Puffin, 2014. ISBN 9780143307594.
(Audience: young adult) Recommended. Themes: teenage identity,
family drama and coming of age. A story of 14 year old Quincy
Jordan who is struggling to find out who she really is and whether
she wants to be the person people think she 'should' be. Quincy has
her life in order - a best friend, great private school and a future
career as a surgeon. After her father cheats and her mother falls
apart, Quincy and her mother move to hippy seaside town of Crystal
Bay to stay with her newly discovered aunt, uncle and cousins.
Quincy is determined that this situation is only temporary and
struggles to accept her father's faults and that her dream career is
not actually what makes her happy. With the help of her cousin Esme
and her new friends, Quincy slowly adjusts to life in the Bay and
even discovers that life might not be as bad as what she thinks. She
meets a boy who helps her to settle in and becomes involved in the
school musical. This ignites her passion for life and helps her to
realise what she really wants to do as a career.
This is the first story in a series of books about the girls from
Crystal Bay. It contains themes that a lot of teenagers can relate
to - family breakup, adjusting to a new school, romance and
friendships. I would recommend this book to teenagers and am
interested to read the next in the series.
Larissa Kalms
Awesome Aussie Things to Do with Mum ill. by Simon Williams
Scholastic, 2014. ISBN 9781742839950.
(Age: 7-11) This activity book is aimed at primary school children
and has lots of things that could be done either with Mum or with
other adults. There is a Contents page that gives a good overview of
the activities and projects. It is organised into the following
sections: In the backyard, Games, Home sweet home, Stuff to do on
rainy days and Beach Daze. In the backyard gives ideas about
pressing flowers, making a rock garden, planting plants to keep away
bugs, keeping worms and making a bonsai plant. Games contains ideas
about skipping rope, playing with elastics, making Cat's Cradle,
knucklebones and hopscotch. Home sweet home has knitting and other
craft. Stuff to do on rainy days includes making silhouettes, magic
tricks, balloon shapes and a bedroom makeover. Beach Daze has ideas
for sunhats, volleyball, sandcastles and other beach activities.
All the ideas are simply and humorously described and illustrated
with step by step instructions. There is a clever emphasis on
showing how wonderful Mum is and what she can do, and a few subtle
hints that would help Mum out - like the feng shui bedroom makeover
that involves giving away things that are not needed and tidying up!
The activities are all ones that could be done at home, albeit with
the cooperation of an adult as supplies would need to be purchased
and to be at hand.
This book would provide lots of ideas for time fillers for school
holidays for parents, and ideas for grandparents when children come
to stay with them and would be a useful book to have on hand for
when children are bored.
Pat Pledger
Jumping fences by Karen Wood
Allen and Unwin, 2014. ISBN 9781743316399.
(Age: Young adult) Themes: country life, romance, mystery. Country
girl Zoe wakes up in hospital after a farming accident and tries to
piece her life back together after everything seems to be different.
She can't work out why her boyfriend and best friend won't talk to
her, her father is constantly grumpy and then there is the neighbour
Josh. Mysterious but kind, he helps Zoe to discover what happened
before her accident and what is happening to the cattle stolen from
her dad's farm.
As the book progresses, Zoe finds out bit by bit more about the
people in her life, who she can trust and more importantly, who she
wants to be with! Over time, the cause of her father's grumpiness is
revealed to be stress about losing the farm. Initially after her
accident, he treats Zoe with kid gloves but his confidence in her
grows and she is allowed to do more around the farm. Also over time,
we find out more about Josh and his background and how Zoe comes to
accept him, then eventually fall for him.
I enjoyed how the story unravelled gradually and it gave the reader
a chance to predict what was going on. It was enjoyable to find out
more about the characters, although some of the characters lacked a
bit of depth. This book would appeal to young adult readers who
enjoy reading about rural life, romance and a little bit of intrigue
as well.
Larissa Kalms
Love you, Mum by Karen Hull
Lothian Children's Books, 2014. ISBN 9780734414441.
(Age: Pre-school - 5). A small book, perfect for the hands of small
children, Love you, Mum celebrates the love of a young animal or
bird for its mother. It is written with the second and fourth lines
rhyming and this makes for an interesting read aloud:
'I love you in the morning.
Wake up, sleepyhead.
I love you at breakfast.
Time to get you fed.'
The vibrant illustrations of Australian animals show everyday
occurrences between mother and child, like having breakfast,
catching a nap and asking for just one more story and beautifully
portray the love that exists between each pair. It also illustrates
some of the characteristics of Australian birds and animals, for
example the baby koala clinging to its mother's back, and dingoes
howling in the desert and provides the opportunity for young
children to learn about them, while rejoicing in a mother's
love.
This story is ideal to use for Mother's Day and could be used to
reinforce the fact that love can be shown through normal times for
human mothers and children.
Pat Pledger
Twice Upon a Time by Kate Forster
Hardie Grant Egmont, 2014. ISBN 9781742976792.
This is a romance story with Cinderella references, and is not
particularly cerebral - akin to a Mills and Boon Romance.The main
character, a 19 year old Australian named Lucinda, but known as
'Cinda', is on a backpacking/painting holiday in Europe when she
meets a party-boy, charming Prince and falls for him, before she
knows his true identity.The whirlwind then begins and she is whisked
away to enjoy his world and largesse, with her Fashion designer Male
travelling companion (who is stereotypically not interested in her
or any of her gender). The Prince's twin brother and Mother are not
impressed with a potential commoner in their midst, and make life
difficult. However the charms of the honest and unworldly Cinda
eventually cause the more abrasive and slightly older twin to also
become caught in her innocent spell.The unfolding of the dilemma of
being 'loved' or 'in love' with more than one twin,of the sacrifice
needed for true love to find its way and of the transformation of
Cinda from bohemian beauty to Princess is the essenceof the story.
Along the way the reader gets a glimpse into the somewhat heady (and
occasionally drug assisted) lifestyle of the wealthier end of the
world - Private jets and large boats, hotel suites in London,
Chateaus in France, principalities that require diplomatic duties,
model-like expectations for women, paparazzi entrapment, and
selfishness that is rampant. One wonders if this aspect was
researched or just belongs to the voyeuristic magazine-fantasy world
that we all believe exists.
As none of the characters in this book are of High School age, it is
not really a YA novel. It is perhaps likely to appeal to a romance
reader with low expectations.
Carolyn Hull
Boy vs Beast: Rock Mutant by Mac Park
Scholastic, 2014. ISBN 9781921931680. Boy vs Beast : Rock Mutant is the next book in this series
aimed at boys aged 7+ . It is a short novel aimed at independent
readers. Like the other books, it introduces the main character Kai
and his desire to be a Border Captain - fans of the books will
understand this! Kai's job is to protect earth from the beasts in
Beastium and to solve any problems in Beastium. In this story, water
has been found in the rock land and Kai is off to fix it.
The Boy vs Beast series is a good introduction to first
chapter novels. The chapters are short and quick moving and at 60
pages long, a child can comprehend it easily.
Kylie Kempster
Editor's note: Previously published as Terraserpix.
Afterworld by Lynette Lounsbury
Allen & Unwin 2014. ISBN: 9781743315101.
(Age: 14+) Highly recommended. A wonderfully descriptive novel, Afterworld
incorporates ideas from many religions and cultures in the formation
of its after-death land. With themes of humanity, mortality and love
this novel is easily one of my new favourites.
In India life is chaotic and sad, beggars line the streets and boys
run in packs to rob unsuspecting victims. Dom returns to India after
a term spent in an American boarding school, sister Kadie arrives to
meet him on the way home they are unable to avoid a head on
collision with a truck, Dom blacks out and wakes in the Afterworld,
alone and frightened, trying to accept that his life is over. Or is
it? Death is like nothing Dom could have expected and danger awaits,
he is the youngest man to ever set foot into the city of the dead,
he is instantly famous. He learns that even the dead still
discriminate against the young and the weak. He piques the interest
of the Nephilim, monsters even in death. The children of angles and
humans hold the Trials which are vaguely reminiscent of roman
gladiatorial games. The Trials allow the winner to move forth into
the maze and onto the next stage in the cycle of death. Eager to see
Dom compete the head Nephilim, Satariel, travels into life and
brings back Kadie's soul as a bargaining chip. With the help of his
guide, Eva, guardian, Eduardo and the favour of the awe he must
compete to free his sister's soul.
Filled with interesting names and stories from other cultures Afterworld
portrays the importance of family, friends and motivation. There is
also a reassurance that the dead can wait or find their loved ones
before moving on through the cycle of death. I would highly
recommend this novel for young people aged fourteen and up.
Kayla Gaskell
10 hopping bunnies by Ed Allen
Scholastic, 2014. ISBN: 9781742836362.
This delightful rhyming book uses a collection of hopping bunnies,
avidly involved in a myriad of different pursuits, as the focus for
counting. Their activities include egg and spoon races, listening at
school, working in the vegie patch, choosing books to borrow,
digging holes, getting into shape, swinging on trapezes, being in a
talent quest and playing hop scotch. As the group of ten bunnies
slowly diminishes, the child reader would undoubtedly wonder where
they go as they disappear. When the final bunny gets caught out in
the storm, where will he go and will he see his friends again?
With its simple rhyming story, vibrantly coloured cartoon style
pictures, depicting the bunnies in every colour of the rainbow, this
is a book which could be read over and over by parents of very young
children and enjoyed by those emergent readers capable of reading a
picture book alone. As a simple counting book, it would have a place
in the classroom. It could also prove useful in helping children to
predict what might happen next in the story, as well as assisting
them to learn about rhyme and repetition. Personally, I would also
love to use the stylised rabbits as the focus of a step by step
drawing lesson. Children would enjoy drawing the rabbits in a
variety of poses and colours and a great classroom display could be
produced as a result.
Jo Schenkel
Billy is a Dragon: Werewolves beware by Nick Falk
Random House, 2014. ISBN 9780857983077.
(Age: 8+) Billy is a Dragon: Werewolves Beware is the second book in
this series but can be read independently of the first. It is a
quick moving, fun adventure based around Billy who has become a were
dragon.
Billy is learning to shift into a dragon but something or someone is
hunting him. Is it the nasty teacher who seems to be out to get him?
How will Billy hide his wings at the dinner table? What is unusual
about Billy's dog Bertha? Why does his sister get kidnapped and
should Billy rescue her? (she is rather annoying after all)
Author, Nick Falk, has created a fun and descriptive story that
would appeal to all readers even though it is recommended for
readers aged 6 +. I would recommend it to independent readers aged
8+ otherwise it would be a great read aloud novel for parents and
their children to read together.
Kylie Kempster
We're going on an egg hunt by Laine Mitchell and Louis Shea
Scholastic, 2014. ISBN 9781743620410.
(Age: 3-5) Easter, Rhyming story, Read aloud. Five animals, a fox,
pig, chicken, kitten, and a kid goat set out to find eggs at Easter
time. Using the same rhyming sequences and refrain as We're
going on a bear hunt by Michael Rosen and Helen Oxenbury, this
version resonates with Easter, eggs, chocolate and bunnies, making
it a useful tool for Easter time with kids.
The group has to cross the biggest hurdles, a nest, a maze, a lovely
garden full of flowers and bees, and finally a warren, which like
the cave in Rosen's story, ends with the five bumping into the
Easter Bunny in his deep dark warren. They all take fright and run
away, running through the obstacles they first had to pass, until
they finally arrive at the bird's nest where they started, finding
eggs along the way. The last page shows them all covered with
chocolate. A fitting end to this story.
Kids will love the tale read aloud, will thrill at the rabbit in his
warren, and smile at the eating of the chocolate eggs at the end.
Accompanying the book is a CD with the rhyme read aloud, another
treat for the listeners. Astute teachers will use this with the
original, We're going on a bear hunt (Rosen and Oxenbury)
because using the two will underline the humour in the text, the
rhyming sequence used by Rosen and the fun of the hunt.
Fran Knight
Thunderbirds: The Comic Collection by Gerry Anderson
Egmont, 2013. ISBN: 9781405268363.
As a graphic novel of almost 290 pages, this tome was a tad
overwhelming to receive and review as I have obviously never really
been a massive fan of 'comics'! This was perhaps not the best choice
for me but, nevertheless, one I chose to read as a large number of
our primary aged students devour graphic novels. Containing a
multitude of brief adventure stories and cross-sections of the
machines, this book would no doubt hold much appeal to many boys in
both primary and lower secondary who adore the format of graphic
novels.
Personally, as a 'more mature' reader with failing eyesight, I did
find this book a challenge to read. Because it contains art works
from the original comic strips and is written in upper case
handwritten type font, I kept feeling that the images and print were
somewhat blurry, probably not an issue to younger readers. I did
enjoy the 'Elegance, Charm and Deadly Danger' of Lady Penelope's
sections. This truly was a return to an earlier era, including
cardigans, two piece designer suits and a low slung pink Rolls Royce
so I found it quite amusing.
Despite not having been a devotee of the Thunderbirds on television
in my youth, I nonetheless recognised the characters with ease and
now feel the need to go and find some of the animated clips which I
am sure are available on YouTube. This book of vintage comics will
probably encourage the growth of a whole new generation of
Thunderbirds fans!
Jo Schenkel
Saddle Club series by Bonnie Bryant
Random House, 2013. Horse Crazy & Horse Shy ISBN 9780857980632. Horse Sense & Horse Power ISBN 9780857980649. Trail Mates & Dude Ranch ISBN 9780857980656. Horse Play & Horse Show ISBN 9780857980663. Horse Wise & Rodeo Rider ISBN 9780857981042. Hoof Beat & Riding Camp ISBN 9780857981059. Starlight Christmas & Seahorse ISBN
9780857981066. Team Play & Horse Games ISBN 9780857981073.
As the name of this series suggests, The Saddle Club centres
on a love of horses. Three friends, Stevie, Carole and Lisa, formed
the club at Pine Hollow Stables, Virginia, and from there has grown
a whole empire of books, a television series, a website and
merchandise that has endured since Bonnie Bryant first wrote the
original series in 1988- 2001.
There is something that connects horses and girls of about 10-13,
whether they live in the city or the country, so that having a
series of books which focuses on that combination was a winner.
Certainly in my school library at the time, new releases were
eagerly awaited, reserve lists were long and older titles read and
re-read each year. This new collection from Random House with two
stories in each book provides the opportunity to introduce a new
generation of girls to the club. In smart new livery, there are
eight in the collection providing a chance to renew those tatty
titles that have been literally loved to death. At the end of this
month, there will also be a re-release of single titles in ebook
format so all preferences can be catered for.
Because of the popularity of the series in print, the impending
release of the ebook titles, the television episodes available on
YouTube or on DVD , the website with
games, merchandise and so forth this would be an ideal vehicle to
introduce senior primary students to the power of multi-faceted
marketing as well as having them compare the stories as they are
interpreted by different formats. (ACELY1713)
Even though the series originated as an idea of an editor of a
publishing house (Bantam Books) and Bryant was more equestrian
expert than novelist, there is a quality to the stories that has
enabled them to endure over 25+ years and be adapted and renewed so
often. I believe that these new releases will spawn a whole new
generation of fans and if you ask your students to ask their
parents what they read, this series will get more than one mention.
Barbara Braxton
How I Love You by Anna Pignataro
Scholastic, 2014. ISBN: 9781742838182.
Highly recommended for all readers aged 0-60+. In this gentle,
beautifully illustrated Australian tale, each baby animal in the
bush spends time with its mother, demonstrating how it loves her.
With carefully worded, sparse text, and perfectly paired images,
each double page focuses on a different mother and baby. Clean white
backgrounds add to the uncluttered nature of the book and hence the
illustrations cannot help but draw the reader's attention to every
detail. Direct speech is employed as each animal makes its
declaration of love to its mother and the important verbs are
highlighted in blue print.
Anna Pignataro's illustrations utilise the colours of the bush with
muted blues, greens and browns giving a realistic impression of each
creature, despite the animals looking decidedly 'cute'. The most
vibrant and striking colours are those used to show a pair of
parrots and some toadstools.
In the classroom, this title could be used in many ways for varied
units of work. As part of an author study, particularly if looking
at Australian authors, this would fit brilliantly. Teachers could
focus on settings, animals and their habitats and behaviours. As a
mother's day title, one could consider the love of mothers for their
babies and vice versa. As stated previously, verbs could be pulled
out of the text and alternatives provided and punctuation used in
direct speech could also be considered.
This is a delightful title which I would recommend to readers of all
ages.
Jo Schenkel
Half bad by Sally Green
Penguin, 2104. ISBN: 9780141350868.
Themes: Good vs Evil; Witchcraft/Magic; Coming-of Age. The author
uses the Shakespearean quote from Hamlet, 'There is nothing either
good or bad, but thinking makes it so', as an opening epigraph. This
book is about witches - White or Black. The epigraph perhaps
introduces the idea that witches may be either good or bad depending
on how you view them. Perhaps setting aside the idea a 'rotten
apple' is rotten even if there are portions of it that look good,
this book focuses on the Witch world that lives alongside our own
'fain' world. The central character, Nathan, is in the unfortunate
position of living as a barely literate half-caste witch, but with
an extremely notorious absent father who is a Black Witch that has
been viewed badly by Nathan's own family and the wider White witch
community. The approaching Gifting ceremony to mark Nathan's passage
to Witch status at the age of 17 is the focus of the narrative and
its twists and curls. Magic is present, but almost understated. This
is a coming-of-age story, with family dramas involving abuse of the
one who doesn't fit the norm, a little forbidden romance, combined
with a quest to find the absentee father who deliberately remains in
obscurity. The book begins with short 'snapshot' chapters looking at
various circumstances of the captive life of the main character.
This is intriguing, but may create some confusion for an immature
reader. It does require a little persistence to reach the stage of
the book where the narrative becomes more straightforward and
chronological in its style. Perhaps this is part of the 'magic' of
the book.
I am sure this book will appeal to some in the YA female market. The
central character allows us to see the world through his eyes, and
consequently the abuse and hardships he suffers will elicit sympathy
in his female readers. A male readership may find the central
character to be too 'soft' and controlled in some of his responses
although there is still teenage/witch angst expressed.
As a reviewer I need to declare my Christian world view may have
tainted my impressions of this book. I have also resisted Twilight
reading or viewing and other Dark Worlds literature, so I came to a
book about Black and white witches and a central male character who
is Half black and Half white witch with some reservation. The
concept of evil, and how persuasive it can be, may be drawn from the
text. Even some of the 'good' characters and those in authority
(where power is corrupted for their own ends) cannot resist
inflicting hardship and violence on each other. The author does
temper this with some 'gentler' more caring relationships and
friendships that go beyond the expectations of the witch world.
Carolyn Hull
Ubby's Underdogs: Heroes Beginnings by Brenton McKenna
Magabala, 2013. ISBN: 9781922142139.
The second title in the Ubbys Underdogs Trilogy, this book continues
the story of Ubby, a tough aboriginal girl and her gang as they try
to find the Chinese girl Sai Fong. Containing an assortment of over
twenty characters, some of whom are animals with an assortment of
unlikely talents or abilities, this is a rollicking tale of
adventure, twists and turns as good strives to win over evil.
Because many of the characters originate from a diverse variety of
countries and backgrounds, the author seems to draw on legends and
tales of each location as well. The reader is challenged to try and
distinguish good from evil, as are the characters in the story. It
would be interesting to read the final book to see how the series is
resolved.
Despite not being a major fan of the graphic novel genre, I found
the layout of this title very appealing. Generally, there were fewer
than eight panels per page with striking black borders around each.
This contrasted well with the brilliant white speech bubbles and
clear type face which used both upper and lower case letters. The
illustrations were clear and colour was used in the backgrounds to
demonstrate the times depicted in each spread. I was grateful for
the character blurbs at the beginning of the book as I had not read
the first title in the series. Unfortunately, with two Christian
schools using my library, the focus on evil spirits would possibly
preclude me from adding this title to my primary school collection.
Jo Schenkel
