Hachette, 2018. ISBN 9781444937503
(Age: 4+) Highly recommended. Themes: Whales. Ocean. Home. Family.
Little whale and her mother are going home, home to where the calf
will meet her relatives, and rest and feed in the rich northern
waters, far from where she was born.
This beautifully presented book with its lovely spare language and
inviting illustrations underlines the feeling of home and its call
to us all. Everybody reading it will feel the tug of their own home
and what it means to them as the calf sees her home for the first
time.
The pair leave the shallower waters and head out into the Southern
Ocean. Most of the others have already left and our pair must make
their way north alone. They pass the coral reef and see many other
fish, they travel many miles, into colder waters, passed by large
ships, and then a pod of orca. Little whale feels scared and moves
in more closely to her mother. She is tired but assured that it is
only a little way to go. Finally they hear the whale song through
the water, calling them home to the northern snow capped peaks and
the other grey whales.
The blue hues on every page contain a variety of fish for eager eyes
to spot and recognise, while the skies above change as they swim
north, revealing a change in where they are in the world.
Fran Knight
Ninja Kid: From nerd to ninja by Anh Do
Ill. by Jeremy Ley. Ninja Kid book 1. Scholastic, 2018. ISBN
9781742993263
(Age: 7+) Recommended. Themes: Superheroes. Inventions.
Nelson does not seem like a Superhero. In fact, he can only be
described as a 'Nerd'... until his 10th birthday. Nelson's family
are not wealthy - they even live in a junkyard. His Dad is no longer
on the scene and his grandmother is an inventor and recycler with
unique talents. On his 10th birthday, Nelson is transformed in
amazing ways and although he is not prepared to become a Superhero,
his new talents will be needed. He may even be needed to save the
world! (Initially he may also need some extra help from his
perpetually hungry cousin, Kenny.)
This is a simply written adventure that will appeal to Anh Do's fan
base. With comic illustrations by Jeremy Ley dotted through the
narrative, the book will not challenge a capable reader, but will
appeal to early chapter book readers and those wanting an amusing
'quick read'.
Carolyn Hull
An unsuitable match by Joanna Trollope
Pan Macmillan, 2018. ISBN 9781509855636
(Age; Senior secondary - Adult) When Tyler proposes to Rose, he is
as stunned as she is bemused. Her husband has recently left his
thriving medical practice in London for a new life with his
long-time mistress (about whom his wife had known nothing) working
in Australia. Shocked and determined to protect her grown-up
children from the collapse of the family, Rose had been growing
accustomed to the reality of being by herself, no longer supported
and protected by her husband, although he had left her the family
home.
Tyler had been married to a very rich woman in the United States for
many years, being a faithful husband and a quietly calm father, yet
strangely disconnected from the world of his wife, and of his
children. His wife had not sought his company, and neither had her
father, whose opinion she valued above all else. When his wife died,
he returned to London, seeking to recapture a sense of himself in
his former, familiar world.
The children of both families are shocked at the news of Rose and
Tyler's proposed marriage, considering whether it will even work. We
are aware that there is nothing 'wrong' with Tyler, and Rose likes
him a lot, yet she is unsure of her commitment to a new marriage, or
to the kind, thoughtful, gentle man who adores her, as are the
children of both families.
Delightfully written, in Trollope's easy, gentle prose, faultless
and lyrical, this story, and the proposal of a new life, seem to be
perfect, yet the underlying tensions cause some heightening of
mistrust, in both reader and family, and Joanna Trollope holds us to
the very end. That slight tension depicts so well her understanding
of human nature, families, and the demands of living in the modern
world.
Suitable for adult and older adolescent reading.
Elizabeth Bondar
The Queen's rising by Rebecca Ross
HarperCollins, 2018. ISBN 9780008245986
(Age: 13+) Recommended. Brienna is a student at Magnalia House,
where she is studying the passion of knowledge. She desperately
wants to be chosen by a patron at the solstice but her worst fears
occur - while all her friends leave happily off their patrons, she
remains at the school. Her headmistress consoles her, finally coming
up with an unusual choice and it is with this patron that Brienna
meets her destiny when a dangerous plot to overthrow the evil king
of Maevana is planned.
The Queen's rising was an easy to read fantasy and could be
recommended as a fairly straight forward introduction to the genre
as it has all the familiar tropes, an orphan heroine, an evil king
who must be overthrown, brave resistance fighters and romance, to
make it very readable. In addition Brienna is a most likeable
heroine and even though brought up initially in an orphanage, she
knows what is important in family life and is loyal and steadfast to
those she loves. She has to make difficult choices about who is the
rightful queen of Maevana and how to act when she arrives there.
What makes this different from other fantasy stories is the school
where Brienna is placed by her grandfather. When she arrives at
Magnalia House she has to choose one of five passions - art, music,
dramatics, wit, and knowledge - to study. She quickly makes friends
there but tries all areas of study until Cartier, the Master of
Knowledge, takes her as a pupil and tries to teach her all she needs
to know to become a passion of knowledge in three years instead of
seven. From the other girls studying there the reader finds out
about the different passions and how they feel and act about them,
giving an in-depth understanding of what people passionate about the
arts and knowledge experience. This could encourage readers to
consider what their own passions could be and what is needed for
them to develop.
Although advertised as the first in a trilogy, The queen's
rising can be read as a standalone as it comes to a very
satisfying conclusion. There is no cliff-hanger to entice the
reader, although I for one will find it difficult not to pursue what
may come next in Brienna and Cartier's lives.
Pat Pledger
The Belles by Dhonielle Clayton
Gollancz, 2018. ISBN 9781473223967
(Age: YA) Recommended. The Belles looks like a typical
fantasy princess story from the outside, but the inside reveals the
ugliness that lies under the characters beauty. There are some
definite strong points to the novel but also some parts that almost
ruin it. The writing style is definitely one of the strong points as
it fits the world of Orleans perfectly; the lavish, vivid, and
beautifully detailed descriptions of the world enhanced the
experience of the story (though it could still be a bit much at some
points).
The characters were mostly (I'll talk about the exceptions in a
minute) enjoyable to experience. Camellia' sisters (the other
Belles) had their own personalities and flaws which will be really
interesting to see being explored in the next books in the series
(especially excited about Edelweiss and Remy!). The antagonist was
really well written as well, creating conflicts and difficult
decisions throughout the story in a way that keeps the reader
reading. Camellia's character wasn't incredible; I didn't hate her,
but I didn't always like her either. She had moments where I cheered
for her and thought her decisions were the correct ones, but at
other points, she made rash decisions and fell in love with a guy
who really seemed to have no redeemable qualities, which made me
like her less.
The pacing was also a bit slow at the start, but it sped up once the
world was set, and important plot points were laid out.
Overall, I really enjoyed this novel! I would recommend it to YA
girls and would give it 3.5/5 stars!
Similar books: The Selection Series by Kiera Cass.
Emily Douglass (Student)
Unplugged by Steve Antony
Hachette, 2018. ISBN 9781444934168
(Age: 4+) Highly recommended. Themes: Indoors, Outdoors, Electronic
devices. Blip loves her computer. Plugged in she can play games,
learn new things, dance to some music and visit exotic places, all
day long. But one day, the power is turned off and Blip is so
surprised that she trips over the cord and falls all the way
downstairs to the outside. She topples down a grassy slope, down
beside a bubbling stream and into a forest. Here she learns new
things, plays games, visits new places and listens to music. At the
end of her day she returns home where the power has returned, and
when Blip plugs back into her computer, all she can think about is
the wonderful day she had outside and the new friends she made.
The black and white illustrations are perfect for the images of Blip
and her computer, contrasting with the welcome colour of outside,
contrasting the times spent in each place, one shut off in a
darkened room, all by herself, the other surrounded by fresh air and
the outside and colour.
This is a great story for kids to read, they will appreciate the
humour of the difference presented between outside and inside, and
perhaps talk about the properties of each place, limiting their
inside fun and expanding their outside fun.
Fran Knight
Sandcastle by Philip Bunting
Allen and Unwin, 2018. ISBN 9781760295387
Rae loves the beach and wants to build a sandcastle, one of those
magnificent ones you see in books with towers, ramparts, a moat and
even a dragon to guard it! With the help of his grandfather, he does
just that. But while they eat their fish and chips, the inexorable
tide moves closer and closer and Rae is worried that the
fortifications will not be enough to keep out the sea. Sadly, they
don't but Rae learns an amazing lesson about the nature of things.
In the author's dedication he says, "You, me, this book, your
breakfast . . . we're all made from tiny particles, stuff that has
been around since the beginning of time. We're only borrowing these
particles from the enormous universe that made them. Once we're done
with them, the bits that make us will go on to lead many new
existences on Earth, and beyond." So while, on the surface, this
could be just a pleasant story about a boy and his grandfather at
the beach doing something and experiencing the consequences that so
many young readers will resonate with, it could also be an
introduction to lessons about matter and atoms and stuff, another
one of those topics that little ones find tricky to understand
because they can't see the individual components.
But for me, I found beauty in the words as a way of helping a child
cope with the grief of losing a family member or pet - that no
matter how a disease might have crept through their body and
ultimately stolen it, as the sea does a sandcastle, the person still
exists as memories and that a little part of them lives on in each
person they touched and influenced in some way. Very philosophical
but a mark of a quality storyteller whose work can touch the reader
in many, often unintended, ways.
Barbara Braxton
Missing by Sue Whiting
Walker Books, 2018. ISBN 9781760650032
(Age: 12-16) Highly recommended. Themes: Missing Persons; Mystery;
Family; South America; Bats. Mackenzie's (Kenzie) life is in free
fall because her mother is missing. Kenzie's father and her Nan
appear to be either falling apart or hiding something from her. When
clues appear to point in confusing directions, Kenzie ends up with
secrets that she can tell no one. Not even her Sketchbook can reveal
what she thinks she knows, but it does give her opportunity to draw
what her mother loves - bats! A sudden trip with her father to a
remote South American location takes her to the place where her
mother was last seen. Confusion and isolation in Panama do not help
her solve her secrets and the mystery of her missing mother.
It is written in an interesting chronology with chapters detailing
present day events interspersed with the history of what had
happened in her life immediately after her mother's disappearance.
This disparate time setting slowly reconnects, as the history
catches up to the present. This is a sad and tense story revealing
the challenges for those left behind in a missing person case. In
addition there is the intrigue of the scientific interest in bats
and the South American setting, in combination with a desperate but
likeable teen coming to terms with significant issues in her life
and finding her place and friends in a new school. This is
compelling and emotionally charged, and will be appreciated by
readers wanting something that is not formulaic, with some mystery.
Carolyn Hull
Lucy's dawn by Juliet Blair
National Library of Australia, 2018. ISBN 9780642279170
(Age: 10+) Fourteen-year-old Lucy's life changes when she starts a
job working in Louisa Lawson's printery, where only girls and women
are employed. But it's the late 1880s and the male printers
elsewhere think that this work should be for men only. So they
decide to make the girls' lives difficult! Lucy has many battles
ahead but, in the process, she realises who her real friends are -
and finds her first love.
As a lover of historical fiction I am pleased to say that it ticked
a lot of boxes. Written as diary entries from the viewpoint of Lucy
Coombes, in late 1800s Sydney, the reader is drawn into the
interesting life of Louisa Lawson, the mother of Henry Lawson. I had
no idea she was such an influential suffragette, printer and writer.
The group of young girls who were employed by Mrs Lawson faced the
constant threat of being shut down and bullying from men who thought
women were better served at home. The historical notes are an added
bonus but I did find myself wanting to do my own investigating. Do
not be perturbed by the blur that says 'first love' as it is all
very innocent and interwoven into the story beautifully.
Themes such as friendship, the desire for independence and
persistence are evident - the book would appeal to students from ten
and up. I do not think it would work as a read aloud but I could see
a teacher sharing snippets of it to students to help them gain a
better understanding of Early Australia.
Kathryn Schumacher
The power game by Meg and Tom Keneally
Monsarrat series, book 3. Vintage Books, 2018. ISBN
9780857989420
(Age: Senior secondary-Adult) Highly recommended. Themes: Australian
history. Convicts. Van Diemen's Land. Maria Island. Monsarrat and
Mrs Mulrooney are sent to Maria Island, off Van Diemen's Land, to
investigate the murder of Harefield, the bosun who brings supplies
to the island from Van Diemen's Land. The situation is political as
the main suspect, Thomas Power, an Irish baronet, convicted of
treason against the Crown and sent to Van Diemen's Land rather than
being made a martyr through his execution, is seen as a convenient
target by the authorities. Harefield is one of the few free men not
under the direct control of the island's Commandant, and has made
enemies through his illicit trade in rum and information.
Mulrooney and Monsarrat are at a disadvantage because of their
convict pasts which have not been revealed to the Commandant. This
means that they must lie about their respective backgrounds, making
them vulnerable, especially as information is used to blackmail and
intimidate in this isolated place.
The free community on the island is very small and the gathering of
information by our two investigators proves very difficult,
especially when the Commandant, his wife and her brother are not
particularly cooperative. Power has enjoyed a number of freedoms
including dining at the Commandant's house, but rumours circulated
by Harefield have meant that Power is now confined and under house
arrest, though still enjoying more privileges than his fellow
convicts.
It is when Monsarrat foils an escape attempt by Power that he begins
to see how Harefield's murder and Power's attempted escape are
linked. Those who enjoyed the first two books in this excellent
series, The
soldier's curse, and The unmourned, will also
find this a most satisfying outing for the Keneallys' two
protagonists, Mulrooney and Monsarrat.
The settlement on Maria Island was initially set up for convicts who
were not as much bother as many sent to Van Diemen's Land, but the
place still felt isolated and entirely dependent on supplies sent
from Van Diemen's Land when the weather was good enough to allow
ships to land. Each of the three novels showcases a place most
significant in Australia's convict past: Port Macquarie, Parramatta
and now Maria Island, bringing a fresh view of the place and its
inhabitants as they forge a new life in Australia. The series is not
only a wonderful crime series but its historical background is
mesmerising.
Mark Knight
Gangsta rap by Benjamin Zephaniah
Bloomsbury, 2018 (2004). ISBN 9781408895009
(Age: 14+) Recommended. Themes: Violence. Gangs. London. Schools.
Music. Rap. Ray is always in trouble both at home and at school. But
after the latest escapade, Ray and his friends Prem and Tyrone are
suspended. When their headmaster decides to give them a second
chance, that of forming a rap group, they see this as a dream come
true. Through a special program, they are taught the business of the
music industry, how to record an album, and how to lay down a track.
Taking the name Positive Negatives, after all their training at the
program, it is not long before they have signed a record deal and
gain gigs. But readers know this will not last, and their dream soon
becomes a nightmare as violence gathers around them. Without
warning, their new careers seem lost and their perceived futures as
well as their lives are on the line. But they are determined to show
that crime and rapping do not necessarily have to be paired and so
fight against the influences set to overpower them.
Reading other reviews on Good Reading shows a wide variety of
responses to this book, first published in Australia in 2004. Some
thought it poorly written and violent, while several questioned
their teachers having given it to them to read. But most admired the
theme of the book, giving an insight from someone who has been
there. Zepahiah, a highly esteemed rapper, poet and writer in
England, has a wide following, and with the re-release of several of
his books, the current readers can make up their own minds.
He writes from personal experience which makes his books seem real,
and his international success as a performance poet makes him well
known to kids who will pick up this book. And the wonderful new
cover is sure to attract readers.
Fran Knight
Pugs don't wear pyjamas by Michelle Worthington
Ill. by Cecilia Johansson. New Frontier Press, 2018. ISBN
9781925594034
(Age: 4+) Themes: Pugs. Pets. Dogs. Families. Responsibility. When
Tom goes to stay with his aunt, she has a surprise for him. Aunt Roz
has a pup, a pug called Ellie. Tom is even more surprised when Ellie
seems to do everything that Aunt Roz does. Going to bed the first
night, both Ellie and Tom are in their pyjamas in bed ready to hear
their story. Tom says, 'Pugs don't wear pyjamas' and to his
surprise, Aunt Roz replies, 'Ellie does'.
Each thing they do on his visit sees Ellie doing exactly the same
things as people do. She sits at the table in the cafe, eating her
cake and drinking her glass of cordial with a straw. She slides down
the slippery dip, climbs the tree, rides a skateboard and makes
friends wherever she goes. But Tom doesn't and he feels a little
dejected.
Eventually Tom's ball skills means the latch on the back gate comes
loose and Ellie runs off. Tom and Roz search high and low for the
pug until they finally find her outside the pet shop. It is only now
that Tom begins to realise some of the responsibility needed when
owning a pet, as the idea of the animal being lost saddens him. But
all finishes well.
This story reflects the idea of pet ownership and the
responsibilities involved in having a pet in your home. It shows the
relationship which develops between an animal and its owner, and
begs the reader to question whether they would treat their animal in
the way Aunt Roz or Tom do. Each page will bring a question to the
lips of the reader, as they see the animal doing what they would do.
Swedish freelance illustrator, Johansson brings a layer of humour to
the story which will be appreciated by the target audience.
Fran Knight
Rebellion of thieves: A Robyn Hoodlum adventure by Kekla Magoon
Bloomsbury, 2018. ISBN 9781681195346
"Robyn Loxley can't rest now that she's the #1 Most Wanted Fugitive,
Robyn Hoodlum. The harsh Nott City governor, Ignomus Crown, may have
increased the reward for her capture, but this won't stop Robyn from
masterminding her biggest mission yet: infiltrating the governor's
mansion to rescue her parents. The perfect opportunity arises when
the Iron Teen contest comes to Sherwood. If Robyn scores high
enough, she'll be invited to a dinner at the mansion. But performing
well also puts her directly in Crown's sights. Can she and her crew
of misfit friends pull off such a grand scheme?" Publisher.
This is certainly an interesting second book in the series following
Shadows of Sherwood. Magoon has very cleverly placed an
African American girl in a story set in the future or even possibly
another planet altogether. You do need to read the books in order. I
like the concept of a modern day Robin Hood and it will certainly
appeal to students who are interested in Science Fiction. There were
some interesting parts to the plot and the characters we met in Shadows
of Sherwood continued to develop.
Magoon has converted the legend into a futuristic version where
Robyn meets technology that I dare say has not even been invented
yet.
Kathryn Schumacher
The Sleeping Beauty - The Australian Ballet by David McAllister
Ill. by Gabriela Tylesova. Little Hare, 2017. ISBN
9781760129934
"From the stage to the page". Based on the Australian Ballet's 2015
production of this iconic ballet in which Creative Director David
McAllister wanted to preserve the original choreography by Pepita
"while introducing modern pacing and narrative logic", this is a
ballet lover's must-have.
Following the traditional story with no Disney additions in sight,
the story of Aurora, Carabosse, the Lilac Fairy and the handsome
prince is told in simple narrative, accompanied by the most
exquisite illustrations created by Gabriela Tylesova who was also
the designer of the stage production. In all the shades of grey and
pink all the characters have a magical quality filled with intricate
detail that makes their balletic movements jump off the page. You
can see the ballet and hear the music, even in the silence of awe.
From the intriguing front cover to the stunning back one, this is a
book that will need to be in the ballet-lover's collection as well
as that of anyone who just likes beautiful things. It thoroughly
deserves its CBCA 2018 Notables nomination.
Barbara Braxton
In the lamplight by Dianne Wolfer
Ill. by Brian Simmonds. Fremantle Press, 2018. ISBN 9781925591224
(Age: 10+) Highly recommended. Themes: World War One, Hospitals,
Nursing, Spanish influenza, Armistice. With copious charcoal
illustrations, archival material and a story told through diary
entries alternating with text, this highly readable tale of two
people surviving the rigours of World War One is intense, intimate
and involving.
Following the success of her two books, the award-winning Lighthouse
Girl (2013) and Light Horse Boy (2009), Wolfer has
followed the journey of Light Horse Boy, Jim as he
languishes in a rehabilitation hospital in Harefield village in what
is now Greater London, unsure of whether he will see again.
Here he is nursed by Rose a local girl from the nearby village, and
it is her diary we read as she falls in love with this Australian
soldier, one of the 50,000 Australians and New Zealanders nursed at
this hospital. Each time a coffin makes its way to the cemetery from
the hospital, it is draped with a Union Jack and that flag made its
way to Adelaide High School, where it has been recently restored by
Artlab and will be on display for the celebrations marking the
centenary of the end of World War One.
Through Rose's diary entries we hear of her life in Harefield before
the war, which contrasts with life during war as privation set in,
and the thousands of wounded come back from Europe. She decides to
become a nurse to help care for these men, despite her family's
anxiety. A girl in the village sends white feathers to those men who
have not joined up, some mothers receive telegrams about their sons'
deaths, but the village opens its heart to these wounded soldiers.
The archival material gives a wonderful impression of life at
Harefield Hospital, with photos of the recovering soldiers, their
dormitories, the funerals, celebrations, nursing staff and mascots.
I found this an engrossing read, one which gives a sound background
to the lives of those we rarely read about, the men in hospitals,
the staff who cared for them, those who remained home.
I can imagine many readers poring over the detail, and checking out
the story of the flag that draped the coffin, which can be found here.
The map, background information and even the acknowledgements make
for fascinating reading after the book has been read.
I thoroughly recommend this as a highly readable account of how war
affects lives far beyond the battlefield. In joining Jim in
Australia, Rose leaves her country and her family for ever, taking a
risk on a man who has never seen her. It's an amazing thought, but
one which parallels the changes taking place for women after World
War One. Teacher's
notes are available.
Fran Knight
