Wolf Girl 6. Allen & Unwin, 2021. ISBN: 9781760879051. (Age:8+) Highly recommended.
Animal Train, the sixth book in the very popular Ahn Do series, Wolf Girl, will not disappoint the middle primary readers who wait in anticipation for each new story. In this very exciting and action-packed read, Gwen is no longer with Rupert and is travelling alone with the pack. They are still following clues to the whereabouts of Gwen’s family and are heading inland to the town of Tunny where Gwen’s mother was last seen. They arrive in the seemingly deserted town of Harrington and settle down for the night. They are woken by a crying baby and discover a starving family living in a cellar. Gwen and the pack discover a bunker full of supplies and the family safely moves there. The family shares their knowledge of how to get closer to the town of Tunny and advise Gwen and her pack to catch a train. Unfortunately, the train is full of soldiers but they carefully manage to climb aboard. There are suspicious empty crates in each of the carriages and further on in the journey the purpose of the crates will be revealed. After many hours the train stops at a loading dock and many crates of captured creatures are loaded onboard. Regrettably, luck has run out for Gwen and the pack, and they are discovered. This leads to an amazing struggle for survival.
Readers will on the edge of their seat wondering if Gwen and her four-footed friends will overcome their predicament. And what about the captured creatures? Will they be freed? Once again Ahn Do has written an entertaining read and the illustrations by Lachlan Creagh add so much to the text.
The bonus sealed section at the end continues the story of Gwen and Amber started in book five, Across the Sea. Book seven will be published soon.
Thomas & Mercer, 2021. ISBN: 9781542019958. (Age:15+)
Ten years after the disappearance of Emily Carlino, her partner, David Thorne, still can't move on from the tragedy. Not knowing if she was in fact a victim of the notorious serial killer, Ronny Lee Jessup, haunts him to this day, and he can't find the inspiration or motivation to keep writing best sellers. Driven to obsession, he even regularly visits Ronny in jail, in the hopes of discovering if Emily was one of the victims they've never located. Then he meets Maddison Sutton, who appears to be Emily from ten years ago, down to the way she kisses him. Is she Emily? Is she an impersonator? A decade later and he just wants Emily, and wants to have this precious second chance.
This intense mystery suspense novel just keeps adding more mysteries. Told from David's point of view, the story becomes more intricate and complicated as he continues to question what happened all those years ago, and who exactly Maddison is. Readers will be reminded of the depravity that human beings are capable of while reading this thriller, as while Ronny Lee Jessup may not be a real life serial killer, the descriptions of his basement of horror and treatment of victims seem real enough, and unfortunately, there are vile and corrupt humans who have risen to power as well as those who are hidden from public view. As such, it is recommended that this book be read by mature teenagers and adults, not younger readers. The book moves at a steady pace, broken into numerous parts. An interesting read!
Themes Mystery, Thriller, Suspense, Lost Persons, Guilt.
Melanie Pages
Growing up in Australia
Black Inc., 2021. ISBN: 9781760643188. (Age:14+) Highly recommended.
This wonderful collection of short stories brings together a few pieces from previous volumes such as Growing up disabled in Australia, Growing up Aboriginal in Australia, and other 'Growing up' books, but also includes others not encountered before, by much cherished Australian authors. As Alice Pung points out in her introduction, each of the stories shines a light on the infinite variety of childhood experiences so different from the sort of world depicted in Vegemite and Weet-Bix commercials. These authors tell us about their experiences, at times brutal, heartrending, lonely, beautiful, or funny, but always authentic.
The opening story, appropriately, is Stan Grant’s ‘Talking to my country’ which highlights the exclusion of Aboriginal people, the missing history, and the low expectations which impacted so many. And while there are happy memories of family love and the camaraderie of friends, it’s important that any picture of Australia should include this perspective.
Also included is an excerpt from Tim Winton’s coastal memoir Land’s Edge with his descriptions of wild rambling summer explorations along the seashore, and his life-changing discovery of a library.
But for me, the story I absolutely enjoyed, and made me laugh, was the account from Sara El Sayed’s Muddy people. 'Don’t touch alcohol' highlights inter-cultural misunderstandings, the funny stories that were probably embarrassing at the time, but which later have become a mine of humour.
There are other well-known names, including Magda Szubanski, Tara June Winch, Benjamin Law, and many others; I’m sure that any reader will find something to enjoy in this book.
Themes Childhood, Identity, Cultural diversity.
Helen Eddy
Aurora's end by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff
Allen & Unwin, 2021. ISBN: 9781760295752. (Age:Teens) Highly recommended.
Kaufman and Kristoff bring the Aurora Cycle to a stunning conclusion in Aurora’s End. Fans of the series will not be disappointed, and I can recommend this series to new readers who are sure to enjoy the adventure, excitement and clever dialogue that permeates all the books.
Fortunately for readers there is a quick resume of the cast at the beginning of the book to refresh memories since the last book! Then the action starts immediately after the cliff-hanger ending in Aurora Burning. The book is divided into four sections and told from the point of view of each of the members of Squad 312, all who have grown in skills and abilities during the series. Zila, Fin and Scarlett find themselves in a time warp and their actions bring together many threads of the series. In an unlikely grouping, Tyler, Kal and Auri together with Caersan and Saedii are pitched in a high-octane battle with the Ra’Haan, the hive-like enemy.
The action is relentless and breath taking and the scenarios that Kaufman and Kristoff have created are unique. In particular, the time loop that Zila, Fin and Scarlett face is amazing and the choices they must make while trying to save the galaxy are highly dangerous. The smart and often funny dialogue provides a welcome breathing space for the reader. The authors too, have managed to pull together all the threads and relationships in the story in a most satisfying way in the conclusion.
This is an easy to read but very original series that will keep readers glued to their seats with its clever plots, fast paced action and exciting adventures.
Themes Science fiction, Relationships, Adventure.
Pat Pledger
What it's like to be a bird by Tim Birkhead and Catherine Rayner
What it’s Like to Be a Bird is written by well-known University Professor and ornithologist Tim Birkhead. As the author of numerous books about birds, he has an incredible knowledge and understanding of birds, their habitats and behaviours. This newly published children’s non-fiction book, featuring 20 different bird species from all around the world, will be a wonderful resource for bird lovers both young and old. The book contains a contents page with the first chapter being an introduction to birds and their unique attributes. The individual birds discussed in the following chapters are presented on a double page spread with striking full page water colour illustrations and easy to understand information. Some of the birds included are the albatross of the Southern Subantarctic Oceans, the sungrebe of Central and South America, the bar-tailed godwit that spends summers in Alaska and winters in New Zealand and from Australia, the magpie. It is mentioned that the Australian magpie is different to the Eurasian magpie in appearance and its behaviour is much more aggressive.
The book is filled with fun facts that will engage young readers. For example, the male emperor penguin is left alone for two months incubating the egg losing half his body weight, and that the female penguin returns from feeding when the biological clock in her brain tells her its hatching time. Another interesting fact is that the great grey owl of Northern Europe, North America and Asia can pinpoint its prey with its incredible hearing even though the prey is hidden under a blanket of snow. The beautiful cover design and clever endpapers showcase the talent of illustrator Catherine Rayner.
A worthwhile addition to home, school or public library.
I am a fan of Garry Disher’s crime novels and was thrilled to read The Way it is Now, a stand-alone featuring Charlie Deravin, a police officer living in his family’s holiday house on the coast in Victoria. Charlie’s forced leave has left him with time to think about his life and in particular the disappearance of his mother twenty years earlier, believed murdered. His father, in the middle of a divorce, was a suspect, and his brother Liam believed that his father was guilty. When the skeletal remains of a child and an adult are found, Charlie’s inquiries lead him into danger.
Disher’s novels are always multi-layered, forcing the reader to pay attention not only to the crimes committed but to the personalities and emotions of the main characters. Charlie is burnt out. He has been suspended from his job because of his actions around a rape case when he believed that his superior officer was not doing his job properly. Over the course of his investigation into his mother’s murder, he gradually comes to realise truths about himself, his relationship with his ex-wife and his family and the new woman in his life, Anna. Disher also integrates a case revolving around rape culture in a football club and the effects of COVID on his father into the story.
The setting of a small coastal town where everyone knows everyone provides a great background to Charlie’s life and his attempts to solve the mystery of his mother’s death and that of the young boy who had previously been believed to have drowned . The surfers, the locals walking dogs on the beach and the mix of shacks and high-end houses will all be familiar to Australian readers.
This was a crime novel that I was unable to put down and after finishing found myself revisiting parts of the book as I thought about the suspects, Charlie’s emotional growth and the way the cases were resolved. It is highly recommended for lovers of quality Australian crime novels.
In the sequel to School Rules are Optional Jesse and his friends are back for the end of Year six and the move to high school.
It's my first day back at school after the holidays and I've already got three burning questions: 1) When is my family's disgusting diet going to end? 2) How will I finish my group project on time? 3) Why is my best friend Alex suddenly not talking to me?
If that's not bad enough, the classroom is overrun with lizards. At least things can't get worse, right? (Publisher)
I haven’t read the first book but I quickly found Jesse and his life outlook to be engaging and funny. He is suffering through the worst health kick a mum could impose on her family and to try to get a decent feed at least once a day he joins the early morning cross country squad. Jesse and his best friend Alex are drifting apart and there is a first year student at the school who has decided to shadow the boys rather than playing with classmates. And then there are the lizards!!
Jesse is a likeable character that children will either relate to or see their friends in, he is empathic, a bit of a worrier and generally kind and considerate. He has similar struggles to most children and the author deals with these in believable ways that would help other children to work through these issues and find realistic solutions.
This book focusses on the last two terms of year six with all the usual ups and downs children experience at the end of their primary school years and the unknown of high school, especially when there are no guarantees your friends will be going to the same school or in your classes.
Alison Hart manages to make Jesse’s trials entertaining and relatable without being patronizing and for this reason I think this book will become a favourite in the upper primary years. As I stated I haven’t read the first book, but it is now on my to-read list as I enjoyed this book so much. I want to know where Jesse’s story started and get to know the other characters better. I would recommend this book to children and to teachers as a read aloud or class novel.
Themes Friendship, Humour, School.
Mhairi Alcorn
Plantastic! A to Z of Australian Plants by Catherine Clowes. Illus. by Rachel Gyan
Plantastic! A to Z of Australian Plants is a children’s non-fiction book covering 26 Australian native plants. The striking cover by Rachel Gyan entices the reader to further explore this very interesting and engaging publication. At the beginning of the book, the author gives the reader a brief introduction to Australian plants and their distinctive, often unknown qualities. This is followed by a detailed contents page showing each of the 26 plants discussed in alphabetical order. Before delving into each plant, the reader is shown ‘How to Use this Book’ with a reminder to stick to paths and avoid going off track in case of plant damage as well as other useful tips. The plants begin with’ A for Acacia’ and end with ‘Z for Zieria’. Each plant has its own double page spread with information, coloured illustrations, Genus name, a plantastic fact and a plantastic activity. Included in the facts are a description of the plant, its unique traits as well as more general information which is further expanded on in the following paragraphs. For example, on the Jasmine page there is a detailed explanation about photosynthesis as well as a discussion about climate change. While the material presented is comprehensive, is it written in child-friendly language and clearly set out in paragraphs surrounded by white space. At the end of the book is a map explaining where to find each plant within their ecoregions, a glossary and an acknowledgements page. A surprise at the very end is the endpapers cleverly showcasing simple drawings of parts of plants clearly labelled.
This very informative and beautifully presented book will provide plant-loving children and adults with the opportunity to learn new facts and may encourage them to explore further in the Australian bush. There are free Teacher Notes available from the publisher.
An aunt of mine had a large collection of books that tumbled around in huge cedar bookcases along the hallway of her bohemian cottage in the Blue Mountains. As a child, I coveted these repositories of life, stories, people and places, not the least her stash of first edition Penguins and on the bottom shelf, her twelve volume Oxford English Dictionary. I imagined them in my bedroom, my own personal reference to anything at my fingertips. It was a heady dream until my aunt had children of her own, and my entitlement to the books was snuffed out. I felt a deeply dramatic sense of loss.
The Dictionary of Lost Words is an intriguing story of the curation and publication of the first edition, twelve volume Oxford English Dictionary, as reported by protagonist Esme Owen. While a small child she spent many hours under the sorting table in the Scriptorium, where one day she came across a wayward word – ‘bondmaid’. She purloined the slip, unaware of just how important it was to both the dictionary and society. Fuelled with emotion, the word represented the condition of many women in a variety of ways, and it led to Esme’s collation over the following decades of ‘women’s words’. With Lizzie the kitchen maid, Esme regularly visited local markets to seek out language of the female traders.
Beyond Oxford, the lives of all Britons were impacted by huge social changes represented in part by the growing women’s suffrage movement. Then the Great War erupted, and her cosy protected lifestyle was threatened by frightening changes.
This is in part, an authentic account of James Murray and the team that compiled the first edition OED, appealing on many levels to lexicographers, philologists, etymologists, other language experts as well as readers who just enjoy a good tale. Esme’s life viscissitudes inject intersecting narratives through the female characters, whose stories provide human interest and a fascinating slice of women’s history, largely ignored by historians until the latter part of the 20th century.
Themes Historical fiction, English language, Womens’ history.
Jenny Watts
Dragon skin by Karen Foxlee
Allen & Unwin, 2021. ISBN: 9781760526108. (Age:10+) Highly recommended.
How to save a dragon: 1) Assemble equipment. Water, Weet-Bix, sugar, syringe, sticky tape, scissors. 2) Believe in everything.
Pip never wants to go home. She likes to sit at the waterhole at dusk and remember Mika, her best friend. At home her mother's not the same since her boyfriend moved in. They don't laugh anymore and Pip has to go to bed early, turn off her light and pretend she doesn't exist. When she finds a half-dead creature at the waterhole, everything changes. She knows she has to save this small dragon and return it to where it comes from. But how? (Publisher)
This book is beautifully written with language and imagery that fits with the intended reader age range (10+ years).
Pip is struggling with life in every aspect, her home life has changed since her mum’s boyfriend moved in, her school life is hard without her best friend who left without saying goodbye and everything in between is lonely and fills with sadness and loss until she finds a small creature who is more dead than alive near the waterhole where her happiest memories lie and where she feels closest to Mika.
Pip keeps the dragon secret and alive using techniques she has learnt while saving other animals, including a small kitten that lives with Mika's grandma and ideas that come to her through conversations with Mika in her head. She is struggling to know what to do next until she decides to trust two of her classmates, who she has never been friends with and ask them to help. Together, they save the dragon and forge a new friendship that allows Pip to ask for what she needs from her mum and develop a new understanding of the struggles others might have around her.
This is a book of friendship and hope, but it is filled with sadness and struggles too that the reader will empathise with, such is the brilliance of Karen Foxlee’s words. While they may never have experienced loss or domestic violence the reader will understand Pip’s struggles through the story and will be relieved at the ending, that actually feels more like a beginning rather than a finale.
This book was a wonderful read and it is one that I would recommend to anyone, although I do feel that it needs to be read by a mature reader to fully appreciate the stories that are woven throughout the narrative, having said this, a 10 year old will engage with and love this book but depending on the reader's maturity may not fully understand the unsaid stories that are the framework for this amazing book. Teacher's notes are available from the publisher.
Ford St, 2021. ISBN: 9781925804775. (Age:6-12) Highly recommended.
Poet and comic Harry Laing has produced his third collection of poems to entertain primary school aged children. He has creatively used language and words in different shapes and poetry styles such as rhymes, raps, songs, limericks and riddles to engage his young readers. The delightful ‘Moon Poem’ shaped like a crescent moon, ‘Jimi Hendrix and His Guitar’ shaped as a 1968 Gibson Flying V guitar and the ‘Giant Kelp’ poem which is a descriptive collection of words swaying vertically on the page, are well worth sharing with children.
This collection covers a myriad of both surprising and everyday topics written with humour, a light-hearted style and often a message, for example ‘Wild River’ and ‘Plastic is Coming’. Punctuation is minimal but each poem flows succinctly, and the use of space between verses and surrounding the poems ensures the meaning is not lost on the reader. The simple yet clever illustrations by Anne Ryan perfectly complement each poem and provide interest on the page.
This would be an excellent classroom resource when poetry writing is being examined or to have in a classroom library to encourage readers to engage with all forms of poetry. Teacher's notes are available.
Themes Poetry, Humour, Children.
Kathryn Beilby
The world awaits by Tomos Roberts. Illus. by Nomoco
The World Awaits is a thoughtfully written picture book with an important message of hope and connectedness. The child in the story awakens to the new day but refuses to get out of bed. His older brother listens to his reason for staying in bed and then gently proceeds to give all the reasons why he should get up. He begins by telling his brother he has so much potential that will be wasted if he does not share it with the world. Then he talks about the plusses and the minuses we have in our core that impacts on how we can add goodness to the world or take it away. The older brother gives examples of simple plus things the younger brother could do such as ‘make your bed’, ‘give your grandparents a call’ or offer a ‘word of warmth to someone struggling’. He encourages his brother to realise that ‘global goodness grows with each good word and each good deed’ no matter how big or small these plusses are. At the end of the story the small child is encouraged to get out of bed with exuberance and begin his day with any necessary support from his brother.
This beautifully illustrated book would best be shared between an adult and child or within a classroom setting where guided discussions can occur.
Ballet is Luca’s world, he has been at ballet school in Ballarat since he was three and now, at 16 he is looking forward to joining the Australian Ballet School once he has passed the auditions, only six months away. But disaster strikes as he falls down stairs and breaks his foot and ankle so badly it seems he will never dance again. Best friend, bitchy, competitive Talia and offsiders Grace and Abbey are also in his ballet class and he can’t seem to cope with their concern. Luca is adrift, his dreams shattered and a big part of his life gone. He withdraws and becomes depressed, only going out for his physiotherapy sessions with occupational therapist Sami. When he meets year 12 rower and footballer Jordan in the waiting room, Luca is smitten: “this guy is definitely hot, and I’m assuming he’s straight, because this is Ballarat and everyone is straight” p. 26. Seeing Jordan becomes the one bright spot in his life as his poor academic record means the private school scholarship he had won due to his ballet prowess is revoked and he has to start school at North Secondary. Here he is buddied up with Amina Amhad whose unwavering positivity helps balance the casual homophobic bullying Luca experiences in class. As Luca slowly adjusts to his new life he gains a different perspective on some unexamined attitudes he and his friends had held and finds new ways to cope with the help of Amina and Jordan who are on their own journeys.
This funny and sad story is full of believable, often flawed, characters whose relationships are heartbreakingly real. Luca’s father deserves a medal, treading a fine parenting line with his vulnerable young adult son. Regardless of gender identity this love story will have wide appeal.
Alice’s Food A to Z was first published in 2015. This latest glossy edition published in 2021, is full of humour and fascinating facts as well as 30 recipes for budding cooks. Author, Alice Zaslavsky, introduces herself in a warm and heartfelt letter giving early background information and a brief glimpse into her food journey. The Contents pages have alphabetically ordered food and are appealing with both drawings and photographs. With foods presented beginning with the apple to dukkah to Jerusalem artichoke and zucchini as the final offering, readers of all ages are in for an enjoyable culinary treat. The letter ‘U’ stands for utensils and showcases the author’s 'Nifty Nine' that she uses daily. Each food discussed is beautifully photographed with one or more pages of segmented information including, ‘What to look for’, ‘Fun Facts’, ‘What’s to Love’, ‘This goes with that’, as well as recipes incorporated throughout the book. Nut free, gluten free, expert mode and snack attack are highlighted in coloured bubbles. At end of the book is a recipe index, a word wizards list in place of a glossary and a note for grownups.
This excellent foodie book would make a wonderful birthday or Christmas gift for children (and adults) of all ages.
Themes Food Facts, Recipes.
Kathryn Beilby
At the end of the day by Liz Byrski
Macmillan, 2021. ISBN: 9781760781644. (Age:Adult)
Miriam Squires is on her way home to Perth and her bookshop after her annual UK visit with her sister Alice. Now aged 75, she has found it a difficult trip, her post-polio symptoms becoming more pronounced and she decides this will be the last time she makes the journey. Author Mathias Vander has been in Europe making a last visit to his terminally ill best friend. He is flying in to Perth to stay with his daughter Carla, the one remaining member of his family. They meet up in an airport lounge and have an instant, and suprising rapport as they are both normally private and independent. A disrupted flight allows them more time to get to know each other and by the time they arrive a firm friendship has developed. Mim is met by close friend Jodie and Mathias by Carla and they too have an instant liking for one another. But coming home is difficult for Mim. She is feeling her age and disability and the bookshop is becoming a burden. When Jodie injures herself and tactfully suggests Mim can’t look after her she feels she is losing her independence. Now in his late 70’s Mathias too is reassessing his life and decides to move to Perth permanently to be near Carla, and Mim as he is enjoying her company. In finding each other Mim and Mathias find the strength to face some of their burdens, acknowledge the damage of a lifetime and seize the chance to embrace more positive things.
Lovers of women’s fiction and Liz Byrski’s ten other books will enjoy this one but I found the story was a bit trite and preachy and there was no real depth to the characters beyond their relationships with each other.
