Omnibus, 2011. ISBN 978 1 86291 9273.
(Ages 10+)War. Harry idolises his grandfather and spends a great
deal of time with him listening to his seemingly endless stories of
war and his involvement in Malaysia during WW2. His beloved
grandfather fills him with stories of the glory of war, and keeps
reminding Harry of his being a chip off the old block, and about how
ready he is to follow in the family footsteps. When his teacher asks
Harry to see if is grandfather will talk at the school, Harry is
very keen for this to happen. His father died when he was three, and
until now, the family has spoken little of the man whom Harry barely
remembers but still speaks to when going to bed at night. Photos of
him in uniform fill the small photograph album that Harry keeps near
his bed. But things come to a head when Harry's friend asks what his
father died of. The story of cancer does not add up when the man in
the last photograph is looking so healthy and strong. The question
brings the truth, but there is more to the truth than meets the eye,
so when Harry goes to ask his grandfather, the local television crew
is there, and Harry innocently tells them of his grandfather's
heroic actions.
A fascinating story of how war affects families, Heffernan has again
created a tale that rings with truth. The relationship between Harry
and his grandfather is based on a lie and it is this lie that both
must contend with before their relationship can be repaired. But
Harry proves that he too can be a hero, not one who must talk about
what happened but one who knows within himself what a real hero is
and should be.
Fran Knight
Planet of the apes by Pierre Boulle
Vintage, 2011 (originally published 1963). ISBN 9780099529040.
(Age 15+) Ulysse Merou is a journalist who accompanies the brilliant scientist
Professor Antille on an inter-galactic journey to a planet called
Soror. Conveniently but necessarily this new world has an atmosphere
and environment which is almost identical to Earth's. The travellers
attain a speed near that of light, enabling both the passage of
unimaginable distances and the crossing of hundreds of years in
comparative time.
Merou and his party naturally seek contact when they discover the
planet's humanoid population. The reader learns that the humans are
completely backward, with no obvious intellectual capacity, verbal
communication or understanding of objects such as tools or even
clothing. Whilst this tentative encounter is taking place, a highly
organised operation to drive the people from the forest is
undertaken by gorillas who enjoy shooting them for sport but who are
also charged with collecting specimens for scientific research. The
reader comprehends that Soror is controlled by gorillas, orangutans
and chimpanzees who are intellectually and technologically
developed.
The continuing narrative focuses on Merou as he struggles to survive
captivity as a scientific subject and the story gains significant
momentum and depth as he demonstrates his superior cerebral capacity
to the chimpanzee researchers.
This story is compelling and enjoyable but its most valuable feature
is a marvellous philosophical examination of the treatment and abuse
of other species for science. It was curious to feel indignant and
even appalled at the treatment of humans by monkeys who are cast as
unfeeling and even cruel, but then be reminded that this is merely a
mirror of our own attitudes towards 'lesser species'.
The academic consideration of the evolution of apes against the
regression of man and a thought provoking analysis of learning
versus imitation is a strong theme within the tale. So engaging are
the philosophical aspects of the story that the reader is forgiving
of some very clumsy science fiction constructs and a flimsy literary
framework which allows the tale to be introduced and concluded.
Published in 1963, this novel possibly compares poorly against
modern science fiction which has benefited from five decades of
staggering technological development. Together with true science,
today's authors may also draw upon a wealth of science fiction
imagination which has gone before.
This is still a wonderful book however and readers 15 and older will
cope with the complexities posed by the theme and peculiarities from
translation.
Rob Welsh
Losers? by Pauline Deeves
Ill. by Adam Carruthers. Mates series. Omnibus Books for Scholastic
Australia, 2011. ISBN 9781862918511.
'Will the Wiggly Worms ever beat the Rotten Rats? Maybe
not. But they always pick up their orange skins after
half-time!' The captain of the Wiggly Worms is set to report
at the school assembly on his team's performance. After trying
to justify their fifteen to one loss and replaying all the
disastrous things that contributed to the score he begins to reflect
on all the good things about the team and their supporters.
I liked this story of the struggling soccer team and their
realization as they progress through the book that even though the
scoreboard is often against them, they have a wonderfully loyal and
dedicated team and supporters. Even though they kick goals in
the wrong direction most of the time, they each have a special skill
and receive an award.
Nicely illustrated to add to the story and help break up text for
those earlier readers, this story is a heartwarming look at
competitive sport and how sometimes being second can be a good
thing.
Zana Thiele
Siren's Storm by Lisa Papademetriou
Random House Australia, 2011. ISBN 9781742751276
(Ages 13+) Will lives in Walfang, a small town near the ocean, and
every summer his best friend and neighbour Gretchen comes and stays
in Walfang. Last summer Will's older brother Tim went missing on
just another ordinary sailing trip, presumed drowned, but the worst
thing is even though Will was there he doesn't remember a thing. Now
Will and Gretchen are starting a new summer but Gretchen is troubled
by her sleep walking since it has started getting worse and she
keeps waking up closer to the water, and Will is still haunted by
Tim's death. When Will meets the new girl in town, Asia, he is drawn
to her. She is beautiful and mysterious but there is something weird
about her, her voice and beauty have a powerful effect on
people and stranger yet nobody knows where she came from. Then
when there is another mysterious drowning Will and Gretchen begin to
wonder; who is Asia, is she just another wealthy summer resident? Or
is she something completely different . . . . something
much worse altogether?
This book is hard to get in to at first but it is definitely a great
book. Once the mysteries started to unravel I didn't want to put it
down. I would recommend this book to people who like books with a
bit of mystery in them.
Tahlia Kennewell (Student)
Paws, claws and frilly drawers by Sarah Horne
Scholastic Australia, 2011. ISBN 9781741698817.
Molly lives next door to and goes to school with Saffron - a spoilt
snobby child who must always get her own way. While Saffron
has been away, Molly has been minding her cat Mimi and discovered it
has a fantastic secret . . . she talks.
Mimi is a touch like her owner - intent on getting her own way and
doing as she pleases. When Saffron's mum offers Mimi for Molly
to take to 'bring your pet to school day', Molly is worried about
what may happen.
Full of catty comments, but not so much from the feline
character; I found myself expecting more from the Mimi the cat
and her talking abilities. She is mischievous, and loves
fashion - thus the title name, but I would have liked to have more
dialogue from the character.
Overall an easy read - perhaps a little predictable on the
storyline, but for younger readers this can be reassuring and help
to ensure success. A good read for younger girls.
Zana Thiele
The Crowfield demon by Pat Walsh
Chicken House, 2011. ISBN 9781906427634.
(Ages 10+) Highly recommended. Fantasy/medieval. Sent to the next
town to ask the Lord to send his stone mason to the Abbey to have a
look a the water damage in the church, Will is accompanied on his
return through the woods by a young man he met in the town. But
things are not what they seem, however, and the bread given to Will
turns into a steaming mess of maggots the next day, so alerting
Will, the hob, Shadlock and Brother Snail to the truth of who the
boy was. Evil is about, the church is crumbling, and seems forever
water logged, the hob sees things in the woods, Shadlock is uneasy
and even Will is aware that something is wrong.
This is an exciting sequel to The Crowfield Curse, where
Will worked with Shadlock to free his lord, Master Bone, from his
terrible curse, and then dug up the angel buried centuries before in
the woods, freeing it but engaging the wrath of the Dark King. But
this is not a story of the Dark King's vengeance, rather the deeper,
older world the Abbey was built upon, a malevolent force now
invading them all.
Once the church within the abbey crumbles and falls, Will is given
the job of clearing away the rubble with the stonemason and his
crew. He feels the presence of something evil and the fallen angel
seems very close. The cellarer, always Will's enemy, begins to have
dreams in which Will is set to kill him, so Will is ever vigilant
lest the other members of the Abbey view him with suspicion. But one
night the demon vents his anger on the huddled monks within the
church, killing one and injuring most of the others. The prior, who
until now had thought that prayer was the answer, accepts that the
alchemy of Lord Robert may hold the key and so William, Shadlock,
Brother Snail and the hob go to see him.
The Medieval background is seamless in its depiction, readers learn
quickly the day to day life of the Abbey, without ever feeling that
the information is being imposed upon them. Every fact given is part
of the story, a necessary piece of information given to show how
these people live. I loved every word, and will watch eagerly for
the third installment of this amazing trilogy by archaeologist, Pat
Walsh.
Fran Knight
Some dads by Nick Bland
Scholastic Press, 2011. ISBN 9781741697933.
(Age 2-6) Recommended. Picture book. Humour.
'There are some dads who worry
And some dads who hurry
And some dads who get lost on the way. '
And so the book continues with a huge variety of dads who do
different things, some good, some bad but all ones that young
children will be able to recognise in their own fathers and the
fathers of their friends. They will also have fun identifying traits
in the fathers that they know.
The rhythm and rhymes of this lovely story will make it a favourite
read aloud and I feel sure that it will be one that is regularly
asked for when it is time for Dad to read a story. What is
particularly engaging is that the dads aren't perfect. They worry,
they go too fast, they play silly jokes, but the child is reminded
that dads are proud of their children and that children don't forget
their fathers.
The illustrations are vivid and compelling. With the use of humour
and cartoon like animal characters, Bland creates some stunning
images. I particularly love the ones of the sporty dad, a green
spotted frog, complete with sweatband, playing tennis with his child
on the Wii.
A good book to use in a classroom unit on the family, or for
Father's Day, it is also a perfect present for families.
Pat Pledger
Chrissie Michaels guest blogger
Chrissie Michaels reflects on her year of writing since the
publication in 2010 of her historical YA crossover novel, In
Lonnie's Shadow.
The publication of In Lonnie's Shadow by Ford Street in 2010
was a very exciting time for me. I had spent quite a few years
researching and writing this particular novel, which is set in 1891
Melbourne and was inspired by the archaeological digs that took
place in Little Lonsdale Street and its surroundings, most
specifically in Casselden Place. I am so pleased it is on the YA
list for the Sisters in Crime 2011 Davitt Awards.
Always when a book comes into being, it is exciting and a little
nerve-wracking. I must say that I am thrilled every time I read a
good review (fortunately, they have been fairly numerous for Lonnie)
and even more so, when contacted by a reader who has enjoyed the
story. I think the most satisfying response for me was when I got a
phone call from a woman whose elderly mother had lived in Cumberland
Place, a laneway that features in the novel. She thanked me for
writing about Little Lon. Her mother's remembrances had contributed
as source material for Museum Victoria's 'Melbourne Story'
exhibition. Apparently her mother had related strongly to the
storyline in the novel because it fit in with the life experiences
of some of the local residents that she knew during her own
childhood.
Since Lonnie's publication, I have mainly devoted my time to writing
commissioned educational texts. Two are now published and two
manuscripts are in the post, a few weeks earlier than their
contracted date of delivery.
I must admit I am finding it more and more difficult these days
trying to fit in the 'time' part of my life as a part-time author
and part-time teacher. The signs of early spring are here and as I
strive to fit in some - indeed, any - time to add a new layer of
soil, manure and mulch to the garden, I wonder why I still have this
calling to go inside and sit at my computer and write . . . and
write . . . and rewrite. Where is the time I once had to walk,
garden or take a holiday? My free time, of late, seems to have
diminished to the point of non existence.
Of course, it's all about the deadlines. Deadlines for manuscripts,
for rewrites, for gathering illustration ideas, for checking proofs.
Then there are the deadlines for lesson plans, for report writing,
for meetings. My life has turned into one long mapping of time as I
strive to adjust and readjust schedules.
I guess it explains why I have been so preoccupied of late with
reading time travel novels. I have just finished The Map of Time
and The Time-traveller's Wife and thoroughly enjoyed reading
them both.
Deciding to write commissioned pieces rather than whatever is
boiling on the pot calls for a different mindset. I have a fairly
organic approach to writing, which doesn't always fit in well with
the planned approach required by educational publishers. However, my
commissioning editor has been extremely supportive, all the while
gently steering me into plotting out a scope and sequence and
numerous lists of headings for each chapter. Somehow we have come to
an understanding and four manuscripts came into existence without
too much angst.
With the final manuscript posted and on its way, I can breathe a
little easier. Next week I will have no time constraints. I may do a
bit of digging in the garden, or I may work on my next novel, and
there's a poem that I have been mulling over . . . Life is sweet!
Chrissie Michaels
Bubble trouble by Margaret Mahy
Ill. by Polly Dunbar. Frances Lincoln Children's Books, 2008. ISBN
9781847801869.
(Age 3-7) Recommended. Picture book. The fabulous Margaret Mahy can
be trusted to come up with a unique story and this reprint of Bubble
trouble is certainly that! Mabel is having great fun blowing
bubbles until one gets away from her and encases her baby brother.
He soars out of the house and all over the town, with a swathe of
peoples chasing after him, trying to get him down.
What an adventure Mahy leads the reader on as she tells the story
with rhyme and rhythm that hurries the reader on a worrisome journey
to see if the young baby can be rescued. Vivid alliteration is
interspersed to make the story even more interesting. This is not a
simple rhyme for very young children to learn to say with the
reader. Instead it requires concentration to get the words out
correctly. Challenging but very satisfying to read out loud, it is
one that will stand the test of time. It would also be perfect for
beginning readers who are looking for something more ambitious than
short picture books.
The quirky illustrations by Polly Dunbar perfectly complement the
story. There is an urgency about the expressions on the people's
faces and the movement of their bodies that adds to the excitement
of the chase. There is also humour in the drawings that I found very
satisfying as I followed this wild trip across town.
Pat Pledger
The tiger-skin rug by Gerald Rose
Bloomsbury, 2011, ISBN 978 1408813034.
(Ages 4+) Recommended. Picture book. A reissue of an old favourite,
The tiger-skin rug, will enthrall a new generation of readers
and listeners. First published in 1979, it has always been one of
those books that librarians patched and repaired, keeping it going
for many years after its pages had fallen out. The story is one now
familiar to most, of a tiger, skinny and emaciated, because his
habitat has been reduced and he is getting old, who when looking
through the window sees the rajah and his family living well. He
also sees the servant carry out the floor rugs to beat. These
include a number of animal skin rugs. He has an idea. He shimmies up
onto the clothesline, lying across the line with the other animal
rugs, waiting his turn. The best thing happens and he is taken
inside and laid out on the floor with the other animal skin rugs. No
one notices as he is so thin, he is just like any other rug. He has
an idyllic existence, company and food, the scraps left on the floor
by the family. But he must put up with the occasional beating and
scrubbing. And he is getting a little more rotund. When one night,
burglars come into the palace, he is able to scare them away so
saving his new family, and securing a pleasant life for himself.
A lovely story with luminous illustrations that will cause much
laughter amongst its readers, both young and old.
Fran Knight
Literature to support the Australian curriculum: annotated lists of fiction and poetry by Fran Knight
Pledger Consulting, 2011. ISBN 978-1876678258.
Fran Knight is a South Australian children's literature specialist,
renowned for her knowledge and experience in book selection and
reader
guidance. She has been assisting teachers and
teacher-librarians
for many years. This set of annotated lists will prove
invaluable
for school and public libraries, and for classrooms across
Australia.
ReadPlus (Pledger Consulting), an online database of fiction
organised
under themes, has supported this publishing venture, and for more
information you are invited to visit
http://www.readplus.com.au/trial.php
With access to an abundance of quality Australian children's
literature, it is often a daunting task to select the best book for
an
individual or group of readers. Teachers and librarians rely on the
wisdom of others as well as the knowledge they have gained from
their
own reading. Annotated lists are valuable tools; many of us will
recall
the reliable and interesting First Choice by Maurice Saxby.
Literature to support the Australian curriculum provides a reliable
list of up to date titles pertaining to relevant topics studied in
today's classrooms. Fran Knight's annotations are concise pieces of
three to four lines, providing insight to the storyline of each
entry,
with an occasional informed comment about the text in terms of its
purpose and achievement. Mention is made of series and sequels when
necessary.
The contents of this great package include book lists relating to
Asian
themes, indigenous themes, and sustainability. Poetry titles are
given,
as well as suggestions for class texts and 'read alouds'. Each
section lists titles for three age levels - Entry to Year 3, Year 4
to
6 and Year 7 to 10, and an index enhances the value of this
collection
of over 600 entries. Fran Knight has produced a very helpful,
well-informed handbook for those working in the field of education
and
reader guidance which addresses the current curriculum in Australian
schools.
Julie Wells
Ship Breaker by Paolo Bacigalupi
Atom, 2011. ISBN 9781907411106.
(Age 13+) Highly recommended. Science fiction. When a novel wins the
Michael L. Printz Award 2011, Locus Award for Best Young Adult Book
(2011) and is on the YALSA Best Fiction for Young Adults (2011), you
know you are in for a treat. I was thrilled when I received this
book and found it so enthralling that I finished it in virtually one
sitting. I am a fan of science fiction and dystopian novels and
found that this was original, exciting and disturbing.
The novel is set in a near future, where oil has run out, the
climate has changed and wind power is important. Nailer is a teen
working in a small poverty-stricken community on America's Gulf
Coast, breaking down discarded oil tankers for their parts. It is
dangerous and onerous work stripping the ship of copper wiring
particularly as one mistake can mean death. It is also dangerous to
have an erratic and abusive father. After a devastating storm,
Nailer and his friend Pima come across a beautiful clipper ship that
has been beached and finds that there is one survivor, a wealthy
girl, Nita. He is faced with an ethical dilemma. Should he kill her
as Pima suggests and claim the ship as a lucky strike, thus ending
their abject poverty, or should he rescue her in the hope that she
will reward him with a better life?
What I liked most about this book was its description of what it was
like to live with nothing but still cling to a hope of a better
future. Nailer has barely learnt to read, his mother is dead, and
his father physically abuses him but he still clings to a belief of
what is right and wrong and hopes to get away from his terrible
life. He also confronts the nature of loyalty and has to decide
where his allegiances lie. Nita, the daughter of a wealthy
corporation boss, is forced to come to terms with what it is like to
have no food, money or shelter. This contrast of the haves and have
nots will resonate with teens who can see the terrible differences
between the poor and wealthy in the world today.
Another strength of the book was the depth of characterisation that
Bacigalupi achieved. I became quite deeply involved with both Nailer
and Nita and the secondary characters. I couldn't help cheering for
Nailer as he attempted to learn how to read and to work on a
wonderful clipper boat that used wind power to let it soar over the
oceans.
A book not to be missed, this would make an ideal class set or
literature circle novel as well as being an essential addition to
the library shelves. I can't wait for the sequel and have purchased
the author's adult novel, The wind-up girl, on the strength
of his masterful writing and unique plot.
Pat Pledger
The great race by Kevin O'Malley
Bloomsbury, 2011. ISBN 978 0 8027 2357 4.
(Ages 4+) Picture book. Humour. The race between the tortoise and
the hare is given a new treatment in this funny parody of the
original fable. The hare in this tale is a strutting sports star,
beloved by the multitudes, receiving adulation wherever he goes.
Sporting sunglasses, he wears the latest clothing, and tells
everyone that he is the greatest. The tortoise can only try his
best, doing exercises to increase his abilities and fitness, but
practicing running by trotting to the pastry shop. When the big day
comes, humour abounds as the snail beats the tortoise in his run
along the road, and they both watch the hare in the foreground. But
near the end, something happens which will cause gales of laughter
from the young audience.
Humour is reflected in the charming illustrations. The hare is
always surrounded by his loving fans, and each page showing Hare is
full of animals, looking adoringly at their beloved, while each page
showing the tortoise is quite bare, the tortoise is the central
image, with few friends, a snail being his only companion. But the
tortoise wins, and the readers will laugh out loud at the way he
wins, and find humour in the situation the two animals find
themselves in. A gentle story of doing your best, of the vacuousness
of fandom, the story will engender much discussion about the
readers' favourite sports star and the hollowness of fame. And of
course, an astute teacher will use this story to compare it with the
original fable, The tortoise and the hare.
Fran Knight
Wood angel by Erin Bow
Chicken House, 2011. ISBN: 978-1-906427-60-3
(Age: 13+) Highly recommended. Alone in the world with only her cat
Taggle for company, Kate makes 'lucky' wooden charms to sell. But
her unusual gift marks her out in a place where witches are still
burned.
When Kate's village falls on a bad time known as the 'Skara Rok' she
is accused of practising dark magic. Scared for her life Kate turns
to a stranger. But he has a plan more dangerous than Kate could have
ever have dreamed of. It's up to Kate to carve good out of evil.The
main character plain Kate is a teenage girl who faces a lot of
problems during the novel. Kate's two main problems are dealing with
the death of her father and everyone around her and losing her
shadow to a stranger. She goes and joins a group of people known as
the Roamers. She stays with them throughout the story and makes many
new friends. During the novel Kate faces many added dangers and
problems while trying to get her Shadow back from the stranger. Will
Kate get her shadow back from the stranger before he harms everyone?
I like this book because it is told from Kate's perspective and the
way that the Erin Bow brought it all together. It makes me feel as
if I am in the story with all the characters. I also like the book
because of the adventure, poetry and family themes in the novel.
Wood Angel is a highly engaging novel and Erin has written a
beautifully crafted novel. I would love to find other novel written
by Erin Bow as she is a stunning author. I would highly recommend
this novel to others who are in to the fantasy genre.
Emily Madden (Student, Yr 9)
Pirate X by Sherryl Clark
UQP, 2011. ISBN 978 0 7022 3889 5.
(Ages 10+) Highly recommended. Adventure. Jumping onto the foredeck
of a sailing ship Blackbeard appears, cutlass and guns ready, black
hair wildly alive with red ribbons, and in his flowing majestic
black bear, live fuses are fizzing. Will is astounded. Only a few
days before he was on the run from a shop owner in London, from whom
he had stolen some rolls, and when he fell, hitting his head, he
woke up three centuries before, and taken on board a pirate ship.
Here he learns to keep his head down and his thoughts private. He is
befriended by Major Steele Bonnet, the captain of the ship, but
something is obviously wrong. Blackbeard runs the ship, Revenge,
while the Major often remains in his cabin, alternately being a man
of iron, and then a drunk.
Life on board a ship in 1717 is harsh and cruel, with the crew
working long hours to keep the vessel afloat and seaworthy, given
rotten meat and weevily food to survive on. Will craves for broccoli
and butter, and when the ship stops at a Caribbean island, he gorges
on fresh pineapple. Not only must Will learn to use the cutlass and
pistol, the ropes of the ship,but he must also watch his back as he
has earnt the enmity of one of the ship's bullies who has vowed to
kill him.
Pirate life is brutal and bloody and we sees the full scope of what
life must have been like aboard these ships. Clark's research is
monumental, the setting so realistic its impossible to separate fact
from fiction. The background to the story, meticulously researched
is mind boggling as we descend into the bowels of the ship, haul
water or or gunpowder, throw bodies and badly wounded over board, or
bombard Charle Town. Clark was entranced with the story of Major
Steele bonnet, and in researching him, a failure as a pirate, wrote
this book. It is sure to capture a wide and appreciative audience,
adding reality to the fantasy of the Pirates of the Caribbean series
of films.
Fran Knight
