Dash and Lily's Book of Dares by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan
Allen and Unwin, 2010.
(Age 15+) Recommended. Following the success of Nick and Norah's
Infinite Playlist, Rachel Cohn and David Levithan have again
produced a
sparkling collaboration, with two main characters, Lily and Dash,
passing dares. Dash finds a red notebook full of dares from Lily on a
shelf in his favourite bookshop. He decides to take up the challenge
over the Christmas holidays and leaves dares for Lily as well. They
both have lots of fun leaving messages and carrying out weird dares,
but will they be able to get along when they first meet each other in
real life?
I really enjoyed this book. I loved the humour and some of the
witty repartee had me laughing out loud as Dash and Lily went out their
funny and exciting dares. The fact that much of the book was taken up
with a flirtation through a red notebook made it even more enjoyable
and I was sorry when their journey ended. Their love of books and the
many literary allusions made the story one for book lovers as well.
Dash and Lily were such likeable characters that I was compelled to
follow their story virtually in one sitting. Even though Dash's
nickname is Snarly, he comes across as a caring boy who looks out for
his friends. I loved that Lily played soccer and followed her gradual
coming of age, gradually convincing her large extended family that she
could manage on her own. All the supporting characters were well
rounded and interesting, especially Lily's homosexual brother Langston,
who instigates the notebook dare and Boomer, Dash's friend. These
supporting characters added to the depth of the story and gave the
reader an insight in Dash and Lily's personalities.
The humour, funny banter and amusing events, as well as an engrossing
romance, make this a compelling read for the mature teen.
Pat Pledger
Triple ripple by Brigid Lowry
Allen and Unwin, 2011. ISBN 9781742374994.
(Age 12+) Recommended. Cleverly combining three stories in one,
Bridget Lowry has written a charming fairytale of a young girl, Glory,
who is sent to work at the Royal Palace, where she discovers that past
events are to overshadow her future. Meanwhile, the Reader, Nova, is
reading the fairy story while trying to comes to terms with the fact
that her best friend has moved away and Dylan, a rather nasty girl, is
giving her a hard time at school. Interspersed with these two stories,
is the Writer's tale, where the author describes the creative writing
process and the way that the story emerges.
I found myself engrossed in all three of the intertwining stories. I
love fairy tales so was carried along with the story of Glory, longing
to find out if she could overcome the curse placed on her. I was
equally captivated by Nova's story: her loneliness and her family
problems. The part a school counsellor, Ms Golightly, plays in trying to
help both Nova and Dylan overcome their differences rang true for
me. I was pleased that Lowry didn't gloss over how difficult it
can be to make friends. The Writer's story gives an in-depth look into
how an author goes about bringing an idea to fruition.
Both main and supporting characters were described in depth. I felt I
knew all of them very well by the end of the book and was sorry to see
their stories finish. Those who like some romance in their fairy tales
will enjoy Glory and Rolf's gentle love story while Princess
Mirabella's quest for someone she can live with is told with humour and
sympathy.
Lowry has succeeded in making her multiple narratives a consuming read.
All three stories flowed along smoothly due to some very clever
writing, helped along with different fonts for each narrator.
Readers who are interested in finding out about the writing process are
in for a real treat. Girls in particular are sure to enjoy Triple
Ripple, which would make an interesting class set or Literature
Circle
book.
Pat Pledger
Angel Creek by Sally Rippin
Text, 2011. ISBN 9781921758058. Angel Creek is a mind boggling mystery about a girl called Jelly
and
her two younger cousins, Gino and Pik, who find a baby angel down by
the creek on Christmas Eve. When Jelly wishes her cousins could stay a
few days, something
happens to Nonna to make her wish come true. Babies usually have
mums, so maybe the angel does too?
Then after a few strange events Jelly meets a boy who never told her
his name. Could he have something to do with the angel and also the
young
boy who drowned in the very same creek in which the angel was
found?
This is a fascinating novel by Sally Rippin and it would be enjoyed
by all ages. The characters in this story are truly beautiful and in
perfect
harmony.
I loved this book from cover to cover.
Sarah Filkin (Yr 9 student)
The Kissing Game by Aidan Chambers
Bodley Head, 2011.
(Age 14 - Adult) Highly recommended. Aidan Chambers is an author
whose writing seems effortless. When you read his stories it feels as
though he's in the same room, relaying them to you alone. His style is
simple and direct, forcing the reader to sit up and take notice. In The
Kissing
Game he presents an exquisite collection of stories, some
amusing and others starkly shocking. There's plenty to ponder on and
three have left a lasting impression as I just can't stop thinking
about them.
The title story is particularly powerful, opening as it does with a shy
boy feeling tongue tied in the presence of a pretty girl; fairly run of
the mill you might think, but nothing could prepare me for the chilling
conclusion. Also exceptional is Sanctuary, the story of a young
man
fighting agoraphobia to attend an interview for university and becoming
embroiled with a Ukrainian girl imprisoned as a slave and desperate to
escape.
There are sexual themes, hence the age guide, and the range and depth
of writing make this a crossover titles with equal adult appeal. I
particularly liked the contrast between the longer, meatier stories and
what Chambers describes as 'Flash Fiction': stories which act like a
spark or flash of light allowing a quick view of a whole scene, person
or event. In The Kissing Game his flash fictions tend to take
the form
of dialogue - edgy and immediate.
There is plenty here to appeal to both boys and girls. Try it with
teenagers who enjoy Bali Rai, Siobhan Dowd, Tabitha Suzuma, and Nicola
Morgan.
Claire Larson
Dangerously placed by Nansi Kunze
Random House, 2011. ISBN 9781864718829.
Do not let the cover mislead you! This novel is highly individual in
the plot - something new and exciting for readers. It is absolutely
stunning, well written - the story almost comes off the page! This
solid and well developed novel has real world characters.
The story follows Alex Thaler in her work placement at Virk. Virk is
part of a multi-million dollar company called Simulcorp. It is a
virtual workplace where the brightest minds from all over the world
come together under one roof (metaphorically speaking of course). Alex
and her fellow student Dale are placed in the marketing division just
before disaster strikes.
When Pierce Grody, head of the department is murdered and the key
suspect is Alex, Alex and her friends choose to band together to help
solve the mystery. Everyone plays a part is the story - from Ki's
cunning investigatory skills to the eccentric Budi with his previous
knowledge of the workplace.
This is a fantastic story set mainly in the virtual world, it has
everything a good novel needs - a main character who finds herself
along the way - a bit of mystery and a hint of romance. A recipe for a
good read! I would recommend this book to teenagers with a taste for
adventure and a craving for a good book.
(Kayla, age 15)
Maisy's wonderful weather book by Lucy Cousins
A Maisy First Science Book. Walker, 2011. ISBN 9781406328479.
(Age 18 months - 6 yrs) Recommended. Much loved by toddlers for the
bright illustrations and pull out tabs, the Maisy series are a delight
for children. This reprint of Maisy's wonderful weather book is
sure to be a winner
with the children who have followed other books about the life of Maisy
and her friends.
This book describes the different types of weather that a young child
might encounter and the types of clothes that will be just right for
the temperature. It begins with the young child being asked to draw
back the curtains and find out what the weather will be like. Then each
new double spread page has a rhyme vividly describing what it is like
to have a sunny day and a snowy day, a rainy day and a windy day.
It concludes with a stormy day and a beautiful rainbow day.
A side bar with pictures of clothes to wear and things to do for the
weather give an opportunity for the child to learn how to say or read
new words about the weather. Pull out tabs and moveable flaps make for
an enjoyable interactive reading experience. They are not too fragile
if used under supervision and can be easily repaired if little fingers
are too eager! The concluding double spread with a beautiful
rainbow tab is particularly delightful. Internal rhymes would make this
an ideal book to read aloud and a good choice for young children who
are ready to have a try at reading for themselves.
What an enjoyable way to learn about having fun in all types of
weather.
Pat Pledger
Revolution by Jennifer Donnelly
Bloomsbury, 2010. ISBN 9781408810453.
(Age 14+) Highly recommended. Jennifer Donnelly's award winning book A
gathering
light was a wonderful read, and in Revolution she brings
the
same detailed approach to history combining her tale of the French
Revolution with a modern one. Andi is a girl who is on the brink of
suicide. She blames herself for the death of her brother Truman, and is
devastated when her father leaves home and her mother's breakdown. When
her father unexpectedly visits, he insists that her mother is sent to a
psychriatic hospital and takes Andi to Paris with him. A Nobel Prize
winning DNA expert, he is testing the heart of a young child to see if
it belonged to Louis-Charles, the heir to the French throne, who was
imprisoned after his father was sent to the guillotine in the French
Revolution. Andi becomes engrossed in an old diary that she has found
in a guitar case and is so involved in the tragic story of Alexandrine
Paradis and her relationship with the young prince that the past seems
to be in her present.
Donnelly skillfully combines the historical details of Alex's life
during the French Revolution with Andi's struggle to overcome her guilt
and grief. The two girls are bound together by the common bonds of loss
and love, which have not changed over two centuries. The French
Revolution is vividly depicted in all its horror, the political aims of
its leaders uncovered and the unfeeling treatment of a small boy is
described in a heart breaking way.
The tension builds up to an almost unbearable point and I
couldn't put down the second half of the book as I avidly followed the
two stories asking myself would Andi recover from her grief in this
'stupid and brutal' world. And what happens to Alex in the French
catacombs?
The book is so richly layered with meanings that it is easy to overlook
them. Donnelly's references to music will be loved by music fans and
will have readers less musical looking up both 18th century and modern
music. The book is divided into three sections, Hell, Purgatory and
Paradise, with references to Dante's Inferno, and even Andi's full
name, Diandra Xenia Alpers, is an anagram for Alexandrine Paradis.
This is an outstanding book that deserves a place in all libraries. It
would make an excellent class set or literature circle book.
Pat Pledger
Greatest Greek myths by Sally Kindberg and Tracey Turner
(The Comic Strip series). Bloomsbury, 2011. ISBN 978 1408804490.
(Ages 7+) Humour. Recommended. At their bare bones, many Greek myths
are bloody and downright
nasty, and a comic strip version is just what is needed to garner
interest from middle primary people, and who knows they may look
further to read the complete myth in the many versions available. But
this book stands firmly on its own, funny, clever, majestically drawn,
the reader will be swallowed whole by the laugh a minute antics of the
gods and their playthings.
The first few pages introduce the reader to the gods on high,
Aphrodite. Hestia, Apollo, to name a few, with a well wrought phrase
under each picture which sums up their character. Then on to the
stories, beginning with, where else, the beginning, then on to
Persephone and her time in the underworld, going on to Pandora
letting the evils of the world escape form her box, and so on, until
we reach the hapless Helen of Troy and the war unleashed in her name.
Possibly unknown to a younger audience, this introduction gives the
bare outline of the stories in such a sharp and funny way that readers
will not only be informed but delighted. This small, hard cover book
with a strong binding is just right for this age group.
Fran Knight
The glass demon by Helen Grant
Penguin, 2010. ISBN 9780141325767.
(Age 14+) Recommended. Mystery/thriller. The vanishing of Katharina
by Helen Grant is
one of my favourite mystery reads so I was thrilled to get a copy of
The glass demon. I was not disappointed in this dark portrayal
of evil
and fear. Seventeen-year old Lin and her family are in Germany where
her father is on a campaign to find the Allerheiligen stained glass. On
their way to the castle where they are to live, Lin finds a dead man in
an orchard and steps in broken glass that was near the body. More
broken glass and bodies appear and Lin's baby brother is almost impaled
by a spear while sleeping in his cot. Terrified for the lives of her
family, Lin doesn't know where to turn for help. Together with Michel,
a young boy from a neighbouring farm, she sets out to find the murderer.
Grant builds up the suspense in The glass demon and it
continues right
until the terrifying climax. The chilling plot revolves around a legend
that the Allerheiligen glass is cursed by a demon. I found the
descriptions of Lin's fear that there may be a supernatural cause to
the deaths quite eerie, and at times was convinced that a real demon
was
responsible for the murders.
In addition to an exciting plot, well-rounded characters make the story
even more engrossing. I loved Lin's growth from a rather selfish teen
to a deeply thoughtful and caring adult. Her crush on a beautiful young
priest and gradual realisation of Michel's worth add a dash of romance
to the story. The descriptions of her family life with a selfish
father, ineffective young stepmother and ill older sister made me feel
as if I knew all the people in the story very well.
This is an exceptionally well written, exciting and engrossing mystery
that will appeal to both teens and adults. I can't wait for Grant's
next novel.
Pat Pledger
Playing the Shape game by Anthony Browne with Joe Browne
Doubleday, 2011.
All ages. Highly recommended. Like many book lovers I'm rather
suspicious of eBooks and if ever there is a case against them it is
summed up in Playing the Shape Game. I loved everything about
this
book; it's substantial - weighty and reassuring with velvet smooth
pages that feel and smell wonderful. The design and layout are a joy
and best of all it allows us a glimpse into Anthony Browne's life and
work.
Early chapters focus on childhood and Anthony's close relationship with
his father, also a talented artist. Growing up in the 50s and 60s
Anthony and his brother enjoyed sport and almost complete freedom to
play in the fields and quarries near home. Even as a young child his
interest in the surreal was apparent and a picture he drew at the age
of six shows a pirate family living in someone's trouser leg!
Much of the book is devoted to Browne's career with the through-line
being his lifelong preoccupation with the shape game. As an art student
he discovered Magritte and Dali, who although new to him felt strangely
familiar. Interestingly his final degree show entitled Man is an
Animal
focused on the similarities between human and animal behaviour - a hint
of things to come perhaps.
The story of his job as a graphic designer (he hated it) and then a
medical illustrator (initially terrifying) before launching into the
greetings card market make fascinating reading. In these days of
instant fame it's reassuring to read of a man who served an arduous and
at times soul searching apprenticeship.
Anthony Browne's editor Julia MacRae had a huge impact on his
development as an author and illustrator. He credits her with teaching
him that illustrations can reveal things that the text does not. There
are so many fascinating insights here - Anthony's preoccupation with
gorillas, his near death experience in a gorilla cage (almost as
surreal as his illustrations), his preoccupation with visual jokes, his
faith in children's ability to grasp underlying themes, and his
anathema for dumbing-down - all are strong messages. It's
fascinating to discover the background and inspiration for masterpieces
such as The Tunnel and Voices in the Park. It's made me
want to revisit
all of his books and my Amazon wish-list has grown considerably since
devouring Playing the Shape Game.
His joy at being awarded the Hans Christian Andersen medal in 2000 (the
first British illustrator to reach this pinnacle) sums up Anthony
Browne. What really comes across is his passionate belief in the power
of art, his faith in children and their ability to see and understand
far more than we adults realise and the importance of picture book for
all ages. More than once he decries the current obsession with children
being pushed to read 'proper books' i.e. those without illustrations.
You could almost forgive this giant of children's literature for being
rather pompous and self satisfied. Far from it, what really shines
through is Anthony Browne's modesty; his diffidence and his joy in art,
demonstrated by his continued questioning of how he works and his
desire to give something back. Perhaps it's no surprise that his self
portrait on the front cover bears more than a passing resemblance to a
rather wistful and introspective Willy the Wimp.
Claire Larson.
Wild Rescue - Poacher Peril by J. Burchett and S. Vogler
Hardie Grant Egmont, 2011. Fancy receiving an eyeball in the mail? An
unusual birthday present for sure!
In the first few pages of Wild Rescue - Poacher Peril our main
characters, twins Zoe and Ben, have already been presented with their
first mystery. They have received a puzzling message (and an eyeball)
from their
godfather; someone they thought had gone missing.
The twins are enlisted into a secret organisation called Wild.
They are
a group of environmentalists who help animals all over the world and it
is run by their godfather. Zoe and Ben's first mission is travel to
Sumatra and help keep a tiger and her cubs safe from poachers. Their
job is to
discover who the poachers are and inform the authorities. Along the
way, their courage is tested as they try and save the tigers from a
trap and they
learn that not everything should be judged by its appearance.
The language used by the authors is descriptive, making it interesting
for readers aged 10+. The events move quickly, are full of adventure
and any young reader - girl or boy - will enjoy trying to solve the
mystery of
who the poachers are. It is also full of messages concerning looking
after
the environment and animals and the illustrations, though in black and
white, are detailed and show you who the characters are.
Kylie Kempster
Last Sacrifice by Richelle Mead
Vampire Academy. Penguin, 2010. ISBN 978-1921518904.
(Age 12+) Last Sacrifice is the final book in the Vampire
Academy
series. In this book Rose must prove she is innocent when she is
accused of killing Queen Tatiana. When her friends break her out of
prison she has to stay as far from the court as possible and not get
caught by the other guardians while her friends and parents
find enough evidence to prove she is innocent. So along with Dimitri
and Alchemist Sydney they set out to find the missing Dragomir, the one
Tatiana mentioned in the note she left for Rose and who almost no one
know exists. In their journey to find the missing Dragomir they bring
back Dimitri's Srtigoi past, work with Robert Doru and Victor Daskov
and convince Lissa to run for queen.
I really liked this book. It was definitely a great ending to a great
series. I would recommend that people read this book especially if
you've read the series.
Tahlia Kennewell (student)
No safe place by Deborah Ellis
Allen and Unwin, 2011. ISBN 978 1742374709.
(Ages 12+) Highly recommended. Refugees. The picture of Abdul standing
on
the edge of Calais watching backpackers, oblivious to anyone else,
showing their passports and getting on a ferry for England, secure in
the knowledge that they have that privilege, stayed with me for the
whole of this tense read. Other images rose up in my mind, but that one
of the huge gulf between the two worlds that exists today, that of non
refugees and refugees, remains with me.
As Abdul bravely claims a place on a boat leaving French soil the
stories of the other passengers on that tiny boat are revealed. Once
out in the channel, the boat owner turns on the refugees but they throw
him overboard. Struggling to survive they wash up against a pleasure
cruiser and in a strange turn of events take over the cruiser and head
north west, knowing they will hit either England or Ireland. When they
do they are helped by a young girl, oblivious to the political
machinations behind these four children seeking a better life for
themselves.
Their stories are harrowing, made up of a range of stories Ellis has
heard while researching this book, revealing for our very sheltered
readers what children of their age must contend with, things many of us
will never see. From the orphaned Chesley, holding on to an image
of his mother through a series of Russian boys' homes before ending up
in an army cadet school, to Rosalia, taken by her uncle's friend to
Germany where they think she will be employed as a maid, to the nephew
of the boat owner, Jonah, told that he is useless and a burden and
finally Abdul, the main character of the story, holding a myriad of
stories within him of unjustified persecution, loss and despair, this
novel will firstly engender disbelief and then sympathy from its
readers.
Ellis' fight for human rights, particularly for children scarred by
war, forms a powerful sub text to this novel, and along with the multi
award winning Parvana series, will be promoted within schools as part
of a literature study of books about our contemporary world, or as a
class text, and all students will follow Abdul's story with pleasure
and empathy.
Fran Knight
Sudden death by Nick Hale
Striker series. Egmont, 2010. ISBN 9781405249508.
(Age 13+) Jake Bastin is the son of a soccer legend called Steve
Bastin. Steve retired from soccer when he tore tendons in his leg. He
became a coach and he travelled all over the world with his teams.
Jake's parents wanted Jake to stay in one city, so he stayed with his
mother after his parents divorced. But when Jake finally goes to London
to live with his father, Steve is offered a position as the coach of a
soccer team owned by a shady Russian oil billionaire. Steve doesn't
want to take Jake to Russia, especially after the talent scout that
offered him the job died under suspicious circumstances right in front
of his eyes. Jake managed to convince his father to bring him with to
Russia even though his Steve thinks it is far too dangerous. This is
proved when the pilots of the private plane are both shot and all seems
to be lost.
This is a well written book, and I really enjoy action/mystery stories,
but not soccer. Even if you don't like soccer, the book doesn't have
that much soccer in it, you could even imagine it with a different
sport. I recommend this book to people who enjoy a bit of mystery and
action.
Gareth Peer(Student)
Always Jack by Susanne Gervay
Harper Collins, 2010. ISBN 9780732290207. Always Jack is a wonderful story involving a modern, blended
family -
step
dad, mum, kids and nanna. Along with the problems of everyday life
(like mum
getting married again) they are facing breast cancer.
The author, Susanne Gervay, writes from the perspective of Jack, the
oldest
child who is still in primary school. He is an inventor, a cook, a good
friend and a great big brother. He looks after his nanna, is always
telling
jokes and helps everyone in his family. Understanding events from his
perspective will be appealing to independent readers (12+) as it is a
language they understand. Any child going through similar events such
as
nanna moving in, mum getting remarried or gaining step brothers will
also
understand what Jack is going through. If any parents read this book,
they
will want a son like Jack! I know I wish mine would do the cooking!
Yes, you will need a tissue at one point - breaking the news of breast
cancer to your children would be one of the hardest things a parent
ever has
to do but Susanne Gervay tackles it in a thoughtful and positive way.
You
realise that this independent and strong minded boy still needs his
mum. The
heart-warming part is how the family comes together and helps each
other
through and how they are willing to sacrifice other things as long as
their
mum is OK.
Kylie Kempster
