Random House Australia, 2014. ISBN 9780099568278
(Age: 10-12) There is no doubt that James Patterson must rank as
one of the most highly successful authors of our times. His adult
novels have always attracted huge readership and now he is simply
tearing away with his books for children. I've now been lucky enough
to review several and just love this new one, first in a series
which upper/middle school kids will thoroughly enjoy.
Young Sammy Hayes-Rodriguez is one of those kids who is considered
'different' and always seems to be on the losing side of everything.
He has a rather unusual family too. A mother who is a super-geek
scientist building cutting edge robots and robotic devices, a dad
who is a successful manga comic writer, a much loved little sister
who suffers from an immune-deficiency condition and a whole house of
very quirky robots.
Though the robots can make life easier in some ways, such as Mr
Moppenshine keeping everything spick and span and Hayseed ensuring
the garden grows plentifully, the newest robot 'E' is less than
acceptable to Sammy. E is super smart and very pedantic and when his
parents insist on E going to school with Sammy to undergo his final
testing, Sammy is less than pleased.
Having to deal with the slings and arrows of outrageous bullying and
having E shadow him constantly creates great angst for Sammy. But
just as E starts to make an impact on both Sammy and his schoolmates
and teachers, there is a dramatic development when E is botnapped!!
Realising his somewhat unfriendly attitude towards E may have been
partially responsible for E's disappearance; Sammy is determined to
track down the perpetrators of the cyber-crime.
With a very satisfying happy ending - not just for Sammy but for his
entire family - when E is returned, rebuilt and restored to his
original condition and intention, readers will enjoy the justice and
compassion in this story. Highly illustrated to the point of almost
being a graphic novel, this will also appeal to the more reluctant
readers and though essentially a 'boy' story, I foresee that girls
will also enjoy the humour and action of this one.
Kick off your new year with this addition to the shelves - and watch
the readers around 10-12 scramble for it!
Sue Warren
Rogue wave by Jennifer Donnelly
Waterfire saga bk 2. Hodder Children's Books 2015. ISBN
9781444926187
(Age: 10+) Recommended. Once more Jennifer Donnelly sends her
readers on a whirlwind adventure of mermaid drama in the second
instalment of the Waterfire saga. A rich fantasy writer, she
yet again lives up to her name in this magical adventure.
Picking up from where its predecessor left off, Rogue wave
follows Serafina as she escapes through the mirror into Lord
Rorrim's realm. There she must summon her courage in order to escape
from his clutches. But escaping from Lord Rorrim is the least of her
worries; she has a realm to take back and an entire ocean to save
from the dreaded Abbadon, a monster which many merls believe long
dead. Together with five other mermaids, she must recover the lost
talismans of The Six Who Ruled. Only then can the monster be
subdued. However, along the way she must learn important lessons
about the wisdom of being a ruler, and rediscover her mother's love
for her people, whether well-off or the dregs of merl society. She
and the rebels desperately await the return of her uncle with the
promised goblin armies which will drive out Miromara's imposters and
restore Serafina as Regina in her late mother's stead. However, as
Serafina searches for her Merrow's talisman things become a lot more
complicated and, as with any adventure, things are never as simple
as they seem.
Such a rich fantasy, it will transport readers into another world
with its beautiful imagery and unanticipated plot. It certainly
speaks to young readers with lessons about listening, not being too
hasty and doing what is right for the greater number. I would
recommend this to readers of fantasy aged ten and upwards.
Kayla Gaskell, age eighteen.
Lyka's adventure: Lyka and the secret forest by Atley Loughridge
Penguin, 2014. ISBN 9780143308324
(Age: 6-10) Planet Ahmee is dying, and there's only one robot with a
heart big enough to rescue it. Lyka, lovable friend to all living
creatures, sets off across the galaxy on a quest to find the answers
about the natural world that will save her home from the deadly
disaster that is climate change. Leaving behind everything she knows
and loves, Lyka must travel through space to the strange and wild
land of the scientist who created her... planet Earth! In a
high-octane race against time, she will cross all seven continents
to find hidden symbols and unlock the knowledge they represent. Will
she make it before Ahmee collapses and Lyka's fellow robots are lost
in space forever?
But this is not just a storybook. Created by Lance Weiler, it is a
multi-modal experience featuring not just the book but also a plush
toy that has a special pocket in its heart for the reader to insert
their smartphone to download and activate an app that unlocks a lot
more to accompany the story including extra story content,
activities, and sneak peeks into Lyka's world... (The app can be
downloaded without the toy - an activation code is included in the
introductory pages of the book.) There are also supporting websites
- http://www.penguin.com.au/lyka/
and http://www.lykasadventure.com/
- and the concept is explained on YouTube.
However, it is much more than a gadget-driven, short-lived
experience because it has been deliberately created in a partnership
between Penguin Books Australia and Connected Sparks
to support the Australian Curriculum Sustainability cross-curriculum
priority. Lyka travels across Australia addressing key environmental
issues using science, technology, engineering, art and mathematics
(STEAM). Penguin have developed a range of teaching
resources to support this learning and there will be a
series of eight chapter books which have all been reviewed by
scientists and science teachers plus the Cloud Institute for
Sustainability in Education.
This may herald the future face of children's reading and their
expectations of it. Multi-modal and multi-media that engages them
through real-life issues and interactivity, introducing 6-10 year
olds to their world in a unique way.
Barbara Braxton
Cold cold heart by Tami Hoag
Orion Books, 2014. ISBN 9781409151951
(Age: 15+) Recommended. Serial killers. Murder. Post-traumatic
stress. Dana Nolan had been a promising news reporter when a
notorious serial killer had kidnapped her. She had the strength of
will to survive her ordeal, but the scars run deep and she is beset
with a brain injury that has affected her memories. She no longer is
the happy, perky blond reporter who was optimistic; instead she is
beset with nightmares and can no longer trust anyone. She often
blurts out exactly what she is thinking, which in addition to the
awful scars that she bears, makes it hard for her and her family.
Her experiences have led her to have a deep mistrust of everyone and
she is treated as a victim by the press. When she returns to her
hometown to recover from her injuries, she finds herself obsessed
with the disappearance of her friend, Casey Grant, many years before
and sets out to investigate, upsetting the small community in which
she lives.
Hoag has written an exciting thriller that is extended with the
information that the reader gains about the effect that brain
injuries can have on the individual. Dana is struggling with her
memories, the old Dana and the new post serial killer Dana and what
her brain is telling her about the past. The introduction of John
Villante, an ex-soldier with post-traumatic stress and the vivid
descriptions of how this has affected him and also how he is treated
by society also adds another dimension to a good mystery. There are
many twists and turns in this thriller that make it an exciting read
but it is the main characters' experiences that lifted it above the
norm.
Hoag keeps up the suspense with the introduction of several suspects
who could have been involved in the disappearance of Casey, each
being believable until the final chapters. She also finds herself
examining just how she reacted when her best friend disappeared. Did
she lie and cover up things about the event?
This is a very exciting book that readers in the mystery and
thriller genre would enjoy.
Pat Pledger
Squishy McFluff: Supermarket sweep by Pip Jones
Ill. by Ellie Okstad. Faber and Faber, 2014. ISBN 9780571302529
(Age: K-2) Squishy McFluff is so sweet, you'll be smitten. Such a
clever and funny invisible kitten!
Imagine the fun of having a cat that only you can see, especially
when it is really good at inventing great things to do like playing
hide-and-seek at which he is world champion. This is Ava's luck. She
has a big imagination and is happiest when she's playing with her
cat, even though it can lead to trouble - which is exactly what
happens in this adventure at the supermarket.
Beginning with creating havoc as soon as they get in the car which
only an overworked mechanic can fix, this story-in-rhyme tells a
tale of mayhem and disaster about what really should be the most
mundane of chores. Much preferring to be out in the forest digging
for treasure and searching for elves than looking for pickles and
pastries on shelves, Squishy devises a plot that involves a race
with a supermarket trolley.
Young children will love this new series from this English author as
it holds many laughs and just a little bit of naughty. Ella Okstad's
limited-palette illustrations are charming, capturing the essence of
the text perfectly.
As with many new series, there's a website with extra information
and more fun and games at http://squishymcfluff.com/
This is something a little bit different to offer those just getting
started on their independent reading journey who need a bit of
support through short chapters, larger font and uncomplicated
vocabulary - I think they will be eagerly awaiting the next
adventure.
Barbara Braxton
And the band played Waltzing Matilda by Eric Bogle
Ill. by Bruce Whatley. Allen & Unwin, 2015. ISBN 9781743317051
Is there a more haunting tune about World War I than Eric Bogle's
classic 'And the band played Waltzing Matilda'? Beginning with...
'Now when I was a young man, I carried me pack, and I lived the free
life of a rover From the Murray's green basin to the dusty outback,
well I waltzed my Matilda all over'
it tells the story of a young man, almost any young man of 1915 in
Australia, who took up arms to fight in the war at a time when
Australia was trying to meet its quota for Britain and to not fight
for King and Country branded you a coward.
'They gave me a tin hat and they gave me a gun, and they marched me
away to the war.'
Throughout the song and the journey, from the ship departing, the
slaughter of Gallipoli, the hospital for the wounded and the arrival
of 'the crippled, the wounded, the maimed, the legless, the armless,
the blind, the insane' at Circular Quay, there is the poignant
refrain of the band playing Waltzing Matilda, the iconic song that
many believe should be our national anthem as it connects us in a
way like no other. And finally, as an old man, he sits on his porch
and watches the parade while his comrades pass before him and he
knows that soon, as more old men disappear, 'Someday no one will
march there at all'.
How proud and amazed would be those who came home - and those who
didn't - to see that this is not a forgotten war, they are not
forgotten heroes and rather than no one marching, each year the
crowds at the annual commemorations wherever they are get larger.
But the most provocative stanza is
'And the old men march slowly, old bones stiff and sore
They're tired old heroes from a forgotten war
And the young people ask, "What are they marching for?"
And I ask myself the same question.'
Written in 1971 at the height of the protests against the Vietnam
War, many were wondering that aloud then and as the centenary of 25
April 1915, looms large, we may well all ask ourselves the same
question again. With superb illustrations by Bruce Whatley that show
every emotion of the text - drawn with his left hand because he has
discovered he draws 'with much more emotion' with that hand - and
using the restrained palette that one associates with Gallipoli,
this is a book that has to be in your library's collection as it
will be a song known by everyone before this year is done.
However, this is so much more than one of Australia's leading
illustrators putting pictures to an iconic tune. There are teachers'
notes that provide many ideas for exploring the content, its
imagery and its images, and publishers Allen & Unwin have
released a book
trailer that encapsulates it perfectly. The lyrics and music
are available in the ABC song books of 1983 (Time to sing)
and 1989 (The sing book). A memorable contribution to the
collection of books on this topic.
Barbara Braxton
Scorpion Mountain by John Flanagan
Brotherband Book 5: Random House, 2014. ISBN: 9781742759364
(Age: 9+) Recommended. 'Thorn, mind your manners,' Hal cautioned.
Thorn looked at him, all wide-eyed innocence.
'Just a joke, Hal,' he said. 'I'm sure King here can take a joke.
Duncan finally smiled. 'If I can't, I should never have signed up to
be King.' He indicated a low table set by the fireplace, with half a
dozen comfortable-looking armchairs set around it.
'Let's sit and get down to business.'
When one assassination attempt on Princess Cassandra of Araluen is
foiled, King Duncan calls upon Ranger Gilan and the Heron
Brotherband to stop the Scorpion Assassins and prevent them from
finishing the job.
Unfortunately, the Scorpion Assassins aren't the only threat. A
seaside battle is looming and the Herons are summoned by an old
friend to help in this fight.
John Flanagan, the author of Ranger's Apprentice, is a
fantastic author and storyteller. Although this a not a book that I
found easy to read myself, the Brotherband series is a
thrill to read.
I would recommend this novel to children aged 9 and above and of any
gender. I would also recommend it to anyone who has read and enjoyed
the first four books in the series, as it will not be as confusing
if you know the storyline so far.
Jazmin Humphries, Year 7
Penelope Perfect: Project Best Friend by Chrissie Perry
Hardie Grant Egmont, 2015. ISBN 9781760120245
This junior novel is recommended for girls from 7-9 years. Chrissie
Perry introduces the reader to perfectionist Penelope Kingston in
this book sampler. Penelope - never call her Penny - is a good,
sensible and mostly calm, young girl. Her room is totally organised
from her library to her stationery, even the pens have their nibs
facing up. She is obsessive about order and structure however, her
Mum, stepsister Siena and brother Harry don't meet her high
standards. Penelope's one wish is to have a best friend and the new
girl at school Brittany O'Brien may fit her requirements.
This is a novel of discovery about self-identity and perceptions,
about family and school life.
The vignettes included show Penelope's thoughts and a range of
emotions - a steam kettle illustrates the angry thoughts boiling up
inside.
Rhyllis Bignell
Frostfire by Amanda Hocking
Kanin chronicles bk 1. Pan Macmillan, 2015. ISBN: 9781447256649
(Age: Teens) Highly recommended. Bryn Aven is determined to gain
status amongst the Kanin, the most powerful of the hidden tribes.
Being a half-blood she struggles to win respect and has to fight
hard for what she wants, in a place where half-bloods are a rarity.
All Bryn wants is to join the elite guard protecting Kanin royal
family. Bryn will let nothing get in the way of that, not even a
forbidden romance. The fallen hero that Bryn once loved and
worshipped is now kidnapping Kanin children, the Changelings, from
hidden placements within human families. Bryn blames herself and
feels that it's her responsibility to stop him.
This is an intriguing and exciting read that I could not put down. I
loved Bryn's determination to get what she wanted and how she would
not stop at anything when she put her mind to it. Bryn is the kind
of girl that you would not want to mess with in the schoolyard or
anywhere else. I felt her determination and all her other emotions.
This gives a new point of view to the childhood views of trolls,
that is nothing like we had originally thought.
Cecilia Richards
The farmer and the clown by Marla Frazee
Simon & Schuster, 2014. ISBN 9781442497443
(Age: 5-8) Highly recommended. Every now and then a book comes along
which just literally blows one away. This one came along accompanied
by some hype which I tried not to let impair my judgement but turns
out the hype is well-deserved.
There is something completely magical about wordless books which
really just tell a story so wholly and engagingly that the lack of
text goes unnoticed. This is one of those books.
A farmer out alone in his fields sees a circus train in the distance
and also sees something - someone - fall off the caboose!
A baby clown finds he is all alone momentarily but the kindly farmer
takes him home and not only looks after him but the two form a
wonderful friendship and make discoveries about each other in the
course of just one day. When the circus train comes back to look for
their missing clown baby, the two new friends have a touching
farewell.
This is just delightful! It is sweet and amusing and above all,
allows the reader all the capacity to 'tell' the story revealed
through the whimsical illustrations.
I just LOVE it! Highly recommended for young readers from Prep age
upwards. Marla Frazee is a two-time Caldecott Honor Medallist and
even just this book demonstrates why that is so.
Sue Warren
Brazen by Katherine Longshore
Simon and Schuster, 2014. ISBN 9781471116988
(Age: 13+) Recommended. Marriage. Fidelity. Temptation. Mary Howard
has always lived in the shadow of her powerful family. She has
always followed the rules, but then she is married off to Henry
Fitzroy, King Henry VIII's illegitimate son. She is propelled into
the Tudor court's inner circle along with all their games, dares and
temptations. The more Mary gets to know Henry, the harder she falls
for him, however the king has forbidden Henry and Mary from
consummating their marriage, and from seeing each other alone. Rules
are meant to be broken, but just how far are Mary and Henry willing
to go? Mary Howard Fitzroy is the main character throughout this
novel; she is the child of an unhappy marriage and simply wishes for
love and to be loved. But when she is married to the King's
illegitimate son, she is only fourteen years old and shy as well as
unsure about marriage. Brazen is the third novel in this series but is the companion
book to Gilt and Tarnish. The main themes that I
found throughout this novel were love, and definitely history. I
also found that you don't have to read the other two books before
reading this as it has its own story line, but still follows the
other characters in the Gilt and Tarnish novels. I
loved that Katherine Longshore has given the readers an insight to
what the Tudor courts may have looked like, especially the emphasis
on how everyone in the court, particularly the women, served as
pawns for the King and his every desire. Longshore writes in first
person, and it feels like you are Mary throughout the story which I
found to be fantastic as you could create a connection with many of
the characters. I would recommend this novel for teenagers thirteen
years and older, or to anyone interested in the history genre.
Emily Madden
Life or death by Michael Robotham
Hachette, 2014. ISBN 9780751552898
(Age: 16+) Recommended. Mystery and suspense. Crime. Why did Audie
Palmer escape from prison a day before he was due to be released? In
prison for an armed robbery where four people died and $7 million
disappeared, Audie is a man hunted for his knowledge of the
whereabouts of the money and for the murders of the people at the
robbery. His prison inmate friend, Moss doesn't know why he left
after serving all but one day of his 10 year sentence and FBI
Special Agent Desiree Furness, as well as the local sheriff are hot
on his trail. But Audie is not after the money, he is trying to save
a life.
Robotham has come up with an intriguing premise that impels the
reader into the life and motives of Audie, an intelligent, seemingly
non-violent man who has survived the horror of prison, attacks from
other prisoners and numerous visits from men on the outside, who
want to know what has happened to the money. Audie is also seen
through the eyes of his friend, Moss, another prisoner, and Moss
too, cannot fathom out why Audie has decided to leave a day early.
On the run, Audie relives some of his past, and the reader finds out
about the effect that the actions of his brother Carl have had on
his life and begins to empathise with him. Other characters too, are
well fleshed out: Moss who is on his trail under the orders of
unknown men, and the diminutive FBI agent, Desiree Furness, who
struggles to overcome bias because of her size and gender, bur who
is determined to find out the truth.
Robotham is a master at writing a thrilling plot that keeps the
reader wondering what will come next and why the action is
occurring. The suspense is constant, there are plenty of red
herrings to confuse, and enough clues to tantalise, all making Life
or death a really good psychological thriller.
Pat Pledger
Anders and the comet by Gregory Mackay
Allen and Unwin, 2015. ISBN 9781760111151
Highly recommended for readers from 7-9. Author and illustrator
Gregory Mackay's first graphic novel celebrates friendship,
adventure and creativity.
Anders and his classmates are surprised when their teacher gives
them a homework assignment for the school break. They have to write
a report on their holiday activities. Anders, his cousin Eden and
new mate Bernie enjoy family outings, visiting the zoo and a
carnival, exploring the local park, playing video games and play and
craft activities. They have fun making bows and arrows, building a
box cubby, imagining they are in far off lands and adventures with
the Green Grabber. They find a fantastic new pet Skip a glow bug
that can perform some amazing tricks. Anders and the comet is the first in a series of junior
novels by Gregory Mackay; the young reader can take inspiration from
the three friends and use their imagination to create their own
adventures with everyday objects. Why not try making a comic book, a
cubby house or a gyrocopter?
Rhyllis Bignell
The Tinklers three: The perfect pet by M.C. Badger
Hardie Grant Egmont, 2014. ISBN 9781742976273
Meet The Tinklers - three children, Marcus, Mila and Turtle, who
live by themselves in a high-rise apartment while their parents
travel as circus performers - their father is a tightrope walker,
and their mother rides a white horse. Marcus is eight, is
level-headed and wants to be an inventor. Mila is ten, loves ice
cream and can't wait to join the circus. Turtle is three, believes
she is a turtle and wants to be a shark when she grows up. All three
believe they do not need an adult to look after them and have
developed a strategy of standing next to a likely adult should
someone start looking for their parents.
In this adventure, the 4th in the series, they have decided to get a
pet. Mila, who likes to make up rules, says they have fulfilled the
requirements of being good, eating extra icecream every day and
standing on one leg when brushing their teeth. So the time has come.
But agreeing on just which sort of pet to get becomes an issue until
Mila's eyes light on something most unusual. As she says when she
sees all the other usual offerings, 'These pets are OK for other
people but we are the Tinklers and we need something different.'
She persuades the others and the petshop owner and so off they go.
But things don't work out quite as planned and the pet has to be set
free. How will their desire for a pet that is perfect be solved?
This is a new series by Ms Badger which starts with A very good
idea, The coolest pool and An excellent invention
written for the newly independent reader who is ready for novels but
still needs the support of short chapters, a larger font and
imaginative illustrations. The concept of a family free to do as
they choose without parental constraints or responsibilities (like
who pays for their apartment) will appeal to young readers and they
will love its quirkiness and humour as their imaginations take them
to a similar situation.
If you are looking for a new series to introduce students to, this
could be it.
Barbara Braxton<
My first Elmer collection David McKee
Random House, 2014. ISBN 9781783441792
(Age: Preschool - K) Highly recommended. 'Four Elmer board books in
one handy package! Elmer's colours, Elmer's day,
Elmer's friends, and Elmer's weather shrinkwrapped in
an attractive card wrapper to make a gorgeous gift for a young baby
and an essential addition to every playgroup and nurseryschool's
bookshelves.'
Fact: Everyone loves elephants.
Fact: Everyone loves Elmer.
Well, that's how it works in our family and I have to say, that I
have not shared Elmer with any Lower School humans who have not had
a similar response!
And now, in the 25th anniversary year of Elmer stories, here is the
dinkiest, cutest little series/set to gift to miniscule people in
your circle. As we know, reading starts with the smallest of
children if it is to be a lifelong habit and this perfectly sweet
collection of four Elmer board books is a super way to start your
favourite little one off such a journey.
Each little board book is sturdy, well designed - and particularly
important - the exactly right size for small dimpled hands to clasp
onto and wave around excitedly. As one might expect, vibrant colours
abound and accompanied by simple text to which tinies will relate
well, I cannot recommend these highly enough.
As well as the joys of the stories and colourful illustrations,
simple concepts abound. For example, in Elmer's friends the
reader is introduced to those friends with comments such as 'Hello
Snake. You're longer than anybody'.
While these might not suit everyone's school library - those with
early childhood centres or who accommodate younger siblings might
differ - they are certainly a gorgeous gift for the small people in
your life.
Read about the evolution of Elmer and the always wonderful Sparklebox
has heaps of resources.
Sue Warren
