Reviews

The Boy Who Swam with Piranhas by David Almond

Ill. by Oliver Jeffers. Walker, 2012. ISBN: 9781406320763.
(Ages: 7+) Author David Almond and illustrator Oliver Jeffers are well matched in this whimsical novel for younger readers; they share a childlike sense of humour which, in its less inspired moments, can easily seem affected and flat. The Boy Who Swam With Piranhas recounts (at a steady pace) the story of young Stanley Potts, who runs away with the circus after his uncle turns the family home into a fish cannery. Along the way, he meets a host of quirky people whose faith in him eventually enables him to overcome his chronic passivity as a character, and - spoiler alert - swim with piranhas.
There's subtle social commentary aplenty, all of which is handled skillfully enough that young readers will find it perfectly accessible, if a little tedious. First and foremost, however, this is a book about the pleasures of storytelling itself, and Almond fills most of it with playful, self-conscious language and metafictional showmanship. Alliteration abounds, fish figuratively 'flicker and flash', and Almond keeps his narratorial hand firmly on the reader's shoulder as he guides them through the imagined world of the story, even inviting them at one point to decide whether or not the villain should be eaten by piranhas. Techniques such as foreshadowing, tense switching, flexible focalisation and third person omniscient narration are explored with gusto. It is, in many ways, an English teacher's dream.
Parts of this novel are undeniably charming. There's Tickle Peter, the terminally glum circus performer who'll pay one hundred pounds to anyone who can make him laugh. Then there are the goldfish, who are so poetical that they exclaim 'O my companions!' but who seem incapable of saying anything else. For some, The Boy Who Swam with Piranhas will be an offbeat treat, deliciously different from the straightforward storytelling that dominates children's fiction. Not all young readers, however, will enjoy watching Almond splashing around in puddles of language for 250 pages.
Samuel Williams

The herd boy by Niki Daly

The herd boy by Niki Daly
Frances Lincoln Children's Books, 2013. ISBN 9781847802170
(Age: 5+) Highly recommended. Picture book, African themes. Each day Malusi the herd boy sets out from his village in the Transkei, with his grandfather's sheep and goats. He heads for the nearby hills for the animals to graze, where he often meets with his older friend, and his dog, Koko. Together they play fight and talk and tend the sheep, Malusi collecting dung for the village shopkeeper. Overhead eagles soar, and in the hills they are watched by a tribe of baboons, ready to take a lamb when no one is watching. An older baboon comes down from the hills and attacks one of the lambs, springing the boys into action, scaring away the invading animal, and saving the wounded lamb.
Walking back to the village, Malusi is concerned about his grandfather's reaction, but when stopped by a well dressed old man in a chauffeur driven car, they forget their problems as this man asks what they will do when they are older.
Lungisa wants to play for the country's football team but Malisi is too shy to answer. Lungisa speaks up for him, telling the smiling man that Malusi wants to be president one day.
A beautifully presented picture book about responsibility and striving to achieve one's dreams, the author notes at the end of the book that Nelson Mandela was also a herd boy and he became President of South Africa. The background to the story is fascinating as we watch the young boys taking the animals into the hills with their many dangers, staying with them all day, protecting them from the baboons and snakes. The illustrations render the village and life in the hills with intricacy and perception as we see Malusi's mother making breakfast for her son before he leaves, the simple bed made for him when he returns, the village and its surrounds, the hills with the baboons, and the play fighting of the two boys as the tend their flocks. Children will be intrigued to see the day in the life of a child their age in a different continent, and compare their lives.
Daly uses Afrikaans and Xhosa words in the text and there is a glossary at the end of the book to explain these. He lives in South Africa and many may recall his evocative stories of Jamela. Follow Daly's life and works on his blog, http://nikidaly.wordpress.com/.
Fran Knight

Unspoken by Sarah Rees Brennan

Simon and Schuster, 2012. ISBN 9780857078070.
(Age: Teens) Highly recommended. Unspoken is a modern Gothic novel set in a small village in England, called Sorry-in-the-Vale. Kami is a 17 year old, half Japanese schoolgirl, who is bright, funny, and a little bit nosy. Kami has been connected mentally to a boy, Jared, since she was born. They can reach out to each other and speak through their minds to one another at any time. Sorry-in-the-Vale lies in the shadow of the Aurimere Manor, which is owned by a very powerful family, the Lynburns, who no longer live there. When the mysterious Lynburn family return to their home with no explanation Kami suspects that there is something sinister about the family and so she investigates and is determined to discover the truth. She then comes across lots of old, strange legends about the family and discovers that everyone has a secret to hide. Curious things begin to happen and there are two new kids at school, Ash Lynburn and his cousin, Jared, who seems oddly familiar. As secrets begin to unfold and lives change forever, Kami will begin to wish her imaginary friend had never become real.
This is not a romantic tale, as is first implied, but a gripping story of passion and emotion. The story line is very original and unlike anything I have previously read and there is a very good contrast of genres. Kami, and her best friend, Angela, both have a very witty sense of humour, which makes the book enjoyable to read, and there are also times it is incredibly exciting and hard to put down. There was also, of course, the occasional moments when I may have shed a tear or two, because of how closely you feel you can relate to the characters. There is so much detail in the book, you feel like you really know the characters and their wants and fears.
The book was, at times, a bit slow, but I felt the author made up for this towards the end of the book, when all the action happened, and it became fast paced and incredibly exciting. I particularly liked Sarah Rees Brennan's style of writing; it is easy to read but also very descriptive. Overall I have thoroughly enjoyed this book and I highly recommend it to those who are fans of the genre.
Isobel Davies (Student)

Toocool Series #5 by Phil Kettle

Ford Street, 2013. 55 pages, B format paperback , AUD$9.95 each. Boxed set with Marcy: $89.95.
The Big Bash ISBN 9781921665783 (pbk.)
Pirates ISBN 9781921665790 (pbk.)
The Interview ISBN 9781921665806 (pbk.)
Round 'Em Up ISBN 9781921665769 (pbk.)
The Race ISBN 9781921665776 (pbk.)
Box Set ISBN 9781921665882.
(Ages: Beginning readers) Adventure. Just watch the smaller humans scramble for the shelves when they see these arrive! All those eager little readers who are beginning their 'chapter' book journeys just eat up these fun and exciting stories and bask in their success in doing so. A perfect addition to any school or home library, and available singly or as a boxed set. As the characters in both the Toocool series and the Macy series are the same, both boys and girls can relate to them and share the laughter which inevitably results from following their exploits.
Once again Toocool makes readers laugh and groan as he retells his newest adventures from jetskis to jackeroos, cricket to celebrity interviews, all in his own inimitable self-flattering style. Phil Kettle's Toocool series has proven itself to be immensely popular (sales in excess of one million copies) cultivating an enthusiastic readership amongst lower primary students, particularly boys. While the stories themselves are always both amusing and well paced, the books also feature valuable additions such as informational pieces, glossaries as well as jokes. All these enhance the experience for readers. As a teacher-librarian, I have always relished the way in which Phil Kettle subtly endorses imaginative and active play for children. Toocool and his friends each crafting their own personal pirate ships from recycled materials would inspire any child to follow suit - a project I'm inspired to undertake with my own 7 year old granddaughter after a read aloud session.
Sue Warren

Sand swimmers by Narelle Oliver

Walker Books, 2013. ISBN 9781822077288.
(Age: All) Highly recommended. Picture book. Australian environment. Desert. Animal life. Subtitled The secret life of Australia's dead heart, this visually stunning non-fiction picture book was unsurprisingly lauded when it first appeared in 1999. Shortlisted for the Eve Pownall Award as well as the Queensland Premier's Award for Children's Literature in 2000, this book set a high water mark in presenting information to young readers. The fascinating facts are given in a variety of images and shapes, and each page holds a treat for its readers.
From the earliest beginnings through to Aboriginal occupancy of this land, the story follows Sturt's expedition across the centre in 1845. Pages have a sketch map of his journey, while others have a picture of the things he would or should have seen, underscored with excerpts from his diary showing his disappointments. Each page shows another part of his trek, as he came across landscape he had never seen before, all the time searching for an inland sea.
But the barren sand does hold life, and it is this life which Oliver reveals in her sparse, carefully selected words and imaginative lino prints. Sweeps of sandy hills hide small animals, and an explanation is given about each. Small lino prints dot the pages, along with majestic pages of colour and movement as the animals and their environment are shown. Along the bottom of the page, Sturt's journey is rendered in red smudged pencil, showing the work he did on his expedition. The last few pages include an extensive bibliography, an index to the array of animals represented in the book, as well as an introduction by Robyn Williams, and a page of information about and by Narelle Oliver, giving her reasons behind the making of the book.
As an introduction to a part of Australia rarely seen by our coastal populations, a reference book for younger students, a beautiful book to look at and admire, or a book to keep in the home, this book is extraordinary, and we all benefit from Walker Books Australia and their handsome republication of Australian classics, many of which are pictured on the last page.
Fran Knight

Monument 14 by Emmy Laybourne

Feiwel and Friends, 2012. ISBN 9780312569037
(Age 14+) Recommended as an easy to read adventure story. When a devastating hailstorm wrecks Dean's bus, Mrs Wooly, who has driven another bus into the shelter of a large department store, manages to rescue the teens. Altogether there are 14 people taking shelter in the Greenway store, ranging from high school teens to six little kids. Mrs Wooly ventures outside to find help and they are left alone finding to their dismay that the gates have locked them in. They all need to find their strength and determination to survive in a world that seems to have gone mad, made worse by the leakage of chemical warfare agents that affects each person differently depending on their blood type.
This was an exciting adventure story that kept me reading to the end. The premise of being marooned in a department store where there are unlimited delights to be had is always an interesting one. Laybourne manages to create an world that is believable with the children behaving in ways that different characters would behave when faced with disaster and with unlimited materials goods. It is the setting and the strong characterisation that make this book work as an enjoyable read.
Dean, the quiet bookish boy, who narrates the story, finds that he has strengths and can look after younger children. His young brother Alex is a gadget guru and manages to keep things working in the shop. Niko is a boy scout whose ability to organise proves invaluable. There is the stereotypical beautiful girl, Astrid, and handsome, popular athlete Jake, as well as the little kids, all of whom have distinct personalities. When two adults appear on the scene, hard decisions have to be made.
I enjoyed this book and think that it would appeal to reluctant readers and fans of Michael Grant's Gone series. There are some scenes of drinking, taking drugs and violence that make it less suitable for younger teens.
Pat Pledger

The big sleepover by Yvette Poshoglian

Series Ella and Olivia #6 Scholastic, 2013. ISBN 9781742836584. RRP $7.99
Recommended for girls from 5-7 years. Family, friendship, school life. Ella and Olivia are ballet-loving sisters who love having adventures. Imagine the excitement of planning and engaging in your very first sleepover. Ella is seven and a half and Mum agrees to have her best friend Zoe stay over on Saturday evening. It is a week full of challenges and responsibilities showing Ella's determination to succeed. Ella proves she is a caring, older sister when she allows her little sister Olivia to enjoy the slumber party and midnight feast as well.
This is a great addition to those very first chapter books targeted to girl readers. The style of writing in short, crisp sentences conveys Ella's feelings of happiness as she plans the Saturday sleepover. The large size font transitions the young reader into the wonder of beginning novel reading. Yvette Poshoglian's style of writing captures the imagination of the young girl audience and makes it a fun family/school focus novel. Danielle McDonald's line drawings bring the characters to life. Even the pages are edged with a printed, lace motif just to add an extra dimension. The reader can access more Ella and Olivia fun and games at the accompanying website EllaandOlivia.com.au. This book is the sixth in the series and is recommended for girls from 5-7 years.
Rhyllis Bignell

Drongoes by Christine Bongers

Ill. by Dan McGuiness. Omnibus, 2013. ISBN 9781 86291 982 2.
(Age: 6+) Highly recommended. Chapter book. Humour. The series, Mates, has added 16 wonderful stories to the small range of books offered to the emerging independent reader. This series engages the new reader with stories that are immediate, based on situations they know, full of humour and fun, with words which may cause a hiccup or two shown in a different font, adding another level of interest to an already fascinating page of colour, excitement and involvement.
If you didn't know the meaning of the Australian slang word, drongo when you started reading, then you will certainly know it at the end, and to add to your understanding two pages are given after the story to further explain the history of this precise word.
Eric and Jack are best friends, and although not overstated or explained, Eric has problems with breathing. He desperately wants, just once, to finish a race at school. Both boys are always beaten by the brash Rocket Robson, and when it comes to the final event of their primary school year, the cross country, they train to be able to beat him, and on Eric's side, simply to finish. They train running around and around Corbie Park, thrilling the pack of spangled drongoes that live there. On the big day, they all run well, but as Rocket eats several meat pies before he starts, the inevitable happens, and the two boys are able to pass him. But near the finish line, Eric starts to wheeze and pulls back, while Jack almost gets to the tape. But what can he do about Eric? The spangled drongoes save the day in a surprising way making this a entertaining story about what winning actually means.
Fran Knight

The girl of fire and thorns by Rae Carson

Greenwillow, 2012. ISBN 978-0062026507
The crown of embers by Rae Carson. Gollancz, 2012. 978-0575099197.
(Age: 14+) Highly recommended. The girl of fire and thorns was awarded 2012 ALA Top Ten Best Fiction for Young Adults and the Andre Norton Award Nominee for Young Adult Science Fiction and Fantasy (2011). The second in the series The crown of embers is equally as good. This is quality fantasy with an inspiring heroine, adventure, romance and angst, all of which are sure to appeal to teens.
Although Elisa has the Godstone, a symbol of the Chosen one, she feels inadequate. Things change when she is betrothed to marry a king from a neighbouring kingdom. She is overweight and has used food as her solace, but when she arrives at the kingdom of her husband Alejandro she discovers that she has the strength to become a worthy person. Kidnapped by revolutionaries, she shows determination and strength to survive a long trip across the desert, only to find her enemies very close by and very dangerous. In the second book The crown of embers, Elisa, now queen, has to find her way through court intrigues and the desire of her advisors to marry her advantageously.
Although the action is compelling and the adventure gripping, it is the coming of age of Elisa that kept me reading avidly. She is such a courageous heroine, who doesn't appreciate her own good qualities, but who meets the demands of every dangerous happening, be it her own kidnapping or her capture by an evil sorcerer. The characters surrounding her are brave and intelligent too. The romance in both books is compelling but not overwhelming.
I loved these two books for their complexity, wonderful characters and many thought provoking layers. Readers who enjoyed Melina Marchetta's Lumatere chronicles or Juliet Marillier's Seven Waters series will be delighted with this series.
Pat Pledger

The Mechanomancers by H. J. Harper

Bureau of Mysteries 2. Random House Australia Children's, 2013. ISBN: 9781742756486. 320 pages.RRP: $15.95.
(Age: 8-11) H. J. Harper takes readers on another rollicking romp with the wacky characters from the Bureau of Mysteries as they battle ancient nefarious spirits to save Little Obscurity. Joining forces with Sir Periwinkle Tinkerton and his strange silent assistant Lexica Quill, level-headed George Feather, former chimney sweep, solves yet another baffling mystery to win the gratitude and admiration of his fellow Obscuritians. Once again, George is not-so-ably helped in his endeavours by his 'superior' colleague, Imp Spektor, and far more, efficiently by his support team, Hobb and Tempora. Befriended by a giant rat, almost exterminated by rampant plants and recruiting seemingly fearsome air pirates are just a few of the new adventures to befall George, all handled with a terrific pace and hilarious asides.
Harper employs some delightful word play particularly with puns, which could prove a& useful springboard for teachers. Student readers will delight in the codes and cryptograms incorporated into the text as well as Nahum Ziersch's illustrations of the various characters.
This is a really fun interactive read that would be particularly enjoyed by boys of about 8-11 years.
Sue Warren

Think big by Elizabeth Garton Scanlon and Vanessa Brantley Newton

How to keep a boy from kissing you by Tara Eglington

HarperCollins Australia, 2013.
(Age: 14+) Highly recommended. I really hope this book finds its way into teenagers' hands. It's the right blend of humour and drama, friendship and family, with a great dollop of romance. The narrator Aurora Skye is a loud and brash 16 year old. She has a flair for the dramatic, is intent on becoming a bestselling author, and has already started a book - it's all about helping girls to find their true prince.
Aurora's four best friends are all distinct personalities, flaws and all, and she knows each of them very well. It would be easy to say Aurora should mind her own business, but it is clear her intentions are always noble and she actually does know best. At times, as she runs herself ragged trying to keep her friends' relationships on track, I wanted to shake her and tell her to slow down and think of herself, but it takes a long time before she does.
Aurora's own love life leaves a lot to be desired, but as with everything that happens to her, she does not get depressed, or give up. She keeps an optimistic attitude and keeps putting herself out there. At times, this is a bit wince-worthy since she often gets into embarrassing situations. But they are also extremely funny situations, and she's such a good sport. Her narrative voice is both snarky and clever, and it ensures the plot keeps moving - more than that - it keeps twisting and turning which nicely reflects the use of Shakespeare's play, Much Ado About Nothing as the school production.
Of course, there are many deceptions, miscommunications, secret admirers, big displays of affection and confrontations, and lots of laughing. In particular, I snorted constantly through the scenes with Miss Deforest's interpretative dance classes. Aurora's derisive comments and actions are hysterically depicted.
It might seem like a light and frothy tale, however, there is more. As the story progresses, and Aurora's family life emerges, we slowly see the truth, and if her final break down and acceptance is depicted in a slightly melodramatic way, I went with it because here is a girl who has never successfully dealt with her unsympathetic mother, and if she behaves like a 12 year old, well, I forgave her.
The boys are also well developed, especially Hayden, who as the potential love interest is caring, honest, and big hearted. We can see his attempts to protect and support Aurora, although she is completely oblivious. He is the perfect (yes, alright, and predictable) boy-next-door. His banter with Aurora is witty and charged with sparks. I loved their interactions.
This is a great book probably predominately targeted at teenage girls. But if you know of boys who like books such as Doug Macleod's Siggy and Amber, or John Green's An Abundance of Katherines, let them try this. Themes include family separation, romance, friendship, and identity. Highly recommended. Great to see a new voice in Australian YA.
Trisha Buckley

Boot and Shoe by Marla Frazee

Simon and Schuster, 2012. ISBN 978 0 85707 825 1.
(Age: 5+) Warmly recommended. Picture book. Relationships. Two puppies, born in the same litter, live in the same house. They do everything together, eat form the same bowl, pee in the same tree and sleep together on the same cushion, but each day they chose to stay at a different place outside the house. One choses to sleep on a chair on the front porch while the other a chair on the back porch. And they were perfectly satisfied, until one day a mischievous squirrel decided to make trouble. It antagonised the pair of dogs until they retaliated, chasing the animal around the house until it left. But then Boot could not find Shoe and Shoe could not find Boot. For many pages the two dogs search for each other and young children will squeal with directions for the dogs to follow. Hoots of 'there he is' and 'just around the corner' will be heard from young readers and listeners as they watch the two friends trying to connect once again.
The beautiful line illustrations render the personalities of the dogs to a whisker. Their antics in finding each other are just stunning as the drawings of their dejected and lonely faces peer out of the pages. The coloured background diminishes as they become more forlorn at losing their sibling, and brightens, returning once again to the colour of old,underlining their happy reunion. Themes of friendship, loss, companionship and reunion are obvious but the idea that friends do not need to spend all their days together could be a talking point with children as well.
Fran Knight

Thea Stilton and the Mystery on the Orient Express by Thea Stilton

Scholastic, 2013.
Recommended for 7-9 year olds. Themes: Mystery, adventure, friendship. Adventure loving Thea (Tia) Stilton, Geronimo's feisty sister, narrates this new mystery adventure set on board the famous Orient Express train. She enlists the help of five special female students from Mouseford Academy. Nicky, Colette, Pamela, Violet and Paulina who bring their intelligent mouselet strengths together to help return a precious wedding dress The Veil of Light stolen years ago from an Istanbul museum.
A great cast of Very Important Rodents, celebrity mice and a few shady characters also embark on the train journey across Europe. From heiress Peggy Ratfeller to famous painter Pablo Picamouse, the cast of characters add tension and drama to the tale as a work of art goes missing as well. The fast-paced story is filled with twists and turns, the reader is even asked to stop and think with directed clue and question boxes and asked to observe the clues hidden in the pictures.
Interspersed between the storyline are informative, factual pages on the real Orient Express Train, the Roaring Twenties and Holograms. Once again to excite and engage the reader, there are a great mix of font styles and sizes to emphasize words and phrases. The colourful cartoon style illustrations cast of rodent characters based on real life characters -combine to make this another great addition to the Thea and Geronimo Stilton series. This is definitely the most popular series in our school getting our reluctant readers excited about reading.
Rhyllis Bignell

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)