Reviews

Co-Designing e-books Literacy Mystery Quest

Read about a project from Hazel Edwards, author and Jane Connory, graphic designer to set up a store for ebooks and merchandise to match.
A Guest Blog for Read Plus by Hazel Edwards and Jane Connory
Hazel's Viewpoint:
Our e-quest began in a local park. School holidays. My 10 year old grandson and his mate were to cook 'hippo footprint pancakes' on camera at Channel 31's 'Kids in the Kitchen' while I read my picture book to screen.
Serendipitously, I met graphic designer Jane Connory and her children, playing in the park. Innovative Jane lectures in e-skills amongst other graphic subjects, and wanted to illustrate children's books and followed up with her portfolio.
I'm a formatting tragic, but have a backlist of intellectual property rights. My author website was undergoing a major overhaul as my daughter Kim became my e-business manager and I learnt how to upload my own material. I was aware I needed help in re-formatting selected past titles so they would be accessible on all e-readers, not just Kindle, plus they would need new covers and ISBN and updating of some content.
Initially I wasn't aiming to become an e-publisher, just to rescue some 'orphaned' titles which have been good stories, but take-overs, mergers or poor distribution had lost opportunities to get them to appropriate readers. As an educator I had always supplied teacher resources with my books, and wanted to consolidate these on my own web-site. Often readers of my picture books had no idea that I wrote adult non-fiction or mysteries.
1. My long term goal was to sell my own e-books internationally to save time and learn the new electronic medium.
2. The choice of junior literacy mysteries in two proven print series for the test was deliberate. Literacy is an area I am passionate about. Hero Art, the sleuth in Project Spy Kids is an ace problem-solver but is challenged by reading. The Frequent Flyer Twins are international Asian-Australian ten year old sleuths.
3. Creating a series name and using the same cover but with a different colour, linked the titles. Thus 'Project Spy Kids' was created. The Frequent Flyer Twins had always been a sub title on the second series, but this was reversed on the e-book listings.
4. Aware that the cover, title and one line descriptor were the only clues, the covers had to be enticing for the age group.
5. Jane would create the e-formatted books and new covers and would merchandise the illustrations on Red Balloon or elsewhere in t-shirts, mugs and logos.
6. Jane also formatted my rough 'How to Design Your Own Mystery' resources. This has become the MOST valuable download for teachers and librarians giving a follow-up activity involving writing and problem-solving skills..
7. We added valid curriculum dot points to reassure teachers of our reading relevance.
8. The shopping cart took considerable planning to put into place and make simple for a potential customer to buy. The variables were that I have some print titles where publishers sell those books, some where I hold the e-rights, others where I hold both print copies or others where I will be offering only the e-version like in Project Spy Kids and The Frequent Flyer Twins. Later we may offer POD (print on demand) but at the moment, we are testing with electronic versions, only, from my site.
9. Jane experimented with a FaceBook page for the titles and explained:
'The world is still trying to find ways of utilising social networking.
Asking your existing database to 'Like' your Facebook page, allows them to see all the updates, photos and links you post to the page.
The pages are free to create, Google add them to searches .'
While aware some schools do not permit use of Facebook, we're still experimenting with ways of encouraging reading.
Own Face Book Page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Project-Spy-Kids-Series/181162638598927?sk=wall
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Frequent-Flyer-Series/162505443811158
10. Security of e-book versions to prevent piracy also meant complex structuring on my website. Unfamiliar with e-books, the web designer thought we were talking Visa and credit card security at first. This has been a significant and almost a year-long process for all of us.
11. I had to buy a collection of ISBNs to add new ones to any e-book versions of older print titles. You can buy these singly or in groups from DW Thorpe.
12. Publisher name. We haven't got one. Using the author as brand.
13. American bank accounts and tax file numbers. The paperwork involved in publishing on Amazon is very American centric, and so I decided to stay very local, and just from my own website at present.
14. Had to get a PayPal business account in order for clients to have safe payments On Kim's advice we priced the individual mysteries at $2.95, rather than Amazon's 99 cents. Already getting bulk orders of sets.
Winning a Giraffe Called Geoffrey ISBN 978-0-9871078-6-2.
Mindspaces ISBN 978-0-9871078-7-9
Birds on the Brain ISBN 978-0-9871078-8-6.
Zoo Poo Clues ISBN 978-0-9871078-9-3
15. In future, the dilemma for me is to sub-contract e-book formatting, learn how to do it myself (which detracts from my core business of actually writing the books) or just put up pdfs for creations like classroom playscripts.
I've always offered some free resources, but the decision is which ones?
16. Choice of e-text titles is vital e.g. I think the junior literacy mysteries are viable for the next year. After that, students will expect more hypertext links and games style whizz bang options.
17. My 'Writing a Non Boring Family History' title is a viable e-book because there are linked workshops and talks and a niche market of international genealogists. The Mormon lady author in the USA, who is a fan of my book, tells me the family history market is eternal for her but I'm an atheist. She sells her book at 99 cents on Amazon.
18. Picture books are more complex, and on hold especially since I'm not the illustrator. Currently my website has links to the e-books for sale by my publishers and also to their print books.
19. I'm featuring a monthly print book from my site. Longterm I'd prefer to offer only e-books, and to link with future web chats or mentoring. 'Authorpreneurship' is my planned 'original' e-book only, to be created in the next year and linked to workshops.
20. 'read the t-shirt' for Project Spy Kid may be a future literacy project.
That park meeting with Jane has been a year-long apprenticeship to put up our trial e-books, but long term, these titles will have to be self-sufficient financially. Now, some literacy skills will be shared via the website.
And we hope, new readers (of the human variety) will be created.

Jane's Viewpoint:
Being able to learn new technology as it appears has become part of my job as a graphic designer, and collaborating with Hazel on this project was no different.
Hazel is a strong ideas woman and envisaged these two series of books as eBooks without either of us really fully comprehending what this would entail. It was a great opportunity for me to illustrated the covers in Adobe illustrator and format the documents into books in InDesign. I then had to teach myself how to produce these files as ePub documents and navigate the process of marketing the books.
A steep learning curve but the idea that we are forging our own path is exciting.
I have two young kids who are as much at home on the iPad as they are at home. They are always grabbing for my mobile devices and I am happier when they sit and read the eBooks I have created rather than watch the movies I have downloaded.
Combining reading with new technology makes it interesting and fun for all the young digital natives out there!
I now also have the opportunity to teach this new concept of publishing to my graphic design students at Holmesglen Institute. Maybe they'll be teaching their employers a thing or two in the years to come.
Hazel has an online store and these e-books are available.
Illustrated and merchandise designed by Jane Connory

Faerie winter by Janni Lee Simner

Random House Australia, 2011. ISBN 9781742750682.
(Age 13+) Recommended. In this sequel to the thrilling dystopian novel, Bones of faerie, comes a dark tale of survival as Simner relates the story of how Liza and Matthew must survive in a land that is dying. Liza is a summoner who can both draw life to herself and drive life away. When winter crops won't grow and with starvation imminent, Liza must fight the evil deep in the forest to save her community.
Set against a background of a winter that doesn't seem to end and dying crops, Simner has created a frightening look at a land that has been devastated by people. Add to this the aftermath of a war with the faeries and children, the Afters, who have emerging magic and you have a fascinating world that drew me in again as I followed the plight of Liza as she grew into her power.
This is a survival story, where Liza is required to learn to use her magic to overcome the plants and animals that attack people. Not only is nature turning against her, but she draws the attention of a strong magical faerie, Elin who is stealing young children. Elin is related to The Lady, who attacks Liza when she tries to stop the children being stolen. However Liza has developed into a strong and determined young woman who is not afraid to use her magic and wield her powers to keep her friends alive. The Lady is a terrifying entity and her battles with Liza are frightening. I had to continue reading as it was never certain who would win the hearts of the young boys, Johnny and Kyle, and whether Liza herself would be skilful enough to stay alive. Even Matthew in his wolf form is threatened by the vast strength of the faerie.
Often a harrowing story, with death, disaster and children, changed by magic, performing violent acts, Faerie winter is ultimately very satisfying with a conclusion that brings hope. It is one of the better books in the dystopian/faerie genre.
Pat Pledger

The demon collector by Jon Mayhew

Bloomsbury 2011. ISBN 9781408803943
The Demon collector is different from the usual fantasy type book. Set in Victorian London it vividly brings to life the sights and smells of the London of this period. Edgy Taylor is a prime collector. He collects dog droppings for use in tanning leather, but he is also able to see demons.
Each chapter is prefaced by a quote from a poem or a traditional folk ballad and this idea helps set the scene for the chapter. It is a dark book and many of the characters reflect this. Edgy, after he is rescued from some particularly nasty demons by Envry Janus, is introduced to the Royal Society of Daemonologie.
It is hard for him to distinguish some of the members from the demons themselves and it is difficult for Edgy to know whom to trust. He is a likeable character, seemingly tough from the life that he lives with his dog Henry. The story moves along at a good pace as Edgy and Janus go on a quest to recover the body of the demon Moloch to prevent it being used by Salome to bring disaster to the world. There are plenty of twists and the final truth of who Edgy is and why he can see demons is not resolved until the very end. I particularly like the language and think readers will enjoy the highly unusual names, action and diverse range of characters and settings. The ending has a number of surprises and everything is satisfactorily answered.
Recommended for readers who like fantasy but are looking for something a little different.
David Rayner

Not Like Georgie by Scott Hatcher

All I Ever Wanted by Vicki Wakefield

Text Publishing House, 2011. ISBN: 978-1-921758-30-0.
(Age 12+) Highly recommended. 'Happy pills. At best you're a dancing queen with a direct line to God: at worst you can fry your brain.' Such an opening line not only got my attention but also had a message in it. I excitedly read on and was not disappointed. This debut young adult novel by Adelaide writer Vikki Wakefield was truly outstanding.
16 year old Mim lives in a low socio-economic area and describes it as 'the last street in a forgotten suburb, an hour from the city.' At one stage she feels like running home but walks as 'in our street everybody knows everybody's business.' The whole story revolves around the theme that things are not always as they seem, and Mim eventually realizes that her family and neighbourhood are actually a positive rather than a negative.
Mim has etched her 'rules' on the steps of the old train signal box. These include: 'I will finish school. I will not take drugs. I will not have sex until I'm over 18. I will trust only myself. One day I will leave this place and never come back. I will not turn out like my mother.' Her Mum is a single parent with two drug running sons, one of whom is in jail. Her street contains a range of eclectic characters, and a huge threatening dog. Mim is disappointed when Tahnee, her best friend, loses her virginity in the back seat of a car and the closeness of their friendship is put at risk.
All I Ever Wanted is a relatively thin 200 pages but this is a positive, as many reluctant readers will be inclined to read it. It covers themes of family, friendship, ambition and teenage life. The storyline is well developed and the people are richly described. It will resonate with teenagers from either rich or poor backgrounds, as it is human nature to want more or different than what you have.
Highly recommended for 12 years plus and could well be used as a Yr. 8 text.
Kay Haarsma

The 39 clues: Vespers rising by Rick Riordan, Peter Lerangis, Gordon Korman and Jude Watson

Scholastic, 2011. ISBN: 978-0-545-29059-3.
(Age: 12+) Fourteen year old Amy Cahill and her younger brother, Dan thought they could return to their regular lives when they found the 39 clues that safeguarded their family's great power. But they were wrong. Their powerful enemies (the Vespers) have been waiting in the shadows, and they'll stop at nothing to get the clues. The Vespers are rising - and the world is in jeopardy.
I liked this book because it was told from four different authors' perspectives and it was set about 500 years ago. It was told from the Cahill family's perspectives all the time as they tried to keep the clues from the Vesper family. In the last chapter it is told from Amy and Dan's perspective as they try to find the Cahill family ring, but all the time the Vespers are tailing them. This book includes adventure and family as its main two themes.
I loved the adventure in the book. Adventure in a book is always great to have as it almost always draws the reader in. The way it was set out and how the four different authors combined their ideas made this an engaging novel. This style of writing is uncommon in some books but when it is applied well it always brings the plot together and makes it great to read. I would highly recommend this book to people who like the adventure book genre.
Emily Madden (yr 9)

Bloodline by Kate Cary

Egmont, 2011. ISBN: 978-1-4052-5468-7
(Age: 14+) When 19 year old Lieutenant John Shaw arrives back in an English hospital suffering from a serious case of trench fever, young Mary Seward takes it upon herself to care for him until he regains his full health. Through caring for John, Mary's childhood feelings towards him deepen and blossom into something quite special. In order to treat Lieutenant Shaw, Mary reads the journal he has kept since being away from England. Mary discovers more than the reality of life in the trenches but also the horrors of serving under commanding officer, Captain Quincey Harker.
So when Captain Harker arrives in England, Mary feels that the Captain can not be trusted. The captain's arrival causes concern to not just to Mary but to John, for his sister, Lilly has fallen to the charm of Captain Harker. So when the captain leaves England with Lilly there is no choice for John and Mary but to rescue her from the clutches of Captain as he is not what he seems.
This novel is the sequel to the original vampire novel, Dracula, which will reveal surprises up until the very end leaving the readers wanting more. I enjoyed reading this story as it was easy flowing and enjoyable to read. I found myself liking the story being told through diary entries of the main characters and the hardest thing I found was putting the book down. I would highly recommend this story to anyone that is into vampires. If it wasn't for the fact it was late at night when I finished reading Bloodline, I would have started the sequel, Reckoning, straight away.
Lauren Pfeiffer (Student- year 12)

Essential Classics retold by Pauline Francis

Evans Publishing, 2010.
It is no small ambition to take the great classics of western literature and make them accessible to today's young readers. Pauline Francis has succeeded in doing just that in this charming series reducing plot, theme and character to their essence and maintaining the threads of these complex tales. Presented in an easy read format and beautifully produced with detailed air-brush style illustrations by Gary Andrews. As an introduction to the classics of fiction these little books will enhance any school collection adding a new dimension to the Quick Read collection in the library or as class sets for Year 8 students. They give access to works that children may never come across and may succeed in inspiring readers to go on to read the original works. Presented with a glossary of terms and a Test Yourself quiz at the end English teachers will find them a great asset in encouraging a love of reading. Students may need some guidance in understanding some of the concepts in the texts and the short biography of the authors which introduce the stories will help readers to understand the stories in their historical contexts. I really enjoyed reading the selection and was transported back in time to when I first discovered Robinson Crusoe, Frankenstein and the brave dog Buck in Call of the Wild. A must have series.
Trisha Walker

Bouncy bouncy bedtime by David Bedford and Russell Julian

Egmont, 2011. ISBN 9781405257428.
'Have you ever wondered what the animals do? Do they go to bed like me and you?' This fun story takes the child on a delightful trip to the big, bouncy bed in the sky which gradually fills up with all sorts of sleepyheads, each arriving in their own inimical way. How does anyone get any sleep with all this noise and movement and fun? Until - somebody is tired, stretching, yawning - and it becomes a woozy, snoozy bed in the sky.
The language, movement, pictures and colours of this book just meld together perfectly into a gorgeous tale of bedtime that revs Miss 4 up and then brings her gently and quickly into sleep mode, ready for lights out and sweet dreams. This is always the last one we share and it's like a signal - when it's over it's snuggle-in, last-kisses and eyes-shut time.
Barbara Braxton

Scorpia rising by Anthony Horowitz

Alex Rider Book 9. Walker Books, 2011. ISBN 9781406333879.
(Age: 14+) Highly recommended. Alex Rider is a teenage superspy. But he hates it. Alex just wants to live like a normal teenager, but whenever that chance appears, MI6 seems to have a mission for him. But this time, Alex and Jack Starbright (his friend, and the woman who had cared for him since his parents died) are adamant that MI6 would never be a part of their lives again. But a snipershooting at his school wounded his friend and almost kills Alex, and all is changed. Everyone is convinced that his old enemy, Scorpia, is out for revenge. MI6 recently discovered evidence that Scorpia might be planning to hold some children for ransom at an international school in Cairo and because some of these children's parents could pay millions of dollars in ransom they decide to send Alex there. The old security man was killed, and replaced at the same time as Alex.
This is an excellent end to an excellent series, and I recommend that you make sure you have read all the books before this one. You can pick this one up easily, but it does help, as you might not know what Scorpia is if you have not read the previous series. I enjoyed this book, and I highly recommend this book, and the entire series.
Gareth Peer

Bindi Wildlife Adventures: Snow Monkey Mischief by Ellie Browne

Random House Australia, 2011. ISBN 978 1 864718317.
In Bindi Wildlife Adventures : Snow Monkey Mischief, readers will learn some interesting facts about the Japanese snow monkeys while trying to solve a mystery. It is aimed at girls aged 8-10 years old and using a well-known celebrity, like Bindi Irwin, as a character probably won't entice boys to read this!
The main character is Bindi, who has travelled to Japan with her Mum and brother to help her friend's mum photograph and observe the snow monkeys.
Snow Monkey Mischief is a short novel and is book 14 in this series. Readers will not need to read others in the series to understand what is going on.
Author, Ellie Browne (no, not Bindi Irwin as I first thought), uses easy to read language which is full of descriptions to help the reader imagine the scenery and events. I like how she has Bindi comparing Japan to Australia and how this story will help the reader learn about threats against these monkeys as Bindi and her friend find some snow monkeys who don't look very healthy and set out to find out why.
Kylie Kempster

Fade out by Rachel Caine

The Morganville Vampires, Book Seven. Penguin, 2011. ISBN 9781921880032.
Fade Out by Rachel Caine is a fascinating novel on how Claire Danvers copes with her studies on campus and how she works for a crazy, unique vampire called Myrnin who loves to wear fanged bunny slippers and feed his pet spider, Bob. He is a mad scientist and he is always coming up with new ideas. Claire also has to put up with one of Myrnin's creations, Ada, a deranged computer generated copy of a long dead vampire who thinks Claire is competition for Myrnin's love. In short term, his first love is science or Bob the spider. Claire has more things to worry about when she almost freezes to death. She has a bracelet that allows her to feel and know what's wrong with Amelie, the leader of the town. It's kind of like a telephone but you don't orally communicate. They find Amelie trying to commit suicide, (which is hard for a vampire) and rescue her. Suddenly a strange young emo girl arrives in Morganville and befriends Claire's bestfriend Eve and they commit to a local play. Young pushy Kim shoves her video camera in all of the vampires' and humans' faces, causing a dislike for her, when Kim misses a rehearsal, Claire and Eve know something is up and around Morganville you're either late or lunch.
The character communication in this book is brilliant and the body language is so easy to read, also the characters were all unique and easy to relate to. This is my favourite vampire series and I think I'll be reading it again. Fade out is a brilliant book and I can't wait to read the rest of the series.
Sarah Filkin (Student)

DC Super Heroes series - Batman

Raintree, 2011.
(Age 8+)
Doctor of Fear by Matthew Manning, Raintree, 2011. ISBN 978 1 40622 541 9
An exciting adventure with Batman and Batgirl stumbling into an out-of-the-ordinary incident. During a fire drill at a city department store, customers find themselves locked in. They escape by breaking one of store windows, but who locked the doors? Batgirl sees to the other escape doors while Batman is on the hunt for the culprit finally catching up with him. But it's not the person he thought it would be. Meanwhile another fear-giving incident happens in Wayne Tower itself. A different culprit is apprehended and is interrogated. Thorough investigation by Batman and Batgirl discover a common event in these people's lives - they all visited the same dentist who happens to be 'The Scarecrow'. Does The Scarecrow manage to install fear in all of Gotham's citizens or will Batman and Batgirl destroy his evil plans?

The Maker of Monsters by Eric Fein, Raintree, 2011. ISBN 978 1 40622 543 3.
Monsters are on the rampage in Gotham City, frightening the citizens and fearing for their lives. Batman and Robin come to the rescue and endeavor to find out where these monsters are coming from. The Dynamic Duo manages to capture one of these monsters and are able to observe it in a hospital. When the monster changes back into a human being Batman begins to investigate the situation. Their discoveries lead them to the mad scientist. Batman decides to volunteer as a guinea pig disguised as Bruce Wayne and ends up a monster himself. Will Batman ever be able to return as himself? Will Robin be able to rescue Batman before any real damage occurs? What will happen to the Dynamic Duo?

Mad Hatter's Movie Madness by Donald Lemke, Raintree, 2011. ISBN 978 1 40622 544 0.
Bruce Wayne and Tim Drake (aka Batman and Robin) attend a film premiere where 3D glasses are required. Bruce accidently steps on a pair belonging to a little girl and he offers his pair to her and he ends up watching the movie without 3D glasses. Tim is addicted to his 3D glasses and refuses to take them off. Meanwhile the Mad Hatter is about to launch his evil plan! Everyone who attended the movie were still wearing their 3D glasses. They were with the Mad Hatter! Was the Mad Hatter able to hypnotise the movie patrons to do his bidding? Discovering that Tim was not in his room when morning came, Bruce Wayne donned his alter-ego and as Batman began to unravel the mystery. Will Batman find the solution to the increased crime happening in Gotham City? Will Batman be able to save Tim and the other citizens of Gotham from the evil clutches of the Mad Hatter?

Catwoman's Halloween Feist by Eric Fein, Raintree, 2011. ISBN 978 1 40622 542 6.
Barbara Gordon and Tim Drake attend a friend's Halloween party dressed up in their alter egos, Batgirl and Robin. None of the guests are wise to their disguises. The friend's father is the host of the party and also collects historical objects. One such object is the black cat diamond. This disappears when the lights go out and Batgirl and Robin suspect it's the work of Catwoman! They are proved right and set about catching her without Batman's help. Will they be successful? And will they be discovered as the real Batgirl and Robin?
Janet Cassidy

Con-Nerd by Oliver Phommavahn

Puffin Books, 2011. ISBN: 9780143304869.
Con-Nerd is a clever and entertaining book describing the dilemma of a Chinese student, Connor, and the academic pressures placed upon him by his stereotypically Asian mother. Connor's mother has expectations that he will study medicine and become a doctor. This academic expectation on Connor increases as he prepares to sit the test to gain entry into the 'selective' secondary school. Connor, on the other hand, is more interested in pursuing his talent in art and seeking the interest of the new Korean girl in his class rather than focusing on his study. Meanwhile, Connor's abilities as a cartoonist has made him increasingly popular around his school. This is set to culminate in a community art competition held at the local hospital, where his mother works as a nurse. The story continues as Connor attempts to juggle the expectations of his mother and his new found popular sporty friends.
Con-Nerd would be an excellent book to recommend to any student aged 10-14 who is facing similar dilemmas in balancing the expectations of his parents and their need to pursue alternate interests and friendships. At some level, most teachers will recognise aspects of Connor's character in some students.
Adam Fitzgerald

The snake and the boy by Azmen Sebastian

Magabala Books, 2011.
(Ages 5+) Warmly recommended. Picture book. The summer heat of the northern Western Australia is reproduced both in the stunningly colourful images as well as the text as the boy, one among many, plays on the swing in the playground at school. Down the bark of the old paperbark tree a green tree snake makes its way to the ground and slithers across the yard to the place where the boy is playing. He bites into his apple, and slides away, leaving the boy to wonder about who ate his apple, but unbeknownst to him, he narrowly missed an encounter with a snake.
Written and illustrated by 12 year old Azmen, a boy from Broome, this is a delight. The spare words tell the reader a lot about life in Broome and the kids in the playground, underlining their day to day activities but with the added menace of the snake. Colourful swirling images complete this lovely book.
Fran Knight