Penguin, 2009. ISBN 9780141325736.
(Ages 14+) Recommended. Pia is the last person to see Katharina Linden
alive. How could she have disappeared from the small community where
everyone knows everyone else? Pia is curious and when another girl
disappears she begins to investigate.
The setting is a small town, called Bad Munstereifel, in Germany, where
gossip abounds, and past events are not forgotten. Ten year old Pia is
'known as the girl whose grandmother exploded' and once this nickname
starts, the other children, with the exception of StinkStephan, shun
her and she is left virtually friendless.
This is not a story for the young or faint hearted. Even though it is
told through Pia's eyes, it is a tale of grisly murders and horrible
deceit. The tension is built up as Pia describes her everyday life. The
readers sees the disintegration of her parents' marriage as her English
mother fails to fit into the German way of life and the petty meanness
of many of the children. Pia describes the adults around her and I was
left worrying about who the murderer could be and whether Pia would be
his next victim. The eventual denouement is quite terrifying and I
couldn't stop thinking about it for some time after I finished the book.
Beautifully written, this is a thriller for mature
young adults despite the cover that looks as if it were designed for a
younger audience. I shall certainly be looking out for any future books
by Helen Grant. It was shortlisted for the Booktrust Teenage Prize 2009, and is a CILIP Carnegie Medal nomination 2010.
Pat Pledger
Monkey Mountain by Justin D'Ath
Extreme Adventures. Puffin, 2010. ISBN 9780143304418
If you are in for action, this would be the right book for you. Monkey
Mountain is choc a bloc with non stop action right up to the very last
page. When a boy named Sam and his class go on an excursion to Borneo
(that's some excursion!) they get much more than they bargained for
when faced with an erupting volcano, terrifying monkeys and crocodiles.
Sam and his teacher are left behind and are faced with non stop
challenges to get back home. It's hectic, crazy, and unbelievable but a
fun exciting read that I read from beginning to end in a night.
Justin D'Ath, how do you think up such extreme adventures? I would like
to read more from this author, a great one for the boys and girls who
don't mind a bit of action.
Heidi Bigg (student)
Jaguar Warrior by Sandy Fussell
Walker Books, 2010. ISBN 978 1921529290.
Fussell has written a story about trust and friendship, set at the time
of the Spanish overthrow of the Aztec civilization, but it could be at
any time in any place, its themes are so universal.
Atl is a slave of the temple of the Serpent-Sun god, and a favourite
of the high priest Ichtaca, but this means nothing when a sacrifice
must be made and Atl is chosen as the most suitable candidate. The
Spanish by happy happenstance choose to attack before the sacrifice can
be made and Atl escapes with a message for the Purepechans and a token
for their high priest. He meets up with Citlali and eventually Zolan
who on the surface are two unlikely companions, but who each contribute
to their survival in the jungle.
They are tracked by Huemac the captain of the temple guard, a hardened
warrior and skilled survivor, who believes it's his duty to return Atl
to the temple so the sacrifice can be made.
Mark Knight
The Midnight Charter by David Whitley
Puffin, 2009. ISBN 9780141323718.
(Age 11+) Recommended. Imagine being sold by your father to a doctor
whose facemask and goggles make him look like the Grim Reaper.
Heartbroken, Mark finds himself a servant in a large house where he
meets Lily, an orphan. They live in Agora, a grey walled city where
money doesn't exist, but everything can be bartered, even emotions are
siphoned into bottles for sale. Children are possessions until their
twelfth birthday and can be sold. If you have nothing to barter then a
desperate life of poverty is the only option. Lily has bartered her
life to stay working and she befriends Mark, teaching him to read in
exchange for household chores. However treachery surrounds them. They
are being watched by the Director and must discover what the Midnight
Charter is if they are to survive.
In this highly original story Whitley has developed two main
characters, Lily and Mark, whose fate I became engrossed in as they
struggled to stay alive in an uncaring society. Lily believes in
justice and doing the right thing and sets up an Almshouse for
desperate people with nothing left to bargain with. Mark, on
the other hand, as a successful astrologer with money to invest,
becomes totally involved in survival. He espouses capitalist ideas with
the aid of the wily Snutworth, and makes decisions about trade,
regardless of what the effect will have on struggling workers.
Although they are operating on totally opposite belief systems, Lily
and Mark keep contact, mainly through letters, and through the people
who touch both of them. These secondary characters, particularly the
siblings, Laud, Ben and Gloria, are very well developed. The idea of
emotions being a commodity that can be bartered was engrossing and I
followed Gloria's downward spiral into addiction of the emotion of
enthusiasm. The author has a website
for the series where a list of emotions that Miss
Devine has for sale can be found and the reader can read her opinion on
each of the characters in The Midnight Charter. I found myself
pondering how I would feel if I sold my emotions like ambition or
kindness or worry.
Midnight Charter is an engrossing and challenging tale that had enough
intrigue, plot twists and humour, to keep me reading quickly to find
out what happened next. I look forward to the next 2 books in the
trilogy.
Pat Pledger
Maisy's book of things that go by Lucy Cousins
Walker Books, 2010. ISBN: 9781406321722.
(Age 3-6) Recommended. Maisy's Book of Things that Go is an
exciting
introduction to transport. Maisie likes to travel and she tries out
lots of different ways to reach her destination. She loves to walk and
ride her bicycle. She sails out on the waves and has a tram ride. She
takes a train and soars high in the sky in a hot air balloon, and then
at night she dreams of flying to the moon.
The illustrations are coloured with the bold, vivid palette that
Cousins uses so beautifully and Maisy's mouse features and smiling face
are a delight as always. There are tabs for eager little hands to make
the vehicles move and a wonderful pop out at the end of the book. On
each side of the left hand page are instructions to find something on
the vehicle illustrated, for example on the bicycle the reader has to
find the pedals, chain and bell. This activity is an excellent way of
introducing new vocabulary to an emerging reader.
This is a stimulating and memorable book that would be exceptionally
useful when talking about transport. Best of all it is a lovely book to
read and handle and children will want to revisit its engaging pictures
and intriguing pull outs.
Pat Pledger
Let's Save the Animals: A Flip-the-Flap-Book by Frances Barry
Let's Save the Animals: A Flip-the-Flap-Book by Frances Barry
Walker Books, 2010. ISBN 978-1406312492
(Age 3- 8) Recommended. What a beautiful book! Barry has chosen ten
well known endangered animals, the African elephant, black rhinoceros,
Amur tiger, polar bear, giant panda, emperor penguin, orang-utan,
Hector's dolphin, green sea turtle and Monarch butterfly and created a
wonderful introduction to conservation for young readers.
The book is a fascinating mixture of beautiful illustrations, with cut
out flaps, and a large print story for the beginning readers with lots
of memorable alliteration which also makes it perfect to read aloud .
The African elephant for example, stomps across the plains when the
first page is turned and then, when the reader lifts the flap, it can
be seen showering in the swamps. In small print in unusual spots is
additional information stating some of the reasons the elephant is in
danger.
A Did You Know section at the front of the book gives the reader some
fascinating facts about endangered animals along the way like elephants
sleep standing up and giant pandas like to do somersaults. The front
endpaper also features a map of the world and shows where the featured
endangered animals live. The back endpaper lists simple
ways to the young reader can help to protect and save animals.
This book would be perfect to use when introducing conservation and
endangered animals to young children and wonderful to have in your
library or home for children to read anytime.
Pat Pledger
The Returners by Gemma Malley
Bloomsbury, 2010. ISBN 978 1408800904.
(Ages 13+) The author of The Declaration and The Resistance,
has
produced
another absorbing story of the near future, one in which the hero,
Will, seems out of place. Always on the outside, his mother's suicide
isolates him even more, and his father's taciturn and surly nature
makes him a person to avoid. His once close friend, Claire, is seldom
seen, and her relationship with Will's next door neighbour, Yan, drives
them further apart. But it is the people he sees that no one else sees
that cause him the most grief. Very early he learns not to talk about
them, as others think he is going the same way his mother did, and
avoid
him even more.
His dreams become more intense, dreams of horror, of people dying, of
slave ships, of war, but the horror at home bubbling under the surface
comes to the fore when he sees his friend, Yan, kneeling over the body
of the local post office proprietor, trying to resuscitate him. His
racist father, a member of the growing Nationalist Party, uses what
Will saw as a verification of Yan's guilt, and so Will is further
isolated from his father and Claire, as he grapples with the question
of what is the right thing to do.
His mind returns again and again to his mother's suicide, and this is a
backdrop to his father's growing racism and Will's disillusionment with
his father and his new friends. The Returners, those people in the
background of Will's life, urge him not to fight, to accept, but
eventually Will realises the truth of the situation and takes action.
Told barely like this, the nuances, shades and sub plots of this book
are not exposed. To talk of them will give away the core of this tale,
one which impels readers to rethink the way they have read the book,
and indeed, respond to it. Mother's suicide could be seen as a catalyst
for the depression of both men in her life, each responding in a
different way to the loss of her life, and their role in it, but the
layers of meaning will be eagerly discussed by the readers as they
ponder differing ways of seeing what Will sees.
I was cross with the story about part way through, then I thought I saw
the light, but was cross over again, and when I finished it sat down
and thought about it for many days before coming to a conclusion, well,
perhaps several. It will take the reader time to digest and assimilate
the ideas in this book, and any reader will come away satisfied that
they have read it, allowing them time to reassess their actions in such
circumstances. The sub plots of racism, depression, relationships and
crime will linger along with the bigger issue of where our
responsibility lies in our society.
Fran Knight
Flame stands waiting by Corinne Fenton
Ill. by Sebastian Ciaffaglione. Black dog books, 2010. ISBN 978
1742030951.
(Ages: Primary) Reminiscent of a much older story and illustration
technique, Flame stands waiting will induce tears from even the
most
hardened of hearts. The story of a horse in a carousel, grounded to the
one spot while all the others seem to float in the air as they turn in
their fixed circles, is a well worn story of the rejected, the one
which stands alone, but reaches fulfillment because of the heart of a
small girl who sees the horse for what it is. She uses her imagination
to take the horse out of its fixed place and soar above the clouds.
All the other kids leap for the moving horses, but Flame waits,
unwanted until the young girl who dreams of things beyond what she
sees, comes along. A tender story which will appeal to those who wish
to share a moving story with the class or their children and
grandchildren, Flames stands waiting recalls carousels of the
past, but
encourages the young to dream.
Like Fenton's Queenie, I cried from cover to cover, so I can only warn
you! Read it first before reading it aloud. The illustrations by
Sebastian Ciaffaglione capture the times between the two wars expertly
with the large number of children taken to the amusement park by their
parents. The clothing, styles of hair and dress are all redolent of the
times when things were far less easy than today, when going to an
amusement park was the highlight of the year.
Fran Knight
Jasper and Abby and the great Australia Day kerfuffle by Kevin Rudd and Rhys Muldoon
Ill. by Carla Zapel. Allen and Unwin, 2010.
ISBN 978 1742373294. Picture book. Staff and residents at The Lodge, in
Canberra are preparing to
celebrate Australia Day. People from all over the country have brought
goodies from their own districts. Dancers have arrived from Darwin,
with the Nambour nanas presenting a knitted Australian flag to be
flown, and ambassadors from Africa have arrived for the festivities.
Trouble erupts when the sausages go missing, and the marquee falls to
the ground. The Prime Minister's dog and cat are deemed to be the
culprits and they are sent upstairs. From this vantage point they espy
the real culprit and stop the dog in its tracks before it can destroy
the flag. The festivities can then run smoothly.
A meandering tale of animals saving the day, the story will entertain
young readers looking for an easy read. The derivative storyline has
little new to stimulate the more precocious and experienced reader, but
it improves on reading aloud. The illustrations, though showing lots of
action, are stiff and clumsy, with many quite unnatural arrangements of
animal legs and bodies.
This picture book however, fills a niche telling a story about
Australia Day in a humorous way. It will find a place in libraries and
classrooms when talking of that day or other festivals.
Fran and Mark Knight
Impossible by Nancy Werlin
(Age 15+) Recommended. Chosen as one of the Best Books for Young Adults 2009 by the American Library Association, Impossible is a love story, a puzzle and a fantasy set in the here and now. Based on the old ballad, Are you going to Scarborough Fair, made popular by Simon and Garfunkel in the 60's, Werlin has written a gripping story of love, curses and an elfin knight. Lucy Scarborough has always believed that her mother is a mad bag lady who has abandoned her when she was a baby. When she reads an old diary she discovers that a curse has been put on her family and it is this that has driven her mother insane. To her horror, she finds that she too will suffer that fate. If she cannot do the three seemingly impossible tasks, described in the song, while she is pregnant, then her daughter will suffer the consequences. Lucy is a strong character. Brought up by loving foster parents, Soledah and Leo, and with the help of Zach, she sets out to break the curse by figuring out the puzzles in her mother's version of Scarborough Fair. Werlin has combined a clever mixture of high school story with a touch of Faerie. I felt I knew her family, her best friend and her hopes for the future. When Padraig Seeley enters her life, I was on the edge of my seat, waiting to see what this Elfin Knight would do and was horrified at the outcome. Werlin managed the rape scene and its consequences with clever writing, leaving the reader emphasising with Lucy and well informed about the consequences of an unwanted pregnancy. Readers who like to solve puzzles will have a wonderful time trying to come to grips with how Lucy can break the curse. Those like me, who couldn't imagine how the curse could be broken, will be satisfied with the answers to the puzzles. I loved the romance in this book. Zach was a steady, sympathetic boy who proved to be steadfast in his support for Lucy. The fears of his parents about a teenage marriage were vividly described but the pair knew that they had the support of their families. Impossible has enormous appeal, with its supernatural elements, an evil elf, date rape, teen pregnancy and marriage, all beautifully crafted by an award winning author. A fascinating author's note and useful discussion guide are included at the end of the book. Pat Pledger
Zero Hour by Leon Davidson
Text Publishing, 2010. ISBN 9781921656071.
Highly recommended. Subtitled The ANZACS on the Western Front,
this non
fiction story of
how our troops fared along the infamous Western Front from 1916 to 1918
is riveting reading. Whether it be used in a history classroom or read
for interest, it will hold the attention of even the most indifferent
of readers. After being evacuated from Gallipoli, the NZ and Australian
troops were then sent to the Western Front, that line of trenches
stretching from the top of Belgium, down past Verdun in Central France.
In its four years of fighting, the Western Front claimed the lives of
some 3 million soldiers, leaving 11 million wounded. The statistics are
incomprehensible, but Davidson's lucid writing makes the reader feel
much closer to the facts than any history text read before.
I was enthralled with his other books, Scarecrow Army, the
story of
ANZACS at Gallipoli, as well as Red Haze, the story of the
Vietnam War,
both books winning awards in NZ and Australia, and these two books
opened my eyes to many stories of the political background of the wars,
not widely known. Each of these books gave a personal account of the
war, littered with facts, statistics and maps, personal accounts and
lists of the dead, all combining to make the story accessible in a way
not usually seen. Zero Hour continues his marvelous writing, as we hear of the men
at the
front, suffering foot rot as they stand in mud all day and night in the
trenches, or the NZ soldiers suffering STD's because the powers that be
hesitated in giving out condoms, or the execution of soldiers for ill
discipline or desertion. Each of the stories he relates is in the
context of their involvement on the Western Front, making it immediate
and chilling. I was mesmerized with tales of the men on leave in
London, the levels of punishment for misdemeanors in the army, and the
lists of the dead, wounded and executed at the end of each chapter. The
informal style of writing, augmented with accounts from diaries and
letters makes this a book to read and reread, and wonder again at the
absolute stupidity of war.
Fran Knight
The Land of Dragonay by Sally Morgan, Ambelin, Blaze Ezekiel Kwaymullina
Stop Watch: Book 3. Walker Books, 2010. ISBN: 9781921529337.
Tom's mission is to visit The Land of Dragonay where he must deliver a
special egg before the hatching of the baby dragon it holds. He
is again accompanied by Bilby, the Bridalon, and Mother Bird. On their
arrival, they meet Silon, the snake, who is not quite ready to be the
warrior snake he is destined to become. When he pairs up with Tom and
Bilby, Silon is able to interpret what the baby dragon is saying. He
begins to develop the skills and attributes necessary for him to take
on his new role and establish himself as being a worthy son of
The Great Warrior Leader of Dragonay.
This is a great read for younger readers keen to begin with the fantasy
genre and there are some interesting messages included. Mother Bird has
the happy knack of accepting and adopting creatures from other species.
Whilst she names Bilby, Furry Son, the dragon Scaly Son,
and Tom Baldy Son, Bilby refers to the egg's contents as 'little
brother'. Acceptance, friendship and support are strong themes
throughout these tales and the adventures are brief and self contained
in each title. This proved to be another thoroughly enjoyable read.
Jo Schenkel, Pilgrim School
Contact by Chris Morphew
The Phoenix Files: Book 2. Hardie Grant Egmont, 2010.
ISBN: 978 1921502408.
(Ages 10-15) Highly recommended. The countdown to the destruction of
the human race continues: there are
now just 88 days left! Peter takes over as the narrator of this, the
second book in the series. Although he had at first been dubious about
what he and his friends, Jordan and Luke, had found he can no longer
deny the truth of their discoveries. As the three go about decoding the
messages which have been left for them by Crazy Bill and investigate
the Shackleton Corporation, they realise that they are not dealing with
human beings who have social consciences but a group who want only to
serve their own ends. In the process, they manage to jeopardise the
lives of those who try to help them in their quest to put things right.
Whilst the first book served as a somewhat more gentle introduction to
the various characters and plots which have been hatched, Contact
begins to expose the true evil and the teenagers make some gruesome
discoveries and continue to put the lives of themselves and their
families on the line. They discover the lengths to which Shackleton and
his team will go in order to achieve their aims. One can only suspect
that by the end of the sixth book, descriptions may well become even
gorier and possibly not as palatable to the younger readers. I,
however, am now going to have to wait patiently for the release of the
next title sometime in August!
Jo Schenkel, Pilgrim School
The race for the Chinese zodiac by Gabrielle Wang
Ill. by
Sally Rippin and Regine Abos. Black dog books, 2010. ISBN 978
1742031231
Picture book, all ages. Based on the Chinese legends about the naming
of the Zodiac signs and
how which animal came to be in the order it is, Gabrielle Wang has
written a stunning book, full of life and energy as the animals cross
the river in order to be first to get to the other side and so find a
place in the zodiac. The Jade Emperor has spoken and each animal tries
his luck, getting across the river in whatever way it can. The snake
hitches a ride in the horse's mane, the rat and cat jump on board the
ox, the pig, however, only interested in eating, stays behind to gorge,
eventually floating across on his big bloated stomach.
Many values are underlined while reading the text. Themes of friendship
and self interest, altruism and selfishness, concern for others and
sharing, co-operation and goal setting - all find their way into the
spare text and can bring classes to some understanding and discussion
around how best to achieve a goal.
Children will adore the beautiful, well crafted and designed
illustrations, redolent of Chinese calligraphy and painting style.
Gabrielle Wang is well known for her novels for middle school readers,
The hidden monastery and The garden of Empress Cassia
spring to mind,
showing the links between Australia and its Chinese population, while
Sally Rippin is also acclaimed for her novels, such as Chenzi and the
foreigner and picture books, about Fang Fang, while Regine Abos, a well
respected graphic designer, is responsible for the layout and design.
Gabrielle Wang's website
gives a great deal more information about the
book and its back story including
suggestions for teachers to use the book, particularly during Chinese
New Year.
Fran Knight
When you reach me by Rebecca Stead
Text Publishing, 2010. ISBN 9781921656064.
(Ages 10+ ) Highly recommended. Miranda lives in a run-down apartment
building in the city with her single mum. Her best friend Sal lives
upstairs, and they do everything together. But one day an older boy
punches Sal on the way home from school, and suddenly Sal doesn't want
to be friends any more. Miranda is confused, but makes some new
friends, and soon makes an alarming discovery about Sal's attacker.
When strange and frightening notes start appearing in odd places for
Miranda, she doesn't know who she can turn to, or what they mean. She
knows someone's life is in danger, but whose? And what can she do to
help? With a remarkable range of characters, and some very interesting
twists, this witty and suspenseful book is sure to please boys and
girls alike in the upper primary years.
Donella Reed
