Two Roads Books, 2016. ISBN 9781473625129
(Age: Adult - Mature readers) Georgian England. Gender roles.
Sexual maturation. Violence. Murder. Grief.
This is not a Jane Austen-style gentle and romantic exploration of
life in Georgian England, but the voice of the central character
Anne is full of the pain of a young and intelligent girl who lives
in a patriarchal world and lives with limited opportunity - except
that offered by a man. The 'butcher's hook' catches her, whichever
way it, or she, is turned, and as we read we feel the slow and
inexpressible pain of powerlessness at the hands of others. Anne's
early family life is scarred by the repeated loss of her siblings,
either in miscarriage or early death, and there is a heaviness that
pervades her family life. In a world before good medical knowledge
and care, and even less psychological support for the grieving, we
are led into a series of overwhelming situations and potential
problems as Anne matures into a woman of marriageable age and
attempts to independently explore her growing interests. Her
intelligence was at one time fostered by a family 'friend', who
displayed interesting methods of arousing her curiosity about the
world, but his means of explaining her questions about life and
birth change her direction for the future and awaken more than
understanding. A connection to the local butcher's apprentice
rapidly escalates, and her means of clearing her path to enable her
desires to be fed reveals more than just her lust for the young lad.
The story is tragic and macabre, and displays none of the lightness
of an Austen tale.
The background of the Georgian world, with its distinct social and
gender class separations and the mire of poverty always in the
background, is a fascinating setting for this absorbing tale of the
unfolding carnal and worldly sensibilities of an adolescent woman
who transforms in a way that we wish we could halt. This is not a
gentle coming-of-age book for teenagers. And for those who might be
squeamish and a little uncomfortable in a 21st century butcher's
shop, there is a raw and visceral unpleasantness in imagining the
equivalent literary dismembering of life in the 1760s. The quality
of the prose will keep you reading though, despite some
unpleasantness along the route.
Recommended for Mature readers only. (Adult text)
Carolyn Hull
Grandma wombat by Jackie French and Bruce Whatley
Wombat series. Angus and Robertson, 2016. ISBN 9780732299590
(Age: 3+) Highly recommended. Wombats. Grandparents. Each day sees
similar things happening in the lives of grandma and her grandson
wombat. Sleeping makes up much of each day, but some days there are
carrots to be had, or small naps to be made, or itches to scratch.
While grandma sleeps more soundly her grandson watches the world go
by. The kangaroo that hops over the pair sometimes wakes grandma
wombat, but one day as grandma lies sleeping, the kangaroo's joey is
replaced by the smaller wombat. He bounces away, taking a ride in
the ute on top of the bales of hay, then onto the back of a motor
bike, then into a parcel truck which delivers baby wombat to the
airport. There he joins a rather startled looking group of skydivers
and sits on one as they sail to the earth.
Once again he is back with grandma, sleeping, scratching and eating
but with a little eye that looks out at the reader, sharing what he
has done with the audience.
Grandma is impervious to her grandson's outing, saying what a well
behaved grandson she has, but the audience knows what he has done,
and laughs along with him and his loving grandma.
French's pared back text gives all that is needed, and the
illustrations by Bruce Whatley add another level of humour to an
already funny tale. This is the fifth in the series of books about
wombats by these two and will be very welcome in all libraries.
Fran Knight
Granny's Place by Allison Paterson
Ill. by Shane McGrath. Big Sky Publishing. ISBN 9781925275636
(Age: 4-6) Highly recommended. Themes: Grandparents; Family Life;
Australia - Social Life and Customs - Twentieth Century. Granny's
Place is a nostalgic story that celebrates the loving relationship
between a young girl and her grandparents. Memorable visits to the
family farm are beautifully described; the simple joys of bouncing
on the springy beds, sharing freshly baked bickies and cakes around
the wooden kitchen table and stamping through carpets of pine
needles. Packing up the farm and moving to the city after Pa's
passing, brings new challenges. When Granny's welcomes the family to
her purpose-built red brick bungalow, the mood changes, no pine
needles, ducks, hens or geese, no shrieking metal gates. Granny's
love is constant, she still bakes for her family and welcomes her
grandchildren.
Shane McGrath's engaging illustrations encapsulate rural and city
life in the 1960's. The evocative narrative is enlivened by the
earthy palette of greens, reds and browns, energetic characters,
detailed vignettes and large sweeps of white space that focus the
eye. Take time to explore in the old mudbrick farmhouse, there's
Pa's World War 1 memorabilia, the old pump organ ready to be played
and treasures hidden in old suitcases.
Alison Paterson's sensory descriptions bring these warm memories to
life. This is a delightful picture book to share with grandparents
and great grandparents. A great resource for the Early Years History
and Social Sciences, comparing how family life and places change
over time.
Rhyllis Bignell
A very normal man by Vincenzo Cerami
Translated by Isobel Grave. Wakefield Press, 2015. This is an
English translation of Un Borghese piccolo piccolo, 1976. ISBN
9781743053713
(Age: 17+) Highly recommended. Themes: Revenge; Italian Society;
Purpose; Hope and hopelessness. A Very Normal Man is a translation of the first novel of
Vincenzo Cerami who is also renowned for his co-authorship of the
screenplay for Life is Beautiful (La vita e bella)
with Roberto Benigni. With the same deft touch, he lightly deals
with a harsh topic as he tiptoes through the tragedy of a normal
life that sinks to extreme measures to grasp at retribution for a
terrible family disaster. At the beginning of this carefully crafted
story we enter the humble circumstances of the central character and
his less than stellar career as a civil servant. His pre-retirement
drudgery is brightened by the prospect of providing more for his son
than was possible in his own life. In order to facilitate this rise
above drudgery and relative working servitude he is enticed to
explore a position within the local Masonic charter and the reader
sees the implicit corruption that follows. On the brink of hope for
his son, tragedy falls and the 'Normal man' sinks into functioning
despondency and a whirlpool of despair that drags him down and
plants the smallest of seeds of revenge into the heart of the simple
man. From this point the black tragedy of the normal life takes on a
secret existence that is almost quirkily humourous, and yet is in
essence, darkly evil. The heart of this story is to reveal the very
easy path that a normal or average man might take in becoming the
worst kind of man. There is irony in the title that this is not a
'normal man'; even though to the world he is a small, insignificant,
'good' man. To the reader who is capable of self-examination, there
is an opportunity to consider their own hidden potential. The
characterisation within this text is subtly revealed, but incredibly
powerful.
The translation of this text has brought this cleverly crafted story
to our attention and this is worthy of study, despite its macabre
aspects, and the journey into Italy in the period post- 1969, with
its potential for corruption at even the most basic level is
intriguing.
Highly recommended for Mature readers aged 17+ (predominantly an
adult novel, but accessible by younger readers.) Note: some macabre
detail included - a 'black' text!
Carolyn Hull
Choosing Xaverique by Karyn Sepulveda
Vivid, 2016. ISBN 9781925442281
(Ages: 11+) Fifteen year old Gabby Valis has an ordinary life, just
like any other. Until she is catastrophically hit by a swerving van,
and her heart stops beating . . . at least, it does for several
minutes. Gabby is a Xaverique, a non-human species who are bestowed
with powerful abilities. A Xaverique's powers can be used for good
or for evil, and it just so happens that the most powerful Xaverique
to have ever lived, Zlanythe, is concocting a hideously evil plan
that Gabby finds herself (and her newly awakened powers) tangled up
in.
Gabby, and the love interest, Noah's relationship is unfortunately,
completely insta-love. After knowing each other for only a few
weeks, they are professing their love for each other. Yes, they are
both teenagers but even teenagers do not fall in love that quickly.
After their very first meeting, Gabby thought she was in love with
Noah. This definitely impacted on my enjoyment of the novel.
A second issue I had with the novel was the length. At only 149
pages, insta-love is going to be imminent and the climax of the
story seemed both rushed and anti-climactic. Choosing Xaverique
definitely would have benefitted from being a longer novel and
therefore having more time to explore the relationships of the
characters and strengthen the storyline.
Unfortunately, the novel also proved to be predictable in some
aspects. However, the ending, whilst it did not surprise me, left me
interested to know what would happen next. Overall, Choosing
Xaverique is an easy, quick and light read that young
teenagers (who can handle mature content including descriptions of
blood and injuries) can enjoy.
Breanne F. (Student)
Princess of the Sands by Karen Wood
TrickStars series, bk 6. Allen and Unwin, 2015. ISBN
9781743319093
(Age: 7+) Highly recommended. Themes: Courage; Overcoming
difficulties; Horse-riding; Television acting.
In this next instalment in the life of the TrickStar triplets -
Ruby, Lexie and Kit, the girls become Television extras in an
episode of Princess of the Stars. With the wonderful ponies who
allow them to demonstrate their trick-riding skills (and their
slightly magical) personal characteristics they also solve the
problems of the main child star whose horse is causing problems in
the shooting schedule. While this is a story about all the triplets,
it focuses on Lexie's battles with overcoming her fears as well.
This is a gentle, easy chapter book for a young female audience who
enjoy reading about horses, trick-riding and girls as they express
themselves within a supportive family. The series is worthy of a
place in a school library.
Highly recommended for aged 7+.
Carolyn Hull
Maresi by Maria Turtschaninoff
Red Abbey Chronicles. Pushkin Children's Books, 2016. ISBN
9781782690917
(Age: 12+) Highly recommended. Fantasy, Dystopian story, Women.
Maresi is sent to the Abbey when her sister dies during the
HungerWinter, her parents no longer able to feed her. Here her
thirst for knowledge comes to the fore as she is able to go to the
Knowledge House after she finishes her chores. Here she learns of
the place where she lives, the Red Abbey, first settled by the
sisters many generations ago, to protect them from the violent male
dominated world outside. And she learns of the ancient skills and
feels the power of the Crone, one of the three that make up the core
of the Abbey, the Crone, the Rose and the Mother.
Her idyllic life is interrupted by Jai, a waif brought to the Abbey
for protection, after a brutal father kills her sister. Her mother
has risked death herself to get the girl away, and she finds peace
within the walls, with Maresi to guide her.
But Jai's position within the walls attracts her father's revenge
and he and his friends come to get her back, forcing the women to
use the ancient skills to keep them all safe.
Allegorical in tone, the first in the The Red Abbey Chronicles
impels readers to see parallels in their own world, the brutal
nature of the world outside the walls similar to any regime which
aims to keep women subservient, using brute power and fear to keep
them repressed. The religious basis of the Abbey is fascinating
again encouraging readers to see parallels with religions within
their own communities. The island keeps out invaders, the walls and
gates make impregnable with magic but Jai's father is more
determined than most and the women must take greater risks in
defending their island.
This is one of those reads that grabs you and drags you along,
wondering what will happen next, all the while hoping they will
survive. The background from the arrival of the First Sisters,
setting up the Abbey and the way they live earning money from
harvesting the bloodsnails, develops a strong base for the story.
Translated from Finnish, there are two more books to be published:
one a prequel telling how the First Sisters set up the Red Abbey and
the next, a sequel, showing Maresi out in the world. The Red
Abbey Chronicles has been sold to thirteen countries, while an
American publishing house has brought the rights to the trilogy for
a six figure sum. The book has been awarded the Swedish YLE
Literature prize for Young Adult works by a Swedish-Finnish author.
Fran Knight
You have my heart by Corinne Fenton
Ill. by Robin Cowcher. Five Mile Press, 2016. ISBN 9781760401917
(Age: 3+) Family. Love. Mental health. Mothers' Day. Based around
Parrot's classification of the six emotions, joy, sadness, fear,
anger, surprise and love, this charming book will give a range of
language to young children to describe their feelings. The words
used by Fenton have immediate appeal as they describe in short
phrases exactly what it feels like to be joyous or angry, fearful,
sad, surprised and loved. The tripping lines of words will be a
treat to read a loud to a child or class, and will encourage
children to read it for themselves. Each child listening will be
able to talk about those days when they are happy or sad, but
knowing that in the end they are loved, there is someone there to
make them overcome those days that might not be the best, there is
someone there who has their heart. This is a book to read and
reread, encouraging young children to see that there are days where
things might not be as good as they hoped they would be, that
everyone has 'tears-tumbling down days' and 'the world doesn't like
me days', days when they need a hug and be reminded that there is
always someone there that will make them stronger and has their
heart. For discussing mental health issues with a younger class this
would be an admirable introduction to talking about good days and
bad days, encouraging children to see that they are not alone.
Originally conceived as a Mother's Day message, the book has much
wider appeal, showing children that they are not alone in times of
need. The illustrations with limited colour compliment the words
beautifully, using line drawings, greys and red to show the six
different emotions felt by the girl, and using a red balloon to
reflect the way the child is feeling.
Fran Knight
The gutsy girl: Escapades for your life of epic adventure by Caroline Paul
Bloomsbury, 2016. ISBN 9781632861238
(Age: 9+) Highly recommended. The gutsy girl: Escapades for your
life of epic adventure is an amazing book for all readers. The
author, Caroline Paul, describes her adventures from milk carton
making to climbing the Golden Gate Bridge, showing all readers that
their life can be an adventure. Throughout the book are quotes from
a variety of female adventurers and heroes to help promote
adventurous thinking and remind readers they can think, do and achieve
anything.
The stories are descriptive and inspiring as well as a variety of
other texts; from procedures showing readers how to tie different
knots to explanations and diagrams about clouds and tools. There are
blank journal pages for readers to add their own adventures,
procedures and favourite quotes.
This book is highly recommended to readers aged 9+. Each chapter is a
different story which means it can be picked up at anytime and read
in any order. There is also something quite appealing about the
solid and exposed cardboard cover with the orange spine and shiny
blue text. It reminds me of a journal or memoir and adds to the
overall appeal of the book
Kylie Kempster
My life and other exploding chickens by Tristan Bancks
Random House, 2016. ISBN 9780857985316
(Age: 9+) Highly recommended. My life and other exploding
chickens is about the life of our main character, Tom Weekly,
and is written from his viewpoint. Tom recounts hilarious stories of
his life, from a crazy dentist visit to funny dot points about his
cat. We find out about the crazy girl who has a crush on Tom as well
as the girl he is crushing on. Read about Tom's friend who had a
knitting needle stuck in her bum cheek and how Tom fears the library
ninjas!
This is a hilarious novel aimed at and highly recommended for boys
aged 9+. Each chapter is a short story in itself so even the most
reluctant readers will find themselves engaged in each descriptive
and 'giggle' moment! There are even a few gross moments - like the
nits that grow and grow because of tomato sauce! What child won't
like to read about that!
Kylie Kempster
Take Ted instead by Cassandra Webb
Ill. by Amanda Francey. New Frontier, 2016. ISBN 9781925059533
(Age: 3+) Recommended. Bedtime. Prevarication. Family life. Bedtime
for many families cause some headaches, as the child works all sorts
of tricks to forestall going to bed. Many books have been published
which give a lovely story of the process of going to bed,
culminating in a final goodnight, encouraging the listener to see
the action of going to bed as part of their routine.
This book takes a different tack, using the excuses offered by the
child in a funny way to get him finally off to bed. The very tired
child asks Mum to take anyone but him. He offers his dog, Red, the
baby, Seb, the cat, Fred, his older brother, Jedd, his toy, Zed, even
Ned, the next door neighbour, until finally Mum uses the bear, Ted
as the reason for the child to go to bed.
This lovely rhyming story has the same line at the end of each
couplet, encouraging the child to join in and predict what the next
words will be. The simple rhyming of words with 'instead' gives
scope for predicting of people's names which rhyme, adding another
layer of interest for the reader. The funny illustrations of a
family at bedtime enhances the text and gives things for the child
to spot and laugh about. Mum's lovely slippers, the tired look on
many faces, and the final page with everyone in the bed, not quite
going to sleep.
All will intrigue and delight younger readers and the book adds to
those to read at bedtime to encourage that routine.
Fran Knight
Brave Bess and the ANZAC horses by Susan Brocker
HarperCollins, New Zealand, 2010. ISBN 9781869507916
(Age: 11+) Highly recommended. Subjects: New Zealand. Army -
History; Cavalry - History, World War; 1914-1918 - New Zealand. When
the call to arms came in 1914, young New Zealand lads bravely joined
up to support their King and Country. In the early stages of this
epic war, 3700 horses were also dispatched to support the troops in
the battlefields. Between 1914 to 1916, 10328 horses were sent on
treacherous sea voyages with the Mounted Rifle Brigade into the
Middle East. Only four horses returned to their home soil after the
war, one of these was Brave Bess. New Zealand author Susan Brocker's
historically accurate and insightful account is narrated from this
jet-black mare's point of view. Her style of writing with rhythmic
and alliterative descriptions, drives the fast-paced narrative,
empathetically dealing with the harsh realities of war both for the
soldiers and their horses. Told in chronological order, each chapter
begins with a brief account of the location, battle and engagement,
followed by Bess's story fighting against her natural instincts to
flee from the noisiest and most frightening of situations. The
lesser known battles in the Bible lands of Palestine, at Beersheeba,
Jaffa and Moab, fighting the Turkish Army, provide the reader with
further understandings of the spirit, courage and dogged
determination displayed by the ANZAC soldiers, their horses, camels
and their supporters.
Black and white photographs taken from trooper's albums, add further
insight into this story that celebrates the important role
undertaken by these warhorses. An excellent historical resource for
Upper Primary and Lower Secondary students.
Rhyllis Bignell
The beach they called Gallipoli by Jackie French and Bruce Whatley
HarperCollins, 2016. ISBN 9781460752265
(Age: 8+) Highly recommended. World War One, Gallipoli, War,
Environment. Kitted out with army uniform, great boots and a
bayoneted rifle, fifteen year old Alec Campbell stares out at the
reader from the front cover of Jackie French's latest picture book.
People who have read about this war will know that he was one of the
underage boys who enlisted, but unlike many others, he survived.
Reading this book the reader can only wonder how anyone survived
this particular battlefield. Each page has French's brief
words, encapsulating what happened at Gallipoli on the dates
highlighted. Pared down to sentences, phrases, and sometimes single
words, these give an account of the events that occurred on this
beach and in its hills. The background, first appearing on the
cover, of the low hills of Gallipoli beach, begins with the
villagers who fished there prior to the outbreak of war. Their use
of the sea and the beach is in stark contrast with what happened
only a few months later, when thousands of soldiers were landed with
orders to take the high ground where the Turkish Army waited. On
each page, Whatley has a drawing of the scene in the top left hand
corner, then drawings and photographs on what appears to be torn
paper, underlining the transient nature of the engagement. The mix
of different media, makes the reader search out each picture, taking
in the detail and the message underpinned by the image. Maps,
artifacts, images of dead soldiers, munition, trenches, headstones,
animals and barbed wire cover the pages, leaving readers in no doubt
about the changes made to this little beach. French takes us forward
to the beach today, a place of rest for the nearly nine thousand
Australians killed (and 80,000 Turks, 44,000 Allies, 2,700 New
Zealanders), a site of pilgrimage for many, a place where everyone
can reflect upon the utter futility of war.
This review is for the hardback edition published in 2014, and still
stands for the new paperback edition.
Fran Knight
Forward march by Christobel Mattingley
Ill. by David Kennett. Omnibus, 2016. ISBN 9781742990804
(Age: 7+) Highly recommended. War, Anzac Day, World War One and Two,
Vietnam. The panorama of Australia's involvement in war is shown in
its entirety in this handsomely produced, beautifully illustrated
homage to the marchers on Anzac Day. Mattingley's spare prose
introduces the marches, held each Anzac Day all over Australia, in
every town and city, remembering the people who gave their lives in
these wars: fathers and grandfathers, sons, mothers, grandmas and so
on. And all remembered by a diverse range of people as large numbers
march by.
Using a photographic style of illustration Kennett presents a sombre
vision of men waiting, ready for the slaughter ahead. And then on
the battlefields, using an increasingly sophisticated range of
weaponry and machines designed just for war.
At the start, Matttingley tells us of the marches around Australia,
marches where people remember those who served, her minimalist prose
listing the work men and women did at the various theatres of war.
From the predominance of horses and cavalry at the Boer War, to the
use of submarines and camels in the First World War, motorcycles and
airplanes in the Second World War, ships, tanks and helicopters in
the Vietnam War, we come around again, back to the marchers
remembering the dead. The picture book begins and ends with the
marches, recalling the lives lost at war, the marchers recalling
their lost comrades, friends, family. And the last double page zooms
in on the graves, the rows and rows of graves so evocative of the
sacrifice made by these people, now buried in foreign fields, marked
out for their contribution to our nation.
This is one of those books that will have readers thinking about the
act of remembrance at Anzac Day when Australians come together no
matter where they are to spare a thought for those who fought for
their country.
Fran Knight
The Obsession by Nora Roberts
Piatkus, 2016. ISBN 9780349407760
(Age: Adult) Recommended for fans of Nora Roberts and the romantic
suspense genre. Naomi Bowes was just a young girl when she followed
her father into the woods one night and discovered that he had a
young woman trapped in the cellar there. She waited until her father
left and then freed the woman and struggled with her to the police
station. She now lives under the name of Naomi Carson and is a
successful photographer, who has finally decided to settle in
Sunrise Cove where she meets Xander Keaton who disturbs her
solitude. Pursued by the notoriety of her infamous father, she is
afraid that her past has caught up with her when women begin to
disappear and bodies are found.
I am a big fan of Nora Roberts and The obsession is another
entertaining suspenseful romance. It starts out with a disturbing
and vivid description of the life that Naomi has led with a weak
mother who has been totally dominated by her husband, who turns out
to be a serial killer. Even at a young age, Naomi is a morally
strong child, who knows that her father's actions at the root cellar
are wrong and with great courage she manages to rescue the young
woman that he abducted and then tell the police about it. She also
looks after her younger brother. Roberts always find a new
occupation for her heroines, in this case Naomi is a photographer.
The information given about her work and the different ways that she
makes a living from it also make for interesting background to the
character.
As an adult, Naomi has not settled down either into a location or
into a relationship, but when she finds the house at Sunrise Cove,
she knows that this could be a home for her. The residents of the
small town are friendly and she finds that not only is she spending
lots of money on having her house renovated but has become the owner
of a dog and has the persistent attention of Xander. The gradual
easing of the emotional constraints that she has imposed on herself
contrast with the growing terror of the murders that start happening
very close to her.
Reading a Nora Robert's novel is always like returning to an old
friend. Often the plot feels familiar and certainly the romance path
is very recognisable, but the background to the serial killer and
the feelings and plight of the family left behind by a serial
killer, gives The obsession a fresh feel. Fans of both Nora
Roberts and romantic suspense will not be disappointed with this
novel.
Pat Pledger
