Zac Power: The Fear Files by H.I. Larry
With the many titles in the Zac Power series being organised
sequentially in terms of length and level of difficulty, the concept of
including two stories within one jacket is a clever marketing strategy.
Children who have begun by tackling the smaller, individual titles
would feel a certain sense of achievement as they are seen reading
these thicker books. They still contain large double spaced font, full
page illustrations and have many small sketches interspersed
throughout. In addition, each title introduces many new tools, gadgets
and types of transportation, all of which are sure to grab the interest
of the emergent young male reader or slightly older reluctant reader.
Filled with positive messages throughout and with each story concluding
on a pragmatic note, Zac is unable to take his hero status too
seriously. Perseverance, fearlessness, independence, kindness to others
and a good work ethic could be drawn out as themes. Although these
titles could never be considered prize winning literature, they have
nonetheless won their way into the hearts of many young readers. They
are never on the shelves in our school library and serve to
successfully ease children into other more complex adventures and
science fiction stories.
The titles include:
Zac Power: The Rock Star Files Blockbuster. Hardie Grant Egmont, 2011. ISBN: 978 1921759840.
Whilst at Homework Club, Zac receives an invitation to the premiere of
a blockbuster movie. Treated like a star, Zac travels to Hollywood on
board a spectacular blimp. Complete with film stars, mansions,
computerised limousines and paparazzi, he is introduced to a strange
new world with his mission being downloaded from a hotdog! Once on the
set of a new movie, Zac meets a bunch of androids and discovers a plot
to brainwash the world's best spies. He needs to resolve this
situation, before heading home to 'write a thank you note'. Shock Music (in same volume)
Hunting for a birthday present for his mum, Zac comes across a display
of D-Pods, music players similar to iPods. His new mission is to
investigate these machines, as it appears that they have the ability to
turn their users into zombies under the control of Dr Drastic. With the
aid of the CamoSine, he is delivered to the location of for his task
and, in the process; Zac is personally introduced to Axe Grinder, his
favourite band of all times. Immediately, he begins to establish his
new persona as a Rock Star and goes on to uncover the truth behind the
D-Pods. Is it his favourite band that is to blame or is Dr Drastic
responsible?
Zac Power: The Fear Files Horror House. Hardie Grant Egmont, 2011. ISBN: 9781921759833.
When Zac receives mission information on his SpyPad, which appears to
have been intended for a BIG agent and not him, he heads into a haunted
house where he needs to uncover the truth behind the message. On this
mission he encounters a scary house complete with everything one would
expect to see in the stereotypical 'haunted house', spiders, bats,
skeletons, ghosts and more. Luckily Zac has remembered the lessons
taught to him by his old granny, parents and brother and is not afraid
of anything the house has to offer.
Thrill Ride
Zac is seemingly abducted from an Axe Grinder concert, before being
given his new mission, an 'intelligence gathering operation' in which
he must bug the conference facility at a new theme park called The
Shark Park.
Having to do so disguised as Captain Tentacles the Happy Octopus makes
his life challenging and also more embarrassing! In the course of duty,
Zac meets some characters who may or may not prove to be enemies and
uncovers a sinister plot to which he then tries to put a stop.
Jo Schenkel
Playground complied by Nadia Wheatley
Illustration and design by Ken
Searle. Allen and Unwin, 2011. ISBN 978 1 76237 097 2.
(Ages 8+) Recommended. Picture book. Subtitled, Listening to
stories from country and from inside the
heart,
this large picture book of 85 pages plus about 10 pages of conclusion,
acknowledgments, bibliography, references to contributors and index,
make this an exceptional book to use in the classroom and library when
looking at Aboriginal culture. Each double page is an amalgam of
stories from different groups in different areas of Australia, with
superb illustrations and photographs, collected under headings which
are of huge benefit to the student. With headings such as First
lessons, Getting bush tucker, Going fishing, Learning
through
song
and
ceremony and Growing up, the range of topics covered will
cover all
eventualities in the classroom. Students that want to know how
information is passed on in a community without written language, will
be satisfied with several chapters, particularly the one entitled,
Learning through stories and pictures, which, after an introduction,
then allows the people to tell their stories. So we have Jami Lester,
growing up in the Yankunyjatra lands in western South Australia,
talking of his experiences, followed by Paddy Japaljarri Stewart from
the Walpiri lands in Central Australia, talking of the law in his
community and Olive Jackson telling us of law in her community. In this
way the book serves to show the differences between Aboriginal groups
as well as their similarities. On the three double pages of Getting
bush tucker, an introduction again gives the reader a context, then
launching into stories from different people. Darby Ross, a Walpirir
man,
describes collecting and sharing food as a child, while Hazel Brown and
her brother talk of collecting food in south west Western Australia,
and Troy and Geoffrey tell of collecting emu eggs near Walgett in New
South Wales. In this way a collection of stories details the experience
on the land of these individuals, building up a picture of Aboriginal
life.
Sharing their wisdom, both within their communities and with the wider
world, ensures that their culture lives on, and this book reveals much
to the student and interested reader, eager to learn of the Aboriginal
way of life, where the land is both their school and their playground.
A most useful resource which supports many other wonderful books, The
Papunya
book (Nadia Wheatley), Maralinga (Christobel Mattingley)
and
Our world (One Arm Point Remote School)
Fran Knight
Piano lessons by Anna Goldsworthy
Black Ink Press, 2009. Louis Braille Audio, 2010. ISBN 9781742124087.
Highly recommended. Audio book. Biography. A mesmerizing insight into
the relationship between teacher and pupil is told in this audio
version of Anna Goldsworthy's award winning story Piano lessons. In
this homage to her teacher, Goldsworthy gives a candid account of her
lessons from the first day. She was advised to find another teacher
when her current teacher, a jazz musician, felt she had learnt all she
could from him. Her family was advised that their daughter should
audition for lessons with Eleanora Sivan, a woman brought up in the
strict discipline of Russian piano teaching. Taught within the European
tradition she was only one or two people away from the famous composers
of the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, and this vast
experience was handed on to Goldsworthy.
From these accounts of her youthful lessons to when she became a
concert pianist of world repute, Anna Goldsworthy's teacher, Eleanora
Silvan, shines through. Encouraging, yet aloof, vigilant and critical,
giving a rich background to the various pieces Goldsworthy learnt, Mrs
Silvan's force of character is obvious from the start and as we listen
to this marvellous recording, her presence can be felt.
Anna Goldsworthy's compliment to the teacher is in every word, as the
woman berates her pupil for not feeling the music, or not knowing about
the composer, or not putting enough expression into a piece, or
shrugging when she makes a mistake on stage.
At first, Mrs Silvan told Anna's father that the girl would not make a
concert pianist, but Anna decided that this was to be her aim, and so
practising four hours a day became a norm. Through her years at high
school, Goldsworthy worked hard at piano as well as her classes at
school, but keeping her cleverness to herself. Only when the first of
many accolades was given to her did some of her peers realise her
talent.
With Mrs Silvan's one word, 'Not', ringing in her ears, Goldsworthy
kept hard at work, refining her piano playing, learning all about the
composers and their work, and entering competitions. Each competition
was a stepping stone and yet Mrs Sivan kept reminding her that she
should play for herself, not for a competition where other people's
opinions were more important than her own. At the end of year 12,
interviewed for The Advertiser, Goldsworthy gave glib answers to the
inane questions and was reported without thought. Mrs Sivan was
devastated and it took some strength of character for Goldsworthy to
regain the footing that she had with her teacher. The strength of the
teacher, Mrs Sivan, was equally present in the pupil. And now, that
strength, knowledge and heritage is being passed onto a new generation
of pupils through Goldsworthy's teaching and stage presence.
Beautifully read by Jane Nolan, the text is enriched by the subtlety of
her voice and the nuances of tone which underline the feelings of the
main characters. Her rendition of the voice of Mrs Sivan is remarkable,
giving a richness to her accented pronouncements and the stress on the
word, 'Not', is enough for the listener as well as the pupil to sit up
and take notice.
Fran Knight
Who stole Mona Lisa? by Ruthie Knapp
Ill. by Jill McElmurry. Bloomsbury, 2011. ISBN 978408511580.
(Ages 7+) Picture book. Warmly recommended. The story of the theft of
the Mona Lisa in 1911 is retold in this vibrant picture book in
celebration of the anniversary of its theft. Celebrate is probably the
wrong word to use when dealing with the theft of such a significant
painting, but the book serves to celebrate the painting itself and the
artist who painted it. The book also serves to remind us of the
fragility of such icons of our civilisation and their vulnerability.
The reader is invited into the gallery of the Louvre in Paris to look
at the painting and hear what the guide has to say. In this way the
reader is given a potted history of who the sitter was, something about
Leonardo da Vinci and why the painting was executed. Some of this
children may know but for younger readers, the facts are fascinating.
The story of what happened after Leonardo died is even more entrancing
as the painting made its way around Europe, ending up in Napoleon's
bedroom. He gave the painting to the Louvre and there it became world
famous with many visitors.
One visitor was Vincenzo Perugia, who firstly measured the painting
before stealing it in 1911. An Italian house painter, he claimed to
have stolen it to return it to Italy, but he painting languished under
his stove in his flat for two years before he was caught and sent to
prison.
A fascinating story told in part by the painting itself, the book will
encourage an interest in this painting, which draws huge crowds to the
Louvre every year. Readers will love to read of the theft and why
Perugia stole the painting and what happened to it while it was
missing. An astute teacher will use this book to encourage students to
look more closely at this well known painting, at the painter and take
a wider perspective of museums and art galleries, and perhaps other
famous thefts.
Fran Knight
Pip and Posy: the super scooter by Axel Scheffler
Nosy Crow, 2011. ISBN 9780857630056.
Pip the rabbit was riding on his new scooter - he could go up and down
and even do tricks on it. But when his friend Posy saw it she
liked it a lot - so much that she snatched it away from Pip and off she
went, up and down and doing tricks, even though she had never been on a
scooter before. What happens next is quite predictable, as
stories should be for this age group, but Pip's response offers a
lesson about how we should treat our friends even if we are cross with
them.
I shared this with Miss Nearly 5 and she loved its simplicity which is
enhanced by the delightful illustrations of the author (who also
illustrated The Gruffalo).In fact, she was so entranced that I
overheard her retelling it to Miss 7-weeks in her bassinette.
Great for reading aloud and reading along and talking about options and
good choices. What could Posy have done instead of snatching the
scooter?What do you think Pip will do when Posy crashes?
Miss Nearly 5 has put her seal of approval (and dibs) on this one.
Barbara Braxton
Interview with Elaine Ouston, author of The mystery of Nida Valley
Today I am hosting Elaine Ouston on her blog tour. Elaine Ouston's
latest fantasy book, The Mystery of Nida Valley,
a
tale
of
magic, time-travel and adventure for readers aged 10+ has just been
released. It is the first book in a series about a hidden valley full
of ancient animals, dinosaurs, and much more.
What authors/books did you read as a child?
As a beginning reader, I loved the fantasy of Enid Blyton's books like
The Magic Faraway Tree, but by about ten, I had switched to her
adventure stories. I read most of the series of The Famous Five,
The
Secret Seven, and anything I could get my hands on in the same ilk.
From my teens on my taste changed and I started to read fantasy. The
Lord
of
The
Rings is my all time favourite.
When did you first become interested in being a writer?
At school, I loved writing compositions (short stories) in English
class, and would send hours dreaming up interesting plots for them.
Did you consider a career in writing?
In year eight - the year we finished lower school then - I was told by
the guidance office that I had the potential to study either art or
writing - to become a graphic artist or journalist. It was a hard
decision, but I choose art and worked in the industry for over twenty
years. But I never lost my desire to write. During this time I also
studied creative writing. My writing at that time was advertising
related - advertising copy writing, newsletters, press releases
etc.
Name authors or books that have influenced or inspired your own
writing
in some way?
As I have already mentioned, J. R. R. Tolkien is my all-time favourite
author. Enid Blyton, C. S. Lewis and The Bronte sisters, follows him
closely but there are so many current novelists who also inspire me. I
am fortunate enough to have most of them as my Facebook friends. The
few I haven't yet met are Maria V. Snyder, Matthew Reilly and Tim
Winton.
If you were travelling and were told you could only take one book
with
you, what book would it be and why?
I wouldn't be able to decide - that's why I'm taking an eBook reader to
Europe with me - so I can take a whole library.
What do you hope your readers will take away from reading your books?
Except for knowledge of the megafauna, I want my readers to be totally
absorbed in the world I've created, as if they too have journeyed to
the valley. To share the laughter, tears and fears my characters feel.
To remember the courage of my protagonists as they faced danger and
take that courage into their own lives. I want them to finish reading
my book with a satisfied feeling, but with a desire to share more
adventures with my characters. I want them I want them like it so much
they recommend it to their friends. Is all that too much to hope for?
What advice could you give aspiring authors about the process of
writing and self-publishing?
I believe writing fiction is 70% imagination and 30% knowledge and
skill. However, that 30% is vital to have before you start your story.
Be sure to read anything that you can get your hands on about writing
or do some formal study. If you decide to self-publish, make sure that
you have the manuscript appraised and edited to ensure it is ready. I
had two published authors, and many friends read my story first. I
listened to their advice and re-wrote the scenes that weren't working,
then sent it off to an editor and a proof-reader before publication.
Why did you decide to offer your books as e-books?
As many children are more interested in electronic gadgets than books,
I hoped it would pick up a few more readers. I think it is the way of
the future, unfortunately.
Where can we buy your book The Mystery of Nida Valley?
Hopefully, in your local bookshop. Dennis Jones and Associates is
distributing it so if it is not in stock, just ask the store to order
it for you. Or, you can get a cheaper, signed, dedicated printed copy
from my website. eBooks in
many formats
are also available there. Payment is via PayPal.
In conjunction with this blog tour, you can go in the draw to win one
of three copies of the book. Go to
http://themysteryofnidavalley.wordpress.com
and check out the Collector
Cards page. Then answer this question: What megafauna animal
would you like to see in the flesh and why?
The competition will close at midnight on May 15th 2011. The answers
will be assigned a number, and that number will be put in a draw. The
winners will be notified by email. The winners will also be eligible to
enter the Code Cracker Game.
Pat Pledger
Buzz off! by Randa Abdel-Fattah
Ill. by Dan McGuiness. Series: Mates: Great Australian yarns.
Scholastic, 2011. ISBN 9781862918481.
(Ages: 8+) Warmly recommended. Lying in bed one night, trying vainly to
get to sleep, Noor finds himself unable to swat the pesky flies which
keep dive bombing him. Suddenly aware that he can hear them he is
appalled when he realises that they are targetting him because he is so
bad at killing them. He decides to take action.
It is the Eid Festival, celebrating the end of Ramadan, so food is
being prepared in earnest. The kitchen is full of food, and when they
sit down to eat, flies appear from all over the place. Getting the fly
spray, Noor overhears the flies telling each other about banana smeared
with toothpaste and garlic, and how that is far worse than any fly
spray. So Noor sets to work.
A funny story of just what the fly is useful for and showcasing the
extent of the problem, this is sure to have younger readers laughing
out loud at the flies and their antics, and Noor and his solution to
the problem.
The cute story is beautifully complimented by Dan McGuiness' zany
drawings of Noor and his family (checkout Mum with her headscarf and
cork hat!) as well as the header and footer drawings of stale food, and
his wonderful flies! This series of books does not talk down to the
student. It is to be commended that words are not simplified, meanings
are not given in a glossary and settings are given which although
unfamiliar require the student to ask questions or look something up,
which is refreshing to see.
Fran Knight
Where's Wally? The totally essential travel collection: all the classic books in one! by Martin Handford
Walker Books, 2011. ISBN 9781406333527.
Warmly recommended. For all those fans of this amazing little bloke,
this volume of Where's Wally will suit them when traveling or
not! A
fascinating collection of the Where's Wally books, all
collected
together in one volume, it will engender hours of fun on train, bus,
plane or car.
Of a size to make it fit snugly into your hand or handbag or jacket
pocket, the volume will be sought after by parents and grandparents
sending off children or friends on a trip, or to fill a Christmas
stocking, or Easter present, or anytime really, as it is infectiously
inviting to look into the pages and find Wally!
I love the historical pages, those where Wally is away with the Vikings
(I remember doing a jigsaw of this page once - unreal!) or in the
depths of a castle, or in a Roman arena, or building a temple with the
Aztecs. And more up to date, tempting the vampires, or in outer space,
or being a part of Where's Wally, the musical. It is all great
fun
finding the little bloke, but as you do, the humour on each page makes
the reader laugh out loud. If finding Wally isn't enough, then fold out
pages at the start and end of each section, of which there are seven,
list all the other things to be found on each page. Hours of fun and
laughter.
Fran Knight
Long Reach by Peter Cocks
Walker Books, 2011. ISBN 978141632474.
(Ages 13+) Thriller. The life Eddie Savage is about to lead is every
pubescent boy's dream. When his brother is found dead Eddie finds
that his brother had another life, a shady one that dealt with the
underbelly of society. That is also the life that Eddie finds himself
lured into. The reader is never sure what this is, but is given hints
about its governmental associations.
With a very small amount of training tough but short and sweet Eddie at
seventeen, finds himself living in a luxurious safe house with a bar
and babe laid on. He is supposed to be a bit of a whizz with computers
but the reader gets very little sense of this because Cocks doesn't
want his hero to be a nerd.
Eddie has to infiltrate a criminal family through the sexy young
daughter Sophie, who has a reputation of being untouchable. The father
has a reputation of being very protective and a story does the rounds
of a former boyfriend being found dead at the bottom of a multistory
carpark. Naturally Eddie takes all in his stride and is soon welcomed
into the bosom of the family by all but Sophies brother Jason.
With short chapters, and an enticing cover, this is an easy read with a
very familiar storyline, it has blood, killings, drug use, sex and
tension, which will appeal to boys of the middle teenage years.
Fran Knight
Marshall Armstrong is new to our school by David Mackintosh
HarperCollins, 2011. ISBN 9780007361410.
Picture book. Highly recommended. When new boy, Marshall Armstrong
comes to the classroom, the teacher sits him in the front with a class
member until he finds his feet. But Marshall is different. The
classmate is suspicious of his equipment laid out on the desk.
Marshall's box of pens, his ink pen, rubber bands, several rulers,
slide rule, compass and bull dog clip, contrast wildly with his
neighbour's single small pencil and folder of paper. The next page
underlines the differences even more. The classmate points out his eyes
that always look to the front, the shell like ear, freckles like bird
seed and his tidy shoelaces, all adding up, in his mind, to a huge
difference between the children in the class. These differences are
further underscored when the children go outside the classroom. Here
Marshall does not involve himself in games, and eats the oddest of
food, each in its own labelled container. The neighbour concludes that
Marshall does not fit into their school.
When the class is invited along to Marshall's place to celebrate his
birthday, the classmate predicts that everyone will have a horrible
time. But the party is different with all the class having the wildest
of times, playing hide and seek, making lemonade, playing with the
train set and opening a pinata. As a consequence the class mate changes
his mind about Marshall, saying how great he is. The next new person to
come to the class is welcomed.
A lovely story about fitting in, about welcoming people and about
acceptance of difference is beautifully told and illustrated in David
Mackintosh's distinctive style. His seemingly quick pencil sketches are
filled in with colour and vitality, while each double page spread gives
the reader a different view of what is going on. I love the double page
of Marshall's things, the collection of bits and pieces redolent of
times past, fitting in so well with the drawing of Marshall himself,
with straw hat and round glasses.
Fran Knight
Just a Girl by Jane Caro
University of Quensland Press, 2011. ISBN 9780702238802.
(Ages 11+) Historical. Highly recommended. Elizabeth, daughter of Ann
Boleyn and Henry V111, sits in the Tower of London on the eve of her
coronation and recalls her turbulent life. Caro is able to tell her
story simply but is also able to include the reader in the terrible
intrigue and power struggles that were the hallmarks of the Tudor
dynasty.
The major players in this struggle are very familiar to an older
audience, but not so to the younger readership and Caro is able to
introduce the characters without a hint of condesention. We are able to
understand the underlying reasons behind behaviors, though they seem
outragous to us now. The desire to have an heir to safely and smoothly
continue the government and dynasty of the Tudors is uppermost in
Henry's mind and it is this which puts his children in conflict with
one another as well as their father.
Elizabeth's relationship with her father is explained in a way which
gives insight to the behaviors of both. Her relationship with her
sister Mary Tudor is as unpredictable as any of those at court who may
be in favour at one time but will find themselves in the Tower the
next. Elizabeth learns quickly not to trust anyone completely and
decides, according to Caro, that she will not marry. She is wary of the
great families who would try to use her to gain power, as they did with
her cousin Lady Jane Grey. She is also welll aware of the perils that
marriage brings. Any future husband would use her postion to gain power
for himself and establish a dynasty for his own family. Elizabeth has
also seen the dangers inherent in childbirth especially with the
example of Jane Seymour.
Elizabeth came to understand the problems that occured when the
succession to the throne was disputed or subject to regency, such as
that of her young half brother Edward V1. She could also see the
problem from the other side, where the succession was crystal clear and
gave the plotters and power seekers someone to focus their attention on.
Caro certainly leaves no question that Elizabeth was lucky to inheret
the throne. Her times in and out of favour; labelled as a bastard,
imprisoned in the Tower or Woodstock, or at court having to watch every
word and action in case it gave courtiers or the monarch reason to
doubt her loyalty, would have broken most in her position. Just a Girl
is a very readable historical fiction even though you know the
outcomes. We are given an insight into Elizabeth that provides empathy
and understanding.
Mark Knight
The Rukan Prophecy by YoYo (Group)
Vermonia: 4. Walker Books, 2010.
This is the 4th of a planned 10 volume manga adventure series, which
features really impressive black and white artwork. The fate of
three worlds depends on the courage of four friends, Naomi, Doug, Jim
and Mel, the Blue Star Warriors - the Battle for Vermonia continues.
In this storyline the tribes of the Turtle Realm, led by the Blue
Star warriors fight Uro's dark Yami magic in two epic battles.
The four pillars of the Turtle Realm - fire, wind, water and thunder
are attacked and Mel is imprisoned in a castle. Can they reunite with
her AND save their Realm?
The author YoYo is a Tokyo based collection of writers, artists and
gamers, which began in 2006. It would have been advantageous to have a
character summary at the beginning for new readers and page numbers for
easy return to your reading spot.
This 4th volume can just be read without the earlier volumes but the
reader will be bolting to the shop to buy no 5! Young readers
will love the associated website - www.vermonia.com, where they can get
free wallpaper, posters and music and take part in some engaging games.
Although Vermonia is action packed it is suitable for readers from 9
years to about fifteen who have good imaginations and a love of
fantasy. Manga lovers will be captivated with this book.
Kay Haarsma
Z by Michael Thomas Ford
Random House, 2010. ISBN: 9781864718225.
(Ages: 12 +) Set in 2032, Z is a novel about a teenager, Josh, who
moves from his favourite virtual video game of hunting and torching
zombies to a real life nightmare where the zombies seem too real.
The video game is based on a 'historical' event that occurred in the
2020s when a virus spread across New York and the rest of the world
causing people to become zombies. The only solution to solving this
problem was to employ armies of zombie torchers who patrolled the city
in order to catch and torch zombies. The moral and ethical problem with
this is that these zombies where formally real people and often the
relatives and friends of torchers. As a result, years later, a new
generation of teenagers have taken to the heroics of the virtual zombie
game much to the displeasure of their parents who lived through the
real dangers and memories of the zombie wars. Despite, Josh is
eventually persuaded to join an underground zombie hunting group, which
turns out to be front to pedal the mysterious drug called Z. Along the
way he experiences romance and this more common issues concerning
teenagers such as a fight with his best friend. Z moves beyond what
could an entertaining novel about hunting zombies to touch on some
deeper issues about growing-up, developing new friendship groups, peer
pressure and using drugs. For this reason, slightly older readers are
more likely appreciate these themes.
Adam Fitzgerald
Hour of need by Michael Pryor
The Laws of Magic, book 6. Random House, 2011. ISBN: 9781741663105.
Highly recommended for ages 12 and up.
Aubrey, still bearing the label 'traitor son of Albion', is travelling
with and caring for Hugo Von Stralick, the ill ex-Holmland spy. They
have been observing the evil Dr Tremaine in his current retreat and
pondering the presence of many well known magicians, obviously being
held against their wishes. When Aubrey's first attempt to rid the world
of Tremaine goes awry, he and Hugo endeavour to get closer to the
action and are shortly reunited with Madame Zelinka, her Enlightened
Ones and George, Sophie and Caroline. From there, the action
intensifies with much use of science, magic and teamwork as the heroes
battle to save the world from total devastation.
Pryor's conclusion to this great series is filled with some suspense,
humour, insights into the machine of war and its purpose or lack
thereof. His comments regarding the role of the government are
applicable to that of any society at any time in history. He has
catered for readers of any gender. Stereotypically, many male readers
will love the descriptions of the skyfleet, battles and steampunk
creations and females will be satisfied with the development of the
various relationships throughout the series. Despite this, Pryor
creates strong female characters that are equally as capable in their
fields as their male counterparts. He leaves us with the promise of
things to come in the state of Albion. The vocabulary and more formal
style of language make this series more appropriate for the young adult
reader, as does the fact that it shows the 'coming of age' of the
protagonist, Aubrey. This is a series I am glad to have gone back to
read in its entirety, as the author has cleverly crafted not just the
tale itself but the character development has been realistic and
satisfying.
Jo Schenkel
Tooth and Claw - ghost writing from the underground by Lazlo Strangolov (a.k.a Matt Whyman)
Walker Books, 2011. ISBN 9781406323450.
Recommended for middle to upper primary. 'Little Lumina loves her pet
beagle, Scud, even though he's been brought back from the grave by her
father. But stranger things than this are surfacing in the
volcanic town which is home to Dr Grubo's health clinic.'
Set in a very unusual town, this is a highly quirky story about a
devoted father and a zombie dog. Lumina lives in a spa town,
where there are hot springs and geysers of steam all around town.
Her father works at the local clinic, the place locals visit for their
health treatments, next door to the town's power station. The
earth is bubbling and unpredictable in her town, just as is her life
once her beloved beagle is brought back from the grave by her well
meaning father.
Smelly, squishy and with glowing red eyes, Scud is still as lovable as
ever to Lumina, and unfortunately for her, he is also still as
mischievous. What trouble can a zombie dog on the loose
cause? Find out as you travel with Lumina and some of her family
friends to discover the power of love, slobber and secrets.
A nicely presented book with quirky details on each page that add to
its charm. Students will enjoy the grossness of the story that is
presented with just enough gory details to make it interesting.
There are some points of predictability, but enough twists to keep you
guessing again.
Overall a fairly easy read that would appeal to many young readers, I
would recommend it to those students that like Morris Gleitzman's Toad
Rage series.
Zana Thiele
