Simon and Schuster, 2019. ISBN: 9781471182976.
(Age: 17+) Recommended. This book was captivating. A powerful story
of relationships is told through the eyes of Henri, Eddie and Sam.
It tackles a subject of much debate - life after death.
The story begins as Henri Skinner is on his way to meet his son. He
rescues a young girl from the river and is hit by a car. He is in a
coma and visited by his son Samuel Noam Valentiner.
Henri is a hero in many ways and Eddie Tomlin is the woman he loves.
Eddie and Henri have a complicated relationship that has unfinished
business.'God' is a powerful figure in the book, guiding Eddie and
Sam as their journey alongside Henri through the in-between world of
coma unfolds. We see the characters Henri, Sam and Eddie slowly
developed through their perspectives on loss, missed opportunities
and reflections on the past.
The unfinished business of life is sensitively explored through
Sam's life experiences and the powerful dream sequences relayed by
Henri and Eddie. The intensive care unit provides Sam a
serendipitous meeting with Maddie, a young ballet dancer immersed in
a coma. Sam, as a synesthete, communicates with Maddie and Henri in
a way that enables him to connect with their current state and it is
this communication that drives the last chapters with a sense of
urgency and intensity that keeps the pages turning and evokes tears
for the reader. The resolution of the unfinished business between
Sam's mother and Henri brings clarity to a family relationship
offering hope to Sam.
This is a story told sensitively and evocatively as it explores love
- first love, fathers and sons, friendship, family and the
willingness to be open to and accepting of love. The book explores
the boundaries between life and death from differing perspectives
without judgement and leaves the reader with this...
'There's more between life and death than we can tell from here.'
Linda Guthrie
Lottie and Walter by Anna Walker
Puffin Books, 2019. ISBN: 9780143787181.
(Age: 3+) Recommended. Themes: Fear, Swimming, Swimming lessons,
Confidence. When Lottie goes to the pool with her webbed feet ready
to swim, she cannot dive in. She knows a secret, one her mother or
baby brother or even the swimming teacher do not know; there is a
shark in the pool and it wants to eat her. Each Saturday morning she
goes to the pool, gets into her swimming gear, then takes them off
again when ready to leave. She does not even get wet.
One day mum tells her that the next Saturday will be the pool party.
She reminds Lottie how much she enjoys parties.
Lottie is confused, but when she looks into the puddle at her feet,
she sees, not a shark but a walrus. Walter follows her home, where
she discovers that he does not talk, but sings instead. He also
likes books and bubble baths and fish fingers, just like Lottie.
When she goes to sleep, Walter is there, singing away her fear of
the dark.
The next Saturday, Lottie goes to the pool, and sits back watching
her friends having a pool party. She does not join in but spying
Walter in the pool, singing, she takes a giant leap.
This delightful tale of overcoming fears will resonate with all
children who have a fear: fear of the dark, of spiders, of being
alone, of swimming, of something new.
The book allows children to see that Lottie can overcome her fear,
and encourages them to do the same.
The delightful watercolour illustrations will entice readers to seek
out Lottie and Walter as they turn the pages, contrasting Lottie's
worries with the enthusiasm of the rest of the group playing in the
pool. Readers will simply adore Walter, watching out for him as he
encourages Lottie to dive into the pool and join her friends. Mr
Huff (2014) also by Walker, has a similar underlying theme,
that of overcoming a fear, enjoining children to realise that their
fear has no base and can be overcome. Both books deal with mental
health in a way that encourages empathy. Teacher's
notes are available.
Fran Knight
Cocoon by Aura Parker
Scholastic, 2019. ISBN: 9781742765129.
(Age: 4+) Themes: Metamorphosis, Moths and butterflies, Cocoons,
Insects. Dawn and her friends are larvae, aware that soon they will
change and become encased in a cocoon from which they will emerge as
moths or butterflies. The group cannot wait. They dream of weaving
their cocoon and developing wings while inside their cocoon.
The story then follows Dawn and her friends as this stage of their
development occurs. Parker creates humorous watercolour
illustrations to show the insects as they eat an enormous amount of
leaves, waiting for their cocooning. When Dawn feels that her time
has come, she begins to weave her cocoon, at first knitting one
which simply does not work. When she arrives at the correct method
of enveloping herself within the cocoon, she settles down, wondering
just when her wings will appear.
Young readers will be enthralled waiting with Dawn as her change
appears, and imagining what she will turn into. Parker's use of the
correct words will facilitate an introduction for young readers to a
natural science lesson leading on to a discussion about moths and
butterflies and their life cycles.
On the last endpaper, the author has included a number of things for
readers to seek out.
Fran Knight
Sherlock Bones and the natural history mystery by Renee Treml
Allen and Unwin, 2019. ISBN: 9781760523954.
(Age: 9+) Themes: Mystery, Graphic story, Museums. This book could
best be described as oddball. With a simple cartoon-graphic style,
the main character, aptly named as Sherlock Bones, is shown as a
tawny frogmouth skeleton 'living' in the Natural History Museum. His
sidekick, Holmes, is an avian taxidermy specimen! When a blue
diamond in the Museum goes missing, Sherlock is 'on the case'. A
raccoon is a bizarre associate and occasional annoyance.
With exceptionally lame humour and quirky illustrations, this is a
few minutes of entertainment that will require the 'suspension of
disbelief' as it is far from a credible tale. It is really suited to
children who struggle with reading and need a 'graphic' text, or
more able readers who need a few minutes of distraction, and the
eccentricity of the book will probably drive its own interest. Teacher's
tips are available.
Carolyn Hull
One tree by Christopher Cheng
Illus. by Bruce Whatley. Puffin, 2019. ISBN: 9780143786733.
(Age: 4+) Highly recommended. Themes: Environment, Change,
Urbanisation, China, Gardens. A boy who lives in an apartment in a
city is saddened that his Grandfather who lives with them rarely
speaks; his father has told him that this man was always full of
stories, particularly about his farm where he lived beneath a large
tree.
The boy knows well the story of the old man, taking his produce to
the village market, where if someone asked where he lived, he
proudly pointed to the large tree on the hill.
But now the crowded apartments block the old landscape, and he is
unhappy, looking only at a picture on the wall of his farm. But a
chance sighting of a small seedling growing in the footpath gives
the boy and his grandfather a way of communicating, a way to talk to
each other, one to tell his stories and teach the younger child, the
boy to listen and learn from his grandfather.
Christopher Cheng's heritage gives a resounding strength to this
wonderful story of youth and age, of change and adaptation. The
apartment houses represent a new way of life, one that the old man
finds hard to accept, remembering instead the open fields and hills
where he once lived. His memories come back when the boy brings home
the seedling, Grandfather gradually becoming involved in the growing
of the seedling, buying soil and a pot, telling the boy he must talk
to his tree, leave it on the balcony for warmth and sunlight, and
bring it in at night against the cold. The two sit together as their
plant multiplies, and the boy is proud when they can go to the
market and look up and recognise their flat by searching for the
green on the balcony. Sharing the seedlings means others put pots on
their balconies and the small act by one boy stimulates others in
his neighbourhood.
Whatley's masterful illustrations, using new techniques which
reference ages old lino and woodblock printing, will engage the
readers as he contrasts their lives. The life of the older man on
his farm, with his life today in the crowded city, the boy's life,
swamped by rows of moving feet on the footpath with Grandfather's
lone years tending his land. The images evolve through the story,
showing a reclusive old man becoming one who is engaged and
communicating, the landscape once open and forested to one filled
with apartment blocks, a boy who is puzzled to one who is rapt in
the attention of his grandfather. Poignant and evocative, Whatley's
detailed illustrations will remain with the reader as they close the
last page and think about the boy and his family.
This is a beautiful testimony to the place of older people within a
family, the wisdom they can pass on, the changes they have seen and
their evolving relationships with the younger generation. Cheng
inhabits his story with an almost mythic quality; it is like reading
a fable which readers will ponder long after the story has finished.
Teacher's
notes are available.
Fran Knight
Kids who did - Real kids who ruled, rebelled, survived and thrived by Kirsty Murray
Allen and Unwin, 2019. ISBN: 9781760524470.
(Age: 10+) Highly recommended. Themes: Children; Biography;
Survival; Overcoming difficulties; Fear; Prejudice; War; Sports;
Heroes and heroism. This is a collection of biographical accounts of
the lives of young people who have made a difference or who are
worthy of being noticed. Beginning with stories of ordinary kids and
their acts of bravery in extreme circumstances, it moves through an
array of amazing stories - whiz-kids using their extreme
intelligence; wild and feral children from history; historical
rulers who struggled to maintain power; rebels, battlers, change
agents and survivors who, despite their youth, were doing more than
might be expected of people so young.
This is an amazing and inspiring assortment of young people, many of
whom are not well known, and from all corners of the globe. The
consequence of this selection is that the reader discovers
motivation from the 'ordinary' beginnings of many of these
change-makers. Often their mark on the world has been significant
and is still evident. Some stories from History are quite
confronting - Holocaust and Child exploitation survivors; but there
are also uplifting accounts of heroism and personal resilience.
This book is written in an easy-to-read style with segues into each
section written in bold font to introduce a new direction. Kirsty
Murray's clear style will appeal to young readers. This will
certainly be a book that I will be recommending to encourage the
reading of the Biography genre.
Highly recommended for ages 10+.
Carolyn Hull
Dig by A.S. King
The Text Publishing Co., 2019. ISBN: 9781925773521. 391p.
(Age: 15+) Highly recommended. Themes: Bildungsroman/Family. The
Shoveler moves to town with his drifter mother. He begins the
familiar process of grappling with a new school, making friends and
finding a part-time job. In order to deal with ongoing domestic
violence, Loretta constructs a scripted fantasy world centring
around her Flea Circus. Malcom spends weekends off-shore with his
dying father as his anxiety mounts. CanIHelpYou is a drive-thru
attendant and local drug dealer tortured by her mother's racism.
Throughout the book, our delight in unearthing how the characters
are entwined is palpable. Dig begins as a play with a cast but quickly changes into a
novel - a postmodern feast of cumulative scenes mostly written in
the first person by alternating characters. Only The Freak, Jake and
Bill, and Malcom's grandparents Marla and Gottfried, are chronicled
by an all-seeing narrator. The Freak has the ability to astral
travel anywhere, frequently to be of assistance to the other
characters. Brothers, Jake and Bill have a strained relationship as
do Marla and Gottfried. Jake and Gottfried never meet but are linked
by a twisted subservience and loyalty towards their respective
'partners'.
The lack of nomenclature and ambiguity seems unsettling at first but
as separate lives progress, we know they are converging and we are
utterly fascinated. The amusing technique of not naming characters
explicitly is reminiscent of Anna Burns' Milkman, which won
the 2018 Man Booker, however King's chapters are tantalizingly brief
scenes or flashes in a fast moving montage.
A shared history of the ancestral potato farm, is a sustained
metaphor which connects all the estranged family members. Sebold's,
The Lovely Bones, will come to mind as we approach the final
scenes. Family patriarch, Gottfried, delivers one final epiphany of
complacency and regret. We ponder how often do our children become
our teachers? Dig represents the counter-intuitiveness of
the best of the YA genre in being an ingeniously choreographed
cautionary tale for all ages.
Deborah Robins
Boss Girl by Hilary Rogers
Girltopia Trilogy, book 2. Scholastic, 2019. ISBN:
9781742994598.
(Age: 10+) Recommended. Themes: Female Empowerment; Viruses; Science
Fiction. Set in Melbourne after a vicious virus has debilitated all
the males in the city leaving them unresponsive and needing constant
care. This story follows on from the first book in the series, Girltopia,
which saw 12 year-old Clara come to the fore as a well-known
identity after her exploits to rescue her father. In Boss Girl,
Clara is displaying her 'good girl' traits again, looking after the
sick, running activities for young girls, supporting her friends and
following the directions of her mother, who works as a scientist
searching for the cure to the virus. But Clara hides a big secret -
a hidden healthy male. This is a secret that she needs to keep from
her mother, she doesn't want Jack to become a scientist's 'guinea
pig'.
As this story unfolds, we see the developing society under female
rule, the entire community responding to the shift in the balance of
power. Some things seem to be moving forward smoothly, and yet a
visit to Clara's mother's work place leaves her with questions. Big
questions! Clara's role and notoriety also places her at the centre
of attention wherever she goes, and she is starting to wonder
whether there is a conspiracy at the heart of the viral attack. Who
can she trust? This book ends with a cliff-hanger - readers will not
be satisfied until the third part of this trilogy reveals what will
happen to all the male Melburnians, and whether there is a solution
and author of this major attack on society.
Written with a light touch, so the horrors of ill-health are merely
the backstory, rather than in the forefront for young readers, this
almost feels more like a Baby-sitters Club story at the
start. Clara is a character who is a 'good girl' role model who
struggles with her parent's separation, fame and even disobeying her
mother's instructions. As the story progresses, we do see more of a
social commentary and there are issues to ponder as the 'female
rule' is played out. Consequently, this book could stimulate
thinking for young readers and therefore is worth recommending.
Carolyn Hull
The Silver Thief by Cosentino and Jack Heath
Illus. by James Hart. The Mysterious World of Cosentino book 4. Scholastic, 2019.
ISBN: 9781742999326.
(Age: 7-9) Themes: Magicians, Adventure. Cosentino, the Grand
Illusionist returns in his fourth entertaining story, once again,
filled with magic, illusions, underwater adventure and daring
escapes. The Silver Thief steps off immediately after the
previous novel The Lost Treasure and these junior
illustrated novels need to be read in order.
Cosentino is excitedly preparing to open his new Coppertown magic
theatre and is practising an escape from a big block of ice. While
the dummy in the ice fools the crowd, the disguised illusionist
takes a walk in the park and has a chance encounter with a
mysterious figure. Cosentino is told about the evil King of Diamonds
who has slaves working in his silver mine and is keeping the profits
out of Coppertown.
With friends Ace and Princess Priscilla, Cosentino adopts a creative
disguise to fool the Svengali guards and enter the mine. Is it a
trap? Who does the King have slaving away in his mines? With the
help of some clever tricks Cosentino rescues the slaves, just in
time for his opening performance.
Jack Heath and Cosentino have created a cast of interesting
characters, added plenty of adventure and some exciting tricks.
James Hart's black, white and turquoise cartoon illustrations add
drama to this easy-to-read novel for ages 7-9. For the budding
magician, there are step-by-step instructions to make a vision box.
Rhyllis Bignell
Outside by Sarah Ann Juckes
Penguin Books, 2019. ISBN: 9780241330753.
(Age: 14+) Recommended. Since she was little, Ele was held in a cell
like room by a man called 'Him'. Her twin brother, Zeb, was also in
the cell with her. With nearly nothing to do, Ele started to imagine
things. Gradually, her imagination became so real that she thinks
that they're real. Including thinking that there are 'Others' in the
room with her, and there was simply no 'Outside'.
Juckes painted an intriguing picture of the 'Inside' and was
constantly asking the question 'Would you think there is an outside
if you haven't seen it?' Ele was initially a scared, fearful
character. She liked the inside and didn't want to escape. But over
time she developed bravery and determination. She became curious and
kept asking questions.
The style of the book was mainly imagery, with wonders and
imaginative chapters. Juckes' description of the inside world was
initially hard to understand, and I initially thought that the
characters were animals. But gradually the book became easier to
grasp.
Overall, the events were engaging, the setting is intriguing, the
storyline is well developed, and I would recommend the book.
Kaibing Qi, (Student)
All the invisible things by Orlagh Collins
Bloomsbury, 2019. ISBN: 9781408888339.
(Age: 13+) Highly recommended. Vetty's world changes dramatically
when her mother dies, and her father takes her and her sister to
live closer to their aunt to make life a little easier for them all
while they come to terms with their loss. Aunt Wendy lives with her
partner Fran and the family are welcomed with open arms and what is
supposed to be a short stay ends up being a few years. Vetty is
devastated to leave behind her best friend Pez as they are
inseparable, and no one knows her as well as he does. They live
across the road from each other and spend all their spare time
together.
Unfortunately, they drift apart while she is away and when the time
comes to move back home Vetty hopes that despite this they will be
able to pick up from where they left off. At her farewell get
together with her friends, they are all joking about boys and who
they'd secretly love to kiss and Vetty lets it slip that she might
enjoy kissing a girl in their friendship group. The girls laugh it
off as if she is joking because they know she is good friends with
Pez her childhood friend and are convinced she and him will be
boyfriend/girlfriend. Vetty is mortified that she revealed, albeit
accidently, being attracted to both girls and boys but as she is
moving back to her old home, she is glad she won't have to be
embarrassed in front of her friends if the topic comes up again.
When Pez and Vetty finally catch up again things are a little
different to the way they were before. Vetty feels Pez has changed
in so many ways and is keeping things from her but despite this they
fall back into hanging out together again, even if things can feel
awkward at times. Vetty isn't sure how she feels when she learns Pez
has a girlfriend. Is she jealous as a friend or as a love interest?
Pez introduces her to his friends and one of them, Rob, shows
interest in her and they date. When Vetty meets March, Pez's
girlfriend she finds herself attracted to her. March and Vetty
become close friends and after spending a lot of time together Vetty
again questions her sexuality. She tries to talk to Aunt Wendy about
being bisexual, but Wendy thinks she's trying to tell her she's gay
and Vetty becomes despondent and confused, especially after March
kissed her.
Pez reveals a secret to Vetty and things come to a head during a
party. There is an accident involving Pez and during this tumultuous
and frightening time Vetty becomes more and more despondent. What
will happen to Pez and how will Vetty tell March she is attracted to
her?
This book explores coming of age, bisexuality, sexuality, friendship
and grief. I really enjoyed reading it and would highly recommend
it.
Gerri Mills
Nobody owns the moon by Tohby Riddle
Berbay Publishing, 2019. ISBN: 9780994384195.
(Age: 4+) Recommended. Themes: Friendship, Cities, Adaptation. The
quick witted fox has adapted well to life in the city. He has
changed his name to Clive Prendergast, and has leant to eat a
variety of foods, living in a one roomed apartment in a busy part of
the town. He works by day in a factory putting things together, and
at night goes out into the streets to look at the sights. He seeks
out his friend, Humphrey and finds him sitting disconsolately in a
doorway. Humphrey is a donkey and has not adapted as well as Clive
to life in the city. He has tried several jobs, but as readers will
be able to see, these positions have not proven to be successful.
They sit together in the park and Clive notices that Humphrey has a
blue envelope in his bag. Opening it he realises that it is an
invitation to an exclusive theatre opening night. They attend and
are treated to drinks and nibbles beforehand, and find themselves in
the most luxurious of seats to watch the play, Nobody Owns the
Moon. They laugh and cry during the performance and again find
themselves treated to coffee and cake afterwards. Returning home,
they are ecstatic about their town and hug each other before going
their separate ways.
First published in 2008, this is a wonderful treatise on friendship
- of being together, the illustrations detailing the life led by the
two animals in the city. The background will delight the readers,
and they will be concerned for Humphrey as he does not quite fit in
as Clive does. From this readers will perhaps ponder the move to the
city by the world's population, looking at how we adapt to life in
the city and the problem of homelessness which has followed. Quirky,
endlessly fascinating, Riddle always presents a challenge to his
readers, making them think outside the box, muse on what makes us
human, and look at one of the basic tenets of our existence, the
companionship of others.
Fran Knight
Charlie changes into a chicken by Sam Copeland
Illus. by Sarah Horne. Penguin, 2019, ISBN: 9780241346211.
(Age: 8-10 Themes: Family stories, School stories, Humour.
Nine-year-old Charlie McGuffin's life is stressful, his older
brother Smooth Move is seriously ill in hospital and his parents are
extremely worried about him. At school the school bully is focussed
on his target, Charlie.
When Charlie becomes 'sweatily, heart-poundingly, stressed' he
starts to panic, which unfortunately leads to some life-changing
problems: he morphs into an animal. With an unusual electric
feeling, Charlie changes into an eight-legged eight-eyed hairy
spider chased by their cat Chairman Mao.
The school play is coming up soon and Charlie's worries increase as
he's been cast as Sad Potato Number 1. Unfortunately, his on-stage
partner is Duncan his arch-nemesis. What happens if he turns into a
naked mole rat or a fish in front of the audience? He turns to his
friends for help to assist him with this life-changing issue.
Sam Copeland writes in a humorous style, with plenty of comments,
asides to the reader, laugh-out-loud situations like Charlie the
rhinoceros pooping out of his bedroom window onto his parents. The
animal antics and silly situations that occur when Charlie is a
flea, a spider or a pigeon are creatively illustrated by Sarah
Horne. With plenty of grossness, impossibly funny scenes and narrow
escapes, along side some special family moments Charlie changes
into a chicken is just right for readers from eight to ten to
enjoy. Teacher's
notes are available.
Rhyllis Bignell
Punky Pineapple by Hilary Rogers and Josh Lefers
Illus. by Pete Petrovic. The Frooties book 3. Scholastic,
2019. ISBN: 9781742765983.
(Age:7-9) Themes: Fruit, Missing persons. The Frooties
series is jam-packed with crazy fruit, creative and quirky
characters and plenty of action in the kitchen. In this third book,
Punky Pineapple steps up as the bodyguard of Miss Starfruit. He's a
tough character outfitted in his punky jacket, torn t-shirt, tough
boots with a stylish tropical mohawk and prickly skin. He's really
sweet, perfect on a pizza, amazing as a morning juice and great in a
fruit salad.
On the opening night of 'Starfruit Wars', the whole fruit bowl of
characters comes out to watch movie star Miss Starfruit's acting.
Cue, the Star Wars spoofs, the opening scenes rewritten, Darth
Farter and Princess Yummy Bum are main characters. Just before
midnight the theatre lights darken and Miss Starfruit disappears.
Punky Pineapple recruits Little Chilli, the Cherry Twins, and Banana
Dog to help him as 'Frootie Detectives.' They overcome the perils of
the Electric Waterfall, the dreaded Bottom Drawer, and the deathly
slopes of the Freezy Freezer on their search for the missing star.
Pete Petrovic's amusing cartoon illustrations bring the Frooties to
life. What craziness ensues as they dash across the kitchen as they
land inside the Electric Waterfall that burns Punky's skin, then
being chased by the mad vacuum cleaner and landing amongst the
strange creatures that lurk in the Bottom Drawer. Punky Pineapple has easy to read text, bold text, catchy
captions and in your face humour just right for young readers and
for reluctant readers. Hil and Joshie explore the importance of
helping friends, making choices to do the right thing and also
standing up for yourself. A little twisted is the promotion of the
healthy benefits of eating fruit!
Rhyllis Bignell
The ultimate animal counting book by Jennifer Cossins
Hachette Australia, 2019. ISBN: 9780734418852.
(Ages: 4+) Highly recommended. Themes: Animals, Counting Book. This
is not called the 'Ultimate' counting book for no reason - it really
does count animals from 1 to 100, beginning with 1 blue whale and
finishing with 100 fairy flies. This is Cossin's fourth book about
animals (others are A-Z
of endangered animals, 101
collective nouns, The baby animal book and
A-Z
of Australian animals), with each having a slightly
different focus. Not only is this a counting book but the animals
are ordered from biggest to smallest. In addition, there are several
short facts included about each animal. Cossins' illustrative style
is unique: realistic yet playful, featuring true colours and
incredible detail. The research that has gone into each page may not
be immediately recognisable, but is hidden within the very precise
illustrations. For example, many pages depict different species of
the one animal (the sea turtle page features leatherback sea
turtles, green sea turtles and the Olive Ridley sea turtle). This is
a book for children to dip in and out of, flick through alone or
share with an adult. It is a superb celebration of the world of
animals and the diversity of life on our planet. In her note at the
back of the book Cossins says that her goal was to 'inspire children
to learn more about the natural world' and to act as a 'reminder of
how beautiful and interesting the world around us truly is'. Her
dedication to her work, the love that she puts into everything she
does and her incredible talent make this a really special
publication.
Nicole Nelson
