Reviews

Friday Barnes: The plot thickens by R.A. Spratt

Penguin Random House, 2016. Friday Barnes series, bk. 5 ISBN 9780857989932
(Ages: 8+) Recommended. The fifth Friday Barnes book, finds Friday embroiled in a prank battle with her former friend Ian Wainscott who is none too pleased to find out that Friday's deductions are correct yet again. The PE teacher is also out to get Friday as he ramps up his fitness crusade. Then there is also the mystery of the defaced artwork appearing around the school, attempted kidnappings and the list goes on, with the consummate schoolgirl detective solving many smaller mysteries throughout the book to keep readers enthralled. The smaller puzzling occurrences lead Friday to solve the major mystery of what the newly appointed, world-renowned artist come teacher is up to at Highcrest Academy.
Friday Barnes: The plot thickens is a great way to break into the detective story genre for younger readers. The multitude of mini mysteries makes this a high interest book while a more complex over-arching mystery adds more depth. The narrative style is clear and accessible and the school setting will engage primary student readers easily.
This book is recommended for young mystery lovers.
Annette Mesecke

Damage by Felix Francis

Penguin, 2016. ISBN 9780718178833
(Age: 15+) Recommended. Mystery. Horse racing. Felix Francis follows in his father's footsteps with an engrossing mystery set in the horse racing industry and fans of the original Dick Francis novels will be sure to enjoy this one as well. Jeff Hinkley is an undercover investigator for the British Horse-racing Authority and when asked to look into the activities of a trainer, finds himself embroiled in a murder, illegal drug use and blackmail demands.
The action speeds along with Jeff using all his skills to find the perpetrator. In the meantime he is facing the thought of his sister fighting cancer and wondering where his long term romance is going. He is also investigating the drug charge against the son of his sister's husband and manages to solve this as a small subplot that demonstrates his expertise as an investigator.
Damage has the same feel that brought the Dick Francis books such a popular following. An intimate knowledge of horses and the racing industry, an interesting investigator who is intelligent and a dire blackmailer who could bring the horse-racing industry to its knees ensures that once again Felix Francis has produced a very readable and satisfying mystery.
Pat Pledger

Melbourne: Word by word by Michael McMahon

Little Hare Books, 2016. ISBN 9781760126674
(Age: all) Recommended. Melbourne. Cities. Lifestyle. A companion to the book, Sydney: Word by word, this beautifully produced picture book about Melbourne, reflects that city in all its colour. Each page has a single word. But don't be fooled into thinking this is for the beginning reader, because that word is accompanied by an illustration which will encourage thinking about an array or words and feelings and activities evocative of life in a great city.
All the iconic features of Melbourne are included, the trams, the beach huts, Puffing Billy, the Twelve Apostles, Flinders St Station, the concert hall, Victoria Markets and more. Interspersed with the better known images are those of life at street level, people commuting to work, sheltering from the rain with their umbrellas, gridlock over the bridge, coffee shops, pastry shops, a child skipping, a beach scene, football and a neighbourhood of rows of single fronted cottages.
All the vibrancy of life in a great city is shown, with pages that will encourage readers to think about what a city has to offer. Reading the two books about Sydney and Melbourne, students will be struck by the similarities and differences between these two famous Australian cities, encouraged to look at how cities work and perhaps visit.
Fran Knight

Princess Parsley by Pamela Rushby

Scholastic, 2016. ISBN 9781742991610
(Age: 10+) Highly recommended. Princesses. Bullying. Alternative lifestyle. School. Markets. When her father falls out with the local council over starting a market on their small farm in the foothills behind the town, sparks fly. He decides to follow the example of Prince Leonard of Hutt River in Western Australia, and declare his farm a principality, separating it from Australia. But Parsley, the eldest of four sisters, Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme knows that beginning high school with the name Princess Parsley will not auger well. The in crowd, the Blondes, cannot help themselves but deride, scorn and intimidate Parsley. The market keeps on being successful, helping out other small holdings in the area of Possum Creek, but their neighbour Councillor Hancock is the one who tries to stop the market, so forcing Parsley's dad to take steps.
But when Councillor Hancock's son helps Parsley, the Blondes, one of whom, Danielle, has eyes on him, become even more spiteful. And the lawyer who offers to help the family, turns out to be Danielle's uncle and he wishes the girls to be friends.
Letting fly at drama one day Parsley is spotted by her drama teacher who helps her refine her monologue about the whole situation, ready to present for a drama competition. The situation is very funny, resulting in a splendid interplay of characters in this small community, many of whom are recognisable but still completely endearing.
Parsley keeps her monologue to herself, having her drama teacher help her along the way but when she must perform it in front of the community, her father is shocked and cannot understand how she has been so upset by his decision. The two must find a way to resolve their differences before Parsley can perform for the national competition in Melbourne.
This is a very funny story about families and the effect that a decision has upon one of its members. Dad's decision to leave the Commonwealth of Australia may suit his purposes, but he does not take into account the effect of such a decision on his children. But a comedic situation is able to resolve their differences and everyone is happy. Parsley is subject to some bullying but this is able to be clamped down once she develops confidence in her own abilities. And along the way is a little romance which improves her self esteem no end. A delightful story for mid to upper primary school girls.
Fran Knight

Mango and Bambang: Tiny tapir trouble by Polly Faber

Ill. by Clara Vulliamy. Mango and Bambang series, bk. 3. Walker Books, 2016. ISBN 9781406361483
(Age: 7-10) Highly recommended. The third in the series about Mango and Bambang will be an instant hit with fans and new readers alike. The pair have a wonderful adventure at the seaside, and when Bambang gets sick they discover just the sort of medicine a tapir needs to recover. Then a parcel arrives for them and inside is a tiny tapir, Guntur, who is rather naughty and causes trouble for Bambang. Finally in the last section Bambang helps ensure that Mango wins the chess competition.
The book is divided into four sections, with a contents page giving the title of each of the little stories. The narratives are very interesting with vocabulary that will entice children to learn new words. There is the familiar beach scene where Bambang proves that he is a hero and not a monster. When Bambang get sick the reader learns along with Mango what a tapir eats and the habitat that it likes. There is much humour as Guntur wreaks havoc at home before become a handbag tapir for a celebrity and finally Bambang proves how intelligent and observant he is when he discovers what is happening at the chess tournament.
These fabulous episodes are illustrated with lots of attractive black and teal pictures that will help emerging readers with the story.
Themes of fitting in, being brave, worry about friendship and making sure that friends are being cared for, are all things that young readers will relate to and which make the book such a wonderful read.
A book trailer from the authors gives details about tapirs and the main characters.
Pat Pledger

The book that made me ed. by Judith Ridge

Walker Books, 2016. ISBN 9781922244888
(Age: Mature upper primary - Secondary, Adult) Most avid readers will understand how special it is to share a book with someone. This may be through encouraging others to read a title, or from discussion in study, book clubs or impromptu conversation.
This publication compiles submissions by authors who explain how they were moved, comforted, inspired and influenced by books and it differs from others in that the authors don't have pretensions and make no effort to impress with a taste for high brow literature.
Originally I thought it might be a clever way to engage reluctant readers, however I soon realised that this is a book for people who love reading, those who want to cheer when someone else voices exactly what they felt about scenes from their favourite childhood tale or who want to feel cross that someone just didn't 'get' the book which meant the most to them in their teens.
It meant a lot to me that different authors voiced similar thoughts about titles. For example, Fiona Wood first encountered notions of feminism from the strong, decent and very human main character in Anne of Green Gables. Rachel Craw also recalls Anne as a powerful female character yet notes that Trixie Belden was her first. Benjamin Law fondly remembers the works of Roald Dahl, as does Bernard Beckett who also experienced the joy of sharing this author with his own boys via an audio book on a long car journey.
In many of the entries is a sense of yearning for happy, simple moments from childhood, framed within the familiar setting of favourite books. For some, it is clear that books helped the endurance of difficult times, such as family disintegration and isolation in remote locations.
I was transported by the authors who recalled the excitement of the weekly visit to a public library, to select three books which would be devoured, some several times, before the next visit. It was also interesting to read the opinions of individuals from an array of cultural backgrounds, to appreciate the value of different forms, such as spoken narrative, comics and graphic novels. Clearly some stories had almost universal appeal whilst others may have reflected blinkered attitudes from their time.
Some secondary and a few advanced primary students will enjoy reading the views and experiences of these authors, however many contributors will be unfamiliar. Similarly, with some exceptions, a lot of the titles discussed are so dated that they are unlikely to be known. However, I'd be delighted if this book prompts readers to search out these treasured favourites which they might otherwise not have come across.
Rob Welsh

Beowulf the brave, retold by Oakley Graham

Ill. by Emi Ordas. Big Sky Publishing, 2016. ISBN 9781925275933
(Age: 6+) Beowulf. Myths and legends. Bravery. Verse tale. Beowulf is the king of his land and rules fairly, but one day a monster, Grendel, attacks, forcing him to take steps. All the men try to defeat him without success, so Beowulf must take on the task. He fights bravely and fiercely, eventually defeating the giant where no one else could. But defeated, Grendel's mother is very angry so Beowulf must track her down and overcome her as well. It goes well and he is lauded by all in his land and hailed as a hero king. He rules quietly for many more years, but then a dragon appears, ready to take the treasure from its mound. Beowulf is called to action again, his people begging him to protect them from this new monster. He does so, killing the dragon but sustaining a mortal blow himself.
Both stories of Beowulf are well told, involving the reader in the tale from the Celtic archives. At the end of the book, the author details more about this old saga, and this little bit of information will ensure readers look to Wikipedia to find out more.
Stories of ancient tales are few in number and so are a welcome addition to any library which promotes stories from other cultures.
Fran Knight

Bad bones by Graham Marks

Red eye series. Stripes Publishing, 2015. ISBN 9781847154545
(Age: 14+) Horror. Warning on back cover: Not for younger readers. Gabe is under pressure - his father has lost his job and money is in short supply. On a ride in the hills around LA, he comes across a grave and finds not only a skeleton but a gold bracelet. He thinks that will end his money troubles but it is only the beginning of his misfortune. He has awakened more than he bargained for. With his new friend Stella, he investigates the background of the gold artefacts while he is stalked by Raphael, a sinister figure from the past, who is accompanied by coyote and owl companions.
Those who have read quite a few books in this genre like me will find that the rather strange mixture of wicked priest taking hearts from his victims in an Aztec like ritual, gold artefacts that have a hypnotic effect, and good versus evil, has a familiar feel. However this may not affect readers new to the genre as the action is fast paced and the plot quite chilling. There are some scary moments as Raphael goes on a killing spree, leaving Gabe to stumble along hoping that people survive this monster.
Reluctant readers may enjoy this as it is easy to read with lots of action and tension.
Pat Pledger

The Boundless Sublime by Lili Wilkinson

Allen and Unwin, 2016. ISBN 9781952534461
(Age: 14+) Highly recommended. Cults. Thriller. Guilt. Survival. In this riveting thriller, Ruby believes that it is her fault that her brother has died and her grief is overwhelming. Her mother has completely withdrawn into herself and when she meets Fox, a shining naïve youth handing out water, she falls under his spell and gradually becomes involved in what she believes in a loving community. When she goes to live at the Institute of the Sublime she quickly succumbs to the sway of Daddy, the charismatic leader of the group, and under the influence of brainwashing finds herself unable to work out what is truth and what is false.
This was a gripping read. It was all too easy to see how Ruby could be swayed by Daddy's words. She had felt empty and guilty, but Daddy persuades her that she is special and chosen. Denying her body, eating only raw food, and drinking the Institute's water, she begins to feel that she is being cleansed. Even when she and Fox are beaten by Daddy and locked up, she still continues to believe in him, such is his power of persuasion and the influence that he has over the cult members. Finally she does leave, but Wilkinson has some unexpected twists here for the unsuspecting reader in the final climax as Ruby must decide what to do.
Wilkinson paints a clear picture of how vulnerable people can be seduced into a cult and as a reader I could easily sympathise with Ruby's actions. The thought of eating pure food, and of being free of material possessions seemed rational to her although as a reader there were many times that I wanted to warn her of the dangers. In the descriptions of how the cult operates, the children who are not given names, and are called Monkeys most aroused my sympathy. Isolated from their parents, they don't believe that they are real people. Such was the power of Daddy that Ruby didn't really question how they were treated.
The tension in the book is extreme. Right from the beginning, the reader is left wondering about what is going to happen to Ruby and Fox, and as events escalate, there is enormous fear for the children and other cult members.
Teens are sure to love this book and the advice that Ruby gives at the end about 'life is for the living' is sure to make any reader ponder her thoughts. It would be a great choice for a literature circle or book group.
Pat Pledger

My magnificent jelly bean tree by Maura Finn

New Frontier Publishing, 2016. ISBN 9781925059588
(Age: 5+) Highly recommended. My Magnificent Jelly Bean Tree is a story for the imagination. The rhythmical, rhyming text will help build and develop a young reader's fluency and expression and their imaginations will soar with all of the possibilities a jelly bean can bring.
Our main character is a young boy who dreams of sprouting a tree from a jelly bean. Every page is a wonderful illustration of the possible adventures he could have in and with his jelly bean tree. The rhyming text is magical and descriptive and the book is highly recommended for readers aged 5+. Young readers will love reading it with an adult or older child and readers aged 7+ will enjoy reading it on their own.
My Magnificent Jelly Bean Tree would be a great book for the classroom as it can be used to investigate poetry and rhyme and to deconstruct into a storyboard. Imagine the amazing illustrations children can create!
Kylie Kempster

The misadventures of Max Crumbly: Locker hero by Rachel Renee Russell

Simon and Schuster, 2016. ISBN 9781471144615
(Age: 11+)Recommended. The writer of the very popular Dork Diaries has done it again - and this time male readers will be able to engage with her books (perhaps competing with the girls to get their hands on the books)!
In the same style as Dork Diaries with comic-like illustrations and journal entries, Russell has introduced us to Max Crumbly, a less than inspiring Middle-School student who gets caught in rather bizarre and hilarious circumstances. Poor Max has escaped home-schooling by his grandmother only to discover that he is now the year 8 victim of the school bully. Being rescued from the claustrophobic locker by the lovely Erin does not actually mean that his life has gone to great heights. He just seems to keep getting into one twisted problem after another. Misadventures just keep following every step of his new Middle School life. And this is obviously only the first in the series as we are left in a graphic comic-style cliffhanger at the end of the book.
For those who have loved Diary of a Wimpy Kid and other similar humorous tales there is now another series to recommend. Readers who are happy to be amused rather than challenged will enjoy this book.
Carolyn Hull

The diary of William Shakespeare, gentleman by Jackie French

Dragonfly Song by Wendy Orr

Allen and Unwin, 2016. ISBN 9781760290023
(Age: 12+) Recommended. Wendy Orr has woven her passion for the mysteries of the Bronze Age centred around the Mediterranean islands into a wonderful mythical fantasy that links known history and its mythical beliefs and archaeological stories into a lyrical and heart-wrenching narrative.
In this old and mythical world, gods have power that invoke worship, sacrifice and honour; power that can sing and manipulate wild animals, and upset the natural world and power that drives communities to order their lives in fear and reverence in order to fend off disaster. The central character Aissa is born with features that defy the god-like need for perfection of her High Priestess mother. She is cruelly damaged, disowned and discarded, and yet survives. Her fate seems to defy the goddess that 'rules' the island of her birth and yet she is hidden and loved, until another disaster leaves her as the mute, cruelly targeted unlucky slave-girl called 'No-Name' that no-one values. The constant emotional attacks and the ignoble role she plays in society are so cruel that it is easy to believe that she has wronged the gods in some way. An unexpected role to pay tribute to the Bull King from a neighbouring island looms as a possible way for her to rise above her lowly and unlucky position . . . or face death as a permanent escape from her misery. The pain and suffering she experiences and the small glimpses of hope that she clings to with incredible humility (despite the rise of hidden goddess-inspired powers) are mixed with an immensely strong resilience and spirit. The effect is awe-inspiring!
Orr has written this with deft mastery, mingling prose poetry style sections with more standard narrative in a beautiful tapestry. It is powerful and compelling reading, even though the mythology and magic of these times is likely to be unknown to many young readers. Fantasy lovers will engage with the unusual world, and those who have a heart for the down-trodden and bullied in contemporary culture will see the enormous strength of character of Aissa despite her circumstances. This is definitely not like Orr's Nim's Island stories or her teen drama Peeling the Onion, but it is certainly to be recommended for those who might enjoy a different kind of lyrical fantasy adventure.
Carolyn Hull

Mister Cleghorn's seal by Judith Kerr

HarperCollins, 2015. ISBN 9780008157302
(Age: 6+) Highly recommended. Seals, pets, Zoos. This charming tale based in part on a story the author's father told her as a child, asks readers to think about their place within the environment, how things humans do impact on animals around them and how one person can make a difference.
Mr Cheghorn has sold his shop and now lives alone, wondering what the day will bring. A letter from his cousin who lives at a seaside town invites him to join his family for a holiday. Mr Cleghorn can now accept and packs his bag to venture on the train to the town. Here he is greeted heartily by his younger cousins, and one boy, Tommy becomes a special friend. They row out each day to watch a baby seal left on a rock while its mother fishes, returning to feed her offspring in the evening. But one day she does not return, probably shot by fishermen down the coast, and Mr Cleghorn's cousin decides it must be killed rather than dying a slow hungry death. But Mr Cleghorn decides to take the animal home, and an adventure begins as he must find ways to keep it fed, along with how to keep it in his small flat. The decisions he makes in keeping this animal crowd in as he succeeds in eventually finding a home for the seal, but not before he angers the janitor at the flat, has fish land on some people beneath his balcony, find a loving relationship with the woman downstairs and takes over a zoo. This lovely story will have wide appeal, especially to animal loving children in middle primary school.
Lovely pencil illustrations accompany this story adding a nostalgic ambience.
Fran Knight

Freedom swimmer by Wai Chim

Allen & Unwin, 2016. ISBN 9781760113414
(Age: Lower secondary - Adult) This is an absorbing tale, based on the life of the author's father, himself a freedom swimmer who eventually entered the USA as a refugee.
All ages will appreciate this story of Ming, a shy teenager, reviled by other villagers in the China of Mao Tse-tung because his father was considered a traitor. Ming's father had been shot while trying to escape the life of starvation and poverty common during the period called Three Years of National Disasters.
He befriends, Fei, a young girl whose circumstances are equally desperate.
When teenage members of the Red Army are relocated from the city to the village in 1968, Ming gets to know one of them, Li, and despite the differences between them, they spend time in each other's company and Ming teaches Li how to swim.
It is a time of expected devotion to the teaching of Mao and those who are considered to be less devout to Mao's cause can be denounced and punished. When Li's father is branded a traitor, Li himself comes under suspicion and is persecuted. He decides he must escape and he and Ming plan to elude the guards and begin the dangerous swim through the shark infested waters to Hong Kong.
The strength of friendship amongst Ming, Fei, Li and also Tien, is a heart warming feature of this story and helps to balance the horror and trauma experienced by many at this time in Chinese history. This is a story which needed to be told and needs to be read.
Thelma Harvey