Alex and the alpacas save the world by Kathryn Lefroy
Fremantle Press, 2019. ISBN: 9781925815412.
(Age: 9-12) Highly recommended. Themes: Mystery, South American
history, Alpacas. Kathryn Lefroy's realistic fantasy draws the
reader in immediately, there's an ancient prophecy, portents of
evil, talking llamas and a young girl whose destiny is coming to
fruition. Alex envisions a boring summer holidays just helping her
mysterious grandfather on his farm. With a fractured foot, he's
unable to look after his alpacas and the olive grove.
When Alex touches an unusual symbol on the farm gate, a splinter of
wood draws blood and the atmosphere changes. She unleashes magical
forces and wakes up Kiala a powerful spirit trapped in the forest.
Grandpa's unhappy about his daughter and granddaughter's visit; he
believes his grandson Wilf is the fortieth sun needed to fulfil the
ancient prophecy. Things quickly escalate; Alex's ability to
communicate with the talking alpacas, her interpretation of the
one-thousand-year-old prophecy and the appearance of a huge white
sea eagle are just the beginning.
When Alex's mother is poisoned by the bite of a Tasmanian tiger and
slips into a coma, Alex must overcome her fears and search for the
antidote deep in the forest. Assisted by Leeuie a boy from a nearby
apple orchard who is a walking encyclopaedia of nature facts, they
ride the alpacas into the dark woods, desperate to overcome the evil
forces. Ferocious Tasmanian tigers herd them towards the evil spirit
trapped in a tree. Alex and Leeuie must find the elements listed in
each line of the prophecy and stop the evil force.
In Kathryn Lefroy's Alex and the Alpacas Save the World we
see elemental forces at play, in a wonderfully crafted world filled
with shades of darkness and light. Her world-building sets fantasy
characters amidst the realities of Tasmanian forests and farms. Both
Alex and Leeuie are relatable characters whose journey is exciting
and scary. As Alex fulfils her destiny, she learns to rely on her
new friend, collaborating to complete the challenges and stepping
outside their comfort zones. There is a fast-paced urgency to the
narrative as they seek to find the cure for Alex's mother.
Fulfilling your destiny, the fight of good and evil, the power of
love and the restoration of family relationships are key themes. An
excellent Upper Primary class novel and an exciting read for nine to
twelve-year-old fantasy fans.
Rhyllis Bignell
We are blood and thunder by Kesia Lupo
Bloomsbury, 2019. ISBN: 9781408898055.
(Age: 12+ ) Recommended. Themes: YA, fantasy, magic. 'In a sealed
off city, it begins with a hunt. A young woman, Lena, is running for
her life, convicted of being a mage and sentenced to death. Her only
way to survive is to trust those she has been brought up to fear,
those with magic.
On the other side of the locked gates is a masked lady, Constance,
determined to find a way back in. She knows only too well how the
people of Duke's Forest loathe magic. Years ago she escaped before
her powers were discovered. But now she won't hide who she is any
longer.
A powerful and terrifying storm cloud unites them. It descends over
the dukedom and devastates much in its wake. But this is more than a
thunderstorm. This is a spell, and the truth behind why it has been
cast is more sinister than anyone can imagine . . . ' (Publisher)
Only Lena and Constance hold the key to destroying the spell. Though
neither of them realise it, they need each other. They are the blood
and they have the thunder within.
Kesia Lupo crafts a vibrant fantasy world in her debut novel, where
both kindness and cruelty stand out. The worldbuilding grounded the
story and gave a sense of reality through the characters' trials and
tribulations. In her emotive narration, Lupo enables the reader to
empathise with the main characters and feel indignant at the
inequity and unfairness that Lena faces. Lena's character growth was
a pleasure to read as she transforms from an insecure child unsure
of her place in the world to a young woman who understands her
identity and connections to the people around her. Constance's
mysterious and inscrutable character was a stark contrast to Lena's
easily perceived emotions, creating a compelling narrative that led
to an unexpected twist. The way the storm cloud connected Constance
and Lena emphasised the way the past actions of some can impact
other people's futures, binding them together through chance or
fate. Lupo's abrupt descriptions of character deaths suggests the
way people devalue others' lives is callous and beseeches readers to
consider the way our actions impact others; thought-provoking themes
for the current day and age. The pacing in the opening scene was
fast, heightening the tension, and remained at a good tempo for the
rest of the novel, slowing for the worldbuilding, then increasing
for climactic scenes. Some descriptions in the book are visceral and
not appropriate for young readers, but for teenagers, this novel is
an engaging, interesting read.
Stephanie Lam
Star Wars: Meet the Heroes: Chewbacca by Ruth Amos
DK. 2019. ISBN: 9780241387795. 63p
(Age: 8+) Themes: Star Wars, Heroes, Cinema. Like the other heroes
in the Star Wars Meet the Heroes series, Chewbacca, will
delight new fans of the Star Wars movies by revising some
fun facts about Han Solo's hairy side-kick.
We learn that Chewbacca is a rebel hero despite not having a
speaking part. We recall why Chewbacca makes howling noises and
learn obscure details about his Wookie upbringing. Higher order
questions about Chewbacca's mechanical and aeronautical abilities
compete with recall literary facts such as What is the Millennium
Falcon? How old is Chewbacca? Both the detail and the non-fiction
format make Chewbacca more credible - a pop culture icon!
The consistent format of both R2-D2 and Chewbacca in DK's latest Q
and A hardbacks, brands the Meet the Heroes series with a
mash-up of movie stills, colour blocks, bold headings and obligatory
glossary. All of the Meet the Villains and the Meet the
Heroes titles, promise to be enthusiastically received by
young fans who have only recently stumbled upon the Star Wars
stories.
Deborah Robins
Arthur and the tiger by Sophie Beer
Puffin books, 2019. ISBN: 9780143791836.
(Age: 4+) Highly recommended. Themes: Tigers, Circuses, Fear.
Arthur's Circus is going along well, a bright contrast to the grey
smoggy city on the hill in the distance. He has a trapeze artist who
can soar like an eagle, a strongman who can lift a car with one
finger, jugglers who can breathe fire like the best of dragons, but
Arthur's son can do no tricks at all. Arthur the ringmaster tries
lots of things with his son, but each time he fails; all he wants to
do is have a picnic and a nice cup of tea. But one day his father
announces that there will be an addition to the circus: a tiger. And
the one to tame the tiger will be Arthur.
Everyone is terrified: the strongman shivers, the juggler is
jittery, the acrobat falls into her net, and the townspeople are
just as unhappy with a ferocious tiger about to arrive. But no one
is as scared as Arthur as he shivers in his bed, the bedclothes held
over his head. When the fearful day arrives and the animal is let
out of its tightly locked cage, it takes one look at Arthur's
friend, the mouse, and runs to hide. Arthur reassures him that all
is well and the two become friends, Arthur able to teach the tiger
some tricks which they perform, and after an evening's performance
can sit down with a picnic and a nice cup of tea.
A delightful story of friendship, of facing one's fears, of working
together to find an amicable solution will have children laughing
out loud as the tiger is more afraid of Arthur and his friends than
they are of the tiger.
The wonderfully playful illustrations convey the fun of the circus
on every page with blocks of big bold colour. Each page plays with
shape and texture, style and colour, and is exciting to look at and
ponder as the antics of each of the circus performers are shown.
Arthur's face is ever changing as he faces the challenge of taming
the tiger, relieved that the tiger is more scared than he.
Fran Knight
Malamander by Thomas Taylor
Walker Books, 2019. ISBN: 9781406386288.
(Age: 10+) Recommended. Themes: Fantasy; Family; Loss; Adventure;
Fantasy creatures. Set in the gloriously named 'Eerie-on-Sea', this
mystery adventure reveals quirky characters who try to solve the
mystery of the unusual creature, the Malamander, and its influence
on their local community. The main character is Herbie Lemon, a
young lad who works in the local Hotel as the 'Lost-and-Founder' -
an important role of returning lost things to their rightful owners.
Unexpectedly, a visitor named Violet drops into his office and
sparks a rollicking and roiling adventure to uncover the mystery of
missing parents, the hook-handed Sea Captain and the scary and
dangerous Malamander. With danger on the sea-shore, a talking cat
and an ominous author as distractions, Herbie and Violet explore
friendship and exercise problem-solving strategies to find what the
community has lost and found.
This is obviously going to be the first book in a series of further
adventures as the author, Thomas Taylor, leaves Herbie and Violet
poised for more mystery and problem-solving. Lovers of fantasy will
enjoy this book. The honesty and guileless nature of Herbie will
endear him to readers, and the extremely idiosyncratic nature of the
town and characters that inhabit it adds to the overall humorous
oddities that young readers will enjoy. The action that escalates in
the book is not so tense as to cause fear, but there is drama!
Packaged in a pull-out box, this would make an interesting and
appealing gift for a young reader.
Recommended for readers aged 10+
Carolyn Hull
Isles of storm and sorrow: Viper by Bex Hogan
Orion Children's Books, 2019. ISBN: 9781510105836.
Recommended for mature readers aged 16+. Seventeen-year-old Marianne
is the daughter of the Viper - a sadistic and powerful Sea Captain
of the King's protective fleet. Surrounded by a crew of murderers
and psychopaths, Marianne is expected to become just like her
father, but she harbours a reticence that defies her heritage and
her father's cold-hearted purpose. With multiple murders, violence
and the intense distrust within this band of powerful misfits,
Marianne is set on a course that is brutal and disquieting. Almost
no crew members are worthy of trust, and she is always on the
lookout for betrayal and is conscious that something is very wrong
in her life. Her natural instinct is to heal rather than to kill,
maim and destroy and this puts her at odds with everything her
father does. Her relationship with her mentors Grace and Bronn has
been good in the past giving her glimpses of hope, but even these
relationships become remote and risky as she approaches her
Initiation. A chance discovery, an unexpected alliance and an
improbable future, combined with a mysterious history are all set to
collide in a war-like confrontation, with a hint of fantasy.
This is an intensely powerful story, with romance, violence, extreme
stress and internal and external conflict for the young protagonist.
The story has fantasy, piratical scenarios and sadistic characters
in abundance, and yet it is also the story of someone who desires to
rise above her circumstances and change her destiny. This is a
compelling story and readers will look forward to the rest of the
trilogy of Isles of storm and sorrow. However, extreme
violence described in the book makes this a book for older readers
only - it is more Game of Thrones than Hunger games.
The explicitly described violence can be quite confronting.
Themes: Conflict, Trust and distrust, Family, Violence, Good vs
evil, Fantasy, Royalty.
Carolyn Hull
Wedding puzzle by Sallie Muirden
Transit lounge, 2019. ISBN: 9781925760248.
(Age: 16+) On the eve of her wedding, Beth receives a letter that
turns her world upside down. It is from her once closest friend
Tracy, the school sports star, enlightening her that Jordan, Beth's
future husband, had proposed to Tracy only days before proposing to
Beth, and that it was only Tracy's rejection of him that had led him
to turn to Beth. The letter provokes all Beth's insecurities and
self doubt, and she reassesses the history of their relationship,
and Jordan's proposal, and all sorts of alternative interpretations
of what was really going on.
There are funny moments in this novel, like when the seagulls take
off with the orange-scented wedding veil, but what starts out as an
interesting story idea, turns into a prolonged examination of Beth's
recollections, and as reader, we start to become unsure about how
reliable her version of events is. Perhaps her view of men has been
warped by her father's betrayal of their family; perhaps, in Jordan,
she has chosen another man who will let her down; or perhaps Jordan
really is as trustworthy and dependable as he makes out to be. In
the latter case, then, what is it that he sees in Beth? Maybe it is
actually Beth who is the unreliable one, seeking an excuse to run
from commitment.
The novel is a clever examination of memories and relationships, but
could perhaps have benefited from some editing in its twists towards
a fairly predictable ending.
Helen Eddy
Can't beat the chemistry by Kat Colmer
Rhiza Edge, 2019. ISBN: 9781925563696.
(Age: 13+) Highly recommended. MJ is a stereotypical overachiever
with a helicopter Asian parent. MJ's mother is grooming MJ to study
medicine and specifically cardiac surgery. Theo is MJ's only sibling
and the family rebel, having chosen his own path in life - the arts.
Luke, Theo's roommate, is a deadbeat drummer failing chemistry. MJ
is focused on partnering in a joint project with another
overachiever - in part to perform well, but with a view to starting
a romantic relationship with someone compatible.
Theo is the catalyst for bringing the two opposites together and MJ
reluctantly agrees to tutor Luke. Chapters from each perspective are
illustrated by either a beaker or a drum. MJ gradually manages to
re-think her biased assumptions about Luke and his motives.
When MJ is apprised of Luke's world - his sister Rosie's special
school, his church and not least the expansiveness of her own
brother; she appreciates that there's more than one form of
intelligence and questions her own need to live up to family
expectations.
Will MJ follow her dreams to study genetics or strive for the
pinnacle of the medical profession? Will the well-groomed Jason be
the sensible boyfriend choice for MJ? How do you know you're a good
kisser? Will Theo regret being true to himself?
But opposites do attract, and annoyance leads to love just like in a
classic Mills and Boone plot. Modern complications refresh the
formulaic romance - a jealous ex-girlfriend, an intellectually
impaired sister, a gay brother, a browbeaten father.
Colmer keeps us reading, in one sitting if we could, without
swearing and explicit sexual scenes, so she must be doing something
right. Suitable for any gender, this is a layered romance tackling
important young adult issues and values. Visit Cat Colmer's website to
subscribe to her newsletter and to download the free companion
story, Tickets on himself. Themes: Bildungsroman. Romance.
Deborah Robins
The shadow in the wind by Lazaros Zigomanis
Pinion Press, 2019. ISBN: 9780648478904.
(Age: 10+) Recommended. Keene's mother has a strange illness, like a
darkness within her. She is confined to bed with a drip in her arm.
Keene can see shadows in the corner of her room, shadows that
threaten to envelop her. People keep saying that she might not get
better, but Keene is sure that if he could just find the special
citrine pendant that he had given her, that would help. The lady who
sold it to him had said that crystals help people feel better. But
the pendant was lost at Miller's Pond one weekend. Keene is sure
that he remembers where it is, but the problem is that nobody seems
to want to find it and he is not allowed to go into the bush alone.
Keene has to overcome many fears to venture into the bush. The trees
lean forward and grab at him; he can see scary faces in the tree
trunks, and voices call out to him. It is a dark and mysterious
world, like the world of a fairytale, with dangers lurking to trap
him. Will he be able to find the precious pendant, and bring it back
to his mother in time?
Zigomanis's story is about a young child ultimately coming to
understand that some things can't be fixed, that death may take
someone no matter how much you love them or try to save them. In his
writing Zigomanis evokes the imaginative world of the child: the
world of fairytales, of good and evil, of magic powers, where
ordeals must be overcome, to save the loved one, and have a happy
ending. For Keene, it is a terrible path to travel but in the end he
comes to a kind of acceptance, and finds ways to share his grief,
and commemorate the mother he loves.
It is a serious story, beautifully written; a semi-finalist in the
2017 Screencraft Cinematic Short Story Contest, and the adapted
screenplay a semi-finalist in the 2017 Screencraft Family-Friendly
Screenplay Contest. Despite being a relatively short story, there
are many themes that may be drawn out; teachers may refer to the
useful list of discussion questions at the end of the book.
Helen Eddy
How to make friends with the dark by Kathleen Glasgow
HarperCollins, 2019. ISBN: 9781460751060.
(Age: Senior secondary) Tiger (Grace) Tolliver's life will forever
be divided into 'before' and 'after' her mum died. Before, she was a
normal 16 year old, only child of a devoted, if overprotective, mum.
They were poor but happy and while Tiger was sometimes bullied at
school, her best friend Cake looked out for her and they, along with
friend Kai formed the band Broken Candle. Then, after Tiger has a
fight with her mum about letting her go to the school dance, her mum
dies from a brain aneurism. Tiger is racked with guilt. 'I would
never . . . have left my mother to die alone. That's the sort of
thing a bad daughter would do' p43. But Tiger's life 'after',
continues in a haze of grief. She is taken into foster care and
experiences first-hand the world of children with no home of their
own. After being moved from carer to carer a family friend finally
alerts the social worker to the identity of Tiger's father, someone
she has never known and who her mother refused to talk about. Once
her blood relatives are tracked down the social security are anxious
to hand over responsibility but all is not smooth sailing. Not only
does Tiger have to learn to deal with her overwhelming grief but she
has to adjust to a world far more challenging than she ever thought
possible. Depression and suicidal thoughts threaten to engulf her as
the full complexity of grief is laid out for the reader; who do you
turn to when your mum dies and other people let you down? There is
no easy answer and ultimately we have to save ourselves, take
control of our lives and learn to live with loss.
This is a book for older students developing a perspective on life,
willing to make the emotional journey with Tiger. The minor
characters tend to be a bit sketchy but they are generally positive
people making the best of their lot in life. There is a notable lack
of comfortable teenage romance but the value and support of family
and friends is central. It would be interesting to compare this with
Stone
Girl by Eleni Hale.
Themes: Grief, Loss, family, friendship, foster care.
Sue Speck
Joseph was not going to school by Ellen Madden
Illus. by Annelies Billeter. Little Steps, 2019. ISBN:
9780648267492.
(Age: 4-5) Ellen Madden's debut picture book Joseph was not
Going to School draws from her experiences preparing for her
eldest child's first day. Joseph loves playing with his big sister
Molly, who teaches him the alphabet and they build block towers.
He's a tall boy, and can ride his bike without training wheels, but
unfortunately he's just not big enough for school.
Mum helps Molly prepare for school. They enjoy purchasing new black
shoes, a school bag and a pencil case 'bursting with new pencils and
felt pens.' Joseph watches as his Molly thoroughly enjoys all of the
preparation, but he's not sure about his feelings.
Mum tries to comfort offering plenty of activities at home; he won't
have to watch princess movies anymore! When the special day arrives,
everyone takes photos of Molly dressed in her new uniform and hat,
while Joseph stands back and feels sad. How does Mum help him cope
with his emotions and will she surprise him with something special?
Illustrator Annette Billeter's watercolours realistically portray
Joseph and Molly's feelings. She uses closeups to show the new
purchases and wonderfully constructs the excitement of the family's
in the playground on the first morning. Ellen Madden's story is
relatable to family's preparing for this time. Share Joseph was
not going to school with a young family or a kindergarten
class, then discuss the different points of view and emotions shown.
Themes: First day of school, brothers and sisters, families.
Rhyllis Bignell
Juno Jones Word Ninja by Kate Gordon
Illus. by Sandy Flett. Yellow Brick Books, 2019. ISBN:
9780994557094.
A disaster is on the horizon! Muttonbird Bay School might be
closing. Juno Jones loves her school, but the Men in Suits want to
close it down! With three schools in the area, including a posh
school and a public one near the sewerage system (known as the poo
school), and not enough children, one of the schools has to go. And,
according to their principal, there's only only one thing Juno and
her classmates can do to stop it . . . show they are smarter and
dedicated and so they need to READ! Which is perfectly fine for
people like Perfect Paloma, Smelly Bella and Genius George, but Juno
Jones is a kid who doesn't like reading. She prefers being a secret
ninja, telling jokes and drawing so she strikes a deal with her
teacher to write a book rather than reading one. She needs to become
a Word Ninja.
And the result is this new addition to the series scene for newly
independent readers for those who like something different with a
quirky, feisty female lead in a setting they can relate to, but with
a balance of male and female characters that means its appeal is not
limited to girls. Each character has talents and skills that
contribute to the development of the story, setting the series up
for a whole range of new adventures.
Barbara Braxton
Do you dream of Terra-Two? by Temi Oh
Simon and Schuster, 2019. ISBN: 9781471171253.
(Age: 14+) Highly recommended. Do you dream of Terra-Two?
follows a group of young high achievers as they vie for one of six
positions on 'Damocles', a space-craft destined to travel
further through space than ever before. The crew on 'Damocles'
are to join seasoned astronauts on a twenty-two year journey to the
far-off planet known as Terra-Two, heralding the future of
space travel and mass colonisation of a new world. With each
candidate specially selected and trained since the age of thirteen,
the mission is marketed as an unquestionable success.
With only hours until launch, the select six are left to wander free
around the British Interplanetary Society's Museum, but things take
a darker turn after Ara, Astrid, and Eliot leave the grounds to
explore London one last time. Disaster strikes and Ara is pulled out
of the dirty, polluted water of the Thames.
Desperate for a replacement and unwilling to postpone the mission,
one of the beta crew, Jesse, is drafted in and the mission goes
ahead, their rocket launching before Ara's burial. In psychological
turmoil, the crew fight to save face and put their jobs first,
despite being haunted by the ghost of their dead crew-mate. As Ara's
replacement, Jesse struggles to fit in. He is the social pariah and
the others act almost as if he killed Ara for her place on the ship.
Going head-to-head with Harry, Jesse is the catalyst of Harry's
worst side and it is only after an incident that almost kills Jesse
that the others embrace him as one of their own. However, they have
more to contend with than just one another as they realise just how
close to death they come every single day. Do you dream of Terra-Two? is an exciting journey into space,
relationships, and the possibilities of a new world. The novel
interrogates and discusses mental health, showcasing Poppy's
struggle as a normal response to isolation and change.
I would highly recommend this novel to people aged fourteen and up
who are interested in sci-fi or personally struggling with mental
health issues.
Kayla Gaskell
Flights of fancy: stories, pictures and inspiration from ten Children's Laureates by Quentin Blake et al.
Children's Laureates by Quentin Blake et al.
Walker Books. 2019. ISBN: 9781406387858.
(Age: 10+) Highly recommended. This slim volume of writing and
illustrating prompts, celebrating the first 10 British Children's
Laureates, enthralled me; having recently scanned A velocity of
being (Popova and Bedrick) in which prominent American
creatives penned or illustrated a motivational letter to children
about the importance of reading. Lacking the gravitas of such
philosophical dictums, Flights of fancy is infinitely more
serviceable, and not solely for its apparent purpose i.e.
cultivating burgeoning authors and illustrators by fleshing out some
useful strategies and exemplars.
Young readers without any creative ambitions, will inhabit both the
strategies and the diverse stories, plays, poems and visual texts
composed by esteemed authors. Malorie Blackman takes a kernel of
narrative and facets three perspectives. Michael Rosen bounces in
word play to create a succinct poetic message. Julia Donaldson
transforms a fable into a script. Chris Riddell, Lauren Child,
Anthony Browne and Quentin Blake conjure the tricks of visual
narratives. Anne Fine, Jacqueline Wilson and Michael Morpurgo fling
about imaginative prompts for their creations.
Each Laureate's section, bordered by distinctively coloured frames,
is easily located via the Contents.
20 collective project ideas and a biographical section deliver
either quick grabs or background details. Timed to celebrate the
20th anniversary celebrations of the Children's Laureate award and
bursary, this is a delightful manual for children of all ages to
visit and re-visit: for pleasure, for beloved authors voices, and
not least for stimulus because schools historically demand a large
amount of creative writing from their students.
Deborah Robins
This excellent machine by Stephen Orr
Wakefield Press, 2019. ISBN: 9781743056134.
(Age: 16+) Clem Whelan is not sure if he wants to persist with the
last year of school, he's more interested in observing the goings-on
of the various neighbours he can spy on through a telescope from his
bedroom window. But the adults around him encourage him in different
ways: from Ernie with his Bolshevist convictions, to Peter the
failed lawyer, Nick, the inspiring art teacher, to his Pop who tells
him he has the brains and should use them. Clem has a mate, Curtis,
he would rather hang out with, share smokes, and hear about his
latest escapades with girls.
The central mystery in Clem's life is what happened to his father.
He knows that Wilf left when Clem was young, but he doesn't know why
and nobody will tell the least thing about him. It's like everybody
in the suburb has been told to keep their mouths shut. But
sometimes, he picks up on a word here and there, or latches onto an
old photograph. What Clem gradually comes to realise is that his Pop
has been the best kind of father he could possibly have had. Doug,
his Pop, is gradually succumbing to dementia, he becomes forgetful
and confused, but he is a true touchstone of good values. While his
dream of striking it rich with the treasure of the fabled Lasseter's
gold reef may sound just that, a dream, he conjures an element of
adventure and escape that fellow men of the neighbourhood also find
irresistible.
There are so many interesting characters in this book, and so many
personal stories; they are all fodder for Clem's machine - his
budding novel about how life is a machine where people go in and
come out changed. And that is what the author Orr creates in the
end, the excellent machine where people interrelate and are changed
by their relationships, in a wonderful old-time suburb where people
all know each other and look out for each other. The novel is about
growing up in the Adelaide suburbs in the 1980s, the world of
Datsuns and permed hairstyles, men having a drink at the pub, and
women holding the fort at home. Much of it is told via conversations
where the language is so Oz it makes you laugh at times. It is a
very enjoyable book and offers much to reflect on afterwards.
Helen Eddy
