Random House, 2010.
Junior primary. This series of small books aimed at junior primary
school people
(the target audience says beginner reader) will have appeal to
young girls who have recently begun school, and so making new friends
and finding out about writing. The two girls in these books, Polly and
Jez, are great friends because their mothers were pen pals, but their
separation means writing letters to each other to tell their friend
what is happening to them. Each volume has things for the reader to do
at the end of the book; recipes, craft ideas and ideas for letter
writing.
In Summer days (ISBN 9781864719000) the girls are introduced to
the
reader. Polly is about to go on a caravan trip around Australia with
her grandparents. Her letters and postcards to Jez are full of the
sights she sees, while Jez replicates some of the things Polly talks
about in her own home.
In School days (ISBN 9781864719017) the girls are off to
school,
but while Jez goes to a conventional school, Polly is taking classes
over the internet with a class which spreads over Australia.
In Olden days (ISBN 9781864719024) the two girls relive the
past
through Polly's Gran's stories, and Jez's mother's letters. This book
involves recipes and stories of the past. Fran Knight
Stravaganza: City of ships by Mary Hoffman
(Age 12+) Recommended. Imagine what it is like to be Isabel, the twin who is always on the sidelines, who never quite shines like her brother Charlie. Isabel is so unhappy that she makes up an imaginary twin for herself named Charlotte, who was born 10 minutes after her and about whom she can feel a little bit superior. But one day she finds a velvet bag full of silver tesserae, beautiful mosaic tiles that transport her back in time to the sixteenth century. In Classe, a seaside town in the country of Talia, an Italy in a parallel dimension Isabel discovers that she is to play a vital role in saving the town from being overtaken by the Gate people, encouraged by Fabrizio di Chimici, the Duke of Giglia. I loved the setting of Talia, which has all the richness and intrigue of 16th century Italy. The descriptions of pirate attacks and the land and sea battles were amazing. I found the map of Talia and the pictures of the ships used in the Sea Battle of Classe (1580), the historical notes and family tree really interesting as they added to an understanding of the historical period. Isabel's heroism in helping to save the Classe ships was rivetting as was the role that Andrea, the handsome pirate, plays. As a Stravagante, Isabel discovers that she has strengths not just in Talia, but in 21st century London. The others in the Stravagante group, Lucien, Georgia, Sky and Matt, invite her to join their group and her confidence about herself and her ability to make friends grows. After her journeys to Talia, where she is greeted as a saviour of Classe and meets Arianna and Luciano who are also Stravagante, she finds that she is able to tackle things like swimming and manage to do them well. Even Charlie is impressed with the group of friends that she has and there is a growing romance with Sky. This is the 5th book in the Stravaganza series following City of Masks, City of Stars, City of Flowers, and City of Secrets. It can be read as a stand alone, as Hoffman gives enough background about previous characters for the reader to understand what is going on. However reading the whole series from the beginning would obviously be an advantage. Recommended for readers who enjoy adventure, history and a touch of romance. Pat Pledger
Pretty monsters by Kelly Link
Text Publishing, 2010. ISBN 9781921656361.
(Ages 13+) Recommended. Short stories. Horror/Fantasy. If you are after
something unusual and thought provoking then this set of five short
stories will fit the bill.
Kelly Link's stories are highly original with strange plots and
surprise endings. Even when you think that you have worked out what has
happened, there is an unexpected twist and all your problem solving
goes awry. What really occurs in Pretty Monsters, the most
memorable of
the stories? I am still trying to work it out! Are there really
werewolves? How could the girls be so monstrous to a classmate? Who is
really recounting what happens? All these questions could lead to a
great class discussion. The Surfer is another memorable, short story with a young boy
who
thinks he is terrific at soccer, trapped in a refugee camp, waiting for
aliens to arrive. His only refuge is reading his father's science
fiction books, which are a good introduction to classic sci-fi titles
for teen readers. It is more plot driven than Pretty Monsters
and as
such is easier to understand. The Cinderella Game is a spooky story of a young boy who plays
Cinderella with Darcy, his new stepsister. It also had an ambiguous
ending that left me trying to puzzle out what was really going on.
Each story has a unique illustration by Shaun Tan that gives an
introduction to what the tale could be about. It was fun looking at the
drawings and making some predictions about the stories from them and
the titles. I found myself going back to the illustrations and getting
a whole new perspective on what the story may have been about.
Each of these stories is a challenge and one that the reader will find
different and stimulating.
Pat Pledger
Jameela by Rukhsana Khan
Allen and Unwin, 2010. ISBN: 9781742372594.
Suitable for 10 years and
above. This book is set in war-torn Afghanistan after the
American
intervention and shows some aspects of the effects of war on civilians.
In this case the narrator is Jameela, a young girl whose life is turned
upside down when she finds her invalid mother dead. Jameela and
her father move to the city of Kabul hoping that he can find work
there. She is employed as a domestic help for a wealthy family
and is envious of the daughter who has a tutor to teach her English.
Her father begins a relationship with another woman who convinces him
that life would be cheaper and better without Jameela. So her
father abandons Jameela in a city street and she ends up in an
orphanage. In many situations she repeats the mantra, 'don't
become angry, don't become angry. '
Jameela's mother once told her, 'If you can't be beautiful you should
at least be good'. Being a devout Muslim and thus having
her face covered by a 'porani,' it is only half way through the book
that we realise that she has the deformity of a cleft palate. However
she is relatively happy at the orphanage as she is taught English and
becomes a quick learner. Jameela grows to understand that people are
all different and have both good and bad characteristics.
The story is fiction but based on true incidents. It does a great job
of introducing the reader to another culture and religion and the
complexities of life. It would be a good text to illustrate childhood
resilience and parental neglect. The author was born in
Pakistan and has written extensively on Muslim themes, which is a core
component of this book also. A glossary of Arabic terms enables
the reader to fully understand many of the words and phrases integrated
into the text.
Kay Haarsma
(NOTE: It appears that an earlier edition was published by Groundwater
in 2009 under the title Wanting Mor.)
Noah's Garden by Mo Johnson
Ill. by Annabelle Josse. Walker Books, 2010. ISBN: 978 1921150159.
Highly recommended. Picture book. In Noah's garden, anything is
possible. He flies
seaplanes, bathes with tigers, rides on camels, dances with penguins,
fights with pirates, spies on helicopters and wishes with Grandad. The
most important wish Noah makes is to have Jessica come to play in his
garden but this dream never seems to be realised. 'Surprises come
suddenly in Noah's garden', however, and finally his wish comes true.
A simple, touching story, suitable for the youngest of readers, this is
based on the experiences of a family whose daughter was born with
Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome. Noah continues to dream while he waits
for his sister to come and join him in the hospital garden. Josse's
beautiful watercolour illustrations alternate between realistic and
imagined scenes and depict the garden as a place of beauty, wonder and
peace. The doctors and nurses and the interior of the hospital are
sensitively and realistically portrayed, as are Noah's emotions.
According to the blurb at the back of the book, Jessica's seven month
stay in hospital provided the inspiration for this story which has the
capacity to melt many a healthy adult heart. It speaks of 'courage and
resilience in the face of adversity' and acknowledges the gardens which
are part of many hospitals, as well as those who create and care for
them. With royalties being donated to the Royal Children's Hospital
Foundation, Melbourne, and its gentle and thought provoking content,
this is a book which is definitely to be highly recommended.
Jo Schenkel
Somme Mud by Private Edward Lynch
Edited by Will Davies. Random House Australia, 2010. Abridged Edition.
(Age 14+) Highly recommended. This gripping and memorable account of
Private Edward
(Nulla) Lynch's experience of the French battlefields during the First
World War is highly recommended for students. The story begins with
Nulla's departure by ship from Sydney and training near Stonehenge in
England before the baptism of mud and horror in the area of the
Somme River during the winter of 1916-1917. Soldiers sink to their
knees in mud and have to use blankets to stand on. Action in the
trenches is described in horrifying detail as soldiers are pressed into
hand-to-hand combat in a stark landscape full of noise, stench and
fragmented bodies. Warfare's effect on the Australians and their enemy,
physical courage, psychological disintegration, bravery and acts of
mateship are vividly described. Private Lynch is wounded and briefly
describes his recuperation back in England before once again going into
battle. The reader is amazed at how luck influences life and death
situations right up to the German surrender in 1918.
Each chapter is accompanied by a brief introduction that puts the
action in appropriate context. Excellent photographs enhance the text
which includes attitudes and vocabulary used at the time. A glossary is
included as well as maps showing the battlefields and a discussion
guide for History students.
Paul Pledger
Star Friends by Isabella Cass
Corgi Books,
2010.
(Age: 9 +) Star
Friends is two novels packaged into one, each fizzing
with fame, fun and friendship at a London theatre school nicknamed
Superstar
High. Doubtless the series will gain a cult following as it's perfect
for girls
who live and breathe theatre arts.
Cat, Holly and
Belle meet on their first day at The Garrick School of Performing Arts
and
instantly become firm friends. This is Mallory Towers for the 21st
century and Cass is well versed in the lingo. Story lines are 'stoked
to the
max', and everything from boys to Shakespeare is described as mega,
massive,
cool and awesome.
All the girls are
hugely attractive and between demi-plies, voice coaching
and advanced acting, they devote a vast amount of time to chasing
eligible boys,
who are variously green eyed, floppy fringed and lopsidedly grinning.
There is
an avalanche of Jimmy Choo, Versace and Bobby Brown with not one
'issue' on the
fame filled horizon. The closest we get to a dastardly plot is someone
shrinking
your cashmere Armani poncho by putting it on boil wash.
It's all very
predictable but Cass does preach the importance of school work, hard
graft and
team work. (The token enemy, Bianca gets her comeuppance when the
gorgeous Jack
dumps her after the shrinking cashmere poncho incident). There is
nothing
inappropriate, but equally there is little substance and an awful lot
of
marshmallow. However, we all enjoy a bit of chick lit so point this in
the
direction of starry eyed ten year olds. They'll love you for it.
Claire Larson
The vegetable ark by Kim Kane
Ill. by Sue deGennaro. Allen and Unwin, 2010. ISBN 9781741759969.
Picture book. Sub titled, 'A tale of two brothers', the front cover
will give children and adults some clues as to what the story may be
about. The word 'ark' is evocative of Noah and the ark, and this story
may be drawn from some students before reading the book. Weather
patterns on the endpapers also gives clues, and opening up, the first
page tells us of the two brothers, one Noah and the other, Neil. Each
boy has different skills and interests; Noah is competitive and keen on
business ventures, while Neil is more interested in his vegetable
garden. But when the call comes to build an ark, Noah fills his ark
with animals, the better to corner the meat market when the flood is
over, while Neil sees that before meat comes vegetables and so makes
his own boat and fills it with seeds and seedlings.
The story ends with Neil being the one to find land and plant his
seedlings, while Noah is still sending out his dove to find a sign of
land. The quirky rivalry between the brothers can be construed as the
rivalry between carnivores and vegetarians, while the whole is a
delightfully modern retelling of Noah and the ark. Readers will love to
talk about their own experiences with sibling rivalry, using Noah and
Neil as a template for discussion.
The illustrations by Sue deGennaro are infectiously funny. Neil's long
limbs seem to spread out over the page, while Noah's short squat body
initially takes up more room, then fades from the scene. Images of
gardening and water litter every page, and will entice young eyes to
find them.
Fran Knight
Herbert the Brave Sea Dog by Robyn Belton
Walker Books, 2010. ISBN 9781921529206
(Age 5+) Highly recommended. With his young owner, Tim, a small
sea-loving dog named Herbert lived in Nelson, New Zealand. When Tim's
father headed off to sea with his friends, Herbert leapt aboard the
boat leaving the boy and his mother to drive and meet them at a cottage
in the Marlborough Sounds. En route, a storm appeared at sea causing
Herbert to lose his balance and fall into the ocean. Not until the boat
had safely navigated through French Pass did the men realise the dog
was missing. Unable to turn around, they continued their journey and
shared the news with a distraught Tim. The following day, the young boy
accompanied a local fisherman out to retrace his father's journey.
Miraculously Herbert was discovered, exhausted but alive, following his
thirty hour ordeal in the ocean.
This heart-warming story is based on fact, incorporating maps, excerpts
of letters from well wishers, newspaper clippings and memorabilia about
the event as part of the endpapers. The text is not excessive for young
readers and the water colour illustrations capture the mood of the
story extremely well. Although based on events which occurred some
twenty years ago, this is a timeless tale. With highly accessible
themes of family, friendship, perseverance and courage, this book would
be highly recommended for readers from junior primary to considerably
older pet lovers.
Jo Schenkel
Going bovine by Libba Bray
Allen and Unwin, 2010. ISBN 9781742372907.
(Age 15+) Highly recommended. Winner of the prestigious US Michael L
Printz
Award Libba Bray's Going Bovine is the wonderful story of
Cameron
Smith, a misfit sixteen-year-old. He leads a boring teenage life,
working at the Buddha Burger and slacking his way through school, never
trying to compete with his perfect sister. When he starts to get sick
he is diagnosed with Mad Cow Disease and told he is going to die.
Dulcie, an angel dressed in punk clothes, appears and assures him that
there is a cure if he's willing to go after it. From then on, Cameron
goes on a mad road trip with Gonzo, a hypochondriac dwarf and Balder, a
Norse god disguised as a garden gnome.
Libba Bray has written a complicated story where the reader has to make
decisions all the time about whether Cameron is hallucinating or is
really on a road trip. Interspersed are comments on physics and
philosophy, life and love. This is not a book for the faint hearted. It
is 478 pages long, full of weird memories, comments about the world and
lots of self-discovery for Cameron. Bray brings it to a very satisfying
ending with her brilliant writing.
The complex ideas, satire and commentary on materialism as well as
references to drugs and some strong language make this a book for the
older teen, especially those who like strange and wacky stories like
The hitchhiker's guide to the galaxy by Douglas Adams.
Pat Pledger
A giraffe in the bath by Mem Fox and Olivia Rawson
Ill. by Kerry Argent. Puffin, 2010. ISBN 9780670072132.
(Age 2+) Highly recommended. What imaginations Mem Fox and Olivia
Rawson have! They have come up with some wonderful ideas that might
make you laugh. Not only is there a giraffe in a bath, there is a sheep
in the shower, a frog in the flour, and an emu on the swings.
Children will delight in the ridiculous suggestions and will have lots
of fun coming up with their own ideas for making people laugh. Lots of
rhyme and alliteration make the text a great read aloud and emerging
readers will enjoy working out the words, which are beautifully
supported by the colourful pictures.
What made this book outstanding for me were the illustrations by Kerry
Argent. They are utterly fantastic and just so funny. The roo on the
loo and the crocodile with style made me laugh out loud.
This book is certainly a keeper with its hilarious ideas and
delightful illustrations. It is a must for grandparents and for
libraries.
Pat Pledger
Captivate by Carrie Jones
Bloomsbury, 2010. ISBN 9781408807415.
(Age 14+) Captivate is the second book in the series following Need,
which
should
be read first to gain an understanding of the characters
and what has happened. After imprisoning the pixies and their King,
Zara and her friends find that this is not a satisfactory solution.
More pixies are arriving, lured by the opportunity to take over the
King's realm and rule his followers. Zara is confronted by a new King,
Astley, who declares that there are both good and bad pixies. He
believes that he is good and that Zara is destined to be his Queen.
Another dark King appears and suddenly everything that Zara loves is at
risk.
Jones spends a lot of time in the book working up the romance between
Zara and Nick with some minor romantic moments with Devyn and Issy.
Although there are some amusing moments in the relationship, I found it
a bit cloying. However this is important background for the action and
decisions that Zara has to make about whether she will become a pixie
queen. She has to decide whether she can trust the newly arrived King,
Astley, who I found to be rather a shadowy character. I would have
liked more in-depth characterisation here, as it was unclear whether he
is a worthy King for Zara or even a new love interest. An extra minor
character, Cassidy, adds some tension to the group dynamics.
Jones tosses in some Norse mythology, this time looking at a Valkyrie
who takes away dying warriors to Valhalla, the kingdom of Odin. I found
this addition to the faerie mythology a bit strange but it is necessary
to the plot. This time the author prefaces her chapter headings with
hints on how to deal with pixies. These Pixie tips are often amusing
and add a lighthearted touch to the tense action and strained
relationships. The humour is a welcome addition to this type of story.
This is another light, easy to read paranormal book, which teenagers
will enjoy. There is a cliffhanger ending that ensures that the third
in the series will be picked up. Teens who like this story may like to
move onto Marianne Curley's The named, which is well written
and has
lots of action.
Pat Pledger
The turn of the screw by Henry James. Retold by Pauline Frances
Fast Track Classics. Evans Publishing, 2009.
(Age 12-16) Recommended reading level 9-12. Pitched at Primary level
readers, this novella seeks to re-tell the ghost story of the same
title written by Henry James. This is not a story that is suited to
reworking as an abridged children's version as it is complex and
demands that the reader analyse the characters and events beyond the
textual narrative. Readers will want to know what is going on and why
things are happening. Most will not be capable of questioning the
faculties of the characters, pondering alternative motives or
appreciating the psychological manipulation that occurs within the
story. There is nothing improper for children in the text, however the
ambiguous nature of the recount and necessity for the reader to
interpret the events and decide for themselves what is happening make
it unsuitable for most children. The situation of a governess caring
for two young children in a large manor house, with only the company of
a housekeeper to help her deal with mysterious happenings may be
foreign and unappealing to children. This is because the setting is
simplistic, yet the events that unfold are extremely complex.
Contemporary readers will be confused by the absence of ghost story
elements that are familiar to them. Modern children may also be
completely bored by the twee conversational language and the unnamed
central character's ridiculously hysterical reactions to events which
are fairly benign compared with most plots. Being seemingly at odds
with existing engaging literature for young children, I considered that
the story may be intended as motivational material for reluctant or
struggling lower secondary readers. Despite being a classic tale, which
demands a more mature examination, it could still be considered
insulting to this audience because the frequent pictures are juvenile.
Few disinclined readers would be interested by the language, setting
and lack of clarity within this book and I find it hard to recommend.
Rob Welsh
Stolen by Lucy Christopher
Chicken House, 2009. ISBN 978-1906427139.
(Age 14+) Highly recommended. Sixteen year old Gemma is drugged and
stolen from the Bangkok Airport and taken to a remote area in the Sandy
Desert in outback Australia. In a letter to her captor, Gemma outlines
everything that has happened to her. The vivid descriptions of the
desert, the isolation and her fears and feelings for Ty, the young
attractive man who has kidnapped her, make for compulsive reading.
Christopher has set up two memorable characters in Gemma and Ty. Gemma
is spoilt and middle class. Ty is a well built, artistic young man, the
opposite of the stereotype of a kidnapper who is obsessed with a young
girl. As Gemma's ordeal continues, the author brilliantly outlines her
growth as a person and her determination to get free, while reflecting
on the dependency that grows between captor and victim. The reader also
begins to understand the awful pressure that Ty has been under all his
life, his mother's desertion, his father's fall into despair, and his
experiences as a lonely boy in the bush. The realisation that Ty's
obsession has begun many years before when Gemma was a very young girl
is very unsettling.
I loved this book, and thought that it would make a worthy Year 11 or
Year 12 study. There are many themes to explore: obsession, love,
dependency, and the desert as a prison as well as Stockholm syndrome,
when a hostage begins to have positive feelings towards the
captor, and which is explored in depth by Gemma especially in the
dramatic conclusion of the story. Unlike in the novel, Living dead
girl, by Elizabeth Scott, Christopher doesn't describe the sexual
feelings that Ty may have and the aftermath of the abduction is left to
the reader to imagine. Stolen is certainly worthy of its nomination for the Cilip Carnegie
Medal 2010 and CBCA Older Readers shortlist 2010.
Pat Pledger
Spirals series by various authors
Evans, 2009.
(Age 6+) This series is brightly illustrated and contains
32 pages of easy to read text ranging from 300 to 500 words. The
illustrations complement the words, giving clues for the young reader
to follow. I enjoyed all the stories. Monster in the Garden by Anne Rooney ISBN: 978023753 8897.
When Patrick hears Patrick hears 'Mieuw, Mieuw!' when he is playing in
the garden he is convinced that it is a monster. With lots of clues
that a young reader can follow to work out what the monster is, this
book was an interesting introduction to mystery stories. George and the dragonfly by Andy Blackford. ISBN 9780237538842.
George is tired of his pet hamster and decides that there are more
interesting animals around for a pet. A dragonfly shows him all the
fascinating things he can find in his own garden. Catchy dialogue with
internal rhymes will make this good to read aloud. Tuva by Mick Gowar and Tone Eriksen. ISBN: 9780237538859.
This is the story of Tuva, the sledge dog, who pulls sledges through
blizzards and ice, even fighting off a polar bear. A verse story with
four lines to each stanza, tells the story of Tuva from the time he was
a puppy to his old age. The rhythm is good and this would make an easy
and interesting first reader. Wait a Minute, Ruby! by Mary Chapman. ISBN: 9780237538880.
Everyone is too busy for Ruby so she packs her bag and decides to leave
home. Amusing illustrations that complement the short text make for an
easy read for the newly independent reader. The King of Kites by Judith Heneghan. ISBN: 9780237538866.
When Anil's mother uses up all the material and sequins for her sewing,
Anil is devastated because he has promised 12 kites for the wedding.
What can he do? Set in an Indian village this is a lovely tale of
co-operation. Just Custard by Joe Hackett. ISBN: 978023753
8873.
Why will Duncan only eat custard? Any child who has been jealous of a
younger sibling and felt ignored will identify with this tale about the
baby who dominates the household. Bright illustrations complement the
text of this amusing story.
Pat Pledger
