The Secret Explorers and the Lost Whales bk. 1. ISBN: 9780241440643. The Secret Explorers and the Comet Collision bk. 2. ISBN: 9780241442258. The Secret Explorers and the Tomb Robbers bk. 3. ISBN: 9780241442265. The Secret Explorers and the Jurassic Rescue bk. 4. ISBN: 9780241442272.
The first four books in The Secret Explorers series by S.J. King are a perfect introduction for younger readers to different environments, both past and present. Each of the eight children from different places on Earth are highly gifted and talented in a particular area:
When a glowing shape matching the badge on their shirts appears on a door then the explorers are able to step through to the Exploration Station and receive their next mission. Not all of the eight explorers go on each mission - they are carefully chosen so that their specialist skills best match the problem needing to be solved.
In the first book, The Secret Explorers and the Lost Whales, Connor must use his skills and understandings of the marine world to try to turn around a pod of Humpback Whales who heading in the wrong direction. He is accompanied by Roshni whose expertise is in the field of space and who wonders why she has been chosen. However without her knowledge of navigation by the stars the whales may not be saved. The two explorers have to problem solve and use their amazing skills to succeed in their first mission.
In the second book, The Secret Explorers and the Comet Collision, Roshni and Ollie travel to space to attempt to fix a space probe near Jupiter but are unaware a comet is heading towards them. There is danger both in the space craft while dodging asteroids and outside for Roshni when trying to fix the probe but Ollie's cool head and skills learnt in the rainforest enable her to return safely to the space craft.
In the third book, The Secret Explorers and the Tomb Raiders, Gustavo and Kiki travel back in time to Ancient Egypt as they discover the Cairo museum by the River Nile is to close down due to theft. The two Secret Explorers must outwit tomb robbers as well as learn Egyptian hieroglyphics and stop Pharaoh Khufu's tomb being raided. A long the way they enlist the aid of a young Egyptian boy, Bek, who helps them to succeed in their mission and safely escape.
In the fourth book, The Secret Explorers and the Jurassic Rescue, Tamiko who is the dinosaur specialist and Cheng the Geology specialist are transported back one hundred and fifty million years in time to save a precious dinosaur egg. Throughout their journey they come across familiar creatures from this Jurassic period: a pterosaur, Compsognathuses, a plesiosaur and Cetiosauruses to name just a few. They even find a baby Stegosaurus with a thorn stuck in its foot and help to pull it out. They are chased by the Allosauruses who are after the egg and hide in caves. They manage to rescue the egg and a baby Archaeopteryx hatches before its mother returns. Eventually the mother and baby are reunited and Tamiko and Cheng realised they have saved this species from extinction.
In each of the stories, the Explorers have a craft in which they travel. The craft is able to transform into a vehicle to suit the time and environment. It is known as the Beagle and was named after the ship that carried the famous scientist Charles Darwin. While the two chosen Explorers are fulfilling their mission, the remaining Explorers are able to watch and listen to their adventures and support them when needed. While these books are considered fiction, they are filled with interesting information throughout and keep the reader highly engaged. There are detailed facts relating to the story at the end of each book as well as a quiz (with answers) and glossary. The illustrations by Ellie O'Shea are perfectly pitched at the 7-9 years age group and add complementary visuals to these excellent early novels.
There are more books in the series, The Secret Explorers and the Rainforest Rangers, The Secret Explorers and the Smoking Volcano and The Secret Explorers and the Missing Scientist which will be valuable additions to this fascinating series.
Themes Friends, Climate Change, Environmental Issues, Gifted Children, Marine Life, Space, Dinosaurs, Ancient Egypt, Mysteries, Problem Solving.
Death Sets Sail is the final novel in the best- selling, award winning series: Murder Most Unladylike Mysteries.
For anyone who cut their teeth on Agatha Christie murder mysteries, it is pleasing to see that the Murder Mystery genre might be reemerging for young readers. Fingers crossed! It can segue into a lifelong love of fiction.
Death Sets Sail is a very upper class English, preppy romp-spiffing! The main protagonists are three teen-age girls who are experienced sleuths. Together they have formed The Wells and Wong Detective Agency. The narrator is Hazel Wong, aged 15. The setting for the murder is a cruise-boat on the Nile in the 1930s. Knowledge of Egyptology, History and Geography are enriched as readers are immersed in locations like the Karnak and Edfu temples, the lives of ancient pharaohs and the activities of a religious society of reincarnation believers.
The plot unfolds reminiscently of a game of Cluedo. Maps, to-do lists, plans, notes, letters, clues, and re-enactments abound, representing logical solution finding through the process of elimination. What great organisational thinking strategies this book supplies for the Tween/YA reader!
The detective schoolgirls, who are boarding school friends, are of Chinese, English and Egyptian heritage. Being a coming of age story to boot, Stevens manages to naturally include multiculturalism and budding diverse sexual identities. These are comforting things to read about when one is a tween or young adult.
This book and series is a most satisfying introduction to the murder mystery genre which has been somewhat underdone for tweens. Capitalizing on individual strengths, the young detectives solve the crime. There is (of course) an unexpected twist.
The packaging of the book (the bright gold cover and the purple edged pages) is unusual and attractive.
A riveting, addictive page turner - highly recommended for upper primary and YA readers.
Wendy Jeffrey
The inheritors by Hannelore Cayre. Translated by Stephanie Smee
Black Inc., 2020. ISBN: 9781760642662. (Age:16+) Highly recommended.
Revenge is a dish best served cold in this story set in France in two different eras, that of 1870 and the modern day. Following on from her earlier book, The Godmother, Hannelore Cayre again introduces us to a strong female character who is definitely out of the mainstream . . . Blanche de Rigny is a difficult and prickly person - disabled, furious with the world she sees around her, and fiercely loyal to those closest to her. She refuses to settle with the expectations that the world has of her, instead using the few means at her disposal to take it on.
The author juxtaposes 21st century Paris and Brittany with their social issues and criminal underworld against that of the 19th century and the backdrop of the Franco-Prussian War and Paris Commune to comment on the cycle of power and inequity. She explores the family relationships of the main characters and their outsider status within their own social milieus focussing on the contrasts of idealism and pragmatism and the impact on both character's self-esteem and estimation in their families and wider communities.
The book also contains a strong thread of feminism in a modern and an historical context. It suffers at times from an awkwardness of language (which may be a result of translation) and unevenness of pace but this does not impede the storyline.
Recommended for both an observation of French politics, society and culture, as well as a wider global view, and as a book with a strong female protagonist.
This book is a delightful, warm and thought provoking story about an alien who comes to Earth as a cat! That just sounds just stupid. However . . . Leonard is the narrator and a thoroughly likeable alien/cat. The story unfolds from his point of view. Aliens from his galaxy live in an efficient manner within "hives". Every three hundred years they can travel to Earth to live as a human. They train for this, choose what type of human existence they would like to experience and most importantly they must be at a certain place on Earth at a precise time in order to return safely to their galaxy. The consequence for not being at the meeting point is to lose immortality and remain forever on Earth.
Leonard was intrigued by the lifestyle of Park Rangers in Yellowstone National Park but he made a mistake on his journey to Earth. Instead of arriving in the form of a Park Ranger, he arrived in a cat's body, stuck in a tree, in a flood, in Florida. He was rescued by a friendless young girl called Olive, who because of difficulties with her mother's new boyfriend, was staying with her grandmother.
A strong relationship develops between Olive and Leonard. The reader is held in suspense as Leonard thinks his way through problematic situations as he tries to maintain the pretense of being a cat. He needs to find a human who he can trust with his life.
The story is about the nature and qualities of trust and friendship, choices and what is important in life. Other topics include family breakdown, mental illness, loneliness, individuality, friendship and the human relationship with animals.
My Life as a Cat is a beautiful and unusual book which would be enjoyed by Primary and Middle year students. I will never look at cats the same way again! Possibly they are all aliens!
Wendy Jeffrey
One lone swallow by Corinne Fenton. Illus. by Owen Swan
New Frontier, 2020. ISBN: 9781922326195. (Age:4+) Highly recommended.
Owen Swan’s line and colour wash illustration of Florence in the early part of the nineteenth century greets readers picking up this book and questions will jump into their minds seeing the swallow high above the buildings. Opening the pages we find that the swallow has left her nestlings to search for her mate. A tense evening’s search begins. The lone swallow flies over the ancient walls and towers, over the chimneys and roofs, under the bridges, through the arches searching all the time, aware that her nestlings will be calling out to be fed.
She rests on a high point allowing her a view over the whole city: surveying the bell towers, the Tuscan Hills and the roads.
At last she spies him, entangled by a shoemaker’s twine, draped across the toe of Michelangelo’s David.
Taking the end of the twine in her beak, she pulls until he is almost freed, but a rat crawls onto the statue ready to pounce. With her last pull, she frees him and they fly back to their nest.
This beautiful story of fidelity, of the swallow’s commitment to finding her mate will be read and read again by children. The words reveal her constancy in her search, pushing her nestlings to the back fo her mind, flying over the whole city in her quest. Fenton began thinking of the idea while watching the swallows in the piazza outside her bedroom window in Florence in 2010, and it has been simmering away ever since. Her words describe this beautiful city at twilight and these are given substance with the illustrations of Florence two hundred years ago. Swan travelled to Florence, sitting amongst other artists to sketch the city. His extensive use of soft blues and browns give the readers a bird’s eye view of this World Heritage site, and will encourage questions about the city, the statue of David and many fo the buildings depicted.
Fenton and Swan have created a stunning book, pushing readers to think beyond the ordinary, to admire the commitment in adversity shown by birds that mate for life.
Lili Reinhart's debut poetry collection, Swimming Lessons is an exploration of love and heartbreak; chronicling the beginnings to the end of a relationship, as well as the battles associated with anxiety and depression. Moving, raw, and eloquent, this poetry collection reaches out to the reader; reassuring them that they are not alone.
This anthology will resonate with high school students and hold their hand as they navigate the formative experiences explored within the pages. Reinhart's poetry opens her heart to the reader; sharing her experiences in a way that enables the reader to feel seen and understood and providing them kinship and validation as they navigate their own situations.
The themes of Swimming Lessons will most strongly resonate with high school students; however, the content would be suitable to be read by younger readers.
The Natural History Museum, the BBC and Warner Bros. have partnered to present the amazing animals and the magical creatures of Harry Potter and Fantastic beasts in a visually creative exhibition. This combination of science, film and literature in both a striking factual and fictional display was opening in the Northern Hemisphere Spring of 2020. Unfortunately due to the world-wide Corona Virus, this exhibition has closed indefinitely. Fortunately this superb coffee table–sized book Fantastic Beasts: The Wonder of Nature has been inspired by this exhibition and offers an opportunity to view the exhibits plus learn about behind-the-scenes roles from the safety of home.
Using aspects from the films and intertwined with some of the oddest and strangest creatures both past and present, the exhibition is a fantasy and nature lover’s delight. From the beautiful cover showcasing the chameleon (hint: remove the dust jacket) to the final double-page photo of the curators at work, this book will provide readers of all ages with images and information to pore over time and time again. The Contents page highlights the area of natural environments or creatures under discussion beginning with Fantastic Beasts and ending with Saving our Natural World. Each chapter begins with a lengthy esasy from a well-known writer, environmental expert or natural history scientist who discusses their interpretation of the exhibition. Beautiful photos, illustrations, notes and maps entice the reader to explore new horizons.
This is a book waiting to be perused by an adult and child where they can absorb and share the wonderful images and information presented.
Themes Harry Potter, Fantastic Beasts, Exhibition, Magical Creatures, Wizarding World, Natural History Museum.
The third book in the Animal Allies series, Star centres around Sky’s life in rural Australia with her family – her aunt and uncle who are expecting their first baby, and her recently reunited father. Sky is feeling lost between the changes in her family, her boyfriend seeming more interested in their new YouTube channel and her best friend’s new relationship. Sky is desperate to connect with fellow animal activists, and to continue fighting for the rights of animals. But when asked to partake in seemingly effortless activism, something doesn’t feel right. Sky needs to find where she stands, and what she feels is right.
Not having read the first two of this series, it was remarkably easy to catch up with the content of the previous books thanks to the way the author incorporated the story throughout the book. While the main character is 16, the feelings of being lost, alone and wanting to find 'your people' are universal feelings, very relatable for teens. The book is extremely informative in matters of animal rights, to the point it could make readers queasy. Well researched, set in outback/rural Australia, the story highlights many animal rights issues, with a particular focus on kangaroos and the debate of national icon vs pest. Also discussed throughout the book are dietary choices, including vegetarian and vegan – with the main character participating in veganism and the challenges this brings in a rural setting. The story is easy to submerge yourself in, and highlights animal issues worldwide.
Breaker Morant’s story has echoes in the current crisis facing the Australian SAS soldiers who fought in Afghanistan. In Fitzsimons’ book a small elite force operating in hostile Boer territory in South Africa in the early 1900s, becomes embroiled in controversy due to the brutal killing of non-combatants.
The story of Harry Morant is told through extensive research into his life and the story of the Boer War. Morant is described objectively as a larger than life character, who invented his own persona but at the same time developed skills as a drover, horseman, bush poet, and soldier. He engineered wildly untrue stories about himself that were accepted by others and ensured he had hero status long after his trial and execution for murder.
A brief description of Breaker Morant’s early life and Australian bush adventures is followed by chapters two to nine which provide the background to the Boer attacks on British forces and the largely Australian stand at the heroic, terrible and ferocious battle of Elands River in August 1900. The second half of the book returns to the subject and thoroughly examines the roles of various personalities that made up the leadership of the Bushveldt Carbineers that included Morant.
This is a book for mature readers and contains vivid accounts of battle. Peter Fitzsimons writes in the present tense with an eccentric observational style. The author has very definite views about the morality of the Breaker and his associates: they were cruel and murderous. The book, with detailed footnotes, is accompanied by excellent photographs and maps that enlighten the reader about a distant largely unknown and forgotten war.
Themes Boer War, Breaker Morant, Australian identity.
Paul Pledger
Let's go! On a plane by Rosalyn Albert. Illus. by Natalia Moore
Catch a Star, 2020. ISBN: 9781921928802. (Age:1+)
Ideal for the parent who is planning to travel by air with a very young child, Let’s Go! On a plane is an enjoyable introduction to this mode of transport. And for those who would like to fly in an aeroplane, this gives all the information that is needed to see how this form of transport operates.
The first double page spread shows the planes ready on the tarmac, with luggage being loaded and flight attendant boarding and from then on, the book describes what can be seen high up in the sky, the pilot in the cockpit and finally the adventure of landing safe and sound.
Written in simple rhymes, it is good to read aloud and Natalia Moore’s colourful illustrations give plenty of detail for young readers to explore.
Subtitled The descent of Henry Kendall this biography does not describe a descent so much as a struggle to rise. Once regarded as Australia’s finest poet, his life story is however a tale of an uncertain man, without a great deal of education, forever trying to garner favour, casting aside friends who could no longer advantage him, and descending too frequently into alcoholism and destitution. Mitchell traces Kendall’s disreputable ancestors, people with a willingness to defraud even those most close to them, something that the poet himself also descends to in times of poverty.
Whilst no doubt of interest to readers of Kendall’s poetry, eager to learn more of the poet’s life, Mitchell’s book is most fascinating in its careful analysis of facts, its questioning of a romantic view of the past, and its exposure of how myths become entrenched in the historical record, stories that just don’t fit with times and dates. It raises interesting questions of how history is created, things embellished and things forgotten, to create a story that suits us. But Mitchell’s record is just as interesting; his story is of a very fallible man, an outsider, who wanted to be better but whose failings continually drew him down.
Whilst Mitchell never attempts to garner sympathy for his subject, he does highlight the hardships of the life of the artist, and readers must sometimes feel that things are not so different today for people who struggle to make a career in the arts.
Themes Non-fiction, Poets, Australian poetry.
Helen Eddy
The music advantage by Dr. Anita Collins
Allen & Unwin, 2020. ISBN: 9781760875886. (Age:Adult) Recommended.
Music is good for your brain… and for social development and wellbeing. Many may be aware of the link between music and mathematics, but were you aware of how learning a musical instrument helps in the development of literacy skills, reading, study skills, self control, leadership and teamwork? Collins presents all the evidence in an easy to read way that makes sense. And for the academically minded, each chapter also includes references for further reading if desired.
The book is divided into sections about different age groups, from baby to starting school, to middle school, to teenager; so parents could select to just read the section of relevance to them. There is something to take away in every chapter.
This book is a must have for every music teacher; it provides the evidence for what they might know intuitively, and the answers to many a tricky parent question. But it is also a useful book for every junior primary teacher, for school principals and parents, and deserves a place in teacher preservice education for the insights it provides about the way children learn.
Allen & Unwin, 2021. ISBN: 9781760877859. (Age:10+) Recommended.
Ethan has spent a week on the run. He has transformed from being a teenager with a brain tumour to a super-human with power to hack any electronic computer system using his thoughts only. Doctor Penny, a well-renowned surgeon and roboticist, has joined Ethan as a fugitive from both the evil President Bonner and her own android creation, Gemini.
Book Two of this fast-paced story is set in an arena where The Robofight Games are being held. The Games are an opportunity for each land to showcase their mastery of robotics. In this final event six incredible robots fight each other to find the eventual winner. Each robot is highly unusual and skilled in various ways. The participants are Arachnatron from Harkland, Nightmare from the Nations of the Arid Plains, Battle Moon from France, Gardener from Oceania, Hammerhead from Equatoria and Gemini from Titus. Without the detailed illustrations by Chris Wahl the reader would have a difficult time to visualise how complex and different each of these robots are. While the fight is taking place Ethan and Penny are desperate to track down Gemini and re-programme him in order to eliminate his desire to eliminate E-Boy. On their mission, they have to outwit Agent Ferris, a People's Service Agent as well as using Ethan's amazing skill to dismantle numerous computer systems. Ethan and Penny also become aware of a disastrous plot being set in motion by the nefarious President Bonner. To thwart this becomes their prime objective but the cost will lead to the unravelling of the pair.
Anh Do continues to entertain his readers with his understanding of what appeals to his readers and how to maintain this engagement. Hopefully Book Three is not too far away.
Themes Robots, Androids, Good vs Evil, Fighting, Computer Systems, Trust, Danger, Team Work.
A bemused Una looks at the readers from the font cover, dressed in a hand me down space suit, Mum’s old Ugg boot, Neil’s home (Neil is a goldfish) on her head and her old ski gloves, floating about in the dark blue space a long way from Earth. Since birth she has been focussed on becoming an astronaut and going off into space, a far more interesting place than the planet she lives on. After several failed attempts she is there, moving from one planet to another, checking each out, seeing if she can discover one that supports life. And each is scrutinised: Mercury moves so quickly that each of her years is equivalent to 88 Earth days, Saturn has no life, but one of its many moons has its own atmosphere, Jupiter, 11 times the size of Earth is all gas, Venus has an average temperature of 465 degrees Celsius, Uranus is shrouded with stinking layers of clouds of hydrogen sulphide, and Neptune the one furthest away from Earth has a temperature of minus 214 degrees Celsius. All planets are exposed as unsuitable to support life, so she sits on the Kuiper belt and eats her sandwiches. She spots a blue planet in the distance. What could it be? Kids will explode with laughter as they recognise the planet that is habitable, and join with the author in his plea for us to look after it.
This entrancing trip around our Solar System will intrigue and delight all readers, from the youngest to those reading it to their kids. The information given is readily absorbed, illuminating and funny in a way not usually used as a vehicle to describe the planets.
Themes Space, Space travel, Imagination, Planets, Solar system, Earth.
Fran Knight
The good sister by Sally Hepworth
Pan Macmillan Australia, 2020. ISBN: 9781760552190. (Age:13+)
The Castle sisters are twins. Fern is autistic and as high functioning and likeable as Don Tillman of The Rosie Project series. However, she is, in equal measure, very susceptible to sensory overloaded situations. The girls have always been inseparable, and Rose has always felt the need to protect Fern - now it's Fern's turn to help Rose who is struggling to fall pregnant.
Hilariously, Fern decides to approach a random, attractive, intelligent stranger, bed him and carry her sister's long-awaited baby as a surprise. A nomadic software designer, Rocko, aka Wally, is the surprise package - tender, understanding and often stricken by his own anxiety. He has no idea he is the target sperm donor. Despite hitting it off, Rose persuades Fern to dump him rather than tell him about the baby.
Sally Hepworth very gradually reveals the girls' true natures but not before this family thriller ends in at least two murders. This is a layered narrative with conflicting versions of reality - Fern groomed to believe her own ineptitude and Rose writing a journal about her mother's supposed cruelty and preference for Fern. Moreso it is a revelation about sociopaths convincingly exploiting humankind's strong 'default to truth' bias to actualize their long-term plans.
Uplifting us from these dark turns of events, is the support of Wally and Fern's work colleagues and friends at the library. Fern has little means and no status but her diligence, skill, and forthright kindness makes her deserving of respect and care. Can Fern find happiness and peace at last?
This is destined to be a very popular title for all teens and adults.
