Reviews

Prince of shadows by Rachel Caine

Michael Joseph, 2014. ISBN: 9781921901881.
(Age: 14+) Recommended. Such is the skill of Rachel Caine in recreating the life and times of Verona that the reader can't help but believe this is a true account of the back-story to Romeo and Juliet.
In this adventure, the hero is Benvolio, the Prince of Shadows (the greatest thief in Verona) who gives his own account of the events that surround the well-loved Shakespearean Tragedy. Caine stays true to the details of the play but cleverly interweaves other stories and introduces other characters while also providing insights into minds and hearts of the ones we know so well.
Women, in this novel, show spirit, power and intelligence, as Benvolio states, 'In their own way the girls of noble families were soldiers - merely armed with different weapons'. p95. Benvolio's grandmother rules her household with an iron fist, in fact she is referred to as 'the iron lady'. Veronica, his sister, is definitely no blushing damsel, and is not afraid to wield her power, though not always for good. But it is Rosaline, with her calm and sensible approach, who gains the respect of the reader and as it transpires that of Benvolio also.
As in the play, violence abounds in this story as the Capulets and Montagues continue to battle out their feud on the streets of Verona. Tybalt is still a violent and dislikeable character who even takes out his temper on his sister, Rosaline - something neither the reader nor Benvolio can forgive. Mercutio, at least at the beginning, is the lovable rogue but his sexual preferences are a portent for tragedy. Balthasar continues as the loyal and trusted servant, who always has his master's back, whether that be in the form of the noble Montague or the Prince of Shadows.
Caine provides an interesting twist to Mercutio's dying words, 'a curse on both your houses' providing both an unexpected twist for the reader and a last challenge for Benvolio.
Prince of Shadows incorporates enough Shakespearean expression, even with some reference to other plays, to add authenticity to this satisfying tale.
Barb Rye

A house for Donfinkle by Choechoe Brereton

Ill. by Wayne Harris. Walker Books, 2014. ISBN 9781921720536.
(Age: 4-6) Warmly recommended. Building, Friendship, Humour. When Donfinkle wants to build a house of his own, he goes ahead and does it. His mud brick walls and brick porch, his wonderful uplifting door and beech windows are just what he wants.
But then friends come along with suggestions. They do not like what he has done and pick faults with his construction, making plans for other things to be added or changed. Flooble whines that his roof is too bare so to placate him, Donfinkle adds constructions to his roof. Then of course the walls are not strong enough, according to Flooble, so poor Donfinkle attaches string and grasses to the walls. Along comes Goozle with different ideas, He feels that there is no security and so Donfinkle adds thorns to his house to keep intruders away. But the next visitor, Blooble adds some bright paint. By this time however, the house is not anything like the house that Donfinkle built, and so he tells his friends that he will tear down all their additions so that it is just what he wants.
Shamefaced, his friends help him, and when all is finished come inside for a cup of tea by the fire.
A lovely tale of friendship, of doing what you want to do, using the offers from friends without allowing them to take over, the tale could be well used with siblings or with classes where standing on your own two feet is an issue amongst friends. But I am sure kids reading it by themselves or with a friend will get the message loud and clear and laugh out loud as well. The illustrations are superb, Harris has playfully depicted the friends as all sorts with bits of many different animals making up their appearances. Kids will love looking at all the different animals shown, and work out what they are, while reading the book out loud will enhance the music behind the rhyming stanzas and the rhythm of the names of the friends. A wholly satisfying read.
Fran Knight

Maxx Rumble Soccer series by Michael Wagner

Ill. by Terry Denton, Black Dog Books, 2014.
Shocker, bk 2. ISBN: 9781922244819.
Grand Final, bk 3. ISBN: 9781922244826.
(Age: 7-9) Themes: Soccer, Sports, Competitions, Brothers. After nine years author Michael Wagner has finally added another sporting series to his much loved Maxx Rumble Cricket and AFL Football books. This time Rexxy, Maxx's younger brother is old enough to play for the Stone Valley Saints Soccer team in a knockout competition.
True to formula the competition is fierce, devious and up to no good. Wagner delights in choosing puns for team players, there's Oliver Sudden, Buster Hamstring and Lou Nartick on the field for the Outhouse Rodents. In Shocker Boofa the opposition captain uses a deadly weapon, his beautiful sister Jennifer Boofersoon who casts a love spell cast on poor Rexxy who is smitten and totally not focussed on the game. As the reader knows the final minutes are key to the Saints success and Maxx is always on hand to come up with the last minute save.
In Grand Final the Saints come face to face with the Plankluvin Pirates the 'rottenest' team in the competition. Unfortunately, there are only four Saints fans supporting Maxx's team whilst the Pirates have a huge following. Tensions mount as the crowd's noise level interferes with hearing the referee's whistle. Another tense game is played and the reader will be delighted to read of Maxx and his team's determination to pursue the prize.
Terry Denton's cartoons capture the key moments of the soccer games and his humorous style of drawing adds to the enjoyment of these books. This new series is suitable for younger readers, especially soccer fans.
They are great middle primary class novels for readers from 7-9 years.
Rhyllis Bignell

Delilah's dream by Ian Trevaskis

Ill. by Janine Dawson. New Frontier Publishing, 2009. ISBN 9781921042232.
(Age: 3-5) Recommended. Picture book. Ambition. Adventure. Chickens. Delilah the chook has a dream, she wants to fly. She doesn't want to be like her sisters and just scrabble around for scraps, she wants to fly and have adventures. The other chooks scoff at her, deriding her dreams and telling her not to be silly. While the other chooks sleep, tucked away from Delilah, she keeps on dreaming of soaring like an eagle, of being amongst the stars.
One day a fox is seen in the vicinity of the chook yard. The chooks huddle together in their henhouse, their heads in the straw, not knowing what to do. Only Delilah takes steps. She climbs across the roof of the hen house, onto the tree and leaps across the gap between the chook house and the farmhouse, until she gets to the bell hanging in the verandah. She swings from side to side, waking the farmer, and so saves the day. She has flown after all.
A fable about following your dreams, this will be a delight to read out loud to young children. They will recognise the moral of the tale immediately and talk of other books which have a similar theme. Discussions will follow about their dreams and what they aim for in their lives, be it simply where they will go after school, to what they hope to do for a holiday to a bigger dream like that of Delilah.
The illustrations show the hen house on the farm with its cyclone fences, windmill and corrugated iron roof. The chooks and other animals will delight younger readers as they see how each group reacts to the threat of the fox, and their renewed friendship with Delilah.
Fran Knight

The other side of nowhere by Steve Johnston

Hardie Grant Egmont, 2014. ISBN 9781742976907.
Looking forward to a sailing cruise to an island only three hours off an unspecified part of the Australian coast, teenager Johnno and his younger brother Matt journey by bicycle to the town of Shell Harbour to meet up with old friend and yacht owner Nick. Unknown to Nick, Johnno has organised for his cousin Georgina to join them on the venture and the awkward revelation at her arrival causes some embarrassment for all present.
A tension between Johnno and Nick is gradually revealed, based upon the fact that whilst the pair had been inseparable companions as youngsters, their friendship has changed since family circumstances led to Nick moving from the city, to live with his father on a farm.
The sailing trip had been an eagerly anticipated opportunity get together and enjoy adolescent male fun in the form of unsupervised boating and camping. Nick recovers the situation by accepting and making welcome Georgina and the group soon makes way. This follows warnings from Nick's father to make sure he heads immediately to the island to make safe anchorage prior to possible weather changes. The members of the group are very young and only two have sailing experience, causing the reader to query the wisdom of allowing the significant venture.
An unexpectedly vicious storm seizes the vessel and the crew shows courage and ingenuity to try and save the boat yet the situation becomes so overwhelming that they are glad to escape with their lives. Surviving the storm was harrowing but the group's ordeal continues on the island when they realise that no rescue is imminent, contrary to previous expectations, and their supplies of food and water are extremely limited.
All are hungry and exhausted and Johnno's anxiety is increasing from self analysis following his desperate actions during the storm. Seeking shelter, the group encounters threatening criminals and must apply themselves in extreme situations to try and evade them.
The angst of friendships which have been altered by time, changing circumstances and then tested by trauma, as well as fraternal rivalry and confused romantic yearning are important influences upon how the group deals with challenges and threats.
Rob Welsh

Into the still blue by Veronica Rossi

Under the never sky series, bk 3. Atom, 2014. ISBN 9781907411076. (Age: 13+) Recommended. Dystopian. Survival. The final in Under the never sky series, following Under the never sky and Through the ever night, Into the still blue finds Perry and Aria in a desperate bid to save the Dwellers and the Outsiders by entering into the elusive Still Blue, where the Aether is calm and where they can set up a settlement free from storms and destruction. Both Perry and Aria have been tested in the first two books and it takes all their leadership skills, determination and sacrifice to fight their way to a satisfying conclusion. An engrossing read, Into the still blue brings a very good series to a somewhat rushed but very rewarding conclusion. The growth and depth of the characters stand out. Both Perry and Aria have to make sacrifices and to think about what is best for all the survivors, even if they are at odds with each other. Roar is helped through his grief and desolation by Aria's understanding and Perry's friendship. The role of the villains, Sable and Hess, is explored more fully as the group stages an attempted rescue of Cinder and the reader begins to understand their motivations. Cinder is crucial to everyone's survival and Perry stays by his side as they try to navigate through the Aether, even though it may mean death for both of them. Soren becomes an essential part of the story and grows into a much more likeable character who is prepared to use his skills for the greater good. The action is thrilling as Aria and Perry fight to gain access to the craft that will take them into the Still Blue. There is bloodshed, sacrifice and a touch of romance, all of which combine to make this an enthralling story as the reader breathlessly follows the group's attempt to gain safety from the Aether. Fans of The hunger games will delight in this series, with its interesting ideas, compelling dialogue and heartbreaking moments. Pat Pledger

Spooky house by Sally Rippin

Billie B. Brown series. Hardie Grant Egmont, 2013. ISBN 9781742976518.
(Age: 6-8) Recommended. In this, another starring the very popular Billie B Brown, Billie and her friends form a Secret Mystery Club and their quest for mysteries to solve leads them to the spooky house at the end of her street. Just who lives there? Unfortunately, Billie's imagination is a bit too much for her friends and they threaten to leave. Undaunted, Billie is determined to find out and sets up a plan - one which puts her in a very awkward situation with her family! Trying to dig herself out of that hole means visiting the spooky house, accompanied by her friend Jack for security but what happens there sets up a heart-thumping situation, and teaches Billie a sound lesson about friendship.
This book is the first in a new series featuring Billie B Brown, a character familiar to many already through the Billie B. Brown series. It is probably best described by teachers as a "beginning chapter book". With its short chapters, large font and monochrome illustrations, it is a perfect bridge between the structure of the instructional reader and a novel, enabling independent reading. The storylines of that series are engaging and at the right level for the 6-8 year-old girl. They could imagine being in Billie's circle of friends and empathise with her. Now that Miss 7 is becoming more independent with her reading she is loving this series and was thrilled that this was a new one to explore.
The Billie B. Brown series is a must-have on your library shelves to cater appropriately for those 6-8 year-old girls who are still little girls and this spin-off series will be eagerly anticipated.
Barbara Braxton

The Stone Lion by Margaret Wild

Ill. by Ritva Voutila. Little Hare, 2014. ISBN 9781921894855.
(All ages) The stone lion crouched on his pedestal guarding the entrance to the town's library. Lifelike in size and appearance, he was 'so real, so fierce and cold that small children scuttled past at the sight of him' and in stark contrast to the warm, inviting environment that the concept of a library portrays. Only Sara, homeless and alone, weeping gently and cuddling a small bundle that is her baby brother snuggled into his paws, while Ben the librarian leaned against him at lunchtime while he ate his sandwiches and read, laughing occasionally. Even though the gargoyle perched on the portico above his pedestal explains Sara's distress and Ben's delight, the stone lion has no understanding of such feelings. He just wants to come alive so he can run and prowl and leap - to just move. He imagines himself strolling along the street in front of the library and running in the park across the road.
'Sometimes, stone animals are granted a chance to become warm, breathing creatures' the gargoyle tells him, 'But it is for a very short time only, and they must desire it greatly, with a generous heart.' Even though the lion does desire it greatly with no apparent ability to feel, it seems like a dream that will be unfulfilled. Then winter comes and it hits hard. Snow falls and lies deep, and once again Sara comes to the lion's feet, sinking onto the steps and going limp. A snowflake falls on the baby's nose and he wails, waving a tiny fist, and a stab of pity pierces the lion's heart . . .
This is a picture book for all ages with many levels of complexity. Accompanied by evocative pictures created with oil pastels on grey velour paper which portray the mood and atmosphere perfectly, this story is a mixture of fantasy, fairy tale and fable. The lion at the end of the story is not the lion of the beginning, much like the key characters in The Selfish Giant and The Happy Prince opening the way for in-depth and comparative studies of these texts. How can a single act of kindness make such a difference to so many? Teaching notes are available at the publisher's website.
Barbara Braxton

Run by Gregg Olsen

Hot Key Books, 2014. ISBN 9781471401855.
(Age: Teens) Gregg Olsen knows how to create a page turning crime thriller mystery but in Run the main character is fifteen, an unlikely hero for this genre. Somehow he makes it work. What could be improbable becomes probable, the unbelievable believable.
The novel starts at a zipping pace and doesn't let up. Rylee comes home from school and finds her father dead with a knife through his chest, her mother missing and the word RUN scrawled in blood on the floor. Far from breaking down Rylee heeds the advice and together with brother Hayden flees the scene. We learn through Rylee's flashbacks that 'running' is part of her everyday experience - her family has been running all their lives. This fact helps the reader accept Rylee's actions throughout the story. Her mother has taught her 'not to trust anyone' as well as a few other not so legal means of surviving.
At the beginning of each chapter Rylee lists the state of her situation: Cash, Food, Shelter, Weapons, Plan. This clever device provides the reader with the changing nature of Rylee's circumstances. Very early in the story Rylee leaves Hayden with a newly discovered Aunty and becomes the chaser instead of the runner as she searches for her mother and the man who has taken her. The plan becomes 'find mum, kill dad'.
The novel then turns to one of vengeance and retribution, with gruesome results, many of which are committed by the young girl who we first met when she was contemplating whether to have spaghetti for dinner and counting how many texts she had received from her boyfriend. Yet we still support her: she has justice on her side.
Needless to say there is resolution to this story but not without a few twists at the end which explore, though not deeply, the actions of Rylee's mother and the motivation behind the man she has discovered is her real father.
A disappointment of the novel came right at the end when Olsen so blatantly sets the stage for a sequel or even a series with his last lines, 'The people who understand where I come from are the people who matter. The ones . . .  I can help'. Do we now have a new super-hero in the making? The probable has now become the improbable - however I can see such a series having wide adolescent appeal.
Barb Rye

Dummie the Mummy and the Golden Scarab by Tosca Menten

Penguin, 2014. ISBN 9780143308287.
This may well be the Dutch answer to Roald Dahl! Tosca Menten has so far produced five books about Dummie the Mummy and they have gained a huge following in her homeland. They are now being published in several other countries and a movie version is in the early stages of production.
The silly ridiculousness of the whole premise and plot combined with some strange (and Dahl-esque) characters will have children from 8 years up in fits of laughter.
Darwishi Ur-atum Msamaki Minkabh Ishaq Eboni or DUMMIE for short, was the small son of an ancient Egyptian Pharoah thousands of years ago. After his brief illness and death, he was mummified as was the custom and his royal father insisted on placing the sacred scarab of royalty with the boy. The grieving parents sent their son into the afterlife with special spells and powerful charms.
Cut to a small town in modern day Holland and a truck transporting three mummies to a museum for a special exhibit. A sudden storm erupts and the truck is struck by lightning, the driver luckily escaping unharmed, but the mummies destroyed. Or are they? The unfortunate driver thinks he saw a small childsized mummy climbing out of the roadside ditch and running off.
Angus is an ordinary boy living with a rather unusual artist father, on their own since Gus' mum died but happy with their lives. Until, that is, Angus discovers a 'living' mummy in his bedroom and the mayhem begins!
Aside from the hilarity of the antics, this is a great book for exploring accepting differences, not judging on face value and friendship with some very funny adventures thrown in.
Very suitable for less able readers who could use something engaging and humorous to keep them wanting more and also very well suited to read-aloud episodes.
Read more about Dummie the Mummy and Tosca Menten here.
Tosca's trailer for this book is here.
Sue Warren

EJ Spy School series by Susannah McFarlane

Ill. by Dyani Stagg. Scholastic, 2014.
Secret Spy Bk 3. ISBN: 9781921931635.
Puppy Alert Bk 4. ISBN: 9781921931628 .
For readers from 6-8 years of age. Secret Agents, Spies, Friends. Susannah McFarlane's new EJ Spy School series introduces the reader to Emma Jack's beginning her training to become an agent. These emergent novels use age appropriate words, short chapters, a larger font size, simple concepts and plot, and build confidence in children making the transition from picture to chapter books.
In Secret Spy Emma learns how to use her new spy tools, a robotic butterfly cam, flying skateboard and a special lunchbox with a dial to choose sandwich flavours. Puppy Alert Emma begins to develop her code-cracking skills and test her abilities to rescue puppies for the animal training centre.
Dyani Stagg's cartoon style illustrations complement the text and bring EJ10 to life. The website has fun activities, games and additional stories.
This series is a great introduction to the much loved character EJ12.
Rhyllis Bignell

Dark Emu: Black seeds: Agriculture or accident? by Bruce Pascoe

Magabala Books, 2014. ISBN 9781922142436.
(Age: Secondary) Aboriginal History. Agriculture. Indigenous people. Land rights. This very readable non-fiction work examines the evidence for a revision of thinking about Aboriginal people at the time of European colonial settlement. Pascoe presents compelling arguments (often using the words of the early settlers and explorers - those who created many of the early views of the Australian indigenous people) to show that Aboriginal people did participate in agriculture, and did create housing that suggested more sedentary life styles, did engage in technological developments to assist them in living successful lives. He establishes this to challenge our education of current students that suggests that to be Aboriginal was to be 'only' a hunter-gatherer. This paternalistic, and self-promoting view at the expense of the Aboriginal success over many years is revealed through discussions of agriculture, the use of fire, the environmental wisdom of Aboriginal farming, and the advantage of peaceful trade and transfer of law in relation to the spiritual connection to land.
All teachers should read this book, to challenge their own thinking and to give opportunity to see Australia through different cultural eyes. To quote Pascoe, '...all of us must be alert to the greatest of all limitations to wisdom: the assumption.' If we assume that we know the history of Australia because of what we were taught, then perhaps we have failed to see prejudice in recorded history texts. Early explorers recording what they saw were often blind to the significance of their sightings, and perpetuated their racist/colonial ideas, or as Pascoe states, in referring to the explorer Giles, 'prejudice squeezed [his] racism like toothpaste from a tube...'
The author also suggests interesting ideas about the possibility of the return to successful Aboriginal farming practices and native species to replace unsustainable crops in marginal environments.
Secondary students studying Australian history and Aboriginal studies would benefit from this text.
Carolyn Hull

Goose by Dawn O'Porter

Hot Key Books, 2014. ISBN: 9781471400636.
(Age: 16+) Goose follows the story of Renee and Flo, best friends completing their senior year of schooling and about to head off down the path of adult-hood. Flo is the more conservative of the girls whereas Renee is promiscuous and outgoing. The girls have been planning to go off to university together however Renee is having second thoughts. She wants to get out into the world and discover herself first. Flo is devastated and feels as if Renee is just trying to find a way out of their friendship, trying to cope with this abandonment and still dealing with the death of her father Flo seeks comfort in religion where she meets Gordon, a fanatical church boy and Christian rocker who believes in abstinence. After a bad night with Dean, Renee's misogynistic boyfriend, the girls have an argument. Renee cannot accept Flo's new religion and the pair go their separate ways. Lost and alone Renee finds herself missing her friend and she needs to take some drastic actions to get her back.
Goose is the sequel to the highly praised Paper Aeroplanes but can be read just as well as a standalone novel. I would not recommend this book for people under the age of sixteen as it contains strong sexual content which may make some young readers uncomfortable. Similar to Puberty Blues this novel had themes of friendship and sexuality linked in with heavier themes of abandonment, death and dementia. Despite being directed at an audience of young women I feel that this novel is a little too mature for young adult fiction and a little too immature to fit into the adult category.
Kayla Gaskell (age eighteen)

The Dismal Daffodil by Ursula Dubosarsky

The Hunt for the Golden Book by Geronimo Stilton

Scholastic, 2014. ISBN: 9780545646499.
Recommended for readers from 7-9 years. Themes: Writing, Mice, Parties, Books and Reading, Theft. The Hunt for the Golden Book is a Special Edition Geronimo Stilton presented as a hard-covered novel with a gold-cornered dust jacket. This is a unique time for Geronimo Stilton the editor of The Rodents' Gazette, he's celebrating the tenth anniversary of his first book being published. This book differs from the tried and true travel formula, instead all of Geronimo's family, friends and Gazette colleagues rally to plan an enormouse celebration. Grandfather William the original newspaper editor throws a few spanners in the works as he intereferes with Geronimo's creative writing process. The deadline is extremely tight one week to write unfortunately Geronimo's laptop is stolen, party plans are sabotaged and mayhem occurs.
For an extra special read, a second mystery story The Lake Monster is also included. When a mysterious monster is seen rising out of the lake on Mouse Island, Geronimo and his team are on the case. Unfortunately, when they try to capture a photo of the creature everything starts to unravel and there's another mystery to solve. With the addition of the some cheesy jokes and the usual bold style of text and colourful illustrations, this is another great addition to the popular series.
Rhyllis Bignell