Reviews

Zombie Swap by Zack Zombie

Diary of a Minecraft Zombie bk. 4. Scholastic, 2017. ISBN 9780986444166
(Age: 7+) This popular fan fiction series is presented as Zombie's diary and in this junior novel, he has swapped bodies with his friend Steve the Villager. This sets the scene for much awkwardness at school and home, for many new and difficult situations and of course, plenty of gross humour. Zombie discovers what it is like to be a human; there are problems with wearing clothes, using the SHA-WUR, what is SO-AP and how to use a TA-WOOL. Zombies normally do not spend a lot of time cleaning their bodies, they have holes in their faces and bodies and love to smell and be filthy.
Human school is a very scary place, Steve is a very popular guy and Zombie finds it hard to fit in, andn know what to do, what to say and how to act. His normal life is opposite. Steve has to live with the Zombies, Creepers, Skeletons and Slimes of Minecraft, and try to fit in as well. There are plenty of difficult situations for Zombie, luckily, Steve's friend Alex is there to guide him through the pitfalls. He even competes in the PVP Death Match Tournament with his new human friend Eli, and together they learn how to rely on each other and defeat the other team.
Zombie Swap is another humorous addition to the series, just right for Minecraft fans who enjoy reading about their favourite characters and their zany lives.
Rhyllis Bignell

Rose Ravensthorpe Investigates: Black Cats and Butlers by Janine Beacham

The dragon with a chocolate heart by Stephanie Burgis

Bloomsbury, 2017. ISBN 9781408880319
(Age: 9-12) Highly recommended. The dragon with a chocolate heart is a wonderfully woven fantasy adventure that should come with a warning - needs to be read while drinking hot chocolate and sampling a large box of delicious chocolates! Stephanie Burgis combines the world of dragons, the forces of magic and brings a feisty hero to life. She sets her novel in traditional old world town - Drachenburg - where chocolate houses vie for royal favour.
Aventurine is a young dragon desperate to escape her boring family life. When she leaves her family caverns filled with golden treasure to search for her own dinner, the young dragon is tempted by a cup of sweet smelling hot cocoa from a mysterious food mage. In an instant, she changes from a colourful scaly dragon into a wingless human girl. Aventurine learns to adapt to her human body and sets off down the mountain into town. She meets scoundrels and townsfolk out for their own good and runs away from the first couple who just want an unpaid servant.
After some twists and turns, she meets young Silke who help her with suitable clothing and she finds a job as apprentice chocolatier at the Chocolate Heart. Her passion for chocolate and her love of finding the perfect flavours is beneficial for the business.
Burgis writes a rich and engaging fantasy narrative, filled with delicious sweet descriptions and cups of special hot chocolate to delight the royal family. Her setting amongst the delights and dramas of life in Drachenburg with all the behind-the-scenes details of the chocolate shop, the secret recipes, spicy touches, and the well-rounded characters add to the warmth of the story. How can the feisty young girl save the town from the attacking dragons who happen to be her own family?
The dragon with a chocolate heart explores the themes of acceptance, courage, resilience and making the right choices, a wonderful story for fantasy fans and just right for Middle Primary students.
Rhyllis Bignell

Maisy goes swimming by Lucy Cousins

Walker, 2017. ISBN 9781406374049.
(Ages: 3-5) Illustrator and author Lucy Cousins first created her Maisy Mouse character in 1990 and her picture books continue to be much loved family favourites to share with youngsters all over the world.
Walker Books have published the delightful interactive story of Maisy goes swimming as a 25th anniversary celebration. Now a new generation of toddlers can help Maisy get ready for swimming at the pool. The young mouse is dressed for winter in many layers of clothes and she needs to put on her bathing suit. First, her blue hat and scarf come off, next her big brown boots and red coat. Each spread show the ever-patient mouse waiting for our help, as we lift, slide and open the sturdy flaps. Next comes more colourful layers, grey cardigan, green trousers, until at last we pull down her orange bloomers! At last, it is time for Maisy's colourful striped swimsuit and she is ready for the pool.
Maisy goes swimming is an entertaining book to share with a young child, to prepare them for swimming lesson and to stimulate their engagement with picture books, developing their pre-reading and motor skills.
Rhyllis Bignell

Agent Nomad: The eleventh hour by Skye Melki-Wegner

Random House Australia, 2017. ISBN 9780143780151
(Age: 14+) The eleventh hour is the first book in the new Agent Nomad series by Skye Melki-Wegner. At 15 years old a genetic anomaly has given Natalie Palladino the ability to manipulate a source of power called quintessence. But Natalie is not your average sorcerer; she is a rare and hunted witness who can see the quintessences of other sorcerers, thus bearing witness to the magic others have performed or are about to perform.
After spending her early years travelling the world with her mother Natalie was sent to live with her father in the small town of Hollingvale on the Mornington Peninsular in Victoria. Then, hauled from an average teenage student life into the world of secret agents known as HELIX, Natalie Palladino reinvents herself as Nomad and we travel with Nomad on a fast paced adventure as HELIX endeavours to protect Nomad and innocents from the Inductors.
Excitedly, I applauded the female protagonist, Natalie, who appears to be unsure of herself to start, but her character develops into an independent, feisty and strong individual. Drawing on Natalie's experiences as she tries to empathise with the people around her and anticipate what impact her choices will have on others, the author offers insight into friendships; not only the components of what makes a person your friend but also how to be a friend to others.
Skye Melki-Wegner makes an attempt to explore important teen issues such as developing skills in teamwork, maintaining friendship, valuing your own self-worth and personal sacrifice which will encourage the reader to think about how their own perspectives and actions can enhance and confuse their relationships.
Written in a simple yet engaging style I still felt that the momentum of the story was forced through each key moment, hurrying to explain history during a crucial event and skimming over important character development.
All this being said, I was very impressed with the finale when Natalie and her team want to prevent a sorcerous bomb from exploding but cannot see a solution... I did not see this twist coming nor the secrets revealed about her parents! You will have to read The eleventh hour to find out more. For readers aged 14 and up.
Sharon Smith (Children's and Youth services Librarian Riverina Regional Library)

Princess Cora and the crocodile by Laura Amy Schlitz

Ill. by Brian Floca. Candlewick Press, 2017. ISBN 9780763648220
(Age: 5-8) Recommended. Princesses and royalty. Independence. Identity. Fantasy. Childhood. Fairy tale. In a classic fairy tale style with a princess, talking animal and a little bit of implicit magic, combined with some grit from a frustrated princess comes this charming tale. Princess Cora begins life impressing her parents with her blue eyes and pink toes, but almost immediately they are concerned for her royal role and her life is bound up with responsibilities that are dull as dirty bathwater. Cora endures her princess 'training' for some time until her polite frustration leads to a letter to an unseen fairy godmother. The solution to her woes is a crocodile!! With a little bit of 'changing places' magic, Princess Cora discovers some freedom and the joys of childhood while the crocodile metes out some reptilian payback for Cora's royal training regimen. Ultimately there is some happiness for all, in the manner of all good fairy tales. Hidden beneath the charming fairy tale plot is a little bit of a 'moral' for the adults in a child's life - allow children to be children before 'training' them for their adult roles. And a child reader will see a compliant child who learns to speak up and explore her independence, while still showing respect.
The illustrations by Brian Floca (a Caldecott medallist) are delightful and complement the text sympathetically. This is a lovely transition text between a picture book and an early chapter book.
Recommended for aged 5-8 years, it would make a lovely shared read-aloud text for an adult and child.
Carolyn Hull

Maybe a fox by Kathi Appelt and Alison McGhee

Walker Books, 2017. ISBN 9781406372892
(Age: Upper primary - lower secondary) Highly recommended. Even if this story had been written by one author, readers would marvel at the skill and craftsmanship of the writing. Instead it is a collaboration, all the more impressive for that because: a singular voice rings out across the book; there are no stylistic fluctuations along the way; and the narrative development is seamless. This is despite being a complicated story, with several threads weaving through. The central story is about Jules coming to terms with the tragic and pointless death of her sister; this is the second tragedy her family suffers and she and her Dad stay strong to support each other. Other stories intertwine with this: Sam, the school friend, hopeful for the return of the long-unseen catamount; his older brother, Elk, returned from Afghanistan, but mourning a best friend who didn't; the rambling yearling bear that brings out the local hunters; the dangers and mysteries of the Slip, where the river disappears into an underground cauldron for a while, and the legendary but unfound Grotto, both of which hold resolutions to these interlacing stories. But these resolutions don't come so simply and comfortably. Like weft across braiding threads the tale of Senna is thrown; Senna, the vixen of three kits born just as Sylvie disappears; Senna of a mythical fox world, a Kennen with connection to the human world. And her connection is Jules. The fabric shimmers and tightens as these stories intersect and move to a compelling conclusion that answers the question in the title. Because of the implied middle school readership of the book it is important to mention not a spoiler but an alert: perhaps this story goes one tragedy too far. The ending is traumatic, with an achingly-sad last chapter that is hard to bear. Other choices could have been made that would have been uplifting and hopeful and still been satisfying. With that one caution this extraordinary book is highly recommended for upper primary and lower secondary readers.
Kerry Neary

Wing Jones by Katherine Webber

Walker Books, 2017. ISBN 9781406369090
(Age: 13+) Highly recommended. Wing Jones is a confronting novel about the aftermath of a car accident caused by drink-driving. Focusing on the family of the person responsible, it gives insight on the difficulties faced not only by the perpetrator, but the family and friends of the perpetrator.
A world where you are a nobody and your big brother is a somebody is always going to be difficult to navigate, let alone having both Ghana and Chinese heritage in a school with a mostly white population. Wing Jones is unlucky enough to be all of above - an outsider to anything considered vaguely normal by her peers. As bad as that is it all gets worse when her brilliant brother comes crashing down from the pedestal she's placed him on and the police come to the door with grim expressions for the second time in her life.
As the news of Marcus' drunk driving spreads, the school is engulfed by grief. From hero to villain in one night, Marcus' sister and best friend, Aaron, bear the brunt of it alone. Marcus is trapped in the hospital and they don't know if he'll ever wake up to face the two charges of vehicular manslaughter to his name. Swamped by her older brother's guilt and encouraged by her spirit animals, Wing must learn a new way to cope before the weight of Marcus' guilt breaks her. She starts to run - an act she'd avoiding since childhood - and she's good. With Aaron's help and the slim glimmer of hope that her athletics will help Marcus, Wing joins the track team and shocks not only her classmates, but her mother and Grannies too.
Dealing with issues surrounding drink driving, bullying, and racism, this coming of age story is highly recommended to people thirteen and up.
Kayla Gaskell, university student

Stepping stones by Margriet Ruurs

Ill. by Nazar Ali Badr. UQP, 2017. ISBN 9780702259739
(Age: 5 - Adult) Recommended. Refugees, Syria, Arabic, Sculpture. A worthy addition to the range of books about refugees with which to engage children, Stepping stones, will delight younger readers with its parallel text in Arabic, its amazing illustrations and concise story, best read aloud. With others like Out (Angela George, 2016) Teacup (Rebecca Young, 2016), Suri's wall (Lucy Estela, 2016), Flight (Nadia Wheatley, 2015) and My two blankets (Irena Kobald, 2014), a class set of books about refugees would be the richer for their inclusion, allowing children to pick out and read several books, or work with a class using these books to reflect the story of refugees today.
Stepping stones is unique however in its depiction of the people fleeing their homes. The illustrator, Nizar Ali Badr, a sculptor, works from his home in Latakia in Syria, and the author, having seen one of his stone pictures on the internet was propelled into writing a story to match the image. It would be intriguing to present the images to a group of children to write their own story, they are so graphic and detailed, that I am sure they will understand the story without hesitation.
Canadian author Ruurs, presents the story of this family whose love holds them together, finally finding a place of refuge where they are welcomed. Canada stands like a beacon of humanity in our world today.
The parallel text in Arabic is beautiful, the calligraphy a standout and will intrigue children as they look at the wonderful script, wanting to know more. I can imagine classes using this book as part of a discussion about refugees, allowing children to read it for themselves and share it with others, along with the stories depicted above. I can imagine children trying out the stone images for themselves, or trying to write script in Arabic. All their efforts will bring them to a closer understanding of the issue of refugees through one child's story.
Fran Knight

My life and other weaponised muffins by Tristan Bancks

Penguin Random House, 2017. ISBN 9780143781066
(Age: 9-12) Recommended. Themes: Humour; School life; Family. Tom Weekly has once again shared the bizarrely crazy view of his life in this collection of random meanderings. His life goes seriously backwards at one point; toenails become inspirational food for story-writing; his first longed-for kiss is hijacked; his dog does something disgusting to his homework; he creates a money-making venture to sell head lice as a means to escape school; and his own mother uses muffins in a way that starts out well, but ends disastrously. Nothing is ever boring in Tom Weekly's life.
Tristan Bancks has a bizarre sense of humour that is well fed by suggestions from young devotees (and school brainstorm sessions). His quizzes and his list of 'Would you rather' questions is also enormously amusing. Any young reader who likes a little dose of 'gross' or 'yuck', with their humourous view of school and growing up will enjoy this latest offering in the My Life series.
Carolyn Hull

Scarlet and Ivy: The lights under the lake by Sophie Cleverly

Harper Collins, 2017. ISBN 9780008218324
(Age; 9+) Highly recommended. The lights under the lake is another instalment in the Scarlet and Ivyseries and is just as much of an adventure and a mystery as the other books. The great thing about these books is that they are stand alone stories, hinting at events in previous books to keep the readers up to date with what is going on. Like the others, The lights under the lake will keep readers wondering who is behind the mysterious events.
Scarlet, Ivy, Ariadne and Rose all attend Rookwood School and have become close friends, protecting each other through everything. As part of a plan to relax and forget about the horrible events at the school, the principal has organised a school excursion to a lakeside hotel. It will be a chance for the girls to relax and learn about nature. Unfortunately, the nasty prefects are in charge, mysterious objects keep appearing in the hotel and someone is ransacking rooms. The nasty prefects keep targeting Rose. Scarlet, Ivy and Ariadne really don't know a lot about Rose and doubts start to set in. Will the girls be able to save Rose from the prefects and her past?
The lights under the lake is a mystery and an adventure with excellent role models for girls. Scarlet and Ivy are twins and always looking out each other. They will do anything for their friends and are always working at overcoming their fears. Ivy is the voice of reason while Scarlet acts before she thinks. The difference is, Scarlet's seemingly inappropriate behaviour is always in defence of someone she loves. Ariadne is intelligent and not afraid to show it.
The story is descriptive and the vocabulary is easy and exciting to read. Author, Sophie Cleverly, gives away just enough to keep the reader guessing and they won't solve the mystery straight away. Highly recommended for girls aged 9+.
Kylie Kempster

Tommy Bell: The gold escort gang by Jane Smith

Tommy Bell, bushranger boy series. Big Sky Publishing, 2017. ISBN 9781925520217
(Age: Middle and upper primary) Tommy Bell continues his time travel adventures in this third book of the Tommy Bell series, The gold escort gang. Tommy can use his magic hat to transport himself and his horse back to the colonial era. In the present time, Tommy is under pressure to support a friend who wants him to help steal a bike as a prank. Tommy wants to stay friendly but his moral compass knows it is wrong to steal.
In the past, he meets Ben Hall, who has not made good decisions during his life and has joined forces with the notorious bushranger Frank Gardiner and is now a wanted criminal. As the title suggests, Tommy becomes involved in a gold escort hold up and witnesses for himself the impact the crime has on innocent bystanders. It is easy to compare Tommy's dilemma about right and wrong with that of Ben Hall's choices and the effect it has had on his life and family.
Jane Smith tells an exciting story and her knowledge of the colonial era and bushrangers is evident. There is a comical situation where Tommy witnesses some of the bushrangers having a nude swim when they are interrupted by the police. This happened in real life, creating a humorous scene where the bushrangers had to run to their horses grabbing their clothes on the way. This is all explained in the historical notes at the end of the novel. There is also a 'Q and A' addition with Frank Gardiner.
The cover uses bold colours and has a feel of being printed due to the strong black outlines. The font for the chapter beginnings have a dated, colonial Australia feel and the page design resembles a poster.
These books would appeal to middle and upper primary students. They would be useful to read in conjunction with teaching the Australian Curriculum in history in the year 4, 5 years.
Jane Moore

What will grow? by Jennifer Ward

Ill. by Susie Ghahremarni. Bloomsbury, 2017. ISBN 9781681190303
(Age: 3+) Recommended. Gardening. Natural world. Flora. Seeds. A book about seeds which allows children to understand that each seed has the promise of something else, is beautifully illustrated by Susie Ghehremani, showing in bright pared-back illustrations the habitat of each seed and the animal which will be found in its vicinity. In this way children can focus on the seeds, animal and habitat appropriate to the growing plant, adding to their knowledge of the world around them.
Each double page represents one seed and in rhyming couplet gives words that describe that seed or its habitat, and shows it and its plant. So the first page shows round peas, then a pea plant replete with seed pods showing clearly the peas inside. Over the page is a pair of rabbits and small thin shaped seeds in the ground, producing lettuce which the rabbits will adore. This page as with several others requires the reader to lift a flap to revel the grown plant. In this way the reader is introduced to a dandelion, tomato, oak tree, apple tree and pumpkin amongst other vegetables and fruits. The lift-the-flap will intrigue younger readers, especially when the flap opens different ways to adjust to the plant being presented. The last several pages shows what happens beneath the top soil, and the last double page gives an overview of the seeds presented in the book, while the last double page of all shows the seeds from germination to plant to seed, engaging the younger reader in the process of germination.
This would be a great introduction to a group of children about to embark on growing things for themselves or setting up a class garden.
Fran Knight

Billy Sing, a novel by Ouyang Yu

Transit Lounge Publishing, 2017. ISBN 9780995359444
(Age: Adult) Billy Sing was a Light Horse Trooper who served at Gallipoli and later on the Western Front. A fine marksman even before his military service, Sing became Australia's most famous sniper with 150 confirmed kills. Other sources place his tally as high as 300.
Sing was born to a Chinese father and an English mother and would have suffered from the racist attitudes which prevailed at the time.
Ouyang Yu lends a narrative voice to Sing, telling his story from beyond the grave and conveying an intellectual and emotional dimension which emphasises his humanity and fragility. This is important given that Sing was known as 'The murderer' or 'The assassin' by his fellows and history frankly records him as the highest scoring killer in the Australian army.
In the text, Sing is depicted as being much younger than he actually was at the beginning of the First World War and the author possibly sought to emphasise his physical and mental toughness. There is a great deal of conversational philosophy and deep reflection on human relations which is often difficult to accept given that this is work of fiction. Sing's war service, whilst a central feature of the book, was not detailed as prominently as I would have expected. Perhaps this underlines that Billy Sing's life was much more than four years spent as a soldier. The fact that the famous author Ion Idriess was Billy's spotter is referred to only obliquely and historical detail is presented as poetic recollection of individual incidents, rather than in a more familiar narrative style.
The author does achieve his goal of making the reader understand the appalling treatment that Billy endured during his difficult and too short life. It is clear that what was just and fair had no bearing on the life of Billy Sing and those he loved.
This is a complex work which may suit some adult readers. Unfortunately the inclusion of the worst known profanity in the opening lines of the novel (for no clear reason) would make this book an unsuitable acquisition in most school libraries.
Rob Welsh

Moo and Moo and the little calf too by Jane Millton

Ill. by Deborah Hinde. Allen & Unwin, 2017. ISBN 9781877505928
Just after midnight on November 14, 2016, the earth under the north-east of New Zealand's South Island started to shudder and shake. Once again an earthquake was reshaping the landscape as immovable forces fought for supremacy 15,000 metres below the surface - not just a regular shake that Kiwis are used to, this one was 7.8 on the Richter scale meaning widespread movement and damage.
Fast asleep in their paddock in the Clarence Valley on this bright moonlit night were two cows and a calf, who soon found themselves the subject of news footage around the world as the shaking and quaking split their sleep and their surroundings asunder and left them stranded on an island two metres high and 80 metres from where they started.
Told in rhyme, Moo and Moo and the little calf too tells the story of the three animals and how they were rescued, a story that will fascinate young readers. Imagine if the chair or the carpet they are sitting on suddenly moved and fell away and they were left stranded so high they couldn't get down!
While there were many stories of the quake and its impact on the landscape and the people, just as there are about recent devastating weather events in Australia, we sometimes forget about the impact on the wildlife that such phenomena have. The destruction of their habitat, their dislocation from familiar food sources, their deaths and injuries are often overlooked as the human drama plays out. There was concern that the seal colony at Ohau Point (where I had been with my grandchildren exactly a year earlier) had been destroyed and with the seabed being lifted 5.5metres in places, also concern for the marine life off the coast.
So bringing this true story to life in a picture book that will endure much longer than a short television news clip not only tells the story of the cows but also puts a focus on other creatures who endure the trauma as humans do. What happened to the sealife, the birds, the kangaroos and all the other creatures during Cyclone Debbie and the resulting floods? How do they survive during devastating bushfires? What can be done to save them, help them, and restore their habitats? What are their needs? Even kindergarten students can start investigations along those lines, giving meaning and purpose to the ubiquitous studies of Australia's wildlife so they go beyond mere recognition.
While Moo and Moo and the little calf too might appear to have a limited audience and timeframe, used as a springboard it could be the beginning of something much greater. And that's without even going down the path of the cause of earthquakes and how such events give us the landscapes and landshapes we are familiar with.
Barbara Braxton