Teens Fire by
Kristin Cashore. Fire is the last of the human Monsters and she is
feared because of her beauty and her ability to control minds. A
companion volume to Graceling,
this
is
fantasy
at
its best, with a strong heroine, plenty of action
and a low-key romance.
Along for
the ride by Sarah Dessen. Auden's sleep patterns have been
disrupted ever since her parents' divorce. The quest she goes on with a
fellow insomniac will change her life. If you haven't tried Dessen's
novels before then you are in for a treat.
Vulture's
gate by Kirsty Murray. The story of Callum, a young boy kidnapped
by the dangerous Outlanders and Bo, Roboraptor Girl, who has survived
alone in the desert since her grandfather was murdered. A Science
fiction survival story set in outback Australia, with overtones of Mad
Max.
The ask and
the answer by Patrick Ness. Todd has taken the dying Viola into
Haven but it has been made into the stronghold of his enemy Mayor
Prentiss. The first in the series, The knife of
never letting go had
gripping tension, high adventure and thought provoking themes and the
second is even better!
Exposure
by Mal Peet. A star footballer, Othello, meets a beautiful pop singer
Desmerelda at a celebrity party. They fall in love and quickly marry
much to the delight of the media. Wonderful expose of fame based
loosely on Othello.
Beatle
meets Destiny by Gabrielle Williams. Beatle, named because his name
is John Lennon, meets Destiny at a tram stop in Melbourne one Friday
night and from then on the reader is led into a hilarious story of
young love, astrology and weird art projects.
The
uninvited by Tim Wynne-Jones. For Jackson Page, the little cabin is
a place to compose in. For Mimi Shapiro the snye in the wilds of
Eastern Ontario is a perfect hideaway and for Cramer Lee, it is a place
where he can spy on Jay. In an exciting thriller Wynne-Jones keeps the
reader guessing right to the end about the
uninvited
visitor who is stalking Jay and Mimi .
Middle school
Waterslain
Angels by Kevin Crossley-Holland. Ten year old Annie, an
independent and risk taking young girl, joins up with Sandy, an eleven
year old asthmatic geek, on a summer quest to find the missing carvings
of angels that once adorned their Norfolk church and which haven't been
seen since Cromwell's time.
Love, Aubrey
by Suzanne LaFleur. A terrible thing has happened to Aubrey. Now she is
all alone with only her new fish Sammy for company. A memorable tear
jerker.
Loblolly boy
by James Norcliffe. The loblolly boy can fly wherever he wants and has
eternal youth. He also has the power to Exchange - to swap places with
others who are Sensitive and can see him. Margaret Mahy describes this
as a new classic and it is certainly memorable.
When you reach me by Rebecca Stead. Winner of the Newbery Medal.
Miranda gets a message that says "I am coming to save save your
friend's life, and my own." This book is an intriguing puzzle that will
have its readers following clues until its explosive conclusion.
Angel fish by Lili Wilkinson. Gabriel believes Stephan when he
says
that children can save save the Holy Land. Will his faith sustain him
on the perilous journey that the Children's Crusade undertakes?
Picture books
Sarah's
heavy heart by Peter Carnavas. Sarah has a heavy heart that she
carries all the time, on the bus, in the playground, at the park.
My silent
world by Nette Hilton and Vincent Agostino. A deaf girl has a rich
inner life. She knows about everything, but she is afraid of the unseen
monster that fits in her ear - a cochlear implant.
Isabella's
garden by Glenda Millard and Rebecca Cool. Isabella's garden is a
place where the soil is 'all dark and deep' and where Isabella and her
friends plant the seeds that emerge into a glorious garden, changing
with the seasons until Jack Frost comes and all that is left is a
well-feathered nest and a handful of seeds.
First the
egg by Laura Vaccaro Seegar. The book looks at how things evolve.
First comes an egg and on page turn, the reader sees the egg change
into a chicken.
Surf Ache by Gerry Bobsien
Walker Books, 2009.
Recommended. Finally, a teenage book without angst,
dysfunctional families or spoilt brats! What's left to write about?
Well, Gerry Bobsein's passion for
surfing
shines through this novel about Year 9 student Ella Alonso's move from
Melbourne to Newcastle and her discovery of surfing. She has had to
leave
behind her best friend and her boyfriend and it gets complicated when
she soon
makes new friends who get her hooked on surfing. She has to make
choices about
friends. Surfing clashes with her
passion for ballet and as she excels at both she has to make a choice
here too.
Plus her mum was a former surfing champion whose career ended
mysteriously. Mum
understands all too well her daughter's surf-ache - a 'state of being
where all
one can think about is getting back onto the waves'.
There is the
requisite bitchy rival
but here friends and family are warm, caring, and likeable. It is
interesting
to note Ella and her friends are not hung up on clothes: Ella "never
quite had
all the right gear. Mum and Dad refused to fork out for the latest
this, that
or the other. Ella was used to it". (p110). The confidence and
happiness of
these kids comes from being able to follow their passions in a
supportive
environment.
The characters
are real as well as
likeable, with romance and competitions keeping the pages turned. There
is much
on the art of surfing which may lose some, but you learn a lot about
it. We
have come a long way from Puberty Blues - the guys and girls
are on
equal
footing here.
My only
quibble is that the language
of surfing is not explained; a glossary would help. What is a rashie?
Kevyna Gardner
I am not a serial killer by Dan Wells
Headline Publishing Group, 2009.
(Age range: 14 - 16) John Cleaver has an obsession with
serial killers. His mother and aunt run the mortuary and his estranged
father was also a mortician. John has grown up exposed to dead bodies
in one form or another. When random killings begin to happen in Clayton
County, the town where he lives, he is determined to solve the case as
to who and why they are happening.
John has been seeing Dr Neblin a psychologist for some time to try and
sort through his strange fascination and in doing so has established
rules for himself to try and maintain a hold on his emotions and
actions.
This becomes increasingly difficult as the killings continue and he
gets closer to the killer. Unleashing his dark side John establishes a
plan to trap the killer, however in doing so is frightened by what he
is becoming and the lengths he will go to and the people he will
inadvertently involve.
John has few friends and those he has at the start of the story are
soon alienated by his strange and peculiar behaviour.
This is a thrilling story not suited to everyone as it contains quite
gruesome and frightening events. It is advertised as the first book in
a darkly comic new series from debut author Dan Wells. Mr Monster the
next title is due for release in the UK in March 2010.
Tracy Glover
Agent Alfie: Licence to fish by Justin Richards
HarperCollins Children's Books, 2009.
(Age 7+) Alfie is a student at Thunder Raker Manor, a school for
children whose parents are spies or secret agents. Alfie's a bit
different though - his dad's just a postman. The students learn all the
regular school subjects, as well as Special Agent Training subjects
including surveillance, code-breaking and sabotage. So it seems a bit
odd to Alfie when a new class is announced - fishing. The students head
along to their first lesson, and Alfie immediately begins to suspect
that the evil organisation SPUD might be hatching a new plan. His
suspicions are confirmed when he spots a giant rubber duck and a
metallic sea monster swimming in the school lake.
This is the second Agent Alfie book after Thunder Raker (2008),
with a
third, Sorted, also released in 2009. With a fast-moving plot
and
packed full of puns, it is a very enjoyable read.
Donella Reed
100% hero by Jayne Lyons
Random House, 2009. ISBN 978171663969.
(Age 9+) Although part of a family of werewolves and 'the second
greatest
werewolf ever', Freddy Lupin has a problem. At some full moons, he
transforms into a black poodle and not a wolf. With the arrival of his
father Flasheart's distant cousin, Chester Pucely and his daughter,
things start to go wrong as Freddy tries to impress the 'perfect'
Priscilla. When his father is captured and taken to zoo, as a result of
Freddy's actions, the young wolf sets out to rescue Flasheart and keep
the family secrets. In the meantime, he is sent off to camp, where he
has to learn to dance ballet. He befriends several other students who
are also misfits and manages to solve the family's problems.
I found that the style of this book did not provide the engrossing read
for which I had hoped. The author's humour was definitely of the
'bottom' variety and sadly did not appeal to me as much as it may to
the younger male readers. Made up names and words in this text somehow
did not gel and I found this novel a challenge to complete. Perhaps,
for disinclined boys, it will still hold some appeal. Whilst there may
be some underlying themes which could be brought out for the student, I
found this a disappointing read and certainly not a text.
Jo Schenkel
The wheels on the bus ill. by Mandy Foot
Lothian Children's Books, 2009. ISBN 9780734411174.
(Ages 3-6) The classic song, The wheels on the bus is given a
whole new
look by Mandy Foot as a host of Australian animals go on a journey
around Australia. What a trip the kangaroos, emus, frill-necked lizard
and koala have as they travel to Coober Pedy, Tasmania, Bondi, Philip
Island, Daintree, Great Barrier Reef, the Pilbara, Blue Mountains
Darwin and the Opera House in a red and white bus.
The book is a visual feast. Starting with a map of Australia showing
the places that the bus will go to, it is then up to the reader to
follow the word clue sticker on the bus and the animals and plants of
the place to work out where it is. There is also a tiny green gecko on
each page that the reader will have lots of fun trying to find.
The illustrations of the animals are fabulous with cartoon type faces,
brimming with good humour. I especially liked the expressions on the
babies as they went Wah! Wah! Wah!
Such a familiar song will be a boon for beginning readers and parents
and teachers will enjoy sharing the song as they make an Australian
trip. There is a website
that
gives information about all the places that are visited. This could be
a very useful site if doing a unit on journeys or famous places in
Australia.
Pat Pledger
Outside In by Chrissie Keighery
Hardie Grant Egmont,
Victoria. 2009.
This
Australian novel is about
teenagers' angst but serves as a stark contrast to the often slick
American
versions.
The boys and girls here are all struggling to cope with family or self
esteem
issues. We have parental separation, anorexia and bulimia, teenage
crushes, and
loneliness.
The difference
here is that the group
members are supportive of each other and it is this which enables them
to
survive and grow. Parents are often remote or absent. We get inside the
kids'
heads and understand their confusion. Jordan and Jack realize they have
in
common spending part of the week with their fathers, Sam is mortified
when a
girl tells him he needs to shave, talented Cecilia feels she must be
perfect,
Meredith laughs too much to cover up her inadequencies and Renee is the
outsider.
Whilst it
feels all too authentic,
sadly, there isn't much plot, nor much fun either. It seems to be aimed
at
either reassuring certain teenagers they are not alone or
educating/confronting
others about the plights of their classmates. Either way it offers
insight into
why people behave as they do.
It's just that neither the cover
nor the blurb call out to be picked up and there is nothing
particularly
distinguishing about any of the characters. The 14 year old I gave it
to
enjoyed it, but found the ending too
sudden
and vague. The book does finish on a positive note and emphasizes the
healing power
of friendship.
One for the
library; teachers and
librarians could direct certain students to it.
Kevyna Gardner
Why by Lila Prap
WilkinsFarago, 2003. ISBN 09585571452.
(Ages 3+) A whole book devoted to the question why will have kids and
adults enthralled as they ponder the questions asked. Each doulbepage
spread asks a question about the animal portrayed, starting with Why do
hyenas laugh? And going on to delicious questions about crying
crocodiles, long necked giraffes, pouched kangaroos and maned lions.
Each question has many answers; some of which are very funny indeed and
will have the listeners and readers grinning with delight. In answer to
the question of why camels have humps, for example, some of the
responses include, because they didn't sit up straight, to confuse
their riders and out of habit, while the real reason is written in full
somewhere on the page.
I can imagine children from 3 to 10 getting a thrill out of reading
this book, initially with help, but then alone, gaining information as
well as fun out of the book. An astute teacher or parent will encourage
the reader or class to imagine many other reasons to add to the ones on
the page. The drawings add to the fun of the book and the style could
be used as a basis for work in the classroom to add some more animals
to the book.
Fran Knight
Ctrl-Z by Andrew Norriss
Puffin, 2009.
(Ages 8+) Alex's godfather always sends fantastic presents and this
year's birthday gift is a laptop that allows Alex to travel back in
time to correct any mistakes he's made. All he has to do is input the
time he wishes to return to and press Ctrl-Z. This is not just an
amazing present, it's also rather useful, especially when you have an
accident prone best friend called Callum. When Alex first uses Ctrl-Z
he successfully reverses a nasty accident involving Callum, 43 helium
balloons, a garden chair and a barbeque.
Alex is so delighted with his laptop that he decides to experiment a
little. He is only ten but has always wanted to drive his Mum's prized
classic car and now he can. When he smashes into the gatepost he can
simply press Ctrl-Z and travel back in time to before he climbed into
the driving seat.
Ctrl-Z allows Alex to go back in time by a maximum of 23 hours and 59
minutes, but that's still enough to have plenty of fun. However, when
the two boys use the laptop to win every prize at the School Fair
things do not go according to plan, and then Alex finds himself having
to use Ctrl-Z to try and reverse the growing rows between his parents.
This is an entertaining story, ideal to read aloud to lower juniors.
There is plenty of humour, excitement and cliff-hangers to keep young
readers on the edge of their seats. The central message, that it's good
to make mistakes because that is how we learn, is emphasised and
hopefully children will enjoy the fun and absorb the message too. My
only grumble is that Ctrl-Z would have been even better with
illustrations, but I guess that would have cost more; perhaps the
credit crunch is biting publishers too!
I've always enjoyed Andrew Norriss's funny, pacy books, and if any of
your readers are glued to Horrid Henry or Captain Underpants,
Ctrl-Z
may encourage them to spread their wings.
Claire Larson
Someone like you by Sarah Dessen
Hodder Children's Books, 2009.
ISBN 9780340997482.
(Age 14+)Recommended. When Halley gets a phone call at summer
camp from Scarlett telling her that Michael, Scarlett's boyfriend, has
been killed in an accident, it is the beginning of a change in their
relationship. They had been best friends for years, with quiet Halley
in the shadow of popular Scarlett. When Scarlett finds that she is
pregnant with Michael's child she really needs Halley. Can their
friendship survive through the trouble that Scarlett faces and the
boyfriend issues that plague Halley?
Dessen has written a book that immediately strikes a chord with the
reader. Told from Halley's point of view, I became engrossed in her
life, her battles with her mother as she tries to become independent
and her growing involvement with bad boy Macon. At the same time she is
the main support for Scarlett, who has decided to keep her baby.
Friendship is the central theme of the book. With a trusted friend to
support them and to talk things over with, it is clear that both
Scarlett and Halley will get through their struggles. Dessen also
cleverly explores the relationships between mothers and daughters and
the roles that they play in each other's lives.
All the characters are so richly developed that their stories seemed
totally believable and it was hard to leave them at the end of the
book. Although first published in 1998, this beautifully written coming
of age story has a timeless quality that will keep readers enthralled.
Pat Pledger
Percy Jackson and the Battle of Labyrinth by Rick Riordan
Puffin Books, 2009.
(Age 10+) Percy Jackson is a half-blood, the son of Greek god Poseidon.
This makes life quite complicated as he faces daily battles with
enemies while trying to continue his studies at Camp Half-Blood. His
arch-enemy may have discovered a secret passage through the Labyrinth
which would allow him access to the camp. This means none of the
half-bloods are safe. So Percy joins his friend Annabeth on her quest
underground, where they face untold horrors and battles to save their
existence. They must also discover the truth about the lost god Pan to
help their satyr friend Grover prove he is not crazy.
With a feeling of Harry Potter meets Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Percy
Jackson
and the
Battle of the Labyrinth, as with the other Percy Jackson books,
provides an entertaining yet dramatic journey.
Donella Reed
Wang Wang and Funi by Phil Cummings
Ill.
by Shane Devries. Imagination
Ventures, 2009. ISBN 978192127004.
(Ages 3+) Highly
recommended. This
beautifully presented picture book which entices the reader into the
world of
the Adelaide Zoo and its new arrivals, the two giant pandas from China,
is an
excellently crafted introduction to the world of these animals. Highly
respected local author, Phil Cummings has shown the other animals in
the zoo
wanting to see their new house mates, and they peek through branches
and around
trees, under buildings and through the bamboo, to see the black and
white
creatures at play. Eating, playing, stumbling and scratching, it
becomes all
too much for the pandas, and they fall asleep.
Phil
Cummings engages the younger reader with his rhyming phrases which
encapsulate
the day's doings of the giant panda. Children going to the Adelaide Zoo
will
know what to look for as they see these creatures, and be prepared in
advance
for their experience. Kids will love to read the book with their
teachers and
parents, learning some of the rhymes to repeat for themselves. Read out
loud,
this book is a treat for all. The illustrations by new graphic artist,
Shane
Devries, will delight the readers, as they search for all the elements
of a
zoo, watch out for the different animals represented, view the
different types
of enclosures the animals are kept in, and marvel at the colour and
vitality of
the animals shown.
Two
pages I loved amongst many are the opening double page spread with its
representation of the main gate at the Adelaide Zoo. The wonderful page
has
recognisable aspects of the main gate, and draws the reader into the
book. The
second to last double page spread is just wonderful, with the animals
from the
giraffe down to the beaver, watching as the pandas fall asleep. The eye
is
drawn form the top left hand corner down to the bottom right, ready for
the
next page. On the last page is a map showing the journey the pandas are
making
from their home in China to their new home in Adelaide, and
information about
the pandas is given.
Produced
under the auspices of the Adelaide Zoo, proceeds form the sale of this
book
will go in part to help protect the pandas, only 2500 of which still
live in
the wild. It is great to see an institution engaging an author and
illustrator
for such a project, as many such books commissioned for events such as
this are
dreary and didactic. This is a far cry from that. Black dog books has
also
published a book by the Adelaide Zoo's conservation psychologist, De
Carla
Litchfield, called Saving Pandas,
which is a non fiction book giving a huge amount of information about
these
creatures. The two books compliment each other well, and would form a
basis of
a panda display to celebrate the arrival of these bears in
Australia.
Fran Knight
The Saga of Darren Shan: The Vampire's Assistant by Darren Shan
Ill.by
Takahiro Arai. HarperCollins, 2009. ISBN 978000
7320882.
(Ages 10+) The tales of
Darren Shan, a series of 12 books about a
boy who becomes a half vampire and must always fight to retain his
human half,
was enormously popular when first published in 2000. To be reissued in
Manga
form will reintroduce the series to a different reading group, as well
as
thrilling those who already know the series. Readers of both the book
and
graphic novel form will love the adventures of Darren as he saves the
day
against all manner of monsters. Fighting against his vampire half means
finding
another way of satiating his appetite for blood, and with all vampire
books
which show the vampire trying to be human, the way of receiving blood
is always
fascinating.
The art work
by Takahiro Arai will entice readers of this
graphic novel. Using the traditional Manga style of big eyed children,
as well
as other conventions of blank pages with one drawing at the bottom,
different
sized comic strips, a whole page devoted to an emotional climax, and so
on, the
art work is at once familiar but with different touches that kids will
love.
The monsters in this book are thrilling, the fight scenes scary and
bloody. It
will have wide appeal; and this is number 2.
Fran Knight
I lost my mobile at the Mall by Wendy Harmer
Random House, 2009. ISBN: 9781741663716
(Ages 10+) Highly recommended! When Elly loses her favourite handbag at
the Mall, along with her friendship ring, her mobile containing all of
her contacts, texts and photos (especially those of her boyfriend,
Will, and the one of her friend Bianca standing next to Hugh Jackman)
she feels her life is as good as over as she faces the wrath of her
parents, her BF (Best friend) and her boyfriend. As she learns to find
other ways of coping without her reliance on technology, Elly not only
learns some important life lessons but comes to some new realisations
about herself.
This is Harmer's first foray into the teen market and she certainly
seems to have included the perfect themes to grab the attention of the
reader - friendship, relationships and technology, the latter being the
equivalent of the vital organs in the life of most teenagers. She
manages to weave in the concepts of cyber-bullying, family
relationships, histories and traditions as well as referring to the GFC
as she engages the reader in the romp through Elly's life. The novel is
written with humour and the genuine voice of a fifteen year old girl as
she develops resilience and works to resolve the various situations in
which she finds herself.
Jo Schenkel
