Reviews

Why we broke up by Daniel Handler

Ill. Maira Kalman. Egmont, 2012. ISBN 9781742970974.
(Age: 15+) Highly recommended. 2012 Printz Honor book. In a long 354-page letter, Min writes to Ed, telling him the truth about why they broke up. She is also giving him a box full of objects related to reasons that they broke up. There are 'two bottle caps, a movie ticket from Greta in the wild, a note, a box of matches, a protractor, books, a toy truck, a pair of ugly earrings, a comb from a motel room, and the rest of it.' (Inside cover). Each item will be used to illustrate aspects of their heartbreaking romance and then the box will be dumped on Ed's doorstep.
I loved this book. It was not one that I could read in one sitting. I found myself reading a section or two, relating to the occasion that was being described, often in reference to a film that Min loves, and thinking about why the romance was breaking up. It was full of teenage angst and often I felt as if I wanted to shake Min and tell her to listen to what her friends could tell her about Ed. However Ed, co-captain of the basketball team and dream boy for most of the girls in the school, shines brightly. When he tells Min she is different and is prepared to go along to the films she loves and try different things, she is convinced they are in love. Min's descriptions of Ed in the early stages of the romance show him to be an amiable jock, who has a real flair for Maths. I found myself liking him and wondering why Min couldn't see that their friends and interests were so different that it would be virtually impossible for a relationship to be sustained without both changing substantially. However, the themes in Why we broke up encompass more than the need for common interests for a relationship to last. Handler looks at the importance of friendship, truthfulness, keeping intimate things private and fidelity; all things that teens need to know about relationships.
I also loved the descriptions of Min's friends, especially Al, her best friend, who loved films, theatre productions and drinking coffee. They were a group of people who were intelligent and well rounded. For many teens they would provide an excellent vindication that you don't have to go along with the popular sport-loving crowd.
Handler manages the voice of Min really well and the events were so well described I felt they were real. I was left wondering if either he or one of his friends at school had experienced a similar break up. The illustrations by Maira Kalman broke up each segment of the story and I found myself going back to them to think about their relationship to what had happened. They certainly added to the book's appeal.
This is a tour de force from the author who also writes as Lemony Snicket.
Pat Pledger

The mark of the Wagarl by Lorna Little

Ill. by Janice Lundon. Magabala Books, 2012. ISBN 978 1 921248 41 2.
(Ages 5+) Recommended. Aboriginal People - Dreaming. Illustrator Janice Lundon has used pastel to create a colourful backdrop to this retelling of an Aboriginal story. A cautionary tale, telling younger children to obey their elders, the story of the Wagarl, with bright bold colours trapping the eye on every page, teaches far more than respect for your elders. The lad, Baardi, of the Nyoongar people of north west Western Australia, did not believe the stories the old people told of the snake that slept in the waterhole. He did not believe that to pass, he needed to throw dust onto the water so that the snake would not see him, nor did he believe that it was a dangerous place to swim. Wagarl, the king snake came to inspect his territory, and after a big feed of fish went to sleep in that waterhole. When Baardi and his friends passed by, the boys threw dust on the water and ran past as they had been instructed, but Baardi dived in, going down deep to see if the story was true. He felt something touch his leg, and turning around, looked into the eyes of the Wagarl. He begged not to be eaten, and promised that in return for his life, he would be mute, and be a protector of all snakes. The snake left his mark on Baardi's leg and this mark is passed down, showing that this person watches over the snakes and has the snake as their totem.
This story tells so much. Not only respect for elders, but information about the area. Listeners will learn about their environment, the water hole, the snake shaped river, the flood seasons and the fish. They will hear about the snake and its part in the beliefs of their country, learn to respect the snakes in their area, and learn that people who disobey the elders, are punished. They will learn that some people have special powers and are marked for that job at birth with a mark.
This long told tale is a detailed teaching story, and will be read now by a much wider audience, teaching and passing on the same ideas that have been passed on for generations.
Fran Knight

The Tunnels of Tarcoola by Jennifer Walsh

Allen and Unwin, 2012. ISBN 9781742376752.
(Ages 10 +) Recommended. This historical adventure has four children, Andrea, Kitty, David and Martin, exploring the caves and tunnels under a suburb in Sydney. While researching a school research project Kitty meets an elderly nursing home resident and realises that her story is somehow intertwined with the old house and caves they are exploring. Also that it is linked with a new development planned for the suburb by the very sinister Mr Buckingham.
The four main characters are well defined and believable and the storyline exciting. The sympathetic interaction between the young and elderly characters is pleasing and the description of the caves and tunnels is vividly done.
There are references to the lives of young girls in service, Japanese submarines in Sydney Harbour and the treatment of Jewish people during the Holocaust making this a good choice for an integrated History and English unit in Upper Primary.
Chris Lloyd

Things a map won't show you edited by Susan La Marca and Pam Macintyre

(Ages 11+) Recommended. Short story collection. Subtitled, Stories from Australia and beyond this tantalising collection of short stories, poetry and a graphic story is just what is needed for the classroom and is presented with an eye catching cover, sure to have 'grab me' appeal. With stories from favourite writers such as Sonya Hartnett, Chris Wheat, Paul Jennings and Michael Pryor, the mix is intoxicating. One story from Ruth Starke tells of the NIPS team going to play a team in a refugee community, learning that playing the game is far more important than losing on purpose. Another from Ursula Dubosarsky tells of being sick on Australia Day, another from Oliver Phommavanh shows us a blind date with Wendy, while Paul Jenning's story tells of the sale of a dozen roses.
Stories by Pat Lowe and Jimmy Pike sit alongside verse stories by Doug McLeod and Jane Godwin, while a story from New Guinea by Samson Tavatt will intrigue. I laughed out loud at Chris Wheat's instructions from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, on how to kiss, and shed a tear for the bandy legged cat in Pat Lowe's story, Yinti's kitten, and the humour in the verse story of Mary standing on her head, by Jane Godwin impelled me read it again out loud.
Altogether a surprising mix of works that will dazzle and amaze readers in middle school, these will be well used as a basis for discussion, models for their own writing or just to read a favourite author. This is a stand out collection and will serve the needs of teachers looking for an engaging set of stories to have in the classroom.
Fran Knight

Wisdom's kiss by Catherine Gilbert Murdock

Allen and Unwin, 2012. ISBN 9781742379265.
(Age: 12+) Recommended. Princess Wisdom, known as Dizzy, sets off on a journey to wed Duke Roger. She is athletic, likes to take risks and longs for adventure. Accompanied by Queen Mother Ben, her travels are interrupted when her entourage falls ill at a country inn where Fortitude, known as Trudy, works. Trudy agrees to accompany the party as a lady-in-waiting because she hopes to find Tips, the soldier that she is in love with. Dizzy, Trudy and Tips, with the help of a magical cat, will have many adventures while trying to find true love and save the kingdom of Montagne.
Murdock has combined elements of the traditional fairy tales of Sleeping Beauty and Cinderella to make up a highly original and very funny tale. Using eight different voices to flesh out the tale, each with a fairly short entry, Murdock brings this story to life. The reader hears it from diary entries, plays, letters and encyclopedia texts, each one written with the appropriate voice and giving a different view point to what is happening.
Fans of the book, Princess Ben, by Murdock, will enjoy seeing Ben as an elderly, scheming woman, but newcomers to the series will be able to happily read this as a stand alone. The incidents are often hilarious, especially those involving the Circus Primus and the master swordsman, Felis El Gato. Play on words, humorous dialogue and unconventional events make for a story that I really enjoyed. Murdock has the knack of bringing to life strong women, who, even with many flaws, are determined to go their own way.
People who like fairy tales retold and the authors Shannon Hale and Jessica Day George will enjoy Wisdom's kiss.
Pat Pledger

The cutest pet ever by Sally Rippin

Billie B Brown series. Hardie Grant Egmont, 2012.
Age: First chapter book readers (6-8) Billie is bored. Her best friend Jack is away for the weekend and her baby brother Noah is no fun to play with. Deciding that a pet is the perfect answer Billie sets about convincing her Mum and Dad, but their ideas of good pets for Billie aren't exactly the pony or puppy that she has in mind. Later at the Shopping Centre Billie spots her perfect pet: Molly the guinea pig, but when they go back to the pet store somebody has already bought her! Billie is distraught until her Dad arrives home with a guinea pig sized cardboard box . . .
This is a gorgeous story that young children will relate to especially those with younger siblings who take up a lot of Mum and Dad's time. But it also shows the positive ways that Billie compromises with her parents and deals with her emotions, especially when she thinks her perfect pet is lost forever. There is also positive role modelling as Billie shows her Mum how helpful and responsible she is to prove that she will be able to take care of her own pet. A fantastic easy chapter book with large print and plenty of illustrations to please young girls.
Nicole Smith-Forrest

Blood runner by James Riordan

Frances Lincoln Children's Books, 2011. ISBN 9781845079345.
In a preface to this story concerning the black struggle against apartheid in South Africa, James Riordan states that the work is fictional rather than biographical. It is however based upon Josiah Thugwane, a marathon runner and the first black man to win an Olympic gold medal representing South Africa.
Riordan blends aspects of the 1960 Sharpeville Massacre with the 1976 Soweto uprising to create a traumatic event which determines the main character Samuel's life course and is plausible within the tale's chronology.
The story vividly portrays the almost unbelievable civil rights abuses perpetrated against black South Africans by a ruling minority prior to 1994, particularly in reference to the brutality and violence applied to suppress the black population.
Portrayal of the Marathon is apt in light of Mandela's work The long walk to freedom as personal courage, patience and endurance are evident in both.
Samuel must prepare himself over many years and overcomes various setbacks and failures in pursuit of his goals. Like Mandela stoically maintaining his vision, Samuel must make great personal sacrifices and comes to appreciate that if he can attain victory then this will be shared by his people.
The language is simple and whilst some content is confronting, young teens should not struggle to understand the historical themes behind the narrative. I did consider Samuel's and his brothers' subdued reaction to a monstrously traumatic event to be unrealistic, however this is a small flaw in an otherwise great story. Similarly, the inclusion of an eccentric uncle in the Bantu homelands as a device to introduce running seemed clumsy, yet the conclusion warrants acceptance of such elements.
Having an extremely striking cover, the book is likely to be selected from the shelves and I hope that young teenagers will read and learn about both human misery and triumph in this true-to-life tale.
Rob Welsh

Winnie-the-Pooh: Hide and peek ill. by Andrew Grey

Egmont, 2012. ISBN 978-1405261197.
(Age 2-4) Based on the Winnie-the-Pooh character by A.A. Milne, Hide and Peek allows the young child to find out what is hiding in the Hundred Acre Wood. They have to lift a tab to find out who is the bounciest, gloomiest, cleverest and hungriest animal in the forest. All characters to be discovered are ones found in the original book.
The book is a very sturdy board book and should withstand young fingers using it frequently. There are flaps that open up each double spread and they are made of thick paper so will withstand use as well. Illustrations are in the Disney style and will appeal to young children.
Using this book as an introduction to the characters in the original would help the young child become familiar with the much loved Pooh bear, Tigger, Eeyore and Owl and a parent or teacher could then read the original to  the older child. The words that describe the characters could also be discussed and children could have fun coming up with ways of being bouncy, gloomy, clever and hungry.
Pat Pledger

The truth about penguins by Meg McKinlay

Ill. by Mark Jackson. Walker Books Australia, 2012. ISBN 9781 921720772.
(Ages 5+) Re-issued as a paperback. Picture book. The zoo is agog with excitement, as the animals have heard that the penguins are coming. The story does the rounds, going through the zoo from the meercats, to the giraffe, to the otters, the owl, the bats, the anteaters and so on, each adding their own bit of information about what penguins are like and what they do.  All the while, illustrator Mark Jackson draws the penguins to reflect what the animals say about them, adding gaudy beach outfits, suitcases, party hats, all causing laughter from the audience, whether it being read alone or in a group.
The penguins are said to fly south for winter, love pizzas, love wearing jazzy beach wear but don't like putting their feet into the cold water. When the animals start telling stories about the penguins' parenting skills, the zoo keeper calls a halt to all the misinformation and tells them the truth about penguins. But in the background we can see the penguins arriving, and guess who is right?
A very funny look at truths and half truths, this book will cause great delight amongst the audience as kids will giggle about the half truths, calling out what they know, they will giggle with the beautiful drawings of the animals in the zoo, look out for their favourites, marvel at the correct information at the end and then laugh all over again at the last page. What a treat.
Fran Knight

Amazing Grace, an Adventure at Sea by Stephanie Owen Reeder

National Library of Australia, 2011. ISBN 978-0-642-27743-5.
This exciting tale is based on the true story of Grace Bussell,' a 16 year old Western Australian girl, who together with the family stockman Sam Issacs, rescued survivors from the wreck of the steamship Georgette in December 1876.
At the time, Grace's bravery captured the attention of Australia and overseas and she was compared to another famous Grace , Grace Darling who was a young shipwreck heroine from Scotland.
This tale is not well known and deserves to be heard. Author Stephanie Owen Reeder has managed to use available information and created an 'as if you were there' story of real people and time.
You are introduced to some of the passengers of the Georgette and witness the hardships of their voyage and the real danger of a violent sea.
Interspersed throughout the pages are colour drawings, original photographs, newspaper clippings and eyewitness accounts. I found the epilogue describing the continuing lives of the main characters highly interesting. A glossary of terms is helpful.
This would be a great resource in any school library and is especially suitable for upper primary students.
Jane Moore

Girl Parts by John M. Cusick

Walker Books 2010. ISBN 9781406334340.
(Age: 15+) David Sun and Charlie Nuvola live on opposite sides of the lake but attend the same school. Outwardly they appear to lead very different lives. David is wealthy and indulged, living comfortably with his parents whilst Charlie lives a simple life with his father, a preoccupied academic. However the new school counsellor thinks that both David and Charlie display symptoms of "disassociation" and he has just the cure. Enter Rose, part girl, part robot, purpose built to help people like Charlie and David to reconnect and forge strong human relationships.
This book brings a novel approach to teenage relationships. Rose is a prototype and therefore still experimental. She has a lot to learn before she can resolve the task at hand.  The reader is challenged to consider whether David and Charlie really are "disassociated" or products of a society with a propensity to pathologise every developmental phase.  Is the counsellor genuinely concerned for the welfare of his charges or is there an ulterior motive? This book is an entertaining read for teenagers and perhaps a glimpse of the world to come!
Tina Cain

Various positions by Martha Schabas

Text, 2012. ISBN 9781921758898.
(Age: 14+) Recommended. This first novel by Martha Schabas deals with the difficulty of becoming a ballerina. Georgia, aged 13/14, is selected to attend the best ballet school in Toronto. She is determined to work hard and has talent, so what could go wrong? As the movie Black Swan showed, dancers must have psychological resilience as well as strong bodies. Georgia can push her body but cannot control those around her. Furthermore she is not ready for the nuances of adult sexual relationships. Georgia's parents are drifting towards divorce, and Georgia is shocked to discover that their relationship began when her mother was her father's student. Georgia's friend, Chantal, is overweight, and, on Georgia's advice, starts dieting with near catastrophic results. Georgia discovers her own sexuality and takes inappropriate photos of herself. Her male teacher is brutal in his assessments of his pupils. Georgia, however, believes that he is in love with her and attempts to seduce him by leaving the photographs on his desk. They are discovered and as he is also blamed for Chantal's anorexia, he is forced to resign. Georgia must face what she has done, and start again in another school. The book covers a number of themes, sexual manipulation, eating disorders, teacher-student relationships and the growing awareness of adolescence. Told in the first person and quite simply written, it is convincing and readable. It is recommended for mature readers.
Jenny Hamilton

Traitor's revenge by Andrew Hammond

CRYPT. Headline, 2012. ISBN: 978 0 7553 7822 7.
Strange things are happening in York and London. They're emerging from the shadows and are after something. A voice that seems to becoming from the darkness is being listened too by one man. This is not case for any normal group of counter-intelligence to investigate. This is a case for CRYPT; a group of cunning teenage agents who use their extra sensory perception and high-tech gadgets to investigate crimes that the police cannot solve. CRYPT will need to keep their wits about them to survive, for what's in the shadows want them out of their way.
I loved this book! It shows the reasons to be afraid of the shadows but also the wonders they hide - which I love. The characters are amusing and - despite their age - are strong-minded and wilful. Bex and Jud are my favourite agents and their friendship is amazing to read. The dark corners always held something and were in great detail. Each page held something of importance and was easy to follow. The changes of scenes in the book did not make it confusing but kept it all tied together. It was a page turner to say the least.
Cecilia Richards (student)

Old Possum's books of practical cats by T S Eliot

Ill. by Axel Scheffler. Faber and Faber, 2010. ISBN 978 0 571 25248 0.
Recommended. Poetry. From its introduction about the naming of cats, in which readers are told that cats have three names, one being the ordinary name, one a particular name, and then one that the cat knows himself, to the last poem about Cat Morgan, the pirate cat, there is much to enjoy in this reissue of this very popular book of poetry. First published in 1939, the poems are as fresh as ever, and will be enjoyed by a new audience, enhanced with the colourful illustrations by Axel Sheffler.
From the old Gumbie cat, Jennyanydots, who likes to just sit, Rum Tum Tugger, who always go where he's not expected to go, or the dancing Jellicles, or Old Deuteronomy, each poem plays with words and will capture the imagination of the listeners and readers. Many are very well know, Macavity and Mr Mistoffelees for example, partly from the musical, Cats, but some are not so well known and will be enjoyed over again by the readers as they come across lesser known poems such as Cat Morgan, the pirate cat, and Bustopher Jones, the cat about town. And my favourite, Skimbleshanks, the railway cat, is always worth rereading, while another, The pekes and the pollicles, is one I did not know as well, and so enjoyed reading it until it became familiar.
A great addition to any library.
Fran Knight

August by Bernard Beckett