Hodder Children's Books, 2010. ISBN 9780340970072.
(Age 14+) Recommended. Three stories weave their way in this
fascinating mystery by Catherine Fisher. A 17 year-old girl has arrived
anonymously in Bath. Giving herself a new name, Sulis, she goes to stay
with a new foster family, but lives in fear of being discovered by a
mystery man from her past. A parallel story in the 18th century tells
of Zac, the teenage apprentice to architect Jonathan Forrest, who
dreams of building a circle of houses based on druidic
principles. Working only because his father has gambled away
their family fortune, Zac is destructive and consumed with envy. Then
there is the voice of Bladud, a mythical figure, who has been cured of
a leprous disease by the healing waters of the sacred spring of Sulis.
Fisher gradually builds up the suspense around the teen, Sulis, who is
convinced that someone is following her. She is very frightened and I
was intrigued by the mystery surrounding her fear, never being sure if
she was delusional or actually was being stalked by the person who
murdered her young friend. There is suspense too in the relationship
between Zac and his employer, Forrest, and I was kept on the edge of my
seat, hoping that Forrest's great architectural dreams would be
fulfilled and not foiled by Zac's mean machinations.
It was interesting that one of the main protagonists, Zac, is not an
attractive character at all and this added spice to the story. However,
Josh, Sulis' co-worker is a wonderful caring person and her foster
parents are portrayed very sympathetically.
The magical setting, Bath, will enthral anyone who has ever visited
that wonderful city with its golden stone. Those who are new to the
setting will long to visit it. An afterword by Fisher gives information
about John Wood, architect of the King's Circle in Bath.
Pat Pledger
Editor's note: Crown of acorns is on the CILIP Carnegie Medal
longlist,
2011.
Across the Universe by Beth Revis
Penguin, 2011. ISBN 9780141333663.
(Age 14+) Recommended. In this thought provoking science fiction book,
the reader is taken on a trip aboard the vast spaceship Godspeed, as it
goes in search of a new planet to colonise. Seventeen-year-old Amy
leaves her life on earth behind and joins her parents, as part of the
100 specialists who are frozen and stored aboard the ship. She
expects to be woken up after a 300-year journey, but is traumatised
when she is thawed too early and discovers that someone has tried to
kill her. Not only that, but life aboard the ship is strange and
frightening. Eldest, a Hitler-like dictator, leads the ship and is
training a young man named Elder as his apprentice. The behaviour of
the ship's inhabitants is passive and weird.
Told in alternative chapters by Amy and Elder, Revis builds up a
fascinating picture of life aboard a spaceship and the dilemmas that
face the people who live there. Interspersed is the mystery of who is
trying to kill the people who have been frozen. Amy is an intelligent
young woman and together with Elder and his friend Harley, set out to
discover who is taking out the frozen bodies and leaving them to die.
At the same time Revis explores the morality of the ways that leaders
have tried to keep people hopeful about their chances of survival and
the use of drugs to keep them compliant. Elder is challenged by Amy's
approach to people and what is happening on the ship. She is a strong
independent young woman who is not intimidated by authority and who
makes Elder look at his actions in a different light. The
responsibility of leadership and the right of people to know the truth
are explored.
Teenage girls will be attracted to this book because of its beautiful
cover. The engaging characters, exciting plot and a touch of romance
will keep them reading.
Pat Pledger
Luka and the Fire of Life by Salman Rushdie
Jonathan Cape, 2010. ISBN 9780224090216.
(For ages 11+ years) This is a classic quest story that takes up the
adventures of Luka whose older brother is the hero in Haroun and
the Sea of Stories, an earlier novel of Rushdie's. Luka's story is
magic; this is evident from the first lines, as Rushdie envelops us in
the smell and feel of other lands. This is a story that reveals much
about the power of story and how our own stories are to be treasured as
we pass them onto others.
Luka witnesses a circus coming to his town; one where the animals are
obviously abused. He curses the circus owner and in an act of revenge a
great sleep befalls Luka's beloved father, the great storyteller Rashid
Khalifa. Luka discovers that the only way to revive his father is to
travel to the World of Magic and steal the Fire of Life. As with any
quest adventure, the hero's companions are indispensible and very
interesting! Luka's imaginings and his father's stories merge and make
the journey all the more exciting. It is wonderful to read this book
for its story and descriptive language. Rushdie is a master of creating
both. Undoubtedly, everyone enjoys a good quest and this is no
exception. The complexity and detail, however, will mean that Luka
and
the Fire of Life will appeal to the more sophisticated reader.
Julie Wells
It's a Book by Lane Smith
Macmillan, 2011.
(Ages 7 - 70) Highly recommended. Living in a society obsessed
with tweeting, texting, emailing and gaming this is definitely a
parable for our times. Jackass (his trusty iPad under his arm) is
curious to discover what Monkey is immersed in. 'It's a book' replies
Monkey. In a series of deceptively simple sequences Monkey explains
that it doesn't require a mouse or a password, you don't have to charge
it and it doesn't Tweet or text.
Jackass gives it a try. He settles down, starts reading, can't stop and
won't give the book back. Monkey, sanguine as ever, simply goes to the
library to choose another.
This book hits the jackpot. Lane Smith has created a simple
layout, uncluttered pages, and a perfect balance of shape and colour,
together with a message that makes you want to shout 'Yes!' This is a
work of genius, a classic in only 121 words and there's a pleasing
symmetry in that number. As book lovers the world over already know,
whenever a reader and a book get together they embark on an intimate
'one to one' relationship.
What I love most is that it reflects Anthony Browne's message. As
Children's Laureate he is denouncing the habit of pushing children to
read 'proper' books (i.e. those without illustration). Here is a book
that could generate endless debate about the nature of communication
and entertainment. AND IT'S A PICTURE BOOK! It will be wasted on
children under seven, who won't grasp the intended message, so don't
let it fester in a kinder-box. Read it and spread the word. It's a Book!
Claire Larson
The Three Loves of Persimmon by Cassandra Golds
Penguin Books 2010. ISBN 9780143205012.
(For ages 14-16 years). This is a rather strange story that hovers
between real and imagined worlds. A shy and vulnerable young girl,
desperate for attention and affection, has her world tossed about by
prospective lovers and strange companions. Persimmon is a
florist, alone in the world, having been disowned by her family, which
itself had split into two camps, the scientists and the artists; fruit
and vegetable growers and flower growers. She takes the creative,
artistic road, a dreamer and rather impractical, but valiantly attempts
to make her new florist business work. Encouraged by letters sent to
her by her now deceased Great Aunt Lily, she is also on a quest for
love. Strange creatures aid her on her journey to love; a talking
ornamental cabbage and a bewildered little mouse called Epiphany, and
they share numerous romantic and adventurous episodes with the young
heroine. Art, the theatre and flowers provide an interesting backdrop
with the array of characters dreaming of things unattainable. Finally,
hope and love are discovered.
The book is quite well written but the story struggles to keep its
momentum, and it is difficult to ascertain the novel's readership.
Julie Wells
Yellowcake by Margo Lanagan
Allen and Unwin, 2011. ISBN 9781742374789.
Short stories. Highly recommended. Ten new short stories from Margo
Lanagan, collected together in one volume, will have people absolutely
delighted. The originality and subtlety of this author's work is to be
marveled at and her previous collections, Black juice, Red
Spike and
ahe book, Tender Morsels, will ensure a willing audience for
this new collection.
From Ferryman to An honest day's work, each story
brings with it a
fresh and novel approach, one which will be the cause of much
discussion and rereading. Ferryman uses the stories of old, the
oarsman
taking the dead across the River Styx to what lies beyond. A rich and
unusual story develops, of the ferryman and his dutiful daughter,
coming down to give him his lunch, singing as she descends the steps,
their idle, familiar chatter contrasting with the bodies of the dead,
who, zombie like, are queued up waiting for their last trip. While
Into
the clouds on high, we see a young woman, letting go of her family,
her
husband and two children, as she disappears to help others unseen.
Where she has gone, no one knows, but she shimmers, hovering in the
air, spreading a warmth to those around her. And the enigmatic The
point of roses, had me rereading immediately, trying to find the
clues
hidden in the wonderful prose, of what and where this may have taken
place.
Each story builds a setting at once known and unknown, characters
brought to life with a few sprays of words, a story built seemingly
from air, but always with a central core of tension, of not knowing
what is going on, of people looking for answers in a sea of doubt.. Singing my sister down, from the Black Juice collection,
is a story I
have had with me since first reading it. It has now been paired with
another that will intrigue, baffle and enthrall, An honest day's
work,
redolent of the whaling industry as little men carve and cut up a torso
hauled out from the sea. One of many in this fine collection.
Fran Knight
The chimpanzee book: Apes like us by Dr Carla Litchfield
Black dog books, 2009. ISBN 978 1742030746.
Non fiction, Recommended. Dr Carla Litchfield, an animal behaviour
scientist with ZoosSA, has written another children's book for black
dog books, this time about the chimpanzee, giving a huge amount of
information within a few pages, underscoring the need for people to be
aware of the need for conservation, and entertaining the reader along
the way.
Like the series, Wild Planet, published by this company, Apes
like
us
has double page spreads of information with maps, short paragraphs of
facts and lots of clear, explicit photographs, telling us about the
difference between chimps and bonobos, behaviour, culture, habitat, as
well as a large map to show us where they live. Some fascinating pieces
of information are given in these pages: they are omnivore, eating
mainly fruit but also monkeys and small animals, baby chimps stay with
mum for eight years or so, they use tools, and so on. After these
introductory pages, double page spreads are devoted to specific
communities of chimps like those who live in Gombe (made famous by Dr
Jane Goodall) or Bossou (where the chimps have learnt to cross a busy
road) and Tai to name a few. Each page outlines where this group lives
and marks out its differences to other groups.
Reading like a story, the information is at once fascinating and
unsettling as we come to the pages where we learn of their habitat
destruction. Of the million or so chimps once living in central Africa,
some 300,000 remain. Dr Litchfield ends the book with suggestions about
how the reader can help save these animals, and with its brief but
useful index, content information and web sites, makes this a wonderful
book for use n the classroom.
Dr Litchfield's book, Saving pandas is inspirational, and so is
this.
In this Year of the Forests, this would make a stimulating addition to
the work done by classes on conservation, as the destruction of the
forests is one of the major issues outlined by Dr Litchfield.
Fran Knight
Angel Creek by Sally Rippin
Text, 2011. ISBN 9781921758058.
(Age: 9-12) Recommended. Jelly is not happy when her parents buy a new
house so that she can go to high school. The only things that she
likes are the apricot tree, which she has made her secret place, and
Angel Creek, which flows behind her house. One night she and her
cousins Gino and Pik are exploring the dark waters of the creek when
they find a strange creature with an injured wing. It's a baby
angel and they decide to keep it. But this strange, feral little thing
that ferociously attaches itself to Jelly is not like a baby bird that
needs mending, and somewhere there must be a mother.
With a compelling mixture of reality and fantasy, Angel Creek
was such
a fascinating story that I read it in one sitting. Rippin's picture of
family life was one that rang true. It was easy to imagine the jealousy
that Gino felt when the little angel attached itself to Jelly, and the
contrast between Jelly's lovely relationship with her father and Gino's
less than perfect one added a level to the family relations.
It is also a coming of age story. Jelly is a brave girl who can stand
up against the bullying teenage boys on their bikes. She also begins to
realise that her actions have repercussions. Like a bird that has
recovered from its injuries, the little angel must be returned to its
home and Jelly has to find a way to do that. She also discovers that
change is inevitable. Her grandmother won't live forever and she can
make new friends in her neighbourhood. The slight touch of romance with
the boy who has helped her will appeal to young readers.
I love books about angels and I thoroughly enjoyed Angel Creek.
Rippin's story has a unique take on angels and their origins and this
story of a baby creek angel is fascinating and original. Readers who
enjoyed this story might like to move onto the more complex Skellig
by David Almond or Unfinished
angel by Sharon Creech, and Waterslain Angels by
Kevin Crossley-Holland.
Pat Pledger
The Double Life of Cassiel Roadnight by Jenny Valentine
Harper Collins, 2010. ISBN 9780007283613.
(Age 13+) Recommended. The runaway boy, who has no name, longs for a
normal family life and somewhere to call home. He really looks like the
photo of a missing boy, Cassiel Roadnight, and the temptation to know a
mother and sister proves too much for him. He decides to take on the
identity of the missing boy, but doesn't think through the
repercussions of his hasty decision. All is not well in the
Roadnight household and there seem to be dark secrets. Why did Cassiel
disappear? Is he still alive or hiding out somewhere?
The story is told in the first person by the boy, although the reader
doesn't get a name for the narrator until right at the end of the
story. Valentine is a master at character building and all the emotions
and fears of the people in Cassiel's disfunctional family are
brilliantly described.
This is a compelling thriller. The tension that Valentine builds up
kept me on the edge of my seat right to the end. As a reader I could
see the risks that the boy was taking in pretending to be someone else
and kept hoping that it wouldn't lead to complete disaster for him. The
question of Cassiel's fate kept nagging at me. Was he missing or was he
dead? If he was murdered what was going to happen to the boy? Would he
be strong and smart enough to outwit a murderer? At
the same time there is a parallel mystery. Where did the boy come from
and why does he have such an uncanny resemblance to the missing
Cassiel?
Gradually small clues are left but I was still surprised when I learnt
about the boy's background and Cassiel's fate.
Valentine writes intelligent and insightful fiction and this is a
memorable book. It would make an excellent introduction to the mystery
genre for young readers who might then go on to reading other
mysteries, like those by Josephine Tey, who is thanked by
Valentine for inspiration at the end of the book .
Pat Pledger
Unhooking the moon by Gregory Hughes
Quercus, 2010. ISBN 9781849162951.
(Age 12+) Highly recommended. When the Rat, a precocious ten-year-old
girl, predicts the death of her father, Bob is sceptical but the Rat's
predictions have come true in the past. When they find their father
dead, they decide to travel from Winnipeg to New York in search of
their uncle, who is rumoured to be a drug dealer. Setting out on their
bikes, they encounter many adventures on their road trip including
meeting up with a smuggler, a con man and a famous rap star. How can
they find their uncle amongst so many people and survive on the streets
of New York?
Hughes has created two of the most memorable characters that I have
read in books recently. The Rat is an amazing girl, who, although
suffering from seizures, is remarkably wise and brave. She can speak
several languages and mimic anyone she meets. Her charisma is
extraordinary and her leadership skills are remarkable. Her hatred of
paedophiles is a theme throughout the book. Her older brother Bob finds
himself in the role of follower and protector, always worrying about
the Rat's fragility. Good looking and kind hearted, he moves along in
the wake of the Rat's wishes and their sibling love is a highlight of
the book.
Hughes' writing of dialogue is superb. The Rat uses the word 'beep'
instead of a swear word and this provides much of the humour in the
book. Other characters come alive through their conversation as well. Unhooking the moon is not just an engrossing road trip; it is
original
and heart rending. It covers themes of mental illness, death, the
effect of fame and homelessness in a seamless story that had me
laughing and crying.
Nothing prepared me for the magic and gritty realism in the book
although the fact that it has been awarded the Booktrust Teenage Prize,
2010 and shortlisted for the Guardian Children's Fiction Prize 2010,
should have warned me that it would be an outstanding story. It
deserves to be promoted vigorously by teachers and librarians to
individuals, for class sets and literature circles. I believe that it
will make its mark as a modern children's classic.
Pat Pledger
The magic brush by Kat Yeh
Ill. by Huy Voun Lee. Bloomsbury, 2011. ISBN 9781408815458.
(Age 4-7) Jasmine is a small girl who is too old for afternoon naps,
unlike her little brother, Tai Tai. When her Agong (Grandfather)
comes to live with her family, he sets her on a magical path of
mythological creatures and wonderful writing teaching her how to use
brush and ink to write words and create pictures. When he dies, Jasmine
teaches her little brother the magic of the calligraphy brush so that
together they can recreate their artist grandfather.
This is a moving story about family love and being an artist. Agong is
a patient grandfather who introduces Jasmine to the magic of making a
wish. Together they use their imagination and paint and brush to
conjure up the moon and stars and fly to rescue a baby dragon from the
top of a mountain. Jasmine loves learning with Agong and is very sad
when he is gone. However she loves her baby brother and when he is too
big for a nap she teaches him all she has learnt.
Rich deep colours bring the story alive. The Chinese characters for key
words in the text are drawn in the corners of the pages and there is an
explanation of how to pronounce Chinese words at the end of the book. A
brief explanation of Chinese art is also given. Children will also be
intrigued by the information about Chinese treats.
Kat Yeh has used a clever way to introduce both Chinese culture and
words which young children are sure to enjoy.
Pat Pledger
Gladiator by Simon Scarrow
Puffin, 2011. ISBN 9780141333974.
(Age 11+) Recommended. Lovers of historical fiction and action
packed books will be delighted with this plot driven, exciting novel
set in the time of ancient Rome. Marcus is a young boy who has been
taken as a slave after his ex-centurion father was killed because he
couldn't pay back his debts. His mother too is enslaved. Marcus is
determined to secure her release by talking to General Pompeius the
Great whose life was saved by his father in the aftermath of the
rebellion by Spartacus and the slaves. Taken to a school for
gladiators, he trains tirelessly and waits for an opportunity to escape.
The book is rich in historical detail and is a good introduction to
Roman history and soldiers. I thoroughly enjoyed this portrayal of life
as a slave in Roman times. I avidly read right to the end in a couple
of sittings, longing to see if Marcus could survive his arduous
training, the attacks by bullies and fights in the arena. A mark on
Marcus' shoulder seems to point to an important secret, and canny
readers will have fun predicting just what that brand means.
Life in the gladiator school was described in all its gory detail and
was quite fascinating to read about. I won't easily forget the way the
slaves were branded or the inhumanity of the Roman aristocrats and
children watching fights to the death. Although there are bloodthirsty
scenes, Marcus maintains his integrity and does not kill his enemies.
In fact violence and bullying are depicted as wrong, and Marcus
maintains a high moral attitude throughout the book, even when he is
taunted and tormented.
This is the first in a series by Simon Scarrow, who usually writes for
adults, and is a welcome addition to the thriller genre. Although the
book is long, the sentences are short and easy to read, and this
combined with the exciting plot, may appeal to reluctant readers. A website with
information and a book trailer will also stimulate those who enjoyed
the book. Gladiator is dedicated to Rosemary Sutcliffe and
children may
be tempted to read some of her outstanding historical novels.
Pat Pledger
The best ballgirl by Pat Flynn
Aussie Chomps. Penguin, 2011. ISBN 9780143505743. Delving into the politics behind the scenes at a tennis championship makes riveting reading in Pat FLynn's experienced hands. With credible characters and a strong, believable setting, the story of the in infighting and bullying at the local tennis club makes for an absorbing tale. Kirsten and her friends are part of the district tennis scene, all being coached by a local coach and with dreams of making it onto the tennis circuit. The club supervisor, the imperious Mrs Starling, also has dreams, not for herself, but her daughter Sally. With private coaching and a pushy mother, Sally seems to have it all, but Kirsten is doubly cross with her when she begins to take the attention of the one boy Kirsten likes, TJ. In announcing that a major tennis championship will occur at the club and therefore needing ball girls and boys, the group trains with vigour, hoping to be picked for the jobs available. Kirsten would dearly love to be on court when her hero, Maggie Stephenson plays the final, but Mrs Starling does not chose her. Things conspire to make this happen. A neatly told story of allegiances and friendships, the story incorporates an ugly parent and the sports scene at a tennis club. It will have a broad appeal to those who love reading about involvement in sports, the relationships between friends and for fans of the series, Aussie Chomps. It is well written with a believable and involving story line which will make readers look at the ball girls and ball boys with a different eye next time they watch tennis. Fran Knight
Anna and the French kiss by Stephanie Perkins
Penguin, 2010.
(Age 14+) Recommended. Romance. When Anna is shipped off to a boarding
school in Paris for her final year she is not happy. She has left
behind her best friend, Bridge, a job at a cinema that she loves and a
beginning romance with a gorgeous boy. When she meets charismatic
Etienne at her new school things begin to look up. But Etienne is
already in a serious relationship. Will they ever manage to get
together for their French kiss?
The beautiful setting of Paris makes this book stand out from the usual
boarding school romances. Perkins takes the reader on a wonderful tour
of this romantic city. At the same time she doesn't gloss over the
difficulties that Anna has in learning a new language and a new way of
life. She describes the problems of ordering food in the canteen,
buying tickets for the movies and travelling on the Metro, but these
are overshadowed by the descriptions of the Notre Dame and the Latin
Quarter. Readers will long for the chance to visit Paris and envy Anna
for her experience.
Both the main characters and Anna's friends are strong and believable.
Anna is an interesting girl, who is serious about wanting to be a film
critic. She watches lots of movies and runs her own website with film
reviews. Fans of films will love the references to movies that dot the
pages. Etienne has lots of charisma and the girls at the school find
him swoon worthy. However he does have a vulnerable side which he shows
Anna, as he copes with his mother's cancer and his father's bullying.
Fathers don't come off too well in this book, as Anna too doesn't seem
to respect her father, who is an author. She thinks that his books and
films are shallow and predictable. I found myself avidly following the
various subplots involving Anna's friends both in Paris and Atlanta.
The incident when Anna came home for Thanksgiving and found herself
almost a stranger, having to re-establish her place in her family, was
both familiar and touching.
Readers who also love a romance will not be disappointed. The novel
hums with tension as Anna and Etienne explore their feelings for each
other. Anna initially settles for friendship as Etienne has a
girlfriend, Ellie, who is studying elsewhere, but there is definitely a
serious attraction going on. Friendship is a strong theme in this book
and Perkins explores the possibility of friendship between boy and girl
as well as how a real friend behaves to her girlfriends.
Fans of Sarah Dessen and Maureen Johnson are certain to enjoy this book.
Pat Pledger
To Die For By Mark Svendsen
Random, 2011.ISBN 9781864719314. e-Book available.
(Best suited for 13+) Genre: Thriller/Survival. For his birthday,
Christos takes his father's boat on his first solo voyage. He plans to
fish and then camp overnight on a local island, but things go wrong
when Christos runs the boat aground on a reef, attracting a four-metre
tiger shark. And so begins the most terrifying night of his life.
This book is definitely one for fishing fans. Many of the fishing terms
are confusing and the style of writing employed is also confusing to
begin with, often moving disjointedly from sentence to sentence. The
first few chapters are drawn out and wouldn't easily catch a young
reader's attention.
When the shark does appear, the scenes are well-written and exciting,
perfectly capturing the image of survival and fear. The description and
disjointed sentences work well here, illustrating the terrified and
desperate state of Christos's mind at this point. However, after the
shark disappears from the story, the expected conclusion is prolonged
with unnecessary sub-plots.
It is an all right book, but definitely one for those interested in
fishing.
Rebecca Adams (Student)
