Eerie series. Puffin, 2013. ISBN 9780143306887.
Mrs Hunter is obviously not from the planet Earth and has evil on
her mind as she closely observes the people around her before
targeting the young boy, William, as her prey. Whilst she is
watching him, however, it would appear that he has been tracking her
equally as closely. Which is the hunter and which the hunted?
This slim novella is apparently one of thirteen in the series Eerie
which are to be released this year. Containing only eight chapters,
many with as few as three pages per chapter and a total number of
fifty five pages in the whole book, as well as double spaced print,
this is the perfect series for the disinclined or struggling reader
from even the upper primary classes. With a gory, somewhat manic
looking character on the front cover, eyes bulging and pinned to a
board via a tack through the chest and dripping blood, this is not a
story for the faint hearted junior primary reader. I imagine this
series will entice the battling male reader with ease, however. The
addition of the little 'flip cartoon' on each page will undoubtedly
add to the appeal! Although I can imagine some parents showing
concern about having their younger children read these stories, I
feel they certainly fill a niche for those who love the Goosebumps
style of book but are not confident enough readers to attack them.
Jo Schenkel
It's our garden by George Ancona
It's our garden by George Ancona
Candlewick Press, 2013. ISBN 9780763653927
(Ages: 6+) Recommended. Picture book. Gardening. School gardens.
With a growing number of schools encouraging their students to be
part of the gardening world, preparing, planting and harvesting
their own produce, this book is timely. It shows a school community
in New Mexico where photographer, George Ancona searched for schools
where he'd heard this was being done. The little school he found,
... is overflowing in its devotion to their garden and all it
entails. With the help of volunteers and donations from the local
community a garden has been set up which draws in classes and
pupils, volunteers, teachers and parents to help.
Ancona has taken the most wonderful of photographs, full of story,
reminding us of the need for the feel of the soil, to know where our
food comes from, to work together.
Weekends and the summer break see volunteers coming to the garden to
keep it going for when the children return to school. During the
term, the garden is an outdoor classroom, where students learn about
the garden and what is in it, helping to harvest the food, and
preparing a vegetable pizza to cook in the adobe oven built by a
parent.
As a guide to why a school garden is a necessity of life, and how
this can be built and maintained, this book is a most informative
manual, but even more so, the photographs have a life of their own,
reflecting the people who have made it theirs. A wonderful website
of this photographer can be found at www.georgeancona.com
'As a photographer I can participate in people's lives... producing
something that can be shared and has a life of its own' says George
Ancona, and this is certainly apt for this wonderful book.
Fran Knight
Nobody by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
Egmont USA, 2013. ISBN 9781606843215 Hardback.
(Ages: 14+ ) Highly recommended. Family dysfunction. Suspense.
Romance. Discrimination.
I like Jennifer Lynn Barnes's writing style and the way she doesn't
fit neatly into any one genre. Her first series of books was about
werewolves (Raised by Wolves). Last year she published one
called Every Other Day, an action thriller in which her main
character fought demons from the underworld of hell, and 'every
other day' was a vulnerable human girl. It was a genius premise, and
Kali's determination and ferociousness about protecting people was
really well written.
And now we have Nobody. I don't know what genre to apply to
it. It starts off as an assassin book (Nix is ordered to kill Claire
for reasons unknown), it quickly morphs into
damaged-teens-find-each-other-and-bond story (Claire is lonely and
Nix is being manipulated), then they are on the run (this part of
the story is pure adrenalin), and of course there is a bit of
romance, a bit of conspiracy theory, and a bit of
exposing-the-baddies-for-who-they-are. Ultimately it's a
happy-ever-after story (thank goodness).
The main two characters, Claire and Nix, both narrate. Claire is a
lost and lonely 16 year old, who at times believes she is invisible.
Initially this is hard for readers to accept. Would even her parents
forget who she is? But Barnes is a deft writer who makes us believe
in Nobodies, Sensors, and Normals. Part of Claire's and Nix's skill
is to physically disappear, 'fly', and reappear somewhere else
entirely. This element moves the novel into sci-fi, but otherwise
the kids live in a fairly ordinary world. The book is often
repetitive with the two kids telling themselves over and over that
'I am nothing. I am nobody'. Initially it is degrading and weighs
them down, but eventually readers come to realise that this mantra
lifts and inspires them. Their 'nothingness' gives them power and
control in a world that has only used and discarded them. This is
highly empowering.
I like books that are quirky and original. Nobody certainly
fits into that category. It is also well written, with two
protagonists who are able to become world-savers when they find each
other and let themselves care and love.
Trisha Buckley
Violet Mackerel's possible friend by Anna Branford
Ill. by Sarah Davis. Walker Books, 2013. ISBN 9781921977565.
(Ages: 6+) Highly recommended. This is the fifth book in a series of
adventures about lovable character Violet Mackerel. She has moved
into her new house and is enjoying exploring her new surroundings.
When Violet accidentally makes a hole in the neighbour's fence,
Violet is initially worried, but her mother has told her a little
girl of similar age may live next door, and she starts thinking
about ideas and theories that will be helpful for friend-making. She
sets her theory of 'swapping small things' into motion - based on
the idea that if two people exchange something small, they will
become good friends - like her mother and Vincent did when they
exchanged rings during their wedding ceremony in the garden. From
her box of small things, Violet selects a tiny bell she has been
saving for something important and leaves it sitting in the hole in
the fence with a handwritten note, apologising for making the hole.
When she finds her gift has been replaced by one wrapped in purple
paper with an enclosed invitation from Rose - the little girl next
door - to visit her house, her plan appears to be off to a good
start. But the quest for friendship is a rocky road. Violet finds
herself surrounded by big and beautiful things when she visits
Rose's home and is completely mesmerised by the loveliest doll-house
she has ever seen in her bedroom, all pink and white. And Rose is
not only wearing the most perfect dress, but has matching white
socks with pink roses. Looking down at her own odd socks and skirt
borrowed from her big sister Nicola - pegged at the waist for
support - Violet doubts she could possibly be invited to Rose's
birthday party. In fact, could Rose ever be more than just a
possible friend?
This gorgeous story pays tribute to the beauty and value of small
things, ideas, creativity, the natural world, families, reciprocity
- and of course friendship. Davis's beautiful black and white
illustrations of Violet, her family and friends capture the tender
journey of a new friendship beautifully. Violet starts to question
whether her simple and humble family life could ever compare to
Rose's grand house and beautiful belongings. But her mother puts
things into perspective for her: 'A good way of making yourself feel
worried is by thinking about what you don't have and can't do... but
a good trick for feeling better again is by thinking about what you
do have and can do'. Violet is definitely a gorgeous-hearted little
girl with many amazing gifts. Violet Mackerel's possible friend
is a beautifully-crafted chapter book which will delight young
girls aged 6 upwards, and mothers too. I loved it.
Michelle Hunt
Ghost Club: A Transylvanian tale by Deborah Abela
Random House Australia, 2013. ISBN 9781742758534. 210
pages; p/b. (Ages: 8+)
Children's author, Deborah Abela, has published a large number of
books in recent years, is the recipient of many awards, and is
highly sought after for speaking tours and workshops.
Deborah Abela has a passion; she loves writing about ghosts. Her
latest book, Ghost Club: A Transylvanian Tale is from her
'slightly spooky' Ghost Club series. From its first page,
younger readers will find themselves in the midst of ghostly mayhem,
and will once again meet up with 'the kids that take care of the
mess'.
The ghost club kids, Angeline and Edgar, are as usual, in hot
pursuit of ghosts. The latest ghost club member to join them in
their quest is Dylan, but he is having trouble accepting that he
really wants to be a ghost-catcher. It's okay for Angeline and Edgar
who have been spectral gazing for the past four years, but Dylan has
been having nightmares of ravaging wolves and sharp-toothed
vampires, and when he finds himself travelling to Transylvania to
the annual Ghost Club Convention, he is more than just a little
nervous. The only factor that brings him a small amount of happiness
is that Angeline will be there too.
At the convention there is a glittering array of new ghost catching
inventions, disturbing accidents, and to top it all off, a very
determined ghostly presence. Surprisingly, it is nervous Dylan who
is noticing that things are not as they should be. When unexplained
accidents start to happen, it seems someone at the convention might
be harbouring a terrible secret. Will the truth be revealed before
the convention is over?
For children who enjoy a ghostly mystery, Deborah Abela's latest
entertaining tale in her Ghost Club series, will offer up
many more ghostly hours of reading. Her uncomplicated prose and
straightforward plot development, makes this book suitable for girls
and boys, ages 8+ years.
Colleen Tuovinen
Seven Wonders: The Colossus rises by Peter Lerangis
Harper Collins, 2013. ISBN 9780007515035.
(Ages: 13+) Imagine waking up one morning to discover a white patch of
hair in the shape of an upside down V has magically appeared on your
head. Thirteen year old Jack McKinley doesn't have too much time to
dwell on this puzzling matter because he is in a hurry to get to
school and sit a maths test. Little does he realize that his day is
going to become even more strange. There is the peculiar looking
man with the red beard hanging around outside his house and then the
bike accident. Jack wakes up in hospital where his doctor and a
chaplain are behaving in a very odd manner. His life is never going
to be the same again.
Jack is taken to a secluded island which is home to a secret
research facility. Here Jack meets a select group of teenagers that
carry a rare genetic marker, as evidenced by the white V-shaped
hair. This mutation gives them the ability to behave in superhuman
ways however it will also cause death within six months of
appearing. The researchers on the island have techniques that can
keep them alive but their only long term salvation involves a daring
mission. Jack and his friends must find seven magical objects hidden
in the ruins of the seven wonders of the ancient lands. Only when
these objects are combined do they have any hope of a normal life
span.
This is the first book in a series by best selling author Peter
Lerangis and will appeal to younger teens. Part fantasy and part
history it is a fast paced adventure with plenty of action, cliff
hangers and interesting illustrations to enhance the reader's
understanding of Jack's new world. This book takes Jack and his
friends to the Colossus of Rhodes but things don't go entirely as
planned leaving a perfect entree for book two. Readers who don't
enjoy getting bogged down by lengthy descriptive passages will find
this book to their liking. There isn't much time to draw breath as
the characters face a new threat at every turn.
Tina Cain
Desmond and the very mean word by Archbishop Desmond Tutu and Douglas Carlton Abrams
Ill. by A G Ford. Walker Books, 2013. ISBN 9781406343915.
(Ages: 6+) Picture book. Racism. Bullying. Forgiveness. People
reading this book will be in no doubt about why it has been written
and produced. Its message sings from the back cover and from Tutu's
introduction. Schools with a strong moral focus may find it fills a
niche in their programs, and others will find it fits with a growing
number of books about bullying.
Seemingly based on Tutu's life, the hero of the story, Desmond, gets
a new bike for his birthday. The background of the story,
beautifully illustrated by Ford, has the setting in the place where
Tutu grew up, the slums of South Africa.
The boy is dismayed when a group of boys call out a very mean word
to him as he rides past. When Desmond talks to Father Trevor at
school he is told that to forgive is the best thing to do. But
Desmond is angry and cannot hold out forgiveness to these boys. So
the scenario continues, the Father offering solace and words of
comfort and Desmond feeling much the same, until he shouts words
back at the boys. He feels awful about doing this until one day he
sees the ringleader being bullied by his older brother. Later
Desmond tells the boy he is sorry for hurting him,, and receives an
apology in turn, and the two become friends.
The words of Father Trevor, that giving forgiveness will make you
stronger and set you free are recalled at the end of the book.
An afterword by Archbishop Tutu underlines the work done by Father
Trevor in his life and the lives of so many others in his community.
Fran Knight
All this could end by Steph Bowe
Text Publishing, 2013. ISBN 9781921758447.
(Age: 15+) Steph Bowe's first novel was an absolute gem, with
credible characters facing emotional dilemmas. Her latest novel
seems more uneven in credibility and characterisation. On the
surface, our protagonists (Nina and Spencer) seem to have little in
common. Nina's family moves around a lot, living closely in tiny
apartments or motel rooms... and they rob banks for a living!
Spencer has lived in the same large house all his life but his
family are distant; his father is that pillar of respectability, a
bank manager.
What brings these two together is a shared sense of isolation. Nina
remains aloof from her classmates due to her family's criminal
history; Spencer remains aloof out of social awkwardness. Nina can't
wait to escape her family's criminal lifestyle but refuses to
challenge her mother directly. Spencer feels helpless as he watches
his family growing further apart.
Whilst many teens will empathise with Nina and Spencer's uncertainty
about their futures, credibility is sometimes stretched in this
novel, particularly with Nina's family. Could her father really be
so blindly in love with his wife that he can't see why his children
should not be living a life of crime? The novel's denouement also
seems just a little too easy. Whilst Spencer's final comment may
express a lovely sentiment, it hardly seems realistic given what has
already occurred.
Some of the characterisation is initially handled awkwardly, too.
When Spencer is first introduced we seem to be told a lot about his
personality rather than being allowed to see his traits in action. His
love of words, for instance, only comes into play late in the novel.
Perhaps the fact that his story is told in third person (rather than
the first person used for Nina) actually works against his character
development.
Despite these credibility strains, there is also a lot to enjoy in
this novel (particularly in Spencer's friend, Bridie). There is also
a lot to ponder (about parental responsibility, for a start) so fans
of Steph Bowe's first novel may well be won over by novel's end.
Deborah Marshall
Fearless by Cornelia Funke
Chicken House, 2013. ISBN 978-1-906427-26-9.
(Age: 13+) Recommended. Fans of Cornelia Funke's Inkheart trilogy
and The Thief Lord will enjoy her latest series called Mirrorworld,
which combines the natural human world we all know with a
fantastical 'faerie' world which mirrors our own but where magical
creatures, fairytale figures and legendary objects of folklore also
exist. Fearless is the second book in this new series,
following the adventures of the intrepid treasure hunter, Jacob
Reckless, as he travels in both of these worlds.
In the first book, Reckless, Jacob successfully saved his brother
Will from being permanently transformed into a Goyl, a stone being,
but at great cost to himself: he said the Dark Fairy's name and now
he bears the mark of a moth over his heart, a curse that will end
his life soon, unless he can somehow find a cure. However he
has already spent months searching in both worlds for that cure and
neither the All-Healing Apple, the Well of Eternal Youth nor the
blood of a northern Djinn has worked.
Fast running out of hope, Jacob leaves his unsuspecting brother Will
with Clara in the human world and journeys back through his father's
mirror to tell Fox, the female shapeshifter who is quickly becoming
the most important person in what's left of his remaining
life. But it is when he finds her, in the castle of the Dwarf
Valiant, that Jacob hears of a deadly crossbow, capable of slaying
entire army when its bolt is shot through the heart of the army's
leader. It is a prize that is worth a fortune, but that is not
why Jacob wants it; it was also once used to kill a dying man and so
end his torment, but instead it healed him. It may be Jacob's
last chance to end his curse.
The land of The Mirrorworld is a detailed and complex, multi-layered
world in true Funke style, drawing on the creatures and objects of
traditional folktales and reshaping them into a new creation all her
own. Those who've read the first book in the series would
presumably find this world more familiar, whereas the second book
relies on some prior knowledge of the fantasy world and previous
events for clarity. However, the characters of Jacob and Fox
are engaging and interesting, including their ever-growing closeness
and Jacob's ongoing search for his long-lost father.
Fearless is an action-driven Young Adult fantasy novel recommended
for adolescent readers and older. As always, Cornelia Funke
creates a great tale of adventure, combining suspense and effective
character development.
4 stars out of 5.
Kate Hall
Under the never sky by Veronica Rossi
Atom, 2013. ISBN 9780349001487.
Through the ever night by Veronica Rossi
Atom, 2013. ISBN 9781907411069
(Age: 14+) Recommended. Dystopian fiction. Romance.
Survival. ALA Best Fiction for Young Adults 2013. Aria has lived all
her life under a Dome that keeps out the deadly air. Her life
revolves around playing games that simulate reality. When her mother
goes missing she risks leaving her protected life to find out about
her disappearance and eventually is expelled from the Dome. She
knows she won't survive in the Wasteland, where the toxic aether
attacks. However she meets Perry, a wild young man who is also
searching for someone. Their story of survival is continued in the
second in the series Through the ever night.
I thoroughly enjoyed these two books. They were relatively easy to
read, but only because Rossi is a clever author who has the ability
to blend together detailed characterisation, a fascinating setting
and an action driven plot to keep the reader glued to the page. Once
I read Under the never sky, I immediately started Through
the ever night. This is an indication of the compulsive nature
of the two books, and I can't wait for the third in the series.
The romance in the book was very well done. Aria and Perry take time
to get to know each other's personalities, strengths and weaknesses
and courage. Chapters are labelled Aria and Peregrine and relate the
story from their point of view, which provides an indepth look at
the motivations of each of them and what has been important in their
past. Other characters like Roar and Liv and Cinder the boy who
could manipulate the devastating aether are really interesting and
provide added incentive for the reader to read on to find out what
happens to them.
This is a superior series in the dystopian genre. Readers who
enjoyed The hunger games will like it and I can see
reluctant readers being prepared to try it.
Pat Pledger
The black rabbit by Philippa Leathers
Walker Books, 2013. ISBN 978 1 4063 4368 7.
(Age: 4+) Warmly recommended. Picture book. Rabbits. Bravery. The
little rabbit finds that there is a larger black rabbit following
him about. Wherever he goes, the black rabbit is there. If her runs
fast, it follows him: if her stands behind a tree, the black rabbit
is there when he comes away. He calls out to it to go away, but it
stays. He swims across the pond, but it is there when he gets out.
Exasperated, he walks into the deep dark wood. Two large eyes stare
at him from the gloom and he thinks the black rabbit has found him,
but on running out of the wood, he finds the eyes belong to a wolf.
Luckily the black rabbit is there again and scares off the wolf, so
bringing the rabbit and his shadow together.
A neat solution is found to the rabbit's fears, and this would make
an ideal lead in story to talk about fears and responses to fears,
about bravery and taking care. In pre school environments this book
could be well used with puppets and in particular shadow puppets,
lending an edge to the telling of the tale.
Fran Knight
10 little circus mice by Caroline Stills and Judith Rossell
Little Hare Books, 2013. ISBN 9781 921894 17 6.
(Age: 3+) Picture book. Counting book. Circus. A counting book with
a difference, the 10 mice turn their household chores into practice
for their circus events as they count down from 10 to one on the
verso, and count up from 1 to 10 on the recto. Each page is full of
colour and movement as each chore is turned into an event. 9 mice
tidy their bedroom, while one mouse somersaults, 8 mice cook, while
two mice juggle and so one. Each chore uses the same equipment as
the circus practice, so children will love to see the things used in
a different way on each page. Each page shows the mice using
everyday things but of course on a smaller scale, so children again
will be intrigued with the use made by the illustrator of pencils,
cotton reels, and cups and saucers to name but a few. Each
double page has all ten mice shown somewhere on the page, so
children will enjoy finding each of the group of ten.
The possibilities of using this book at home or in the classroom are
endless. It fits into the themes of counting and circus, and also
working together, physical activity, mice and doing chores. It
readily adds another level of interest for children intrigued by
smallness - children will love to search for tiny things they could
use for a mouse house, and perhaps build up a room showing the
things collected.
The first steps at addition too are given with the numbers counting
down from 10 to 1 on the verso and building up from 1 5to 10 on the
recto. A picture book to add to the few extolling the beginnings of
maths.
Fran Knight
The pocket book of weather: Entertaining and remarkable facts about the weather by Michael Bright
Bloomsbury, London, 2013. 144 p. Hardback.
(Age: 10-15) This small book is a classic 'pocket' encyclopaedia,
which dips into many weather topics, concepts and issues. It is not
a dictionary and therefore not organised in alphabetical order.
Rather it is organised in 10 themed chapters eg Clouds and fog, Hail
and snow, Thunder and lightning. The final chapters The energy of
weather and Global weather change touch on our weather-related
environmental concerns and it is encouraging to see these chapters
included in a 'pocket' publication.
Michael Bright is a prolific author of books about the natural
world. His writing is clear and concise and reflects his vast
experience in this genre. The design and layout have been well
thought out with significant use of sub-headings, different font
sizes and italics. Included are Contents, Index (comprehensive),
Picture credits and Websites (for further research).
There are many colour photographs as well as diagrams and tables.
Also included are gold Fact boxes with fascinating weather snippets
eg 'On 15 August 1291, a typhoon moving across the Sea of Japan
destroyed an entire Mongol invasion fleet. It became known as the
'Divine Wind' or 'Kamikaze'.' (p. 89). There are some Australian
examples of extreme weather eg Cyclone John (North-west WA) 1999,
Brisbane flood 1974, Marble Bar heatwave 1923-24. However, the book
has been published with the British and US market in mind with many
US references and examples, in particular.
This is not an in depth resource. However, it would be useful for
beginning research, choosing a weather topic, understanding basic
weather concepts or simply browsing through a multitude of
fascinating weather facts. The book is strongly bound with an
attractive cover, which makes it very appropriate for a Middle
School library with students aged 10-15 years.
M. E. Strickland
Questions of Travel by Michelle De Kretser
Allen and Unwin, 2012. ISBN 9781743311004.
(Adult) A dual narrative follows the lives of Laura Fraser and Ravi
Mendis from the 1960s to the end of 2004 in Questions of Travel.
Laura is a big, plain, sexually ravenous woman from Sydney who
travels for years before returning to work for a travel-book
publisher and Ravi who flees Sri Lanka after a tragedy.
Laura's tedious life is embellished by her affairs at work and in
the house at McMahon's Point where she lives in exchange for tending
the roof-garden and later, on Sundays, to titillate the old man who
lives there. The portrait of Ravi gives an insight into the refugee
who is escaping death - its threat and memory - and a character
whose exterior passivity may derive from his experiences as well as
his own personality. His relationships are inhibited. Most of the
Australians of this novel may be well-intentioned but they cannot
understand Ravi.
The writing is high-quality: dense and literary - with themes of
connection and isolation, injustice, search for meaning,
dysfunctional relationships, and, of course, travel (its tedium,
search for familiar landmarks when lost, inaccessibility for the
poor and the impossibility of being anything other than tourists for
those rich enough to afford it). It uses strong symbols of the child
(and father, or fatherless, relationship), nets (including the
internet and websites), flowers and water. Water encircles both the
novel and its significant places. In spite of the book's formidable
length at over five hundred pages, re-reading will unearth powerful
links between characters, events and place that may not be absorbed
at a first reading. In the context of secondary student readers,
Questions of Travel will have appeal for sophisticated mature
readers including those with an interest in Sri Lanka and refugees.
Its true audience is readers of award-quality literary fiction.
Joy Lawn
The little corroboree frog by Tracey Hutton-Ramirez
Ill. by Angela Ramirez. Magabala Books, 2013. ISBN 978 1 921248 81
8.
(Age: 6+) Recommended. Picture book. Environment. Aboriginal themes.
A lovely story of the critically endangered corroboree frog will
bring information to those who read the tale in a simple and direct
way. The story is of two frogs leaving their eggs near the edge of
the riverbank, ready to hatch when the rains come down. But the pond
begins to dry up, and so they seek the advice of Grandmother Frog.
She tells them of what is happening in their environment with
climate change making it hotter and drier, and with people leaving
their rubbish on the edges of the ponds making it difficult for the
tadpoles to survive and hatch. When a young boy and his father
come to the riverbank, the frog jumps onto his shoulder, showing him
what is happening to its eggs and the environment the eggs are in.
The boy realises the frog's predicament and calls to his father to
help clean up the mess that has been left behind, being careful not
to drive too close to the edge of the river, so destroying the
frogs' habitat.
A double page of information follows which will educate, intrigue
and delight the readers. Addresses of the major conservation groups
is also included to enable teachers and students to find more
information. All in all a most satisfying look at conservation at a
grass roots level for younger readers.
The publication of this little book is beautiful, with its clear,
bold and bright water colour illustrations, and lovely child
friendly sized print. It is always a pleasure to hold and read books
with a clear audience in mind, where thought has gone into not just
the teacher or parent but the child picking up the book in the
library, classroom or at home. No one reading this book would be in
any doubt about the markings of the Corroboree Frog.
Fran Knight
