Coco, the Fish with Hands is the first story in the multi-book Endangered Animal Tales series which will focus on a number of Australia’s most susceptible creatures. The story begins by introducing Coco and her amazing attribute - hands. Spotted Handfish are only found in Tasmania and are becoming extinct. The story continues with Coco evading predators, searching for a mate and finding a safe place to lay her eggs. Once the eggs are laid the parents spend time protecting them until they hatch and disperse into the Derwent River Estuary, the only place Spotted Handfish are found. The story is further enhanced by the bright and colourful illustrations as well as a key fact written on each page. On the final page is a map of Australia with more important facts to share.
This is a perfect book for sharing with children. Early Years teachers and students could use this book as a resource for writing an information report as it clearly gives simple facts about features, diet, habitat, predators as well as other information. A very welcome addition to a school or public library. The other books in the series will be well worth reading.
With the front cover depicting butterflies, ladybirds, bees and dragonflies, the wild things of the title refers clearly to those living things found in one’s garden. Poppy just loves bugs and insects and this is her story about what she can see, encouraging readers to stop and take a look themselves. She often sits amongst the wildflowers in her garden, talking to the many insects and bugs around her, quietly camouflaged by the colours of the flowers. She does not feel comfortable indoors with people and when she is inside becomes like the wallpaper, blending into the background of the event. So she becomes a tree, a curtain, a wall, blending her clothing with what is behind her, being as inconspicuous as she can, camouflaging herself to avoid contact with other people.
But one day at her grandmother’s birthday party a dragonfly lands on her cake. Poppy claps her hands with excitement giving away her position. The dragonfly, startled by the noise lands on Poppy’s hand and all are amazed, telling each other that Poppy has a way with wild things and closing in for a look at the insect. Poppy tells them what it is called, and they listen, no longer the recluse, but a real wild thing.
The images presented will draw the reader’s attention to the many bugs and insects that live in their garden. They will be encouraged to look more closely at what is around them, comparing the camouflage of the insects with that used by Poppy to avoid being seen. The bright colours will intrigue and delight younger readers and the issue of shyness will appeal to many who would prefer not to be noticed.
This is a debut novel – an emotional thriller which has been compared to works by writers such as Meg Rosoff and Patrick Ness. Cory Anderson was born in Idaho and writes about her home in the Rocky Mountains.
High school student, Jack, makes a shocking discovery in the early pages of this startling, clever book. We learn that he and his younger brother, Matty, face homelessness after their father is imprisoned serving time for robbery. The boys decide to go after the unrecovered money, which leads to a ruthless and dangerous hunt for treasure.
What emerges from this picture of a rather troubled young man is one of a caring and loving brother who will do anything to ensure that Matty is out of harm’s way. They are joined by Ava, a friend of Jack’s, who also plays her part as a narrator for the story with her words opening each chapter and leading the reader onwards, really quite beautifully. Ava is there to help them survive: she comes from her own troubled space – a father who is damaged and has taught his daughter to love no one. His role is pivotal to the story as he knows where the stolen money is; this game is dangerous.
Along with a fast paced storyline, the gripping characters and striking language make for a terrific read. I add a cautionary note as the subject matter is challenging with considerable violence and a suicide.
Later is Stephen King’s latest novel, aimed at young and older adults alike. More gory than horror, Later tells the story of Jamie Conklin, a teenager living with his mother in New York City who just happens to be able to see dead people. Ever since he can remember, Jamie has been able to see and talk to people who have recently died. Does this concept sound a bit familiar? Well, a rip off of The Sixth Sense this book is not. Part horror, part crime, Later is the story of a well-adjusted, happy teenager who becomes embroiled in the hunt for a serial killer.
The police have finally figured out who is behind a series of bombs that have terrorised NYC for years. However Thumper, as he calls himself, is still one step ahead; he has committed suicide but left one bomb remaining, his most dangerous yet. Swept up into the investigation by a corrupt cop, Jamie realises that Thumper’s reign of terror will have much more devastating and long-lasting consequences for him than he ever could have imagined.
Later is one of Stephen King’s shortest and most direct novels. At just under 250 pages, it is a fast-paced and high energy book. Ostensibly a horror, at its heart Later is a classic bildungsroman, as we watch Jamie growing up and trying to solve problems just a little out of the ordinary. While the novel is not particularly frightening, there are many graphic descriptions of deceased and dying people, so Later is most appropriate for older teenagers and adult audiences. Overall, Later is an exciting, rounded and quick read and bodes well for future King releases.
Aussie Stem Stars: Munjed Al Muderis is another well written biographical account of the life of an amazing Australian, Munjed Al Muderis. Born in Iraq, Munjed and his family lived through very challenging times under the rule of Saddam Hussein. During continuous bombardments from Iranian forces Munjed worked out clever and constructive ways to make pocket money. This progressed to designing computer programs at the age of 12 and then wanting to use his innovations to help people.
During the long years of battle with Iran, many people in Iraq lost limbs and were forced onto the streets to beg. Munjed dreamt of becoming a surgeon and influenced by the movie The Terminator he hoped to help those amputees. By August 1990 Munjed was ready to study medicine in the USA but Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait closed that opportunity. He was forced to study at Basra University close to the Iraqi-Kuwaiti border. Unfortunately war came to Basra with US-lead airstrikes and Munjed worked frantically in the local hospital helping victims of the bombs. He eventually had to flee Iraq after refusing to take part in the cruel and inhumane treatment of prisoners.
His journey as an asylum seeker was dangerous and degrading. In particular the appalling conditions and bullying that occurred in the Curtin Detention Centre in WA is unfathomable. Munjed Al Muderis endured an horrific journey both physically and personally to achieve incredible success with osseointegration.
This is an amazing story. Munjed always vowed to give back more than he took from society and this is exactly what he has achieved. A worthy recipient of the 2020 NSW Australian of the Year. Teacher notes are available.
Themes Munjed Al Muderis.
Kathryn Beilby
Falling by T. J. Newman
Simon & Schuster, 2021. ISBN: 9781398507258. (Age:16+) Highly recommended.
Do you save your family or a plane load of souls? Captain Bill Hoffman faces this impossible choice in this uncompromising thriller. Fast–paced and compelling, this book grabs the reader on the first page and the edge of your seat experience lasts to the last page. It is impossible to put down.
Bill arrives for his flight to New York. "I'm a good man, he reminded himself without wavering." A few minutes into the flight Bill learns that his family has been kidnapped. His wife and two children will only be released if Bill crashes the plane at a designated location. This is where the book really takes off. Written by a former flight attendant, the detailed knowledge of the behind the scenes workings of an ordinary flight brings another level of complexity and suspense to an already explosive plot. The action takes place in real time and the author skilfully enables the reader to feel they are there taking part themselves.
The characters are well drawn, savvy and courageous individuals. We come to know the backstory of Bill and Carrie (his wife) and the terrorists - as well as the flight attendants and FBI agents assigned that day. These people feel real, and the reader is right with them as they make excruciatingly difficult choices. The reader is forced to consider the shades of grey that colour our days, and the compassion that eases the way. The intricately crafted plot twists made this a powerful, heart stopping read and it is no surprise that the book will soon be bursting onto the screen as a movie.
So, what does Bill do? Save his family or a plane full of souls? You’ll need to read it to find out.
Additional resources available: The book trailer sets the scene for the book and is a great addition to a library website/blog. In her first interview, T.J. Newman explores the influences that framed her writing.
Themes Terrorism, Courage, Loyalty, Sacrifice, Relationships – friends and family.
Linda Guthrie
Walking in Gagudju country by Diane Lucas, Ben Tyler and Emma Long
Allen & Unwin, 2021. ISBN: 9781760525958. (Age:5+) Highly recommended.
There is so much of Australia's vast country that many of us may not get the opportunity to visit. However when books such as Walking in Gagudju Country: Exploring the Monsoon Forest are written and published, the traveller in each of us will be given an opportunity to explore and learn about these amazing places. This book is something very special. The story is set in the monsoon forests of Kakadu National Park and centres on the authors, Diane Lucas and Ben Tyler, taking a walk through this stunning environment. Along their journey they discover a myriad of land and water creatures, noises, micro-habitats and plants of all shapes and sizes.
This story is told through both words and pictures and the illustrations by Emma Long are really quite striking. The pages are full of vibrant colour in particular shades of rich greens with beautifully drawn creatures and plants. The story itself is very skilful in its presentation with the use of small images of the authors and the creatures who may be telling their story or asking a question. The use of the Kundjeyhmi language throughout gives importance of and recognition to the traditional owners of this special place. There is an excellent glossary with words in traditional language and English and small detailed images.
This is a beautiful book to share with both children and adults and would have a place in all library settings.
Themes Nature, Kakadu National Park, Plants, Animals, Kundjeyhmi Culture & Language, Non Fiction Picture book.
Henry is an orphan in Elizabethan era London, living in the slums, getting by day to day as a thief, hiding a secret gift. Having been taken in by friends years earlier, Henry uses his gift in the shop his guardian runs - translating books from any language into English. His rough life has daily struggles, which are increased due to his heritage. Experiencing racism on top of the threat of death if caught stealing, Henry longs for a simpler life. Then, a break-in goes wrong when the homeowner, the Duke, returns home early. Suddenly, Henry's life is incredibly different.
The Dark Lady is a YA historical fiction, full of magic and mystery, sonnets and cruelty. Historical London is depicted throughout the novel, with many of the senses being engaged - sight, smell and touch. While the author researched Elizabethan street slang, the use of it felt forced, and the sonnets composed by the lead character feel the same. The novel is written simply, and the characters are not entirely relatable. Particularly in their choices and reactions, especially the main character Henry. While the story moved along fairly well, there was only really one scene that had much life and action. The rest of the novel didn't really go anywhere, making it difficult to find it engaging. This was a difficult book to review, as it has not really lived up to the potential of the story.
Alfie Bradley is a relatively new resident in his small community where the weather has gone badly awry. A strange man and concerns over his sister’s recovery from severe bullying underlie the drama of the story. Alfie uncovers, releases and befriends a strange ‘electric’ force-to-be-reckoned-with that impacts the entire community and shakes his world and his friendship with his best friend, Sam. This unusual situation explodes with sparks, lightning and extremely bizarre weather conditions in a science-laced drama that is unlike any other. It is hard to describe the nature of the ‘electric’ friend, but the curious force is intriguing. For Alfie though, his friendship creates an array of problems.
This book is very different and young readers with a hint of science interest will find it appealing, but readers who just enjoy fantasy woven into a real-world tale will also be intrigued. The author has gently and compassionately commented on the impact of bullying and Alfie’s brief visit to a youth detention facility is handled sympathetically. This can be recommended to capable readers aged 10+.
This is the latest of Jack Heath’s ‘Minutes’ books and is a thrilling new addition to the series.
There are 10 short stories each timed to take around 20 minutes for the average reader to finish – it’s a clever approach to hooking reluctant readers or making the most of a limited reading time in class.
Each story is completely stand-alone, and each follows a different tween or teenager embroiled in a mysterious situation. The stories unfold in diverse parts of the world and involve both male and female protagonists, from ordinary kids through to spies, pirates and mountain climbers. A timer in the margin starts at 20 minutes with each new story and counts down relentlessly as the pages turn.
The reader can piece together clues to try to solve each bite-sized mystery before the timer hits 0. Some of the mysteries are relatively simple to solve (with a very satisfying ‘aha’ moment) but others have a surprise twist that makes the guessing game difficult. Happily, even if you don’t manage to figure it out yourself, each story wraps up very nicely leaving no mystery unsolved.
With multiple short stories in one volume there is sure to be something to appeal to everyone. My 11-year-old son read this book too and (predictably) he and I could not agree on which mystery was the ‘best’ – although all the stories were full of adventure we each found some more believable or intriguing than others. He ended up skipping through two of the stories that he found less engaging but pored over others seeking clues he might have missed the first time.
Overall this is a fast paced, well-written and heart pounding book for anyone who feels ready to embark on a succession of death-defying mysteries and adventure.
Scientists have dug up and uncovered many facts about dinosaurs - and in the process, they have come across many myths. This picture book digs deep into the Age of Dinosaurs, covering topics such as fossilization, plate tectonics, dinosaur diets, paleontology, extinction theories, dinosaur relatives, and more!
With its glossy pages, appealing layout, clear text, vibrantly coloured pages, engaging sidebars, and stunning full-colour illustrations and photographs it is one for the reader who knows a little about these fascinating creatures but wants to dig a little deeper. While still in simple, accessible language in small chunks, it offers more than a basic Q & A making it an excellent stepping stone to more complex texts. It includes a glossary, a timeline, and an index making it easy to navigate and supporting the locating aspect of the information literacy process.
Although there is a plethora of books about dinosaurs, both fiction and non fiction, there is always a demand for new resources by young readers who continue to remain fascinated and so this is something new, informative and worthwhile to add to the collection.
Themes Dinosaurs.
Barbara Braxton
Late essays by J.M. Coetzee
Text Publishing, 2021. ISBN: 9781922330406. (Age:Adult, Teacher reference)
This is an interesting collection of Coetzee's commentary on 20 authors (one female) including Australian writers Patrick White (two essays), Gerald Murnane and Les Murray.
The insightful analyses delve into the life circumstances and social times of the writers and the effect of these on their writing. The result is to engender an interest in the reader to read the books analysed. Because of this, in my view it is not necessary to have read the works of the authors covered in the essays in order to appreciate Coetzee's essays.
There is no indication as to the criteria (if any) used for selection of authors. There are chapter notes and references at the end.
While the book may provide ideas for connected texts for year 12 students and be useful for older students undertaking study of any of the authors covered, in schools Late essays is probably most useful for teacher reference.
For Aboriginal children born in outback Australia life was about family, living with the land and maintaining traditions and story. However as now well-known and documented, life for many of these children was cruelly stolen from them. Kunyi June Anne McInerney is one of those children born in 1950 and at the age of four taken with some of her siblings to the Oodnadatta Children’s home. Kunyi is her story, told in words and stunning artwork. The introduction by Kunyi gives a poignant summary of a part of her life which is expanded on throughout the following pages. From the very beginning of her journey, Kunyi gives the reader an honest account of the conditions in the Home, the despair suffered, the separation from family and the complete lack of understanding why the children had to be there in the first place with their family living just across the track. The journey is told through snapshots of memories with words and pictures. Daily life was full of work and rules but the children did find time together to have laughter and fun. There were the usual mischief makers amongst the children especially the older ones trying scare the younger ones with taunts about Mamu (bad spirits) but these children all became a family and looked out for each other. The treatment of the children was not kind and the sense of loss for Kunyi’s mother is evident. The missionaries did provide Sunday art which is where Kunyi . . . “learned to draw and paint. I have been painting ever since.”
This very special book with a story that had to be told and shared, may at times both disturb and shame white Australian adult readers, but will fascinate younger readers who will have many thoughts and questions to ponder over. A wonderful addition to home, school and public libraries and a perfect resource for Reconciliation Week. An important historical record of a nation-wide injustice.
Allen & Unwin, 2021. ISBN: 9781760526443. (Age:8-13) Highly Recommended.
Teachers and librarians, when "building the field" while teaching about Ancient Rome (year 7 HASS Australian curriculum) grab The boy who stepped through time by Melbourne author Anna Ciddor and read it to your students. It is an exciting middle grade time-slip adventure set in Roman Gaul, a southern part of the Ancient Roman Empire of the 4th century CE.
The setting moves from contemporary time to the time of Constantine; from a villa to a townhouse, both of which are modelled on real ruins that have been excavated in Southern France. All details of the lives of a southern Gaul of that time period have been thoroughly researched to provide an authenticity that teachers and students can trust. It is important to note that the author has combined with her sister Tamara Lewit who is a professional archaeologist and historian specialising in Ancient Rome. The Boy who stepped through time is rich in historical detail.
The central character is a thoroughly likeable boy of a similar age to the intended readership of the book. In a way it is a coming of age book because Perry (Peregrine-suitably Latin for traveller) AKA known later on as Peregrinus is transported from a crumbling Roman ruin in France which his Australian family are visiting while on holidays in France, back to that same building - a villa belonging to a wealthy 4th century CE Roman family. Perry is torn between fearing he can never return to his family back in the contemporary world, his worry about how much his family must be worried about his disappearance and his need to stay in ancient Roman times in order to save the life of Valentia, a Roman girl from the wealthy classes. He grows up, he learns about what matters and he learns to survive on his own wits and the friendship of others.
Unfortunately for Perry, when he bursts into the 4th century CE Roman world, the Romans think that he is a slave boy. He has to maintain this pretence and learn the ropes of a slave's life very quickly. It is the knowledge that he has gained about Valentia, learnt from a modern day museum tour, that has him try everything to avert the fate that he thinks that will befall her - to somehow intervene and change the course of history.
Like The Chicken Curse by Frances Watts, The Boy who stepped through time is a highly recommended read. Both books are set in Ancient Gaul with young slaves as protagonists and both are page-turners.
The boy who stepped through time is entertaining and educational. It will spark students' interest in finding out more about history, ancient cultures and archaeology. To consolidate and support that interest there is a glossary, and an author and researcher's note at the end along with a website that promises more exciting results of "detective work" in the field of archaeology.
A thoroughly enjoyable, refreshingly delightful, highly recommended book for middle graders.
Themes time-slip, ancient Rome.
Wendy Jeffrey
Freaky, funky fish by Debra Kempf Shumaker. Illus. Claire Powell
Allen & Unwin, 2021. ISBN: 9781760526733. (Age:4+) Highly recommended.
Freaky, Funky Fish is a wonderful non-fiction picture book showcasing odd facts about fascinating fish that will entertain readers of all ages. Beginning with the interesting end papers which focus on the oceans of the world on one page and fish inventories on the remaining, to the explanations of the freaky fish, further learning and selected sources sections, the reader will marvel at the information and presentation. The author Debra Kempf Shumaker has cleverly combined rhyme and facts with stunning illustrations by Claire Powell to create a vibrant and highly enjoyable read. The fish on the pages have funkiness and freakiness ratings as well as brief hand written snapshots of information and images often with added humour. Some of the categories of fish mentioned include fish that zap: electric torpedoes, eels, catfish and stargazers, fish that sing: clownfish, oyster toadfish, croaking gourami and batfish, and fish that creep: sea robins, coral reef frogfish. The gorgeous cover with highlights of metallic paint will immediately capture the interest of readers.
There is so much to look for and learn on each page that readers will be drawn back to this book time and time again. A perfect addition to any home, school or public library.
Themes Fish, Facts, Non Fiction, Rhyme, Picture Book.
