Allen & Unwin, 2015. ISBN 9781760112324
(Age: 4+) Highly recommended. Animals, Survival, Naive art. With an
eclectic mixture of ephemera as well as illustrative materials
including pastels, coloured pencils, masking tape and newspaper,
along with a jacaranda flower and a paper bag, McKimmie creates a
charming story of finding a home. Kids will melt as they read of the
cat, Misty, being left at the Care4Cats centre at Newtown by an
elderly owner who can no longer look after her. She sits in the
window waiting for a carer when a family takes her home for
Christmas.
They name her Nigella after she eats their crackling and custard.
But things become very quiet when the family sees that their budgie
has also gone, so they dump the cat in a street where she takes
cover in a cardboard box, and eats scraps.
But one day she meets the Kafoopses trawling through the second hand
shop. They take her home and call her Lara and here she stays,
eating her bowl of crumbly biscuits, putting up with the sound of a
bagpipe, staying on the roof to escape the noise, having friends
over when the family goes out shopping, and roaming the nights, but
always coming back to her own home where she is safe and loved.
Readers will love looking at Mckimmie's particular style of
illustration, joining in with the fun on each page as Lara's life is
outlined from being Misty, to Nigella to Lara.
Each page holds a fascination as people look at the details and work
out how McKimmie produced that image. I loved reading the list on
the publications page of the materials he used and readers will be
able to look more closely to find where he has used each of them.
The background on each page, so redolent of city life, particularly
Sydney adds another level of discussion for children reading the
story. They will be heartened that Lara's early sad life ends
happily with the Kafoopses and be satisfied that the cat's needs are
now all met, reflecting perhaps on the plight of others, animals and
people, discarded by society.
For older students a picture book like this will provide a platform
for looking at incisive writing and illustration. Each time I read
this book, I see another level of meaning, another small picture
that I missed before, another piece of writing that makes my mind
whirr. Teacher notes are available from the Allen & Unwin
website.
Fran Knight
Dragon Rebels by Nazam Anhar
Lore of Fire Book 2. Amazon Digital Service, 2015.
(Age: 10-14+) Highly recommended. Dragon Rebels by Nazam
Anhar continues the story of the boy Baran, from book 1 Dragon
Hunter.
Baran was chosen by Hajur, a Dragon Warrior, to learn the ways of
the dragon hunters after dragons viciously attacked his village in
the first book.
Another villager, a girl named Tyan, had shadowed and then joined
the pair to try to also become the first female dragon slayer in
revenge for the death of her family.
Dragon Warriors must honour the call for help by answering the
signal of the red smoke. This signal leads the trio to the city of
Samara, where dragons have attacked and the outlying villagers have
moved into the crowded city walls.
After meeting the king, it becomes evident the call for assistance
had been answered earlier by a rogue group who kill dragons for
payment. They have a dubious collection of members including several
unsuccessful Dragon Warriors. Hajur is ineffective in recommending
that the King and his councilors use only true Dragon Warriors so
both groups have to work together.
The honourable Hajur is pitted against both the dragons and the
rogue group and there is constant conflict and danger throughout the
dragon battles but it is after the combat that the situation becomes
even more dangerous.
The values, integrity and reputation of the Dragon Warriors and
their principled behaviour are constantly clashing with the
self-interest and baseness of the scoundrel dragon slayers.
Personally, Baran continues to struggle with the idea of becoming a
Dragon Warrior and with his growing attraction to the young, valiant
princess Alima.
This is an action book and the dragons never disappoint as a cold,
deadly and persistent enemy. As stated in my review of book one,
this story will appeal to fantasy readers especially dragon
devotees.
10 to 14 + year olds will enjoy reading this novel themselves or
listening to the story read aloud. I highly recommend this sequel, Dragon
Rebels and book 1, Dragon Hunters and I hope there are
more to come.
Jane Moore
The Porridge of Knowledge by Archie Kimpton
Ill. by Kate Hindley. Hot Key Books, 2015. ISBN 9781471402807
(Age: 8-10) Themes: Good and Evil, Magic, School Life. Milk lives
with her Granddad in a small seaside town Slopp-on-Sea. She was
found abandoned as a baby by the milkman and adopted by a a loving
couple she calls Grandma and Granddad. After her grandma
passes away, she is left to look after her grandfather whose mind is
going and he is often seen wandering around the town. When he
discovers an old book with an unusual recipe THE PORRIDGE OF
KNOWLEDGE things rapidly began to change in Milk's life.
Milk's school life is terrorized by her vindictive teacher Ms.
Cerise, who sets an impossible maths test for the class and demands
all the students study hard over the weekend. With Carp her friend
and cafe owner, Milk decides to cook a batch of the special
porridge. The ingredients are truly gross: dandruff, a pig's kidney,
large limp limpets are added to the oatmeal and stirred. The
resulting concoction is foul smelling and difficult to swallow, but
amazing things happen when you do! Even the cafe ants who taste the
goo become amazing builders making amazing replicas of the Leaning
Tower of Pisa in mashed potatoes.
Milk becomes the cleverest person in town, Carp's restaurant becomes
the mecca for bus tours wanting to taste the best food in town and
even Grandpa changes from confused to normal behaviour. After
tasting the porridge, the class answers every question correctly in
the advanced Maths test.The porridge has a magical quality. Milk and
Carp save the day when Mr. Blanket poisons the beach with toxic
waste from his toothpaste factory.
This is a funny, quirky story quintessentially English, just enough
grossness, suspension of belief and triumph of good over evil to
engage the reader.
Rhyllis Bignell
Big book of Australian history by Peter Macinnis
2nd edition. National Library of Australia, 2015. ISBN 9780642278722
(Age: 8-Adult) Highly recommended. The 2nd edition of the CBCA
Notable book Big book of Australian history will be a boon
for teachers and school libraries as well as the avid history fan.
Although this edition is a paperback it is sturdy and will prove to
be an invaluable reference book for the researcher and a fabulous
book to dip into for the casual reader who enjoys learning about
interesting bits of Australian history.
The books covers the major sections of Australian history, starting
with Ancient Australia, The Dreaming, Voyages of Discovery and
continuing through early settlement, Federation, The Great
Depressions and the world wars and culminating in a section about
Embracing multiculturalism and On the world stage. The latter
section of the book has been updated and the extensive piece on
Cricket will be enjoyed by sporting enthusiasts.
The book is amply illustrated with original images that are held in
the National Library. These have been carefully selected for their
interest and historical relevance and greatly add to the reader's
understanding of the history and social implications of the period.
There is a page reference to them and the user can go to the
National Library's website to get more details.
I love this book. Every time I open it I come across some
fascinating bits of information that expand my knowledge and incite
an interest in history and I am certain that it will do that for
other readers as well
Pat Pledger
An ember in the ashes by Sabaa Tahir
HarperCollins, 2015. ISBN 9780007593279
(Age: 16+) Highly recommended. In the same vein of
teenage dystopian novels that flooded bookshelves in the wake of The
Hunger Games, comes another such novel, An ember in the
ashes. One might be forgiven for thinking that this book is
just another cheap attempt to cash in on the latest craze, but that
person would be sorely mistaken, as this is a wonderful, highly
engaging novel.
It tells the story of two people living very different lives in the
same world; Laia, a Scholar-born girl, has lived in fear of the
ruthless 'Empire' and its formidable soldiers since she was born.
When her brother is taken by them, she has to enlist the help of the
mysterious Resistance to get him back, but to do so she must first
spy on the Commandant, the ruthless overseer of Blackcliff Academy.
Elias is in training to become a Mask - one of the Empire's most
elite and dangerous soldiers - at the same Blackcliff Academy, but
he is horrified with what he has had to do as a Mask-in-training and
plans to escape. However, nothing goes to plan for either of them...
Sabaa Tahir has created an absolute gem of a book with An ember
in the ashes - it rollicks along at a fierce, engrossing pace,
yet never feels rushed; the characters are fully fleshed out and
deeply intriguing; even the romantic tension between certain
characters - which can often feel forced if done badly - feels
realistic and captivating here. It's hard to find an authentic
page-turner that also manages to be a smart read, but An ember
in the ashes accomplishes it all. Apparently it became an
instant New York Times bestseller upon its release in April, but
that's no surprise - the book's exciting premise and broad appeal is
perfect for both teenage and adult audiences. Thankfully, there is a
sequel in the works, which will be released next year, but for now,
I can't recommend this first instalment enough.
I highly recommend this novel.
Rebecca Adams
Computer coding for kids by Carol Vorderman
Dorling Kindersley Ltd, 2014. ISBN 9781409347019
(Age: Primary - Adult) Recommended. Computer coding is an 'in
thing'. It allows for computational thinking, gets kids engaged and
according to a TED talk I watched last night is a great way to teach
and visualize the bigger concepts in Math. In true DK publisher
fashion, this book is bright colourful and simple to follow. With
step by step instructions kids and adults alike can download free
software and begin to create increasingly complex games and
simulations on their computers.
Coding skills begin with a simple visual program called 'Scratch'
where users click and drag blocks of coding information to control a
sprite (character). There is a large array of tutorial exercises to
get readers to progress and learn the basics and move on to more
complex programming guided by the text.
After mastering the basics, users are then encouraged to progress to
another program called Python. Python is what people might consider
a more traditional form of coding, where users need to type in the
directions and create their code to control various things. The book
gives a very handy table comparing the code in Scratch to that in
Python.
This book is described as a 'simple visual guide to get kids
computer coding in no time.' I definitely agree with this. However I
think they are missing the broader audience of teachers who are
grappling with the new Digital Technologies curriculum too. The easy
to understand explanations of computer systems and networks are a
great foundation of knowledge to begin teaching in this area for
those who don't know where to start.
I would recommend this book not only for keen students and children
who wanted to explore coding, but also those adults out there who
want a simple and easy to understand explanation of the computer
world.
Zana Thiele
Troll Mountain by Matthew Reilly
Pan Macmillan Australia, 2015. ISBN 9781743537053
(Age: 9+) Highly recommended. The Northsmen are a proud race. They
have a ruling family and laws and tales from the past they must
follow. The mountain trolls have ruled over them forever. The trolls
require food sacrifices and for this the river is allowed to flow. A
sickness has swept the land and it is said the trolls have the cure.
The prince takes a small party of men to plead with the trolls for
the magical cure but they do not return. Raf, our main character, is
17 and questions everything. This puts him in the firing line for
ridicule as the Northsmen follow traditions - you do not question or
challenge the ruling family! When his beloved sister falls ill with
the sickness, Raf is determined to steal the cure and save her and
their tribe. Raf is headed for an adventure of a lifetime where
rules will be challenged and he is able to determine his own path.
Will the hermit in the Badlands be a friend or a foe? Will
befriending a lone troll help Raf and his sister? Can a skinny 17
year old boy take on the king of the trolls?
This quick moving, descriptive story will engage readers as Raf
battles trolls and proves he is a lot smarter than those around him.
With Ko as a guiding hand, a passion for change and the ability to
think of others, Raf will get the elixir for his tribe. The nasty
prince will not steal the glory!
This book is highly recommended for boys aged 9+ but I'm sure most
girls will enjoy it too. The adventure will engage reluctant readers
and show them they can make a change and that old ways aren't always
the best way. It would be a great class novel to discuss feelings
during the Child Protection curriculum, navigate the structure of a
narrative and support the writing of adventure stories.
Kylie Kempster
Becoming Kirrali Lewis by Jane Harrison
Magabala Books, 2015. ISBN 9781922142801
(Age: 14+) Recommended for its unique historical and cultural
revelations. Becoming Kirrali Lewis is a story about an
Aboriginal university freshman in the 80's. Kirrali was adopted as a
newborn by a white family in a small country town. Her academic
success takes her to the city to study law, where she encounters
other indigenous people for the first time. After she begins to
interact with other indigenous people and is assaulted by racists
along with Kirk, her black boyfriend; the desire to search for her
biological parents is finally kindled in a delayed but inevitable
search for identity. Kirrali is more than surprised to discover that
her natural mother is a white woman, working at the Koori
Advancement Centre, who fell pregnant to an aboriginal activist in
the 60's before giving her baby up for adoption. Cherie's experience
of the 60's showcases a different point of view in a separate
section of the novel. The nature of the relationship between all
three main characters is dramatically contextualized in these two
intriguing generations of Aboriginal activism in Australian history.
2014 State Library of Qld Black & Write prize winner and
playwright, Jane Harrison, undoubtedly has a flair for drama
interwoven with racial intolerance and family tensions. The
lacklustre cover doesn't inspire but Harrison's transition to
novelist is probably key in understanding my own lack of connection
to two dimensional characters - despite employing techniques such as
changing narrators and points of view, the irony of Kirrali's crush
on a white hometown boy and flashbacks to the 60's world of
Kirrali's biological parents.
Deborah Robins
Me being me is exactly as insane as you being you by Todd Hasak-Lowy
Simon & Schuster, 2015. ISBN 9781471124594
(Age: 14+) Recommended. Fifteen year-old Darren Jacobs has always
felt different; his weight a little too much, and his height a
little too short. He also wonders if he will ever have a girlfriend.
But his world is turned upside down when his parent separate, and
for a reason Darren never expected. His dad is gay. With his brother
Nate away at college, and his only real friend Bugs having moved
away, he has no one to turn to. No one until he meets Zoey Lovell,
who may just be even more different than Darren. But Zoey has
troubles of her own and after a whirlwind evening together, she goes
missing. Now Darren must not only deal with the pieces of his broken
family; he must also deal with the pieces of his broken heart.
In this coming-of-age novel, the author explores the themes of
sexuality, family, and relationships, including those of a same-sex
nature. Through the novel's protagonist, Darren, Hasak-Lowy also
shows how teenagers struggle with body image and being comfortable
in their own skin. As the narrative is voiced exclusively through
Darren, it allows for a great insight into the mind of a young
teenage boy, and how he copes with his family and romantic
relationships, and learns to accept himself and others for who they
are.
This unique debut novel is told entirely in lists, and is a funny,
contemporary, and highly imaginative read. This would best suit
older readers, namely secondary students and above, as it is quite a
lengthy novel, and contains some mature content including the
discussion of sex, and the exploration of substance abuse.
Emma Gay
Empire of the Waves: Voyage of the Moon Child by Christopher Richardson
Puffin Books, 2015. ISBN: 9780143307549
(Age: 8+) Recommended. Christopher Richardson's debut novel is an
enchanting feat of the imagination. Filled with vivid creatures,
vibrant settings and characters who always keep you guessing, the
author seems to have thought of everything. If you're interested in
pirates and giants teaming up to fight an evil villain's plot to
destroy the world, read on!
The novel follows Anni Tidechild journey to save her father's friend
Adamson Knifetooth who, after a ten year quest, has been sent on a
deadly quest to vanquish the monsters in the Western Stream. By
accident, Anni discovers the mission's dreadful truth. It is a plot
to kill Knifetooth, who knows too much about the Wavelord's plans.
Together with Knifetooth's son, Duck, Anni must escape the city and
catch Knifetooth's ship before it's too late. She enlists the help
of the last giant, Theodore Thunderfoot, and his friend Wibbens the
wibbens and their ship The Moon Child. Regrettably, by time they
reach the Western Stream it's too late. Knifetooth, having fulfilled
his task, has reawakened an ancient battle between giants, felmane,
humans and sleen. Theodore and Wibbens must return to Pel Nairine to
try and make peace while Anni sets out to discover the Tidechild
family secrets. Anni fears the task is too much but Duck and her
long-lost pirate uncle Esus refuse to let her give up.
This whirlwind adventure is sure to sweep the ground from beneath
your feet. Recommended for children aged eight and up who enjoy
adventure fantasy.
Kayla Gaskell, nineteen.
The Crossover by Kwame Alexander
Houghton Mifflin, 2014. ISBN 9780544107717
(Age: 11+) Highly recommended. Verse novel. Basketball. Sibling
rivalry. 2015 Newbery Medal Winner. 2015 Coretta Scott King Honor
Award Winner. YALSA Top 10 Best fiction for young adults. Josh and
Jordan are twins, whose father was Da Man a talented basketball
player. They both excel at basketball too, but Josh has a flair for
poetry and writes the story of their lives:
Josh Bell
is my name.
But Filthy McNasty is my claim to fame
Folks call me that
'cause my game's acclaimed,
so downright dirty, it'll put you to shame.
This is a fabulous read. The poetry takes the reader on a wonderful
journey about basketball:
Be careful though,
'cause now I'm CRUNKing
CrissCROSSING
FLOSSING
flipping
and my dipping will leave you
S
L
I
P
P
I
N
G on the floor, while I
SWOOP in
to the finish with a fierce finger roll...
Straight in the hole:
Swoooooooooosh.
Basketball may be a key theme, but Josh relates the issues that he
is going through with his family at home. His twin has a new
girlfriend and is ignoring him. His father is not well but has a
horror of hospitals and doctors and refuses to seek help and his
mother is the assistant principal at his school and has high
expectations of him. All these factors come together in a heart
wrenching climax.
This would be fabulous read aloud, as a class novel or as an
introduction to poetry forms. It has something for everyone and I am
certain that once it is picked up, even by the most reluctant
reader, it will be exceptionally hard to put down.
Pat Pledger
The Guy, the Girl, the Artist and His Ex by Gabrielle Williams
Allen & Unwin. 2015. ISBN 9781743319550
(Age: 15+) Highly recommended. Adolescent. Mystery. Four young
people's lives collide when Picasso's painting of the Weeping Woman
is stolen from the walls of the National Gallery of Victoria. Guy is
a party animal, who is not succeeding at school, lies to his parents
about his school results but proves himself a hero. Rafi is a young
girl whose mother has not recovered from the death of her little
brother and believes that she is pursued by La Lorona, the weeping
woman of South American origin. The ex is Penny, a single mother who
is still in an unhealthy relationship with Luke, the artist, the
father of her baby Joshie, and who is totally self-centred and
selfish.
Williams has used the real theft of the Weeping Woman as the
background to her story and what a fascinating background it makes.
The thieves, calling themselves the Australian Cultural Terrorists,
are demanding that the Victorian Government increase funding for
struggling artists in Victoria. There are newspaper reports and
letters to the editor, all giving information about what is going on
with the theft. At the same time the four protagonists are telling
their stories in separate chapters, under the heading of each: The
guy (Guy), the girl (Rafi), the artist (Luke) and the ex (Penny).
All four feel the repercussions of the art theft in many different
ways and William's weaves a fascinating story together linking each
and ultimately coming up with a perfectly rational answer to how the
theft could have taken place.
This is a fabulous read for the older teen, exploring many themes.
These include mental illness and the impact that it can have on
family and strangers, as Rafi struggles with living with her mother
who cannot appreciate her living daughter, concentrating only on the
memory of her dead son. Penny, the ex, is struggling with being a
young single parent and knows that Luke is selfish and that she must
break from him, but still loves him. Guy cannot bring himself to let
his parents know that he is failing at school and Dipper, Luke's
friend, finds it difficult to stand up to his stifling ego.
I loved this book, its historical background and information about
Picasso, the setting of Melbourne and above all the superb voices of
the four main characters.
Pat Pledger
The Thickety: A path begins by J.A. White
Ill. by Andrea Offermann. The Thickety bk 1. ISBN
9780062257239 (Age: 11+) Highly recommended. Kara lives in a small
community that believes that magic is evil. When she was five years
old her mother was killed because she was a witch and she and her
father and brother are now shunned and tormented by the people of
the village. Nearby is the Thickety a strange and dark wood believed
to the realm of Sordyr. One day Kara is enticed into it by a bird
and uncovers a magical grimoire that has unspeakable powers.
This is an addictive story that is spell binding right from the very
first chapter when in the prologue the reader finds out the awful
way that Kara learnt her mother was a witch and how she managed not
to be hung as a witch as well. From then on the reader is introduced
to Kara and her little brother who face hardship, bullying and
poverty from the narrow minded villagers and their nasty leader. Her
father has not coped at all with the hanging of his wife and it is
Kara who has been forced to take on an adult's role and hold the
family together. She has only one friend, Lucas, who is a Clearer,
part of an outcast group who keep the magical weeds growing near the
Thickety from overtaking the village.
Kara is a fascinating character and finds it difficult to stop using
the grimoire and to do the right thing. The contrast between Grace
the leader's daughter who is power hungry and nasty and wants the
grimoire for her own ends and Kara who can question what is going on
and wants to remain caring and decent, gives the reader the
opportunity to consider power and how it should be used. All the
characters are multi-dimensional and each has a back story that adds
depth to the tale.
The story is often dark and frightening, with its tales of bigotry,
witches, dark forests and bullying, so may not be suitable for
younger children, but its vivid prose and enthralling story has
meant that it has appeared on many Best Book lists, including
Publishers Weekly Best Book and would appeal to a wide age range.
Two more books in the series are due to appear and while the The
Thickety: A path begins was satisfying in itself, there is a cliff-
hanger at its conclusion that will ensure that readers pick up the
next in the series.
Pat Pledger
Shine: a story about saying goodbye by Trace Bella
Allen & Unwin, 2015. ISBN 9781743316344
(Age: 4+) Warmly recommended. Death, Grieving, Family. The death of
a sibling can be beyond the comprehension of young children, but
here is a book which will help some come to an understanding and
acceptance of the event that has happened in their lives. Others
will read it will interest as a story about death and what happens
without it being cloying of over simplified.
One day on a beautiful planet amongst the stars lived a horse called
Shine. He met another horse called Glitter and together they
produced two small horses. The family was perfect but one day Shine
knew he had to go back to the stars. He did not want to go but knew
that he had to. Glitter and her offspring cried tears of gold, and
the next day followed the golden sea they had made. They climbed a
mountain and saw the brightest star in the sky, Shine. They knew
that he was there looking over them, making sure they were safe, and
with that security they curled up together and slept.
Such a deceptively simple tale creates the most complex of images as
the mother and her children find a way through their grief, knowing
their husband and father is there shining down upon them. Be warned:
the simple words evoke the most basic of responses and I had to hold
back tears each time I read it.
Written by Trace Balla in response to her sister's husband's death,
the work exudes compassion and family. The simplicity of the
watercolour illustrations suits the text admirably, ensuring every
reader will be transfixed.
Fran Knight
The Ogglies go to school by Erhard Dietl
Starfish Bay Publishing, 2015. ISBN 9780994100719
(Age: All) Highly recommended. The Ogglies Go To School is a
gorgeous picture book that tells the story of the Oggly children and
their first day at school. The Ogglies eat rusty cans and love
sticky soup. They have green skin, lumpy noses and tough teeth.
Ogglies love to be muddy and Grandma has an absolutely funny song
she likes to sing.
On the first day of school, the teacher has an emergency and Grandma
Oggly takes charge. She has the children drawing and getting muddy
but having a pet dragon to help the children get clean and dry
helps. The children love having the Ogglies at school and the
Ogglies love school. Children will love the song that includes gross
words that all children will giggle at - oggly poo and fly pee. It
will be a great story for adults to read out loud to their children
due to the nonsense Oggly language and the illustrations will be
cause for great discussion.
The book is highly recommended for all children. The text is aimed
at independent readers aged 9+ but it will be enjoyed by all reading
levels. It has descriptive language and detailed illustrations. The
story is engaging and a great way to engage students as they
investigate narrative structure and would be good for students to
create their own gross stories.
Kylie Kempster
