Reviews

Amazons! Women warriors of the world by Sally Pomme Clayton and Sophie Herxheimer

Frances Lincoln Children's Books, 2008. ISBN 9781843076603
(Age 9-12) Seven stories from around the world make up this go-girl book, which is well worth a place in a library collection. Ranging from the story Queen of the Amazons, set in Greece, to Durga demon-slayer, set in India and Warrior princess set in Egypt, this terrific collection retells stories that illustrate the bravery, cunning and intellect of its heroines, as well as something about the culture of the country. After each story is a section that contains either facts, interactive games, tips or quizzes about how to be an Amazon today. I particularly liked the Amazon spell, based on a 6th century Sanskrit hymn that starts with:
Help me face this challenge,
Slay the demons of fear.
Help me listen to my dreams
Show me self-confidence..

Sophie Herxheimer's illustrations are sure to please with their bold colours and representations of heroines and events that reflect the different countries that the stories originated in.
The collection would be a good one for a teacher or parent to read aloud, and girls will enjoy the messages about strength, intellect, courage and love and being the best that you can be, as well as having great fun with the interactive sections.
Pat Pledger

Home and Away by John Marsden and Matt Ottley

Hachette, 2008. ISBN 978073441056 6
Picture book, unpaged
(Ages: middle school to adult) The irony of the title will have immediate appeal as readers recognize that the TV show of the same name, with its emphasis on dysfunctional families is far removed from the story unfolding before them. This book will shock; it will draw kids in with its take on home and what that means. Not the frippery of the television show of the same name, but a no holds barred look at what it means when you and your home are separated, irretrievably.
Told in diary format, the narrator tells of the days following an invasion and how it affects the family. With little detail, the family is introduced in the first four pages, then the fifth page, April 27, with the deep red colour of blood reflected through the aquarium, war begins. Over the next four pages, the war is described, again sparely, but the childlike illustrations mirror the horror of what is happening. By August 29, rations are being handed out to the homeless, and on September 16, the stark realistic illustration shows the scared and undernourished family sitting by a candle, talking about what to do. All around is black, the features of the family stand out in bleak contrast. The alternate page illustrations depicting a child's drawings underscore the brutality of what is happening, and the diary written on scrap pieces of paper, reiterates the transitory nature of their lives.
What a time could be had in a class when this book is teamed with Shaun Tan's, The Arrival, Mahtab's story by Libby Gleeson, Soraya byRosanne Hawke and Boy overboard by Morris Gleitzman among others. All point to the differences between our students and our safe lives, with kids elsewhere, those who have no home. Tomorrow when the war began and its sequels, all gained credibility because they put Australian kids into the shoes of having to fight for their home, and this carries the same theme. The picture of the bombed Sydney Harbour Bridge, the possum on the road, point to the story being set in Australia, and so engenders empathy from the readers, as the usual story of refugees is turned on its head.
The statistical evidence, that one in 7 of the world's population is homeless is hard to ignore, and Marsden and Ottley have made that statistic as close to home as they possibly can.
Fran Knight

Superior Saturday by Garth Nix

(Keys to the Kingdom series) Allen and Unwin, 2008.
(Ages : 10+) Saturday's adventure in the Keys to the Kingdom series has been much anticipated, and does not disappoint. Arthur is in receipt of the fifth key, but has realised that the Nothing is growing ever more rapidly. He tries to find help, firstly from Dr Scamandros, who makes Arthur realize that he is growing bigger and stronger, and then from the Old One, but none can answer his questions. Using the fifth key to go through the mirror to the citadel, Lord Arthur is held back a little by Scamandros holding onto his shirttails. But once there, they are galavanised into action. Suzy has taken on the mantle of general, wearing the clothing which denotes her status, and she is amazed at the powerful, strong man before her. Lord Arthur is expected to save the House.
Nix always creates a most magical place where ideas, words and descriptions meld into one, making a story line at once easy to follow, but demanding that the readers always use their imaginations, taking hold of the ideas presented, using their intelligence to make sense of the world created before them. Arthur and his allies must hold out against the increasing power of Superior Saturday and find the sixth key to stop the destruction happening all around them.
The many followers of Arthur's quest will be eager to read this and then the seventh and last in this excellent series. For those impatient to find out more, then the website,  can be trawled.
Fran Knight

Can you keep a secret? Timeless rhymes to share and treasure

Selected by Mark Carthew. Ill. By Jobi Murphy. Random House, 2008.
This collection is a very appealing mix of well known nursery rhymes, songs and lullabies. All the popular favourites such as Mary has a little lamb can be found here as well as lesser known rhymes from different cultures.
The book is well organised into different sections containing nursery rhymes, playtime rhymes, action rhymes, counting rhymes, finger plays and lullabies. Instructions are often given to enhance their use, and this would be helpful for parents and early childhood teachers. The origin of the rhymes is given when known.
Murphy's illustrations are gentle and humourous, and complement each of the rhymes, and the soft but luminous colours are a delight. Each of the sections is colour coded to make it easy to find the rhymes, and a padded cover and ribbon bookmark give it a handsome appearance.
Grandparents would find this a great book to give as a gift, and it is a very useful book to have in the library collection or for kindergarten teachers to have as a handy reference for song and story time.
Pat Pledger

Graceling by Kristin Cashore

Gollanz, 2008.
(Age 14+) Recommended. If you had the power to kill with your bare hands, what would you do with it? This is the question that faces Katsa, whose grace gives her the power to do just that. Katsa was born with one blue eye and one green eye, and this distinguishes her as a Graceling, a person who has a special talent. Her talent for killing is unscrupulously used by the king and to help allay her guilt, Katsa starts a secret council that tries to stop injustice. When Po, another royal Graceling, arrives at the court, looking for his grandfather who has been kidnapped, Katsa joins with him to solve the mystery.
With Katsa, Cashore has created a strong, independent character that girls will love. She has to deal with the guilt that besets her when she carries out her cruel king's commands as well as the fact that she cannot trust anyone except her cousin. She explores the meaning of her grace, loyalty, freedom and love at the same time as she demonstrates her warrior skills.
Katsa has to identify what her talent is and how it should work for her because sometimes a grace is not as obvious as it looks. She gradually realises that you don't have to be what other people expect of you but if you have a grace, then there is a great responsibility to use it properly. This theme of making a talent work and being good at something, of working out what is right for the individual pervades the story, both in using a grace and when contemplating marriage with Po.

Cashore has created a unique world, with an unforgettable heroine and lots of action. Fans of Tamora Pierce's Alanna series and Robin McKinley's The blue sword will love it.
Pat Pledger

The magician of Hoad by Margaret Mahy

Harper Collins, 2008. ISBN 9781869507640.
(Age 13+) Recommended. I am a great fan of Margaret Mahy and this book didn't disappoint. Heriot Tarbas is a simple farm boy who has had strong visions of another boy during his life. When he is forced to run from his home he is led to Diamond, a city that is ruled by the King and a Hero. On the edge of the city, he meets his destiny: a Hero, a Magician, a noble girl and a mad prince. Forced to work as a magician, he befriends Dysart, the strange prince and helps Cayley, a fascinating, homeless fugitive. The King of Hoad is attempting to bring peace to the country, but he is surrounded by nobles, whose allegiance is uncertain, and the Hero is hungry for power for himself.
This is a coming of age story. The reader becomes engrossed in Heriot's growth from a young boy tending animals and vegetables and plagued with dreams, to a magician, who performs at the king's request. He questions his powers and what he should do with them. In the meantime Linnet, the young noble girl and Dysart the prince also face dilemmas in their quest for love and a place in the kingdom, and the enigmatic Cayley hones her war-like skills..
Although there is plenty of action in this story, this is not the usual fantasy. It demands that the reader follow the characters' emotions and actions carefully to work out what is happening. It is a challenging but ultimately satisfying read, with beautifully written prose, a fascinating main character and two strong females.
Pat Pledger

After the Flood by L. S. Matthews

Hodder Children's Books 2008
(Ages 8+) Highly Recommended.A boy's home destroyed by flooding. A new life in the country. Friendship, conflict and the odd adventure thrown in. Another run of the mill story? Well not exactly.
After the Flood introduces a world where mobile phones are precious possessions to be preserved for emergencies and powered by solar energy. This is a society where pampered pets are a thing of the past and animals have to work. It's a place where cars are a rarity, where 'The Menders' has replaced most other shops and where extremes of weather batter and boil the countryside.
After Jack and his family move to a small village he meets Michael, sickly and bored, an invalid who is cared for by his sister. Their friendship is sealed by the arrival of Van, a frightened and unpredictable horse that Jack longs to care for and train. Jack and Michael work hard, hoping that perseverance and kindness will tame the wild horse. When a tornado wreaks havoc through the village Van's help is needed to reach a trapped and injured man, but will the untried horse be able to rise to the challenge?
L. S. Matthews is a master of the cliff hanger. The opening chapters describing the disastrous flood suck the reader straight into the action and are nail biting stuff. Characters are entirely believable as is the picture Matthews paints of a society ravaged by climate change. But as if that is not enough Matthews plays her final card on the very last page, a twist that left me speechless. Fantastic Stuff. Read it with your upper juniors. You're all in for a treat!
Claire Larson

The tall man by Chloe Hooper

Hamish Hamilton, 2008 ISBN 9780241 015407 276p Hbk
(Age: Senior Secondary/adult) Beyond the political rhetoric of intervention and dysfunctional Aboriginal communities, The Tall Man focuses on what happened in one community, Palm Island, off the Queensland coast, in 2004. There, despite the findings and recommendations of the Black Deaths in Custody Inquiry of 1990, an Aboriginal man, Cameron Doomadgee, died in the cells on the island, after being arrested for swearing at Senior Sergeant Chris Hurley, a decorated and experienced Police Officer who stands 200cm tall. Chloe Hooper a journalist, had never heard of Palm Island, but asked by the counselor representing the Aboriginal community, Andrew Boe, to cover the proceedings of the inquest and write a few articles for the daily press, she accompanied him to the inquest.
The few articles which would take only days expanded into a book: one which retells the story of Cameron's arrest and death and its enormous and far reaching consequences, with the tension of a well written crime novel, a page turner, but all the more breathtaking because it is true. Hooper gives a potted history of the Aboriginal residents of Palm Island, brought to live in dormitories, taken from their families, marrying and having children, continuing to live on the island, the only home they know. The end of the missionaries saw alcohol and the abuse of that substance led to 7 police permanently stationed there. In this paradise, there seemed to be an ever-present and increasing line dividing the black and white residents. But it is not only the black culture that Hooper explores, she also includes the Queensland police culture, with its investigations and commissions. That police force has been under a microscope for some years, and this death in 2004, refocused media attention on its operations yet again.
The inquest was adjourned twice, keeping everyone in limbo until it resumed. In the intervening years, Cameron's son, Eric, hanged himself, and the community became even sadder and more tense. The description of the trial and verdict is numbing, as Hurley is pictured by the police and some media as a victim. The postscript that he is now trying to have his name removed from any responsibility in Cameron's death is telling of the power of the police in Queensland.
For students looking at Aboriginal Studies or Australian History, for those wanting a book about justice and injustice, or relations between black and white, or just an involving read, then this book fits the criteria. Foremost a story of a shocking event in our recent past, The Tall Man impels us all to look more closely at what is happening in minority communities.
Fran Knight

Nation by Terry Pratchett

Shifty by Lynn E. Hazen

Allen and Unwin, 2008. ISBN 9781741755909.
(Age 12+) Soli, whose nickname is Shifty, because he shifts in and out of trouble, has a new foster mother Martha, and new foster siblings, Sissy and baby Chance. Martha is the sort of person who trusts 'the good in people, even when the bad part is showing up more than anything else', and Shifty is happy to stay with her. However a new social worker is critical of the care being given, and Shifty is up to his old tricks of driving a car without a licence and parking illegally. Can he manage to stay out of trouble and make a new home for himself?
An engrossing and heart warming story; this book draws the reader in from the first page. Shifty tells his story in his own words, which are often humorous and heart-rending and he makes the characters in this tale come alive. He discounts any accountability for his actions, moving the blame to other people when he gets caught, but Sissy, scarred and withdrawn, is able to show him that he can take care of others and be more adult. Shifty in turn is prepared to act as Sissy's big brother and help give her a feeling of family. Martha, their foster mother, is such a big hearted woman that the reader is cheering her along in her attempts to keep this little family intact.
This is a rewarding book. It describes the trauma of being an abandoned baby, in the case of Shifty, or coming from a cruel, abusive family as Sissy has, or a mother on drugs like Chance. The need to belong and to be loved and the importance of family are emphasised. The strong themes of family love, homelessness and taking responsibility for your own actions are portrayed very well, and reluctant as well as able readers will enjoy Shifty's exploits and angst.
Pat Pledger

There are cats in this book by Viviane Schwarz

Walker, 2008. ISBN 9781406300949
(Age 3+) Highly recommended. What an innovative novelty book! The story starts with the text on the inside section of the dust jacket, instructing the reader to 'Come play with the cats in this book, Tiny, Moonpie and Andre' and instead of a title page, the text reads: 'The cats aren't on this page'. The reader is invited to turn the pages and play with the cats, winding wool, exploring cardboard boxes, having a pillow fight and being flooded with fish.

The brightly coloured cats are adorable and Schwarz has drawn each one with its own identifiable face and character. The book has strong flaps that lift and the cats involve the reader in what's happening by requesting that a page be turned, or a cat be helped.

With wonderful illustrations that are bold and brightly coloured, a story that pulls the reader in and the fun of a pop-up book, this is a winner as a read aloud, a bedtime story and a beginning reader. Walker Books have even provided knitting patterns for each of the cats!
Pat Pledger

Roland Wright at the joust by Tony Davis

Ill. by Gregory Rogers. Random House, 2008. ISBN 978174166329 7
(Ages: 7-12) This book highlights many positive human qualities, including friendship, loyalty and perseverance. It is the third novel in the Roland Wright series and shows Roland's progress as a page at Twofold Castle.
Roland, supported by his pet mouse Nudge, is continuing on his path towards becoming a knight and has been improving his sword fighting and jousting skills under the mentorship of his hero, Sir Lucas.
While Roland is looking forward to his first tournament, Jenny Winterbottom, a neighbour from his home village, unexpectedly arrives at the castle and becomes a surprising ally of Roland. The startling events of the tournament and the tension created by the antagonistic Hector, significantly impact on Roland's attitude. He achieves a greater understanding of what it truly entails to be a knight who maintains a sense of courage, loyalty and compassion, in spite of the unfortunate events that often arise in life. Roland is taught to remember the difficulties and rejoice in the triumphs.
Tony Davis appears to have thoroughly researched the medieval era and any unfamiliar terms are unobtrusively explained within the story. This novel can be easily read and understood without reading the previous books in the series. The characters are well rounded and all make important contributions to the plot and the illustrations and language are charming and often comedic. This story is likely to absorb children's attention as they begin to care about Roland and his ambitions and want to accompany him on his future adventures.
Louise Illingworth

Black ships before Troy by Rosemary Sutcliff

Frances Lincoln Children's Books, 2008.
ISBN 9781845078270
(Ages 10+) Black ships before Troy is the retelling of the story of The Iliad, the tale of the Greek ships going to Troy to take back Helen, taken by Paris, the son of the king of Troy. This book tells of the nature of the god of discord, Eris, leaving a golden apple before the three goddesses, with the words, To the fairest, written across it. This caused the discord which finally erupted into the Trojan Wars, and so set in train the events which followed. A fabulous retelling which will appeal to upper primary readers.
Fran Knight

Say hello by Jack and Michael Foreman

Walker, 2007
(Ages: 5-8) A deceptively simple picture book with a powerful message, Say hello tells the story of a young boy who is left out and all alone, watching while other children have fun playing together. 'When someone's feeling left out, low, it doesn't take much to say... 'Hello!' is the underlying message.
Michael Foreman's sparse black and white illustrations alleviated with some blue lines and a red ball, complement the story's theme of loneliness and sadness and bring to life the longing of the isolated boy to be part of the group. The joy on his face when he is included is a delight.
This picture book is on the 2009 Cilip Kate Greenaway Medal longlist and is sure to help children to identify with those who are left out of activities. The idea of just saying 'Hello' is a simple way to helping children to feel included. The end papers contain many different words for saying hello and will be fun to use. Discussions about loneliness, friendship, inclusion and bullying could be engendered from the book.
Pat Pledger

The Game Players of Titan by P.K. Dick

Voyager, 2008.
(Age 15+)Unfortunately, the late P.K. Dick is probably best known for movies made from his stories rather than the books themselves. As the man behind such iconic movies as Bladerunner and the Arnie cult classic, Total Recall and more recently Speilberg's Minority Report, it's sometimes easy to forget just how great a writer Dick really was. Although not his most well known work, and certainly not his best, The Game Players of Titan explores many of Dick's trademark themes; the nature of reality, artificial intelligence, psychic powers and drug (or otherwise) induced hallucination.
The story, set in a post apocalyptic America, centres around one of Dick's typically neurotic protagonists, Pete Garden, who we are told has just gambled away his wife and half of California. Devastated by war with an alien species and wracked by radiation, the Earth has cooked up a way for the virtually sterile population to rebuild itself; a privileged group of people gamble vast swathes of property and spouses in the hope that ultimately they will have 'luck' and produce offspring. The concept is weird, even for Dick, but it makes for an interesting plot. The story begins with Pete trying to find a way of re-winning his beloved Berkley, at the same time warding off his suicidal tendencies. However, the story quickly develops into a thriller in which nothing and no one is quite what they appear to be.
Although not a masterpiece like The man in the High Castle or Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep, The Game Players Of Titan still manages to entertain and perplex in true Dick style. Dick is always asking us what it really means to be human and that's what really sets him apart from most other sci-fi novelists. His characters are painfully human and their fallibility makes them, and his books, all the more likeable.
Michael Pledger