Allen and Unwin, 2011. ISBN 978 1742373331.
(Ages 8+) Highly recommended. Thomas is different. He is very aware of
his difference. He tells us in the first few pages that he is nor like
his brother nor the other students in his school. He retreats to his
headphones as all around him tells him that he will be a failure and
not amount to anything. He is told that people are ashamed of him and
this is in the same page as the order to clean his room, brush his
teeth and show respect. All the instructions given to kids are listed
as he watches the array of grey people around him who offer him a place
to go. The army offers serving his country, religion offers forgiveness
of sins, a politician offers being part of a democracy, but they are
all the same, grey and the same, expecting him to be the same as they
are. The bleak view of the world is an amalgam of all that is nasty,
the cloying religious zealot, the braying army personnel, the priest
offering him the seat next to him, the leering politician, the
overwhelming teachers, the dictatorial father and yet the crying,
impassive mother. A fascinating mix of a world which is absolutely
nasty. Rejecting all the pressures to conform, he boards a bus, taking
his life in his own hands.
The illustrations of Thomas' journey to retain his individuality are
amazing. The grey suited men who surround Thomas with promises and
exhortations create a claustrophobic atmosphere on many of the pages.
The men and the few women are remote, removed, emotionless, and often
portray a dictatorial approach when trying to deal with Thomas, the
outsider. The first few pages show us what Thomas likes, the model of a
plane, a globe, an atlas, but as the pages progress the colours become
more grey, the things depicted more redolent of authority and rules,
just as the last few pages revert from rules to freedom on the bus, as
colour becomes more obvious. As Thomas rejects the sterile paths
offered to him, colour returns once again. And watch out for the
contrasting items on the pages. On one page is depicted Thomas'
sandshoes, lying almost together, open with laces askew, but further up
the page in black and white is a pair of shoes, neatly laced, side by
side with the boot polish and brush neatly next to the shoes. On
another page, a man is rejecting the musical instruments in the corner,
the chess set is left awry and so on. Little gems are there to be
explored and savoured.
A most interesting book, readers will have much to discuss with their
teacher or parents as they sit together and read both the words and the
illustrations, discussing authority, rules, institutions, free will,
fitting in - the list is endless, and the bleak world portrayed too
will be the cause of discussion about what there is to be thankful for.
Fran Knight
A bit lost by Chris Haughton
Walker Books, 2011. ISBN 978 1406333831.
Picture book. When the baby owl falls from the top of the tree where he
is perusing the forest with his mum, he becomes lost. Not just a little
lost, but lost. He must ask the other animals for help, and in
describing his mother through a few words, augmented by actions, is
taken to a variety of other animals in his search. Because he says she
is big, he is taken to a bear, when he describes his mother's pointy
ears, he is taken to a rabbit, and so on, until finally he is taken to
the right mother, who is searching for him.
A warm book about family and the relationship between mother and child,
this story will be told and retold in the early childhood units. Read
aloud, the story will serve the purpose of reinforcing the
relationship, of introducing animals and their offspring or of simply
telling a tale, inviting the students to share their knowledge. The
warmth of the mother and her baby both looking for each other, the
positive tale of the animals helping each other with the owl inviting
the animals to her perch as a thank you resulting in a twist in the
tale, is charming. The bald, block colour illustrations hide things
which children can search for, while the bold colour is refreshing in
its simplicity.
Fran Knight
Twelfth grade kills by Heather Brewer
Dutton Children's Books, 2010. ISBN 9780525422242.
This is the fifth and final book in The Chronicles of Vladimir Tod
series. Vlad is about to face his final year of high school, but only
if he lives long enough. There are so many people trying to kill
him that it is by no means certain he will even make it to his last
year at high school or survive it if he does.
In this last book, the author draws together all the strands and
unanswered questions from the previous books. The prime one as to
whether Vlad's father is still alive is finally answered.
As usual Vlad is having a hard time deciding just who to trust although
he can always rely on his friend and drudge Henry and Nelly his
guardian. There is also the question of whether Vlad is as the
prophecy suggest, the Pravus and if so will he really enslave the human
race.
I have enjoyed the series and this book is no exception. Vlad has
grown in each of the stories as have the other characters. Here
everything that he has been hoping for appears to be happening but not
everyone is what they seem and Vlad finds himself doubting even those
he trusts the most. To the author's credit all of these issues are
resolved and at the end Vlad finds himself sadder but wiser. I
think that readers will want more and perhaps there is room for more
Chronicles as Vlad moves on from high school.
David Rayner
The girl with death breath and other naughty stories for good boys and girls by Christopher Milne
Hardie Grant Egmont, 2011. ISBN: 978 19211690563.
Highly recommended for children aged 8 and above. When Doris is teased
about her bad breath, she decides to make it even worse to pay back
those who have been cruel to her. Penny and Michelle Dyer want to help
their family make millions by collecting the kerb-side recycling and
aim to re-sell the goods they find. The kids in the Underground Cubby
Club are sick of Bulldog Brown being such a bully so they team up but
what will they do to stop him? Steven Everett has been told he is
useless so he decides to run away from home. Is there anything that
would make him go home or feel better about himself?
All seven of the short stories in this book tell of kids who aren't
quite perfect. Milne's sense of humour and memories of being a child
are evident in this collection as he shows children in everyday
situations. Each story has elements of the 'good boys and girls' as
well as showing their faults. No matter what the scenario, one can draw
a moral or lesson from the story. This series originated some time
back, with Milne self-publishing. The very formal looking covers of the
original books hid the true contents but, once introduced to the
series, children devoured them. With the new look covers and
illustrations, these will continue to be on loan instead of on library
shelves. Readers visiting Milne's website are greeted with rude noises
and illustrations from the books, a great marketing tool for attracting
the disinclined reader!
Jo Schenkel
Dead Certain by Sally Gould
Lightning Strikes series. Walker, 2011. ISBN: 9781921529900.
Max's uncle Jack has died and, during the funeral service, Max
discovers that the body is about to be cremated. This goes directly
against Jack's wishes to be buried alongside his father. The problem,
now, is that Max is the only person who seems to have heard Jack's
final request. How is he going to stop the cremation to help his much
loved uncle, when no one will listen to him? Thus follows a series of
events in which Max tries to tell Dad the truth and, when Dad won't
listen, he enlists his brother Charlie to help set things to rights.
Max shows determination, persistence and loyalty to his uncle as he
endeavours to fulfill his uncle's wishes but not everything goes
exactly to plan. This adds a touch of humour to what could otherwise be
a rather more serious story. Containing less than 80 pages of print and
with a clear double spaced font, this title provides an easily
accessible and relatively entertaining tale, within the reach of even
the most reluctant reader.
Jo Schenkel
Entice by Carrie Jones
Bloomsbury Publishing, 2011. ISBN: 9781408810446.
Nick and Zara are soul mates. They are meant to be together, forever.
However Nick is gone, he has been taken to a place for warriors,
Valhalla. There is a chance that Zara can get him back, but will he
want to? Zara has been turned Pixie, worse she's a Pixie queen. Will
Nick still love her?
This novel falls into the fantasy genre and carries the theme of
getting back someone you have lost, as well as doing almost anything to
get them back. The style of writing uses a fair amount of imagery and
symbolism. Incorporated are complex sentences that give you a complex
story which isn't always easy to process, but it all comes together at
the end and makes sense. The plot is not straightforward, it is complex
like the story. Some things you will see coming, then it will change or
something will unexpectedly happen.
The book is mostly set in the vicinity of the town of Bedford, UK and
in Iceland, as well as in Valhalla. The story appears to take place
over about three weeks and you don't always know straight away what
time of day it is. The characters themselves are not the kind of people
that you would actually meet in reality, but they are very believable
and in some ways they act like regular people.
I would recommend this novel more for girls than boys and for the 15 -
25 age group. It is a great book and I think it deserves 10/10 stars.
Amelia Kelly (Student)
The wilful eye, Isobelle Carmody and Nan McNab (editors)
Allen and Unwin, 2011. ISBN 978 1 74237 440 6
(Ages 14+) Fantasy, Recommended. The first group of short stories in
the series, Tales from the Tower, promised much when reading that 6
authors were given the task of revamping a fairy tale to give it a more
up to date tweak. But unsurprisingly, looking at the talents of the
authors represented here, Carmody, Harland, Mahy, Murray, Lanagan and
Borelli, the stories are fresh and fantastic.
The reworking of stories by the Brothers Grimm and Hans Christian
Anderson give us a remarkable array of tales to provoke fear, wonder
and warnings. Catastrophic disruption of the head by Margo Lanagan is an
unsettling
take on Andersen's The tinderbox, one of the scariest fairy
tales of
all time. The story bludgeons the reader into thinking about warfare.
Eternity by Rosie Borella a reworking of The Snow Queen, tells
the tale
in a modern, drug-taking scene. Margaret Mahy's Wolf Night has
a gang
of Headloppers chasing her hero and heroine in suburban Woodlands,
changing the scene from known to the unknown, and getting under the
readers' skin. Richard Harland's Heart of the beast, was
fascinating with its take on Beauty and the beast, but this time
extolling the virtues of love and the family. I found the story by
Martine Murray disturbing with the boys kept as prisoners in the tower
in One window. And of course, Isobelle Carmody's take on
Rumpelstiltskin was original and frightening.
The book includes a fascinating introduction by Isobelle Carmody, and
an afterword follows each story with the thoughts of each author
outlining their writing process and inspiration. These tales are not
for the young. They are frightening but also challenge the readers with
their universal themes, black humour and parallels to known stories.
Volume 2 will be just as enjoyable. Other authors who write using
this method of reworking fairy stories include Shannon Hale, Laini
Taylor and Robin McKinley.
Fran Knight
Death in the Desert by Jim Eldridge
Egmont, 2011. ISBN 978140525194.
Recommended. Fast paced and action packed, Death in the
Desert is an absorbing read. Delta Unit, a group of 6 elite
soldiers,
travel to Afghanistan on a mission which takes them deep into Taliban
territory. Delta Unit which is led by Mitch, is a covert unit comprised
of UK and USA soldiers. Their mission is to escort a negotiator
to a meeting with an Afghan warlord. Under no circumstances can
they disclose their mission and under no circumstances can they ask for
help.
They enter Afghanistan under the guise of a group of renegade soldiers
who are now drug dealers. Their arrival is noted and they are
immediately under attack. No one wants them there, not the drug
dealers, not the Taliban and especially not the British soldiers
on deployment. Afghanistan is a dangerous place and they will
need their wits to not only complete the mission but to stay alive.
Mitch's team are resilient, tough and resourceful. They improvise, stay
focused and support one another. They must complete their
mission. Failure is not an option.
Sue Mann
Sir Edward 'Weary' Dunlop by Hazel Edwards
Ill. by Pat Reynolds. New Frontier, 2011.
ISBN:
9781921042706.
(Age: 9+) The life of Edward 'Weary' Dunlop gives a tremendous
history lesson of 20th century Australia. He rose from humble
beginnings in 1903 to be an iconic Australian war hero, surgeon,
sportsman, and community leader. In 1976 Dunlop was named as
Australian of the Year, and in 1986 his famous War Diaries of
World War
2 were published. He was held in such respect that when he passed away
in 1993 over 10,000 people lined the streets to farewell him.
This book is the second in a series of Aussie Heroes, with one
about Dame Nellie Melba already published and ones about Fred Hollows
and Mary MacKillop to appear later this year. Aimed at 9 years+
the small size of the book coupled with the large font size makes it
child friendly.
The text is broken up with colourful illustrations and a comprehensive
time line provides a good summary. I would have liked a
photograph or two of the subject, but that could well be an adult
perspective.
Modern day children will be astounded by the difficulties described in
the POW (prisoner of war) camps and the medical innovations that Sir
Edward created by his 'make do' attitude.
The fact that Edward and his wife Helen took 8 years to get married and
corresponded by mail will also intrigue those born in the electronic
age of immediacy.
The obvious discussion point of this book is just what makes a hero.
There is a geography lesson simply in mapping where Sir Edward went
during the war years. Other related curriculum study ideas
are in the teacher resources provided at New Frontier
and
on
the author's website.
Kay Haarsma
Count them while you can by Anne Bowman
Little Hare, 2010. ISBN 9781921541605.
Highly recommended. Count them while you can is a superb
introduction
to endangered species
for young children and it is easy to see why it was listed as a Notable
Book for The Eve Pownall Award for Information Books for 2011.
It focuses on the mothers and babies of ten of the world's most
endangered creatures including the Californian sea otter, the
red-ruffed lemur, the kakapo and the numbat. Each creature has a
double-page spread that introduces the creature and their habitat in a
gentle counting rhyme (sung to the tune of Over in the Meadow)
and a
text box of simple but vital information that includes the threat and
current numbers, both against a backdrop of a soft, engaging
illustration of the species. Notes at the back explain how we
know if a creature is endangered and the various levels of threat that
they are under.
When our students think of extinct animals, they think of dinosaurs,
woolly mammoths and sabre-toothed tigers, but the reality is that there
are over 50 species of Australian animals and over 60 species of
Australian plants that are extinct and about 240 species of native
animals and over 1160 species of native plants may become extinct in
the near future. (Green Kids Guide to Threatened Species). Those
figures are just for Australian species - the IUCN Red List has more
alarming figures for the world generally.
With students becoming more environmentally aware all the time,
introducing them to the concept of endangered species would seem to be
a natural part of the curriculum. So often we are hampered in finding
information at the level the younger child can manage but Count them
while you can fulfils this need very well. It develops an awareness
that 'extinct' and 'endangered' are very much concepts of our time and
the fate of the dinosaurs et al awaits creatures that we know today.
Because information literacy involves creating information as well as
just using it, using the book, its information and format as a
springboard for research and a model for a simple presentation of facts
makes sound educational sense.
Barbara Braxton
Why I love Australia by Bronwyn Bancroft
Little Hare, 2010. ISBN 9781921541780.
In her speech at the launch of this book, the Governor General, Her
Excellency Ms Quentin Bryce AC, began by acknowledging 'the traditional
keepers of the land where we gather --- [and those] who work to
preserve
and shine light on our nation's ancient and contemporary cultures
through drawing, painting, print and paper, sculpture and
installation'. When you pick up this beautiful, illustrated journey
through Australia's awesome and unique landscapes you immediately
understand why Ms Bryce is so reverential.
As the reader travels from the ancient time of the Rainbow Serpent who
shaped the land to the 'modern city lights like a jewelled necklace
adorning an ancient landscape' via 'the soft edges of crusted salt pans
that create drawings on the land' and the 'shards of rainbow and
swaying tentacles of watery light in a coral reef' you begin to
get an inkling of the relationship that the indigenous people have with
their land. It is living and life-giving with the human spirit
intertwined and integrated in every image, just as it should be.
Every scene has a person holding a coolamon with curls of smoke rising
from it, representing the traditional smoking ceremonies that
Aboriginal people conduct to show their respect for those of other
language groups or countries and their Ancestors. In the notes at the
end Bancroft says, 'The person you can see on each page is the host to
each of the landscapes. He wishes you well as you visit his
country and make your acknowledgement to the Ancestors and Elders past
and present of each place.' Even without this explanation, the
reader has an emotional connection with this book and you find yourself
continually returning to the pages to almost inhale the trademark
colours, shapes, and patterns of the artistry. There is a depth, a
connection, an experience that even goes beyond actually visiting the
place. You can hear the 'suburban homes that chatter under a patchwork
of rooftops'; join in the 'bush cricket played on ants' nest pitches
with friends and family anytime, any town'; and feel the 'beams of
secret light and strong warrior trees of the rainforest.'
In her speech, the Governor General describes Bronwyn Bancroft as 'a
master craftswoman of vibrant, visual narratives' and 'Why I Love
Australia' is an exemplar of this. It totally encapsulates why we
all love Australia. It deserves that very rare honour of having the
Governor General launch it.
Barbara Braxton
The crossing by Mandy Hager
The blood of the lamb book 1. ISBN: 978-1869791506.
Random House New Zealand, 2009.
Coming to terms with reality is hard; dealing with that reality is
harder. The crossing is a story of well aimed rebellion. Marym otherwise
named
Nanona is one of those special characters that only come around once in
a while, you can really relate to her thoughts and feelings as they are
expressed in this novel. She grew up on a little atoll with all
the other Chosen, who were chosen because their blood doesn't clot when
mixed with Father Joshua's. They were told that they were chosen by the
Lamb to spread peace and happiness to the survivors of the Tribulation.
This is a complete and utter lie.
As Marym comes of age she begins to think outside of the box. She makes
the humiliating crossing to womanhood in full faith that she is moving
to a better place, but she soon finds out that she is dead wrong. The
Star of the Sea is nothing like she ever imagined. Rape and death are
daily companions to the servers. Marym knows that this is wrong; could
this really be the Lord's wish? She begins to question everything she
has ever known.
With the help of a kindly blind man she discovers the truth. The
Apostles of the Lamb want only blood. They use the blood to prolong
their divine lives at the cost of every 'Chosen' woman. The chosen are
as important to the Apostles as a single sheep to its Shepherd.
This book has a solid story line, one that will never grow old, but I
have to say that I wouldn't be keen on recommending this book for
anyone younger than sixteen. There are some 'scenes' that I believe are
not for the squeamish and the descriptions used could be a little
unwelcome for most teenagers.
Kayla Gaskell (Student, aged15)
Editor's note: The crossing won the Young Adult Fiction
Category in the
New
Zealand Post Children's Book Award.
The Wings of Leo Spencer by Jerome Parisse
Sid Harta Publishers, 2010. ISBN: 1921642149.
(Ages: 12 +) Fourteen year old Leo Spencer goes to bed at the beginning
of this novel after saving a lost puppy from rough surf during the day;
he wakes up and he is dead. Having realised that he is dead, and there
is nothing that he or his family could do about bringing him back to
life, Leo sets out to discover the cause of his death. In doing so, he
discovers the 'great white light' and follows this to Heaven where is
reunited with his Guardian Angel, Jezeral. Leo discovers that he had
requested that his life as 'Leo Spencer' was short because he was due
to become an Angel soon after his death. Accordingly, Leo is given his
wings and becomes a Guardian Angel himself. In Heaven Leo discovers the
House of Records in which is recorded the preeminent disaster that was
due to befall his family on earth in a tragic house fire. He notices
that has been a recent alteration and as result Leo sets out to
discover who or what changed this record and what he might need to do
to save his family. In doing so, he discovers evil beings have
infiltrated the security of the Heaven's House of Records. The Wings of Leo Spencer is a unique fantasy story loosely based
on
concepts of Heaven, death, Guardian Angels and destiny. The story is a
bit slow moving in parts when the rules of Heaven and its hierarchy are
explained but becomes more engaging as it draws towards its climax.
This book is recommended for upper primary to lower secondary students,
with some caution taken with the religious themes of God, Angels and
Heaven.
Adam Fitzgerald
The glasshouse by Paul Collins and Jo Thompson
Ford St, 2010. ISBN 978 1921665045.
Highly recommended. This picture book is a modern parable about the
themes of obsessing with perfection; being a loner; friendship, and
being resistant to change. This is certainly a change of genre from
prolific Australian fantasy author Paul Collins, but he proves to be
multi-talented.
Clara, the central character, has bright orange hair, a freckled face
and sorrowful eyes and lives in isolation growing perfect pumpkins in
her perfect glasshouse. The vegetable growers, who initially
flocked to her door stopped doing so after she became obsessive about
keeping bugs or bad soil from the outside world out and thus made them
wear gloves and remove their shoes.
One dark haired boy kept returning and even showed Clare his pumpkin,
which she derided, saying 'It's not the perfect colour.' His
reply of, 'It's a different shade of orange, but it's still a pumpkin,'
had a moral to it. He went on to say that it must be lonely for
her in the glasshouse alone and that she should go to the market.
Eventually no buyers came to Clara's glasshouse anymore and her
pumpkins suffered and got blemishes. Clara thought more and more
about the boy and eventually went outside and picked up a stone.
The illustrations by Jo Thompson are stunning and very colourful and
this book will appeal to the very young child for this alone. The
storyline is easy to read but raises a variety of questions about how
to live one's life. Older primary students will be able to
evaluate and discuss these. More information is available
for
teachers on the Ford Street site.
Kay Haarsma (Salisbury East HS)
Underground by Chris Morphew
The Phoenix Files Book 4. Hardie Grant Egmont, 2011. ISBN: 978
1921502422.
Highly recommended for ages 10 and up. There are now only 49 days left
until the end of the world. With Peter strapped to a bed in an
underground laboratory, Luke and Jordan's arrival is met in a most
intriguing way. Somehow, Kara and Soren appear to have been expecting
and waiting for Luke's arrival for many years. Although Luke and his
friends believed they knew all of their enemies in Phoenix, they now
need to comprehend the role of the new additions to the list. Managing
to escape and return to the town, Luke and Jordan realise that
Shackleton's rules seem to be changing. They need to help not only
their parents but Peter. Later, the revelation of a confronting secret
makes the heroes re-assess their plans yet again, as time continues to
be a constant threat.
Morphew has created a winning series in The Phoenix Files. With its
similarities to the adult program 24, he has his protagonists racing
against the clock to save humanity. There is never a dull moment and
the suspense continues to build. The large, clear, well spaced type and
the dated, diary style entries keep one eagerly reading to see how each
episode will be resolved. With the arrival of an important new
character, Luke's growth and development as an individual are
highlighted as he takes on more responsibility for tactical planning,
working together with the various adults. Relationships within the
group and the town change and develop, also contributing to the plot.
The fact that underground has a dual focus on action and relationships,
this book should hold equal appeal to both male and female readers.
With the next books unavailable until February and September of next
year, there will be many readers eagerly waiting in suspense! This is a
fantastic series!
Jo Schenkel
