Reviews

Guardian of the dead by Karen Healey

Australia: Allen and Unwin, 2010. ISBN 9781741758801.
UK: Little, Brown, 2010. ISBN 9780316044301.
(Age 15+) Recommended. Ellie Spencer is just an ordinary girl, hanging out with her best friend Kevin and trying to keep her studies going. She lives at a boarding school in New Zealand but one day everything changes. Fog invades the forest near the school and there is a murderer on the loose. Ellie is frightened by the weird eyes of Reka, a woman who has a part in the play she is helping with, and Mark, the mysterious dark boy she has a crush on, seems to be manipulating her mind.
There are several surprises in the story that set it above other fantasy stories. Kevin, Ellie's best friend is asexual, and this is handled sensitively by Healey. The romance between Ellie and Mark grows slowly and there is an awesome conclusion. The shadowy Reka is a satisfying villain, and there are shocks in store for the reader with her character. Best of all, Ellie is a strong girl and I found it very easy to identify with her problems and cheer along with her as she found her powers.
This is an original fantasy and its use of Maori myths and legends make it a welcome addition to other books like A great and terrible beauty by Libba Bray, which also delve into the supernatural. Even though I was not familiar with Maori mythology, I found that I was fascinated with the idea of a Guardian of the dead and would certainly recommend this story to lovers of fantasy.
Pat Pledger

Strange angels by Lili St Crow

Razorbill (Penguin), 2009. ISBN 9781921518324.
(Age 14+)Recommended. Dru Anderson is a sixteen year old girl who has been left alone when her father disappeared while hunting Sergei, a ferocious sucker, who turned him into a zombie. Intelligent and capable, Dru finds herself on the run from Sergei. She is befriended by Graves a boy from school, who takes her to his hideout in a mall, but he too becomes a target and after being bitten, turns into a loup-garou, a half werewolf. Christophe, a djamphir, half vampire, who hunts evil vampires, appears on the scene and more adventures occur.
This is a well-written fantasy that will appeal to lovers of the Twilight series. Thankfully Dru is a strong feisty heroine, who is not afraid to plunge into the fray, using her combat skills to defend herself and her friends. Graves and Christophe provide a touch of love interest and there is action galore. I particularly found Graves to be an interesting character. Left alone at a young age, he has managed to find himself a place to live, attends school regularly and is determined to use education to get himself out a cycle of poverty. Whether becoming a loup-garou confounds this worthy aim remains to be seen in future books in the series.
I eagerly followed the roller coaster action, liked the characters and found the freezing conditions in the Dakotas an interesting setting. Dru's often sarcastic and funny monologue provided a break from the pace of the conflict.
Pat Pledger

Jameela by Rukhsana Khan

Allen and Unwin, 2010. 978 1743272594
(Ages 10-13) When Jameela's mother dies in their small home in a village in Afghanistan, her father resorts to smoking opium, coming home a few days later with news of moving to Kabul. Jameela must pack her few belonging, the rest of the goods and the house having been sold, and they stay in a friend's house in the city while father finds work. Jameela's life is in turmoil, but none more so when father announces he is to remarry. His new wife treats Jameela harshly, and when she spies a friendship between the disfigured girl and her son, persuades her father to do something more permanent. On the pretence of going shopping at the market, Jameela is left by a shop. She waits all day, only the kindly butcher, realising what her father has done, offering her food and water, then shelter for the night. He and his wife cannot keep her and so take her to the orphanage, where a new world opens up for her.
Here she learns to read and helps the teacher in the classroom. When soldiers come to the orphanage they inspect her face, despite trying to keep her porani about her, and she is taken away and her lip fixed. At the orphanage she befriends Soraya a young girl, who develops a plan to get back at the mother in law, when she comes to the orphanage seeking Soraya as a wife for her son.
A Cinderella story for our times, this marvelous book, suffused with Afghani words and phrases, infused with the sights and sounds of Afghanistan at war, will help to enlighten its readers as to how children survive in a war ravaged country where food is always short, parents make horrific decisions, and compassion comes from the most unlikely of quarters. Readers will empathize with this young girl as she tries to find a place to call home, struggling with the strange girls at the orphanage, trying to keep up her religious views despite opposition and distraught at her father's decision to abandon her. She is a strong minded young girl, a character with whom readers will immediately identify. That it is based on a true story adds piquancy to the mix, increasing its appeal. A glossary at the end adds new words to the readers' vocabulary, and gives them a peep into the world of an Afghani girl.
Fran Knight

Her fearful symmetry by Audrey Niffenegger

Jonathan Cape, 2009. ISBN 9780224085625.
(16 - adult) Recommended. When Elspeth Noblin dies, she leaves her London flat to her nieces who are mirror twins, even though she is estranged from her own twin, Edie, their mother. Julia and Valentina are delighted to leave Chicago and go to live in the flat that overlooks Highgate Cemetery. They feel that their futures will begin. When they arrive they become entangled with the lives of Robert, Elspeth's former lover, Martin who makes crossword puzzles and doesn't leave his flat and the ghostly image of Elspeth herself, who is stuck in her apartment.
After thoroughly enjoying The time traveller's wife, I was delighted to read another book by the formidable Audrey Niffenegger and I was not disappointed. Although there wasn't the lure of a wonderful love story in Her fearful symmetry, the complexities surrounding the two sets of twins was compelling and the real setting of Highgate Cemetery sets it apart from traditional ghost stories. Niffenegger does not hesitate to go into the realms of the unexpected with this story and her exploration of what it would be like to be a ghost is riveting. Her characters are well drawn and the struggle that an individual twin can go through to have a life of her own is quite fascinating. There are many unexpected twists and turns and a surprise ending, which made me consider what are ethical actions for a long time after I finished reading.
The book will satisfy readers who like well-written, intricate fantasy and ghost stories.
Pat Pledger

A bit of company by Margaret Wild and Wayne Harris

Walker Books, 2009. ISBN 9781921529054.
Picture book A reprint of a favourite picture book is always welcome. Christopher is lonely. His mother's time is taken up well and truly by the arrival of the triplets. Next door Molly is lonely, so lonely that one Monday morning she screams.  Her screams brings Christopher to the fence and seeing her in a similar plight to his own, they become friends. Whenever they need a bit of company, one or the other of them screams across the fence and the other will come running.  Eventually the families across the fence become friends, and Molly and Christopher broaden their friendship group to include Mum and the triplets. One day the triplets scream, and they all come running. The illustrations to this lovely tale of friendship enrich the story. Rounded figures dominate the pages as Christopher and Molly run to each other's aid. The triplets too are huge and in the reader's face, with their cloth nappies, safety pins and caps. A wonderfully warm story to entrance the younger reader.
Fran Knight

Xisle by Steve Augarde

Random House, 2009. ISBN 978038561062.
Recommended. Set in a nasty future where men must give up their boys in the hope of a better life on the island nearby which still has much of the remnants of twentieth century life, this is the story of two such boys, condemned to a fate of bone crunchingly hard work until they are of no further use to those on the island. Much of the world has been inundated after a series of extreme weather events has pushed the water level to cover all they know. The family on the island makes a living diving for goods beneath the water, and the boys are traded from what is left on the mainland, useful because of their size, shape and cowed demeanor.
The island is a great refuse dump; full of the flotsam scavenged form beneath the waves, and traded across the known lands nearby for precious diesel and fresh food. Those with oil have power but the family has even greater power, and the father, called Preacher John, believes in sacrifice. The two boys, Ray and Baz, support each other through their grim days, until, finally pushed to the limit when one of their kind dies, they decide to take revenge. The boys build a bomb and hide it on the diving vessel, ready to take the family and the divers down with it.
With overtones of many of the better dystopian stories and echoes of Lord of the Flies, this story packs a punch as the boys must take the law into their own hands. A long read (480p) it will however be readily snapped up.
Fran Knight

Not last night but the night before by Colin McNaughton and Emma Chichester Clark

Walker Books, 2009. ISBN 9781406325560.
(Ages 3+) Not last night but the night before an imaginative little boy had a lot of visitors knocking at his door. There was the Man in the moon, three blind mice and the farmer's wife, three little pigs, Punch and Judy and lots of other familiar nursery rhyme characters. Why are they knocking at his door and bowling him over as they rush up the stairs?
This is a charming book celebrating birthdays and nursery rhymes. It has amusing rhymes and repetition of the title that will make it a good read aloud. The happy birthday song, with its hilarious word change will have children giggling. Children will be familiar with the nursery rhyme characters and will have fun recalling the rhymes as the story progresses. It would also make a good adjunct to a unit on nursery rhymes.
The illustrations are cute and lots of fun to examine. I particularly liked the man in the moon, wearing green patterned tights and brandishing a wand scattering stars as he races up the stairs.
Pat Pledger

Right Now (series) by various authors

London, Evans Brothers, 2009.
(Ages 11-14) Right now, a series of books produced by Evans Brothers Ltd in London caters for those early teens who find reading a chore. These are graphic in design with between 20 and 40 words to the page, exciting and fast paced. Although short, brightly coloured and enticing, they do not have the look of a reader for those who cannot read, and will be eagerly picked up by more able readers as well. At the end of each book is a couple of pages of suggestions for both the teacher and the student to follow up their reading.
Dumped by Dee Phillips has Vicky waiting for her boyfriend Chris. He is late and she evaluates the reasons why she should stay in London with Chris or go to Australia with her father.
Fight by Dee Phillips has several boys incensed over the loss of a mobile phone which has apparently been stolen, meeting on Friday night where things escalate out of control when one boy produces a knife.
Dare by Dee Phillips, shows Lauren staying overnight in a scary house, where she must face whatever is in there. When asked what was her scariest moment by the television host of the series she explains about the voice, but is told there was no voice in the script
Blast by Dee Phillips shows the reader a day on the life of a combative soldier, as he fights his fears during a battle in which he and his friends are targeted by the enemy and almost lose their lives.
Fran Knight

Jarvis 24 by David Metzenthen

Penguin, 2009. ISBN 9780143010043.
(Age 13+) Highly recommended. Marc Jarvis is your typical teenage boy, a likeable person who is interested in girls, plays footy with his mate Trev and goes to do Work Experience at Gateway Auto, a local car yard owned by Vinnie Gates. He meets Electra, a girl who is an outstanding runner, down from Broome to train. Much to his surprise she returns his interest and as their bond grows, Marc comes to grip with the loss of Anne-Marie, 'a great, great, great girl' and realises that it is impossible to know what is going to happen in the future.
In Jarvis 24 David Metzenthen takes a different turn in his writing from the historical Black Water and Gilbert's Ghost train, both books I love. Told in the first person by Marc, this story of a young boy coming of age is sensitively written and very compulsive to read. I was swept along by Marc's narration as he obsesses about girls, his meeting with Electra and his footy playing. There are several subplots that are equally engrossing. Marc's work experience brings him into contact with Belinda, who is bringing up a child on her own and Mikey, a young gay man who has left his family in Queensland and Metzenthen subtly explores the challenges of being a single parent and of being gay. Death and grieving are also issues that are explored gently and compassionately with Vinnie Gates and Anne- Marie's death. Although the reader never does find out what happened to Anne-Marie, the story of Marc's friendship with her is central to the themes of love and loss and moving on.
The whole of the story is suffused with lighthearted humour with Marc's mate Trev and his dog Dottie, often bringing some funny moments to the narration.
Chosen as one of the short list for the 2010 CBCA award, this is a beautifully written, highly engaging read that will appeal to male and female readers alike and could make a very accessible class text.
Pat Pledger

If I Stay by Gayle Forman

Black Swan, 2010.
(Age 13+) Highly recommended. It's a snowy day in Oregon, a place that sounds a bit like England in that it grinds to a halt when the snow falls. Schools are closed, transport is in chaos and people decide to take time off work. Seventeen year old Mia, her parents and little brother Teddy take advantage of the unexpected holiday to visit friends. On the journey they are involved in a catastrophic crash. Both parents are killed instantly and Mia and Teddy are mortally injured.
In an out of body experience, Mia finds herself by the side of the road, watching medics frantically trying to save her and her little brother. The story revolves around Mia's gradual realisation that, although in a coma, she has the power to decide whether to 'stay' or 'go'.
The story is told in a series of flashbacks and we discover the pivotal musical influences of Mia's life. As the only brown eyed brunette in her family she feels like a changeling. She is a talented cellist with the offer of a place at the prestigious Juilliard, and her love of classical music is a surprise to her parents (Dad was a rock musician until imminent fatherhood made him train as a teacher). Boyfriend, Adam, is lead singer in an increasingly successful band and the juxtaposition between cello and lead guitar sometimes causes tension in the intensity of first love.  Making a decision about Julliard is hard, as accepting a place will mean leaving Adam, but suddenly Mia is faced with a far more difficult choice.
Told sparingly, this is a faultlessly constructed, harrowing and at times humorous story of twenty four hours in the life of a girl whose survival hangs in the balance. Forman is particularly successful in asking readers to contemplate the big questions, yet placing them in the context of the every day, almost mundane events of typical family life.
I won't spoil the story by revealing Mia's decision, but handkerchiefs will be an essential requirement. Gayle Forman seems to alternate feather light sensitivity with sledgehammer force and it works brilliantly. Her readers have to sweat it out and boy, it's worth the effort. Try this with your teenage readers who demand an intelligent and thought provoking read.
Claire Larson

My great lost dog adventure by Marcia Williams

Walker, 2010. ISBN 9781406319118.
(Ages 6+) Recommended. Iggy Wilder loves dogs and believes that he has doggy powers as well as boy powers. He is devastated when his Grandpa dies and Grandpa's dog Fred is sent away, especially as he promised to look after him. He sets out on a quest to find Fred, helped with his friend Daisy. His parents aren't impressed with his doggy powers, although Iggy believes that 'A boy with canine powers is always one paw ahead of his parents.'
This is not your usual dog story. Marcia Williams has a distinctive style, a combination of comic book illustrations and a great story line. I was engrossed by the idea of a boy who acts out like a dog and had a smile on my face with the antics that Iggy got up to trying to find Fred. The chaos that Iggy brings to his is very funny, and I felt I knew the characters of Mum, Dad, Grandma and his sister just from Williams' clever drawings.
Dog lovers will find it a mine of information as many of the pages have a border around them with facts about different breeds, the games dogs play and their characteristics, all illustrated with funny cartoons and quirky sayings. There is even a story about Lobo the wolf.
This is not a book to read aloud, as it is complex and crowded with ideas and little drawings. Instead, it is for the child who loves to investigate details, likes sly humour and wants a heart-warming story.
Pat Pledger

It's a dog's life by Michael Morpurgo

Ill. by Patrick Benson. Egmont, 2010. ISBN 97814052133370.
(Age 3-7) Recommended. Russ, the sheepdog is very busy. He has to get the cows in and have them ready for milking. After he laps up his milk reward he goes up to the kitchen where he has his breakfast before he accompanies Lula to the end of the lane. She always likes a cuddle before the school bus comes, and confides in Russ that all she wants for her birthday is a horse. Russ wonders 'what's so great about a horse?' and when Lula does get one, is afraid that she will love it more than him.
Michael Morpugo has vividly told the story of an active working sheepdog's day on a busy farm. Russ, the dog, is the narrator and he describes all the work that he does. What brings the narration alive are the humorous little comments about the farmer and the animals that he is herding as well as the pranks that Russ gets up to with Smarty, his friend from across the valley. The reader not only gets a good idea of what happens on a farm but is drawn into the anxiety that Russ feels when he thinks that he might be replaced in Lula's affections by the horse she gets for her birthday.
Patrick Benson's water colour illustrations bring both Russ and the country side alive. Close examination shows lots of subtle humour in the portrayal of farm life. I particularly liked the illustration of Russ slinking after the sheep as they trot along the lane and chasing the crows out of the cornfield.
It's a dog's life would be a very good book to use in a unit of work about farm life or animals. It could also lead to discussions about new members being introduced into a family group, feelings of jealousy and being left out and the wonderful power of love.
Pat Pledger

Ripley's human body, believe it or not by Camilla de la Bedoyere

Scholastic, 2010. ISBN 978 1741695977.
Recommended (non fiction). Another book of facts and photographs, this time on the eccentricities of the human body, this book will please a whole range of kids when they find it on the shelves. Facts such as the 45 kilo girl in the USA who can put away 52 hard boiled eggs in one sitting, or the man who eats televisions, or the guys pulling a truck, all amaze and delight. Combined with information about the part of the human body under discussion, kids are sure to seek this book out on the library shelves.
Chapter headings such as Under pressure, Seeing is believing, Open up, What a waste, Lights out and Fit for life give a clue as to what is in each double page spread. All great fun, but with a base of fact making this a fascinating non fiction book.
Fran Knight

Conspiracy 365: March by Gabrielle Lord

The crowded shadows by Celine Kiernan

Allen and Unwin, 2010. ISBN 9781741758702.
(Age 15+) Highly recommended. The second in the Moorehawke Trilogy, The crowded shadows follows Wynter's dangerous trip through the bandit infested mountains in search of Prince Alberon. She has left her beloved father behind in an attempt to reach the prince and try and avert war. Attacked by two men in the forest, she narrowly averts harming her beloved friend Razi and is overjoyed to see Christopher. Then begins a long and arduous trip, avoiding pitfalls and meeting up with the Merron, Christopher's people, who are messengers for Marguerite Shirken whom Wynter's father has fought in the past. Who can Wynter trust?
As with all excellent books, the plot line is too complex to summarise. It is sufficient to say that the story line is utterly compelling with some scenes like the rituals of the Merron so heartbreaking that they are unforgettable. Kiernan has a beautiful lyrical writing style that is easy to read and she brings her rich fantasy world to life. Issues like racism and persecution of the travelling Merron people are handled deftly and provide a thought provoking background to the main characters. I found it easy to immerse myself in the shadowy world of the forest and was totally caught up in the adventures of Wynter, Christopher and Razi.
In The crowded shadows Kiernan develops her characters more fully. In many ways this is Christopher's story. Finding out about some of his previous background as a slave with the Loups-Garous was mind blowing and made me follow his flawed character avidly. Wynter is a strong protagonist, a warrior woman, and the romance between the two grows in depth. Razi, too, falls in love, with a beautiful Merron lady, Embla, and the love sequence between these two will stay with me forever. All characters are tried and tested repeatedly and it is these challenges that kept me reading avidly.
I liked the unusual black and white cover that evokes the mood of the novel and makes it stand out.
This is outstanding fantasy writing and the trilogy deserves a place in every library.
Pat Pledger