Reviews

Untwisted: the story of my life by Paul Jennings

Allen & Unwin, 2020. ISBN: 9781760525828. 321p. hbk.
(Age: 12+) Autobiography. Paul Jennings grabs events in his life as a counterpart to stories he has written. The master of the quirky and hilarious short story patches together the trajectory of his life, his learning curve as a literacy teacher and writer with selected elements of his personal life. In addition to his first successful foray into volumes of humorous stories with surprise twists, Jennings has written some of the most memorable scenes in children's novels and excelled at the demanding genre of television script writing.
His own misadventures as a youth, a husband, father and a celebrity provide the origin stories of his narratives. His strained relationship with his father is not atypical of his generation but revealing his dark fantasies to his readers brings us into his trust. To reinforce his objectivity, his self-awareness extends to collaboratively consulting the would-be players in his life story before describing them in print. Equally, he has never been solely motivated by the magical realism and laugh-out-loud comedy of his narratives. He has always tapped into his inner child writing his fears and feelings down to empathise with the sheer vulnerability and the getting (or not) of literacy, life experience and resilience that is every child's journey.
One amusing anecdote from a lecture to Teacher Librarians wasn't explored but he relates a number of experiences from his teaching and book tours. His style is not traditional in categorising the jigsaw pieces of his life, metacognitively casting doubt on his own interpretation literally and sustaining that breakdown of the fourth by alternating fact and fiction. The dictum of Socrates is satisfied by Untwisted i.e. The unexamined life is not worth living. Rather what Jennings has attempted to do in this reflective triumph, is to show that "Our lives are nothing if not lessons to others". Jennings was never going to write his own story unpunctuated by his magical realism that was stranger than life, nor omit real events that were stranger than fiction. Flexibility and innovation is still his lesson and humour is the door to guide disengaged students into lifelong readers.
Children, adults gratefully adored for decoding his stories out-loud, and many a flummoxed teacher librarian will be enchanted by the recounts Paul Jennings has selected in this self-portrait. Oft spurned by elite literary accolades, Paul Jennings preferred popular success. A biography commands substance and the hardback cover pays homage to the breadth of his literary forays via the Round the Twist motif. THE most successful ACTF program to this day, the little lighthouse stands sentinel - a symbol of one of the greatest living storytellers.
Deborah Robins

Christmas is murder: a chilling short story collection by Val McDermid

Sphere, 2020. ISBN: 9780751581775.
(Age: Secondary/Adult) Highly recommended. In a few pages, award winning crime writer McDermid is able to create a scenario, characters and a crime, enticing an already enthralled reader to keep going, wanting to see where the story heads. Twelve short stories all framed by Christmas, are tantalisingly brief, but each is complete in itself, dealing with a murder, and sometimes making a point along the way. In 'A wife in a million', a detective investigates a series of murders: someone is spiking condiments at supermarkets with arsenic, while her unemployed partner scans the papers each day searching for work. It is her suggestion that brings the investigation to a close.
Another tale reprises the Holmes' stories as Watson and Holmes go to Sarajevo to stop a killing (not the one you think!). In another a young girl unsure of whether Santa Claus is real or not, pushes a burglar down the stairs on Christmas Eve, after she finds him with her Christmas presents. In 'Happy Holiday', DCI Jordan and Dr Tony Hill solve a murder, while another story has a couple cycling through Scotland, finding a remote folly, and after her partner is killed, she lures the driver to the folly to exact revenge.
Settings are so different: the Scottish Highlands, Scottish towns, various castles, lochs and coastlines, while the characters inhabit many guises. A thoroughly involving set of stories, sure to keep readers amused and absorbed over Christmas.
Themes: Short stories, Christmas, Murder, Investigation, Crime fiction, Scotland.
Fran Knight

Kay's anatomy by Adam Kay

Illus. by Henry Paker. Penguin Random House, 2020. ISBN: 9780241452943.
(Age; 9+) Recommended. Kay's anatomy is a comedic anatomy book with the revealing subtitle: A complete (and completely disgusting) guide to the human body. Written for the youthful audience who loves humour with everything in life and enjoys the bizarre and disgusting aspects of the human body - from the top of the skull to toe nails via every gross fact in between. Adam Kay studied Medicine so information in the book is factual, however it is heavily laced with jokes, humorous asides and quirky illustrations. With a focus on the questions that kids would like answered and on bodily secretions, noises and smells, there is something to learn or something to laugh at on every page, including reference to Covid 19.
This is the kind of book that kids will read from cover to cover and laugh at every page. Fortunately, they will also learn a lot about human anatomy in the process. Illustrations are extremely amusing cartoons that will attract the visual learner and will draw them to the well set out information. Note: The book explains the reproductive system in a simple but thorough way with clear illustrations and explanations for a young audience. I enjoyed the humour and the clarity of the information for young readers, but kids will love all the snot, fart and vomit references and every other disgusting piece of information.
Themes: Human anatomy; Humour.
Carolyn Hull

This one is ours by Kate O'Donnell

UQP, 2020. ISBN: 9780702260285.
(Age: 14-18) Recommended. Leaving behind her Australian family and childhood friend, Crow (the slightly activist-realist in her life), Sofie has the opportunity for a 6-month exchange program in Paris, the city of love, art, history, revolution and so much more. Her exchange year has her placed within a family who share her love of the Arts and self-expression. The daughter, her Parisian 'sister', also introduces her to the world of protest as the younger generation look at injustice and climate change within the city known for Revolution and Renaissance. As a student who is immersed in the city with so much atmosphere and history, Sofie explores her own art, walks through Paris and finds romance with more than just her surrounds. All the time she remains connected to Crow via technology, and their shared friendship keeps her thoughtful, grounded and linked despite time zones. Forced to think deeply as she translates her experience into French and explore what is really important in life, she makes meaning and art, joins in the fight for change, and grows in maturity.
With so much French language dotted through the text, this book will be loved by French language students and also lovers of Art movements. The story opens eyes in a glorious exploration of seeing the world differently and learning to find your voice and grow in understanding of the important things in life. Sofie is brave and the exchange experience at the age of 16 is portrayed as a wonderful journey of personal discovery. Wandering with Sofie through Paris is a joy for the reader, and the first-love romance with the charismatic Olivier will appeal to readers who enjoy romance stories. Well written and insightful and set within contemporary France, this book can be recommended for readers aged 14+. Teacher's notes are available.
Themes: Coming-of-age, Paris, Exchange programs, Art, Romance.
Carolyn Hull

I follow you . . . until you are mine by Peter James

Pan Macmillan, 2020. ISBN: 9781509816286.
(Age: Secondary/adult) Highly recommended. Set in Jersey, James' latest thriller is most unsettling. Dr Marcus Valentine is a distinguished gynae-oncologist, a leader in his field and looked up to by both his colleagues and patients alike. He is also an obsessive man - time is important and everything has its place.
While driving to work he almost runs a woman down. A woman who reminds him disturbingly of his first love. Georgie Maclean becomes a preoccupation which rapidly turns to an addiction.
Peter James is able to knit the lives of Georgie, her partner Roger Richardson and Marcus Valentine into an increasingly volatile dance. Valentine believes he is in control but he has to take ever more complicated steps to keep his passion secret.
After a plane crash involving Roger, Valentine takes charge of the surgery to save his life but deliberately omits to take care of a small problem which will eventually end in his death.
Georgie is also pregnant, a long awaited precious event. Valentine would also like to be rid of that troublesome addition. He does not wish to be saddled with another man's child. As his fixation with Georgie becomes more delusional he really believes that they will live together in a blissful loving partnership.
As James' narrative moves on the pace steadily increases as does the suspense. He has been able to paint the Dr Valentine as a pompous, self-opinionated sociopath a thoroughly dislikable character, while the reader's anxiety for Georgie and Richard steadily mounts as the story unfolds. A thoroughly satisfying page turner. Highly recommended.
Themes: Crime, New Jersey, Obsession, Thriller.
Mark Knight

The wolves of Greycoat Hall by Lucinda Gifford

Walker Books, 2020. ISBN: 9781760651596. 224pp.
(Age: 10+) Highly recommended. Deciding where to go for their next holiday, the Greycoats of Morovia are startled to find that wolves are being reintroduced into Scotland. With Scottish paintings on their walls, they know they have a family link and so decide to catch the train as soon as they can and make their way to Scotland, where the last wolves were seen in 1680. Once in Aberdeen they spy a castle and ask to visit it. They would love to buy it for themselves, but the price is more than they can afford, and beside which a developer  has offered to buy it to build a group of expensive villas to attract the wealthy to this quaint village by the sea.
The local conservation society is appalled at this plan but apart from putting together a petition, seems there is little they can do. The developer plans to dig up the sand so destroying birds' nests, raze much of the castle, pull down trees and build a helipad for the rich to arrive. All sounds gross and the Greycoats agree. Boris is reading a history of his family and notices the similarity between the castle in the book with the one where they are staying, so saves the day, revealing it to be a place of significance and therefore to be protected.
A funny look at a wolf family overcoming prejudices against their kind and proving that wolves do indeed belong in Scotland, and saving an historic site and protecting a bird colony as well.
Themes: Wolves, Humour, Scotland, Conservation, Heritage.
Fran Knight

The heartsong of Wonder Quinn by Kate Gordon

University of Queensland Press, 2020. ISBN: 9780702262821. 177pp.
(Age: 10+) Recommended. Wonder Quinn lives in the archives of a cold, rustic school for girls called Direleafe Hall. Here she is completely ignored by her classmates and teacher Ms Gallow. She is a lonely, solitary girl whose only companion is a crow called Hollowbeak. Wonder longs for a friend and with the new school year a new student called Mabel Clattersham arrives. Wonder and Mabel instantly become friends and support each other in difficult times. We learn that Wonder's mother has died and Mabel has overly protective parents. Mabel also has a quirky list of seven things she wants to do, such as steal something. She also exacts revenge on the bully Georgiana Kinch. It becomes obvious to Wonder that Mabel is seriously unwell and is growing worse as she tries to cross the tasks off the list. By the end of this tender story there is a major reveal. I actually reread the book thinking I must have missed something!
This is a short fantasy and is simply written with large font. It has a delightful jacket and some large illustrations by Rachel Tribout, plus it comes with a real black feather bookmark. This format is a little deceptive and not really suitable for younger readers. The audience needs to be reasonably sophisticated because the subject matter has great emotional depth, dealing with love and particularly death. I found myself stopping and contemplating sentences such as, "You make marks as big as earthquakes in the lives of those who love you, but you disappear without a trace. You were here and you were not here, all at once." The characters themselves are symbolic. Hollowbeak represents reality and a pessimism that limits risk taking. Mabel is the joy and optimism that leads us to take risks in spite of inevitable death. Wonder is hesitant but drawn to Mabel's example of choosing to truly live life and striving to be true to yourself. It is recommended for confident readers 10+ years. Teacher's notes are available from the publisher.
Jo Marshall

The book of not entirely useful advice by A.F. Harrold

Bloomsbury Children's Books, 2020. ISBN: 9781526618016. 121p.
(Age: 9+) Recommended. Poetry, Nonsense. Penned by English poet, A.F. Harrold, young children are rewarded with chunks of snappy rhyme and sometimes bonus glee. The foreword advises us not to follow any of the bad advice, thereby writes the author, making this a useful collection. Delicious extras make the anthology evermore useful: a searchable index, contents and a glossary of 'Knots of the world'. Not to mention interactive blank canvases for the reader's own drawings or poems; plus an advice generator - customize the template to build your own Advice-A-Tron animated by a roll of the dice.
Aesthetically, our interest is sustained by the cute animations of A.F. Harrold, several animals and selected children. Mini Grey throws in a colourful parrot saying "Bum" twice - double the hilarity. A.F. Harrold rounds his text with an afterword including some final advice not attached to poems such as: "You are not alone. We all feel like that sometimes."
But what of the poetic advice? Not letting the broccoli drive the car seems too obvious followed by such nonsense lines as "Always keep an onion handy, They're great for self-defence" and poems entitled "Gravy is Not Perfume". But this closet poet throws in the odd serious gem to groom his young readers to appreciate the paradigmatic insertions in poetry.
Roots
It's a good picnic
to which you need carry no food,
simply slip off your shoes,
let your toes grow down,
rooting around,
deep into the soil,
supping and sifting,
and you palm up your hands
and drink
the sunshine.
The Book of Not Entirely Useful Advice is a library must and would engage lower/middle school readers on a lazy afternoon in: drawing or writing - or simply learning to be still and more self-aware. With poetry, less really is more.
Deborah Robins

Old man emu by John Williamson

Illus. by Simon McLean. Puffin Books, 2020. ISBN: 9781760898793.
(Age: 5+) Recommended. For fifty years, singer songwriter John Williamson has been entertaining us with his wild and witty songs.
Old man emu was his first hit in 1970 and it is fitting that it be published this year to honour John's debut appearance on New Faces, when he sang this song and won the competition, launching his career.
Everyone can sing along - I cannot imagine there are many people out there who cannot hum along to this song, even if only the last line, about running the pants off a kangaroo! All readers will find it hard not to sing along as this is read out to them, and their voices will sing out as they attempt to drown out that of the person reading the book. As they listen to, read or sing along they will hear of a range of Australian animals the emu encounters: kookaburra, cockatoo, kangaroo, dingo, galah and wedge tailed eagle, all adding to the fun of the rhymes he makes in the song, and the journey they all take.
This book makes an indelible introduction to a range of Australian animals for young readers, allowing them to sing along and enjoy the rhymes, encouraging them to predict the rhyming words, and discern the attributes of each animal represented. The silly look on the emu's face is endearing, and McLean's lively illustrations will evoke a legion of followers, as they spy different things on each page, and then pour over the endpapers covered with line illustrations.
There are videos of this available on Youtube. But the one of John Williamson and Simon McLean reading the book is wonderful.
Themes: Australian animals, Emu, John Williamson, Humour, Verse.
Fran Knight

The Erasure Initiative by Lili Wilkinson

Allen & Unwin, 2020. ISBN: 9781760525057.
(Age: 15+) Recommended. Wilkinson writes powerful stories that challenge thinking and explore unusual situations. In this psychological thriller we see the story unfold through Cecily's eyes as she wakes up on board a bus with no memory of her past life, but with some recognition of past learning. Her entire identity seems to have been wiped out from her consciousness. It is not long before she discovers that her fellow passengers are in the same situation. With small flashes of recognition and connection they try to establish who they are and why they are together. While in this strange identity fog they are required to submit to ethical tests and challenges that then play out before their eyes. Slowly, the degree of difficulty of these ethical choices ramps up to the extreme and all the passengers on board must fight for what they think is right. The twists in the tale and the control and manipulation upon the bus traveller's lives are revealed in a masterful way and the reader is carried along in the fast-paced ride wondering whether they should cheer for Cecily or deride her for her choices - whether personal relationship choices or her desires to escape.
This is an amazing psychological thriller that explores the choices people make and the motivations behind the bad choices that they make. Do bad choices imply that someone will always be bad? The characters in this story are all flawed in some way, and the power of the narrative is in making them likeable and relatable despite their failings. From the Senator and her son, to the lesbian computer hacker, the tattooed tough guy, and the bespectacled arsonist, all become linked in a plot to change them for the better. Cecily though seems the hardest to change. With small glimpses into the past through alternate documents woven between chapters Wilkinson has created a very powerful ethical drama and a science-fiction psychological thriller. This book does require some maturity to read. It is compelling but also disturbing and occasionally violent. But it is so unique and intriguing that mature readers will enjoy the 'roller-coaster' adventure. Teacher's tips and author discussion video are available on the publisher's website.
Themes: Memory and amnesia; Behaviour Modification; Ethics; Psychological thriller; LGBTI.
Carolyn Hull

To sleep in a sea of stars by Christopher Paolini

Pan Macmillan, 2020. ISBN: 9781529046519.
(Age: Adult/Young Adult). Highly recommended. Christopher Paolini, author of the much beloved young adult Eragon series, appeals to a different target audience with his adult debut To Sleep in a Sea of Stars. This is a science fiction novel of truly epic proportions. At almost 900 pages, To Sleep in a Sea of Stars is a serious (and weighty) undertaking that may intimidate some fans. However for readers determined to tackle this behemoth, an enjoyable space opera awaits.
Kira Navarez is a xenobiologist living approximately two hundred and fifty years in the future. Happy, newly engaged and working in her dream occupation, her life is interesting and fulfilling. Kira is completing an assignment on the moon of Adrasteia when she uncovers an ancient and mysterious relic. What she has found will have consequences that will change her life and the galaxy as she knows it forever. Kira has discovered that humans are not alone in the universe and that she is now at the centre of a war for the very survival of her species.
To Sleep in a Sea of Stars is a hugely complex and multi-layered story. Paolini worked on the novel for almost a decade before its release, a fact that is evident in the level of world-building and characterisation achieved. It will tick the boxes for any fan of hard science fiction as well as those who enjoy action, adventure and many, many human emotions. While certainly not a quick or always easy read, this novel highly recommended.
Themes: Space, Space Travel, Planets, Astronauts, Aliens, War, Solitude, Identity, Humanity.
Rose Tabeni

Noah Wild and the floating zoo by Alexander McCall Smith

Bloomsbury, 2020. 120p. ISBN: 9781526605542.
(Age: 7+) Adventure. The scene is set for a classic children's book. There are no responsible parents, only eccentric aunts and uncles. Noah & Hattie are living happily enough with Aunt Smiley when their pirate Uncle Loafy, having closed his Zoo, invites them to help re-locate his last four wild animals to their homelands.
Monkey Robertson, Henrietta Alpaca, Mrs Roo, a tiger called Ram and four humans, set sail on a magnanimous quest, investing time and money to ensure the well-being of all species. After the practicalities of fixing the Ark and the obligatory storm, the expansiveness of travel is a steady learning curve . . . and as always they're dogged by the enraptured reader.
The author ponders many different versions of the nature vs nurture conundrum: Mistaken identity is a thing. Upbringing counts. Sometimes genetics and animal natures are insurmountable. And when the roguish Monkey Robertson proves incapable of rehabilitation, we must accept that he is a higher species trapped in the wrong body.
Children's authors sometimes write best-selling adult literature. Alexander McCall Smith has proven the reverse is also possible. In future, adults may not draw parallels to Noah Wild's musings when compelled to turn the pages of The Life of Pi, or when shedding tears at the treatment of lab animals in We are All Completely Beside Ourselves but Smith's brushstrokes on an early literacy canvas will have played a part.
Deborah Robins

Whose bones? by Chihiro Takeuchi

Berbay Publishing, 2020. ISBN: 9780648785163.
(Age: 3+) Highly recommended. A most amazing book to read and reread, impelling readers to look closely at the illustrations, urging them to ask questions. Each set of bones is changed into an animal, bird or human when the page is turned. Children will be eager to recognise the being from the bones, while over the page shows the animal and its bones all arranged together. Readers will eye off the number of hands, piece together the bones that may be the back bone, look for the skull and so derive some idea of what it may be. All questioning, all enticing, all making those thought processes work overtime. Children will be made more aware of the skeletons that make up vertebrates of the world, make observations about their own skeletons, look for pictures which give more information, tantalised by this book and the openings it offers.
The single hued pages give a clear image of the bones, firstly paid out like a puzzle, then put in their correct order with a similar image of the animal beside it. The colours used accentuate the bones encouraging young readers to look more closely, and be
in awe of the artist who is able to cut out such shapes with accuracy. Again younger readers (and others) will be enthusiastic to try out their own skills.
The pages for vertebrates: snake, lion, crocodile, koala, elephant, flamingo and whale follow the same pattern, and these are followed by a double page with six more to puzzle over. At the end of the book is a double page with information about each of the vertebrates shown, and I love the end papers, with the human skeletons at one end and a filled in version of little people at the other.
This is a book which will inform and delight, introducing younger readers to the idea of vertebrates and their skeletons, encouraging a lifelong interest in science.
Themes: Vertebrates, Animals, STEM, Humour.
Fran Knight

Hector and his highland dancers by Anthony Seviland and Amy Calautti

This is a fun story. Mr McFowler wants to win a prize at the show. Every year he goes to the show and every year he comes home without a prize.  Mr McFowler’s prize bird Hector gets sick of sitting in a cage and being poked and patted and always gets himself in trouble so he never wins a prize.

Mr McFowler enjoys listening to Scottish music and dancing, and one day he teaches Hector how do dance a highland fling. Then Hector with some difficulty teaches the chickens to dance.  They finally learn the highland fling and Mr McFowler takes them to the show where he finally wins a prize.  This is just the start of their adventure and they are invited to perform an a number of events, achieving success each time.

The illustrations in this book add another element to this story.

I recommend this book for chicken lovers and anyone who enjoys a good story.

Themes Chickens, Highland dancing, Humour.

Karen Colliver

School rules are optional: the grade 6 survival guide by Alison Hart

Allen & Unwin, 2020. ISBN: 9781760525712.
(Age: Years 4-6) This is the first novel from new author Alison Hart, and what a great entry into the literary world she has made!
The story follows Jesse and his friends as they step into their first day of year six and their final year in primary school. Very quickly Jesse tells us about his terrible start to the year (lost jumpers, terrible teachers and possible school captaincy) and you begin to wonder if this is how the story will continue . . .
I gave this book to my year 4 son and his first questions was "I wonder if this will tell me what to expect in year 6?" He read this book quite quickly and was engrossed in it from day one! He told me that he could imagine lots of the things happening and thought the camp sounded particularly fun! He liked how it was written from Jesse's perspective and said that over the course of the book he could 'hear' him reading it in his head. His only criticisms were that he thought no one who was a prep teacher would ever teach year 6's and that in this day computers would never blow up on a hot day!
I enjoyed the way that both the teachers and students were portrayed. The teachers were shown as real people who care for their students but are also flexible and work with a variety of students needs. Students are diverse and Alison shows how the final year at primary school is one of change; friends, hormones and attitudes!
As a first novel, Alison Hart has really excelled. I liked the way she writes and the story she has told. It is a story that kids can relate to, which makes it even better in my opinion!
It is funny, with laugh out loud moments. A great book for students from years 4-6.
Teacher's tips are available on the publisher's website.
Lauren Fountain