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
The hunger games: Catching fire: The official illustrated movie companion
Scholastic Press, New York, 2013. ISBN 9780545599337.
(Age 12+) Recommended. Movie tie in. Dystopian fiction. Adventure.
Strong women characters. Timed to be released as the second film in
The hunger games series is due out, this will be a surefire
winner of a book. Jam packed with information, the book will fill
any follower of the series with all they need to know - and a lot
besides. The photographs taken from the film fill the pages,
sometimes the whole double page spread is used, and the effect is
quite breathtaking. No one will be able to resist this offering. As
with the first tie in book for the first film in the series, The
hunger games, the opening section gives a brief introduction
as to what has happened before this story starts, so whetting the
appetite for what may follow.
The book then follows the plot of the new film, giving side panels
of information about the setting or the characters or the actors. So
in Part 3 'Expanding the world of Panem', a great deal of
information is given about the setting, particularly that of
Katniss' world, while furthering the plot development. Part four
'Designing the arena' is just as fascinating, detailing the plans
for and evolution of the arena for Book Two. Part Five focusses on
costume design, an amazing part of the films, with wildly
imaginative costumes made for the competitors and the leading
figures in the organisers. The whole chapter is a mass of photos of
these extraordinary creations that will satisfy any reader.
The whole book whets the appetite for seeing the film, released just
before Christmas, 2013, and is every bit as good as the first of The
hunger games.
Fran Knight
5-minute Marvel stories by Marvel Comics Group
Scholastic, 2013. ISBN 9781743622216.
(Age 6+) Fantasy. Heroes. Reluctant readers. Bound together in one
volume come 12 stories of super heroes from the Marvel Comics Group.
Readers will be overjoyed to read about the adventures of their
favourite heroes like Spider-Man, Iron Man, the Avengers and the
X-men. To be able to read or to listen to a story about them that
takes just five minutes is a plus. The super heroes are busy foiling
alien invaders, battling super crooks and making sure that the
villains get their come-uppance.
This is an ideal book for children who love the super heroes.
Because of the shortness of the stories, all of which are brightly
illustrated, each makes for a great read for the newly independent
reader and a fun read aloud as a bedtime story. Reluctant readers
will also enjoy this book, as each exciting story is short, but the
book itself is large and well organised.
This is a fun book that children are sure to enjoy and would make a
welcome gift for the child who adores the Super Heroes.
Pat Pledger
The forgotten rebels of Eureka by Clare Wright
Text Publishing, 2013. ISBN 9781922147370.
(Age 16+) Recommended. Many readers of Australian history know that
women sewed the Eureka flag. Less well known is that they were at
the forefront of the 1854 rebellion as activists and participants.
Clare Wright may have rewritten the history of a significant turning
point in Australia's political and social history. The forgotten rebels of Eureka, is both an academic argument
and a narrative history. The author's thesis is that women played a
crucial role in transforming discontent over mining licences and
access to land into a call for justice and the extension of
democratic rights. The early chapters depict the journey to Ballarat
from overseas and across colonial borders, the creation of homes in
a tent city and the search for sources of income. Many of the women,
including those who became influential leaders, are identified by
name. Their experiences as wives, mothers, miners, shopkeepers,
journalists, hoteliers, actors and prostitutes help to explain the
dynamics of a community in crisis. Once readers are familiar with
the fabric of Ballarat society, Clare Wright launches into a
narrative of the rebellion and its aftermath, demonstrating that
women were both present at the stockade and among its casualties.
The writing style emphasizes rather than understates the drama.
Excerpts from newspaper articles and memoirs provide contemporary
voices. An epilogue charts the post-Eureka lives of some of the
principal participants and the large font eases the demands of
digesting a wealth of information. Source notes and a bibliography
will satisfy scholars. Explanations of some aspects of life on the
goldfields may be confronting for young adults.
By including women in the story of Eureka, Clare Wright has
redressed a longstanding gender imbalance in the telling of an
iconic story, to reveal a community of people who challenged the
existing order. In doing so, she has also illuminated many of the
rebellion's larger themes including multiculturalism, the role of
the press, the administration of justice, the use of armed force and
the campaign for universal suffrage.
Elizabeth Bor
The Wombats go on camp by Roland Harvey
Allen & Unwin, 2013. ISBN 9781743315040.
A Roland Harvey book is always a gem with plenty to discover in each
picture. With the success of his other books like At the beach
and In the city and my particular favourite My Place in
space we have come to expect busy pages of tiny detailed,
colourful and humorous pictures populated by a wealth of characters.
The Wombats go on camp is more focussed, featuring a small
group of twelve children and two adults.
The Wombats are attending their first ever camp. The end papers
contain a picture and profile for each student which gives relevant
information about their likes and dislikes. Each double page spread
features an activity at camp from the bus trip through settling in
to the dormitory to the usual adventure activities, performance,
night walk and late night scary stories. Accompanying each picture
is a reflection by one of the students on the activity and the
actions of their peers.
While there is not the usual chaotic feel to the pictures there are
familiar touches in his signature kangaroos, possums and other
native animals scattered through the pages. Other quirky drawings
keep the reader amused from the adults racing to save adventurous
children to an elephant's trunk appearing at the performance. My
favourite page would have to be the night walk for its atmospheric
feel.
The Wombats will be popular with students familiarising themselves
with what to expect before they embark on their first camp, and to
remind the teachers that they may be mad suggesting a camp in the
first place.
Sue Keane
Clumsy Duck by Britta Teckentrup
Koala Books, Australia: 2013. ISBN 9781742760353.
Preschool Picture book. Clumsy Duck is always tripping over and is
very frustrated when friendly Chick comes along and invites Duck for
a walk. Chick decides there is a reason Duck has oversized feet and
after some experimentation and a tumble in the pond they discover
what it is.
This is a gentle story of friendship and discovery, celebrating
difference as the duck and chick try a variety of activities that
chick is good at but which duck tries and fails. Duck is persistent
as she has a go at everything despite the obvious limitations of her
feet.
The illustrations are bright and colourful as the birds move through
a stylised flower strewn landscape which also features a frog, snail
and various insects to add interest. The eyes of both birds give an
impression of sadness and happiness simply with the placement of the
black dot within a white circle.
The oversized format is great for sharing by little people on the
floor but could be problematic for little hands and laps.
Sue Keane
Man made boy by Jon Skovron
Allen and Unwin, 2013. ISBN 9781743315132.
(age: 12+) Recommended. Frankenstein's monster. Love. Mythology.
Humour. Boy, the son of Frankenstein's monster and the Bride, lives
with his parents in an underground series of rooms and caves beneath
Time Square. Known as The Show, the Trowe dug levels of living space
for the creatures shunned by the human race, Medusa, Sirens, Charon,
and Trolls, amongst others. Boy is a clever and intuitive computer
hacker and it is his skills that are nightly required to keep the
networks in the theatre going, attracting the audiences which comes
to be scared by the monsters.
But Boy is restless. He feels undervalued. He is bullied, and his
parents want to send him to Switzerland to stay with the
Frankenstein family. More importantly he loves Liel, a Troll. Having
developed a computer program that he thinks will change the world,
he rallies support from his online friends, packs his bag and
leaves.
Going into the human world is something many of the monsters dream
of doing, and it is an unknown world that Boy steps into. He moves
in with a hacker he knows from the internet but must find work to
live.
But one night he sees Liel, and she reveals she is there because of
an email he sent her. He is thrilled, but the question remains, just
who is hacking his system and sending information to people
purportedly from him.
Liel becomes housebound, her green skin not conducive to going
outside, and so Boy is forced to seek help from Luellen from The
Show who uses glamour to change his form and allow him to mix freely
with humans. As Liel becomes more hooked on using this drug, Boy
finds her shunning his company for her new human friends. On top of
all this, someone is stalking him. His program has developed a mind
of its own. The created has become a creator.
This is a great read, funny, warm and often moving. We follow Boy's
dreams of living in the human world with empathy, see him stride
through the streets avoiding questions and giving out the story that
his stitches are the result of a bad accident. When Liel appears,
his life is complete, but problems mount as someone is hacking his
computer, stalking them, and the problem of Liel's use of the drug
glamour becomes overwhelming. Leaving New York, Boy meets up with
the granddaughters of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, and together they make
a road trip to New Mexico where another complex like The Show
exists, to seek answers from The Sphinx.
This book is a glowing mixture of many genres, adventure, crime,
romance, alienation, retelling of myths and will appeal to a wide
audience, particularly those who crave a long read in which the main
characters are so well drawn that the reader cares about their
fates. The one liners poke fun at the mythology surrounding
Frankenstein and many of the monsters involved, making this a laugh
out loud read, and in the end a story about what makes us human.
Fran Knight
