Gollanz, 2009. ISBN 9780575085121
(Age 14+) Highly recommended. Judged by US
Publishers Weekly
as one of the Best Children's Books for 2009, Fire is a
companion novel
to
Graceling, the winner of the Mythopoeic Fantasy Award for
Children's
Literature
2009, and one of YALSA Teens Top 10.
Monsters live in the Dells. They take the shape of
living
creatures but are exceptionally beautiful to look upon and have the
ability to
entrall anyone who sees them. Fire is
the last of the human Monsters and she is feared because of her beauty
and her
ability to control minds, especially as her father Cansrel has grossly
misused
his powers as advisor to the King.
The world that Cashore has created is complete and
fascinating and her characters are well rounded and memorable. There is
a slow
paced romance and lots of action, fierce battles and court intrigue,
but it is the
moral dilemmas that Fire faces that make this book so outstanding.
Should she use her powers to help in the war
that is developing? She longs for children but she knows that if she
continues the
human
Monster line, there is the possibility that any children she has may
misuse
their power in the same way that her father did. Cashore subtly drew me
into
considering the difference between right and wrong and the use and
misuse of
talent, and has left me thinking of complex issues long after I
finished
the
book.
This novel can be read as a stand-alone. It is set
in a different
kingdom to Graceling, and has only one overlapping character, a
boy
with
different coloured eyes. Fire is outstanding fantasy. Beautifully written,
with a
strong heroine, compelling characters and plot, it is a book not to be
missed.
Pat Pledger
Cupid's arrow by Isabelle Merlin
Random House, 2009. ISBN 978174166 4379.
(Age 12+) Recommended. An intriguing and mysterious plot,
extremely well
written
and full of fascinating twists and turns. Fleur Griffin's mother
inherits a library of a renowned French
collector.She and her mother travel to
the ancient town of Avallon to find the author murdered and the scene
is highly
influenced by the obsession with the legends of King Arthur.
Fleur meets the fascinating Remy who lives in
the woods with his hermit mother.
Descriptions of the country side, the sweet smelling arboretums,
the
venerable historical buildings bring the French countryside to life.The
mystery deepens but Fleur and Remy use
wile and the internet to find the person who committed the murders.It's
a gripping read.Early
senior school girls particularly should enjoy it.
Sue Nosworthy
Envy a Luxe Novel by Anna Godbersen
Penguin
Books, 2009. ISBN 9780141323381.
(Age 15+) It's
the year 1900 and the Holland family of
No. 17
Gramercy Park South are Manhattan
society's favourite family. However tragedy has befallen them over the
last
year with the father dying, their money disappearing, and daughter
Elizabeth
having her new husband shot and killed. Her
sister Diana has lost her virginity and heart to some-one now
unattainable.
In
the same town Henry and Penelope Schoonmaker have become the city's
most prominent
couple. But despite their recent marriage, the newlyweds are barely
talking to
each other and the marriage remains unconsummated. A certain gossip
columnist
seems to be receiving very good inside information about the goings on
in high
society much to the annoyance of the participants.
This is the third book in the Luxe novel series but it can be read as
a stand
alone title. The 1900 setting brings
with it many historical lessons such as the different classes in
society and
the huge discrepancies in their living conditions. There is envy not
only
between the classes but within them. The richer set must 'be mindful of
appearances' and act with 'propriety', with the females offering
'passive acquiescence.'
However, even like today's youth, the decorum disappears when they are
away
from the public eye.
The
language used is not only rich in description but also full of phrases
rarely
encountered in the 21st century.
Terms such as pedlar of secrets, well kempt gentleman and
cordial
manners will send many of today's students searching for their
dictionaries. Nevertheless the themes of
wealth, love, beauty and betrayal and the fast paced storyline will
keep them
turning the pages to see what happens next. Suitable for upper
secondary
students.
Kay
Haarsma
Fallen by Lauren Kate
Doubleday, 2009. ISBN 9780385618021.
(Age 15+) A boy
seventeen-year-old
Lucinda was with has died in suspicious circumstances. She
is sent to the grim Sword and Cross School,
a place for teens who have been in trouble by the authorities. Across
the courtyard she spies a gorgeous boy, Daniel, and is instantly drawn
to him
although he rejects her. She discovers
that Daniel is a fallen angel and that they have spent generations
loving and
losing each other. Dark forces are at work. Will they ever be able to
be
together?
There are all the ingredients in this book that
publishers
seem to think that teens want - a three way romance with a happy boy,
brooding boy and passive girl, fallen angels in place of vampires,
cheery
friends and boarding school. However
after reading a few books with these ingredients, they begin to
feel very
stereotypical. Robin Mckinley and
her fabulous vampire book Sunshine is a good example of an
intelligent vampire story for more
mature readers.
Luce is a fairly engaging main character. I liked
the way
she relates to her family (although I couldn't understand how two
loving
parents could possibly leave their daughter in reform school with no
contact
with her). I kept hoping that she would show more initiative other than
spending her time moping over Daniel, or going around with Cam, but
that is not
the case. Her friend Pen has more going for her, is normal, intelligent
and
proactive about making enquiries into Daniel's background. Neither
Daniel nor Cam seemed fleshed out enough
for me to
fall for either one, but then I'm not a teenage girl.
There is plenty of action towards the end of the
book,
although some of it seems a bit disjointed. I found Fallen
entertaining
but not
thought provoking. Other than Daniel not being able to kiss Luce, or
she would
die, the pair didn't seem to face any real personal or moral dilemmas,
which
would have brought the story alive for me.
Pat Pledger
Fly away Peter by Frank Dickens
Ill. by Ralph
Steadman. Pavilion
Children's Books, 2008. ISBN 9781843651222.
(Ages 5-8) This charming
picture book story of a giraffe with a short neck,
Jeffrey, and his friend, Peter, the bird who cannot fly, and who get
together
because they are different from their peers, will delight smaller
children as
they read of their friendship. The two animals get together as they
have no
other friends, and relish in playing games with each other. During a
game of
hide and seek, Peter hides behind a rock, but Jeffrey cannot find him.
Eventually he looks down the rabbit hole and becomes stuck. Peter comes
to his
rescue and realising that he cannot pull him out by himself, he must
get help.
But his brothers and sisters are out of reach so he struggles to fly to
them.
His success means that many animals come to Jeffrey's rescue and help
pull him
from the rabbit hole.
Originally
published in 1963, Steadman's illustrations
have been reproduced from his original drawings, with a few more added
that
have hitherto been unpublished. Together this story of friendship,
belonging
and struggling to overcome difficulties is as fresh today as it was 40
years
ago, and will find a wide readership. An astute teacher or parent will
be able
to find links with creation stories from around the world.
Fran Knight
Fly away Peter by Frank Dickens
Ill. by Ralph Steadman. Pavilion Children's Books. (Ages 5-8) This charming picture book story of a giraffe with a short neck, Jeffrey, and his friend, Peter, the bird who cannot fly, and who get together because they are different from their peers, will delight smaller children as they read of their friendship. The two animals get together as they have no other friends, and relish in playing games with each other. During a game of hide and seek, Peter hides behind a rock, but Jeffrey cannot find him. Eventually he looks down the rabbit hole and becomes stuck. Peter comes to his rescue and realising that he cannot pull him out by himself, he must get help. But his brothers and sisters are out of reach so he struggles to fly to them. His success means that many animals come to Jeffrey's rescue and help pull him from the rabbit hole. Originally published in 1963, Steadman's illustrations have been reproduced from his original drawings, with a few more added that have hitherto been unpublished. Together this story of friendship, belonging and struggling to overcome difficulties is as fresh today as it was 40 years ago, and will find a wide readership. An astute teacher or parent will be able to find links with creation stories from around the world. Fran Knight
The billionaire's curse by Richard Newsome
Text Publishing. ISBN 9781921520570.
(Age 10+) Recommended. A rollicking whodunit with Gerald
Wilkins as the hero. His English great
aunt, whom he has never
met is dead and has left Gerald twenty
billion pounds! He and his parents
travel in a private jet to England where, following the funeral, his
mother and
father conveniently go holidaying in his great aunt's private jet while
Gerald
is caught up in the mystery of the theft of the world's most valuable
diamond. With his new friends Ruby and
Sam whom he met at the British Museum, a fascinating search for the
diamond
ensues. Gerald and the twins follow the
mystery through an unused train station, an unusual old bookshop, to a
tower of
a ruined church and finally to the crypt at Avonleigh.
There awaits the priceless diamond protected
by deadly booby traps!
The story
envelopes the reader who joins in the search for the villain. It's an
exciting and entertaining read.
The font enables the reader to read easily
and quickly.
Sue Nosworthy
Dust by Christine Bongers
Woolshed Press, 2009. ISBN 9781741664461.
(Age early secondary) Recommended. Set in Queensland in the
1970's twelve year old Cecilia, her twin Punk and four brothers, live
with the harsh background of parents struggling to
keep the land viable. Cecilia says 'We
had rules despite our unruly appearance: never praise, never thank and
never
apologise. In this family, you don't
show weakness or you'll be called a girl. And no-one wants that. Not
even
me.' Pp10,11. With this mantra Cecilia
is appalled when her mother insists that she is nice to the Kapernicky
sisters,
Janeen and Aileen, who have recently moved next door. Cecilia and
Aileen immediately dislike each
other and hurl abuse when they can. Cecilia feels that there is
something awry and her mother
implies this
but still wants her to befriend the girls. Beginning senior school has
many challenges for Cecilia but the
final
assault comes when she finds the truth about the Kapernicky sisters.
This is a well scripted, sensitively written
novel of growing up and learning to understand the horrors of some
people's
lives and coming back to redress them.
Sue Nosworthy
Daniel X: Watch the skies by James Patterson
Doubleday, 2009.
(Age early secondary) Recommended. This is the second in the
series and those followers of the
first one will want to read this. Daniel, a teenage alien hunter,
continues the search for the TV
tyrant
who is determined to destroy the planet. This is a
fast moving action packed thriller which has an ever twisting series
of technological events, akin to a television series. Daniel and his
family plot to overcome the
villain in an original and fascinating way. Daniel says 'I began by
doing what any highly disciplined
military
commander would do on the eve of battle - I ate a four course meal'
p180.Sounds like an adolescent to me!
The novel obviously leads to the next book so
the end is not as satisfying as it might be. But the followers will be
waiting for the next in the series.
Sue Nosworthy
Sarindi and the Lucky Buddha by Janine Fraser
HarperCollins, 2009. ISBN: 9780732287757.
(Ages 8-10) Highly
recommended. Living in Indonesia,
Sarindi believes he has all the luck he could possibly need, especially
when he
wins Jaya's lucky marble. With his loving, happy family, an income
thorough his
father's hard work driving the becak which his mother has 'made good as
new'
and the lucky bird, Sarindi wants for nothing until his luck seems to
change
and his mother becomes ill. Thus begins his search for a new kind of
luck to
restore her to good health. As Sarindi goes to make his prayers in the
Hindu,
Christian, Muslim and Buddhist places of worship, he continues to show
courage
and love and have faith that his mother's health will be restored.
Janine Fraser has
created a lyrical and moving tale, perfectly supported by Elise Hurst's
delightful illustrations. Sarindi and his parents are a genuine, down
to earth family
one would love to meet and spend time getting to know. This novel would
be a
great resource in a classroom unit on Indonesian culture, as an
introduction to
comparative religions and an example of resilience and family
relationships. A
highly recommended read!
Jo Schenkel
Fearless by Colin Thompson
Ill. by Sarah Davis. ABC Books, 2009.
ISBN 9780
733320253
(Ages 3-7) This
delightful picture book will have kids, parents and
teachers laughing out loud as the antics of the new dog, Fearless take
hold of
them while reading this story. Thompson starts his story with vignettes
of
names not suiting the people who have them, and so we know that the
name
Fearless is a misnomer. Taken home from the Adopt a Pet store, Fearless
is
shown around the house in a variety of scenarios which belie the name
he has
been given.He jumps into his owner's
arms when a car backfires and does so himself. He growls at the
visitor's handbag
until the nasty thing is hidden from view. He cannot bear to do his
business
outside and loves to eat the biscuits from the baby. All the while he
is aware
that it is his job to protect his family.
One night when
a burglar calls, Fearless tries to greet
him with his smile, showing off all his teeth. He tells the burglar
that he is
not allowed on the table with his growls and grunts and when his father
comes
downstairs the burglar races off without saying goodbye. The difference
between
the reality and what Fearless thinks is happening is very funny and
instantly
recognisable to all readers.
The water
colour illustrations are superb, capturing the
difference between what is said and what it really happening. The dog
is
portrayed with heavenly expressions, meek and mild, pleading and
scared,
excited and happy. The pages on which the dog has made a mess in the
house are
beautifully done, the looks in the dog's face redolent with meaning and
I loved
the drawings of the dog wound around his owner's legs. But these are
only a
couple out of many drawn with humour, movement and panache. A charming
story full of wit, underlining the
family and its relationship with their pet, this will be a hit wherever
children are to be found.
A
small jarring point is the complete use of the 32 page format, putting
the
publication page and the last page of the story together. But this will
not
detract from the sheer enjoyment of the story and the illustrations.
Fran Knight
The magician's elephant by Kate DiCamillo
Candlewick Press, ISBN 978 7636 4410 9
(Age 10-12) Highly recommended.When ten year old Peter
Augustus Duchene is told by the
fortune teller in the market place that the sister he presumed dead is
alive he
is confused and distressed for his guardian Vilna Lutz has always told
him the
opposite. Then when the fortune teller also prophesises that he should
follow
the elephant, Peter is not only bewildered but determined to find the
truth.
This fantasy unfolds as in a dream with the
magician conjuring an elephant when intending only a bouquet of
flowers.
Beautifully told with muted black and white
acrylic illustrations, the font, and paper add to the surreal feeling
pervading
the novel.
From the acclaimed author of Because
of Winn Dixie and The tale of Desperaux, and similar to
Philippa
Pearce's A
Finder's Magic it's a book to read aloud and savour the shared
experience.
Sue Nosworthy
A small free kiss in the dark by Glenda Millard
(Ages: Middle School)Recommended. When homeless, street kid, Skip, goes to the library to read books about art, his favourite subject, he finds a young boy, Max, waiting for his mother. War has started, and people are fleeing, the library building is partly demolished by bombs. Skip takes Max to safety, and they meet up with Billy, an older man who Skip knows. The three find shelter in an old amusement park, now made derelict by war, and here they scavenge from shops nearby, keeping a wary eye on the hotel, now used as a staging post by one of the armies. Billy tells Skip that they are in the third army, the ones who do not want war, and through the days and nights of the conflict, Skip comes to realise that there are many other people looking for shelter, avoiding war, making up the third army like them. One day, another young girl, Tia, joins them with her baby Sixpence. The five muck in together to stay alive and out of sight, but all the while, Skip wants to find somewhere perfectly safe. The boy Max, tells them of his grandfather's place, out of town, a place where they could grow vegetables and live safely. And so they decide to try to find this place. The last section of the book tells of their escape from the city and light hearts as they near their destination. This is a beautiful story, full of hope and survival, resonating with the bond growing between the cluster of disparate people, making them a family, something Skip has not been part of for some time. The writing with its beautiful imagery is just perfect, and this audio version, read by Craig Innis is an amazing thing to listen to. Innis' voice is just right, as he tells the story of Skip in the first person. His voice sings with the enthusiasm and idealism of the 12 year old, resonates with the older and wiser Billy, squeaks with the sound of the child, Max and takes on the voice of he sometimes devious Tia, not really telling them what she is about. The 5 hours listening to this audio version of this superb book went in no time. Fran Knight
Running on the cracks by Julia Donaldson
Egmont, London,2009. ISBN 9781405222334.
(Ages 12+) Two lives
collide in this unusual story set in Glasgow.
With the combined themes of homelessness, pedophilia, immigration and
truanting, the targeted audience will immediately feel at home with the
tale.
Leo has been sent to live with her aunt and uncle after the deaths of
her
parents. Here she feels out of place, especially when she wakes to find
her
uncle standing by her bed. Finlay, on
the other hand comes from a loving family, but they are dispirited with
his
school performance and truanting.
Finlay sees
Leo as she tries to steal donuts from the van
where he works. Giving chase, he loses her, and returning to the van,
finds
that money has been taken while he was away and so he loses his job.
Seeing an
article in the paper about her, he rings the police, but running into
her
again, and hearing her story, he decides to help her hide from her
family and
find her grandparents who live in Glasgow but have never seen her.
Using the
telephone book is a great scheme, but as her
name is Chan, the vetting of each person listed is long and tedious.
All the
while Finlay must keep her hidden and keep her fed and clothed, help
her look
for her relatives. It's a big ask for a young man out of sorts with his
parents
who are watching his every move.
Some
resolution occurs at the end of the story but I
wanted more, and I can see lower secondary students loving it and
talking about
how things could be resolved. The
novel's setting is brilliantly realised and the characters well
drawn.
Fran Knight
The Amanda Project, Invisible I by Melissa Kantor
Harper Collins, 2009.ISBN 978000
7327270.
Set
in the United States
this book is about a girl named Amanda Valentino who disappeared from
Endeavor
High about 6 months after enrolling. The
narrator Callie Leary is part of the popular I-Girls clique but
secretly helped
with Amanda's introduction to her new school. This wasn't easy as
Amanda was a bit of a social outcast who
didn't seem
to seek friends and wasn't worried what others thought.
Then
Amanda
disappears and Callie is summonsed to the Vice-principal's office where
she
finds that Nia Rivera, a definite weirdo and the arty but good looking
Hal
Bennett are also there. Evidently Amanda
had also befriended these two, which was pretty hard to understand.
Vice Principal Thornhill gives them all
detention for not telling where Amanda is but they are just as
mystified as
him. However Amanda has left the trio
different clues and this disparate group eventually decide to work
together to
find out more about Amanda and where she is.They even have the
brainwave of setting up a website to try to
find
other people that knew Amanda so they can discover more about whom she
was and
why she disappeared. However unraveling
the truth isn't simple and the mystery just gets more and more
complicated
raising more questions and giving no answers.
And then the book ends! Looking inside the cover I find that Invisible
I is the first
of a
series. I wish they would advertise such important detail prominently
on the
outside! Delving a little deeper I find
that The Amanda Project is an
interactive, collaborative fictional mystery aimed at teenage girls,
told across a variety of different media including the 8-book series, a
website that features games, writing, art and social networking, and
a
related series of blogs, satellite sites, music, and merchandise. Its
on
MySpace, Face book, and Twitter! Readers can be interactive at the website where
they
can help Callie, Nia and Hal find Amanda and do other fun stuff.
The
numerous drawings and doodles throughout the book give it a unique and
friendly
feel which would certainly appeal to the targeted readers. Fourth
Story owns
all rights for the property, is producing the
content for The Amanda Project with a creative team.
HarperCollins has
the
publishing rights to the eight book series and is also an investor in
the
property. The
book content is good and suitable for 12
years plus. Given the techno age in
which we now live there is probably a market for embedding books into
websites. A brave move that will be keenly
monitored.
Kay Haarsma
