The million pieces of Neena Gill by Emma Smith-Barton
Penguin, 2019. ISBN: 9780241363317.
(Ages: 15+) Recommended.
Themes: Mental health, Contemporary. Emma Smith-Barton's debut novel
draws on her own experience as a Pakistani child growing up in the
UK.
Not only does Neena have to deal with the usual teenage search for
identity but ten months of grief since the mysterious disappearance
of her older brother Akash, whom she obviously adored. Her parent's
grief exacerbates their cultural expectations of Neena and she
begins to 'act out'. When they announce a new pregnancy, Neena
really flips out.
Neena seeks solace in the company of Fi, her brother's ex-girlfriend
- perhaps to feel close to him again or maybe to solve the mystery
that is consuming her. She juggles the demands of school, work and
home with her need to feel numb with Fi. A clandestine romance with
gentle Josh, only adds to her pressures. Neena's confusion persists
and she puts herself in danger visiting an older drug addict who may
or may not know something about Akash's disappearance. Neena's
childhood friend, Raheela, reaches out to her but is pushed away.
While we wonder what happened to Akash, the story is more about our
increasingly unreliable protagonist and our concern for her mental
state and destructive behaviour. Smith-Barton uses very mature
themes and language to explore the consequences of not talking to
someone about your feelings of loss and anxiety - feelings which
potentially can spiral into psychosis.
We don't know who to believe in this story, perhaps not Neena. The
fast pace and insightful writing teaches us far more about the
complexity of grief and trauma than any hopes we harbour that Josh's
love has the power to salve Neena's troubled mind. The million
pieces of Neena Gill is riveting because it is a credible
exploration of a family under pressure and fascinating because we
wonder if the pressure came before or after the bad stuff? Emma
Smith-Barton may have grown up between two cultures, but she is
definitely a very astute observer of the inner life.
Deb Robins
Is it Halloween yet? by Susannah Chambers
Illus. by Tamsin Ainslie. Allen and Unwin, 2019. ISBN:
9781760297404.
(Age: 4+) Recommended. Themes: Halloween, Family. The instructions
for making an origami bat at the end of the book was the first thing
I looked at in this book about Halloween after seeing the sticker on
the back cover. And once there, a piece of squared paper was found
to try it out, and yes it works and will be easy to do with a group
of kids obsessed with this old English and American observance now
being seen more often in Australia. And the whole ritual is
engaging, from making masks and dressing up, to sheets being used as
ghosts, lots of spiders, things that go bump in the night, a host of
bats, Halloween is a time for fun and lots of laughs.
And this is very much promoted in the book, Is it Halloween yet?
Emily asks continual questions from her frazzled Mum, trying to keep
up with the newest arrival in the family. Emily asks about ghosts,
and vampire bats, pumpkins, Jack o' lanterns, witches' cats and
eyeballs, leading the readers to ask their own questions about the
customs of that day and why they are followed.
While some say that Halloween is not Australian and has no place in
our calendar, many children and families are observing the day,
joining in the family fun and togetherness that is promoted. Many
families will make their own costumes, have a Halloween party,
encourage 'trick or treat' in their own neighbourhood, hang bats
from the clothesline and try carving a pumpkin (not as easy as it
looks).
Dressing up is always great fun and this book encourages families to
get involved.
And most people will not care that Halloween predates Christianity
as a night of bonfires for ancient Celts to ward off evil spirits,
becoming part of the Christian tradition on October 31 to rid evil
spirits before All Hallow's Day on November 1, a time of feasting to
honour those saints who did not have a specific day devoted to them.
Whatever its history, it can be a fun time for communities to work
together, make costumes, and have a feast of all things ghoulish,
and read Is it Halloween yet? with lots of fun.
Fran Knight
Mr Walker braves the night by Jess Black
Illus: Sara Acton. Penguin Random House, 2019. ISBN: 9780143793106.
(Age: 6-8) Themes: Halloween, Dogs - Fiction, Hotels. Mr Walker is a
resident canine Labrador ambassador and greeter in the Park Hyatt
Melbourne. His affable and accommodating personality makes him an
excellent 'employee' and he is loved by all, but especially by his
family; the hotel staff are also extended family. In this charming
story, Mr Walker gets caught up in the excitement leading up to
Halloween and a visit by the Aunt and cousin of Sophie and Amanda.
There are walks, a few scary stories, some excitement and amazing
activities planned by the incredible staff of the Park Hyatt. The
entire story is focused on the perspective of Mr Walker and his
insights into the Halloween night experience.
This is a lovely tale, as gentle as a Labrador! The Halloween events
and discussions of events such as 'Trick or Treat' or the appearance
of ghosts are also very gently handled, and even the telling of a
'scary' story really only impacts the responses of Mr Walker and the
visiting cousin to some unusual noises. The theme does allow the
possibility of some tension in the telling of the story, and so is a
good preparation for mystery stories. There will be no sleepless
nights for readers! Author Jess Black is also the author of many
books enjoyed by young readers including the series: RSPCA Animal
Tales, Kaboom Kids and Keeper of the crystals. Recommended for
readers who are newly independent readers of chapter books.
Carolyn Hull
Giggly times, giggly rhymes 3 by Richie Cotton
Illus: Naya and Kostya Lazareva. Little Steps Publishing, 2018.
ISBN: 9781925545968.
Themes: Poetry, Rhyme. Amusing poems about smelly things, animals
and impossible things are presented with light and breezy
illustrations with a quirky quality in this short anthology. The
thirteen poems are written in simple rhyming couplets and are never
longer than eight lines of text. Without setting the world on fire,
it is a simple example of a poetry anthology.
This is probably not the best or most inspiring example of
child-friendly doggerel, but some may find it an appealing faster
alternative for pre-bedtime reading compared to a longer narrative!
Carolyn Hull
State of fear by Tim Ayliffe
Simon and Schuster, 2019. ISBN: 9781925640946. 387p; p/b.
(Age: Adult) Journalist John Bailey gets caught up in a plot by a
terrorist cell with bad history. Bailey's characterisation is
strong, but by way of being blunt, rather than natural. A noticeable
amount of it comes from irrelevant asides which exist just to show
off some sympathetic trait like being angry at vague injustice.
Other characters are much worse off, either being defined by their
relationship to Bailey or a thin stereotype that serves their role
in the plot. The plot is action-driven, fairly standard thriller
fare of an everyman thrust into a dramatic situation with high
stakes. The novel's intended theme seems to be the futility of
revenge. However, it doesn't address this very well because it
doesn't come up until quite late in the plot, close to the climax.
The message, intended or otherwise, that pervades most of the book
is - you can't trust your Muslim neighbours, because you never know
when they're part of an extremist terrorist group! The novel does
have small snippets condemning reactionary Islamophobia, but it
falls flat when the actual plot confirms and plays into these fears.
The setting is rather explicit but nothing special, simply
modern-day Sydney and London. The main character's constant raging
against social media taking over the news could easily date the
novel in years to come, however. There's nothing particularly
memorable that stands out in the novel's style.
Vincent Hermann
Nice girls don't play footy by Kathy Helidoniotis
Omnibus, 2019. ISBN: 9781742769226.
(Ages: 12+) Highly recommended. Themes: Sport, Family. Set in
suburban Sydney, Devi, the star pupil in her mother's Bollywood
dance studio is invited to attend a high school with an elite sports
program. It's at school she discovers she has a natural aptitude for
AFL. The paradoxes don't stop there - her background is only half
Indian. If she wins the upcoming BollyOz competition that will put
her mother's studio on the map, she will be the first mixed race
champion and it will be good for business.
Knowing her family's opposition to the idea of a girl playing footy,
the normally devoutly religious Devi, begins to weave a web of
deception embroiling her best friend, in order to explore her
newfound passion. Grasshopper, her coach, aids Devi with a footy kit
and nurtures her potential stardom. The mighty Wallaroos include
some colourful characters in Splinter and Princess but Devi yearns
to earn her own footy nickname.
With Grasshopper's support Devi's opportunities increase. But
selfishly following her dream becomes an obsession and Josie feels
exploited. When she is invited to try out for the Greater Western
Sydney Giants Academy Youth Girl's Program, it is time to tell her
parents and Aji (grandmother) the truth.
Sound familiar? The parallels with the book of the hit film 'Bend it
like Beckham' are strong. Helidoniotis' first person narration helps
us to empathise with Devi's family-sport-dance love triangle.
This is an easy read, endearing for the colloquialisms, AFL theory
and the meaty modern dilemmas shared by modern girls who may be
raised in traditional families. The teacher's
notes demonstrate the potential of analysing Helidoniotis'
narrative and character development through class discussion.
Deb Robins
Ubby's Underdogs: Return of the dragons by Brenton E McKenna
Magabala Books, 2019. ISBN: 9781925768060.
(Age: Secondary) Recommended. This colourful, energetic graphic
novel is the third part of a series featuring Ubby, 'a tough
streetwise Aboriginal girl', and a large cast of very diverse
characters, including a good number of females and some strange
creatures, helpfully presented at the beginning of the book. Set in
'the dark heart of Broome's shadows', Ubby and her band of underdogs
are battling the wealthy and ambitious pearling industry bully,
Donappleton, and mysterious others while searching for Sai Fong, 'a
seemingly innocent Chinese girl'. The story is very convoluted and
might be easier to follow having read the previous books but the
characters are well developed and they prove that a good heart and
teamwork is all you need to defeat multiple enemies. The well
sustained, colourful comic style with lots of action and
supernatural elements keeps the reader engaged though I found myself
often referring to the cast of characters page to identify new
players. A great addition to Top End stories and a distinctively
Australian multicultural story for comic action lovers, this book
will be popular with upper primary and middle school readers. There
are teaching resources
available on the publisher's website for the first two books in the
series.
Sue Speck
The bookshop of the broken hearted by Robert Hillman
Text Publishing, 2019. ISBN: 9781922268228.
(Age: 16+) Highly recommended. Themes: Love, Loss, Grief, Parenting,
Child custody, Abuse.
Stoic hardworking Tom Hope leads a simple life caring for his farm
in Victoria, but it all comes undone when his wife Trudy leaves him.
She returns and leaves more than once, each time causing him further
anguish and heartbreak, taking with her the son he had grown to
love. It seems like he is just not made to be a husband or a father.
But when an exotic stranger arrives to set up a bookshop in the
local country town, Tom dares to hope again. Hannah Babel is
beautiful, vibrant and emotional, she tells him she adores him. But
Hannah is a Hungarian Jew, a survivor of Auschwitz, scarred by the
loss of her husband and her son. Tom is careful, he doesn't want to
get this relationship wrong, but the grief and loss in both their
pasts will ultimately test their chance for happiness.
Hillman has perfectly recreated the country town, the characters and
the way people talk, the down to earth humour and the gossip. The
newcomer, Hannah, is such a vivid personality, she dresses with
style and her conversation bubbles with intellectual topics,
politics and books. It is easy to picture Tom and Hannah, his
cautiousness and patience, and her rollercoaster of emotions. But
beneath that, both are dealing with deep-felt grief. Tom's son,
however, is not dead - he is trapped in another town, suffering
abuse and longing to return to his father and old home. Little Peter
is the final tension, the spring that may set them all apart.
This is a thoroughly engrossing story, of the strength of parental
love, one of desolation but ultimately also of hope.
Helen Eddy
The birthday wars by Kate and Jol Temple
Yours Troolie, Alice Toolie book 2. Allen and Unwin, 2019.
ISBN: 9781760875435. 197p
(Age: 7+) Recommended. Epistolary novel. Alice Toolie and Captain
Jimmy Cook communicate almost exclusively through notes, or rather
letters, which are ostensibly written during class. We're not privy
to the method of delivery but the publisher has photographed a
scrapbook wherein each letter and reply is alternated, complete with
drawings and doodles, by an assortment of patterned sticky tape.
The novel's problem is their only topic - their birthday parties are
planned for the same day and time - September 19. Each was expecting
a simple RSVP but Alice no sooner invites Jimmy to her Woodland
Princess Tea Party, than Jimmy responds with his own invitation to
his Antarctic Explorer Birthday Party. The book becomes a series of
written entreaties for the other to change the date. They go beyond
functional writing and resort to hilarious, overt parables.
Frustration mounts as the other students in the class are conflicted
about which party to attend.
Various ideas to decide the winner are proffered. Whilst some are
untenable, a few ideas are tested. The jelly bean jar competition is
foiled by Mr Macaloon, the relief teacher replacing Ms Fennel, who
is taking a 3D printing course. The highlight is Jimmy's
disappearance, which is followed by the disappearance of most of the
class. In Ms Fennel's absence, Alice and Jimmy take it upon
themselves to administer the class points system. That doesn't end
well either.
Which ambitious Third Grader will triumph or will the birthday wars
end in a truce? One thing is certain, this is another laugh-out-loud
hit from the creators of Alice Toolie and Captain Jimmy
books. In The birthday wars, Alice and Jimmy continue to be
both very polite and very manipulative - in other words, extremely
intelligent and interesting children.
Read more about the authors
on their website.
Deborah Robins
Monkey time by Michael Hall
Greenwillow Books, 2019. ISBN: 9780062383020. 48pp., hbk. Monkey is trying to catch time.
Up, down, and all around Monkey goes.
Can Monkey catch a minute
Can you?
From the creator of both Little
iand Red,
a crayon's story comes a new story that explores time,
this time. Asleep in a tree with branches remarkably like a clock
face, Monkey is taunted by Minute who challenges him to catch him as
he races around the 'clock'. And when, despite Monkey's frantic
effort, Minute beats him another Minute pops up with the same
challenge.
'We are lightning fast, and you are a slowpoke, Monkey.'
Fifty-nine times, Monkey chases the minutes until . . .
Time is a very abstract concept for young children and while they
constantly hear about 'Just a minute' and 'Wait a minute' and so on,
it is hard for them to know just how long a minute is. For anyone,
even an adult, who is watching the clock a minute can whiz by or it
can drag like a gammy leg, so it's no wonder it's a tricky concept
for a little one to grasp. However, by having fun with the book and
challenging the child to see what can be accomplished in a minute
using a one-minute egg-timer as a visual reference, it will start
them on the journey towards understanding. The addition of the
strategy for breaking an hour up into blocks and the counting
endpapers enhance the power of the book, as do the descriptions of
the rainforest creatures that appear in Monkey's story.
Barbara Braxton
The little mermaid by Geraldine McCaughrean
Illus. by Laura Barrett. Orchard, 2019. ISBN: 9781408357231.
(Age: 7+) Highly recommended. Themes: Fairy tales, Hans Christian
Anderson, Mermaids, Cautionary tales. When a little mermaid gives up
her tail, voice and her home in the sea because she loves a prince,
it is to be hoped that she receives his love in return, after all
she saved his life when he was drowning at sea. But no, she cannot
tell him, she has given up her voice, and he marries the princess
from the country next door. This Hans Christian Anderson tale always
intrigued me, and even more so when it was modernised so that true
love came out trumps in the end. I preferred the one where she went
back to sea a wiser and happier mermaid, although Anderson's tale
has a religious ending that surprised me when checking the original
story for the review.
This wonderful retelling by McCaughrean comes from the original
Anderson fairy tale and will be a pleasant surprise for all readers.
Mermaid Delphine falls for the prince, and despite warnings from her
five golden haired sisters, takes the potion from the sea witch who,
in exchange, swallows her voice like an oyster. Delphine stays with
the prince in his palace, a companion who dances for him but must
wash her feet each night to wash off the blood. But the prince does
not know that she loves him and marries the princess from another
land, and with that the witch's curse says that Delphine's heart
must break and she return to the sea as sea foam.
Her sisters sell their hair to the sea witch in return for a knife
with which Delphine must kill the prince in order for her to return
home, the magic spell broken. But Delphine cannot do this and so
jumps into the sea where a greater magic than that of the sea witch
restores her to her family.
This beautiful retelling is accompanied by the most engaging of
illustrations: against a sea of blue, black silhouettes appear,
mermaids and sea creatures wind their way across the pages, the
mermaids' hair spilling out behind their tailed bodies, the weeds,
small fish and different blues contrasting with the world on land
with women in their large ornate dresses, along with castles, horses
and the prince.
This would be a wonderful read aloud as well as an engaging series
of lessons in comparing fairy tales, or comparing this with the film
or asking people to retell the story of The little mermaid
before reading one of the versions. And of course there is the statue
in Copenhagen to wonder at.
Fran Knight
The middler by Kirsty Applebaum
Nosy Crow books, 2019. ISBN: 9781788003452.
(Age: 12-14) Recommended. Themes: Dystopian fiction, Future society,
Friendship, Loyalty, Siblings, Betrayal. Maggie is looking for a way
to make herself noticed. She is a middle child, not a heroic eldest,
who will help to fight in the silent war to help her society. When
you turn 14 you go to camp and then to fight, it is a tradition that
no-one questions. But Maggie is not an eldest and laments the fact
that she is often forgotten even by her own family, so finding and
catching a Wanderer seems the best and most noble thing she can
manage to change that. Maggie and all the other townsfolk are
indoctrinated during their schooling to believe that the boundary of
the town is there to keep them safe from the outside world and the
wanderers - dirty, deceitful, dangerous people that don't have a
town to call home. So why does the one that Maggie has met seem so
nice and friendly? Una and her father are certainly dirty but are
they dangerous? She has connected with them and she feels compelled
to help. Una's father is badly injured, her mother is dead, so
Maggie gets the medicine they need and gives them food. She tells
herself that she will turn them in but when this happens facts are
revealed that make her question everything she has ever been told
about her society.
Maggie narrates the story, telling us about her family in such
detail that we get to know them well: her eldest brother Jed, about
to leave for Camp; her youngest brother Trig, who is special and
needs extra care; her hard-working mother and father; a family
living in the 20th century but at a time when the war has meant life
is a struggle and they don't always have the things they need to
live an easy life.
This book allows us to see that everyone has a different point of
view and putting yourself in another's shoes often reveals the truth
about life instead of the beliefs and prejudices that surround us.
The story could link with discussions about refugees and how their
lives are affected by the way society views their situation and life
choices.
Gabrielle Anderson
100 ways to fly by Michelle Taylor
UQP, 2019. ISBN: 9780702262500.
(Age: Younger readers) Recommended. Themes: Poetry. I confess that I
like poetry . . . for the play that can be enjoyed with woven words,
for the power of a well-placed rhyme or of the quirk of an idea that
stretches the imagination. And so, this book by Michelle Taylor is a
delightful excursion into poetry for younger readers that I am happy
to recommend. She manages to explore language in ways that are
appealing to the young, but without being childish. Some of her
poems, riddles or tongue twisters are very short - but incredibly
potent in the way they have been squeezed into such a small space.
Some of her explorations of metaphor or an idea can transport you to
far away places . . . and perhaps even to fly; and her use of
pattern and shape gives new examples of this form of expression.
This would make a great book for a classroom teacher looking for
ways to inspire their students to love poetry or to modify their own
thinking about what a poem might look like or sound like as the
words trip off the tongue. Teacher's
notes are available. And there are of course young readers who
love to read something that does not take a long time. This poetry
collection would appeal to them too.
Carolyn Hull
Daddy cuddle by Kate Mayes
Illus. by Sara Acton. ABC Books, 2015. ISBN: 9780733338021. 32pp.,
pbk.
Very early in the morning and as Little Bunny's eyes go ping, his
brain thinks of only one thing! And he sets to work to achieve it.
As Little Bunny does all that he can to rouse his sleeping daddy and
get him to play, there is no response. But eventually, Daddy wakes
up and despite all the plans that Little Bunny has suggested there
is just one thing that they both want . . . and Daddy gets to stay
in bed just that little bit longer!
Celebrating the special relationship between father and child, with
its gentle illustrations, this is one that despite its sparse but
repetitive and predictable text builds tension and anticipation as
the reader wonders whether Daddy will ever wake up - and just how he
will react when he does. This is a charming story that will resonate
with both parent and young child because it tells a tale that we are
all familiar with.
Barbara Braxton
The pillars by Peter Polites
Hachette, 2019. ISBN: 9780733640186
(Age: Adult) Themes: Identity, LGBTQI+, Consumerism, Racism.
Pano, a Greek Australian gay guy has been commandeered by his
housemate/landlord into campaigning against the proposed mosque in
their neighbourhood, because of its posited impact on house values;
and the schemes that he and Kane become involved in are both funny
and horrible at the same time. Pano is an aspiring writer, he is
sensitive and thoughtful, but he is always at the beck and call of
others, powerless in relationships that verge on callous and
abusive.
The author's style of writing is humorous and ironic, the reader is
engaged by the wit, but the subjects are dark, dealing with racism,
classism, exploitation, predatory sex and 'indifferent
relationships'.
When Pano reaches an all-time low, it seems the only way forward is
to play the same game as his abusers.
The novel is clever and well written; it exposes elements of
Australian life we might not like to confront. Not a story for
everyone, but no doubt authentic in its portrayal of
marginalisation.
Teachers/librarians are advised the book contains explicit sex
scenes.
Helen Eddy
