HarperCollins, 2010. ISBN 9780732289690.
(Age 15+) This is the third in the Evernight series, following
Evernight and Stargazer and is not a stand alone read.
Bianca has
joined Lucas and his family in the Black Cross society, where they
struggle to keep the secret that Bianca is a vampire. Of course this is
difficult as Bianca needs to drink blood and that's not easy to do in
front of a group of vampire hunters! Bianca is caught between the world
of the Black Cross, her loyalty to her vampire parents and the danger
of the wraiths. All this explodes in one giant finale, leaving me
breathless for the next volume.
There are plenty of energetic battles, captures and action scenes for
those who like their plot to move along swiftly and this is quite
exciting with Bianca and Lucas having to make some hard decisions about
where their loyalties lie. The romance between Bianca and Lucas, with
Balthazar thrown in again to add some conflict, develops well for
those who like some romance with their vampires. Hourglass does not have a predictable plot. Gray brings in quite
a few surprises
that should thrill the reader and the climax is amazing leaving lots of
questions to be answered in Afterlife, the next book to
come out in the series.
Pat Pledger
The Chestnut King by N.D. Wilson
Random House, 2010. ISBN: 978 1864719727.
(For ages 10 and up). Henry, the young protagonist of the story, has
lived part of his life in Henry, Kansas, and part in the parallel
universe of Hylfing. He visits the latter, using the cupboard as his
entry point. On his return to Hylfing, he discovers his quest is to
find the Chestnut King and enlist his help in defeating his enemy,
Nimiane, the witch. Accompanied by his cousin, his friend and
Franklin-Fat-Faerie, Henry follows his father's instructions and goes
to meet his fate. He proves himself to be capable and truly comes of
age by the end of the tale.
This is the third book in the 100 Cupboards series but, despite
being a
well written novel, I felt it did not work well as a stand-alone title.
I had previously read the first title but missed the second book,
Dandelion Fire. Hence, I found that, because of the sheer
quantity of
characters and events I had obviously missed, this story was initially
quite difficult to follow. Usually, I find reading to be effortless and
a sheer joy, whereas The Chestnut King was a chore until I had
passed
the mid way point of its 480 pages. Having finally placed the various
characters and pieced together some of the events I had missed, I found
the ending to be satisfactory and enjoyable. For the more mature
readers and true lovers of fantasy, I have no doubt this would be a
well accepted and sought after title but I would certainly discourage
students from reading the series out of sequence.
Jo Schenkel, Pilgrim School
Brainjack by Brian Falkner
Walker Books, 2009. ISBN 9781921150951
(Age 13+) Recommended. On the shortlists for both the NZ Post
Children's Book Awards and the Sir Julius Vogel Awards (for Science
Fiction books), Brain Jack is a suspenseful story that I could
hardly
bear to put down. It follows Sam Wilson who is a brilliant computer
hacker. His illegal activities bring him to the attention of Homeland
Security after he manages to hack into Telecomerica, the White House
and then hack his way out of detention. Employed by the government to
watch out for nasties, he and the team uncover a plot where
neuro-headsets have been used to take over the world.
This is a fast paced action thriller, set in the near future in a
United States where a bomb has razed Las Vegas and technology is taking
over. Falkner has come up with some great technology and ideas about
computers that I found fascinating to read. Sam manages to steal
a neuro-headset for his friend Fargas and himself, and suddenly a
keyboard and a mouse are no longer necessary. Fargas, in particular,
gets immersed in an online game run by a computer body called Ursula,
but when Homeland Security is threatened, Sam realises that the
neuro-headsets are plugged into so many minds that they could be
dangerous.
Exciting escapes, intrigue, car chases and danger kept me on the edge
of my seat as Sam, Dodge, Vienna and Ranger race to try and save the
world from mind invasion and war. Sam's character is well-developed and
believable and secondary characters well rounded. The conclusion is
especially thought provoking and would engender a lot of discussion.
I loved The tomorrow code by Falkner and this book is
even more exciting.
Recommended for readers who like adventure, computers or those who
enjoyed Little Brother by Cory Doctorow.
Pat Pledger
The Story of Cirrus Flux by Matthew Skelton
Puffin, 2009. ISBN: 978 0 141320373.
Recommended. Beginning with a prologue set in the Antarctic Circle in
1756, the story jumps to the year 1783 and the protagonist, the orphan,
Cirrus Flux. When Madame Orrery arrives at the orphanage, offering to
take Cirrus and provide him with a trade, Mr Chalfont instead suggests
she take another child in his place. Against her better judgment, the
woman consents to taking Pandora, 'the girl hiding behind the
curtains', thus beginning the adventure for both children. Cirrus is
under close observation by a group of characters all wishing to obtain
the sphere which they believe him to have in his possession. Pandora
and Cirrus's other friends assist him in escaping their clutches and
unearthing the mystery of his family.
This is an engaging tale set across several time periods, with the
story moving between events in his father's life and the time in which
Cirrus exists. The author describes the eighteenth century as being 'a
period of great exploration, scientific discovery and philosophical
debate, commonly known in Britain as the Age of Enlightenment.' He
brings the era to life with the addition of some fantastic creatures
and both endearing and much despised characters. Friendship, belonging
and hope are important themes throughout this thoroughly recommended
novel.
Jo Schenkel, Pilgrim School
My Mum by Anthony Browne
Picture Corgi, 2010. ISBN 9780552560207.
(Age 3+) Recommended. From the beginning sentence, 'She's nice,
my
mum,' with its picture of an ordinary woman in a flowery dressing gown,
I knew that I was about to read another one of Browne's warm, quirky
stories. Told through the eyes of a young child, in this story Mum can
do anything. She is a great gardener, cook and juggler. She could be
dancer or an astronaut - in fact she is a SuperMum!
The illustrations are bold and vibrant with lots of touches of whimsy
like Mum turning into a floral armchair and a beautiful butterfly.
Readers will be delighted to see Browne's signature gorilla's face on
one page, and it is lovely to follow the heart motif that portrays the
great love that Mum has for the child and the child for the mother.
Browne's clever touches like Mum in a classic Marilyn Monroe pose and
as a medieval angel playing a harp,(albeit with fluffy slippers),
bring a smile to the face.
With My Mum, Browne pays a moving tribute to mothers everywhere
with a
powerful portrayal of motherly love. This book would make an excellent
addition to a library and a great Mother's Day present.
Pat Pledger
Scream Street: Claw of the Werewolf by Tommy Donbavand
Walker Books, 2009. ISBN 978 1406314298.
Discovering he was a werewolf on the occasion of his tenth birthday was
a shock to Luke. When this transformation occurs again he and his
family are moved by GHOUL and sent to live in Scream Street with other
similar types. Luke's parents are terrified of the inhabitants of the
street and haven't smiled since they arrived there. Luke soon makes
friends with Cleo (a mummy) and Resus (a vampire) and together they
began the quest to return Luke and his family from the terrors of
Scream Street to their home assisted by the contents of an old book
requiring them to find six relics left behind by the streets founding
fathers. Only when they have collected them all will they have the
power to open the door back to Luke's own world.
As the story begins there is one relic left to find to complete their
mission however the location and ease with which they can collect it is
compromised when Luke discovers a long held family secret and a simple
sneeze puts their quest in jeopardy. Luke and his friends develop a
greater understanding of their past and the evolution of Scream Street
as it is today through their adventures and the completion of the story
is a positive one for the reader.
Scream Street is an entertaining
short novel of which there are seven other titles available. This title
is the completion of the quest but quite easily read as a standalone.
In the current climate of werewolves and vampires I would recommend
these titles to younger readers.
Tracy Glover
Bear flies high by Michael Rosen
Ill. by Adrian Reynolds. Bloomsbury, 2009. ISBN 9780747597971. Includes
a CD read by Michael Rosen.
(Age 3+) Recommended. Another wonderful picture book about Bear, who we
met in The Bear in the cave. This time Bear is sitting on the
beach
watching the birds in the sky go 'swoopy swoopity swoop' and wishing
that he could fly. His friends come along and tell him to follow them
if he wants to fly. He finds himself at an amusement park and has a
great time on the rides, in the haunted house and finally soars high on
the big flipper.
Rosen's verse story is a delight to read aloud with its lyric words and
repetition. There is a statement on the left hand of the page with a
refrain with a question in the middle: 'I'm a bear on a beach. On a
beach? On a beach.' On the right hand page is another sentence followed
by a wonderful rhyme just meant for children to say along with the
reader. A CD accompanying the book is a fine addition. Read by Rosen,
who is a superb storyteller, it has background music and sounds and a
beginning reader could listen to it and follow the words on the page.
The illustrations are in vibrant orange, blue and green. The bear is a
lumbering, cuddly, enormous animal, which children will love. They will
be happy to know that sometimes wishes can come true, especially if you
have friends who are willing to help you realise them!
Pat Pledger
Mum and me by Annie White
Lothian, 2010. ISBN 9780733625213.
(3+) Recommended. A verse story celebrating the love that a little girl
has for her mother, Mum and me is a delight to read aloud. Told from
the little girl's perspective, the reader is taken through a series of
daily events, starting with breakfast, when 'My mum knows just what I
like. She makes me toast with vegemite'. As the day continues,
the little girl is allowed to dress in her favourite clothes and to
paint her toe nails pink. The rest of the day is filled with fun and
games: trumpet practice, hide and seek and splashing in puddles.
The illustrations perfectly complement the text. The figures are big
and bold and stand out against a pastel or white background. Mum and
her daughter wear bright coloured clothes and both have gorgeous spiral
hairstyles. I loved the little toy bear and doll that popped up in most
of the pictures, often with comical expressions on their faces or
actions to match what is happening in the story.
This is a book that will be perfect as a gift for Mother's Day or to
use in a theme about families. Beginning readers will also love the
rhymes and will be able to work out many of the words from the pictures.
Pat Pledger
Full tilt by Neal Shusterman
Simon and Shuster, 2009. ISBN 9781416997481.
(Age 13+) Recommended. If you are after a roller coaster of a read then
go no
further than Full tilt. Blake is a 16-year-old boy, who always
does the
right thing. He is steady and reliable; all set to go off to college on
a scholarship. Quinn, his younger brother, is the opposite. He takes
dangerous risks and Blake is forever getting him out of trouble. During
a visit to a carnival with his brother and friends Maggie and Russ,
Blake meets a beautiful girl Cassandra who invites him to an amusement
park, a private one that can only be entered with an invitation. Blake
is too responsible to take up that offer but later that night Quinn is
found in a coma and Blake realises that his wild brother has used his
invitation and something terrible has happened to him. Driving full
tilt to the park with Maggie and Russ, Blake is forced to ride seven
rides before dawn in order to save his brother's soul. Each of the
rides must be finished, but they are not the usual carnival rides -
each one makes the rider examine their greatest fears or faults. If you
can't finish the ride then you become part of the park!
This is a fast paced thriller with Blake facing his worst fears when
the animals on a carousel stampede, bumper cars go berserk demolishing
everything around them and a hall of mirrors turns people into
monsters. Finally he must face his greatest fear - why was he the only
survivor of the bus crash when he was a child? Could he have saved the
other children on the bus? Cassandra keeps appearing to challenge and
dare him and he must keep his wits about him. The suspense is chilling
as Blake faces danger after danger and Maggie and Russ also face their
fears. Although the plot is action packed, ultimately it is a coming of
age story where all the characters learn things about themselves. Fult tilt is a compelling fantasy thriller that will enthral
readers
who like computer games and the excitement of amusement parks. The
originality of the story and the drama of the rides certainly kept me
compelled to read quickly to the end.
Pat Pledger
I Spy Dad by Janeen Brian
Ill. by Chantal Stewart. New frontier, 2009. ISBN 9781921042171.
(Age 3+) A little girl plays a game of I spy, looking for Dads and
wondering where hers will be. She see a huge variety of fathers:
a splashing dad, a crashing dad, a dashing dad, dads of all ages, sizes
and backgrounds, doing all kinds of things that a dad might do. Where
will hers be?
The internal rhymes in I spy Dad make it a perfect book to read
aloud.
The verse is black on a white background with only a few words per page
so would be perfect for beginning readers to read along with and begin to
recognise some words. The beautiful pictures painted in bright water
colours by Chantal Stewart complement the text and would also help a
beginning reader to guess what the dad is doing.
What I liked most about this book was the love portrayed in the
pictures and the text. It is a celebration of the diversity of the
ethnic origins and the wide range of activities that fathers and their
children can do. This makes it a perfect book to talk about family love
and the different ways that families operate. It would also be a good
Father's Day gift, but best of all it is a book to look at and enjoy.
Pat Pledger
The dead tossed waves by Carrie Ryan
Orion Books, 2010. ISBN 9780575090903.
(Age 14+) I loved The forest of hands and teeth and couldn't
wait to
read what turns out to be a companion volume. The dead tossed waves
is
set well in the future, with Mary, the heroine who couldn't wait to see
the world, now the mother of teenage Gabry, and a secondary character.
The action centres around Gabry who has grown up obeying the rules
about staying on her side of the Barrier, well away from the Mudo, the
Unconsecrated, who can turn the living with a single bite. One night
she is
persuaded by Catcher and his sister Cira to climb over the Barrier
which keeps them out,
and when Catcher is bitten her whole world changes.
What follows is a series of adventures, interspersed with a lot of soul
searching by Gabry, who often irritated me as a narrator. She seems to
be constantly doubting herself, while undertaking the most amazingly
brave feats, like swimming in an ocean which could be infested with
Mudos to go to see Catcher andfinding her way through the forest while
evading their
waving hands and teeth.
Although it states that it is a companion volume on the back cover of
The dead tossed waves, reading The forest of hands and teeth
first
would definitely be an advantage, especially as it fills out some of
Mary's story. This volume gives very little background to the
characters from the
first book although some of that information is crucial to the story of
Elias, who is a Recruiter searching for his lost sister and a major
player in the book.
In many ways this story parallels the first volume: Gabry also loves 2
boys, Catcher and Elias, she has issues with her mother as did Mary and
there is a race through the forest evading the Unconsecrated (the
Mudos). However along with some breathtaking action and suspense, it
brings some new thought provoking ideas: Is there
any soul left in the Mudos? Is there any chance of finding out how to
become immune to them? What is life like in the Dark City?
It looks as if I will have to wait for Volume 3, The
Dark
and
Hollow Places, due to come out in 2011, to get some
answers to my unresolved questions about Gabry's dilemmas, how Elias
lost his sister, and what boy will Gabry end up with.
Pat Pledger
Candle man by Glenn Dakin
Egmont, 2010.
A ghostly London cemetery near 'Kensington Gore' was the inspiration
and opening scene for this weird Gothic/fantasy story. Theo, the hero,
is a prisoner of the evil Dr Saint and is allowed one venture outside
per year on his birthday. He discovers a present , a snowdome
with a cryptic message, left for him on a headstone. Thus begins the
unravelling of all he has been led to believe in his 13 years. Dr
Saint, head of the misnamed Society of Good Works has told Theo that
he, Theo, has a dreadful condition which means he cannot be around
others and which necessitates him being immersed daily in a Mercy Tube
which drains him of energy.
Next, a burglary reveals to Theo that he has the power to melt people
with just a touch- hence he is the Candle Man. Confused as to his
identity, Theo escapes from Empire Hall with the aid of three members
of The Society of Eternal Vigilance. Thus begins a series of
conflicts between the two societies and a classic good v evil scenario.
Theo learns that Dr Saint has twisted language to his own ends, 'We
will see a happier world - where only the chosen few will suffer the
anxieties of power and the burden of riches -where the ordinary man
will enjoy the virtues of poverty and the bliss of slavery.'(p119)
The settings for the ensuing conflicts vary from underground caverns to
cathedrals and towers and include all kinds of mythical,
extinct and fantasy creatures. There are garghouls (man like figures
with pointed horns and bat wings), a Dodo, giant Siberian Wolf rats the
size of terriers, Foundling slaves and smoglodytes - ugly imps
with transparent skin 'revealing bubbling gas and shrivelled organs
pulsating inside' (p133). Dr Saint seems indestructible and Theo learns
the Dr had been siphoning power from Theo for himself. It culminates,
of course, in a life and death struggle between them.
For all the imaginative special effects this is an unsatisfying story.
Meandering and confusing, it seems to have needed good editing with
less being much much more. The themes of learning one's true identity,
misusing language and establishing trust after a childhood of abuse are
submerged in the endless fighting. There is little real suspense
as Theo and his allies are rescued as soon as they are trapped and
there is insufficient character development for us to really care about
them. Glenn Dakin seems to have written this as an action movie; some
boys from upper primary to middle school may persist with this one.
Kevyna Gardner
Killing God by Kevin Brooks
Penguin Books, 2009.
Recommended for libraries, senior students and those parents willing to
read it. Dawn Bundy is a confused, lonely 15 year old hiding a
traumatic secret. We guess it almost at the outset, but Dawn can't
confront it and as a result, seeks refuge in her room, her music and
her two dogs, Jesus and Mary. The dogs are ironically named because
religion and the church can't help Dawn - in fact both get quite a
serve here - and Dawn wants nothing less than to 'kill God.' Her
born-again-Christian father hadn't changed his spots at all so Dawn
wants to do away with God. Her drugged mother watches TV all day and
her dad disappeared two years ago - 'all God's fault.' (blurb)
Needless to say, Dawn is wandering aimlessly until street smart Taylor
and Mel from school barge into her house and life and take her in hand.
We question their motives but they give Dawn a makeover to boost her
self esteem. Dawn gains confidence but in the process has to
confront her dark secret and Mel reveals she and Dawn have had a
similar family issue. She warns Dawn of impending danger. It all leads
to an explosive soap opera climax which is predictable but nonetheless
gripping.
The strength of this book is the gift the author has for capturing the
voice of Dawn in a stream-of-consciousness style. Convincing and
believable, it is not only very readable but also able to perfectly
portray Dawn's struggle to reconcile reason, religion and powerful
conflicting emotions. Her self becomes divided in the process.
Interspersed are snippets of Dawn's favourite lyrics which reflect her
inner reality to herself. Her parents, by contrast, are more
shadowy and less believable characters, but it is essentially Dawn's
story.
As we see the world through Dawn's eyes we understand her difficulty in
rejecting her parents whom she wants to love. The book brings shades of
grey to what can be a black and white issue. It is a valuable insight
into the mind of an abused child. Sadly, Dawn has no-one to turn to for
help at home, school or church but this very likely reflects the
reality for many. Set in England, this book travels well; however, the
title and anti-religion stance may deter many.
Kevyna Gardner
Airman by Eoin Colfer
Puffin, Penguin Group, 2008.
Recommended. Short-listed for the Carnegie Medal in 2009, Airman was
also on the New York Times best seller list. It is sure to be a hit
with boys from 10 up; adults would enjoy it too. It is an old-fashioned
'Boy's Own Adventure' story where Jules Verne meets The Count of Monte
Cristo meets H.G. Wells.
The setting is the uninhabited Saltee islands (which really do exist
off the coast of Ireland) where our intrepid boy hero Conor
Broekhart is sent to mine diamonds in appalling conditions near the end
of the 19th century. His crime is to have witnessed the head of the
island's guards, the dastardly Marshall Bonvilain, killing both King
Nicholas Trudeau and Conor's tutor, Victor Vigny. Marshall Bonvilain
then takes control of the islands in order to turn them into a diamond
market and the progressive kingdom of the Trudeaus then decays.
Conor is no ordinary 14 year old boy. Born in a hot air balloon, he is
fascinated with flying and has been tutored in fencing, pugilism,
weaponry, and the martial arts. With his tutor he had been
experimenting with flying machines. Intelligent, strong, resourceful
and of scientific mind, his early years as a beloved son and the
childhood companion to the Princess Isabella stand him in good stead
throughout three years of inhumane prison life with its evil guards
and 'Battering Ram' gangsters. To add to his predicament, he
believes his family have swallowed Bonvilain's lies about
Conor betraying them.
The odds seemed stacked against Conor at every turn, providing the
ingredients for a swashbuckling action packed yarn. Although violence
is portrayed, Conor refuses to betray his principles and will not kill.
He is mentored by the wise Linus Wynter, a blind American musician. The
themes of loyalty, ethics, courage and friendship are explored.
Although factual mechanical explanations of early flying machines are
provided, the reader will readily suspend disbelief as he is caught up
in Conor's adventures.
This page turner would make a good read aloud, especially for reluctant
readers. This would also help younger readers who may need help
to understand shifts in viewpoints and time jumps. A must have for all
school libraries.
Kevyna Gardner
The Wrath of Silver Wolf by Simon Higgins
Random House, Australia, 2009.
Suitable for boys and girls 10+. The first in the Moonshadow series,
The Eye of the Beast, introduced us to Moonshadow, the apprentice ninja
from medieval Japan. He is trained by the secret brotherhood, the Grey
Light Order, and equipped with special powers such as the ability to
merge his mind with animals and then control them. He is fast, skillful
and smart but does not kill. Here we meet him accompanied by fellow
ninja, the beautiful but temperamental Snowhawk, on a rooftop, spying
on a minor lord who is plotting to overthrow the Shogun or ruler.
They learn they must visit the mountain shrine home of the albino White
Nun, the Order's oldest adviser, who has forseen an attack on her and
who insists the two teenagers be sent to assist her. The attack on the
White Nun is planned by Silver Wolf, a warlord who seeks to destroy the
Shogun and rule Japan himself. He prides himself on his noble blood,
sharp steel and heart of ice. He handpicks his team - Wada, who feels
no pain, Kagero, a sorceress, Chikuma, 'a one-man slaughterhouse' (p62)
who uses no force, weapons or poisons, and Jiro, the knife throwing
tattooed gangster.
What ensues are deadly struggles between these highly skilled
adversaries. The youngsters struggle with their own insecurities and
lack of knowledge but are a formidable team. The author choreographs
the fights in intricate detail and readers of anime and manga graphic
novels will enjoy these scenes.
The themes of the book include loyalty, negative emotions creating bad
karma, destiny, and the fanaticism of the zealous patriot.
Simon Higgins is a student of Iaido, medieval samurai swordsmanship and
etiquette, and he has researched Japanese history and culture. He
blends spy thriller, fantasy, action, mythology and spiritualism with
the supernatural world of ancient Japan. Like the first book, the
viewpoint switches between the ninjas, the assassins and the Order. It
would make a good movie.
Kevyna Gardner
