Girlfriend Fiction series
Allen and Unwin, 2009. ISBN 9781741755787
(Ages 10 -14)
The story takes place on a sheep farm in rural Australia. It parallels
country life and city life through the eyes of two cousins, Avril and
Katie. Intertwined in the story is a feud between neighbours -
the Carrington's and the Stanton's. When Avril meets Nathaniel she is
unaware of the link between their families and as their friendship
develops the feud between the two families escalates. However Avril is
sure she has an ally in her grandmother and just hopes she can help to
resolve the long standing hostilities.
Whilst Katie's behaviour has Avril worried - she is unaware that Katie
is hoping the break on the farm will help her with the breakup of her
parents.
This is a story filled with typical family challenges and events.
This series has filled a niche in the teenage girl market and has
utilised the talents of many well known Australian authors.
Tracy Glover
Bloodflower by Christine Hinwood
Allen and Unwin, 2009.
(Age 13+) Bloodflower is a book by "an exceptional new talent"
Christine
Hinwood. The story charts the aftermath of a war between the Uplanders
and Downlanders. Like most war and conflicts through history, the
devastation of changing political boundaries result in displaced
families, and new customs and allegiances being made.
The central hero of the story, Cam, returns to his small village of
Kayforl from the war minus an arm, but as it turns out a whole lot of
new found respect from the enemy and victorious reigning royalty. In
Kayforl, however, his disability means he is treated badly, resulting
in
him spending his time drinking away his sorrows at the tavern, when not
resigned to doing "women's work". His time away at war and his injuries
have also meant that his betrothal to the neighbour's daughter,
Graceful Fennister, had been annulled. This further added to Cam's
grief and sense of belonging in the new post-war world to which he had
returned damaged.
Parallel to Cam's story, Diido is an orphaned refugee girl who is also
reeling from the aftermaths of the war. Whilst effected in different
ways by the war, Cam and Diido have very similar problems with their
sense of identity and as a result are destined to meet.
It was hard to make out which category or genre for which Blood
Flower
should be placed as the book seems to jump around a fair bit between
styles and genres: fantasy, history and romance. This book presents a
good analysis of the total aftermath of war - social, political and
cultural. Because of the nature of the story and the words used, this
book is probably recommended for more regular readers of fantasy,
historical and similar books of this nature. Whilst the themes of
prostitution and teenage menstruation are covered fairly subtly, this
book certainly wouldn't be recommended for children under the age of
13.
Adam Fitzgerald, Paralowie School R-12
Newes from the dead by Mary Hooper
Random House, 2008.
(Ages 12+) The story of Anne Green, a woman hanged in Oxford in 1650,
for infanticide and then returning to life just as she was about to be
dissected by the doctors from the Oxford College of Physicians, makes
terrifying reading, as Hooper recreates her thoughts in her coffin,
recalling her life up to that moment.
Anne Green was a scullery maid in the house of the Reade family,
friends to the King, Charles 1. There she unfortunately attracted the
attentions of the grandson, Geoffrey, who promised the earth to get her
compliance. Finding herself pregnant, she sought help form the local
cunning woman. When the child was born dead she was accused of
infanticide and sentenced to hang.
Younger teen readers, particularly girls, will find this book of
great interest. Not only does it go into some details about the various
seductions imposed upon the girl by the grandson of the house, it also
details the work she does in the house, and reinforces the giant gulf
between the rich and poor in Cromwellian England.
The background described by Hooper is fascinatingly realistic, and the
story of Anne Green, enthralling. I found myself getting frustrated,
however, with the 'bodice ripper' style of the narrative, wanting to
get to the nitty gritty of the girl's survival after such an horrendous
event, not the machinations of the grandson and his eventual marriage
to a wealthy young woman.The event and its aftermath are played
by the author to garner the most excitement and this too I felt was too
long. But the story is gripping. The detail of the hanging and its
aftermath is sure to make all readers anti capital punishment.
Fran Knight
The switch by Anthony Horowitz
Walker Books, 2009. ISBN 9781406305715
(Age 11+) Highly recommended. Previously published in 1996.
The title of The switch gives a clue to the book theme which revolves around the consequences of a thirteen year old boy wishing he was someone else and the body swap that evolves.
Tad Spencer, comfortably at home in Snatchmore Hall, with an affluent lifestyle filled with overseas trips, a chauffeur, housekeeper, and nanny is transposed into Bob Snarby, the son of not so loving fairground workers. His home becomes an unhygienic caravan, and he is co-opted into burglaries.
Even Bob finds that living as some one else is far from perfect, as he found his more toffy life a little suffocating. Efforts by Tad to regain his former life almost result in his death as he stumbles upon conspiracy and murder in his father's cosmetics business. Issues such as the ethics of how products are tested; arms selling; and the exploitation of poorer cultures are all woven into the storyline. The final chapters are really creative and give constant surprises to the reader.
The Switch will be thoroughly enjoyed by upper primary and secondary students and particularly by boys. It is so entertaining that most will read it in one sitting.
Kay Haarsma
A small white scar by K A Nuzum
Harper Trophy, 2009. ISBN 978006075641 3
(Ages 13-15) A Small White Scar is the story of self discovery
for
Will, who wants
desperately to be a rodeo star. He feels restricted and tied down at
the family ranch. His twin brother, Denny, has Downs Syndrome and it
has been Will's role to be mother, teacher and role model to Denny
since their mother's death some years before.
Will believes that he is a man and wants to leave the ranch, earn prize
money at the local rodeo and then make a living as a cowboy on cattle
ranches. His plans are countered by Denny who follows him everywhere.
When he makes his move to ride at the local rodeo, followed by Denny,
Will is forced to make choices between his expectations and his guilt
at leaving not just Denny but his father and the ranch, behind.
This is an engaging story, set in the 1940's in Colorado cattle
country. It gives insight into relationships on a number of levels:
those between animals and people, particularly horses and their riders,
between the brothers and between father and son. The resolution is
perhaps not the expected one, nor even the final one, but it is one
which fits the characters. A satisfying read for 13-15 year olds.
Mark
Knight
Zoltan the magnificent by Bob Graham
Lothian Children's Books, 2008.
ISBN 9780734410689
(Age 4-7) Recommended. Jack's Dad never seems to have enough time for
his family. He leaves for work very early and comes home late at night.
Sometimes Jack has to get out of bed just to see him. When the family
goes on holiday, Jack is certain that it is his mother who will be fun,
but he is in for a surprise!
Bob Graham creates a wonderful, warm family with ordinary ups and downs
in an environment easily identified by children. Many may recognise the
father who works really long hours and seems to be serious all the
time, and feel relieved when he shows that he has a fun side when he
relaxes on holidays.
Humour permeates the story both in the text and the cartoon like
illustrations. There are many funny moments that will have the reader
chuckling aloud. Incidents like Leo the dog sucking Grace's dummy just
when they are about to embark on a bus journey to the seaside and peas
rolling across the restaurant floor are beautifully woven into the
story.
Holidays can give everyone a chance to learn things about family
members and the discoveries that both Jack and his father make are
heart warming. This is a wonderful story of family life and unity.
Pat Pledger
The adventures of Nanny Piggins by R.A Spratt
Random House, 2009.
ISBN 9781741663167
(Age 5-9) Recommended for good Junior Primary readers and early Primary readers. After Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, a pig as a
nanny who
consumes chocolate for breakfast, lunch and dinner is appealingly
delectable to young readers. Imagine having 'a hearty dinner of
caramel brownies and sherbet lemons'! (p45) Add to the mix Father
Mr Brown, who is most always away from home, and three children who
relish the amazing and original ways that Nanny Piggins solves the
outrageous incidents that occur. Her imagination and
inventiveness knows no boundaries. Which child wouldn't want to
have a flying pig who had run away from the circus as their
carer! The adventures begin innocently enough, but with Nanny
Piggins running the entertainment, nothing is ordinary. Nanny
(Sarah) Piggins, was formerly a flying pig in a circus, so when the
Ringmaster turns up to take Nanny Piggins back to the circus, the fun
really begins! Boris, her adopted brown bear brother, brought
from Russia to dance in the circus and her sister cause many a worry to
the children. The asides amuse and inform the reader, who can
willingly revel in the escapades. It's not a difficult read and
will appeal to children with a very sweet tooth and lots of imagination!
Typeface is clear and well spaced.
Sue Nosworthy
The priestess and the slave by Jenny Blackford
Hadley Rille Books, 2009. ISBN 9780981924311
(Ages 14+) A fascinating novel set in Ancient Greece, The Priestess
and the
Slave
tells two parallel stories of a Delphi Pythia and a young slave woman
with incredible historical and archaeological accuracy. It is clearly
written by an author who not only specialises in ancient history, but
has a passion for telling the stories of those who lived in such times.
The novel moves between the lives of two women living in very different
circumstances. Harmonia is a young slave girl whose kind and caring
nature is reflected in the respectful manner she is treated by her
master and mistress. Harmonia's story is set against a backdrop of
tragedy and sadness as the terrible plague of Athens sweeps through her
family.
Thrasulla is a Pythia who prophesies for Apollo. Her story unfolds
amidst the corruption of man as one of her fellow Pythia accepts a
bribe from a mad king. Thrasulla is reflective of her life before
becoming a Pythia, and her life experiences guide her through the
trials of priesthood.
These two emotionally moving tales give a glimpse at what life was like
during ancient times, from the perspective of two quietly courageous
women. It is written with such detail and accuracy that it is easy to
see history through the eyes of those who lived it. Whilst being a
short book, the themes are mature in nature and discerning readers will
ponder the themes of survival, corruption and human nature. This
is a highly recommended book for those who are interested in or
studying Ancient Greece and gives a touching view of life in ancient
times.
Alison Woodward
Zig Zags series
Pearson Education, 2009.
(Ages: 6-8) Books in the series include The Thirsty Moose, Open
Wide,
Dinosaur Planet, Tall Tilly and The
Clumsy Cow, Betty Betty's Spell
These latest additions to the Zig Zags series are sure to engage and
interest young children. Suitable for newly independent readers aged
between six and eight, they are also perfect for shared reading
experiences with an adult.
Each book contains fewer than 150 words. The bright and attractive
illustrations give good contextual clues for young readers and are
visually engaging.
Each book builds a simple storyline through to a satisfying conclusion.
The characters are likeable and believable. The themes of overcoming
fear or insecurities and beating bullies are developed with humour and
compassion, with the series deftly avoiding a lecturing tone.
This is a versatile series. The language level makes them suitable for
class reader boxes while their themes of family life, growth and
change, and discovering new horizons make them valuable additions to a
thematic library.
Rachel Flenley
The Kings of Clonmel by John Flanagan
Random House, 2009 ISBN
9781741663013
(Ages 11-14) Book Eight in the highly successful Ranger's
Apprentice series, will hardly be on the shelves as Will comes to
the
Ranger Gathering, an annual event, where he is expecting to see his old
mentor, Blade. Disappointed at not seeing him there, Will finds that
Blade is off investigating a religious cult, called the Outsiders, who
are bent on bringing down the Hibernian Kingdoms. Five of the six
kingdoms have fallen, and they are now intent on destroying the last,
Clonmel. So Will joins his old friends, Halt and Horace,
planning on driving out the intruders. But the king of
Clonmel is not eager to accept their help.
As with all the Ranger's Apprentice books, courage and
adventure are
their catch cry. The boys are courageous in the face of adversity, win
through because of their stalwart comradeship and sense of what is
right, and use their learned spying techniques to win the day. Their
adversaries are formidable as Will and Halt, along with Horace, must
face things which have happened in Halt's past to be able to recognize
the terror ahead. The heroism, courage under fire, and sense of justice
which pervades all of these books makes them a worthy addition to
any school library.
Jenny Brisbane, Richmond Primary School
Perspectives edited by Helen Sykes
Future Leaders
(Recommended 15+) A commitment to the leaders of tomorrow led Dr Helen
Sykes to found the 'Future leaders' program. She has selected essays by
ten prominent Australians and entrants in the 'Future leaders writing
prize'. Their theme is 'democracy'. While we ponder social justice
issues, we can also consider the writing styles of experienced
communicators and those just starting to mature as authors. We are
moved by fiction, swayed by informed argument, convinced by statistics
and affected by compassion.
The choice of activists is impressive. They are highly articulate,
knowledgeable and committed. Barry Jones opens the debate about
Australian society at large in an article which is brimming with ideas
and information. Among those who follow are Julian Burnside, who argues
for 'A charter of rights' and Marcia Langton and Zane Ma Rhea, who urge
that educational outcomes for indigenous children be improved. John
Hartigan explores freedom of speech, Margaret Prior discusses the
promotion of mental health among the young and medical student Anthony
Khoo explains the tragic consequences of middle ear infection.
The 23 contributions by Year 11 and 12 students were undoubtedly chosen
on merit but it is disappointing to note that only two of the young
authors are young men. Fictional cameos touch on topics ranging from
youth suicide to living with a disabled sibling. Non-fiction articles
examine issues as varied as human rights in China and the use of
solariums. Only two in this second group included end notes or
bibliographies but their authors are still learning.
Some readers will be disconcerted by the placement of a brief
introduction to the author at the end of each article instead of at the
beginning. A glossary of technical terms would alleviate the need to
keep reaching for a dictionary and a dramatic cover design might be
more apt for a book which deals with confronting subject matter. Perspectives is challenging and rewarding, thought-provoking and
insightful. It will appeal to everyone who likes to grapple with
contemporary issues. It can be obtained free from the Future leaders site.
Elizabeth Bor
A Certain Music by Celeste Walters Illustrated by Anne Spudvilas
Woolshed Press, 2009, ISBN 978 1 74166 333 4
(Ages 10+) Celeste Walters writes a magical story of music and
enchantment set in Vienna in 1823.
She tells of the simple wishes of a young girl who becomes entranced by
a man she sees in the Vienna Woods and the music she hears him
playing.School is difficult for her.Others call her odd
and her parents despair that she makes no friends.Yet this man
and his music fascinate her - she wants to listen to his music and
share the distraction and frustration that she observes in him as he
composes.The developing friendship reveals how alike these two
really are. Perhaps she can help him in some way. The time comes when
the composer must leave the town, but not before the young girl and her
mother have the opportunity to go to a concert where the maestro is
conducting his music. What a wonderful night that is for both of them.
The gift of music is given again to the girl when, some years on, a
scroll is delivered to her. It is the music for 'Fur Elise' and it
is signed by Ludwig van Beethoven.
The story is beautifully told, given just a touch of mystery by not
naming the two characters until the very end.
Anne Spudvilas' fine illustrations are added throughout the text, and
her cover work shows the delight that music truly brings. It is an
oversight that Walters has not provided any background, contextual
information about the composer and his music for the young, potentially
engaged reader.
Julie Wells ,
I'm dirty by Kate and Jim McMullan
Frances Lincoln Children's Books,
2008.
(Ages 3-7) Recommended. Starring a mud-loving backhoe loader, I'm
dirty
is a fun book that describes how a messy dump gets cleaned up, a stump
removed and a mud hole filled in. Told in vibrant language by the
backhoe loader, the reader is drawn into an exciting world of
machinery, movement and lots of excitement. Mud is a feature throughout
the story and there is a great illustration of the backhoe loader
having a wonderful mud bath.
A section that highlights counting, as the backhoe loader picks
up '10 torn-up truck tyres, 9 fractured fans, 8 busted beach umbrellas'
and so on, clearing up a messy site, in an effortless manner.
The vivid colours, striking cartoon like drawings and wonderful text
will engage children and give an excellent insight into using
machinery. The alliteration is sure to please
the reader and certainly makes for a great read aloud.
Pat Pledger
Martha's journey by Tracey Hawkins
New Frontier Publishing, 2009
ISBN 9781921042140
(Age 12+) Here is the story of Martha's voyage from the Liverpool Docks
to Australia in 1880. She is the middle child of William
Winstanley, a stern and methodical man, a disciplinarian upholding
traditional values. His family struggles for a living but their
simple life is a happy one. One day a parcel arrives from Auntie Edie
in Australia. Along with a tightly rolled wad of money, a letter
especially requests that Martha, a favourite niece, be sent abroad to
begin a new life as a 'daughter' to her aunt and uncle. A decision not
easily made means that Martha is tormented with fear, confusion and
hurt. The journey will be long and difficult, and what will await
her in a new and strange country? The author has devoted this
book to her forbears and the story is of her great-great-grandmother's
sea voyage. Martha keeps a journal and discovers the hardship and
cruelty of life aboard ship, but she also discovers the true value of
friendship and what amazing sights are to be seen at sea - 'imagine
mountains that soar out the sea in the middle of the ocean. Dolphins
swimming alongside the ship, the stormy sea, angry bolts of lightning
that light the entire night sky.'
Finely detailed and centring on a piece of family history, Hawkins'
language is heavy handed in description and generally lacking in
imaginative quality, but the historical perspective is interesting.
Julie Wells
Hansel and Gretel by Anthony Browne
Walker Books, 2008. ISBN 9781406318524
(Ages 3+) In this reprint, Anthony Browne puts a modern slant on the
original dark fairy tale by the Brothers Grimm with his contemporary
illustrations. Hansel and Gretel are portrayed as two ordinary
children, living in what looks like a two storey suburban house. Their
hen-pecked father and dark haired stepmother are dressed in everyday
clothes. The dark greens and browns of the towering trees in the woods
create an eerie atmosphere, while the strange little creatures that can
be found on a close inspection of the illustrations add a scary touch.
Like all Browne's books, this is one that contains many layers that can
be uncovered and pondered on. Children will delight in the story, which
lends itself to read aloud sessions, and many discussions could follow
about the cleverness of the children and why the children's father left
them in the forest. The big one page illustrations beg to be examined
again and again and add a wonderful dimension to the well known fairy
tale.
Pat Pledger
