Walker Books, 2008. ISBN: 9781406313390
(Ages 5+ )When his father leaves
to fetch Joseph's mother, he says
everything is going to change. Whilst he is away, Joseph ponders what
his father
means. As he moves around the house, nothing is quite as it was before
his
father left.
Anthony Browne is the master of his
trade. Without his
illustrations, Browne's stories are relatively simplistic yet revolve
around
themes important to the life of the young child. With the addition of
his
illustrations, however, they contain a whole new dimension and can be
pored over
for hours as the reader searches for the new and unusual things
portrayed
therein. The surrealistic style Browne uses in most of his work is
perfect for
this book, as the everyday things in Joseph's home are transformed into
the
weird and wonderful.
This title is suited to use with younger children preparing
for additions to the family but also in units of work which focus on
the acceptance
of any type of change. By reading only to the point at which Joseph
goes into
his room and turns off the light, children can be encouraged to predict
where
they think the mother has been and discuss changes which have occurred
in their
own lives.
As with all of Browne's work, this is
another wonderful
title!
Jo Schenkel
Dark Summer by Ali Sparkes
Oxford University Press, 2009.
(9+)Highly recommended. Eddie feels like a fish out of water after
being sent to stay with his Auntie Kath and ghastly cousins, while his
Mum recovers from a serious illness. He's an outdoor kind of lad and
escapes his disco dancing, gaming obsessed cousins to encounter the
excitement of caving in the Mendip hills. Here he bumps into Gwerren, a
new age girl who knows the caves like the back of her hand and is happy
to introduce Eddie to more fun than a day out at Alton Towers. When one
of Eddie's cousins falls into a concealed cave, Eddie tries to rescue
him and discovers the secret of Gwerren's existence. Meanwhile Wilf, an
elderly relative, who lives with Auntie Kath, is about to be packed off
to a ghastly old people's home. Eddie feels a strong affinity with the
old man and is determined to to save him from this appalling fate, so
he and Gwerren hatch a daring plan.
I became a huge fan of Ali Sparkes after devouring Frozen in Time
and
although her latest novel may be called Dark Summer it is a
sparkling
read with a fantastic plot that weaves the many strands into a
satisfying conclusion. I was particularly impressed by Sparkes' ability
to bring the setting of the Mendip Hills to breathtaking life. Her
characterisation is also strong and I felt like hissing every time
Auntie Kath appeared and cheering at Eddie's determination to protect
the elderly Wilf.
Sparkes has a knack for keeping the excitement and suspense simmering,
while at the same time covering the more thoughtful issues of fitting
in, friendship, the generation gap and lost opportunities. This should
appeal to able readers, both boys and girls, from about 9 to 13, who
enjoy adventure and mystery and are looking for something more
substantial to get their teeth into.
Claire Larson
The Hunchback Assignments by Arthur Slade
HarperCollins, Australia, 2009.
ISBN: 9780732290443
(Ages 12+) When he hears of an unusual baby in a gypsy freak
show, Mr Socrates goes to investigate, buys the baby and takes him
home. Although Modo is a remarkably deformed and unattractive baby, he
has a special ability. He is able to soften or morph his features so
that he resembles another person entirely for a few hours at a time. By
the age of fourteen, specially trained by Mr Socrates, Modo is left out
on the street to prove himself. He meets another agent, the beautiful
Octavia Milkweed, and they team up to investigate the disappearance of
a group of orphans and find the evil Dr Hyde.
This book is described as 'The start of a fantastic new series set
in a
gritty, steampunk world'. Not having heard the term previously, I
resorted to Wikipedia. Steampunk is 'a sub-genre of science fiction
and
speculative fiction, frequently featuring elements of fantasy...set in
an
era or world in which steam power is still widely used... with
fictional
technological inventions like those found in the works of H.G. Wells
and Jules Verne...'. Set in the year 1860 in Victorian London, this
novel
is a dark and exciting trip through the sewers with fascinating
characters and gruesome inventions and lives up to the blurb.
With similar elements to Pullman's His Dark Materials,
Cornish's
Monster Blood Tattoo series and a touch of Skulduggery
Pleasant, this
will no doubt appeal to the more mature readers of fantasy and
adventure who can cope with the dark side. Personally, I can't wait for
the next book!
Jo Schenkel
Barnaby Grimes: Phantom of Blood Alley by Paul Stewart and Chris Riddell
Corgi Books,2010.
(Ages 10+) Recommended. Set in Dickensian England, this is
the fourth outing for the Barnaby Grimes series, although each novel
can be read independently as regular characters are reintroduced.
Barnaby is a tick-tock lad; he delivers anything to anyone and knows
the city streets like the back of his hand, although his preferred mode
of travel is to 'highstack'; to scramble across the rooftops and avoid
the bustle below. As a sideline Barnaby investigates mysteries and is
invited by Clarissa Oliphant to discover the explanation for her
brother's increasingly secretive and bizarre behaviour.
Barnaby's investigations lead him into the embryonic world of
photography and when Laurence Oliphant is found dead, his sister,
Clarissa is charged with murder. But then Laurence's associates begin
to meet with gruesome deaths and Barnaby closes in on the shadowy
Phantom of Blood Alley.
This is a terrific gothic romp, full of creaking floorboards, spectral
figures and housemaids screaming in terror. The look of the novel;
large print, short chapters and plenty of illustrations belie its
contents. Stewart and Riddell offer a heady feast of language that
makes no allowances for fledgling readers. Any writers who can use the
words 'arcane', 'occult', 'infernal' and 'alchemy' in one sentence are
expressing high expectations of their young readers. I'm all for that
as it's wonderful to see children immersed in powerful language, but I
would hate newly independent readers to be put off because someone
decides this looks like an 'easy' read!
With a marvellous setting (who can resist Caged Lark Lane and Cold Bath
Road?) and gruesome details of murder and mayhem, this story seethes
with atmosphere and is not for the faint hearted. For all those
children who clamour for stories oozing horror and gore this is
absolutely perfect!
Claire Larson
Elizabethan Mysteries: Revenge by John Pilkington
Usborne Publishing, 2009.
(Age 10+) In Elizabethan London, apprentice actor Ben Button befriends
a young beggar and thief. Ben convinces his master to give the
beggar shelter, but soon discovers that things are not as they first
appeared. The beggar has a mysterious past, and a vendetta against an
important nobleman, whom the beggar claims is supplying arms to the
enemy Spaniards. Ben is reluctant to believe the stories he is told,
but once he sees the proof for himself, finds he must help his new
friend to save England.
While there are moments of authenticity to the writing, there are also
times when the language and expressions used simply do not ring true
with the era. Even so, the action is fast-paced, and readers will get a
glimpse into life in England at the time of the Spanish Armada. This is
the third of four Elizabethan Mysteries, with Rogue's Gold, Traitor,
and
Thief.
Donella Reed
Tensy Farlow and the Home for Mislaid Children by Jen Storer
Penguin, 2009 . ISBN 9780670073399
(Ages 10 and up) When Albie Gribble collects a basketful of linen from
the front of the hospital, he finds instead an abandoned baby, and his
life takes a dramatic turn. Crossing the River Charon, Albie sees a
'skriker' and the lorry he is driving tips into the water. He follows
the urging of his guardian angel, saves the orange headed baby from the
water and takes her home. Although he loves the orphaned Tensy, she is
later taken into The Home for Mislaid Children.
Tensy's adventures begin in earnest when, after having been adopted,
she is returned to the home. With attacking ravens, Watchers being ever
present, the appearance of angels who may or may not be trusted and a
bald headmistress, Tensy's life is certainly never boring and it seems
she may have a destiny to fulfil.
Matron Pluckrose and her problems provide a certain amount of humour,
as does Mrs Gribble after her death. This serves to balance the evil in
the story. A glossary would have made the book simpler for younger
children to grasp. This novel is an engaging and well written read for
competent readers and would also work well as a read aloud.
Jo Schenkel
Gamers' Quest by George Ivanoff
Ford Street Publishing, 2009.
(Age 10+) Zyra and Tark are teenage thieves in a world created by the
Designers. Everyone in this world struggles and fights to gain enough
money to get a 'key', allowing them to escape their reality briefly and
become avatars in Designer's Paradise. In their quest they encounter
other characters and must figure out if they are to be trusted or
defeated. Upon reaching Paradise however, Zyra and Tark discover
something is wrong, and that their Suburban avatar existence is flawed.
Eventually they are faced with the thought that their world may not be
all it seems.
With a fast-paced plot and some interesting twists, this is an
enjoyable book, however I did find the language used by the characters
of Zyra and Tark somewhat irritating. Students with an interest in
gaming and alternate realities will be very excited about this book
which has been shortlisted for the 2010 Chronos Awards.
Donella Reed
The penguin who wanted to find out by Jill Tomlinson
Ill. by Paul Howard. Egmont, 2009. ISBN 9781405230414.
(Ages 6-9) Recommended. It's wonderful to see a picture book that is
full of information, while stimulating the imagination with great
characterisation and beautiful illustrations. Otto is a baby penguin
chick who lives on his father's feet in the Antarctica. He wants to
find out about lots of things: Why hasn't he fallen off since he lives
at the bottom of the world? What is a blizzard? And what is the funny
feeling he has in his tummy? As Otto grows and begins to leave the
safety of his father's sheltering feathers and feet, he learns that the
only way for penguins to survive in this harsh environment is to look
after each other.
Paul Howard's illustrations are an excellent accompaniment to the text,
following Otto as he discovers a blizzard, looks after the other little
chicks, learns to toboggan and torpedo out of the water. The deep blues
of the Antarctic sky and seas contrast with the whites of the snow. The
penguins are washed with a pale gold and they stand out perfectly
against this backdrop. The care that the penguins show each other comes
across strongly in both the text and pictures.
This is a perfect book for those children who are making the transition
from picture books to chapter books as it has more complex sentences
than many picture books. I found the factual information about emperor
penguins that I discovered from inquisitive little Otto quite
fascinating and unforgettable. What a lovely way to learn!
Pat Pledger
Bright girls by Clare Chambers
HarperCollins Children's Books, 2009.
(Age range: 12 - 16 / Secondary) Rachel and Robyn are sent to stay with
their Auntie Jackie in Brighton after an incident at their house causes
their father to be concerned for their safety. Auntie Jackie runs a
ball gown hire business out of her ramshackle terrace house. When
Auntie Jackie fails to meet them at the railway station as planned they
hop in a taxi and arrive at her home just as she does in a police car.
They meet Adam a uni student who lives next door and who is attempting
to look after his frail and forgetful grandmother, and Charlie, Aunt
Jackie's lodger who is a musician and various characters that visit
Auntie Jackie to utilise her skills.
The girls experience the difficulties of finding a respectable job, the
interest and confusion involved in having 'boy' friends, the excitement
of utilising musical talents, the consequences of bad choices and the
up and downs of being a hero.
The author has woven an interesting and eventful story based on two
quite different sisters and their adventures when faced with what
appears initially to be a life threatening situation. I enjoyed this
story and would recommend it to readers.
Tracy Glover
Top reads for 2009 by Pat Pledger
Teens Fire by
Kristin Cashore. Fire is the last of the human Monsters and she is
feared because of her beauty and her ability to control minds. A
companion volume to Graceling,
this
is
fantasy
at
its best, with a strong heroine, plenty of action
and a low-key romance.
Along for
the ride by Sarah Dessen. Auden's sleep patterns have been
disrupted ever since her parents' divorce. The quest she goes on with a
fellow insomniac will change her life. If you haven't tried Dessen's
novels before then you are in for a treat.
Vulture's
gate by Kirsty Murray. The story of Callum, a young boy kidnapped
by the dangerous Outlanders and Bo, Roboraptor Girl, who has survived
alone in the desert since her grandfather was murdered. A Science
fiction survival story set in outback Australia, with overtones of Mad
Max.
The ask and
the answer by Patrick Ness. Todd has taken the dying Viola into
Haven but it has been made into the stronghold of his enemy Mayor
Prentiss. The first in the series, The knife of
never letting go had
gripping tension, high adventure and thought provoking themes and the
second is even better!
Exposure
by Mal Peet. A star footballer, Othello, meets a beautiful pop singer
Desmerelda at a celebrity party. They fall in love and quickly marry
much to the delight of the media. Wonderful expose of fame based
loosely on Othello.
Beatle
meets Destiny by Gabrielle Williams. Beatle, named because his name
is John Lennon, meets Destiny at a tram stop in Melbourne one Friday
night and from then on the reader is led into a hilarious story of
young love, astrology and weird art projects.
The
uninvited by Tim Wynne-Jones. For Jackson Page, the little cabin is
a place to compose in. For Mimi Shapiro the snye in the wilds of
Eastern Ontario is a perfect hideaway and for Cramer Lee, it is a place
where he can spy on Jay. In an exciting thriller Wynne-Jones keeps the
reader guessing right to the end about the
uninvited
visitor who is stalking Jay and Mimi .
Middle school
Waterslain
Angels by Kevin Crossley-Holland. Ten year old Annie, an
independent and risk taking young girl, joins up with Sandy, an eleven
year old asthmatic geek, on a summer quest to find the missing carvings
of angels that once adorned their Norfolk church and which haven't been
seen since Cromwell's time.
Love, Aubrey
by Suzanne LaFleur. A terrible thing has happened to Aubrey. Now she is
all alone with only her new fish Sammy for company. A memorable tear
jerker.
Loblolly boy
by James Norcliffe. The loblolly boy can fly wherever he wants and has
eternal youth. He also has the power to Exchange - to swap places with
others who are Sensitive and can see him. Margaret Mahy describes this
as a new classic and it is certainly memorable.
When you reach me by Rebecca Stead. Winner of the Newbery Medal.
Miranda gets a message that says "I am coming to save save your
friend's life, and my own." This book is an intriguing puzzle that will
have its readers following clues until its explosive conclusion.
Angel fish by Lili Wilkinson. Gabriel believes Stephan when he
says
that children can save save the Holy Land. Will his faith sustain him
on the perilous journey that the Children's Crusade undertakes?
Picture books
Sarah's
heavy heart by Peter Carnavas. Sarah has a heavy heart that she
carries all the time, on the bus, in the playground, at the park.
My silent
world by Nette Hilton and Vincent Agostino. A deaf girl has a rich
inner life. She knows about everything, but she is afraid of the unseen
monster that fits in her ear - a cochlear implant.
Isabella's
garden by Glenda Millard and Rebecca Cool. Isabella's garden is a
place where the soil is 'all dark and deep' and where Isabella and her
friends plant the seeds that emerge into a glorious garden, changing
with the seasons until Jack Frost comes and all that is left is a
well-feathered nest and a handful of seeds.
First the
egg by Laura Vaccaro Seegar. The book looks at how things evolve.
First comes an egg and on page turn, the reader sees the egg change
into a chicken.
Surf Ache by Gerry Bobsien
Walker Books, 2009.
Recommended. Finally, a teenage book without angst,
dysfunctional families or spoilt brats! What's left to write about?
Well, Gerry Bobsein's passion for
surfing
shines through this novel about Year 9 student Ella Alonso's move from
Melbourne to Newcastle and her discovery of surfing. She has had to
leave
behind her best friend and her boyfriend and it gets complicated when
she soon
makes new friends who get her hooked on surfing. She has to make
choices about
friends. Surfing clashes with her
passion for ballet and as she excels at both she has to make a choice
here too.
Plus her mum was a former surfing champion whose career ended
mysteriously. Mum
understands all too well her daughter's surf-ache - a 'state of being
where all
one can think about is getting back onto the waves'.
There is the
requisite bitchy rival
but here friends and family are warm, caring, and likeable. It is
interesting
to note Ella and her friends are not hung up on clothes: Ella "never
quite had
all the right gear. Mum and Dad refused to fork out for the latest
this, that
or the other. Ella was used to it". (p110). The confidence and
happiness of
these kids comes from being able to follow their passions in a
supportive
environment.
The characters
are real as well as
likeable, with romance and competitions keeping the pages turned. There
is much
on the art of surfing which may lose some, but you learn a lot about
it. We
have come a long way from Puberty Blues - the guys and girls
are on
equal
footing here.
My only
quibble is that the language
of surfing is not explained; a glossary would help. What is a rashie?
Kevyna Gardner
I am not a serial killer by Dan Wells
Headline Publishing Group, 2009.
(Age range: 14 - 16) John Cleaver has an obsession with
serial killers. His mother and aunt run the mortuary and his estranged
father was also a mortician. John has grown up exposed to dead bodies
in one form or another. When random killings begin to happen in Clayton
County, the town where he lives, he is determined to solve the case as
to who and why they are happening.
John has been seeing Dr Neblin a psychologist for some time to try and
sort through his strange fascination and in doing so has established
rules for himself to try and maintain a hold on his emotions and
actions.
This becomes increasingly difficult as the killings continue and he
gets closer to the killer. Unleashing his dark side John establishes a
plan to trap the killer, however in doing so is frightened by what he
is becoming and the lengths he will go to and the people he will
inadvertently involve.
John has few friends and those he has at the start of the story are
soon alienated by his strange and peculiar behaviour.
This is a thrilling story not suited to everyone as it contains quite
gruesome and frightening events. It is advertised as the first book in
a darkly comic new series from debut author Dan Wells. Mr Monster the
next title is due for release in the UK in March 2010.
Tracy Glover
Agent Alfie: Licence to fish by Justin Richards
HarperCollins Children's Books, 2009.
(Age 7+) Alfie is a student at Thunder Raker Manor, a school for
children whose parents are spies or secret agents. Alfie's a bit
different though - his dad's just a postman. The students learn all the
regular school subjects, as well as Special Agent Training subjects
including surveillance, code-breaking and sabotage. So it seems a bit
odd to Alfie when a new class is announced - fishing. The students head
along to their first lesson, and Alfie immediately begins to suspect
that the evil organisation SPUD might be hatching a new plan. His
suspicions are confirmed when he spots a giant rubber duck and a
metallic sea monster swimming in the school lake.
This is the second Agent Alfie book after Thunder Raker (2008),
with a
third, Sorted, also released in 2009. With a fast-moving plot
and
packed full of puns, it is a very enjoyable read.
Donella Reed
100% hero by Jayne Lyons
Random House, 2009. ISBN 978171663969.
(Age 9+) Although part of a family of werewolves and 'the second
greatest
werewolf ever', Freddy Lupin has a problem. At some full moons, he
transforms into a black poodle and not a wolf. With the arrival of his
father Flasheart's distant cousin, Chester Pucely and his daughter,
things start to go wrong as Freddy tries to impress the 'perfect'
Priscilla. When his father is captured and taken to zoo, as a result of
Freddy's actions, the young wolf sets out to rescue Flasheart and keep
the family secrets. In the meantime, he is sent off to camp, where he
has to learn to dance ballet. He befriends several other students who
are also misfits and manages to solve the family's problems.
I found that the style of this book did not provide the engrossing read
for which I had hoped. The author's humour was definitely of the
'bottom' variety and sadly did not appeal to me as much as it may to
the younger male readers. Made up names and words in this text somehow
did not gel and I found this novel a challenge to complete. Perhaps,
for disinclined boys, it will still hold some appeal. Whilst there may
be some underlying themes which could be brought out for the student, I
found this a disappointing read and certainly not a text.
Jo Schenkel
The wheels on the bus ill. by Mandy Foot
Lothian Children's Books, 2009. ISBN 9780734411174.
(Ages 3-6) The classic song, The wheels on the bus is given a
whole new
look by Mandy Foot as a host of Australian animals go on a journey
around Australia. What a trip the kangaroos, emus, frill-necked lizard
and koala have as they travel to Coober Pedy, Tasmania, Bondi, Philip
Island, Daintree, Great Barrier Reef, the Pilbara, Blue Mountains
Darwin and the Opera House in a red and white bus.
The book is a visual feast. Starting with a map of Australia showing
the places that the bus will go to, it is then up to the reader to
follow the word clue sticker on the bus and the animals and plants of
the place to work out where it is. There is also a tiny green gecko on
each page that the reader will have lots of fun trying to find.
The illustrations of the animals are fabulous with cartoon type faces,
brimming with good humour. I especially liked the expressions on the
babies as they went Wah! Wah! Wah!
Such a familiar song will be a boon for beginning readers and parents
and teachers will enjoy sharing the song as they make an Australian
trip. There is a website
that
gives information about all the places that are visited. This could be
a very useful site if doing a unit on journeys or famous places in
Australia.
Pat Pledger
