Bloomsbury, 2016. ISBN 9781408869956
(Age: Mature 14+) Just before Angela's scheduled release from juvie,
THINGS start happening. First, a 10-year-old girl (Jessica) is
brought in under high security. Then, a new program called Sci-Girls
is causing a major stir among the inmates. There's something about
Jessica, Sci-Girls, and the director of Sci-Girls (Dr. Gruen) that
freaks Angela out. Weird things begin happening, and soon it becomes
clear that there's evil in this prison that has nothing to do with
the girls who are serving sentences.
I enjoyed reading this book. I enjoyed the characters, the writing
style and the atmosphere. I couldn't put the book down. I was
enjoying getting to know the characters' back stories and how they
all interacted with each other. However, it then started along a
different path that was like reading an entirely different book.
Even though I persisted until the end it had just become so
far-fetched I literally thought I was in another story. The ending
finished rather abruptly and left many questions hanging in the air.
There is a companion book being written which will be released in
2017 which I think if the two books were read together, the story
line might come together nicely. Due to the couple of incidents of
murder and a sex scene I would recommend this book for a mature
14-year-old and above. Teacher's
notes are available.
Jody Holmes
The hounded by Simon Butters
Wakefield Press, 2016. ISBN 9781743053959
(Age: 16+) The black dog is a common metaphor for depression and in
the initial stages of this novel, the appearance of one to teenaged
Monty seems to indicate exactly that. Monty has an eating disorder,
is underweight and has an unnatural lack of appetite for food. His
personal hygiene has declined to the extent that he rarely washes,
smells and looks dirty as he dons the same filthy clothes day after
day.
Home life for this teenager is grim as his mother has a severe
psychiatric illness and endlessly chain smokes, confined to an
extremely dilapidated house which she believes is being entered by
persons unknown who steal its contents. Monty's father, obviously
trying to escape the pressure of the dysfunctional household seeks
refuge in his work and has little interaction with his son who is
clearly suffering from neglect in a home which fails his basic,
everyday needs and gives little structure to his life.
It is no surprise that visions of a black dog might be interpreted
as depression, however in this novel the creature develops to
represent something even more sinister and dangerous. Without giving
the plot away, there are many elements of teen trauma in this novel
(perhaps too many) and the reader is never quite sure if Monty's
conversations with the dog convey thoughts which he is working
through or whether he really is having delusional interactions with
a talking dog.
Where school should provide some refuge of normality and routine,
Monty is largely invisible except when being attacked by violent
thugs, cyber bullied or tormented by popular students who manipulate
and determine social acceptance versus pariah status. When Monty is
noticed by Eliza, the most beautiful and popular girl in school, he
is naturally overwhelmed by her attention and finds himself in
places and situations which are unfamiliar and challenging to him.
There are some really unappealing behaviours and traumatic
experiences on display in this novel. Luckily this is balanced to
some degree by kindness, decency and aspects of recovery.
The inclusion of so many traumas and miserable elements made this
story too 'busy' in my view, yet some might argue that it is a sad
but realistic portrayal of life for some teenagers. My stance may be
old fashioned and naive, however I have concerns that novels with
elements as bleak as this has can emphasise a sense of hopelessness
with young people, especially if they are in an emotionally
vulnerable state.
This is an edgy and different story in which the author has worked
hard and with success to describe scenes in which the reader can see
the dirt and share the pain. It will appeal to many adolescent
readers and I caution school staff to give thought regarding those
for whom it is appropriate to read for study or pleasure.
Rob Welsh
Game Theory by Barry Jonsberg
Allen and Unwin, 2016. ISBN 9781760290153
(Age: 14+) Highly recommended. Mystery. Thriller. Kidnapping. Jamie
loves numbers and one day gives his sister Summerlee a group of
numbers that wins her $7.5 million in the lottery. But things do not
go well in Jamie's family especially when his little sister Phoebe
is kidnapped and a ransom request for $2 million follows. Jamie is
convinced that he can save her using the principles of Game Theory,
but is he playing with her life?
The family dynamics are a feature of this book and provide a
stunning background to the events that take place. Jamie is very
good at maths and is obsessed with the Game Theory, so much so that
he is prepared to take risks on his beliefs about it. Readers will
enjoy finding out about it and will be rather horrified that he is
arrogant enough to believe that he can fool the kidnapper. Jamie's
relationship with his little sister Phoebe is touching, and
rebellious Summerlee also loves Phoebe and is prepared to do
whatever she can to get her back. Phoebe may not be as intelligent
as Jamie but she understands people really well and this leads to
surprising results as the novel comes to a climax.
Moments of humour lift the dark material of the book. The episode
when Jamie goes to buy a gun from a biker although very tense is
also very funny and would be hilarious if read out loud. The episode
when Summerlee is fired from her job is also hilarious and will be
enjoyed by the reader.
An exciting and tense thriller, Jonsberg keeps the suspense going
throughout the whole book. It is not easy to guess who the kidnapper
is and the conclusion is really unexpected and very nerve-wracking.
This is one for lovers of thrillers and could be used as a
literature circle book or class set for older teens. Teacher's
notes are available from the publisher's website.
Pat Pledger
Petunia Paris's parrot by Katie Haworth
Ill. by Jo Williamson. Five Mile Press, 2016. ISBN 9781760403690
(Age: 4+) Highly recommended. Birthdays, Macaws, Belonging. Opening
the initially very pink and powder blue pages I was quickly taken in
by the tale of Petunia Paris and her family. Each year they ask
Petunia what she wants for her birthday and each year she gets
exactly what she asks for. Problem is she has everything she could
want so this particular year she says the first thing that pops into
her head, a parrot.
And she receives it at her gigantic birthday party, when a pink
clown takes the pink wrapping off the cage to reveal a bright read
and blue macaw.
She is thrilled, and when everyone has left, settles down to hear it
talk. But no matter what she does all he does is squark. She asks
everyone, and reads all her books, but to no avail. He just squarks.
She becomes frustrated and yells at him while the butler suggests
that perhaps she asks him more kindly, which she does, and the macaw
opens his heart to her. He tells her that he does not want any of
the things she is offering, and all he wants is to go home. So her
next birthday when she is six, she does not have to think at all.
She knows exactly what she wants. She wants to go to Peru, and so
off they go, making her sixth birthday party very different indeed.
The simplest gift turns out to be the best of all gifts for both the
macaw and Petunia.
This delightful tale of belonging, of being in the right place will
amuse younger readers as they see the macaw is a 'fish out of water'
in his new environment and Petunia is to be heralded for finding out
where he lives and returning him to his home.
The lively illustrations are full of humour as we watch the family
about their breakfast, or at one of the huge birthday parties, or
trying to make the macaw feel at home. The pen and water colour
drawings are whimsical in their depiction of the fabulous Petunia
and her family.
Readers will love seeing where the macaw really lives and be tickled
by the last fold out page of the macaw at home. And perhaps grab
hold of the idea that not all presents have to be big and bold,
expensive or exclusive, a family being together is all that we
really need.
Fran Knight
The Shadow Hour by Melissa Grey
Atom, 2016. ISBN 9780349002156
(Age: Teens) A rich and indulgent fantasy, Grey presents a world
coloured by fear, despair, and highlighted by the ray of hope that
is the Firebird. While this is a great fantasy concept, it seems
oddly disjointed, tripping up the reader and making it more
difficult to read.
Echo is back in this sequel to The girl at midnight, this
time holed up in a warehouse with the former Dragon Prince, his
sworn sword, a duplicitous Avicen, and her best friend, Ivy. The
group have nowhere to go, all having thrown their support with Echo,
the murderous firebird who killed an Avicen warhawk in order to
protect a Drakharin - the ultimate betrayal to the tenuous trust
Altair, the Avicen general, holds for her.
The stakes grow when another mythical beast, the Kucedra, the
Firebird's enemy, appears, reaping havoc not just on Grand Central
Station, but on the otherwise impenetrable Avicen nest. The
unsuspecting Avicen were decimated, the few survivors evacuating to
an enchanted island prepared to safeguard them if ever the nest were
threatened. With despair reigning the Avicen are prepared to welcome
Echo back and embrace her as their saviour - but at what cost? Will
she remain herself or will she become a simple weapon?
Like the first, for me, this was a disappointment - made greater by
the introduction of a love triangle between Echo's Drakharin and
Avicen suitors. It seems that even despite all that is going on,
lust and love are the primary concern of the characters, rather than
the more pressing threat of a shadow monster. To her credit, in this
novel Echo is less concerned with boys and more with the monster -
however the issue of the love triangle appears to be presented as
the most pressing issue. Again, I would only, hesitantly, recommend
this to boy-crazy, fantasy-loving, teenage girls.
Kayla Gaskell, university student, aged 20
Figgy and the President by Tamsin Janu
Figgy series bk 2. Scholastic, 2016. ISBN 9781742991559
(Age: 8+) Highly recommended. Award winning author Tamsin Janu
continues the story of eleven-year-old Figgy who lives with her
Grandma Ama in a small village in Ghana. Orphan Nana who lives with
them is very concerned about his future career. As Figgy and Nana
sit in the rain catching raindrops in their mouths, Nana describes
his ambition to be President of Ghana. He would have unlimited food,
travel the world, give to the poor and meet important people.
Figgy's goals are similar, travel, food and a having an operation to
repair her damaged eye.
Village life is described in a matter-of-fact manner; hand washing
clothes, dirt floors inside the huts, school life and buying food
from the open-air market. The author realistically portrays the
economic, social and cultural backdrop told through the first person
account of her feisty protagonist.
Figgy is overwhelmed when her pregnant mother returns. At first she
refuses to see her, as she believed her mother was dead. During this
difficult time, Figgy auditions for a role in a movie about orphans
filmed by a group of Abrunis - white people. She wonders if her
career path is acting.
The most challenging events occur after Nana is taken away by his
abusive father and sold as a slave to work on a fishing boat.
Figgy's ingenuity comes to the fore, and with the aid of Jeffnick
their friend and Kwaku the village taxi driver, they set out to
rescue Nana. Figgy's life is a busy one; just before she leaves on
her rescue mother delivers a baby boy - a brother for Figgy.
Interwoven into the narrative are comments on ethical issues,
children forced into slavery, her mother's drug and alcohol abuse,
children's rights, orphanage life, parental rights, stealing to
survive and the differences between living in poverty and the lives
of the wealthy.
Another powerful and moving story from Tamsin Janu, this is a great
novel for middle primary students. It introduces the issues of
social justice and opens students' eyes to life of children in other
countries. Figgy and the President is an excellent resource
for Year 4 Geography as a literary focus on the importance of
different environments to both people and other living things and as
a study of one African country.
Rhyllis Bignell
Little wing by Katherine Battersby
UQP, 2016. ISBN 9780702254000
(Age: 4+) Recommended. Belonging. Books. Birds. Little Wing lived on
a small island. He was very smart and when a trunk filled with books
washed up on his island, he read them all. They taught him how to
read and write, how to calculate, all about science, and about
almost everything else in the world. But there was one problem. No
where in all of his books was there something like him.
He read them all twice. He wasn't a lizard, he wasn't a fish, and
neither could he fly. Each day he tried out to be something he had
seen in his books, until one day something flew past that looked
just like him. He used all of his new skills to learn to fly and
follow the bird. He joined the other bird on another island and he
knew where he belonged.
Accompanied by full colour illustrations, children will love looking
at Little Wing and working out where he belongs. They will enjoy
recognising the different iconic images shown in the book,
reflecting Little Bird's attempts to find out just who he is, and
rejoice at the emphasis placed upon books for fun and research.
I enjoyed the endpapers with their summation of being alone and then
being one amongst many, using the images of feathers to show how his
isolation has finished.
Many discussions could emanate from reading this story: of being
together, of being with people of like minds, of belonging and
finding a place where you belong. And of course of the importance of
books in our lives.
Fran Knight
Computer coding games for kids by Jon Woodcock
Dorling Kindersley, 2016, ISBN 9781740333405
Way back when, in the dawning of the age of home computers which
were huge and clumsy in comparison to today's mini-marvels; which
ran on cassette tapes; had green or amber font on a black screen and
had no facility to display graphics, if you wanted to play a game
you bought a book of instructions and carefully tapped the commands
in, one keystroke at a time. It was the realm of the real computer
nerd and if you were patient and precise, eventually you got to play
the most basic of games.
Fast forward 30+ years and now our kids have computers in their
pockets, on their wrists and even in their clothes. And with the
increased focus on science, technology, engineering and maths once
again the red-hot buzzword in schools is coding as students learn
not to program a clumsy turtle that only went backwards, forwards
and sideways, but to create and develop their own games to play,
some in the hope that theirs will be even bigger than Pokemon Go!
But no longer do they have to sit in solitary confinement
painstakingly tap, tap, tapping. These days, the most commonly used
development tool is Scratch,
a free program which helps young people learn to think creatively,
reason systematically, and work collaboratively, essential skills for
life in the 21st century, and Dorling Kindersley have produced what
might be the beginners' bible in learning how to create a computer
game. Not for them the single volume, monochrome pamphlet that
crossed your eyes just looking at it this is a beautifully
presented, full colour, step-by-step guide presented in the typical
DK layout that is so user-friendly. Beginning with an introduction
that describes what makes a good game, the types of games and how
coding works, it moves on to introducing Scratch, accessing it and
then straight into making a basic game, eventually moving on to more
and more complex tasks and challenges.
Fifteen years ago I went to computer classes and tried very hard to
make a cow jump over the moon using a program Macromedia Flash.
Night after night it absorbed me until I gave up in defeat and
despair, clearly I just didn't have the brain for it. So to test out
Computer coding games for kids I read through the
introductory chapters, accessed Scratch and had a go at the first
project Star Hunter, a fast-paced underwater treasure hunt. In
just seven quick steps I had a cat that followed my mouse all around
the screen and was ready to build the next part of the game. WINNER!
If I can do it, anyone can! So when the curriculum requires students
to have a basic knowledge of coding, this has to be the go-to book
for teachers and students. Even the most confirmed luddite will
succeed and the students will be having such fun as they read and
follow instructions and learn without realising it that coding
will become a key part of the school day!
In fact this book was going to be a donation to a school library I
know but I think I will keep it because I can see hours of fun ahead
for Miss 10 and Miss 5 and me on the wintery days yet to come for us
and even those when it's too hot to go outside. Who knows, we may be
the creators of the next Pokemon Go!
Barbara Braxton
Edge of extinction: It's them or us by Laura Martin
Edge of extinction series, bk. 1. Harper Collins, 2016. ISBN
9780008152895
(Age: Upper primary, Lower secondary) This absorbing story, set in a
future world, is the first in a series and it establishes a momentum
that is sure to carry readers along to the final book.
It is easy to empathise with the three main characters, living in a
world fraught with danger since scientists brought dinosaurs back
from extinction.
Sky Mundy is the first person narrator, explaining her motivation
for leaving the underground colony where she has lived since the
disappearance of her father, branded a traitor. Her best friend,
Shawn, follows her into exile and they take refuge with a young boy,
Todd, and his family and friends in a treetop sanctuary.
But Sky and her friend, Shawn, are followed by ruthless members of
the Underground Compound, and now with Todd accompanying them, they
must elude them as well as the ferocious dinosaurs. Fortunately, a
dinosaur hunter saves their lives and Sky discovers that he, Ivan,
is her grandparent. The three young people are relieved when he
agrees to join their search for Sky's father.
The next episode is coming soon. I'm sure young readers will look
forward to it.
Thelma Harvey
Grandpa's big adventure by Paul Newman
Ill. by Tom Jellett. Penguin, 2016. ISBN 9780670078172
(Age: 4+) Highly recommended. Grandpas, Swimming, Tall tales,
Adventure. The narrator of this delightful story is afraid of the
water and cannot swim. Grandpa tells him he must learn to swim if he
is have big adventures like his and so takes him to the pool to
learn. At the pool Grandpa recounts the tale of his big adventure,
where he swam around the world. He tells of how he covered himself
with grease, and packed his things in a plastic bag to keep them
dry, and took along sweets and tea to eat and drink along the way.
He swam all day long, making sure he turned onto his back to avoid
one sided sunburn, and slept at night. One day he bumped his head on
the equator, another time he had to deal with sharks, and one time
he had afternoon tea with the Prince of Whales, and while coming
into New York harbour, he was treated gloriously. Grandpa's big
adventure encourages the young boy to learn to swim, and Jellett's
illustrations show the lad becoming more at ease with the idea of
getting into the pool as the story progresses. At first his face
reflects his dislike of the water, and as the story is told, he
comes closer and closer to the water's edge, donning bathers,
goggles, having sun screen lotion applied, then sitting on the edge
of the pool before finally getting in. Grandpa's tall story has led
the boy to the water.
The story is a delight, dealing with overcoming a child's fear of
the water with small steps, Grandpa telling him a wonderful story
full of adventure and overcoming adversity.
The humour in both the text and illustrations will resonate with the
young readers, and they will have a great deal of fun looking at the
range of people at the pool, listening to the word play and mapping
Grandpa's swim around the world.
Jellett's illustrations are full of life and humour and I love his
depiction of Grandpa in his bathers with a wry look upon his face,
talking his grandson into attempting to swim. And I love the use of
the end papers to showcase images of Grandpa at various locations
around the world. This will have readers looking at a map of the
world to work out just where he went. Readers will love the ideas
presented in this book, recounting tall tales they have heard from
their families, talking about their attempts to learn to swim, and
what they do with their grandparents. Close to Father's Day this is
a lovely way of including Grandpas as well.
Fran Knight
Football High by Patrick Loughlin
Young Gun series bk 1. Random House, 2016. ISBN 9781925324501
(Age: 8-12) Recommended. Themes: Soccer, Teamwork, Friendship,
School Life. Sports fiction is an extremely popular genre, and
currently cricketers, footballers and soccer players are writing
novels for the fans filled to the brim with tactics, strategies, and
game moves.
Twelve-year old Nick Young is a passionate soccer player with big
goals; he wants to play for the A-League and the Socceroos. To set
the scene the junior novel quickly segues from applying for a
scholarship to the National School of Football to the first day of
campus life. Nick has a lot to live up to; his father Shane Young is
the current striker for Arsenal. Nick finds the comparison of his
abilities to his father difficult; he calls it My Life in the
Shadows.
His friends Bazzo, Lexi, Grace support him especially when his
fiercest rival Kane Kruger teases him. Nick's dad lives in England
with his new wife and baby son while Nick lives half a world away in
Australia with his mum. He has a hidden scrapbook with clippings of
his father's career; however, when the newspaper reports on Shane
Young and the birth of his first baby boy, Nick is very upset.
The play-by-play descriptions, match tactics and teamwork provide
plenty of football action for the fans and the characters'
experience real-life dilemmas, first crushes, bullying, difficulty
with school subjects and fun off the field.
Patrick Loughlin's Football High is another exciting sports
based series from the author of Billy Slater - Rugby league
and the Glenn Maxwell cricket series.
Rhyllis Bignell
Marly walks on the moon by Alice Pung
Our Australian Girl series. Penguin, 2016. ISBN 9780143308522
(Age: 10+) Recommended. Australian history, Multiculturalism. The
fourth in this Our Australian Girl series about Marly, the
daughter of a Vietnamese couple living in Melbourne is a delightful
mix of Vietnamese customs surviving in their new home and an overlay
of modern Australian culture seen through their young daughter. It
is 1983 and Marly is mad for Michael Jackson and wants to dance like
him, emulating his Moonwalk, while Mum with her second child is
confined to her home for a month after the birth just as women were
in Vietnam. Grandmother is scrupulous in trying to keep alive the
old customs and finds it difficult to accept Marly's differences.
She is not behaving like a subservient girl should, and Marly
bristles at the adoration given to the new baby because it is a boy.
Meanwhile school has its problems as well. The in crowd derides
Marly, but her best friend, Yousra encourages her to dance at the
end of year school concert. A party at Lauren's house shows her
another world, and the kindness of that family is in stark contrast
with the casual racism of some of the other children at school.
The dance and the support of her family, friends and teacher bring
all the threads together, with Grandma making her Michael Jackson
costume and Mum allowed out for the first time since the birth of
her son. A lovely, gentle story which will encourage readers to
think about the customs brought here by the multitude of different
cultures that make up today's Australia.
Fran Knight
Rory the dinosaur wants a pet by Liz Climo
Hachette, 2016. ISBN 9780316277297
(Age: 3+) Recommended. Friendship, Companionship. When Rory visits
his friends Hank and Vera they have a surprise for him. Hank has a
pet and they do lots of things together. Hank shows off his pet,
Sheldon, as they play fetch and hide and seek. Sheldon is so much
fun and when Rory walks off back home he wants a pet as well.
Rory searches high and low, asking some creatures whether they will
be his pet, but they say no. He looks up in the trees, in the
jungle, on the beach, all to no avail. When Rory turns to go back
home the unexpected happens. A coconut falls from the tree and lands
nearby. He takes him back to the tree house and asks his father
whether he can keep him. The age old excuse of 'he followed me home'
is used with much recognition and humour. Rory names his new pet,
George and makes a space for him to sleep. They do lots of things
together: playing games, dressing up, fetch and hide and seek.
After searching for a friend, Rory has one that found him.
This seemingly simple tale of companionship will appeal to younger
readers as they recognise the urge to have friends, and see that in
wanting and seeking them out, they may miss the obvious right under
their nose. A charming story of friendship and all that means for
younger readers, this book has bright colourful illustrations with
lots of little things to watch for, talk about and recognise.
Fran Knight
Hijabi girl by Hazel Edwards and Ozge Alkan
Ill. by Serena Geddes. Bookpod, 2016. ISBN 9780994358356
(Age: 7-9) Recommended. Children's librarian Ozge Alkan collaborated
with Hazel Edwards to write a junior novel with the main character,
a spirited eight-year-old Muslim girl. Melek's dream is to have her
own Aussie Rules football team and of course to be the best player
in the world. When she helps new student Tien on her first day of
school, Melek remembers how difficult it was for her, especially all
the jokes about her hijab. Was it a towel, did she have cancer or
was she bald under the scarf?
Their classroom is a wonderful learning environment 'a doing kind of
place', with science project models, a Rainbow Reading Chair and
colourful encouraging posters. Of course, there is one student at
Melek and her friend Lily's table who loves to cause problems. While
Miss is writing an A-Z of positive characteristics on the board,
Zac's pet rat escapes from his bag, but Rattus Rattus is soon
captured and returned to his bag. After Tien's introduction to her
new class, she is seated at the blue table with Melek, Lily and Zac.
Her special skill is drawing, sketching and blending colours from
her large collection of coloured pencils.
At the end of the day, their teacher announces the Book Parade
scheduled for Friday and all her students are to dress up; they may
even win the Best Dressed Class Award. Together Melek and Tien plan
to write and illustrate a new book - 'Super hijabi girl plays Aussie
Rules Football'. Melek's mother is a tailor who makes super hijabi
scarves, which have many uses as butterfly wings, flags or capes.
The authors have written an easy to read junior novel that explores
friendships, the respect of cultural differences and religions,
creative problem solving and the importance of having goals in life.
Discussion
notes and activities are available. Hijabi girl is a
fabulous resource for classes to learn about social inclusion,
celebrate diversity and to explore our multicultural society.
Rhyllis Bignell
The puberty book by Wendy Darvill and Kelsey Powell
6th edition. Hachette Australia, 2016. ISBN 9780733635496
(Age: 9-14) Highly recommended. Puberty. Growth and
development. Sex and sexuality. Health. Authors Wendy Darvill and
Kelsey Powell have utilised their extensive working knowledge of
family planning and the sex education of both primary and secondary
students to update the sixth edition of The puberty book.
The popular book for both males and females supported by informative
diagrams and amusing cartoons, covers the changes that happen at
puberty, sex and sexuality, physical and mental health, teenage
relationships, pregnancy and birth. Worries and concerns about these
issues are dealt with in an honest and open manner. Preteens and
teenagers from 9-14 ask questions across a broad range of issues -
HIV to pregnancy and the easy to understand answers given are
insightful.
Peer pressure, the power of social media, friendships, teasing and
bullying and parental concerns raise a minefield of concerns for
teenagers growing up in today's society. Embracing a healthy
lifestyle, a balanced diet, sleeping, hygiene and looking after your
mental health are discussed, acknowledged as legitimate concerns
with the answers sensitively written in terms the target audience
can understand. Each chapter focuses on one topic - in 'Learning
about sex', Wendy and Kelsey explore sex and sexuality, sexting, same
sex relationships and when sex is not ok.
The authors promote effective sexual education for children
approaching puberty, keeping an honest and open dialogue between
them and their parents. The aim of this book is to communicate the
content in a healthy and constructive way. With each new edition,
current information is added on contraception, medication and the
influence and pressure of social media. The puberty book 6th edition is an excellent resource for
families, educators, health professionals, counsellors and those who
work with preteens and teens.
Rhyllis Bignell
