Reviews

Viridian by Susan Gates

Bloomsbury, 2012.
(Age: 10+) In the future, a virus is turning people into human/plant hybrids called Verdans. But this isn't a problem, because the Verdans are calm and peaceful creatures. Soon enough, everyone wants to become a Verdan. The only humans left are Immunes like Jay and others who dislike the Verdan race. But then the Cultivars rise, who are bred from the most dangerous plants on the planet and are aggressive warlords. Their leader is Jay's blood brother, a ruthless Cultivar called Viridian. And he won't stop until he's wiped out humanity.
Viridian is a short, action packed, adventurous read, probably aimed at younger readers. The story is futuristic, with a sci-fi feel, and the writing style is easy to read without being too simplistic. It pulls readers in with the intriguing story and it holds their interest with multiple exciting action scenes. It's a very original idea, and very interesting, and the characters are written in a way so they are easy to relate to. The ending is well set up, as while clearly setting it up for a sequel, it ties up loose ends also.
Viridian is a short, fast, enjoyable read with an intriguing storyline and action-packed sequences. It would probably be best for younger readers.
Rebecca Adams (Student)

Nuddy Ned by Kes Gray and Garry Parsons

Bloomsbury, 2013. ISBN 978 1 4088 3659 0
(Age: 5+) Picture book. Nudity. Humour. When Ned has a bath he is overcome with the steam and decides that he will not get dressed but run about in the nude. His parents chase him through the pages of this highly entertaining book, imploring him to get some clothes on. He runs through the garden, along the street, startling those waiting for their bus, into the park, then the precinct, the pizza shop, the bus and finally the field. By the time he reaches the field both his parents are covered with mud and so decide that they too do not need clothes either.
Told in verse, the story is simply fun. Lift up flaps reveal pieces of Ned's anatomy covered by things unexpected, and the fun of his movements will make kids laugh along with the rhymes.
For a great deal of fun, for classes wanting an introduction to the theme of bodies and clothes, for parents wanting a fun story about bodies, this book is a useful addition to the school or home bookshelf. The illustrations add to the humour in the book with readers recognising things in their own homes and streets with laughter and glee.
Fran Knight

The lost tail by Patricia Bernard

Ill. by Tricia Oktober. Ford St., 2013. ISBN 978 1 921445 56 8.
(age: 5+) Recommended. Picture book. Papua New Guinea. Celebration. How absolutely wonderful to see a book about our closest neighbour, Papua New Guinea. When researching for teacher notes for Kate Constable's new book, New Guinea Moon, I was surprised to realise how few books about this country are available to our students. So this is a very welcome book indeed.
A group of children, the Bundi Boys is to preform their snake dance at the Goroka Show. They must leave their village for a five day trek across the mountains, passing the many dangers that may appear, carrying their snake to get to the show on time where they will join all the other participants from across the country. At the show the boys settle to sleep after looking at the huge array of tribesmen and women from different parts of Papua New Guinea with their endless variety of head dresses, paint and feathers.
Little Nara is to carry the tail, a job he must take very seriously, but when he wakes in the morning, he has lost his tail, so must set out to find it.
A seemingly simple tale of the group getting to Goroka to present their snake dance, the story showcases the range of different groups that live in Papua New Guinea. Marvellously illustrated by Oktober, the colours are fantastic, revealing the spectacular use of feathers, teeth, straw, moss and shells, amongst a myriad of other things to decorate the dancers.
The wonderful snake winds its way through the book, holding the story and the illustrations together, and kids will love working out how the boys may have made it. They will also be intrigued with the range of people displayed in the story and spy the various things in the jungles' trees, and the background at Goroka. In any hands this book will introduce readers to the amazing country to our north.
Fran Knight

The No.1 car spotter and the car thieves by Atinuke

Walker Books, 2012. ISBN 978 1 4063 2080 0.
(Age: 7+) Highly recommended. Chapter book. Nigeria. Crime. Humour permeates this story as No.1 sits high in the palm oil tree spotting the expensive cars approaching his mother's chop-house. Spotting a car he yells to his mother who in turn fires up the kitchen making wonderful smells to stop the drivers in their tracks. It works well until the day that cars begin to be stolen from under all their noses. No.1 is at a loss, as is his family, especially when some of their customers blame them and refuse to stop there anymore.
But No.1's brain is turning over, he knows the Police Chief is working hard on the case, because it is happening all over the country, and he wants to help find the crooks. But each idea he has turns sour and he is disconsolate. But when their very good customer, the Prof, invites No.1 to drive with him to the city in his Firebird, the car is stolen with No.1 still inside. His love of cars is paramount in saving the day.
This splendid story is the third in a series about No.1, written by Atinuke, born in Nigeria and now living in Wales. The stories present a totally different lifestyle than the one known to our readers, and will open their eyes to the lives of children in Africa, particularly Nigeria. The humour underlying the whole story will easily draw the readers in, and the information about No.1's family is simply intoxicating. The background is tantalisising, a taste of somewhere quite unknown to most of us, and will add to our knowledge of the wider world in which we live.
Fran Knight

The International Kissing Club by Ivy Adams

Walker, 2012.
Age: 13+) Recommended. Piper, Cassidy, Mei and Izzy are best friends living in the tiny town of Paris, Texas. When Piper is the victim of an embarrassing prank that goes viral online, all she wants to do is get out, and so she has an idea that the girls should all go on the school's international exchange program. Piper visits the real Paris, Cassidy goes to Australia, Mei explores China, and Izzy stays in Texas. To keep in touch while they're away, they start a group on Facebook called The International Kissing Club, where they anonymously update on all the guys they're meeting. And that's where the real fun begins.
The International Kissing Club is not a very serious book, but it is certainly fun to read. The narrative switches between the four viewpoints of the different girls, which helps to keep it interesting and fresh. In reality, the author Ivy Adams is a pseudonym and the book was actually written by three best friends, which is good because they are able to give each character a unique voice. This book would be great for teenage girls because of the constant references to social networks, fashion and friendship (not to mention the abundance of hot guys). It's quite a funny book at times as well. If there is one criticism about this book, it would be that there are almost too many hot guys, because virtually every boy these girls see is 'jaw-dropping' or 'stunning'. That's a minor flaw in an otherwise very enjoyable read though.
The International Kissing Club is a light-hearted, fun read that brings to mind classic friendship novels like Sisterhood Of The Travelling Pants.
I recommend this book.
Rebecca Adams (Student)

Trust no one by Linda Sue Park

The 39 Clues. Scholastic, 2012. ISBN 9780545298438.
(Age 12+) Highly recommended. The 39 Clues: Trust No One is book 5 in the series involving 13 year old Dan and his older sister Amy. Dan and Amy's family were kidnapped by a group called The Vespers. To get them back, Dan and Amy are sent instructions to steal things from around the world. This series is highly recommended to avid, independent readers aged at least 12 years or older. The language used is descriptive and exciting but a wide range of vocabulary and a good understanding will be needed to read some parts.
I would also recommend reading the series from the beginning rather than just picking up this book only. Within the first 20 pages, events from previous books are mentioned and having this prior knowledge will help with understanding - especially when it comes to getting to know the characters better. Reading the series from the beginning would have given me a better sense of who the characters are and why The Vespers have kidnapped members of the Cahill family in the first place.
This book has Amy, Dan and their friends in New York. The instructions have them after an ancient document but meanwhile one of their other friends has discovered the mole in their organisation is actually a close friend of them all. Will this friend end up hurting them? What are their reasons for this friend switching sides? Will the Cahill's be able to flush out this mole before another family member is killed?
Kylie Kempster

How to save a life by Sara Zarr

Usborne, 2012. ISBN 9781409546757.
(Age: 14+) Recommended. ALA Teens' Top Ten Nominee (2012), YALSA Best Fiction for Young Adults (Top Ten) (2012).  Jill MacSweeney is appalled when her mother decides to adopt a baby. She believes that it is to fill the void left by the death of her father. Jill has isolated herself from her mother, friends and boyfriend Dylan, leaving only her work at the bookstore, Margins, as any consolation. Mandy Kalinowski is 19, pregnant and knows what it is like to be unwanted. She is determined that her child will have a better life and thinks that will happen in the MacSweeney household. But really Mandy is the one who needs a parent to care for her. Both Jill and Mandy have difficult lessons to learn in this wonderful book that explores relationships and feelings very well.
Sara Zarr is an award winning author and her expertise glows in the way that she manages to write the voices of two completely different young girls. Jill and Mandy tell their experiences in the first person in alternate chapters,  taking the reader into their confidence and exposing their personalities, inadequacies and strengths. I became totally involved with each of the girls, who had such different needs. Jill is so angry and isolated, missing her father so much that she cannot see the love that surrounds her. Mandy has been abused and has never experienced love or care from a parent. Zarr takes both characters on a journey of self discovery and manages to conclude the trip in a wholly satisfying way. This is a feel good story that explores difficult issues in a very sensitive way.
This is the first book that I have read by Sara Zarr, but I certainly will be putting her on my list of favourite authors to read in the future.
Pat Pledger

Wonder by R. J. Palacio

A very unusual pursuit by Catherine Jinks

Vulgar the Viking and the Rock Cake Raiders by Odin Redbeard

Nosy Crow, 2012. ISBN 978-0-85763-056-8.
(Age 7-10) Recommended. What is wrong with Vikings these days? Why don't they raid and conquer anymore? Vulgar is bored with his non-violent Viking days and decides to liven things up by raiding the bakery for rock cakes.
Things go slightly awry when King Olaf the Unstoppable's daughter, Princess Freya becomes involved and joins Vulgar in his (very short) longboat.
This is the first book in the series and is great fun with all of its gross references and funny escapades.
Illustrations by Sarah Horne add to the comic flavour of the book. The cover is bright and appealing with young Vulgar brandishing his wooden sword and Viking scowl. Author Odin Redbeard is a pseudonym&(surprise!) and a mystery as Nosy Crow claim his identity must be 'kept a secret'.
This would be an interesting read for 7 to 10 year olds as it is not too demanding in length and has a larger than normal font.
I am a fan of Nosy Crow publications (check out some of their great book apps) and I recommend buying this novel for primary school libraries.
Jane Moore

Survival at 40 C above by Debbie S Miller

Ill. by Jon Van Zyle. A & C Black, 2013. ISBN 9781408190296.
(Age: 7-9) Picture book. Australian environment. Australian animals. Surviving in the Simpson Desert in the heart of the Australian continent requires specialised skills by animals and birds alike. Miller, after three seeks in the desert with a group of scientists from the University of Sydney, has written a story of the animals she encountered and speaks of their adaptation to the environment in which they live in this vibrantly illustrated book.
Informative, interesting, educational, the facts in the book will interest and inform younger readers, but the layout is something else. Young readers taught to recognise headings and sub headings, to use the contents page and index to find the information they require, to use interactive whiteboards to access information may find the layout of this book too unwieldy to bother. The whole is simply like one long essay starting with information about the desert and then trawling through some of the animals and their adaptations to the environment and climate in which they live. Fascinating yes, but it is difficult to use as a non fiction book of information for class.
After the information is given an author's note, glossary, record temperatures for the desert, and a list for further reading.
As a book for use at home or as a reader, or extra help in the classroom where an adult may be around to help the child find the information they seek, then this has its uses, but as an example of a modern non fiction book, I found it interesting but a little disappointing.
Fran Knight

The shape of my heart by Mark Sperring and Alys Paterson

Bloomsbury, 2013. ISBN 978 1 4088 2705 5.
(Age: 3+) Picture book. Shapes. An educative look at the shapes in our environment is shown in this large picture book for younger listeners. With its bold colours, myriad of images, large print and simple story line, it is sure to create interest in those children to whom a book is being read. Children will look at, touch, point to recognised objects and be introduced to some they do not know. All is familiar and close by, reprising the closeness of family ties, companionship, communication and love.
Astute parents and preschool teachers will be able to use the book to familiarise things within a child's environment and introduce the words used for the shapes give (I was surprised that this was not written in), but above all to recreate the love within a family and friendship group of the child.
A simple premise, showing shapes of different things that children will come across, ends up with the shape of a heart, extolling the belief that they are loved.
Fran Knight

The prey by Andrew Fukuda

The hunt, bk 2. Simon & Schuster, 2013. ISBN 9781471117176.
(Age: 14+) Recommended. Following the gripping The hunt, sees Gene and his companions surviving The Vast, travelling over a waterfall and fighting off the vampire predators that are hunting them. When they finally find a village of humans high in the mountains, they think that they are safe, but life there was not what he expected. There are no young boys; all the girls are subservient to the elders, who abuse them, and the punishments for minor infringements are harsh. Gene and Sissy must help each other to overcome the evil that pervades the settlement and fight off the invasion of predators.
Once again there is action galore, with the group led by Sissy and Gene fighting off the vampires in the dark, coming up with daring ways of escape and looking after each other. The escape scenes are thrilling and readers will enjoy descriptions of travelling in white water and hang gliding.
There is great character development alongside the action. Gene feels great guilt about the girl he left behind, and he questions what the Scientist, his father, was trying to do. He has to search his heart to do what is right and he grows in thoughtfulness and caring for others. Sissy plays an important role too, and there are a couple of sad moments. Understanding of the vampires grows and questions of what is best for the group versus the survival of the individual and power misused are explored.
This was an engrossing read, with plenty of action. It could appeal to reluctant readers and the cliffhanger ending will ensure that the next book in the series is read.
Pat Pledger

10 green geckoes by Phillip Gwynne

Ill. by Lloyd Foye. Scholastic, 2013. ISBN 9781742833454.
(Age: 4+) Warmly recommended. Australian animals. Poetry.
With 10 green geckoes living in the house, accidents are sure to happen. The first gecko is taken by a mouse, then one falls from the wall, another goes down the plughole, while another mistakenly eats a piece of pie. Nine of the little green geckoes come to a sticky end as they try to survive in their rather alien environment. Small children will love following the antics of the beautifully illustrated animals as they meet their fate during the telling of the ballad. Living in a house means that they come across some things they would not meet in their natural environment, and the illustrations show them trying to cope. Counting the frogs as the story proceeds will enthrall younger readers, and those having it read to them will love spotting the frogs and the things in the background.
For older readers, the refrain of 'ten green bottles' will spring easily to mind, and the listeners could be taught the music to enable everyone to sing along. In a class, it seems an ideal thing to do, along with teaching the children about the real environment this little frog lives in. The possibilities of using this book are wide as the stanzas lend themselves to a different rhyming sequence than most poems children would have come across, leading a group to try out the style for themselves. The gentle humour is enticing and the ending of the story will draw the readers back to the first page over and over again.
Fran Knight

Tyrannosaurus in the Veggie Patch by Nick Falk and Tony Flowers

Saurus Street, no 1. Random House, 2013. ISBN 9781742756554.
Recommended for 6-8 year olds. This new series follows the adventures of dinosaur-loving Jack, Charlie his dog and his best friend Toby, a scientific whizz kid.
When Jack wishes on a shooting star for his very own dinosaur, he doesn't expect his wish to come true. The very next morning a live and hungry Tyrannosaurus Rex appears in Mum's veggie patch. This leads to lots of trouble-filled adventures, as he tries to hide the dinosaur and has to return him to the Cretaceous era.
The crazy fonts emphasizing words and phrases are becoming common with many series books now and add to the pace of reading. Grey black pen and ink illustrations add dimension to the text. This is a great read for boys from 6-8 years old who love dinosaurs, crazy science - time machines and adventures.
Rhyllis Bignell