Infinity Ring Book 4, Scholastic, 2013. ISBN 9780545386999.
Recommended reading age - for series fans from 8-11 years. Themes:
Time Travel, Central America - History, Mayas, Adventure,
Friendship.
Every Infinity Ring novel includes a colourful Hystorian's
Guide with hints, secrets and codes that access future adventures
that provide the reader with a totally
unique, story-driven gaming experience. Prior knowledge of the
power of the Infinity Ring, of the game, the clues hidden as riddles
and the gadgetry is needed to comprehend the adventurers' new
historical adventure.
The three young adventurers Dak, Sera and Riq are quickly embroiled
in another action-packed Infinity Ring quest where History is broken
and The Cataclysm is coming. They travel back in time to Central
America with a mission to keep a special Mayan hand-painted book
codex from being burned by the Spanish invaders. If they fail to
change the past, the future is affected. They are assisted by the
local Mayans, whose helpful behaviour is at contrast with the
murderous stereotypes the kids had assumed were true. They are
confronted with violent storms, marauding invaders, injuries, the
damage to the Infinity ring, catastrophic flashbacks as they race
through this adventure.
Matt De La Pena's character development and storyline take Dak, Sera
and Riq on a slightly different tangent to the previous books. With
different authors for each book in the series the main characters
develop additional characteristics. Sera is coming to terms with her
Mayan heritage and is stepping up, Dak is more gung-ho which leads
to his being injured, whilst Riq takes on a leadership role. The
plot is at times confusing and it is difficult to work out their
friends from their enemies.
Rhyllis Bignell
Picture me gone by Meg Rosof
Penguin, 2013. ISBN 9780141344034.
(Age: 14+) Highly recommended. Mila goes with her father Gil,
searching for his best friend, Matthew, whom he hasn't seen for
years and who has disappeared. Together they travel to Matthew's
remote cabin, with observant Mila taking note of small details and
thinking through some of the anomalies of Matthew's disappearance.
How can someone leave their wife, small son and sad dog without a
word and why has he disappeared?
This is a clever and intelligent expose of the way that adults keep
secrets from their children and from each other and how children
have the ability to unravel what is going on. Mila is intrigued with
the puzzle of Matthew's life and gradually comes to understand his
motives and his guilt. Watchful for what is happening around her,
she learns about sorrow and depression, about neglected children and
ways of coping. She also learns about trust and betrayal.
This is not a typical book for adolescents. There are no vampires or
angels here, but a strong family relationship between Mila and her
parents that contrasts with the disintegration that Matthew's
actions cause for his family. It looks squarely at marital
infidelity, single parent family and depression that might cause
suicide. Told through the eyes of a twelve year old, step by step
old secrets are revealed and the conclusion is ambiguous. Truly
adults do not have all the answers and parents keep secrets from
their children.
This beautifully written and intelligent book from an award winning
author will appeal to thoughtful, mature readers. A second reading
would be fruitful.
Pat Pledger
No matter who we're with by Robert Vescio
Ill. Cheri Scholten. IP Kidz, 2013. ISBN 9781922120212.
This is a sensitive story about two children who are dealing with an
issue that so many of our students do - their parents are separated
and they spend time living at both houses. Even though they do
different things with each parent, like growing their own vegetables
in mum's splendiferous garden or helping dad make spaghetti
bolognese, there's a joy that shines through and the most important
message that regardless of who they're with they know they are loved
and that will never change.
Cheri Scholten's colourful illustrations are the perfect
accompaniment as they manage to portray the fun and joy and love the
children have, reaffirming and reassuring the young reader that even
monumental events like your parents separating can be overcome.
So many children struggle with their parents' separation, and often
blame themselves. They believe that if they had been better, then
their parents would not have split. And then, on top of that guilt,
comes the perceived difficulties of spending time with both parents
which often leaves them confused and conflicted. The beauty of this
book is that it demonstrates that they can have fun with both
parents and celebrate the spontaneity and pleasures of childhood,
making the most of what is, rather than regretting what was or what
should be. It's a book that needs to be in the library's collection
so that our young readers can read about other children just like
them, which in itself, can be a powerful healer. It might even be
the catalyst for getting a troubled child to write their own story
about the good things they do with each parent and realise that they
are loved by both and that won't change, no matter what.
Barbara Braxton
The Cinderella moment by Jennifer Kloeste
Penguin, 2013. ISBN 9780143568216.
(Age: Teens) The Cinderella moment is an insightful and
refreshing novel written by Jennifer Kloester about two teenage
girls, Angel and Lilly, who are trying to achieve their dream
careers. Angel is a young girl who is French by parentage but lives
in America with her mum who works as a maid for Lilly's family.
Angel works every spare second designing clothes and hopes to go
from being a maid's daughter to an internationally known fashion
designer. Lilly, on the other hand wants to go into theatre and be
immersed in the world of drama. But even the biggest and brightest
dreams are hard to make a reality when something as unfortunate and
realistic like Clarissa Kane steps in the way. Clarissa along with
her mother, Margot Kane, are power hungry women who make a point to
only affiliate with the highest standing social group and if they
can't get there by charm, claw their way upwards. But, chance is
thrown their way and both girls manage to get a possibility at
achieving their dream goals. Will they get there when a mix up
occurs and revenge needs to be served? Lilly and Angel have to swap
identities and pull off the spectacular stunt to make their wishes
come true.
Jennifer Kloester writes in such a way that you become immersed in
the tangled and twisting plot, being pulled in even further when
unexpected happenings occur. This novel is best suited to teens,
mainly girls due to the fashion, design and romance themes that are
included in this novel. In conclusion, this novel has surprises
around every corner and is definitely different to the first
impressions conceived of it.
Sarah Filkin
Jellybean goes to school by Margaret Roc and Laura Hughes
Random House 2013. ISBN 9781848530751.
It is the most exciting time in a young child's life and Jellybean
is no exception - taking that big leap and starting school. She
wants to read by herself and write by herself and find out why
clouds are fluffy and spiders spin webs. But most of all she wants
to find a friend, because while she has a baby brother, he's not big
enough for her yet.
Finally the BIG day arrives and, in her new uniform, she's ready,
although her tummy is so jittery that she can't eat her breakfast.
She is SO excited, until she sees the size of the school and the
noise of the playground. Overwhelmed, like many on the same
adventure, she thinks she might stay with her mum and brother after
all. But Miss Benson is used to children with first-day nerves and
introduces Jellybean to Alex, who is also not as confident. It's
easier to meet the world with a friend. Miss Benson also knows how
to engage and enthuse the children for this new experience, easing
them into all that is on offer in a way that the best Foundation
teachers do.
Author, Margaret Roc has tapped into Jellybean's feelings of
apprehension perfectly and so has illustrator, Laura Hughes. At
first, when they use the building blocks, Jellybean's imagination
has her far, far away in Rapunzel's tower but as she and Alex and
the other children explore what is on offer, she gradually moves
into the here and now and imagines the possibilities of what this
new place itself, can offer. The bright colours and familiar
backgrounds will enable other Jellybeans to take the journey with
her and gain security and comfort from knowing that all the other
children are feeling the same.
This is such a lifelike book dealing with such a familiar subject,
and one that is coming closer and closer for many that it is sure to
have a wide appeal. Many schools are having transition programs as
preschoolers learn what big school is really about, and having a
library of these sorts of books so parents can borrow them to share
with their child or preschool and Foundation teachers can use them
to show that nerves are part of the deal, is one way the library can
be involved in these programs as well as starting a productive
relationship with the parents. Jellybean goes to school
deserves its place in that collection.
Barbara Braxton
Wild awake by Hilary T. Smith
Hardie Grant Egmont, 2013. ISBN 9781742977706.
(Age: 16+) Recommended for an older audience as it contains material
including drugs and sexual content. While her parents are away on a
cruise, 17 year old Kiri receives a strange phone call and discovers
that her sister didn't die in a car accident, but had been murdered.
Going to meet Doug, the man who had phoned, Kiri begins to uncover
the mystery surrounding Sukey, the sister that her parents had
kicked out of home. Her carefully regulated life begins to break
down as she discovers the lies that her parents had told her and has
to rethink her memories of her sister. Then she meets Skunk, a
large, tattooed boy who repairs her bike and who is strange.
The reader is taken on a roller coaster ride with Kiri as she speeds
on her bike, sometimes high on drugs, through the neighbourhood where
her sister had last lived. From the obsessive teen, who has a
practice timetable taped on the lid of her piano, organising for the
International Young Pianist's Showcase, and who plays in Sonic Youth
for the Battle of the Bands, we watch her exhilarating spiral down
into what Lukas' social worker mother calls monomania. There are
thrilling bike rides in the middle of the night, drug taking, music
of both the classical and popular and discussions of life - 'The way
cannot be cut, knotted, dimmed or stilled' - Skunk's and her
favourite line from the Tao. Kiri's life is a mess and so is
Skunk's, but together they move forward.
More serious issues of mental health, paranoia and murder are also
themes, with questions of what is normality an undertone to the
book. It is beautifully written with many striking images and
dialogue. It is sure to appeal to reluctant readers and will
engender much discussion around drug taking and honesty between
family members.
Pat Pledger
The lives of Stella Bain by Anita Shreve
Little, Brown, 2013. ISBN 9781408702970.
(Age: Senior secondary - adult) The lives of Stella Bain
chronicles the life of a woman who wakes up in an army hospital in
France, during World War 1, with no idea who she is, other than a
sinister feeling that she may have a past to be ashamed of. What
follows is first her quest to recover her memory, and then her
attempt to put her life back together.
The novel takes the reader through wartime France, England and the
United States and can, perhaps, offer a little insight into the
history and early psychiatric practices of the time. Thematically it
covers a lot of ground, encompassing issues such as war, memory
loss, family and child custody, domestic abuse and a search for
identity.
Structurally the novel can be hard to follow, but is an interesting
example of different text forms within the one piece of work. There
are no chapters, but sections are divided by years and locations,
though these are not always chronological. Most of the novel is
written in the present tense narrative form, though there are
sections of recount narratives (also in present tense, like a dream
sequence), letters, and also short, seemingly hurried paragraphs
used to communicate a lot of information and the passing of time.
In my opinion, despite having created an interesting plot line,
Anita Shreve's latest novel has left a lot to be desired. I found it
hard to sympathise with the main female protagonist, finding her a
bit one-dimensional and lacking in moral fibre. The novel seems to
have been marketed in a somewhat Jason Bourne style, in
which the reader expects that the protagonist's amnesia masks some
kind of thrilling back story. In reality, the resolution of her
identity comes fairly early in the novel, as a bit of an
anti-climax, and the story that follows, while interesting enough,
is not one that I found riveting.
This novel may be of interest to secondary students, though it seems
to have been written for a more adult audience. It is a pleasant
enough read, with some interesting themes, but not one that I'd be
rushing to read again.
Sarah Rose
The bouncing ball by Deborah Kelly and Georgia Perry
Random House, 2013. ISBN 9780857980045.
A little boy finds a bouncing ball, and like all little boys he
begins to bounce it - against a wall, along the street. But then he
drops it and it bounces onto the road, between the cars, into a
gutter and down the drain... Then a little girl finds it and she
begins to bounce it, until she too drops it and its adventures
continue.
This is Deborah Kelly's debut picture book and while the premise
seems simple, there is huge scope for lots of those comments and
conversations that are so precious in a shared reading experience,
either in the classroom or the bedroom. Accompanied by
engaging, bright illustrations which bring the words to life - is
there anything better than a hot pink dog or a yellow and purple
cow? - this charming story delighted the little ones I shared it
with, particularly as it is perfect for them to make up the final
adventure. Each one had a different idea and there were enough
stories that we could have written a new book. We also had fun playing
around with position words, looking for where the ball might gone
over, down, through, between, off, into, around, if we were inside or
outside. Teaching riches indeed.
Neil Gaiman said recently that we have 'an obligation to imagine'
and this is perfect for doing just that.
Barbara Braxton
A House of Night novel: Revealed by P.C. & Kristin Cast
Atom, 2013. ISBN 9780349001739.
Popular paranormal romance series A House of Night continues
with its eleventh instalment Revealed. Written in
alternating view points P.C and Kristen Cast continue from where
they left off in Hidden and showcase the main antagonist's
(Neferet) return to power. Major themes include the importance of
unity, friendship and trust. Teenage fans of paranormal romance may
enjoy this novel.
Defeated by Zoey and her circle, Neferet manages to manifest her
consciousness into spiders. Power hungry and immortal Neferet gives
herself over to her vampyre hunger and drains the Mayor of Tulsa
(who happens to be Aphrodite's father) of his lifeblood leaving his
body devoid of life before fleeing the scene. Uncovered by his wife,
the mayor's death brings the House of Night to a standstill and
their already tenuous alliance with the humans of Tulsa wavers once
more. Lessons suspended until further notice, every vampyre and
fledgling is a suspect to murder. Unfortunately Zoey and her circle
know better, the work of Neferet is all too familiar but there is no
evidence for the Tulsa community. Zoey is stressing over the murder
while her circle is disrupted by the constant threat of Dallas and
his school yard cronies who are all the more dangerous now that
Erin, Dallas' girlfriend rejected the change. The drama continues
for Zoey when she begins to see more and more of Heath's soul in
Aurox (Heath was the lost lover) and Stark is becoming jealous of
Aurox/Heath and demands that Zoey stay well away. With all the
stresses of being an unusually gifted High Priestess Zoey is bound
to crack. But when she does, what will the repercussions be?
Kayla Gaskell (Student)
Big Book of Dinosaurs
Robert Irwin Dinosaur Hunter series. Random House, 2013. ISBN
9781742750958.
(Age: 6-12) In this lavishly illustrated book, Robert Irwin has put
together a wealth of facts and figures and other fascinating tidbits
about his favourite things - dinosaurs. Son of well-known
conservationists Steve and Terri Irwin, Robert is continuing their
legacy even though he is not yet 10 years old, and that, in itself,
is enough to inspire younger readers to look more closely at their
surroundings.
This is not an impersonal, all-you-want-to-know-about book, like so
many others with a similar title. We start by meeting Robert, who
despite his extraordinary circumstances, has had a love of dinosaurs
from a very young age - just as many of our young students do - but
it is those extraordinary circumstances that have enabled him to
pursue that love in a way that our young students cannot and now he
shares that with his readers. While his first visit to a dinosaur
museum was the Paris Natural History Museum, he recommends others
that would be a starting place for others such as The Lark Dinosaur
Trackway in Winton in Queensland, and interspersed throughout the
book is a travel diary of the world's leading dinosaur museums. For
those not able to travel to Paris, London or New York, perhaps the
National Dinosaur Museum in Canberra would be more accessible.
Wherever, your students start their journey, dinosaurs are a
perennial favourite with the young and the 567.9 section is well
patronised.
Robert introduces his Top 10 Dinosaurs, none of them not as
well-known as those such as Tyrannosaurs Rex, so the reader is
introduced to a wider variety of these creatures (including some
unique to Australia) through a fascinating description, a fact file
and graphics as well as an inset note from Robert. There are also
the Dinosaur Hunter Awards and we learn which ones have the longest
claws, the most teeth and so on, including the one made most famous
by Hollywood.
All in all, this is a great addition to your collection that will
appeal not only to those who love the Dinosaur Hunter series
but also those who are aspiring to read them as their skills
develop. The text is just right for that 6-12 year old market,
whether as a read-along, read-aloud or read-alone, with an appealing
layout with much to be learned just discussing from the pictures. A
must for anyone with dinosaur lovers in their lives, both those who
know and those who want to know.
Barbara Braxton
Forevermore by Cindy Miles
Chicken House, 2013. ISBN 9781908435927.
(Age: 12+) Romance. Ghosts. Scotland. Ivy Calhoun has moved to a
cold castle in Scotland. Her mother has married the local laird and
she is beset with unfamiliar things, not the least a gorgeous ghost,
Logan, who has haunted the castle grounds for a long time. Ivy is
haunted by the beautiful flute music that he plays but danger seems
to surround her. Ivy begins to hear a voice telling her to leave and
strange things begin to happen. Is Logan responsible for her near
death experiences and how can she stop herself falling in love with
a ghost?
This is a very easy to read ghost story that girls in particular
will enjoy. I was not surprised to learn that the author has written
romances for adults. She has chosen a familiar setting for her teen
romance, a dark castle in the Scottish highlands, complete with
thick walls, ruins, servants and extensive gardens. It is inhabited
by her stepfather's grandmother, Lady Elizabeth, an elderly woman
who appears to hate her.
Ivy is a strong character who will appeal to readers. She makes
friends readily at her new school, and is aiming to continue her
violin playing and enter a local contest. She is determined to
uncover the mystery surrounding Logan and enlists the help of her
friends and the local author, who writes highland romances - and
here Miles introduces characters from her adult books.
There is enough mystery and romance to make for a light entertaining
read, especially for lovers of romance stories.
Pat Pledger
Yum Yum Yoshi by Susannah McFarlane
Ill. by Lachlan Creagh. Scholastic, 2013. ISBN 9781742837420. Zippy Zoe by Susannah McFarlane
Ill. by Lachlan Creagh. Scholastic, 2013. ISBN 9781742838847.
(Ages 4+)Little Mates series. Alphabet books, Australian
animals. Yum Yum Yoshi, the yellow bellied glider and his friends
are in the bush collecting their food. Everything Yum Yum Yoshi sees
is terrific, all yum yum, and he eats it with relish. From yams to
yum cha and yellow peppers, he eats it all down. That is until one
day he begins to feel a little ill. Decidedly ill. So ill in fact
that he no longer feels like eating anything. HIs friends, Yang,
Yolanda, Yasmine and Yuri all suggest things to combat his illness.
Things like yoga and yodelling help not a jot, but when they suggest
yoghurt, all comes well again.
Zippy Zoe the zebra finch is well known for her zippy habits and she
flies from zero to a zillion so quickly that eventually she must
have a sleep. Between the covers of this book, we see the z letter
used in a multitude of ways, until the inevitable, ZZZZ as she
sleeps.
These two little books are in the series of Little Mates,
offering a little, hand sized book of simple stories of Australian
animals from A to Z. Small children will love this series of
Australian animals, and join in with finding things which begin with
the nominated letter as well as follow the bright illustrations with
glee.
Fran Knight
A House of Night Novel: Hidden by P.C. & Kristin Cast
Atom, 2012. ISBN: 9781907411120.
Written in first person in alternating view points this tenth
instalment in popular paranormal romance series A House of Night
is packed with all the drama that comes with being a teenager and
more! Confusing without background, this novel is written as you
would speak and centres less on the supernatural then on the teenage
drama. Vampyres, witches, seers and goddesses incite the events and
fans of the paranormal romance genre may enjoy this novel.
Continuing on from where its predecessor left off (Destined)
the book encompasses the days following the loss of Zoey's mother
and the exposure of Neferet's dark nature. Zoey and her group are in
mourning after the death of their sword master Dragon Lankford to
the vessel of The White Bull. The school is in upheaval as both
staff and students come to terms with the betrayal of their High
Priestess Neferet, who sacrificed Dragon's cat in order to command
the death of a son of immortal, Kalona. Breaking with the Tulsa
House of Night Neferet seeks the help of humans to reap havoc on her
vampyre counterparts, however she doesn't count on, high priestess
Zoey's continual interference. All the while, cracked vessel,
created by darkness, Aurox (who Zoey suspects may host the soul of
her beloved Heath) begins to fight his dark beginnings and rebel
against the White Bull. Betrayal, death, darkness and in spite of it
all hope, the novel demonstrates the importance of unity, friendship
and trust in a fanciful interpretation of our world.
Kayla Gaskell (Student)
Yoko's diary ed. by Paul Ham
ABC Books,2013. ISBN 9780733331176.
(Age: Suitable for Middle School students aged 10-15 years) Highly
recommended particularly for students of History and Japanese.
Yoko's diary was first published in Japan in 1996, but this is the
first English translation. Yoko wrote her diary each day from
6.4.1945 to 5.8.1945 - a period of 4 months - from her commencement
in Year 7 at the prestigious 'Kenjo' high school in Hiroshima. Yoko
relates the detail of her days in 2 sections - 'School' and 'Home' -
with lots of detail about domestic arrangements and the education
system.
Yoko tells us at what time she wakes and at what time she goes to
bed. She tells us if/what she studies and what chores she does. She
details everyday life in Hiroshima in the last days of World War
II.We experience Yoko's ups and downs, her joys and frustrations,
her commitment to hard work, her compassion for the Japanese troops,
her loyalty to family, school and country, her rare opportunities
for play with friends, her long days travelling to and from school
and visiting family members and her attempts at growing food. We can
see how readily she, her family and teachers accepted the Japanese
war propaganda. Japan's war efforts were in dire straits, but Yoko
believed that victory was not far away. Yoko diary finishes on
5.8.1945, the day on which the atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima.
She died later that day from the effects of the bombing.
Yoko's diary is edited by Australian author Paul Ham and he has
added numerous information pages eg shrine maidens, rationing,
religion in Japan in the 1940s. It has been beautifully designed.
Many pages are adorned with cherry blossom decorative scrolls. There
are black and white photos, maps and Yoko's family tree. In addition
there are recent contributions by Yoko's older brother, Kohji, her
niece, Miki,her nephew, Yo, her sister-in-law, Kazuko, her school
friend, Kazuko, and Hatsue, who attended Yoko as she died apart from
her family in a relief centre. The details of Yoko's injuries and
last hours are heart-breaking, but sensitively handled.
Margaret Strickland
Hate is such a strong word by Sarah Ayoub
Harper Collins, 2013. ISBN: 9780732296841.
(Age: Secondary) Sarah Ayoub has created an engaging plot line that
speaks to relevant issues in the lives of Australian
Teenagers. This was a quick read, which I didn't want to put
down.
Written in the first person, seventeen year old Sophie takes us
through her final year of high school as a Lebanese-Australian,
living in a predominantly Lebanese district of Sydney. Like many
teenagers, Sophie struggles with fitting in at school, dealing with
an over-protective father at home, reconciling her two cultures and
trying to find her place in the world.
Ayoub covers a lot of ground in this debut novel. Racial Tension,
bullying, family, relationships and identity are just a few of the
themes that she explores, and she does so in a manner that quickly
draws the reader to empathise with the well-constructed female
protagonist.
The novel presents a vivid picture of what it is to live as the
child of a migrant family within a cultural minority in Australia.
While I cannot personally vouch for the accuracy of this depiction,
I believe it is a novel that will open the eyes of the average
Australian teenager to the broad diversity that resides within our
country.
While the language is not challenging, and this novel should be a
fairly easy read for most high school students, the themes are
particularly relevant to more senior students who are making the
transition into the adult world.
This is a coming of age novel, with a good dose of social commentary
and a hint of chick-lit. Hate is Such a Strong Word could be studied in conjunction
with other text such as My Big Fat Greek Wedding, or Looking
for Alabrandi, though I would recommend it more as a wider
reading novel than a class shared text.
Sarah Rose
