Penguin Books, 2013. ISBN 9780141348872.
(Age: 14+) Recommended. Spells. Homosexuality. New York. Stephen is
used to being invisible. Even his parents couldn't see him. Living
alone in a flat in New York, he manages to survive. Then new tenants
move into the apartment upstairs and he discovers to his amazement
that Elizabeth can see him and that he wants to be with her. But a
world of spells and curses separates them, and together with
Elizabeth's gay brother, Laurie, they try to come up with a way to
break the spell that his grandfather the curse maker has put on him.
The writing team of two well-known authors for teens makes for a
powerful story that combines the issues that young people face with
a thrilling story of terrible curses and spells. When the three meet
Millie, a spell seeker, she recognises that Elizabeth has abilities
as a spell seeker and begins to train her. Elizabeth has to work out
if she is strong enough to take on Stephen's grandfather, who has
had no qualms about cursing his daughter and grandson.
The New York setting is vividly described, especially as Stephen
goes about the streets and park, with no one the wiser. This brings
the story to life as it is fascinating for the reader to imagine the
trio making their way around New York as their quest develops.
However it is the in-depth characterisation that makes this story
stand out. The isolation of Stephen, his relationship with his
father, who is content to pay his bills and leave it at that, makes
a poignant contrast to how he feels when suddenly there is someone
who can see him. Laurie, who had been bashed at his last school for
being gay, is a resilient character and Elizabeth is a believable
spell seeker.
Told from 2 viewpoints, that of Stephen and Elizabeth, this is a
story that will appeal to both fans of Levithan and Cremer, and will
give readers the opportunity to wonder what it would be like to live
an invisible life.
Pat Pledger
Mr Wuffles! by David Wiesner
Random House Australia, 2014. ISBN 9781849397803.
(Age: All ages) 'Look, Mr Wuffles, a new toy!' But with that look of
disdain that cats have, Mr Wuffles stalks past the new toy and all
his old toys - his mind is focused on playing with a tiny spaceship
he has spotted! Turning it this way and that determined to find out
what's inside, he doesn't realise that it is inhabited by teeny-tiny
aliens and he is causing them a great deal of distress and damaging
their precious machine, not to mention scaring the daylights out of
them as his eyes peer in the slit. The aliens eventually escape and,
taking parts with them, seek refuge under the radiator where Mr
Wuffles can't reach to try to regain their equilibrium and repair
their craft. But there are other inhabitants behind the walls of the
house - a menagerie of bugs who, thankfully, are friendly and who,
having had their own 'adventures' with the cat which are cleverly
depicted as 'cave paintings', understand the aliens' plight and help
repair the spaceship in ingenious ways. Sneaking hurriedly back to
the craft, narrowly avoiding those nasty claws, the aliens escape,
leaving Wiesner to create the most delightful ending imaginable. You
don't need words to know what Mr Wuffles is thinking. He is a cat
with attitude which is why the title is followed by an exclamation
mark.
This is another remarkable masterpiece by triple Caldecott Medal
winner (awarded for the most distinguished children's picture book).
Creator of such wonderful stories as Tuesday, The Three
Pigs and Flotsam (his three Caldecott winners), the
story behind the creation of Mr Wuffles is a story in itself
beginning 20 years ago when he created a cover for Cricket magazine.
In that, he depicted the landing of aliens in a sandbox, and he
'liked the idea of the relationship between the child who found
these little guys in his sandbox, and how they could get along even
though they spoke different languages.' The concept stayed with him
and had various incarnations over the years but nothing worked to
his satisfaction until one day while waiting for his daughter at
music class . . .
While it is almost wordless if you are looking for words in English,
there is a great deal of conversation between the aliens and then
between the aliens and the bugs, all meticulously crafted on a
formula based on fractions and devised in collaboration with a
linguist. 'The words Wiesner's little green men speak resemble what
might be inadvertently produced by someone typing rows of numbers
with the shift key left on'. The bugs have their own language too -
testament to the attention to detail that has gone into this book.
Wiesner even followed his own cat (ironically named Cricket which is
where the story started) around his home with a camera on a long
pole so he could get a cat's eye-view of things.
There is nothing that I can say about this book that hasn't been
said already by reviewers of much greater standing than I, and an
Internet search will bring up many, as well as YouTube clips,
activities and a host of other references including the story behind
the story
and an article
or just watch Youtube.
This book is one for preschool to secondary - it is so full of
riches. Beyond the story itself, there is the story of unusual
friendships; the debate about being on the cat's side or the aliens'
side; the opportunity to develop secret language codes; the
examination of perspective to create and influence meaning . .
. it is a treasury of visual literacy opportunities.
Not being a 'cat person' I thought this review copy would be one I
would pass on to a more welcoming home, but no. It will become an
essential tool in my teaching kit.
Barbara Braxton
Bailey beats the blah by Karen Tyrrell
Ill. by Aaron Pocock. Digital Future Press, 2013. ISBN
9780987274045. ebk ISBN 9780987274052.
Bailey has moved to a new school and he HATES it. He drags himself
around the house getting ready feeling worse and worse as the time
to leave gets closer. He has a real dose of the blahs. Even his dog
can't cheer him up. But this isn't just a case of Monday-itis -
Bailey is lonely and isolated and he thinks all the other kids are
laughing at him and whispering about him. How can Bailey change his
blah to ha-ha-ha? It seems impossible until Miss Darling introduces
another new boy to the class . . .
Author Karen Tyrrell has taken a very common situation and turned it
into a story that will resonate with Baileys (and Barbaras) across
the nation at this time, as school starts to get into full swing.
There will be many children in new schools who are trying to find
their feet in a new environment and create new friendship groups
amongst kids who seem to have too much in common to share that they
don't notice the outsider. For many, there is no hope that they will
ever break the code of friendship and even though they are not
bullied, they beat themselves up and drive themselves down into what
can develop into childhood depression.
There is a strong message in this book, not the least of which is
hope, and scope for discussion about how we can make newcomers
welcome particularly in situations like school where there is no
choice about attending. It's a wonderful opportunity to start
helping students develop empathy and compassion and the skills to
reach out warmly to newcomers, embracing them rather than isolating
them. There is also the opportunity to help students start to look
within themselves for their own strengths and how they might use
these to build their self-worth and help others. Tom teaches Bailey
how to dribble a soccer ball, Bailey helps Tom build a rocket - it
shows you don't have to rely on common experiences to have
friendships; you can build new ones on new experiences.
A visit to her website
shows that she is a strong advocate for kids' mental health and in Bailey
Beats the Blah she shows how a sensitive and astute teacher
can subtly intervene before a small thing becomes a huge thing.
Having travelled her own personal path of a psychiatric illness
after being so harassed by parents she could take it no longer, she
is now making mental health a focus through her writing. A
percentage of the profits of the book are going to Kids Helpline.
Aaron Pocock's cartoon-like illustrations are very appealing and the
perfect complement to the text. He makes Bailey's anxiety palpable,
bringing it to life in a way that text, no matter how well written,
can. There's a real sense that this character could be Any Child at
Any School.
This would be a very timely purchase for a school collection to be
drawn to teachers' attention so they can touch base with all their
new students and see how they're settling in, and, like Miss
Darling, intervene if necessary. It is aligned to the Kids Matter
program, a national mental health and well-being framework for
primary schools and early childhood education and care services.
Barbara Braxton
My two blankets by Irena Kobald
Ill. by Freya Blackwood. Little Hare, 2014. ISBN 9781921714764.
(Age: All) Highly recommended. A perfect tale of acceptance, sees
Cartwheel coming to Australia from Africa, where she and her Aunt
were unsafe. In her new country she often hides under her old
blanket, a large, warm blanket that reflects her home, full of
recognisable words and feelings, a place of shelter and refuge, a
metaphorical blanket which wraps the child in its familiarity.
Outside their house she cannot understand the waterfall of words, or
cope with the new that crowds in on her. At a park where she and her
aunt go, another child waves and smiles. She is not there the next
day but soon after she sees her again, and this time she is invited
to share the swing. Over a period of time, the new girl shares some
words with Cartwheel, so adding a small new blanket to her old one,
and as they become better acquainted, the new blanket grows and
grows, with new words added and practised and learnt. Friendship
helps her accept the new world and the mammoth change to her life.
Blackwood's illustrations are just wonderful. The soft warm colours
of Australia contrast with the bright sun filled colours of Africa,
colours that Cartwheel and her aunt bring with them. I love her
trees, with the art deco feel, and the drawings of the machinery of
cities, the factories, the trains, contrasting vividly with the
smallness of life for the women, time spent at the park, the
gentleness of that space contrasting again with the overwhelming
body of people on the streets. On other pages contrasts are given,
watch out for the size of Cartwheel and her aunt in the crowd, or
the things drawn into her new blanket, common words found and learnt
as she becomes more confident in her friendship, and acceptance of
her new life.
This is a wonderful book, giving more each time it is read, showing
more as the illustrations are admired and dwelled upon, revealing
more about the people coming anew to our shores and the welcome
offered to them. And Frey Blackwood's website
offers insight into the way she approached the story.
Fran Knight
Meet Daisy by Michelle Hamer
Ill. by Lucia Masciullo. Our Australian Girl. Puffin, 2014.
ISBN 9780143307631.
(Age: 8+) Australian History, Depression, Poverty, Melbourne. When
Daisy's widowed father loses his farm, he must send his girls to
Melbourne to live with their Aunt May and Uncle Berty, while he
searches for work. But things are tough, and once in the city, Daisy
finds that instead of a loving aunt she has a cross, ill-natured
one, who barks orders and is riddled with expectations. She
threatens the girls with being kicked out of home if their father
does not send any money, and tells Daisy that she is of an age to go
to work.
Daisy is appalled at the state of affairs in her relative's house
and determines to make things better. But in doing so she offends
Aunt May to the point where she is kicked out of their house. She
must now survive in a hostile new city without any support.
This story will appeal to readers of this series, the author has
given a background which will augment readers' knowledge of the
poverty felt in Australia in the 1930's. The story moves from the
country to the city, exploring the way people made do in such
circumstances, Daisy with her dress sewn from a flour bag, the twins
next door wearing only one shoe for half a day then swapping, lines
of people waiting for the possibility of work. While Aunty May is
drawn heavily, readers will love the difference between the two
adults, and read on to discover how Daisy makes it alone.
Fran Knight
The big dry by Tony Davis
Angus&Robertson, 2013. ISBN 9780732297633.
(Age: 12+) Recommended, Drought, Future, Dystopia. With the world a
dust bowl and everyone taking shelter as soon as the siren warns of
a coming dust storm, George and his small brother don their dust
masks, and go to the bathroom, the most secure place in the house,
waiting for their father to return. He left some some time before in
search of food to augment their dwindling supplies but has not
returned, and George must keep Beeper hidden lest the authorities
take him away. Survival is paramount.
Suddenly a girl appears in their hallway and with the oddest of
attitudes, asks questions, and Beeper, though warned not to, tells
her of their situation. When they go out in search of their father,
they see things which underlines their plight, wanderers picking off
the vulnerable, authorities taking children, dust closed
hospitals. But going home after helping the rabbito when he
has been attacked by the wanderers, they find Emily has returned.
The relationship between the three struggles between dependence and
suspicion, as the brusque Emily wants them to join forces, but
George cannot trust her, and despite all evidence wants to stand
alone waiting for dad.
This is a grim allegory for our time, when water is traded, drought
has ravaged everything in sight, the sun is hot and dangerous, and
people are bent on survival, their own. Children are taken by the
authorities, neighbours are suspicious and reclusive, and dreams of
a better life, the green places fill their sleepless nights.
Readers will compare their own situation with that of George, think
about their own survival in such a place, and open their minds to
the thoughts that many are in this situation today, it is not a just
a dystopian story set in a possible future.
Fran Knight
Spying by Henry Brook
Ill. by Staz Johnson and Adrian Roots. Usborne, 2013. ISBN
9781409550143.
(Age: 9+) Recommended, Spies, War. Chapters about spying in all of
its forms, are given in this easy to hold, easily read book. From an
historical perspective to the modern day, reasons why nations and
people spy upon each other are given. Told from a British
perspective, the MI6 headquarters is one of the first of many
illustration in the book. Chapters about ciphers, how to spy, secret
messages, how spies work during war and so on are enough to whet the
appetite to keep on reading. A double page tells the reader about
Francis Walsingham, the famous spy who worked for Queen Elizabeth 1,
then over the page we hear about Pinkerton and the detective agency
he set up in the USA, T. E. Lawrence, and Mata Hari.
The world of course is changing and so is spying, so allegiances
change. The last part of the book showcase the new inventions which
help spying. So we see sections about drones, about the Enigma
machine used during World War Two, many short stories outlining
incidents during war and the Cold War, all fascinating and very
readable.
A neat overview of a very messy business, maps and lots of photos
and diagrams will keep the readers intrigued all the way to the end.
A two page glossary covers many of the new words to do with this
area of society and a more than adequate index brings the book to a
close.
Fran Knight
Picture Me Gone by Meg Rosoff
Penguin, 2013. ISBN 9780141344034. (Age: 12+) Recommended. Mila has a gift. She can read people and
rooms like novels, and she can tell if you're upset, or hiding a
secret, or if you're pregnant.
When Mila and her father go on a holiday to America to catch up with
her father's old friend, Matthew, all seems well. But then Matthew
disappears, and suddenly it's up to Mila and her father Gil to help
solve the mystery. But soon the real mystery becomes not where
Matthew has gone, but why he left in the first place.
Fans of the recent BBC Sherlock series will see something
familiar in Mila: a slightly odd, yet incredibly perceptive genius
who loves solving mysteries. Yet Picture Me Gone is unique enough -
and Mila a strong enough character - that any doubts about the
excellence of this short novel will soon be assuaged.
At less than 200 pages, Picture Me Gone is a brief but
detailed snapshot into a hectic week of Mila's life. This is a
mystery novel, but it is also a novel about friendship, love,
secrets, and self-discovery.
Young girls may not be able to relate to the genius and wit of
Mila's character, but they will certainly be able to relate to the
friendship troubles she experiences with her best friend. It was
certainly a good idea of Rosoff to add this small side plot with
Mila and her friend, to let some of the younger readers empathise
with the main character.
As far as mystery stories go, Picture Me Gone was fair, but
not brilliant. There is a great build-up of tension throughout the
novel, but the ending (which I won't describe for spoiler's sake) is
somewhat of a letdown. And besides, the mystery of this novel is not
even as important as Mila's journey of self-discovery, which remains
the true focus of this book. And what a wonderful journey it is.
I recommend this book.
Rebecca Adams (Student)
When Mr Dog Bites by Brian Conaghan
Bloomsbury, 2014. ISBN 9781408851586.
(Age: Year 10+) The eyecatching cover of Brian Conaghan's novel
displays the warning 'Contains very strong language. Not for younger
readers' but the language comes from 16 year old Dylan Mint's
spontaneous Tourette syndrome outbursts and does not seem offensive.
Like all teenagers he is concerned with friendship, fashion and sex
and he encounters bullying, racism and prejudice, just more so as he
attends a special school and his father is absent. When Mint
overhears a conversation between his mother and a doctor implying he
will die in a few months' time, he makes a list of things to do
before he dies. The list includes getting his dad home from the war,
finding a new best friend for his autistic buddy Amir and 'having
real sexual intercourse with a girl'. Mint is funny, loyal and his
struggles with life are poignant and engaging as he and his friends
negotiate adolescence. But other than the feisty object of Mint's
affections, Michelle Molloy, they all seem much younger and more
credulous than fits their assigned ages. Like The Black Balloon,
My Sister Lives on the Mantelpiece and M.J. Hyland's Carry
Me Down, we are given some insight into the lives of families
whose paths in life differ from the norm. Suitable for year 10
students onwards, with a warning about the language.
Sue Speck
Kitten Kaboodle: Mission one: The Catier emerald by Eileen O'Hely
Ill. by Heath McKenzie. Walker Books, 2014. ISBN 9781921529931.
(Age: 6+) Recommended. Chapter book, Humour, Animals, Crime. Misty
is walking down a dark alley when surprised by a gang of ferocious
dogs. Kitten Kaboodle comes to the rescue. After all a pampered
kitten is not match for Tyson, Boxer, Bruiser, Rasputin and Goliath.
So begins the funny adventures of Kitten Kaboodle, called into
action when the members of DOG are out attacking cats. His mission
is to infiltrate their headquarters and find out what they are up
to. In the middle of his discussion with his boss, they are
interrupted by an emergency call, and Kaboodle readies himself for
the task. In doing so he follows a group of kidnapped kittens to
where the DOGS are training them to be cat burglars. Fun and mayhem
occur.
The humour of the text is underlined by the charming McKenzie
drawings which are found on most pages. The chapters are short and
in large print, most suitable for an able first time independent
reader. The descriptions of the things Kaboodle gets up to, compared
with the way he is treated at home by his doting owner, will cause
whoops of delight from the readers.
The array of equipment used by Kaboodle will intrigue the reader, as
will the adventure he finds himself in.
A second in this new series, Mission two: the lightning opal
follows soon.
Fran Knight
The Jeweller of Rassylon by Peter Cooper
Tales of the Blue Jade series, bk 3. Omnibus Books, 2013.
ISBN 9781862919440.
(Age: 10+) Recommended. Dillen, along with his trustworthy
companions, Koto and Tajni, are on a quest to capture the brilliant
blue jade. To obtain the fantastic jewel, they must seek the advice
of a demon that lives in the mountains, and that is if they are even
able to see him in the first place.
But they are not alone, as there are many others who are desperately
hunting for the jewel. And as their quest continues, one question
remains: will they even be able to reach it alive?
Having read the second novel in the Tales of The Blue Jade
series (The
Mapmaker's Apprentice), I can reliably inform you that The
Jeweller of Rassylon is more of the same, and that that is not
a problem in the slightest:
Cooper simply gives us more of the fun, fantasy adventure style that
was so enjoyable in his last book.
Fantasy action/adventure novels like The Jeweller of Rassylon
are common for this age range (upper primary students), and as far
as the plot goes, there's nothing particularly new or unique there.
But the strength of this novel relies on its characters, and they
are undoubtedly excellent and relatable.
It's also nice to see strong female characters in this novel, as
that makes it relatable to a much wider range of younger readers.
The writing style is simple, with little violence or blood, which
makes the book both easy to read and fast-paced.
Filled with action, mystery, excitement, adventure, and a healthy
dose of magic, The Jeweller of Rassylon is an enjoyable
novel that younger readers will likely love and older readers will
also enjoy.
I recommend this book.
Rebecca Adams
The Incredible Here and Now by Felicity Castagna
Giramondo Publishing, 2013. ISBN 9781922146366.
Recommended age: 13+. The summer that Michael turns fifteen, his
beloved brother Dom is killed in a car accident. But this is not a
novel that dwells on grief; it is a novel about Michael's growth as
a teenager, and a novel that lets us into the highly intricate world
of Michael's life. Told through a series of short vignettes
describing Michael's world as he sees it - the local McDonalds, the
endless parties, the bustle of the crowded, noisy apartment block
where he and his family live - The Incredible Here and Now
deals with the struggles of Michael's life in the year after Dom is
killed.
Reading The Incredible Here and Now feels more like flicking
through an old family photo album rather than reading an actual
novel. Each chapter is like a snapshot: with each vignette we gain
another glimpse into the world and character of Michael. This
structure is quite unique, and actually very interesting to read, as
we gain a thorough understanding of the characters and get attached
to them. These characters are also, in general, quite realistic, and
several feel like the sort of characters that surround us in our own
lives.
The writing style is fairly simple, yet appropriate, as the novel is
told in first person perspective from Michael's point of view, and
this language style suits his character. His world is vividly
described in luscious detail, which enables the readers to create a
lush portrait of this world in their own minds.
All that said, The Incredible Here and Now fails to create
the 'wow' factor of a truly great novel: it is an interesting and
detailed examination into grief and adolescence, and a fantastic
description of a somewhat broken world, but that's about as far as
it goes.
Rebecca Adams (Student)
Ophelia and the Marvellous Boy by Karen Foxlee
Knopf Books for Young Readers, 2014. ISBN 9780385753548.
Highly recommended for readers from 8-12 and classes from Year 4-6.
Themes: Resilience, Fairy tales - retelling, Grief, Magic,
Adventure. Karen Foxlee's novel for readers aged from 8-12 is a
rich, imaginative retelling of Andersen's The Snow Queen.
The Marvellous Boy is a ten year old child who has been frozen in
time by wizards, who take his name and make him eternally young.
After being the much-loved friend of the King for years, he is
locked away in a bare room by the wicked new Queen. The whole land
is frozen under her evil magical spell and time is desperately
running out to save the boy's life.
A rescuer is needed and she arrives three days before Christmas.
Ophelia Jane Worthington-Whittard is a curious eleven year old girl
who thinks scientifically, doesn't believe in magic and is
struggling to cope with the loss of her mother. When her father
takes a job organising a collection of old swords in the palace
museum Ophelia sets out to explore the strange and exotic rooms
filled with dinosaurs, dresses, teapots, lost spoons, relics and
paintings. Meanwhile the Queen takes her older sister Alice and is
preparing her for an unfortunate fate.
Ophelia has an inner strength. Although outwardly messy, reliant on
her asthma's inhaler, uncaring about her dishevelled appearance, she
questions everything she is told. At first she doesn't believe the
boy's story and is unwilling to save him; when belief and
circumstances change she begins the race against time to find the
hidden sword and free the boy.
Each chapter begins with a trope that tells of the exciting
adventures ahead. Karen Foxlee's lyrical style of writing, depth of
descriptive imagery and relatable main character make this a
wonderful story for a class novel, for sharing at home or for
readers who love fantasy and adventure. Personally it was a book I
loved reading and will promote at school.
Rhyllis Bignell
Skateboard Stars by Felicity Carter
Ill. by Louis Shea. Double trouble Book 2. Scholastic
Australia, 2014. ISBN: 9781742838571.
(Age: 6-7) Themes: Twins, Skateboarding, Television Shows. Felicity
Carter's Skateboard Stars series is written for young
readers who are just beginning to engage in chapter books. Her
characters are relatable and skateboarding is a popular sport. Louis
Shea's humorous illustrations add fun to this junior novel.
Tommy and Coop are identical seven-year old twins. They are
pranksters who thoroughly enjoy playing tricks on their family, poor
Mum's hair turns a brilliant blue after a shower. The twins also
love skateboarding and practising tricks at the skate park. When
they hear that their favourite skate board star Jed Michaels is
coming to town and holding a competition, they can't wait. They need
to come up with a sneaky plan to win because only one contestant can
be appear on Jed's television show.
Rhyllis Bignell
Hold on tight by Sara Acton
Scholastic Press, 2013. ISBN 9781742833491.
What would happen if you were light as a leaf and the wind swept you
up and blew you through the sky? In this delightful book, Sara Acton
explores that idea. 'Hold on tight to my hand today. You wouldn't
want to blow away. Would you?' says mother to daughter as they are
out for a walk on a windy autumn day. 'Would I?' thinks the little
girl and her imagination starts to envisage just what might happen.
For if you were light as a leaf, you could share cherry buns and a
cup of tea with a bird in a tree, or chase a fairy floating along
all light and airy . . . the possibilities are only limited by your
imagination. But what if it started to rain?
Written in rhyming couplets, and accompanied by whimsical
watercolours this is a delightful story from Sara Acton, 2012 winner
of Children's Book Council of Australia Crichton Award for new
illustrators for Ben and Duck. With the seasons
turning and all the perennial studies of the changes of autumn
showing up in teachers' planning, this would be a great book to add
to the collection. It offers so much scope. I can envisage a mural
where each child has drawn themselves astride a leaf they have
created with a couplet of their adventure written on it. This is a
book that may well be on the CBCA Notables list.
Barbara Braxton
