Allen & Unwin, 2013. ISBN 9781742378619.
(Age: 13-18) Highly recommended. 'The Debt was the worst
thing to have come into my life. It had almost killed me about a
dozen times in a dozen different ways. But here I was wanting,
willing, it to contact me. To give me the next instalment.'
Dominic receives a mysterious note in Latin. He then goes on a
difficult and a quest of intelligence just trying to find who sent
the note. He then goes on to find the treasure and the have someone
take it from him. But the question is who does that person turn out
to be?
This book had me from the start. All the way from when he was
yelling at his treadmill to finding the gold and even to the end
when a shocking secret is revealed. I really like books and believe
me I've read some bad books but The debt, Yamashita's gold
is not boring. It is thrilling, breath taking, jaw dropping and in
some ways motivating.
I have not read the previous books but I already want all of them.
This book made several references to the previous books so I could
already guess the plot of them that doesn't stop me from wanting to
read them though!
In my opinion Phillip Gwynne has done an extremely outstanding job
in this book and I am sure in the previous and future books as well.
I rate the book 9/10 and I recommend it to 13-18 year olds.
Reece Barnett (Student)
The Lost Child by Suzanne McCourt
Text Publishing, 2014. ISBN 9781922147783.
(Age: Senior secondary - Adult) Five year old Sylvie, growing up in
a small coastal town south of the Coorong in the 50's, has a lot to
contend with. The family is breaking up, her distant father is
violent when drunk and her mentally fragile mother copes by
obsessively cleaning. The good times are when her older brother Dunc
and his friend Pardie let Sylvie join them fishing, collecting birds
eggs or just reading superhero comics. Over the next ten years the
family situation gets worse; her parents divorce, her home is burnt
down and Dunc mysteriously goes missing. Sylvie endures trauma,
bullying, rejection and self-blame yet she largely manages to
channel her energy into positives like creative photography and
excelling at school. She is a survivor. The landscape framed between
the lagoon and the sea is a constant to draw strength from and as
she negotiates puberty some of the pain from the past is resolved.
This story will resonate with older South Australians familiar with
the South East issues around draining the landscape and cray fishing
and with events like the Queen's visit and oil exploration but as
the narrative seeks to document the slow development of a child from
first awareness to independence it can sometimes lose impetus.
Connected with Hartnett's Thursday's Child or Dettman's Henry's
Daughter it could be useful for senior students looking for
texts about family trauma or small town issues.
Sue Speck
My Two Blankets by Irena Kobald
Ill. by Freya Blackwood. Little Hare, 2014. ISBN 978921714764.
Picture book. In the beginning she was a very happy little girl in
her home village - so happy, her aunty called her Cartwheel. But
then came the war and she finds herself in a new country where
everything, even the wind, feels strange. But strangest of all was
the language. Nobody spoke like she did - 'it was like standing
under a waterfall of strange sounds. The waterfall was cold. It made
me feel alone. I felt like I wasn't me any more.'
So, at home, she wrapped herself in a blanket of familiar words and
sounds and memories - a blanket that was warm and soft and covered
her all over, letting her feel safe. Until one day she goes to a
park and a girl smiles at her and waves . . . and a new blanket is
woven, one that is different but which becomes just as familiar and
comfortable so she has the luxury of choosing the one she wants at
the time.
This is a poignant story deliberately set in Any Place, Anywhere
because its message is not confined by boundaries or borders. It's a
universal story of anyone who has experienced change, even those for
whom the change is to a different circumstance not setting and while
the language may be familiar, it is different. We don't need to know
the girl's name, where she came from or went to - this is a story to
fit the globe.
Illustrated by the amazing Freya Blackwood, you can read about how
she interpreted the concepts into what are the perfect
accompaniments to this story on her blog
.
If you are looking for titles which fit such themes as Belonging,
Identity, Refugees and particularly the Australian Curriculum
cross-curriculum priority Intercultural Understanding, this would be
a perfect addition.
Barbara Braxton
12 by James Phelen
The Last Thirteen Book 2. Scholastic, 2013. ISBN
9781742831855.
When we last saw Sam he was mano-a-mano with Solaris. Both Solaris
and the Enterprise, you will remember, are battling the Agency for
world domination - or worse. In Chapter one, Solaris turns out to be
an Enterprise Agent in disguise, leaving Sam to continue his search
for the Last Thirteen dreamers. In a parallel story arc, Alex has
been captured and is being groomed to work for the Enterprise. The
Star of Egypt, prompts Xavier to fly Sam to Egypt for more answers
before Sam's dreams find him socializing with an Italian pop star in
Rome - No 12. Together Gabriella and Sam escape Solaris only to end
Book 2 on another cliffhanger. 12 - The Last Thirteen is a fast read for tweens, teens, boys
and reluctant readers who will always choose action and dialogue to
escape the realities and restrictions of adolescence.
Deborah Robins
Editor's note: 11 (ISBN 9781742831862) and 10 (ISBN
9781742831879 ) have also been published.
Healthy Home Cooking for Kids by Emily Rose Brott
Ebury Press, Random House Australia, 2013. ISBN 9781742759999.
As the new school year rolls out, media focus on childhood obesity
and parents think about school lunchboxes so this is an ideal time
to draw attention to a new recipe book by a Melbourne mother of
four. Tired of telling her children that they couldn't eat this,
that or the other, she focused on creating snacks, main meals and
treats which have no added sugar, no white flour and no butter. Her
aim was to teach her children that they could still have delicious
meals and yummy treats that use healthy ingredients that are high in
fibre, low in sugars and fats and don't have lots of preservatives,
additives and artificial flavours and colours.
There is a growing realisation that if we want kids to eat
healthily, one of the most successful strategies is to have them
involved in the preparation of their food and this book is a perfect
starting point.
Starting with a pantry list of staples and cooking tips, each recipe
is set out in the traditional format with clear, easy to read
instructions, perfect for the budding cook, and accompanied by a
clear, enticing photograph. There are recipes for things like tuna
wrap rolls, hamburgers, vegetable fritters, mango sorbet, strawberry
cupcakes, even a birthday cake. Each looks delicious and each easy
enough for even a young child to create with some supervision!
There's even a sample
.
There is scope for a huge range of activities using this book as a
focus from looking at nutrition and diet, investigating seasonal
foods, understanding 'food miles', following procedures and so on.
It's also a way to reach out to parents and taking your library into
the community. I'm envisaging a display of fresh fruits and veges
and so forth, some photos from the book and a sign, 'You can make
these with these!' Maybe if your school has a kitchen garden some of
the ingredients could be home-grown, or the products part of the
school's canteen menu.
Miss 9 and Mr 7 saw this on my to-review pile at Christmas time and
immediately claimed it for their own! Don't expect it to stay on
your shelves for long stretches!
Barbara Braxton
Tigers on the beach by Doug MacLeod
Penguin, 2014. ISBN 9780143568520.
(Age: 12+) Highly recommended. Humour. Family relations.
Adolescents. Adam is devastated when his Grandfather dies. He was
the one who told funny jokes and who laughed at Adam's sense of
humour. Adam is interested in Samantha but after making the first
tentative approaches starts to wonder if she is the one for him. Her
joke about two tigers on the beach is not one that he would laugh
at, and she is not impressed when he finds her fall off her seat at
a concert hilarious. To make matters worse Grandma has come to live
with them and is constantly angry, his parents are fighting about
her and his little brother Xander doesn't understand about danger or
what is appropriate.
There are jokes galore in this book, some of which made me laugh and
some made me cringe. But that was what was so good about it. I
realised along with Adam that people can have an entirely different
approach to humour but still be tolerant about another person's
attitude to comedy and in fact manage to live with it, as did
Grandma who affectionately told Grandpa he was 'a total nong' after
he teased her about nearly hitting a pedestrian.
The characters in the book shone out. Adam is a caring boy who
really wants to sort out his parents' problems and help his
grandmother's grief and anger. He works through whether humour needs
to divide him from Samantha, and also comes to grip with the evil
Stanley Krongold's plans to take over his home, often with hilarious
actions. Adam's parents are portrayed sympathetically and
realistically as is Xander who sometimes doesn't act appropriately.
The introduction of Siggy and Amber in a very minor way at the end
of the book will take readers on a journey to read their story if
they haven't already.
I loved Tigers on the beach and the way that it made me
think about comedy and its role in relationships. The sensitive
handling of death and the way Adam's family coped with it and Adam's
growing relationship with Samantha also left me with feel-good
thoughts.
This book will appeal to a younger audience than The shiny guys
and The life of a teenage body-snatcher, and would make an
excellent literature circle book.
Pat Pledger
The Magic Bojabi Tree by Dianne Hofmeyr
Ill. by Piet Grobler. Frances Lincoln Children's Books, 2013. ISBN
9781847802958.
(Age: 4+) Highly recommended. Cultures. Africa. Animals. What a
wonderful book to read aloud. It has all the magic ingredients to
make it a classic favourite - a flowing story that paints fabulous
images in the reader's mind and vibrant illustrations that bring the
African landscape alive.
There is a drought in the plains of Africa and Elephant, Giraffe,
Zebra, Monkey and Tortoise are desperate for something to eat. They
find a magic tree that is covered with ripe red fruit but Python has
wrapped himself around it and won't share unless the animals can
tell him the tree's name. Each animal goes off to ask the Lion, the
King its name, but each animal forgets the name when it returns to
the tree until Tortoise the slowest of them all, sings a special
song to help him remember.
The prose is beautifully written and the traditional story is so
gripping. Each animal has a separate personality, amplified by
Grobler's illustration, and the reader and listener will have fun
following its path to the King, who is also portrayed magnificently.
The repetition in the story will delight young readers, and it will
be fun for them to see if they can remember the name of the tree
when the animals forget. The detail in the illustrations make them a
joy to look at again and there is lots of humour as well.
Both Hofmeyr and Grobler have been on the IBBY Honours list for
their work and The magic bojabi tree will add to their
illustrious reputations. This is a book to treasure both at home and
in any library.
Pat Pledger
Boy vs Beast series by Mac Park
Pop & Fizz Media, 2014. Water mutant. ISBN 9781921931710 (Previously published as Aquaterros)
Air mutant. ISBN 9781921931697 (Previously published as
Flamatoraq) Storm mutant. ISBN 9781921931703 (Previously published as Stormasaurix)
(Age: 6-9) With brand new covers and new titles these 3 books in the
Boys Vs beast series will appeal to newly independent readers
especially boys. The print is large, each book has 8 chapters and
the final battle scene is vividly described in a 4 page comic style
scenario. Each book can be read independently, with an introduction
at the beginning which sets the scene for the adventure that Kai
Masters will undergo. And what adventures he has! There are plenty
of thrills and spills and action galore to engage the attention of
the intended audience as Kai battles the mutant beasts. A website for the series
allows the young reader to make their own beast.
Pat Pledger
Meet the ANZACs by Claire Saxby
Ill. by Max Berry. Meet series. Random House, 2014. ISBN
9780857981943. ebk ISBN 9780857981943
Most of our students know the story of what happened at what is now
Anzac Cove on April 25, 1915 and the days that followed. But
how did the Australian and New Zealand troops get there?
Surely they didn't just sign up, get on a ship and arrive in the
Dardanelles. In this new book, Claire Saxby explains what
happened between the outbreak of war and that fateful day. In
simple, straightforward text accompanied by appealing, muted
illustrations which evoke the moods of the time, the reader learns
of the growing fervour of patriotism as men rush to sign on for what
was seen to be a great adventure, a way to see the world, or simply
rescue a family from poverty. But instead of leaving immediately,
'training camps for soldiers popped up like mushrooms after rain'
and eagerness turned to impatience as time went on and the feeling
that the war would be over before they got there grew. And
impatience turned to frustration as instead of going directly to the
front line, they went to Egypt for yet more training and waiting.
Until the wait was finally over and they embarked for an unknown
destination . . . but 'war was like nothing they could have
imagined.' Frustration becomes fear, and on that note, Saxby
leaves the story to be told in other books and formats.
This is the 5th book in this series and it's my favourite, probably
because it reminds us of where the NZ in ANZAC comes from. It
tells the story not often told before and shows how the camaraderie
between the two nations that continues today began. Rather than a
narrow narration of the facts, it provides an insight into these men
with a clever juxtaposition of facts and then speech so there is a
sense that these are real people, not faceless, anonymous
participants.
With the centenary of ANZAC Day just over a year away, it is an
ideal starting point for beginning to learn about this key element
in our history and the inclusion of a timeline of the war itself
puts the events in context. A must-have for your collection
about this topic.
Barbara Braxton
Racing the Moon by Michelle Morgan
Allen & Unwin, 2014. ISBN 9781743316351.
It is the year that Donald Bradman scored 334 runs against England
in the third Test; the year that Par Lap won the Melbourne Cup; the
year that each end of the Sydney Harbour Bridge met and the year
that Australia was thrown further and further into the Depression
after the collapse of Wall Street and the world's economic woes were
widespread. Growing up in those times was hard, pleasures were few
and struggles persistent.
But nevertheless, 12-year-old Joe Riley still thinks the world is
his oyster. Living in Glebe in Sydney, he's got a couple of thriving
businesses going with his mate that make him enough pocket money to
get by, while his father makes his living a step in front of the law
as a bookie. Even though his father gets drunk and bashes Joe's
mother, and is quick to take off his belt and deliver corporal
punishment whenever he thinks Joe has stepped over the line, that's
an accepted way of life in these times and while he steps in to save
his mum, Joe takes the rest of it in his stride. It is what it is
and it's no different for his mates.
But one night, Joe's father drops a bombshell - instead of going to
the local high school, Joe will go to boarding school at St
Bartholomew's on the other side of the harbour. Clearly his form of
discipline hasn't prevented Joe from getting into trouble - trouble
that comes too close to home for his father's liking. Alone,
friendless and in trouble with prefects and brothers for the
slightest indiscretion, St Barts turns out to be the epitome of the
tough, brutal, unforgiving Catholic boys' school that have been the
subject of news headlines and government inquiries lately, and
includes Brother Felix who takes a greater interest in Joe than he
should. Protecting himself, Joe lashes out and finds himself on the
train to The Farm - an isolated reformatory school with no escape
options. And it is here that Joe discovers joy through hard work and
responsibility, and an inner strength that he didn't know he had.
While this is her first novel, Michelle Morgan, a teacher librarian
from the NSW Southern Highlands, is an experienced writer having had
four of her plays produced and performed. The story of Joe is the
result of the stories her uncle told her about growing up in
suburban Sydney in the 30s and if you looked up 'larrikin' in a
dictionary you might see the definition as 'Joe Riley'. He's that
rough-and-tumble, knockabout, free-spirited lad that we think of in
those times - old enough to be independent but not yet an adult of
14 and expected to work to support the family. This story is a great
insight into life in those times, great background for the history
focus for Year 6. Certainly a great vehicle for comparing and
contrasting childhood then and now. I loved the uplifting and
reaffirming way that Joe rises above challenges to triumph - his
burning of the hated St Barts uniform is a mirror of what I did on
my last day of school. Joe, indeed, races the moon both literally
and figuratively.
This story is skilfully written, the pace is swift and it kept me so
engaged I finished it in two sittings. As I was reading it,
particularly the section about St Barts, I kept asking myself if
this would be suitable for a primary school audience, because
although it is not explicit, there is a clear allusion to Brother
Felix's intentions and I wondered if parents might feel confronted
if their child asked them about this. But I've decided that I'm
reading it from an adult perspective, one that has more information
than that of a child, and so maybe it won't be such an issue. I
believe it is essential that such things should not be neglected
especially as they are an integral part of the story, but you need
to be aware that it could cause questions to be asked. If I were
still in my primary library, it would be on the shelf with a Senior
Fiction sticker on it (probably more to protect me than the
student).
Nevertheless, this is an auspicious start to what could be a lengthy
career as a writer for the YA market and I look forward to reading
more of Michelle's work. Her website is here. Notes
for teachers by Fran Knight are here.
Barbara Braxton
The Bush Book Club by Margaret Wild
Ill. by Ben Wood. Omnibus, 2014. ISBN 9781742990149.
(Age: 3+) Recommended. Books and reading. Australian animals.
All the animals belonged to the Bush Book Club. They loved to read
and would meet in their club house tree and discuss and swap books.
But Bilby didn't like to read. He couldn't sit still long enough to
get through a book and why read when he could do handstands and skip
and hop? What will it take to get Bilby to read a book?
Margaret Wild has written a delightful book about the joy of reading
using rhyming verse and the dexterous use of alliteration. The
animal characters are brought alive with subtle humour that children
will love: Echnida reads in bed, with 'platters of ants and buttered
bread', while 'Crocodile loved stories that made him cry. He
sniffled and snuffled, sobbed and sighed.' The energetic little
Bilby when locked in the club room, finds ways to use up all the
books building a tower, a fort, a great wall, and three houses.
Eventually he is bored and decides to open the pages of The
terrifying adventures of big brave Bilby and discovers that words
and stories can be exciting too.
Ben Wood's illustrations are lots of fun. On his website
he describes the process of how he locates the headquarters of the
Bush Book Club in a gumtree on an island in the middle of the river.
The club house is filled with books and comfortable armchairs and
sofas and even better, the animals can climb out and sit on the
tree's limbs and read. Young readers will enjoy the happy
expressions on the animals' faces and love the illustrations of
Bilby as he discovers a book that keeps him spellbound.
With a beautifully written story that could become a read aloud
favourite and soft, humorous illustrations, this book is a keeper.
Pat Pledger
Rock War by Robert Muchamore
Hodder Children's Books, 2014. ISBN: 9781444914535.
(Age: 14+) Themes: Peer relationships, Overcoming difficulties,
Dysfunctional families, Adolescence, Crime, Non-Conformity. The book
clearly displays a label that states, 'Not suitable for Younger
Readers.'Jay, Summer and Dylan are three young students who
live with unusual, but completely different family circumstances,
and yet they share a path into a Rock Music destination. In
Muchamore's latest series, the gritty and complex backgrounds of the
band members of three hard-rock bands creates an interesting
backdrop as they enter a Rock band competition for young teens. The
Prologue opens with the suggestion of future success, a teaser that
opens up the possibility of the world of stardom. The narrative
begins with a competition that reveals Jay as a central figure in
the plot, and then the author weaves in the other main characters in
succeeding chapters.
The setting of this book places the main characters from urban inner
city or Estate underclass of England (If you have ever watched The
Bill, you will recognise the environs), or from a contrasting
private school privilege and will appeal to Teens who appreciate
life lived on the edge. The issues that Muchamore includes within
the lives of the band members, their school friends and their
families include peer dilemmas , bullying, jealousy, crime, ADHD and
its impacts, cutting, being a teen carer, dysfunctional family
composition, sexual abuse, teen sexual behaviour and the chaotic
consequences of poor choices. These characters are not from 'neat'
family backgrounds, and they do not experience easy routes to
success, but some of them still do homework after school. Music,
though, is a powerful vehicle to express their angst and to
experience some control in their lives. Muchamore includes some
earthy language on occasions to communicate the culture and voices
of the teens, and their attitudes to authority.
Despite the youthful 'hard-rock' culture, there is evidence of care
and concern for family members and the main characters are likeable
and believable. This will be a series that appeals to those whose
music preferences are far from the Pop or Classical world. Both male
and female readers will find it appealing, but it is not for the
very young. The book clearly displays a label that states, 'Not
suitable for Younger Readers.' Do NOT disregard this label. Because
of the issues that the author raises, this book is for older readers
(at least 14+), even though some of the characters within the Rock
Bands are quite young. Characters make choices within the book that
are far from exemplary, and some crime details are confronting.
Note, as this is the first in the series, there is obvious
development of the competition between the bands still to come. This
is not a text that would warrant Class study.
Carolyn Hull
Keeper of the Phoenix by Aleesah Darlison
Ill. by Nicole Onslow. Ash Rover Book 1. Walker Books, 2014. ISBN
9781922179029.
(Age: 7-10) Highly recommended. Themes: Adventure, Fantasy, Quest.
All the elements of a fantasy-quest junior novel - mythical
creatures, magic and mayhem, an evil wizard and friends on a mission
to save their village, engage the reader in Aleesah Davidson's new
action-packed adventure series.
When young Ash Rover falls asleep minding his cows, a mysterious
warm rock hits him on the head. He leaves the cows and rushes home
to tell his unimpressed mother, she admonishes him and throws the
strange object out. Of course the rock turns out to be a phoenix egg
and when it hatches Ash becomes the keeper, protector and food
supplier for the hungry bird. All the men of the village have left
to fight the enemy at the border and Lady Belgrave rules the
village. When she summons Ash and his friends Rhyll and Taine to the
manor to show her the magical bird, things change dramatically.
With the village trapped under the evil wizard Zadoc's spell, the
three adventurers, Ash's faithful dog trip and Gwaam the talking
phoenix need to confront their fears, work together and break the
wizard's spell within seven days. Ash knows he has to do the right
thing even though he's not always clever or brave. Rhyll is a great
foil for Ash, feisty and opinionated.
Along the way they confront a fierce mother dragon, colourful
unicorns, fairies, trogs, need to find food and shelter and confront
the evil wizard Zadoc.
This is an exciting new novel with two more Ash Rover books to come.
This would be a great class read aloud as an introduction to
narrative, fantasy and character development.
Highly recommended for readers from 7-10. Classroom ideas are available.
Rhyllis Bignell
Don't Worry be Happy! or Else! by Francoize Boucher
A & C Black, 2014. ISBN: 9781472904713.
(Ages: 8-99!) Subjects: Happiness, Emotional Health, Cartooning.
Francoize Boucher is a Parisienne author and fashion designer who
shares her creativity and passion for happiness in her new book
Don't Worry be Happy! or Else! She has a unique style of
presentation with page after page of neon illustrations,
encouragements and sayings, quirky cartoon characters and spaces for
personal drawings and reflections. This is definitely not a novel,
just a book filled with positivity, suitable to pick up and read
straight through or just dip into when you need encouragement.
Boucher asks 'Why should you feel so happy?' She answers because you
are 100% human of course! The humorous comparisons between the sad
lives of lions, worms, goldfish, pigs even objects like palm trees
and the joys of happiness experienced by people adds humour to the
book. Imagine a worm who can't share in the pleasures of pocket
money, future career opportunities even mobile phone ownership! Her
fun advice and fresh view on life makes this a joy to read. Humour
and happiness are interlinked.
The cartoon illustrations are creative, with multiple speech
bubbles, bold use of neon highlights and shading, different font
styles and sizes to catch your attention. The style is reminiscent
of Liz Pichon's Tom Gates books. This would make a great
present for a birthday or special occasion or for someone who needs
encouragement.
Rhyllis Bignell
Grasshopper Jungle by Andrew Smith
Hardie Grant Egmont, 2014. ISBN: 9781742978802.
Recommended for readers 16 years +. Themes: Friends, Sexuality,
Family relationships, Science fiction. Grasshopper Jungle tells the
story of three teenage friends in the small American town of Ealing,
Iowa. Austin Szerba is the story's narrator and much of the book
focuses on his complicated relationships with his girlfriend, Shann
Collins, and his best friend Robby Brees.
Ealing, the town in which the book is set, is in decline with its
major employer, McKeon Industries, having closed down. A significant
part of the story takes place in the Ealing Mall where only four
small businesses remain open. The Mall is built on a field where
Austin and Robby used to ride their BMX bikes and was known to them
as Grasshopper Jungle.
Aside from the teenagers' relationships the other significant aspect
of the plot involves the world being taken over by giant praying
mantises! We learn that McKeon Industries started life manufacturing
fertilizer but at some point ventured into genetic engineering and
accepted a contract from the United States government to produce a
race of 'unstoppable soldiers'. A series of events on a normal day
in Ealing results in an old sample of 'Contained MI Plague Strain
412E' being released and Ealing, Iowa, becomes ground zero for the
end of the world as we know it.
Austin keeps a detailed diary and sees it as his duty to record
history for future generations. Andrew Smith frequently introduces
seemingly insignificant facts from the history of the book's
characters which, when put together, give the story a 'six degrees
of separation' quality. The book is full of clever observations
about human nature and the inclination for history to repeat itself.
The cover of this book is very visually appealing to a teenage
audience however the amount of content related to Austin's sexual
relationships with both Shann and Robby result in it being suitable
for older teen readers only.
Nicki Paterson
