Hodder Children's Books, 2014. ISBN: 9781444914535.
(Age: 14+) Themes: Peer relationships, Overcoming difficulties,
Dysfunctional families, Adolescence, Crime, Non-Conformity. The book
clearly displays a label that states, 'Not suitable for Younger
Readers.'Jay, Summer and Dylan are three young students who
live with unusual, but completely different family circumstances,
and yet they share a path into a Rock Music destination. In
Muchamore's latest series, the gritty and complex backgrounds of the
band members of three hard-rock bands creates an interesting
backdrop as they enter a Rock band competition for young teens. The
Prologue opens with the suggestion of future success, a teaser that
opens up the possibility of the world of stardom. The narrative
begins with a competition that reveals Jay as a central figure in
the plot, and then the author weaves in the other main characters in
succeeding chapters.
The setting of this book places the main characters from urban inner
city or Estate underclass of England (If you have ever watched The
Bill, you will recognise the environs), or from a contrasting
private school privilege and will appeal to Teens who appreciate
life lived on the edge. The issues that Muchamore includes within
the lives of the band members, their school friends and their
families include peer dilemmas , bullying, jealousy, crime, ADHD and
its impacts, cutting, being a teen carer, dysfunctional family
composition, sexual abuse, teen sexual behaviour and the chaotic
consequences of poor choices. These characters are not from 'neat'
family backgrounds, and they do not experience easy routes to
success, but some of them still do homework after school. Music,
though, is a powerful vehicle to express their angst and to
experience some control in their lives. Muchamore includes some
earthy language on occasions to communicate the culture and voices
of the teens, and their attitudes to authority.
Despite the youthful 'hard-rock' culture, there is evidence of care
and concern for family members and the main characters are likeable
and believable. This will be a series that appeals to those whose
music preferences are far from the Pop or Classical world. Both male
and female readers will find it appealing, but it is not for the
very young. The book clearly displays a label that states, 'Not
suitable for Younger Readers.' Do NOT disregard this label. Because
of the issues that the author raises, this book is for older readers
(at least 14+), even though some of the characters within the Rock
Bands are quite young. Characters make choices within the book that
are far from exemplary, and some crime details are confronting.
Note, as this is the first in the series, there is obvious
development of the competition between the bands still to come. This
is not a text that would warrant Class study.
Carolyn Hull
Keeper of the Phoenix by Aleesah Darlison
Ill. by Nicole Onslow. Ash Rover Book 1. Walker Books, 2014. ISBN
9781922179029.
(Age: 7-10) Highly recommended. Themes: Adventure, Fantasy, Quest.
All the elements of a fantasy-quest junior novel - mythical
creatures, magic and mayhem, an evil wizard and friends on a mission
to save their village, engage the reader in Aleesah Davidson's new
action-packed adventure series.
When young Ash Rover falls asleep minding his cows, a mysterious
warm rock hits him on the head. He leaves the cows and rushes home
to tell his unimpressed mother, she admonishes him and throws the
strange object out. Of course the rock turns out to be a phoenix egg
and when it hatches Ash becomes the keeper, protector and food
supplier for the hungry bird. All the men of the village have left
to fight the enemy at the border and Lady Belgrave rules the
village. When she summons Ash and his friends Rhyll and Taine to the
manor to show her the magical bird, things change dramatically.
With the village trapped under the evil wizard Zadoc's spell, the
three adventurers, Ash's faithful dog trip and Gwaam the talking
phoenix need to confront their fears, work together and break the
wizard's spell within seven days. Ash knows he has to do the right
thing even though he's not always clever or brave. Rhyll is a great
foil for Ash, feisty and opinionated.
Along the way they confront a fierce mother dragon, colourful
unicorns, fairies, trogs, need to find food and shelter and confront
the evil wizard Zadoc.
This is an exciting new novel with two more Ash Rover books to come.
This would be a great class read aloud as an introduction to
narrative, fantasy and character development.
Highly recommended for readers from 7-10. Classroom ideas are available.
Rhyllis Bignell
Don't Worry be Happy! or Else! by Francoize Boucher
A & C Black, 2014. ISBN: 9781472904713.
(Ages: 8-99!) Subjects: Happiness, Emotional Health, Cartooning.
Francoize Boucher is a Parisienne author and fashion designer who
shares her creativity and passion for happiness in her new book
Don't Worry be Happy! or Else! She has a unique style of
presentation with page after page of neon illustrations,
encouragements and sayings, quirky cartoon characters and spaces for
personal drawings and reflections. This is definitely not a novel,
just a book filled with positivity, suitable to pick up and read
straight through or just dip into when you need encouragement.
Boucher asks 'Why should you feel so happy?' She answers because you
are 100% human of course! The humorous comparisons between the sad
lives of lions, worms, goldfish, pigs even objects like palm trees
and the joys of happiness experienced by people adds humour to the
book. Imagine a worm who can't share in the pleasures of pocket
money, future career opportunities even mobile phone ownership! Her
fun advice and fresh view on life makes this a joy to read. Humour
and happiness are interlinked.
The cartoon illustrations are creative, with multiple speech
bubbles, bold use of neon highlights and shading, different font
styles and sizes to catch your attention. The style is reminiscent
of Liz Pichon's Tom Gates books. This would make a great
present for a birthday or special occasion or for someone who needs
encouragement.
Rhyllis Bignell
Grasshopper Jungle by Andrew Smith
Hardie Grant Egmont, 2014. ISBN: 9781742978802.
Recommended for readers 16 years +. Themes: Friends, Sexuality,
Family relationships, Science fiction. Grasshopper Jungle tells the
story of three teenage friends in the small American town of Ealing,
Iowa. Austin Szerba is the story's narrator and much of the book
focuses on his complicated relationships with his girlfriend, Shann
Collins, and his best friend Robby Brees.
Ealing, the town in which the book is set, is in decline with its
major employer, McKeon Industries, having closed down. A significant
part of the story takes place in the Ealing Mall where only four
small businesses remain open. The Mall is built on a field where
Austin and Robby used to ride their BMX bikes and was known to them
as Grasshopper Jungle.
Aside from the teenagers' relationships the other significant aspect
of the plot involves the world being taken over by giant praying
mantises! We learn that McKeon Industries started life manufacturing
fertilizer but at some point ventured into genetic engineering and
accepted a contract from the United States government to produce a
race of 'unstoppable soldiers'. A series of events on a normal day
in Ealing results in an old sample of 'Contained MI Plague Strain
412E' being released and Ealing, Iowa, becomes ground zero for the
end of the world as we know it.
Austin keeps a detailed diary and sees it as his duty to record
history for future generations. Andrew Smith frequently introduces
seemingly insignificant facts from the history of the book's
characters which, when put together, give the story a 'six degrees
of separation' quality. The book is full of clever observations
about human nature and the inclination for history to repeat itself.
The cover of this book is very visually appealing to a teenage
audience however the amount of content related to Austin's sexual
relationships with both Shann and Robby result in it being suitable
for older teen readers only.
Nicki Paterson
My Haunted House by Angie Sage
Araminta Spook Book 1. Bloomsbury, 2014 (2006). ISBN 9781408838655.
(Age 7+) Themes: Ghosts, Magic, Witches. Originally published in
2006, this Bloomsbury reprint introduces Araminta Spook to a new
generation of young readers. She lives with her Aunt Tabby and Uncle
Drac in a huge, creepy house. Her parents are away hunting vampires
and they've left Araminta in the care of her unusual relatives.
Araminta spends her days searching for ghosts, getting up to
mischief and finding herself in trouble. Time is running out for
Araminta to find an elusive spirit because her Aunt Tabby is fed up
with the troublesome boiler so she's putting the house on the
market.
Araminta's determination is evident as she scares away real estate
agents and changes the for sale sign to This Haunted House is NOT
for sale. Unfortunately she can't sway her Aunt from finding new
owners who aren't scared of ghosts!
This is a fun chapter book where Annie Sage's humorous writing is
complemented by Jimmy Pickering's dark black and white sketches.
Rhyllis Bignell
The Poppy by Andrew Plant
Ford St, 2014. ISBN 9781925000313 HB. ISBN 9781925000320 PB.
Highly recommended for all readers 9+ . Another stunning new picture
book for everyone's Anzac Day collection, particularly suitable for
younger readers 9+ but also eminently suitable to use with older
students as an exploration of this particular aspect of the First
World War. Many will already know of the history of Villers
Bretonneux, a village in Northern France, where Anzacs achieved the
impossible and saved the village from complete annihilation by the
German invaders. Not without a great cost, the Anzacs suffered huge
casualties in their successful action. You will find much rich
historical material around this significant piece of history,
including a documentary which I recall watching in recent years, now
available on YouTube
in episodes.
Through over 70 beautiful colour paintings and a simple but moving
text, Andrew Plant has retold the story, focussing on the part
played by Victorian schoolchildren who helped rebuild the village
school after the war. This single act of compassionate action has
resonated through time as the Victoria School continues to be a
focal point of Villers Bretonneux, for both locals and for those
making a pilgrimage. In the 'pay it forward' style, the village
children responded in kind when the devastating Ash Wednesday
totally destroyed Strathewen Primary School in 2009.
The individual illustrations boxed in a black background tell much
of the story, making this a highly effective visual text. Andrew
Plant has handled this piece of history with a gentle finesse,
creating a non-fiction text that will speak volumes to all readers.
As the centenary commemorations of the First World War and the
Anzacs begin, this book will prove an invaluable addition to any
collection and is a fitting tribute to those who not only sacrificed
their lives, but those who did whatever they could to help Villers
Bretonneux recover from the tragedies.
This one is a must for your 2014 collection.
Sue Warren
Wayfarer by Lili St. Crow
Tales of beauty and madness bk 2. Razorbill, 2014. ISBN
9781921880209.
(Age 14+) Highly recommended. Fairy tales retold. Survival. Abuse.
With the death of her father, Ellen Sinder, a powerful Charmer, has
been left with her violent stepmother, Laurissa. She is forced to
use her magic to profit her stepmother who is becoming increasingly
abusive. Ellie believes that she has a plan to escape her situation
and is saving every credit that she can. When a train arrives
bringing with it her new stepsister and Avery Fletcher, a golden
boy, things begin to unravel for her.
This is a dark and frightening take on the traditional Cinderella
story. Although Ellie has two close friends, Ruby and Cami, she
doesn't believe that they can help her against her terrifying
stepmother. She becomes increasingly isolated as Laurissa plots to
entice Avery into her clutches and makes her work even harder at
casting spells. When she finally leaves the house, she takes refuge
with an old woman who is friendly and warm, leaving her friends
behind. But as time goes on, Ellie discovers that danger lurks in
every corner.
This is not a feel-good retelling of the fairy tale. Instead it is
an exploration of how a strong and talented girl can become isolated
by abuse and violence, so much so that she doesn't believe that
anyone can help her or that she has the right to expect help. As a
reader I kept asking myself why she didn't tell someone what was
happening but Ellie believes that her stepmother will not only harm
her but those around her.
Lili St Crow doesn't pull any punches with her theme. Powerful
characterisation and descriptive writing make this a compulsive
read. I particularly liked the character of Avery, who appeared to
have every advantage, good looks, a loving family and talent, but
who was caring enough to do the right thing for Ellie. The world of
magic, of twisted minotaurs, fey creatures and spells provides a
believable and unique background to the story as it did for the
first in the series, Nameless.
Pat Pledger
The bushranger's boys : 1841 : do you dare? by A. Lloyd
Puffin, 2014. ISBN: 9780143307563.
In 1841, Jem is taken from his home, a slab hut on the sheep run
tended by his father, by the cruel and arrogant station owner,
Captain Ross. Jem's wages will help his father buy the sheep run but
the Captain's word, as Jem quickly learns, is worth little. While
travelling back to the Station, Jem and Ross have their first
encounter with bushranger William Westwood, who has no more love for
the landed gentry and their overseers than Jem, son of a former
convict, has himself.
Life at bustling Ross Vale Station is unfamiliar to Jem, but he
quickly establishes new friends: a rescued puppy, Alfie the cook's
son, whose head is full of heroes and valorous deeds, and Tommy, an
Aboriginal boy whose people, displaced from the land by the arrival
of the squatters, camp along the creek. Alfie tells Jem that Tommy's
people are hungry. The wallabies have gone along with the grass that
is eaten by the stock, and the creek is too churned up by the hooves
of the cattle for fish to breed in it.
When William Westwood saves the pup from drowning in the river where
he has been thrown on the orders of Captain Ross, the boys, in their
gratitude, decide to allow him to hide out in their mountain 'fort'.
Westwood tells them boys something of his life-story and, perhaps
noticing the early signs of a bad case of hero-worship, urges them
not to go the way of the outlaw. Nonetheless, the only way the boys
can obtain food for the bushranger is by stealing. This presents a
moral dilemma: they might be caught and flogged, but if they are not
caught then Alfie's mother, the local Aborigines or other innocent
parties might be accused of the crime. Fear, the desire to stand by
a mate in need, and notions of honesty flash in turn through Jem's
thoughts: mateship wins the day, (or rather, the night.) The Bushranger's Boys is an easily readable book with enough
action to keep young readers entertained while at the same thing
learning a little of Australia's squatter settlement and the lives
of the men and women who first cleared and farmed the land between
Canberra and the Blue Mountains. The relationship between the two
white boys and Tommy is not fleshed out and is perhaps unlikely.
However, Tommy does allow an opportunity for some classroom research
into the lives of the Ngarigo and the other first people of the
Monaro district. Suitable resources for this purpose include
Josephine Flood's booklet Moth Hunters of the ACT, and an
ABC radio
piece about an Aboriginal shield tree in the Eden region.
Francine Smith
Bloomsbury Discovery series
Space ill. by Andy Rowland. ISBN 9781408194621. My body ill. by Joelle Dreidemy. ISBN 9781408194638.
(Age: 5+) Recommended, Space, Body, Flap book, Non Fiction. Two new
books from Bloomsbury in the Discovery series will find a ready
audience amongst younger children, be they in a kindergarten, junior
primary school or at home. Lift the flap books are so inviting that
readers will not be able to keep their hands of these books. Just as
well they are sturdily made, with a strong hardcover and thick,
almost cardboard pages, and even the flaps have been given an inner
strength to make the book last much longer than many books of this
ilk.
Inside information is presented in small bites while time lines,
chronologies and lists abound, to invite and entreat the reader. At
the end of each book is a page of facts and a glossary. An easily
read contents page at the start directs readers to a chapter which
they may be searching for.
All in all these are a sound pair of books about subjects children
are interested in and give a basic knowledge which will whet their
appetites. Space begins with a time line, starting at 14 billion years
ago and winding through all the significant space events until now.
This is followed by 'How space works' with a flow chart giving the
life of a star, then the Solar System is outlined in spectacular
colour while the following double page on Our Home Planet. Next
comes 'Exploring Space 'with a range of space vehicles, and a
fascinating double page on Living in space. A last double page
showing the night sky for norther hemisphere livers completes this
valuable book. My Body begins with a time line starting at 4.5 billion years
ago and going through all the sequences until man first walked on
the earth about 3 million years ago, to now. Over the page is an
outline of a boy showing all the body parts and lift up flaps about
each section, then over the page presents information about bones,
joints and muscles, followed by the digestive system, the senses,
the brain and lastly breathing. Again a valuable book which could be
well used in the classroom or at home, teaching young children the
fundamentals of our body and how it works.
Fran Knight
Little Meerkat by Aleesah Darlison
Ill. by Shannon Melville. Wombat Books, 2014. ISBN 9781921632822.
(Age: Pre-school - 6) Recommended. Little Meerkat did not like
cuddles. In fact he thought that he was a heroic hunter and should
be out hunting with the older animals, slinking through the grass
and evading capture. Of course he is safe when his large extended
family is there to protect him when he makes his dangerous and
adventurous forays outside the burrow.
Darlison has chosen the meerkat, such a cute animal that people are
fascinated with, to show the reader the dangers of being too
adventurous. Young readers will be able to identify with Little
Meerkat as he pursues his craving for independence, and will be able
to come up with occasions in their own lives when they are too young
or inexperienced to be able to do what their older siblings or the
adults in their lives can do.
Shannon Melville's illustrations are wonderful, and really extend
the appeal of the picture book. The pictures of the wide-eyed,
cute meerkats, the little puffs of dust as the meerkats race to
rescue Little Meerkat, and the enormous feathers of the eagle as it
tries to pounce on Little Meerkat are very attractive and are sure
to gain the attention of the reader.
This is a humorous story that parents and teachers could use to show
that some things can be dangerous. Most of all it is a fun story to
read.
Pat Pledger
The Race by Susannah McFarlane
Ill. by Dyani Stagg. E J Spy School series. Scholastic
Australia, 2014. ISBN 9781921931536.
(Age: 5-7) The EJ 12 series has been popular with girls
seeking a heroine in the centre of the action, especially with her
spy gadgets and international adventures. The new series E J Spy
School is an off shoot of this series, much like the Zac
Power: Spy Camp has the Zac Power: Test Drive series
to complement it.
Designed to appeal to the 5-7 year olds E J Spy school
introduces a young Emma Jacks during her training days. As EJ10 she
is learning to be a spy, enjoying the thrill of arriving at SHINE,
the spy agency, via the last cubicle in the girl's toilet and
bursting to share with her friends but keeping her activities
secret. The Race has EJ proving her fitness and bravery as she
completes the obstacle training course in a race against the clock.
We share her anxiety on the rope bridge and her confidence on the
plank as she recognises she has completed the same activity at gym.
Her dilemma as time runs short is whether she can rescue a duckling
and still finish the course in the allotted time.
The easy to read text interspersed with drawings which focus
generally on showing EJ's emotions or effort, make the book another
in the growing list of chapter books suitable for young independent
readers.
Sue Keane
Cress by Marissa Meyer
Lunar chronicles, Bk 3. Penguin, 2014. ISBN 9780141340159.
(Age 14+) Highly recommended. Science fiction. Fairy tales retold.
Survival. Imagine that Rapunzel is trapped in a satellite, with no
way out, and no way to cut her long hair. That is what has happened
to Cress, who has been imprisoned on a satellite since she was a
child, spying for the Lunar Queen, Levana. She has exceptional
skills as a hacker and has been told to find Cinder and Captain
Thorne, who are accompanied by Scarlet and Wolf. In a daring bid to
rescue Cress, Cinder and her crew's plans go astray and the group is
separated.
The Lunar Chronicles, first Cinder, then Scarlet
and now Cress, are a highly imaginative and compelling set
of books that combine all the ingredients to make readers want to
finish them in a hurry. Cress is no exception: it has a
heroine that the reader will want to embrace as she awkwardly tries
to work out the real world after her incarceration and comes to
grips with her infatuation with the handsome and cunning Thorne. The
action is nonstop as Cinder and her company attempt to rescue Cress
and evade the lunar queen, who will stop at nothing to gain control
of Earth through her machinations to marry Emperor Kai.
Humorous and witty dialogue lifts the tension and believable
characters that involve the reader make this a most enjoyable read.
Meyer has brought together many of the strands of the series as she
describes how Kai is being manipulated, the terrible use of
technology on children and the horror of what it is like to live
under the rule of Queen Levana.
This is one of the best series that I have read and it comes highly
recommended for its originality, strong female characters who are
happy to play with technology and wonderful world building. I can't
wait for the next in the series.
Pat Pledger
Monkey and Me by David Gilman
Puffin, 2014. ISBN 9780143308232.
(Age: All) Thoroughly recommended. This wonderful, heart-warming
story of a young boy who befriends a very nervous, bewildered, but
highly intelligent chimpanzee, is one of the most enjoyable
children's books I have read. Patient leukaemia suffer,
philosophical nine-year-old Beanie, is quite desperate to 'prove'
himself, to be accepted as a full member into his older brother's
gang.
Desperate to save the Sweet Dreams Sweet Factory (that makes his
favourite sweets) from demolition, he dangles a banner from a fourth
floor fire escape and narrowly escapes falling as the structure
pulls away from the wall. Gifted with a wacky sense of humour,
Beanie's good-natured dad, rescues the boy, without reproof.
Exploring the haunted house Black Gate with the gang, Beanie becomes
lost and after being terrified out of his wits, encounters the
hungry chimpanzee who he names Malcolm, in the overgrown greenhouse.
Beanie quickly wins the chimp's trust, bringing him food and reading
to him. He realises, to his astonishment, that Malcolm can 'sign'
certain messages. Not understanding sign language, the lad has to
engage (with a dubious promise of full gang membership) the help of
deaf girl Tracy.
She is able to interpret the chimpanzee's signing and Beanie is
overwhelmed when told Malcolm signs that he loves the boy.
However, baddies Potato Face and Comb Head are out to capture the
chimp and Beanie must save his little friend, especially as the
Police and RSPCA are also searching for the animal.
With his brother's help, Beanie brings Malcolm home overnight, with
disastrous results. Ever resourceful, Beanie conceals the chimp in
the Postie Bag on his father's bike. A crazy ride ensues until the
pair hide out in a trucking yard and stow away clandestinely in a
King of the Road cab, travelling some distance, completely unbeknown
to the driver.
A Roadhouse CCTV is their undoing, the truck is halted and the weary
pair removed from their hiding place. Beanie is relieved to learn
that clever Malcolm is taking part in a Research Programme in Animal
Communication and is in fact well looked after.
Written entirely in the first person, Monkey and Me is
hilarious, thought-provoking, droll and I thoroughly recommend it
for children of any age.
Joan Kerr-Smith
Behind Enemy Lines by Jennifer A. Nielsen
Infinity Ring bk 6. Scholastic, 2013. ISBN 9780545387019.
The Infinity Ring series continues, with this 6th book, to
encourage primary students to enjoy a variety of adventures and
learn something about world history as they follow Dak, Sera and Riq
through time. The mission of these Hystorians is to fix the errors
in history which have allowed SQ to take over, leading to the
cataclysm which is engulfing their world of the future.
The book opens with its usual bump as the three heroes land in
Aberdeen, Scotland during World War 11 in the middle of a German
bombing raid. Unfortunately their local contact and SQuare, the
device which advises them, are victims of the bombs. Sera and Dak
return to their own time, thanks to the Infinity Ring to pick up a
new SQuare only to be almost captured by Tilda, an ambitious and
ruthless leader of SQ. In their haste to escape Tilda unfortunately
returns to 1943 with them.
Their mission to ensure the Allies win the war involves helping the
British convince the Germans that they are to invade Greece rather
than the heavily guarded Sicily in what was known as Operation
Mincemeat. For the first time the trio split up. Dak heads to Berlin
and finds work as a kitchen hand in the German headquarters. Sera
lands in Spain in time to help convince local spies that the secret
documents the dead Major Martin is carrying are the real deal. Riq
stays in London as a contact but is soon captured by Tilda who is
determined to own the Infinity Ring and ensure the only winners are
the SQ.
Fortunately the mission is successful and Tilda's efforts are
largely disrupted.
Whilst I learnt something about this little known segment of war
history, though it was the basis of the movie The Man Who Never
Was, I felt that there were elements throughout the story
which had me questioning the characters, plot and ultimately the
writer. Whilst that might be an adult's view point it is the first
book in this series that has left me feeling disappointed and not
looking forward to continuing the adventure.
Sue Keane
EJ Spy School - The Test by Susannah McFarlane
EJ Spy School series. Lemonfizz Media, 2014. ISBN 9781921931529. EJ Spy School - The Test is a short novel style book aimed at
girls aged 7+. It uses large text and black and white images making
it ideal for the reader who isn't quite ready for larger novels but
wants more independence and 'grown up' books. Children will relate
well to the theme - worrying about a test - and it would also link
with the Child Protection Curriculum and the experience of changing
or mixed feelings.
The main character is Emma and she loves school but not tests. Who
knew, however, that a test could lead to something even more
exciting - 'Spy School'.
The easy to read, quick moving story keeps the reader engaged and
creates a strong female role model for young girls.
Kylie Kempster
