Hachette, 2016 . ISBN 9780734417435
(Age: 12+) Recommended. Peter Fitzsimons has done an excellent job
of creating a teen edition of his book Kokoda. The text
reads like a novel yet there are no fictional elements and the work
does justice to the amazing exploits of those 'ragged bloody heroes'
without the inclusion of content inappropriate for teens. The
stunning performance of a poorly trained, inadequately supplied
militia, who fought to the death to stop a ferocious enemy, whilst
grossly outnumbered, sickened by tropical diseases and suffering
malnutrition, is the main focus of this book.
As an Australian who is proud of those who gave military service to
our country, I am simultaneously conscious of the need to avoid any
hint of glorification of war in literature. Fitzsimons shows
unashamed reverence for those who endured almost impossible
conditions in the New Guinea jungle as he recounts the courage shown
by military units and the almost unbelievable bravery of
individuals. Whilst doing so, he emphasises terrible suffering,
almost unimaginable fear and the trauma, both physical and mental,
which affected those soldiers for the rest of their lives.
The exploits of these soldiers have become legendary in the
Australian mindset and it is important that we are reminded of the
historical facts, to help us remain grounded, avoiding myth and
imaginative dramatisation. In explaining the significance of the
'chocolate soldier' militia and the enormous respect that the 39th
Battalion earned, Fitzsimons does not shy away from acknowledging
the fact that the 53rd Battalion largely failed its military
objectives and did not serve with distinction. Importantly, the
author notes that these servicemen had completely inadequate
training and suffered from terrible organisation and planning in the
early stages of the operation. Similarly, Fitzsimons is to be
commended for having the courage to openly criticise the Australian
General Blamey for his arrogance, ignorance and incompetence during
the campaign. Further, the author is also bold enough to voice that
General Douglas MacArthur was similarly incompetent and that many
Australian and American lives were wasted due his idiotic orders
influenced by an inflated ego and an unawareness of reality due to
being nowhere near the action. This is important, given that
MacArthur was accorded heroic status by a tame press and film
industry.
I recommend this book to teenagers of 12+ years and to adults who
will enjoy it whilst learning a great deal.
Rob Welsh
Artie and the grime wave written and illustrated by Richard Roxburgh
Allen and Unwin, 2016. ISBN 9781760292140
(Age: 9+) Highly recommended. Ok, so Richard Roxburgh is a talented
actor and director in both theatre and screen and of course the star
of 'Rake'. Now he's added writing and illustrating to his portfolio
in a very successful way. I mean to say, he's good looking as well?
Talk about take out a jackpot! Anyway, I digress, so on with the
review.
For your kids who love the rambunctious humour of the likes of Andy
Griffith, Tristan Bancks, or Aaron Blabey and get the hysterical
giggles over a few fart mentions this is perfect.
Artie and his friend Bumshoe are not the most popular kids in town.
One is skinny, has lost his dad which has sent his mum into a deep
depression, and the other is a chubby one-of-many in a pretty
'relaxed' family.
When these two discover a Cave-of-Possibly-Stolen-Stuff they realise
that the dodgy Mayor Grime is somehow involved with this gang of
thugs. There have been so many thefts around town that everyone is
on high alert yet no one wants to believe the two boys. Artie in
particular is determined to rescue his lovely neighbour Gladys' pet
tortoise which has apparently been pet-napped with many other
creatures. But the two boys lack a serious amount of luck when it
comes to finding a solution to the problem and end up in all sorts
of trouble - including being almost eaten! An eccentric old lady who
dabbles in high-tech inventions although continually coated in talc,
a mum who rouses herself into tigress mode at exactly the right time
and the stalwart support of good friends and neighbours saves the
day.
Artie is no hulking hero but he stands up for what he believes and
stands up to the bullies - and that's an important message for any
reader.
Any kid will love the part when one of the thugs has his bum bitten
by the gang's savage guard dog while enduring the world's worst
wedgie and will certainly love Aunty-boy's invention the Fartex
120Y.
Highly recommended for readers who like to laugh out loud - from
around 9 years old upwards.
Sue Warren
Amazing animals of Australia's national parks by Gina M Newton
NLA, 2016. ISBN 9780642278883
(Age: 10+) Highly recommended. National parks (Australia). Animals.
Habitat. With a stunning array of photographs, easy to use maps and
fact files, every page is a treat and will be a sort after reference
and non fiction read for middle school people.
Divided into Woodlands, Arid lands, Forests, Mountains, Wetlands and
Coasts, the diversity of Australian animals is shown. Contents pages
at the start of the book direct readers to the various pages of
animals, while the index at the back will be well used. Included
with the index is a good glossary of terms, several pages of
references and an acknowledgement of the source of the photographs.
Each section is further divided into sub headings, Birds,
Monotremes, Placental animals, Fish and Reptiles, for example. One
section which interested me is the Arid Lands. In this can be found
several pages of information about arid lands and photos which will
pinpoint how they look for the younger reader. The following pages
show a range of reptiles: Thorny Devil, Gecko, Perentie and
Shingleback, followed by a Brown Snake, Water Holding frog, several
birds and animals like the Bilby, Red Kangaroo and Chokka. Each page
has a large picture of the animal, a small map pointing out where it
lives, a fast fact box with information about its size and weight,
and a Question/answer style of presentation to give the reader facts
about that animal. All adds up to an inviting and detailed
examination of the animal pictured, and will intrigue and inform the
readers.
On each page is the scientific name of the animals, a traffic light
telling the reader about the conservation status of the animal,
along with a code which indicates which habitat it lives in, and its
national park. It is well worth perusing the guide pages (8 and 9)
which give readers a hand to interpreting the pages of information.
Fran Knight
Ella by Nicole Godwin and Demelsa Haughton
Tusk Books, 2016. ISBN 9780994531407
(Picture book) Ella is a baby elephant with a broken heart. Taken
from her mother at a very early age to become part of the tourist
attractions in Thailand, she is shackled by a large chain, poked
with a bullhook to be the centre of tourist photos and expected to
paint pictures and be the drawcard at weddings. Always hungry, her
only friend is a scrawny chicken but her greatest wish is to see her
mother again and be reunited with her. Wherever she goes she is on
the lookout for her and follows every lead that she hopes will be
successful, particularly when she sees her future in the eyes of an
old and broken elephant saddled with a howdah and expected to enjoy
carrying tourists with a need to say they have ridden an elephant.
One night during a fierce storm Ella is sure she has found her but
just as she is about to meet up, she is hit by a car and left on the
side of the road. But all is not lost, for Ella is picked up and
hauled into a truck that drives away to a... sanctuary.
Written to give a voice to elephants and all other creatures held
captive for the tourism market, this is a touching story that tugs
at the heartstrings as the reader is given an insight into what
really happens behind the scenes of what seems like an innocuous
activity. Despite the charming illustrations that suggest a story
for the very young, the front cover gives a clue that this is not a
happy, sweetness-and-light story and despite its uplifting ending
readers are bound to have questions they want answered. Some of
these are provided on the final pages of the book while others might
need some research. Along with Elizabeth Stanley's The
deliverance of dancing bears and Katherine Applegate's The one and only Ivan it
would make an ideal springboard into the use and treatment of
animals as tourist attractions and spark a lot of debate about the
ethical issues and changing attitudes towards animals in captivity.
Thought-provoking and worthy of a place on the library's shelves.
Barbara Braxton
Miss Peregrine's home for peculiar children by Ransom Riggs
Quirk Books, 2016. ISBN 9781594749025
(Age: Young adult) Recommended. This is a quirky fantasy tale of a
young boy's quest to uncover the story behind his grandfather's
dying words in very unusual circumstances. The fantasy tale reveals
a community of very peculiar children locked in a time loop, and
their struggles to overcome an attack from an unusual source.
The story is very readable once you get past the first few chapters
where the main character is undergoing psychological struggles and
treatment. The book also includes some very bizarre photographs (set
in 1940's).
There is nothing unsavoury in this story but it is most unusual and I
can recommend it for young adult readers.
Carolyn Hull
Home in the rain by Bob Graham
Walker Books, 2016. ISBN 9781406368239
(Age: 4+) Highly recommended. Families, Relationships, Rain, Home.
This story of family and home replicates themes Graham has always
used, ones which are persistently asked for by readers of all ages,
ones picked up eagerly when seen in the library, classroom or shop.
My now 35 year old son was not a reader, but when a book seller came
to town and set up his display, my son ran to the Bob Graham books,
recognising their familiarity, grabbing them with a please buy these
for me look to his parents, and sitting down to read in the shop.
This will be just as eagerly sought by younger readers, as Francie
and her mum and only just showing new baby sister drive home from
Grandma's house in the teeming rain. They are caught between huge
lorries plying the motorway, one of which pushes their little red
car onto the verge. In the parking bay they take a rest from the
incessant rain and traffic, and eat the lunch that grandma made for
them. After drawing her family's names on the windows Francie asks
her mum about her new baby sister. She is interested in what this
new baby will be called. Mum tells her that no name has been chosen,
but when an idea comes she will know. They go on their way, with the
rain and then hail still making their journey difficult. At a
service station, mum has an idea about a name, and so Francie is
able to write that name on the car's window, just as she did with
her own and her parents.
Bob Graham has the ability to make a small moment one of
significance and portent. A child and her mother deciding on a new
name for a baby sister is full of significance for this small
family, with their father working away from home and grandma also
living far away. It will not have been noticed by any other person
but for this family, it is remarkable. And this is reflected in the
beautiful drawings, as the sun comes out guiding their way back
home.
Graham uses his masterful technique to bring the feeling of their
journey to life, as they are squeezed between the many trucks on the
highway, slowed by the rain, shown in large white lines across most
of the pages. Their small car is diminished by the stream of trucks,
but it stands out in the sea of grey, while the edges of the pages
and the highway are tinged with blackberry bushes and small animals,
bringing the countryside into view. Each page offers a perspective
to think about: the highway signs pointing to home, the sweets found
in the car pockets, mum kicking off her shoes to rest, the other
people at the service station, the view of the oil rig out to sea,
perhaps showing us where dad works. I love every page and all who
pick up this book will too.
Fran Knight
The road to winter by Mark Smith
Text, 2016. ISBN 9781925355123
(Age: secondary) Recommended. Thriller, Dystopia, Survival, CLimate
change, Virus. After sheltering a girl he finds on the beach, Finn
must work out a way of surviving with another person who relies on
him. But a group of enraged men comes searching for her. 90% of
women have been killed by a virus after climate change has caused
untold damage along the coast. Finn was prepared when he and his
father locked away goods and equipment, and now with both parents
dead, Finn has a safe place. But the girl, Rose, adds another level
of complexity to his survival, and while getting to know her, each
reveals a little of their background and what has happened to
Australia.
A dystopian novel bringing in themes of future climate change,
refugees, survival, the story is a classic thriller, with two people
trying to evade capture by a group of men who resort to appalling
violence to get what they want. Finn unexpectedly finds another
group of survivors, but who can he trust? Some of this group does
not trust him, others see a young man who can work on their farm,
others reveal their humanity, but the extreme views within the group
concern him. Only when Ramage shows up with his gang does Finn take
action and leave, but this time with two more girls in tow.
He returns to find that Rose is missing and with her baby due
anytime, they set out to find her and what happened to her in the
safe place.
A real page turner, the book grabbed me from the start, impelling me
to find out what happens, driven along with the theme of survival
and all it entails living away from any vestige of law and order.
Behind the story is the thread of what has happened to these two
sisters, Rose and Kas, asylum seekers with electronic tags, sold to
the highest bidder to work on people's farms, or worse, treated as
slaves. This part of the story will certainly have readers thinking
about the possibilities of what happens to refugees the world over,
encouraging a more humane approach to their plight. Teacher's
notes are available at the publisher's website.
Fran Knight
The Hello Atlas by Ben Handicott
Ill. by Kenard Pak. Wide Eyed Editions, 2016. ISBN 9781847808493
(Age: Primary) Recommended. Theme: Language; Social Atlas.This is a
language atlas that can be read - but it is also linked to a
child-friendly free downloadable App that 'speaks' basic phrases in
each of the languages that is highlighted in the pictorial Atlas.
The book is organised by Continents, highlighting the array of
languages that are spoken and gives basic information about the
'age' and features of these languages. Following this main page are
picture pages with basic phrases used by each language. (Used in
conjunction with the App, a child could also learn how to pronounce
each phrase as well as see it written - a valuable feature for a
book about language.) Even Antarctica has languages highlighted -
for the researchers and scientists who are stationed there. Note:
Only a small number of Aboriginal languages are highlighted in
Australia, but it does mention that there are more that exist.
The text also indicates where languages are at risk of extinction
and why, and also why it is good to retain an original language. For
children just learning that their own language is not the only one
in use in the world, this book makes a delightful resource,
particularly when used in conjunction with the App (easily
downloaded from the App Store or Google Play.)
Recommended (Particularly as a School Library resource for Primary
Schools)
Carolyn Hull
One half from the east by Nadia Hashimi
HarperCollins, 2016. ISBN 9780062572196
(Age: 12+) Recommended. Afghanistan, Gender roles. The idea of Bacha
Posh is very new to me in the context in which it is presented in
this page turner of a book. Girls who dress as boys in some Muslim
countries have done so to earn money for their families when there
are no men, as presented in Deborah Ellis' book, Parvana
(2002) but in this book it has a different tack, with one of the
youngest girls in the family dressing and behaving as a boy because
the family has no sons, and apart from saving face, the myth is that
if a daughter dresses in this way then their next child will be a
boy.
Obayd learns to love his new role as a boy, playing games, having no
chores to do, going to school, but when his friend, Rahim is taken
out of school and engaged to be married, then Obayd is distraught
because he knows that his friend, another girl like him does not
want this to happen. They have both hoped for a miracle to happen
allowing them to stay male for the rest of their lives. Obayd does
the impossible, visiting twelve year old Rahim in the compound where
she has been sent to marry and knowing of her plight, he then treks
to the mountains to find a rainbow, believing in the old legend that
this will change him for good.
His family is distraught and Obayd's mother does the only thing she
can, she changes his clothes and replaces them with his female
dress. Back to her real name, Obayda is terribly upset, knowing that
being a boy gives her privileges, opportunities and status that
girls will never have and seeing Rahim's plight is frightened
something similar will happen to her.
This is a fascinating story and will give readers the opportunity to
explore their own ideas about gender roles and stereotyping at
length. In a class the discussions would be most fruitful.
Fran Knight
The giant's necklace by Michael Morpurgo
Walker Books, 2016. ISBN 9781406357127
(Age: 9+) Highly recommended. Coming hot on the heels of my review
of Michael's Such stuff is this absolutely beautiful short
story/novella which is both poignant and thrilling. And of course,
now I also want to know the 'prompt' for this particular story.
A family is on their annual summer holiday on the Cornish coast in
the same cottage in which they always stay. As usual the secluded
little beach is all theirs and for the entire stay, Cherry, the
youngest in the family, has been vigilantly collecting perfect pink
cowrie shells and stringing them into a 'giant's' necklace much to
the amusement of her four older brothers.
On the last day of the holiday Cherry is short of her target by only
about a hundred shells and knows that she can achieve her goal.
Knowing the child is safe on the beach the family go back to pack up
ready for the next morning's departure leaving Cherry with her
fixation.
But when the weather turns bad and the sea turns worse Cherry is cut
off from her usual path home. At first she is frightened but
realises she should be able to climb the cliff to safety. A strange
light from a cave attracts her attention midway and she finds
herself in an old copper mine where two old-fashioned Cornishmen are
working away. They sense her distress, warm her and comfort her and
eventually the younger man leads her to the surface and she is able
to find her way home.
No spoilers here - to find out the twist in the tail/tale you will
have to read it for yourself.
Beautifully presented in a small hardback with stunning
illustrations and delicious glossy pages, this is a treat for the
senses.
Highly recommended for readers from around nine years up.
Sue Warren
A first book of animals by Nicola Davies
Ill. by Petr Horacek. Walker Books, 2016. ISBN 9781406359633
(Age: 7+) Recommended. Animals. Poetry. A large format, hard-covered
book filled with glorious illustrations of a vast variety of animals
on our planet, accompanied by poems of varying styles and length,
each of which talk about their habitat will be pored over by younger
readers. They will read the poems out loud or share them with
friends, laughing at the antics of the animals presented, but also
taking in a great deal of information.
Entitled A first book of animals, it is not what most would
expect, a tome with lots of pictures and a catalogue of information
in a non fiction style, with perhaps maps and a fact file. Instead
we find poems of varying length and style, some blank verse, others
with rhyming lines or stanzas, some almost like limericks, but all
readable and accessible for younger readers. The illustrations give
the pages pizzazz with most colourful and engaging pictures,
covering the whole double page. Younger readers will love searching
out the various things in the background of each page against which
the animal is set.
I loved the pages on the zebra and the camel, and can now work out
the difference between the one humped and two humped camel.
The contents pages show the book is divided into five sections: Big
and small, Colours and shape, Animal homes, Animal babies and
Animals in action, and each section contains about a dozen animals to
consider. Younger readers will learn about using a contents page and
be able to select which animal they wish to look at in detail.
Fran Knight
Triple crown by Felix Francis
Jefferson Hinkley Bk 3. Simon and Schuster, 2016. ISBN
9781471155482
(Age: 15+) Crime. Mystery. Horse racing. Jeff Hinkley is back, this
time taking the reader on a ride to the US, behind the scenes in the
American racing industry. Jeff Hinkley has been seconded by the US
Federal Anti-Corruption in Sports Agency (FACSA) as an outsider to
see if he can find the mole in the organisation, who is letting
corrupt trainers know when they will be raided. He is able to set up
some structures for this to happen, but on a raid at the Kentucky
Derby, things go wrong and a trainer is shot dead. Going undercover
as a groom, Jeff faces danger as trainers go for broke, in the hope of
winning the coveted Triple Crown.
The theme of drugs in sport came to the fore in this novel, and it
was fascinating to read how Jeff had to contend with the problem of
new ways of drugging horses. There were a few surprises and some
thrilling action in the last part of the book that kept me reading
to the end.
I have been a big fan of the novels by Dick Francis and enjoyed Refusaland Damage
by Felix Francis, but this one fell a little flat for me. Even
though the information about the American racing scene and life as a
groom was interesting, at times it felt as if it was more important
than the mystery and suspense, for which both Felix and his father
Dick Francis have been known. Nevertheless, as I did really enjoy Damage,
I will pick up any Jeff Hinkley novels in the future, hoping that
there is more character development and a faster paced plot for him
then.
Pat Pledger
Junior illustrated English dictionary and thesaurus by Felicity Brooks
Ill. by Nikki Dyson. Usborne, 2016. ISBN 9781474924481
This new release from Usborne, who are masters at putting together
quality education resources, comes in perfect time for sharing with
parents who are looking for something special for the Christmas
stocking for that between group who are a little old for toys but
not quite ready for all the trappings of being a young adult.
Grandparents will LOVE it as a suggestion!
With so many thesauri and dictionaries on the market for this age
group, there has to be a point of difference to make a new one stand
out and having seen and used so many over my 40+ years of teaching,
it's hard to think what that might be. However, Usborne have
discovered it - scattered throughout the 480 pages amongst the 6000+
words are text boxes with all sorts of information about the words
including spelling tips, word families, word origins and so on - each
of which helps the child build their vocabulary and their knowledge
of how words and English work so they can build on what they know to
be even more proficient. There are explanations about the s/z
conflict in British and American English as well as things like the
t/ed endings and who uses which. (Australian standards use 't' but
either is acceptable where there is a choice and the context and
meaning is not changed).
There is a comprehensive 'how to' introductory section which
explains the features and layout of the book including how to use a
dictionary generally, the different word classes such as nouns,
adjectives and verbs and links to further explanations, activities
and games for both the dictionary and the thesaurus which will
extend the user's knowledge and skills even further. In between the
dictionary and thesaurus sections are pages about how to make
plurals, and prefixes and suffixes, all serving to make this more
than just a word finder. The plentiful, colourful illustrations are
really useful and would serve someone learning English for the first
time very well, particularly older students who prefer something a
little more grown-up than basic alphabet books.
If you are looking for a new class set of this sort of reference
text for the library, this one really deserves serious consideration
- in the meantime, this copy will find its way to Miss
Almost-Year-5. It will be the perfect present for her.
Barbara Braxton
The great sock secret by Susan Whelan
Ill. by Gwyneth Jones. EK Books, 2016. ISBN 9781925335248
It is one of the great mysteries of our times. Ever since washing
machines were automated and readily available, pairs of socks have
been forever separated, never to meet their match again. And Sarah's
house is no different - there is a basket full of odd socks and her
mum is on a mission to find their partners.
But Sarah knows where they are - the fairy families that live in her
house are masters at repurposing them for all sorts of fun and games
- and she is desperate that her mother not discover the truth. She
even suggests that they take Max the puppy for a walk instead but
her mother is not to be deterred or distracted and so the great sock
hunt begins. However, even though she searches high and low, in
cupboards, behind doors, in the bathroom, under the furniture, and
in brother Thomas's bedroom, her mother's eyes are not as sharp as
Sarah's and she does not see what is really happening with the
socks. But when she is satisfied with the two she does find Sarah
breathes a sigh of relief - until her mother suggests that they now
start searching for lost pens...
This is an utterly charming story from the team that created the
outstanding Don't
think about purple elephants that reminded me of The
borrowers by Mary Norton (and which would be a great
read-together serial as a follow-on.) Like Sarah, the reader has to
have sharp eyes to find what has happened to the socks because so
much of the story is in the wonderful illustrations - a trait of
perfect picture books in my opinion.
Young children will take great delight in seeing what adults can't
as they try to spot all the fairies as well as suggesting what else
they might use the socks for. Maybe that is where all the missing
socks in their homes have disappeared to - watch them go searching
but don't let them tell! Miss 5 loved this - we read it over and
over during a recent visit and there was something new to discover
each time! And yes, The borrowers will be the next family
serial.
Barbara Braxton
Year's best young adult speculative fiction 2015 ed. by Julia Rios and Alisa Krasnostein
Kaleidoscope, 2016. ISBN 9781922101501
(Age: 13+) Highly recommended. Short stories. Diversity. What an amazing
collection! The editors have gathered together what they consider
the best short stories for young adults in 2015 and they have
certainly succeeded in their goal. The stories are diverse with teen
characters and cover themes such as genetic engineering, end of the
world, horror, space travel and dystopias and are written by many
well-known and less well known (to me) authors.
This is an excellent collection to dip into and most readers will
find something that appeals to them. One that stood out for me was Bucket
list found in the locker of Maddie Price, Age 14, written two
weeks before the great uplifting of all mankind by Erica L.
Satifka. This was quite heart rending for the reader, finding out
what Maddie considered to be most important in the short time that
she had before being taken into the Sing. Readers will be left
wondering why people were taken into the Sing and will continue to
speculate about this long after finishing the story. Another story
that was quite frightening was The birds of Azalea Street by
Nova Ren Suma. This tale of abuse is told in a matter of fact voice
by a teenaged girl and the story will bring shudders to its readers.
Sean Williams in Noah No-one and the infinity machine
explores the idea of replication of people as his young protagonist,
Noah, tries out the machine that could turn a person into data,
finding on the journey a way to stop the bullying who had been
giving him a hard time at school. In For sale: Fantasy Coffin
(Ababuo need not apply) by Chesya Burke, a little girl is
chosen to protect the people of Ghana and would love to have a
coffin, but knows that she will never be buried in Ghana soil. These
four are just a small representation of the quality of the tales all
of which were thought provoking and left me thinking long after I
had read them.
The Summation: YA in 2015 at the beginning of the collection, gives
a really good outline of the works that were important in 2015, and
could prove to be most enlightening for readers who want to pursue
excellent reading in speculative fiction. At the end of the book,
there is a short biography of each of the authors, with lists of
their works which readers may wish to look for and read.
Pat Pledger
