Penguin, 2013. ISBN 9780143567165 Pbk. 264 pages. RRP$17.99
(Age 12+) Highly recommended. Nat's family is in crisis. His father,
Luke, has been called to account for some serious errors of judgment
in his professional accountancy role and has been ordered to
undertake weekend detention along with serious financial redress.
His mother, Rachel, is finding it difficult to handle the loss of
their family home along with many of their possessions and what is
even harder, their respect and status within their community.
His younger sister, Hannah, and little brother, Toby, are finding it
difficult to adjust to living in a caravan park rather than their
large house.
Nat doesn't mind the new caravan home and its proximity to the beach.
It means it is even easier for him to catch some waves when he's not
at school. His passion for surfing has been nurtured his whole life
by his dad who was, in his time, a champion competition
surfer. Somehow the rollercoaster of emotional upheaval is
easier to deal with when he's riding a good wave. Discovering that
Grace, a long time schoolmate but recently acquired friend, is
equally passionate about surfing - albeit far more accomplished than
he - also helps him to deal with his emotional state.
Just as the dust seems to be settling a little as they all adjust to
their vastly different circumstances, a new crisis develops when
Luke's mental health causes him to be seriously injured. Nat's mum
feels unable to sustain the family situation as it is and, in
desperation, relocates Nat and his siblings to Tasmania and her
parents' guesthouse. While Nat desperately misses his friends,
and particularly Grace, it is his dad he is most anxious about and,
taking matters into his own hands, manages to travel back to his home
to ensure the safety of his loved father and ultimately save his
family from a complete breakdown.
Brooksbank has captured the anguish and turmoil of a family in
extraordinary circumstances beautifully. The characters are well
drawn and so utterly believable and authentic. Highly
recommended for readers about 12 years old and up - particularly
grommets!
Sue Warren
Jandamarra by Mark Greenwood
Ill. by Terry Denton. Allen and Unwin, 2013. ISBN 978 1 74237 570 0.
(Age: 7+) Highly recommended. Picture book. Aboriginal themes.
Heroism. Resistance. The story of Jandamarra is one not widely
known, but should be. It is the tale of the resistance of the Bunuba
people in northern Western Australia to the incoming settlers with
their cattle and sheep. It is the obverse side of the story of
European settlement in Australia and a stark contrast to stories
such as that of the Durack family who took over a large tract in the
Kimberley and whose story is better known.
I first read of Jandamarra in a brilliant little book in a series
published by Allen and Unwin in 1997, called Kimberley Warrior.
I then watched out for references to him and his life, but could
find little. Wikipedia has a few scant paragraphs about him, and a
documentary appeared on ABC TV in 2011, and a book has been
published by Penguin and more recently Magabala Books has
republished a book about him which first appeared in 1999.
Jandamarra was at first part of the police contingent sent to the
north to keep the Bunuba people under control. He helped track and
capture Aboriginal people but became increasingly hostile to the
takeover of their land. He and others retreated to the Napier Range
near Fitzroy Crossing, where having a sound knowledge of the
surrounding countryside and the many caves in the hills, were able
to hold out against the police for several years, marauding cattle
herds passing by, evading the police and being declared an outlaw.
He was eventually found and killed, but not before he had become a
legend, a ghost who could appear and disappear at will, giving
strength to the people whose land was being occupied.
Denton's illustrations are most accessible: they portray a man the
readers will readily identify, capturing the essence of the story of
this warrior appalled by what was happening around him and taking
steps to fight. The country is brilliantly conveyed, from the harsh
outlines of the Kimberley to the Baob trees with their upside down
roots waving in the air, the bleakness of the caves from which
Jandamarra offered resistance.
The story is important from many levels: it is a story we should all
be exposed to, it is one which dispels the myth that Aboriginal
people allowed others to come and occupy their land, it shows a
proud, tough warrior fighting for his and his community's rights, a
leader still referred to today.
Fran Knight
Gracie and Josh by Susanne Gervay
Ill. by Serena Geddes. Ford Street Publishing, 2013.
Hardcover. ISBN 9781 9216 65844.
(Ages 5+) Well recommended. Written by award winning author Susanne
Gervay, and with an endorsement from Variety, this book is a must
have for any children's collection, be it school or public library.
This is the touching, funny, honest and heartwarming story of
brother and sister, Gracie and Josh. Josh is a movie maker, and
Gracie is his shining star - she is the Incy Wincy Spider, and Josh
helps her costume along by making fat black sausage legs. Josh and
Gracie are making a movie together -a story which features many of
the people in their day to day world - a movie which brings people
together, and makes them laugh, and celebrates the day to day
moments which were often too busy to stop and celebrate.
It's especially important for Gracie and Josh to celebrate these
little moments, because Josh is sick. Josh is so sick, he spends a
lot of time in hospital, has weeks where Gracie can't come close,
and so sick that his hair has all gone. Gracie is a staunch defender
of Josh, getting cross with the doctors who make Josh take his
beanie off, and cross with the sickness which keeps Josh away. Josh
is stoic and strong, and there for Gracie, except in his bad weeks.
In his bad weeks, Gracie is there for Josh, reminding him that the
spider fell down 6 times, but he didn't give up - you just have to
try, try, try again.
Supported by bright, colourful and honest illustrations, this book
comes well recommended.
Freya Lucas
Unremembered by Jessica Brody
Macmillan, 2013. ISBN 978-4472-2112-8. 300pp
(Age: 13+) Recommended. Most of us believe that not
remembering anything could be quite dangerous - but for Seraphina it
is remembering that could prove to be more dangerous.
Seraphina, the only survivor of an aeroplane crash in the Pacific
Ocean, wakes up in a hospital bed to the first day that she can
remember. Oddly enough Serpahina does not appear on the plane's
passenger list nor are there any records of her - anywhere.
Otherwise unharmed but consumed with the intrinsic knowledge that
someone is out to harm her Seraphina is desperate to find out who
she is, what happened to her and why. With the help of her
mysterious love interest Zen, who claims to know her from the past,
we are taken into a world where science is used for evil and making
people forget is all in a day's work. Still if Seraphina can learn
to trust Zen love just might conquer all.
Yes the plot has been done before, but author Jessica Brody's sci-fi
thriller Unremembered still provides an enthralling read as
good fights evil and true love it seems is never really forgotten.
Be warned though, Unremembered is the first novel in a
trilogy and you will have to read the next one.....
Denise Russell
Boondaburra by Natalie Lonsdale
Even Before Publishing, 2013. ISBN: 9781922074553.
Boondaburra, the platypus, is different to the other Australian
animals that he meets. Because of this, he is teased and rejected by
them, retreating to his burrow where his mother placates him. She
tells him that he has been made as the Creator has chosen for him to
be; that he is unique and that diversity is an important part of the
world. Shortly thereafter, a massive fire destroys the bountiful
bushland of their home. His mother expresses her concern for the
other animals and together the two head off to offer help and assist
with finding food for the other survivors. When Bondaburra pokes his
head out of the muddy billabong, he sees an injured kookaburra.
Before he can offer assistance, the bird is threatened by a large
snake. Using his poison spur, Boondy drives the snake away and
provides food for kookaburra. As the other animals slowly return to
the area, some months later, they hear the tale of the brave
platypus. Immediately, they begin to accept him and value him for
his differences.
This book is published by Wombat books under the imprint of their
Christian publishing label. Despite its strong Christian messages of
love, caring, acceptance and diversity, this book could be used in
any setting as there is no reference to God but merely the Creator. The story of Boondaburra could be used to discuss not
just bullying and differences between people or groups but also the
Australian creatures and the effects of natural disasters. The
detailed realistic watercolour illustrations which use earthy tones,
as well as a clever page of jigsaw pieces which depict small parts
of a variety of animals, provide a wonderful backdrop to this story.
Jo Schenkel
Timmy Failure: Mistakes were made by Stephan Pastis
Walker Books, 2013. ISBN 978 1 4063 3980 2.
(Age 10+) Recommended. Timmy Failure is a humorous story revolving around the main
character, Timmy Failure, and his adventures as a detective. It is
similar to the popular series Diary of a Wimpy Kid and also
includes diagrams and illustrations to enhance the diary style text.
The chapters are easy to read and I would recommend it to boys, aged
10+, who are independent readers.
Timmy is a quirky young boy who works with a polar bear and dreams
of being a famous detective. At the moment, he works out of
his Mum's closet but he dreams of making it big and owning a fancy
office! Initially, Timmy comes across as a rather ineffective
detective but his outlook on life is quite funny. Readers will
giggle at his antics, wonder how he can work with a polar bear
and wonder how Timmy can't see the clues to help him solve a case.
Is Timmy cut out to be a detective?
Kylie Kempster
Killing Rachel by Anne Cassidy
The murder notebooks series. Bloomsbury, 2013. ISBN 9781408815519.
(Age 12+) When Rose receives a series of pleading messages from a
former friend, hurtful memories are aroused, prompting her to recall
a tormented friendship. Flashback episodes explain that Rose is
orphaned following the mysterious disappearance and presumed death
of her mother and her partner, both of whom were police working on
an important and secret case. Rose attended boarding school
following here bereavement and gradually became friends with Rachel,
a confusing and manipulative girl who delighted in melodrama and
attention.
After Rose learns of the drowning death of Rachel, a sense of guilt
and sorrow prompts her to revisit her old College, partly to
reconnect with staff and students, but also to try to understand the
circumstances of her estranged friend's passing. Joshua, whom Rose
considers a 'half brother' being the son of her late mother's
partner, drives her to the distant College, before detouring to
undertake his own investigation into matters relating to their
parents' disappearance.
Two separate mysteries are involved in this story, which is fine,
except that Cassidy assumes prior knowledge regarding the parents'
death from the previous book Dead time. The conveyance of the detail
to inform the reader is awkward and I think that a prologue
summarising the story to date would have worked more effectively
than trying to weave detail into the narrative, character's thoughts
and dialogue. Rose's jealous, romantic desire for Josh is an
uncomfortable incongruity, given the emphasis on her perception of
him as a half brother.
This is a good story when it comes together, however not much
involving Rose happens prior to page two hundred and I am not
confident that readers of 12 onwards to whom this is pitched will
have enough patience to get there. The pain and suffering of
adolescent friends quarrelling, reconciling and then destroying
their relationship is depicted beautifully, as are the volatile and
sometimes nasty aspects of adolescent girls' friendship groups and
exclusion practices.
The story is compelling as Rose and Josh stumble over clues about
their parents' demise and a remarkably coincidental connection with
Rachel can be forgiven in the context of the story line.
Whilst no extreme violence is depicted, thugs make some unpleasant
threats and the theme of people trafficking is referred to without
the exploitative details being discussed.
Rob Welsh
Princess Betony and the Thunder Egg by Pamela Freeman
Walker Books 2013. ISBN 978 1 921720 24 6.
(Age 9+) Recommended. Princess Betony and the Thunder Egg is
a cute story in a cute little hardcover book. it is the second story
involving Princess Betony and she comes from a land of magic. To
help celebrate the King and Queen's anniversary, the Wild Magic
gives them a gift but it is the Princess who must collect it. Betony
must travel to the Dark Forest. It is a great privilege but also
very scary! Can she retrieve the gift safely? How will she make it
through the forest of spider webs?
This small hardcover book is only 103 pages long and reminds me of
the types of little books little girls would have been given in the
'olden days'. The author, Pamela Freeman, has created a lovely
little story, like a fairy tale, and I would recommend it to girls,
aged 9+. Its small size also makes it great for travelling!
Kylie Kempster
The Trunk by S. Carey
Eeries series. Puffin Books, 2013. ISBN 978 0 14 330698 6.
(Age 10+) The Trunk is a spooky story and is part of a
series (or Eeries) of 13 books. It is a short Australian novel which
is great for those reluctant readers and it is a mystery to solve.
In The Trunk, young Charlie is facing a boring summer
holidays until new people move next door. Unfortunately, the new
couple are rather creepy-looking and Charlie's dog, Dexter, doesn't
like them at all. The mystery deepens as the odd couple carry a very
large trunk into the house. Charlie's imagination starts running
wild and you can imagine the crazy thoughts he starts to have when
he hears strange noises and then beautiful singing. Was there a
child hidden in the trunk? Is she really talking to him? Why has she
been hidden away? What has scared Charlie so much that he runs,
screaming, from her? The Trunk is a quick read and will engage reluctant boys (and
girls) aged 10+. Prepare to be spooked!
Kylie Kempster
My Easter egg hunt by Rosie Smith
Ill. by Bruce Whatley. Scholastic, 2013. Hardcover. ISBN
9781748377772.
(Age: 1-5) Recommended. In this beautiful book, with its Spring
sorbet palette and curious and cheeky faced critters, readers aged
1-5 will be swept up in the excitement of hunting for eggs at Easter
time.
Exploring position in an approachable and purpose driven way, Smith
is able to bring a mathematical concept to life in that canny way
adults have of teaching a concept without the child realising
they're learning.
Children are encouraged to search with the animals - to look over,
under, around and through. Each picture has a rabbit and another
animal, and there is a cheerful and rollicking rhyme to the story.
The reception teacher I shared the story with has welcomed it as an
addition to her classroom library, and this book comes recommended
by the both of us, for home or school libraries, or as a welcomed
Easter gift.
Freya Lucas
A ring through time by Felicity Pulman
Harper Collins, 2013. ISBN 9780732294885
(Age: 12+) Allie is newly arrived on Norfolk Island and proud
to be descended from one of the governors of the former penal
colony. However, she soon discovers that the convict past of this
island is strongly felt by current inhabitants and that her ancestor
is universally hated. Worse still, the person who has most reason to
hate her ancestor is Noah, the young man to whom she is
attracted. Could history really stand in the way of her modern
day romance?
For here we have two love stories linked across the generations: the
story of Allie and Noah intertwined with that of their ancestors,
Alice and Cormac. There is no doubting the emotional force of the
historical love story between Alice, the governor's daughter and the
Irish convict, Cormac O'Brien. Pulman's writing here is vivid and
compelling, she captures beautifully the time period and the
sweeping emotions of the young lovers. However, it is easy to forget
that this part of the story is being told in the form of Alice's
diary; it often seems more like a first person narrative.
Furthermore, the modern day love story pales by comparison. Alice
and Cormac had every reason to feel thwarted in their love: as a
member of the ruling class, Alice should have had little contact
with a convict like Cormac, socially or morally. Their future was
always likely to be bleak, even leaving aside Alice's cruel father.
By contrast, the divide between Allie and Noah seems a tad forced
and lacking in drama: we rarely believe that their family ancestry
is likely to be an insurmountable hurdle, if the two teenagers could
ever get around to being open with each other.
Nevertheless, Allie is an engaging character and Noah is a likeable
young man. Younger readers will no doubt find the fantasy
elements and the historical portions of the novel quite engaging
(and a sexual encounter is handled sensitively for this age group).
Older readers may find the modern love story a little lacking in
depth but the thwarted love story from the past may provide adequate
compensation.
Deborah Marshall
Letters to the end of love by Yvette Walker
University of Queensland Press; Queensland, 2013. ISBN 9780702249662
Recommended for adults and senior secondary readers. This novel,
written in the epistolary style, tells the stories of three couples
who write to each other memorialising their lives and their loves.
Caithleen and Dmitri live in County Cork, Ireland in 1969. They have
been together for a long time but are now faced with separation.
Dmitri, a painter who escaped from the Gulag in USSR, has a
life-threatening condition and both he and Caithleen mourn a lost
baby.
Lou and Grace live in 2011, and are separated by space and grief.
Lou, a bookseller, writes from Perth to Grace who, as a 'fix-it'
woman for the famous, is travelling. The letters explain their
separation, caused in part by the death of Lou's brother in Iraq,
and eventually promise a future.
John's letters, dated 1948, are to his lover David who has not
survived the Holocaust. His letters are prompted by a visit from a
fellow inmate who met David in the camp where he was sent as a
homosexual by the Nazis, and where, presumably, he dies. John's
letters recapture his affair with David and are a memorial to their
love.
The stories are linked by references to a Paul Klee painting that
serenely surmounts human conflict and grief. The letters are all
moving in themselves and the historical backgrounds feel authentic.
However, a difficulty with the epistolary form lies in the
introduction of other characters. How to explain these people to the
reader in a letter to someone who must know them perfectly well?
Also, unfortunately, the frequent expressions of love and regret
tend to wear thin at times. The story of Caithleen and Dimtri is the
most convincing and is beautifully written, the descriptions of the
bay and village where they live being immediate and vivid. The book
is recommended for adults and senior readers.
Jenny Hamilton
I funny by James Patterson
Young Arrow, 2012. ISBN 978 009956742
This book is about Jamie Grimm, a boy who has an ambition to win the
Planet's Funniest Kid Comic Contest. Basically this is an award for
a stand-up comic which presents an obstacle for Jamie as he is in a
wheel chair. As Jamie pursues his dream the reader learns more about
him and his background; his parents are dead as the result of a car
crash and he lives with his Aunt and her family. He also has
problems with the school bully who is his cousin Steve. Despite all
of this Jamie is determined to win the contest for the funniest kid.
The chapters are short and punctuated with cartoon-like pictures so
it provides an easy read and there are lots of jokes along the way.
I found the humour to be very American and wonder if many of its
intended audience would get the many references to American
comedians. However it does show how Jamie perseveres and achieves
his dream. I don't think it would have mass appeal but the cover and
cartoony images inside may just inspire some middle/upper primary
readers.
David Rayner
My book of knock knocks illustrated by Christina Bollenbach
Scholastic Australia, 2013. ISBN 9781742831640.
Knock, Knock. Who's there? Boo! Boo who? Don't cry it's only a
knock, knock joke.
Who hasn't enjoyed the traditional jokes and made up their own
as a child or adult to keep children amused. The repetitive and
interactive style of the jokes is usually a winner with young and
old.
Christina Bollenbach has taken a selection of jokes to illustrate
using a variety of stylised animals and birds as the main
characters. The bright colours add to the excitement and humour
which radiates from the book whilst the design of the text
encourages the reader to recognise the two voices in the joke.
Ensuring that the reader has to turn the page for the punch line
gives them the opportunity to create their own ending and interact
with the text.
Whilst this book is designed to appeal to the younger reader, like all
joke books it will be located in the 823 section of the library
opening up the literature section to more borrowers.
As a teacher this book will give me the opportunity to
investigate direct speech by using knock, knock jokes, adding
interest to and enlivening any grammar lesson. There is also scope
to investigate spelling and sound patterns which some jokes, like
the old favourite Teresa Green, rely on to be effective.
So, in conclusion,
Knock, knock. Who's there? Ike! Ike who?
Ike-an't stop laughing!
... or telling knock, knock jokes now!
Sue Keane
Rising darkness by Thea Harrison
Penguin, 2013. ISBN 9780143566885
(Age 18+) Recommended. In this richly intricate novel about
reincarnation, destined lovers, and an ageless enemy, Thea Harrison
tells a masterful story. Mary is a doctor who feels like something's
off, as voices appear in her head and vivid, disturbing dreams
overtake her life. As she slowly recovers her memories and realises
this plain of life is not what it seems, she meets Michael, a
hardened warrior who appears to be her salvation.
Reading Thea Harrison's novel is like a reader's feast for the Gods.
It's beautifully written, vivid and flows easily, and could easily
translate to a movie script. While the concepts covered within the
first half of the book are highly detailed, it is never too
difficult to grasp due to the easy prose.
Primarily an urban fantasy, the novel never really lets up as Mary
is subjected to drama after drama, physical, spiritual, and
psychological. Concepts such as reincarnation, psychic dreams, and
psychological trauma are covered with due brilliance, despite their
spiritual and subjective nature.
There's definitely a focus on romance too as she meets Michael, her
spiritual twin who has been searching for her for many lifetimes. As
their first meeting translates from a threat of danger, to
protection, to tenderness, I found myself rooting for the pair
despite complications from the past. The two are broken and need
each other like fire and water, and you can see the two slowly
regaining their strength when they're with each other. The sexual
tension and romance here is through the roof, so I would definitely
not recommend it for younger readers.
While I haven't read Thea Harrison's Elder races series,
I've picked up on the more dark, serious tone of this series
compared to the latter. Rising Darkness was a quick read for
me and I can't wait to devour the sequel when it comes out.
Jeann Wong
