky Friday trick as a means to self-revelation seems trite and incredible. But thankfully, E. Lockhart proves us wrong. Gretchen, who is the quirky, insecure but equally hilarious voice of the novel; matures quite credibly after a throw away comment to her best friend traps her in the body of the creature she wished to be.
Gretchen Yee is an outsider for being comparatively normal in a public school designated as a centre for excellence in fine art. Boys baffle her and she is constantly overthinking their behaviour and motivations. Her parents are headed for divorce and her drawing teacher does not respect her signature comic book style - she isn't in a good place.
The half of the novel spent as an insect trapped inside the boys' locker room, is revelatory for Gretchen. To lower secondary students, the frequent focus on male anatomy may be too confronting albeit comical. In her wantonness, it is almost as if Gretchen jumps gender as well as species! The lads behave quite differently behind closed doors whether naked or not, and we witness bullying, insecurity, homophobia and mateship. What she learns during her metamorphosed week, gives Gretchen the confidence to understand that boys are equally clueless about the world, girls or themselves. Titus teaches Gretchen that communication and risk of self-exposure is key if we are ever going to see the good and bad that must co-exist in every person. Fly on the wall doesn't take a lot of unpacking - but it doesn't take a lot of effort either. A light read is sometimes just the ticket. Girls will love reading more yarns from Gretchen Yee's perspective.
Deborah Robins

Hit the road by Tony Wilson and Troy, Adam, Joel, Scott Selwood

Ill. by Mike Jacobsen. The Selwood Boys series. ABC Books, 2017. ISBN 9780733335471
(Age: 8+) Recommended. School holidays, December 1997 and the Selwood family are off to the Gold Coast in their Falcon six-seater. Four football mad brothers and a very patient Mum and Dad set out from Bendigo for a very long car trip to Queensland. What did kids do before mobile phones, IPods and digital entertainment? The brothers played corners, sliding along the bench seats and squashing each other and long games of spot the yellow vehicle - Banana Car. Sibling rivalry and ribbing each other is all part of the Selwood family dynamic. Of course, they discuss Joel's uncanny abilities as a great sportsman, bowling, football; he's good at them all. Troy, Adam and Scott decide they find their brother's one weakness like Batman's kryptonite.
With stops along the way for food, footy and photo opportunities and a supposed sighting of Billy Brownless the Cats player, their road trip is exciting. The Selwood's have a great family spirit, they love to laugh and have fun. They see the humour when Dad's foam boogie boards fall apart on their first attempt at surfing, and when they try to outdo each other at the all you can eat Chinese restaurant. There is time for footy at the nearby park, playing against the tough NRL young guys and Joel seems to excel at everything. The rollercoaster at SeaWorld finally proves to be his kryptonite.
Tony Wilson has captured a slice of family life in the late nineties; his humorous style of writing highlights the brother's sporting skills and personalities. The Selwood Boys books are great novels to share with a Middle Primary class, as we participate in and can enjoy both Women's and Men's AFL competitions.
Rhyllis Bignell

The thousandth floor by Katharine McGee

HarperCollins, 2016. ISBN 9780008179977
(Age: 15+) Romance/Speculative. In every sense, this futuristic birds-eye view of entitled adolescence seems plausibly speculative. We can imagine that in the twenty-second century most of New York's population could inhabit a single, mile-high building complex, traversed by hovercraft. The futuristic hierarchy is not only structural but financial - bottom dwellers are outclassed by McGee's genetically engineered teenagers and their families on the uppermost floors. However, sex, drugs, rivalry and school are still very much on the menu for all social classes. Little has changed.
McGee follows the cycling fortunes of romantic couples who are acquainted mostly through school or friendships. Eris and Mariel, Rylin and Cord, Leda and Atlas, Avery and Watt transcend social media by simply 'eye flicking' to chat or meet up at school, parties and bars. They each have separate problems: divorcing parents, being orphaned, drugs, poverty, cybercrime, identity issues and not least a taboo attraction; the last of which may warrant an M15+ rating. Thankfully there is no homophobia a hundred years from now - that doesn't appear to be a problem unless you count the irony of the fateful climax.
The entire romance/sci fi mash-up is retold as a flashback after a girl falls from the Tower on the first page. The interweaving of events surrounding a group of empowered and affluent teenagers is skilful but the addictive page-turning claim of Cecily von Ziegesar (author of Gossip Girl) has more to do with Leda's plans to unveil everyone's secrets in order to exact revenge on Avery and Atlas, her step-brother. With so much unresolved, we are in store for a sequel.
Deborah Robins

A place like this by Steven Herrick