Bloomsbury, 2014. ISBN 9781408851418.
Recommended for readers from 10 to 14 years, both boys and girls who
loved action adventure novels. Peter Jay Black's novel introduces
Jack, Charlie, Obi, Wren and Slink, five young vigilantes who have
chosen to live as Urban Outlaws, like Robin Hood. Through a variety
of unfortunate circumstances, these talented kids aged between ten
and fifteen have banded together and use their myriad of
high-techskills, athleticisim and brilliant minds to steal from
wealthy criminals and share the spoils with the poor and needy.
Their home base in London is deep underground in an abandoned World
War 2 bunker where they have resourcefully set up their living
quarters, surveillance equipment and monitoring devices. Jack, the
leader thinks on his feet and with his friends utilising their
specialist skills they steal a large amount of money from Benito Del
Sarto, one of the country's biggest dealers of illegal arms. As they
are undertaking this secret mission, they stumble across a quantum
computer Proteus and struggle to gain control of this super threat.
This action-packed novel asks the reader to suspend belief and fully
engage in the outlaws' fight against evil. Every chapter is full of
heroic action with the aid of high tech gadgets this makes for a
fast-paced story. The characters are relatable, each has a skill set
needed for the completion of the adventure. Their life underground
requires resourcefulness and they support each other as a unique
group of friends who have come from traumatic circumstances.
There is a website
for additional information.
Rhyllis Bignell
The girl from Hard Times Hill by Emma Barnes
Flash Backs series. Bloomsbury, 2014. ISBN 9781472904430.
(Age: 10+) Recommended, Historical novel, Post World War Two. The
series Flash Backs is producing some quick read historical
novels which not only tell a good story in less than one hundred
pages, have lively interesting characters and are set in a time
relevant to today's readers. The night run by Bali Rai told the story of one boy's bid for
freedom the evening of the Amritsar massacre in India in 1919.
The girl from Hard Times Hill tells of Megan after the war in Wales
where she has been told by the teacher that she can aim for the
Eleven Plus exam and so get into the local grammar school. She is
torn between wanting to do something more than girls did in past
generations, and her friendship with a girl in her class who
despises those who go to grammar school. Her father accepts a job in
Newcastle, but when the family finds she may get into grammar
school, stays put. But Dad has to sell food door to door to make a
living, so things need to change.
The background, just after the end of World War Two in Britain is
most convincing. Barnes has insinuated much information into the few
pages, and built a credible story about a young girl in the midst of
change.
Fran Knight
Hard Nuts of History: Ancient Greece by Tracey Turner
A & C Black, 2014. ISBN 9781472905628.
(All ages) This is a great book. I recommend it for kids of all ages
because it is really fun. Even though it is recommended for ages
7-9, my 11 year old daughter saw the book and read it with great
interest and amusement. The illustrations make you laugh and make
you want to read the book even before you know what it's about.
With only 64 pages, an easy to follow layout, simple language, and
the the 'Hard Nut Rating' and 'Hardometer', even reluctant readers
will give it a go. It is filled with things kids find interesting
like ancient curses, monsters and tales of bravery, cunning and
ruthlessness.
So if you want your kids to learn about some of the most interesting
men and women of Ancient Greece, this is a great place to start.
Tiffany Boyer
First book of diggers and dumpers by Isabel Thomas
Bloomsbury Transport Collection, A&CBlack, 2014. ISBN
9781408194584.
Recommended for readers from 5-7 years. Subjects: Heavy machinery,
Transport.
The Bloomsbury Transport Collection includes four non-fiction books
for children who are interested in emergency vehicles, bikes and
motorbikes, ships and boats and in heavy machinery - diggers and
dumpers.
Each page or two page spread is centred around a technical
illustration of one type of machine with clearly labelled machine
parts, a simple introduction and easy to read information in text
boxes. Thirty different machines from excavators, augers, dumpers,
backhoe loaders to refuse compactors are covered in this book.
A safety precaution on the Index page reminds the reader to have an
adult accompany them to look at the machines and not venture onto a
building site alone. At the back there is a Spotter's Guide include
for the enthusiast to record sightings of all this machinery. This
is a great addition to the library or personal collection of an
equipment and transport fan.
Rhyllis Bignell
Intruder by Christine Bongers
Woolshed Press, 2014. ISBN 9780857983763.
(Age: 12+) Highly recommended. Kat Jones is woken up by an intruder
looming over her bed. Her father Jimmy, works nights and she is
alone in the house. She screams and is saved by her neighbour,
Edwina, the one woman who Kat intensely dislikes because she
believes that Edwina betrayed her mother when she was dying from
cancer. Kat's father insists that either she goes and spends the
nights next door with the woman she hates or accepts Hercules, a very
ugly dog, to guard her. Even though she is terrified of dogs, she
decides that that is her only option. Then she meets Al, a new boy
in the neighbourhood, at the dog exercise park and things begin to
look up.
Although from the title and the opening chapters, this book would
appear to be a thriller, it is much more than that. It is a
complex and exciting story about the relationships that
people have and the secrets that they keep from one another. It is
the story of a difficult and grieving young girl coming of age and
gradually beginning to understand what is happening around her. It
is filled with intriguing characters whose actions and personalities
keep the reader wondering about their motivations right until the
end of the story. Why does Jimmy, Kat's father work at nights when
it could mean that Social Services could take her from him when they
find out that she was alone? Why does Kat hate Edwina so much? Why
was Al, who is such a likeable character, forced to leave his last
school? Who is the intruder? Gradually things are revealed by
Bongers until the final unforeseen unveiling of many of the
mysteries that are so absorbing.
Dog lovers will enjoy the training of Hercules, the very ugly but
loveable dog. Herc gradually wins Kat over and helps to allay her
deep-set fear of dogs, making readers come to the realisation that
some fears can be overcome with patience and help. Al too provides
Kat with a new look at what is happening around her and helps her to
face things with a new maturity as she and her father begin to come
to grips with her mother's death. Kat has to learn to move on from
the past and find a way to live happily with the people who love
her.
Big themes like death, friendship, parenting, bullying and intruders
are dealt with sensitively in this compelling book. Readers who
enjoy it could move onto books by Fiona Wood and Cath Crowley.
Pat Pledger
Mr Chicken lands on London by Leigh Hobbs
Allen & Unwin, 2014. ISBN 9781743315927
(Age: 4+) Highly recommended. Travel. London. Humour. Mr Chicken
lands in London with a list of places he wants to visit. The large,
yellow, ovoid figure of Mr Chicken graces each page as we see him at
various sights around the city. He lands, of course, hanging from a
Union Jack parachute and checks in at the Savoy Hotel where he
enjoys his breakfast in bed, contemplating his list. From there he
ventures to an amazing array of known sights: Buckingham Palace for
tea with the Queen, a ride on the red bus, and the Underground; he
climbs Nelson's Column and perches on top, visits the National
Gallery and the London Eye, each time making a grand entrance amid
the crowds of tourists. He perches on top of the Eros statue in
Piccadilly Square and then retires to his hotel room for an
afternoon nap. Starting again he has dinner in the crypt at St
Martin's in the Field, goes to the Opera, and leaves early to get to
Big Ben in time to climb the stairs and be inside the clock when it
strikes nine fifteen, his eyes being the clock hands.
After his full English breakfast he sheds a tear saying goodbye from
Waterloo Bridge and heads off in his balloon, promising to return.
Following Mr Chicken through London, as with Paris, allows the
reader to assimilate the main attractions of these cities, while
engaged in a humorous story of the affable Mr Chicken. He meanders
through the crowds to see the things he has on his list, taking the
readers with him on his travels.
Younger readers will get to know the tourist sights and the look of
a great city with its hordes of people, network of transport
facilities and maze of streets and buildings. They will enjoy the
fact of making a list, and sticking to that list to get everything
done within the time allowed. They will be able to discuss the
things needed to have an enjoyable holiday.
The illustrations are just wonderful, showing this oversized tourist
enjoying himself while taking up so much room. The drawings of
London's main attractions are a delight and the endpapers add
another dimension to the story, with a map at the start and thank
you letters and postcards at the end. All will add meaning to the
story to discuss with readers.
And with the other title, Mr Chicken goes to Paris, a treat
is in store for the readers. A fascinating video
clip about the development of Mr Chicken can also be viewed.
Fran Knight
Only the animals by Ceridwen Dovey
Hamish Hamilton, 2014. ISBN 9781926428581.
Recommended for discerning readers - older students and adults. This
is possibly one of the most unusual and intriguing books I've ever
read. It is a collection of short stories told from the point of
view of various animals recounting their interactions with humans.
Ten different animals from mussel to elephant to tortoise reveal the
best and worst of their human 'owners'.
For example, imagine for a moment that you are a tortoise - the type
kept as backyard pets - quite often in British or European
gardens. And then, further, imagine that you as the tortoise,
move next door and find that you are now the tortoise of Leo
Tolstoy's family home. Tolstoy you say? Yes indeed, and after a
time, carved into your shell the great man's words 'I love many
things, I love all people'. And then, even later, you - the
tortoise - are packed up and sent to one Virginia Woolf in England.
Virginia loved animals and kept quite a menagerie as a young girl.
Delighted with the receipt of this interesting animal, Virginia
speaks often about the book she is writing about Elizabeth Browning
and her little companion dog Flush. And then following the
London Blitz, you - this extraordinary tortoise, come to live with
George Orwell and observe him working on his novel 'Animal Farm: a
fairy story'.
This book has been described as 'playful and poignant' and so I
found it. I loved the Jack Kerouac style mussel story particularly!
For those of us who believe that all sentient beings have a
meaningful life, it is a truly enlightening read.
Not for your average reader - but for those who are looking for
something quite unique and thought-provoking this is indeed a
worthwhile escape into another world.
Sue Warren
Operation pink elephant by Stephen Dando-Collins
Caesar the war dog Bk 3, Random House Australia Children's,
2014. ISBN 9780857981684
Everyone's favourite canine hero, Caesar, is back and off on another
serious mission with his buddy, Ben.
The Global Rapid Reaction Responders (GRRR) are shocked to find out
that their friend Lucky, who is currently working for the Tanzanian
Government as a wildlife ranger, has been kidnapped by notorious
elephant poachers. These evil men, led by a particularly vile
'General', not only show a complete lack of compassion and morals
regarding the elephants but also intimidate local villagers, kidnap
children and force them to train as 'soldiers' and treat the
wildlife rangers with contempt and violence.
It is up to the GRRR team to track down these nefarious wrong-doers
and rescue Lucky and save the elephants. Ben and Caesar execute a
risky parachute jump into a rough sea to meet up with the rest of
team on HMAS Canberra and the adventure begins. On landing in
Tanzania the team begin to put together clues and set upon the trail
of poachers. Caesar's expert nose is really going to be the
advantage to Ben and his team as they track down their good friend
and the illegal cargo of ivory.
These are terrific books for boys who are not so keen to read. They
are fast-paced, with a vocabulary that is not too demanding. There
is enough action and suspense to sustain the thirst for adventure
without being disturbingly graphic. Stephen Dando-Collins has an
effective connection with his readership and it has been my
observation that when I suggest one of his titles to my boys, they
are keen for more when they have finished.
Visit the author's website.
Sue Warren
The Queen's hat by Steve Antony
Hachette Children's Books, 2014. ISBN 978144491941.
(Ages: 5+) Recommended. Picture book, Queen, London, Humour. A
blustering wind takes the hat from the Queen, as she sets off on a
visit to the new Royal personage at Kensington Palace. The Queen's
men, resplendent in their tall fur hats, busbies, and bright red
uniforms, chase the hat with Her Majesty as it flies over some of
the famous landmarks in London. Their numbers swell on each page.
They clamber over the lion statue, they run through London Zoo,
becoming entangled with several animals, while the Queen slides down
the back of a giraffe, they take the Tube, then fly around the
London Eye, Tower Bridge and Big Ben, until they all make it safely,
landing in the gardens at Kensington Palace, the hat falling upon
the baby in its pusher.
Great fun will be had by all who read this very funny book and the
delicious illustrations engender much laughter. The sight of the
Queen chasing her hat, dressed in the most mundane of clothes,
followed by the ant-like guardsmen, will cause children to laugh out
loud. That they are getting a small peek into some of the famous
sights of London will also intrigue and set readers questioning
about London and what people go there to see. The most famous
drawcard for London tourism is of course, the Royal Family, so here
is a book which introduces several members, introducing the idea to
younger readers. The lines of running guardsmen across the
front covers is repeated inside both endpapers, and children will
have fun spotting the Queen, her hat and the Royal Corgi amongst the
uniformed men.
Two other book which have recently appeared, Shhh! Don't wake
the royal baby and Happy birthday, royal baby by
Martha Mumford (Bloomsbury) will add to the fun in the classroom
where these books are read.
Fran Knight
Pig the pug by Aaron Blabey
Scholastic, 2014. ISBN 978743624777.
(Age: 3+) Highly recommended. Picture book. Sharing. Selfishness.
Humour. Verse. In rhyming stanzas Blabey describes the dog, Pig, as
it gathers all its toys to itself, its blazing eyes daring poor old
Trevor to come any closer. Trevor the sausage dog has had the
temerity to suggest that Pig share his toys, but rather than do
that, Pig builds a tower of his toys, eventually making one so tall
that it topples over and he falls from the open window.
This funny scenario is underlined by the tightly controlled stanzas,
each begging to be read aloud, the words rolling off the tongue with
a flowing sound. Pig's bulging eyes flash across the pages as he
gathers all to himself, defying the request from Trevor. But we all
know that he will come to a sticky end, and the humour in the moral
towards the end is hilarious, as is the result for Pig.
The acrylic and pen artwork reflects the ideas perfectly, as bold
colours are drawn across the pages, with often just the dogs' faces
peering up at us from the flat pages. These two dogs live together
and should share, but the audience is ready for a tale that shows
what happens when that does not occur. From the front cover with
Pig staring defiantly at the reader, to the last page of the book,
with Pig cocooned and immobile, the book is a treat for all readers.
Whether they be at home with parents reading to them, or in a class
where sharing is under discussion, the book is superb.
Fran Knight
Sand by Hugh Howey
Century, 2014. ISBN 9781780893198.
(Age: Senior secondary) Highly recommended. Howey creates a very
believable world in this bleak science fiction of the future. The
people of this time live in a relentless environment of constant
wind, no rain, and sand everywhere. It follows the lives of one
family, talented at sand diving, as they eke out their existence in
this tough, somewhat anarchic society reminiscent of the Wild West -
and indeed the reader can deduce that it is set in the state of
Colorado, USA. Sand divers submerge themselves in the sand to
considerable depths to salvage materials from the buried cities of a
former era for profit and survival.
The characterisation is excellent - even minor characters are
well-rounded - and as this novel unfolds, mostly through the eyes of
the three older children, who are in their late teens and early
twenties, we gain insights not only into the dynamics of this family
whose father has abandoned them more than a decade previously, but
into the power struggles and politics of this society and others
beyond it.
Howey has written a book with many discussion points: loyalty,
family, anarchy, ignorance, greed, and environmental waste being the
major ones. This is a gripping book, well crafted, and highly
recommended for senior students.
Anne Veitch
Homeroom diaries by James Patterson and Lisa Papadmetriou
Ill. by Keino. Random House Australia, 2014. ISBN 9780099596264.
(Age: 14+) From one of the world's best-selling authors comes his
newest YA novel - an illustrated diary from a clearly unusual
character. James Patterson introduces Margaret, Maggie, more usually
self-styled as 'Cuckoo'. Amidst the hell that is high school,
Maggie's friends who are one of the unpopular 'nations' decide to
beat the Haters at their own game and call themselves The Freakshow.
Cuckoo, Brainzilla, Zitsy, Eggy, Tebow, and Flatso have been friends
a long time and amongst the warzone groups at North Plains High
School they support each other in the face of 'the Jocks, Nerds,
Twinkies, Otaku, Barbies, Goths, Eurotrash, Jailbait, Stoners,
Joiners, Glommers, Delusionals, Haters, Wankstas, Thespians,
Teachers, Terror Teachers, Zomboids, Robots, Gleeks, United Colors
of Bennetoners, Libertarians, Activists, Juvies, Baristas [and]
Blahs'. Whew! Pretty much sounds like any normal high school to me.
Maggie gives herself her nickname because she spent ten days in the
local mental hospital, after her mother took off and left her with
no money and no food - and just didn't come back. Recovering from
this sadness, Maggie now lives with her neighbour Mrs Morrison who
is just the kind of caring foster-mother Maggie needs in her life.
She also starts a diary so she can continue with her healing process
but mostly because she loves to write.
With loads of humour and some fabulous cartoon illustrations with a
Gothic manga style, this novel deals with some fairly intense
teenage problems, which are sadly far too common, with a deft hand.
Problems with teachers, problems with boys, problems with bullies,
problems with parents and problems with life in general are dealt
with in a way which lessens the trauma without desensitizing the
reader. And the satisfactory ending is not an ending but segues into
the next instalment to which I anticipate readers, including myself,
will look forward.
You choose series by George Ivanoff
Random House Australia Children's, 2014. The treasure of Dead Man's Cove. ISBN: 9780857983831. Mayhem at Magic School. ISBN: 9780857983848. Maze of doom. ISBN: 9780857983855. The haunting of Spook House. ISBN: 9780857983862.
(Age: 9+) Highly recommended. So I received the first couple of books in this series a few weeks
ago, in the madness of term time and put them to one side as others
were in line first. Then during last week the next two arrived and I
thought to myself, 'Self you better get cracking on those'.
Dutifully I put the pile of four on the side of my desk where they
could not be ignored and I could get to them sometime over a busy
weekend.
Cut to Saturday afternoon with 15 year old grandson staying over to
earn some pocket money doing Gran chores, like the yard, washing the
car etc. Now, our Lochie is a good egg - polite, a hard worker, good
to his Mum and mostly to his little sister, loves his dog with a
passion and likes mine pretty well too - but not what you would call
a reader. Although, apparently during the first week of holidays
(last week) he did tear himself away from the Xbox long enough to
read a Manga book I gave him last week.
Taking a cool drink break during the afternoon of chores, he picked
up the first You choose from the top of the pile and sat
down and read it straight through, commenting at the end 'That was a
great story - lots of fun picking what you will do next!' and
promptly grabbed the next one and read that! What the...???? He's
coming back next weekend to stay over another night as we are going
to the Medieval Festival and is going to read the next two then. As
Yoda would say 'Stunned I am'.
Oddly enough, his Mum wasn't much of a reader as a kid either -
until we discovered some terrific Famous five 'choose your
own adventure' books and then she never stopped reading.
So all I have to say is... George Ivanoff, if you can get this kid
switched onto a good read when he's railed against books his entire
life, then you are definitely on a winner! These ones are coming to
school with me for sure, for a great book talk with the boys after
the holidays.
Well, about the books then. As you can tell by the titles each one
has a different theme and setting - all of which are very
boy-appealing particularly. With engaging illustrations, maps and
the like they are easy to read and particularly suitable as read
alouds as each Pathway episode is brief (for those quick ten minute
fill ins especially). Naturally the action is fast-paced as a result
and this is definitely a plus for those reluctant readers who don't
like getting bogged down.
I think these are a must for your library shelves and in fact, in
multiples, as once the word is out they will be gobbled up quickly.
Highly recommended by Lochlan for boys aged 9 and upwards. Teaching
notes are available from Random House and why not take a look
at George's website as
well. Your students may be familiar with George from his appearance
on ABC3.
Sue Warren
Meet Douglas Mawson by Mike Dumbleton
Ill. by Snip Green. Random House, 2014. ISBN 9780857981950.
(Age: Yr 2+) Douglas Mawson is one of Australia's most iconic
heroes. As the leader of the first Australian expedition to
the Antarctic a century ago, his journeys commemorated through
having his portrait on the $100 note, a suburb in Canberra named
after him and the longest continuously operating station south of
the Antarctic Circle bearing his name, Douglas Mawson deserves a
place in this series of books which celebrates great Australians.
The story of his remarkable journey which began in Hobart in
December 1911 is told in simple, straightforward text which is
perfect for its intended audience of younger students just starting
to learn about the people who have helped build our nation.
Accompanied by illustrations that use a limited colour palette,
reminiscent of the colours of Antarctica itself, and which capture
the beauty and drama of the landscape so well, it tells of the
challenges of this incredible expedition undertaken long before
there were mechanised transport or navigational devices such as a
GPS. The timeline at the end of the book provides a summation
of this man's amazing life and contribution to Australia's
continuing presence in Antarctica.
This series fits neatly into the history strand of the Australian
National Curriculum for Years 3-4, its picture book format adding to
its appeal. Written in a way that draws the reader into a story
rather than just a series of facts and figures, this is a perfect
introduction to the topic that teaches as it tells. Others in the
collection include Ned Kelly, James Cook, Mary MacKillop and the
ANZACs. It is so good to see publishers responding to the need
and demand for non-fiction that not only addresses the requirements
of the Australian Curriculum at an appropriate level but which
satisfies those readers who, from an early age, already show a
preference for informative books that offer them more than just
pictures to look at and interpret. I'm looking forward to the
next in the series which focuses on Nancy Bird Walton!
Barbara Braxton
An unsentimental bloke: The life and work of C.J. Dennis by Philip Butterss
Wakefield Press, 2014. ISBN 9781743052877.
(Age: 17+) Recommended. These days, readers are likely to encounter
the verse of C.J. Dennis in one of his poems for children. However,
nearly a century ago, many Australians only needed to hear the line,
'Er name was Doreen', to recall The songs of a sentimental bloke,
a narrative poem that sold over 100,000 copies in its first five
years of publication. Philip Butterss has explored the life and
works of the poet and discovered a gifted but troubled man whose
'larrikin verse' captured the spirit of his age.
The result is not only a detailed account of a life lived under the
shadow of asthma, alcohol dependence and financial problems, but
also a critique of the writer's work in the context of the society
in which he lived. Dennis produced a prodigious body of poetry while
working as a clerk, journalist, editor, political campaigner and
public servant. Like many of his contemporaries, he embraced a form
of nationalistic egalitarianism that celebrated the lives of
so-called ordinary people, while ostracising minorities and
non-British foreigners. During the Great War, stories about the
love-struck bloke and the unassuming heroism of Ginger Mick, boosted
morale and contributed to the creation of the Anzac legend. After
the conflict, The Glugs of Gosh lampooned the Melbourne
establishment under the guise of nonsense verse and The singing
garden depicted life in the Victorian countryside. Philip
Butterss has tracked the changes in Australian popular culture that
led to a decline in the appeal of Dennis's writing, as well as
recent attempts to reignite a delight in its wit and humour. He has
also drawn an intimate portrait of a complex man who could 'think in
verse' that was deceptively naive.
Philip Butterss' scholarship is evident in his meticulous prose, an
extensive bibliography and source notes. At once a work of
biography, literary criticism and social history, An unsentimental
bloke will provide older readers with memorable insights into the
life and times of an influential Australian writer.
Elizabeth Bor
