Illus. by Eleanor Taylor. Puffin, 2020. ISBN: 9780241410813. Board
book.
(Age: 0-5) Recommended. Based on Beatrix Potter's iconic characters
and illustrations, the young child will happily follow Peter Rabbit
and his family as they have a lovely picnic by the pond. Peter
decides to build a raft and his family wants to help. Flopsy is good
at plaiting reeds, Mopsy could find a stick for the mast, and
Cotton-Tail could puff into the sail to push the boat along. However
Peter decided that he could make his own raft without any
assistance. Unfortunately it was flawed and began to sink. Indeed he
needed to be rescued out of the water by Mr Jeremy Fisher, and
discovered that his friends' expertise to make a raft that would not
sink was essential. He just needed to ask for help.
Eleanor Taylor's illustrations reflect Potter's beautiful originals
and make this book a lovely one to look at and examine. The rabbit
family are done in gorgeous pastels and the young child will enjoy
following the efforts of the rabbits to build a raft. On the way
they will learn that sometimes it is best to use everyone's
expertise to get a job done, and that it is always OK to ask for
help.
Pat Pledger
Goldfields girl by Elaine Forrestal
Fremantle Press, 2020. ISBN: 9781925816501.
(Age: 10-14) Heartily recommended. Moving from the goldfields of
Queensland to those at Coolgardie, fourteen year old Clara Saunders
kept a diary. In it she described the voyage in a steamer, docking
at Fremantle, then the long road to Southern Cross, where she worked
for her brother Tom in his hotel. A year later she travelled on to
Coolgardie to be assistant manager at a hotel, married and stayed in
the region until her husband died. Her diary was transcribed when
she died in 1957.
Using this diary as a base, Forrestal has fleshed out the writer and
her experiences, describing the early years of Coolgardie and life
in Western Australia in the late nineteenth century. It is a
fascinating look at a young woman, boldly going to work in a place
where women were rare, and their nursing skills in high demand.
Clara goes to Southern Cross to work at her sister's husband's
hotel, and there meets Jack, a water carter. When a reef of gold is
discovered at Coolgardie in 1892, men flock to the town to try their
luck. Clara is eager to join the rush, and accepts a hotel job,
setting off the following week with her mother's Encyclopaedia
of Common Diseases and Remedies, while Jack stays as a water
carter ferrying water to the rapidly growing town. Her life in
Coolgardie is an eye popping look at what life was like: the lack of
sanitation, shelter, water and decent food playing havoc with men's
lives.
Fremantle Press provides teacher
notes.
An interview
with Elaine Forrestal is available on Fremantle Press' website
giving more information about Clara and her life which initiated the
writing of this fine book, introducing readers to a rather
overlooked gold rush in Australia's past. A brief outline of
Coolgardie and its gold rush can be found here.
This involving story is an invaluable introduction to the lives led
by women in the late nineteenth century, the hardships faced,
privations endured, as well as giving readers a solid working
knowledge of life in a gold rush town, so important to Australia's
early economic development. Themes: Goldfields (WA), Western
Australia, Gold rush, Coolgardie (WA).
Fran Knight
The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon
Bloomsbury, 2019. ISBN: 9781408883358.
(Age: Young Adult/Adult) Highly recommended. Fans of Samantha
Shannon's The
Bone Season series will be both delighted and surprised
at her latest offering; fantasy epic The Priory of the Orange
Tree. A stark departure from the supernatural dystopia of her
previous series, Priory is a confident and ambitious entry
into the rarefied world of high fantasy. The book alternates between
multiple characters: Ead, lady-in-waiting to the powerful Queen
Sabran, charged to secretly protect the royal from increasing
danger; Tane, an orphan who has trained from birth to ride dragons
and defend her people; Loth, a privileged noble sent to a dangerous
land to achieve an impossible task; Dr Niclays Roos, a disgraced
alchemist banished to the ends of the earth, who finds himself
caught up in the political machinations of entire nations. Tying all
these compelling characters together is the whisper that after one
thousand years of peace and prosperity an ancient and dangerous race
of dragons, led by the Nameless One, is about to reawaken from its
forced slumber. Priory is a story of East vs West, good vs evil, religion vs
history and deceit vs truth. In this respect, it fits in comfortably
with the well-established tropes of high fantasy. However, Priory
is also a story for contemporary times. It is an epic with a
feminist and queer twist. Characters are of diverse backgrounds and
religions and relationships are varied and complex. While mythical
creatures and perilous journeys abound, Priory is also a
product of its time, in an era when writing cannot help but be
influenced by the world it was created in. This book is highly
recommended for both established fantasy fans and those seeking an
entry into a genre that might have previously seemed distant or
irrelevant to modern life. Themes: Feminism, War, Religion, Love,
Friendship, Dragons, Mythical Creatures.
Rose Tabeni
Please See Us by Caitlin Mullen
Simon and Schuster, 2020. ISBN: 9781982152581.
(Age: Senior secondary/adult) Highly recommended. Lily returns to
Atlantic City, where she grew up, after her relationship and her job
in New York finished. Atlantic City seems to reflect her condition,
she has lost confidence in her self and is drinking too much, while
her home town is slowly shutting down. The casinos are closing and
the hotels and beach front along the board walk are looking shabby.
The populace seem aimless and shell shocked, while the number of
homeless is ever growing.
Lily does find work in an up market spa as a receptionist but finds
the work unrewarding, and her work place is struggling to survive in
a city with few rich clientele. She does find two people she can
relate with, Emily who works with her at the spa and a young girl
Clara Voyant a psychic who works on the boardwalk.
The reader also hears from the Jane Does who lie in the marshy area
behind the run down seedy Sunset Motel. All have come to Atlantic
City seeking some sort of dream or escape. But all are quickly
disappointed and turn to the only option which is open to young
girls with no connections and little money. There is only one person
who does notice them and he is a serial killer.
Clara has read the tarot cards with some of them or with family who
have come to search for them and she begins to catch glimpses of
their lives as well as fractured flashes of their deaths. These
visions are sudden and increase in frequency and often leave her
vulnerable and frightened. She and Lily try to help Peaches a young
prostitute who has decided to get out of town and return home. Clara
has become increasingly disturbed by her visions and believes
Peaches is in danger, but she seems to have disappeared - neither
can find her in her usual haunts. Lily's coworker also seems to have
gone missing. Emily has given no insight into her life outside the
spa, and her dreams of college and further education require far
more money then she can earn at the spa.
Both Clara and Lily's lives are endangered as they find themselves
embroiled in the seedy underworld of Atlantic City. It is only by a
hair's breadth that Lily doesn't become yet another victim to be
left in the marsh behind the Sunset Motel.
This is Caitlin Mullen's debut novel, which is disturbing yet
satisfying at the same time. There is great sympathy for the two
main characters Lily and Clara who have been used and abused by
those they loved and relied upon. The setting of Atlantic City is
also a marvellous feature of the novel, its faded glory, peeling
veneer of the casinos and once swanky hotels now closed or providing
packages for much less well heeled small town Americans. A
disturbing insight into the underbelly of the USA and a pause for
thought for those who live in the shadows. Themes: Crime fiction,
Atlantic City (USA), Casinos, Serial killers.
A page turner.
Mark Knight
Super Sporty Girls: be inspired and celebrate Australia's amazing sportswomen
Penguin Random House, 2020.+ ISBN: 9781760896058.
(Age: 6+) Recommended. Super Sporty Girls celebrates the
lives and achievements of sixteen Australian women and their teams.
Each colourful double page spread begins with the young narrator
exploring a different sport, looking for her inspiration, trying to
find her place in the world of sport. 'Maybe I should give them all
a go!' she comments.
Jess Gallagher is a visually impaired Paralympian who excels in both
winter and summer sports; she is a fabulous example of reaching for
the stars. Sally Fitzgibbons excels at surfing. She was crowned the
World's no. 1 Surf League Women's Champion in 2019. Soccer is a very
popular sport for girls and women, imagine playing for the Matildas
at 15 just like Sam Kerr.
Tennis, rugby, cricket, horse-racing, cycling are all there for the
reader to watch the main character have fun, try new activities, and
build up her skills. She has a positive attitude and looks for
inspiration from the top Australian sporting stars.
Colourful photos show the skills, engagement, excitement, and
athleticism of these winners, from Olympians, Paralympians,
international stars, and team legends. Super Sporty Girls is
an easy-to read factual book, with bright, bold eye-caching graphics
and photos. This is perfect for readers who want to find out more
about sports and to challenge themselves to try something new.
Themes: Subjects: Sports, Women Athletes - Australia.
Rhyllis Bignell
To the Bridge - The Journey of Lennie and Ginger Mick by Corinne Fenton
Illus. by Andrew McLean. Walker Books, 2020, ISBN: 9781925126822.
(Age: 7+) Recommended. The building of the iconic Sydney
Harbour during the Great Depression captured the interest of the
nation. One young farm boy Lennie Gwyther from Leongatha loved to
ride his pony Ginger Mick to pick up the newspapers delivered by
train. Every morning he had read about the progress made by the
large workforce as they laid the pylons and built the arches.
Lennie's one desire was to attend the special opening ceremony,
however when his father broke his leg, his son had to step up and
complete all the farm chores. There wasn't any money for a train
ticket to Sydney.
Lennie's solution was to ride the six hundred miles on his faithful
pony Ginger Mick. What an adventure, riding twenty miles a day,
looked after by folks along the way, given food and overnight
shelter. Escaping from a bushfire, battling the weather, riding in
the mountains, Lennie's dream led him through all the tough times.
On Saturday March 19th, 1932 Lennie and Ginger Mick proudly crossed
the Sydney Harbour Bridge, what an amazing achievement!
Corinne Fenton's beautifully descriptive story To the Bridge
captures the feel of the countryside, the struggles of farm life and
the true spirit of Australia. There is a sense of pride, as she
captures the determination of a young boy's achievements, his
determination to complete an arduous journey and inspire hope in
times of adversity. Andrew McLean's sweeping landscapes, his
beautiful pen and watercolour illustrations add depth to Fenton's
story. Subjects: Boys, Horses, Sydney Harbour Bridge - History. Teacher's
notes are available.
Rhyllis Bignell
The tell by Martin Chatterton
Puffin, 2020. ISBN: 9781760895945. 280p.
(Age: 12+) Highly recommended. Crime. Rey Tanic (Raze) is coming of
age as the youngest son of one of Sydney's most successful
gangsters. He wants no part of it, preferring to break the law by
creating 'urban art' with the MCT crew - McLafferty (Ides), Cooper
(Candy) and Tanic (Raze). When his father escapes from maximum
security prison aided by his brother Solo, he is thrust full tilt
into the gangster lifestyle for the first time.
At first, the family business reminds Rey of a James Bond movie with
helicopters and submarines. But a rival crime family, the Sullivans,
deepen an existing feud with gunfire, arson and hitmen. Rey too must
go underground and finds unlikely sanctuary right under the nose of
Candy's father, Chief Superintendent Don Cooper. Dejan Tanic plans
to retaliate but MCT intervene to save innocent bystanders. How can
Raze avoid getting killed by criminals or the police? Raze has the
support of his best friends, Candy and Ides to figure a way out of
the mess.
Martin Chatterton, a UK author of dozens of childrens' books, relies
heavily on the Sydney landscape with this new YA crime thriller. The
plot and action scenes are so visceral, his characters execute a
conclusion too spectacular to be simply inevitable. This is an
author that keeps on giving, as he is also a prolific mainstream
crime writer working under his nom de plume, Ed Chatterton.
Themes of family, organized crime, domestic violence and first love
entwine in a familiar location, making the relationships and events
hyper real. Don't wait to see the movie. Dig into The Tell
to dodge the bad guys and their bullets along with Raze.
Deborah Robins
The Bad Guys Episode 11: Dawn of the Underlord by Aaron Blabey
Scholastic, 2020. ISBN: 9781760668662.
(Age: 6+) Highly recommended. Aaron Blabey brings his superb
illustrations back in the 11th episode featuring the Bad Guys. It is
time to party but Mr Snake decides to lock himself away and ignore
his friends. When a voice instructs him to open a doorway and gain
untold power he can't resist and what results is mayhem and evil.
Fans of the series will adore this episode and those new to it are
given enough context to read it as a stand-alone. The illustrations
are fantastic and so witty and humorous. I loved the party scene
where there are enormous splashes and skateboarding. The expressions
on all the characters are fabulous and the use if bold black print
in different sizes is wonderful for creating the scenes of evil as
Mr Snake unleashes evil on the world. As always there are puns
galore and I especially liked the description of the steps that were
taken as a celebrity - make your own record label and fashion label,
own a basketball team, cooking show and fragrance and become a music
producer. And then there is that ending that is such a cliff-hanger,
leaving readers desperately waiting for episode 12!
This series is sure to attract readers of all ages and won't stay on
the shelves in any library for very long.
Pat Pledger
The Pear Affair by Judith Eagle
Illus. by Kim Geyer. Faber & Faber. 2020. ISBN: 9780571346851.
288pp
(Age: 8+) Highly recommended. What a beautifully written mystery for
young readers, who will delight in the sights and smells of Paris as
Penelope Magnificent tries to find Perrine, nicknamed Pear, the au
pair that her parents had sent away. Pear had promised to take her
away from her awful parents but her letters had stopped six months
ago and Nell is determined to find her. When her parents take her to
Paris, she befriends a young bellboy, Xav, at her posh hotel and
with a group of friends explores the Paris catacombs and tries to
uncover what has happened to Pear.
Readers are very fortunate - they have the joy of following not just
one mystery but two in this adventurous romp through Paris. Not only
does Nell have trouble finding Pear, but all the bakeries in Paris
are suffering from a strange spore called the Thing which makes
their bread and cakes go mouldy. How is this happening and why are
the Pain-tastique bakeries not suffering from the same trouble?
Eagle's characters are well developed and believable. Nell is such a
determined girl and the characters of the children and adults she
meets are beautifully created. And what horrors her parents are -
readers will shudder at their uncaring ways and really want the
beloved Pear to be found.
Readers who enjoy action and adventure will enjoy the thrills of the
chase as Nell's group works out what is happening. There are lots of
heart-stopping moments, especially when Nell is crawling around in
the dark in the Paris catacombs and when she is captured and held
prisoner. A believable happy ending will also satisfy readers and
the black and white illustrations by Kim Geyer bring the Paris of
bakeries, fashion and underground homes to life.
Those who enjoyed this may like to read Rooftoppers
by Katherine Rundell. Themes include betrayal, friendship, greed and
mapping.
Pat Pledger
The very hungry caterpillar's hide and seek by Eric Carle
Puffin, 2020. ISBN: 9780241425657. Board book.
(Age: 0+) Highly recommended. Lovers of The very hungry
caterpillar are in for a real treat with this latest offering
showing what lives in the forest and finally where the little
caterpillar hides. As always the illustrations are exquisite; bright
colours pop out from the pages and all the animals in the forest are
beautifully depicted, each having their own personality, and are so
happy and active.
Starting with bees the large sturdy lift-the-flap show a bright
yellow hive: Who is in the forest where it's bright and sunny? Busy, buzzing bees making tasty honey!
Other scenes show little green frogs leaping, and a large brown duck
looking for food, wild birds soaring in the sky, fluffy mice
underground and a fox prowling in the woods.
All the flaps are very well made and will stay the distance for
little fingers that will want to lift them again and again. The
young child will have fun searching for the very hungry caterpillar
on different pages, and the lovely verse is ideal for adults to read
aloud and enjoy.
There is much in this book to delight over - animals to name, little
creatures to find and time to discuss animal habitats and as the
cover states, a finger trail for little fingers to follow.
This is a book that is sure to be a favourite and one to keep for
the next generation.
Pat Pledger
Little disasters by Sarah Vaughan
Simon and Schuster, 2020. ISBN: 9781471194900
(Ages: Senior secondary/Adult) Recommended. Sarah Vaughan's latest
book deals with issues which are familiar to anyone who has been or
is a parent. It is only a matter of degree as to the effects
parenting has on the family. A group of friends who met at antenatal
classes seem on the surface to be successful, financially and
socially, but all harbour secrets and their veneer of contentment
hides self doubt to varying extents.
Jess and Liz's contact has lessened recently. Liz has a demanding
job as a paediatrician in a London NHS hospital, her shifts and
rosters mean she has little time for her friends and at times even
for her own young family. While Jess is a stay-at-home mother who
has recently given birth to her third child, she seems to all who
know her to be the perfect mother. Her home is always ordered. When
she entertains all is considered, thoughtful and beautifully
presented. She is a wonderful mother, successfully dealing with her
second child Frankie who is demanding and hyperactive.
However Jess is not coping - she is finding her baby Betsey
difficult. She finds herself caught up in a regime of cleaning,
sterilising, tidying and ensuring her home is a safe place. All at
the expense of emotional support not only of Betsey but her other
children. Her husband Ed has always left the child rearing to her
and spends much of his time at work and lately has avoided coming
home to where he increasingly feels an outsider.
Alarm bells ring when Betsey is admitted to hospital and Liz is on
duty. Betsey has a fractured skull and protocols demand police and
social services are called. Suspicions are roused and Liz finds
herself in a precarious position. She cannot believe that her friend
would ever harm her baby, but also feels Jess is not telling the
whole truth about the circumstances of her baby's injury.
The incident triggers Liz's own childhood memories of her mother, a
distant cold figure struggling with two children while running a
cafe. The treatment of her brother's serious burn injury has always
been cause for distress. These thoughts come into focus when her
mother's health begins to fail and she confides a long held secret
to her.
The truth about Betsey's injury eventually comes out. There are
guilty feelings by those close to Jess, who were unable to see she
was not coping. Even after Betsey's hospitalisation it takes some
time before it is recognised that Jess is in need of mental health
support. Little disasters highlights the need for support for
parenting. There are always doubts when trying to deal with children
and how unprepared we are to cope with childrearing. Especially when
expectations around children and their development are
highlighted in the media. Many parents may be worried that they are
perceived as failures or inadequate in comparison to their peers.
This story highlights the difference between reality and perception
and makes a plea for greater understanding for all parents. Themes:
Crime fiction, Parenting, Friendship.
Mark Knight
What stars are made of by Sarah Allen
Puffin Books, 2020. ISBN: 9780241427965.
(Ages: 10+) Highly recommended. Twelve year old Libby Munroe has
Turner Syndrome. She is missing a chromosome, her heart is three
times too big for her body and she copes with other physical and
neurological conditions that become evident throughout the story.
Added to this Libby has incredible resilience and stamina, a
brilliant brain and a love of all things Science related. Her
parents are her greatest supporters as well as her older married
sister Nonny who lives in another state but returns home when her
husband is retrenched. Nonny is pregnant and this becomes a worrying
time for Libby. She comes up with a plan to support her sister and
keep the baby safe. Libby excels in her school work and when the
opportunity arises to take part in a national Smithsonian Women in
STEM contest Libby utilises this to firstly study her favourite
female scientist Cecilia Payne and secondly to help Nonny's family.
This is not an easy path chosen by Libby and along the way she
builds a relationship with her American History teacher Ms Trepky,
and more importantly finds friendship with the new girl Talia who is
subjected to bullying and like Libby struggles to be accepted. This
is Libby's first real experience of friendship and both girls
support each other through difficult times.
There are some challenging events in the story and the clever use of
short chapters to convey the seriousness of one such event gives the
reader a distinct indication of the possible heartbreak to come. The
author Sarah Allen has Turner Syndrome and the details that she
shares naturally with the reader leads to a growing understanding of
the complexities of the condition.
Libby is an endearing and honest character whose telling of the
story will engage the reader to the very end. The story is cleverly
told in the first person narrative and the reader will feel Libby's
heartfelt attempts at friendships, her disappointments and
struggles, and her deep love and concern for her family. Themes:
Family, Turner Syndrome, Medical Conditions, Friendship, School
Bullying, STEM.
Kathryn Beilby
World of the Five Gods: Penric & Desdemona series by Lois McMaster Bujold
Penric's Travels. Baen, 2020. ISBN: 9781982124571. Penric's Progress. Baen Books, 2020. ISBN: 9781982124298. The Physicians of Vilnoc. Spectrum Literary Agency, 2020.
ASIN B088D695MK.
(Age 15+) Highly recommended. I am a fan of any work by Lois
McMaster Bujold who writes with wit, warmth and always has a unique
world. In this series of novellas the reader follows the adventures
of young Lord Penric who when stopping to help at an accident of a
Temple divine, is overtaken by the five demons that reside within
her. These strange powers change the course of his life. He finds
himself studying to become a Divine and a scholar and is called upon
to solve mysteries and problems in his world with the aid of his
demon Desdemona.
First published as e-books, the first three novellas have been
published in hardback as Penric's Travels, and include the
Hugo nominations Penric's Demon and Penric and the
Shaman. The next three have been published in Penric's
Progress, and the latest two, The orphans of Raspray
and The Physicians of Vilnoc as e-books. The Physicians
of Vilnoc has Penric called to solve the reason that an
epidemic has struck the army fort of Vilnoc, and with the help of
dedicated colleagues, he must root out the origins of the deadly
plague. Readers who are familiar with the series can read this
comfortably in difficult times, as Penric although facing severe
trials, is usually triumphant.
All the novellas feature Penric and Desdemona and their witty
interactions often bring a smile to the face as they face adversity
and adventure. They are easy to read, well written novellas and for
readers who like a hard copy the collections will be a boon. The
novellas are set in the world of the Hugo winning fantasy series, Chalion,
and readers may want to pursue The curse of Chalion and Paladin
of souls.
Pat Pledger
The Book of Chance by Sue Whiting
Walker Books Australia, 2020. ISBN: 9781760651367. 277 pp.
(Age: 10 +) In recent years, Sue Whiting has emerged as a talented
writer of Young Adult literature, as well as an awarding winning
writer of picture books for the young. Missing,
published in 2018, was received very well and The Book of Chance
follows with a strong teenage voice and believable characters. The
book addresses social media and the way it affects decision making
for the right or wrong reasons. Protagonist, Chance Callahan,
arranges for a reality TV team to make over her house; in the
process, the discovery of some past newspaper cuttings reveal
secrets, which must be faced, but will cause her world to be turned
upside down. The Book of Chance is an easy read, but well handled with
polished dialogue, a strong narrative voice and a mystery which
holds the reader's attention. Teacher's
notes are available.
Julie Wells
Good question by Sue Whiting
Illus. by Annie White. Walker Books, 2020. ISBN: 9781760650841.
(Age: 4+) Highly recommended. Wily Fox is striving to appease his
hunger but keeps getting into the wrong fairy tale, causing some
disquiet amongst the other characters.
Readers will eagerly follow his exploits as he tries to find food,
causing ripples of laughter as they recognise the story he has
invaded. We see him first in a forest hiding from a giant with a
huge cudgel, searching for Fox to add to his pot of stew. Fox is
adamant that he was doing nothing wrong trying to take the giant's
goose, after all that is what foxes do. And we find over the page
that the rascally Jack had thrown the goose at the fox while he was
climbing the beanstalk. The next question to ask is why he was on
that beanstalk. We find out that Fox was hiding from Wolf, the same
one whose Pig Fox tried to steal when Wolf puffed Pig's house down.
And Fox only tried to catch the Pig because he was hungry after
being chased by the Bears from their home when he tried to eat their
porridge.
And on it goes, each page asking the question about what Fox is
doing in this particular story, and winding its way through many
beloved fairy stories until at last, we see the initial story that
began all the mayhem.
A great deal of fun will be had reading this story. Children will
laugh out loud recognising favourite stories and characters and
seeing the predicament Fox is in while wandering through each tale.
It is great fun, especially taking note of the subtitle, A tale
told backwards, and is a wonderful story beautifully told, with
illustrations that match the chaos of the story, encouraging a
veiled sympathy for Fox as he does what foxes do. The use of
different fonts and font sizes adds interest and delight as the
reader turns the pages, noting the movement within the lines of text
and the way they interact with the illustrations. And of course,
there is a good question on every double page, impelling the reader
to turn the page to find out why the Fox has become part of that
story. This book will provoke the readers to seek out the
fairy tales mentioned and reread them as well. Teacher's notes are
available and a video
showing the author. Themes: Fairy tales, Fox, Twisted fairy tales,
Hunger.
Fran Knight
