Reviews

The Tale of Birle by Cynthia Voigt

The tale of Oriel by Cynthia Voigt

Tales of the Kingdom bk 3. Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2015. ISBN 9781481403245
(Age: 13+) Highly recommended. Originally published as The Wings of a Falcon, the third in the Tales of the Kingdom series is a searing, heart wrenching, horrifying and wonderful story by a masterful storyteller. The boy is given no name by the Damall, the master of the small island where he trains boys who have been abandoned or enslaved. Together with Griff, his ever loyal companion, the boy manages to escape this cruel and evil place, taking the name Oriel as he leaves. Together they face many dangers travelling through unknown lands until they settle as journeymen to a saltweller. This is a happy time for three years, but the Wolfers, a barbarian tribe, destroy the farm and take them prisoner. On the run for a year, they face terrible privation, but eventually reach the farm of Beryl, who is a descendant of the main characters in The tale of Gywn and The tale of Birle. Here the three plot for Oriel to win the hand of Merlis, the heiress to the Earl of Sutherland.
This is a book that has many dark components - the treatment of the boys by the Damall is horrifying, there are whippings, betrayals and attempted murder. The harshness of the Wolfers is also appalling. However threaded through this story of survival come major themes, one of which is loyalty. Griff is almost a secondary character, but with his knowledge of what is right and wrong and his sense of justice, he gives Oriel the understanding of how to act, while Oriel shows him how to be strong and lead. Beryl faces heartbreak but she teaches them about love and sacrifice. Throughout there is a theme of women's rights - why shouldn't Merlis be given the right to choose her own husband and how do women left pregnant and single manage to look after the baby.
This is an intelligent and confronting book that could be read as a stand-alone. Certainly the series would be well worth having in any library and will appeal to readers who enjoy books by Ursula Le Guin and Robin McKinley.
Pat Pledger

Another night in Mullet Town by Steven Herrick

University of Queensland Press, 2016. ISBN 9780702253959
(Age: 15+) Highly recommended. Reluctant readers. Another outstanding verse novel from Herrick stars two Year 10 boys, Jonah and Manx who not only are facing the dilemmas of teenage life but their small coastal town is being taken over by rich city developers. Herrick's verse shows off the virtues of mateship, the gulf between the rich and poor, the heartbreak surrounding family breakdowns but through these problems his story shines with the uplifting message that friends can help each other through the difficult times.
Told in a rich verse narrative by Jonah life for the people in the little town comes alive as he describes the fishing trips that sustain Manx and him, the fights that his parents are having, the parties on the beach, and the attraction that he feels for Ella.  Each chapter is given a heading that summarises an aspect of life in Turon - The colour of rich, Climate change 101, The irony of beer - and each illuminates how the boys are feeling and what is going on in the town.
The themes of bullying by Patrick and his father who is a developer are handled sensitively and Jonah manages to work out a way that stops some of the more sinister intimidation that is going on.
There is everything in this novel that will appeal to teens - it is a believable and captivating look at the life that many will recognise - from kids being harassed at school, with developers taking over an area for rich people who no vested interest in keeping the town alive, parties on the beach and good friends looking out for each other. It would make for a great class novel or literature circle book for older teens, giving the opportunity not only to discuss issues around development, but also bullying, drugs and alcohol and coping with broken families.
Pat Pledger

Julius Zebra: Bundle with the Britons by Gary Northfield

Julius Zebra series. Walker Books, 2016. ISBN 9781406354935
(Age: 8+) Recommended. Champion gladiator Julius Zebra returns in another crazy outing with his zany friends. Life for the People's Champion should be exciting; everybody loves the zebra, he's even asked for hoof print autographs in the muddy streets of Rome. Emperor Hadrian has promised Julius freedom after his last fight at the Colosseum, unfortunately, they are not going on holidays, and they have one more task to complete. Julius is excited about the upcoming holibobs, while Felix is keen to add to his extensive rock collection and Rufus the giraffe is ready for a relaxing fishing holiday. They must travel on a stinky sailing ship all the way to Britannia and fight another tournament.
Septimus is a hard taskmaster on board and the animals are forced to scrub the decks daily and sleep in hammocks inside the stinky hold. An attempt to dress in chainmail and escape the confines of the ship leads to an hilariously incident that requires the rescue of the crocodile, warthog, giraffe, lion and antelope
Life in Roman Britain proves fraught with danger, the smelly streets of Londinium treacherous and their holiday home a hovel near the small amphitheatre.
Each of the animals are quirky characters who are drawn together in difficult circumstances, unaware that their opponents are mean fighting machines.
Gary Northfield's hilarious cartoons highlight Julius's and his friends' struggles with life in an unknown land, as they prepare to face new combatants in the arena. The animals' irreverent dialogue is sharp, witty and sarcastic. This is another laugh out loud story, with plenty of jokes, gags and puns. These stories combine facts about Ancient Rome life with humorous scenes and silly animal antics.
Recommended for readers from 8+
Rhyllis Bignell

The truth according to Arthur: A funny book about fibbing by Tim Hopgood

Ill. by David Tazzyman. Bloomsbury, 2016. ISBN 9781408864982
(Ages: 4 - 7) Recommended. Honesty. The Truth is personified and given the physical form of a grey blob in this story, which means that what Arthur does to The Truth can be concretely illustrated. This is a clever visual way to talk to children about lying and truth, as we see Arthur bend, stretch, cover up, disguise, hide and ignore The Truth. Unsurprisingly, no matter what Arthur does, The Truth just keeps following him around, so he faces The Truth, and tells his mum 'I did it'. Arthur and The Truth are then illustrated sitting side by side, best of friends again.
The truth, told in a matter of fact manner, is that Arthur rode his big brother's bike without permission, lost control of it, and damaged the bike and his mum's car. These are issues that will resonate with young children: using something that isn't yours, accidentally damaging something, and not being brave enough to face the truth straight away for fear of the repercussions. Parents and teachers are often telling children that the consequences of not telling the truth are worse than owning up to what you have done, and this is emphasised here. When Arthur tells his mum the truth she is not happy about the damage but is pleased that he has told the truth. The visual aspects of the story are fantastic. Even the stories that Arthur invents to explain the damage are given a visual presence, providing levity and humour.
This will be a useful resource for classrooms and parents for discussing and emphasising the importance of being best friends with The Truth!
Nicole Nelson

My brother by Dee, Oliver and Tiffany Huxley

Working Title Press, 2016. ISBN 9781921504853
(Age: 8+) Highly recommended. Grief and loss. Death. Siblings. The opening double page shows an animal sitting alone at a table, telling the reader how he misses his brother and how lost he is without him, then the eyes are naturally drawn to the illustrations. Astute eyes will take in the pair of overcoats and Wellington boots beneath, and know that the brother is missing. He determines to find him, setting out into the world beyond his little house, a duck as his companion.
The pair search the places his brother liked to go, they search high and low, lovely places, scary places, over here and over there, for days and nights, until he is so tired, he must lie down and sleep.
The stunning sepia illustrations reflect the despair the creature is feeling at the loss of his brother. Each page reflects the strange world he is searching: a clock with its cat and mouse, a city by the sea, through medieval places, animals drinking by an African river, the view from a balloon, and so on. Each illustration will attract the attention of the reader eager to take in their fantastic complexity.
As the creature wakes, more colour appears on the page, and he comes to acknowledge that although his brother is gone, he is everywhere in his memories of what they did together.
This is a stunning story of acceptance: of overcoming grief, of memory keeping that person alive. Time passes as the moon waxes and wanes, and the clock strikes, and the creature climbs a never ending staircase. But in the end the memory of what he and his brother did together beings the sun back into his life.
For middle primary people this will initiate discussions of grief and loss, of acceptance and the passing of time.
Fran Knight

Anders and the volcano by Gregory Mackay

Allen and Unwin, 2016. ISBN 9781760290030
(Ages: 7+) Graphic Novel. Anders and his trusty flying beetle Skip return from their first adventure in Anders and the comet to engage in another imaginative story while on a camping holiday near an extinct volcano. He travels with friends Bernie and Eden and his family during the school holidays, meeting up with Veronica who also has a flying beetle. Anders and new girl Veronica enjoy some flying time together before meeting up at the same camp site destination. Bernie and Eden soon find pet beetles as well, but Bernie's is a reluctant flier, showing a preference for swimming. This becomes problematic later when the friends find themselves in a tricky situation with limited time to react.
Anders is a positive role model of how to support, interact and build friendships. His actions and the words he uses with others show a maturity beyond his years. It is refreshing to see his unconditional acceptance of the choices his friends make, for instance when Bernie supports his new beetle Lump when the others go flying. Anders is inclusive of others and encourages new friendships with the people he meets on his holiday travels.
The black and white graphic novel incorporates explicit learning moments on the nature of volcanoes during the story as well as in a short appendix about how volcanoes form. The story is broken up into chapters and presents an easy read for younger readers who are just beginning the journey into graphic novels.
Annette Mesecke

A brief take on the Australian novel by Jean-Francois Vernay

Wakefield Press, 2016. ISBN 9781743054048
(Age: Senior secondary - adult) Recommended. Do you know who wrote Australia's first novel? Or who wrote the first Aboriginal novel? A brief take on the Australian novel will give you the answers to these questions whilst providing a chronological panorama of Australian literature from its birth in the colonial novels of the 1830's to the novels of today.
Author Jean-Francois Vernay traces the influences of the colonial period, the colonial romance, feminine writing, the emergence of the national consciousness, the impact of war, modernism, realism, and so on. The historical perspective is supplemented by some 'close-ups' or summaries of the works of particular authors, or particular issues. Vernay borrows from the vocabulary of cinema with inserted 'close-ups' and 'low-angle shots' in his panoramic scan to give greater detail to subjects that warrant it.
I enjoyed reading about the literary and identity frauds, as well as the discussion of Aboriginal ownership and issues of protocols, though I don't wholly agree with his conclusions. I expect other readers will find their own points of interest that draw them in along the way.
It is interesting to read this well crafted perspective of the Australian novel, though it may at times leave you wanting more. It is, after all, only a 'brief take', useful for providing a general overview and context for the Australian novel, highlighting themes and issues that could provoke further exploration.
Vernay provides some 'special features' at the end - discussions of Patrick White and Christopher Koch, and a short history of Australian publishing. There are also supplementary timelines of literary milestones, and of writers' birthdates, along with a bibliography, sitography and index - all in all, making for a very useful tool to guide further research.
Helen Eddy

My perfect pup by Sue Walker

Ill. by Anil Tortop. New Frontier Publishing, 2016. ISBN 9781925059601
(Age: 4+) Dogs. Pets. Choice. Responsibility. A tiny dog sits patiently in the pet shop waiting for someone to choose him. Two children arrive on their tandem, wanting a dog. Milly wants a dog to brush and preen and primp, and Max wants a dog that will learn tricks. They take home the little dog and call it Tiny, but Tiny resists the things the children want him to do, and he grows to be anything but tiny. So one day they return him to the shop! Tiny now waits for the perfect owner. And sure enough the perfect owner appears, loving Tiny for what he is.
This story shows readers that one size does not fit all, a dog that the children thought would be just what they wanted, turned out to be far from their dreams. The book teaches the reader that there is more to appearance when it comes to choosing an animal or friend. They will see from the story that there is a particular animal that will suit them, and they must choose wisely.
The illustrations add a level of humour to the story, showing Tiny as he goes from being a quiet, attentive little dog in the shop, to growing to be a big fluffy dog at home and readers will laugh out loud at his change, as they will when looking at the array of people who come into the shop looking for a dog to buy.
This is perhaps a gentle reminder that there is more to buying an animal than meets the eye and could be taken further in talking about choices we make in life.
Fran Knight

Out by Angela May George

Ill. by Owen Swan. Scholastic, 2016. ISBN 9781743629000
(Age: all) Highly recommended. Refugees, Asylum seekers, War, Freedom. The young girl in this moving book tells us her story. She and her mother must flee their country which is at war. Men come with guns and she and her mother hide beneath piles of clothing, and then are able to get on a boat to a new life. On the boat her mother catches a fish hanging a line over the side. In Australia they live with a friend they met on the boat and the girl goes to school where loud noises still upset her. They build a new life and wait for her father to join them. She now feels safe and free.
This simple elegantly told story of the many people who have come to Australia, has a deceptively simple text telling the reader all they need to know, that here is a child who is asking for help. She is not 'asylum seeker' or 'refugee' but has a name and an individual story to tell. This book asks readers to look behind the rhetoric of hate and to see the real stories of the real people who come to our shores.
The title of the book will encourage discussion amongst the readers, looking at the layer of meanings behind the word, Out. It could mean being forced to leave as well as reflecting some of the hate of a few racists who call for refugees to be kicked out.
A book to promote understanding, the illustrations by Swan will remain with the reader, paralleling the discussion about this young girl. Done in quiet, unassuming grey wash watercolour and pencil, the girl's yellow ribbon forms a sharp contrast throughout the story as it is her ribbon on the boat, a ribbon on her backpack, a ribbon used in a string game. The yellow shines out as a beacon of hope for this young girl and her mother. Published to coincide with National Refugee Week (usually the last week in June) this book has a place in all libraries and classrooms.
Fran Knight

This school is driving me nuts! and other funny plays for kids by Duncan Ball

Christmas Press, 2016. ISBN 9780994234032
(Age: All) Highly recommended. This School is Driving Me Nuts! is a great selection of plays for fun reading on your own and in the classroom with a group. Readers can read through the Perils of Prince Percy of Pomegranate or solve the crime in Muckup at Murder Mansion. The plays are for larger groups as well as smaller groups but also cater for those two outgoing and overacting students with the two man show Sam Shovel's Greatest Case. Do you have a soloist? Try the monologue This School is Driving Me Nuts! There is an excellent variety of funny plays, using easy to read, descriptive language. It will challenge students to use expression, improve fluency and develop speaking confidence. The topics will appeal to readers aged 9+; from princes to vampires and a rhyming sidekick. Independent readers will enjoy reading the plays as standalone texts. It is excellent for those readers who aren't too keen on reading a whole novel, allowing them to continue developing their vocabulary. Highly recommended for all age groups.
Kylie Kempster

Tom Gates: Super good skills (Almost) by Liz Pichon

Tom Gates series. Scholastic, 2016. ISBN 9781760152659
(Age: 8+) Recommended. Liz Pichon's award winning Tom Gates series returns for the tenth hilarious instalment. Tom's uniquely irreverent style shown in both words and cartoons captures the dramas of the last day of school and the highs and lows of the family holiday adventure. Doodling is Tom's way of expressing his feelings and making light of the world around him.
School life for Tom revolves mostly around his friends with the occasional interruption of class time. At break time for Tom and his friends the most important discussion focuses on what kind of Alien Snacks need to be served at DOGZOMBIES band practice. There is also a chance for the reader to create an alternative snack as well, plenty of room for doodling - sausage and sock flavour or salt and onion shells. Mr Fullerman their class teacher hands out plenty of unfinished work that needs completing over the holiday break. Of course, Tom's mind starts creating the most unusual excuses for not completing the assignment. On the last day of school it's casual clothes day and Tom creatively transforms his and Derek's sports t-shirts into colourful band shirts. A prize of a massive pad of sticky notes gives Tom some wonderful opportunities to prank Marcus and his sister.
The family holiday to the Pine Tree Riviera is fraught with rainy weather, leaky accommodation, Tom's limited wardrobe and problems with older sister Delia and her best friend Avril. Poor Tom is forced to wear a garbage bag raincoat because Mum forgot to pack enough clothes.
Tom Gates Super Good Skills (Almost) is filled with puzzles, doodles, drawing tips and creative opportunities. Liz Pichon understands her reading audience: they enjoy the balance of an easy to read story with plenty of chances to add their own drawings. Her fans love to follow Tom's hilarious life - there is always something happening, even school lunches can be exciting!
Rhyllis Bignell

EJ shines by Susannah McFarlane

EJ12 Girl Hero bk 21. Scholastic, 2016. ISBN 9781925206043
(Age: 8 - 10) Recommended. Themes: Birthdays, Spies, Codes and Ciphers, The Great Barrier Reef, Adventures. Emma Jacks returns in her final EJ12 mission, and with her twelfth birthday approaching she has one final assignment to complete. This we discover is her most important adventure, she needs to rescue A1 the SHINE Agency leader and shut down the cruel, animal testing laboratory run by the evil SHADOW Agency.
This novel delivers all the excitement the fans have come to expect. Emma's reliance on her friends and their different skills, her code and cipher cracking abilities, her special charm bracelets, amazing travel destinations, creative transport solutions and of course her ability to think quickly and strategically.
What will life be like for Emma when she turns twelve? She will qualify for a new spy division - EJ14 - and after the holidays there will be a new school with different challenges, but luckily her best friends will be there for her.
On the last day of school, of course, there is just time for one super-charged mission and only EJ12 is contacted. A1 has mysteriously disappeared; her last known sighting was in the global beauty company laboratory at S.INC, an organisation reputed to carry out animal testing for anti-aging products. Her fellow agents join her to infiltrate the laboratory disguised as models and they discover SHADOW has established a hidden testing and collection facility in the outer Great Barrier Reef. A rare deep-sea fish the Black Sea Devil produces eggs with special anti-aging qualities. With the amazing assistance of some special dolphins, an undersea adventure in a mini-submarine and a hot air-balloon ride, EJ12's exploits are exciting and enthralling. Emma's ingenuity and quick thinking combined with the special party popper charm on her bracelet finally foil the plans of the evil Z mastermind of SHADOW.
Susannah McFarlane's successful EJ12 series ends with a promise of even more thrilling adventures to come, as Emma embraces her life as a teenager.
Recommended for readers from 8-10 years of age.
Rhyllis Bignell

Julius and the soulcatcher by Tim Hehir

Text Publishing, 2016. ISBN 9781925240177
(Age: 12+) Highly recommended. Charles Darwin. Orchids. Diaries. Victorian England. Steampunk. Botany. Time travel. Charles Darwin's diary holds the key to the next enthralling Watchmaker novel Julius and the soulcatcher. It is 1838 and orchid mania is sweeping across London, everyone is keen to acquire a soulcatcher orchid with its invasive tendrils and purpose to take the souls of its hosts - animals or people. Apprentice watchmaker Julius Caesar Higgins and his accomplice orphan Emily are once again embroiled in another multi-layered mystery, chased by evil body snatchers and mastermind Mr Tock. Where are the orchids being propagated and why do they need blood and bone fertiliser? Hehir brings the darker side of London to life, fast cab rides through darkened streets, a bare-knuckle fight, rooftop escapes and the frightening Animal House of Lord Bloomingbury. His close attention to detail is evident, from the shops, drawing rooms, the orphanage kitchen, everyday items to the historic events and figures, even using the vernacular of the day, all add to the richness of this narrative.
The cover draws the reader into the story, here Abigail the giant prayingmantis-like figure made from razors, kitchen knives and pocket watch casing eyes stretches as a silhouette reaching menacingly for Julius, Emily and their mentor Mr Flynn. Between the time loop and time-jump, using the special power of the pocket watch that leads to a strange sojourn in Brazil to the source of the soulcatcher orchids, there is also time for Julius to search for his lost family.
Julius and the soulcatcher delivers a rich, multilayered narrative with relatable characters, fast-paced action, 19th century technology and designs and unique alternate worlds in this science fiction fantasy. Julius and the watch-maker has also been published with a re-imaged cover, here the eye-catching silhouette of the watch-maker looms large over Julius as he escapes from the malevolent forces preparing for war.
Rhyllis Bignell

Unrivaled by Alyson Noel

A beautiful idols novel. Katherine Tegen Books, Harper Collins; 2016. ISBN 9780062496744
(Age: 15+) This is a dramatic mystery involving a number of aspirational young people who get involved in a competition because of their ambitions to get ahead. The competition arena is the Nightclub scene in Hollywood which is under the rule and authority of a somewhat questionable, yet successful owner who proves to be conniving and manipulative in subtle ways. The lives of these young aspirants get woven into the story of another young person who is already at the top of the ladder and her career as a famous Hollywood actress. Are they all just pawns in a bigger game, or are they unwittingly being used to hide a major crime? Relationships and desires get twisted and strained as the wealthy Hollywood and attention-seeking world of fame and fortune infiltrates like a snake among the grass into the motivations of the young competitors. Their lives become wrapped cruelly into the Nightclub owner's world (or is it Hollywood's world?) of using people for his own benefit. Along the journey, the young people confront the after dark pleasure-seeking and drug culture, their own moral and sexual choices are stretched, the power of social media is revealed and we see the lure of money manipulating and corrupting.
Because this is so like a television-mating between episodes of The Apprentice and a LA Crime drama, it will be enjoyed by the television generation. The blurb implies that those who have enjoyed Pretty little liars, a sexy Teen drama, will also enjoy this book. It is not something to recommend highly, but the mystery does engage the reader, even as the lifestyle of the rich and famous is revealed in all its self-centred ugliness despite the facade of beauty and pleasure. It is obviously the first of a series, as the central mystery is not solved by the end of the book, and as in a television crime drama series it leaves the reader hanging slightly unsatisfied at the end of the novel. Noel has written a novel that wears high heels and designer clothes and lines up outside Hollywood Nightclubs hoping to get attention and entry into the higher echelons of the fame world.
Carolyn Hull