Ill. by Michael Foreman. HarperCollins, 2012 ISBN 978 0 00 736358 2.
(Age: 10+) Recommended. Historical fiction. War. Racism. Leroy is
happy to visit his crotchety old aunt and her sister in Folkestone
mainly because of their dog, Jasper, which loves him with a passion
that is reciprocated. But Mum is wary of the two older women, Auntie
Pish makes snide remarks that hurt and since Leroy's Dad died in the
war, Mum has been struggling to bring up her son alone. On this
visit the day goes much the same as it has done for nine years, but
Leroy asks to see his father's medals, cared for lovingly by Aunty
Snowdrop, the nicer of the two women, the one who looks after the
medals, packed into the man's school pencil case and polished with
affection. Leroy realises when they all go to the beach to spread a
bunch of snowdrops, a ritual remembering his father, that Aunty Pish
is slower than usual, her breath is coming less easily and she lags
behind as they walk home. It comes as no surprise to the reader that
Leroy learns later that she has died. Her gift to him is his
father's photo, one always kept on the mantelpiece at Folkestone,
but when the glass cracks, hidden behind the photo he finds a diary
of sorts from his aunt.
This is a charming story of war and its effects on the next
generation. It is a story of what happens in the war, a time
of extraordinary situations and decisions, and the secrets that
remain hidden for years after. It is the story of one family and the
effect of the two world wars on it, of the changes which occurred
not only for men but for women, as Morpurgo makes astute comments in
passing about changes in attitudes towards women in war. Morpurgo
writes stunningly of animals, using the little dog as a link between
generations, and the historical facts upon which this story is based
give the tale an extra poignancy which is hard to resist.
Fran Knight
Hammering Iron by L.S. Lawrence
Omnibus Books, 2012. ISBN: 978-1-86291-971-6.
Recommended for 10 to 14 year olds. Hammering Iron is an
historical fiction novel that describes from a personal perspective
of a commoner how the Ancient world changed from the Bronze Age to
the Iron age. It follows the life of Paramon, a boy who went from
working a scribe for a mean Lord to joining the Ancient Greek Danaen
Army, going to war, becoming a slave and then eventually discovering
with his new master the secrets to creating a cheaper and stronger
metal than bronze. All these experiences transform Paramon from a
boy to blacksmith, adapting to all the problems that he encounters
as well as developing new friendships, some from past enemies. Hammering
Iron features many battles and fighting segments where the
feeling of stabbing a man with his new sword is described in detail.
The novel moves quickly enough to stay engaging and could possibly
spark an interest in this part of ancient history in readers aged 10
to 14 years old. Whilst Hammering Iron is historical
fiction, the battles, tribes and cities have existed and therefore
prompt further research by readers. The themes of growth and
development, overcoming obstacles and making the most out of
difficult situations are also positive.
Adam Fitzgerald
There was an old lady who swallowed a star by P. Crumble
Ill. by Louis Shea. Scholastic, 2012. ISBN 1 74285 330 9.
(Ages: 4+) Recommended. Picture book. Christmas. Using the familiar
refrain of, 'I know an old lady who swallowed a fly', this lively
and brightly illustrated tale has the old, grizzled lady swallowing
all the accoutrements of Christmas. She gobbles down a star, a
stocking, an elf, the Christmas lights on top of the house, the
reindeer and finally Santa Claus. Each thing she eats is sent down
to retrieve the other, until finally she bursts and all the things
tumble out. Children will delight in picking up the rhyme of
the tale, joining in when they can predict the next words, and
learning it so they can say it all the way through. It is infectious
and partly familiar and so will be enticing for them to do. Each
time she swallows a new thing the line, 'Now that's bizarre'
follows, giving another point of repetition for the children to
predict and learn. The plethora of Christmas imagery in the
background adds to the fun of using this in the classroom to
introduce the festivity, and at home where lots of fun can be had in
the family.
The bright illustrations will entice younger readers and this is one
in a series of 'I know an old lady', published by Scholastic.
Fran Knight
A pet isn't just for Christmas compiled by the RSPCA
Random House, 2012. ISBN 978 1 74275 714 8
(Age: 4+) Recommended. Picture book. Christmas. Published as a
stocking filler, this lovely little book will achieve its goal of
being a neat hand held book to give to all age groups to bring a
smile at Christmas. Nearly 50 beautiful photos of animals are paired
with a commentary which extols the virtues of looking after a pet
when it is given as a gift. In between the many images of dogs, pups,
cats and kittens there can be found a picture of a duck, a lizard,
several birds, fish, rabbits and the odd guinea pig. All the photos
are delightful, showing many of the animals in cute poses, often
with movement and sometimes with other animals.
The commentary shows the long term responsibility of owning a pet,
reiterating the closeness that an animal can bring to the family.
This is a timely book for many children who may be getting a pet for
Christmas and need to discuss with their parents exactly what is
involved.
Published by Random House in partnership with RSPCA, the royalties
from the sale of the book will go directly to the RSPCA to help with
their work. It is a salutary reminder that the incident of dumped
and abandoned pets rises dramatically after Christmas.
Fran Knight
Are trees alive? by Debbie S. Miller
Bloomsbury Publishing, 2012. ISBN 9781408173893.
(Age 5+) Recommended. Debbie S. Miller was inspired to consider the
question 'Are trees alive?' when it was put to her by her daughter
during a walk in the forest. The result is a book which invites
younger readers to question their assumptions about the environment.
The life cycle of a tree and the roles of its parts are explained in
simple but vivid language. Analogies with human life and the use of
trees as sources of food and shelter, underscore the message that
each tree is a living entity whose existence is intertwined with our
own. The picture book format and the inclusion of a guide to the
species of trees and animals pictured, ensure that the book's
credibility as non-fiction is not undermined.
The illustrations by Stacey Schuett strengthen the concepts
explained in the text. Each double page spread shows a richly
coloured scene from a different part of the world and illustrates,
in a sympathetic manner, how the people and animals there interact
with a particular tree. Although written by an American author, the
focus is global and multicultural. One of the trees presented is a
ribbon gum in Australia.
Parents and teachers can decide if this book is appropriate for
their audiences. Very young children may find the life affirming
text and illustrations appealing but the small font could be
challenging if they are independent readers. Older students can use
the book as an introduction to the subject but will need to turn to
more complex sources if they want to do further research. The
information about tree species at the end of the book appears to
have been written in very small font for adults. Are trees alive? has a place on bookshelves at home and in
primary school libraries. It will enrich both the book sharing
experience and the discussions which follow.
Elizabeth Bor
Can it be about me? by Cheryl Moskowitz
Ill. by Ros Asquith. Harper, 2012. ISBN 9781 84780 340 5.
(Ages 9+) Poetry, Humour. Moskowitz wanted to write poems about
being at school, and so asked her local primary school if she could
be a fly on the wall for a while to capture the essence of life at
school. The volume containing the 48 poems is the result of her
efforts when being as unobtrusive as possible at the school. But she
did cause interest and the first poem in the volume is based on one
boy's interest as he enquired 'can it be about me?' Many of the
poems presented grew out of Moskowitz's observations in the school
ground and class room, and present situations familiar to us all.
Themes such as being alone, bullying, how to make friends, what
games to play in the break, range alongside more detailed poems
about Egypt or a spelling test, or simply a poem of all the
abbreviations there are in a school. She also presents a brief
introduction to each poem, giving it a context and also explaining
the type of poem it may be, so giving teachers a model to use when
doing poetry in the classroom.
Fran Knight
The gift by Penny Matthews
Ill. by Martin McKenna. Scholastic, 2012. ISBN 1862916985.
(Ages: 3+) Highly recommended. Picture book. Christmas. The little
brown bear sits on the shelf in the shop, surrounded by toys which
offer so much more than he. Others sing and dance, clap their hands
or are festooned with colour, all designed to attract a buyer. But
all the plain brown bear has is a red ribbon tied around his neck.
When his companion the green crocodile and he watch the other toys
being sold, they lament that they are still left on the shelf. Bear
gives the crocodile his ribbon, and sure enough the crocodile is
sold. Bear falls behind the counter, and is overlooked yet again
until he is restored to his spot on the shelf, where a baby in a
pusher calls out 'bear', impelling its father to buy him for their
tree. At home, the baby calls out again and the bear is given the
best gift of all, a place in someone's heart.
This is one of those books where tissues are needed, the subtle text
accompanied by the beautiful soft illustrations will draw an
emotional response from all who read it and hear it read aloud.
Everyone has had the feeling of being left out, of being overlooked,
of feeling unloved, so the fate of the bear and the crocodile will
immediately elicit a response. Younger children will not only hear a
beautifully told text, they will be engaged in thinking about those
less fortunate than themselves, those left alone at Christmas, and
so begin to understand the wider issues that Christmas brings in our
community. Older children may begin to discuss the idea of gift
giving, and think about the way things are sold in shops, marketed
and displayed. But the basic story is one that can be read over and
over again, a beacon outshining most of the other books offered by
publishers at Christmas.
Fran Knight
The Crystal Code (The Billionaire Series) by Richard Newsome
Text Publishing Australia, 2012. ISBN: 1922079030
(Ages 11-14) Recommended. The Crystal Code is the latest novel in
The Billionaire Series by Robert Newsome. Readers who are familiar
with this series of books which originally began with The
Billionaire's Curse (2009) features the slightly more grown-up and
world's youngest billionaire Gerald Wilkins. This instalment in the
series begins with Gerald, his friends and family taking an
ridiculously expensive Christmas holiday at their privately owned ski
resort in a remote part of the Sierra Nevada Mountains, California.
The extravagant Christmas holiday involved a journey via private
plane to San Francisco followed by flying in a fleet of helicopters
to the resort. On route to the ski resort, Gerald and his friends
happen to come across a dry cleaning docket of the evil Sir Mason
Green, who we also learn has conveniently just been released from
prison. Once collected from the dry cleaners, the contents of Mason
Green's jacket sets the scene for the further problems that the
group of friends, Ruby, Sam, Felicity, and Ox (whose real name is
Oswald) experience for the rest of the novel. Whilst the story line
in The Crystal Code takes a little while to develop, with elements
of jealously being resolved between Ruby and Gerald's new girlfriend
Felicity, once the action begins, the novel becomes addictive to
read. The now older teenagers in this latest edition of the series
have developed new skills, including the ability to fly planes,
which has them literally flying around the world in pursuit of their
kidnapped family and friends. On the other hand, whilst the
characters are older, the appropriateness of age level for which The
Crystal Code is recommended remains for 11 to 14 year olds, as the
violence is moderated.
Adam Fitzgerald
RSPCA Animal Tales series by various authors
Random House, 2012. Dog in danger by Jess Black. ISBN 1742753361 Night fright! by Jess Black. ISBN 1742753388 Race to the finish by David Harding. ISBN 1742753426 Lost in translation by Helen Kelly. ISBN 174275340X
(Age: 8+) Warmly recommended. Animals. Adventure. This new series of
books that numbers eight, with two more due for release in December,
2012, will have instant appeal. All the stories are about 80 pages
long and revolve around families and animals. Written under the
auspices of the RSPCA, they have straight-forward plots, easily
absorbed and recognised characters, and lots to learn about animal
care and responsibility as the story is read. Dog in danger has a family, Cassie, Ben and Dr Joe, going on a
bushwalk and coming across another family whose dog, Snowy, has run
off after a rabbit and become lost. Dr Joe works for the RSPCA and
so is able to direct the group as to the best way to search. One is
sent off to ask their neighbours and alert other people to join the
search. Flyers are made and posted, and the weather checked for
possible changes. Sure enough, the weather does change and as rain
falls, the dog is found stuck on a ledge. In this short story we not
only get an adventure story, engrossing and involving, but learn how
best to search for a missing animal, how to go on a bushwalk and
what the bush offers for walkers.
Similarly Night fright! has Cassie and Ben searching for the ghost
that is making their neighbourhood jumpy. Noises in the night are
spooking everyone until they find out the cause after Cassie and Ben
decide to stay out all night in the hope of trapping the ghost. Race to the finish takes a different turn from the others as it
deals with greyhounds and a race when Ben's new friend's father
trains and races greyhounds, a sport Cassie dislikes. Lost in
translation has a group of vet trainees working with Dr Joe who are
asked by ben and Cassie to help with their fundraising.
Each story has a different take on owning animals and the readers
will certainly learn a great deal about the responsibility of owning
a pet from this easily assimilated series of books.
Fran Knight
Mr Penumbra's 24-hour bookstore by Robin Sloan
Farrar Straus Giroux, 2012. ISBN 0374214913.
This novel is written about and perhaps for Gen Y readers.
Traditional fantasy quest meets the digital age, and something more
human than either, the power of friendship, wins out. Hipster Clay
Jannon rarely touches paper until retrenched, despite winning a
design award, and taking a job in a shop selling what seems to be
books. Clay works the night shift catering to borrowers rather than
customers, borrowers who request their volumes by shelf placement in
the Waybacklist rather than author or subject. Clay's friends are
successful digitocrats, Neel who designs pixilated breasts, or 'boob
simulation software', Kat who is a Google worker and uncritical
believer in the power of technology, and Matt, the maker of
artifacts. Clay's employer, Mr Penumbra, forbids him to read the
books on the Waybacklist and so of course Clay starts examining them
to find they are a code linked to their place on the shelves.
Urged on by Kat and using the resources of Google, Clay, a fantasy
reader from childhood, becomes a quester. He builds an online data
visualization of the movements of the borrowers and discovers they
are all members of the Unbroken Spine society funded by the Festina
lente company whose aim is to discover the secret of immortality
recorded somewhere by the medieval philosopher Manutius. The
action shifts to New York where the society meets in secret and is
directed by the sinister Corvina, once friend but now enemy of the
genial Penumbra. Clay builds a paper scanner and secretly digitizes
the key work of Manutius. Kat, now on Google's management team,
Clay's girlfriend and determined to eliminate mortality, throws the
power of all its technology into the task of solving the riddle.
Google fails. Clay turns back to Old Knowledge. He learns that the
author of his favourite fantasy series was once a member of the
Unbroken Spine society but was expelled. When Clay listens to the
series on tape he realizes that he is listening to clues about where
the message is hidden. In a neat twist he finds the message and
delivers it to the society. The answer is a victory for humanity
over the machine. Immortality is a dream; friendship is what should
be sought. Clay loses Kat but gains more friends and establishes a
career with Mr Penumbra in both digital and print publications.
The writing is witty, the plot intriguing. It flags a little
three-quarters through but picks up again to finish triumphantly.
The novel is about balance, about the incredible power of the
digital world, but also about the need for mystery and about the
need for friends.
Jenny Hamilton
Shark attack by Jackie French
Scholastic Australia, 2012. ISBN 1742833845.
(Age 8+) In the fourth book in the Animal Rescue series by Jackie
French, Leo and his friend, Mozz, must rescue a shark colony from a
flood of toxic mud. Aimed at readers 8+, Shark attack is a fast
paced, life threatening mission, which needs to be completed in time
for Leo and Mozz to do their homework.
Mozz is the granddaughter of a wealthy scientist, Dr Drizzsock, who
rescues wild animals and the latest task she gives the two friends
is the hardest of all because Leo cannot communicate with sharks as
he does so easily with other animals.
The sharks are in danger because a dam holding mine tailings, a
sludge of dangerous chemicals, has collapsed in a thunderstorm. As
they speed towards the shark colony in Sky Tiger, a jet made of
recycled plastic bottles, the question they ask is, 'How can
governments let things like this happen?' Jackie French, with her
love of nature and her considerable research, encourages her readers
to think more deeply about issues of conservation.
Despite inclusions such as a guinea pig with attitude and an amazing
watch with satellite navigation which can repair shoelaces, it is
easy to identify with the characters and become involved in the
dilemmas they face. The introduction to the story is overlong but
children will find this adventure as absorbing as the others in the
series.
Thelma Harvey
The last dance by Sally Morgan
Little Hare, 2012. Hbk. ISBN 1921714840.
'Corroboree Frog hidden by the autumn leaves he sleeps and dreams of
his last dance . . . Dugong through the shallow water she dives
escaping the fishermen'.
Through deceptively simple text and the richest of illustrations,
one of Australia's most wonderful authors has brought the plight of
some of our most vulnerable species to our attention in a
spectacular way.
For anyone looking to enhance their environmental awareness
collection, this is an essential addition. Every page is crammed
with illustrations that invite discovery and discussion.
Kindergarten students can be introduced to some of our unique
creatures that are not as iconic as the koala or kangaroo; slightly
older could investigate the concept of habitat and how creatures
adapt to it; while upper primary might investigate what's
threatening each creature and what might be done to halt its
seemingly inevitable decline to extinction.
To kickstart the learning, at the end of the book there are
explanations that focus on how the destruction of habitat is the key
threat. But because this is largely caused by human actions, there
is hope that it can be alleviated by human intervention. Ms Morgan
has cleverly included creatures from a range of habitats and most
states and territories so there is also scope for students to become
actively involved in their conservation.
This is a book, that, in sensitive hands, could bring the glimmer of
hope that these creatures have to reality.
Barbara Braxton
Finding Freia Lockhart by Aimee Said
Walker Books, 2010. ISBN 9781 921529 15 3.
(Ages 12+) Recommended. Schools. Relationships. Friea is the
runt. She did not expect to be accepted by the cool group in her
year
ten cohort at Westside Girls Grammar School, but she finds herself
to
be a member of the Bs, the group of three B named girls, Belinda,
Brianna and Bethanee, with Kate, good old Kate, the wannabe, tagging
along behind. As Freia and Kate knew each other at their last
school,
Freia finds herself aligned to this group, with their scathing
attitudes towards others in the school, and their sometimes grudging
acceptance of her. But Freia's relationship with Kate is crumbling,
as
Kate tries to get closer to the Bs.
With the school play, My Fair Lady, beginning rehearsals,
Freia
has
found herself pushed into the audition, and not winning a stage
part,
has been relegated to help with the lighting. Here she comes across
Daniel, a heavily fringed boy from Parkville Boys High School, the
state school across the way, and finds that she will be his
assistant.
She has already noticed him in the cafe where she meets her tutor,
Nicky, hired by her parents when they found that she was not gaining
the marks they expected her to attain at high school.
Her mother particularly tries to raise Freia by the book, trying to
do
the best as an older parent.
Having to read Pride and Prejudice does not thrill her and
she
finds
herself talking to and working with one of the girls seen as on the
outer by her group. Things are changing for Freia, she has begun to
take notice of the things the Bs say about other people and is
making
choices for herself, rather than to suit them. The theme of not
accepting things as they seem is neatly reiterated with the Jane
Austen book as well as My Fair Lady.
This is a funny, acerbic look at teenage girls, full of humour and
pithy comments about the society in which they mix, their parents'
aspirations, the relationships with each other and those around
them,
their dress, their values and their views on life. It is very
recognisable and will draw a smile and a laugh from its readers,
wanting to follow Freia's journey from being the runt of the group
to
someone standing on her own two feet with the strength to say no.
A wholly satisfying story of growing up, a coming of age story
(Bildungsroman) which could be easily compared with others of its
ilk,
(Will by Maria Boyd, Chasing Charlie Duskin by Cath
Crowley, Finding Grace by Alyssa Brugman and Losing it by
Julia
Lawrinson
and so
on).
Fran Knight
Other brother by Simon French
Walker Books, 2012. ISBN 978 1 971720 83 3
(Ages 11+) Highly recommended. Family. Seeing a new book by Simon
French is enough to give me goosebumps as I recall with gratitude
his earlier stories, Change the locks and Cannily
cannily, which gave a sympathetic voice to those children
rarely seen in children's book, the itinerant and neglected. In many
books these children are presented as stereotypes, rarely are they
seen as characters in their own right. The other brother, Bon, in
this superb book, is a neglected child of a mentally unstable woman,
who leaves him with her mother and sister in a small country town,
where everyone knows each other's business.
The story revolves around the boy fitting in to his new family,
especially his cousin, who rejects him out of hand, wanting to keep
cool with his friends at school, and dismissing Bon's oddities as
weird. His parents and sister, as well as his grandmother, are very
sympathetic and supportive of Bon, and the reader feels from the
start, that the adults know more than they are telling the children.
The school yard is most effectively shown, with its gangs of kids,
places where some feel safer than others, kids looking to hurt,
manipulate and undermine, while others show compassion and support.
Bon and Kieran move around each other for a while, until the
bullying by Kieran's friends puts him in a position where he must do
the same to keep his friends. He is instantly sorry and his attempts
to apologise to Bon see him following the boy into the night when he
attempts to run away.
This is the sort of story all kids will read and discuss. It is the
tale of an outsider, a neglected child who has looked after himself
for many years, skirting around his mother's moods, then thrust into
a family where even to sit down together is a different experience.
It is the story of being rejected, of fitting in, of changing
attitudes, of things kept beneath the surface. But overall it is the
story of a family, responding to the needs of another member,
helping the child adapt to a calmer environment and helping their
own son accept the new boy for what he is. The parents are
marvellously drawn, so much so that several times, I reread passages
to see how French had made me so involved in their lives. The minor
characters too all have a face and background, each is individual,
while the background of Bon's friend Julia is slowly revealed to the
reader and we learn about it along with Kieran.
Fran Knight
Total recall by Philip K Dick
Gollancz, 2012. ISBN 9780 575 10029 9.
(Ages 12+) Recommended. Science fiction. Published to coincide with
the release of remake of the 1990 Arnold Schwarzenegger film of the
same name, now a cult classic, this book showcases many of Dick's
well known stories. It includes those that have been made into
successful films, We can remember it for you wholesale (Total
recall), Do androids dream of electric sheep (Blade
runner), as well as Minority report, A scanner
darkly, The adjustment bureau and Paycheck.
Dick often plays around with the idea of what is real, and in Total
recall, the idea that a company can sell you fake memories is
the starting point for factory worker Quaid, to question what he is
and why he is there.
Each of the 24 stories included in this volume are questioning and
unlike any other. The book has an introduction by Thomas M Dasch
which is well worth reading, and the notes at the end of the book
allow a peep into the mind of the creator when he wrote the stories.
For students of scifi, interested in where some of the big ideas
first came from, or interested in the chronology of scifi, or simply
interested in these stories, then this is a sound read. My only
quibble is the size of the print. 44 lines to a page makes a dense
text which is not easy to read, and means only the determined scifi
fan will stick to the reading, which is a shame when this book
offers such a breadth of fascinating stories and commentary.
Fran Knight
