Penguin Books, 2013. ISBN 9780141339573
(Age: 12+) Recommended. June and Day are amazing characters that
underpin the whole Legend series, and boy, are they
fascinating to read about! June is the perfect military agent who
lets instinct, military ability and keen sense of observation guide
her. She's cold, calculating, and observing. The only one to make
her relax is Day, who could win the hearts of the people from his
personality alone. He's constantly putting other people's needs
before his, and unlike June, lets his emotions cloud his vision.
It's refreshing to read about a male that actually has emotions, and
I enjoyed the contrast between them.
June and Day are public figures that have the most influence over
the people and are recruited by Patriot rebels to overthrow the
Republic and assassinate the new Elector Primo. June is sent to
charm and mislead the new young Elector, and Day joins the Patriot's
forces on the front line. As the young lovers are forced apart,
other admirers attempt to emphasize their differences; Day has been
brought up in the slums and he's been stricken by poverty all of his
life, and June has been brought up as a preened prodigy with a life
of aristocracy and refinement. Prodigy brings forth a complexity between characters that
many other novels fail to address. It's not just 'no matter what,
love will bring us together'. It's more about what's best for each
of them and how to utilise their skills and status the best.
The novel contains non-stop action and a high tension between
soldiers and rebels. As June and Day individually uncover the truth
behind the Republic, we learn how the Republic came to be, the
richness of the Patriots and the Colonies of America. The author
truly excels at creating a thrilling story heavy on military antics,
politics and espionage. Prodigy is an excellent sequel to the ground-breaking
dystopian of Legend. Be aware that there's some gay themes
here, before you recommend it to students.
Jeann Wong
Where's my potty? illustrated by Felicity Gardener
Lothian Children's Books, 2013. ISBN 9780734413864.
This is the story of Max, a baby gorilla, who, in timeless fairytale
tradition, is in search of something 'just right' - in this case, a
potty. He tries many potties - the one belonging to elephant is too
big, hippo's potty is too soggy, flamingo's potty is too busy, and
merkat's potty is too hard to get into.
Somewhere in the jungle is a potty which is just right for Max. The
question is, will he make it in time?
The illustrator has done a wonderful job with this subject matter,
and the pictures feature many quirky details, such as the star band
on Max's underpants, and the miniature meerkat underwear. Young
readers would enjoy watching Max evaluate each potty, searching for
the one that is just right.
This book would be an ideal addition to any toddler's library,
introducing concepts of all aspects of toilet training, from wearing
underwear to making it to the potty in time. Both Max and his
caregiver ape are pleased with the success, in a low key and
non-patronising way, which can be a hard thing to convey in a
picture book. The colourful underwear collections inside the front
and rear covers of the book also add a touch of whimsy.
Freya Lucas
Mouse in space by Geronimo Stilton
Scholastic, 2013. ISBN 9780545481915.
Recommended. This popular series just keeps on giving enjoyment to
its loyal band of readers who never tire of the adventures of
Geronimo Stilton. Mouse in space is the 52nd book in the series and
I'll have students from Years 2-5 lined up to read it.
Geronimo, the mild mannered, scaredy mouse editor of the Rodent's
Gazette is woken from a dream by intruders which he scares off with
the nearest weapon, his slipper. Whilst he discovers nothing has
been taken he is informed by his grandfather that there has been 'a
ton of robberies in the city' the same night. In an effort to
protect himself, and get some sleep, after listening to his sister
Thea, he has an anti-theft device installed by Safe Squeak
represented by the mysterious Suzy Slyrat.
After discovering a secret message from his friend and secret agent
Kornelius, Geronimo is delivered to M.I.S.S.O. headquarters, where,
after 32 hours of intensive space training, he joins his friend and
the beautiful agent 00V on the Ratollo 6 as they are shot into
space. Their mission is to disable the satellite which the Dr Wicked
Whiskers and daughter Suzy Slyrat are using, via the anti-theft
devices, installed across Mouse City, to control all communications.
If they do not succeed the city will need to pay a mountain of gold.
The rollicking adventure told by Geronimo is full of humour and
rodent references. The colourful illustrations are a feature giving
the reader extra information, whilst supporting the text. For
example the double page spread showing M.I.S.S.O secret headquarters
includes the laundry room complete with mice in underwear waiting
for the washing to dry. The characteristic use of a variety of
coloured fonts to highlight words and phrases focuses the reader's
attention on the text. What an entertaining way to bring attention
to grammar and vocabulary in any classroom!
Sue Keane
K-zone: Prankster's handbook edited by N. Sparke, K. Fox and D. Findlay
Scholastic Australia, 2013. ISBN 9781742830247.
Highly recommended for pranksters and would be pranksters... though
I'm not so sure teachers and parents will be all that thrilled!
I can't think of a better book for the typical reluctant or
struggling 8-12 year old reader. From the reversible jacket (English
Workbook on one side) and warning at the beginning, to the
last of the 'Shame Files', this book will be a favourite for readers
to dip into much like the K-zone magazine from which the
pranks have been drawn.
There are pranks galore 'nearly guaranteed to get you grounded',
shame files submitted by K-Zone readers, celebrity pranks,
animal pranks as well as a range of pranking excuses for when things
go wrong. Among the other sections, the LOL labels could be useful
to copy. For example 'Class Cancelled: Teacher Kidnapped by Ninjas'
or even 'Gone to Mars Back in Time for School Holidays' may appeal
to teachers, especially if the pranks are tried out by their
students. I'm sure the many examples of toilet humour will appeal to
the boys more.
The bright colours and shiny pages give the book a youthful,
exciting and vibrant look. The layout of the pages encourages short
bursts of reading as each prank or excuse is written as a separate
item in a coloured shape, laid over an interesting background and
interspersed with labels and cartoon style pictures.
Fans of K-zone magazine are sure to recognise some of the
content but will be keen to reread and discuss it with their
friends. Students who have not had the pleasure of reading K-zone
will be seeking out the magazines to see what else there is on
offer.
Though this is not a book to be recommending before April's Fools
Day, if it encourages one struggling reader to pick it up and enjoy
reading, it is well worth including in any collection.
Sue Keane
For valour: Australia's Victoria Cross heroes by Nicolas Brasch
Black Dog Books, 2013. ISBN 978 1 742032 31 3.
(Age: 10+) Recommended. Picture book. War heroes. In the series, Our
Stories, comes this useful and fascinating account of some of
the remarkable stories of the ninety nine Victoria Cross heroes. The
introduction gives an account of what the Victoria Cross is and why
it is given. There follows the heroic stories of men who were given
this award for exceptional bravery during the Boer War, World War
One and the Russian Campaign, World War Two, Vietnam War and the War
in Afghanistan.
With known names such as Albert Jacka (World War One), and the
latest medal winners, Benjamin Roberts-Smith and Mark Donaldson
(Afghanistan) given a page spread, details can be assimilated by the
readers with ease. These men come to the fore as human figures,
complete with photographs augmented with bits of information which
add to their story. No longer just a list of names in a book about
Australia's involvement in war, these pages give the heroes flesh
and blood.
Before each section is a page giving an overview of the war in which
these men won their Victoria Cross, which gives an introduction
which could be used more widely in discussions about war int he
classroom. The war in Afghanistan would be well known to our
students, but not so the Boer War or Russian Campaign or even the
two World Wars and the Vietnam War.
One page which took my interest was that about Roden Cutler. I had
heard of him as Governor of NSW (1966-81)but knew little of his
exploits during World War Two as a communications officer where he
repaired telephone lines under heavy fire, and was then shot and
left to die by the enemy. His injuries necessitated the amputation
of his leg but he was still able to serve as Australian High
commissioner in New Zealand, Sri Lanka and Pakistan and later served
as Australia's delegate to the United Nations General Assembly.
This is a fascinating contribution to books about our involvement in
war, for the middle school reader.
Fran Knight
Etiquette and espionage by Gail Carriger
Atom, 2013. ISBN 1907411588.
(Age: 11+) Highly recommended. 14-year-old tomboy Sophronia is
sent off to Mademoiselle Geraldine's Finishing Academy for Young
Ladies of Quality in the hope that she can learn how to behave in
society. She is very unhappy about this until she discovers that
there is more to the curriculum than learning how to curtsy.
Espionage, death and diversion are also taught.
As a fan of Gail Carriger's adult series, Parasol Protectorate,
I welcomed this book for younger people. All her signature features
are contained in Etiquette and espionage: her females are
strong and independent, humour abounds and the theme of prejudice is
lightly but deftly touched upon.
Sophronia is a spirited heroine who is not afraid to be different.
Mademoiselle Geraldine's Finishing Academy for Young Ladies of
Quality fails to change that independence; rather it gives her a
focus for her reckless nature. While she may resist learning how to
be a lady she revels in the spy work that is taught along side that
using the needlework, scissors, perfume and handkerchiefs to great
benefit. Of course she is unable to resist unravelling the mystery
of the missing prototype and drags along her friends on an exciting
adventure.
The steampunk world that Sophronia inhabits is full of weird and
wonderful gadgets that keep the imagination soaring like the
dirigible that the school is perched on. Peopled with equally weird
and wonderful teachers who are werewolves and vampires, Picklemen
and flywaymen, the story makes for great entertainment and many
laugh aloud moments. The dialogue is crisp and fun to read as
Sophronia comments wryly and glibly on what is happening around her.
Supporting characters are well rounded and equally as interesting as
Sophronia, who does emerge as a great leader.
This would be a great introduction to steampunk stories for people
aged from 11-14 and a very enjoyable read for anyone who likes their
adventure set in a fascinating alternative Victorian world.
Pat Pledger
The light by Jo Oliver
New Frontier, 2013. ISBN 978 1921928413
(Age: 4+) Picture book. Music. Isolation. Shelter. A beautifully
produced hardcover book has a lighthouse as its setting. Its
isolation is apparent, with the sweep of the sea, the craggy cliffs,
few animals, and howling driving wind. The lighthouse keeper and his
family are shown going about their daily tasks, cleaning, preparing
the lens, doing schoolwork, cooking, tending the animals and playing
music together. One night as the storm rails outside, they are
interrupted by a group of men whose boat has overturned. They are
immediately welcomed inside the house, given blankets to warm
themselves and food and drink. They explain that they had lost hope
until they saw the light and heard the music, which drew them to the
house.
The story of kindness to strangers is very relevant in today's
society where fewer people pay attention to those around them,
wrapped up in their own worlds. There is a religious undertone to
the story which may suit some schools, with the image of the family
saying grace before their meal, and the Biblical quote at the start,
and this is made more obvious with the good Samaritan thread to the
tale.
The illustrations of the setting in which the lighthouse stands are
impressive, but the people come across as wooden and incomplete.
There are some lovely touches to this neatly resolved story, with
the beautiful architectural drawings of the lighthouse used as
endpapers, the use of the music sheet behind several of the images
of the family, and the glow of the lamp inside the house paralleling
the glow of the lighthouse outside.
Fran Knight
Aussie animal opposites by Elizabeth Lea
Ill. by Liz Faul. National Library of Australia, 2013. ISBN
9780642277664. Board book.
This board book, published by the National Library of Australia is a
fun and functional addition to the home or pre school library. Using
cartoon style illustrations, Australian animals find themselves in
all manner of unusual person like situations, such as playing the
drums, shaking a rattle, and juggling. In many of the illustrations,
the animals are wearing clothes.
For me, the unlikely presentations of the animals detracts somewhat
from what would otherwise be a book I would like a great deal. After
all, there is much here to recommend the text - the animals are all
Australian, and the opposites and antonyms are not limited to the
generic 'up/down, night/day' which can become very tiresome very
quickly. Rich antonyms are used here, such as the juxtaposition of
energetic with lazy and angry with calm. Using such language bathes
young children in rich adjectives, and is to be encouraged.
I recognise the challenge of selecting pictures to go with the text,
as 'calm'would be hard to convey with a stock photo of a cassowary
- the illustrator has done a good job of matching the picture to the
descriptor, but the style of illustration, especially when
positioned alongside the beautiful illustrations and
information/activities at the back of the book, cheapens the tone.
That said, there is a great deal to recommend the book. For such a
simple concept, the language is textured, the end of the book gives
many extension activities (which, I have to say, are pitched a
little higher than the books intended audience, but are of value
none the less), and the animals are a wonderful introduction to the
fauna of our nation.
Freya Lucas
Juliet nearly a Vet: At the Show by Rebecca Johnson
Ill. by Kyla May. Puffin Books, Australia: 2013. ISBN
9780143307051.
Want to be a vet? Love animals and want to learn more about them?
This is the series for animal lovers as Juliet and her best friend
and neighbour Chelsea get involved with a variety of animals.
Ten year old Juliet's mum is a vet and after close observation of
her work and helping out, Juliet thinks there's not much to it!
Juliet and her friend Chelsea accompany Juliet's mum, a vet, to
Winslow Park Stud, a local dairy and home of class mate Maisy Brown.
There they decide that Maisy will compete in the horse events on
Shetland Pony Midgie, in this year's show, rather than spend all her
time at the Bull pavilion where her dad shows his prize winning
bull.
This shouldn't be a problem except the show is in a week, Maisy has
never even seen the horse events and Midgie is stubborn, fat and not
trained. With a great deal of confidence the girls embark on a
feeding and training program to get Midgie into shape and ready for
the day.
As the story progresses we learn more about show horses as Juliet
makes her food plan and equipment list for Show Day. She also is
given four bantam hens to look after and her pet Guinea Pigs need
monitoring as they are almost due to give birth. A vet's life is a
busy one but also worrisome when Chelsea and Maisy seem to be
getting on too well.
Kyla May's pen and ink drawings of Midgie are reminiscent of
Norman Thelwell's illustrations in Angels on Horseback and give
extra life to the story, especially highlighting the differences
between the other competitors and Maisy and Midge The sketch of the
bantam house and Juliet's records as she does her vet checks help
the reader to understand the serious side of pet care.
The multiple choice quiz at the end of reinforces the messages about
pet care and friendship.
Sue Keane
Ambush at Cisco Swamp by Jack Wells
Robert Irwin, Dinosaur Hunter. Random House, Australia: 2013. ISBN
9781864718461.
Recommended. After the success of Bindi's books it was only time
before Robert joined the Random House team. Ambush at Cisco
Swamp is the second book in this series aimed at the newly
independent reader, where Robert is able to pursue his obvious love
of dinosaurs.
Set in Cisco Swamp, Texas, the reptile keepers from Australian Zoo
are assisting with the annual American alligator survey and Robert
is keen to see an alligator like the one his grandfather had a photo
of at home.
With the aid of the dinosaur fossil he carries with him he is
transported back in time and not only has an encounter with a
Deinosuchus, a very large prehistoric crocodile, but also an
Albertosaurus fishing for alligator gar. Armed with his digital
recorder Robert keeps a record of his adventure and manages to
return to the present day just in time to avoid being a meal for his
prehistoric companions.
With some detailed illustrations throughout the story, and a
comprehensive field guide at the end, this is a dinosaur lover's
delight. The story is told with some humour and vivid descriptions
of the dinosaurs and their actions.
The QR code on the back cover leads to a message from Robert
regarding the book for the connected reader.
Sue Keane
Portraits of Celina by Sue Whiting
Walker, 2013. ISBN 9781922077479.
(Age: 13+) Highly recommended. Bayley Anderson comes to live in an
old family home near a small country town with her family after the
death of her father. In her bedroom is a wooden chest that she
becomes fascinated with and urged on by a voice discovers clothes
belonging to Celina O'Malley who disappeared when she was 16 years
old. She begins to wear the retro clothes and her resemblance to
Celina opens up a dangerous mystery.
Whiting has written a delicious ghost story and a thrilling mystery.
The hot summer weather, the grief that grips Bayley's family and the
growing romance with Oliver, the boy who lives across the lake all
combine to bring to life this story of revenge and crime.
The suspense was very gripping and the action kept me glued to the
page. I spent many tense moments trying to work out what had
happened to Celina and why she disappeared.
However characterisation was not omitted and as a reader, I felt
that I knew Bayley very well. The angst of the older sister, Amelia,
who bitterly fights with her mother, the fears of the little brother
and the growing knowledge about Celina all built up a portrait of a
family under stress, just barely holding on. Bayley's growing
relationship with Oliver provided some relief from the family
tensions and Celina's increasing demands for revenge. The ghost
character of Celina became so real to me that I often forgot she was
a ghost and I loved thinking about the cleverness of the title, Portraits
of Celina, when I had finished the book.
There are some dark, exciting moments in this enthralling mystery
and a clever twist at the end will thrill lovers of crime and ghost
stories.
Pat Pledger
Ted by Leila Rudge
Walker Books, 2013. ISBN 978 1 921977 50 3
(Age: 3+) Highly recommended. Picture book. Home. Ted has lived in
the pet shop all his life and bemoans the fact that no one notices
him and gives him a home. He tries various strategies including
being a security dog, and a pet show entrant to no avail, but when
he notices an add for a furry pet he answers it and finds a home
with a twist in its tail for good measure.
Beautiful illustrations show us Ted's journey to finding a home,
giving readers a plethora of things to seek out on every page. The
snarling dogs he is trying to emulate when he becomes a security
dog, the wonderful head dress he is given when groomed for a dog
show, the antics at the circus and the perfect ending, all combine
to thrill the audience and in the end make them laugh out loud, as I
did. The story seems to be headed towards a more sentimental ending
about friendship and finding a home, but the ending deflates that
and draws the readers into its humour.
This is a lovely multi layered story on which to base discussions
about friendship and coming together, about the need for a home, and
attempts to do this. In classrooms where students are aware of the
world outside their walls, more meaningful discussions could take
place, taking in the need for a home and safe environment
underpinning the millions of refugees around the world doing just
what Ted is doing.
Fran Knight
Where you are by Tammara Webber
Between the Lines series. Razorbill, 2013. ISBN 978 0 14
134748 6. 326p
(Age: Upper secondary) Well recommended for Upper Secondary
students, especially girls. This is the second in the Between
the Lines series following Between the Lines. The
novel centres around the language of 'love'. Reid is the spoilt good
looking star of the film he and Emma have made, which is about to
have its premiere in LA. Although a slick talker, his description of
love reveals the thoughts of many young people finding their way. He
says, p. 298 'love is just the name of an emotion . . . It's lust
without ethics. And emotions - fear, hate, whatever - come and go'.
Then he talks about being in love, and then falling in love 'as
though it's accidental.' p. 299. It's a very confronting,
challenging and frank discussion for young people, perhaps because
frank disclosures aren't always easy and to read such thoughts in a
novel may well be reassuring.
Jealousy, through ex-girlfriend Brooke's behaviour and Reid's
willingness to be part of Brooke's plans for Graham, is a real test
for Emma and Graham.The enduring themes of trust and honesty with
love win through.
There are humorous moments which release the mounting tension, with
Emma's best friend Emily.
Emma is in New York with her father looking at colleges and
unexpectedly meets Graham again. Their relationship takes off!
It doesn't seem necessary to have read Between the Lines,
the first in the trilogy but readers who have enjoyed the first will
be keen to see how the relationships form and break up. The back
cover suggests it's for readers in the last years of school for
there is a warning about explicit content.
The language is detailed and descriptive, and because each character
has their own chapter, the reader hears the inner voice of each,
their hopes, fears and worries. This heightens the ever increasing
strain between the four and the reader knows what is planned. It's
very readable and no doubt readers, especially girls will want to
read Good for You the next in the series.
Sue Nosworthy
Somewhere in Australia by Marcello Pennacchio
Ill. by Danny Snell. Scholastic, 2013. ISBN 9781741695229.Hardcover.
RRP $24.99.
(Age: 3-6) Themes: Australian Animals - Poetry, Australia
-Landscape. There is a popular trend for authors to adapt familiar
stories and rhymes for the Australian audience. The picture book
starts with 'Somewhere in Australia, in a land of scorching sun,
lived a mother kangaroo and her little joey one.' The text by
Marcello Pennacchio is loosely based on the classic rhyme Over
in the meadow. On each double-page spread we see Australian
animals, birds and reptiles undertaking activities in their natural
environment. Following the pattern of the classic rhyme one more
animal is added to the animal family on the next spread. This is a
great book for reading aloud to a young audience although some of
the rhyming metre is a little out of kilter.
Danny Snell's painted backgrounds including the outback, spinifex,
rainforest and river bring a visual depth to the text. From the
mother kangaroo and her joey to the red-back spider and her
spiderlings, each creature is beautifully portrayed in natural
colours. Somewhere in Australia can be used as maths activity -
counting or adding up the number of animals represented in the whole
story. This could lead into a literacy unit making another book
representing the numbers for eleven to fifteen or twenty. In Science
students could research and write a report on the animals' life
cycles and habitats. For an English lesson, students could use write
their own verse modelling the text.
Additional activities can be found in The Standing Orders section of
the Scholastic
website.
Recommended RA 4-6, Reading Audience 3-6.
Rhyllis Bignell
January First by Michael Schofield
Hardie Grant, 2013. ISBN 9781742705033. pbk., 332pp
Every now and then I picked up a book which so absorbs me I read it
almost without pause. January First was one of these. While
it is subtitled A child's descent into madness and her father's
struggle to save her, it is so much more than that. I first
became aware of January (or Jani as she insists on) through the
wonder of daytime television, and when I discovered her father had
written a book I couldn't wait to get it.
From birth, Jani is a challenging child. She never slept for more
than 20-30 minutes at a time and then only if her parents, Michael
and Susan, spent the day stimulating her and taking her to places to
tire her out. By the time she was one she was speaking in complete
sentences, by the time she is two she is asking about negative
numbers. She has a number of imaginary friends, particularly a cat
called 400 and seven rats named Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday,
Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday, and they all live on
Calalini. Convinced she is a genius, her parents are finally able to
get an IQ test done which shows that it is 146 - not quite as high
as they were expecting but given her age, still significant. At the
same time Jani is showing very different behaviours from that
expected of a toddler, and she is quite antisocial. Her parents put
this down to the disconnect between her chronological age and her
mental capabilities and her father is determined to protect her
potential often clashing with his wife who wants her to socialise in
the way that regular pre-schoolers do. It becomes a cause of
friction between them, and in some ways, blinkers Michael's
approach.
Only when her brother Bohdi is born and Jani is so violent towards
him from the day they bring him home that neither child can be left
on their own, do alarm bells start to ring and Michael and Susan
begin to search for answers. Jani is assessed by psychologists and
psychiatrists, hospitalised, medicated at levels which would turn an
adult to a zombie, yet her behaviour scarcely changes. Nothing can
stop Jani obeying Wednesday's commands to hit Bohdi, and even though
Michael and Susan put themselves in harm's way to protect him,
nothing will distract her until she has carried out what needs to be
done. January First is Michael's story of his daughter's life, the
battles he took on, the mistakes he made, his roller-coaster
relationship with Susan as both seek to give Jani a stable, if not
ordinary, life and a safe haven for Bohdi. It is a story of
frustration, despair, hope and faith.
But it is also the story of a society that still sees mental illness
as a stigma rather than accepting a broken brain in the way it
accepts a broken leg. It is a story of a society where there appears
to be little support for parents of mentally ill children so there
only respite is when the child is in school in a situation never
designed to cater for such extreme needs or when she is hospitalised
in circumstances that make your jaw drop at the lack of empathy and
care. It is a story of a system that is not geared to cater for and
manage mental illness in children. It is a story of a system where
health care is dependent on your ability to pay and the health
insurer's willingness to do so, so that as well as battling the
illness, you also have to battle bureaucracy. It is a story that
will break your heart and make you want to fight for the rights of
Jani and others like her.
When I was at teachers college as a young mum, we had to visit a
local hospital where severely physically and mentally disabled
children lived and I gave thanks that my newborn son was so healthy.
As a grandparent, I give thanks that my little people are not Jani.
As a teacher, I gained great insight into what it must be like for
parents living with a child with a mental illness. Jani's story puts
things into perspective. There's a saying that there is always
someone worse off than you, but in this case, it would be hard to
know what that would be particularly as it now seems that Bohdi is
following Jani's path
I thank Michael Schofield for writing it - there is so much we can
learn from his baring his soul in this way. I hope he and Susan
continue to have the courage and strength and love that shine
through this book on every page, and that the rest of us listen and
do what we can to make life better for parents and children in this
situation.
This book is an absolute must-read - just ensure that you give
yourself a long, interrupted time to do so, and give every child in
your life a warmer smile today.
Barbara Braxton
