Ill. by Alex T. Smith. Walker Books, 2017. ISBN 9781406358070
(Age: 9+) Highly recommended. 'Bert Brown discovered the angel in his
top pocket when he was driving his bus. Bert and Betty's friends
think he's lovely. So do Nancy, Jack and Alice from Class 5K. But
Acting Head Teacher Mrs Mole is not so sure. Nor is Professor
Smellie. And the mysterious bloke who claims to be a school
inspector. He is downright suspicious.'
Then there's big, lumbering Basher Malone. He does not like Angelino
at all. In fact he just might be out to get him . . . (Publisher)
Strange things begin to happen to Bert and Betty, while at the same
time Angelino fills the huge void left when their own son died,
bringing happiness and love to the house once again.
This is a lighthearted book for those willing to believe in a
little bit of magic. Imaginations can run wild and strong
connections made to both the storyline and characters. I
particularly love the illustrations of Angelino as it is not your
stereotypical angel. Good and evil is questioned and you can not
help but feel sympathetic to certain characters. It would make a
beautiful read aloud for students aged 9 and up.
Kathryn Schumacher
Revolt against the Romans by Tony Bradman
Bloomsbury, 2017. ISBN 9781472929327
Author, Tony Bradman has created a short read (115 pages) about a
young Roman boy called Marcus. He has a complicated relationship
with his father a high-ranking official within the Roman Civil
Service. When Marcus is captured by Catuvellauni in Britannia, his
father suggests that Marcus makes the ultimate sacrifice for his
country. Despite the reputation the Britons have for being savages
who tattoo themselves and take the heads of their enemies in battle,
Marcus wins the trust and respect of the village and is adopted into
a Briton family where he experiences the love and warmth he so
craved.
But soon the Romans are on the march against the Britons and Marcus
must face his old enemy in his father. Will he be recognised by his
long-lost father? Who will Marcus support?
This is a fast-paced book, full of adventure, battle scenes and an
interesting ending. Being a lover of historical fiction, I found
this book left me wanting to google the period in history to learn
more. Bradman has done a fantastic job of mixing fact with fiction
to allow the characters to come alive throughout the book. It is
difficult not to feel sympathetic towards Marcus and will him to
victory. These will be a fantastic addition to read aloud if one is
learning about ancient civilisations and an exciting carrot to
dangle in front of reluctant readers.
I am hoping this will become a series.
Kathryn Schumacher
Watch out, snail! by Gay Hay and Margaret Talland
Starfish Bay Publishing, 2017. ISBN 9781760360320
(Age: 4+) Highly recommended. Snails. New Zealand fauna and flora.
Introduced species. Nocturnal animals. STEM. This tactile
publication had me rushing to my books on New Zealand animals as I
turned the pages. The Powilliphanta Snail only comes out at night,
and being carnivorous spends its time finding food, while avoiding
becoming food for other predators. The stunning images of night time
in New Zealand's forests glow, and I had to check whether they were
three dimensional, so arresting are the illustrations.
We watch the large snail (3.6 inches across, we are told in the
informative page at the end) as it makes its way over branches,
twigs and leaves across the forest floor.
It encounters several animals, a possum, hedgehog, rat and pig, all
pests in New Zealand, introduced in the nineteenth century. It
avoids being their meal, and finally finds what it is looking for, a
worm which it slurps up, but other predators await our snail.
Readers will call out to the snail to watch out as a weka stalks it
throughout the story. Enticingly we see a beak, or an eye, a claw or
leg, as it follows its prey.
Through this seemingly simple story, we see the snail and its
habitat, learn more about introduced species, and see in the forest
foliage other New Zealand indigenous animals. I found several and I
am sure eagle-eyed younger readers will spy others. At the end is
given a page of information about the snail, as well as a double
page snail trail, showing where it can be found. This is a wonderful
story, well told in spare, informative prose and matched with superb
illustrations that draw the eye to the page over and over again.
Fran Knight
When Dimple met Rishi by Sandhya Menon
Hodder and Stoughton 2017. ISBN 9781473667402
Recommended for middle to upper high school students.
Arranged marriage. Romance. Indian culture. Identity. High
achieving, second generation Indian Americans, Dimple Shah and Rishi
Patel have both won positions at their choice of university; Dimple
to study web design at Stanford and Rishi, engineering at MIT. Behind
the scenes their parents have been matchmaking so when Dimple asks
if she can go to an expensive summer school on web development they
unexpectedly say yes, secretly knowing that Rishi Patel will enrol,
allowing them to get to know each other. Dimple is certain of what
she wants and has resisted all her mother's efforts for her to use
traditional Indian makeup and dress fashionably to attract the Ideal
Indian Husband, IIH, so when she arrives at the summer school and a
stranger approaches her and says 'Hello future wife' she is
appalled. Dimple is furious with her parents for the deception and
she tells Rishi she wants a career not marriage, however they are
partners in a competition to create an app during the summer school
and Dimple agrees to work with Rishi to develop her idea. While
working together Dimple discovers Rishi's talent for cartooning and
can't understand how he can put it aside to follow his father's
choice of engineering rather than develop his passion. Rishi loves
tradition and stability and wants to do the right thing for his
family. Alternating chapters from the point of view of Dimple and
Rishi highlight the funny side of their situation and their
unfolding romance. Both main characters embrace their rich Indian
cultural backgrounds and readers can learn a lot about the
challenges and rewards of blending them with modern western
aspirations in a positive way. While the main characters are well
drawn the minor characters are disappointing, particularly the
stereotyped rich kids and the plot features web development and app
design yet we learn nothing about the process they are supposed to
be spending all their time on.
Overall it is funny and romantic with a rich cultural background and
about pursuing your passion. It gives an alternative view to the
stories about second generation immigrants desperately struggling to
overcome stifling cultural expectations like in Helen Thurloe's Promising Azra.
Sue Speck
The Wayward Witch and the Feelings Monster by Sally Rippin
Polly and Buster series. Hardie Grant Egmont. ISBN 9781760129019
(Age: 7-9) Highly recommended. Theme: Witches, Monsters, Friendship,
Resilience, Acceptance. Standing up for a friend is being a hero, Polly. No matter who
that friend might be. Witch or monster.
Polly the witch and Buster the feelings monster have a special
friendship, even in a town where witches and monsters do not
interact. Young witches attend the Academy, where they are educated
in all area of witchcraft including how to make potions and spells.
When young Polly has trouble reading her spell instruction book with
disastrous consequences, she needs her special friend to help her
and make her feel better. Buster the monster lives next door and
they have a secret meeting spot in the tall tree at the end of the
yard. When the big furry monster feels happy, he grows bigger,
unfortunately sad situations and unkind words make him shrink. While
Buster's family welcomes Polly into their home, feeding her
delicious meals, Polly's older sister and mother find her wayward
ways not up to the proper standard for witches.
When Buster's monster class and Polly's class of witches visit the
museum at the same time, trouble looms. The young monster calls out
a greeting to his best friend Polly; she ignores him completely
trying to impress Malorie. the most popular witch in her class .
Buster shrinks into the smallest, saddest monster and then even his
classmates tease him. Malorie fabricates a story about Polly saving
her from a horrible monster. As the problem escalates, Polly has to
make some tough decisions about friendship, popularity and
acceptance.
Sally Rippin's junior novel The Wayward Witch and the Feelings
Monster is wonderfully written, richly rounded with
description and emotion. Her fantasy world of witches and monsters
is believably portrayed. The cast of characters with their quirks,
faults and special qualities engage the reading audience. Buster's
family is warm and comforting; they take in 'unloveable monsters who
need love the most.' With the social and emotional themes of dealing
with peer pressure, accepting differences and making good choices,
this is a perfect novel for Middle Primary classes.
Rhyllis Bignell
Truthwitch by Susan Dennard
The Witchlands book 1. Pan Macmillan, 2016. ISBN
9781509825028
(Age: 15+) Highly recommended. Fantasy. 2017 Locus Awards nominee.
Safiya and Iseult are two young women with uncanny powers. Safi is a
Truthwitch, who can tell when something is true. This power is very
valuable and empires would do anything to have a Truthwitch as a
servant. She keeps her talent hidden and trains with Iseult, whose
true powers are unknown, even to herself. When they encounter a
Bloodwitch, who can follow on the scent of blood, they must flee
their home and go into hiding. At court, Safi meets Prince Merik, a
Windwitch and danger faces all three when the elderly King decides
that he will marry Safi. With the Bloodwitch, Aeduan following them
closely, Safi and Iseult go on the run.
This is a story to keep the reader completely engrossed with the
exploits of Safi and Iseult as they come into their powers and
realise that they have a part to play in the fate of their
countries. The friendship of these two Threadsisters sustains the
story, which is very original and compelling. They lean on each
other, using each other's skills to come up with solutions and face
danger together. Prince Merik's character is complex and the slight
romance between Safi and him will delight any romance lovers. The
Bloodwitch is quite sinister, but Iseult seems to be able to come to
grips with abilities, even as he hunts them relentlessly.
The first in the Witchlands series, Truthwitch will
delight fantasy lovers with the friendship between its two main
characters who can save themselves, the political machinations of
court, swordplay and piracy as well as romance. There is a book trailer
at the author's website, and a site for the series here.
Pat Pledger
Windwitch by Susan Dennard
The Witchlands book 2. Pan Macmillan, 2016. ISBN
9781447282310
(Age: 15+) Highly recommended. Fantasy. Windwitch continues
the story this time giving more detail about Prince Merik, who is a
Windwitch convinced that his sister is not looking after their
kingdom. After his ship is blown up and he just escapes with very
bad burns, he is ever more certain of her treason and travels to the
capital determined to fight for the weak. Meanwhile, Safi has just
managed to escape with her life with the Empress of Marstok when
they are shipwrecked and Iseult begins the long journey trying to
find her. She is able to broker a deal with the Bloodwitch Aeduan
and together they follow her trail.
There are many twists and turns in this story, which was not as easy
to read as Truthwitch, as it swings from one main character
to another in differing chapters. However the reader gets to know
the personalities, strengths and weaknesses of the four witches and
the geography of the world that they are fighting for. The complex
political and power struggles begin to make sense, although Dennard
gives a few tantalising glimpses of new characters who are sure to
be important.
There are many dangers to face and all four meet them bravely. The
reader gets caught up with needing to see Safi and Iseult reunited
and to learn how Prince Merik comes to term with the reality of his
relations with his sister.
This is engrossing and complex fantasy writing and I can't wait for
the next in the series.
There is a site for the
book.
Pat Pledger
Olga and the smelly thing from nowhere by Elise Gravel
Harper Collins, 2017. ISBN 9780062351265
(Age: 7-9) Themes: Pets, Science Research. Olga and the Smelly
Thing from Nowhere is a notebook novel combining easy-to-read
text with red, pink and black cartoon graphics. The protagonist Olga
is an unusual quirky character, who wants to be an animal scientist;
in fact, she prefers animals to humans. She takes her scientific
role seriously, using an inquiry-based learning style, documenting
her findings in her notebook. Many bathroom humour jokes,
descriptions of bodily functions and cartoons of peeing and pooping
add to the humour and silliness of this story.
When Olga discovers an unusual animal that looks a cross between an
inflated hamster and a three-year-old's drawing of a potato, which
smells really bad, she takes it home and hides it in her bedroom. In
her observation notebook she records the creature's features,
actions, noises 'meh' and 'dowdowdow' when panicked. Olga tries to
discover what kind of animal it is by trying to take it into the
library with the help of Ms. Swoop, the tattooed punk librarian.
After an interesting encounter at the dog park, where they meet
Chuck a small dog with a bladder problem, they visit Mr. Hoopah's
corner store. He sells a unique assortment of products including
nacho-scented toilet paper, cans of live flies and meatloaf nail
polish. After experimenting with some very bizarre foods, Meh the
Olgamus Ridiculus falls into a bowl of olives that is his favourite.
There are mean girls who transform Meh after kidnapping him, plenty
of scientific observations, olive recipes and a hunt for the missing
pet involving a small dog and many pee breaks.
Elise Gravel's junior novel Olga and the Smelly Thing from
Nowhere is a fun story, with many bathroom humour jokes,
descriptions of bodily functions and cartoons of peeing and pooping
that add to the humour and silliness of this story.
Rhyllis Bignell
Ollie's treasure by Lynn Jenkins
Ill. by Kirrili Lonergan. EK Books, 2017. ISBN 9781925335422
When Ollie receives a letter from his grandmother in the form of a
treasure map, he is very excited. What could his treasure be? Could
it be a new truck? Or walkie-talkies? Or maybe that game he had been
wanting forever? Full of excitement and anticipation he sets out on
the trail - looking for the tree with the biggest leaves and gazing
at the sky; smelling the brightest yellow rose that reminds him of
Gran; wiggling his toes in the grass by the fountain then listening
to the tinkle of the water as it splashes; and tasting a plump, red,
ripe strawberry in the bowl on the picnic blanket. Finally, he has
to lie down and look upwards - and there is a treasure. But it is
not what he thought it would be and he is angry and disappointed
until he notices the note that Gran has written.
This is a wonderful story about finding joy in the simple things
that are all around us just by using our senses and taking notice of
what it always there. Beautifully illustrated in a gentle palette
that accentuates the text, young readers could have fun talking
about what they would consider to be treasure and whether it has to
take the form of a physical object and discuss whether Ollie was
right to be disappointed and angry when his was not what he
expected. They could talk about their own favourite sights, sounds,
smells and surfaces and perhaps, as a class, identify a sensory
treasure trail around the school, map and travel it, taking photos
and writing about their discoveries. On a more personal note, some
might even get their own treasure map from their own grandmothers!
An original story with a wonderful message.
Barbara Braxton
Shallow in the deep end by Tiwi College Alalinguwi Jarrakarlinga with Jared Thomas
Omnibus Books, 2017. ISBN 9781742762692
(Age: 7-10) Recommended. This book has been written by joint
authors, a group of women from Tiwi College Alalinguwi Jarrakarlinga
with assistance from Jared Thomas and with the support of Indigenous
Literacy Foundation.
Shallow is a baby water buffalo and was given to Erica by her park
ranger father after she asked for a dog. Shallow befriends Bruno a
young dog Erica is looking after for a friend. The animals'
adventures are humorous and beyond the experiences of many mainland
children. Shallow and Bruno paddle in a plastic wading pool, they
frighten a group of elderly card playing women and become involved
in the local football match. The chapter about the school trampoline
is especially funny. Imagine a water buffalo and a dog enjoying back
flips! These chapters would make great read aloud stories in the
classroom.
Each chapter provides an insight into living in Erica's home and
country i.e. eating turtle soup as well as the more everyday fair of
cupcakes.
The book has simple line drawings provided by the authors. These are
unpretentious but highly effective. The cover is brightly coloured
and appealing with the curvaceous baby Shallow a strong feature.
Jared Thomas has commented that the girls 'provided readers with the
joy, connection and youth of the Tiwi people, country and culture'.
These stories are a delightful insight to life on the Tiwi Islands.
This is the third book the group have written.
The text and illustrations will appeal to students aged 7 to 10
years old. I recommend this book to primary schools.
Jane Moore
High flyers by Laura Sieveking
The Royal Academy of Sports series. Random House, 2017. ISBN
9781925324587
(Age: 8-11) Recommended. Themes: Gymnastics, School Life,
Friendship. Abigail Rogers is a passionate young gymnast who trains
hard and loves to improve on her skills. Her dream is to win a place
at The Royal Academy of Sport for Girls. This elite school trains
potential champions; here the focus is on both academics and sports
with training from top-level coaches in specialist facilities. For
Abby to win a place at the academy, she has to perform well in all
areas of a special competition. Even with a small slip on landing
her floor routine, Abby's excitement is hard to contain when she is
chosen for a place at the academy.
With new friends, Mae, Evie and Anwen, the girls step straight into
training in the world-class gym with Coach Ana pushing them to
achieve their best. Training is hard and each girl is challenged to
succeed. Of course, there are rivalries and jealousies with Bella
Brunetti trying to sabotage Abby's routines. With Scarlet Belyakov's
creative schemes to help the girls find food, life at the academy is
exciting. When the friends decide to train harder and include more
difficult components in their events, things do not go to plan.
Laura Sieveking understands the realities of competing, the feelings
and thought processes of the individual components of the gymnast's
routines. The reader gains insight into Abby's reality when the
story is told from her point of view. Friendship, school life, sport
and athleticism, resilience and persistence are celebrated in this
first novel in The Royal Academy of Sports series. These
novels are just right for preteen girls who love sporting tales.
Rhyllis Bignell
Glitterwing's Book Week blunder by Sally Sutton
Miniwings book 1. Scholastic, 2017. ISBN 9781775434238
(Age: 6-10) This book will appeal to many young readers - flying
miniature horses (including a unicorn), glitter, sparkles and
hijinks. What more could you ask for! This is the first book in a
series about a set of toy ponies who come alive when there are no
adults watching. They belong to sisters Clara and Sophia.
These toys or Miniwings are described in full at the
beginning of the book. They all have different appearances and
personalities. They tend to create havoc whenever they appear and
the girls always seem to suffer the repercussions.
In this book, Clara and Sophia have been tardy preparing for Book
Week and have only days to make a costume for the Book Week parade.
Their preparations become more difficult when the naughty Miniwings
become involved.
The girls also meet their favourite author Suzie Gamble, author of
the Horse Girl series. Clara and Sophia make an interesting
observation, that Suzie is not as glamorous as she is portrayed by
her publishers, but is just as fascinating as her stories. It is
Suzie Gamble that provides the final inspiration for their costume.
The special language the Miniwings use is explained in a dictionary
at the end of the book.
Sally Sutton, an award winning New Zealand author, is well known for
her picture book Roadworks and she plans to write 6 books in
this series, each highlighting a particular toy. Book number 2 is
called Whizz's Internet Oopsie.
Kirsten Richards, the illustrator has had fun with the drawings. The
cover is sparkly, intensely coloured and features Glitterwings, a
pink flying horse. Every page has coloured illustrations that
highlight the funny happenings in the story.
This book will appeal students who have enjoyed books such as The
Ella Diaries or any young horse loving fans. Suitable for 6 to
10 year olds.
Jane Moore
The stars are fire by Anita Shreve
Little Brown, 2017. ISBN 9781408702994
(Age: 16+) Set in Maine, US, in 1947, the story begins with endless
rain but with a season change everything turns to summer drought -
the parched land and hot wind have people on tenderhooks anxious
about the threat of fire. Claire is a young mother of two, trying to
work out why the tenderness has gone from her marriage. When the
inevitable fires break out, her husband is among the men who leave
the town to fight the flames. Whilst he is gone, the fires turn and
head towards her home. She and her friend Rosie have to make quick
decisions in the crisis. It only Claire's clear thinking that saves
their lives and their children, but there is a terrible cost. Her
home destroyed, and her husband missing, Claire has to work out how
to make a new life for herself and her children. Though there were
problems in her marriage, the children miss their father, and Claire
is torn between wishing for his safe return and the possibility of a
different life where she is in control, can go to work, and find new
independence and happiness. For a while it looks like it might be
within her grasp. But then everything changes . . .
The characters in the novel have to fend against the challenges of
extreme weather - first the rain, then the fires, later cold and
snow confine them to one room trying to keep warm. The struggles
with the environment mirror the struggles within - the challenge of
relationships that turn harsh and unforgiving. A situation that
should invoke love and compassion becomes instead a source of
torment and misery. It seems like moments of happiness are transient
as life continually offers yet another battle.
There is romance in this story but also very real issues of domestic
violence, child protection, and finding inner strength. So while the
writing style is easy to read and the story soon draws you in, the
themes are suited to a more mature reader.
Helen Eddy
Speed Zone by Stephanie Bendixsen
Ill. by Chris Kennett . Pixel Raiders series book 3.
Scholastic Australia, 2017. ISBN 9781760275679
(Age: 8+) Themes: Digital Worlds, Computer Games, Fantasy,
Adventure. Bajo and Hex's Pixel Raiders series continues
with level three of the game world in Speed Zone. Every one
of the other BETA testers stranded in Dig World is relying on Rip
and Mei to save them. The first event at the Desert Cliff Race Track
is filled with fast-paced vehicles, packed with an array of weaponry
and special effects, driven by super competitive crews. Mei is in
the driver's seat of their dune buggy; she manages to control the
unfamiliar vehicle, with directions from the pit crew and shouted
instructions from Rip. Along roads perched on cliff edges they race,
facing up to the tricks and challenges of the ruthless competitors.
As the action continues 'The Noobs', Mei and Rip quickly learn how
to manoeuvre their buggy, shoot their weapons and avoid the crazy
camels on bicycles, miniature giraffes riding on scooters and gators
driving monster trucks. Their badger pit crew lead by Fixet support
their team, upgrading their racing car between races. The young
drivers even share a meal with the badgers underground in their
sett. Speed Zone is another action-packed gaming adventure just
right for young readers. Chris Kennett's cartoon graphics liven up
the action and antics of the fanatical animal racers. Maps of each
battle zone, captions, bold text and speech bubbles create a
visually engaging read.
Students in lower primary classes could design new racetracks and
fun vehicles for Mei and Rip.
Rhyllis Bignell
Falling by Anne Provoost
20th Anniversary edition. Allen and Unwin, 2017. ISBN 9781760293925
(Age: 15+) Recommended. Depicting racial tensions between migrants
and established citizens of an unspecified region in France or
Belgium, the prescience of the author is underlined in this 20th
Century anniversary edition by the current refugee crisis in Europe.
Lucas is a metropolitan teenage boy who reluctantly accompanies his
mother on a trip to a provincial town in order to deal with his late
Grandfather's house and property. The weather is oppressively hot
and Lucas is truculent and unenthusiastic until he discovers a
chainsaw, reunites with Caitlin (a girl he used to play with as a
child) and meets some locals Benoit and Alex.
The story starts slowly and dark details of Lucas' Grandfather's
past are gradually revealed. Lucas is an object of pity and slight
ridicule as he is the only one who doesn't have knowledge of these
events from the past and it causes him angst and embarrassment as he
deals with geographic and social displacement. Lucas' mother remains
silent due to her own discomfort and bears some responsibility for
later events because she fails to prepare and guide her son through
this difficult matter.
The title is apt on different levels. Lucas falls in love, he falls
in with the wrong crowd and falls into a great deal of trouble. The
reader feels a sense of anguish and frustration when he makes such
poor decisions which affect himself and others in profound ways but
this is because what is portrayed is entirely realistic. This is a
cautionary tale about the power of charismatic and unscrupulous
individuals and their capacity to manipulate people who have
vulnerabilities or who lack the worldly wisdom which would normally
help them to protect themselves. The events and terrible
consequences resulting from poor judgement are not limited to the
circumstances depicted in the novel. Crimes of violence and drug
involvement as well as deaths from misuse of motor vehicles are
examples where individuals sometimes surrender their own values and
better judgement in order to go along with others who somehow
disable a person's capacity for self-responsibility. This is a
powerful story with great relevance and is a worthy read in its own
right, however the prominent message concerning who young people
should trust and rely upon will not be lost upon adolescent readers
and I recommend it.
Rob Welsh
