Allen and Unwin, 2012. ISBN-13: 978-1-74331-074-8
(Age: 13+) Spark is book number two in the Elementals
series by Brigid Kemmerer. This book is done in third-person and
follows a segment of both Gabriel Merrick and Layne's lives, the two
main characters of the book and like the book's prequel Storm
there is a male and female main character, their stories just as
important as the others.
Gabriel Merrick is a hot tempered teen who likes to play with fire,
he is rash and quick to get into a fight but he has the ability to
think when adrenaline comes calling.
His family life is hard enough having lost his parents a few years
ago and to be in his older brother's care along with his twin and
younger brother, but failing his classes is something that will not
be tolerated, the only reason Gabriel cares about school is for his
sport but when his grades start to slide he is very close to losing
his place on the team. This results in Layne tutoring Gabriel.
Layne is a quiet, intelligent sophomore and is in a few of Gabriel's
classes. Her whole life is wrapped in mystery and isolation; she
keeps to herself but finds it hard when she starts to tutor Gabriel.
Mysterious fires start to appear all over town and most of the
evidence points to Gabriel and his elemental ability. His brothers
suspect him and the Guides suspect but there is no proof for Gabriel
to use to stop these accusations.
The characters are realistic to relate to and the language used by
the author is very understandable and gives a good overall picture
of the story. Thoroughly enjoyable and keeps you actively enchanted
until the very end.
Sarah Filkin (Student)
Vietnam diary by Mark Wilson
Lothian, 2013. ISBN 9780 7344 1274 4.
(Age: 8+) Recommended. Picture book. Vietnam War. Historical
story. Mark Wilson's rendering of the war in Vietnam is astonishing.
The pencil sketches, like the one on the front cover, instill in the
reader that frozen moment of war, a sketch done by a war artist
similar to those we see at the Australian War Museum in Canberra or
in books about war.
The frozen moments build to a crescendo of feeling, which explodes
on about page 30, when a young man's eyes peer out at the reader,
fearful, shocked and horrified. This full page pencil drawing is
truly momentous, and stands out amongst the other brilliant pieces
of drawing and painting that Wilson presents. His use of watercolour
and crayon, pencil drawing and other mixed media are astounding,
rendering the mix that is war often softening it with the quiet of
home.
In this book we see two stories side by side, on the one hand these
brothers are very alike, but when it comes to the Vietnam War, one,
at university, protests, while the other, still at home, is
conscripted and agrees to go to Vietnam. Through the images and
spare writing we see the two, not understanding each other, but in
the end the objector comes to see his brother's gallantry and sense
of duty in what he is doing.
All the while in the background we see and hear of the Vietnam War,
a war in which Australia was part, forty years ago, but having
repercussions today. For classes studying the Vietnam War, or war in
general, or Australia's part in the history of this region, this
book will prove to be a valuable addition to the library.
This book compliments his other books about war: My mother's eyes,
and Angel of Kokoda, and you will see other examples of his fine
illustrative techniques in the Extinction series (I saw nothing
etc), The castaways of the Charles Eaton, and Yellow-eye.
Fran Knight
Anthem for Jackson Dawes by Celia Bryce
Bloomsbury, 2013. ISBN 9781408827116
(Age: 12+) Megan Bright is a thirteen year old facing a big
challenge. She has a brain tumour and needs several hospital
admissions for chemotherapy. Her parents and grandfather are trying
to put on a brave face and Megan feels she should do likewise, even
though the experience is frightening. The ward to which she is
admitted seems more suitable for little children with cartoon
pictures on the walls, toys and crying babies. She is relieved to
find there is at least one other teenager also having chemotherapy,
Jackson Dawes.
Every body seems to love Jackson Dawes. He charms the young children
and the nurses with his mischievous stories and rebellious disregard
for rules. At first, Megan is determined to have nothing to do with
him but it's lonely on the ward, away from friends. They share a
common bond as cancer patients who are exposed to experiences that
other teenagers never have to contemplate. Megan's world of school,
football and friends fade into the background as she undergoes
treatment and is replaced by life on the cancer ward. Gradually she
learns to appreciate Jackson and comes to rely on his friendship and
optimism.
Eventually Megan needs surgery while Jackson's cancer is so unusual
the doctors are running out of treatment options. The challenges
they face will change them forever.
This book is a sensitive and realistic portrayal of the lives of
those suffering from chronic illness and the impact on family and
friends. It is neither sugar coated nor maudlin leaving readers with
a sense of hope, despite acknowledging the inevitability of loss. A
story about first love under the most challenging circumstances, it
will suit younger teens.
Tina Cain
Enchanted by Alethea Kontis
Woodcutter Sisters bk 1. Harcourt, 2012. ISBN 9780547645704
(Age: 12+) Recommended. Sunday is the seventh daughter of a seventh
daughter and has to be careful what she writes as it could come
true. When she kisses a frog, it changes into Prince Rumbold, who is
despised by Sunday's family.
One of my favourite genre is that of a fairy tale retold and I was
hooked right from the beginning with this funny, witty, romantic
story of Sunday who is 'blithe and bonny and good and gay'. Of
course she has the handicap of having everything she writes down
come true so she has to be very careful. After she kisses the frog
to whom she has been telling stories, unbeknown to her he turns back
into Prince Rumbold. He is determined to woo her but his courtship
doesn't go easily and Kontis takes us through the stormy path of
true love.
Kontis is amazing, retelling many fairy stories in a fabulous mix of
complex ideas and events. The old rhyme about children who are named
after the days of the week is particularly apt and weaves its way
through the story, helping the reader understand the natures of
Sunday's seven sisters. Great characterisation and plot make this a
very readable story.
However what stood out for me was the humorous dialogue that often
brought a smile to my face. This is a feel good book that would be a
wonderful lift for anyone looking for interesting, well written
fantasy. It is worthy of the awards that it has garnered, including
an Andre Norton Award Nominee (2013) and YALSA Best Fiction for
Young Adults (Top Ten) (2013) and it looks as if there will be more
books to follow.
Pat Pledger
Sidney, Stella and the moon by Emma Yarlett
Lothian, 2013. ISBN 978 0 7344 1409 0.
(Age: 5+) Recommended. Picture book. Moon. Siblings. Sharing. Twins
Stella and Sidney do everything together but when it comes to
sharing, they are impossibly divided. One night fighting over a
bouncy ball, the toy slips from their grasp and bounces out of the
window, high into the sky, where is smashes into the moon, causing
it to break into a million pieces. They are distraught, the
sky has a black hole, how can the world exist without its moon?
They must work together to find a solution, trawling the house for
something yellow and round to fill the space in the sky. Readers
will love following the search for a replacement moon, spying all
the different things on each page which are roundish and yellow.
When the one thing is found to put into the sky, a catapult is
needed to propel it skywards, but the pair differ over who will
shoot the machine. An argument known only too well to both children
is neatly resolved as they work together.
The mixed media illustrations will draw the eager reader's eye to
the detail presented on each page. Each page is presented
differently, allowing the reader to be surprised as each page is
turned, particularly when they reach the centre with its pair of
doors ready to be opened to reveal the effects of the lack of a
moon. The font is that of an old styled typewriter adding another
level of interest to an already bold inviting book.
For teachers and parents looking for a book about sharing, or to
introduce the sky to a child or group of children, this this book
will be a must have.
Fran Knight
Killer App by S. Carey
Eerie Series. Puffin, 2013. ISBN: 9780143307365. Paperback, 72
pages. RRP: $9.99.
(Age: 8+) Roma and her friend are totally into their iPads and
their apps. When a sinister man called Roderick offers the group a
free app that downloads to each their own personal dream, Roma
thinks it seems too good to be true. And Roma proves right when the
five friends find themselves whirled out of their dreams and into a
dangerous and deadly nightmare.
Not only is Roderick one seriously creepy nerd, he is a deeply
disturbed one and his revenge for past rejections is about to impact
on Roma and her mates. The only way to escape Roderick's
hynoptic snare is to turn his plan back onto himself -and Roma has
just what it takes to do that.
Clearly Dead Boring, the mysterious free app, is not quite as boring
as it sounds.
Each of the Eerie series is cleverly enhanced with tiny 'flip'
animations in the page corners and a new instalment of an additional
story 'Monster Me' at the end of each book.
The series will comprise thirteen super spooky stories (Thirteen?
Coincidence? I think not!) that will delight those 8+ years readers
who savour the supernatural. There will be a rush on these
when they hit your bookshelves - stand back and let the stampede
begin!
Sue Warren
The treasure box by Margaret Wild
Ill. by Freya Blackwood. Penguin, 2013. ISBN 978 0 670 07365 8
(Age: 6+) Highly recommended. Picture book. Reading. Children in
war. From the stunning cover to the words which follow Peter's journey from his war disrupted home to a new life, returning to
retrieve the treasure box left him by his father, this book will
resonate with all readers, young and old. Shadows of stories of
people seeking refuge, of disrupted lives, of people fleeing their
homes, of leaving all they love; crowd behind this tale, as Peter
digs up the treasure box, buried for safe keeping years before.
All the while, the background begs the reader to touch each page,
wondering at the three dimensional images presented by Freya
Lockwood. Her illustrations from cut out paper, fill the pages,
giving a shadowy effect to the story, impelling the reader to look
behind the words at the people and their lives as they trudge away
from war, die on the road to safety, find refuge in a new country,
but still have ties to their homeland.
The first double page presents a bombed street, showing that the
library has been bombed. Over the page pieces of pages from books
float across the paper, as we see Peter's father has the one book
that survived, the one he loved to read. As each page is turned, the
muted colours contrast with the bright red colour of the cover of
the book, shown to the son, kept safely in a box, and then passed on
to Peter as father dies. The little figures of the refugees huddled
into their blankets along the road is just one of the many haunting
images presented in this book. In a new city, Peter grows up,
eventually returning to the town and the tree where he buried the
box containing the book. Its importance becomes clear as he places
it on the library shelves where others will be able to borrow and
read it.
Blackwood's use of smaller images against which a cut out is placed
draws the eye in to look more closely at each image: her use of the
floating pieces of paper remind us of the indiscriminate nature of
war, the sepia colours of the houses and villages passed by the
refugees underline the displacement of so many people, her
contrasting images of the town and countryside when Peter is seeking
refuge and when he returns an older man, reflect the ephemeral
nature of war and that people survive, as do stories, the developing
colour reflecting people's optimism and hope for the future.
Blackwood has used torn pages from translated versions of
Gleitzman's Once series, and Hartnett's The Silver
Donkey, to fill the endpapers, using these again as the sky
and some of the foreground in the book.
For teachers looking at the impact of war on children, of the
importance of story and books, of passing on stories form one
generation to another, of resilience and determination, then this is
a stand out contribution to the books read in the classroom.
Fran Knight
Queenie by Jacqueline Wilson
Random House, 2013. ISBN 9780857531124.
(Age: Yr 3+) It is 1953 and Elsie Kettle and her Nan are looking
forward to seeing the coronation of the new Queen. But all
their plans are dashed when Nan's persistent cough turns out to be
tuberculosis and she is hospitalised in the sanatorium.This
means Elsie's mum, who occasionally visits in between showgirl
engagements, has to return to look after Elsie. But not for
long, because mandatory testing shows that Elsie also has
tuberculosis. Hers is not in her lungs, but in her knee -
transmitted by drinking infected milk which was common in those
days. Her limp, which so aggravated her mother, was not caused
by her ugly boy-shoes nor put on for attention and she too finds
herself in hospital.
But hospitals and treatments in the 50s are not like they are today
and Elsie finds herself in Blyton Ward with seven other children,
each strapped into splints and kept immobile for months. Being the
new girl is hard enough, but it's made worse by seemingly harsh and
uncaring nurses, particularly Nurse Patterson, strict routines, no
privacy and a bedside neighbour who immediately christens her
Gobface. Each evening the children are read a story from Enid
Blyton's Faraway Tree series and Elsie's ability to create new
stories, particularly one about Nurse Patterson meeting her fate in
the Land of Polar Bears, gradually allows her to fit in. However,
she has always sought solace in cats, whether on her Nan's button
box, her pink pyjamas or the real thing, she brings them to life so
she is not so lonely, so her spirits are lifted when she befriends
the ward cat, Queenie.
It is her ability to escape to a land of fantasy that enables Elsie
to endure the boredom, pain and loneliness, particularly on the
weekends which is the only time parents may visit and her mother
doesn't turn up week after week after week, even after the Queen
visits. Elsie knows she has acquired a new 'uncle' and this is
confirmed when her mother disappears to Canada which raises a whole
lot of issues because Elsie is due to be discharged. Who will look
after her?
This book plods along at a sedentary pace opening up a world very
different to what any Australian child might have experienced in
hospital. The thought of being totally incapacitated locked
into what Elsie first believes are torture racks seems unimaginable
but that was the treatment of the times, and many children underwent
it until milk became tested and treated and the risk of infection
eliminated. Yet despite its rather grim setting and storyline,
Wilson has crafted a charming story with engaging characters which
carries the reader along wanting to help Elsie, shake some
compassion into her mother, bless Nurse Gabriel and put faith in a
happy ending. With its 411 pages, it is better for the
independent reader who is able to manage such a task and if this is
their first Jacqueline Wilson title, they will be looking for
others.
Barbara Braxton
Crunched! by Michael Wagner
Maxx Rumble Footy 1. Ill. by Terry Denton. Black Dog Books, 2013
ISBN: 9781922077813. RRP $9.95
(Age 7-9) Highly recommended. Maxx Rumble is back to entertain a new
generation of boys with his wildly exaggerated football stories.
First published in 2004 and now republished by Walker Books under
the Black Dog Imprint, this series and the Maxx Rumble Cricket
series are sure to engage even the most reluctant sport-loving
reader from 7-9 years of age.
Maxx is a member of the Stone Gully Saints and they are up against
the Grunting Bullies. He loves to exaggerate his prowess, his goal
kicking, even the size of the sumo wrestlers who try to double-team
him, Tarkyn and Wedgie. 'They kept squashing me. I thought my eyes
would pop out! I thought every bone in my body would break! I
thought I was dead!' The action is exciting and engaging, the
novel is a page-turner, ending with the Club Records and explanatory
Round 1 ladder.
Michael Wagner is a prolific author and his humorous style of
writing in the Maxx Rumble series makes a great read. Terry Denton's
cartoon style of illustration adds even more fun and amusement to
the text. Just observe the change Tarkyn and Wedgie undergo
from footie players to sumo wrestlers as Maxx tells his version of
the game. Michael Wagner's website has great
teaching tips, more information about Maxx, writing tips for
students, downloads and information about Michael's other stories as
well.
I would highly recommend this series for boys and girls who love AFL
from 7-9 years of age.
Rhyllis Bignell
The Reece Malcolm List by Amy Spalding
Entangled Teen, 2013. ISBN: 9781620612408.
(Age: 13+) Highly recommended. Themes include: Family relations;
Grief/Loss; Romance; Friendship; Identity. The Reece Malcolm List
can best be described a pretty typical YA novel aimed at girls, but
it does what it does so well, that it's hard to fault it for being a
little too predictable and for Devan being a little too perfect.
Devan's father died three months ago, and as the book starts, she's
winging her way to Los Angeles to live with her mother, Reece
Malcolm, a woman Devan has never met or been told about. Reece
Malcolm (for almost the entire book, Devan refers to her mother
using both names) is a well-known novelist, and is reclusive and
mysterious. I was totally caught up in Devan's quest to learn
anything and everything about this woman, who is not easy to live
with or in any way motherly. Devan is a very quiet, solitary
girl, although her love of and talent for singing is one thing she
isn't shy or modest about. It's the one part of her life she can
control and these sections of the novel provide readers with a
glimpse into the lives of teenagers who love show choirs, musical
theatre, and performance. A bit like 'Glee' - but not really. I liked
Devan's mish-mash of friends and her acceptance into this tight
group. Devan and Reece Malcolm's relationship is more bumpy,
more unexpected, and more challenging. I liked Reece. She is a
flawed yet wonderfully unique character. I especially enjoyed Brad's
inclusion in this strange family situation. The love story plot
works well and Devan's potential suitors are both interesting and
worthy. I think teenage girls will love this.
Trisha Buckley
Freaks like us by Susan Vaught
Bloomsbury Publishing, 2013. ISBN 9781408836163.
Sixteen year old Jason considers himself a freak. He suffers from
schizophrenia (SCZI) and attends a class at school specifically for
the Severely Emotionally Disturbed or the SED class. His two best
friends are also 'freaks' or alphabet kids, as they call themselves.
Sunshine is a selective mute (SM) and Derrick suffers from attention
deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Being different means that
they are often subject to bullying and their opinions are frequently
disregarded. They have learnt to stick together, protect their
privacy and look out for each other.
Jason is sweet on Sunshine so when she disappears on the way home
from school he is devastated. He knows that Sunshine has been very
troubled recently but she swore him to secrecy. There are always
voices in his head but they become worse when he is under stress. As
the search for Sunshine gets underway, he finds it increasingly
difficult to distinguish between reality and the things that the
voices in his head are telling him. His medication would help
but he doesn't want to take his night time dose because it will
knock him out for hours and he is desperate to help the searchers.
Some of the investigators think that Jason is implicated in
Sunshine's disappearance. Freaks are always the first to be blamed.
He is in a race against time, battling the demons within himself and
those that threaten him externally.
This book provides an interesting insight into the challenges and
prejudices that face those suffering from mental illness. It also
highlights the vulnerability of certain sectors of our community and
will be enjoyed by anyone who enjoys thought provoking issues.
Tina Cain
The last runaway by Tracy Chevalier
Dutton, 2013. ISBN 9780525952992.
(Age: 14+) Recommended. Honor Bright is a young Quaker woman who
travels to America with her sister to escape disappointment when the
man she hoped to marry weds another woman. She finds herself alone
in a very strange land and has difficulty coming to terms with the
huge differences in attitudes in Ohio where she settles. She must
come to grips with the injustice of slavery and the stretch between
what she believes is just and principled and what is acceptable in
this new country. She becomes involved with the Underground Railroad
and makes friends with two remarkable women.
Tracy Chevalier is a favourite author of mine and I found it very
difficult to put this fascinating historical story down. Told in the
third person in alternate chapters it relates what is happening in Honor's
life, and each of these chapters has a heading that grabs the attention
and provides a context for the story that follows. Other
chapters are in letter form as Honor writes home to England telling
her family and friends her feelings and what is happening to her.
Honor is an intriguing character, quiet and modest, but with a
strong sense of justice. She uses silence as a means of meditation
as a Quaker and also as a way of letting others know what she
believes. She struggles as she attempts to fit in with her new
family, while trying not to compromise her beliefs about slavery.
I found the setting of pioneer Ohio seen through the eyes of Honor,
new to the land, provided a rich background to the story. The farm
where she lives, milking the cows, looking after the chickens and
bringing in the harvest, are vividly described. The skill that Honor
brought to quilt-making, and the hats that the women loved, brought
alive the domestic life of women of that time.
The themes of slavery, freedom, compromise, love and religion make The
last runaway a very worthwhile read.
Pat Pledger
Red River stallion by Troon Harrison
Bloomsbury, 2013. ISBN 9781408819364.
(Age: 12+) Highly recommended. Red River stallion mixes the
traditions of the American Indians with the English and Scottish
settlers who helped settle America. It is set in the 1830's and
revolves around Amelia Otterchild McKenzie, a half Indian half
Scottish orphan. She cares for her younger sister and is taken in by
members of the Cree tribe and taught to read by white men.
One evening, Amelia is rescued by a large red horse and it is this
miraculous event that changes the direction of her life. The two
girls set out for the Red River Valley, helping Orchid, the horse's
owner, and hoping to find Amelia's long lost father.
The author uses descriptive language to draw you into the life and
hardships of Amelia. It is highly recommended for girls, aged 12+,
who are independent readers and enjoy dramatic stories. Set against
the backdrop of a wild land, Red River stallion is a
wonderful blend of history and a girl's search for her father and a
place to belong.
Kylie Kempster
Alice-Miranda in Paris by Jacqueline Harvey
Random House Australia, 2013, 325pp, P/b. ISBN 9781742752884.
(Ages: 8+). Highly Recommended. Alice-Miranda and her school
friends are in Paris as part of a choir performing during Fashion
Week, when famous Parisian designer Christian Fontaine has some
expensive fabric stolen. In the apartments directly opposite the
school group's hotel, there is a young boy gazing out the window at
the children. The children wave to him and ask him if he wants to
join them for a game of basketball. The boy is Fabian Bouchard, a
young fashion designer whose Uncle Claude is obsessed with making
him a star, whether Fabian wants it or not. Fabian wants to go out
and talk to the children but his mother won't let him, saying there
are people out there who will hurt them. What is Fabian's secret and
can the high-spirited Alice-Miranda and her friends solve the
mystery of the stolen fabric? Alice-Miranda is a very likeable
character; she is a thoughtful girl who is always happy to help
people. Alice-Miranda in Paris is full of mystery and
adventure with some humour in parts. This book is a good read for
primary aged students learning French. It has a glossary of 22
French terms used throughout the book and mentions famous French
landmarks. There is also a good message about plagiarism. If you
enjoyed the previous six books in the Alice-Miranda series
then you'll enjoy this one.
Michelle Thomson
The trap door by Lisa McMann
Infinity Ring bk. 3, Scholastic Inc., 2013, 192pp, H/b. ISBN
9780545386982.
(Ages: 8+) Recommended. Dak, Sera and Riq are Hystorians, people who
travel back in time to fix disruptions in history. In book three of
the Infinity Ring series the young time travellers travel
back in time to Maryland, a slave state in the United States. The
year is 1850, when slaves who escaped into the North from the South
are captured and sold back to the South.
Riq's family is from Africa and because of his skin colour is
mistaken for a runaway slave and captured, leaving 11 year old Sera
and Dak to try and free Riq before he is sold. Dak, Sera and Riq
need to fix the past in order to save the future but because Riq's
family were slaves, they need to be careful to ensure his family
history remains intact. If they intervene, making drastic changes,
it could mean Riq will never be born.
Read the book and learn why history has gone wrong and how it can be
fixed. Follow the included Hystorian's guide, solve puzzles along
the way and then play the game by logging onto the Infinity Ringwebsite. This is a good
interactive adventure with a blend of history and mystery. A moral
message is also portrayed with Riq making sacrifices to help others.
Riq is a very likeable character who is well-mannered, helpful and
friendly to strangers, which leads him to risking everything to save
the life of a young boy.
Michelle Thomson
