Serendipity : Ten romantic tropes, transformed by Marissa Meyer ed.
Text Publishing, 2022. ISBN: 9781922458315. (Age:14+) Recommended.
A fan of Marissa Meyer’s stories (Gilded, Cinder, and Scarlett) I picked up this anthology when I saw that she was the editor and was intrigued by the idea of ten romantic tropes. Then I saw the names of some very well known YA authors including Sandhya Menon, Julie Murphy and Elizabeth Eulberg as well as some new to me authors to explore and I was hooked.
Serendipity is a diverse collection of stories, told by a diverse set of authors, with something for everyone. I went to Marissa Meyer’s story 'Shooting stars', with the trope of ‘One bed’ first, and enjoyed the story of Misty and Roman and their awkward coming together. I loved 'The surprise match' by Sandhya Menon with its trope of The Matchmaker, as the humour and easy style was very enjoyable. Elise Bryant was a new author to me, but one I will follow up as 'Zora in the spotlight' was a delight to read, with descriptions so vivid that I can still picture of a flash mob in a school gym. I was also captivated with the descriptions of stunts in cheerleading in 'Liberty' by Anna-Marie McLemore, with its Makeover trope.
The stories will leave readers satisfied that they have learnt something about the tropes in Romance writing. All the stories were feel-good, with happy endings and all were easy to read. They got me out of a reading slump and left me smiling! What more could a reader want?
Described as “one of the most tragic figures in all Australian history” Kikatapula, otherwise known as Black Tom Birch, was a heroic leader of the Aboriginal resistance to the colonial invasion of Tasmania. He fought long and hard, but when he finally came to see the diminishment of his people, he became an aid, if half-hearted, in gathering people together to follow George Augustus Robinson in the hope of a sanctuary offshore.
Robert Cox has gathered every bit of available evidence to piece together the life story of Kikatupula, an intelligent and highly skilled warrior, who with his mastery of English, was able to move in both worlds, the Aboriginal and the white oppressors. From an early age he won the care and protection of a significant society figure, Sarah Birch, whose intervention often ensured his rescue from the worst punishments. But that relationship was not enough to keep him from joining his people in the many fierce attacks on the settlers destroying his country.
Unfortunately it is a sad story, but one that should be remembered for Kikatupula’s leadership and heroism in a war that devastated the original inhabitants of Tasmania.
Detective Sergeant Georgios Manolis is sent to investigate the murder of a young teacher in an outback country town. It is a brutal death by stoning, and so of course suspicion falls on the inmates of the nearby detention centre, labelled the Brown House. But all is not as it at first seems, and there may be more to the crime than the local police are willing to consider.
Papathanasiou is to be commended for his well researched expose of the heart destroying conditions of an Australian detention centre, the dehumanising approach of the prison guards, and the simmering tensions of the community in which the centre is planted. Added to that there is entrenched racism and bigotry, something that Manolis, of migrant descent, and his Aboriginal offsider Sparrow, are only too aware of.
It is an intense gritty story of hard people and harsh conditions, and the mystery has an intriguing twist that surprises at the same time as it draws together threads that go back a long way into the past. This debut crime novel could easily be the brilliant beginning of a compelling series.
George loves dinosaurs and little children who also love dinosaurs will happily read along as George, Peppa Pig and the family all try to find George’s missing dinosaur toy. This engaging book has enormous appeal, not only because of its familiar characters from the television show, but because of the bright foil cover, the lift the flaps and the hard-wearing thick board pages.
When George cannot find Mr Dinosaur anywhere, everyone goes to look for him. They look behind the flap in the den, but it is only a helmet, then Mummy Pig asks where they have been that day. They all troop off to the Zoo, the train, and the castle, lifting flaps on the way. But Mr Dinosaur is nowhere to be found. George is distraught and starts to cry but when it is time for bed, Mummy Pig pulls back the covers and there he is!
Children and adults will recognise the familiarity of losing a beloved toy and how upsetting it can be. Toddlers will be reassured that lost toys can be found and will feel happy that George finally has his dinosaur, helped by a loving family and friends along the way.
They will love spotting the tiny details in the pictures that look like dinosaurs and then seeing what is revealed behind the flaps and roaring out “Dine-saw. Grrr!” with George as they search. The bright colours of the illustrations and the familiar places shown in the illustrations are also very appealing.
This is another book in the Peppa Pig series that would happily become a part of a toddler’s little library.
Themes Board book, Dinosaurs.
Pat Pledger
Sideways stories from Wayside School by Louis Sachar
Bizarrely, the Wayside school was incorrectly built, and instead of being a 30-classroom single-storey school, it is a 30-storey school with a single class on each floor. This book is a tribute to the craziness of school, and the weirdness of school children and is filled with 30 stories (apart from the absent 19th story to match the absent 19th storey). Louis Sachar has a wacky sense of humour that borders on ridiculous… actually it is totally in the land of ridiculous. The 30 stories that inhabit the Wayside School poke fun at teachers and students and sometimes have twists in the tail… or is that tale!
For young readers this book will tickle their funny bones and cause giggles to erupt at odd times. It would also be a fun book to share as a read-aloud in class or with an adult at bed-time. Just don’t expect that every story makes logical sense or that it is filled with wisdom. In fact, it is more likely you will find quirky eccentricity and folly on every page.
Themes Humour, School.
Carolyn Hull
The King of Koraha by Maria V. Snyder
Archives of the Invisible Sword bk 3. HQ Young Adult, 2021. ISBN: 9781489252845. (Age:14+) Highly recommended.
After her adventures in The city of Zirdai, Shyla Sun-Kissed wants to travel the kingdom and see all the wonders in this desert world. However, the King of Koraha has summoned her to his capital, and she must obey. When she meets the King, she and Rendor are given a challenging task – find the person who stole all the tax money out of a vault that is seemingly impossible to break into. She must succeed in this or the whole kingdom is at risk of being hijacked by a mysterious army that wields a weapon that takes over the minds of the people it contacts. Shyla will need every bit of her intelligence, use of the eyes of Tamburah and the help of her loyal friends in the Invisible Sword to overcome this danger.
The King of Koraha is a very satisfying conclusion to this trilogy. Snyder is adept at writing action packed, character driven books that are easy to read with unique plots and wonderful worldbuilding. She expands her world this time, taking Shyla and Rendor across the desert country to another city. The King has magical powers over water but desperately needs the help of Shyla who faces danger and deception in her quest to find who is manipulating the mysterious army that threatens the King. Shyla has developed as a strong character, able to lead The Invisible Sword, and her romance with Rendor has also really developed.
Fans of fantasy will love this series, with all the twists and turns that the books take, the surprise of unexpected traitors and the action-packed rides across the desert and in the strange cities. It was hard to leave Shyla and her Invisible Sword, and I look forward to other books by this talented author.
Themes Fantasy, Good and evil, Kings, Courage, Deserts.
Pat Pledger
The city of Zirdai by Maria V. Snyder
Archives of the Invisible Sword: Book 2. HQ Young Adult, 2021. ISBN: 9781489252821. (Age:13+) Highly recommended.
Following on from the first book in the series, The eyes of Tamburah, Shyla faces huge challenges as the Invisible Sword begins to try and free the people in the city of Zirdai. Shyla is faced with many problems as she begins to learn of the challenges of being a leader, facing division in the group and trying to gain the trust of its members. With the evil Water Prince and grasping Heliacal Priestess both determined to gain the powers of the eyes of Tamburah, Shyla and her group must devise a plan to save the city of Zirdai.
Fans of the first book, as I was, will be thrilled with the second in the series. The hot, dry world that Snyder has described comes alive in this book and the many levels of the city are vividly described. Shyla grows from an isolated researcher to a tenacious leader and the growing romance between her and Rendor will satisfy those readers who like some romance with their fantasy. Members of the Invisible Sword, especially Jayden, Gurice and Mojag are great supporting characters, while the action will keep readers turning the pages to see what is going to happen next.
The intrigue, treasure hunting, betrayal, heartbreak and a cliff hanger ending all make for a great story, leaving the reader wanting to immediately read the next in the series.
Foreword by Angelina Jolie. As an ambassador for Amnesty International, Angelina Jolie became angry that we have basic rights espoused by international charters and conventions but both adults and children still have to advocate and fight for those rights no matter where they live. Children are particularly voiceless and disenfranchised.
Designed for children under 18, the sub-title “how to claim your rights” is a claim that is not borne out. Whilst “Know your rights” uses many examples of extraordinary individuals protesting for their rights, it can’t possibly cover every country or jurisdiction, or analyse separate legal challenges – in short, how exactly the downtrodden can secure the thing that is denied to them.
Part one covers the history of human rights whereas Part 2 lists common breaches of the 1959 UN Declaration of the rights of the child – from lack of basic Identity/Birth Certificate, to personal Bodily integrity, Education, Freedom of Thought and the basic right to Play. Part 3 contains checklists for skills like improving your speeches or participating in protest marches etc. Part 4 is a resource list of organizations who can provide information/support and is prefaced by glossary of terms.
Rights mean little if they can’t be enforced. General actions taken by individuals and those who helped each child claim their rights are outlined, but these serve mainly as inspiration. Readers might need more help to access legal aid, find a lawyer, or drill down to practicalities etc.
Dujuan Hoosan is an indigenous boy who travelled to the UN to lobby for the age of legal responsibility to be raised to 14, in order to help youth in his community in the Northern Territory of Australia.
Moses Akatugba was on death row after being coerced into confessing to a crime he didn’t commit. While he coached the prison football team, the actions of Amnesty International led to 800,000 letters of support for his release.
At only 16, Heidy Quah volunteered in a refugee school and her idea to set up her own NGO to help refugees meant that 35 schools for refugees in Malaysia and Myanmar were established as places of basic education, safety and healthcare.
By the end, Know your Rights is a broad primer for burgeoning advocates who of course will need to master skills and networking to attempt to claim their rights.
Greta Thunberg should have the last word, “This is the perfect book for young people who care about the world and want to make a difference.”
Themes Children's Rights, Human Rights, Human Rights Mentoring and Advocacy, Respect for Persons.
Koffi is a 16 year old girl who is living a life of servitude with her mother, caring for monstrous creatures in the Night Zoo. Ekon is a young warrior desperate to join the ranks of the Sons of the Six. When Koffi unleashes a magical power she didn’t know she possessed one night and there is a fire at the Zoo, she and Ekon both face the Shetani a murderous beast that has been terrorising the city for years. A disgraced Ekon has let down the warriors by not arresting Koffi and is no longer given the chance to become an elite warrior. Meanwhile Koffi must earn enough to keep her mother and herself from lifelong slavery at the Zoo and she joins forces with Ekon to capture the Shetani. Each have a different agenda, Koffi to capture the Shetani for the greedy Zoo owner, Ekon to kill it and regain his place in the elite warrior class.
Beasts of prey will have instant appeal for readers who enjoy stories about magical beasts and young characters who are brave and determined, while acknowledging their weaknesses. The world building is very engaging. It is easy to image a Zoo full of strange creatures, tended by poor people who are barely making a living. The Shetani is strange and alluring and the mythic feel of the story is very appealing. In the Author’s note at the end of the book she details the influence that the continent of Africa had on the mythical animals and legends contained in the book.
Filled with magic and mythical beings, this will appeal to readers who enjoyed The gilded ones by Namina Forna, Raybearer by Jordan Ifueka andSeraphina by Rachel Hartman. Teacher's notes are available from the publisher as well as an introductory video.
Themes Magic, Monsters, Jungles, Hunting, Good and evil, Fantasy.
Pat Pledger
Eric Carle's Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star and other nursery rhymes by Eric Carle
Any book that features the very hungry caterpillar is sure to be a hit with young children, and Eric Carle's Twinkle, twinkle, little star is no exception. This is a sturdy board book that will withstand many readings and lifting of the flaps by its young audience.
Turning to the first double page spread, the young child will find the Twinkle, twinkle, little star rhyme in bold print with the hungry caterpillar perched on a leaf. The other page is gorgeously illustrated with a deep blue sky, stars scattered around and insects on a leaf. Then there is the lift the flap that reveals the words How I wonder what you are! The next double page spread reveals the song Old MacDonald had a farm and there is a red barn with a cow hiding behind the flap and the words Old MacDonald had a farm, EIEIO repeated on it. Other familiar nursery rhymes include Hickory, dickory, dock, Itsy bitsy spider and The wheels on the bus go round and round.
This is definitely a book for any young fan of the very hungry caterpillar as they will love finding the caterpillar on each set of illustrations, and it is a lovely introduction to very popular nursery rhymes and songs. My little grandson loved the book and has enjoyed singing the songs as he goes for a walk in his pusher.
Themes Nursery rhymes, Songs.
Pat Pledger
Let's go! On a helicopter by Rosalyn Albert and Natalie Moore
Catch a star, 2021. ISBN: 9781922326386. (Age:1-3)
Another book in the Let's go! series, Let's go! On a helicopter will join On a train, On a tractor, On a plane, On a digger and On a submarine, all stories about transport suitable for toddlers who are interested in travel. In this hard cover board book, young children go whirring through the sky seeing all the sights. They soar into the air, wearing giant earmuffs and fly above the high buildings, over waves and even spy on spooky caves. Then they watch people skiing and making snowmen, finally landing on a helipad, and wishing that they had wings.
Bright peoples enhance the story and young readers will learn new vocabulary along the way. Words like 'bird's eye view', 'helipad', 'giant earmuffs' and 'rotor blades', will be repeated again and again in this rhyming story, as children discover just what seen be seen from a helicopter. An enjoyable expose of how a helicopter works, Let's go! On a helicopter is a fun story that toddlers will want to reread and is suitable for home and library.
The pavilion in the clouds by Alexander McCall Smith
Polygon Books, 2021. ISBN: 9781846975899. (Age:Adult, Young Adult) Highly recommended.
Prolific British author Alexander McCall Smith is well known for his humourous crime series (The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency) and cosy domestic tales (44 Scotland Street). In The Pavilion in the Clouds, McCall Smith moves away from these both thematically and geographically.
The novel is set primarily in colonial Ceylon (Sri Lanka) just before the outbreak of the Second World War and in the dying days of the British Empire. Precocious eight-year-old Bella is the adored only child of tea plantation owner Henry and restless housewife Virginia. With no siblings and no suitable friends within easy distance of her hilltop home, Bella spends her days playing with her dolls and reading books, encouraged by her literary-minded mother. To prepare her for her inevitable journey back to Scotland to receive a proper British education, Bella’s parents hire Miss White who establishes herself as an accomplished governess but unsettling presence in the household.
After Virginia almost dies in mysterious circumstances, Bella becomes convinced that Miss White is to blame, while Virginia has suspicions about the governess’ intentions towards her husband. It is not until many years later that Bella has a chance to determine what actually happened and perhaps take responsibility for the part she played in the conflict.
The Pavilion in the Clouds in characteristic of a McCall Smith novel – absorbing, philosophical and easy to read. A point of difference is that the majority of the story is told from Bella’s viewpoint. Situations, events and emotions are seen through a child’s eyes, a child who picks up on the tension of the adults around her and draws her own – possibly erroneous – conclusions. The Pavilion in the Clouds is as charming and as supremely readable as all of McCall Smith’s work and is highly recommended.
Themes Historical, Sri Lanka, Scotland, Family, Relationships, Guilt.
Rose Tabeni
The Very Hungry Caterpillar's Australian Feast by Eric Carle
Puffin, 2021. ISBN: 9780241489536.
We all know of The Very Hungry Caterpillar's liking for food and the foods on the menu of his first feast, but what would be on the table if he came to an Australian feast? Particularly one designed for a picnic on the beach?
Very young Australian fans of the VHC will delight in this exclusive release written just for them as they lift the flaps on iconic treats searching for their little hero. Interactive, a familiar character, vivid illustrations in Carle's recognisable style and rhyming text make this a terrific addition to this collection as young readers discover another adventure. Is their favourite food mentioned? What would be in their beach picnic basket? (And who's the ladybird? Could that be another story from the master storyteller?)
Barbara Braxton
The ABC Kids guide to loving the Planet by Jaclyn Crupi and Cheryl Orsini
The ABC Kids Guides are popular factual picture books for younger readers. This latest release in the series, Loving the Planet, looks at the main issue of caring for our world. The information is simply and carefully explained in small manageable paragraphs surrounded by bright and beautifully drawn illustrations. This book begins with information about our planet and how we can learn to take care of it. The gardening pages discuss growing vegetables, creating native gardens to attract bees and other insects, saving seeds, providing food and water for native birds and animals, the importance of worms and worm farms. There is useful information given about food waste and tips for using excess food including a recipe for creating fruity icy poles. Other topics covered include rubbish collection, saving energy, cooling and heating, lessening the usage of cars where possible, plastic waste, recycling, planting trees, re-wilding, using water carefully and climate change.
This book would be an excellent resource for teachers of younger students to use when exploring units of work on sustainability.
Themes Caring for the World, Conservation, Climate Change, Environmental Issues, Making a Difference, Gardening.
Raven Heir is set in a magical medieval world. It is told through Cordelia’s eyes, a girl who is busting to escape to freedom beyond the castle and forest. Her mother has kept her family protected and hiding away for 12 years. One of her children is a royal heir to the Raven’s Crown but it is a dangerous crown to inherit. Cordelia is one of triplets who include Giles and Rosalind, and they also have an older brother. When soldiers arrive Cordelia shape-shifts to a bird to escape and find out more information but her rash act drops their defenses, and her mother and older brother are captured. The family can communicate telepathically and the triplets are urged to escape. So begins a long quest to find the broken Raven’s Crown and heal the land beyond the forest. Cordelia must be smart and outwit her power-hungry relatives, which she does so by shape-shifting in tricky situations. She also has the help of her siblings as their magical powers develop.
Cordelia is a pretty serious character and it is good to see this balanced with the humour of Giles the gormless, ballad-singing brother and Rosalind who is always sparring for a fight. I enjoyed the shape shifting and the magic unique to each of the other characters. Family disagreements and love ring true. The theme of the land being sick and broken, which needed peace and good honest rulers to restore it, was also pertinent and subtle. The story suits a dedicated fantasy reader who enjoys novel ideas and can keep abreast of many details in an exciting, quite busy, plot. This is the first of a series, Raven Crown.
