Transit Lounge, 2020. ISBN: 9781925760507.
(Age: Adult) Highly recommended. Krauth once wrote of Bill Henson's
images that they walked "that blurry line between the acceptable and
forbidden, innocence and knowing". Her latest book Almost a
mirror explores this territory: the opening chapter has a
young girl, Mona, being posed and photographed by photographic
artist Dodge while her mother Kaz sits in a back corner. Dodge
creates images of beautiful young bodies, innocent, but always on
the edge of being sexually enticing.
It is 1980's Melbourne, the music scene, with rock bands and ardent
young fans, under-dressed and over made up, hanging outside stage
doors with autograph books in hand; the time of the Kids in the
Kitchen, and Nick Cave and the Boys Next Door. Each chapter of the
book is inspired by an 80s song; you can listen to a mixtape on
YouTube as you read.
Chapters interweave the past and the present, images and scenes,
pieces of the story that gradually come together. They reveal
episodes in the lives of teenagers Mona and Jimmy, and of Benat, a
musician, immersed but also a spectator on the edge of the music and
drugs scene. They are all young, vulnerable, exploring, taking
risks, living life on the edge.
At the heart though, is the relationship between adults and
children. The 1980's, whilst a time of teenagers and rock bands, was
also the time when Australia suddenly became aware of child sexual
abuse. Adults became unsure what was acceptable and what was not.
Child abuse, sexual abuse, neglect, all were issues that we had to
confront, and try to understand what was going on. In Krauth's
story, the photographer Dodge is an artist; when asked about it, all
that Mona's mother Kaz can say is that Dodge had won them all over,
the critics, the parents, the teachers and headmistress.
For Jimmy though, the hurt was forever. Almost a mirror collects images and thoughts, snippets of
life, like a collage that can constantly be rearranged to explore
the relationships, and try to understand what was happening. At the
same time it presents beautiful interactions between parents and
children, just as the galahs hover over the young bird at the side
of the road. There is love and grief. And you can rewind, go back
and read it over again (as I did.) Or listen to the music.
Themes: Music, Rock bands, Suicide, Sexual abuse, Parent child
relationships.
Helen Eddy
Haywire by Claire Saxby
Australia's Second World War series. Omnibus Books, 2020.
ISBN: 9781742769196. 240pp.
(Age: 12-16). Highly recommended. The second book in a new series
of stories about the second World War, this story follows the
journeys of two adolescent boys who are affected by the War, one
living in an outback town in Australia and one living in Germany at
the time Hitler invaded Poland. Claire Saxby has written the story
in alternating chapters to tell their stories alongside one another
which gives the reader a complete picture of how the war impacted
children around the world.
Tom Hanlon has been forced to give up his dreams of becoming a
doctor to help in his family's bakery when his two brothers go to
fight in Europe. He resents the fact that he can't follow his dreams
but commits to staying and assisting at home.
Max is a young boy whose family is in trouble in Germany because of
their political beliefs and they decide to send him to live with his
uncle in England. This is a temporary solution as England decides to
put all Germans and Italians into internment camps, first in England
and then in Australia or Canada. Max endures so much on his journey
to Australia and when he arrives at the Internment camp in Hay all
he wants is a quiet life. But he still must suffer the attentions of
some bullies in the camp and quickly learns to be helpful in the
kitchen where these bullies never go. There he meets Tom, who is
delivering bread from his bakery to the Internment camp. They
quickly form a friendship and tell each other their hopes and
dreams. Both wish they could escape their lives, Max to go back home
to Germany and Tom to go and study in Sydney.
The first book in this series is War
and resistance by Sophie Masson and both books contain a
great mix of historical fact and entertaining drama and will keep
any reader absorbed to the end. They would be a great addition to
the Year 10 History work as they present lots of opportunities to
research some of what happened to the children during wartime.
Themes: World war II, Boys, Friendship, Family, Prejudice.
Gabrielle Anderson
To the bridge: the journey of Lennie and Ginger Mick by Corinne Fenton
Illus. by Andrew McLean. Walker Books, 2020. ISBN: 9781925126822.
40pp.
(Age: 4+) Highly recommended. This is the amazing story of nine year
old Lennie Gwyther who rode his horse, Ginger Mick from Leongatha to
Sydney to see the opening of the Sydney Harbour Bridge, a journey of
six hundred miles.
Lennie had always been thrilled to read of the building of the
bridge, the first to read of its progress when the newspapers were
dropped off at the siding near his family's farm in Victoria.
When Lennie's dad broke his leg, Lennie took over his role on the
farm, feeding the chickens, chopping firewood, milking the cows and
ploughing the fields. When dad came home he was so impressed with
his son that he promised him a reward. All Lennie wanted to do was
to see the opening of the bridge.
Father could see how much he wanted to do this, that he gave his
consent. He set out, charging through bushfires, crossing the Snowy
Mountains, meeting swaggies along the road, meeting school children
who had heard of his quest, passing though Canberra where he was met
by the Prime Minister, Jo Lyons, finally arriving in Sydney, thirty
three days after leaving home. People along the way gave him food
and shelter. He became well known and on March 19, 1932 he rode
across the Sydney Harbour Bridge and made history.
Andrew McLean's wonderful pencil and watercolour illustrations take
in the sweep of the countryside in Victoria and New South Wales,
showing the contrasts that make up Australia's environments,
stunningly reprised in the end papers. His city scapes too are
dazzling, recreating the feel and look of Sydney during the Great
Depression, when the building of the Sydney Harbour Bridge was a
government sponsored program designed to keep men in work.
The images of Lennie will entrance the readers as they can see how
young and small he is to undertake such a feat, marvelling at the
miles he rode, comparing them perhaps with themselves and the small
steps they take.
More information of the story of young Lennie can be found in any
Google search and images of the lad and his horse crossing the
bridge can be seen. Another book about his exploit was published in
2015 by NLA, Lennie
the Legend: Solo to Sydney by Pony (Stephanie Owen
Reader) so children may like to read them both. Teacher's
notes are available. Themes: Sydney Harbour Bridge, Australia
- history, Sydney NSW, Journeys.
Fran Knight
The good turn by Dervla McTiernan
HarperCollins, 2020. ISBN: 9781460756799.
(Age: Senior secondary - Adult) Highly recommended. If charmed by
enigmatic Detective Cormac Reilly in McTiernan's previous two
novels, The
Ruin and The
Scholar then you will be enthralled by his investigation
style once again in The Good Turn. Here he is still out of
favour at his station at Galway, fighting to remain sane after being
stripped of his team, called away to help in a drug bust. But when
an invalided boy sees a girl kidnapped outside his bedroom window,
Reilly must summon who he can to help. His boss is deaf to his
pleas, and when Garda Peter Fisher follows a strong lead alone, it
ends with the suspect being killed. Fisher is sent out of the way to
a small staton run by his estranged father, while Reilly is relieved
of his post. Reilly flies to Brussels to see Emma, and she suggests
that he resign and they stay in Europe, but Reilly has contacted his
old friend who works for Interpol and together they see that there
are stronger forces at work behind Reilly's shafting.
So he returns to Galway bent on uncovering the web of deceit and
corruption which appears to lie at the heart of the station.
Meanwhile Fisher is contending with his hated father, an self
opinionated old style cop who cuts corners. While investigating a
pair of murders near the town, Fisher realises that things were not
investigated with any purpose, things were overlooked, assumptions
made. Fisher's grandmother is elderly and frail, looked after by an
itinerant young woman and her daughter, blow ins from Dublin.
And so we have a set of gripping, overlapping stories, each one
engrossing and at times heart stopping as Fisher and Reilly
investigate things they are not supposed to, disobeying orders from
above, putting their own careers and lives on the line. Ireland,
Crime fiction, Corruption, Murder.
Fran Knight
Bab Sharkey and the animal mummies: The prickly battle by Andrew Hansen and Jessica Roberts
Illus. by Jessica Roberts. Walker Books, 2020. ISBN: 9781760651190.
240pp.
This is a book for a very particular readership. The title is
indicative of its style and content. Many children would have
difficulty navigating the complex action which jumps about from past
to present against a too exotic Egyptian setting. The vocabulary and
word games may appeal to a niche market - perhaps children who are
very much besotted and /or obsessed with Egyptian culture. To most
children, the allusions would "go through to the keeper." This,
combined with the difficulty of working out the interrelationships
amongst the too many characters may make it hard for the young
reader to relate to them. The characters themselves are very
strange. One example is the "Unpharaoh" (a strange phenomenon to
come to grips with). Another is the somehow personified Pharaoh's
beard. This may be too large a leap for most children.
The action is frantically paced and the plot is convoluted. The
clever references are nuanced and obscure. Young readers may have
difficulty connecting with the storyline.
This book may be representative of a new genre which appeals to a
new breed of readers. It may be like the "cult movie". The author
obviously enjoys the word play but only a child who has been
thoroughly initiated into this mode of thinking could really keep up
with it.
Wendy Jeffrey
Wink by Rob Harrell
Angus and Robertson, 2020. ISBN: 9781460758878. pbk., 315 pp.
(Age: 12+) Recommended. Being a normal seventh-grader is already tough
as it is, and when Ross Maloy gets diagnosed with a rare eye cancer
all that goes out the window. Losing his hair, wearing weird hats,
or dealing with bullies are all things he does not want to deal
with.
This story is based on Rob Harrell's real-life experiences, and
included are also illustrations and cartoons he has drawn himself.
The story is very much true to life in its details about high school
and how teenagers act towards each other and shows the reader an
uplifting side to getting through it.
Rob has crafted a funny and memorable story following Ross Maloy
that deals with a lot of tough topics that teenagers might come to
face at some point in their lives. High school and bullies. Friends
and change. And of course, the process of being diagnosed with
cancer. But Rob also brings to light that we can still find laughter
and happiness when times might seem overwhelming and stressful.
These topics and more Ross did well to interpret into his story, and
in the end made this a noteworthy read that I think teenagers just
coming into high school would enjoy.
Kayla Raphael
The unstoppable Letty Pegg by Iszi Lawrence
Bloomsbury Children's Books, 2020. ISBN: 9781472962478.
(Ages: 10+). Highly recommended. The unstoppable Letty Pegg
by Iszi Lawrence is a factual historical account of the Suffragette
Movement in England in 1910. Women were fighting for the right to
vote and being treated shamefully by the law, the public and the
Government. Eleven year old Letty Pegg is the daughter of a
middle class mother who belongs to the Suffragette movement and a
working class police constable father - their marriage being
something of a rarity due to the class system at that time. Letty
accidentally witnesses the brutality of the police during a
Suffragette march and through a turn of events becomes a student of
Jiu Jitsu. The Academy where Letty learns and masters Jiu Jitsu is
run by Sensei Edith Garrud. This is a well researched historical
fact that the author has tied successfully into Letty's story. Edith
Garrud was an important figure in the Suffragette struggle and
became a Jiu Jitsu instructor to the Women's Social and Political
Union (WSPU). With her husband she held classes to teach women of
all ages how to defend themselves during the increasingly violent
protests. Letty is mentored and supported by Garrud and puts her
training to good use and forms important friendships along the way.
Included in the story is the disturbing school system of the 1900s.
The teachers were cruel and administered corporal punishment freely.
Girls were treated poorly and educated basically for marriage or to
go into service. Letty and her soon to be close friend Mabel
continually baulk at this and Letty is continually on the receiving
end of a caning from her unpleasant teacher, Mr Metcalfe. While
there are times in the story where Letty's escapades and situations
seem implausible, readers will gain a valuable insight into the
class divide at the time, the oppression of females and the
distressing schooling situation.
The Australian Curriculum Year Six History component looks at
Suffragettes and this novel would be a welcome introduction to this
very important topic. There are many events in the story for 21st
century students to explore and research. This book would be an
important addition to any class or school library. Themes: History,
Friendship, Suffragettes, Jiu Jitsu, Women's rights.
Kathryn Beilby
The glass hotel by Emily St. John Mandel
Macmillan, 2020. ISBN: 9781509882816. 256pp.
(Age: Adult - Senior secondary) Recommended. This is a deeply complex
story, its narrative structure demanding our attention and echoing
that complexity. Emily Mantel's narrative is interwoven in time and
place, as she delves into the dark world of the pursuit of wealth at
any cost, moving always between the past, the present, and indeed
briefly into the future. While this is a challenge for the reader,
the story is absolutely riveting, as we are given frequent little
clues as to the darker deeds that are at the heart of this
narrative, and are made progressively aware of the immorality of
what is happening.
In a sense, this clever narrative controls what we know and only
reveals small details of the lives of the characters, their
activities, and their lives' trajectories. So we have to work to
build our own sense of what we know about their world and their
interactions, motivations, daily lives and their fate. It sparkles
and it is gloomy, it puzzles and it reveals, and we are led through
an extraordinary tale of venomous acts, of cheating those who place
their trust in people, and of a deep and complex mystery.
Ultimately, we are driven to ask what might be the meaning of the
title, that glass hotel that can be seen from the outside but what
is seen is only part of the story and really the actions that take
place are not seen. So that glass is both transparent and opaque,
allowing some information to be seen and understood and the deeper
mystery and evil is unseen, yet is in plain sight if the characters
were able to perceive that what they see is evil.
Taking place in various areas, such as a ship, the city of
Manhattan, or the wilds of British Columbia, Mandel's narrative
leads us deeply into the setting in which the narratives take place,
and we also become aware of some of the odd aspects of the
characters' lives. In exposing the notions of illegality and
immorality in the pursuit of wealth, Mandel presents these choices
as being acceptable to those for whom others' lives are immaterial,
where one's corrupt actions may lead to knowingly ruining people's
lives. This is a gripping aspect of the novel, as Mantel pushes the
reader to seek answers as to the rationale for the choices made by
the characters, and their capacity to live with ruining the lives of
others through the ongoing massive levels of deceit.
Mandel presents this very intriguing narrative as a reflection on
the breakdown of the usual expectations of a good life, or indeed of
a life seen to be well-lived, rather showing us how, and sometimes
why, the expectations that we have can be drastically skewed. In
demonstrating how one character's life can be dramatically changed
by a single action, choice or event, Mandel forces us to consider,
and thus to grasp, how this could impact dramatically on a person's
life. Perhaps the structure, cleverly giving us wonderful depth and
a developing understanding of the events, shows us the way in which
the puzzling nature of life elicits responses that we may never have
expected.
This riveting novel would be suitable for older adolescents and
adults.
Elizabeth Bondar
Elizabella and the haunting of Lizard Lake by Zoe Norton Lodge
Illus. by Georgia Norton Lodge. Elizabella book 3. Walker
Books, 2020. ISBN: 9781760651855.
(Age: 8-11years) Recommended. The third book in this entertaining
series begins with Elizabella and her best friend Minnie in the
Bilby Creek swimming pool talking about the Year 4 school camp. They
are trying to decide which mischievous deeds they could get up to
that would have the most impact. This sets the tone of the story and
the reader will wait in anticipation for what comes next. The two
girls are in separate bunk rooms at camp but this does not stop them
meeting up at night and trying to solve the mystery of the suspected
ghost that haunts the camp site. Both girls spend time in 'the think
about what you've done' room at camp after causing great anxiety for
the camp counsellors and school principal.
Within the main plot involving Elizabella there are a number of sub
plots. Mr Gooblefrump, the Acting Principal, has been told to have a
vacation to lower his stress levels so he decides to go on camp as
he loves rules and believes the camp rules will release the happy
chemicals he needs to function. Larry, the frill-neck lizard
belonging to Elizabella, has stowed away in her bag in the hope of
meeting like-minded lizards to converse with. He understands English
perfectly but cannot speak it so hopes to encounter other lizards
who can speak the language of Lizish. The missing camp counsellor
who disappeared under mysterious circumstances is helped by
Elizabella and Minnie on the final evening. There is also a new
student Anaya whom the other children think is a liar but who
surprises them in the end.
The characters in this story are all very likeable and believable.
Mrs Goose, the camp cook, takes Elizabella under her wing, the three
Camp Counsellors are forever happy even when they are not,
Elizabella's classmates and friends are always wondering what will
happen next and Elizabella and Minnie are somewhat oblivious to the
mayhem they cause.
Throughout the book are small sketches that cleverly add interest to
the story. At the end of the book is a Revenge Plan as well as a
fairy tale written by Elizabella. Elizabella and the haunting of Lizard Lake is an enjoyable
read that will keep fans of Elizabella entertained and looking for
the next book in the series. Themes: Friendship, School camp,
Mystery, Humour.
Kathryn Beilby
Gregory Goose is on the loose: At the fair by Hilary Robinson
Illus. by Mandy Stanley. Gregory Goose is on the Loose!
series. New Frontier, 2020. ISBN: 9781925594959. 18pp. Board book.
(Age: 1-3) Another in this series, this time Gregory Goose is at the
fair. This brightly coloured board book with its easy to read out
loud narrative is sure to appeal to young children who will
appreciate the opportunity to try and find Gregory Goose as he hides
in the pages.
The illustrations of the fair are done in vivid colours with bright
yellow and green foregrounds, lilac and pink skies, coloured
balloons floating and lots of interesting details in each double
spread. The young reader will get to see a carousel, giant slides, a
big wheel, a space ride, a teacup ride, candy stalls and a hoopla
tent, all giving the young child a taste of what they could find at
a fair or show. Astute readers will notice little details like the
tiny white dog that often appears on the pages and will appreciate
the subtle humour and happy smiles on the faces of all the children
who are enjoying the rides at the fair.
This joins others in the series, In
the jungle and On
the moon.
Pat Pledger
The January stars by Kate Constable
Allen and Unwin, 2020. ISBN: 9781760525026. 288pp.
(Age: 10+) Highly recommended. When twelve year old Clancy and
sister, fourteen year old Tash visit their grandfather in his
nursing home, where he has been confined after suffering a stroke, a
series of incidents result in their kidnapping him, taking a taxi to
his now deserted home and then moving on when the real estate agent
calls the police. Tash is more reluctant, but Clancy sees only an
old man unable to communicate, being used by their aunt Polly, and
so decides to take things in hand. Their grandmother died some
little while ago and it is her interest in astronomy that intrigues
Clancy, saddened that she was not able to discuss this with her
gran. But she feels her presence guiding the two in their efforts to
help their grandfather, looking to the stars for help.
The opening chapter in this glorious novel reveals a tight knit
family going through stressful times, exposing the characters of
each within a few pages. Conversations brim with meaning, hidden
depths and family history, with gaps to be filled in by the reader
ensuring they will keep reading. Readers will recognise some of the
discussion and events happening in their own homes, making it
immediate and all the more credible.
Once at their grandfather's house, the girls must disappear, aware
that the police are on their tails. Clancy follows Nan's lead, and
they eventually find themselves in a magical bookshop, a place that
looks like it has not opened for years. Here the owner greets
grandfather as an old friend and they stay the night unburdening
their story. Next day they go off in search of their aunt, Bee,
whose address in Docklands proves a dead end, but the tenant gives
them her address in the country. So they set off for Quoll Creek.
Here they encounter difficulties when their aunt is found, a
resident at an ashram, and they must move on again. The girls seek
out another aunt, and deciding that Pa wants to return to his own
home, head there. The whole family ends up at the original family
home at Rosella, where all the tensions boil over.
Through their journey the girls learn to rely on their own
resourcefulness, overcome their difficulties with each other and
blossom as responsible young women.
And for the middle school readers, the links to the stars, infused
with indigenous stories of the Milky Way and dark Emu, form a
guiding light for Clancy.
I just love stories set in a defined space. The sights and sounds of
Melbourne provide a wonderful backdrop through references to
Docklands, Rosella, the wonderful train system, laneways, Southern
Cross and murals. The girls have taken on a mammoth task, but one
with which many readers will sympathise, seeing their own families
struggling to do their best by their aged parents. Teacher's
tips are available. Themes: Stars, Family, Nursing homes,
Aged, Kidnapping.
Fran Knight
My Mama by Annemarie van Haeringen
Gecko Press. ISBN: 9781776572687. 32pp.
(Age: 3+) Highly recommended. Mama and her baby play together, her
in her big floral day dress and he in his very fetching floral
pants. Baby elephant feels very safe with his Mama: they play
together, play on the swings, play with the toy cars on the floor,
go shopping, all the while he is learning new experiences, while she
is teaching him about the world, showing him how to behave. He tells
us that he can climb a great mountain as he scrambles along her
back, easily hide from her until he jumps out from behind her legs
and shows himself, push her on the swing until she gets up higher,
and help her with the shopping when he eats all the chips. Children
will laugh loudly at the little elephant thinking her is helping
Mama when it is really the other way around. Their life together is
full of love, companionship and laughs, although now and again she
has to tell him at length about what he has done wrong.
Translated from the Dutch, the story reflects a universal mother son
relationship, and the wonderful sparse illustrations magnify the
already large pair of animals.
Reflecting the striving of all children to be allowed more freedom,
the story pokes gentle fun at the child who thinks he is ready to
leave home and fly, when really he does what he does because Mama is
there right by his side. Themes: Elephants, Mothers, Growing up.
Fran Knight
Agents of the wild: Operation Honeyhunt by Jennifer Bell
Illus. by Alice Lickens. Walker Books 2020. ISBN: 9781406388459.
(Age: 8+) Recommended. Eight year old Agnes Gamble is an orphan: her
Botanist parents died while collecting rare plants in Australia. She
now lives in a high rise tower of flats with her Uncle
Douglas. She has developed a love of plants and animals just
like her parents, but because of where they live, she is not able to
have a pet.
But an Elephant Shrew sitting on her bed, tells her he is a field
agent from a group called SPEARS (Society for the Protection of
Endangered and Awesomely Rare Species) and he wants her to work for
the agency. She of course, jumps at the chance. Her first
operation is Operation Honeyhunt and she and Attie head off for the
rainforests of South America to rescue an endangered bee. Agents of the wild is a fun, adventure-filled book following
a young environmentalist who wants to follow in the footsteps of her
parents, helping to protect and save endangered species.
The book's artwork helps bring the story to life, offering a face
for readers to recognise and identify with. Information is given at
the end of the book to help readers understand some of the threats
to the environment and how they can help. Operation Icebeak,
the second in the series will be published soon. Themes:
Adventure, Honey, Environment, Conservation.
Fran Knight
Crack up written and illustrated by Jules Faber
Max Crack series. Macmillan, 2020. ISBN: 9781760783914.
(Age: 8+). Recommended. Crack Up by Jules Faber is the
second in the Max Crack series. The books are hand written
in journal style and feature illustrations and diagrams,
conversations and entertaining anecdotes throughout. In this story
Max and his best mate Frankie are on the search for a new quest or
two. The major quests turn out to include finding a meteorite and
having it named after them, reuniting two feuding sisters, making a
movie The Quest for Freedom Island, setting a world record
with their classmates and the final quest - attending a pop
concert. Over the course of the journal they undertake a
number of smaller quests as well with support for all quests from
their family and friends. The two boys also have a talent for
drawing as well as vivid imaginations and create comics to sell.
Their strong friendship and comradery is key to the story but in
this book there is also an added interest when they both begin to
show an awareness of girls of their own age.
Jules Faber is a well know cartoonist and illustrator who has
illustrated the WeirDo series by comedian Anh Do, David
Warner's Kaboom Kid series, Michael Pryor's Leo Da
Vinci series and Alex Ratt's Stinky Street Stories. He
has an intuitive understanding about what style appeals to those
middle primary readers who enjoy humour, slapstick comedy and an
action packed read. At the end of the book are blank pages for the
reader to complete with headings such as Your Quest List, Your
Favourite Movie, World Records you want to set plus Places you want
to explore. Themes: Friendship, Journal Writing, Quests, World
Records, School Life, Family Life, Humour.
Kathryn Beilby
Peppa loves our planet
Peppa Pig. Penguin Random House Children's UK, 2020. ISBN:
9780241436721. 32pp.
(Age: 3-4) Peppa loves our planet is another story in the Peppa
Pig series, which most small children will recognise from the
ABC TV series. This one starts with the children attending playgroup
and finding out that it is Love our Planet week. This sparks lots of
conversation amongst the children, and they discover many ways in
which they can help save the planet. They are given the task to make
a scrapbook at home, which becomes a event where everyone in Peppa's
family contributes to the ways in which they can help.
This book is a wonderful starting point for children around the ages
of 3-4years who are discovering how they can help our planet in
simple ways, and also without too much change to their routine.
The ideas are easy to implement and also simple to understand
enabling children can grasp the concept and add in to their daily
life without too much issue.
The concepts include recycling, growing food, turning off lights and
composting food scraps. These are all things that are easy for
children to do and also for families to assist with.
I think that this book could be used as an introduction to the
concepts for parents, or equally as a group time story for
kindergarten children. It is easy to read, simple concepts and uses
familiar characters which many children will be able to engage with.
Lauren Fountain
