(Orca Echoes). Orca, 2010. ISBN: 9781554693085.
When cousins Jake and Lexie race and Jake loses, it is impossible for
Jake not to take up the challenge of a second event. This time,
however, the race is to be by boat to Smuggler's Cave and back. Because
Jake can't leave his younger brother, Tommy alone, the two participate
together. Things go wrong and the boat ends up in the cave with the
water level rising. Stories about the cave make the children uneasy and
add to the adventure.
As a simple adventure tale, Smuggler's Cave will probably
appeal most
to the emergent reader or the middle primary reluctant reader. With
only minimal pages in the book and fourteen of those being
illustrations, this is an easy and quick read, accessible to both male
and female readers as the protagonists are also of both sexes. These
illustrations are useful to the reader as they support the text without
being so busy that they would detract from the child's concentration
levels. The theme of competition between boys and girls in the story
would be familiar to the young readers, possibly adding to the interest
level.
Jo Schenkel
The Messenger by Yannick Haenel
Translated by Ian Monk. Text Publishing, 2011. ISBN 9781921758003.
(Age17+ years) The Polish ghettos and the death camps established by
the Nazis during
World War 2 for the elimination of the Jews were hidden from the eyes
of the world. This book tells the story of one man, Jan Karski, who,
although not a Jew, did visit both the Warsaw ghetto and one of the
death camps so that he could take first hand knowledge to the allies
about the fate of those incarcerated. As a young Polish officer at the
start of the war Jan Karski escaped both the invading Germans and
Soviets to become a runner for the Polish underground. In 1942 he was
smuggled into the Warsaw ghetto by two Jewish leaders and asked to
inform the 'civilized' world about what he saw, to carry a message to
open the eyes of the allies to what was happening to the Jewish people.
It is an understatement to write that he was shocked by the suffering,
there in the ghetto and in the camp he succeeded in visiting. Through
contacts in the Polish government in exile he took his terrible message
to England and the United States. His appeals to the allies were met
with disbelief and even, he suspected, boredom. His message rejected,
he had to live with both the horror of what was happening and the
belief that the allies were compliant. The book is tripartite; the
first section describes Karski's appearance in the Claude Lanzmann
movie Shoah, the second is a summary of Karski's own book Story
of a
secret state (1944), and the third is a fictionalized version of
Karski's attitudes/philosophy many years later. In the first section we
see on camera how Karski resisted his memories, and then the horror of
the images that he gradually offers. The second section describes his
life as an agent, his difficulties, being captured and tortured, and
finally reaching the 'land of the free'. The final section is an
imaginative reconstruction of Karski's life in New York, his
sleeplessness, his attempts to escape the past by suppressing memories,
and his final embracing of the need to bear witness. This is the story
of a man who still believes that his message has not been heard, and
that he therefore still carries the message. So disgusted by the camp,
he believes that he died afterwards, but came back to life to carry a
pinpoint of light that he continues to try to shine on those terrible
events. The story is compelling, horrifying and challenging, and could
make an illuminating comparison with the movies The Pianist or
Schindler's List, or with the Jacobson novel The Finkler
question.
It is recommended for capable senior students.
Jenny Hamilton
The genius wars by Catherine Jinks
Allen and Unwin, 2009. ISBN 978 1741758542.
Recommended for 14+. Genius wars follows two previous titles in
the
series - Evil genius and Genius squad.
I imagine that readers familiar with these novels will enjoy
reacquainting themselves with familiar characters and discovering how
events from earlier plots lead to this finale. Newcomers should not
consider that reading the earlier tales is necessary however as Jinks
cleverly sets the scene and provides character narratives which
enlighten the uninitiated, allowing this story to stand solidly by
itself.
As a child, the central character Cadel had been exploited and
manipulated by adult criminals who engaged in high technology escapades
detailed in the first title. In the second book, Cadel and his friends
pool their knowledge and experience to assist authorities to locate and
prosecute criminals.
At the start of Genius wars, Cadel finds himself in a happier
place,
living with foster parents who love him and look out for his welfare
and best interests, in contrast with previous 'parental' figures whose
motivations were selfish and actions abusive. Fifteen year old Cadel
attends University with the intention of formalizing his considerable
I.T. skills and his few close friends are similarly gifted. Sonja, a
girl with multiple disabilities is rightly presented as a maths genius
and a vital team member, rather than a sundry character who happens to
be confined to a wheelchair. Similarly Cadel's hacker friend Hamish, an
annoying but likeable character drawn with realistic flaws and traits
is someone whom we might all know.
Cadel's foster father is a detective and his foster mother a social
worker. With their protection and support from his loyal friends, Cadel
engages in a virtual 'war' with Prosper English, a sinister father
figure from earlier times who seeks to harm him.
Cadel must pit himself against Prosper, testing his intelligence and
endurance and it is gratifying to read a story which celebrates
cerebral powers over physical violence.
It was pleasing to relate to characters which are boldly different from
those routinely employed by some authors to plod through their
sometimes hackneyed dramas depicting contemporary teenage life. Jinks'
idea is fresh and her topic challenging as wildly complex technology
features prominently amongst the action. The communications,
surveillance and security technology described is so advanced that one
is never sure if elements stray beyond current reality, however within
the framework of the tale, this is entirely acceptable.
Jinks has successfully created a story containing action and suspense
in a familiar Australian setting and whilst hyper technology is
involved, absolute understanding of every detail is not vital as the
reader is soon caught up and carried along with the pace.
Rob Welsh
The Iron Witch by Karen Mahoney
Random House, 2010. ISBN 978-186471864718270.
Donna Underwood is just your normal girl, that was until a horrific
attack in the Ironbridge Woods ten years ago, when she was only seven.
In this attack her father tells her to get behind him and grabbing the
axe, he goes off to get the Wood Monster. When the Wood Monster comes,
Donna's father tries to hold it off, but fails. In the fey attack she
almost lost both her arms, after they got bitten by the Wood Monster.
Maker saved them by binding her lower arms and skeleton in pure star
iron and silver and marking her with magic. Donna is not sure whether
it's because of her father's death or the fey attack, but her mother
has gone mad and only very rarely remembers who anyone is.
Ever since then she has been involved with the hidden world of magic,
as her parents both belonged to the Order of the Dragon, an
ancient alchemist society. Only when Donna's best friend Navin Sharma
is take by wood elves, the worst kind of fey there is, does Donna
accept who she really is. With the help of her new-found friend,
Alexander Grayson (Xan), she rushes head-long into the deepest and
darkest place there is.
Karen Mahoney has captured the prefect teenage novel, action, drama and
romance, in The Iron Witch. Being the first in a series it will
make
for a wonderful read. I highly recommend it to all teen readers. You
will enjoy!
Zoe Pfeiffer (aged 14)
Alice-Miranda Takes the Lead by Jacqueline Harvey
Random House, 2011. ISBN: 9781864718492.
Highly recommended for children ages 8 and up. Alice-Miranda is the
most kind, considerate, genuine seven and a half year old anybody could
wish to meet. On her return to boarding school, she is delighted to be
reunited with her friends, teachers and the staff of the school, each
of whom she appears to have changed in a positive way during the
previous terms. Even the arrival of the dreadfully rude new student,
Sloane Sykes, and her mother, September, has her trying to find the
best in people. Talk of a witch living in the woods causes the children
some concern, until Alice-Miranda gets left alone whilst out riding.
She then becomes involved in a mystery which she endeavours to solve
and bring things to rights.
With this having been my introduction to Alice-Miranda, I now wish to
go and read the two preceding titles. As much as this little girl is
too good to be true, she is an utterly loveable character, able to
endear herself to all with whom she comes in contact. She proves to be
totally unselfish, thoughtful and equally as engaging a character as
was Pollyanna in my childhood reading. This series could be used as a
class read aloud to even younger children, with a focus on giving
others the benefit of the doubt, generosity of spirit, sharing with and
over-looking the flaws in other people, thereby allowing them to be
themselves. This is a most engaging and entertaining tale of mystery,
friendship, loyalty and honesty.
Jo Schenkel
Starry Starry Night by Sarah Kate Mitchell
Murdoch Books, 2010. ISBN: 978 1741968194.
Highly recommended for all ages. Jeffrey and his big sister, Rosie,
race one another home from the carnival on a bright, starlit night.
Down the hillside, they stop. Rosie tells him the stars are 'filled
with ideas, dreams and inventions - our IMAGININGS. They dance up there
all night for everyone to see.'[ Back at home, Jeffrey is looking
through his window when he sees a falling star and his curiosity leads
him outside to see if he could find it. Following its path, he finds
moonbugs, leaves which turn into birds, a cardboard creature and a
school of ticklefish and collects various pieces which remind him of
his trip. Finally, he also comes across a crater, created by the star
and, as he picks up the star fragment, it ceases to glow. Arriving at
home, Jeffrey tries to fill the star with his own imaginings - but will
they be successful and cause the star to glow?
Mitchell has created a delightfully imaginative first picture book,
accompanied by her glowing illustrations of the stars in the night sky
and the night time landscape both real and imagined. According to
Mitchell's ABC radio interview, the illustrations preceded the text and
the visual landscape is one into which the reader can only dream of
entering. Text and illustrations in this title meld beautifully to
create a whole package, appealing to readers of any age, and serve only
to encourage one to continue to dream.
Jo Schenkel
Mariah Mundi and the ship of fools by G.P. Taylor
Faber and Faber, 2010. ISBN 978 0571251889.
Upper Primary and Lower Secondary . Highly recommended. Mariah Mundi
and Captain Charity have left the Bureau of Antiquities to
travel on the Triton in the race against the Ketos across the Atlantic.
An attempt on Mariah's life in the train on the way to the dock begins
the intrigue. Everything is larger than expected. The Triton 'was
nine hundred feet long and two hundred wide. It towered above the
dock cranes as high as St Paul's Cathedral' p12. This was a
unusual adventure for Captain Charity knew or suspected all that was
going to happen but Mariah sits in the reader's place and we see the
catastrophe unfold before our eyes.
Full of modern technology and
ideas this is an adventure for readers who love the challenge of the
future and the unknown. It's an exotic and excitingly gripping story,
with many unexpected twists and turns. The finale has to be read to be
believed. Perhaps this is our future?
This is a very good read,
especially for children who love the challenge of words and
ideas. It is quite an extraordinary adventure with wonderfully
seemingly impossibly situations which resolve in quite an
unexpected and original way.
Sue Nosworthy
Mercy by Rebecca Lim
HarperCollins, 2010.
Highly recommended. Mercy wakes on a bus headed for a town called
Paradise. An angel exiled from heaven is what she is. Mercy has been
doomed to return to Earth repeatedly, each time sharing the life and
body of another person. A group of 8 angels are after Mercy's blood,
but all for something she doesn't remember doing. While is Paradise,
Mercy meets Ryan, whose sister was kidnapped two years previously.
Another girl disappears and they know they must act now.
The plot of the story is complex and not straight forward. The events
are well laid out so that you do not expect them coming, each leads to
the other without you realizing it. The characters are mostly everyday
people that you would expect to see anywhere, however there are a
couple of exceptions. Mercy is not human, she is an exiled angel. You
would not meet her on the street. Ryan is the other exception, he is a
little over obsessive and distant. He has a minor temper too. You are
not likely to bump into him on a street, he doesn't like hanging out
there. The setting is a predominately a small town called Paradise
where everyone knows everyone's business. All the main event happen
here. The writer has a higher level style of writing that is not too
complex. She employs some levels of imagery and a slightly higher level
of symbolism. The sentences are of a high level form and are well
constructed, with hidden meanings: for those that can see them that is.
The main themes that are contained within this novel are; kidnapping,
searching for Ryan's sister, taking over someone else's life life and
body, exiled angels, angels and escape. There is a small amount of
graphic violence in this book as well. I believe that the target
audience would be sixteen to nineteen year olds, but it could be
enjoyed by those up to the age of twenty-five. I would rate this book
9.5/10 stars.
Amelia Kelly (student)
The secret message by Sally Rippin
Hardie Grant Egmont, 2011. ISBN 9781921759581.
Recommended. Younger readers. The series about Billie B Brown is
developing as Sally Rippin shows
her smart character in a range of situations in which many children
would find themselves. The first in the series that I read was The
perfect present, showing Billie finding a bicycle in the shed
before
Christmas and assuming it was for her. The story showcased her
disappointment when she finds out that it is for the boy next door.
Similarly, in The secret message, Billie is at the beach and
longs
to be friendly with a pair of sisters building a sandcastle nearby.
She does several things to get their attention, eventually pretending
to find a bottle with a message inside it. They play and she falls
onto their sandcastle, so embarrassed that she moves back with her
family. The bottle is used as a ploy to send a letter of apology to
the girls and she is accepted back in the group. A gentle story of
making friends, of disappointment and forgiveness, Rippin subtly
leads the readers to ask the questions they need to ask about the
situation.
These will be eagerly picked up by younger students, starting to
read chapter books, and helped along with Aki Fukuoka's
illustrations. Billie is a wonderful character, full of life, but
also making mistakes for which she then must work out a solution.
Fran Knight
Spirit Hunter by Katy Moran
Walker Books, 2010. ISBN 9781406317282.
Best suited for: 11-18 (easy-to-read language, but complicated and
sometimes adult
themes). Highly recommended. The story takes place around AD 665, in
China/Central Asia. The
Empress of China is determined to get rid of the opposing force, the
Horse Tribes, so she sends an army across the desert to destroy them,
along with her young Shaolin spy, Swiftarrow. Swiftarrow also has
another mission: he must find a new recruit for the empress, a young
barbarian to train in the way of Shaolin. (Being Shaolin is what you
and I would call being a ninja.)
Meanwhile, a young female shaman of the Horse Tribes is having dreams,
dreams in which there is a great battle and her people are slaughtered.
Asena must somehow save the tribes and stop the bloodshed. But how?
I enjoyed this book for many reasons, most of which are listed here. It
was well-written and extremely well-researched. The characters were
realistic and well-developed. The language was wonderful; the scenes
were described well and the story flowed along excellently. The
dialogue was mostly perfect and suited the individual characters and
the book had a great story-line.
I love how in books like this, everything seems so real. While I was
reading I found that I could actually imagine the scene very clearly in
my mind, and I think, because it was so well-researched, that
what I was imaging might not have been so different to the actual
reality that was China almost one and a half thousand years ago. The
characters spoke and thought like they were from that time-period and I
couldn't pick out a mistake in the scenery while I was reading it. It
would be an excellent book to read for anyone interested in old-age
China.
Informative, exciting, clever and lovingly-crafted are the words I
would choose to describe this book.
It was a lot of fun to read and I know I will revisit it many times in
the future.
I highly recommend this book.
If you like this book you should read: Dragonkeeper Series by Carole
Wilkinson.
Rebecca Adams (student)
The diamond of Drury Lane by Julia Golding
Egmont Books, 2010. ISBN 978 1405237581.
(Age: Upper primary and sarly Secondary) Highly recommended. It is 1790
and
this intriguing and well scripted story is set in London at the Theatre
Royal in Drury Lane. The Critics page gives an intriguing insight
into the novel from R. B. Sheridan's tongue in cheek 'Cat Royal has no
Rivals' to 'It made me realise what bliss it is to be alive today, but
to be young is very heaven' by William Wordsworth! Cat Royal is an
orphan living in the theatre. The mystery surrounds the conversation
Cat overheard with Mr Sheridan and Marchmont where she heard about the
diamond. Cat found it 'strange that somewhere amongst the squalid
splendours of Drury lane Mr Sheridan had hidden a treasure - a perfect
diamond, a real jewel in her gilt crown' (p21).
The plot twists through the streets of London with many riotous
incidents involving gangs who fight openly, and meeting Pedro, who
played the violin for Lady Elizabeth and Lord Francis and for whom Cat
read the beginning of her novel. The sights and
smells of the period resonate as the mystery deepens. It's a very
fascinating novel, bringing to life the characters with an originality
that captures the imagination. The mystery is very cleverly
solved. A delightful read.
Sue Nosworthy
A house of night novel: Awakened by P.C. and Kristin Cast
Book 8. Atom, 2011. ISBN: 9781907410093.
Neferet is back. Re-instated as the Tulsa House of Night's high
priestess she plots her revenge on Zoey Redbird. While Neferet is
distracted the immortal Kalona (bound by oath to Neferet) and son
Rephiem (a raven mocker) focus on the first red high priestess
believing she would be susceptible to darkness. What Kalona and Neferet
do not know is that their plan is being threatened by Rephiem being
imprinted with Stevie Rae. In short this whirlwind of a book should
hold the reader's interest long after it's been read.
After finishing Awakened my thoughts are comparing and
confirming the
similarities with a number of best selling books. P.C. and Kristin
Cast have done something I know many authors have been trying to do:
Make a new story which has all the popular elements of interest. Names
are familiar from well-known legends and quotes said to have been from
Merlin have been used. This book is one of the rare ones that draws the
reader into a new universe of magic and keeps the readers attention
focused on the complicated plots rather then pondering the familiarity
of it all.
(Kayla Gaskell, 15)
Paranormalcy by Kiersten White
Harperteen, 2010. ISBN 9780061985843.
(Age 14+) Evie has always thought that she was a normal teenager even
though she was employed by The International Paranormal Containment
Agency to track down paranormals and bring them for rehabilitation. She
can see through the glamour that hides them from normal people so she
is invaluable to the agency. When Lend, a young paranormal who can take
on the shape of anyone around him, is caught at the agency, Evie is
intrigued and glad to get to know someone her age. However a dark
faerie prophecy promises death to those who have paranormal powers and
Evie, with the help of Lend, must overcome this threat.
White infuses the story with humour and well as darkness and this makes
it stand out from other paranormal stories. Evie is smart and has a
wonderful turn of phrase, which made me laugh quite often. Her
obsession with pink, her flamboyant interest in fashion and her love of
her taser, named Tasey, are all described vividly. The way she talks
about her longing to go to normal school and use ordinary things like
lockers is very funny. I could even imagine the gorgeous dress on the
front cover as the one she wore to the prom, although it has little
relevance to her fighting powers or brainpower.
The romance between Evie and Lend is believable and builds up
gradually. Despite all obstacles I could believe that they could make
it as a couple. Lend is overshadowed by the strength of Evie's
character in the early parts of the book, but comes into his own in the
final chapters. Supporting characters are well developed with the fairy
Reth both sinister and attractive.
The climax to all the action is thought provoking and satisfying,
leaving an opening for more adventures for Evie and Lend. White's website says that there are
two sequels to follow.
Girls will be drawn to the beautiful cover and lovers of the Twilight
saga will enjoy following Evie's antics in this easy to read fantasy.
Pat Pledger
The Innocents by Nette Hilton
Woolshed Press, 2010. ISBN 9781864718744.
Best suited for: 12+. Recommended. Missie Missinger is a
normal girl growing up in 1950's Australia. When
tragedy hits her town, they call it an accident. But as more accidents
happen, the frightened locals start looking for an answer, and find an
easy target. Can Missie piece together the truth in time to save an
innocent friend? And if she ever finds out the real killer, will she
ever be able to confront them without putting herself, and those around
her, in danger?
This book was interesting in different ways. The story flowed well, but
it was unusual because the murders took place over a span of three or
four years, unlike some stories when the murders happen within a few
days of each other. This meant that most of the story was based around
Missie growing up.
Although some readers might find parts of this novel boring, such as
when the author is simply writing about Missie's normal life, I found
it fascinating. It was described with such sensitivity to Missie's
world and everything she thought that I could sense how well the author
had adapted herself to that particular setting.
I liked the characters; in particular Oleksander. He was a really good
character and it was interesting reading his story.
One of the few bad things is that it was a bit too long to gain a
stable amount of interest for occasional readers. It would be a good
length for advanced readers though.
While not one of the best books I have ever read, it was still
enjoyable. Slightly less violent than most murder-mystery novels, but
just as suspenseful, it would still be a good read for those who enjoy
this particular genre.
I recommend this book.
Rebecca Adams (Student)
The Rosie Black chronicles; Genesis by Lara Morgan
Walker Books, 2010. ISBN 9781921529399 The Rosie Black Chronicles; Genesis is an awesome sci-fi novel
about a
disease called MalX that's a huge mystery.
Set 500 years in the future, the world is a very different place.
Coastal cities have drowned and Newperth is divided into the haves, the
'Centrals'; the have-nots, the 'Bankers'; and the fringe dwellers, the
'Ferals'. Rosie Black, a Banker, finds a strange box when foraging in
the old city where the Ferals live and she and her friend soon find
out the consequences for finding the box in the first place.
The characters in this book had that sense of adventure that I really
like to read about, also I found it easy to understand.
A truly good adventure/ sci-fi novel that I enjoyed very much, it makes
me feel very informed with the story and all the pieces of the great
MalX disease mystery really fit together. It's up to Rosie to save the
half infected earth and shut down the Heilos.
My age recommendation for this book is probably for teenagers and young
adults.
I can't wait for the second book in the series to come out because the
first one was just awesome.
Sarah Filkin (Yr 9)
