Reviews

The Skylarks' war by Hilary McKay

Macmillan Children's Books, 2018. ISBN: 9781509894949. 305 pages.
(Age: 10+) Recommended. Costa Book Award 2018. This book brings to mind the stories from earlier times. With shades of Jane Gardam's wonderful evocations of childhood, Sonya Harnett's The children of the king and Philippa Pearce's Tom's midnight garden, this wartime story tells of the loving relationship between three cousins growing up in Cornwall. Their summers leading up to the war are spent with fairly privileged grandparents; every day is a wonderful country experience. Once war comes, everything changes around them, and there is that deep sense of loss that now shadows their days. In particular, the reader learns so much about life at this time - domestic arrangements, boarding school accommodation, wartime communications, war service and essential volunteer work. Family dynamics are interesting with absent parents who still have high expectations of their children, and the young ones live with this day to day.
I really enjoyed this book. It is easy to connect to the children; their lives offer much to consider and Hilary McKay writes with a great understanding of childhood, aging and wartime Britain. She has previously won the Guardian Fiction Prize with The Exiles and the Smarties Prize for Exiles in Love.
Julie Wells

Ozzie goes to school by Jocelyn Crabb

Fierce fragile hearts by Sara Barnard

Macmillan, 2019. ISBN: 9781509852888.
(Age: Young Adult 15+) Recommended. Suzanne is an 18 year old who is trying her best to live an independent life. She has a lot to prove to her friends and family who feel she isn't quite ready to look after herself. Suzanne is now older and has finished her therapy, she is ready to move on. She believes going back to live in Brighton where she belongs, will be the best place for her. Suzanne is looking forward to being there with her best friends Caddy, Rosie and Kel. However, 'moving on' is not how she imagined it, her one room apartment is small and dreary, her closest friends leave to start university, she feels abandoned and alone. Lonely and struggling on the basic wage she earns from a coffee shop, Suzanne develops a warm friendship with Dilys, her elderly neighbour and her dog Clarence. Suzanne looks forward to her weekly visits with Dilys, she uses her washing machine to do her laundry and in the meantime they chat over cups of tea. For the rest of the novel Suzanne takes us with her as she struggles with her past abusive family life, her relationships with her brother, aunt and her new romantic interest, musician Matt. We witness her many moments of self-doubt and self-deprecation.
Sara Barnard has written this book as a sequel to Beautiful Broken Things. The characters in this book are as vivid and convincing as ever. These characters could easily be people one knows and has in one's life. Their interactions are real and natural, as friends, they are there for each other and they have their ups and downs, but they show up when things get really tough. I really enjoyed the way Sara Barnard gave us many examples of true friendships and how strong relationships can withstand some serious testing.
Most of all I enjoyed reading when Suzanne and Dilys were together, their friendship was beautiful, nurturing and life affirming. I loved that they had so much to offer each other in their unique ways, they learned so much from each other without imposing on each other. Those moments in the book were truly touching. Suzanne's relationship with musician Matt was also touching, I enjoyed the musical connections and liked the references to songs and music as chapter titles.
I recommend this novel for anyone over the age of 15+ as some of the content is mature and confronting. It is a book about mental illness and wellness, it is about trust and dependency and the changing nature of relationships.
4 stars out of 5.
Sandra Ciccarello

Long shot : my life as a sniper in the fight against ISIS by Azad Cudi

Weidenfeld and Nicholson, 2019. ISBN: 9781474609784.
(Age: Adult) As a Kurd living in Iran, Azad Cudi was acutely aware of being considered a second class citizen. Conscripted into the Iranian army, life became intolerable when he realised that Kurdish soldiers were being deliberately deployed against fellow Kurds. Sickened by the oppressive system and officers who manipulated Kurds to fight against their fellow countrymen and women, Cudi deserted from the army. A long and difficult journey followed and ultimately he was granted asylum in the United Kingdom where he gradually established himself. Sadly however he missed his family desperately and was fully aware that any communication with them would be monitored by the regime.
Eventually Cudi secured a position as a journalist in Stockholm covering Kurdish affairs. When the Syrian war developed in 2011, he felt compelled to join his Kurdish brothers and sisters in resisting ISIS which was intent on complete genocide.
Having skills developed during his Iranian military service, Cudi offered himself to the Kurdish resistance fighters who had almost no armaments or supplies. Selected for training as a sniper, he devoted himself completely to repelling ISIS jihadists from various places in the Kurdish region of Rojava, between Iraq, Syrian and Turkey.
Cudi's principal service took place in the Northern city of Kobani where he protected his comrades as a sharp shooter, covering their advances and endlessly scanning territory for ISIS infiltrators.
It is hard to image the conditions endured by the very few defenders who courageously occupied destroyed buildings and fought house to house against vastly superior numbers of extremely well-armed and supplied jihadists.
The behaviour of the ISIS militants was unnecessarily brutal. Not satisfied with taking territory, the infiltrators were proud of torturing their captives in the most barbaric, degrading and awful manner possible.
This is a grim book. The content is necessarily confronting in order to convey the desperate circumstances these Kurdish men and women endured and it speaks volumes that they were all volunteers, willingly risking their lives to resist maniacally bloodthirsty invaders.
Being unable to wash for months, suffering malnutrition from inadequate food and hiding in destroyed buildings would prompt the most hardened soldiers to retreat, yet these dedicated volunteers stayed. Their desperate resistance and sacrifice of many lives eventually prevailed and the survivors witnessed the Jihadists abandon the siege and flee for their lives.
There can be no avoiding the fact that Cudi's role as a sniper was to shoot human beings and he was extremely effective in that capacity, killing hundreds. In no way was he safe however. Every day and night he was targeted by opposition snipers and artillery. The relentless daily fight for survival had grave impacts on his physical and mental health, to the point where he had to be evacuated from the front lines as a broken man.
What is clear from Cudi's account however, is that he seeks to tell a story beyond his own. He guides the reader to appreciate the amazing Kurdish community which had developed a new way of life, celebrating gender equality and observing higher principles of care and respect for humanity. Cudi gives high praise to the female soldiers, many of them commanders who capably led their limited forces to drive the invaders out of their homeland.
For those who have returned to the region, there is hope that homes and community can be rebuilt.
Rob Welsh

Evermore by Sara Holland

Hachette, 2019. ISBN: 9781408359525. 368p; p/b.
In the sequel to Everless, Jules Ember is the last reincarnation of an ancient alchemist being hunted by the vengeful sorceress Caro. Despite being a sequel, the interesting fantasy setting explained itself well enough that it could be followed quickly. Chapters are paced perfectly, between their length and their contents, to keep the reader engaged without making them feel forced to continue by a cheap cliffhanger. Jules' struggle to push away people she loves out of fear she'll hurt them, and regrets over the resulting rash decisions add a relatable side to this fantasy story, drawing you closer to a sympathetic character.
Vincent Hermann

Pages and Co: Tilly and the Bookwanderers by Anna James

HarperCollins, 2018. ISBN: 9780008229863.
(Age: 9-15) Highly recommended. Themes: Books; Reading; Literature; Fantasy; Adventure; Friendship. Pre-teen Matilda (aka Tilly) lives with her grandparents in the Pages and Co Bookshop - a place of mystery, adventure, fantasy and all the other genres as well. The mystery of her absent parents though continues to hang like a dank mist over her life, and some friendship dilemmas makes the 'missing of her mother' into a potent force in her life. When characters from some of Tilly's favourite books start to visit her in the bookshop a world of possibilities open up and adventures follow. Tilly's escape into books grows as bookshops and libraries and the great 'Underlibrary' are revealed as part of the magic of story and literature, and the ability to wander within a book, a skill for a select few, is revealed as a possibility. But there are risks! Fortunately, Tilly finds a friend in Oskar, the boy whose mother runs the cafe across the road, and together they piece together the puzzle of life as a bookwanderer and the mystery of Tilly's mother's absence.
This is an awesome book for lovers of reading. With references to many well-loved books and their characters, particularly Alice in Wonderland, The Little Princess, Anne of Green Gables and with side references to Sherlock Holmes and Pride and Prejudice, this is a book to be enjoyed by those who might already have encountered these classics. However, it may also be an entry point to encourage reading of these books. There are wonderful references to the joy of reading and the capacity for readers to become 'lost' in a book, albeit the author has taken this idea to the more magical extreme. I would think that this book could also make a good shared book as 'a read-aloud' by a teacher, librarian or parent. Getting lost in book together would be a wonderful experience!
Highly recommended for lovers of reading aged 9-15. It is simple enough for young readers, but also enjoyable for those who have always loved reading and may have read the classic stories referred to themselves
Carolyn Hull

The book of Boy by Catherine Gilbert Murdock

Illus. by Ian Schoenherr. Chicken House, 2018. ISBN: 9781911490579.
(Age: 9-14) Highly recommended. Themes: Middle Ages, Plague, Relics, Religion, Disability. Newbery Honor book 2019. It is the year 1350 and Secundus is a pilgrim who is on a quest to collect six relics, 'rib tooth thumb shin dust skull tomb', to put in the tomb of St Peter in Rome. When he meets Boy, a goatherd, he takes him away from the manor where he lives to help him to find the relics. Boy goes along hoping for a miracle at St Peter's tomb, making him a normal boy and taking away the hump on his back. There are mysteries for the reader to solve: Why does Boy give all his food to the animals that he can communicate with? And what is the strange smell that surrounds the key that Secundus uses to open all manner of locks?
Murdock brings her medieval world vividly to life for the reader who is taken through the empty villages and devastated countryside of France, each leaving a picture of the plague killing everyone and farms and houses being deserted. The religious beliefs that underlie every aspect of the period are also described in a matter of fact way as each relic is gathered, with both Secundus and Boy fervently believing that a miracle will happen when the relics are put in St Peter's tomb.
There is humour and pathos in Murdock's writing and it is easy to become lost in her world as Secundus and Boy take on often dangerous challenges in obtaining the relics. Her characters feel like real people with believable fears and dreams, and Boy's generosity and goodness is a delight to read. The woodcut-like illustrations at the headings of each chapter, particularly of the animals that Boy converses with, also add to the charm of the book.
This gives an excellent insight into the effects of the Black Plague and the place of religion in society in the Middle Ages and would be very useful for classroom discussion of Medieval times. However it is the uplifting thought of Boy's spirit that will remain with the reader.
Pat Pledger

Hotel Flamingo by Alex Milway

Piccadilly Press, 2019. ISBN: 9781848127753.
(Age: 6-8) Recommended. Themes: Girls, Animals, Hotels - maintenance and repairs. When Anna inherits the Hotel Flamingo on Animal Boulevard from her great aunt Mathilde she's in for a big shock. Dirty, dusty, with peeling walls, cracked windows and a broken revolving door and only two staff members left, the hotel has fallen on hard times. Anna is a determined girl and with the help of T. Bear the doorman (bear) and Mr Lemmy the lemur who manages the front desk, they start the mammoth task of fixing it.
'All this hotel needs is a little bit of love, and an awful lot of cleaning,' says Anna. With a little help from Mrs Turpington the turtle's three years in back rent, (she'd been hibernating in her room all that time), they are able to hire staff. Stella the giraffe is handy at maintenance, and fixes the revolving door in no time at all. Madame Le Pig takes over as hotel chef, a little fazed by the unusual diets of the animal guests.
Anna's ideas for revamping the hotel are wonderful; Stella paints the facade a beautiful shade of sea blue and all the staff help to make the hotel a bright and inviting place to stay. When a family of sea otters move out of the swimming pool pipes, Anna offers them free board in return for pool maintenance and life guard duties. Ms Fragranti's dancing flamingo troupe provides special entertainment for the guests on the special opening night. Even with a visit by the undercover hotel inspector, Anna and her team rise to the challenge.
Alex Milway's Hotel Flamingo is a gorgeous early chapter book, filled with delightful animal characters and fun cartoon illustrations. It celebrates teamwork, determination, creativity and accepting others - even cockroaches! Just right for a young reader beginning their novel reading journey. Read aloud to a class of Year 1- Year 3s and encourage them to write additional chapters, create and draw new characters and have fun with Milway's story. There are three more novels to come. What's next for Anna and her animal friends?
Rhyllis Bignell

Mallee sky by Jodi Toering

Ill. by Tannya Harricks. Black Dog Books, 2019. ISBN: 9781925381672.
(Age: 4+) Highly recommended. Themes: Mallee, Drought, Farming, Australia, Country towns. The brilliantly colourful cover with its vast blue sky overlaid with pink clouds, including touches of browns and red and creams will entrance the readers as they take in the image of a mallee sky just before sunset. With trees outlined against the darkening sky, it is an image at once very familiar and yet drawn by an illustrator with a different perspective, the oils she places upon the page give an unusual freshness to something we all know so well. I marvelled as each page was turned, the strong sweep of images reflecting life upon the land for those who still farm the mallee, a place notorious for its mercurial weather patterns. Those who remain are the toughest of people, watching clouds roll over the hills, bringing nothing but dust storms, mum suddenly a whirlwind herself as she tries to get the washing off the line, and the windows closed before the dust gets there.
Towns along the highway are often just punctuated by silos, those small communities drying with the weather, people moving on, shops closing, teams disbanding, and yet some hold on. Dad watches his crops dry, his hopes fading, the ancient trees become ghosts of themselves, and then one day the clouds roll over and rain starts to fall. The children run out of school and dance in the water puddles, the birds fly back, the trees lose their crust of dirt, and the smell is breathed in by one and all. The drought has broken, under the mallee sky.
A beautiful and timely story to read with children, the towns along the highway are getting smaller as each year passes, highlighting the difficulty of making a living in this marginal land. But the sunsets are amazing, the landscape breathtaking and the wildlife astounding, the images in this outstanding book reflecting the emotional pull of this part of Australia.
Award winning artist, Harricks also illustrated Saxby's Dingo, using that same layered style, building up an image which defies the colours used. Teacher notes are available.
Fran Knight

Science lab by Robert Winston

DK, Penguin Random House, 2019. ISBN: 9780241343494.
(Age: 9+) Highly recommended. Themes: Science, STEM, Technology, Experiments. Robert Winston has collated an immensely practical book that shares fantastic, child-friendly ideas for budding scientists. With detailed plans for everything from levitating balls, suspension bridges and even home-made guitars (plus many more), this book will provide hours of fun for a STEM/STEAM-focused child. There are explanations for the scientific principles at play in all of the activities, as well as the photographic and written procedures for each construction or experiment. Additional ideas to expand the scientific thinking and exploration are also included for some of the tasks. Experiments are organised under the following headings: Forces and Motion, Liquids and Reactions, Shapes and Structures and Light and Sound.
This is a wonderful book for a child who would enjoy putting scientific principles into action. It is visually appealing and well organised so that equipment could be gathered and prepared by the child to make all of the projects. (Some tasks may require adult supervision.) Teachers may also like the ideas in the book for technology and science extension activities.
Carolyn Hull

The rip by Mark Brandi

Hachette, 2019. ISBN: 9780733641121.
(Age: Adult) Recommended. Themes: Crime. Thriller. Drug abuse. A young woman, a drug addict, is living on the streets with her friend Anton and her bull terrier Sunny. Although Anton has been in jail, possibly for manslaughter, he actually is someone she can trust, and the two of them manage to get by, scrounging money and always on the lookout for the next drug hit. The drugs are her way of finding an upside to a life that for her has always been on the downside. Anton even has dreams of maybe getting a flat someday, a place of their own. She knows it's only a dream, but at least she has a friend, and the dog as her faithful companion.
Then, one day, Steve turns up, someone from Anton's past, and instinctively she knows that he's dangerous and not to be trusted. But it is hard to hold onto any thoughts or plans when the cravings hit in. And both she and Anton find themselves getting deeper and deeper into dependence, like swimming out past the rip, and not knowing how to get back. There's a strange smell in Steve's flat, like something chemical, something bad, and his moods can swing violently.
The tension in the novel builds up; we as the reader know that she is in danger, she needs to get away, but the need for the drug release clouds her judgement, and she always procrastinates. She creates different explanations, builds illusions, rather than face reality and act.
Brandi's novel is a compelling thriller, drawing you into the mind of a young person who has experienced abuse and manipulation. She is intelligent, but she's only ever known the worst things in life. She does encounter some kind people, but most react with fear or aversion. Until she can find her own inner strength, she is always going to seek the sweet release of drugs. And that puts her right in the path of the worst manipulator of all, where she, Anton and Sunny, will be lucky if they come out alive.
Brandi has created yet another disturbing story, a worthy successor to his acclaimed first novel, Wimmera. However, school libraries are forewarned about strong themes of drugs and addiction.
Helen Eddy

We are okay by Nina LaCour

University of Queensland Press, 2019. ISBN: 9780702262562.
(Age: 15+) Recommended. Winner 2018 Michael L. Printz Award. This book is a compelling story told by Marin who is attending college in New York. Isolation is front and centre from the first page where we find Marin alone in the school dormitory. Told from Marin's perspective the reader becomes aware of events through the feelings and memories she acknowledges. Her determination to close herself off is seemingly impenetrable. She has convinced school administration that she had no family or friends to visit for Christmas and so has been permitted to stay in the school under the indirect supervision of the groundskeeper.
The reader immediately finds this information to be unreliable as Marin begins to prepare for a three day visit by Mabel, a friend from Marin's previous life in California. Marin's preparation is methodical and yet heartbreaking. She spends a day decorating her side of the dorm room so it will no longer be empty, but give the appearance of a space belonging to someone who is happy and not the person who has not responded to Mabel's texts and calls for the past three months.
Marin's love for Mabel washes over her as she comes to terms with Mabel's presence - and her boyfriend back in California. LaCour sensitively describes their past sexual relationship and the delicate manner in which Mabel establishes new boundaries in their friendship.
The arrival of Mabel begins the elaboration on grief. The writing is subtle yet packs a powerful punch as the reader is led to understand the story of Marin, her mother, her grandfather and Mabel. In the last chapters of the book the reader cannot help but mourn the losses with Marin, and feel her hope as her insights shift and she realises they will all be okay.
This is a powerful book where the themes of grief, first love, sexuality, family relationships, friendship and solitude are explored sensitively.
Linda Guthrie

Rodney by Kelly Canby

Fremantle Press, 2019. ISBN: 9781925815320.
(Age: 3-5) Highly recommended. Themes: Dreams, Turtles, Perception. Rodney the turtle dreams of being high above the ground in the tree canopy, where the monkeys say they will be able to play with him, the giraffe tells hi that the juiciest trees are there for him to eat, while the birds tell him of the fabulous views. Rodney is stuck on the ground, barely able to see over the weeds underfoot.
Still the animals taunt him: the sloth tells him he can relax at the top, the squirrels invite him to chase them, the fruit bats ask him to hang about with them where the air is crisp.
He leaves the forest where the animals all live up high, and as he does he seems to be getting bigger. He can see the juiciest leaves at the top with the caterpillar, and loll about on the high branches with the beetle, get up on high with the ladybirds and have fun with the treehopper and look at the view with the praying mantis. He has found the crisp air amongst the tall branches of his world.
A remarkable story of perception, Rodney dreams of living amongst the tree tops, and the animals tell him how wonderful it will be. But life on the ground is just as wonderful, he can play with other beetles, lie on the top branches, climb to the top of the leaves, commune with the ladybirds and look at the views with the praying mantis. Perception is all as he sees that he has all he needs on the ground.
Readers will laugh out loud as they see Rodney being satisfied with the environment around him, communing with the insects and animals at his level.
Wonderfully bright illustrations by Canby invite readers to look more closely at the forest and its animals, to see the eyes and faces peering out, and marvel at the range of animals that inhabit this book.
I love the subtle humour behind the words used to describe the animals: hanging out with the bats and relaxing with the sloth, inviting discussion amongst the readers about the animals' characteristics.
Fran Knight

The dog who saved the World by Ross Welford

HarperCollins, 2018. ISBN: 9780008256975.
(Ages: 9-12) Recommended. Themes: Time Travel, Virtual reality, Family Life, Dogs. Set in the near future Ross Welford's The Dog Who Saved the World takes us on a fast-paced journey into the world of virtual reality and time travel.
Eleven-year-old Georgie lives in Whitley Bay with her dad, brother Clem and dad's girlfriend, Jessica. Unfortunately, Jessica is allergic to Georgie's rescue dog Mr Mash and he's returned to St Woof's dog shelter. Georgie volunteers at the shelter and loves to take Mr Mash on beach walks joined by Ramzy Rahman her best friend. Their lives change forever when Georgie's over exuberant animal knocks an old lady down, eats her swim cap and scratches her watch. Little did they know; this encounter was a master plan devised by Dr Emilia Pretorius who needs the assistance of Georgie and Ramzy to test her secret project. She also demands that they don't tell their parents - alarm bells should be ringing!
The doctor is an eccentric genius who has built a VR machine capable of sending people into the future. Some of the trips become quite scary; a giant scorpion attacks them and split-second decision-making is needed. At the same time, a deadly canine disease sweeps across the country and Georgie's pet, Mr Mash, falls ill. Georgie and her dog are both needed to save the world.
Welford's The Dog who saved the World is fantastical, scientific, dramatic and even humorous. He builds the tension and drama as he sends his feisty protagonist into the future to find answers needed for the current issues. Realistic emotions underpin the narrative, family relationships, friendships and the special bond between a girl and her loved pet make this an exciting novel for readers. Shared with an Upper Primary class, there are engaging discussion points and research links, with changing the laws of quantum physics, scientific espionage, future travel and the impact of deadly global diseases.
Rhyllis Bignell

Twin Spin by Adam Cece

Scholastic, 2019. ISBN: 9781742991856.
(Ages: 9-12) Recommended. Themes: Twins, Musicians, Reporting, Deception. Twins Anna and Steph are so identical, their mother only buys the best looking set of their school photos. While Anna is super-organised and extremely neat, rapper Steph lives for her music and doesn't worry about her clothes or room. Told from alternate viewpoints we gain insight into the ultimate case of deception and sibling rivalry! Anna's a reporter for the Kidz Beat TV show; she's ready to meet Odd Socks the ultimate boy band and set up for their live interview next weekend. Steph loves their music so much, she's followed them from their early days and their first EP.
Early on Saturday morning, Steph borrows Anna's clothes, turns off her alarms and races to the studio ready to meet Hamish, Thomas and Duke. She leaves an apology note for Anna, who's in shock when she realises what her twin has done. What follows is a madcap ride, unfortunate accidents and fan dramas, with Steph's encounter with a large microphone resulting in a black eye. Anna realises the swap needs to continue and she's forced to take Steph's place in an acapella rap contest, even though she isn't musical! Heightened dramas with aging TV stars, humourous scenes and farmyard encounters all make for a disastrous week for both Anna and Steph. When Steph insults Evian Lockwood the band's manager, then tells Thomas he should return to the band's earlier style of music, not pleasing their millions of pop fans, things go from bad to worse. Anna's stress levels rise as she's forced to perform a Freestyle rap at the Pitch Pilgrimage concert. Both girls even begin budding romances and come to appreciate their sibling's talents and abilities.
Adam Cece's Twin Spin is an enjoyable novel filled with a cast of slightly crazy characters, set in the exciting world of music and television. He realistically portrays the individuality and style of each protagonist, as he shares their passions, talents and points of view. Funny scenes and slapstick humour add to the excitement of this junior novel just right for readers from nine to twelve.
Rhyllis Bignell