Renegades trilogy, book 2. Pan Macmillan, 2018. ISBN:
9781760559526.
(Age: 12+) Highly recommended. Archenemies by Marissa Meyer
is the second book of the Renegades trilogy. This is a
continuation of Renegades,
the previous book in the series and takes place shortly after the
conclusion of the first book. Much like the first book Renegades,
Archenemies also has aspects of an Action/Romance novel which
takes place in a world of superheroes and supervillains. The two
main characters Nova and Adrian are friends and each have a romantic
interest with the other, however unbeknownst to each other they are
each other's worst nightmares; Adrian as the Sentinel and Nova as
Nightmare. After the ending of the first book Nova is trusted by the
Renegades even more after she saved many of them from an explosive
death. Nova however is struggling to hide her feelings for Adrian
while she attempts to destroy the Renegades, the so-called heroes
who failed her in her time of need.
Much like the first book this was an enjoyable read and a great
continuation of the series. From the beginning I was immersed with
the story as I knew the characters, and I wanted to know what
happened next. Compared to the previous book, Archenemies is
very action packed and there are numerous fighting scenes described
in the book. The characters are also developed more and become more
of their own persona and feel more real, as if they were a real
person. I would recommend Archenemies to people who have
read the previous book Renegades
and who have a love for superheroes and comics.
Hoop P. (Student)
The astro naughty naughty Baddies by Mark Sperring
Illus. by David Tazzyman. Bloomsbury, 2019. ISBN: 9781408897782.
(Ages: 5-9) Themes: Humorous Stories. This is a follow-up to 2017's
The
naughty naughty Baddies, in which four diabolically dreadful
children attempt to steal all the spots off the Queen's Little Doggy
Woof-Woof. In this instalment the Baddies are about to blast off to
the moon. Why? To capture some aliens of course and win a toy-tastic
reward of course. But taking off into space and bringing back aliens
isn't naughty, is it? Why not pretend to be aliens and HOODWINK the
President into giving them the reward?!
Mark Sperring is probably best known for his Dino series (Dino-Mummy,
Dino-Daddy,
etc.) and David Tazzyman for his illustrative work in the
bestselling You
can't take an elephant on the bus. Tazzyman's cartoonish,
scribbly illustrations work perfectly with this madcap tale
featuring four intelligent but horrid children and humorous details
abound within each picture. The text reads incredibly well aloud and
has perfect pace, rhythm and suggested expression ('In three clicks
of a knitting needle the DASTARDLY plan was underway and, at EXACTLY
four minutes past snack time, the Naughty, Naughty Baddies landed in
the President's bedroom'). This is silly and fun with an
uncomplicated storyline and school-age children will love it. Adults
might not want to be encouraging naughty behaviour but their
behaviour is ridiculous rather than naughty (and they don't actually
get away with the reward) and the President is also a laughable
person, far too easily tricked by these children and their makeshift
alien costumes!
Nicole Nelson
Don't make me cross by Smriti Prasadam-Halls
Ill. by Angie Rozelaar. Bloomsbury, 2019. ISBN 9781408885611
(Age: 4+) Recommended. Themes: Selfishness, Sharing, Anger, Birthday
parties, Friendship, Family. Little Monster is very unhappy. It is
his birthday and although he has invited his friends, they do not
seem to revel in his winning all the games or eating all the best
food. He likes to win, and when he does not, he becomes very cross,
displaying his bad temper for all to see. Sitting at the table he
takes all the best food, after all it is his birthday, much to the
chagrin of his guests. When the group plays hide and seek, the
disgruntled guests take the game at its word, and hide so that
Little Monster cannot find them.
Told in four line rhyming stanzas, children will laugh out loud at
the antics of Little Monster, displaying his bad temper and selfish
behaviour for all to see. Children will love anticipating the last
word of each verse, learning some of the verses to repeat with the
reader, or say out loud to their friends. They will easily recognise
the bad behaviour of the monster, and learn that perhaps his
behaviour is not the kind of behaviour that wins friends. They will
laugh out loud at the results of his selfishness as he falls over
the table laden with all the food, but smile as his friends forgive
him when he realises the folly of his behaviour.
A neatly drawn cautionary tale, children will recognise the moral,
and be enchanted with the funny illustrations, making the most of
the behaviour tantrums put on by Little Monster. The looks on the
faces will brings tears of laughter, while the things the monster
does in wrecking his own party will cause readers to talk about the
things he should have done in welcoming people to his party.
Fran Knight
The shining wall by Melissa Ferguson
Transit Lounge Publishing; 2019. 295p; pbk. ISBN: 9781925760187.
(Age: Senior secondary) The novel is set in a distant future, where
the elite lock themselves in a mega city and clone Neanderthals to
do their dirty work, while the disadvantaged struggle to survive
outside the walls. Impoverished 'Demi-Citizen' Alida is trying to
survive while providing for her ill sister, while Neanderthal clone
Shuqba questions her beliefs when faced with prejudice and
injustice.
And that's all that happens for hundreds of pages. The pacing leaves
something to be desired, with much of the novel's early chapters
just setting up character relationships and how terribly grim the
world is. The sisters spend longer together than apart, where their
separation is supposed to be the driving conflict once events
finally start moving.
The use of slang was also distracting - words like 'sleep', 'see'
and 'money' just don't exist in this world, which could easily
confuse a non-native speaker.
In general, The shining wall does a poor job of engaging the
reader, and does not seem to have much to say besides the stale
message about classism its entire genre shades.
Due to the high mature audience themes including drug abuse and
prostitution evident throughout, this book is not recommended for
readers younger than upper high school (Years 10-12).
Vincent Hermann
The island of sea women by Lisa See
Simon and Schuster, 2019. ISBN: 9781471183850.
(Age: 16+) Highly recommended. 'A woman is not meant for the
household!' Did you know that on the island of Jeju in Korea, it was
the tradition in the 1930s for women to go to work, diving for
abalone, octopus, sea urchins, crabs and sea slugs, bringing in
their sea harvest to support their families? It was the men who
stayed home, cooked the meals and tended to the children. The
haenyeo, women divers, were expert at capturing their breath and
diving deep, taking what they needed and living in harmony with
their environment.
Young-sook and Mi-ja are two haenyeo friends, diving together.
Young-sook is continuing her family tradition, diving with her
mother, whilst Mi-ja is the daughter of a despised Japanese
collaborator living with an abusive uncle and aunt, never knowing
the love of a mother. Young-sook's mother takes Mi-ja into the
diving collective, and trains her along with her daughter. The two
girls become the closest of friends.
From the first chapter, we know that something has happened between
the two girls. It is 2008 and Young-sook, as an old woman, is
collecting algae along the shore when she is approached by an
American tourist asking about her grandmother Mi-ja. Young-sook
denies ever knowing her. Why does Young-sook lie, and why does she
refuse to have anything to do with the visitors?
Whilst telling the story of Japanese and American conflict in Korea,
during the 1930s, 1940s, World War II and the Korean War, Lisa See
explores what it means to be close friends, the shared secrets, the
jealousies, and the heart-breaking betrayals - for only a loved
friend knows how to inflict the deepest wound. I think most readers
would identify with that situation - when someone they cared about
lets them down or hurts them in some way. But the mystery of what it
was that divided the two young women carries the reader breathlessly
to the very last chapter.
This is a really interesting book, combining a well-researched
history of the period, with a thought-provoking exploration of
friendship, and the bitter after-effects of being unable to forgive.
Helen Eddy
Little Bird's day by Sally Morgan
Ill. by Johnny Warrkatja Malibiir. Magabala Books, 2019. ISBN:
9781925768923.
(Age: 4+) Highly recommended. Themes: Aboriginal themes, Birds,
Humour. Little Bird welcomes the day as the sun rises, ready to
'sing the world alive' as he watches those that have not risen with
the sun, is buffeted by the wind blowing the trees and leaves, flies
with the clouds up high, joins other feathery friends, opens his
wings to the rain to wash his body, then flies into the dusk. With
night falling, Little Bird sits on a branch ready to roost with the
other birds, worn out from their day of activity.
The seemingly simple text allows children to see the way the day
unfolds, teaching them the words for many parts of their environment
and for the parts of the day. Little Bird's Day teaches young children about the morning
sun, the time to wake up, the day where you frolic with friends, but
must wash at some time, the dusk when things start to slow down, the
evening when sleep comes.
This charming story will captivate all readers, watching and
learning of Little Bird's day, recognising their own participation
as the day unfolds.
Malibirr's glorious illustrations are spell binding as he uses
traditional colours (red, brown, ochre, black and white) as well as
motifs (closely packed lines and large panels of white outlined
colour) to show the Little Bird at his tasks during the day. Readers
will love looking at the humour in the illustrations, highlighting
the bird's interaction with the other animals and rest with him when
he falls asleep on the branch with the other birds.
Malibirr is the inaugural winner of the Kestin Indigenous
Illustrator's Award.
Fran Knight
Our little inventor by Sher Rill Ng
Allen and Unwin, 2019. ISBN: 9781760523565.
(Age: 4+) Theme: Environment, Inventors, Pollution, Determination.
Melbourne artist and designer Sher Rill Ng's debut picture book, Our
Little Inventor tells the readers about a young scientist,
Nell, who wants to save the Big City from the smoke and soot that
pollutes the air. Strong and determined the girl takes her invention
to the Big City and provokes and annoys the men in the government
offices, and consequently is shown the door. But the secretary Miss
Li believes in her and writes to her to say so. Receiving the letter
at home, determines Nell to try again, and she and her siblings make
a bigger version of her pollution solving machine.
Once again she goes to the Big City, to be greeted with derision
once again from those in charge, but in turning to the coughing
populace, she asks whether she should try. Receiving a resounding
yes, she turns on her machine to the betterment of all.
Strong and resilient, inventive and determined, Nell is a wonderful
role model for readers, making a machine which she then takes to the
Big City, solving an environmental problem common to many countries.
The painterly illustrations, with nods to Steampunk and gaming
illustrative techniques, reveal a nineteenth century landscape which
begs readers to look closely at the richly detailed pages as they
are turned.
I love the endpapers giving a before and after view of the Big City,
impelling readers to look for such evidence in today's cities.
Images of today's Beijing spring to mind, while before and after
images of London can be found after the Great
Smog of London in 1952 forced authorities to take action.
Fran Knight
Izzy + Tristan by Shannon Dunlap
Hachette, 2019. ISBN: 9781510104358.
(Age: 15+) Themes : race, romance, chess, gangs, drugs, school
relationships, mental health. This book ends with the same words it
starts with. 'This is not a novel. It's a romance.' It is a story
about romance, one of fierce longing and desire to be with the one
you love. It is a modern day love story of two people with totally
different backgrounds and a typical 'star crossed lovers' feel to
it.
Tristan is an African American teenager living with his Aunt while
his father comes to terms with his mother's untimely death. Even
though he has lived with his Aunt for two years and has a tight
family bond with Marcus his street smart cousin, Tristan doesn't
feel like he belongs there. Marcus is confident and a con artist
with a posse who cling onto his every word. Tristan is a chess
wizard and academic and Marcus uses this to his advantage by setting
up matches between unsuspecting opponents and his cousin for cash.
Tristan isn't comfortable with this but doesn't feel he can stand up
to Marcus, and despite their close family bond, Tristan feels a
little intimidated by him.
Izzy's parents have moved Izzy and her twin brother Hull into a new
neighbourhood and new school, hoping for new experiences for their
family but things don't go quite as well as they had hoped. They are
a white family in a borough of predominantly mixed races and the
perception of them is of a rich white family living amongst the not
so fortunate. Hull is also a wiz at chess and an encounter with
Marcus and Tristan takes an unexpected turn.
Meanwhile Izzy and Tristan first meet in class and it is almost love
at first sight. Even after the incident involving her twin and
Tristan, Izzy isn't put from her attraction to him and a clandestine
relationship evolves. Unfortunately, Marcus also has his eye on Izzy
and the two of them decide against telling Marcus of their love.
Izzy's friend Brianna is secretly in love with Marcus and she tries
not to let it bother her that Marcus is in love with Izzy but as is
always the case with blind love, decisions can blur peoples
misguided intentions. Friends and family bonds are fractured, and
the reader is kept on their toes waiting to see what eventuates.
As the story evolves it becomes apparent that a critical incident is
imminent despite the couples' struggle to keep their relationship
going. Whilst it appears that some relationships are mending there
is still that underlying feeling of foreboding. The ending is
expected in some ways and surprising in others.
This would be a good comparative text for Romeo and Juliet.
I would give this book to 15+ readers
because of some of the language and themes (minimal).
Gerri Mills
Stargazer : A Step-by-step Guide to the Southern Night Sky - foreword by Dr Maggie Aderin-Pocock
Penguin Random House, 2019. ISBN: 9780143795575.
(Age: 9+) Recommended. Themes: Astronomy, constellations, Milky Way.
This non-fiction guide book is a step by step guide to how stars are
divided into constellations, the motion of stars in the night sky,
the factors affecting conditions for stargazing and then a great
reference on finding specific southern sky constellations such as
the Southern Cross and astronomical objects such as galaxies and
nebulae. The reference is divided into 'routes' which guide the
viewer through star constellations and astronomical objects along a
path, explaining notable features and background information for
each, including their mythological roots. To conclude the book takes
a look at closer astronomical objects such as the moon and planets
and how to find them in the night sky.
This book would be a great companion for a budding star-gazer. It is
easy to follow and contains great information on many of the
constellations visible in the Southern Sky without overwhelming the
reader with detail. Its relevance to Australian skies, great
pictures and easy to follow 'routes' are a plus and I would
recommend to anyone as an introduction to the night sky.
Michael Pledger
The wonder of trees by Nicola Davies
Illus. by Lorna Scobie. Hodder Children's Books, 2019. ISBN:
9781444938197.
(Ages: 5+) Highly recommended. Themes: Trees, Animal habitats.
Nicola Davies is an English Zoologist and prolific writer of
children's books, including picture books, non-fiction and novels.
This title follows the same style as Davies and Scobie's 2017
publication The variety of life, which looked at the
incredible diversity of life within the animal kingdom. This title,
The wonder of trees, does a similar thing in celebrating the
incredible adaptability of trees, and explains how creatures,
including humans, rely on them. Lorna Scobie's watercolour
illustrations are beautiful, delicate and full of vibrant colour
from flowers, leaves and animal life and make the book deserving of
its large format. The author/illustrator combination work perfectly
as both Scobie and Davies work almost exclusively on projects
involving the natural world. This is equally accessible for a
five year old and a fourteen year old because of its short
paragraphs, large illustrations and its use of simple language,
despite containing some complex information. There is no contents or
index page but the book is clearly defined into sections with
headings running in bold down the side of each page. The first few
pages outline what trees are and how they evolved, including ancient
and now extinct trees. The next section deals with different parts
of trees, including close up illustrations of the teeny-tiny tubes
in wood and information about how root fungus allow trees to
communicate with each other. There are also close-ups of different
varieties of tree bark. There is then a section about how different
animals and plants use trees for habitats, food, transport and
safety. The next looks at specific habitats or communities of trees
(taiga forest, temperate woodlands, dry gum forests, cloud forests
and tropical rainforests) and the last looks at the relationship
between people and trees, both how we benefit from trees and how we
are destroying them. The book finishes by detailing how we can help
by planting trees in our backyard or community. A quite
comprehensive and easily accessible glossary is included at the
back. Each of the trees pictured within the book and many of the
animals, are named, both with common name and scientific name. This
is an incredibly comprehensive look at the world of trees, useful
for school projects but also just a beautiful book to peruse at
leisure. It is a true treat which will fascinate, educate and
inspire both young and old.
Nicole Nelson
Happy girl lucky by Holly Smale
Valentines book 1. HarperCollins, 2019. ISBN 9780008254148. Happy girl lucky is an easy read for young girls who are
innocent and always try to see the best in everything.
Meet Hope Valentine, a fifteen year old girl who has the life of a
Barbie. Except she isn't allowed to be showed off to the public
until she is sixteen. Hope has 3 siblings Faith, Mercy and Max who
are all celebrities because they are a valentine.
In Hope's mind life is like a movie. Everything is edited to look
perfect. She looks past every bad thing. She is aways happy - it's
Hope's thing. After all she is happy girl lucky! She dreams of
finding the perfect boyfriend. Hope just can't wait to get out and
be revealed to the world.
One night her older brother Max sees Hope looking a bit down and
decides to sneak her into a party with lots of celebrities. Hope's
whole family is there. Hope sees her sisters arguing and decides to
eavesdrop on their conversation. She hears them calling her
insulting names and talking about a serious secret. As Hope sees
everything in a good light she doesn't want to hear a bit more of
it. So she leaves. As she is boarding the train, the doors close on
her! She is then pulled through the doors by the most gorgeous boy
she has ever seen. She sits with him on the train and they talk. She
is amazed. As he leaves Hope wishes she got an invite to meet him
again one day. Then a few seconds later he appears in front of Hope
once more.
Annabel W. (student)
Star Wars character encyclopedia by Simon Beecroft et al.
New edition. DK Publishing, 2019. ISBN: 9780241386071.
(Age: 8+) Recommended. Fans of the Star Wars sagas will welcome this
new edition of Star Wars character encyclopedia, with its
guide to approximately 218 characters, including the heroes, droids
and enemies of the galaxy. It includes new characters from Rogue
One: A Star Wars story, Star Wars: The last Jedi, and
Solo: A Star Wars story.
Arranged in alphabetical order, each character has a page of
attractive photographs and information about their affiliation,
appearance and what their skills are. There are stills from the
movies, and the photographs of the characters themselves are
beautifully produced and will thrill any reader who loves the
movies.
DK Publishing can be trusted to produce handsome, well bound and
interesting books and this is no exception. It contains a useful
contents page of all the characters found in the book and a
comprehensive index provides access to details about the characters
and their actions.
It is fun to dip into the book, looking for familiar and well-loved
characters, but fans will want to start at the beginning and read
until the end. It is a book that won't stay on the library or class
room shelf for very long.
Pat Pledger
Beyond the outback edited by Bronwyn Blake
Hachette, 2019. ISBN: 9780733642203.
(Age: Adult) Recommended. Blake has collected together amazing
stories from women of remote north-west Queensland, the outback
stations up near the Gulf of Carpentaria, women who have endured
hardship, isolation and adventure, and who have absolutely loved it!
These are women who have battled crocodiles, broken in wild horses,
fought off wild pigs, given birth alone, and saved lives in medical
emergencies.
The stories also include oral histories from Aboriginal women who
worked in the missions and the stations, living in harsh conditions,
but who would never want to leave their Country.
Despite the hardship there are many humorous swash-buckling
adventures that will make you laugh and read on. They seem like
tales from another era, but are probably still a true reflection of
life in the far outback, despite changes wrought by modern
communications.
The stand-out story for me was 'Gulf waters warrior', Riki Gunn's
account of the campaign to put an end to ghost nets - derelict nets
washing up on beaches, called ghost nets because they don't belong
to anyone but which still trap fish as though operated by a ghost.
The project included the Indigenous communities in the Gulf of
Carpentaria all working together to end the scourge of nets, finding
alternative ways to recycle the waste nets, as well as working with
the Indonesian government to put an end to foreign trawling in
Indonesian waters.
Bronwyn Blake, the editor, writes that she wanted to preserve the
histories of the region as well as give recognition to the abilities
of these outback women, including their ability to tell a story. I
am sure that all readers will find value in this unique and
fascinating collection.
Helen Eddy
In the bush I see by Kiara Honeychurch
Magabala Books, 2019. ISBN: 9781925360912.
(Ages: 0-3) Themes: Australian animals, Board book. This is another
title in the Young Art board book series by young Indigenous
Australian artists. Previous publications include At the
zoo I see and In the
city I see. Here, high-school student Honeychurch's
illustrations warmly and honestly depict Australian bush animals.
Each page contains a simple white background featuring a realistic
drawing of an animal, each with a pop of neon colour for visual
interest and to suggest the light thrown across them at different
times of the day. The text names the creature and describes their
movement or behaviour: a nosey hen, a screeching cockatoo, a swarm
of wasps, a waddling echidna, etc. The illustrations give a sense of
the movement described within the text, both within the drawing of
the individual creatures and the way they flow from page to page.
This is an ideal book to share with the very young as it introduces
new vocabulary (names of creatures, adjectives) and the short text
is perfect for limited attention spans. It is also a very impressive
debut for a promising young artist.
Nicole Nelson
The Honeyman and the Hunter by Neil Grant
Allen and Unwin, 2019. ISBN: 9781760631871.
(Age: 15+) Highly recommended. Themes: Culture; Family
relationships; Cross-cultural identity; Beliefs; Dreams and reality;
Indian Australians; Decisions and their consequences; Identity;
Death and dying. Neil Grant writes with great elegance and an
impressive light touch in this poignant and stirring story of a
teen, Rudra, who is coming to grips with his place in Australian
society and the world. Rudra is the son of Cord Solace, a hard
Aussie fisherman and Nayna Solace, his Indian wife. Nayna met Cord
while she was pursuing University study in Australia and her
relationship with Cord is now, ironically, frayed - the consequence
of his emotional abuse. Nayna is no longer treated as an intelligent
woman, and their financial circumstances are fraught. Family tension
is almost palpable and Rudra is also impacted by his father's
heavy-handed manner.
Rudra is trapped in a strange land where his appearance identifies
him as a 'foreigner', and yet he knows very little of his mother's
homeland. His best friend is an 'honest-as-the-day-is-long' Aussie
teenager, exploring surfing and speaking truths that always push
boundaries but never seem to offend. He also has an important
listening ear in his father's dirt-poor 'salt-of-the-earth'
deckhand. When Rudra's Indian grandmother (Didima) arrives, the
stories she tells of his Indian forbears weaves a connection to the
hidden story of his Australian ancestry with a mystical quality and
some dream-like and spiritual overtones. Her stay and the sadness
that follows, awakens the possibility of connecting to his Indian
heritage and eventually leads him to discover the cultural maelstrom
of West Bengal itself. This thrusts him into an adventure to restore
what has been damaged over generations, but the risks are high.
With Indian Honeymen on sunken islands, hunters who kill tigers and
the confronting nature of Indian society and cultural and spiritual
beliefs, flowing in and under the wash of the ocean and the capture
of ocean creatures in difficult circumstances, this is a book that
is so much more than a simple narrative. Metaphor and lyrical
language and the cross-cultural understanding of different cultures
and belief systems adds to the power and intensity of this book. And
yet it is essentially a story of the difficulty of growing into
one's own skin and knowing who you really are. On many levels this
is a story that should be savoured for readers who like to think! It
would make a brilliant book for Senior English students to study and
discuss, and it is wonderful to have a book for Indian Australians
to connect with. Teacher
notes are available.
Carolyn Hull
