Lothian, 2017. ISBN 9780734416759
(Age: 6+) Highly recommended. Animals in war. Pigeons. Australia at
war. On Manos Island, north of Australia's mainland a patrol of
Australia's soldiers were fighting an enemy advance. In dire peril,
they released two of the three pigeons they were carrying only to
see both shot down by the enemy. The last one, the smallest of
the three, Flapper, flew above the clouds to find a gap in the rain
and shell fire to get back to base with his message. For his bravery
he was awarded the Dickin Medal, the animal equivalent of the
Victoria Cross.
Mark Wilson has expanded on these basic facts to give a story of
this bird, born as war broke out and trained to be a homing pigeon.
When the call went out for homing pigeons, Flapper was one of the
13,500 donated to the war effort and he was trained to be carried by
a soldier and given experience in the jungles, so different from the
range he had at home. He was trained to return to the mobile hutch
and to carry messages on his leg and so sent to the islands north of
Australia.
The stories of many animals used in war, are being written for a
wide audience, bringing their courage and tenacity to a reading
public. The Australian War Memorial's M is for mates: Animals in
wartime form Ajax to Zero (2009) gives a brief outline of the
range of animals that served during the war, and shows what probably
happened to Flapper and his mates under Q for Quarantine.
Wilson's distinctive illustrative style is most appealing, using a
range of pencil and acrylic paint to give a sweeping view of the
jungle and intensive war met head on by Flapper and the patrol. The
crayon and lead pencil drawings show the range of animals and people
who were part of the war effort, bringing another level of
understanding to the younger reader. Each element of this amazing
tale is distinguished by illustrations worth more than a second
look, and I found myself poring over many of them, taking in the
detail given, and I love the framed illustrations on the cover and
elsewhere, with the high flying pigeon on the endpapers. With Anzac
Day coming up as well as commemorations
for the 75th anniversary of the battles of Milne Bay, El Alemien,
Kokoda and the Fall of Singapore this is a splendid book to have
available for classes studying the realities of war.
Fran Knight
The secret of the black bushranger by Jackie French
Angus and Robertson, 2017. ISBN 9780732299453
(Age: 8-12) Recommended. Australian history. Aboriginal themes.
Convicts. Freedom. Barney Bean has found his feet in the colony of
New South Wales, taken in by the Johnson family who treat him as
their own, along with Birrung and Elsie. But one night John Black
Caesar asks Mr Johnson for sanctuary, and he is fed and given
shelter for the night. The next morning he is gone.
Behind the story of how Barney came to be in this new colony is his
tale of survival on the streets of London, his mother doing all she
can to keep them alive. Once in the colony, after nine months aboard
a convict ship, she dies, leaving Barney alone and through his eyes
we have a masterfully drawn view of the colony and how it operated
over two hundred years ago. French always includes a plethora of
facts, insinuated into the story, and this is no exception. The
reality of life for the whole gamut of people tied to this colony is
believable and against this she puts Black Caesar, Australia's first
bushranger.
Her take on his background is most plausible, and she breathes life
into the few facts known of this man, showing the reader that all he
craves is freedom to be himself after being a slave and a convict.
This is the third in the The secret histories series, which
began with Birrung, the secret friend, and continued with Barney
and the secret of the whales. Each of the three stories
revolves around the real clergyman and his wife, the Johnson family,
who in the early years of Sydney helped orphans and convicts alike,
putting their own lives in peril when the Rum Corps took control.
Historical fiction places characters and their lives against the
reality of life in a particular time, giving readers a great story
set against a credible background, which in good hands subtly
teaches. And French's book goes a long way to give information about
our convict past, showing through Barney just how hard life was for
the early farmers, as well as entertaining readers with the story of
our first bushranger.
Fran Knight
Can I tell you a secret? A tale about being brave and sharing your worries by Anna Kang
Ill. by Christopher Weyant. Hachette Australia, 2016. ISBN
9781444926439
(Age: 3-7) Highly recommended. The husband and wife team of author
Anna Kang and illustrator Christopher Weyant's colourful picture
book asks an important question - 'Can I tell you a secret?' This is
a valuable resource for teaching wellbeing in kindergartens,
preschools and Early Years education.
'Pssst!' says Monty as he leans in to talk to us from the bulrushes.
'Could you come here for a sec?' The little green frog has a secret
he wants to share, he can't swim and is afraid of the water! A lot
of quick thinking, creativity and hard work have helped him to keep
this from his family and friends, a doctor's note for his swimming
coach, a protective umbrella, even catching a ride on a tall bird's
leg. Questions and responses keep the reader engaged and Weyant's
colourful, comical scenes add to the fun of the story. Monty is a
cute character, with his large green head, expressive eyes, giant
flippers and little hands that show a range of emotions.
When Monty decides to share his secret, he first builds up his
courage by complimenting his mum and dad on dinner and on their
awesome parenting. Facing your fears and sharing your worries are
important life lessons. With his parents' loving response and
reassurances, Monty is able to start learning to swim.
This delightful picture book supports teaching the Health, Wellbeing
and Protective Behaviours curriculum. Young learners can read, view
and discuss how Monty was able to bravely overcome his fears and
take a risk in sharing his secret. They can identify characters that
help the main character stay safe and healthy and the importance of
establishing a safe network of people you can trust.
Rhyllis Bignell
The witch's tears by Katharine Corr and Elizabeth Corr
The witch's kiss bk 2. HarperCollins Children's Books, 2017.
ISBN 9780008182991
(Age: 14+) Witchcraft. Magic. Romance. The second in the series,
following The
witch's kiss will really appeal to lovers of the paranormal
and those who like fairy tales mixed up with the narrative. Merry is
still trying to get over the heartbreak of losing Jack and to make
matters worse she and her brother Leo are drifting apart. Leo is
having problems because of Dan's death and when Ronan, an attractive
and powerful stranger comes into the district he falls for him.
Merry is having other problems as well, trying to learn witchcraft,
and putting up with Finn, a young wizard who is staying at the
house, and she fails to connect the strange things that are
happening around her. Her Gran has disappeared and other witches are
being killed around the countryside and ultimately it is up to her
to do something about it.
This is an engrossing story that is easy to read and very enjoyable.
Obviously it is best to have read the first in the series, as this
is necessary to understand many of the references. Merry and Leo's
great relationship was a feature of the first book, so it was hard
to see them growing apart, and Merry's romance with Finn didn't
quite ring true, but the narrative was interesting enough to keep
the reader wanting to read on.
The action really picked up towards the end of the book and the
strong and startling conclusion to this first book was riveting.
This will ensure that readers pick up the next in the series to find
out what happens.
Pat Pledger
Elvira and the Pilliga mouse by Pat Clarke
Ill. by Graeme Compton. Little Steps, 2016. ISBN 9781925117981
(Age: 7-9) Recommended. Pat Clarke's Elvira and the Pilliga
mouse is a junior novel that explores the themes of endangered
Australian animals, survival and the impact of feral animals on the
native animal population. Graeme Compton's detailed paint and ink
illustrations add a dynamic element to the story. He brings the
characters to life, showing their emotions and responses in Clarke's
adventures of Elvira the wedge-tailed eagle who is one of the stars
of the Taronga Zoo Bird Show. She majestically swoops down over the
audience each day as the final act. Elvira is a survivor, rescued
from a forest fire that ravaged her home, the Goonoo Forest in NSW
leaving only her father alive. The young eagle began her
recuperation at Dubbo Zoo, and then sent on to Taronga to continue
her recovery.
When a mini-tornado swirls through Taronga Zoo one afternoon, Elvira
is transported away from her zoo home to the base of the Blue
Mountains. A boobook owl encourages her to begin a quest to find out
if her father is still alive back in Goonoo Forest. Along the way,
Elvira rescues a wounded schoolboy, building a large nest to protect
him from the weather, as well as directing the rescuers to his
location. While her old injuries prevent her from flying long
distances, she takes her time and cleverly uses the signs to Dubbo
Zoo to direct her flight path.
Unfortunately, instead of a welcome, Elvira lands on a tree in
Monkey Island, frightening the screeching animals, and similar
disturbances occur throughout the animal enclosures. Quickly flying
away from her former friends, she lands on a farm at the edge of the
forest. This is fortuitous as she meets Egbert the rooster who has
very exciting information for her. Most importantly, Elvira flies
Pookie one of the last Pilliga mice back to the forest and saves a
rare species.
Resilience, hope, friendship and determination are some of the
characteristics Elvira the wedge-tail eagle demonstrates. Elvira and
the Pilliga mouse is a resource that supports the Year 2 and 3
Science Curriculum - developing the learners' understandings of the
environment's role in the survival of living things, to understand
the human impact on living things and to develop dialogues about
ways to protect living things.
Rhyllis Bignell
Lady Helen and the dark days pact by Alison Goodman
Lady Helen bk 2. Angus and Robertson, 2017. ISBN
9780732296100
(Age: 15+) Highly recommended. Regency period. Brighton. Paranormal.
For lovers of both the paranormal and the Regency period, Lady
Helen and the Dark Days Pact is a must read. It follows on
closely from the events in Lady
Helen and the Dark Days Club and has everything in it
that a reader would want from a sequel - Lady Helen grows in
strength and understanding, Lord Carlston is as enigmatic and darkly
attractive as ever and the action is very exhilarating. Lady Helen's
family have disowned her and she is staying with Mr Hammond and his
sister in the fashionable town of Brighton where she must learn to
control her powers. When the secretive Mr Pike, who is in charge of
the Dark Days Club, arrives with a difficult task for her and Mr
Hammond, and casts doubts about the loyalty of Lord Carlston, It is
Lady Helen who must bring together all the threads of magic and
betrayals to ensure that all is well in England.
Set in the fabulous town of Brighton, Goodman vividly describes the
fashionable life of the aristocrats in Regency times as well as the
poverty, brothels and grimness of the lower classes. Those who have
travelled to Brighton and enjoyed seeing the grand homes and
wonderful buildings that the Prince Regent installed will enjoy
seeing it all again in the mind's eye, while others will want to go
there just to feel the ambiance.
Lady Helen is an indomitable character, who is able to think things
through and make decisions for herself by the end of the book.
Dressed as a young man she has no hesitation about putting herself
in danger in order to protect the realm and those in her circle. The
action was quite breathtaking at times and the unexpected ending
will ensure that the next book is grabbed as soon as it appears in
the bookstores.
Pat Pledger
The kids' survival guide: Avoiding 'When I was young' and other brain-exploding lectures by Susan Berran
Big Sky Publishing, 2016. ISBN 9781925520071
(Age: 8-10) Author Susan Berran humorously provides advice for kids
on how to survive parent lectures. When Sam's family move to the
country after the arrival of his sister Miss Smelly Melly Poop
Pants, he is annoyed. His new school has only thirty students and he
becomes best mates with Jared another city transplant. After their
Super-charged Cow Crapper Attacker accidentally covers the whole
soccer team, the coach, the ref and half the crowd, Sam and his
friend receive the same lecture by their parents and the adults
involved. Why do they all use the same phrases, is there a secret
guidebook? Yes, hidden in the cleaning cupboard is the parent manual
titled 'Boring Useless Lectures, Lessons, Children's Rules and
Punishments' (that's Bullcrap for short!) Sam informs the reader he
is going to share his 'own brain-blowing close encounters to teach
you how to get out of stuff!'
Part 1 covers those familiar parent topics - 'You Should Know, I've
Told You a Hundred Times! You're Bigger than Her, Act Your Age' and
that ever popular - 'When I Was Your Age!' Sam's interactions with
his younger sister and his constant fixation on her poopy pants are
comical. His mother's lectures laying down the guilt trap are easily
recognisable - setting an example or it wouldn't hurt to help around
here! Part 2 introduces the POOEARS concept and parts 3-5 include
more silly situations and sage insights.
Author Susan Berran's survival guide is a fabulous class read-aloud.
Her warnings and hints are comical - 'avoid eye contact at all cost'
and 'absolutely do not get sucked in and answer them!' This book is
well presented, with a large font, an easy to read format, fun
cartoons spread throughout, relatable characters and amusing scenes
from family and school life. Berran's message is one of reassurance,
that kids are not alone, they have similar childhood encounters.
Rhyllis Bignell
Empire of Storms by Sarah J. Maas
Throne of glass bk 5. Bloomsbury, 2016. ISBN 9781408872895
(Age: Adult - Older teen) Empire of Storms is the fifth
instalment within the Throne of Glass series by Sarah J.
Maas and with it comes an in-depth and detailed world written with
realism and complexity that is the broad setting of Maas's realistic
and relatable characters. With the world in chaos and the threat of
the Dark King's army set upon them, it is up to Aelin and her unique
and powerful court-come-companions to stop the menace of this evil.
This threat makes Aelin slowly consider and understand what she is
willing to sacrifice to save her people from disaster as she
attempts to heal old wounds and bond the land she is attempting to
save, uniting a kingdom while under the threat of destruction. Empire of Storms is well written and a pleasure to read for
those whom have also enjoyed fantasies and epics about kingdoms and
heroics, each character is unique and their personalities and
histories run deep within the book. The Throne of Glass
series is aimed for an adult audience due to themes such as
violence, fantasy and romance that are blended within Empire of
Storms. The world itself is given meaning with elaborate detail to
locations and their significance throughout the book, providing the
reader with a sense of reality and connection as they progress with
Aelin's journey to stop the malevolent Dark King. Overall, this is
the type of book that readers can get lost in and can enjoy
accompanying the characters throughout their vital decisions,
actions, and expeditions as they fight for what they believe in and
for those they love.
Sarah Filkin
The Satanic Mechanic by Sally Andrew
Tannie Maria Mystery bk. 2. Text, 2016. ISBN 9781925355130
(Age: 16+) Recommended. Murder. South Africa. Post-traumatic stress
disorder. Bushmen. Once again Tannie Maria, who writes an advice
column for the local newspaper, uses her unique understanding of
food and people to solving a murder. The Bushmen have just won a
court victory over their land from two large corporations, when
their leader, Slimkat Kabbo, is murdered at a festival. At the same
time she is fighting flashbacks to her violent marriage with her
late husband, Fanie, while trying to establish a relationship with
Henk the detective she met in the first book in the series, Recipes for
love and murder.
Readers who enjoyed the first book, will have another treat in store
for them. Newcomers would perhaps be best to read the books in
order, however The Satanic Mechanic would stand on its own.
Tannie Maria is a capable, caring woman, and her recipes are to die
for. She had met and liked Slimkat Kabbo and is determined to find
out who killed him, even though Henk wants her to keep away from
murder. As she struggles with her PTSD, one expert prescribes diet
pills and another, anti-depressants. Tannie Maria then discovers a
group led by the Satanic Mechanic, and it is during these
counselling sessions that she begins to find peace and encounters
another murder.
The sights and sounds, animal life and community affairs of the
Klein Karoo in South Africa, the huge diversity of people and
cultures and the big issues that face the Bushmen, all form a
fascinating background to the murder mystery. Woven all the way
through are little bits of advice that Tannie Maria gives to her
readers, as well as the mouth-watering recipes that she has to help
lift the spirits and keep bad thoughts away.
Although The Satanic Mechanic has some very dark and
depressing themes, it is lightened by the humour, especially about
Henk and his pet lamb, and the thought of all the delicious food and
ends on a hopeful note.
Pat Pledger
American Monsters by Derek Landy
The Demon Road Trilogy bk 3. HarperCollins, 2016. ISBN
9780008157081
(Age; 14+) American Monsters by Derek Landy is the third in
a fantastic trilogy centred on Amber and her bodyguard-now-friend
Milo and their time on the highway of horrors across the U.S as they
continue their escape from Amber's flesh and power hungry mother and
father. But now, after the events at Desolation Hill and the choices
that Amber has had to make in regards to her love life as well as
her forced position at Astaroth's side, the hunters have become the
hunted as they flee while attempting to persuade Amber to join them
and overthrow the almighty Shining Demon, Asaroth. While dealing
with murderers, demons, and wretched beings from hell on her way,
Amber fights to save the friends and relationships she has made on
this terrible and bloody journey. To make matters worse, Amber has
life-threatening propositions forced upon her from all sides that
are all near impossible for her to complete so that she can finally
guarantee her own life and her safety in this evil-tainted world
that she has become exposed to. Amber and Milo face a fight against
the possibility of death while accompanied by unsuspecting allies
and the fact that they are changed because of it, this fight against
evil is the last stand and the end of a gruesome and fear-inducing
chase. American Monsters is a fantastic end to the Demon Road
Trilogy due to its sheer cleverness and utilisation of plot devices,
characters, and relationships from the last two books in the series.
The novel itself is written in a way that keeps the story feeling
like it's progressing at a realistic pace without feeling rushed.
This novel, just like the two before it, is suited to a young adult
audience as there are mature themes within the story. It's fair to
say that American Monsters exceptionally ties together the
trilogy in one final epic read and leaves you wanting for more.
Sarah Filkin
Heather Feather by Diana Wilson
Ill. by Jessica Freeman. Little Steps, 2016. ISBN 9781925545005
(Age: 7-9) Heather Feather is a special emperor penguin whose
intrepid environmental journey sees her circumnavigating Australia.
Antarctica is the 'coldest, driest continent on Earth' and millions
of emperor penguins raise their eggs and young in difficult
conditions. Heather Feather is extremely curious about the world
around her, in particular why the ice cap around her was melting.
Her father presents the young bird with a fantastic flying helmet
and goggles just right for protection and keeping her safe. He also
encourages her with sage advice, 'beware, take care'.
Her first stop after leaving her Antarctic home is Macquarie Island.
Here author Diane Wilson provides information about the penguin,
seal and sea lion slaughter by traders; the introduction of rabbits,
rats, mice and cats and the current environmental measure clearing
all the feral animals. Here she encounters royal, gentoo, rockhopper
and king penguins and is frightened by a Tasmanian devil. There is
no mention of how Heather Feather gains her scientific
understandings and insights at each place she visits. Wilson also
writes directly to the young reader reminding them to look at the
map to follow her trip.
Environmental questions are constantly included as the text shifts
between the penguins story, to information, questions to think about
and the 'Did You Know' facts included at the end of each chapter.
Her voyage takes her right around Australia - Hobart, Sydney,
Brisbane, the Great Barrier Reef, Darwin, and Perth and back to her
home. Jessica Freeman's illustrations show the reader to the
different animals Heather Feather encounters. This junior novel is
suitable for the Year 2 Science - Biological Sciences and Science as
human endeavour.
Rhyllis Bignell
The trapeze act by Libby Angel
Text, 2017. ISBN 9781925355925
(Age: 15+) Recommended. The trapeze act is a first novel by
Adelaide poet Libby Angel and is set in an unnamed but recognisable
Adelaide. It is about the influences exercised by family and place
on the development of character. It starts with the narrator,
Loretta, attending a retreat to 'find herself', 'to leave the past
and future alone and to concentrate on being'. Unfortunately her
mother's real and imagined words keep interfering, tying Loretta to
the past and reminding her of what her family is and who she is. And
so begins this novel with an eccentric cast of characters who make
up the narrator and this city we live in. Loretta is thirteen for
much of the action and daily life is unpredictable. Her father, a
successful and promiscuous barrister, is not interested in the past
but his family's story is spoken by journals that Loretta finds. Her
mother is the child of circus owners and is a performer in many
ways, maddeningly unpredictable both in everyday life and in the
stories she tells about circus life. She resolutely refuses to
conform to the stereotype of a mother, and eventually of a woman.
She has affairs, performs in plays thought to be scandalous and
shaves off all her hair. However, her eccentricities give Loretta
the ability to see through claptrap and to ignore stifling middle
class sensibilities. She endures her mother's capriciousness by day
and at night escapes from it by retreating into her
great-great-great-grandfather's journals. A mercantilist forced into
commerce by greed for ivory he journeys into the South Australian
hinterland as one of the earliest explorers but is thwarted by the
nature of the outback and is rescued by Aboriginal people. Loretta's
brother inherits his mother's disruptive spirit, even at one point
physically demolishing the family house. The mercantilist is driven
mad by the outback, Loretta's mother by the nature of the city,
perhaps, and conformity seems to be the way to survival. Yet the
novel is not dark or depressing; it is quixotic and unpredictable
and entertaining, like a good circus act. The language is at times
poetic and surprising, while nonetheless apt. It is recommended for
older readers.
Jenny Hamilton
Desolation by Derek Landy
The Demon Road trilogy bk 2. HarperCollins, 2016. ISBN
9780008156961
(Age: 14+) Desolation by Derek Landy is the second in a
trilogy about a girl named Amber whose family issues are considered
more supernatural than most. As discovered in Demon Road,
the first novel in the series, Amber was born and raised by her
parents so that she may (unknowingly) aid their efforts to gain
power after their centuries old agreement was made with Astaroth,
one of the great demons of hell. The only catch in such a role is
that Amber was destined to become a feast as soon as she became of
age and her own demonic powers started to develop and show. Still on
the run from her parents' enormous appetites, both for flesh and for
power, Amber and Milo (Amber's gunslinging bodyguard and friend)
find themselves being chased by Astaroth's hounds of hell as they
make their way towards the town of Desolation Hill where refuge
potentially hides. While seeming a lovely mountainside town,
Desolation Hill is hiding a large and evil secret, the closer Amber
gets to feeling safe from her parents and the Hounds of Hell, the
more she finds herself tangled in the mysteries and evils in this
town. Desolation provides a refreshing point of view, gaining an
insight to Amber's mind and thoughts as she struggles with
complications from both the outside world and her own mind as her
chaotic life gets thrown in every direction. The characters that are
introduced in this book are quirky and vibrant, allowing the reader
to imagine them while reading and to realistically understand their
relationships and feelings. Desolation is better suited for
an older audience due to the mature nature of some of the content.
Overall, Desolation is a fantastic read that keeps the
audience trapped in its pages due to its individuality and realistic
characters.
Sarah Filkin
When I grow up by Andrew Daddo
Ill. by Jonathan Bentley. ABC Kids, 2016. ISBN 9780733333422
(Age: 3-6) Recommended. A young teacher poses this question to her
class: 'what do you want to be when you grow up?' Their creative
answers will delight and surprise you. Standing on a student chair
at the front of the class, each child states their goal, their
future dreams. Little Miss Goldy Locks asks the class to imagine the
buns, braids, bobs and beehives she will create. 'So much hair, so
many stories.' What about an inventor - a invention to clean a
bedroom, clear the table, stack and unstack the dishwasher? Floating
in space, the astronaut will see the stars, she will photograph new
worlds and meet strange aliens.
Daddo writes expressively; he uses alliteration, imaginative
descriptions and rhyming text. He also presents strong female role
models, no stereotypes - the princess can rescue herself, thank you!
The last little girl has a wildly creative list and ends with a
special message, she just wants to be herself.
Jonathan Bentley's mixed-media images are lively, and bring Daddo's
story to life. As each student shares their future dreams, the
colourful illustrations show the astronaut swept into space in a
fiery whizz-bang rocketship and into a fantasy adventure with green
goblins and magical wizards.
Andrew Daddo's When I grow up is a delightful story to share
with a family. This entertaining and enjoyable picture book is
suitable for engaging young learners in thinking about their future
careers, creating artworks or a class big book.
Rhyllis Bignell
Once upon a dream by Liz Braswell
A twisted tale bk 2. Disney, 2016. ISBN 9781484707258
(Age: 12+) A twisted tale series written by Liz Braswell
explores the idea that 'a key turning point in Disney movie didn't
work out as planned.' These dark stories are suited to a young adult
audience as they explore themes of revenge, the forces of evil,
greed and the misuse of power.
In Once upon a dream, the story questions what would happen if
Sleeping Beauty did not wake up. When Prince Phillip falls asleep as
he kisses Aurora, this fairy tale's crowded plot takes a radical
turn. The mind of the princess is controlled by a bad fairy's curse
and Aurora has to escape from a different thorny castle and travel
through a dangerous magical kingdom created from her dreams.
Together with the prince, she traverses the land, with Maleficent's
spies following them. The three good fairies are now evil, Aurora's
parents are unkind, and they greedily rule their kingdom,
eliminating the good witches and fairies. Maleficent is portrayed in
a very different light as well.
Written in the third person, Liz Braswell has changed a significant
amount of the story, switching roles for so many of the familiar
characters. At times, the plot is difficult to follow because of all
the changes. Her graphic, descriptive writing style includes scenes
of death and violence. In the background, the pages are smudged with ink
to heighten the dark feel of the story. Once upon a dream is
definitely written for fans of this genre.
Rhyllis Bignell
