Dead reckoning by Mercedes Lackey and Rosemary Edghill
Bloomsbury, 2012. ISBN 9781599906843.
(Age 12+) Recommended for fans of Westerns, steampunk and zombies.
Yes - this is a Wild West ride, with our two feisty heroines, Jett a
girl disguised as a boy, and Honoria who drives an early steam
driven wagon, taking on a zombie invasion. Joined by the handsome
White Fox, a freelance scout for the Army, the trio track down the
mystery of why the dead are rising from the grave and who is
controlling this undead army.
I'm fond of all three escapist genres, Westerns, steampunk and
Zombie, so I was keen to sample this book. I was lured in by the
cover which features a black clad Jett striding forth with gun at
her side, flanked by a very gorgeous White Fox and a blond Honoria
and followed by zombies. Once into the book I found myself really
enjoying the antics and problem solving of two very unusual young
women as they go about trying to stop the zombie invasion. In
between I learnt bits of history, the advent of the railways and the
role of scouts.
This is great escapist fiction. As one would expect from well-known
authors like Lackey and Edghill, it is well written with a fast pace
and great characters. It is easier and less scary than the Rot
and ruin zombie series by Jonathan Maberry or The Forest
of hands and teeth by Carrie Ryan and I think young teens
would enjoy both the plot and the action. Although the books end in
a very satisfying manner, there is scope for more stories about this
intrepid trio.
Pat Pledger
Phyllis Wong and the Forgotten secrets of Mr Okyto by Geoffrey McSkimming
Allen and Unwin, 2012. ISBN 9781742378213.
There are many reasons to love the wonderful world of Phyllis Wong.
For a start, she lives in the penthouse of a famous Art Deco built
by her great Grandather, brilliant magician, Wallace Wong. Her
apartment has its own cinema, a French patisserie in the lobby and
interesting tenants like the enigmatic Chief Inspector Inglis and
flamboyant Minette Bulbulos.
Even better, Phyllis has inherited Wallace Wong's talent and passion
for magic, impressing everyone who is lucky enough to watch her
perform. When Phyllis discovers that her friend and owner of
LowerBlast's Antiques and Collectables Emporium has been robbed, she
begins to suspect sleight of hand. Putting her analytical mind to
work, Phyllis is determined to solve the mystery of the stolen,
valuable bookend.
Fortunately Phyllis has the help of her friend Clement, who
will do anything to escape xylophone practice and Chief Inspector
Inglis. As head of the Fine arts and Antique Squad he is not
happy to learn that the Lowerblast case may be connected to another
unsolved jewellery heist.
Phyllis, her loyal little dog, Daisy and Clement set off to do some
sleuthing, unaware of the danger that is coming their way.
This is a fast paced and sophisticated novel for over ten year
olds. In addition to enjoying a thrilling adventure,
readers are able to take a peep into the secret world of magic. Like
the Cairo Jim Chronicles, Phyllis Wong is sure to be a hit.
Tina Cain
The Best Kind of Kiss by Margaret Allum
Ill. by Jonathan Bentley. Little Hare Books, 2012. Pbk. ISBN
9781921894084.
Picture book. There are all sorts of kisses a little girl can have -
big kisses, small kisses, pecky kisses, and smoochy, lip-smacky
kisses - and they don't all come from mummy. In fact, in this cute
book for pre-schoolers, they come from the most unlikely sources,
all of which underline that delightful innocence of the very young
child. Accompanied by appealing illustrations which are integral to
telling the tale, the author has created one of those special
stories that I know will become a bedtime favourite.
Miss 6 loves the rosy-cosy-grandma-kiss but agrees with the choice
of the best sort of kiss of all; Miss 16-months just liked snuggling
in and listening to the flow and rhythm of the language and looking
at the pictures.
This would be one to put in that special collection you have for
parents who are looking for that just-right bedtime book. Give them
this one and they'll know you know your stuff and come back for
more.
Barbara Braxton
The interrogation of Ashala Wolf by Ambelin Kwaymullina
The Tribe. Book 1. Walker Books Australia, 2012 IBSN: 9781921720086
(Age: 14+) Highly recommended. For readers who love dystopian
novels, or even those whose appetites are becoming jaded with the
plethora that abound at the moment, The interrogation of Ashala
Wolf, opens up a new dimension in excitement and thought
provoking themes in this genre. The book begins with a terrifying
scene where a young girl named Ashala is being taken to a machine to
begin an interrogation because she has a supernatural power, an
Ability. From then on the reader finds out snippets of Ashala's life
as an illegal, a person who society believes will disturb the
Balance which has been carefully built up after a catastrophe has
destroyed the way the world worked.
Kwaymullina explores a future where difference is feared. Instead of
fearing the difference in colour and ethnicity that occurs in
present society, those barriers have broken down, as the world
became one large country. Instead those who have the Ability are put
into detention centres to protect the normal society from their
powers. Some people with different abilities, like Healers, are
given an Exemption, but Ashala, afraid for her life, had escaped to
the forest of Firstwood, where she lives with a group of young
people. This theme of tolerance is combined with the thread about
whether it is ethical to use violence to maintain a society or to
change it. As Ashala's companion Ember says, 'You can't change a
society for the better with violence, Ashala. Only with ideas.' (pg
208).
Along with these big themes, comes excitement and thrills as the
reader follows what is happening to Ashala. The suspense is built up
in a very clever way. Each time Ashala is taken to the machine to be
interrogated, she reveals more memories of her life and her ability,
even though she fights to keep her comrades' names and location a
secret.' As a reader I was gripped with terror about what she was
going through and what would happen to her little band in the forest
and the twists and turns keep me fully engrossed in the story.
Ashala's feeling for Justin Connor, the young guard who had betrayed
her to the evil Chief Administrator Neville Rose, also add an
emotional feel to the story.
I found myself neglecting all sorts of work to sneak off and finish
this book - a good indication of its original premise, interesting
characters and wonderful Australian setting. A teacher's guide is available.
I believe that this would be a fascinating class text or book to use
with a literature circle.
Pat Pledger
Dead Time by Anne Cassidy
Bloomsbury, 2012. 344 pages; p/b. ISBN 978 1 4088 1550 2.
(Age 13+) Dead Time is a fascinating tale by author Anne
Cassidy, and is the first novel in her new mystery series. Dead
Time follows the exploits of Rose who is doing her best to
conceal her new butterfly tattoo from her grandmother's prying eyes.
Since her mother and stepfather disappeared when she was twelve,
Rose has been living with her grandmother, and feels constrained in
the perfectly appointed modern house they share. But now, five years
later, nothing will dampen her spirits as she looks forward to
meeting her 'stepbrother' Joshua, whom she has not seen in all that
time.
But before she can even meet with Joshua, disaster strikes following
a chance encounter with Ricky Harris, one of the boys from her
college. A boy she doesn't like. This event has consequences, and
Rose becomes a witness to two murders. These events spur her on to
discovering who is behind the murders.
When Rose and Joshua finally meet, they discover a mutual attraction
for each other, but also a shared desire to solve the mystery
surrounding the disappearance of their parents five years earlier.
When they unearth a mysterious notebook, they are hopeful its
cryptic messages might be key to their puzzle. With their lives
frequently in danger, they search out the truth behind each
mysterious event. Dead Time is easy to follow, and introduces the characters
and setting with tension and intrigue, paving the way nicely for the
sequels to follow. With loads of dialogue and action it should
appeal to young adult girls ages 13+. A great new series to enjoy.
Colleen Tuovinen
Metro Winds by Isobelle Carmody
Allen and Unwin, 2012. ISBN 9781865084442.
(Age: 11+) Highly recommended. From the award-winning author of the
Obernewtyn Chronicles, this is a collection of short stories.
A girl is sent across the world to discover her destiny in the dark
tunnels of the Metro. Another seeks a lost sister in a park where
winter lasts forever. A young man fulfills a dying wish. A mother
works magic to summon a true princess for her son. A man seeks an
ending to his story. An old man goes in search of his shadow.
Isobelle Carmody, the talented Australian author of the young adult
classic Obernewtyn, has released a collection of short
stories. Except they aren't all that short. In fact, one of the
stories, The Wolf Prince, is just under 150 pages long. All of the
stories are very well written, as is to be expected from one of the
best young adult authors in Australia. The writing is detailed and
lyrical and the stories are inventive and original. One theme that
runs throughout the whole collection is a sort of magic realism,
that idea of worlds that are just on the other side of reality. Most
of these stories involve ordinary people thrust into extraordinary
situations. It's always a pleasure to read Isobelle Carmody's work
because she manages to combine reality and fantasy in interesting,
original ways.
For fans of Isobelle Carmody, or really anyone who likes wonderfully
inventive fantasy stories, this is a must.
I highly recommend this book.
Rebecca Adams (Student)
2013 Magabala Australian Indigenous Diary
Magabala Books, 2012. ISBN 978 921248 73 3.
(All ages) Highly recommended. Diary. This stunning diary produced
by Magabala Books, is not just a diary, but a compendium of
fascinating insights, bits of information, arresting photography and
art works, all bound together in a hard cover spiral bound book that
can be leafed through out of interest, used as a weekly diary and
then kept as a reference for years to come.
Beginning with the covers and endpapers, the book brims over with
art work. The covers featuring Freddie Timms' painting will stop
people in their tracks, picking up the book where they see it to
admire the bold work. Inside, the work of Edwin Lee Mulligan is
featured and the back endpaper has a fold out map of the language
groups of Indigenous Australia, a boon for anyone wanting to know
the extent Aboriginal Australia before European settlement.
Each double page spread shows a week of days, and significant days
in the Indigenous calendar are highlighted. At the top of the page
is a Moment from History, which gives a snippet of information about
Indigenous History. So we can find out about the 1963 eviction of
people in Far North Queensland or the walk off at Wave Station in
1966, as well as significant days such as the day Uluru was handed
back on October 26, 1985. Each time a page is opened, new
information appears, making this far more than a diary. Each month
begins with the beautiful photography by Wayne Quilliam and
art work by a range of Indigenous artists, with notes telling the
reader about the photographer and artist. The art work is then
reprised on the edges of the pages for that month, reminding the
user again of the work at the beginning of the month. At the top of
each verso page is the month with the months before and after for
reference.
The last few pages of the diary are committed to outlining the
protocols used in preparing the diary and then information about he
Arts and Culture of Indigenous Australia, making this a worthwhile
addition to a school library, something to treasure for yourself or
give as a gift. A glossary of some terms is followed by
information about he artist, Wayne Quilliam and references to other
artworks used in the dairy.
This lovely book is far more than a diary, it is a useful, up to
date albeit brief, reference of Indigenous culture, illustrated with
some outstanding works by contemporary artists and filled with
pieces of information that will attract the attention of the user.
Fran Knight
The butterfly by Roger Vaughan Carr
Ill. by Ann James. Walker Books Australia, 2012. ISBN 9781921977664.
(Ages:6+) Recommended. Picture book. Environment.
Another classic Australian tale is republished by Walker Books,
complete with comments by the original publisher and the author and
illustrator, outlining their thoughts about the book and why it was
published. Reading these at the end of the book gives another level
of enjoyment to this happily reprinted book.
This book admirably espouses the idea of the butterfly effect or
chaos theory for the young and not so young. The idea that a
butterfly's beating wings can produce a puff of wind capable of
being part of a mammoth change as it builds around the world, is
stunningly portrayed in this book. The words and illustrations
combine to make a representation of this complex theory to make it
understandable to all.
Malani is captivated by the butterfly she sees in the forest as her
father works with his elephant. She feels sad that the
butterfly does not have the strength of the elephant, but when the
puff of wind created by the butterfly is incorporated in the dying
breeze from Russia, it gains strength and moves on.The breeze moves
onto Morocco, eventually becoming a stronger wind which blows the
trees in Africa. Building up it blows the sand across the desert,
making the people have to pull their clothes tightly around
themselves, then on to the seas, creating a gale, then to Peru,
making the crops sway. The ocean is hipped up and a tornado
develops, forcing Malani and her father and their elephant to higher
ground where they will be safe.
The water colour pictures are stunning, from the detailed views of
the butterfly to the sweeping swathes of colour denoting the seas. A
book to treasure in the library, making a scientific idea
comprehensible.
Fran Knight
What makes my Dad happy by Tania Cox and Lorette Broekstra
Allen and Unwin, 2012. ISBN 978 1 74237 838 1.
Recommended. Just in time for Father's Day comes this wonderful
celebration of Dads and the things the little people in their lives
share with them that make them happy.
According to this book, Dads like surprises, towers, flowers,
talking on the phone, spinning around in circles, helping with the
cooking, dancing and singing, building cubbies, having notes,
pushing kids on swings, and most of all, big BIG hugs.
I liked that this book celebrated ALL types of Dads - young Dads,
old Dads, Dads in wheelchairs, Dads with glasses - Dads of all
kinds. It's really rare to find a picture book which caters to such
a wide range of different types of people without seeming
tokenistic.
This would be the perfect book to read to the twos and threes, and
for fathers and children to share together. The illustrations are
colourful and friendly, but with a lot of white space on the page,
so that the pages are not visually overwhelming.
The rhyme and rhythm of the story is gentle and predictable, and it
is an enjoyable book to read aloud. A recommended addition to
any inclusive library.
Freya Lucas
City of lost souls by Cassandra Clare
Walker, 2012. ISBN 9781406339147.
Sebastian has come back to life, only to kidnap Jace and bind him to
his plans of evil. Most of the shadowhunters think he is lost
forever but Clary has taken on a perilous mission by herself,
putting all on the line for a chance to save Jace. Heaven and hell
collide as 'Team Good', a determined bunch of shadowhunters,
vampires, warlocks and werewolves flurry to come up with a plan to
save Clary, Jace and the rest of the world from Sebastian's wrath,
and they must do it all behind the back of the clave.
Written with enchanting description and endearing characters, City
of Lost souls transports you into a thrilling world of myth and
fantasy where all the stories are true. You'll fall in love with the
floundering teenagers of this novel as they struggle to understand
themselves and each other, all the while striving to save the world.
Filled with thrilling action sequences and great chunks of hilarious
dialogue this book will engage your imagination and pull at your
heartstrings making you glad that our world is empty of such
dangerous adventures, yet wishing that you had a handsome
shadowhunter (or werewolf, vampire or warlock for that matter) of
your own.
The fifth in a series, City of Lost souls covers many themes
which centre on relationships and family, life and death and finding
your identity, which are, while entertaining, not hugely though
provoking or life changing. I would recommend this book as a fun
escape from reality, not to be take too seriously.
Bonny Miller (Student)
Everything left unsaid by Jessica Davidson
Pan Macmillan Australia, 2012. ISBN 9780330424950.
If you are looking for a sad story, then this book is for you. Best
friends Juliet and Tai have no sooner become romantically involved
than
he is diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumour and given a year, at
most, to live. This novel charts Tai's gradual decline in
heartbreaking
detail.
Tai and Juliet take turns to tell this story so we do get slightly
different versions of events. Whilst Tai's focus is mainly on coming
to
terms with his new medical regime, Juliet tries to balance her grief
with battling through her final year of school and impending exams.
Tai and Juliet are certainly drawn as realistic characters, neither
of
whom is perfect. The inclusion of their families in this story also
adds a realistic dimension to the story: neither Tai nor Juliet can
act
solely on their own instincts, they must take into account the needs
and desires of those around them. And the detailing of Tai's
hospital
visits and meetings with counsellors, certainly strengthens the aura
of
credibility.
However, there is a slightly saccharine feel to the tale as well.
Perhaps this is because there is a curious lack of dramatic tension
in
the novel. The blurb hints at the plot twist of Tai's illness, so it
comes as no surprise. Furthermore, the suffering endured by Tai and
Juliet is predictable and even their occasional moments of conflict
are
all too easily resolved. Perhaps also it is the unchanging mood of
the
story: there is little humour or tonal change to the way the story
plays out, it is unrelentingly sad.
Whilst watching Tai gradually submit to the indignities of his
illness,
only the hardest of hearts would not feel sorry for his predicament
but
the reader may well feel like they have learned little from reading
this story. Nevertheless, there is no doubt an audience of teen
readers
who will be quite happy to immerse themselves in the sadness of Tai
and
Juliet's situation, albeit with a tissue box at the ready.
Deborah Marshall
Blackwood by Gwenda Bond
Strange Chemistry, 2012.
(Age: 14+) Set on Roanoke Island, Virginia, a place where 114 people
had mysteriously vanished from the Lost Colony, Blackwood is a novel
that cleverly combines history with fantasy to come up with a theory
about how the people had disappeared. With the sudden disappearance
of 114 people now in modern times, Miranda, a strange girl who
doesn't fit in on the island, and Phillips, a teen who has been
exiled from the island, are on a quest to find out what has happened
to them.
I really enjoyed the combination of history and fantasy. When I
discovered that the original disappearance of 114 from Roanoke
Island had actually happened I did a search on the web to get the
background to the story. John Dee too is a fascinating historical
figure who is important to the story. One of the devices the author
used was the reenactment of the disappearance in a play and when I
discovered that there was actually a play performed today, it made
it all the more interesting.
The character of Miranda, a girl who is a lonely misfit is central
to the story. Her background of coming from the wrong family, having
an alcoholic father and not being part of the in group is one that
will interest teens. They will identify too with Phillips, son of
the Police Chief. He has left the island so that the secret of his
hearing the voices of the dead will be kept. This combination of
real life themes that teens face with the supernatural make it a
fascinating read.
The growing romance between Miranda and Phillips, their courage in
face of the evil of John Dee and the suspense that the author builds
up will keep teens reading this clever, chilling story.
Pat Pledger
Shadowfell by Juliet Marillier
Shadowfell book 1. Pan Macmillan, 2012. ISBN 9781742611341.
(Age: 14+) Recommended. When the evil Enforcers from the Albanian
king burn the boat that contains her father, Neryn has to make a
choice. Will she travel north with Flint the man who rescued her or
will she travel alone to the place called Shadowfell, where it was
rumoured that a rebel band was gathering to try and save Alban. The
Enforcers had killed her family and she is alone, desperately trying
to hide the magical powers that make her a target for the king.
I have to admit that Juliet Marillier is one of my favourite
authors. I loved her Sevenwaters series and her other series
based on history and fantasy. Shadowfell has the feel of her
earlier novels but is clearly aimed at a cross over audience of
young adults and adults. The main characteristic of Neryn that
stands out is her sheer determination and courage. Alone and hungry,
she faces a daunting trip through rugged terrain to try and reach
the North. She is helped by the Good Folk, who tell her she must
pass a series of tests in order to recognize her full potential.
Uncertainly is part of her journey. Although Flint comes to her
rescue when she becomes seriously ill, she is still unsure whether
she can trust him, She also is uncertain about the tests that she
must perform to fully learn her magic. By the end of her journey to
Shadowfell, she has grown in strength and self-belief into a heroine
whose next journey is one that I will follow avidly.
Marillier's characters are often angst ridden and facing difficult
moral and ethical decisions. This is certainly true in the case of
Flint. His trials are exceptionally difficult, and his actions are
so clouded in mystery that the reader is uncertain whether he is
good or evil. This clever ambiguity keeps the pages turning to see
what will happen next.
The addition of old Gaelic folklore is fascinating. The Good Folk,
from tiny fairy like creatures to huge ogres and a trickster all
have distinct personalities and are not like nursery rhyme
characters. I particularly loved the old rhyme, 'Stanie mon, stanie
mon, doon ye fa ' (Stony man, stony man, down you fall) and its use
to help the rebels.
Readers of fantasy will welcome this intriguing world and will want
to follow the paths of the Neryn, Flint and the rebels in following
books.
Pat Pledger
The great snortle hunt by Claire Freedman
Ill. by Kate Hindley. Simon and Schuster, 2012. ISBN 978 0857072627.
(Ages 5+) Highly recommended. Picture book. Investigation. Three
friends, Mouse, Dog and Cat dare to climb the hill to the house
where the Snortle lives. In delightful rhyming couplets the trio
talk of their fear and trepidation at searching for the Snortle, the
monster that nobody has ever seen. Along the way, Rabbit joins the
group, adding his knowledge to the scraps of information already
gathered. Each step takes them closer to the monster, and each page
underlines the bravery of the group.
This endearing tale grabbed me form the start with its play on
words. The lines: On a hill bumpy-steepy, there's a house
scary-crreepy, open the book, then words are added which confirm the
readers' fears. The group creeps up the hill, stuttering as they
hear some strange sounds, dropping the torch when Rabbit falls from
the trees, gulping, creeping, whispering their way up the stairs.
But they keep on going. Even when hearing the appalling noises that
the Snortle makes, growls, groans, gurgly moans, they do not hold
back.
The illustrations add to the fun of the group in this hunt, as the
four animals are portrayed convincingly in their wide eyed
adventure, pushing each other along in their quest. The look of each
page is different, the illustrator employing different sizes of font
to stress various things happening, and the words reflecting the
fears of the group. The text follows different routes across the
pages, adding to the fun of reading the book, and showing the
readers that text does not have to be static.
The whole is a pleasure to read and look at and will be readily
picked up by students. Teachers will see uses in the book when
talking to students about danger, listening to rumours,
investigating and of course, befriending others. It would also make
a thunderously good read-aloud.
Fran Knight
Star by Catherine Bateson
Scholastic, 2012. ISBN 978 1 86291 981 5
(Ages: 10+) Recommended. Family. Star is in a muddle. She and
her mother have had a close relationship since her father's death
from cancer, and she has had a good friend at school, but now that
friend has become a bully and Mum has allowed an old school friend,
Charlie, to live with them after separating from his wife. His
former wife and their two obnoxious children often visit, leaving
Star as the babysitter, with promises thrown in as compensation. At
school, Star has learnt to avoid the playground and the taunts of
her former friend, and buries herself in books, particularly the
books of an older generation, telling tales of boarding schools and
horses. And so she settles on her aim of getting a horse.
This astute look at families and relationships had me intrigued from
the start. Although I baulked at the selfishness of the adults, not
responding to the problems Star is experiencing, she has an ally in
Cara, Mum's good friend who lives close by. An ungodmother, she
plays a pivotal role in Star's finding a way through the problems
which have beset her life, and incidentally being a supportive
friend to Star's mother.
Bateson is always able to develop families and their interwoven
relationships with absolute certainty. Each person is a character in
their own right, each one with foibles and characteristics which
make them at once endearing and at times aggravating. A reader will
sense from the start the dichotomy of feelings of all the main
characters. Because they are so emotionally involved, their views of
their future are often at odds with the other, resulting in
conflicts of opinions which must be sorted out. Their shared future
is neatly resolved at the end of the book, making for a most
satisfying read.
Fran Knight
