The Medusa chronicles by Stephen Baxter and Alistair Reynolds
Gollancz, 2016. ISBN 9781473210196
(Age 14+) Highly recommended. Science Fiction. With permission from the Clarke Estate, this novel continues the account of Commander Howard Falcon, who is the main character in Arthur C. Clarke's award winning short story A meeting with Medusa. Howard's life changes after a horrific crash in the Grand Canyon and he is saved by experimental surgery. This surgery changes Howard into a cyborg - part human and part machine - and has the effect of extending his life by centuries. The Medusa Chronicles is a compelling account of Howard's journey over the centuries involving the evolution of AI into thinking machines, the manipulation of the intelligence of animals of earth, human exploration and colonization of planets and moons and their interaction with the inhabitants of these planets and moons. The reader is not required to have read Clarke's A Meeting with Medusa before reading this novel as the authors encompass Clarke's short story in their novel.
The Medusa Chronicles delves into how the human race reacts to intelligent machines, intelligent animals and native inhabitants of other worlds, the possible consequences of this interaction and the moral and ethical issues that are raised. The ending reminds you of parts of 2001: A Space Odyssey revealing mystical and enormous possibilities of the future.
If you are a fan of science fiction genre and, in particular, Arthur C. Clarke's novels you will thoroughly enjoy this book. This is a classical science fiction novel.
Glen Avery
Super Fly vs Furious Flea by Todd H Doodler
Super Fly series. Bloomsbury, 2017. ISBN 9781619633841
(Age: 6+) Recommended. Humour, Rubbish. This is one in a series
about Super Fly, a geeky school student who loves to invent things,
and one day becomes a super fly, able to fly 9,000 times faster than
normal, cleverer by 9,000 times than usual and altogether a really
handy person to have around. But he cannot reveal himself to his
fellow students, let alone the bully in the school, Cornelius C
Roach.
The first chapter in this rollicking book reprises some of the fun
that has gone on before, acquainting readers with the reason Eugene
Flystein became Super Fly, and hinting at problems he has solved,
along with his sister, Fly Girl and his friend and sidekick,
Fantastic Flea.
But in this story, rifts appear between Fantastic Flea and Eugene,
as he becomes rather conceited after being named Student of the
Season. The Roach senses the rift and turns Fantastic Flea against
his friend. The Flea take his training to heart, getting himself fit
for the big meet.
The humour comes thick and fast with puns on the protagonists names
and where they live. Each part of the rubbish tip at Stinkopolis is
used, including the toilet bowl where Eugene and his family live.
Tongue in cheek humour, a liberal sprinkling of puns and toilet
humour will make this an instant hit with those newly skilled at
reading chapter books. The chapters are short and include
illustrations, and I love the way the author has used language which
will stretch some children's vocabulary.
All in all, fun from start to finish.
Fran Knight
Timmy Failure: the book you're not supposed to have by Stephan Pastis
Walker Books, 2017. ISBN 9781406373653
(Age: 9+) Recommended. Timmy has been banned from his detective work
and has to wait until school is over. The teachers have gone on
strike so school has been extended. Timmy has to find a way to carry
out his work and solve the mystery of the missing Rollo and do all
this without getting caught by his mother or his loony cousins.
This book was a funny and interesting book, the character's roles
were strange and all played funny/clever roles. I loved how the
story had feeling and the plot was imaginative. The story had many
problems, some big some small, all of them got solved in the end.
The theme engages the reader and it has a new perspective from what
I normally read. The settings are creative; the settings are set
around Timmy's home town. The book is written from Timmy's point of
view. The book has an imagery style.
I would recommend this book to 9+ boys who are interested in
detective stories and to read the books in order.
Grace Colliver (Student)
Trouble tomorrow by Terry Whitebeach and Sarafino Enadio
Allen and Unwin, 2017. ISBN 9781760291464
(Age: Mid teens) Highly recommended. One of the benefits of reading
stories, it is said, is that the reader travels to places they
otherwise would not; and confront experiences they would not
otherwise have. From these things we learn, vicariously. By the end
of the prologue this book has transported the reader to the civil
war lands of southern Sudan, landing in the midst of a village raid
by rebel soldiers - as far from western comfort zones as could be.
The reader is running beside Obulejo, mid-teens son in a highly
respected village family with a father of wise morals. But returning
to family doesn't ensure safety as the raids continue; finally
Obulejo keeps running. The landscapes he must cross do not bring
safety either. Constantly danger prowls: groups of wandering rebels;
tribal groups protecting their country; and, of course, wild animals
on the hunt. Reaching a refugee camp only provides an illusion of
safety. There is protection from others for a while but the common
goal of survival - basic survival - means that each individual must
eventually find a way to simply stay alive. The reader feels
Obulejo's agony as he makes decisions that he must, which fail his
father's teachings. The writing is relentless, compelling,
unremitting - as it should be to reflect the ever-present dangers
and horrors that haunt the lives of all of these refugees.
Eventually Obulejo escapes the clutches of the camp environment. To
detail here how he does would spoil the gripping tension of his
story. But it takes many years and those who would deny him the
safety of our lands should read a book such as this to better
understand why that position is wrong. Every mid-teen Australian
should be encouraged to read this book, highly recommended for that
reason.
Kerry Neary
Glitch by Michelle Worthington
Ill. by Andrew Plant. Ford St Publishing, 2017. ISBN 9781925272710
(Age: 4+) Highly recommended. Recycling. STEM. Friendship. Building.
Glitch and June live on a rubbish heap. Glitch collects all sort of
spare parts from the rubbish and builds the most amazing billycarts,
ready for June to race. But he is a worrier. He twitches about minor
things but these end up with June losing the race. One year he
forgot to check the brakes, one year he turned left instead of right
and one year he led June onto a big rock. Consequently they have
never won a race. On their first test tun for this year's race, they
have an accident and June's antennae are bent. She can not drive
without them so tells Glitch that it is up to him. This makes him
twitchier than ever, and when June comes to collect him the next day
he gives an assortment of excuses not to drive. But she perseveres,
and encourages him, telling him that no matter what happens, they
will always be friends. The competition is fierce and as they round
the finishing line, they lose by a nose. But coming second is no
problem, says June, because they will win next year.
This is a charming tale of friendship and all it entails,
understanding, sympathy, encouragement, companionship and so on, as
June displays the very best of what a friend brings to a
relationship. She is not judgmental, instead encouraging her friend
to do his best, and offering an alternate goal.
Plant's illustrations are wonderful, with the mess of a rubbish dump
crowded around the bugs as they delve into the mass of thrown out
bits and pieces. Plant skillfully displays their characters in a
merest twinkle of an eye or twitch of an antenna, and the billycarts
made up from the stuff thrown away will encourage readers to rethink
the things that are discarded, and perhaps look anew at what is
thrown out from the classroom and at home.
Discussions about the rubbish tip could produce some interesting
results, not the least of which could be to make something from
recycled materials. I loved working out what rubbish had been used
to make the billycarts, and I'm sure readers will too, and watch out
for the different methods of construction used by Glitch.
Fran Knight
Ella diaries: Going green by Meredith Costain
Ill. by Danielle McDonald. Scholastic Australia, 2017. ISBN
9781760279059
(Age: 7+) Ella's school is attempting to go green. A Planet
Protection Captain must be elected to head the campaign. Ella has
always dreamed of being the Captain but she is up against some stiff
competition in the form of Peach, who will stop at nothing to
achieve success. Who will come out with the top job? As with all the
Ella diaries this will be another welcome addition to the very
popular series. It is easy to read and with a fast-paced story
incorporating descriptive language, it will appeal to girls from 7
upwards. It fits into the diary formats like Diary of a...,
Diary
of a wimpy kid. It has illustrations interspersed
throughout the text which makes the book seem a lot longer than it
really is. This is great for struggling students that want to be
seen to be reading longer books.
The theme of the book is prevalent in all schools today and one that
the majority of students are interested in - how can we reduce our
carbon footprint? What can we do at our school to make a change for
the better?
This series is walking off our shelves, the books are in constant
demand and this will be another welcome addition to the collection.
Kathryn Schumacher
Dinosaur trouble series by Kyle Mewburn
Ill. by Donovan Bixley. Scholastic New Zealand, 2017. The great egg stink. ISBN 9781775433668 The lava melt shake. ISBN 9781775433675
A new series about dinosaurs that I am sure will be a hit with young
boys. There is plenty of toilet humour and descriptions of bodily
excretions. We meet Arg and his family and a wide array of
dinosaurs. Poor Arg finds himself in a number of difficult
circumstances, which ultimately lead to him narrowly escaping
trouble with his parents. Each book is a story within itself -
consequently they do not have to be read in order. The books are set
out in chapters and will be popular with students moving into short
novels. The text is reasonably large and accompanied by
illustrations. They would fit into the 'Quick Read' section of the
library.
Kathryn Schumacher
The Scattering by Kimberly McCreight
The Outliers book 2. Harper Collins 2017. ISBN 9780008115081
(Age: 14+) Recommended. Only weeks have passed since the incident at
the camp in The Outliers. Wylie and Jasper are both far from
fine, united in their shared insomnia and horror. Cassie is dead.
Nothing can help that. But things fall into seeming normalcy as
everyone tries to move on. Wylie, now aware of her Outlier powers,
has been practising reading people. She has discovered how to
diverge her anxiety from that of others, but even still, reading
someone can be difficult. While it seems like the horrors born of
her Dad's research are over, they have only just begun.
A new researcher as appeared and is interested in taking over Dr.
Lang's work, this time with a theory about the girls being outliers
due to an illness. While at first, he seems harmless, things change
when Wylie is captured, drugged, and awakes confined in a quarantine
area with a number of other outliers. As if that weren't enough to
send Wylie's anxiety over the edge, Kendall (one of the cops from
the camp) appears, this time as a doctor. The other girls have
decided that Wylie is mad. It doesn't take Jasper long to break into
the ward and find Wylie but she refuses to leave. She can't just
abandon the others. Faced with the problem of how to save people who
don't know they need saving, Wylie must use all her wits to keep
them all safe.
Following on from The Outliers, this novel can only be read
as a sequel. Although not as great as the first, it still retains
the mystery subplot and focuses more on family and loyalty than on
romantic subplots - keeping the focus on Wylie's anxiety and outlier
abilities. Recommended for readers fourteen and up.
Kayla Gaskell
Play by Jez Alborough
Walker Books, 2017. ISBN 9781406373073
(Ages: 2-5) Play features Bobo the Chimp from the immensely popular
Hug. The simple story is told mainly through illustrations,
with limited text (some speech bubbles with one to two word
utterances). Bobo's mother is attempting to get Bobo to settle down
to bed but the sun is still up and Bobo is determined to play with
his friends. He repeatedly sneaks off when his mother's back is
turned. When the sun does set, Bobo is alone and scared. 'Mummy' he
calls in a loud, shaky voice. Sighted and flown home by his pelican
friend, Bobo is delivered safely into the arms of his worried
mother. The double page where Bobo and his mother are intertwined in
sleep is gorgeous and portrays a real sense of safety and comfort,
which young children who enjoy snuggling with a loved one will
identify with. The next day Bobo wakes early with the sun and is
filled with excitement for the day ahead. 'Play', he says. Following
the illustrations across the page is lots of fun and the vivid
illustrations bring the actions and emotions of the characters to
life. The use of simple words makes this great for emerging
independent readers and for younger ones who will be able to tell
the story using only the illustrations. There is a touch of moral
teaching here about listening to your parents and keeping safe but
it is more a celebration of every day adventure and the uncrushable
spirit of young children. It may also open up conversations about
the cycle of day and night. The artwork really is something special,
especially as Alborough has perfected these characters in previous
books Hug, Tall and Yes. A must for all Bobo
the chimp lovers but it will also be enjoyed by those who haven't
met him before.
Nicole Nelson
Marsh and me by Martine Murray
Text, 2017. ISBN 9781925498011
(Age: 9+) Tolerance. Diversity. Acceptance. Joey is a shy, sensitive
boy who longs to be good at something. He just wants to stand out -
maybe as a famous astronaut or a mountain climber. At the back of
Joey's house is a hill where a rubbish dump used to be. This is his
sacred place where he goes to escape from the dramas of everyday
life.
One day he discovers a tree house in an old peppercorn tree on his
hill. Now someone has invaded his hill. This is his private domain.
Who could it be? How will Joey be able to meet her? He decides to
lie in wait.
The tree house girl, Marsh, is wild and hostile and does not
appreciate Joey invading her new-found haven. Joey tries desperately
to get to know Marsh but he has no luck. He knows that Marsh is
hiding something from him but he can not figure it out. One day Joey
decides to follow her home and try to discover some things about
Marsh for himself. Marsh and Me follows the path of a developing friendship
between two people that just want to be 'normal' and accepted. Both
have their own quirks but begin to appreciate themselves for who
they are. The characters begin to realise their self-doubts are
unfounded and start to have insights into each other's lives. A
heart-warming story that would fit into themes such as tolerance,
diversity and acceptance. The print is relatively large and would
suit children from 9 years old and up. Teacher's
notes are available on the publisher's website.
Kathryn Schumacher
Ice Breaker by Lian Tanner
The Hidden series, book 1. Allen and Unwin, 2016. ISBN
9781760293178. (First published 2013. Rejacketed.)
(Age: 11+) Highly recommended. Themes: Fantasy; Adventure;
Friendship; 'Junk Punk'; Overcoming adversity; Conflict. This is the
first book in The Hidden series of fantasy adventure set in a
strange time on board an ancient icebreaker in an environment marked
by icebergs, pack ice and extreme cold, and a reverence for all
things mechanical! And there is a 'sleeping captain' that provides a
mysterious backstory that is intriguing and hinted at rather than
given strong detail to explain why this rusting and antique vessel
exists in this austere location. The ship is the home to an isolated
community that is strongly caste-like and divided based on their
roles on board the ship. In this fiercely contested hierarchy we see
the world through the eyes of the central character, Petrel.
Petrel's parents had defied the hierarchical rules, to their peril.
Petrel lives an outcast's life, hidden amongst pipes and corridors
and shunned by the entire ship's population. Mostly she is just
ignored, but a few are openly hostile and she is friendless (except
for the ship rats). The plot shifts when a boy, abandoned on the
pack ice is pulled aboard. His story hints at an ancient conflict,
and he is embroiled in a destructive plan that is kept a closely
guarded secret. Petrel though, displays remarkable qualities and
kindness towards this potential enemy and together they hide and
scramble to escape the ship's hostility after they are accused of a
crime.
The setting of this book is unique and the 'Junk punk' genre (hints
at the past and with less than perfect technology) creates an
interesting backdrop to a story about outcasts and conflict, with a
fantasy with some technology twists!
Highly recommended for readers aged 11. This is an intriguing and
exciting journey from start to finish.
Carolyn Hull
We're going on a bear hunt by Hannah Pang
Walker Books, 2017 We're going on a bear hunt: My adventure field guide. ISBN
9781406375954 We're going on a bear hunt: My explorer's journal. ISBN
9781406375961
(Age: 8-12) Highly recommended. These two companion titles based on
the We're Going on a Bear Hunt animated film offer children
a wonderful opportunity to find out about their environment while
giving parents and carers a great tool to make excursions more
interesting. My Adventure Field Guide is divided into the following
sections: High in the sky, Down in the ground, Further afield, Tiny
plants and tall trees, Incredible Creepy Crawlies, Extraordinary
creatures, Keeping on Track and The Big Wide World. There are many
facts contained here with easy to understand explanations of many
things that children wonder about: Why is the sky blue? Why is the
sea salty? What is an insect? There are also projects that children
can do like building a worm farm and making a bird cake to feed
birds in winter. Some recipes that children can make with adult help
are also featured. The Big Wide World section looks at ways that
children can look after their environment by recycling and
conserving water My explorer's journal is a companion to the field guide and
gives information on how to keep a journal. Children are given ample
opportunity to record what they have seen on their outings. The book
is sturdy with thick paper with plenty of room for children to write
down their observations and draw what they have seen. Some
activities include pasting in flowers and leaves and making a back
garden den. Blank pages at the end mean that children can come up
with their own ideas, drawings and collections of natural objects.
The activities are not for very young children but the familiarity
of the We're going on a bear hunt book and film will still appeal to
older children. The illustrations are based on the soft water colour
palette by Helen Oxenbury and are very appealing.
These two books would be ideal to take on holiday as they have so
many things that children would find interesting. They provide not
only activities about the natural world but a wealth of information
that will stimulate learning and could also be used in the classroom
as a tool to encourage curiosity about the natural world.
Pat Pledger
Alex Rider: never say die by Anthony Horowitz
Walker Books, 2017. ISBN 9781406377040
(Age: 12+) Highly recommended. Spies, Thriller, Action adventure,
Suspense. What a read! all the trademarks of a highly sophisticated
adult thriller are here to delight, entrance and entertain. Hard to
put down, I was engrossed with Horowitz's ability to get Alex Rider
into the most dire of circumstances then extricate him with flair
and just a little suspension of belief. I found myself saying, 'oh
come on' with disbelief at some of his escapades, but it is all
written with such tongue in cheek awareness, that I had to remind
myself that it was just a story. And a brilliant one at that, the
eleventh in the series.
Alex has been sent to San Francisco with the Pleasure family,
ostensibly to start a new life after the deaths of his uncle and
mentor, Ian Rider, and friend, Jack Starbright.
But he receives a cryptic phone message. Knowing Jack as well as he
does, he sets out on a journey to find her, convinced that she is
still alive. He flies to Cairo returning to the place where he was
hideously tortured and forced to watch Jack being killed. Here he
meets again some of the thugs he met before, but MI6 is also on his
trail, wanting him to keep out of their business, and return to San
Francisco. But again he evades them all, going to the South of
France to find a ship. Sneaking on board he fights for his life with
the impressive Dragana Novak who had recently stolen a Lightning
Strike helicopter from a demonstration in the south of England,
ready for the Grimaldi brothers to use in their outrageous plan.
And this is only half way through.
Fifteen year old Alex has been used by MI6 before, but they feel
morally bound to keep him safe and in school, so the continuous
tension between them makes a neat contrast with the journey he is
actually taking.
The plan to use the massive helicopter to steal a school bus full of
children with obscenely wealthy parents is mind boggling, as Alex
works out just a little too late what the brothers plan to do. He
leaps from the car's ejector seat grabbing the undercarriage of the
bus and is then carried into Wales where the children are kept
captive in a disused coal works. Alex of course, saves the day with
panache and not a little skill, and at the end where he is about to
be sent back to school, Mrs Jones at MI6 realises that he is the
only person who can solve her current problem. The next installment
of this highly entertaining series awaits.
Fran Knight
The grand genius summer of Henry Hoobler by Lisa Shanahan
ISBN: 9781760293017.
(Age: 8-11) Recommended. Themes: Fear; Overcoming difficulties; Family; Friendship; Holidays. Henry Hoobler is full to the brim with doubts, fears and the wobbly tummy feeling that accompanies them - and the family camping adventure that the family has planned will bring all of these to the forefront for Henry. Henry is a delightful, sensitive lad - a middle child squeezed between an older brother with the confidence of early teens and a younger pre-school aged sister whose collection of 'little ponies' and precocious personality makes her an absolute joy. This is a family tale set in a happy family camping holiday that explores family relationships, friendships and overcoming the things in life that get in the way of joyful exuberance - like being afraid of riding a bike without trainer wheels.
Lisa Shanahan has written a beautifully sensitive exploration of fear and perseverance to overcome the tough things in life. Young readers will recognise themselves and the portrayal of family is overwhelmingly healthy. The delight of the book is the character Cassie who is a permanent resident of the Holiday Park that Henry and his family are visiting. She is wonderfully feisty and wise and 'more alive than a normal person' despite a life with its own struggles and hurdles. The delightful shared family holiday is also portrayed as a wonderfully positive experience with children exploring new things that demonstrate their own genius moments in an atmosphere of freedom and gelato tastings.
This is a book to recommend to readers aged 8 to 11 - or a great book to share as a read-aloud shared text for aged 7+ because of its social and emotional discussion potential.
Carolyn Hull
Henrietta and the perfect night by Martine Murray
Allen and Unwin, 2017. ISBN 9781760290245
(Age: 6+) Recommended. Family, Siblings, Birth. The effervescent
Henrietta notices the her mother is getting fatter. Her parents
explain that Henrietta is going to have a baby brother or sister,
but not now, later in the year when the apples ripen on the trees.
Her father tells her about the seeds growing in the ground and how
they develop and grow. When the apples are picked and they make
apple crumble, the baby will arrive. She is elated but a little
nervous about being an older sister and goes to a neighbour's house
to practise on their baby. Here she finds some of the things which
amuse a young child, but when it does not do what Henrietta wants,
it begins to cry, the mother telling Henrietta that it is tired.
The book is divided into five easily read chapters detailing aspects
of Henrietta's life. Going to school for the first time, she is
unsure until she sees someone else less sure than she. She comforts
the girl, finding that by staying with her she becomes more at ease
at being in school, and the two together have a good first day. The
story takes Henrietta and her new friend, Olivia through their first
months at school, having a sleepover and being in the school play.
All the while the delightful illustrations show the change of
seasons and the change in mum's appearance. One day they motor to a
friend's house and look at some puppies. Henrietta would dearly love
one but other things happen to change the day for the family. Mum
must be taken back home, and the midwife called. Dad and Henrietta
watch a movie, and Dad goes off to help Mum. When the baby arrives,
Henrietta is introduced to Albert and everyone is smiling.
This wonderful story of one family and its journey to having a
second child will have instant appeal. Not only does it reflect a
close, loving family, but it shows the stages a family goes through
in life. Physically Mum changes shape, but Henrietta's awareness
develops too. She becomes more aware of what she will be expected to
do as an older sibling: practising on her neighbour's child, and in
going to school, learns to be compassionate to those around her.
In a small hardback format with engaging print, the book fits well
in the hand and will be rarely on the shelves. As an explorer of
life, Henrietta's warm, funny commentary is most entertaining.
Martine Murray is able to reflect a child's view of what is
happening around her with humour and panache.
Fran Knight
