Harper Collins, 2015. ISBN 9780007563067
(Age: 13+) In a post-apocalyptic world set hundreds of years in the
future, all births are twins, one an Omega always with a deformity,
limbless or worse, and an Alpha, a normal desirable twin. When one
twin dies the other will also die no matter the distance or
lifestyle they are leading at the time. The story starts with twins
Cassandra the Omega and Zach the Alpha. Normally separated at birth
Cassandra has hidden her ability to see into the future, creating
the two twin as outcastes by others because they can't tell who the
Alpha twin is. When they finally are split from each other Cassandra
is sent to live with other Omegas while Zach decides to work for the
Council where he starts his climb up the corporate ladder. Cassandra
is kidnapped and locked into a cell where she is interrogated on how
strong her skills really are. She finally escapes the cell only to
find a room full of tanks with Omegas suspended in a liquid. One of
the tanks holds a boy who makes eye contact with her. She rescues
Kip by breaking the tank and together they escape for a mysterious
island where Omegas are treated not like outcastes and Alphas are
desperate to find them. The power to change the world lies in both
Cass and Zach's hands but if they are not careful both will die in
the struggle for power.
Francesca Haig has built a bleak and troubled world based on fear
and prejudice. Her characters feel fear, insecurity and are not born
equipped to wage war, but when push comes to shove, and the heart is
involved heroes rise, take risks and learn to believe in the
possibility of a better world for everyone. The story is fast paced
and quite easy to follow along with. If the reader likes The
Hunger Games and The Maze Runner they will enjoy this
first book of the series.
Jody Holmes
Eve and the Fiery Phoenix by Jess Black
Keeper of the Crystals series. New Frontier Publishing, 2015.
ISBN 9781925059441
(Age: 7+) Themes: Fantasy adventure; Environmental concerns. This is
the second in the Keeper of the Crystals series and the
young central characters Eve and Oscar are again magically drawn
into a rescue adventure. This time they need to rescue the fiery
phoenix and rescue the jungle land of Griffid from destruction due
to darkness. The magic is gentle and Eve displays the ability of
hearing the Phoenix's calls for help. The rescue is exciting, but
without anxiety-inducing detail. The children display clever
solutions to the problems they face.
This is an entry level fantasy adventure for young readers wanting
something more exciting from an early chapter book. Teachers may
also appreciate this series for its 'read-aloud' potential. There
are nine short chapters, which could be read to children in years
1-3 over a short time. References to environmental issues might also
raise discussion about our own world's dependence on the sun for our
survival.
Carolyn Hull
The boy, the bear, the baron and the bard and other dramatic tales by Gregory Rogers
Allen and Unwin, 2015. ISBN 9781760112394 (Age: 4+) Highly recommended. Historical, Elizabethan times,
Shakespeare, Medieval knights, Wordless picture book. Gregory
Roger's award winning picture books, The boy, the bear, the
baron and the bard, Midsummer knight and The hero
of Little Street, are offered together in one volume for his
fans and devotees and will attract a new range of readers as
children are introduced to these breathtaking wordless picture
books.
I loved rereading them, recalling discussions with classes in the
past, filling in the detail of Elizabethan England while watching
the boy escape from William Shakespeare. The first story brims over
with enthusiasm for that time in history and children will adore
finding small images which will engender so many more questions,
adding to their historical knowledge. All the trappings of
Elizabethan London are there: bear baiting, the Globe Theatre and
the others on the south side of The Thames, the Queen and her barge
on the river, the man in the tower waiting execution, monkeys in the
street, fashion, housing and so on, a whole world to enjoy as the
boy escapes the Bard's chase.
And with the next story in this mesmerising volume, Midsummer
knight, again held my attention, continuing the story of Bear
and his foray into the castle in the middle of the forest where he
rescues a queen from the dungeons and overcomes her enemies,
restoring her to the throne. Again the detail is glorious; the
background superb in presenting before a young audience the times of
castles and knights, of queens and dungeons, of power struggles.
Bear has been lured into the forest by Puck, the fairy from A
Midsummer knight's dream, and so readers will love deciding to
what extent this is Bear's dream.
The same boy appears in the last story, The hero of Little
Street, where he plays in Trafalgar Square before going into
the National Gallery. Here he falls into a Vermeer panting and lands
in seventeenth century Amsterdam, where he is chased by a pack of
dogs. All the excitement of the chase is there as he evades his
pursuers only to have one follow him out of the painting at the end
with hilarious results. The lustrous illustrations reveal Amsterdam
of the times, and readers will love picking out breadth of the
detail Rogers includes. Historical illustration at its best, I have
enjoyed rereading them immensely and I'm sure new readers and old
will as well.
Fran Knight
Seahorse by Bruce Pascoe
Magabala Books, 2015. ISBN 9781921248931
(Age: 8+) Recommended. Themes: Fishing, Family Life, Boating,
Mysteries, Adventure. Jack's family, dad Vince, mum Carla and sister
Tania love to spend time camping, fishing, diving and exploring
Seahorse Bay. Carla is content to sit on the rocks, catching fish
for their tea while Vince dives out on the ocean side of the reef
looking for crayfish. Eight year old Tania is ready to practise her
snorkelling skills, ably looked after by her big brother as they
search for abalone on the rocks. They love their time spent together
in this idyllic setting, however, things change when Jack discovers
a deliberately sunken boat nearby. Who is the man dressed in black,
watching them with binoculars, from a hiding spot at the top of the
cliffs?
Father and son decide to salvage the boat after checking with the
local police officer. Jack rescues a little seahorse caught in the
cabin and that's how the boat is named. Mum notices the mysterious
man and his old rusty Falcon hanging around. The family is even
threatened and forced to take the bloke into town. With the help of
the police, the mystery is resolved and Jack, his parents and sister
Tania are free to take the repaired boat exploring the nearby
islands and coves around Seahorse Bay.
Bruce Pascoe's narrative is rich in description, interwoven with
historical facts about Aboriginal life in the region. There's the
story of an escaped convict who settled down with an aboriginal wife
to a resilient life on the coast, and many Tasmanian descendants can
be traced back to them. He shares his love of fishing and outdoor
activities in Jack's story. This junior novel is suited for readers
with a higher interest age and lower reading age.
Rhyllis Bignell
The good girls by Sara Shepard
Hot Key Books, 2015. ISBN 9781471404320
(Age: 16+) Themes: Murder-mystery genre; Relationships; Trust;
Teen-age drama; Bullying. A coterie of 'perfect girls', while in a
Film Studies class in a Washington suburban High School, create a
list of a number of people who they believe deserve to die. When
these same people begin to be killed in exactly the circumstances
described in the 'wish list' the 'good girls' are thrust into a
psychological thriller and become afraid that they are responsible.
Trust and relationships are stretched and tortured as more of their
complex lives and affiliations are revealed to the world. With
interesting twists and boyfriend/girlfriend and other teenage issues
coming to the fore, this book feels like a novelisation of a Teenage
Chick-flick Murder-Drama or Soap Opera. The family lives of the main
characters cover an array of 21st Century dramas - loss of a
sibling, loss of a parent; same sex parents, step-parent dilemmas,
parent in jail, hoarding; and amongst the teenagers and their
classmates - suicide, bullying, sexual exploitation, psychological
abuse, competitiveness, under-age drinking and partying are also
part of the dramatic background within the narrative. When these are
listed, it becomes obvious that perhaps the author has tried too
hard to weave all of these personal trials into the one
murder-mystery. The solution to the mystery is worth waiting for!
Not great literature and not unreservedly recommended, but it will
be read by the television generation (Sara Shepard is the author of
Pretty Little Liars) and those who like the Teen
'Chick-flick-style' Murder-mystery genre - Aged 16+ .
Carolyn Hull
The marriage of opposites by Alice Hoffman
Scribner, 2015. ISBN 9781471112102
(Age: Adult/young adult) Recommended. Alice Hoffman is a highly
successful author with more than thirty works in her manifest. In The
Marriage of Opposites Hoffman paints her perspective on the
family life of Rachel Pomie and her son Camille Pissarro. Camille
Pissarro helped introduce the world to Impressionist painting and is
widely viewed, along with Claude Monet and others, as one of the
shapers of Impressionism.
Hoffman's impression of Pissarro's family focuses attention on
Pissaro's mother - her rebellious childhood, her forbidden love, two
marriages, and her life on the Island of St Thomas. However through
Hoffman's study of Rachel, the reader begins to understand the man
Camille, his journey, and what led him to become the great painter
widely recognised today as the Father of Impressionism.
Rachel Pomie began her life on the island of St Thomas. Her
grandparents had fled to the New World from France during the
Inquisition. Finally in 1754 after the King of Denmark passed an
edict allowing Jews to do business with non-Jews, Rachel's parents
arrived on the colourful Island of St Thomas, Island of Turtles. It
was here that Rachel grew up and where she married Camille's father,
Frederic. Rachel and her best friend Jestine, the daughter of her
mother's maid, roamed the jungles on the island, dreamed dreams and
watched for turtles and pelicans. Yet Rachel always longed for
Paris, the city of her ancestors. A city she had not experienced . .
. a city that seemed to elude her.
Hoffman's attention to detail is both astounding and captivating.
For readers who like to lose themselves inside the poetry of
storytelling, this novel is a must. Her prose is flecked with
folklore and colour - from the vibrant environment of St Thomas, to
the neutrals of the Paris winters. Throughout, there is the intrigue
of family secrets kept dark, rebellion against beliefs and rules
held by a small Jewish island community, and the overwhelming desire
to travel abroad. This novel is a must for adults who enjoy a
lyrical narrative and their fiction spiced with historical elements.
Colleen Tuovinen
Fearless with my Dad by Cori Brooke
New Frontier Publishing, 2015. ISBN 9781925059403
(Age: 6+) Highly recommended. Fearless with my Dad is a
beautiful picture book, following a young boy and his dad. Together
they are pirates, flying like an eagle and travelling to the moon.
The underlying theme is a child can be anything and do anything as
long as they have their dad there to support them.
The beautifully illustrated text will engage younger readers and
encourage new vocabulary as children and their carers discuss all
the amazing adventures of this boy and his dad. Older readers could
create their own version and the main character could be changed to
a girl.
It would make a great gift for a father on Father's Day - no matter
their age - but would be a great gift for a first time dad.
Highly recommended for all readers - whether they read it
independently (aged 6+) or with a parent.
Kylie Kempster
Something's amiss at the Zoo by Jen Breach
Lothian Children's Books, 2015. ISBN 9780734416223
The zookeepers at this crazy, mixed-up zoo really don't seem to know
what's best for their animals. Who ever heard of Kitty Litter for
Catfish?
Could a shark be happy in a tiny jungle pool? Does a spider monkey
really want to eat flies and spin a web? And, LOOK OUT elephant
beetle! Look out for the elephants!
The expressions on the faces of the animals on this book's front
cover can only leave the reader wondering what COULD be amiss at
this zoo.
Happily a small, clever boy comes and helps to salvage the situation
for the bewildered zoo animals, so they can all reside happily.
This amusing, beautifully illustrated book is sure to appeal to
younger readers.
J. Smith
Birdy by Jess Vallance
Hot Key Books, 2015. ISBN 9781471404665
(Ages: 14+) Some strong language. 'Frances Bird has been a loner for
so long that she's given up on ever finding real friendship. But
then she's asked to show a new girl around school, and she begins to
think her luck could finally be changing. Eccentric, talkative and
just a little bit posh, Alberta is not at all how Frances imagined a
best friend could be. But the two girls click immediately, and it's
not long before they are inseparable. Frances could not be happier.
As the weeks go on, Frances finds out more about her new best friend
- her past, her secrets, her plans for the future - and she starts
to examine their friendship more closely, is it, perhaps, just too
good to be true?' (Publisher)
An interesting read. The protagonist is very snarky and sarcastic,
much like many teens today, appealing to the audience greatly.
Vallance shows true friendship with all the tension and problems
that take place in school. Throughout the whole of the novel the
suspense made me want to keep reading and not put it down just so I
could know why Frances Bird had to write it down. A great read for
anyone that loves a bit of dark, moodiness and a creep factor in
their life.
Cecilia Richards
The Rapunzel dilemma by Jennifer Kloester
Penguin Books, 2014. ISBN 9780143571087
(Ages: 12+) Modern interpretations of familiar fairy tales can be
fascinating to read. I recall those of Robin McKinley and Gail
Carson Levine - cleverly told with a touch of something magical,
which stays with the reader long after the story has been read.
Jennifer Kloester's modern day version of Rapunzel (a
companion novel to The Cinderella Moment) lacks the skilled
approach, which brings the fairy tale to the fore. Rich girl, Lily,
longs to join the London Drama Academy, and when successful for a
trial period, meets fellow students who do not believe that she has
been granted a place entirely due to her talents. Ronan Carver, a
talented but mysterious art student, seems to understand her. They
begin meeting in the old tower room, which was previously providing
a haven for her. Now her world is split between her drama studies
and her love for Ronan, and real life is very different from being
on stage. The author is said to have been inspired by the stories of
Georgette Heyer - but I can't help thinking that the influence of
other historical romances has made this novel rather light and
silly, relying heavily on teenage angst and envy. The Rapunzel
Dilemma is readable and gives some insight to life in a
competitive world for aspiring youngsters but it lacks a strong and
contemporary storyline.
Julie Wells
Suri's wall by Lucy Estela
Ill. by Matt Ottley. Penguin, 2015. ISBN 9780670077755
(Age: 7+) Recommended. Resilience. Determination. Children in war.
Belief. Measuring her height against the wall Suri is surprised to
find that she can now see over the top. The children come to her
eager to see what she sees, forgetting their differences. She
describes the rolling hills, the golden bridge, the harbour filled
with ships, one resplendent with its red sails and ornate carvings.
Ottley has given this story of children in war an historical look:
the ships are galleons, the people dressed in Medieval garb, buffalo
pull large carts of grain, encouraging the reader to think about the
timelessness of the impact of war on children.
Questions will keep popping into readers' mouths as they survey the
scene Suri describes, asking when the story is set, where the
children are, why they are in such a place, where are their parents
and so on. Readers will accept what Suri sees but the last image of
a war torn city and sunken ships will encourage readers to view the
whole story from a different perspective and turn to the start of
the book and reread it.
The character of Suri rejected at first because she is so tall, is
now a necessary part of the children's days as she describes what is
over the wall. Their belief in her stories keeps them hopeful
reflecting what people do all over the world, to keep children safe
from the vicissitudes of life during war.
Each question will raise others and so groups of children reading
this book will widen their understanding of homeless children around
the world. Their view of the world is not the one so beautifully
described by Suri but a harsh cruel one reminiscent of the image
Suri really sees.
Each child in Ottley's illustrations is different, their bleak
situation, living in rows of dormitory beds, eating at a long table,
the browns and grays contrasting with the scene described by Suri,
serve to underline the predicament they are in and will further
endear them to the reader. Their faces will stay with the reader as
the book is closed.
Fran Knight
Harvey Drew and the Junk Skunks by Cas Lester
Hot Key Books, 2015. ISBN 9781471403347
(Age: 9+) Highly recommended. In the first few chapters of Harvey
Drew and the Junk Skunks, there is an explosion of toxic
slime, a hatching alien egg and the ship's cook/doctor announces
they are all going to die! Just another crazy day on this
intergalactic garbage collection ship called The Toxic Spew.
It is captained by 11 year old Earthling, Harvey Drew. No food means
time to panic as this motley crew start to feel the hunger and pain
of no food. Their plan is to head for a space store called Waitless.
On arrival at Waitless, the superstore, things don't seem quite
right. It looks like the store has been abandoned and in quite a
hurry! What is going on? Harvey Drew and the Junk Skunks is aimed at boys aged 9+ but
anyone who loves a giggle will enjoy reading this book. The text is
quick moving and full of gross stuff, making it appealing to
children. The use of nonsense words - such as spaghettification
which occurs when you travel through a black hole and other space
themed objects and events - will engage readers and encourage them
to keep reading. It is easy to read, the characters are hilarious
and the accompanying cartoon style images add to the hilarity.
Kylie Kempster
Three moments of an explosion. Stories by China Mieville
Macmillan, 2015. ISBN 9780230770188
(Ages:15 +) Obviously well known for his forays into speculative
fiction, China Mieville has written a fascinating and challenging
collection of short stories, beginning with the brief and startling
tale, which gives the collection its title. Each story entices the
reader to explore and deliberate but never to assume. He plays with
ideas, indeed teases the reader on a number of levels - things are
just not what they seem. With speculation, there is theorising, and
the revelation of abstract ideas. This collection of stories is
thought provoking and interesting but, at the same time, perplexing
and confronting. For these reasons the stories are limited in their
appeal to a young audience, probably attracting those already
converted to the genre. Some tales are so strange that their meaning
evades. The language is amazing; descriptions are stark and
observant even though the ideas testify to something strange and
elusive. Polynia and Sacken are two tales which stay
with me - low lying icebergs floating above London, and a lake which
has taken life without mercy. Extraordinary!
Julie Wells
Wesley Booth Super Sleuth by Adam Cece
Ill. by Michel Streich. Omnibus Books for Scholastic; 2015. ISBN
9781742991016
(Age: 8-12) Highly recommended. Themes: Mystery; Friendship; Family
and family breakdown. Adam Cece, a local South Australian author has
written a delightful tale for young readers aged 8-12. Wesley Booth
is an eccentric boy who is a self-proclaimed 'Super Sleuth' who
enthusiastically tells of his skills. His detective abilities rely
on an efficient system of recording clues and he relies on a
faithful side-kick to support him as he attempts to solve unusual
problems. His family are 'interesting'! His mother creates gift
baskets (with limited financial success), his geologist father tells
exceptionally lame Dad-jokes with a Rock theme and his older brother
is attempting to become a Rock Star (of the musical variety) with
extremely limited talent! Financial strain puts pressure on the
family, with the risk of a major rift, but this is not the main
drama of this story. Wesley (the legend in his own case book) is
surrounded by an equally peculiar friendship group, but their
harmony is disrupted when the new girl, Cassidy Strong arrives at
their school. Her competitive detective skills put Wesley at risk of
losing his Super Sleuth status, and a major crime spree at their
school puts them all into concentrated competitive sleuthing-mode at
the expense of their school work. A major explosion and a clever
revelation eventually lead to Wesley's restoration to the role of
'Super Sleuth' at school. However despite this success, we realise
that Wesley is far from self-aware, and is likely to get himself
into plenty of strife as he solves other people's problems.
This book contains more text than The Diary of a Wimpy Kid
series, but the humour is similar and will be enjoyed by many in the
target age group. The cartoon-style illustrations by Michel Streich
are scattered throughout the chapters, adding to the text, but not
dominating.
This can be highly recommended, and will be enjoyed for its
humourous view of life told from a child's perspective.
Carolyn Hull
Voicing the dead by Gary Crew
Ford Street, [2015]. ISBN 9781925272055
Gary Crew is known for his interest in confronting historical events
which form the basis for novels. In this tale, the author revisits a
topic covered in an earlier work, being the true story of the wreck
of the Charles Eaton on a reef in the Torres Strait in 1834.
A bold technique, described in the text as 'Lit tripping' enables
the narrator, 14 year old Jack Ireland, (the voice of the dead) to
time skip through centuries of literature, quoting passages to
better describe the terrifying events which befall the crew and
passengers from the vessel. Interestingly, whilst recounting events
from the past, the character references authors writing long after
his death, a style emphasising ghostly, tormented afterlife which
may confuse some readers in this overly long story.
In a similar break from tradition, Crew reveals in the initial pages
that the ship is wrecked and the crew and passengers are murdered by
head-hunters. Together with an orphaned toddler William D'Oyley,
ship's cabin boy Jack survives to tell his tale in a monstrously
edited version produced by a London publisher in 1845.
Having revealed the plot and conclusion, the author skilfully
entices the reader to accompany Jack from his appearance on the
vessel whilst loading in London to undertaking the arduous journey
to Tasmania where cargo and poor Irish orphans are delivered to
Hobart's docks. During the passage, Jack struggles to establish his
place in the ship, enjoying a privileged position as Captain's boy
which causes tension with the seamen as he tends to both his master
and the orphans who have endured grim suffering. Importantly, Jack
comes to hero worship the thoroughly decent and brave First Mate,
Mr. Clare, who will have great influence over the lad and the crew
following the wreck.
Sailing North, the vessel passes into the Torres Strait, heading for
Java when it strikes a reef, becoming so damaged that it has to be
abandoned. A range of curious circumstances concerning the order of
departure occur but the end result is that the passengers and most
of the crew save themselves by building rafts which are washed up on
shores inhabited by head-hunters.
The murderous savagery which follows is confronting and disturbing,
to the extent that whilst admiring Crew's capacity to move and
influence through words, I struggled to identify an appropriate
readership given that the novel lacks depth for senior literary
study. The plight of baby William, seeing his parents brutally
beaten and beheaded is awful, but just one element amongst many
hideous aspects which are sadly true. The passage of time should not
inure the reader to suffering, especially in works designed for
amusement and entertainment.
Rob Welsh
Editor's note: The publisher recommends it as Age 15+. Teacher's
notes are available.
