University of Queensland Press, 2015. ISBN 9780702253737
(Age: 9-12) Highly recommended. Family Life. Brothers. Sports.
Disability. Achievement. Resilience. Another exciting verse novel
from Kathryn Apel, this time she focuses on sibling rivalry, sports
and overcoming a physical condition with determination and
discipline.
Toby has a body that stumbles, he's uncoordinated and finds sports
challenging. His older brother Shaun is better at everything, sports
and his school work. Mum's decision to seek a diagnosis for Toby's
condition makes a huge difference. With Lisa the occupational
therapist's guidance, he begins a new way of coping with school and
home life. Coach Lawrie, Shaun's athletics trainer teaches him
techniques to fire up his sensory system and program his muscle
memory. Mum, Dad and Toby keep Shaun out of the loop and he is left
feeling jealous of Toby's new laptop - a tool for school not a toy
and the time Coach Lawrie takes to train his brother. When Toby is
chosen to attend Athletics Camp as well as Shaun, tensions rise,
each brother has a different journey. The School Sports Day events
test both brothers and is an exciting and insightful time in their
family's life.
The author's use of alliteration, line placement, metaphors,
figurative language and imagery, and the alternate voices, are
powerful tools that add insight into the dynamics of family life,
sibling rivalry, determination and empowerment. This is an
emotionally powerful narrative, great for a class novel.
Dad often says I'm a stone bull in a glass shop, but Mum tells him
I'm a gazelle on track now.
Kathryn Apel's blog
and the UQP website provide additional information and teachers'
notes.
Highly recommended for 9-12 year olds.
Rhyllis Bignell
Magic flutes by Eva Ibbotson
Pan Macmillan, 2015. ISBN 9781447280095
(Age: 12-15) Highly recommended. Music. Opera. Art. Romance. Vienna.
In post-World War 1 Vienna, Tessa takes on a new identity as the
girl who does everything behind the stage in the theatre. Meanwhile
a handsome millionaire, Guy, buys a fairytale castle and discovers
that its heiress is missing. Both lives collide and Tessa's secret
is in jeopardy.
First published in the 1980's a new edition of this classic story
comes with a stylish cover that will attract readers today. What
could be the usual take on a girl meets millionaire, both overcoming
adversity to find true love is taken much further by the beautiful
writing of Eva Ibbotson, who brings alive the period in the 1920's
in Austria where the aristocracy were struggling to survive and
where opera is so important in the wonderful city of Vienna. Readers
will be introduced to fabulous pieces of information about music and
its composers like Beethoven and Mozart, while learning about the
trials and hard work that go into putting on an opera production.
Guy and Tessa are brought together by their love of music and indeed
the romance is often secondary to the passion that each feels about
art.
Vienna itself comes alive with Ibbotson's description of the city,
its food and parks and historical monuments, which are often
humorous and always enlightening. At the same time there is a subtle
undertone about the hardship that many people are going through as a
result of the war.
There is nothing mundane about the characters in Magic flutes
(renamed The reluctant heiress in a 2010 US publication).
The millionaire Guy is fleshed out: abandoned as a baby, he was
taken in by a loving woman, and turns down a knighthood from the
British Government, refusing to forget his humble origins even when
his fiancee wants to be part of the aristocracy. Tessa is
hardworking and totally dedicated to music and art, and the minor
characters all form a detailed background to life on backstage of
the theatre or in the impoverished castles of the aristocracy.
This is an intelligent and heart-warming book that fans like me will
return to when needing a reminder of how well a romance can be
written.
Pat Pledger
Milo's dog says moo! by Catalina Echeverri
Bloomsbury, 2015. ISBN 9781408838808
(Age: Junior primary) Recommended. Animals. Friendship. Milo has
wanted a dog for so long that when his birthday comes around he is
allowed to choose one for himself. His parents are unsure of his
selection, but Milo is deliriously happy and calls his dog, Beans.
But Beans is unlike other dogs. He prefers Mum's indoor plants to
the bowl of dog food, he enjoys eating the garden plants, and when
Milo comes to train him, he does not seem in the least trainable. He
doesn't chew on bones, or chase a ball, and is definitely not
feeling very doggy about cats. All the while the wonderful
illustrations will have the readers laughing out loud at the antics
that Beans gets up to. Dogs behaving like dogs are the perfect foil
to Beans' behaviour and the illustrations will encourage children to
spot the differences between Beans and the other dogs.
One day the sound that comes out of Beans is very undoglike, and the
idea of Beans being a dog begins to unravel. He has grown so big
that he no longer fits into the house and so Dad builds a new dog
house for him outside. He has eaten all of Mum's garden and has now
started on the neighbours' gardens. But worst of all one day he has
escaped to a nearby field, and when the family goes to look for him,
find a field of similar looking animals. Readers will know what they
are but Milo is able to find his Beans amongst the other cows, and
together they are still friends.
This is a charming story of a boy and his pet, but also a tale of
accepting difference. Readers will love the illustrations of the
different dogs throughout the book, contrasting with Beans the ever
growing cow, and laugh at the images of Milo and his attempts to
make Beans into a dog. The last image of Milo lying on top of Beans
is a wonderful illustration of accepting difference.
This is a charming tale of a boy and his animal and will be lovely
to read out loud, as well as introduce discussion about pets,
different animals and their behaviours as well as difference and
accepting difference.
Fran Knight
That's what wings are for by Patrick Guest and Daniella Germain
Little Hare, 2015. ISBN 9781742978291
(Age: Preschool - Yr 2) 'There are three things that a respectable
dragon needs: strong wings for flying, strong lungs for breathing
fire and strong shiny scales.' So what happens if you are a dragon
with none of those things? Instead you have wings that are weak and
floppy, breath that is faint and wheezy and your skin is soft and
furry and blue. And you are the only one of you in your school,
laughed at and left alone? For that was Bluey's story. He would
climb trees and dream of flying even though he could only use his
wings to hug. He was laughed at, scorned and shunned, and when he
made the dreadful error of hugging another dragon, his wings were
tied up until he could 'behave like a proper dragon.'
However no matter what he did, Bluey couldn't be a 'proper dragon'.
But one day his teacher gives him hope. She tells the class about a
dragon who lived beyond the sea, who couldn't fly and who couldn't
breathe fire but was so wise that others dragons flew to hear his
wisdom. And so Bluey begins a journey that gives him hope and helps
him find his place in the world and what his wings are really for.
While this is a charming story in itself illustrated with beautiful
pictures in a soft palette that emphasise the gentle nature of
Bluey, it is the back story that gives it its punch. Bluey started
life as a soft toy given to the author's son Noah who had just been
diagnosed with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, a genetic disorder which
affects boys and results in their muscles collapsing with most dying
before they are 25. When he was approached by the Duchenne
Foundation to write a story about Bluey, Patrick Guest says the
words just came to him. The book is dedicated to all with DMD and
part of the proceeds will go to the foundation. There's a YouTube interview
with the author. But this is a story about more than just DMD - it's
a story about any child who is different and struggles with that
difference within the school setting. While it is hoped that our
students would not be as cruel as Bluey's dragon friends and
teachers much more compassionate than Mr Snakeskin, the truth is
that a life of being different, especially physically different
where the difference is constantly on show, is a tough one. Even
though there was a huge impetus in the provisions for those with a
physical disability in 1981 with the International Year of Disabled
Persons, discrimination still exists so much so that in 2005 the
federal government introduced the Disabled
Standards for Education. Currently under review, it is
surprising how many in schools are unaware of their obligations
under this Act and so stories like Bluey's not only continue but are
needed to give us the heads-up. It is so much more than providing
ramps, wide aisles and doorways.
This is not just a book for schools where there are children on
crutches and in wheelchairs - it's a book for all school libraries
so our children learn one of the most valuable lessons of life, that
of everyone wanting to be accepted for who they are not what they
can (or can't) do. It's a book to inspire children that there is
hope and they will find their place in the world and make a
difference.
Barbara Braxton
Soon by Morris Gletizman
Viking, 2015. ISBN 9780670078875
(Age: 14+) Part of the sequence which began with Once, in
this story our familiar young Jewish boy Felix is still trying to
survive in Poland at the end of the Second World War after the
Soviets have driven out the German army. Having avoided death at the
hands of Nazis on numerous occasions and somehow managing to
continue to keep starvation at bay, he and his older friend Gabriek
are now threatened by roaming gangs of Nationalist thugs.
Sadly familiar with atrocities, violence and cruelty perpetrated by
German invaders, Felix is still naively hopeful and continues to be
shocked and distressed by inhumanity. He is dismayed by the attitude
of Poles who, having endured everything that has gone before, now
harbour hatred for Jews and Slavic people, hunting them mercilessly
through ruined cities and murdering without thought. As he does in
the other novels, Gleitzman constantly emphasises that amongst the
brutality and barbarity, individuals showed compassion, sometimes
exposing themselves to great risk to assist others. Felix has a
strong moral compass and his constant desire to do what is right,
being honest and loyal, causes him emotional turmoil which places
him in grave danger when he could otherwise turn his head and walk
away.
Readers of the earlier novels will recall how a gentle humour
persists in a narrative which is still completely respectful in
dealing with the unspeakable events of the Holocaust. In this novel,
Felix's continuing desire to practice medicine lands him in a range
of situations which snowball disastrously to place him, Gabriek, a
baby and a new friend in grave danger. Felix's unyielding desire to
do what is morally correct makes resolving the conundrum incredibly
complicated and the brave little hero who is incapable of harming
others shows great courage in overcoming his own terrors to try to
protect the vulnerable.
Without spoiling the story it is necessary to state that whilst hope
and human kindness are powerful themes in this tale, death,
violence, suffering and racial hatred are present. These elements,
together with reference to abhorrent medical experimentation on
captives by Nazi doctors makes this novel unsuitable for readers
under 14 in my opinion. This moving tale is the product of detailed
research and will serve to educate about the horrors of war and the
excesses of maniacal regimes.
The author emphasises that it is not necessary to read the preceding
works as a series as they effectively stand alone.
Rob Welsh
New Boy by Nick Earls
Penguin Australia, 2015. ISBN 9780143308393
Yes, it's true, Nick Earls is one of my very most favourite authors
J no matter if it's kid lit or adult fiction. Aside from that, he is
such a lovely human and very funny. When he graciously did a Q&A
for my blog last year, one of the things we discussed was his
arrival in Australia from Ireland as a child. Nick talked about the
aspects that he found a little strange coming to a new country.
He has taken that personal experience and projected it into terms
that children today can easily embrace through the story of one
boy's experiences as a newly arrived immigrant from South Africa.
Herschelle is a pretty typical boy who has left mates, sport, school
and a fairly frightening environment behind when his family move to
Brisbane. He soon realises despite his research of Australian slang
and customs, in order to fit in, that he doesn't - at all.
With his ever present humour, Nick takes the reader on Herschelle's
journey into acceptance via his struggle with bullying and racism.
It is this humour that takes the edge of some pretty intense
concepts and puts this in terms with which younger readers can
readily identify from their own playground observations.
Along with his designated buddy Max (of whom Herschelle initially
suspects total nerdism), Herschelle takes on the challenge of
assimilating into his new surrounds and most notably his new school,
One Mile State School. When the burgeoning friendship is jeopardised
by Max' apparent collusion with the school bully, Lachlan,
Herschelle is all the more convinced he will never become part of
the Australian fabric. After the ongoing persecution from Lachlan
comes to a head and the principal steps in, Herschelle realises both
that racism is not manifested in just one way and that bullying can
be invisible to others, as he finds out that Max has also suffered
at Lachlan's intimidatory behaviour. The two boys are back on track
and find themselves well placed to 'buddy' another 'new boy' when
Roy arrives at the school. A refugee from South Sudan, Roy's
experiences provide even more enlightening revelation to the two
friends.
This is an important book to promote to your readers and it would be
a perfect vehicle to convey the important messages of acceptance and
unity in Refugee Week.
'With courage let us all combine.'
Sue Warren
My name is Lizzie Flynn: A story of The Rajah quilt by Claire Saxby
Ill. by Lizzy Newcomb. Black Dog, 2015. ISBN 9781922179913
(Age: Primary and Secondary) Highly recommended. Picture book.
Historical. Convicts. Resilience. Quilts. Based on the true story of
a quilt made by convict women on board The Rajah, bound for
Australia. Young Lizzie Flynn, sentenced for seven years
transportation to Van Diemen's Land for stealing a shawl, arrives on
the ship, The Rajah with nothing and knows that she will never
return to England. She meets Molly another young convict who takes
her under her wing. On board The Rajah, the female convicts
are each given a bag, containing a bible, fabric and needle and
thread. This has been supplied by the Ladies of the Convict Ship
Committee, who when discovering that the convict women and girls had
nothing to occupy themselves with on the long sea voyage thought
that it would be helpful for them to have something useful to do.
Lizzie has a good eye for colour but doesn't know how to sew and
Molly teaches her.
This book is a fascinating look at transportation and convict life
aboard a ship. The story is told in Lizzie's words and the horror of
the trip comes to life as the reader follows the dangerous voyage.
With Saxby's descriptive and emotional prose and Lizzy Newcomb's
illustrations, it is easy to see the convict women and girls' lives
in the hold, how vulnerable girls have to endure bullying, all the
while facing storms and the deadly threat of disease. Lizzie says 'I
do not want to pass from this world as if I had never been here',
and continues to stitch the quilt for Molly as well as herself.
There is a gorgeous photo of the quilt, now housed in the National
Gallery of Australia in Canberra, at the back as well as the
inscription on it and information about what happened to it.
According to an article
found on Trove the quilts that the convict women made would have a
ready sale and would help to provide them with much needed funds
when they arrived in Australia.
I have returned to this picture book a number of times. It is a
fascinating story in itself, and the scope for learning about
convict life, the dangerous voyage to Australia and the work of
Elizabeth Fry and other women make it ideal for using in Australian
history lessons.
Pat Pledger
Life or death by Michael Robotham
Sphere, 2015. ISBN 9780751552898
(Age: Upper secondary to adult) Highly recommended. Crime fiction.
USA. Capital punishment. Corruption. Robotham will please his wide
audience yet again with this tightly plotted, explosively written
novel as Audie Palmer, a ten year prisoner in a hell hole in Texas
decides to escape the day before his release. His journey drags us
through the events of his life bringing us up to the day he escapes
and the reasons behind it. Along the way, another prisoner, a lifer
who befriended Palmer in jail, is released by a powerful group of
men to find Palmer and hand him over. The corruption is palpable,
Moss must not only watch his own back and find Palmer, but also work
out why Palmer is so necessary to these people's plans and how he
can keep them both alive. The botched theft of seven million
dollars, eleven years before, left Palmer in a life and death coma,
but pulling through he admitted the crime and was sent to jail. But
this money was never recovered, so many people are after it. And of
course, as with all good crime stories, the hero is a hero, not the
villain he is portrayed and we know that he is not what he appears.
All is tied up with his family and a stepson he vowed to care for,
now adopted by the very sheriff who arrested Palmer in the first
place. Layers of coincidence pile on each other as links between
powerful law officers and state politicians crowd into the story,
making the reader assess, try out then throw aside theory after
theory about what is actually happening. It is a rivetting read, one
that carried me along its whole length to the nail biting
conclusion.
The setting is part of the story with small isolated pockets of
civilisation and the sad people he met a necessary part of Palmer's
life on the run, while the corruption within the police force and
their methods of law enforcement made me shudder. I was involved
from page one.
Fran Knight
The Evertree by Marie Lu
Spirit animals bk 7. Scholastic Australia, 2015. ISBN
9781743620045
Finally, the last in the Spirit animals series where the fate of
Erdas will be revealed, not to mention that of the amazing four
young protagonists who have endured so much since they discovered
their spirit animals were the famous Fallen Ones. As the series ends
there is an even stronger message that the survival of our world
depends on a balance between man, the animals and the environment.
The Greencloaks have gathered their allies for a final battle as
Conor is beset by visions of a final confrontation with Kovo and the
Conquerors. The outcome is uncertain and there is fear that their
spirit animals may not survive this battle. Melin is still
imprisoned by the power of Gerathon whilst still hoping that her
friends will succeed in their quest.
On their way to stop Shane setting Kovo free, they travel through
the dry devastated and desolate lands of Stetriol, all the time
battling the strange weather and armies of Conquerors. They are also
hoping also to find Tellun the Elk, last of the Great Beasts who has
yet to surrender his talisman, and enlist his help.
Too late to stop Kovo escaping, they head to The Evertree, the
legendary place where all life began, for a last stand against the
power hungry Kovo and his allies Gerathon and Halawir. With all the
great beasts present and willing to save Erdas at all costs it is up
to Tellun and the children to succeed in their final battle.
As with the other books in the series there is hardship, bloody
battles, death and destruction interspersed with moments of
tenderness and beauty as the power of friendship helps overcome even
the darkness of the Bile. The final act of forgiveness in letting
Shane escape is not without its reward with a spinoff three part
novella series by Nick Eliopulos in e-book form available, telling
his side of the story.
Sue Keane
You choose (series) by George Ivanoff
Random House Australia Children's, 2015. Night of the creepy carnival. Bk 5. ISBN 9780857986696 Alien invaders from beyond the stars. Bk 6. ISBN
9780857986719
(Age: 9+) Highly recommended. When I received my first copies of
books from this series I road tested them on my grandson who is
somewhat of a reluctant reader. In fact, he was staying at my place,
picked them up and didn't put them down until he'd finished each. To
me that's a pretty fair indication of how they will be received in
your library. These latest two have gone to another young man who
might enjoy them and I await his response eagerly. I know I'm pretty
hopeless - I couldn't get past 3 choices until I was exterminated so
I hope he does better!
George has cleverly taken all the great aspects of gaming and
transformed them into book form where readers can challenge
themselves to achieve the end goal. While primarily aimed at Middle
Primary to Upper Primary these can be enjoyed by readers of all ages
and certainly, if you have readers who struggle these would be a
superb choice as the level of engagement and the appeal of the
subject matter are perfect. Readers will persist with their reading
quite naturally as they attempt to navigate their way through all
the pitfalls of each story.
Clowns are considered very sinister in our family so the Night
of the creepy carnival is well named and I didn't like being
caught out by them at all! Aliens are marginally less scary but
still enough to appeal to those readers who like a good safe fright.
I remember so well how my own girls used to love the 'choose your
own adventure' format (especially The famous five series!) and
think the timing of bringing this style of fast paced interactive
reading back to the attention of a new readership is perfect.
Highly recommended for readers aged around 9 and up. Do you have
what it takes?
Sue Warren
The toy fairy by Stephanie Thatcher
Starfish Bay Publishing, 2015. ISBN 9780994100733
(Age: Preschool-6) Recommended. Compassion. Selfishness. A
young boy who does not tidy his room before he goes to bed is warned
that the toy fairy will take them away. The worldly-wise young man
is sceptical about this explanation, believing his father to be
complicit in the disappearance. Eventually (after toys do indeed
disappear), the young lad sees the toy fairy in person and is
himself 'stolen' by the toy fairy. After rediscovering his missing
toys, he is then relocated with his missing pirate ship to a home of
a classmate who is living with no toys. The experience awakens
compassion in the boy.
This book is beautifully illustrated and the discussion
possibilities of addressing selfishness and caring for others could
make this a good book to include in Values Education. It is suited
to Preschool or Junior Primary children.
Carolyn Hull
Teacup by Rebecca Young
Ill. by Matt Ottley. Scholastic, 2015. ISBN 9781743623848
(Age: 4+) Recommended. Journeys, Friendship, Sea, Refugees. One day
the boy sets out in his boat. He must leave and takes a teacup of
soil with him to remind him of home. He sails across the ocean,
through storms and calm seas, times when it is blackly dark, or when
the sky is full of cloud. He sees animals in the water below him.
The albatross reminds him of flying a kite, the whales' songs remind
him of his mother calling him for tea. He is searching for land.
During his voyage his teacup of soil sprouts an apple tree which
gives him food, shade, rest and a vantage point. Finally he finds
land and is able to plant his tree, and wait for the girl to arrive
with her eggcup and pear tree.
The illustrations for this story are superb, Ottley's depiction of
the sea in all of its moods, scary and charming at the same time.
The stormy days feel cold and threatening, the calmer days give
solace and comfort. Most of the time the child in the boat feels
safe as will the readers of this story, wanting to know why he is
there and where he is going. All sorts of ideas will spring to mind,
especially with Ottley's addition of things in the background of the
pages: a range of animals and toys, both fanciful and real, the huge
tree with a boat stuck in its branches, the girl finding her way to
the island as well. Each image suggests answers to the puzzling
story and readers will love to muse on what is happening.
A story of new beginnings, of hope for the future, of friendship, of
adversity will appeal to those adventurous children ready to broaden
their imaginations and think about ideas.
Fran Knight
Because you'll never meet me by Leah Thomas
Bloomsbury, 2015. ISBN: 9781408862629
(Age: 11+) Recommended for able readers. Themes: Disabilities;
Coming of age; Genetic experimentation; Science fiction; Friendship;
Bullying; Loneliness. In this well-written debut novel by Leah
Thomas, the two central characters write to one another to overcome
the isolation of their lives that are debilitated by unusual
physical conditions. Ollie lives a virtual electricity-free
existence with his mother, isolated from the community around him
because of his 'allergy' to all things electrical (we discover
later, that his condition influences him negatively, but that he
impacts electrical devices too). He is quirky and honest, and makes
an effort to be positive in all things; his life has always been in
this non-electric bubble - no phones, television, internet, so
effectively he is living a virtual-Amish lifestyle. Initially there
is only one visitor - a medico-scientist who links him to another
teen living in Germany, to whom he connects honestly via letters.
The German teen, Moritz, was born with no eyes and yet is able to
'see' using echo-location, he also has a Pacemaker to overcome his
cardio-myopathy. His angst and distress with his life is expressed
honestly and with some pathos as he deals with a school bully and
his social isolation. Ollie and Moritz will never meet . . . the
electricity from the pace-maker would be mutually destructive and
their differing perspectives of life are impacted by their culture
and experience, so initially the 'friendship' appears to be
completely one-sided.
When Ollie is visited by a local girl, Liz, whose friendship changes
him, he shares the impact of her life and 'spark' into his life with
Moritz. Tragedies happen for both boys, but eventually the history
of some 'experimentation' that has created their unusual physical
expressions becomes the focus of the book as Moritz reveals the
drama of their shared history.
The circumstances of this book are not realistic, but the characters
express real emotional responses to difficult circumstances, and
their normal teenage concerns will connect with a young adult
readership. Readers who enjoy John Green fiction will enjoy this
book. It has light-hearted moments, and pathos, and although the
circumstances are not real, it is easy to identify with the two
lonely and isolated teens and empathise with their pain, but also to
see that there is some hope for their future.
Carolyn Hull
The cloudspotter by Tom McLaughlin
Bloomsbury, 2015. ISBN 9781408854969
(Age: 4+) Recommended. Clouds, Imagination, Daydreams, Friendship.
Franklin is a cloudspotter. He spends the day with his binoculars
and backpack spotting all the clouds in the sky. He imagines them to
be all sorts of things and then imagines himself to be part of them,
in them, on them or driving them. One day a scruffy dog begins to
hang around Franklin. Franklin has no friends and decides that he
does not need any so when the dog stays around more often, becoming
part of his daydreams, he does something about it. He makes a hot
air balloon and puts the dog into the basket and sees him off.
But he soon realises that he misses the dog, the dog had become his
friend. Fortunately the air balloon snags on a tree and the two are
reunited. They can now watch the clouds together and have adventures
together.
This is a lovely story of friendship, of not seeing a friend nearby
until it is almost too late, of doing things together.
I loved the soft illustrations, conjuring up the feel and look of
various clouds in the sky, drawing them to suggest the images the
child sees in them.
As a lovely tale of friendship or as an introduction to a group of
lessons about clouds and their formation, or lessons outside looking
at clouds this book will prove to be most helpful.
Fran Knight
Dragonfall Mountain by Paul Collins and Sean McMullen
The Warlock's Child bk 2. Ford Street, 2015. ISBN
9781925000931
(Ages: 10+) Fantasy. Following on immediately from the first in the
series and beginning in the middle of a battle, it is wise to have
read the first book which introduced the main characters, including
the dragon, with suggestions of unknown forces at play, magic and
traitors yet to be discovered.
Dantar, the son of Dravinian Battle Warlock Calbaras is heading to
shore having been flung from his sinking ship. He is captured by the
Savarian sailors and set to work cleaning the prison castle
believing his status as an officer will keep him safe.
Dantar's sister Velza, having also escaped as the Dravinian fleet is
destroyed by the Savarians with a little help from the marauding
dragon, is determined to rally the survivors and continue their
mission to destroy the port.
The death of the dragon Dravaud, Calabaras alive and well and
seemingly welcome in the Savarian castle, and the reappearance of
Marko who assists Dantar to escape via the sewers, add to the action
and intrigue. The confrontation between more dragons and the King
leaves the reader anxious for the next instalment to find out who
'the creatures of forbidden magic' are dangling from the dragon's
claws, and what is really going on in this word of power, treachery
and magic.
Once again there are more questions than answers but the easy to
read, fast paced text keeps the reader interested as alternate
chapters follow the fortunes of Dantar and Velza telling the story
from their different situations and viewpoints.
Sue Keane
