Ill. by Leo Espinosa. Oneworld, 2018. ISBN 9781786074775
(Age: 7-9) Recommended. Themes: Culture. Identity. Lola lives in an
ethnically diverse community and the teacher's instruction to draw a
picture of her 'first home' causes problems for her because she
cannot remember! Interviewing others who have come from her home
island gives her opportunity to 'see' her home through their eyes.
The result for the reader is a beautiful metaphor of what life must
have been like on the tropical island that they left. Not everything
though was perfect on the island, with allusions to the reasons for
Lola's resettlement in her new country. Lola's final picture
includes all the aspects of the island of her birth in brilliant
detail. (A somewhat cryptic reference to a 'monster' might need some
adult help to explain the metaphor for something awful that the
island had to deal with - perhaps political turmoil or conflict. And
another reference to her grandmother's or her abuela's psychic may
also need explanation or caution.)
Leo Espinosa, an award-winning illustrator, from Bogota in Columbia,
illustrates this gentle exploration of identity with wonderful
colour and vibrancy. The language of the island is Spanish (not
everyone in the world speaks English!) and is included naturally and
with references to terms and titles, which gives a reminder of
diversity in the world. The author's background is from the
Dominican Republic and later, New Jersey in USA, and so the book has
an Americas influence which may not be understood by all
readers, but it certainly would open eyes to how others live in the
world and why some may choose to leave their 'home country'.
Recommended as a book to be shared and explained, for younger
readers aged 7-9.
Carolyn Hull
Mary Lee: The life and times of a 'turbulent anarchist' and her battle for women's rights by Denise George
Wakefield Press, 2018. ISBN 9781743055960
Highly recommended. Themes: Biography. Mary Lee. South Australian
history. Women's rights. Politics. Denise George has written a
wonderful biography of one of the under-recognised pioneers in South
Australian history - Mary Lee. Mary Lee was born in tough times in
Ireland; later she worked hard in England as a teacher and came to
South Australia in 1879. Her drive, faith and passion to assist
those who were under-privileged came too and enabled her to make a
difference in our society. Mary saw injustice and instead of
remaining silent, she spoke out and wanted to ensure that inequality
was addressed. From relatively humble beginnings, she argued and
pressured local politicians and influential people to make it
possible for women to have a voice in politics by gaining the right
to vote. The result of her agitation and advocacy was to inspire
many to become involved in the Women's Suffrage fight; to put
pressure on the male politicians of the day; and ultimately to
enable South Australia to become the first Australian state to
provide the vote for women, and (somewhat accidentally) to be the
first government to allow women to stand for political office. Her
story though reveals that if not for her feisty and determined
advocacy, this 'first' for South Australia would not have occurred
when it did. Looking back in history can be confronting as we are
reminded that the things we now consider obvious rights have in fact
not always been the case. (I was stunned by the reference to the
need for advocacy to change the age of consent - initially raising
it from age 10 to 12, and also of the prevailing attitude of the
men towards the intelligence of women in that era.) The world has
indeed changed for women since Mary Lee lived and worked, and her
role in promoting women's rights in South Australia should be
remembered and acknowledged, and not just by those who are female.
This is a great book for those who love history and are interested
in the history of South Australia and particularly the position of
women in our history. It certainly should be on every library shelf
in South Australia, but also would make a great gift for history
buffs. Denise George has accessed many sources to paint a picture of
a woman, who because of her gender perhaps did not always have her
private life recorded for posterity. Fortunately, her advocacy has
left a collection of powerful letters and writing that George has
used to tell the story of this amazing woman who worked hard into
her senior years on behalf of South Australian women.
Highly recommended.
Carolyn Hull
Scapegoat by Ava Keyes
Ill. by Aleksandra Szmidt. Little Steps Books, 2018. ISBN
9780648267461
(Age: 4+) Themes: Bullying. School. Families. Scapegoat finds that
he is on the lowest rung at home. Making a bit of a mess sees him
being told that he is useless and causing his mother's stress. When
at the pond in the park he becomes totally wet after playing with
his brother, his father takes up the mantra of Scapegoat doing the
wrong thing, his screaming and shouting causing him to be stressed.
As a result their outing is curtailed, making Scapegoat feel
responsible for stopping the family's fun. No matter what the animal
does, he seems to get on the wrong side of his parents, who treat
him with disdain
But at school he is a bright, energetic student, and he tells his
teacher, Mr Sheep of his problems at home. He consoles him, telling
him that he should never apologise for being himself, and that
parents are sometimes under stress and certainly do not mean to be
mean.
At parent teacher night, Mr Sheep approaches the problem with
Scapegoat's parents and the problem is turned on its head.
Neatly resolved, this unsubtle reminder that parents can be bullies
as well as siblings and members of the peer group, the teacher is
seen as the mediator for Scapegoat's problem, and brings the parents
to some understanding of their child's unease.
This could be another book to add to the group which deal with
bullying, and presents a different form of bullying which may not
have been discussed in class.
Fran Knight
Between us by Clare Atkins
Black Inc, 2018. ISBN 9781760640217
(Age: 14+) Highly recommended. KIN016 - this is Ana's number. She is
an Iranian asylum-seeker brought from Nauru with her mother and 3
year old brother Arash to temporary detention in Darwin, because her
mother is expecting a baby and is suffering from pre-eclampsia. Ana
is haunted by the memories of something that happened to her in
Iran, something she can't talk about, but coming to Darwin means
that at last she can go to school, learn English and study her
favourite subject, Science. And it is there that she meets Jono, the
trouble-maker at the back of the class. Jono and his friends are
bored with school and experimenting with drugs and alcohol. But his
attention is caught by the nerdy girl with her head wrapped tightly
in a scarf.
The story is told in the alternating voices of the three main
characters: Ana, Jono and Jono's father Kenny, just starting as a
security guard at the detention centre. The three voices are so
real: Ana - fearful and uncertain but desperate to learn; Jono -
rebellious, in conflict with his father, finding escape in heavy
music and risk-taking; and Kenny - struggling as a single parent,
not knowing how to handle his son, and suspicious of the motives of
the young detainee.
It is a beautifully written book, the voice of Jono initially
written in verse, and that of Ana in prose, but then this is
reversed as their interests change and develop. Eventually as the
pace builds, a sentence begun by one will be finished by the other
as each picks up the story.
Atkins vividly brings to life the world of the teenagers - the
uncertainty and doubt, the budding friendship, the mistakes and
misunderstandings. Ana and Jono's romance is threatened in so many
ways. The tension in the relationship between Ana, Jono and Kenny
gradually builds to an explosive crisis point . . .
Atkins has obviously researched the world of the detention camp: the
traumatised asylum seekers, separated from family, always in fear of
jeopardising their refugee application, and the hardening attitude
and indifference of the guards as they enforce cruel and meaningless
rules. Newbie guards either harden or break. Kenny is afraid of
which way he will go.
The book gives a fictional expression to the experience of cruelty
and hopelessness described in the non-fiction No
man is an island (2016) by Adele Dumont, about her
time as an English language tutor at Curtin detention centre in
Western Australia. In fact students could compare the two books for
a transformation task, picking up on the minor character of the
naive caseworker Eliza in Between us and consider the story
from her perspective, as a worker in the detention centre. Between us is a truly gripping story, the voices draw you in,
and then the pace builds so that it is impossible to put down. I
read this in one sitting and was left reeling at the end. It is such
a powerful story, extremely well written, the people and situations
are so authentic, you know as a reader that while Ana, Jono and
Kenny are fictional, their story reflects real people and real
situations.
Helen Eddy
Witch tricks by Sibeal Pounder
Witch Wars book 6. Bloomsbury Children's Books, 2018. ISBN
9781408894125
(Age: 9+) Witch Tricks follows the concurrent and
intersecting antics of the Witches and Fairies of Sinkville. (Ever
wondered what lies beyond the plughole?) While Fran the Fabulous
Fairy schemes to be the star of a TV wrestling show called 'Fairy
Fightz', Tiga Whicabim and Fluffanora Brew are not having much luck
in joining the exclusive secret society of the Points. The girls in
the Points are trying their hand at a spell to bring the Ritzy Six
back to Pearl Mountain so they can be taught how to wreak havoc by
the best in the business. Meanwhile, we are left wondering why
Felicity Bat is laying low and talking to her boots, which are
suddenly very heavy.
The Points are surprisingly successful at conjuring forth the Ritzy
Six who dash off to Pearl Mountain before the reader can blink. If
you don't know where that is, check the illustrator's map. Tiga and
Fluffanora, aided by Peggy Pigwiggle, must somehow beat the both
Ritzy Six and the Points to the top of Pearl mountain to keep
Sinkville on an even keel. The journey to the mountain top is
eventful and takes up a lot of the story. While Fran is
incapacitated, Patricia the TV show Producer, has to be very
inventive to save the next episode of 'Fairy Fightz'. Pounder
manages to keep her reader's in the loop by visiting the set of
'Fairy Fightz' and writing articles for the Ritzy City Post, when
she is not checking in on Felicity and her heavy boots (complete
with a shrunken Panda) at Linden House.
Chatty like all their adventures, you'll have to listen carefully to
know how the witches and fairies deal with the infamous Ritzy Six.
One high point is Aggie Hoof's joke about what Felicity should name
her Panda. Illustrations by Laura Ellen Anderson help new readers to
place the numerous characters - be they witches or fairies. The book
finishes with sample chapters from Pounder's latest Bad Mermaids
series and a letter about her childhood writing inspirations to
likewise inspire young writers. Witch Tricks is definitely a
spin-out if you are a pre-teen who likes erratic, plot driven
escapism.
Deborah Robins
Diary Disaster by Meredith Costain
Ill. by Danielle McDonald. Ella Diaries book 14. Scholastic,
2018, ISBN 9781743818077
(Age: 7-9) Themes: Diaries, Turtle Conservation, Camping. Ella is a
bubbly, bright character who loves to record and sketch all her
activities, her feelings and the dramas of her life in her diary.
Peach is a dominant colour in this fourteenth junior novel and for
fans who love Ella's recounts, this shows that her enemy Her Royal
Pushiness Princess Peach Parker is involved. Ella's excited to board
the ferry for a five-day school excursion to Turtle Island. There
will be beachcombing, craft, and lots of fun with her friends. What
is fantabulously FABULOUS is the opportunity to watch baby turtles
hatching and learn about their conservation.
Ella's one concern is how to hide her diary; she disguises it inside
an old book cover with the title of 50 Scrumptious Ways to Cook
Green Vegetables! Peach Parker and her two annoying friends
push their way on to the bus and grab the favoured back seats much
to Ella's annoyance. Adding to her woes, is the fact that Peach,
Prinny and Jade are all in her cabin as well.
Nature walks, creative murals with natural objects, driftwood,
shells and found objects and a visit to the lagoon are some of the
highlights on Monday and Tuesday. Wednesday morning the mood
changes, there's different style of writing, bolder and darker and
peach becomes the predominant colour: yes Ella's enemy Peach has
stolen her diary and taken over the commentary. She adds
unflattering details about Ella's beach volleyball skills and she
gives Ella and Zoe the worst jobs during the mural making - cleaning
up. How will Peach and Ella resolve their problems?
Meredith Costain continues to write fun and relatable stories for a
younger audience who love Ella's unique expressions, world-view and
cute sketches. Diary Disaster is another entertaining and
easy to read chronicle of Ella's life.
Rhyllis Bignell
The Storm Keeper's Island by Catherine Doyle
Bloomsbury, 2018. ISBN 9781408896884
(Age: 11-14) Highly recommended. Themes: Fantasy; Magic; Fear and
Bravery; Memory. Eleven year old Fionn and his older sister, Tara,
are returned to the ancestral home of their mother and late father
on Arronmore Island off the Irish coast. Their mother's depression
means they must learn to survive in the isolated community with
their grandfather, the mysterious Island Storm Keeper. From the
moment the scared Fionn steps off the ferry it seems that the
Island's magic rises up to meet him. Will he be the one to save the
Island? Slowly he discovers his Grandfather's secrets as Candlemaker
and Storm Keeper, but his bravery is sorely tested when Tara's
friendship with another boy on the Island prompts him to find
answers to the Island's secrets - perhaps to his peril. And the
mysterious candles store memories and provide opportunity to travel
back to other times, testing the bravery of the young Fionn, but
giving him opportunity to understand the Island's secrets.
With mystery and magic circling in amazing ways and with an
undercurrent of trapped sinister magic ready to unleash itself, this
book will entrance young readers that love fantasy tales. At times
it is a little bit scary, funny, enigmatic, sad and yet
hope-charged. It is written in a delightful way, rich with metaphor
and with wonderful descriptive passages and endearing character
descriptions. The wonderful Grandfather is an absolute delight.
Highly recommended for readers aged 11-14
Note: this appears to be the first book in the series.
Carolyn Hull
Liars: The truth app by Jack Heath
Scholastic, 2018. ISBN 9781743817766
(Age: 13+) Highly recommended. Themes: Cybersecurity; Adventure;
Crime; Conspiracy. Jarli is a coding Whiz-kid who has just developed
a 'Truth-detecting' app and released the code for assessment by
others and it instantly created waves around the world. The interest
didn't just come from the fellow app-developing community and the
impact of the app made him the target of lots of unwelcome
attention. At the same time, his father also seems to have big
problems. The attempt on their lives when a car barrels into them
after Parent-Teacher interviews demonstrates that their world has
been plunged into dangerous territory, and everything has lost its
standard stability. And there is no way anyone can lie to cover
their tracks because the app will reveal every untruth! This early
chaos then escalates further in a race to protect family and friends
in an adventure that occurs at an intense pace. The tech-savvy
action is akin to a conspiracy thriller involving teenagers.
Every teen will love this action adventure. There is never a dull
moment and everything moves with roller-coaster intensity. Readers
will be desperate to find out 'who, what or why', and there will be
more in the series!
Highly recommended for readers aged 13+
Carolyn Hull
Marvel Fearless and Fantastic! Female Super Heroes Save the World by Sam Maggs, Emma Grange and Ruth Amos
DK, 2018. ISBN 9780241357491
(Age: 8+) Themes: Superheroes; Women. Characters from the Marvel
world encourage people to be determined, daring, compassionate and
curious. Under each of these headings are described superheroes who
embody these qualities. So under the heading 'Determined' the reader
will be inspired by Captain Marvel, Spider-Woman and Jessica Jones
among others. Superheroes described as being daring are Hawkeye,
Misty Knight, Mary Jane Watson and many more. The endearing Squirrel
Girl leads the list of compassionate superheroes, mingling with
Medusa, Singularity and Pepper Potts. Among the curious are
She-Hulk, Kitty Pryde and Spider-Girl.
Each superhero is given a full page of text describing how she
developed her superpowers and who she has worked with and on the
opposite page is a full page coloured illustration, which gives a
glimpse into her character as well as the costume that she might don
when on rescue missions.
There is a diverse range of women from many backgrounds including
Black Widow, a former Russian assassin, Ms Marvel a 16 year old
Pakistan-American Muslim girl, Korean American Silk, and Nico
Minoru, of Japanese-American parents. Some of the superheroes like
Dr Toni Ho and Ironheart, rely on their intelligence to get things
done and would make great role models for young readers.
This is a fun book to dip into and readers are sure to find a number
of superheroes whose stories they would like to pursue.
Pat Pledger
Let's go strolling by Katrina Germein
Ill. by Danny Snell. Little Book Press, 2018. ISBN 9780648115687
Taking a toddler for a walk in a stroller on a sunny day is one of
life's more pleasant and relaxing experiences, especially if it's a
welcome break in a hectic daily routine. Enjoying the
activity, taking notice of nature and the amazing things that can be
seen as you stroll rather than rush, sitting in the park, meeting
friends with their toddlers - it all goes to making an enjoyable
experience for parent and child.
So this lovely book for preschoolers that focuses on this simple
activity and brings it to life is a delight to share, as our
soon-to-be readers not only relate to the events but are also
encouraged to think more about what they see on their daily
walk. Perhaps it is an opportunity for parent and child to
take a lead from Germein's text and Snell's illustrations and create
their own book about their daily walk. A few pages that have
the repetitive text of "On our walk we saw . . . " and a photo or
drawing will not only become a family favourite but also help the
child understand the power they have over words - saying them,
writing them and reading them.
This book has been produced under the umbrella of Raising Literacy Australia,
and with such experienced authors and illustrators on board, it
certainly helps meet the mission
and aims of that charity. Its familiar setting and activity,
its simple rhythmic language accompanied by illustrations that
enable the young reader to predict the text, and the potential for
follow-up are all part of those essential elements that lay the
foundations for mastery of print.
Barbara Braxton
The Forever Kid by Elizabeth Mary Cummings
Ill. by Cheri Hughes. Big Sky, 2018. ISBN 9781925675382
Today is Johnny's birthday. And as in many families, the birthday
kid gets to choose the food, the games and the way they want to
celebrate. And Johnny's family is no different. Cloud stories are
definitely on the list of must-do - lying on your back and looking
for pictures in the clouds and making up stories about what you see.
But this birthday is different to the others that have gone before.
For this year, Johnny is no longer there. He's the Forever Kid - one
who was part of the family but who has passed away leaving just
memories. And on the is special day, each family member remembers
Johnny in their own special way as they celebrate and feel closer to
him. But they all gather together to look for and make cloud
stories.
Much as it saddens us as adults to think that the children we know
are touched by death and grief, nevertheless it is a fact of life
for many. Illness and accidents take their toll and often the adults
are so busy dealing with adult-things that the toll of the child is
overlooked. Kids are seen as resilient, as 'not really
understanding', as bounce-back-and-move-on beings. But anyone who
has been with a child who has had to face such a harsh reality will
know that the pain runs deep and the bewilderment is confusing so to
have such a gentle book that focuses on the child left behind, their
feelings, even their guilt, is a salutary reminder that as adults,
we need to take care of their emotions too.
Four years ago, Miss Then 8 lost her precious great-grandmother, my
mother, and as we grieved and made funeral arrangements and all that
grown-up stuff, it would have been easy to overlook her distress. I
asked her if she would like to say something at the memorial service
and she said yes. My heart broke when this little one, who was such
a chip off her great-gran's block, stood up and just said, 'I love
you Great Gran.' That's when the tears began to flow, and we knew
that she knew what she had lost but she would never forget her even
though she was so young. So this year, when her other
grandmother died and the wake was to be at a local restaurant, it
was no surprise that Miss Now 12 did not want to go because that's
where she had had so many good times with her Great Gran and 'didn't
want them spoiled by sadness'. Just as Johnny is the Forever Kid, so
we have a Forever Great Gran.
This gentle book, with its soft, sympathetic illustrations, is a
reminder to us all that we need to acknowledge our children's
feelings and their grief, and allow them the opportunity to remember
and celebrate and know that it is perfectly okay to do so. Take the
time to lie on the grass with your child, make up cloud stories and
let them remember and reminisce. It will help you both.
Barbara Braxton
Stories for boys who dare to be different by Ben Brooks
Ill. by Quinton Winter. Quercus, 2018. ISBN 9781787471986
(Age: 10+) Recommended. Themes: Men - Biographies. Boys -
Biographies. Masculinity. Inspirational author Ben Brooks continues
his motivating series with Stories for boys who dare to be
different. The subtitle captures his rationale for sharing
these one-hundred stories of courageous boys, teenagers and men - True
tales of amazing boys who changed the world without killing
dragons.
Brooks has gathered information from across the globe, showcasing
famous male role models and introducing less well-known ones from
many fields, including sports, science, music and social activism.
He champions the power of positivity, the importance of inclusivity,
explores gender and social identity and shows how individuals can
rise above their circumstances and make a difference. His material
is gathered from across the globe, from historical figures, with
different professions, socio-economic backgrounds, beliefs and
ethnicities.
Set out in alphabetical order of first names, we begin with South
African teenager Achmat Hassiem who survived a shark attack, had his
leg amputated and then went on to race in the Paralympics. Bill
Gates, Galileo Galilei, Nelson Mandela, Louis Braille, Daniel
Radcliffe all have encouraging messages. The boys from Isca School
protested about the unfair uniform rules having to wear trousers in
summer. They all protested by wearing the girls' uniform skirts for
a day and their message was heard. Moviemaker Tanka Waititi created
his own films and comic book universe to champion his Maori culture
and history.
Quinton Winter's creative, bold graphics are visually engaging. Bold
backgrounds and easy to read stories make this an exciting book to
dip into with a family, on your own or with a class.
Brooks continues to empower his readers, with messages of staying
true to yourself, believing in your own capabilities and being
caring and compassionate with both people and the environment.
Rhyllis Bignell
Salvation by Peter F. Hamilton
The Salvation Sequence Vol 1. Macmillan, 2018. ISBN
9781447281320
(Age: Senior secondary - Adult) Recommended for mature Sci-fi
lovers. Themes: Science Fiction. Space travel. Future survival.
Technology. Aliens. Genetic modification. Peter F. Hamilton is a
master of the Sci-Fi genre and this volume introducing The
Salvation Sequence is brimming full of the complexities of
Science's answers to the world's problems into the future. The
existence of the human population into the 23rd century is subject
to a multitude of scientific, biological and technological
enhancements, some of which have alien origins. The socio-politico
complications of life lead to the need for powerful cyber-security
and espionage personnel with amazing skills. This book covers
multiple generations of amazing people who are involved in intrigue,
crime fighting and overcoming the threats to life. Each individual
has a different story to tell and an interesting history, and the
weaving of their threads together is skilfully artistic, and the
book reads more like a spy thriller and murder mystery than a Sci-fi
story. Hamilton does not ignore the ideological and philosophical
discussions related to genetic manipulation, technological
advancements that extend life, dealing with waste and energy
production, and even the notion of religious expression. These are
all motifs that make this a powerful exploration of the future while
being a compelling narrative with alien participants too. The jumps
in time and physical space through portals allowing interspatial
travel are also exciting and the Sci-fi equivalent of travel in the
Harry Potter magical world but with sophisticated adult participants
who deal with real scientific issues rather than magical ones. The
investigation of an extremely violent murder scene and its
connection to other problems in the extended universe/world is also
very complex. The book leaves the reader with the promise of more to
come!
I am not a passionate Sci-fi lover, so found this book initially
difficult to connect with and hard work to read, but could not
refute the powerful story-telling, the detailed writing skills and
the masterful capacity of the author to explain the scientific
principles upon which the future world was based. The altered
normalities of life beyond 2200 were incredibly complex and only
those with a good scientific interest would be enthused by the
changed foundations of life. The audacious activities of the central
characters were movie-worthy and like a Sci-Fi 'James Bond-style'
adventure with undercover participants, risky investigations,
murders and romances carried out in extreme secrecy and with awesome
technological and cyber assistance. A hint of spy-vs-spy action adds
another layer of complexity.
Recommended for mature Sci-fi lovers. Not for the faint-hearted as
it contains violence and mature themes.
Carolyn Hull
Vanishing by Mike Lucas
Ill. by Jennifer Harrison. Midnight Sun, 2018. ISBN 9781925227444
Once, creatures of all shapes and sizes wandered this empty land.
They had horns and wings, scales and feathers. They lived in vibrant
forests, desert plains and icy tundras. But where are they now?
This is an evocative picture book, lyrically written and sublimely
illustrated, that introduces young children to a host of the
creatures that have inhabited this planet over the millennia but
which have now disappeared, often because of the impact of humans on
their habitat or a desire to own what they offered. But this book
goes further than the extinction of its creatures for it warns that
humans with their cities and all that they consume will also
disappear.
"The humans learned about their past. But they didn't learn enough
from it." But there is also hope that perhaps once the humans have
gone, the creatures will emerge again.
The publication of Vanishing at this time is very timely and
it should be an essential element of any study focusing on
sustainability of the landscape so that, regardless of their age,
students can 'learn enough from it'. Enough for them to continue
asking questions, to examine their own beliefs and practices, to
encourage others to think about the then as well as the now, to take
action and to maintain it until the changes are stopped if not
reversed, and to not give into a future of doom and gloom. To show
those who were of a similar mindset when they were students, that
there are more important things than those that they now worship,
particularly in a country that is among those with the worst
rate of animal species extinction in the world.
A comparison of the front and back end-pages should be enough to
pique the interest but further teaching
notes are available.
Barbara Braxton
Lava Island by Bajo and Hex, Chris Kennett
Pixel Raiders book 5. Scholastic Australia, 2018. ISBN
9781743817650
(Age: 8+) Themes: Digital worlds. Computer games. Fantasy.
Adventure. Celebrity gamers Bajo and Hex's Pixel Raiders
series concludes with Lava Island. This is the most difficult level
yet; Rip and Mei must solve tricky puzzles on Lava Island that lead
them to the dangerous volcano.
Mei and Rip wake up in two different places after the over-powered
villain MEGALAVA caused an explosion. Mei finds herself in Rip's
bedroom trying to explain his whereabouts to his mum. She has to
return to Inreal Games, sneak into the building and find a way back
into the game.
Rip and Mei encounter monkeys, pelicans, loud and annoying music,
race inside chambers, solving mysteries and puzzles as they traverse
Lava Island. They are chased by a huge slime monster and work their
way through even more difficult challenges, encountering firewoman
Magmonia with fiery lava flowing hands who tests their character,
wit and skill. Magmonia's alter ego is Miss Eastwood their music
teacher who gives them a vital clue to help in their ultimate test.
The final epic battle tests Rip and Mei's abilities and skills and
pits them against Bryan, another gamer who works for MEGALAVA.
Firebugs, dangerous icicles, giant snowballs, even a pterodactyl, so
many dangerous elements are thrown at Rip and Mei.
Lava Island draws together all the characters and explains their
motives and actions from the other Pixel Island books making this a
fantastic final adventure. Bajo and Hex understand the gaming world
and Chris Kennett's cartoon graphics liven up the action and antics.
Rhyllis Bignell
