Bloomsbury Children's Books, 2016. ISBN 9781619639119
(Age: 14+) Highly recommended. Minor sexual references. Katie
Kennedy's gripping first novel brings the reader a suspenseful,
compelling yet touching story. Learning to Swear in America
follows the trials of Yuri Strelnikov, a 17-year-old Russian
physicist prodigy who must put his skills to the test to save the
world from a potentially planet-destroying asteroid. Despite being
respected as an expert in his theory of antimatter back in Russia,
Yuri finds himself fighting to be heard in NASA's Jet Propulsion
Lab, often undermined due to his age. Just as the pressure Yuri is
carrying on his shoulders begins to take its toll, he meets Dovie
Collum, his perfect antithesis. Artistic, caring and poetic, Dovie
provides the scientific and systematic Yuri with a different way of
seeing the world, and acts as his motivation to save it. Yuri's
arrogance and intellect, which may be difficult for some readers to
connect with, is well-balanced by Dovie's humour and compassion,
allowing a wide range of readers to find a relatable element in
either of their personalities. Touching on sci-fi, action, adventure
and romance, Kennedy's debut novel finds the reader holding their
breath as they devour page after page of nail-biting action. The
reader will be unable to peel their eyes away from the book,
determined to discover how and if Yuri will be able to save the
world, accompanied by expertly crafted characters that draw the
reader further into the world of the novel. This is a novel that
will not only touch your heart, but will stay with you long after
you turn the last page.
Daniella Chiarolli (university student)
Provenance by Ann Leckie
Orbit Books, 2017. ISBN 9780356506968
(Age: Adult) Highly recommended. Themes: Science fiction, Coming of
age, Power, Sibling rivalry, Theft, Alien culture. Ingray, in a
desperate bid to outwit her brother and impress her mother the
Netano, frees a thief from Compassionate Removal, a prison planet
from which nobody has ever returned. She returns home to her planet
where she finds things are unsettled and when she is the first on
the scene of a murder in a public park, danger escalates.
This is a stand-alone novel set in the Imperial Radch universe,
where her award winning Ancillary Justice was based, but it
is not necessary to have read any of the other novels that the
author has written. The background of the space station, the alien
Geck, the strange customs of collecting artefacts and the family
dynamics are all vividly described, but it is the character and
action of Ingray that grabs the reader's attention and keeps it
focused on the story. At first glance Ingray seems to be rather an
ineffectual young woman, a bit prone to losing her hair pins and
crying, but as Captain Tic comments, give her 10 minutes to fall
apart and then she will come up with an outlandish but workable
solution to any problem that is facing her. The problems include
getting a thief off an inaccessible planet, solving a murder, being
diplomatic with an important Geck ambassador and rescuing her mother
and orphan children when they are held captive by an invading army.
The family dynamics are fully fleshed out, with Ingray desperate to
gain her foster mother's attention, while putting her brother Danach
in his place. As the story progresses so does Ingray's growth in
understanding of what she wants for herself and what is the best
position for her in the family. A fascinating side plot is the
reverence that artefacts hold for members of the planet, and the
fact that they could be fraudulent but still important in the eyes
of the populace. Provenance introduced me to the author, winner of the Hugo,
Nebula, Arthur C. Clarke and Locus Awards, and I will definitely be
picking up her first three books,
Pat Pledger
Saving Marty by Paul Griffin
Text Publishing, 2017. ISBN 9781925498868
(Age: 10-12) Themes: Friendship, Family Life, Pets, Music. Saving Marty is an honest story of family life, love, friendship and
sacrifice. Eleven year old Lorenzo Ventura has a difficult life,
physically he's over six feet tall and 250 pounds and his life with
his mother and grandfather on a failing peach orchard is a constant
struggle to survive. Renzo's soldier father is deceased, all that is
left are his letters to his son, his guitar and his Bronze Star.
Music is an important part of Renzo's life; he enjoys playing the
guitar with his best friend songwriter and singer Paloma Lee.
When Renzo returns home after school to find his mother has sold
Reggie and her piglets to the butcher, he is saddened but that's
just part of life. In the barn he discovers their dog Bella has had
her puppies in the pigpen and hidden in the straw is a fuzzy piglet,
the runt of the litter. Marty (named for his dad) becomes Renzo's
special project, saving him from Mum's desire to sell him off,
feeding him up and stopping the rapidly growing pig from destroying
property.
For a school project on their personal heroes, Renzo delves into his
father's life and death, discovering conflicting and confronting
details. Paloma's songs and poignant lyrics provide a contrast to
the vicissitudes of Renzo's life. As the months pass, and Paloma
leaves for music camp, Marty becomes the one constant friend in
Renzo's life.
Paul Griffin's Saving Marty champions the underdog, the boy
who doesn't fit in, and friends, family and music bring the light
and shade to this story. His characters are realistically portrayed,
even Marty the pig who grows to 350 pounds is a loveable friend with
his dog-like antics. This is a realistic portrayal of the effects of
war and to the struggles of everyday life.
Rhyllis Bignell
Hugo makes a change by Scott Emmons
Ill. by Mauro Gatti. Flying Eye Books, 2017. ISBN 9781911171218
(Age: 3-5) Themes: Diet and Nutrition, Vampires. Hugo the vampire is
a carnivore, he's 'crazy for red, juicy meat!' After dark, he prowls
through town looking for a meal. He' a hungry young creature with
only one thing on his mind, gobbling up 'hot dogs, a roast and a
ham, a T-bone or two and a big leg of lamb.' Hugo Makes a Change
is an entertaining rhyming story all about nutrition and eating a
balanced diet. Emmons and Gatti have created a lively tale with
bright, bold digital images.
Hugo discovers his meat only diet leaves him bloated, slow, and
lacking any energy. He comes to the realisation that he needs to
change his food choices. Instead of visiting steakhouses and diners,
he drops into a vegetable garden where he sees new foods with
wrinkly leaves, red lumpy blobs and long green mystery objects.
Hanging upside down on an apple tree he tastes a small juicy fruit
and discovers a new taste sensation. One big white fang pierces the
skin and Hugo's life changes. Back to the vegetable garden he walks,
sharing a delicious picnic with his friendly black cat. His kitchen
bench is filled with a variety of fresh produce and he plans
delicious meals using meat, fruit and vegetables. Hugo's energy
levels rise as he enjoys raisins on a moonlight ride and has healthy
snacks watching television.
Emmons' simple poetry is engaging and this story provides teachable
moments and opportunities for discussion about healthy food choices.
Toddlers and preschoolers will enjoy the graphic pictures, vibrant
backgrounds and identifying the foods mentioned in the rhymes.
Rhyllis Bignell
The Doldrums and the Helmsley Curse by Nicholas Gannon
Greenwillow, 2017. ISBN 9780062320971
(Age: 9-12) Themes: Good and Evil, Adventure stories, Friendship.
Nicholas Gannon's beautifully crafted sequel The Doldrums and
the Helmsley Curse brings Archer's infamous explorer
grandparents' home after a lengthy and mysterious disappearance.
Their return causes much controversy in Rosewood with the Chronicle
newspaper printing false accusations about them orchestrating their
iceberg shipwreck and supposedly cursing the city with Arctic
weather. With the help of his close friends, Oliver and Adelaide,
Archer sets out to find out the truth because family loyalty and
honour are worth fighting for.
Grandma and Grandpa Helmsley are summoned to a grand banquet and to
give an account of their actions to the members of the Society.
Archie, Oliver and Adelaide use their time to explore the rooms in
the huge building, uncovering more secret plots and learning of the
Society's President Herbert Birthwhistle's plans to destroy the
Helmsley's reputations. While Oliver's father continues to print the
truth in The Doldrums Press, townsfolk aren't convinced and set out
to banish the explorers.
The three friends learn to rely on each other as the creatively plan
to unravel the mystery, outwit unscrupulous villains and narrowly
escape from some dangerous situations. Visits to the delicious
Duttonlick's Sweetshop, creating special chocolates with behaviour
altering Doxical Powder makes for a funny party scene. Adelaide's
wooden leg does little to hinder her full engagement with the
activities and the addition of a new friend Kana further assists
their plans. As the blizzard worsens and Christmas approaches,
Archer's determination to help his grandparents heightens the
excitement. Their derring-do capers include the use of a ham-radio,
a crazy ride in a three-wheeled van and the judicious use of a
dumbwaiter.
Nick Gannon's architectural drawings, stylised colour illustrations,
black and white spot sketches add definition to the literary text. The
Doldrums and the Helmsley Curse presents a new world, brimming
with charm, relatable characters, with plenty of action and
intrigue, perfect for confident readers.
Rhyllis Bignell
My humans by Anita Green
Ill. by Michelle Ferguson. Little Steps Publishing, 2017. ISBN
9781925545326
(Age: 4-6) Animals, Perception, Dogs. A story of the place a beloved
dog has within the family is told from the dog's perspective, as he
tells us about his family, those people who selected him from the
dog rescue home and took him to the vet and took him home to be part
of their family. Each person within the family plays different roles
with the dog, Mum feeds and bathes him, the youngest child, Harry
snuggles into him, Millie takes him for walks and dresses him up,
Dad lets him in at night and sometimes lets him sleep on the couch.
Through the story and illustrations we see the things the dog does
within the household and what part the dog plays with the family,
reinforcing the responsibilities that dog ownership entails. For
younger readers this is an informative look at the role a dog has
within a family and the love between the family and the dog. Many of
the illustrations show the dog eating food that perhaps he shouldn't
be eating, giving children a further valuable lesson in dog
ownership.
Fran Knight
A jigsaw of fire and stars by Yaba Badoe
Head of Zeus, 2017. ISBN 9781786697981
(Age: 13+) Themes: Magical Realism, African folklore, Human
trafficking, Resilience. A Jigsaw of Fire and Stars is a
fast-paced present tense narrative told from fourteen year old Sante
Williams' point of view. As a baby she was tucked in a
treasure-filled sea chest and thrown overboard from a sinking
African refugee boat. Sante was rescued by a ragtag bunch of adults
who live on the edge of society performing as Mama Rose's circus
troupe. Together with Cobra the snake handler, her closest friend
and Cat the knife thrower, these children grow up within the
confines of a unique close-knit family environment. Sante's
companion Priss the golden eagle is her constant friend, a powerful
protector in troubled situations. Sante is a mind-whisperer too, she
conjures up dreams and memories of the past when she plays on her
bamboo flute.
When Sante's musical performance is observed by two mysterious
characters, Grey Eyes and the African, her life begins to unravel.
They seek the treasure from the sea chest and employ unscrupulous
measures to capture Sante, her friends and the goods. The rescue of
a troubled teenager Scarlett from drowning, soon adds a much darker
element to Sante's perilous situation. She is running from a drug
and human trafficking ring and Sante, Cat and Cobra join forces to
help her. Sante's headstrong ways lead them into many precarious
situations, narrow escapes, fleeing across Spanish rooftops,
stealing motor scooters as she calls on her spirit guides and eagle
Priss for assistance.
Badoe's lyrical novel draws imagery with powerful alliterative
descriptions, unusual dream sequences and intuitive scenes. Sante's
world is peopled with flawed characters out for their own gain, even
those close to her have different agendas. The author takes the
young adolescent reader into some topical issues - sexual
exploitation, human trafficking, the near-suicide of one character
and the killing of refugees by sinking their boats. The main
character has a distinct voice, driven by the desire to learn about
her heritage. A Jigsaw of Fire and Stars is an unusual story
alternating between action that rushes chaotically and dream
sequences that conjure up sensory memories of her past African life.
Rhyllis Bignell
Timeless : Diego and the rangers of the Vastlantic by Armand Baltazar
Harper Collins, 2017. ISBN 9780008258955
(Age: 10-14) Highly recommended. What would the world look like if
the past, present and future collided together? Timeless : Diego
and the Rangers of the Vastlantic describes that world in
words and approximately 150 beautifully executed illustrations.
Diego Ribera lives in a merged world, created during the
catastrophic Time Collision. At the beginning of the novel, Diego's
parents who have come from two different time periods, are
celebrating his thirteenth birthday. His father Santiago, a gifted
engineer, gives Diego his present, a gravity board which allows him
to fly a skateboard type device. More importantly, Diego also learns
of another gift, a special inherited skill that allows him to
develop the same amazing talents of his father.
Santiago, New Chicago's top engineer, is abducted by the evil
Aeternum and his followers, who are trying to alter the Time
Collision's world. It is up to Diego, his teenage friends and a
small band of pirates to try to rescue his father and other
prisoners.
This novel is an epic accomplishment for Armand Baltazar, a former
art director for Disney and Pixar. The intensely coloured plates
show a world where dinosaurs walk alongside robots and steam punk,
fantastical machines exist beside WWII planes.
Illustrations imitate a movie and students who have enjoyed this
same cinematic style in Brian Selznick's, The invention of Hugo
Cabret will appreciate this colourful version.
This is obviously the first book in a series as the final pages
reveal a surprise that will encourage the reader to continue with
this fantasy/science fiction world.
I highly recommend this novel for students from middle primary
school to early high school years.
Jane Moore
The Sorcerer's Tower by Ian Irvine
Ill. by D. M. Cornish. Second Look Publishing, 2017. ISBN
9780994528032
(Age: 8-12) Tamly and his friends Kym and Mel live in the fictional
mediaeval village of Meadowhythe. Tamly, the main protagonist, is an
orphan who lives with his great uncle, after his parents were killed
by magic. He is treated very badly by members of the townsfolk
including his uncle, because of his lack of magical skills. Mel is
the blacksmith's son, who is being taught metal magic. His best
friend Kym knows 100 spells, but always seems to get into mischief
and cannot teach Tamly anything.
Tamly quickly learns that his magic was taken from him, after a
prophecy promised that he would be a great danger to magic. Everyone
else in the town has varying degrees of magic and the town itself is
built on a key stone book of spells. Predictably, this leads to
trouble; which takes the form of two dark sorcerers determined to
raise their supreme ruler from a 400 year sleep.
Tamly, as the only person without magic, is the only hope for the
town! He (with his friends volunteering to come along) must embark
on a number of dangerous missions to save his town from evil forces
that threaten it. Of course good will out, but with many twists and
turns that draw the reader into Tamly's world.
The interactions of adults from the town with the 3 main characters
is a point of interest. All the children of this series seem to be
varyingly mistreated by the adults, which would be an interesting
theme to focus on if using for a class novel.
This is the perfect place to begin the genre of Fantasy Adventure
for Middle Primary aged readers. This book combines the four Sorcerer's
Tower novels; Thorn Castle, Giant's Lair, Black
Crypt and Wizardry Crag. Each of the novels is eight
chapters with about 70 pages. It would also be very suitable for
high interest low vocab older readers with a lower comprehension
level because the four novels are written using very straight
forward and basic language. While the writing style is aimed at 8
year olds, I would suggest that with frequent appearances from
skeletons, sorcerers and the undead, readers new to the genre may
trip on the language and concepts of fantasy if they are unfamiliar
with them.
Clare Thompson
The inverted banyan tree, and the way thither by J.K. Asher
Atlantis Books, 2017. ISBN 9781925117950
(Age: Adult) Recommended. Shifting scenes of 1944 Japanese occupied
Malaya, British colonial Malaya of the 1950s, and then "Visit
Malaysia 1985", present a twisting story of tiger hunts, murder,
ritual ceremonies, spirit guides, war crimes, love relationships,
extremist terrorism, life and death. Although at times confusing, a
picture is gradually built up of the complex relationships of the
British, Portuguese, Japanese, Hindu Indian, Chinese, and indigenous
Malay peoples that are woven together in a story that reveals the
hopes, beliefs, love, pain and suffering of them all. At the heart
of it is a story that is in many ways prescient of the present day
turmoil of fundamentalist terrorist hijacking of Muslim religion,
fuelled by Western imperialism. It is sobering to think that we do
not seem to learn anything from history.
The protagonist, Alistair, is British, slightly resentful that he
has not achieved the status and success of fellow traveller to
Malaysia, the businessman Ashman. Alistair meets and falls in love
with Ivy, a Serani or Eurasian, and befriends Dom, another Serani,
torn between Muslim and Christian, seeking guidance from the Spirit
Guide. Clearly Alistair is sensitive and understanding of the
nuances of relationships between the different cultural groups, but
is caught in the bureaucracy of the duties assigned to him by his
British superiors, intent on carving up the sacred Tiger Sanctuary.
That oblivious sense of superiority on the part of the colonisers is
what leads to the hostage and suicide plan of the extremist, Jihad,
member of the Al-Sijjin sect.
There are many other threads to this story: the unerring love
between Ismael and his teenage saviour Mariam; the haunted Japanese
war criminal seeking reparation by returning stolen artefacts; the
gifted student Isa cut down by ritualistic murderers; spiritualist
Ummah seeking the best solution for his people; and so many more,
that on finishing the book, I just wanted to start it all over again
to better understand and appreciate all the relationships.
This is a complex book that explores relationships between cultures,
just as the banyan tree creates intertwined trunks, roots, and
branches; it is deserving of more than one reading.
Helen Eddy
I went to see Santa by Paul Howard
Bloomsbury, 2017. ISBN 9781408844724
It's a classic scenario of little ones and their need to be just
that bit better than their friend. So when the little girl announces
that she went to see Santa and got a pair of Christmas glasses, her
friend says well he not only got Christmas glasses but also an
amazing magic set!
And so it goes on and on, getting more and more fabulous until the
most unexpected end!
Young children love stories like this where they can not only join
in but also help the ageing, forgetful adult remember all the things
in the list. If you share this with more than one, prepare for a
rollicking, raucous time that will bring joy and delight and an
affirmation that stories and books and reading are FUN!
Barbara Braxton
No limits by Ellie Marney
Ellie Marney, 2017. ISBN 9780648088516
(Age: New adult - adult) Highly recommended. Warning: contains
sexual references, drug use and swearing and is for older teens.
Themes: Romantic suspense. Drugs. Domestic violence. Murder. Ouyen
(Vic.). Mildura (Vic.). Marney continues the story of Harris
Derwent, the young man readers met in her Every breath
series. The story starts off with Harris, injured after helping
Rachel Watts, in hospital where he meets Amita Blunt, the police
sergeant's daughter. Unsteady on his feet, when he leaves the
hospital the only place he has to go is home, where he is at the
mercy of his violent father. The only solution he can find to paying
off his father's debts is to join a drug cartel and he makes the
decision to feed information through Amita to her father.
This was a totally engrossing story that fans of the Every
breath series will really enjoy although it is much darker and
more mature than those three books. The suspense throughout the book
was breath taking - I was on the edge of my seat, worrying about
Harris and whether he could escape his father's violence, and then
worried about whether he could hide his undercover activities when
telling the police about the drug deals, and then worried about
whether he would escape the drug cartel. At the same time the
growing relationship between Amita and Harris was beautifully
described and real. Both characters were complicated and the life
choices both had to make weren't easy.
The setting of the country towns of Ouyen and Mildura provided a
wonderful atmospheric background to the scenes of the dreadful drug
trade and how it operated. Readers familiar with those two towns
will recognise them and those new to Australian country towns will
learn a lot about how they function, with football dominating,
silence prevailing about domestic violence and a small town cop
being important in the community. The drug culture will be a
revelation as well. No limits puts Marney right at the top of the romantic
suspense genre and I look forward to more novels in this vein.
Pat Pledger
Snow penguin by Tony Mitton
Ill. by Alison Brown. Bloomsbury, 2017. ISBN 9781408862957
(Age: 4+) Recommended. Themes: Penguins, Antarctica, Adventure,
Exploration. In the Antarctic, one little penguin decides to explore
his surrounds. He leaves the warmth of his family, and looks
outward, standing on a piece of ice which cracks and floats away
from the land. On his little piece of ice he sees the most wondrous
things: a blue whale which thrashes its large tail nearby, its baby
calf at its side, a school of orca swim by, an elephant seal waking
from its nap, a seal and its pup.
Told in rhyming lines, the words are easily remembered by young
people willing and eager to say the story out loud, while predicting
the rhyming word at the end of each sentence.
It is when the baby penguin sees the seal and its pup that he begins
to think about his own family and wonders how to get back to them.
Thankfully his piece of ice knocks into the ice near the pack of
penguins and he is able to be reunited with his family.
Younger children will love reading of the little penguin and its
adventures on the ice, reading along with the teacher or parent,
predicting the words that rhyme, learning about the animals and
their environment in the Antarctic. The illustrations add to the
enjoyment of the read, covering every page with the cold blues and
whites of the Antarctic environment.
Fran Knight
What's going on down there?: A boy's guide to growing up by Karen Gravelle
Ill. by Robert Leighton. Bloomsbury, 2017. ISBN 9781681193618
Recommended. Themes: Sex; Growth and Development. This is a very
simply written, down-to-earth explanation of the growth and
development that occurs during puberty, focusing on the
circumstances for boys. It does also include brief discussions of
the changes that girls will experience in puberty. It includes small
humourous illustrations to make the reader comfortable with the
emotionally charged revelations of all the changes that a young
man's body will experience. With simple explanations of puberty,
sex, contraception, sexually transmitted diseases, what constitutes
sexual harassment, making babies and 'normal', this book gives
accessible information that is mostly helpful for a younger reader.
This would also be a good reference for those who want to be ready
for discussing these issues with a young boy in the pre-puberty or
beginning puberty phase. Teachers and parents should probably
pre-read this book before handing it over, to be sure they are ready
for questions and to enable an open discussion about 'What is going
on down there!' Some minor references to moral decision-making with
regard to sexual choices is included, but the purpose of the book is
primarily to discuss physical changes and to explain sex to a young
reader.
Carolyn Hull
Under the cold bright lights by Garry Disher
Text Publishing, 2017. ISBN 9781925498882
(Age: 15+) Highly recommended. Themes: Abuse, Domestic violence,
Crime, Victoria, Cold case. When a snake disappears under a concrete
slab, Nathan rings a snake catcher who decides that the slab must be
lifted. This reveals a skeleton, and Alan Auhl and his partner,
Claire Pascal are called in from the Cold Case and Missing Persons
Squad to deal with it. As their investigations proceed, the plodding
routine questioning of neighbours, trawling land titles,
investigating all the previous tenants and owners, unfolds while
evidence from the body is elicited by forensic analysis, keeping the
reader alert to every possibility. In the background, Auhl, recently
returned to the police force in his mid fifties, is called Retread
by the younger members of his team, a term he bears with equanimity.
Home is a three story terrace house in Carlton, inherited from his
parents; his estranged wife lives on one floor, his student daughter
on another and many blow ins, friends of his daughter or waifs
someone has sent him, occupy various rooms. One taking refuge is
Neve and her ten year old daughter, Pia, running from an abusive
husband. Their fear is palpable, and the way they are treated in
court by the husband's solicitor, their own legal aid lawyer and the
judge make horrifying reading, the psycho babble used by the
husband's team making the readers' insides turn, and Auhl there for
support, more determined to help them.
Alongside the 'slab man' case, Auhl is juggling a case which haunts
him each year. On the anniversary of John Elphick's death, his
daughters, convinced he was murdered, ring Auhl asking if he has
taken the investigation further. Now in a position to act, he
rereads the coroner's report and looks more closely at what
happened, despite the warning by his boss. But Auhl is a maverick
and by now, the reader will love him for it. His taking in the waifs
of the world, his ironic look at what goes on around him, his dry
wit and banter with his friends and colleagues, embed him in the
readers' imaginations.
But a doctor has arrived at the police station, convinced that his
wife is trying to murder him. Auhl sits in on the interview
remembering his Homicide investigation of the doctor several years
ago after the suspicious death of his second wife, and the hatred
between them makes for a tense interview.
The investigations into the 'slab man's death takes Auhl to a
fundamentalist community where 'slab man's partner, found dead some
years earlier, once lived. Here follows a dark entanglement of
intrigue, where women are abused in the name of religion and kept in
the background, fearful of what may happen to them if they disobey.
Behind many of the crimes investigated in Disher's latest
enthralling novel, is the theme of controlling husbands, of men who
use power over women, of men who will stop at nothing to retain it.
The book flows by, building the horror of what happens behind closed
doors, and people's inability to stop it. From the pastor's son,
protecting his now demented father, the doctor, trying to manipulate
the police, the house owner not owning up to asbestos before she
sells, the range of ideas and themes offered in this latest book
will keep readers thinking all the while tracking around the twists
and turns of an excellent plot, designed to take the reader down a
path not usually explored and leaving them with heady questions
about law, justice and morality. This stand alone novel is sure to
elicit calls from many readers for a further outing for Alan Auhl,
and I am one of them.
Fran Knight
