Puffin, 2013. ISBN 978014133607.
(Age: 9-13) Highly recommended. Ghosts. Historical. Family. Ever
since her brother Lucca stopped talking, Siena has been obsessed
with collecting things that have been abandoned. Isolated at school
because of the strange dreams that she has, Siena finds it difficult
to make friends. Her parents decide to move the family from Brooklyn
to Maine, where they have found an old house that fits the
description of the house that Siena has dreamt about and where they
hope things will get better for both their children. When Siena
discovers an old pen in her bedroom and finds that it writes by
itself, she becomes obsessed with the story that emerges of a
brother and sister who had lived in the house during World War 2. Is
that a key to unlocking Lucca's voice?
I am a fan of Suzanne LaFleur and loved her two previous books,
Love, Aubrey and Eight keys. Listening for Lucca is just as good. It
is a beautiful story, has well-constructed and engaging characters
and wonderful setting and the addition of a touch of magic makes it
very original. Siena's voice is delightful. She comes across as a
very caring, loving young girl, who feels guilty because she
believes that she might have been the cause of her brother stopping
talking. In Maine she meets Sam and Morgan and discovers that she
does have the ability to make new friends and in Sam she finds a boy
who is prepared not to scoff at the dreams that she is having. She
is also brave, deciding that she has to try to understand and
perhaps change the past in order to fix the present.
The use of a pen that writes the story independently is a device
that works very well. The reader finds it easy to follow the story
of Joshua at war and his sister Sarah who believes that if she
doesn't talk he will come home safely. The effects of war on Joshua
are handled sensitively but realistically and the reader is carried
along by the stories of two different sets of siblings living in
different times but joined by the thread of one child electing not
to speak. It is easy to suspend belief and accept that Siena can
indeed communicate with the past.
This is a beautiful blend of mystery, of a girl grappling to belong,
of guilt, and of history and friendship that is sure to engage
readers and would be an ideal literature circle book.
Pat Pledger
Plenty by John Dale
XOUM Publishing, 2013. ISBN 9781922057587.
(Age: 16+) Highly recommended. Plenty seems to be an ironic name for
the small coastal town which forms the setting of this story, for
there is precious little in the town: a pub, a bakery, a picture
theatre, a service station. It seems that life has passed this town
by. Yet teenaged Jed seems content with his lot: working for his dad
in the rundown service station, meeting up with his girlfriend
Chrissie, whiling away the hours along the rocky foreshore.
But change is afoot. First, the local landmark of wealth, the
rundown Mansfield property, is sold to an outsider and his daughter
(Ashley). Then they take in the refugees whose boat comes aground
near Plenty. Suddenly the town becomes the epicentre of a national
news event: a new detention centre in Plenty is sure to bring an
economic boost, according to the mayor. But the townspeople are wary
of the hijab clad refugees and fearful about the impact upon their
way of life.
Jed is thrown into uncertainty. Tempted by the beauty and swagger of
Ashley and a witness to the arrival of the refugees, Jed is afraid
to take sides preferring to watch as the story is played out in the
pub and in the media. The town folk of Plenty may be full of bluff
and bluster, especially after a night at the pub, yet what happens
when a fire threatens the refugee camp? Surely there is a lesson to
be learned from this, a lesson that may finally rouse Jed to action.
But is his action right?
In a mere 150 pages, John Dale is able to capture both the
narrow-mindedness of a small town and the sense of community as
well. The stereotypes are there but so too is a fondness for the
simple things in life. The novella may remind readers of the picture
book The Island by Armin Greder, with its searing portrayal
of xenophobia but a multiplicity of viewpoint is more evident in Plenty.
Ultimately it becomes apparent that there is plenty to ponder
beneath the surface of this aptly named town.
Deborah Marshall
Bella's bad hair day by Stephen Michael King
Allen and Unwin, 2013. ISBN: 9781743313619.
Recommended. Stephen Michael King is well known for his
illustrations and Bella is a welcome addition to his list of
interesting characters.
The creative hair styles featured on the end papers give us a clue
that Bella is keen on having her hair styled. Before the title
page we are shown Bella sleeping and almost forewarned that the
peace will be broken when she wakes up.
We have all experienced a bad hair day but Bella is particularly
frustrated as her distracted parents ignore her cries for help in
taming her wild hair. Mum is busy painting and distracted by a
family of guinea pigs whilst Dad is totally engrossed in playing
Beethoven on his piano. Bella tries desperately to think of a way to
tame her hair, from superheroes whisking her away to a variety of
hats to hide the mess. At last Mum attends to the problem and all is
well.
The extensive uses of alliteration, as her 'horrible horrendous hair
day' proceeds until 'a breathtakingly beautiful bouffant' is
created, adds to the joy of the text, and are a lesson in themselves
for the creative teacher or parent. The colourful and interesting
illustrations give more information to the reader enabling them to
experience her emotions
If Lee Fox's Ella Kazoo is anti brushing, Bella is the pinup
girl for having beautifully styled hair for a perfect day, though I
am sure we have wished that some bad hair styles are not 'nouveau
trendo'.
Sue Keane
Canberra - Federal capital by Tracey Hawkins
Our stories. Black Dog Books, 2013. ISBN 9781922179319.
(Age: 9+) Recommended. Non fiction. Canberra. Australian history.
Australian city. A wonderfully entertaining and informative text
tells readers and researchers about Canberra's beginnings as an
Aboriginal community, then sheep station and later becoming the nation's
capital. It hints at the struggle for Federation and the reasons
behind the decision to site the capital there. In double page
spreads with several paragraphs and a range of illustrations on each
side, the book includes such topics as, Australian War Memorial,
Australian Parliament and Government, National treasures and so on.
Each topic gives a neatly rounded overview and pictures to match.
Any student would have a variety of information at their fingertips,
and someone travelling there would be excited by what this book
offers.
Watch out for the fascinating piece on the Heritage Trail, and the
stunning photos of older buildings in Canberra, particularly The
Lodge and Yarralumla, while the information on Diplomatic Missions
gave insight into why these places are there.
A brief but serviceable glossary and index cover the last page and
the publications page has a list of websites from which more
information can be gathered.
Altogether a wonderful introduction to our capital, presented in an
attractive format used with great success by Black Dog Books.
Fran Knight
Peace love and khaki socks by Kim Lock
Midnight Sun, 2013. ISBN 9780987380913.
(Age: Adult - Senior secondary) Graphic designer Amy Silva, 24, is
one of Darwin's army wives having come with partner Dylan when he
was transferred. She feels she doesn't fit in with the army culture
'Every day I lived a contradiction. The Pacifist Hippy in love with
the Gun-Toting Soldier.' but she loves Darwin, her job and her
relationship, 'like the contrasting teeth of a zipper, somehow we
were a perfect fit.' Her world is turned upside down when she
discovers that a single missed pill has resulted in pregnancy. She
has no rapport with her GP or the obstetrician she is referred to so
decides on a home birth.
The descriptions of Darwin, its lush beauty and dramatic climate are
beautifully evoked and contrasted with Hill End, the area where she
grew up down south when they go home for Christmas. During this
visit the maturing relationship with her mother is handled with
humour and sensitivity. I liked the interleaved flashback accounts
of Amy's childhood journey to sexual awareness and the way the
challenges to her relationship with her best friend Hannah are
managed but I found it hard to relate to the main character and her
decision making about her birthing options. Hospital birth is
unremittingly drawn as awful and homebirth as the solution. When she
argues that it is 'my body' she denies the right of her partner to
be part of the decision making and of the child to have the best
birth possible.
Adult readers, especially those familiar either with Darwin or army
culture will enjoy this book and possibly older students interested
in pregnancy.
Sue Speck
A horse called Hero by Sam Angus
Macmillan Children's Books, 2013. ISBN 9781447235774.
(Age: Mid secondary) Having a familiar Second War War evacuation
theme, this novel involves diverse and interesting historical
elements within a complex but satisfying plot.
When Dorothy (Dodo) and her brother Wolfie are sent to the Devon
countryside to escape the German bombing, they are initially unaware
that their father (who holds a Victoria Cross from the First World
War) has been arrested on charges of desertion during the retreat at
Dunkirk. Having no mother, the children are billeted into the home
of a disinterested village woman yet life is bearable, especially
when Wolfie finds himself the primary carer for a newborn foal which
he names Hero. As details of their father's predicament become
public however, life becomes insufferable for the children when
local villagers, grieving over their own wartime bereavements and
hardships begin to persecute and victimise them. Luckily, the local
priest and his daughter Hettie offer their home and guardianship to
the children and they exist relatively happily against a backdrop of
foreboding invasion threats and fears regarding the treatment of
their imprisoned father who endures a drawn out court martial. The
children explore the countryside and develop knowledge and
understanding of the natural environment, wild and domestic horses
and human characteristics. Hero's role in the tale is vital but
further discussion would spoil the story. It is suffice to say that
qualities of horses and their masters are considered and the reader
can't help reflecting upon the odious aspects of human nature.
This story opens in a gentle fashion which initially appears to
follow a predictable formula. The introduction of a very nasty
documented war crime and depiction of the fate of local wild ponies
under harsh wartime restrictions soon alerts the reader that this is
no Blyton adventure however. I liked very much that the author chose
to depict the child characters over an extended period when evacuees
in other books would have been safely returned to their mothers.
Wolfie, who is introduced as a very immature little boy is still
under the care of Hettie when the war has finished and Dodo, the
understated heroine finds employment, which is in keeping with her
mature character. This device enables the story to conclude with the
inclusion of yet another historically accurate subject which is not
too implausible for young adult fiction. Whilst this novel contains
some untidy scene changes, it is a strong story and a worthwhile
read for mid-secondary students.
Rob Welsh
The skull by Christian Darkin
A & C Black, 2013. ISBN 978 1 4081 9297 9
(Age: 11+) The Skull is the story of the Marchant family - from the
1100's to the future of 2200. The first Marchant, Alfred,
discovers a giant skull, considered a dragon or a demon by the
religious village he lives in. The author informs the reader it is a
megalosaurus skull. Alfred witnesses a murder and is accused of
being a witch so the skull is entombed. Over the next 1000 years,
different generations of Marchants have contact with the skull,
causing some sort of change for the family.
It is a quick moving story, dedicating a chapter to each generation
and I would recommend it to independent readers aged 11+ due to the
story changing to different periods of time. Good comprehension is
needed and it would probably be enjoyed more by boys. The main
characters are all Marchant males.
The story is a mixture of history and science and the changing ideas
as man becomes more educated and less superstitious.
Kylie Kempster
Dougal's Diary by David Greagg
Ill. by Yvonne Van Vliet. Clan Destine Press, 2010. ISBN:
9780980790016. Dougal's Diary is just that, a diary covering the first year
of life of the black and white cat Dougal. Yes, in collaboration
with David Greagg, Dougal has shared the ups and downs of his life
from his earliest memories as a new born enjoying life with his
siblings, to the end of his first year secure in his new home and in
the love of his humans.
After the trauma of being separated from his cat family and waiting
in a cage to be chosen, Dougal finds he is sharing a home with his
adopted sister Shadow, whose early life as an alley cat has
conditioned her to steal food whenever she can, and Belladonna the
incumbent matriarch who takes some winning over, as well as Man
(David Greagg) and Woman.
Dougal is a peace loving diplomat and a hero as he negotiates the
delicate path between protecting his girls and fitting into the
neighbourhood complete with cats, dogs, wattlebirds and other
humans.
Dougal has much to learn about the human world as he learns about
the various appliances and equipment in the house and garden. From
cars to computers Dougal's point of view is that they are all boxes
with the ability to take humans away or to frustrate them. For the
reader it is a lesson in perception and point of view as are the
lessons from Belladonna regarding cat etiquette and techniques for
training humans.
This is definitely a book for cat lovers with, I would think, a
limited audience in the primary years, however as an example of
diary writing and point of view I found Dougal's impressions of the
world around him entertaining.
Sue Keane
Editor's note: There is a second in the series, When we were
kittens. Clan Destine Press, 2102. ISBN: 9780987271716.
Let's go, Baby-O by Janet and Andrew McLean
Allen and Unwin, 2011. ISBN 9781743317655.
(Age: 3-5) Recommended. Board book. A toddler and his young
companion have great fun, playing, 'Let's go, Baby-O', whirling and
twirling, up and down. In between energetic dances, they stop and
look out the window and what do they see? The little boy
concentrates on the birds in a tree and what they are doing, but the
reader can see so much else going on outside: children building a
cubbyhouse, a dog being washed, people gardening and a cat climbing
a tree.
The young child will have such fun playing the 'Let's go Baby-O'
games, learning about bouncing and pouncing, jumping, bumping and
thumping as well as flipping, flopping and hopping. They also clap
and flap, twist, twirl and whirl. In between this frenetic dancing,
come the quiet moments when both the little boy and the reader can
look out the window and have a chance to check what is happening
outside. The language of this story is exuberant and young children
will learn lots of new words as well as long to be up and dancing as
the story is read to them.
I love the illustrations as well. There are little details like the
toys that the little boy brings one by one to the windowsill to
observe what is going on, until there is a long line of them looking
out as well. The activity in the garden is amazing and the reader or
child who is listening to the story will be amazed at the fact that
the little boy is concentrating on the birds when there is so much
else going on. The illustrations are in soft pastels, and the antics
of the cat and dog add a depth of humour to the garden scene.
This is a very special book that will teach language as well as
giving children the opportunity to have lots of fun with the story.
Pat Pledger
Path of beasts by Lian Tanner
The Keepers series, bk. 3. pkb. Allen and Unwin, 2013. ISBN
9781743311660.
(Age: 10+) Recommended. Fantasy. Adventure. When Goldie, Toadspit
and Bonnie sneak back into the city of Jewel they are unaware of
just who is ruling their community. They are shocked to see
mercenaries patrolling the streets and when a street-rig is pulled
up, the occupants questioned by the soldiers. Two of the Blessed
Guardians get out telling the men to throw some rubbish into the
canal. But they demur, questioning their authority and it is only
when the Protector also alights, that the children realise just what
danger they and their families are in. The Protector, once a revered
person in Jewel, has been replaced by the dreaded Fugleman, and when
they rescue the package thrown into the water, find it is his
sister, the beloved Protector whose position has been usurped.
So begins third in this exciting and page turning trilogy about the
amazing Museum of Dunt, a place where all the evils of the world are
kept, but plundered by the Fugleman for his own dark needs.
The children know most of what the Museum holds, and are appalled
that the Fugleman may release forces he cannot control. Goldie, now
the holder of powers that she must keep leashed, is in a quandary of
who to tell and how to use her new power. But even she does not know
the inner secret path of the Museum, the path of Beasts, and it is
this path she must tread.
The background to this wonderful fantasy adventure is all
engrossing, the cities beautifully described and the Museum a place
to wonder at. For those who want to look more deeply, parallels to
modern political and social institutions are there to be found and
ponder, as evil is about to be released.
I simply ate up the first in this trilogy, slowly meandered through
the second, but the third held me gripped all the way through.
Fran Knight
A cautionary tail by Erica Harrison
Puffin, 2013. ISBN 9780670077458.
Picture book for older readers. Written in rhyming verse by Erica
Harrison and illustrated with images from the animated short film
starring Cate Blanchett, David Wenham and Barry Otto, this picture
books for older children has been described as a 'dark, funny fable
for children and adults alike,' (from the website ). A little
girl has been born with a lump on her backside, which grows into a
long tail. Initially the tail was very useful. She could use it to
show her moods, swing from trees and to make a tightrope for
acrobats and the other children thought that it was fun. As she grew
older her classmates said 'We can't hang out with freaks all day!'
and 'started hooking up instead/And doing stuff behind the shed.'
This made her very depressed until eventually her parents took her
to the doctor who removed it. However all her moods and emotions
disappeared and she was left feeling nothing. The moral of the tale
is that it is difficult to choose between conformity and
self-expression. You may regret the things that you discard, 'But
don't get lost in grey regret.'
This is a book that is rewarding after reading it a few times and
debating it with others. The theme of individuality and how
difficult it is to be different as you grow older will resonate with
teens. The effect of peer pressure and ridicule is beautifully
portrayed and could lead to some thought provoking discussions in a
literature circle or in the classroom.
The illustrations are of the animated characters from the film, set
with striking colourful backgrounds in colours that reflect the mood
of the young girl and with hand-made miniature sets. The image of
the wide-eyed young girl is memorable and is sure to appeal to a
younger audience.
In addition to the book and the film, there is also a website and an
interactive book app for the iPad and iPad mini.
Pat Pledger.
The house of memories by Benjamin Hulme-Cross
Dark Hunter series. A & C Black, 2013. ISBN
9781408180518.
Highly recommended for boys aged 10+. Dark Hunter - The House of
Memories is the first book in this new series about ghosts,
monsters and demons. Readers step straight into the story on the
first page where they meet Mr. Blood, Edgar and Mary. Mr. Blood
leaves the children at the old house where they meet a scary old
woman who seems to know a lot about them. What does she want? Will
Edgar and Mary finally learn things about their past? Will they come
out alive?
At 55 pages long with half pages of text, Dark Hunter is a
quick moving story with a spooky climax sure to make anyone squeal
but it is over quickly - this could be good for those more reluctant
readers but disappointing for book lovers who just want more! Highly
recommended for boys aged 10+, especially if they like to be
spooked!
Kylie Kempster
The Quirks : Welcome to Normal by Erin Soderberg
Bloomsbury, 2013. ISBN 9781408841716.
(Age: 8-12) Recommended. The Quirks are a refreshingly 'quirky'
family. In 'The Addams family' tradition with a bit of the Freek
Street series appeal, without the colourful illustrations, I found
myself chuckling out loud as I read, as will the targeted 8-12
audience.
The Quirk family have just moved in to a perfectly ordinary looking
house in Normal Michigan, however this is not your usual family.
Grandpa, Quilliam Quirk has the ability to rewind time, which can
come in handy when things go wrong. Grandmother is a tiny fairy.
Mother, Bree, is able to control minds, Penelope has an over active
imagination and her thoughts become real. Finnegan, the smallest
Quirk has become invisible and only Molly can see him. Molly,
Penelope's twin, has no obvious quirks, and desperately wants to fit
in, to be normal, to be invited to sleepovers and to settle in one
place.
Having to start at a new school is always a drama but more so for
Penelope and Molly. Penelope's overactive imagination causes havoc
the more stressed she becomes. Bringing the animal stickers on the
desks to life is just the beginning, though handling the class bully
was more satisfying. Molly spends her time either calming Penelope
or distracting her classmates to give Penelope a chance to get her
thoughts under control.
Molly becomes more stressed as Finn discovers that chewing gum makes
him visible and consequently he has to go to school. There he
decides being visible is no fun and rebels by occasionally becoming
invisible and playing tricks. When his pranks get out of hand Molly
is sure they will be forced to move on. Saving the Normal Day
celebrations is their only hope. As Molly learns to appreciate her
quirky family, the reader is left wondering how normal is Normal.
The design of the book beginning with a warning, Contents page on
the side, Chapter titles at different angles and page numbers in
balloons wandering up and down the margins and the occasional
illustrations add to the enjoyment. The Epilogue is a scene
reminiscent of the nosy neighbour in Bewitched heralding the next
complication in the Quirks' efforts to settle in Normal.
Sue Keane
Let the games begin by Niccolo Armaniti
Text, 2013. ISBN 9781921758461.
(Age: Senior secondary) This latest novel by Nicolo Armaniti, the
author of the best-selling I'm not scared, is a satirical
expose of the cult of celebrity in contemporary Italy. The author
establishes two plot lines that come together in a Rabelaisian party
in Rome. Saverio Moneta leads the Wilde Beasts of Avalon, a punk
cult that has haemorrhaged members to the point of extinction. In
his every-day life he works in a furniture store and is married to
the boss's daughter, a frightening woman who treats him with
contempt. The other plot line features Fabrizio Ciba, well-known
writer, television personality, womanizer and cad. Fabrizio affects
a nonchalant attitude to fame, but in fact is insecure about his
ability and fears being a nonentity above all else. The two plot
lines come together at a party given by a Campagnese millionaire,
Salvatore Chiatti, at his villa in the garden of the Villa Ada.
Chiatti's money has ostensibly been made from real estate, but he
has been in gaol for tax evasion and cattle stealing. He is
determined to impress the celebrities of Rome. His party is to last
for two days. He has provided an excess of gourmet food and alcohol
of all kinds. He has also stocked the park with wild animals and
intends to organize the guests into hunting groups for foxes, lions
or tigers. Unbeknownst to him, living in the catacombs under his
grounds are a group of Russian athletes who are refugees from the
Olympic Games held in Rome in 1960. By now they are rather odd
looking as a result of spending their time underground by day and
emerging only at night to scavenge for food. Saverio and his Wilde
Beasts, all four of them, are at the party as waiters, but Saverio
plans to execute a rock star and then commit suicide, an act that
will ensure his notoriety. Fabrizio is present to make a speech, but
also to collect material for a scorching exposee of the bad taste of
all present. The stars arrive, the women all big-breasted,
big-haired, paper thin but camera hungry, and the men greedily
determined to have everything on offer. Armaniti now treats his
characters with the ruthlessness that they exhibit. The hunts go
awry on a large scale; the elephants panic; the crocodiles discover
that they too are hungry; the Russians, fearing that the USSR has
finally come to seize them, kidnap as many guests as they can;
characters die in horrible ways, particularly when Rome's water
system malfunctions and the catacombs are flooded. Fabrizio acts
true to type and manages to place his own survival above all others,
and scrambles back to life as he has always lead it. However,
Saverio sees the foolishness of his plans and is absolved by saving
the few innocents at the party. The novel does become quite
compulsive reading, despite its range of unappealing characters and
bizarre action. However, it is a challenging reading experience and
is only for older readers.
Jenny Hamilton
My Dad and me by Tania Cox and Lorette Broekstra
Allen & Unwin, 2013. ISBN 9781743316238. My Dad and me is a lovely story for parents to read to their
children. The bright pictures are detailed and great for engaging
children in discussion about what is going on. It is also a great
way for children to develop new vocabulary. The rhyming text is
catchy and I can imagine changing it into a song and singing along
with the child. Parents and children could create their own rhyming
sentences about things they do together. In the class, lower primary
teachers could use this book as a lead up to Father's Day and older
children could use it as a model to write their own 'Dad' poem.
Kylie Kempster
