Penguin, 2009. ISBN 9780141327488.
Age 13+) Highly recommended. This is a wonderful book that
is even better on a second reading. Auden cannot sleep at night; her
sleep
patterns have been disrupted ever since her parents' divorce. When she
is
invited to stay at the beach with her father, young stepmother and new
baby,
she decides to go in the hope of maintaining contact with her father.
It is also an opportunity to do more with her
life before she goes off to university. She works in her stepmother's
boutique
and discovers the world of girls and clothes. Best of all are her
nightly quests
with Eli, another insomniac, when she discovers just what she missed
out on in
her teenage age years when she was too busy studying to have a good
time.
Dessen's
characters are all beautifully developed. I was drawn to the
friendless Auden, who has tried so hard to get the approval of her
academic parents,
that she has missed out on parties, bike riding and even her prom. Eli,
the dark brooding boy who has lost his
best friend in an accident, is a wonderful character and I loved the
way he shares
Auden's quest to taste her lost childhood. Both
Auden's and Eli's interactions with Thisbe,
will give readers a real insight into just what it is like to look
after a
fretful infant and how love can develop for a baby.
The
girls in the dress shop are delightful, and Maggie turns Auden's
perceptions around about girly girls showing her that you can like
clothes and
make-up but still ride bikes and excel at school. Auden has a
dysfunctional home
life, but Dessen cleverly gives her overbearing mother and selfish
father
enough depth that there is hope that the family problems will resolve
by the
end of the book.
The
themes of friendship, looking beyond the obvious and living life to
the full are memorable. I loved this book, it is well written, has
enough depth
for the most discerning reader, a great beach setting and characters
that are
unforgettable.
Pat
Pledger
Samurai Kids: Shaolin Tiger by Sandy Fussell
Walker
Books, 2009. ISBN 9781921150906.
(Ages 10 and up) Travelling with five of his
students from the Cockroach Ryu
(school), Sensei the teacher, introduced as a wizard and once famous
Samurai
warrior, escorts the group on a journey across the Sea of Japan to
China.
Here
they are to assist the Shaolin monks to protect a Temple which is under
threat from one
of
Sensei's old students, an evil man wishing to gain his revenge and kill
his ex-teacher.
Despite each of the students having what would be seen by others to
have a disability;
they each have their own talents which compensate for these problems.
The
students each travel with their various spirits which assist them in
their
quest.
From the outset, things begin to
go wrong. The ship's
captain drowns, leading to the inclusion of another girl who is to act
as their
guide. Danger is present at all times and Sensei teaches his students
to be
vigilant, instructing them via teachings from Confucius and the Zen
masters.
Although this is the third book
in the series, it stands
alone quite comfortably. I for one will now have to read the preceding
books
and eagerly await the next. There is a sense of magic or fantasy
throughout the
book, as well as a certain amount of humour and instructions on how to
conduct
oneself throughout life. This is a story written on many levels and
would make
a great title for use in literature circles or as a class text. Teacher
support
materials for the earlier titles are available on the internet.
Jo Schenkel
The Last Stormlord by Glenda Larke
Harper
Voyager, 2009. ISBN 9780732289294. Random Rain: Book
One.
(Ages 12+) Glenda
Larke has done what should have been more than obvious to many: she's
created a
world where water is the most valued commodity. It is controlled and
regulated
by the state and not just water but the rain and where it falls. There
is
nothing random about rain in this fantasy saga. To put it more
correctly, that
is the way it was, now the last remaining Cloudmaster is dying and
there is no
one to replace him.
The
land Larke has created is an easy one for the reader to imagine. The
Scarpen
Quarter contains closely packed cities with flat roofed adobe built
houses running down slopes, the rich at the top and the poor and
waterless at
the bottom. The Gibber Quarter is a stony desert with small communities
scratching out a poor living. The Red Quarter, is an area dominated by
red
shifting sand dunes populated by tribes of nomadic desert dwellers and
the
White Quarter is an area of mines and mysterious white skinned and
robed
people. All the communities depend on the regular and regulated supply
of water
given to them by the Stormlords and the Cloudmaster.
Flint
and Terelle are two young people who have important skills and
talents. Flint is revealed early in his life in the Gibber as being
water
sensitive. But this talent he keeps very much to himself for fear his
drunken,
abusive father will object to his drawing too much attention to
himself.
Terelle has a more mysterious background that is revealed to the reader
gradually. She has been bought by a brothel owner who feeds and gives
her, her
water ration until she is old enough to earn for herself. She
eventually
escapes the 'Snuggery' and becomes apprenticed to a water painter where
she
learns she has very special talents.
It
is during the search for those of the population with any water
talent that Flint is discovered, but he is deceived and is used by
someone who
wants the power of a Stormlord for personal gain. It is this lust for
power
which sees the tribes and clans of the Red Quarter at war with the rest
of the
Quarters. They have no fear of a return to a time of random rain.
Larke's first
volume ends with the death of the Cloudmaster and the end of the rule
of the
Stormlords.
The
use of water as the ultimate resource is timely. There are already
alarm bells ringing in Australia about water supply and like many in
the
Scarpen Quarter, who control the rain, complacency seems to take
precedence
over action. Glenda Larke has drawn her characters well, there is
enough depth
of emotion in them all to be believably human and enough insight into
their
various roles too see the reason behind their differing view points. A
most
enjoyable (600+ page) read. I hope she doesn't run out of steam in what
I
presume will be a trilogy.
Mark
Knight
The youngest Templar: Keeper of the grail by Michael P. Spradlin
Book 1. Harper Collins. ISBN 978 0 732 29070 2.
(Age 11-14) Recommended. With strong reminiscences of The Da Vinci Code
this first
book is well written and tantalises the reader into wanting to hear the
story
continue. It's fantasy with the safe
keeping of the Holy Grail the centre of the plot. Sixteen
year old Tristan, who has lived in a
monastery for he does not know who his parents are, is taken as a
squire by Sir
Thomas (who we suspect knows his background), to the Crusade with the
Knights
Templar and is eventually entrusted with the treasure.
He is pursued by Sir Hugh, a callous cruel
knight, who knows more of his background than Tristan himself.
Tristan, with his friend Robard and Maryam
flee on a sailing ship, but during the storm Tristan is tossed
overboard and
there ends the first book.It's strong
adventure with an historical background.
The reader will look forward to the next book.
Sue Nosworthy
The trouble with sauce by Bruno Bouchet
Harper Collins. ISBN 978733325021.
(Upper primary) Recommended. A funny school story with a
wonderful twist! A very cleverly devised
story which initially
will have parents and teachers wondering, but the plot evolves in an
original
and unexpected way. Jonty is the
teachers' nightmare: smart, cocky and with his friend Boris are
determined to
make every teacher cry. And they are
only in year seven! But the subversive
Headmaster has other plans and so Jonty finds himself with only two
people with
whom he can talk. All the students have
become model students and Jonty, Prune and the brain Nathaniel are
determined
to find out what is happening in their school. It's a well crafted
story with many humorous and off beat
situations. A
good read for both students and teachers.
Sue Nosworthy.
The Giver by Lois Lowry
HarperCollins, 2008. ISBN 9780007263516.
(Ages: 11+) Highly recommended. When
The Giver first appeared in 1993,
adults and children alike read it and loved it, and applauded when it
won The
Newbery Award later that year. The book has since been used as a class
text, a
community read, whole towns reading it, and as a base for curriculum
and has
often been reprinted. And no wonder. It is a modern classic, telling a
dystopian tale which will have students and staff alike discussing the
world
Lowry creates, postulating futures for the main character and the
child,
discussing the ending over and over again.
Jonas
lives in a closed community where he is safe and secure. His sister and
parents
know there are other places, Elsewhere, but are content with their
lives. At
the age of 12, all children in this community are given their
Assignments, to
train for their future work. Jonas is looking forward to this with some
trepidation. He can see that his friends have a path which will result
in their
assignment being given them which suits them, but he is at a loss. He
has no
such path, he does not have one over riding interest. When he is chosen
as the
Receiver of Memory, he feels inadequate.
But
to receive the community's memories is painful. He must learn all the
things
that they have no memory of, the pain of loss, loneliness, fear, war as
well as
love and tenderness, sunshine and cold. For his community has no idea
of these
things. It has been built on Sameness. Older people and babies who do
not fit,
are Released, and when Jonas finds out what this entails, he must take
action. What
he does with the memories he receives is riveting. The story will grab
the
readers and put them through all the fears that Jonas feels, and cause
a great
deal of debate in classrooms where it is read.
Fran Knight
Where the giant sleeps by Mem Fox
Ill. by Vladimir
Radunsky. Puffin, 2009. ISBN
978067071739.
(Age 1+) Recommended. A beautiful picture book with the most luminous
illustrations Where the giant sleeps is a perfect bedtime story
and a
book that
will capture the imagination of young children. A little boy views all
sorts of
wondrous things through his telescope. He sees where a fairy dozes, and
where a
wizard dreams. There is a gorgeous ending of elves sewing a quilt of
moons and
stars to wrap the little boy in and send him to sleep.
The illustrations are outstanding. The picture of
the giant could
be the countryside, with trees for hair and houses for nose and mouth,
or it could
be a giant. All the figures are slightly fuzzy to give a dream like
quality to
the story. The colours are beautiful rich greens and yellows. The words
and the
illustrations go so well together, it is a joy to read and look.
This book is a keeper and will bring lots of delight
to the adult who reads it and the
young who listen to it at bedtime or those who find its lovely rhymes a
perfect
way to help them to read themselves.
Pat Pledger
Malcolm and Juliet by Bernard Beckett
Text
Publishing, 2009. ISBN 9781921520327
(Age
range: 14+) Recommended. Malcolm and Juliet is an enjoyable novel
dealing with
teenage issues in a comical way. Malcolm is a science geek who last
year was
the runner up in the annual science fair this year he is more
determined than
ever to win. When Malcolm inadvertently stumbles across a piece of
video
footage whilst taping the annual rugby game he decides his project
topic will
be sex!
Juliet
is Malcolm's best friend and usual 'partner in crime'; however she has
her own
problems in the form of an anonymous letter threatening to 'out her'
for a past
indiscretion. As these two central characters endeavour to solve their
respective problems the topic of sex begins to involve teenagers they
encounter.
Kevin, who is in love with Brian, Brian who loves Juliet and Charlotte
who
desires Malcolm from afar. Eventually through Malcolm's project and a
series of
coincidental events all the characters are forced to face their true
feelings.
Although
this is a compact story Beckett has managed to capture the concerns and
life
experiences of teenagers in a light hearted way. The twist at the end
is worth
reading the book for.
Tracy
Glover
Journey of dreams by Marge Pellegrino
Frances Lincoln Children's Books. ISBN 9781845072.
(Age 11+) Recommended. Gentle, almost melodic language hides
the brutality of Tomasa's journey from Guatemala to Phoenix in
the USA which is fraught with the hazards people fleeing tyranny
face. This warmly told story engages the reader for Tomasa is a young
weaver
and her thoughts are woven into the pieces she creates and dreams of
creating. It's a very sad and
hazardous journey as her mother and
brother have already gone and Tomasa, her father, brother Manuel and
very
little sister, Maria, tread the long path to hoped for freedom. Tomasa
remembers her Mother's sayings and
these keep her strong. She says:
As we walk I tuck my feelings into my heart. I hide them away just as
Papa tucked our
small treasures into the oilcloth and hid them in the earth for when we
return. (page
85).
It's an inspirational story and
so very important in understanding other human beings journeys to a
safe
place. The map would be useful at the
front so the magnitude of the journey would be clear. The glossary is
very useful.
Sue Nosworthy
The Phoenix files by Chris Morphew
Hardie Grant Egmont,
2009.
Book 1 Arrival
Recommended. Luke Hunter's uneasy feeling
about Phoenix,
a brand new corporation town in the middle of central Australia,prove
to be well founded. With his single mum
work pre-occupied , Luke and two other
students from Phoenix High, Jordan and Peter, are soon puzzling over
the weird message they receive on USB drives
that something called Tabitha will destroy the outside world in 100
days. All
contact with outsiders is cut off and the trio begin the race against
time to
protect civilization.
Throw in a sinister principal,
a
super-powered hobo called Crazy Bill, clues to be decoded, and a night
discovery of strange installations out of town, and you have a page
turning
mystery thriller well suited to upper primary or middle school students
of
either gender. Luke narrates the story but the fearless leader of the
trio is a
girl.
Easy to read, this Enid Blyton
meets
Anthony Horowitz or John Marsden from The Tomorrow series, is well
paced. It
should be, as it's the first in a series of many as this book ends in
cliff
hanger with 88 days to go. The strength of the book is the
believability and
normality of the teenagers, despite the far fetched plot lines. The
writing is largely dialogue and reveals Chris
Morphew's
knowledge of the way schools, teachers and students really operate. I
can't see
this series becoming as popular as the Tomorrow or Alex Rider series,
but it's
an easy, fun ride, if the first book is any thing to go by.
Kevyna Gardner
Pyro Watson and the hidden treasure by Nette Hilton
Ill. by Gregory Rogers. Woolshed Press, 2009. ISBN 9781741664164
(Age 8-10) Recommended. What a fun novel, well written and
exuding the
values of
friendship, love of family and coping with bullies. The story sallies
forth
with vigour and imagination. Nette
Hilton has written a story of a boy, Pyro, who loves pirates and along
with his
adventure the reader is absorbed with Pyro's alter ego.What boy would
not love to command a pirate
ship at some stage of his early life!
It's very amusing and predictable, but the characters of Aunt
Mor and Mr
Stig add humour and balance to Pyro's worrying thoughts about his
school friend
Geezer and his new found friend Min. Gregory Roger's black and white
illustrations add to the humour
of the
story. If you are a 'Tashi' fan readers
will recognise the similarities: the well constructed plot, the
believable characters
and the clever illustrations.
Sue Nosworthy
Dead funny by Tanya Landman
Walker Books, 2009. ISBN 9781406314618.
(Age 9-12) Recommended. An intriguing little 'who done it':
well scripted with
believable characters. Poppy Fields is
the heroine in three similar style novels and with her friend Graham,
solves
the murders. The clues are cleverly
hidden in a 'Punch and Judy' show scenario. Set in California amid a
luxurious backdrop of Hollywood glamour,
Poppy,
Graham and her mother who has been brought to America to make a
beautiful
English garden, investigate the three murders. It's a good read.
Sue Nosworthy
Fire song by Libby Hathorn
ABC Books, 2009. ISBN 9780733324208.
(Age 11-14) From
the first paragraph Libby Hathorn focuses the reader's attention
upon the dangers facing the young Ingrid Crowe who carries a burden of
responsibility that no young person should have to contend with. Her
mother has revealed that she intends to
set fire to their home at the end of the day.We discover that Ingrid's
father is away for the long term, her
two
older brothers are being looked after on a farm far from home, and she
and her
sister Pippa live with a mother who has had little success with a
boarding
house in a fairly isolated country town. It becomes clear the Ingrid's
mother
is unable to cope with her situation and makes this terrible decision
about the
immediate future. She tells Ingrid that
she must commit to the plan.
The
story covers only a few days but within that time we see the
emotional trap that envelopes Ingrid, and we watch in fear as she tries
to save
all those who are precious around her. She has a strong sense of
family,
history and the courage required to face daunting circumstances. There
are numerous people in the town who
would help her but, at what cost? Her
family will be further torn apart by this devastating plan.It is
all too difficult to contemplate. We become so involved in the young
girl's
predicament that our journey through the book is full of tension too;
we try to
anticipate Ingrid's next move.This is a
powerful story, well told, with realistic characterisation, but be
cautioned,
the subject matter may be frightening for the immature reader.
Julie Wells
The golden flower by Eleanor Coombe
Lothian Children's Books, 2009.The
Faraway Series; book 10. ISBN 9780734410511.
(Primary) The glacier is melting and so are the hobyahs. Set on Faraway
Island, Ziel the Asrai River
Fairy Princess, works her magic and together with the hobyahs turns the
hated goblin
tunnels into 'giant ice blocks' (p46). Along with the Mistral
trees, Astara the Fairy Queen, Blaize,
the
Singing Fairy, Cedar, Puck and Wattleman, outwit Garton the New King of
the
Grim Goblins who have mined the Diamond River of its precious jewels
and in
doing so have polluted the river and restored Asrai's health.
The black and white illustrations emphasise
the good and bad characters and some of the names such as Puck, Eden
and
Wattleman are quite obvious. Text is well spaced and clear appealing to
early primary girls who enjoy reading books belonging to a series.
Sue Nosworthy
Here lies Arthur by Philip Reeve
Scholastic, 2007.ISBN
978 140710 358 7
(Ages: 10+) Highly recommended. One
of those books I had heard lots about so bought it to read. For those
wrapped
up in the Arthur legends then here is a definitive book that makes you
want to
reread the Arthur books and legends of old. Reeve has made Arthur just
like a
media personality or politician, and taken apart the hype that
surrounds him,
showing how it is all generated by his publicity man, in this case,
Myrddin
(Merlin) He creates stories about Arthur to tell at camp fires and
towns in the
area where Arthur is the local war lord. Myrddin is convinced that
Britain
needs an Arthur to drive out the Saxons and make Britain great under
one ruler.
And doesn't that sound familiar!
In
this story, Myrddin is at one of Arthur's pillages of a community, when
he
spies a young slave girl trying to escape. She jumps into the lake and
holds
her breath long enough to swim a long way down the river, holding her
breathe it
until she can surface out of harm's way. Here Myrddin conceives a plot
to engrandise
Arthur using her ability for swimming under water. So the Lady of the
Lake is
born, and Gwyna, now called Gwyn becomes Myrddin's servant.
When
Gwyn becomes older, his femalenees becomes more apparent so Myrddin
thinks to
installs him as Arthur's wife's servant, and so is privy to what is
happening in Gwenhwyfar's quarters. But Gwyna becomes enamoured of
Peri, a
lad she
found dressed as a woman by his mother, to avoid being taken as a
warrior.
The
story weaves back and forward, like a tale told at a campfire, with
plots and
sub plots brimming over, wrapping up the Arthurian legends in a way not
told
before. It is engrossing, entrancing and credible. The perspective
given by
Reeve is unlike any other, but like others is based on a great deal of
research,
many of the stories he tells being found in old manuscripts. His
character of
Gwyna/Gwyn is fictional, but then what is the story of Arthur, but a
wonderful
old tale.
Fran
Knight,
