Zoe and Beans: Pants on the moon! by Mick and Chloe Inkpen
Macmillan, 2012. ISBN 9780230748477.
(Ages: 5+)
Picture book. Adventure. The fourth in the warmly eye catching
series about best friends, Zoe and Beans, will have readers involved as
they trip along with the duo's adventures, whether it be the gentle
Zoe's Christmas list or the introductory The magic hoop, the familiar
tales of friendship will endear themselves to the child and adult
readers alike. Read aloud, read in a small group or read alone, each
story sings with enthusiasm for togetherness and camaraderie.
Zoe's washing line, full of pants, is swept up into the sky one very
windy day. She holds onto one end, imploring Beans to grab the other
end. Together they go up and up, Zoe's dress billowing out. With the
line caught on a passing plane, Zoe's dress gets pulled off, and they
land on the moon. Here they have several adventures, exploring the dark
side of the moon, getting covered in moon dust and finding the flag of
the United States of America. They use the flag to billow back to earth
where they need to wash their pants all over again.
A sweet story of adventure and friendship, students will be initially
intrigued by the references to pants, underwear and Zoe's dress blowing
up. The colourful illustrations will lead the readers along, taking in
the sparse text about the friends' adventures in this strange place,
and be with them returning to earth. The pants on the line flow through
the story keeping the students' attention and the story could be the
vehicle to talk of things otherwise not discussed in the classroom or
at home.
Fran Knight
The Drowned Cities by Paolo Bacigalupi
Atom, 2012. ISBN 9781907411113. (Age: 13 +) Highly recommended. The Drowned Cities is set in a
harsh, war-torn future. Mahlia and Mouse live in a small village
with the kind Doctor Mahfouz. They are close friends, ever since Mouse
once saved Mahlia's life when they were both trying to get out of the
Drowned Cities. When out hunting for food in the jungle one day, they
come across a vicious half-man, half-dog creature known as Tool. When
Mouse is captured, Mahlia enlists the help of Tool to get him back. But
is it worth the risk? The Drowned Cities is a fantastic novel. Although it really is a
sequel
to the novel Shipbreaker, it's not at all necessary to read the
first
before you read this one. In the beginning, the story takes a while to
really get going, but by the halfway mark it is utterly engaging. There
are many surprising things about this book, but there is one that
really stands out. It is the way the writing style and plot contrast
with each other in a big way. While the writing style is not basic or
simple at all, it is never difficult to read. That can be expected of a
normal teen or young adult novel. But the thing that is different is
that the book itself is often very violent, and it contains several
nasty scenes that will make you squirm in your seat. What makes these
scenes so abrasive at the same time is the age of all involved. Mahlia
and Mouse are really just children, and even some of the older
characters are simply teenagers. This makes the book particularly hard
to read at times, in an emotional way.
The characters are fascinating. Tool is one of the best (and most
terrifying) characters to come out of a teen novel in the past few
years.
Another wonderful thing about the book is the world the characters
inhabit. It's a world filled with violence, war and child soldiers. The
landscapes are vividly described; so much so you can practically see
them. The Drowned Cities would make a terrific movie. The Drowned Cities is a really unique book. Set in a dystopian,
war-torn world, it has amazing characters and a terrifically detailed
setting.
I highly recommend this book.
Rebecca Adams (Student)
Trust Me Too ed. by Paul Collins
Ford Street, 2012. ISBN 9781921665585.
Recommended for 10-15 years old. Sometimes when you don't feel like a
huge meal, a tempting array of tasty bite-sized snacks is exactly what
you want. Trust Me Too fits this bill of fare perfectly. An
exciting new anthology of short stories and poetry by over fifty of
Australia's most lauded writers for young people has been ably edited
by Paul Collins. The selected pieces cover a broad scope, showcasing an
amazing diversity of talents and have been grouped into various genres
from contemporary to fantasy to horror to humour - and more. Some
charming illustrations accompany the poetry selections and a
delightfully resonant frontispiece by Shaun Tan welcomes the reader
into various worlds of imagination.
Because of the format I found it easy - and enjoyable - to read
something that would be normally a genre beyond my staple diet. From
this aspect I think it would be a fabulous adjunct to both a wider
reading and writing program - inspiring students to taste-test
something outside their regular reading menu.
Recommended for 10-15 years old, this volume would be perfect as a
read-aloud to dip into randomly or a terrific stimulus for encouraging
students to explore the short story art form.
Sue Warren
The Enchantress by Michael Scott
The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel series.
Doubleday, 2012. ISBN: 9780385619004.
Highly recommended for ages 12 plus. With Nicholas and Perenelle Flamel
based on Alcatraz Island, endeavouring to defend not just the city of
San Francisco but, ultimately, the world, it seems that Josh and Sophie
Newman, the twins of legend, are very much on their own as they face
their ultimate battle to protect the human race. Will they work
together or stand alone in order for the prophecy to be fulfilled?
This, the sixth and final book of the series, was one title which I
could not rush to complete. Over the course of the series, I felt I had
developed an understanding of and an affinity with various characters
in this tale. Scott's strong characterisation made many of them truly
take on lives of their own and fuelled my desire to enjoy their
friendships for a little longer. Having watched the allegiances change
and the metamorphosis of the various immortals, both physically and
emotionally, I felt fascinated and concerned as to what the outcomes
may have been. Throughout The Enchantress, allegiances
continued to
change and selflessness became the order of the day. For so many
characters, there was also an eleventh hour appreciation of what is
right, thereby causing them to reconsider their initial beliefs or
values. Even in the midst of the final exciting battle, there was an
air of gentleness. Mars' comment seemed to sum up Scott's reasons for
having provided such an eclectic crew to defend the human race, 'This
is what I have always loved about you humans. You are essentially good.'
Personally, I thoroughly enjoyed Scott's style of writing and felt the
conclusion to have been satisfactory. Answers to many questions,
including the twins' parentage, and were provided. Whilst there were a
few details or characters whose involvement I was left questioning, I
would have no hesitation in recommending this series to any lovers of
fantasy or mythology.
Jo Schenkel
The unexpected crocodile by Kim Kane
Ill. by Sara Acton. Allen and Unwin, 2012. ISBN 978 1 74237 807
7.
(Ages: 5+) Recommended. Picture book. Cautionary tale. The
glorious scene of the unexpected crocodile turning up to Peggy's place
to join the family for dinner, will entice readers into this book. With
his bright red umbrella and jaunty red bow tie, the crocodile almost
swaggers into the house. It has rained for weeks, and mum and dad have
been frantically getting the sodden house ready for their nieghbours,
but when answering the doorbell, Peggy is surprised by the crocodile
asking if the Dawsons have already arrived. 10 minutes later, they do
arrive, complete with their three rather unlovely boys and a
croquembouche that Mrs Dawson has made for desert, telling everyone
that the boys made it.
The boys each reject the food offered and the crocodile eats their
mother, boots and all. Later, when looking at the clock, he eats
Mr Dawson, and when the odious boys ask for croquembouche rather than
the coleslaw, he eats them too. A wonderful end to an obnoxious family.
This story will bring whoops of laughter from its audience as the
crocodile does the most unexpected things. Readers will laugh as the
crocodile dressed in his best bow tie turns up to dinner, and whoop
with
delight when he eats the lying mother, the quiet father and the three
nasty boys. Salting them first of course. The wonderful illustrations
will beguile the most diffident of readers into the story, adding
another level of humour to the words, and acquainting them with a wide
vocabulary as they read.
Sara Acton's website
gives further illustrations which children will
love, particularly the one of her on the home page, burrowing away with
her drawing.
Kim Kane's other books include Pip, the story of Olive and The
vegetable ark, both of which are award winners.
Fran Knight
Girl heart boy by Ali Cronin
No Such Thing as Forever Series. Penguin Razorbill, 2012. ISBN
978-0-14-134425-6.
(Senior secondary) Sarah and her close group of friends are in their
last year at high school in Brighton England. They work hard and
support one another while dealing with the trials of everyday life,
balancing homework, jobs and relationships. The characters are well
drawn though stereotypical, Sarah, saving herself for the right
boy, Donna the promiscuous one, Cass with a steady boyfriend, Ashley,
on the lookout. Of the boys, Rich is gay, Jack sporty and Ollie
considered by his friends a 'serial shagger'. We don't have long to
wait for Sarah to fall in love with uni student Joe and she loses her
virginity on page 30, but is it real love? The sex scenes come across
as honest and matter of fact, if you want full R rated stuff you need
to buy the eBook! The real message is that friends are more important,
they look after you when you are vulnerable, whether it be caused by
alcohol, grief or relationships, they have your best interests at heart
and will cover for you, even lend you their knickers in an emergency.
Ali Cronin's new Girl Heart Boy series, with lots of online add-ins, is
going to be very popular with older high school girls but take note of
the 'explicit content warning'.
Sue Speck
The gathering dark by Leigh Bardugo
Indigo Publishing, 2012. ISBN: 9781780621104.
(Age: 14+) Recommended. The Gathering Dark was originally
published in
the US as Shadow and Bone. It has a softer, more romantic cover
in the
UK version, but the praise has been glowing in all countries. Bargudo
has clearly written a fantasy, but it's steeped in Old Russian culture.
The prologue introduces the main character, Alina, an orphan with an
unknown past in the court of the benevolent Duke Keramasov, far away
from the intrigue and war of the capital. When she and fellow orphan
Mal are visited by the mysterious Grisha, testing discovers nothing
unusual. So they are brought up together, safe and happy.
Many years later, in a desperate effort to save Mal, Alina unleashes
her power and is then discovered and carted off to the capital to
develop and tame it. The enforced separation from Mal weighs heavily,
and we see Alina isolated, alienated, and struggling to understand and
control herself.
The novel is heavy on drama and court intrigue, with mysteries revealed
at a tantalisingly slow pace. Everyone in the King's palace is obsessed
with appearances, and we fear that Alina will be lured by the
superficiality of beauty and the temptation of power. Bargudo keeps us
absorbed and interested by depicting Alina's mentor as a charming and
intelligent potential partner, however Alina's bonds to Mal are
stronger, and she continues to try to contact him. The love triangle
works quite effectively.
As the book concludes, a flood of information is dumped on the reader.
The race is on to prevent catastrophe, but Alina remains true to
character: her loyalty and courage saves lives. This is well
structured, effective writing. Most teenage girls will love The
Gathering Dark, and wait impatiently for the sequel.
Trisha Buckley
The book of madness and cures by Regina O'Melveny
John Murray, 2012. ISBN 9781848547063
(Age: Senior secondary - adult) Recommended. This novel, set in the
late sixteenth century, is both a collection of charming stories about
medieval medical practice and a picaresque journey. The main character
is Gabriella, a young Venetian and daughter of the renowned doctor
Mondini who has left Venice to gather information for his proposed book
about disease. Though she is a trained and practising doctor, Gabriella
has been increasingly ignored by the medical establishment since her
father's departure. When his final letter arrives, Gabriella decides
that she will travel to find him. With two servants, Olmina and
Lorenzo, and her medicine chest she begins a journey that, guided by
her father's letters, takes her north through Padua, past Lake
Costentz, along the Rhine and as far north as Edinburgh. They then turn
south and travel through Spain to the deserts of Morocco. Along the way
she gathers disturbing news about her father who seems to have been
afflicted by madness. She meets many doctors, some of whom welcome and
encourage her, others who distrust her as a woman. At times she dresses
as a man for safety, especially when traveling through villages ravaged
by the burning of witches. She falls in love several times but has to
keep traveling on her quest for both her father and stories for her own
collection of diseases and cures. She encounters the kind and the
cruel, and experiences happiness and hardship. Eventually arriving in
the arid land of Morocco, the source of cures outside her medical
tradition, she discovers the truth about her father and a truth about
herself. The novel has a fable like quality and gathers strength as it
progresses. The action is interspersed with the stories about sufferers
and cures, and vivid details about everyday life. The language is
richly poetic with enough archaisms to sound historically accurate. The
places she visits are described in little detail, but enough to make
them believable, and the medical theories are not over-laboured. The
novel is recommended.
Jenny Hamilton
Fire in the Sea by Myke Bartlett
Text, 2012. ISBN 9781921922749.
(Age 13+) Recommended. Text Prizewinner. While swimming, something
touched Sadie. 'Something fast and sleek, but not a shark. Something
with arms and legs.' Sadie is bored with life in Perth. Everything
seems the same and she is even prepared to listen to her cousin reading
her Tarot cards to relieve the monotony. But then something comes out
of the sea and her life becomes turmoil. An elderly man is attacked,
Sadie is left inheriting his old house and a strange young man called
Jake turns up. Then there is a horned beast roaming the streets. Caught
in the middle of an ancient feud, Sadie and Jake race to find the
stolen relic that could save or destroy the world.
A fascinating combination of real life and ancient myth, Fire in the
sea is a stunning debut for Myke Bartlett. The Perth setting, with its
hot beaches and suburban life, makes a contrast to the conflict of
ancient gods and beasts, which I found really fascinating. The old
story of Atlantis has always fascinated me, and its addition here added
to atmosphere.
Another thing I really liked was the authenticity of the characters and
their dialogue. Sadie is a strong girl who is prepared to fight for
what she believes. Jake is dark and haunted and the mystery surrounding
what he is and what he is capable of kept me reading to the end. In
particular I liked the character of Tom, Sadie's stalwart friend who is
prepared to do anything to keep her safe, even though he can see that
she is attracted to Jake.
For readers who love action and suspense, there are plenty of thrills
as the horned beast bellows its anger and attacks in a frenzy and the
teens race to find the relic before a tsunami drowns Perth.
People who enjoy books that have ancient mythology as a background will
revel in this story. It would also make an interesting Literature
Circle book and could lead to readers researching the stories of the
ancient gods.
Pat Pledger
Eagle strike - the graphic novel by A. Johnston, et al.
London: Walker Books , 2012. Unpaged. ISBN 9781406318777.
(Age: 10 +) Eagle Strike is Alex Rider's fourth mission, parcelled up
as a new 'sequential art narrative' written by Antony Johnston and
illustrated by sisters, Kanako Damerum and Yuzuru Takasaki. Thanks to
the project management and rendering of Kanako, this graphic novel
flows logically without too many gaps, which can sometimes disorient
the reader in some graphic adaptations.
The opening scene sits outside of the main plot but it does foreshadow
the final surprise twist. The story starts with Alex on holiday in
Southern France with a friend's family. Alex's curiosity is aroused by
the appearance of a known fellow spy right before Sabina's father, a
journalist, becomes the target of a bomb and is hospitalized. Since the
journalist was investigating a third party connected to the hitman,
Gregorovich, Alex has no doubt of their involvement.
The hero's journey for teen spy Alex, means he has to spend the rest of
this visual feast collecting evidence to convince his friend, MI6 and
the authorities that a famous philanthropist, Sir Damian Cray, was not
only responsible for the bombing but will use any means to fulfil his
plans for the world. Interesting Gregorovich is lenient with the boy
whereas any journalist who stands in Cray's way is murdered.
Conveniently, it is up to Alex to prevent nuclear disaster, after Cray
hijacks Air Force One.
Billed as a version more accessible for reluctant readers, Eagle Strike
is not short changed. This is a particularly fast-paced graphic novel
to be enjoyed as a quality example of the genre. The panels use a
variety of perspectives and zooms to accommodate orientation scenes,
close-ups and regular action. Alternating layering and angling of the
frames heightens interest and Yuzuru's considerable background in the
world of Manga is evident through the slick, stylized draftmanship.
The feminized portrayal of the villain amongst other choices, makes
Eagle Strike a text fit for critical dissection and the typical
use of
comic book onomatopoeia reinforces that comic book heroes do not
necessarily need super powers. A worthy addition to any graphic novel
collection.
Deborah Robins
Too cold for a tutu by Mini Goss
Allen and Unwin, 2012. ISBN 978 1 74331 378 7
Highly recommended. Stella and Barry are two lovably warm and
curious friends, who have a very clever Nanna, who knits cardigans and
sews tutus.
Barry and Stella go outside and have all sorts of imaginative fun,
spurred on by Stella needing to be cozy inside Barry's
cardigan . . .
There are so many things to love about this story. The knitted Barry
and Stella are beautifully realistic and warm, you just want to reach
into the book and give them a big squeezy hug.
When Barry and Stella are playing outside, the grass is green and the
leaves are crunchy and colourful. When they go inside for tea, the
cupcakes look scrumptious and the strawberries are ripe and ready to
eat.
The language is reminiscent of any 3 or 4 year old I've ever met -
rapid fire, filled with ideas, imaginings, enthusiasm and
colourful banter. The text itself is written in different colours,
which adds to the lively rollicking story.
There was some, as the 4 year olds I read to called it, 'not nice!'
play - Stella tells Barry that racing is stupid, and climbing is silly,
and she also calls him a 'great big stripy monkey'. To be honest, I
kind of liked that. Not only was that realistic, but it was also a
great catalyst for discussion about how they could have expressed
themselves more nicely, and also that they could say these things, but
then move on to being friends again.
This book comes complete with references to Barry and Stella's very own
website, where
readers can find more stories, and lots of fun things to
make and do.
Freya Lucas
Snow White and the Huntsman: A Novel by Lily Blake
Based on the film of the same name. Atom Publishing, 2012. ISBN:
9781907411700.
Lily Blake's Snow White and the Huntsman is reasonably well
written, but as is the way with novelisations, it's a little more
expository that emotional. Although Snow White is the main character,
the Huntsman and the evil Queen Ravenna dominate the page. Flawed
people usually are more interesting characters after all.
The prologue sets up the plot, with Ravenna seducing the king, Snow
White's father, then betraying him with her army who enter his kingdom
and slay all his soldiers. Ravenna's mother was a powerful witch who
imbued Ravenna and her brother Finn with spells to keep them young and
beautiful so they can exact revenge for her. Fortunately, as with all
good fairy tales, there is a catch: keeping Snow White alive is
necessary for the magic to work.
The huntsman, Eric, struggles with his own inner demons. Suffering
guilt and remorse after the death of his beloved wife, Eric is now a
shambling alcohol-addled shadow of his former self. When he
inadvertently finds himself on the trail of Snow White, tasked by the
Queen to kill her, he must reconcile his sense of right with his
shameful behavior, and find the right path.
Snow White can't help but seem bland. She is perfectly beautiful, and
of course, kind to children and small animals. Plus she has all those
qualities important for a leading lady, like being self sacrificing,
noble, and determined. She seems to focus on her childhood friend,
William, a little too much, but the romantic elements are not explored
in depth. Ultimately, the ending is left up-in-the-air; does this mean
Universal Pictures are planning a sequel?
Trisha Buckley
The Haunted School by Deborah Abela
Ghost Club. Random House, 2012. ISBN 978174275083.
(Age: Primary school) It's hard to fit in with the other kids at school
when you spend your spare time catching ghosts.
Angeline and her twin brother Edgar are members of the Ghost Club and
are responsible for fixing paranormal problems that sometimes trouble
the human world. Problems like vortexes, paranormal forces and
hauntings. Of course the job demands some very special tools of trade
such as Trackers which can detect the presence of ghosts, Circuit
Breakers and Atomisers. These high tech goodies are carried in satchels
that the twins take with them when they are sent on a mission, as well
as their protective clothes and shoes.
People generally find talk of ghosts a little scary, which is why
Angeline and Edgar try to keep a low profile at school. Most kids
already think they're a little weird and for a bully like Travis, the
twins are the perfect target. When Travis suspects Angeline and Edgar
belong to the Ghost Club he is determined to spy on them.
Meanwhile, a ghost is haunting their school, Gravesend College. They
need to find out who she is and why she is so troubled. Unfortunately,
that means having to reveal their club membership to the principal, who
most certainly does not approve of their extra curricular past time. If
that isn't bad enough, Travis is determined to make as much trouble for
them as he can.
Part of the Ghost Club series, The Haunted School is
certain to delight primary school readers who enjoy mystery, adventure
and all things supernatural. The novel is also a comment on the perils
of bullying, which is a very topical subject.
Tina Cain
Python by Christopher Cheng
Ill. by Mark Jackson. Series: Nature Storybooks. Walker Books, 2012.
ISBN 978 1 921528 60 3.
Recommended. Picture book. Non Fiction. Snakes. I loved Edel Wignell's Bilby
secrets published last year with Mark Jackson's illustrations. And
here is another environmental book, in the Walker series, Nature
Storybooks, this time about the python. With the same distinctive
illustrations, the book gives a detailed look at these reptiles and
their background. The melding of fact and story makes this a memorable
book for younger readers, involved as they are with the tale of the
python surviving in the bush, and at the same time absorbing the
information in different font under the story. All the words are true
and this winning combination will endear readers to these books.
In Python, the work the reptile does during the day is observed
as she tries to catch a bird and misses, then catches a rat, wrapping
her body around it until it can no longer breath, then swallowing it
whole, taking the rest of the day to rest and absorb her meal. Under
each sequence of the story snippets of information about the reptile
are given. When towards the end she lays her eggs, readers will be
carried along with the excitement of finding out about the sometimes
100 eggs and how they hatch and what happens to the hatchlings in their
first few days of life. Each page brings new information keeping the
readers interest alive. The illustrations carry the story along as they
stretch across the page, the mix of media: watercolour, pastel and
pencil, bringing the reptile and its environment to life. Readers of
all ages will find something to like in this book, and with 2013 being
the Year of the Snake in the Chinese calendar, it is sure to be well
used.
Fran Knight
The Glimpse by Claire Merle
Faber and Faber, 2012. ISBN 978-0-571-28053-7.
This dystopian novel is set in a not too distant future London, after
the devastation of the petrol wars when all the population is
genetically tested to determine their predisposition to mental illness.
Those designated 'Pures' live in luxurious gated communities while the
rest, the 'Crazies' live as best they can, systematically drugged to
keep them compliant. Ana is a Pure but discovers her mother committed
suicide so must have been mentally ill therefore Ana must also carry
the mental illness gene and her life of privilege is under threat. If
she can pass repeated tests for signs of mental weakness and form a
bond relationship with a 'Pure' boy Jasper before she is 18 she will be
allowed to live in the community. When Jasper is abducted while meeting
someone from an outside resistance movement she sets out to find him.
Upper middle school girls will enjoy the strong female character, her
love interests and the copious details about her luxury lifestyle;
there is even a 'Joining planner' to work out the details of her big
day! However the political subjugation of a population to maintain the
privilege of the few does not seem to bother Ana, all her motivation is
self centred and she never develops a social conscience. I also had
issues with the novel's depiction of mental illness and the abuse
perpetrated in the asylum seemingly just so the main character can show
how strong she is. The Glimpse may be positioning itself to
continue in a sequel where these might be addressed but on its own I
had problems with this book.
Sue Speck
