Reviews

Itsy bitsy teenie weenie yellow polka-dot bikini by Paul Vance and Lee Pockriss

Sung by Deborah Mailman. Ill. by Kerry Argent. Scholastic, 2015. ISBN 9781742839776
(Age: 4+) Highly recommended. Humour, Beach, Bikini, Australian animals, Body image. What a wonderful song to listen to and sing along within a class, a wonderful song to learn and reprise in the classroom or for other classes, a wonderful song to discuss and perform. This song first sung in 1960, (people of my vintage will recognise it readily, singing along with the CD) is given a new brightness by Deborah Mailman's wonderful voice, and illustrated with verve and vibrancy by the award winning illustrator Kerry Argent, making it a must for the new year with smaller children. All the fun of someone a little embarrassed at wearing her new bathers for the first time is given full reign in the illustrations, making the story immediately recognisable for the listeners. A wonderful discussion starter about body image.
The expressions on the faces of all the animals is sublime, adding another level of empathy, while the playfulness of all the animals is infectious. The many animals will be a boon for some classes studying Australian animals and for even younger people, a learning tool about our fauna.
This hard cover book with the CD inside the front cover will be well used in schools, using both the song and the illustrations as discussion starters and enabling kids to sing along with gusto.
The shy hippo is the perfect model for the bikini, and the last picture in the book had me laughing out loud.
Fran Knight

No True Echo by Gareth Jones

Hot Key Books, 2015. ISBN 9781471404160
Recommended for readers from 13-15. This unusually crafted time slip story travels from the present to the future, as it explores the consequences of decisions made in alternate past realities.
Eddie lives with his grandma in a small boring town in Wellmore Valley. He supports Ruby through her upbeat, normal and down days, he shops, cooks and helps around the house. He catches the school bus and hangs out with his best friend Angus. The catalyst for change occurs when a new student takes the bus, Scarlett White is cool, confident and mysterious. Eddie tries without success to find out about her family and where she's from, Scarlett, however is extremely interested in the circumstances surrounding the death of Eddie's mother and the strange, reclusive scientist who lives in the woods. Eddie is drawn into Scarlett's schemes as she challenges his ordinary life and pushes boundaries. There is a sense of the movie Groundhog Day as the school assembly happens over and over again, as does lunchtime conversations and English class. Eddie's English teacher, Mr Cornish acts more and more out of character each time.
Gareth Jones' novel starts slowly and the reader needs to be aware of each character's journey. Eddie's character is multi-layered, he is a good friend, supports his grandma and deals with the twisted reality of his birth and family life.
Rhyllis Bignell

Hero by Alethea Kontis

Woodcutter Sisters, bk 2. Harcourt Books, 2013. ISBN 9780544056770
(Age: 13+) Recommended. Fantasy. Fairy tales retold. Romance. Andre Norton Award Nominee for Young Adult Science Fiction and Fantasy (2013), DABWAHA Romance Tournament Nominee for Paranormal/Science Fiction/Fantasy Romance (2014). Saturday Woodcutter believes that she doesn't have any magic, until one day she makes an ocean in her backyard. She sets off on a pirate ship, is kidnapped and finds herself in a witch's den where she meets the strange and unpredictable Peregrine and a chimera. Will she be able to free herself from her mountain prison and return home?
Saturday is a unique heroine who certainly doesn't fit into any of the images that one can associate with fairy tales. She is tough and physically very strong and really wants to be a woodcutter, not a heroine, but she brings all her skills and intelligence as well as some magic to freeing herself and Peregrine from the witch's clutches. Peregrine too is an unusual character and gender stereotypes are turned upside down as he pretends to be a girl to keep the wicked witch away. Romance is in the air of course but it is not the most important aspect of this story.
Kontis has a distinctive take on fairy tales and her characterisation is fabulous. She also has a deft hand with snarky repartee and humorous asides making a most enjoyable read. I really enjoyed Enchanted, the first book in the series, and look forward to reading more in the series, especially as they are about different people and each is a stand-alone story.
Pat Pledger

Murder most unladylike by Robin Stevens

Wells and Wong mystery, bk 1. Corgi Books, 2014. ISBN 9780552570725
(Age 11+) Recommended. UKYA Book Bloggers Awards 2014 Best Crime/Mystery. It is 1934, and at the exclusive Deepdean School for Girls, Daisy Wells and Hazel Wong have set up a secret detective agency hoping to investigate thrilling mysteries, and when Hazel discovers the body of the science mistress, Miss Bell, in the gym, it looks as if their dream has come true. Then the body disappears. The girls are certain that a murder has taken place and as they search for the body, they uncover secrets and motives that show there are many people who may have wanted to kill Miss Bell.
Lovers of mysteries will revel in Murder most unladylike. Its combination of boarding school mystique, two unlikely friends and lots of danger keeps the reader glued to the page as Daisy and Hazel begin to unravel the mystery in the school. The girls have to use all their intelligence and ingenuity as they follow intriguing clues and red herrings.
Murder most unladylike also won UKLA Book Bloggers award for Best Friendship and it is this facet of the story that makes it such an engaging read. Daisy Wells is an upper-crust, highly intelligent and popular young lady, who is always certain that she is right. Hazel Wong, who comes from Hong Kong, is also highly intelligent and insightful, and had to use her cunning to overcome the initial racial prejudice that she faced when she arrived at the school. The friendship between the pair develops throughout the book with each girl beginning to appreciate the skills that the other has. The narrative is vividly told in Hazel's voice, and the author skilfully shows the differences between the background of the two girls, their interests and their acting ability when hiding just how smart they are. Touches of humour add spice to the narrative and ease some of the suspense in the book.
Readers who enjoy Nancy Drew books or boarding school books will delight in the intrigue in the book as they follow the clues and red herrings and are sure to want to read more in the series.
Pat Pledger

The last thirteen (series) by James Phelan

Scholastic, 2014.
The last thirteen 2. ISBN 9781742831954
The last thirteen 1. ISBN 9781742831961
(Age: 9-15) Highly recommended. 13 Books 13 Nightmares 1 Destiny.
In The last thirteen 2 (Book 12) the Dreamers are spread across the globe from Antarctica to Egypt, each being drawn into dangerous situations and confrontations with their enemies. Sam escapes from Solaris' clutches in Melbourne and travels with Eva and Jabari to search for Alex lost in the frozen Antarctic. Meanwhile the Professor sends Poh, Phoebe, Maria, Cody and Xavier to the supposed safety of Dr Dark's residence. Xavier is disturbed by his father's appearance and mental state as they are led deep underground into a maze. James Phelan's action-packed adventure continues to deliver unexpected twists and turns as each Dreamer is drawn into the race for the final revelation.
With The last thirteen 1 (Book 13) the much anticipated conclusion to popular The last thirteen series has finally arrived. As the Dreamers gather in Egypt to see the prophecy fulfilled, Sam and Solaris are drawn into a life-threatening battle. James Phelan keeps the reader enthralled right up to the final scenes, as the gears are connected and the last battle between good and evil occurs.
The series is very popular at school, they appeal to readers who enjoy technology, action, adventure and mysteries.
Rhyllis Bignell

The complete guide to a dog's best friend by Felicity Gardner and David West

Lothian Children's Books, 2014. ISBN 9780734415417
Recommended for 3-6 year olds. In this funny picture book, an older dog shares his wisdom about human owners with young, rambunctious puppies of all shapes and breeds. He knows everything there is to know about being a best friend - it's your job to wake them up, to cheer them up and lead the way.
Each double page spread has the simple words of advice emphasized in large, bold text - make sure you eat up the treats quickly, and when they arrive home, greet them straight away. The illustrations are bold and full of life, each of the dogs is a comical character, there's the handbag Yorkie, hot dog dachshund, the embarrassed puppy in the plastic collar and the poor Old English Sheepdog suffering in the bath.
Young dog owners will enjoy engaging with the text and pictures.
Rhyllis Bignell

Storm Clouds by Bronwyn Parry

Hachette, 2015. ISBN 9780733633294
(Age: 16+) Recommended. Romantic suspense. Murder. Cults. National Parks Ranger Erin Taylor is appalled when the body of a woman is discovered in the home of her colleague, Simon, the man to whom she is attracted. She is shocked to find out that the dead woman is Simon's wife, a wife that he has never mentioned and hasn't seen for fourteen years. She has belonged to the Community of Bliss, an alternative life-style group and Erin must use all her skills to learn about the group and its secrets and lies. Together with Simon, she races to uncover the truth and rescue the children who are facing danger from the charismatic leader of the group.
Although Parry has written other novels featuring the National Parks team, this can easily be read as a stand-alone and is exciting enough to ensure that other novels by her are picked up by the reader. The mysteries surrounding the backgrounds of both Erin and Simon are as diverting as the actual murder and the introduction of an evil cult makes for a compelling read.
Erin's bravery and her determination to help the members of the cult bring both her and Simon into danger and there are thrills galore and plenty of action as they work together to find the murderer and unravel the secrets that surround the Community of Bliss.
Bronwyn Parry brings to life the national parks and small towns of northern NSW, while serving up a most enjoyable romantic suspense novel. With its beguiling mix of Australian bush, appealing characters and light romance this is an enjoyable novel that will appeal to mystery lovers.
Pat Pledger

Riddle of the Sands (abridged) by Erskine Childers

Retold by Tony Evans. Ill. by Sarah Wimperis. Real Reads, 2013. ISBN 9781906230685
(Age: Yr 4+) Following Germany's victory over France in 1870 in the Franco-Prussian war, the rivalry and lack of trust between Britain and Germany that eventually led to the First World War continued to grow. Britain was particularly concerned as Kaiser Wilhelm II declared that he wanted to make the German Navy as strong and as large as that of Great Britain sparking fears of a German invasion. Many were worried that Britain did not appear to be doing enough to protect it shores, and it is within this atmosphere of distrust and uncertainty that Childers wrote this compelling mystery at the turn of the 20th century.
Foreign Office official Carruthers agrees to spend his holidays aboard a friend's yacht, but rather than being on board some magnificent vessel cruising the seas and enjoying the sunshine, he finds himself on the Dulcibella, a 30-foot yawl navigating the fog and channels of the sandbanks of the islands in the North Sea off the northern coast of Germany. The skipper is intent on mapping all the banks and the passages between them convinced that something is going on and this belief deepens as they get involved with those on board the Medusa another vessel that seems to share their interest in the area. The plot thickens when Clara, the daughter of the owner of the Medusa, abruptly cuts short a social call to the Dulcibella and Carruthers and Davies are determined to find out why.
In this abridged version, available through INT Books, Tony Evans has crafted a solid story from the original that tempts the reader to seek out the original but is also satisfying in itself as a mystery for the young reader. Here is a story that shows that the tensions between the two countries were building long before war was eventually declared and provides a plausible plot that shows that Britain should have had cause for concern and prepared more fully - something a number of writers like Childers did not believe they were doing.
Adding this version to your collection will not only offer students access to what is now considered a classic piece of writing, but it will add depth to your collection about World War I - a collection which is sure to receive extra attention this year, particularly.
Barbara Braxton

Forest of Bones by David Kennett

Omnibus, 2014. ISBN 9781862919884
(Age: 10+) Recommended. This is well-known illustrator, David Kennett's, first graphic novel. It is set in 9CE and is based on the defeat of the Roman Army in Teutoburg forest.
For those with a passion for history there is much to learn in this realistic telling. It provides the reader with a clearer understanding of the size and nature of the Roman Empire and its army as it documents the campaign seasons and the effect the Romans had on a conquered peoples. Their passion for order is no more clearly expressed than by Ursus who worries that, 'sometime in his future he would look up an find the night sky had been ordered in the Roman way, its magical lights in neat rows and the moon a white square.' p. 141
On the other side are the Germanic Cherusci people who cling to the mythology of their past where they are capable of shape shifting and worship the bones of bears hung in the forest trees.
For those who love a good story this book also has a lot to offer. The action largely revolves around the friendship which develops between Ursus, who has a deep seated hatred of the Romans and Canus, 'the dog boy' who is a slave to the Roman Governor, Vanus. Through their shared love of animals the boys become friends and bond strongly over their dual ownership of the wolf cub, Hercules. It is through this friendship that Ursus discovers that 'things were never straightforward the way his grandfather had promised they would be if he just hated the Romans. They were like a forest that entangle everything' p. 132 and 'spending time with the Romans and getting to know them was dulling the blade of his hatred'. p. 151
The uneasy peace which pervades much of the story is spectacularly disrupted when the Cherusci gather their forces to reclaim their land. The resulting thrilling climax is a brutal, frenzied battle which Kennett illustrates with evocative accuracy.
Barb Rye

Good enough for a sheep station by David Cox

Allen & Unwin, 2015. ISBN 9781743319031
(Age: 6+) Highly recommended. Station life in Australia, Coming of age, Country life. With the pared back humour of an Australian bushie, Cox tells the story of his early life, growing up on a sheep station in Central Queensland, surrounded by animals. He adores being with his father, the station manager, as he teaches his young son the many skills necessary for life in the bush. He learns to ride from an early age, drive a truck, mend fences, taken mustering and then working in the shearing shed, while inside he receives lessons from the Queensland Correspondence School supervised by his mother.
In spare words and detailed illustrations, Cox outlines the routines of station life, each page giving the reader insight into the tasks needed in such a place. Living through drought and rain, being sent away to boarding school, his first interest in girls, life is revealed with the lightest of touches and deceptively simple line and watercolour illustrations.
His father's death means that now he must earn his own way and he takes a job on a station further west. When the train stops at the old homestead where he grew up, the new manager hands him his father's old saddle, a touching reminder of the man he knew and the skills he passed on to his son.
The theme of change runs through this lovely tale of a boy becoming a man. Through the stories told by the old stockmen and his father, we are made aware of the contrast with their lives, and we know that the boy's life on a new station will be different again. Cobb and Co, is replaced by the train, life moves on as his father dies and he must carry on the skills he has been taught. The kindness of the men he has worked with lives on, the old man telling his stories, the new manager handing over the saddle, reiterating the strengths of bush life in Australia.
Fran Knight

Circus of the Unseen by Joanne Owen

Hot Key Books, 2015. ISBN 9781471401145
(Age: 8-12) Recommended. If we haven't already guessed from the cover design, the moment we begin the prologue we are aware that something strange and fantastical will happen in this story. Owen does not disappoint. The main story of Rosie's descent into a macabre, carnivalesque world is interwoven with the retelling of the Russian folktale of Vasilisa and Baba Yaga.
Rosie's adventure begins with a seemingly ordinary visit to her Grandmother's cottage and it is ironically this ordinariness and that 'everything was as it should be' p7 that alerts the reader to potential for the extraordinary. Rosie's strong relationship with her grandmother is established and we are introduced to the mystery of her past life in Poland about which Rosie knows nothing. It is in her quest for answers that Rosie, like Alice, falls down the 'rabbit hole' into a strange and eerie place.
She initially finds herself on a Carousel festooned with wild creatures and even odder, a 3 faced lady. She is then transported to an old time circus with 'flaming torches, flickering lanterns, ropes and wires, giant seesaws, high boards and tanks of bubbling water.' p63. But it's the people she meets who become integral to Rosie's stay and ultimately her decision about her own future.
There are Lola and Coco (the little girl grannies) Scarlet, Fabian, Accordienka and many others all of whom have extraordinary abilities in their chosen act. But it is Mother Matushka who holds all the power in this strange place: the power of night and day, the power to control the birds, the power to keep her 'children'. But does she have the power to keep Rosie?
From the beginning Rosie's, and the reader's, mind are abuzz with questions and it is the desire to find the answers that keep the pages tuning.
Owen makes many allusions to traditional fairy tales and effectively creates a world of swamps, craters, mist and strange horseman, but amongst it all is the touch of humanity that is the keystone of all good fairy tales.
Barb Rye

Henry Lawson Treasury ill. by Oslo Davies

Random House, 2014. ISBN 9780857985132
Ask about Australia's best-known authors and poets and Henry Lawson's name will be amongst the list for sure. Born in 1867 and a contemporary of A.B. (Banjo) Paterson, he has been dubbed 'Australia's greatest short story writer' and the 'poet of the people'. Certainly his stories and poems have endured through the generations and in this collection, illustrated in a fitting style by Oslo Davies, many of his best-know pieces are brought together and made accessible to a new generation. From Up the Country to The Bush Undertaker to The Loaded Dog readers can enjoy his mastery of the language, his laugh-out-loud humour, and gain an insight into life of late 19th century Australia. Given that Banjo Paterson's Clancy of the Overflow is a personal favourite, I really like Lawson's response in The City Bushman.
Written with humour, description and an eye and ear for the sights and sounds of the landscape, mature and independent readers will welcome the opportunity to become acquainted with Lawson's work and understand why his work has survived the test of time and technology. His ability to bring to life the spirit of the people of the bush through their success, failures, loyalty, comradeship, pragmatism continues that stereotypical picture of the laconic, laidback larrikin that typifies the city image of the country.
This is the perfect edition of Lawson's work to introduce upper primary or lower secondary learners to his portfolio. As we commemorate the centenary of World War I, a display of literature that portrays life at home at the time would be appropriate and help students understand the greater impact of the hostilities.
And perhaps even spark an investigation into what, if anything, has changed.
Does the stereotype still exist?
Barbara Braxton

The disreputable history of Frankie Landau-Banks by E Lockhart

Allen & Unwin, 2015. ISBN 9781760113308
(Age: 13+) Highly recommended. Humour, Boarding school, Relationships, Secret societies, Gender, Power. At fourteen, Frankie is small, under developed and a bit geeky, but over the summer, boys begin to notice her and in her second year at the prestigious boarding school, Alabaster, she attracts the attention of one boy, senior Matthew Livingstone, and joins his group. But has she? This tongue in cheek story has her being with the group in the cafe, going on clandestine excursions with them, but curiously simply part of the wallpaper. Biting commentary on the rich and famous at this school kept me reading as some like Matthew go to great lengths to never mention their wealth, but it shows all the same. Their lives are laid out for them: a very exclusive school, then on to Harvard, later taking over the family firm. The smugness of Matthew and many of his male friends reflects the power that only the rich can command, and Frankie comes to realise that she wants to be part of it. But the girls are simply there as window dressing to do as expected. But not so Frankie. The more she becomes involved with Matthew, the more the reader can see how one sided the relationship is: his friends come before Frankie, a phone call from Alpha means Frankie is left - immediately, Matthew has no interest whatsoever in her friends, home and family, and breaks dates with her without explanation.
Made of sterner stuff, she sets out to infiltrate their secret society, one that her father mentioned, The Loyal Order of Bassett Hounds. She inadvertently saw one meeting in progress, and resenting her lowly position within the group, decides to spy on them, a skill for which she finds she has some talent.
Frankie infiltrates the all male group, using Alpha's name to send out plans that are carried out religiously. She causes mayhem on the campus, setting up audacious pranks, the dogs wagging their tails to her bidding. She finds the original book for the Loyal Order and things come to a head when she sees that people still think Alpha is pulling the strings.
A funny and biting look at the society within the elite school, Frankie's character is wholly entertaining as she develops her powers, both within herself and over the boys' secret society. A fabulous addition to the growing chick-lit stable of great literature, replete with discussions about societies, gender, words and power. Frankie's interest in secret societies injects the background of this story as does her interest in words and their derivations and usages, all adding to the humour of the tale.
Fran Knight

Withering-by-Sea: A Stella Montgomery Intrigue by Judith Rossell

The Here and Now by Ann Brashares

Hodder Children's Books, 2015. ISBN 9781444921922
(Age: 15+) Follow the Rules. Remember what happened. Never fall in love. The world that I have come from is in ruins. There are so few of us from our time. But if we don't follow the Rules, everything that matters will be gone. Friends. Families. Dreams. Love. Ethan can never know my secret. That I am not from another place but that I am from another time.
I am always intrigued with time traveling books and have always enjoyed them. But I really struggled with the Here and Now as it didn't have the thrill of adventure that the blurb screamed. It was a slow going novel but it was an easy story line to understand. Ann Brashares description was helpful and made reading the novel easier, she did leave out information of the future timeline that was hinted at but this made the storyline much more interesting. Prenna, the protagonist of The Here and Now, evolves within the story and tries to save her timeline.
Cecilia Richards