Random, 2011.ISBN 9781864719314. e-Book available.
(Best suited for 13+) Genre: Thriller/Survival. For his birthday,
Christos takes his father's boat on his first solo voyage. He plans to
fish and then camp overnight on a local island, but things go wrong
when Christos runs the boat aground on a reef, attracting a four-metre
tiger shark. And so begins the most terrifying night of his life.
This book is definitely one for fishing fans. Many of the fishing terms
are confusing and the style of writing employed is also confusing to
begin with, often moving disjointedly from sentence to sentence. The
first few chapters are drawn out and wouldn't easily catch a young
reader's attention.
When the shark does appear, the scenes are well-written and exciting,
perfectly capturing the image of survival and fear. The description and
disjointed sentences work well here, illustrating the terrified and
desperate state of Christos's mind at this point. However, after the
shark disappears from the story, the expected conclusion is prolonged
with unnecessary sub-plots.
It is an all right book, but definitely one for those interested in
fishing.
Rebecca Adams (Student)
Fromelles: Australia's bloodiest day at war by Carole Wilkinson
Black Dog Books, 2011. ISBN 978 174203176 7.
(Ages: 10-16) Non Fiction. Highly recommended. At 11 am on July 19,
1916, the bloodiest battle involving Australian troops began. By the
end of the 24 hours, more than 5000 Australian soldiers were killed,
wounded or taken prisoner. The statistics tell a horrifying story, but
Wilkinson's precise prose fills out the numbers to create a memorable
plea for the recognition that these men did not give up their lives in
vain. Many were buried in mass graves and it is fitting that nearly 100
years after the event some of these graves have been found, the bodies
examined and given names, and reburied with full military honours.
Wilkinson outlines the reason the troops were there at that particular
time. Many were untried and usually the new troops were sent initially
to somewhere safer, but this was not to be. The orders were given,
despite many changes even hours before the battle, bombs had blasted
the German trenches for seven hours and then the troops were told to
advance. But the plan did not work. the Germans were waiting and many
allied troops were simply mown down as they tried to cross no man's
land. The Germans had watched the preparations for days from their
higher vantage point, and knew that the feint to make it appear that
there were more troops than was really the case, was not true. At the
end of the day, killed and wounded alike were stuck in this area, with
little hope of retrieval. Wilkinson details the reasons for this
mammoth failure, lack of communication, lack of knowledge of the German
entrenchment, untried troops, lack of leadership and so on.
But it is what happens next that has captured the imagination of many.
A Melbourne school teacher, Lambis Englezos, was so engrossed with the
whole story that he researched it further, and was convinced after
studying photographs before ad after the battle, documents in England,
Australia and Germany, that there were soldiers unaccounted for. He
focussed his attentions on Pheasant Wood, a place behind German lines,
where there was clearly a piece of ground that had been turned over.
His tenacity saw the exhumation and identification of these soldiers,
and they were buried in a new cemetery at Fromelles.
An amazing story brilliantly recreated by Wilkinson, she ends the story
telling us that this appalling battle is still not recognised in its
own right, but as part of the Battle of the Somme, for which it was
supposed to provide some respite. As with all of black dog books'
series, The Drum, this account is littered with maps,
statistics and
photographs, many of which are refreshingly unpublished, and with
linking fictional letters from serving soldiers. This fascinating
account will thrill its readers.
Fran Knight
Poison Pen by Tanya Landman
Walker, 2010. ISBN 9781406328615.
(Best suited for 11+) Genre - Murder mystery. When Poppy Fields and her
friend Graham are selected to help at a local book festival, they think
it will be an easy way to spend the week-end. But when famous authors
start being attacked by a mysterious person, it is up to them to find
out who it is and stop them.
Overall, it was a good story. The dialogue and writing style - which is
usually an important element in this type of story - was simple but
very effective. The plot was clever and engaging, although the twist at
the end may be easy to guess for some people.
It was a great length, neither too short to build suspense, or too long
for younger readers. I loved the characters because they were realistic
(although the idea of someone as young as Poppy solving
murder-mysteries without developing mental problems was a little
unbelievable.)
It is a smart and clever mystery for the younger readers.
I recommend this book.
Rebecca Adams (Student)
Sucked out by John Parker
Lightning Strikes series. Walker Books, 2010. ISBN 9781921529689.
(Age Group: 10+) Dan, Zainey and Caro need to tackle the case of the
eye. The eye first belonged to Zainey, cost him $250! He wanted to put
it on the tip of his finger so that he could see everything that was
happening just by lifting his finger. But then the eye got lost,
perhaps it had gotten attached to someone else? They need to find out
and fast, before anything bad happens to them or someone else.
Personally I didn't really enjoy this book, even though the author is
fairly well known. I felt it had a story line that could have grown to
be a bigger and better book. But in saying that I would recommend this
book for younger readers who find reading more complex books very hard
as it quite an easy read and if you like these kind of story lines it
would be great. I would also say that this book is fairly male
orientated and young boys would probably love the slightly gruesome
factor in the story. I hope that some people will enjoy this book even
though I didn't.
Taylor Oxenham (student)
Simpson's Donkey: A wartime journey to Gallipoli and beyond by Peter Stanley
Pier 9. ISBN 9781741968118. pbk, RRP $A14.99.
(Year 2+) The story of Simpson and his donkey at Gallipoli is one that
all Australian children grow up with, but how did the donkeys get to
Gallipoli in the
first place? This story, by Peter Stanley, offers some answers.
It follows the life of Sevilen, a donkey born on the island of Lemnos,
who, through the actions of a variety of masters, including Simpson,
has a remarkable
journey through the eastern Mediterranean region during the First World
War.
Told as though it is his autobiography, Sevilen's story gives us a
unique
insight into the theatres of war at that time as he encounters
Australians, New Zealanders, Greeks, Turks, Britons, Arabs and Indians.
The author has had a long association with the Australian War Memorial
as the Principal Historian and is now the Director of the Centre for
Historical research at the National Museum of Australia, so his
credentials as an historian are impeccable and his ability as a
storyteller,
engaging. It is book of World War I that will capture the imagination
and empathy of
middle to upper primary students in a way that seldom happens. It
would
be a perfect read-aloud as schools focus on the annual commemoration of
ANZAC Day as well as offering yet another example of how man is
dependent on
animals in so many ways.
At a time when I am supposed to be reading university texts, I
couldn't put this one down. I kept thinking of the ways that I could
use it if
I were still in the classroom, and wishing that I was!
Barbara Braxton
Dash and Lily's Book of Dares by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan
Allen and Unwin, 2010.
(Age 15+) Recommended. Following the success of Nick and Norah's
Infinite Playlist, Rachel Cohn and David Levithan have again
produced a
sparkling collaboration, with two main characters, Lily and Dash,
passing dares. Dash finds a red notebook full of dares from Lily on a
shelf in his favourite bookshop. He decides to take up the challenge
over the Christmas holidays and leaves dares for Lily as well. They
both have lots of fun leaving messages and carrying out weird dares,
but will they be able to get along when they first meet each other in
real life?
I really enjoyed this book. I loved the humour and some of the
witty repartee had me laughing out loud as Dash and Lily went out their
funny and exciting dares. The fact that much of the book was taken up
with a flirtation through a red notebook made it even more enjoyable
and I was sorry when their journey ended. Their love of books and the
many literary allusions made the story one for book lovers as well.
Dash and Lily were such likeable characters that I was compelled to
follow their story virtually in one sitting. Even though Dash's
nickname is Snarly, he comes across as a caring boy who looks out for
his friends. I loved that Lily played soccer and followed her gradual
coming of age, gradually convincing her large extended family that she
could manage on her own. All the supporting characters were well
rounded and interesting, especially Lily's homosexual brother Langston,
who instigates the notebook dare and Boomer, Dash's friend. These
supporting characters added to the depth of the story and gave the
reader an insight in Dash and Lily's personalities.
The humour, funny banter and amusing events, as well as an engrossing
romance, make this a compelling read for the mature teen.
Pat Pledger
Triple ripple by Brigid Lowry
Allen and Unwin, 2011. ISBN 9781742374994.
(Age 12+) Recommended. Cleverly combining three stories in one,
Bridget Lowry has written a charming fairytale of a young girl, Glory,
who is sent to work at the Royal Palace, where she discovers that past
events are to overshadow her future. Meanwhile, the Reader, Nova, is
reading the fairy story while trying to comes to terms with the fact
that her best friend has moved away and Dylan, a rather nasty girl, is
giving her a hard time at school. Interspersed with these two stories,
is the Writer's tale, where the author describes the creative writing
process and the way that the story emerges.
I found myself engrossed in all three of the intertwining stories. I
love fairy tales so was carried along with the story of Glory, longing
to find out if she could overcome the curse placed on her. I was
equally captivated by Nova's story: her loneliness and her family
problems. The part a school counsellor, Ms Golightly, plays in trying to
help both Nova and Dylan overcome their differences rang true for
me. I was pleased that Lowry didn't gloss over how difficult it
can be to make friends. The Writer's story gives an in-depth look into
how an author goes about bringing an idea to fruition.
Both main and supporting characters were described in depth. I felt I
knew all of them very well by the end of the book and was sorry to see
their stories finish. Those who like some romance in their fairy tales
will enjoy Glory and Rolf's gentle love story while Princess
Mirabella's quest for someone she can live with is told with humour and
sympathy.
Lowry has succeeded in making her multiple narratives a consuming read.
All three stories flowed along smoothly due to some very clever
writing, helped along with different fonts for each narrator.
Readers who are interested in finding out about the writing process are
in for a real treat. Girls in particular are sure to enjoy Triple
Ripple, which would make an interesting class set or Literature
Circle
book.
Pat Pledger
Angel Creek by Sally Rippin
Text, 2011. ISBN 9781921758058. Angel Creek is a mind boggling mystery about a girl called Jelly
and
her two younger cousins, Gino and Pik, who find a baby angel down by
the creek on Christmas Eve. When Jelly wishes her cousins could stay a
few days, something
happens to Nonna to make her wish come true. Babies usually have
mums, so maybe the angel does too?
Then after a few strange events Jelly meets a boy who never told her
his name. Could he have something to do with the angel and also the
young
boy who drowned in the very same creek in which the angel was
found?
This is a fascinating novel by Sally Rippin and it would be enjoyed
by all ages. The characters in this story are truly beautiful and in
perfect
harmony.
I loved this book from cover to cover.
Sarah Filkin (Yr 9 student)
The Kissing Game by Aidan Chambers
Bodley Head, 2011.
(Age 14 - Adult) Highly recommended. Aidan Chambers is an author
whose writing seems effortless. When you read his stories it feels as
though he's in the same room, relaying them to you alone. His style is
simple and direct, forcing the reader to sit up and take notice. In The
Kissing
Game he presents an exquisite collection of stories, some
amusing and others starkly shocking. There's plenty to ponder on and
three have left a lasting impression as I just can't stop thinking
about them.
The title story is particularly powerful, opening as it does with a shy
boy feeling tongue tied in the presence of a pretty girl; fairly run of
the mill you might think, but nothing could prepare me for the chilling
conclusion. Also exceptional is Sanctuary, the story of a young
man
fighting agoraphobia to attend an interview for university and becoming
embroiled with a Ukrainian girl imprisoned as a slave and desperate to
escape.
There are sexual themes, hence the age guide, and the range and depth
of writing make this a crossover titles with equal adult appeal. I
particularly liked the contrast between the longer, meatier stories and
what Chambers describes as 'Flash Fiction': stories which act like a
spark or flash of light allowing a quick view of a whole scene, person
or event. In The Kissing Game his flash fictions tend to take
the form
of dialogue - edgy and immediate.
There is plenty here to appeal to both boys and girls. Try it with
teenagers who enjoy Bali Rai, Siobhan Dowd, Tabitha Suzuma, and Nicola
Morgan.
Claire Larson
Dangerously placed by Nansi Kunze
Random House, 2011. ISBN 9781864718829.
Do not let the cover mislead you! This novel is highly individual in
the plot - something new and exciting for readers. It is absolutely
stunning, well written - the story almost comes off the page! This
solid and well developed novel has real world characters.
The story follows Alex Thaler in her work placement at Virk. Virk is
part of a multi-million dollar company called Simulcorp. It is a
virtual workplace where the brightest minds from all over the world
come together under one roof (metaphorically speaking of course). Alex
and her fellow student Dale are placed in the marketing division just
before disaster strikes.
When Pierce Grody, head of the department is murdered and the key
suspect is Alex, Alex and her friends choose to band together to help
solve the mystery. Everyone plays a part is the story - from Ki's
cunning investigatory skills to the eccentric Budi with his previous
knowledge of the workplace.
This is a fantastic story set mainly in the virtual world, it has
everything a good novel needs - a main character who finds herself
along the way - a bit of mystery and a hint of romance. A recipe for a
good read! I would recommend this book to teenagers with a taste for
adventure and a craving for a good book.
(Kayla, age 15)
Maisy's wonderful weather book by Lucy Cousins
A Maisy First Science Book. Walker, 2011. ISBN 9781406328479.
(Age 18 months - 6 yrs) Recommended. Much loved by toddlers for the
bright illustrations and pull out tabs, the Maisy series are a delight
for children. This reprint of Maisy's wonderful weather book is
sure to be a winner
with the children who have followed other books about the life of Maisy
and her friends.
This book describes the different types of weather that a young child
might encounter and the types of clothes that will be just right for
the temperature. It begins with the young child being asked to draw
back the curtains and find out what the weather will be like. Then each
new double spread page has a rhyme vividly describing what it is like
to have a sunny day and a snowy day, a rainy day and a windy day.
It concludes with a stormy day and a beautiful rainbow day.
A side bar with pictures of clothes to wear and things to do for the
weather give an opportunity for the child to learn how to say or read
new words about the weather. Pull out tabs and moveable flaps make for
an enjoyable interactive reading experience. They are not too fragile
if used under supervision and can be easily repaired if little fingers
are too eager! The concluding double spread with a beautiful
rainbow tab is particularly delightful. Internal rhymes would make this
an ideal book to read aloud and a good choice for young children who
are ready to have a try at reading for themselves.
What an enjoyable way to learn about having fun in all types of
weather.
Pat Pledger
Revolution by Jennifer Donnelly
Bloomsbury, 2010. ISBN 9781408810453.
(Age 14+) Highly recommended. Jennifer Donnelly's award winning book A
gathering
light was a wonderful read, and in Revolution she brings
the
same detailed approach to history combining her tale of the French
Revolution with a modern one. Andi is a girl who is on the brink of
suicide. She blames herself for the death of her brother Truman, and is
devastated when her father leaves home and her mother's breakdown. When
her father unexpectedly visits, he insists that her mother is sent to a
psychriatic hospital and takes Andi to Paris with him. A Nobel Prize
winning DNA expert, he is testing the heart of a young child to see if
it belonged to Louis-Charles, the heir to the French throne, who was
imprisoned after his father was sent to the guillotine in the French
Revolution. Andi becomes engrossed in an old diary that she has found
in a guitar case and is so involved in the tragic story of Alexandrine
Paradis and her relationship with the young prince that the past seems
to be in her present.
Donnelly skillfully combines the historical details of Alex's life
during the French Revolution with Andi's struggle to overcome her guilt
and grief. The two girls are bound together by the common bonds of loss
and love, which have not changed over two centuries. The French
Revolution is vividly depicted in all its horror, the political aims of
its leaders uncovered and the unfeeling treatment of a small boy is
described in a heart breaking way.
The tension builds up to an almost unbearable point and I
couldn't put down the second half of the book as I avidly followed the
two stories asking myself would Andi recover from her grief in this
'stupid and brutal' world. And what happens to Alex in the French
catacombs?
The book is so richly layered with meanings that it is easy to overlook
them. Donnelly's references to music will be loved by music fans and
will have readers less musical looking up both 18th century and modern
music. The book is divided into three sections, Hell, Purgatory and
Paradise, with references to Dante's Inferno, and even Andi's full
name, Diandra Xenia Alpers, is an anagram for Alexandrine Paradis.
This is an outstanding book that deserves a place in all libraries. It
would make an excellent class set or literature circle book.
Pat Pledger
Greatest Greek myths by Sally Kindberg and Tracey Turner
(The Comic Strip series). Bloomsbury, 2011. ISBN 978 1408804490.
(Ages 7+) Humour. Recommended. At their bare bones, many Greek myths
are bloody and downright
nasty, and a comic strip version is just what is needed to garner
interest from middle primary people, and who knows they may look
further to read the complete myth in the many versions available. But
this book stands firmly on its own, funny, clever, majestically drawn,
the reader will be swallowed whole by the laugh a minute antics of the
gods and their playthings.
The first few pages introduce the reader to the gods on high,
Aphrodite. Hestia, Apollo, to name a few, with a well wrought phrase
under each picture which sums up their character. Then on to the
stories, beginning with, where else, the beginning, then on to
Persephone and her time in the underworld, going on to Pandora
letting the evils of the world escape form her box, and so on, until
we reach the hapless Helen of Troy and the war unleashed in her name.
Possibly unknown to a younger audience, this introduction gives the
bare outline of the stories in such a sharp and funny way that readers
will not only be informed but delighted. This small, hard cover book
with a strong binding is just right for this age group.
Fran Knight
The glass demon by Helen Grant
Penguin, 2010. ISBN 9780141325767.
(Age 14+) Recommended. Mystery/thriller. The vanishing of Katharina
by Helen Grant is
one of my favourite mystery reads so I was thrilled to get a copy of
The glass demon. I was not disappointed in this dark portrayal
of evil
and fear. Seventeen-year old Lin and her family are in Germany where
her father is on a campaign to find the Allerheiligen stained glass. On
their way to the castle where they are to live, Lin finds a dead man in
an orchard and steps in broken glass that was near the body. More
broken glass and bodies appear and Lin's baby brother is almost impaled
by a spear while sleeping in his cot. Terrified for the lives of her
family, Lin doesn't know where to turn for help. Together with Michel,
a young boy from a neighbouring farm, she sets out to find the murderer.
Grant builds up the suspense in The glass demon and it
continues right
until the terrifying climax. The chilling plot revolves around a legend
that the Allerheiligen glass is cursed by a demon. I found the
descriptions of Lin's fear that there may be a supernatural cause to
the deaths quite eerie, and at times was convinced that a real demon
was
responsible for the murders.
In addition to an exciting plot, well-rounded characters make the story
even more engrossing. I loved Lin's growth from a rather selfish teen
to a deeply thoughtful and caring adult. Her crush on a beautiful young
priest and gradual realisation of Michel's worth add a dash of romance
to the story. The descriptions of her family life with a selfish
father, ineffective young stepmother and ill older sister made me feel
as if I knew all the people in the story very well.
This is an exceptionally well written, exciting and engrossing mystery
that will appeal to both teens and adults. I can't wait for Grant's
next novel.
Pat Pledger
Playing the Shape game by Anthony Browne with Joe Browne
Doubleday, 2011.
All ages. Highly recommended. Like many book lovers I'm rather
suspicious of eBooks and if ever there is a case against them it is
summed up in Playing the Shape Game. I loved everything about
this
book; it's substantial - weighty and reassuring with velvet smooth
pages that feel and smell wonderful. The design and layout are a joy
and best of all it allows us a glimpse into Anthony Browne's life and
work.
Early chapters focus on childhood and Anthony's close relationship with
his father, also a talented artist. Growing up in the 50s and 60s
Anthony and his brother enjoyed sport and almost complete freedom to
play in the fields and quarries near home. Even as a young child his
interest in the surreal was apparent and a picture he drew at the age
of six shows a pirate family living in someone's trouser leg!
Much of the book is devoted to Browne's career with the through-line
being his lifelong preoccupation with the shape game. As an art student
he discovered Magritte and Dali, who although new to him felt strangely
familiar. Interestingly his final degree show entitled Man is an
Animal
focused on the similarities between human and animal behaviour - a hint
of things to come perhaps.
The story of his job as a graphic designer (he hated it) and then a
medical illustrator (initially terrifying) before launching into the
greetings card market make fascinating reading. In these days of
instant fame it's reassuring to read of a man who served an arduous and
at times soul searching apprenticeship.
Anthony Browne's editor Julia MacRae had a huge impact on his
development as an author and illustrator. He credits her with teaching
him that illustrations can reveal things that the text does not. There
are so many fascinating insights here - Anthony's preoccupation with
gorillas, his near death experience in a gorilla cage (almost as
surreal as his illustrations), his preoccupation with visual jokes, his
faith in children's ability to grasp underlying themes, and his
anathema for dumbing-down - all are strong messages. It's
fascinating to discover the background and inspiration for masterpieces
such as The Tunnel and Voices in the Park. It's made me
want to revisit
all of his books and my Amazon wish-list has grown considerably since
devouring Playing the Shape Game.
His joy at being awarded the Hans Christian Andersen medal in 2000 (the
first British illustrator to reach this pinnacle) sums up Anthony
Browne. What really comes across is his passionate belief in the power
of art, his faith in children and their ability to see and understand
far more than we adults realise and the importance of picture book for
all ages. More than once he decries the current obsession with children
being pushed to read 'proper books' i.e. those without illustrations.
You could almost forgive this giant of children's literature for being
rather pompous and self satisfied. Far from it, what really shines
through is Anthony Browne's modesty; his diffidence and his joy in art,
demonstrated by his continued questioning of how he works and his
desire to give something back. Perhaps it's no surprise that his self
portrait on the front cover bears more than a passing resemblance to a
rather wistful and introspective Willy the Wimp.
Claire Larson.
