Hot Key Books, 2013. ISBN 9781471402173.
(Age 15+) Highly recommended. 2012 Guardian/Hot Key Books Young
Writers Prize. Dystopian fiction. Cults. Religion. Road trips.
Seventeen year old Vivian Apple returns home to find two holes in
her parents' ceiling. They have disappeared in the Rapture. Worthy
members of the Church of America have saved, and her parents appear
to be part of that group of Believers. However Vivian begins to
believe that they are alive somewhere, and as the weather begins to
create chaos, and the Believers become dangerous, she and her friend
Harp are joined by Peter and a heavily pregnant Edie on a mission to
find them.
This is a compulsively clever, engrossing read that I had to finish
in one sitting, and really worthy of being a co-winner of the
Guardian/Hot Key Books Young Writers Prize, with Joe Ducie, the
author of The rig. Quite unique in its plot, Coyle plunges the
reader into a world where religious fundamentalism has taken over
and everyone is expected to obey the dictates of the Church of
America's leader, Frick. Vivian is cynical about the religion and
had always doubted the advent of the Rapture and can hardly believe
that her parents have left her alone to fend for herself. Armed with
a sledgehammer and accompanied by her friends, she embarks on a
thrilling road trip across America to the place where Peter believes
the Church is located. On the way they encounter bad weather and a
strange group called the New Orphans, whose commune life is
strangely appealing.
This is not your usual dystopian novel, with a strong female
protagonist and a gorgeous boy romance. While Vivian is feisty, she
questions her beliefs and those of the people around her. She is not
perfect but her coming of age is central to the novel and she is not
afraid to take action and responsibility for those actions. The
characters of Harp, Peter and Edie are equally well portrayed and
the road trip sees them growing as individuals as well. There is
some love interest but Vivian's growth towards adulthood is more
important than romance.
Coyle does not shy away from social commentary in this novel. With
witty remarks and wry humour, the reader is often lead along a path
of thinking about society and what makes it hold together. The
themes of fundamental religion, peer pressure, advertising, parental
responsibility and nature versus nurture are ones to ponder long
after reading this novel.
This would be a wonderful class novel or literature circle book. It
is not too long at 288 pages and is a compulsive read that would be
sure to appeal to a teenage audience. Readers could then be led to
the dystopian novels of authors such as Margaret Atwood, Kazuo
Ishiguro and George Orwell.
Pat Pledger
My first Animalia by Graeme Base
Puffin, 2013. ISBN 9780670077489.
(Age 3+) Highly recommended. Picture book. Alphabet. Animals. My
first Animalia introduces the wonderful world of Animalia
to a young audience, complete with a lift the flap, word list and a
wonderful 'hidden land of beasts and birds' illustration for each
letter of the alphabet.
What I particularly liked about this book is the fact that it can be
used on so many levels. A young child just learning the alphabet can
trace fingers over a large capital letter and small letter on the
left hand side of the book, and then on the right hand can be found
four small illustrations that start with the letter and a picture of
an animal starting with that letter. For example 'Bb' has a picture
of a butterfly and the words 'Beautiful Blue Butterflies'. Lift the
flap and a word list to match the small pictures is revealed as well
as a fabulous illustration which incorporates more 'b' words that
can be searched out by an observant reader. A tantalising phrase,
'Beautiful blue butterflies basking by a babbling brook' can be used
by an adult to extend the vocabulary of young children. There is no
dumbing down in this book and I can imagine young children
delighting in the alliteration of the phrases and the new images
that are evoked. Older children will be able to return to the book
and extend their vocabularies in fascinating ways.
I love the illustrations that combine beauty and humour. Imagine the
mythical lovely unicorn sharing an illustration with an ugly gnome
playing a ukulele in his underpants!
This book is a keeper and would be a splendid present for young
children just beginning to become interested in letters and words.
It is an ideal book for stimulating the imagination and having fun.
Pat Pledger
Tadpoles in the Torrens: Poetry for young readers, edited by Jude Aquilina
Wakefield Press, 2013. ISBN 9781743052464.
(Age: 6-12) Highly recommended. Poetry. A compilation of poems for
primary school people, many already published in NSW's The School
Magazine, or as songs, or sometimes in an anthology of the poet's
work, these have not been readily available to readers in South
Australia, and so this is a most welcome resource.
With poems from a wide variety of home-grown authors including Rory
Harris, Christine Harris, Janeen Brian, John Malone, Max Fatchen and
Phil Cummings, the poems presented here represent a wide variety of
styles, and are funny and infectious. Several stood out for me. Mike
Lucas's I lost my dog, I could not help but read out at
breakfast, Jill McDougal's No school today, and Peter
McFarlane's poignant Ash Wednesday all touched a chord as I
read through the 68 poems. Many others begged to be read out loud,
which I did to any passing audience including my dog, many had me
return again and again, while many others had me drift into teacher
mode and think about how I would use them in the classroom.
Representing a range of South Australia's poets, these poems will be
well used in the classroom as read alouds, models for their own
writing and just plain good fun. With local settings, Ash Wednesday,
the River Torrens, seagulls on Adelaide Oval, the minutely described
settings will have a broad appeal to readers in South Australia, as
well as beyond.
Fran Knight
Two boys kissing by David Levithan
Text Publishing, 2013. ISBN 9781922147486.
(Age: 14+) Recommended. Homosexuality. Love and friendship.
Prejudice. The Guinness Book attempt at a world record for the
longest kiss is the backdrop for this enticing tale of seven gay
young men, as their stories are narrated by a survivor, a man who
has seen it all, and now as a Greek Chorus, watches on while a new
generation of gay young men make their marks, striving to survive in
a world where some do not accept them.
Craig and Harry have planned this day meticulously. They have
permission from their school to stage the event on the school's
front lawn, they have a host of supporters ready with lip salve,
banners, music tapes, air coolers and mistletoe. Craig and Harry
used to be a couple and over the 32 hours kissing, they recall
their lives.
Several other young men also figure in this story which ranges over
the history of homosexuality in the USA, from being hidden to coming
out, only to be decimated by the AIDS epidemic, then on to
acceptance for most in the late twentieth century. Peter and Neil
kiss often, waking and having breakfast with each other in their
parents' homes, both safe in their families' support, while Avery and
Ryan have only just met. Last night was the boys' prom, and Ryan
drove over from a nearby town, blown away by his sight of Avery with
his pink hair. They take tentative moves towards each other through
the book, Avery having to take things slowly as he was raised as a
girl.
Cooper, the one who is alone, spends time searching the internet but
cannot bring himself to meet the men he communicates with online. We
know from the start that Cooper is in a bad way after being kicked
out of home by his incensed father.
Through the day we are invited into their lives and the lives of men
who have gone before, the secrecy of some, the illness which took so
many lives, those hidden in loveless marriages, the hints given by
some offering support. It is an overview showing that friendships,
relationships and love within the gay community reflect any
relationship, full of trepidation at making a first move, fear that
it won't last, resignation if it does not, comfort when it does, and
particularly more so when the community and the parents support
them. In turns wistful, longing, regretful and always vigilant, the
story ranges over the full quota of what it is to be gay in middle
America, giving support to many and opening some eyes.
Fran Knight
Zac & Mia by A.J. Betts
Text, 2013. ISBN 9781922147257.
(Age: Older teens) Highly recommended. Zac & Mia is a refreshing
and insightful story that highlights the importance and strength of
human bonds and trust between people as well as how totally
different people can become friends and allies when faced with a
common enemy. This account of two people united in a long battle
inspires hope and love for others, both close friends and family as
well as a sense of unity and kindness to strangers.
Zac and Mia are both main characters who happen to meet in an
Australian hospital to be treated for different types of cancer.
These two relatable, impressionable and inspiring characters have a
strange way of meeting and become friends by only a tap through a
thin hospital wall in a time of need.
Zac is a gentle-natured and thoughtful country teenager who loves
the outdoors, riding the quad bikes and sports as well as harvesting
olives on his farm with his family and caring for the animals in the
farm's petting zoo. Mia on the other hand is an all-out city chick
with a blooming, busy social circle and many friends with a small
family and a seemingly perfect life. The effect and change that
cancer brings into their lives is phenomenal and brings two unlikely
people together to form a very close and trusting relationship.
The way this novel is written so realistically makes the characters
instantly believable and real. Their dialogue is seemingly
natural and relatable as well as infused with emotion and convinces
the reader to continue throughout the book until they reach the end.
This novel is more suited to older teens because they may have a
more empathetic and understanding view of illness-related trauma and
its effect on a person as well as how hope can transition and bloom
from such a life changing ordeal. This novel is truly breathtaking
and most definitely an interesting read.
Sara Filkin (Student)
Xander's panda party by Linda Sue Park
Ill. by Matt Phelan. UQP, 2013. ISBN 9780702249983.
(Age: 4+) Warmly recommended. Picture book, Animals, Pandas, Zoos.
When Xander decides to hold a party, he first issues invitations to
all the bears in the zoo, but the koala declines, telling Xander
that he is not a bear, but a marsupial. Xander rethinks his
invitations and invites all animals, but the rhino has a problem
with this and wants to invite birds, one of which is often on his
horn. So he invites all animals and birds, but this presents a
problem for the crocodile. Each time Xander thinks he has the
problem solved, another issue arises for him to solve.
The warmly inviting illustrations will encourage readers to find the
creatures being spoken of as they read, while the humour behind the
illustrations will cause merriment. A pleasing outcome draws the
story to a neat conclusion, and the whole will be well used to teach
readers about the different creatures that inhabit the world.
Fran Knight
The last thirteen by James Phelan
Scholastic Australia, 2013. ISBN 9781742831848. The last thirteen begins with Sam having a bad dream which
establishes the series premise, for yes, this is the first
instalment in a series of at least 13 books. Sam and his dream
introduce the major players and set the scene for the non-stop
thrills and spills which follow.
Phelan is masterful in providing just enough character description
to allow the reader to fill in the blanks and flesh out his/her own
characters in the guise of: the struggling yet valiant hero; the
talented sidekicks; the doomed, but maybe not, heroine; the
enigmatic Professor; and the school, not to mention the
organisations that are vying to gain control of Sam and the yet, as
unmet, remaining 12, who comprise The Last Thirteen.
I had a ball reading this. The action never stopped and Phelan kept
adding details like stealth technology, ancient legends, goodies and
baddies who mainly shoot each other with darts so most people aren't
too damaged, ancient treasures, bullet proof suits that change
colour and style at the wearer's discretion; ancient prophesies; and
of course, an evil and mysterious villain, so the reader never has a
chance to stop or critically analyse the plot or style or themes.
Who cares? It's fun, it's fast, it's clever and it never pretends to
be more than what it is.
Go on! Suspend cynicism and join Sam in saving the world. Spoiler
alert: be prepared for a cliff-hanger ending which basically
guarantees the purchase of the next book in the series.
R. Lange
Mystery of the golden card by Garth Nix and Sean Williams
Trouble twisters series. Allen & Unwin, 2013. ISBN
9781742374000.
(Age: 8-12) Highly recommended. The third title in the Trouble
Twister series sees our dynamic duo, Jack and Jaide keen to pursue
another adventure.As trouble twisters and trainee wardens they have
special gifts that help protect the world from evil. The death of
eccentric young Master Rourke reveals unusual and intriguing signs
that set Jack and Jaide on a mission of danger and challenge. They
receive instructions from their father to go to the Rourke estate to
track down the lost Golden Card of Translocation.Tension rises as
The Evil are also on a mission to be the first to obtain the card
and gain rights to an awesome gift.
This is a well written adventure that takes the reader on an
exciting journey of discovery with the protagonists who must
negotiate secret passages, animated armour and a perky parrot.
Themes of fantasy, friendship, family, trust and responsibility make
this story a popular choice for 8-12 year olds. The story can stand
alone or be read as part of the wider series.
Barbara O'Connor
Star Wars: Jedi Academy by Jeffrey Brown
Scholastic, 2013. ISBN 9780545505178.
Recommended. Themes of learning, middle school, humour and
resilience. Jeff Brown reveals the fun, frivolity and
frustration in the mayhem of middle school. Eager to follow in
his family's footsteps Roan is eager to enter the prestigious Pilot
Academy. However he is rejected at first and must attend the
Jedi Academy to earn his right of passage. Humorous comic
style illustrations capture Roan's first year at the Academy as he
learns to lift objects using his mind powers, fence with a light
sabre, create erupting volcanoes, improve his dancing techniques and
generally master the force. Roan discovers he has more ability
and determination than he had imagined and under the instruction of
the wise Master Yoda begins to thrive.
Interesting visual language is explored in a variety of forms;
journal entries, family letters and newspaper cuttings. This
book will have high appeal for reluctant readers.
Barbara O'Connor
Fiction Themes K-7 Vol. 2 by Fran Knight and Pat Pledger
Pledger Consulting, 2013. ISBN: 9781876678364.
Recommended. Both prolific readers with a passion for high quality
children's literature, Fran and Pat have created another 'must have'
for every library, time poor teacher and librarian. Their annotated
bibliographies have been created with us in mind. Librarians are
regularly approached to offer insights into the titles in the
collection. Sadly, because they don't in fact spend their whole days
quietly reading at their desks, despite popular belief, very few
would have read a high proportion of their collections or be able to
immediately reel off numerous titles on a theme. Therefore, thanks
to Fran and Pat (who probably bear in mind the recommendations of
other reviewers for ReadPlus as well) the collection of titles
listed in this book is one which we can trust as we make the
selections of texts for our libraries and gather bulk loans for
classroom teachers or for display purposes.
The themes in this title are listed alphabetically and cover various
areas found in the Australian Curriculum such as History of the
world and Australia, as well as popular themes which children are
always asking for. They cover a broad cross section from Aboriginal
peoples to specific titles best suited to boys or girls as well as
themes such as dinosaurs, fantasy, ghosts, refugees and war. Each
section is then broken down into picture books and titles for middle
primary and upper primary. Generally, titles are those which have
been published in recent years plus some deemed more to fit the
'classic' category.
Having had this title and Literature to support General
Capabilities to review for some months, I admit to having been
slow to do so, not because they have been ignored but instead
because they have been at school where they have already proved
themselves to be invaluable resources!
Jo Schenkel
Ava Anne Appleton : Accidental Adventurer by Wendy Harmer
Ill. by Andrea Edmonds. Scholastic; Australia: 2013. ISBN:
9781742838755.
(Age: Newly independent readers) Recommended. Wendy Harmer needs no
introduction to younger readers familiar with the Pearlie
series. Welcome to her latest series starring Ava Anne Appleton
which is sure to become just as popular with the newly independent
reader.
All is well in Ava's world. She is a most particular and careful
girl who lives in Australia Avenue with her parents, Anne and Alan
and dog Angus. Yes, A is her favourite letter and she strives to get
an A for all her school work.
Ava loves her ordered and safe life so when her father arrives home
one Saturday in a mobile home named The Adventurer and
announces they are all heading off in it for a year, she is not so
sure it is a good idea especially as there seems to be no plan or
itinerary.
Their first stop in a clearing near a lake surrounded by bushland
has Ava worried, especially when her parents encourage her to
explore and Angus disappears into the bush. When she tries to follow
him and becomes lost Ava is distraught. That's when Zander comes to
the rescue.
Zander not only prefers to be from the opposite end of the alphabet
she is the complete opposite of Ava. Untidy, grubby, barefoot and as
super confident in her environment as Ava was in hers. Zander shows
Ava how to read the signposts in her neighbourhood, and returns her
to her parents by sailing on the lake in her boat Zephyr.
This series has the potential to introduce readers to the wonders of
travelling around Australia as Ava learns to appreciate life outside
of the confines of Australia Avenue and enjoys new experiences. The
larger print and illustrations are ideal for readers just exploring
chapter books.
I look forward to finding out if the focus on alliteration continues
to be a theme and if the next character Ava meets begins with a Y.
Sue Keane
Ruby of Kettle Farm by Penny Matthews
Ill. by Lucia Masciullo. Our Australian Girl series, bk 4.
Penguin Australia, 2013.ISBN: 9780143307457.
Highly recommended for 8-11 year olds. Themes: Farm Life, Family
Life, Historical Fiction, Great Depression - Australia. The Our
Australian Girl series are extremely popular with students
from eight to eleven years of age. Penny Matthews' novels follow the
ups and downs of twelve year old Ruby Quinlan's life. This final
novel is set in rural South Australia in 1931. Ruby has settled in
to life on Kettle Farm, helping her cousin May with the chores,
looking after the chickens and weeding the vegetable patch. Her
faithful dog Baxter is a constant friend. Unfortunately Ruby
discovers the truth behind her father's long absence and lack of
response to her letters. She also finds out the real reason her
family had to leave behind their big Adelaide house and comfortable
lifestyle. Ruby shows resilience throughout her family's difficult
times. She outfoxes the chicken thief, shows friendliness and
acceptance to the poorer West children and supports her mother as
well.
Interwoven through this story are wonderful pictures of real life in
the 1930's, food, schooling, daily chores, different classes of
society, clothing, right down to boiling rags for handkerchiefs and
using eucalyptus oil when the family are sick with a cold. Ruby and
May's adventure into Adelaide to search for Ruby's father highlights
the impact of the times with the homeless men unable to find work
camping in humpies by the River Torrens.
As the story concludes resolution and reconciliation occur and Ruby
remembers her year as both strange and marvellous. Lucia Mascuillo's
delightful pencil sketches add interest throughout the story.
Additional facts are included about real life in the 1930s.
Rhyllis Bignell
Baby elephant walk by Hal David & Henry Mancini
Scholastic, 2013. ISBN 9781742834184.
Highly recommended for young children. Baby elephant walk is
a gorgeous picture book and a cute song turned into a story. Junior
primary children will enjoy singing along, looking at the colourful
pictures and creating dance moves for each part of the story. Baby
elephant walk also has a whole host of different jungle
animals involved in the song which would be good to use when
teaching lower primary children how to write to describe. Highly
recommended for young children.
Kylie Kempster
Underground Road by Sharon Kernot
Wakefield Press, 2013. ISBN: 9781743051922.
(Age: 15+) Underground Road is the first novel by Adelaide
author Sharon Kernot. The novel tells the story of a group of people
who share the same street in a underprivileged socio-economic
suburban community. Whilst the stories of each of the main
protagonists are told in separate chapters, each of the events and
actions steadily become intertwined over the whole novel. Mary is
forced to do community work at the local community soup kitchen in
order to receive Centrelink benefits much to her recently
retired husband's disapproval. Meanwhile, Mary's good friend
struggles with an addiction to gambling on poker machines. At the
same time, a young boy Damien struggles to deal with his violent
step-father, Marcus, and a neighborhood bully. Incidentally, Tyson,
the neighbourhood bully, has been moved to live with his mother as
he is the product of a drug affected mother. This is all happening,
whilst a paranoid schizophrenic man, Kenneth, raids the letter boxes
of the people on the street stealing their mail, and overdue utility
bills. Underground Road is a gripping yet saddening novel, as it
describes in detail the way in which problems, such as mental
illness, gambling, domestic violence, bullying, as well as drug and
alcohol addiction, associated with poverty can manifest and interact
within the one local community. Whilst many worthwhile statements
are made in this novel about the lack of justice and equity in these
poorer socio-economic communities, it really struggles to propose
any real solutions. The language and violence themes in this novel
would suggest that this book would be most suited to older students
(15 years plus), however this is somewhat contradicted by one of the
main character being of primary school age.
Adam Fitzgerald
Battle Magic by Tamora Pierce
Circle reforged series, bk 3. Scholastic, 2013. ISBN:
9780439842976.
(Age: 12+) Recommended. War, friendship, fantasy, magic, courage,
loyalty, resilience.
While there is endless speculation about the world building of J. K
Rowling, Robert Jordan and even George R. R Martin, Tamora Pierce
quietly just keeps expanding hers. She writes spin-offs, switches
back and forth in time and has evolved one of the strongest canons
there is.
She does something quite interesting with Battle Magic. We
are taken back two years before Melting Stones, and catch up
with Evvy when she is only 12 and first meets Luvo. I wouldn't be
surprised if reading Battle Magic sends readers back to Melting
Stones to re-connect with an older and wiser Evvy. Because in
Battle Magic, she is young, contemptuous and impatient with
everything.
Readers are thrown right into the middle of an unfamiliar land,
Yanjing. The customs are strange, the shamans make magic
inexplicably, and all is not as peaceful as it seems. The evil
Emperor, Weishu, is truly wicked, although in outward appearance, he
is hospitable and generous. I sometimes felt in previous Pierce
books that the main characters have a pretty easy time of getting
out of trouble. But here, our little band of heroes really have to
struggle to defeat him.
When war threatens the tiny province of Gyongxi, our three mages
become entangled with political and social machinations. The
narrative is dense and complicated, and there are lots of deaths,
mostly minor characters, thankfully. Readers are shown quite clearly
how horrible war is, and how greedy people can be. Briar and
Rosethorn are wonderful, and we meet a warrior called Parahan who is
excellent, as is the young God-King and of course, Luvo.
This is an action-packed story, filled with insight and compassion.
Many of us have been reading Pierce books for many years, and it's
good to see that she continues to write quality fantasy that depicts
strong female characters. Her first books about Alanna are still one
of the best ways to introduce younger readers to fantasy, and as the
children grow, so too do the newer series, allowing them to
consistently find something that suits their maturity level. Battle Magic will please fans.
Trisha Buckley
