Pan Macmillan, 2013. ISBN 9781447229933.
(Age: 15+) Almost English is told from two viewpoints, with
one chapter from Marina followed by a chapter from her mother Laura.
Abandoned by her father, sixteen-year-old Marina lives with her
mother and her father's three elderly Hungarian relatives in a tiny
flat in West London. Feeling caged by her families crushing
expectations and strange traditions, Marina longs to escape.
However, she is now regretting her escape to a traditional English
boarding school which leaves her feeling like an outcast. At this
school, Marina feels like the awkward half-foreign girl who doesn't
know how to fit in. Marina is shy, doesn't know how to flirt and is
clueless when it comes to clothes.
Her emotionally delicate mother has her own painful secrets and thus
fails to notice how desperately homesick her daughter is and also
continually fails to tell her daughter something she would love to
hear - how much she misses her and wants her home. Laura believes
because her only daughter wanted to attend a boarding school that
she does not want to be with her.
Meanwhile, Marina is pining so badly for home but doesn't want to
worry her relatives. Her family, especially her grandmother has
sacrificed everything to send her to this exclusive school, so how
does Marina tell them she wants out?
I found this book bizarre and I was continually frustrated by the
inability of mother and daughter to communicate their true feelings
to each other.
Michelle Thomson
The topaz quest by Gill Vickery
DragonChild Book 3, Bloomsbury, 2013. ISBN 9781408188255
(Ages: 7-9) Highly recommended. Fantasy, Quest Adventure, Witches,
Magic. The topaz quest is the third DragonChild fantasy
adventure. Tia's quest continues with her search for the third Jewel
of Power, a topaz stolen from the DragonQueen's necklace. This
jewel has been stolen by the High Witch Luona who controls the
townspeople of Stoplar with its weather-altering magic. Tia has
bravely gathered the emerald that lets her speak to animals and the
opal that lets her change shape. Once again she is accompanied by
the jackdaw Loki and her DragonBrother Finn.
This junior novel begins with a recap of her previous quests, this
helps the new reader understand Tia's motivation. When they finally
reach the cliffs above Stoplar, the trio are stopped by the fierce
ice storm. Finn and Loki help with the entry into the town and her
quick thinking helps her to find shelter. Her protectors help her
gain a work badge and she finds work collecting saffron threads. Of
course the news of Tia's search for the jewels has reached the High
Witch Luona and she will not let the topaz go without a struggle.
Gil Vickery's novel is imaginatively written and shows her
understanding of the young reader's need for magical fantasy and
adventure. Mike Love's dark moody black and white sketches create
atmosphere and add to the understanding of Tia's journey.
This novel is highly recommended for children from 7-9 years of age.
Suitable for a class read.
Rhyllis Bignel
The apprentices by Maile Meloy
The apprentices by Maile Meloy
Text, 2013. ISBN 9781922147141.
Recommended. The apprentices like all good sequels begins
virtually where The Apothecary left off.
Janie Scott is back at school in America regaining her memories of
Benjamin Burrows and experimenting on a way to convert salt sea
water into water. Her roommate's father, an evil industrialist tries
to get Janie to work for him and when that fails; he plots to
disgrace and kidnap her.
Benjamin meanwhile is in French Indochina trying to assist the
poor, the sick and the injured. He becomes aware that Janie is in
danger and contrives to get to America. Janie is captured by the
megalomaniac tycoon Magnusson and taken to an Island of Malaya,
while Benjamin is captured by cargo cultist on a Pacific Island.
All the action contrives to keep the two young friends apart, and
they rely on the Apothecary, Pip and Jin Lo using all their
resources to rescue Janie and prevent nuclear disaster.
The path of true love is never smooth and on his journey Benjamin is
aware that he has a rival in America who cares for Janie as much as
he does. Janie too, is considering her feelings and wondering if she
and Benjamin have a future.
Maile Meloy has created a cast of wonderful characters and matinee
villains, and a story with a twist of magic and an interesting Cold
War setting. It is easy to see her continue to write them within a
variety of exotic settings with a Cold War background. As her
characters and readership grow older we can move from the Eisenhower
period to the glamorous Kennedy Presidency.
There is a lot to like about this book and it works on many levels.
Plot and character drive this novel and it should have wide and
cross genre appeal.
Michael Jongen
Spy Society by Robin Benway
Simon and Schuster, London, 2013. ISBN 9781471116742.
(Age: 13+) Recommended. This is a thoroughly enjoyable read largely
because neither the author nor the narrator take themselves too
seriously.
The premise behind the story is that Maggie Silver is the daughter
of two international spies and, since the age of 4, has been a
safe-cracking genius. The family has just been sent to NYC on
assignment, but this time Maggie is the key. Yes, she has her first
real job as a spy: attend high school and befriend Jesse Oliver so
she can break into his dad's safe! Sounds easy?? Well, for a girl
who has spent her life travelling the world accompanying her parents
on their spy cases, attending high school is not as easy as you
might expect. Maggie soon discovers that she is more adept at
cracking safes than she is at cracking the teenage high school code
of behaviour, let alone cracking the code of teenage boys.
Fortunately for the reader, Maggie also has a sharp eye and a witty
tongue and is not afraid to mock herself, so her endeavours to make
friends and settle into high school are filled with humour and just
the requisite amount of teenage angst. With such an engaging
narrator, we are willing to go along for the ride when the plot
begins to stretch the bounds of credibility as Maggie and her
new-found friends attempt to turn the tables on the bad guys.
Part mystery story (with just enough hints thrown in to keep the
reader guessing), part teen romance story (as both Jesse and Maggie
try to make sense of their equally unusual upbringings) and part
high-school drama this novel is a thoroughly engaging romp from
beginning to end. Robin Benway balances the demands of each element
of her story cleverly and the teenage narrative voice is pitch
perfect. With plenty of action, romance and just the right amount of
teenage angst to keep young readers entertained, it looks like a
delightful series is about to begin.
Deborah Marshall
My first book of jokes Ill. by Mark Guthrie
Scholastic, 2013. ISBN 9781742837925
Recommended for 4-6 year olds. This a great first book of jokes for
beginning readers that has an Aussie flavour. Some of the jokes also
take old favourites and add a twist in the punch line. Why did
the kookaburra sit on the clock? So it would be on time!
Mark Guthrie's uncomplicated illustrations support the simple fun of
reading aloud the humorous questions and responses. The young reader
will enjoy the scenes of a platypus wearing lipstick and the horse
in horspital. As they tell these to friends, classmates and
family members, listen to their laughter and watch, as they begin to
understand the importance of having fun with oral language.
'From there to here, and here to there, funny things are
everywhere'. Dr. Seuss.
Rhyllis Bignell
The heir by Lynne Stringer
Wombat Books, 2013. ISBN 9781921632440. Verindon 1, the new sci-fi series by Lynne Stringer begins with
Sarah's life rapidly disintegrating. A talented art student at a
prestigious high school, a reversal in her father's business means
that she is now a scholarship girl and therefore barely tolerated by
the student body. Always a loner, Sarah now feels even more isolated
when she is constantly preyed upon by an extremely wealthy and
therefore, powerful senior. Her only enjoyment comes from looking
at, and daydreaming about, her best friend's boyfriend, Dan. Then
tragedy strikes and Sarah suddenly has no-one except Dan to help
her. However, is Dan really a friend or do more sinister reasons lie
behind his concern for Sarah?
Sarah's concept of who she is and where she belongs is suddenly
spiralling out of control and she finds herself struggling to adapt
to another new reality - one that she could never have believed
possible. A new world, a new identity and a new set of problems
confront Sarah and leave the reader eagerly awaiting the next book.
After a slow beginning Stringer hits her stride in what promises to
be an engaging series.
Ros Lange
Clementine Rose and the farm fiasco by Jacqueline Harvey
Random House, 2013. ISBN 9781742755472.
(Age: 6-9) Recommended. Chapter book. Farm life. Adventure. Harvey's
chatty style will entice readers to read the books about the
vivacious Clementine Rose, a well rounded character who beguiles
young readers with her slightly anarchic air, her love of everything
around her, her very odd aunt and even odder household. At school,
her dogmatic teacher eventually relents taking the class to Polly's
farm. Mrs Bottomley dresses in her most appropriate outfit for a
trip outdoors, but is outdone by Clementine's aunt, dobbed in as the
last resort as an adult to accompany the class. Her white pant suit
is a magnet waiting to attract anything dirty.
All the ingredients for a good fun read are mixed together in this
easily absorbed story, as Clementine's aunt and Mrs Bottomley get
separated from the class and chased by a goose. Most of the group
heads back to the farm house and food, but Clementine, Sophie, Poppy
and two of the boys find themselves being chased by Ramon, the angry
ram. All ends happily, and the two older women who were antagonistic
at the start, become friends and find the missing Granny Bert.
These books are a gentle read, with beguiling characters, a
recognisable setting and enough good fun and adventure to keep
readers content. There are four more titles listed on the back cover
with news that several more are in the offing, enough to keep every
fan happy.
Fran Knight
May Gibbs Children's Literature Trust Creative Time Fellowship by Jacqueline Harvey
I have just spent the past month in Adelaide, living in a gorgeous
little apartment affectionately known as The Burrow, in Osmond
Terrace, Norwood. Last year I applied for a Creative Time Residency
with the May Gibbs Children's Literature Trust and was thrilled to
learn that my application had been successful. I had thought about
applying in previous years but could never see my way clear to
having a month away from work. Since taking the huge step at the end
of 2012 to write full time, I was absolutely delighted to have this
opportunity.
Adelaide was completely new to me - and I have to say after a month,
it is now one of my favourite Australian cities. I love the ease
with which you can get around; traffic, what traffic? I really
enjoyed the cafe culture of The Parade in Norwood and on the couple
of occasions that I was able to venture further afield to the
Barossa Valley and Victor Harbour, I can attest to the fine wine and
food and stunning countryside.
The primary goal of the residency is to give children's writers and
illustrators a block of uninterrupted time to work on their craft.
There are also some opportunities to do school visits or work with
local libraries, earning a little bit of money along the way.
I went to Adelaide with the goal of finishing the draft for the
ninth instalment in my Alice-Miranda series, Alice-Miranda in
Japan. So there I was in Adelaide, writing about Tokyo and all
things Japanese. It was great to be able to write all day and into
the night if things were going well, or to take a walk around
Norwood, spellbound by the beautiful architecture and meeting
friendly folks along the way - including Boston, a little floppy
eared rabbit whose 7 year old owner, Abbey, takes for walks each
afternoon.
My four weeks were punctuated by events with the Norwood, Payneham
and St Peter's library, working with local schools; Norwood, East
Marden and East Adelaide and another event with the Glenelg library
and two of the Catholic schools nearer the coast. My publisher
arranged for me to do four book signings on Saturdays with; Dymocks
Rundle Mall, Dillons Norwood, Collins Edwardstown and lastly, on
national bookshop day I spent the morning at Mostly Books in
Mitcham. It was lovely to meet so many enthusiastic readers,
teachers, librarians and booksellers across the city.
I had the pleasure of meeting Pat Pledger and Fran Knight over
coffee and delicious cakes and I also spent time with Rebecca Bird
and James Williams from the legendary Pegi Williams Bookshop in
Walkerville.
A highlight of my time was an additional opportunity to visit
Griffin Press, where Random House (and numerous other publishers)
have their books printed. I had always wondered how books were made
- for me it was a bit of a magical process. You send the page proofs
back and 'voila' they return as a book. I wanted to be able to tell
children what really happens. And now I can. I was excited to see
the process but you can imagine how thrilled I was to learn that my
own books were being printed, collated, bound and packaged that very
afternoon. It was quite a surreal moment.
As a not for profit organisation, The May Gibbs Children's
Literature Trust relies heavily on the work of a volunteer
committee. This amazing band of women looked after me so well; with
airport and school visit transfers, food, coffee and friendship. I
cannot thank them enough and I am looking forward to seeing them all
again when I return to Adelaide for a book tour in 2014.
At the end of my time, I'd added 40,000 words to the manuscript and
ostensibly completed the draft. I've come home this week to lots of
reading and re-drafting but I was pleased to have achieved as much
as I did and thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to join the alumni
of Creative Time Fellows.
My Band by Elizabeth Lea
Ill. by Chantal Stewart. National Library of Australia, 2013. ISBN:
9780642277701.
(Ages: 4-6) Recommended. Nonfiction. Subjects: Music, Musical
Instruments. My Band by Elizabeth Lea and Chantal Stewart is a
great, lift the flap book that introduces the young reader to ten
different musical instruments explaining how they are played and
their musical family. Each double page spread starts with the same
question, a young girl asks, 'I'm off to play in the band. See if
you can guess which instrument I am going to play...'
On the opposite page on the front of the flaps are pictures showing
part of the instrument and the starting letter inviting children to
guess what is underneath.
The central band of colour across each page accentuates the text,
and the simple colourful illustrations of the young girl playing
each of the instruments are great visual cues for discussions about
bands, orchestras and music. At the end of this fact book are eight
projects for children to make their very own instruments with
everyday household objects. These instruments include panpipes, an
oboe and a tambourine.
This book is fun to read with the repetitive text, information
hidden under the flaps and great projects to make. This is a
great addition to the classroom, music room or home library.
Recommended for 4-6 years of age.
Rhyllis Bignell
Seventeen and Gone by Nova Ren Suma
Hardie Grant Egmont, 2013. ISBN 9781742976143.
(Ages: 14+) Seventeen and Gone is a chilling tale about
girls that go missing when they're 17 told through Nova Ren Suma's
poetic, evocative prose.
It's a story of one girl's devotion to finding out what has happened
to Abby, a girl found on a missing poster. It's also the story of
how that girl can lose herself in the process in this psychological
thriller.
Within its pages, we find out about Lauren's commitment to finding
out what happened to these missing girls, and she is the only one
who has the courage to wear on and look for what happened even when
their families and authorities have given up. Her perspective blurs
the lines of reality, one day she'd be in school and the next she'll
seeing spirits of the lost girls and they will be making her do
things.
The writing is poetic, chilling and beautiful, and captures the
heart of the novel perfectly. Through Nova Ren Suma's writing, we
experience the strange and confusing hallucinations and feelings
that the main character has as she slowly loses grip on her sanity.
I found Seventeen and Gone to be a thrilling adventure, with
its overarching mystery about what happened to Abby and the things
that were happening to Lauren in the process. I read the whole novel
in one day, because I was glued to this strange and haunting tale. Seventeen and Gone explores some very real issues, including
not giving up on missing persons (in particular, girls when they
turn 17) and the mentally unstable. It's certainly not a fluffy
read, but one that helps us to understand some darker issues in life
and may encourage others to reach out for help.
Jeann Wong
Flora's War by Pamela Rushby
Ford St Publishing, 2013. ISBN: 9781921665981.
Highly recommended for readers aged 13+. Between April 25 1915 and
January 9 1916, the Battle of Gallipoli, also known as the
Dardanelles Campaign, raged between British/French Allies and the
crumbling Ottoman Empire in modern day Turkey. It was a defining
moment for both sides but for Australia and New Zealand, arguably
the most significant military episode in their respective histories,
giving rise to an enduring national identity and the concept of the
ANZAC spirit. Since then there have been countless books,
discussions, films, articles and other retellings both fact and
fiction, of the tragic casualties suffered - a shocking almost 30,
000 Australian soldiers dead or wounded as a result of combat.
Pamela Rushby has previously explored through fiction and
nonfiction, Australia's part in significant wars, Ancient and Modern
Egypt and archaeology and in this new novel, combines all of these
ingredients to present a very different slant on the ANZAC story.
Flora is a young girl, newly transitioned from schoolgirl to young
woman, the daughter of a well-known Australian archaeologist who
enjoys an annual sojourn in Cairo, helping her father with his
current dig. In 1915 however, Cairo is a very different city
from all her previous visits, with endless rows of army tents,
drilling troops and dedicated young nurses in abundance. Far
from Flora's anticipation of a whirl of social engagements as newly
emerged 'young lady', within a very short time Cairo is hurled into
the bloody Dardanelles Campaign aftermath as waves of wounded
soldiers are transported from the Gallipoli battle- many of them in
near-fatal condition. The normal structure of hospitals and
nursing staff cannot cope with this flood of piteous survivors and
every possible building is commandeered to accommodate those who
recover and volunteers are hard pressed to transport and nurse them.
Flora's account of the Gallipoli tragedy is told compassionately and
provides the reader with a little known side to the well known
history of this disastrous military venture. The personal
relationships woven throughout the story lend depth and emotion to
the characters and their situations and the reader is drawn into the
atmosphere of the dark days they endured. The author has used
extensive research to provide solid factual recounts of the events.
This novel would make an extremely valuable addition to any
secondary library as well as a significant contribution to the study
of World War 1 and Australian Identity (ACARA Year 9 History
Strand).
Sue Warren
Sea Hearts by Margo Lanagan
Allen and Unwin, 2012. ISBN 9781742375052.
UK title: The Brides of Rollrock Island, David Fickling Books,
2012.
(Age 15+) Highly recommended. CBCA Winner Older readers, 2013,
Ditmar Award for Best Novel (2013), Aurealis Award Nominee for Young
Adult Novel (2012), Norma K Hemming Award (2013). Rollrock Island is
a small remote community where seals frequent the beaches. Strange
stories are secretly told of witches who have power over the seals
and of seal wives, beautiful women whose seal skins have been stolen
and who have married the fishermen on the island. Misskaella is a
tiny young girl, who is bullied by the island children and
overlooked by the young men. When she discovers that she has the
power to give the young men the seal bride that they so desire, the
consequences of this choice are far reaching.
Lanagan has taken this old Celtic folk tale and teased out the
emotions that face everyone when a young man buys himself an
irresistible sea-wife. Told from different viewpoints the reader is
taken along on a journey of desire, revenge, of loyalty and love and
of longing for the sea. The feelings of the husbands who are so
attracted to the seal women that they hide their skins where the
women can't find them are explored as well as the fathers who mourn
for their daughters who don't thrive on land and must be returned to
the sea. So are the feelings of the offspring, the young boys who
know how much their mams love them but how much they long for the
sea and the women who are abandoned by their husbands for the sea
wives. Even Misskaella's fate and grief as a result of her meetings
with the seal king is described poignantly although the reader can
have little sympathy for her manipulation of everyone's feelings as
she relentlessly pursues her revenge on the islanders.
This is beautifully written and rich tale that vividly showcases the
beauty and darkness of Lanagan's prose. The setting of Rollrock
Island sings to the reader, who can almost smell the sea water and
easily imagines the rocks, the fishing village and the isolation of
the community. Sea hearts is a story for the mature, imaginative reader who will
find much to stimulate discussion and thought in its themes and
authorship.
Pat Pledger
The top team by Sally Rippin
Ill. by Stephanie Spartels. Hey Jack series. Hardie Grant
Egmont, 2013. ISBN 9781742975429
(Age: 5-7) Highly recommended. School Life. Friendship. Cooperation.
Competition. The top team is the latest chapter book in
Sally Rippin's Hey Jack series. In each story Jack is
introduced by the emotions he's feeling; here he's grouchy. A black
and white sketch of Jack with clenched fists, a big frown and angry
thoughts illustrate his mood. Jack is angry because the teacher Ms.
Milton hasn't paired Jack with his best friend Billie B. Brown (star
of her own series.) He's paired instead with Alex who is much better
at Maths than Jack. They both learn to cooperate and encourage each
other with the daily lessons.
The books are easy to read with the large font and simple sentences,
making them a great beginning chapter book for emergent readers.
Sally Rippin adds values and life lessons in each story. In The
top team both Jack and Alex learn teamwork, cooperation and
the need to value each other's strengths. The black-and-white
illustrations bring life to Jack and his classmates and add insight
into their emotions.
These books are a favourite at school and are highly recommended for
5-7 year olds. These books are targeted to the boy reader; however
they can be enjoyed by everyone. They are great to read to a class
and can stimulate healthy discussions on moods, emotions and values.
Rhyllis Bignell
The demon trappers series by Jana Oliver
Macmillan, 2013. ISBN 9781447241744.
(Age: 15+) This volume has two books under the one cover: Forsaken
and Forbidden, book 1 and book 2 of The demon trappers
series. There are two other books in the series, Forgiven
and Foretold. On the back it states 'For older readers'.
The books revolve around the story of Riley Blackthorne, who has
always wanted to be a Demon Trapper like her father who goes hunting
demons with his sidekick, Beck. In the first book she is training as
an apprentice Demon Trapper which, with school, takes up all her
time. When younger she had had a huge crush on Beck but her
interests now lie with Simon a fellow apprentice. When a Grade Five
Geo-Fiend confronts Riley at the library and her world crashes
around her, she takes on a massive struggle again the demons. The
second book continues the saga with Riley growing in skill and
confidence as a Demon Trapper.
This is an exciting start to the series. Riley is a strong heroine
who has to grow up in a hurry. Her fights with the demons are
exciting and the world building is well done. Supporting characters
are well rounded and the action is more important than the
inevitable love triangle.
An easy to read, quite addictive duo of books that is pure escapism
and will be enjoyed by readers who like this genre featuring demons.
Pat Pledger
Zombelina by Kristyn Crow
Ill. by Molly Idle. Bloomsbury, 2013. ISBN 9780802728043.
(Age: 4+) Picture book. Zombies. Humour. Family. Zombelina
loves to dance. She dances with a spectre, dances like a ghost,
wiggles with werewolves and boogies with bats, but more than
anything she loves dancing for her family, her mother, the witch,
her father and brother, both vampires. In their house at Twisted Tree
Lane are all the things which make up ghost and scary stories, which
readers will love to find in the colourful illustrations.
Sometimes when Zombelina gets engrossed in her dancing, parts of her
body come off, and a leg may end up in the air but she keeps going.
Mum and Dad enroll her in a real ballet school, buying her all the
accoutrements which she will need as a ballet student.
She practices with all her might, until on the night all the girls
are arranged on the stage, she comes down with stage fright, and
cannot move.
But no worries, her parents save the day in this endearing look at
family love and support.
Girls particularly will enjoy reading about this little girl and her
attempts to learn ballet, and boys will love the background of the
house at Twisted Tree Lane.
Fran Knight
