Puffin, 2013. Kindle edition. ISBN 9780141969534
(Age: 13+) Highly recommended. Magic. Maggie hates Val, her new
stepfather. He seems to be surrounded by strange shadows that no one
else can see. A refugee from Oldworld where magic is still used, he
just doesn't seem to quite fit into Newworld, where magic has been
banned and everything must have a scientific rationale. Maggie's
great grandmother had been a magician, but that was a long time ago
and anything that reeks of magic must now be hidden. Then Maggie
meets a gorgeous boy Casimir who is from Oldworld too, and together
with her friends Jill and Takahiro, and her dog Mongo, they face
shattering events and must rely on Val's help.
McKinley is an award winning author and the quality of her work
demonstrates both her creative writing skills and the wonderful
imagination that she brings to the worlds that she creates. She
doesn't write long series, most of her books are one-offs, and each
is very different, giving her fans, and I am one, something to truly
look forward to. Shadows is similar to her wonderful vampire book, Sunshine,
in that it has a familiar feel to the setting. Although Maggie's
world is quite different to ours, her family, her friends and her
work at the animal shelter make the reader feel comfortable while
taking in the ideas of magic being banned and strange shadows
stalking her stepfather.
McKinley's characters are beautifully rounded. Maggie is a great
character. The story is told in the first person by her and through
her observations the reader gets to know everyone really well.
Although she hates Val, she tries to hide this because her mother
loves him so much and her little brother adores him as well. Jill is
a trusty friend and Takahiro just blew my mind away. The romance is
low key but really satisfying. And of course, Mongo the dog and the
other dogs at the shelter are fully realised characters as well.
There is plenty of action both from the point of view of the
characters getting to know each other, and from facing the magical
elements. To write much more would be to give away the plot, but it
is riveting and I was left wishing that there was more to come. This
is one book that is on my re-read list, as are all the others that
McKinley has written. This will appeal to fans of Diana Wynne Jones
to whom the book is dedicated, and to readers who want a story with
unique world building and memorable characters.
Pat Pledger
City of monsters by D.C. Green
Monster School, bk 1. Ford St, 2013. ISBN 9781925000078.
(Age: 10+) Highly recommended for capable readers. Fantasy. From
Ford St Publishing, comes D.C. Green's latest book for children, the
first in a new series. Now let me see... let's take some gnarly
grommets, angst-ridden kids with attitude, misfits of various
descriptions and some seriously divided peer groups and mix them all
together in a monster mash of hilariously epic proportions.
Enter PT aka Swamp Monster who turns up at Monster School and
somehow, almost by default, becomes part of the Dead Gang. Amidst
this incongruous group of oddballs (even by monster terms!) PT aka
the Heir Apparent of Monstro City is both intimidated and accepted
by a vampire, an abnormally huge spider, a zombie, a shape shifter,
a mummy, a troll and forest goblin - none of whom are 'accepted' by
the ruling class of Mafia goblins. After all, PT (Thomas Regus) is a
'hume', that is, a human and so far outside the norm of Monster
School as to be viewed in the normal scheme of things as... well,
basically... dinner!
With Monstro City being ruled by Lord Boron, both Regent and PT's
tutor, PT is stifled and appalled by his confinement to the dark
quarters of the Palace, his father and brother having disappeared
(amidst rumours of vampire intervention) and his mother in a strange
deep coma.
Rebelling against his everyday life - really? A teenager rebelling?
Go figure! - PT connives at an escape to Monster School to undertake
his own education regarding his kingdom with both extremely amusing
but also heroic results.
Readers, young and old, will recognise many students/young people,
with whom they have interacted and relish the humour and innate
sense of justice expressed through the characters and their actions.
Look out for the next instalment - this one will be a real winner
with both boys and girls. The characters are endearing, despite
their monstrous attributes and the reader becomes fully engaged with
the whole adventure - and who can resist a fully grown dragon?
Magnificent, dangerous and wise, Kalthazari completely dominates the
climax of the adventure and provides the segue to the next
instalment.
Highly recommended for capable readers from 10+ (the characters'
'voices' will need some careful reading).
Sue Warren
I love you night and day by Smriti Prasadam-Halls
Ill. by Alison Brown. Bloomsbury, 2014. ISBN 9781408839737.
(Age: Preschool-6) Recommended. Love.
A celebration of love, this picture book sends out a loud and heart
warming message about the power of love that a parent has for a
child:
'I love you wild, I love you loud.
I shout it out and I feel proud.
I love you night, I love you day.
In every moment come what may.'
Vivid colours bring the illustrations alive and are a perfect
complement to the story that just begs to be read aloud by a parent
who wants to reassure a child that he or she is well loved. It would
be an ideal present for parents and is sure to be a book that
becomes a favourite with both adult and child and is an ideal way
for both to express love.
I particularly enjoy books that extol the virtues of love and this
one could be paired with Sam McBratney's Guess how much I love
you and Margaret Wild's On the day that you were born.
Pat Pledger
Her Majesty's pleasure: A centenary celebration for Adelaide's theatre of the stars
Wakefield Press, 2013. ISBN 9781743052297.
(Age: 14+) Recommended. Theatre. Adelaide History.
Presented in full colour illustrations in a large format book, this
history of Her Majesty's Theatre in Grote Street in the Adelaide CBD is
just a wonderful read. The author, Frank Van Straten has complied
the stories and history of the grand theatre from his amazingly
broad experience and collection, while doing extensive research to
make this a necessary companion to any study of Adelaide's theatre
scene as well as its architectural heritage. And so well written,
the stories of this marvelous theatre feel familiar and shout to be
recounted. From vaudeville days in the aptly named chapter, Act One,
when Stiffy and Mo trod the stage, with the likes of Lilli Gantrey
or Ada Reeve, or held plays such as The Mallee Root and The
Bushwoman, or encouraged patriotism with shows about ANZAC, the
theatre, then called The Tivolli was a proud part of Adelaide's
theatre-going population.
Each of the book's major sections, Act One and Act Two, are offered
in chronological listings of what happened through the years, the
date being the simple heading for each paragraph or two, making it
an easy book to dip into.
A foreword by Barry Humphries reiterates the importance of the
theatre and recalls his often quoted words that this theatre is his
favourite in Australia. These words are followed by an Overture and
Prologue, and the two chapters are rounded off with a section on The
Future written by the CEO of the Adelaide Festival Centre, Douglas
Gautier. The copious illustrations are amazing, not only detailing a
history of the theatre, but showing the changes in Adelaide as the
theatre went through its paces. It is a wonderful book for browsing,
for adding to the history of Adelaide and for making people look
again at this theatre in the heart of the city.
Fran Knight
Never fade by Alexandra Bracken
The darkest minds bk 2. Harper Collins, 2013. ISBN:
9780732294595.
(Age: 13+) The darkest minds never fade is a book formed
from an interesting concept and a very real possibility warped into
fantasy. A killer disease has swept through the children of America,
wiping out all but a small percent. Survivors are sent to camps to
be monitored by doctors and specialists who are working towards
finding a cure, but these children are no longer the kind to sit
quietly and wait and these camps are no longer the patient sort.
Survivors are quickly found to have talents, almost superpowers, and
are classed into categories based on their talents. Being children,
few escape their camps and even fewer live to tell the tale, but a
special few become involved with The Children's League, a society
formed for the purpose of freeing those frightened, abused children
from the camps and the clutches of madness. If nothing else this
book brings to light the very real issues of how a government could
choose to deal with this kind of mass mutation.
The book is based around the story of Ruby, ex-escapee of brutal
concentration camp, Thurmond, and current associate of The
Children's League. Something is wrong with The Children's League;
Alban is having a difficult time keeping his agents in line,
particularly those who despise the idea of being sent on missions
with Psi children such as Ruby and her team. After well orchestrated
'accidents' which resulted in the deaths of several Psi children
Ruby's team is sent on a renegade mission to find the lost research
of 'The Professor' and the key to curing the disease which caused
the mutations. Running into old friends along the way and going
through more than any child should ever have to go through, Ruby
races against the clock to stop the bad agents from corrupting
Alban's vision of freeing all the kids and returning the American
life to a (would be) normal state.
As this is the second book in the series I would recommend it for
teenagers and young adults. If nothing else it provides a range of
interesting concepts and makes you consider your place in the world.
Kayla Gaskell (Student)
Mouse bird snake wolf by David Almond
Ill. by David McKean. Walker, 2013. ISBN 9781406322897.
(Age: 8+) Recommended. Picture book. Allegory. Creation. While the
gods sleep on high, exhausted after creating the world with all of
its variety, three children, Harry, Sue and Little Ben, wander the
earth, in awe of what they see. But there are gaps.
After a while, they experiment to see if they can fill the blank
spaces and so Little Ben imagines a mouse and creates it out of the
resources around him, willing it to life. Each of the children is
excited by this and Sue goes on to create a bird. The gods on high
see the bird and wonder at it, but return to their slumbers.
Then Harry dreams up a snake. He moulds it out of the clay on the
ground and wills it to life, offering the sorts of noises it will
make. But it proves less alluring than the bird and the mouse, and
the children are a little frightened of what has been created, and
baulk, while the snake slithers into a hole in the ground. But then
he creates a wolf.
An allegory for modern times, the story parallels the creation of
all we see, and in particular, the things we would prefer to have
been left out. Just like Pandora, the evil things brought into the
world astonish and bruise the children, but here, they are able to
revoke the wolf, although it still lurks beneath the earth. I love
the feel of the story, that people have created good things but also
some not so welcome. In the hands of an encouraging teacher or
parent, the discussions about what is good in the world could be
impressive. This could lead on to discussions about their
responsibility in making the world a safer place.
The illustrative techniques used are as different as the story,
inviting the readers to ponder why the illustrator has used this
style and discuss how the style parallels the story, giving it
a surreal edge.
Hints in both the story and illustrations, point to other stories,
building up a multi-layered effect, where readers can bring in other
stories they have heard. Moulding animals out of clay, the images of
the older boy taking up more room on the page as he creates the
snake and then the wolf, the gods on high resting in clouds, the
image of the snake as evil, and so on, all parallel other creation
stories from differing cultures which beg to be discussed.
Fran Knight
A breath of frost by Alyxandra Harvey
Lovegrove legacy, bk 1. Bloomsbury, 2014. ISBN 9781408836354.
(Age: 12+) Recommended. Paranormal. Witchcraft. Romance. Mystery. It
is 1814 and three cousins, Emma, Gretchen and Penelope discover that
the Lovegrove family have a legacy of magic. Amidst the splendour of
Regency balls and beautiful ballgowns, the Greymalkin Sisters come
prowling through the gates of the Underworld that Emma has
inadvertently opened. Debutante witches are murdered and Emma is
mysteriously drawn to their bodies, causing the Order of Keepers to
suspect her of murder.
The book opens with a bang as a young girl Moira clambers over the
rooftops of London and breaks into the house of a dead witch to
steal her glass eye. The exhilarating action continues on with the
introduction of Emma and her cousins at a ball where there is a
ghostly fire and a debutante is found dead. Here Emma discovers that
she has a heritage of magic and together with her cousins Gretchen
and Penelope they face danger, not just from the ghouls and
hellhounds and the Greymalkin Sisters but from members of the Order
who are afraid of their powers.
The Regency setting is fabulous, with its descriptions of dance
lessons, etiquette, ballrooms and gowns contrasting with Moira's
background of slums and thieving. The elements of magic including a
Woodcutter's son, a white stag and familiars for each of the
debutante witches, are cleverly written and build up an atmosphere
of enchantment. The battles between the creatures from the
Underworld and Emma's growing powers are enthralling.
Although the story is peopled with a vast array of characters,
including the three cousins, their mothers, fathers, girls at the
exclusive finishing school, Moira and Cormac, a Keeper who has no
magic, it is still easy to follow Emma's story. She grapples with a
mother who has gone mad to protect the cousins and her growing magic
powers. Her attachment to Cormac who seems to have lost interest in
her, provides food for the lovers of romance who won't be
disappointed.
Fans of Alyxandra Harvey won't be disappointed in this story of
clever heroines, magic and romance and will look forward to hearing
more about the Lovegrove legacy.
Pat Pledger
Little Red Riding Hood, retold by Alison Jay
Scholastic 2013. ISBN 9781742760711.
(Age: 3+) Recommended. Fairy tales. The story of Red Riding Hood is
retold in this enticingly illustrated book from Scholastic. The
usual theme is there, being met by a wolf which then ties Grandma up
in the cupboard ready to eat Red Riding Hood when she arrives at
Grandma's house. Most children will know the story and be able to
predict what will happen along the way. A few changes from the
original are included: the wolf does not eat Grandma, and his end is
not as gruesome as others I have read. But it will entreat and
delight the readers and listeners, some even discussing the
differences between other versions.
The illustrations are a delight. With an old fashioned style, each
picture is overlaid with cracking as if the paint is much older than
it appears to be. The background village, the houses and their
insides and are all drawn in a much earlier age, giving the
impression of an age old story. And I loved the introduction of
other fairy tales in the setting. Kids will eagerly find references
to the Gingerbread House, the Gingerbread Man, Hansel and Gretel,
the Woodsman, the Three Little Pigs and so one peppering the
illustrations. Such fun.
Fran Knight
Losing Reuben by Leonie Norrington
Ill. by Beth Norling. Mates series. Scholastic, 2013. ISBN
9781742990224.
(Age: 7+) Highly recommended. Aboriginal themes. Family.
When Mum and Dad and the kids go fishing at One Mile Creek, Mum
counts the children as they have a large family. Even though Reuben
is number nine, he knows that he is as loved as everyone else. This
time however, Mum has had another baby.
While at One Mile Creek, Dad takes them fishing, showing the
children how to use the net to catch enough for the family for tea.
And this time, Reuben, the youngest is to be the anchor. He is
rather concerned. He has never done this before, and he is aware
that his small undeveloped frame may not be strong enough to hold
the net.
But it all goes well, and after a big feed, they all lie down for an
afternoon nap. Packing up, Mum counts them all in, one to nine but
halfway home, remembers Reuben, number nine and that she now has
ten. So back they go, finding Reuben where they left him, Reuben
taking note of the rules Dad has insisted they follow, to stay calm
and stay where they are. All is well.
In a few words, Leonie outlines this wonderful tale of a family on a
fishing trip. The closeness of the family is obvious all the way
through, their knowledge of the elders being passed on to the
younger, Dad teaching his children all the while some survival
skills.
One of the popular Mates series, this will be a wonderful
addition to any library.
Fran Knight
The thing about luck by Cynthia Kadohata
Simon & Schuster, 2013. ISBN 9781471116858.
(Age: Junior Fiction) Written by the well-known Newbery Award winner
of Kira-Kira, here is a vivid picture of life on the vast
wheat farms of the United States. Summer and her family have
recently suffered great misfortune and they are about to be tested
again. Summer's parents work for a custom harvesting company
in Kansas - such contracting exists in parts of Australia too - but
this year her mother and father must return to Japan to take care of
elderly relatives. Summer's maternal grandparents decide to come out
of retirement, with grandfather working as a combine driver and
grandmother as a cook, with Summer as her helper. Young brother Jaz
will come along too. It seems that the family is beset with further
bad luck as the hard and long working days begin. Summer is a
wonderful 'philosopher' - she mesmerises the reader with her
knowledge, intuition and wisdom. She informs us about the harvesting
process and includes her own little sketches of how things
work. She sets the scenes beautifully in the first person
narrative and identifies problems and consequences with assurance,
often with humour, and is a sheer delight to read about.
She assumes responsibility for a great deal, knowing that her
grandfather is struggling with the work, her grandmother continuing
to experience extreme back pain and her brother still unable to lift
his veil of invisibility. The weight of the world is on her
shoulders!
This book is charming on all levels - the location, the characters,
the experiences and the voice of Summer. Kadohata's storytelling
skill is extraordinary. Just enjoy this book!
Julie Wells
Two boys kissing by David Levithan
Text Publishing 2013. ISBN 9781922147486.
As always, I can only speak subjectively and for myself. I
understand and acknowledge that certain people will not only
understand but identify with this book, and I happen
to be one of those people.
A voice begins and ends this extraordinary novel - the voice of
experience, the voice of those who have lived and died. The book is
narrated by the chorus of a gay community past, victims of the AIDS
virus. Two boys kissing is a lurid and obvious title for so nuanced
and complex a work. It comprises of very contemporary and very
relevant stories about young gay men, detailing their relationships,
social lives and pressures.
If nothing, this is a profoundly accessible insight into modern gay
culture, but it is so much more. Another thing to note is how
curiously devoid of camp humour the novel is. The themes are
normalized and the characters remain beautifully, painfully human, a
welcome change from the often gaudy glamourization of same-sex
attracted characters.
The stark, nostalgic reminiscences from an anguished mass grave is a
bold choice, and there is a poignant balance between the regret of
the dead and celebration of love, a distinguished, discriminated,
powerful love. Two boys kissing is about much more than just two boys
kissing. It is a triumphant ode to the fighters who continue to
fight, a eulogy to a historic fatality. A celebration of boys who
kiss and have kissed boys, both furiously alive and long gone.
Henry Vaughan (Student)
RAWR! by Todd H. Doodler
Scholastic, 2013. ISBN 9780545611186.
(Age: Preschool) Recommended. Rex finds being a dinosaur very hard.
He is bigger than everyone in his class, even the teachers. Everyone
can find him when he plays hide and seek, and his desk is too small.
Everyone thinks he is scary, but really when he goes RAWR! he is just
saying hello.
In vivid colour, a bright green Rex pops off the page, his yellow
and black eyes gleaming out at the reader. The brightly coloured
shapes of the houses, bus, cars and school grounds are just what
small children will enjoy and the addition of soft material on the
picture of Rex on the front cover will entice little fingers to
touch and feel.
The text is simple and short and good to read aloud and the
underlying messages about being kind, polite and helpful will be a
boon for parents. The use of the word RAWR! will give occasion to
lots of loud roars at bedtime and lots of fun for both caregiver and
child as well as sending out messages that big and loud aren't
necessarily scary.
This is a book that all little dinosaur lovers will enjoy.
Pat Pledger
Ubby's Underdogs: Heroes beginnings by Brenton E. McKenna
Magabala Books, 2013. ISBN 9781922142139.
This graphic novel is the second in a trilogy by Indigenous
author/illustrator Brenton E. McKenna. Inspired by comic books from
a young age and with a passion for both writing and art, McKenna has
put his studies in Visual Arts to excellent use in this series which
takes its setting and characters from his own hometown of Broome.
In post-WW2 Broome, the population was already a melting pot of
multiculturalism with a rich history of plucky characters and
exciting incidents. This second episode reintroduces characters from
the first and continues the The legend of the Phoenix dragon.
The main protagonist, Ubby, is a young Aboriginal girl (based on
McKenna's feisty grandmother) but her Underdogs encompass youngsters
from a variety of backgrounds.
With a gripping backdrop of both Aboriginal and Chinese mythology,
Ubby's Underdogs take on a mission to rescue their friend Sai Fong,
the Dragon Summoner, from the rival gangs pursuing her for their own
evil ends.
McKenna's art training is evident in the stylish presentation of
this graphic novel - the black framing and outstanding use of colour
heighten the intensity of the story. There is a 'manga' feel to the
design which devotees of that genre will find appealing. While
recommended for upper primary to secondary, I would suggest that
some of the phonetic/accented dialogue may be a challenge for less
than capable readers. Both boys and girls would relate to this book,
as although Ubby is the leader of her rag-tag band, she is clearly
not the most 'girly' girl.
The growing market for graphic literature attests to its popularity
with a young generation who are far more visually influenced than
those of the past. This series would be a fabulous addition to your
Graphic shelves - or if you have not yet ventured into graphic
literature this homegrown series may be a fine starting point.
There has been some resistance from some quarters who suggest that
graphic novels are 'easy' reading and therefore to be dismissed with
scorn. Clearly they have not read any of quality, would be my
response! This series could equally add to Australian studies as a
springboard to discussion of Broome, the Chinese in Australia, the
pearling industry and more.
Sue Warren
Ethan's voice by Rachel Carter
Scholastic, 2013. ISBN 9781407135502.
Appropriate for upper primary students, this story is set on an
English canal and the central character Ethan lives with his mother
and father on a narrow boat. Life is simple for the trio who clearly
struggle financially as the father seeks intermittent gardening work
and the mother keeps a market stall to help maintain the family.
There is a sense of security, routine and belonging conveyed in the
narrative, to the extent that this family is loving and happy
despite the hardships. The biggest issue faced in their daily lives
is Ethan's inability to speak which has led to taunting and bullying
at school and subsequent withdrawal from mainstream education.
Home-schooled on the boat, Ethan is happy roaming and interacting
with nature, yet he is clearly a lonely little boy, given that he
can only communicate silently with his kindly mother and loving, yet
stressed and tense father. When another boat moors nearby, a whole
new world opens up for Ethan as Polly, a girl of his age, comes to
visit and the pair set out on innocent adventures and exploration of
the local environs. Importantly, Polly is a tolerant and undemanding
soul who understands Nathan's nature and shows sensitivity regarding
the speaking disability.
Narrative development is linked to Nathan's creative writing of a
journal, ostensibly for his studies, which reveals the trials and
tribulations of a Medieval Page who yearns to become a Knight.
The reason for Nathan's speech impediment is revealed gradually and
his capacity to understand and reconcile it provides the framework
for the story's conclusion. Within the tale are interesting little
references to being blindfolded or not being able to use one's arms
in games. This helps to demonstrate that other means can be adopted
to fulfill a need, and also that the assistance of others in a
trustful relationship is valid.
Ethan's and Polly's mutually beneficial friendship provides
companionship, and confiding in each other enables them to cope with
life's challenges.
Rob Welsh
I spy pets by Edward Gibbs
Koala Books, 2013. ISBN 9781742760704.
Preschool picture book with potential.
The game 'I spy' has been popular for generations keeping children
occupied on those long and boring car journeys before the advent of
electronic games and DVD players. The novel idea of observing the
passing countryside seems to have bypassed the current young
traveller but the game is alive in this series of picture books.
Edward Gibbs has used the concept of a peephole which neatly fits
over one eye of the pet featured. He uses the cut out circle to
highlight a colourful part of the animal's body and makes a feature
of the adjectives used to describe his clue by employing a bold
font. For example 'I spy with my little eye... something with shiny
scales.' This clue is also followed by a speech balloon offering
another clue generally about the food the animal eats. Turn the page
and lo and behold a beautifully detailed goldfish with the hole
fitting perfectly over the eye to give a seamless double page spread
and another speech balloon with the goldfish declaring 'I am a
goldfish'.
This book will be particularly attractive to the preschool reader as
they identify the pets which range from a puppy to a chameleon or
tortoise and learn a little about them. Other learning opportunities
spring to mind talking about direct speech and other features that
could be clues for each animal.
Due to the descriptive clue I immediately felt the coloured circle
and was disappointed that there was no texture. Too many feelie
books given to the grandchildren obviously!
Sue Keane
