Bloomsbury, 2012. ISBN 978 1 4088 1769 8.
(Ages: 14+) Terrorism.In three separate voices, the
story is told of one girl's plot to use the two boys of a family for
her own ends. One boy is young Jamie, besotted with Caro, a girl who
was friendly with his sister, Martha, but has always appeared out of
his reach. The other, his older brother, Rob, lately returned form
tours of duty in Afghanistan, where a roadside bomb almost severed
his leg, ending his army career. Back in Britain, suffering from
post traumatic shock, unable to work, he seeks out his former
comrades, gets drunk, uses drugs and dreams of weapons. Caro sees in
him the perfect candidate for her plan.
As each chapter progresses we see the scheming Caro use Jamie to get
information about Rob, sleeping with him, then kicking him out of
her bed, only to drive to Rob's to further her plan. She feeds both
just enough information to entangle them, and shows Rob her
stepfather's gun and ammunition storage.
After being involved in political demonstrations her values have
become those of the Red Army Faction, the group that gained
notoriety in the 1970's through the Baader Meinhof Group, which used
terrorism and killings as their way to overthrow governments.
We see Caro entwine Rob and Jamie along with the reader as this
thrilling tale hurtles along to an unexpected conclusion.
Terrorism from within is an absorbing topic, and linked with post
traumatic shock and the history of terrorist groups around the
world, this book helps to show the readers that it is a much wider
and far more complex problem than has been imagined.
Fran Knight
Siddhartha and the swan by Andrew Fusek Peters
Ill. by Miss Swanne. Bloomsbury Books, 2012. ISBN 9781 4081 3947 9.
(Ages: 6+) Indian Folk Tales. Another in the series, Stories from
World Religions, this tale of Siddharth and the swan has
similarities to other tales about swans in other cultures. The
swan is shot by an arrow and nursed back to health by the prince.
His cousin who shot the swan claims it as his prize but an old man
says no, the swan is still alive and so must be allowed to live. It
is nursed by Siddhartha and eventually flies off over the mountains
watched by Siddhartha and his cousin, now in agreement with his
cousin's wishes. Years after, Siddhartha grows up to be the Buddha
and teaches all people to be kind and thoughtful towards all living
creatures. This is a story for our time, not only telling a rounded
tale of being kind to animals, but also acquainting students with
some of the philosophies of Buddhism.
Fran Knight
Stolen away by Alyxandra Harvey
Bloomsbury, 2012. ISBN 9781408811320.
(Age: 14+) Paranormal. Eloise Hart is amazed when a gorgeous
looking boy carrying a sword kneels at her feet in a car park,
embarrassing her in front of her friends. To make matters worse, she
begins to see fairies everywhere and they can see her. The glamour
protecting her has worn off. When she is threatened by Lord Strahan,
King of Faery, she needs all her wits about her and her friends Jo
and Devin, to save both the Faery world and the earthly world from
chaos.
Harvey has a deft hand when building up her fantasy worlds. Lord
Strahan refuses to give up his crown, causing confusion and disorder
in the Faery kingdom. His court and the unusual punishments handed
out to those who question him are vividly described and very
memorable.
The suspense about who are Eloise's allies and who are enemies is
kept up until the end. Eloise isn't sure that the warrior Lucas is
her protector, and Jo is drawn to Eldric, Strachan's dark and
mysterious son, who may be planning to betray them all. There is
also a leavening of humour, which adds to the interest.
Told in alternating chapters by Eloise and Jo, the reader gains a
clear picture of the different characters. Jo's love interest with
Eldric has enough angst to keep those who enjoy a dash of romance in
their books interested in how it will turn out. It was good not to
be faced with the inevitable love triangle that many paranormal
authors seem to favour.
I found this to be a light, entertaining read. I didn't enjoy it as
much as I have enjoyed the Drake chronicles by the same author, but
it is an easy escapist paranormal read that girls would be sure to
enjoy.
Pat Pledger
The light between oceans by M. L Stedman
Vintage Books, 2012. ISBN 9781742755700.
Tom Sherbourne is a young, decorated soldier just returned from the
horrors of the Western Front of World War 1, horrified by the things
he has seen and done, and guilty because he has survived relatively
whole when so many have not. He seeks refuge by becoming a
lighthouse keeper on some of Australia's most remote lighthouses,
which, in those days were not automated as they are now. In a tiny
town in remote south-western Australia, he meets and marries the
love of his life and they live a cocooned life on a tiny island 100
miles offshore, their days only interrupted by the
once-every-three-months visit of the supply boat. Until one day, a
boat washes ashore carrying a dead man and a crying infant and a
choice is made that changes and shapes their lives forever.
Although I don't usually review adult books, this is the most
intriguing read I've had for a long time and I think it has a place
on the shelves of secondary libraries for a lot of reasons. Apart
from the insight it gives us into the mindset of young soldiers who
went to war full of high hopes and adventure but, in reality saw and
did what no person should see and do and were then eventually
returned Australia and just expected 'to get on with it', it is a
story of moral and ethical dilemmas which would provide engaging
discussion and debate that would have every student having to
examine their core values and beliefs. As the cover quote says,
'This is a story of right and wrong, and sometimes they look the
same.' Every character has a solid place in this story and the
question of 'What would you have done if you were them?' could be
put for each one. And because of the quality of the writing,
students will learn that there are seldom black-and-white answers to
these sorts of big questions - there are many shades of grey to be
considered and every action has a reaction, intended or not.
Beyond that, there are discussion
questions available (and there are advertisements and links on
that page that could become a teachable moment about cyber-safety)
that could also form the basis of some broader in-depth discussions
such as 'Are right and wrong absolutes, or do they change depending
on your point of view? If they are not fixed points, how do you
decide what's right and what's wrong, and what happens when your
values differ from your neighbour's?' and 'The continent of
Australia hasn't moved since 1926, but are we, as a nation closer to
the centre of things - more 'stitched into the world's fabric'?
Discuss isolation then and now, and its effect on the nation's
psyche.' I would also add, 'Although on the surface, Tom and
Isobel's isolation was physical, it is possible to be isolated while
surrounded by people?' which might lead to discussion and
acknowledgement of mental health issues, not only as they relate to
Tom and Isobel in the mainland but also to the students themselves.
For me, this book is a keeper - which is the highest praise I can
offer.
Barbara Braxton
Stones for my father by Trilby Kent
Alma Books, 2012. ISBN 9781846881749.
(Age: 12+) Recommended. Stones for my father takes place
during the Anglo-Boer War (October 1899-May 1902), in South Africa.
The war was fought between the British and the Boer people of South
Africa (otherwise known as Afrikaners). During this war, the British
destroyed many of the homes of Boer families, and the homeless
people would then be relocated to concentration camps.
The protagonist is Corlie Roux, a young Boer girl with no father and
two brothers. Corlie's mother loves her sons as much as she dislikes
Corlie, and when they are sent to the concentration camp at
Kroonstad, they all struggle to survive. Corlie will have to depend
on a faraway soldier from Canada and inner strength she never knew
she had . . . Stones for my father is an interesting glimpse into the world
of the Anglo-Boer War, and the people who were involved in it. It's
a neat slice of history that may be little known to some people, but
this book is a perfect starting place. It covers all the facts in an
easy-to-read, but still well written way. The characters are
realistic and the world of the South African wilderness is
beautifully described.
Some authors struggle with having a particular 'voice' when writing
historic novels like this, as they find it difficult to write
convincingly in the manner, style or setting of that time. But
fortunately in this case, the cultures, lives and voices of the Boer
people are very believable. Stones for my father is an excellent historic novel set
during the Anglo-Boer War that is sure to delight history fans and
entertain others.
I recommend this book.
Rebecca Adams
The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin
Simon and Schuster, 2012. ISBN 9780857073631.
Highly recommended. With no memory how she ended up in the hospital,
Mara Dyer wants to know what happened. Her two best friends and her
boyfriend are dead yet she mysteriously survives unharmed. She can't
stand being in the same places that they have, so Mara moves to a
new school and home, where she meets the most beautiful boy, Noah
Shaw. Even at her new school and home Mara she sees the faces of her
dead friends. Does bad boy, Noah, really have Mara's best interests
at heart or is it something different altogether?
Mara Dyer is one of my favourite characters ever now. Her
feisty attitude and her motivation to find out what happened the
night her friends died is thrilling. I just love Mara Dyer. I loved
Noah's reactions to everything Mara did or said to him.
Some of the plots twists were clever and confusing. The book is
thrilling and haunting.
Cecilia Richards (Student)
Giggly times, giggly rhymes No. 2: Picture book poems for children by Richie Cotton
Illustrated by Rhonda Cotton. Billy's Books.
(Age: 5-8) This is a self-publication by Richie and Rhonda Cotton
and is the second in a series of fun rhymes for young children. The
handwritten rhymes and simple, colourful illustrations add to the
homemade charm of these amusing rhymes. While there is nothing
particularly spectacular about the collection Cotton uses simple
rhythms and words to create amusing poetry. They are simple enough
that children would find it an achievable goal to write poetry of a
similar kind themselves. For this reason they may be useful to
use as a model for children learning to write rhymes of their own.
These poems are certainly best for reading aloud and the way the
illustrations correlate directly to the text may assist
comprehension for those learning to follow poems and their structure
as a form of storytelling. The book consists of 21 poems with
different themes, most short and many nonsensical or quirky.
Overall a pleasing collection of poems and illustrations that could
assist teachers working on poetry and rhyme writing with young
children or as a silly and enjoyable read aloud.
Nicole Smith-Forrest
Chill by Carol Thompson
Little Hare Books, 2012.
(Ages: 4-8) Dolly (the pig) and Jack Rabbit are best of friends.
They like doing everything together and simply being in the company
of one another is the recipe for a perfect day. They are wonderful
friends to each other, full of compliments like 'I like your hair
Dolly', and 'such a fine face, Jack Rabbit', and do everything
together whether it means being quiet, loud, fast or slow. They even
have nicknames for one another ('Jack Knotty Noodle' and 'Dolly
Wolly Doodle') and understand each other completely.
One day Jack and Dolly get angry at each other. And not just a
little angry - fully blown consumed with anger. Dolly has
drawn a portrait of Jack and she has made his 'ears look like slimy
slugs'. Jack has drawn a portrait of Dolly and has made her 'look
like a lumpy pumpkin'. They are SO MAD. After walking away from each
other in anger their madness soon turns to sadness. And then in an
effort to stop themselves EXPLODING with emotion Dolly and Jack go
to a safe calming place, close their eyes and think of something
that makes them happy . . .
This is a beautiful tale about what it means to be friends and an
important lesson in how to deal with anger and move on before we
EXPLODE! I adore the relationship that Dolly and Jack have. Reading
about them together made me feel light and full of joy and the
humorous way that they recharge their friendship and calm each other
down is endearing. This is illustrated as Jack Rabbit does 'this
little piggy . . . ' on Dolly's toes and Dolly gives Jack Rabbit a
shoulder massage before they agree that they are 'chilled
now'. The book uses beautiful sketch illustrations and speech
bubbles to reveal the friendship and the emotions of Dolly and Jack
and is a gentle reminder that sometimes our emotions get the better
of us. As Jack and Dolly show us even the best of friends get angry
at each other sometimes.
Nicole Smith-Forrest
Titanic: death on the water by Tom and Tony Bradman
A and C Black, 2012. ISBN 9781408155813.
(Age: 12+) At the age of thirteen, Billy is forced to join his
father in Belfast constructing the 'unsinkable' Titanic. Billy finds
the ship yards and the men employed there very intimidating,
especially after a work accident claims his father's life. He
decides that working as a bellboy on the big ship will be a much
safer place for him than the construction yards.
At sea, Billy has to adapt to life away from his family and learn
how to stand up for himself. His job involves looking after the
first class passengers but he is also concerned with the welfare of
less fortunate travellers.
2012 is the 100th anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic and this
has rekindled public interest in the catastrophic event. Although
this is a fictional account by a father and son team, it is based on
research held in the UK National Archives. It is a well written
story and an exciting introduction to the Titanic story for the
younger reader.
Tina Cain
Andy Roid and the superhuman secret by Felice Arena
Penguin Australia, 2012. ISBN 9780143306030.
This is Book 1 of a new series by Felice Arena, remembered by many
Primary school boys especially for his very popular Specky Magee
books as well as the easily accessible Boyz Rule and Girlz Rock
books.
Andy Roid is a 12 year old whose life is turned upside down when he
is almost kidnapped on the way home. He luckily escapes on his bike,
pursued by the kidnappers, only to run head on into a Mack Truck.
This should have been the end of Andy but, fortunately for him, his
parents do not run a bakery and invent new muffin recipes as he
believed, but are scientists who specialize in robotics and have
just made a breakthrough in Biorobotics.
At his point I was with Andy. How could they reconstruct their son
as a robot? While I pondered this for some time, I am sure the
intended audience will pass over the ethics of the operation without
a blink and be as thrilled as Andy as he discovers the cool apps he
has been given and how to turn them on. Welcome Andy Roid the
android, a 12 year old modern version of the old 6 Million Dollar
Man.
Andy finds it is not all fun and games as he heroically saves Molly,
but has to keep his identity secret, think Superman, Spiderman and
Co. The threat posed by the kidnapping crew of Dr Sylvester Baffi
and the Triple S is ever present and will continue to play a part in
future stories.
As fast paced as a cartoon this series is sure to appeal to those
reluctant readers who will enjoy the action packed modern
references.
Sue Keane
Erebos by Ursula Poznanski
Translated by Judith Pattinson. Allen and Unwin, 2012. ISBN 978 1
74237 953 1.
(Ages: 14+) Computer games. Sharp eyed Nick Dunmore sees small
parcels being exchanged amongst the students at his school. His best
friend, Colin is out of reach, will not speak to him at school,
avoids any eye contact, does not answer his email or phone and seems
to be creating a relationship with the two geeks in their class.
Others are acting oddly as well, but when he corners one of them, he
realises that they are all playing a game, a computer game with
bizarre rules about communication, a game which seems to intrude on
real life. When he is passed the disc, he too sees just how
addictive the game can be, and from the start, the reader gets the
feeling that these kids are being manipulated. Wishing to move from
level two to three, the messenger offers him this option as long as
he introduces another person, and gives him details about another
boy in his class. The alert reader is aware that more is going on,
but Nick is flattered and involved. Nick, now Sarius, must choose
weapons, a name and skills to go into the game, and he finds that
fighting to create a foothold on the next level requires some daring
and skill. At times he must fight to the death. With the energy and
seduction of a serial seen every Saturday at the local picture
theatre (yes, I am that old!) this becomes an exciting read as
Nick moves from one level to another, following the
instructions and requests from the messenger.
When Nick is asked to put a drug in his teacher's thermos, the
teacher who is asking questions and raising concerns, Nick baulks
and in so doing is kicked out of the game. He desperately tries to
get back into the game but when his best friend, Jamie is knocked
off his bicycle and almost killed, Nick begins to see something
sinister is happening, and so takes action, joining others to find
the evil behind the game.
Slow to start, the book builds quickly into an absorbing thriller.
Just like the game we are led down different paths, some dead ends,
some red herrings, but all the while being led on to a stunning
conclusion.
Smoothly translated, this book won the Youth Jury Award in the 2011
German Youth Literature Prize.
Fran Knight
Melody Burning by Whitley Strieber
Allen and Unwin, 2012. ISBN: 978 1 74237 913 5.
(Ages: 14+) Recommended. 'A girl rock star who's never been
alone enough to fall in love. A boy runaway who's grown up so alone
he doesn't even know what love is. A pyromaniac with a dangerous
secret. An explosive romantic thriller. In the chutes and
crawlspaces of an LA hotel lives a young runaway named Beresford. He
has no idea who his parents were, but he does know that he's in love
with rock superstarlet Melody McGrath. When she checks into
Beresford hotel with her manipulative stage mother, a fatal secret
is brought to light. Death is coming for Beresford and Melody. Will
the wild child and the It Girl be able to keep their lives - and
love - intact?'
As you can tell from the blurb, this book is very intriguing from
all aspects. Strieber is known for his bestsellers in science
fiction, most of which have become movies. Melody burning is his
first book for young adults and in my opinion he has done a
wonderful job, with a gripping story that has you enthralled until
the last page and wanting more of the story. At the start of the
story Beresford loses his father and nearly his own life; through
the years that pass he forgets who he is, his name, age and life. He
has no one until he meets the love of his life, Melody. He basically
stalks her; he climbs into her room using the crawlspaces of the
hotel just to know more about her. It is a wonderful love story with
a terrifying peak of intensity where they nearly lose their lives
and each other forever. A brilliant book by a breathtaking author, I
hope to read more of his work in the future.
Taylor Oxenham (Student).
Frontier magic series by Patricia C. Wrede
Scholastic Press.
(Age: 11+) Recommended. The Thirteenth child and Across
the Great Barrier are the first two books in a trilogy set in
the wild west of an alternative America where magic is used as a
natural part of the world. I loved the setting in this series. The
idea of an alternative America, with pioneers getting land grants,
and facing the dangers of strange wild animals, grabbed me and kept
my interest through the two books. Wrede's magic, and the learning
of the spells, is all set in a commonplace school, and seemed to me
as the reader, to be as real as normal school lessons. (Apparently
the fact that Native Americans do not feature as part of her world
caused some controversy in the US).
Eff, short for Francine, is an engaging heroine, and it is her story
of gradually being able to shed the stigma of being the 13th child,
that is at the heart of the stories. Although she doubts herself,
her goodness and compassion shine through the book. The relationship
Eff has with her twin, Lan, and with William, a school friend, form
a thread that keeps interest alive. Wash, a circuit guide, is also a
fascinating character, and the interactions of members of such a
large family were well written.
I await the third installment in the series to see just how much Eff
comes of age and how she uses her magic powers. Thirteenth child. Scholastic, 2009. ISBN 9780545033459. Eff
is the 13th child and twin to Lan, who is the seventh son of a
seventh son. Being the 13th is supposed to bring bad luck, and Eff
has grown up believing that she does bring bad things to her family
and town. When her family move to a school near the magical divide
that keeps out the beasts of the wild, Eff begins to believe in
herself. Across the Great Barrier, Scholastic, 2011. ISBN
9780545033433. Eff, now almost grown up, goes out past the magical
Great Barrier, as an assistant to a Professor, who is studying the
effect of a magical bug on the countryside. The land is full of
dangers, and Eff must come to grips with her magical powers to keep
herself and the pioneers communities safe.
Pat Pledger
Punchlines by Oliver Phommavanh
Puffin Books, 2012. ISBN 9780143306511.
(Age: 12+) Fifteen year old Johnny Khamka seriously wants to be a
comedian. Friends and family are perfect fodder for his one liners.
He carries an exercise book to write in when inspiration strikes.
The opportunity to represent his school at the Funny Bones
competition is a real chance to make his name. Maybe he will be the
next Anh Do? Johnny decides to get some real stand up
experience by performing at the Jokey Pokey but obstacles begin
popping up everywhere.
This is an easy, light hearted read with a distinctly humorous
flavour. When he is not hanging with his mates or performing comedy,
Johnny's attraction to a cute girl gives the story some romantic
tension. The author is a teacher and a comedian, so he knows
his audience well.
This is an entertaining read for boys and girls and perhaps the
reluctant reader could be enticed to give this one a go.
Tina Cain
Not bog standard and other peculiar stories by Mark Pardoe
Omnibus, 2012. ISBN 978 1 86291 863 4.
This book is great fun. The stories have a twist and there are not
always happy endings. Mark Pardoe will undoubtedly be compared to
Paul Jennings as the format and stories are reminiscent whilst still
being highly original. They have more of a darker flavor such as Message
in a bottle and Fish out of water, both of which show
the consequences of bad choices. Others have almost a supernatural
element such as Clairvoyant canine and Get lost.
My favourite is Flu past about two boys who live in the same
house on a farm but are separated by about ninety years. Hopefully
there will be others to follow as they will appeal to readers who
want variety in their stories and especially primary school boys.
David Rayner
