Woolshed Press, 2013. ISBN 9781742758602.
(Age: 14+) In a highly commended debut novel Nicole Hayes has taken
her own personal teenage obsession with footy (Australian rules
football) and woven a strong resonating story of Shelley, a
Melbourne girl who is struggling to come to terms with the changes
in her life.
Aside from the typical complications faced by teenage girls coming
to grips with their identity and place in an adult world, Shelley
has the additional burden of dealing with a poignant grief having
lost her mother and her twin brother in a car accident. The year
that has passed since the tragedy has driven both Shelley and her
father into a grim place of hollowness - behaving almost as if the
two lost ones never existed.
Unable to cope with her old school and her perceptions that everyone
now sees her as incomplete, Shelley starts a new school where she is
confronted by an unfriendly bunch of cliquey girls who seem
determined to ostracise her from the very start. Her one salvation is
discovering Tara, who is even more a footy tragic than herself.
Through Tara, she is drawn into a crowd of team worshippers and
becomes embroiled on a personal level with her heroes of the local
footy team, in particular, the new star player on the team, her
idol, Mick.
As Shelley becomes more and more involved in the culture of the
club, Hayes is able to explore the dichotomy between males and
females, boys and girls, within the constraints of society and
expectations. Far from finding her place within the team circle as
she had thought she would, Shelley is faced with more and more
difficult reflections, secrets and questions as she fights to find
her own true sense belonging.
This is a challenging novel in some ways, and does contain some
adult themes and strong language but recommended for young adult
readers 14+
Sue Warren
Flora's war by Pamela Rushby
Ford Street Publishing, 2013 ISBN 9781921665981.
(Age: 11+) Flora's war begins in late 1914 in Cairo, where
the somewhat indulged daughter of an Australian archaeologist whose
only interest is discovering the antiquities of Ancient Egypt, meets
up with her American friend Gwen, quite determined to be 'modern
young ladies' of the time now that they are 16 and having 'come
out', are afforded much more freedom. Flora's war ends a
year later in Cairo where two much more mature young ladies
contemplate their future having seen and done much more than 'modern
young ladies' should have - in fact having seen and done much more
than modern young ladies (or gents) of any generation should have.
Cairo in 1914 is not the place Gwen and Flora have known from their
annual visits for the excavation season since childhood. Instead of
the close-knit expatriate society they know, the riches and richness
of the privileged life of hotels where steps are swept as soon as
they are stepped upon, and the endless desert stretching to the
beckoning pyramids, it is becoming more and more crowded with troops
from Britain, Australia and New Zealand and tent cities are
springing up. There is an air of expectation that something is going
to happen, strengthened by the military's acquisition of their
hotels for hospitals and the girls being commandeered to volunteer
as helpers in Lady Bellamy's rest and recreation centre - a pavilion
in the Ezbekieh Gardens where soldiers on leave will be tempted with
tea and table tennis to distract them from the salacious attractions
of 'The Wozzer'. The war is acknowledged but it is far away from
Egypt, yet still the troop build-up and training continues and the
arrival of contingents of Australian nurses is an ominous sign. But,
undeterred, Flora and Gwen push on to being modern young women,
learning to dance in new ways, smoking cigarettes, hosting
spectacular parties, and most importantly for their freedom,
learning to drive a car. And it is this skill which takes them to
sights, sounds, smells and experiences that no one should ever
endure, let alone 16 year-old girls. For, as what we now know as the
Gallipoli Campaign begins and intensifies, the war comes to Cairo as
tens of thousands of wounded soldiers are evacuated and Flora and
Gwen are enmeshed in their care.
There have been so many books written about the events of 1915 on
the Gallipoli Peninsula, events that have shaped the Australian and
New Zealand psyche and spawned the enduring ANZAC spirit of
collaboration and rivalry, and as the centenary approaches there
will be more. But Flora's war is different - it's written
from the perspective of 'what happened next'. We know the facts and
figures and stories of the soldiers in the trenches and the bravery,
courage and losses, but what happened to those who were injured,
those who were evacuated to the hospital ships sitting just
offshore? So often the stories stop on the beach. In the notes, the
author, Pamela Rushby tells of her journey from reading a story
about Australian nurses in 1915 to writing a story of a young
civilian volunteer in Egypt, and it is this aspect that makes this
novel stand out. Even though Flora Wentworth is fictional, it is
nevertheless the story of real people, inspirational people whose
story has seldom been told. Flora's war is an engaging read, written by a hand that knows
how to weave light and dark together so that the reader is
entertained but also educated. Flora loves her social life and we
learn how the social conventions of the time remain paramount - as
unmarried young women, their duties are arranged so they cannot see
men without their pyjama tops, yet emptying bedpans is acceptable -
contrasted against the pathos of young men knowing they may never
return from this 'adventure' they signed on for. It paints a picture
of a time in history that we all know, that has been rarely seen.
Like Boy soldiers by Cliff Green, this is a story that
stands above others on this topic for me. My copy will stay on my
shelves until my granddaughters are old enough to read it and
perhaps understand what their great great grandfather endured.
There are Teachers'
notes written by the author and these offer a range of ideas
which take this story beyond the realm of a girls' own adventure to
a work that has a real place in supporting our students'
understanding of this critical piece of Australian history. If you
are looking to boost your collection in anticipation of the 1915
centenary of Anzac Day, this should be at the top of your list.
Barbara Braxton
Every Breath by Ellie Marney
Allen & Unwin, 2013. ISBN: 9781743316429
(Age: 15+) Highly recommended. Themes: Crime, Family, Friendship,
Romance, Thriller, Mystery, Grief/Loss.
I am starting to be more conscious of the use of the word 'sexy' to
sell YA books. With the emergence of the 'New Adult' category, it's
getting harder to work out where to draw the line with explicit
content. Books are now coming home with me a lot more, until I can
read them and be aware of what's in them. Every Breath has the word
'sexy' on the cover, but this is not one you will have to worry
about. Rachel and James' relationship takes most of the book to
develop, and although there is some hot kissing, it does stop there.
Every Breath is more about establishing itself in the detective
genre. It uses clever references to Sherlock Holmes lore as a fun,
irreverent way to establish its protagonists. Rachel Watts and James
Mycroft live two doors down from each other, since Rachel's family
left their bankrupt farm. We are shown this friendship four
months in and not given very much background at all, as to how or
why they came to be friends. They just are, and we accept that.
Mycroft is a genius with a damaged psyche and Rachel's practical
nature is the best thing for him.
When one of Mycroft's friends is murdered, the pair stumble into
solving the crime (although not so much with the stumble, and more
with the determination of a boy who has already seen too much death,
and who needs to make order from chaos). Rachel is not sure
what she should do: Placate Mycroft and let him think it is capable
of actually solving the crime, or persuade him to leave it to the
authorities. She oscillates between wanting to stay out of the mess,
and wanting to learn more. Of course, they do become entangled, and
the climax at the zoo has all the elements mystery lovers
want: danger, an evil psychopath and sacrifice.
There will be at least two more, with the next one (Every Move)
delving into the mysterious deaths of Mycroft's parents, only
mentioned here in passing.
Trish Buckley
The locket of dreams by Belinda Murrell
Random House 2013. ISBN 9780857980212.
The publisher's blurb reads:
'A magical timeslip adventure set in Scotland of the 1850s and
present-day Sydney. Sophie discovers a golden locket in an old
treasure box that belonged to her grandmother's grandmother. When
she falls asleep wearing the locket, she magically travels back in
time to 1858 to learn the truth about the mysterious Charlotte
Mackenzie.
Daughter of a wealthy Scottish laird, Charlotte and her sister Nell
live a wonderful life with their parents and animals, on a misty
island with its own ruined castle. Then disaster strikes and it
seems the girls will lose everything they love. Why were Charlotte
and Nell sent halfway around the world to live with strangers? Did
their wicked uncle steal their inheritance? What happened to the
priceless sapphire - the Star of Serendib? With the magic of the
golden locket, Sophie begins to unravel the mysteries as she shares
the adventures of Charlotte and Nell - outwitting their greedy
relatives, escaping murderous bushrangers, and fighting storm and
fire. But how will her travels in time affect Sophie's own life?'
This is not only the perfect summary of this historical fiction
novel, but also the perfect bait to get our girls who are
independent readers to take the hook. I have to admit that lack of
time and opportunity meant this novel from Belinda Murrell had not
made it to the top of my review pile, but having read and thoroughly
enjoyed The River Charm it was immediately elevated to the next
must-read position and it deserved its place.
In my review of The River Charm I wrote, 'Historical
fiction, written well, can provide a greater insight into the life
and times of a particular period better than any website, textbook
or other non-fiction resource. Historical fiction, written well and
woven around actual people, places and events can bring the past to
life and enable students to really appreciate the contrasts between
life in a particular timespan and their own enabling them to reflect
on not only the changes that have occurred, but, often, why they
have' and it applies equally to this title as that. Murrell has
based the story on tales handed down through the generations of her
family, tales accompanied by the passing of the locket from mother
to daughter for 150 years. She remembers holding the locket in her
hand as a youngster when her mother owned it and wishing she could
see what 'Ellen Mackenzie must have experienced while she wore it.'
Murrell has a wonderful knack of looking at her family's history and
saying 'I wonder' and crafting a most readable story with credible
characters that makes you say, 'Of course that's what must have
happened' while, at the same time, because of her thorough research,
providing an insight into the life of the times in a way that
enriches the history curriculum making what could be tedious come
alive. I'm now going to seek out her other titles - The
Forgotten Pearl, The Ivory Rose and The Ruby
Talisman - because I think they will make a must-have
collection that will provide a remarkable journey back in time that
will be an excellent support to the history strand of the Australian
National Curriculum.
Barbara Braxton
The bear went over the mountain by Louis Shea
Scholastic Australia, 2013. ISBN 9781742833712.
A bear went for a walk over a mountain to see what he could see,
leading the reader through a variety of environments, with different
animals seeing wonderful sights. First the bear sees singing
squirrels in the forest, then a fox sees creative crabs in the sand.
Simple repetitive text makes this a cute read aloud that younger
students will love. They will be able to join in with the rhyme and
repetition, and will enjoy the animals and the cute illustrations. I
read this to a group of 5 year olds and they absolutely loved it.
This would also be useful for teachers looking at animals in
different environments, with students being able to extrapolate
information from the pictures. The accompanying cd is a nice bonus.
Jemma Lorenz
The fault in our stars by John Green
Penguin, 2012. ISBN 978 0143567592.
(Age: 14+) Highly recommended. Cancer, Relationships. With a miracle
drug prolonging her life a little longer, Hazel is under no
illusions that she has a limited time to live. She goes along to
support group for cancer teens as a balm to her frantic over
protective parents, who think she has not accepted her fate, and
there she meets Augustus, who after having one leg amputated, is a
survivor of cancer.
Over the next few months, Augustus and Hazel develop a fractious
relationship, eventually admitting that they have fallen in love.
Throughout their story, Hazel refers constantly to a book she holds
dear, An Imperial Affliction by Peter Van Houten, one which
speaks to her about what she is feeling about her condition and
imminent death. She often refers to this book, quoting slabs of it,
using it as a reference and guide, and writing to the author who
lives in Amsterdam. Her one aim before she dies is to meet this man,
but as he does not respond to her enquiries, Augustus takes up the
cause and finally breaks the impasse, the two going to The
Netherlands to meet him. She wants to find out what happened to the
family in his book to better help her mother cope with her death.
Green presents the non sufferers with accuracy, their irritable
comments, their glib reassurances, and above all, their inability to
let Hazel and Augustus be themselves. All through we hear of the
wider community of cancer sufferers, their treatments, survival
rates and their families.
Although death stalks the book, it is also very funny, with Green
lampooning the well wishers and do gooders, and the two main
characters employing black humour to ease the tension.
Fran Knight
Alice-Miranda Shines Bright by Jacqueline Harvey
Random House, 2013. ISBN 9781742752907.
Highly recommended for ages 8 and up. Themes: Mysteries,
School Life, Friendship, Village Life. Alice-Miranda is a lovable,
friendly, caring character, who attends a wonderful boarding school
Winchesterfield-Downsfordvale Academy for Proper Young Girls. She is
back shining bright in her eighth adventure. School life is fun with
auditions for the Summer Spectacular, friends to help and ponies to
ride. The sixth form girls are preparing for high school and one
sixth-former Jacinta is acting out, causing problems for the other
students.
Meanwhile in Downsfordvale, Mayor Silas Wiley is involved in a
mysterious scheme, while his secretary Ursula has her own secrets
and Mr. Reginald Parker has woken from a three year coma and
disappeared with his nurse. Alice-Miranda and Millie want to help so
they take their ponies Chops and Bonaparte to search the nearby
woodlands. They make a wonderful discovery in a hidden cave but vow
to keep it a secret. There are different mysteries woven through
this story that need Alice-Miranda's help to solve.
Harvey has created a wonderful world for Alice-Miranda, her boarding
school life is one to envy with fun, lack of restrictions,
supportive staff and lots of food! The girls have a lot of freedom
to explore and interact with the townsfolk and help them. Alice-Miranda is a well-loved series with fans in many countries.
This is another highly recommended book for readers from eight years
of age. There is a blog
for the series.
Rhyllis Bignell
What makes you you? by Gill Arbuthnott
A & C Black, 2013. ISBN: 9781408194065.
(Reading Age: 11-13) Highly recommended. Subjects: Genetics,
Evolution, Cloning, DNA. What Makes You You is an excellent introduction to the science of
genetics. Gill Arbuthnot's explanations are expertly written in easy
to understand style that is engaging for a younger audience. From
Charles Darwin's theory of evolution, the importance of Mendel's
experiments to the development of DNA photography in the 1950s up to
the latest developments in 2012, the history of genetics is
explored. The reader gains insight into the men and women scientists
who have been instrumental in researching DNA, human genomes, stem
cells and cloning. From mice growing human ears to saviour siblings
and the future of genetic engineering, this is a fascinating insight
into the past, present and future of genetics.
Double page spreads with bold coloured backgrounds underpin the
information presented in a more inclusive, conversational style. The
use of cartoon illustrations, diagrams, tables, flow charts,
photographs and speech bubbles compliment Arbuthnot's text.
A step-by-step experiment to extract DNA from fruit provides the
reader with the opportunity to further explore this area, adult
supervision is needed. A timeline, glossary and a Find Out More page
is included.
This is an excellent book suited to readers from 11 -13 years and is
also an excellent resource for Science and Health lessons.
Rhyllis Bignell
Awaken by Meg Cabot
PanMacmillan, 2013. ISBN 9780330453899.
(Age: 13+) Paranormal. Greek mythology. In this finale following Abandon
(2011) and Underworld (2012), seventeen-year-old Pierce and
her boyfriend John, Lord of the Underworld, face a fight on two
fronts. They find themselves in the middle of a hurricane, trying to
stop a corrupt developer, whose son is possessed by Thanatos, the
Greek personification of death, and who threatens Earth. Meanwhile
the Furies are determined to find and destroy them and the
Underworld.
In order to gain maximum enjoyment and understanding of the series,
the books should be read in order. Teens who have been following the
series are sure to enjoy the last book as Cabot manages to find a
satisfying conclusion that will leave lovers of romance happy.
Others will be happy to learn more about Greek mythology and the
legend of Persephone which the series is lightly woven around and
will enjoy the action packed adventures and dilemmas that face
Pierce and John.
Pat Pledger
The looming lamplight by Ursual Dubosarsky
Ill. by Terry Denton. Cryptic casebook of Coco Carlomagno (and
Alberta) bk. 2. Allen and Unwin, 2013. ISBN: 9781743312599.
If you are looking for a book which includes puzzles as part of the
text and is suitable for younger readers, this series is for you. The Looming Lamplight is the second book in this series
starring the crime solving guinea pig cousins Alberta and Coco
complete with a Spanish flavour. The glossary of Spanish words used
by Coco is a useful addition to aid the younger readers who will
enjoy the challenge of solving the mix of puzzles by Terry Denton
scattered throughout the text.
Alberta abandons her bath to answer a summons from her easily
spooked cousin Coco Carlomango Chief of Police in Buenos Aires,
Argentina, South America. Coco needs help to solve the mystery of
the flashing light which is filling him with dread.
Whilst solving the light mystery, Coco captures the 'dreaded pillow
burglars' and is awarded the Medal of Honour for Extreme Courage by
the President and Alberta takes her paperbag of belongings and heads
back home for that bath.
Terry Denton's amusing sketches add life and interest through the
book and his extra crossword at the end related to guinea pigs will
add to the enjoyment of the committed pet lover.
Sue Keane
The Wishbird by Gabrielle Wang
Puffin, 2013. ISBN 9780143307525.
Highly Recommended. The Wishbird transports its readers to a
land of fantasy where Oriole, she of the singing tongue, must leave
her forest home and journey to Soulless, a city bereft of music and
hope, in an attempt to save Mellow, her beloved Wishbird.
Set in the mythical past of ancient China, Oriole is suddenly thrust
into a city where music has been banned and where intrigue and
betrayal rules. Its tyrannical king, the only one who can save the
Wishbird, is dying, and the Chief Minister who rules in his stead,
is hungry for power and won't let anyone interfere with his plans.
However, Oriole isn't alone. Boy, a street urchin who survives by
stealing, is also on a quest. He is desperate to find his parents
who vanished in the song stealer's cart. Suddenly Boy is Oriole's
only hope as they try to survive the evil machinations of the Chief
Minister and of Panther while an invading force at the city's walls
threatens to destroy them all.
This is a delightful tale, one full of whimsical illustrations,
valiant deeds and heroism. The tale's conclusion is all that this
reader could have hoped for. Highly recommended.
R. Lange
Hatched : celebrating twenty years of the Tim Winton Award for Young Writers
Foreword by Tim Winton. Fremantle Press, 2013. ISBN 9781922089458.
Recommended. Short stories. Twenty two short stories by young West
Australian writers are presented in this book published by Fremantle
Press. Each of the stories was a winner in the award between 1993
and 2012, and so represent a wide range of styles, but each
showcasing considerable talent.
Winton's introduction tells us that 'storytelling is a deep human
impulse' and goes on to outline the ideas of the award which bears
his name.
The twenty two stories cover an incredible range of stories, from
those set in schools, to many about family life, some about
friendships and one or two taking a dystopian line. Each story gives
the reader something to ponder, to think about, if only to have a
thought about the youthfulness of the writer, as each presents a
wonderful talent.
I kept thinking how to use these in the classroom, as read alouds,
as stories to get students thinking, as entertainment, and as models
for their own writing. However these stories are used, they will be
most successful.
Fran Knight
Hating Alison Ashley by Robin Klein
Penguin (Australia), 2013. (First published in 1994). ISBN:
9780670076833.
Highly recommended. Robin Klein's novel Hating Alison Ashley
is a fun contemporary classic aimed at younger readers but enjoyable
for all. Using short concise sentences the author weaves a
believable story for the reader of hope and jealousy. Only nineteen
years since its first publication, this novel has achieved classic
status.
Erica Yurken, the school hypochondriac, is ashamed of her pitiful
excuse for a family and her town's reputation for producing dole
bludgers and criminals; a vain middle child, Erica (also known as
Yuk) becomes jealous when new girl, Alison Ashley starts at Barringa
East. Alison is perfect. More perfect even than Yuk herself. What's
more everyone knows it. Yuk is no longer the centre of attention, no
longer the star student or cleverest kid in school. She decides to
hate Alison Ashley for being perfect and rich. Alison is lucky, she
has everything: the big house, the nice manners and even money for
school trips. She is posh and sophisticated and a threat to Yuk's
self esteem. However it is only at school camp that Yuk learns that
money isn't everything. Alison isn't as lucky as her appearance
suggests, she has a mother who doesn't want her and no squabbling
family or friends to play with. Yuk begins to recognise the value of
family life and realises that Alison may not be as snobbish as Yuk
had first thought.
Using a simple story and incorporating the trials and problems of
children the author creates believable and relatable characters,
while reminding the reader of the mischievousness of youth. I would
highly recommend this novel for all readers as it makes a nice
change from the grim, serious-faced novels of today.
Kayla Gaskell (Student)
Two Boys Kissing by David Levithan
Text Publishing 2013. ISBN 9781922147486.
(Age: 15+) LGTB Themes, identity, loss and bullying.
David Levithan's books have always found new ways to engage readers
with the plight of the LGTB community, particularly its young adult
members. His first, Boy meets boy, 2003 was a celebration of
boys who refused to be defined by society's very 'straight' values.
It was funny, angsty, and ridiculously tolerant. In interviews
leading up to the release of Two boys kissing, Levithan
claimed it's a celebration of the 10 year anniversary of Boy
meets boy, and that he is trying to show how life really is
for young queer people today. Two boys kissing is the story of Craig and Henry who are
trying to break the Guinness Book of World Record's record for the
longest kiss. This isn't just a chance to find notoriety, it's a
call for support for their friend Tariq. Along the way we also meet
two other couples: Peter and Neil, and Avery and Ryan, one
established and one just starting out. And then there's Cooper -
alone, lonely, and empty.
The narration by a chorus of dead men, lost to the world primarily
because of the AIDs epidemic in the 80s, adds richness and depth,
and of course sadness to the stories of these young men defining
themselves to their family and friends and lovers. This narration
will confuse some people, and alienate others; I can see that. The
'We' is repetitive and ambiguous. This Greek-style of chorus is also
completely ineffectual as they are unable to help our lads navigate
anger, frustration, and despair. They can only observe, comment on,
and compare their lives to these lives, but it works for me. Their
insights are tender and wistful, their regrets are many and varied,
and their wishes are the same as ours: That young people find their
crowd, so they can find themselves, so they can live, and love and
learn. Oh, it's all so wonderful.
Levithan is controlled and contextual when it comes to explicit sex.
He writes for a YA audience so the boys are largely innocent and
playful. There is one (poor) attempt at a seduction, and it is
crucial for the development of Cooper's character and mindset. When
Cooper is rejected, his already spiralling life disintegrates
completely, and it is here that Levithan deviates from his usual
positive and rose-coloured depiction of what it means to be gay.
Although Cooper's story saddened me greatly, it is realistic: There
are many teenagers who don't have supportive families, who don't
have close friends they can call on, who feel like they are
worthless, and who struggle to find a reason to keep going.
This novel is also controlled. It is only 196 pages, yet it
overflows with emotion and wisdom. Every review I write about a
David Levithan book always has a variation of this sentence: I love
the way this man writes.
He isn't for everyone, but he speaks to me. I love the way this man
writes.
Trisha Buckley
The River Charm by Belinda Murrell
Random House Australia Children's, 2013. ISBN: 9781742757124.
(Age 12+) Recommended. Belinda Murrell has based this historical
fiction novel on her ancestors, tracing the Atkinson family history
in the 1800s. The book starts in the modern day with the fictional
Millie who visits long lost Aunt Jessamine on the Oldbury estate.
Through Aunt Jessamine's stories, the reader is taken back to the
1830s where Mamma and her daughters are suffering under an abusive
husband and step-father who is leading them into financial ruin.
Desperate to leave his abusive rein, Mamma fights for her rights to
look after her own children. They are forced to leave their family
home, Oldbury, and go deep in the bush to survive.
Through time slip, Murrell shows the reader what life was like for
her real life great-great-great-great-grandmother, Charlotte Waring
Atkinson, who eventually wrote the first children's book published
in Australia in 1841, A Mother's Offering to Her Children.
The novel starts off slow; however after the first few chapters this
reader became enthralled with Mamma, Charlotte and the rest of the
Atkinson family as they struggle through many dramas. Murrell writes
descriptively about life in colonial Australia, and shows the
struggles that women, children and to a lesser extent Aboriginal
people faced. The underlying themes of strength and courage are
delivered in an honest and engaging way. The River Charm is recommended for independent readers
approximately 12 years and older. The book also has clear links to
the Year 5 Australian Curriculum History content, and would make an
engaging read aloud book for a class, with ample opportunity for
class discussions.
Jemma Lorenz
