Walker, 2015. ISBN 9781406326499
(Age: 15+) Highly recommended. Adolescent. Love. Twins. Art. 2015
Michael L Printz award. Josette Frank Award for Younger Readers
(2015). ALA Top 10. Jude and Noah are twins and both are obsessed
with Art, Jude making wonderful sand sculptures and Noah constantly
drawing. They were incredibly close until a tragedy hit their family
and by the time they are 16, have drawn apart. Jude has been
accepted into a prestigious art school, while Noah who wasn't
accepted, has abandoned his art and joined the in crowd at a
different school. Then Jude meets a gorgeous boy and a famous
sculptor and gradually the real story of what has happened in their
lives comes to light. I'll give you the sun is a glowing story of loss, sibling
rivalry and family relationships set against a brilliant background
of art. The story is told in the two voices of the twins, Noah
recounting what has happened in the early years and Jude relating
what is happening in the present. Noah is 13 years old, constantly
seeing what is happening as pictures in his head and it is from him
that we learn about the family dynamics, the jealously between the
twins about their mother's attention and the sexual leanings of the
characters. Jude is 16 when she recounts what is happening and from
her we learn about the break in the family, her struggles with Noah
and what is happening in the family 2 years after the tragedy.
Binding the two stories together is the charismatic Oscar who Noah
meets when he is 13 and Jude falls in love with two years later and
the sculptor Guillermo, who undertakes to teach Jude how to sculpt.
With often funny dialogue, especially from Noah, Nelson's
heartbreaking prose sweeps the narrative along involving the reader
in the lives of the twins. The atmosphere of dedication to art that
comes from Noah, Jude and their mother is a central focus for the
reader who learns much about art and sculpture along the way. There
are mysteries too that intrigue - why is Noah not in the prestigious
school of art when he showed so much promise in the early pages of
the story, what happened to make the family fall apart and who is
the mysterious Ralph that the parrot next door talks about. Jandy
brings all to a satisfying and haunting conclusion.
This is a book that will remain stamped on my memory. Readers who
enjoy books by John Green, David Levithan, and Rainbow Rowell are
likely to enjoy this one.
Pat Pledger
Resonance by Celine Kiernan
Allen & Unwin, 2015. ISBN 9781743313084
(Age: 12+) Recommended. Fantasy, Dublin 1890's, Historical novel,
Angels. The theatre district of late nineteenth century Dublin is
the fascinating setting for this fantasy, steeped in the history of
the these times. Several young people are introduced early: Tina,
the theatre seamstress is loved by Joe, a street worker living with
the appalling Mickey, and a down at heel magician, lately travelled
from America to work at the theatre, Harry, become endeared to the
readers. We see their poverty, the demeaning circumstances of their
lives, their hand to mouth existence, being exploited by those
around them, all a neat contrast for what is to come. Through these
impoverished streets hunts a team of men from another sphere,
Immortals, on the prowl for something to tempt their ailing friend,
a morsel which will revive him. The hints about this reinvigoration
will make the reader's spine tingle as all sorts of possibilities
are hinted at. The paths of these two groups inevitably intersect,
and a carriage whisks the dying Joe away, Tina kidnapped as well but
with Harry finds a way to join them.
The description of the nineteenth century theatre scene in Dublin is
mesmerising as is the description of the poverty in the back
streets, along with the gangs, violence and crime. I really enjoyed
the first part of the book set in Dublin, but found the section set
in an icebound world more difficult to get my teeth into. But I kept
going, wanting to follow and know the fates of our protagonists. The
Immortals have taken their prey back to the castle to keep the angel
alive, so the story becomes one of cat and ouse as the trio will do
what they can to survive. The Immortals are an odd bunch, having
been in the castle for over two hundred years and as the story
proceeds, the reader will have all sorts of questions in their mind
about just who they are. They bizarrely need new people to entertain
them and the reader knows that those chosen for whatever reason to
be the entertainers may also have a short life. But Harry, the
American magician steals away in the coach as well and is outside
the thrall of the Immortals, bent on rescuing his new friends and
appalled at what the Immortals are doing to the captive angel. The
main characters I found most endearing, and their back stories
hinted at in the first part, are gradually revealed as their
survival becomes uppermost in the tale.
For fantasy lovers this is a treat, engaging characters, a slice of
strongly described reality in a finely tuned historical context then
a different world where angels are a reality.
Fran Knight
The darkest part of the forest by Holly Black
Orion Books, 2015. ISBN 9781780621739
(Age: 14 years+) Highly recommended. 'I am a knight. I am a
knight. I am a knight...'
In strange Fairfold, a prince sleeps in a glass coffin in the middle
of the forest. He had been there since forever, for as long as
anyone could remember. He was not human, but then again, not a lot
was in Fairfold.
Hazel and Ben were born into the strangeness of their hometown,
Fairfold, where tourists disappeared daily. Fairfold, where
residents knew spells and held charms. Fairfold, where humans and
fae coexist. Fairfold, where the prince in the glass coffin sleeps -
and they loved it, the prince especially. Whispering promises,
conjuring up tales, they had wished to free him as knight and bard,
but little did they know, their prince has something even more
dangerous lurking in his shadow.
Fanciful and whimsical, The darkest part of the forest
reinvents the beloved fairytales and adds a streak of the darkness
no folktale will be complete without, with characters that win your
heart and monsters that make you rethink saying your desires out
loud.
Black takes your inner child and flies you among the pages with her
detailed and wonderfully written tale of heroes and heartaches,
about family bonds, sacrifices and sorrow. This story leaps you off
cliffs in a rush of shocks that astound and clever twists that
leave one gasping, never a boring moment, you will be left out of
breath, completely taken by the peculiarity of Fairfold, as Hazel,
Ben, fae and humans band together and fight the evil of the dark
forest.
Clarissa Cornelius (Student)
Triple magic by Karen Wood
Trickstars series. Allen and Unwin, 2015. ISBN 9781743319055
(Age: 8+) Recommended. Horse riding. Magic. Family.
Perseverance. Ruby is one of three; one third of triplets who live
with their mother and grandfather. The girls imagine a life that is
more exciting than their poverty will allow. A chance discovery of a
trunk containing family secrets and magical influences leads them to
pursue adventurous trick riding on their gypsy horses and brighten
up a shared birthday. This is the first book in the Trickstars
series, and we see the story from Ruby's perspective. The traits of
each triplet are revealed early without taking over from the action.
Hints of struggles from the past and potential future threats in
combination with their new skills as trick riders will lead to
further adventures. This will be enjoyed by female readers aged 8+
and is written well for this age group.
Carolyn Hull
Soul print by Megan Miranda
Bloomsbury, 2015. ISBN 9781408855409
(Age: 13+) Recommended. 'I am Alina Chase - my soul is my own.'
Set in the near future, the world makes the amazing discovery of
souls. They can be accessed, they can be studied. Souls never die,
they get reborn into new bodies, new identities. But are they the
same person? Will they have the same likes, dislikes, same
interests, same fears? The studies say yes.
Alina is being held captive on an island, guards surrounding every
exit possible, with servants and caretakers who never stay for too long.
Her mother gone, her father dead, her whole life spent in boundaries
all because of one thing: her soul is June Calahan's, a notorious
criminal that nobody wants to have her history repeated, and so is
Alina's fate. But one day, she escapes, escapes with the help of
strangers and she finds herself in June's place - running, hiding
and finding the truth.
Gripping you tight and never letting you go, Miranda grabs your
shoulders and leaps with you off into a frenzy of action and
suspense. Readers will have no problem falling in love with the main
heroine as she struggles to prove to the world and herself that she
is her own identity, not a copy, not a soul, but Alina Chase. Dive
into this book of self identity, innocence and guilt, loss and new
love, chase the answers and hide from the lies. Twists and truths
that sends one gasping and riddles in desperate need of solving - Soul print does not disappoint.
Clarissa Cornelius (Student)
Dog and the lost leg by Carlee Yardley
Walker Books 2015. ISBN 9781925081084
(Age: 5-7) Dog was not feeling well. What could be wrong?
Then Dog's good friend, Fox, noticed that Dog was missing a leg! No
wonder Dog could not jiggle!
Dog tried all sorts of other legs as, together, the friends searched
for the missing leg and Fox tried, in vain, to cheer up his friend.
He was even offered an extra tail to try! But, dog was NOT happy.
Then, Fox had an idea...
Dog and Fox, and everyone else including the scenery in this very
appealing book, are patchwork, the kind your big sister might have
made.
And, thanks to clever Pip, Dog got a brand new leg, AND his jiggle
back.
A delightful story to captivate younger children.
J Kerr-Smith
The really old forest by Cecil Kim
Ill. by Elsa Huet. Ed. by Joy Cowley. Big & Small, 2015. ISBN
9781925186468
(Age: Yr 2+) Told in a series of letters between penpals Nicole in
Australia and Jack in England in the mid 80s, this is the story of
the preservation of the Millaa Millaa rainforest in Queensland.
Nicole tells Jack about the rainforest and its beauty, as well as
its importance to the economy of the local area as a source of
timber for furniture, ships and paper as well as the slash-and-burn
farmers who want the land to grow crops. But this is the dawning of
the 'green age' and environmentalists are agitating for the forest
to be protected as areas the size of 70 football pitches are being
destroyed every minute. Faraway in England, Jack is untouched by the
town's dependence on the trees and he investigates the importance of
the forest to the environment rather than the people, telling Nicole
of the enduring damage that destruction will cause. He really opens
Nicole's eyes. She wishes she could find a way that the rainforest,
the animals and the people could live happily together.
This is a wonderful way to introduce young students to the concept
of conservation and how there have to be and can be solutions that
are win/win for all the stakeholders, not just humans. In this case
the rainforest was added to UNESCO's World Natural Heritage list so
the story can also be a springboard to examining the work and value
of this organisation. It could also be the start of a compare and
contrast investigation as students study the forest in Nicole's time
and the impact of the UNESCO intervention.
While there is a plethora of books focusing on the characteristics
and value of rainforests (and this one has pages of facts at the
back), personalising the issues in a series of letters is a way that
will immediately engage students in the issue and encourage them to
think, discuss and debate. A useful addition to the collection and a
great support to the sustainability cross-curriculum priority.
Barbara Braxton
Summertime, all the cats are bored by Philippe Georget
Translated by Steven Rendall. Gilles Sebag bk 1. Europa,
2013. ISBN 9781609451219
(Age: Senior secondary-Adult) Recommended. Mystery. Detectives.
France. SNCF Crime Fiction Prize, City of Lens First Crime Novel
Prize. Translated from the French language. When a young Dutch woman
is found murdered near a campground, and another is kidnapped,
Inspector Gilles Sebag is set the task of finding the perpetrators.
He finds himself in the middle of a deadly game, where the kidnapper
sends the police clues and asks for him by name.
This is an intriguing crime story made particularly interesting as
it has quite a few mysteries for Sebag and an enterprising reader to
solve. First of all who murdered the young Dutch woman and what is
her relationship to the old widow, Robert, who found her body? Then
who is the clever person who has kidnapped the unfortunate young
woman and keeps her imprisoned? And then too, is Sebag's wife having
an affair or not? Sebag appears to be disillusioned with his job,
often arriving late to work and content to have had his career put
on hold because of something he had done in his early years in the
police force. However, he is clever and once he decides to really
investigate, is a determined yet flawed detective.
Set on the French Mediterranean, the author vividly describes the
French countryside and the lifestyle that Sebag and his family have
in a way that makes the reader feel as if the place is familiar.
Family relationships also play an important part in the story. Sebag
feels he is losing grip of his children as they go their separate
ways for the summer holidays, and his wife has chosen to take a
Mediterranean cruise without him.
Well-paced, exciting and often frightening, this is well worth the
read for mystery lovers and I will be sure to hunt up the second in
the series, Autumn, all the cats return.
Pat Pledger
Ducks to water by Brett Avison
Ill. by Janine Dawson. Five Mile Press, 2015. ISBN 9781760066062
(Ages: 2-7) The product of a New Zealand author and Sydney-based
illustrator, Ducks to water is the fourth book in the Bigger
Digger series (others are Stuck in the muck, Pigs
might fly and A bigger digger). The verse is engaging
and fun to read aloud. The illustrations are bright and colourful
and the rural setting has an Australian farm feel. There was just
one thing that bothered me and it is the use of the word 'dumb' to
describe the ducklings who think Oscar the dog is their mum. It
seems an inappropriate word to use in a picture book for young
children, who are usually discouraged from its use. It is a shame as
the rest of the rhyming verse is incredibly enjoyable. The narrative
itself is fun and fast-paced. Young Bryn and his dog follow the
quacks, to find the ducks have no water in their pond. They enlist
Ted and Ken to help fix the problem and afterwards they are all,
human and ducks, able to enjoy the water. There is also the
humourous side story of the ducklings hatching and thinking the dog
is their mum, which will amuse young readers to no end! There is a
nice pop-up on one of the last pages of the ducklings jumping into
the pond. Overall, a rollicking fun story, good for encouraging
children to read along with the story, great for exploring rhyme and
narrative, and wonderful, comical-style illustrations.
Nicole Nelson
A trifle dead by Livia Day
Cafe La Femme Bk 1. Deadlines, 2013. ISBN 9780987216298
(Age: 15+) Recommended. Crime. Food. Tabitha Darling runs a trendy
cafe and is always searching for the perfect dessert. She is sick of
all the policemen who frequent her cafe and when a musician is found
dead in the flat upstairs she tries to keep out of the
investigation. But as a series of strange crimes by the Trapper
occurs across Hobart, she begins to think that perhaps they are
aimed at her. With Stewart, a cute Scottish blogger along for the
news, she starts to investigate, much to the annoyance of Bishop the
policeman she has known for ages.
This is a laugh out loud mystery in the vein of the Stephanie
Plum stories by Janet Evanovich. The dialogue is snappy, the
characters are well developed and the backdrop of Hobart is
fabulous. There is plenty of suspense, with a few very scary moments
and lots of yummy food including recipes for trifle, all of which
will keep any mystery lover reading to finish the book quickly.
I will certainly snap up the next book in the series.
Pat Pledger
Samurai vs Ninja series by Nick Falk and Tony Flowers
Random House Australia, 2015. The battle for the golden egg. ISBN 9780857986054 The race for the shogun's treasure. ISBN 9780857986368
(Age: Yr 2+) The publisher's blurb for this series says, 'In the Edo
Period of Japan, two teams fight for supremacy - the serious samurai
and the scheming ninjas. To determine who is the best, a deadly
contest is held. The prize is the Golden Egg, the most magnificent
treasure in all of Japan. But when the ninjas cheat, the samurai
will stop at nothing to get revenge. Tighten your topknot and
sharpen your sword - the Samurai vs Ninja battle is about to begin!'
And so begins another action-packed series from this talented
pairing of Nick Falk and Tony Flowers who brought us both Saurus
Street and Billy is a dragon.
This series is set 300 years ago when the serious Samurai with their
smooth, straight kamishimo and tight topknots lived in a castle on
the tip of the Mountain of the Tiger's Claw and the silly Ninja with
their ripped and wrinkled shinobi shozoku and looped and loose obi
lived in a castle at the tip of the neighbouring Mountain of the
Dragon's Claw. Because the Samurai practise the ancient art of Nodo
no Kingyo (the Way of the Thirsty Goldfish) and the Ninja, the
ancient art of Mink-u-i-Buta (the Way of the Ugly Pig) the scene is
set for conflict - and it is not long before it begins. The Samurai
challenge the Ninja to a contest - and through crazy characters with
even crazier ideas the reader is taken on an hilarious but
suspenseful adventure. Despite the traditional honour and fairness
normally associated with these protagonists, the reader sees a
totally different side of them that provide many LOL moments!
Capitalising on the craze for things Japanese as manga-type stories
permeate through to our youngest readers, this is an energetic,
fast-moving series that will capture the imaginations of younger
readers who are ready for independent reading but still need the
support of short text and illustrations which are integral to that
text. Falk and Flowers seem to feed off each other in a symbiotic
relationship that knows exactly what their audience wants and how to
give it to them and offer stories that are going to maintain that
zest for reading as the transition from instructional reader to free
choice is made. With chapters finishing at just the right time and
the book finishing on a cliff-hanger that sets up the next episode,
the books make perfect read-alouds which will have their listeners
demanding more and scurrying to the library looking for the next in
the series. And they won't have long to wait because Day of the
dreadful undead and Curse of the Oni will be released on 1 July. In
my school where we have many Japanese students and Japanese is
taught across the school, I can see this series being the hit it
deserves to be!
Barbara Braxton
If you find this by Matthew Baker
Hot Key Books, 2015. ISBN 9781471404528
(Age: 9-11) Grief and loss. Treasure hunts. Bullying.
School life. Family life. Grandparents. Prodigies. Nicholas is an
eleven year old maths and music prodigy, his inner dialogue is
written with musical notations to describe the sounds around him and
he's obsessed with prime numbers. He is socially isolated and takes
solace in talking to the tree where his parents buried his brother
who died prematurely. He believes the tree is his brother embodied
in a new form and he treasures the pine needles and cones.
Nicholas's life is a difficult one, school is problematic, social
situations awkward and he is being bullied. When his grandfather
appears after 30 years in prison, full of tales about buried treasure
hidden in an old derelict house, Nicholas is soon caught up in an
adventure. Unfortunately, Grandpa Rose is beginning to suffer from
dementia and it is difficult for him to remember just where he hid
the heirlooms in the ghost house.
This is a uniquely written story, every time anyone
talks a musical notation is added as a subscript. The narrative is
told using different perspectives, Grandpa Rose's journal entries
and Nicholas' inner dialogue and observations. The level of bullying
is quite intense and the inclusion of a seance, bartering with the
local witch and helping with a breakout from the nursing home makes
this a novel for older readers.
Rhyllis Bignell
Finding Monkey Moon by Elizabeth Pulford
Finding Monkey Moon by Elizabeth Pulford
Ill. by Kate Wilkinson. Walker Books, 2015. ISBN 9781921720734
(Age: 4+) Highly recommended. Toys, Loss, Determination, Hope.
Michael's favourite toy, Monkey Moon, is missing. He never goes to
bed without his toy, and determines to look until he finds it. A
search of the house proves fruitless, so Michael sets off to the
park. He and Dad don their jackets and hats and go off into the
crisp cold night with a torch. The illustrations depict a wintry
night, complete with frost covered trees, a hooting owl, sleeping
ducks and cold clear darkness. The light of the torch illuminates
their way and makes the reader look more closely at the things the
torch shows. As they walk to the park, each page finishes with
Michael's voice assuring Monkey Moon that they will find him. Once
in the park they search the playground, the Wendy house, the trees
and finally find the toy in the undergrowth. Michael hugs his toy to
himself and the three walk back home contentedly.
This is a charming story of one boy's determination to find his toy,
and the support given by Dad as they go off into the cold night.
Michael reassures his toy that they are on their way, and hugs him
to himself when he is found. The scenes replicate what might happen
if a child is lost and could be a good starting point for discussion
about staying close to Mum or Dad.
The beautiful illustrations reflect the coldness of the night, with
the beam of the torch shining through the trees and around the park,
the soft acrylic paintings drawing in the readers' eyes to look more
closely at what is represented on each page. The shadows draw more
closely over the boy in the park, but the next page where he finds
Monkey Moon, a little colour appears in the frosty cold night.
Determination and hope has won out.
Fran Knight
Since you've been gone by Morgan Matson
Since you've been gone by Morgan Matson
Simon and Schuster, 2015. ISBN 9781471122668
(Age: 14+) Recommended. Adolescent. Coming of age. Friendship. Emily
is looking forward to a summer hanging out with her friend Sloane
but Sloane just disappears, leaving no trace of where she has gone
or what has happened to her. A to-do list for Emily is all that is
left behind; a list with 13 things for Emily to do, including
kissing a stranger and going skinny dipping. Emily is left with no
one to hang out with - all her social activities had been with
Sloane, who was outgoing and fun. She decides to take her courage in
her hands and starts doing some of the things on the list, like pick
an apple at the Orchard, the local party spot, and it is here that
Frank, the school leader, makes her acquaintance. From then on
things look up for Emily.
This narrative flows along beautifully, the writing making it very
easy to become involved with Emily, who gradually sees how much she
has relied on Sloane and how she has to make an effort to do things
by herself and to make new friends. By asking for Mona (on her to-do
list) she gets a summer job and meets Dawn, a girl who works at a
nearby pizza place and they become friendly. Frank asks her to help
him with his running and together they begin to become friends,
becoming easy with each other, talking about music, and comparing
playlists. With his mate Collins' help, he starts to help Emily
check things off her list. As Emily checks off more from her list,
she realises that Sloane was helping her to overcome some of her
deepest fears and helping her to be a braver person.
Much of the appeal of the book is the exploration of friendship
between the outgoing Sloane and the quieter Emily. Sloane drags
Emily along with her shopping and even arranges for her to go out
with Gideon and the two do everything together. It is such a shock
for Emily to find that Sloane has left without a word and Emily is
the one who ultimately has to teach Sloane about the nature of
friendship. Emily gradually changes without the influence of Sloane;
she makes new friends and is able to stand on her own two feet.
This doesn't contain any topics that couldn't be given to younger
teens - even the skinny dipping is covered with towels - but it does
explore the nature of friendship very well, the effect that one 's
best friend having a boyfriend or girlfriend can have on a
relationship and also the confining nature of totally relying on
just one best friend. The blossoming friendship between Emily and
Frank will satisfy those who enjoy a romance as well.
This has been nominated for YALSA
Teens Top picks 2015 and that it should prove popular in a
library.
Pat Pledger
Hard Nuts of History: Wars and Battles by Tracey Turner
A & C Black, 2015. ISBN 9781472910943
(Age: Middle -Upper primary) Recommended. What did Mary Seacole and
Florence Nightingale have in common?
The Boston Tea Party! What was it and what could a tea party
possibly have to do with a war?
Which French military commander was banished to an island . . .
twice, and why?
Pompey, Xerxes the Great, Trotsky and Siegfried Sassoon? Interesting
names, but were they rampaging generals, the enemy or risk-taking
spies? One was a poet as well! Hard nuts, all of them! And what
about American Indians?
History! One imagines cumbersome, dusty volumes, smelling musty and
old, with thick yellowed pages, but Tracy Turner has written a
glossy, almost pocket-sized, fascinating little book that explains
history in a light, breezy and highly engaging style, with witty
images. Many of the momentous moments in history that defined
nations and shaped populaces are condensed into this book. Courage,
cunning, survival skills and the ruthlessness of these indisputably
brave individuals (whose sensibility is at times questionable), is
measured on 'HARDOMETERS', and each is given a Hard Nut rating, out
of 10!
Fifty-three pages of pithy but absorbing descriptions of both men
and women who led their armies into battle, fighting for what they
believed in, surviving . . . or not, makes for a thoroughly
compelling read for even the most reluctant student of history.
So you already KNOW all about wars and battles?
If you read this book and take the quiz at the back, you'll find out
how much you REALLY know, and learn a lot of fascinating stuff on
the journey. It has a Timeline, and a Glossary to explain what all
those complex words mean.
I recommend Wars and Battles to children in the middle and upper
primary school years, whose interest in history and the world around
them is still developing.
J. Kerr-Smith
