Candlewick, 2012. ISBN 9780763658526.
Highly recommended. Shakespeare makes the playoffs is the
sequel to Ron
Koertge's very well received young adult novel, Shakespeare bats
cleanup. Once again Koertge tells a tale of baseball and
poetry and
(not quite) first love in an American Middle School setting; and
once
again the entire work is told in verse. Like all great books, this
novel transcends its subject matter to dig away at the really big
questions; life, death, love and betrayal.
The whole is carefully wrapped in a finely crafted email
correspondence
between Kevin, the Shakespeare of the title, and Amy, his newly
found
poetry buddy. At no stage does Koertge get too sentimental or overly
clever as he manages to draw realistic and sympathetic teenage
characters struggling with the highs and lows of teenage love.
Though
strictly a sequel, this novel can be read as a stand-alone book
easily
with the main characters' backstories adeptly slotted into the
narrative.
Kevin, the poetry writing first baseman of the title struggles with
himself, his brain a churning mixture of emotions. His loyalty to
his
current girlfriend, the beautiful Mira and his growing realisation
of
the intellectual possibilities of the poetry writing Amy jostle,
each
slight shift in his feelings described in a poem. Shakespeare makes the playoffs stands out as a shining gem in
the
miasma of derivative dystopian writing that makes up much of what we
have lately been offered as 'Young Adult Literature'. You don't have
to
know or like baseball or even poetry to thoroughly enjoy this
gentle,
poignant story of growing up. Dare I say Ron Koertge has hit another
homerun?
Stephen Bull
Silhouette: Ambition is everything by Thalia Kalkipsakis
Hardie Grant Egmont, 2012. ISBN 9781921759659. Silhouette: Ambition is everything by Thalia Kalkipsakis, is
an intriguing novel. Teenager Scarlett seems to be the typical
obsessed ballet student on a higher plane than most ballet dancers
as she is studying dance at a high school, the Academy, dedicated to
dance. Almost relishing the pain and wear-and-tear on her body, she
pushes herself to the limit physically and emotionally.
Absolutely supported by her mother and close friends, Scarlett seems
to be destined for a brilliant career, except that she makes one
unexpected decision - to audition for a music clip knowing that she
is not eligible until she has completed her secondary school
academic and dance course. As a typical teenager, she persuades her
best-friend to go along with her, but it is Scarlett who wins the
place and wows the singer and everyone else. This single decision
will send her life spiraling out of control, plunging her into an
affair with a bored young rock star, involving her in sex, alcohol
and drugs, and academic failure.
A salutary lesson for young girls, this realistic narrative is
captivating and, like all of its kind, lets her off with a warning,
so that her life is changed but not ruined. Satisfying, true to its
genre, and rewarding honour and loyalty over rebellion, Silhouette
will entertain young readers and give pause for thought.
Liz Bondar
Come into this poem by Tony Mitton
Francis Lincoln Children's Books, 2011
Recommended. Tony Mitton is a well established, highly skilled poet
and children's author, with many books to his name. This book of
poetry demonstrates his versatility and literary skill. Combining
high level literary skills as well as whimsy and appeal to children
these poems make good poetry accessible to all ages.
I loved reading The road I tread is hard and long/ And now
my heart beats not so strong, a serenade to sleep; while Invisible
ink is reminiscent of Shel Silverstein's wacky humour. There
is also pathos in an ode to Glengorm, presenting a brief picture of
the Highland Clearances, alongside awe-inspiring observations on the
simplest natural features found in a garden. Note Seed Spell :
'Bury me dark, bury me deep./Let me lie a while asleep . . . Let my
root stretch out, uncoil/ sifting nurture from the soil'.
On the other hand I can just see young children performing Big
red boots at school assemblies or having a go at describing Dark
after reading this poem. Then there are the poems based on folklore
from Chinese, Japanese and Celtic sources.
This slim volume is a treasure trove of ideas for teachers and
models of great writing. Above all it's just fun to read to children
and will help them develop a love of language and poetry.
Diana Warwick
Champions read. Book Week 2012 book trailer presentation by Jane Moore
Book Bubbles, 2012. 1 DVD. 25 mins. $35.00.
Order form.
Recommended. The enticing Champions Read book trailer
contains highlights of all the books for the Early Childhood,
Picture Books, Information Books and Younger Readers in the 2012
short lists for Children's Book Week. It is a very useful tool to
promote the short listed books in a primary school and is sure to
attract attention and comments. The Picture book and Information
sections would also be useful in a secondary school, as would some
of the books in the Younger readers section, like Crow Country
by Kate Constable, Nanberry: Black Brother White by Jackie
French and Brotherband: The Outcasts by John Flanagan.
Champions read starts with many images of champions and children
enjoying reading. Then each book is introduced with some interesting
and pertinent questions. For example the introduction to The
runaway hug by Nick Bland asks the question, 'Who do you give
your hugs to?' and has more questions with some gorgeous
illustrations that made me want to read the book again. In fact
really good illustrations have been selected to go with each book (a
long bibliography is available at the end) and appropriate music
sets the mood for the individual books.
I particularly loved the trailer for Crow Country by Kate
Constable, with its stark black and white images and eerie music,
and believe that it would certainly entice a child to want to read
the book.
The site licence allows the loading of the DVD onto as many
computers on the school campus as is desired. Because the DVD is
able to be viewed in sections, it is ideal for the whole of the
primary school, with the older children watching the Younger readers
section and the Information section and the younger children could
watch the Early childhood and Picture book section. Classroom
teachers could run it before school and while the children are
having their lunch. Having the whole DVD run before and after school
in the school library on a whiteboard is sure to get children
wanting to read the books and it would make an excellent
introduction to the books. In fact I would suggest that this DVD
will stimulate a lot of requests for the books, so be prepared to
have multiple copies, or short loans!
Pat Pledger
Changeling by Philippa Gregory
Simon and Schuster, 2012. ISBN 9780857077318.
(Age 13+) Recommended. It is 1453 and 17 year old Luca Vero is
expelled from his monastery, accused of heresy. He is taken up into
a mysterious secret group, The Order of the Dragon, members of which
are sent out to investigate rumours of good and evil. He is sent to
find out the truth behind a nunnery, where the nuns have strange
visions and some even have marks on their hands. Here he meets
Isolde, who has chosen to go to a nunnery to avoid marrying a man of
her brother's choosing.
Told from two different viewpoints, that of Luca and Isolde, the
reader is swept into a strange medieval world where superstition is
rife and where women have little power over their lives. With this
novel, the reader knows that Gregory has an impeccable background
with her historical research and the details are rich and
fascinating. The life of Isolde is vividly described. The fact that
she can't inherit her father's wealth and castle because she is a
girl will be fascinating to today's readers, as will the life that
she chose instead of an undesirable suitor. The mystery surrounding
the strange happenings at the nunnery is well constructed with
enough action and strange occurrences to keep the reader involved.
Luca is equally a fascinating character. He is careful and clever in
his deliberations and finds himself involved with finding out the
truth about Isolde and whether she should be burnt as a witch.
Freize, Luca's companion adds a dash of humour to the stories, as
well as pointing out that it is love that is all important. Ishraq,
Isolde's friend and a young woman with special powers, is also a
person that the reader will find fascinating to follow.
Gregory 's story of medieval werewolves in the second half of the
story will appeal to today's readers who seem to be fascinated with
these creatures. Once Luca has solved the mystery at the nunnery he
meets up with Isolde and Ishraq again, and with Freize is summoned
to resolve a matter concerning a strange beast that has been
captured and which the villagers believe to be a werewolf.
My only quibble with this story is that while it deals with often
complex themes, making it unsuitable for younger readers, the
language and descriptions are not as complex. This however, does
make it suitable to use as an easy to read introduction to the
historical genre for older readers.
Historical maps add depth and the author note gives a historical
viewpoint. There is a website
for the series and and a book
trailer.
Pat Pledger
We are one village by Nikki Lovell
Allen and Unwin, 2012. ISBN 9781742378367.
Highly recommended. We Are One Village follows the journey
of ex-Adelaide school girl Nikki Lovell who, at the age of 18, went
to work as a volunteer aid worker in the small Ugandan Village of
Namwendwa.
Nikki, unaware of the extent of poverty and disease in Namwendwa and
its neighbouring villages, witnesses and is subjected to some very
confronting situations. AIDS, unclean water, lack of basic
necessities and a monotonous daily diet of tasteless porridge are
the harsh everyday realities that these people face.
Throughout the book, Nikki's cheerful presence impacts the villagers
significantly, making her a popular figure amongst the younger
children. She and her colleagues assist in teaching the villagers
the basics of good health and hygiene practices, as well as building
up a school library stocked with books from Australian donors.
Written as a personal diary, we as readers, are given an insight
into her thoughts, feelings and the labours that need to be
undertaken by her and the villagers on a daily basis.
Not only do we see her struggle between her Australian upbringing
and her new spiritual home, but we also see her coming to terms with
a relationship breakup, missing home and the choices she is forced
to make regarding her dreams and passions.
I highly recommend this book because despite its sometimes bleak
subject matter, nearly every page still manages to provoke a smile.
Each carefully written chapter is symbolic of her perseverance,
optimism and her desire to make a difference. It is a real eye
opener for those of us who take for granted our privileged and safe
life, and also to how much of a difference one person can make in so
many people's lives.
Nikki is commended for her past and continuing work (she has created
her own aid organisation called One Village ) and remains
an inspiration to all.
This book is captivating and a true reflection on Nikki's love and
care for others.
Courtnie Caldinez (Student)
The glimpse by Claire Merle
Faber and Faber, 2012. ISBN 9780571280537.
(Age: 15+) Highly recommended. This is a compelling dystopian novel.
At first, this dystopia may seem miles away from our present world;
for in Merle's future, the world is divided into Pures and Crazies.
A simple DNA test determines an individual's likelihood of mental
illness, thus determining their 'Purity'. As one of the characters
suggests, this is a world based on scientific racism. However, as we
learn more about the events which led to this new world, this
dystopian future may seem all too possible. References to a Global
Depression and Petrol Wars will sound familiar whilst a world where
people can be tracked by their online presence, may seem all too
close for comfort.
And the protagonist, Ana, is caught right in the middle of the moral
dilemma created in a world where the Pures have it all and the
Crazies are at the mercy of the Psych Watch, who may swoop in at any
moment and cart Crazies off to a 'loony bin'. Whilst the Crazy world
might seem threatening to any right minded Pure, what if the DNA
test that lies at the heart of this new future was not all it
seemed?? For Ana this question is critical. Firstly, because it is
her father who designed the test. Secondly, because of the doubt
surrounding her Pure test results. And thirdly, because the young
Pure she was betrothed to has mysteriously vanished as he sought to
uncover the truth about the DNA test.
In her quest to rescue Jasper, Ana finds herself deep in the heart
of the Crazy world where she learns that many of her prejudices were
unfounded. On top of this, she just might be falling for a young man
who may be Jasper's only chance for freedom . . . or who may be
intent on destroying her world. Not only is Ana fighting for
Jasper's future she is also fighting for her own. And as the plot
twists and turns, this smart young woman, will find her courage and
determination is put to the test. Her adventures will have the
reader on the edge of their seats to the final page.
Deborah Marshall
Endure by Carrie Jones
Book 4. Bloomsbury, 2012. ISBN 781408821190.
'Zara is back from Valhalla after successfully rescuing Nick.
Bedford needs their best warrior now more than ever, as the evil
pixie regime is causing mass destruction and chaos everywhere.
Though Nick's job is clear, Zara's role is a lot more uncertain.
She's not just fighting for her friends - she's also a pixie queen.
And to align her team of pixies with the humans she loves so much
will not be as easy as she hopes. Especially since she can't even
reconcile her growing feelings for her pixie king . . .' Publisher.
Comment from reviews of the first 3 books in the series: Need
by Carrie Jones
If you thought that pixies were cute little things with pointed
ears, then you are in for a surprise. (Pat Pledger)
Captivate
by Carrie Jones
Light, easy to read paranormal. (Pat Pledger)
Entice
by Carrie Jones
It is a great book and I think it deserves 10/10 stars.
Amelia Kelly (Student)
Hist! by C. J. Dennis
Ill. by P. J. Gouldthorpe. Walker Books, 2012. ISBN 9781921977749.
(All ages) Highly recommended. A new edition of one of my favourite
poems, Hist! by C. J. Dennis and beautifully illustrated by
Peter Gouldthorpe, is a real treat. I loved this poem as a child,
taught it to many classes when a teacher, and now will introduce it
to my grandchildren, who are certain to love it as well.
Hist! . . . Hark!
The night is very dark,
And we've to go a mile or so
Across the Possum Park.
The rhyme and rhythm of the poem flow beautifully and it is one that
is easy to read aloud and easy to memorise - just right for
performance poetry in the classroom and great for scary fun when
reading it aloud to a small group or one or two children.
Peter Gouldthorpe's linocut illustrations are an inspiration for the
imaginative child. Torchlight gleams up at the faces of the three
children who go exploring at night . Mist swirls through black trees
and mokes and possums huddle in the trees. Black images of witches,
skeletons, spiders, birds and bats lurk on an aqua border on every
page. Written in a time when children had more freedom,
Gouldthorpe's last picture of the trouble that the children are in
for going out at night is a lesson for children as well.
This edition has a commentary written by Dr Robyn Sheahan-Bright and
information about C. J. Dennis.
Peter Gouldthorpe writes about his inspiration for the book and his
realisation that the poem 'Wasn't really about what actually
happens, but how the imagination can run wild in the dark'.
This is a beautiful addition for any library and a great gift for
children.
Pat Pledger
Department 19: The rising by Will Hill
HarperCollins, 2012. ISBN 9780007455409.
(Ages: 13+) Highly recommended. Adventure. Fantasy. A stunning
opening takes the reader into the world of the Loop, an unknown base
housing Department 19 within the most secret place of the British
Intelligence system, where a group of people, selected almost as a
birthright, seek out and kill vampires, the modern scourge within
world communities. Heroes, Larissa, Jamie and Kate retrieve two
vampires, taking them back to the Loop, where a group of scientist
are working on an antidote. But along the way, the words, 'He Rises'
are seen as graffiti, chilling the very essence of many of the
vampire hunters.
In the first book, Department 19, the premise for this
exciting story was given as Jamie a witness when his father was
killed by a group of black suited unknown assailants and his mother
kidnapped. He eventually found out that his father was a member of
this department but both his parents had turned, causing a moral
dilemma amongst the group, which included Frankenstein and
descendants of Van Helsing. Jamie joins the group, despite their
having murdered his father, and is surprisingly joined by Kate, a
vampire, but one who wishes to help destroy the evil overtaking the
world.
This second novel is absolutely full of incident and adventure as
the trio pit their wits against the vampires, often locked in blood
soaked battle with them. Within the story, the relationship between
the trio is stretched to the limit as Jamie and Kate begin a
romance, and Larissa is also befriended by another hunter who Jamie
does not like. The trio keep their secrets and this causes tension
between the group, adding to the fascination of the story.
Jamie is at once a likable hero but arrogant and selfish, often
treating his two friends badly, putting his own demands first. His
position within the facility too, gives cause for concern as he is
seen as someone who has gained seniority through influence not
talent, and is treated scornfully, often with suspicion.
In three months, Dracula is said to be ready to take over the world
again, as his servants from his past have stolen his remains and
found a way to revive him. So the countdown is on. The first part of
the book, 91 Days to zero hour, will keep readers on track to get
through the 700 pages full of action to find they still have 85 days
to go! But no worries, it is a great read, with the promise of much
to come.
Fran Knight
Going for gold: Australian Olympians and other champions by Loretta Barnard
Ill. by Gregory Rogers. Random House Australia. ISBN 9781742755656.
(Age: 9+) This book appears to have been published in anticipation
of
Australia's participation in the 2012 London Olympics. There are 178
pages in hard copy, and it has also been published as an ebook. Of
special note are the illustrations of Gregory Rogers - delicate,
shaded
b & w line drawings. The writing style is less notable with
occasional flippant comments, which do not add to the overall
quality
or humour of the text.
There is an attractive, uncrowded, inviting layout. Similar sports
are
logically grouped together in sections eg In the pool, Ball games,
On
the track. There are good-sized sub-headings within each sport. Page
numbers, sports and sections are clearly marked at the bottom of
each
page. The reader can explore the history of each sport, athlete
profiles, clear explanations of how each sport is played, and Did
you
know? fact and trivia boxes.
Contents (sports only), Introduction and Index (athletes only) are
included. There are lists of sports played at the Summer Olympics,
Winter Olympics and Paralympics, and also Australia's medal tallies
from each of the above.
There are some amazing stories of Australian Olympic participants eg
Snowy Baker (1908), the only Australian to have competed in 3
different
sports (swimming, diving, boxing); Shirley Strickland (1948), the
photo
of the finish line in the 200 metre final shows her in 3rd place,
but
without reference to the photo, the judges placed her 4th; and
Steven
Bradbury (2002), Winter Olympics gold medal, when he was the only
man
left standing in the final of the 1000 metre speed skating.
It is pleasing to see Louise Sauvage and Michael Milton in the
Paralympics section, but a shame that current, outstanding
Australian
paralympians, shooter Libby Kosmala and swimmer Matthew Cowdrey were
omitted. Conversely, it seems strange to include some Australian
sporting champions eg. in tennis and soccer, who did not compete in
the
Olympic Games, as this book is ostensibly about the Olympic Games.
This book is appropriate for readers of 9+ years, but will have wide
audience appeal. It is suitable for simply dipping into or for
research
purposes.
Margaret Strickland
Shadow by Michael Morpurgo
HarperCollins, 2011. ISBN 9780007339617.
(Ages: 9+) Recommended. Animals in war, Refugees. The story of the
Australian Explosive Detection Dog, Sarbi, missing after combat with
the Taliban in 2008, stirred the imagination of several writers,
producing two fiction and one non fiction book about the dog and its
work in Afghanistan prior to its absence of 14 months, and
speculating about what happened in those missing months.
This most winning version of the story will garner a host of readers
as Morpurgo tells the story of Shadow, an Explosive Detection Dog
that goes missing after action with the enemy.This tale is told from
a quite different perspective than the other two, here we have the
story of a grandfather visiting his son's friend, Aman in detention
in Britain as the boy and his mother prepare to be deported back to
the country of their birth, where their family has been killed by
the Taliban, the mother imprisoned, beaten and tortured and the pair
told to leave. Talking to Aman, the grandfather unravels his tale of
finding a dog, a dog which stuck with the boy and his mother, often
protecting them when they were threatened, and finally finding its
real home quite by accident. So Shadow becomes Polly an EDD animal,
part of the unit fighting the Taliban.
The tale of the grandfather and his grandson, Matt, finding a way to
acquaint others of the plight of this now small family, makes
emotional reading, as they go from hope to despair and back again.
And this is paralleled with the story of Shadow, the dog who goes
missing, finally finding a young boy to be with, one to help and
protect as it finds its real home.
Morpurgo has written a wonderful story, full of insight and
information, as he reveals the lives of refugees fleeing a country
which now despises them, and when washed up on shores where they
hope their future lies, are met with police and imprisonment,
leading to deportation. The cruelty of detention centres is shown
through the lives of Aman and his mother, and information at the end
of the book shows that children will no longer be kept in these
centres. It is beautifully written books such as these, by award
winning authors, that keeps these issues alive in people's minds,
and gives a human face to the tragedies seen on the media.
Fran Knight
Team human by Justine Larbalestier and Sarah Rees Brennan
Allen and Unwin, 2012. ISBN 9781742378398.
(Age 13+) Recommended. Vampires. Humour. When this book came across
my desk I decided to read it immediately because I like Justine's
writing and I thought the premise that friends didn't let friends
date vampires sounded really interesting. I was not disappointed. I
loved the parody of the vampire book, the fact that the authors take
many of the ideas in the vampire genre and got me to laugh out loud
about them but then made me think about tolerating difference and
respecting others' opinions.
Mel is appalled when her best friend Cathy falls instantly in love
with Francis Duvarney, a vampire who has decided to attend their
high school. She decides that she has to save Cathy from the worst
mistake of her life and in doing so, comes across Kit, a human who
lives in a vampire shade, with his vampire cop mother and some
zombies. She is also investigating the disappearance of another
friend's father, who was supposed to have been seduced away from
home by a glamourous vampire.
With two clever authors seamlessly telling this story, the reader is
in for a real treat. Mel's tunnel vision about what is right for
Cathy, her disdain for vampires and the ties of friendship are all
told in a hilarious narrative by Mel, whose one liners and sense of
humour pervade the book. Her prejudices about vampires are tested by
Kit, a human who has lived all his life with the vampires who took
him in when he was abandoned as a baby, and who doesn't believe that
being human is better than being a vampire.
I read Team human in a couple of sittings. It was fast
paced, the humour sparkled and it was lots of fun. Teens who have
enjoyed the Twilight series will have a giggle at this send
up of the vampire genre and those who are bored with the genre will
also enjoy it. A book trailer is available.
Pat Pledger
Go, Jojo, go by Tessa Bickford
Allen and Unwin, 2012. ISBN 9781 74331 017 5
(Ages 5+) Recommended. Picture book. Antarctica. A wonderful
companion picture book to Alison Lester's One small island
and Sophie Scott goes south, this book tells of a baby
penguin growing up on Macquarie Island, south of Tasmania, halfway
to Antarctica. Tessa Bickford spent two summers on Macquarie Island,
allowing her to get to know the fauna and flora, and take
photographs of the penguin chick as it developed.
The sequence of photographs show the chick growing up once out of
the egg, developing its feathers, looking all the while out to sea,
where it must eventually go. Each page depicts its surroundings, the
other animals, and the ever present sea. Some pages are a full
colour photograph, allowing the students to look more closely at
Jojo, while other pages have a number of smaller photos, showing a
sequence of events. Each page has a stimulating, fascinating
background, one which will draw readers in to look at what is
depicted.
Several pages are standouts in photography, one depicting a skua
bird about to possibly grab a penguin chick, amazing in the
closeness of the beak preparing to attack, while the double page
with four photos in a sequence showing the little animal as it takes
to the water, is one of those moments that brings the book to life.
This is a beautiful picture book, encouraging students to know more
about Antarctica, revel in the antics of these small animals and see
for themselves the place parental love and companionship has in
developing babies to a time where they leave home.
Fran Knight
Promote Reading ed. by Pat Pledger
Pledger Publishing 2012. ISBN 9781 8766 7827 2.
Highly recommended. This book scored well from the first page: a
sub-title such as Activities and strategies to motivate reading
is of course an instant hit with teacher librarians. Anticipation
was further heightened on opening the next page, a very full and
informative Table of Contents covering a wide range of ideas and
strategies.
The Contents Page is arranged under various headings, e.g. General
ideas to promote reading, Finding the right book for the
reader, and under each heading are several articles, some with
intriguing headings such as Speed dating, Loo reviews
and Shelf talkers. The articles are quite short, most of 1-2
pages, with some a few pages longer.
Straight off I came across a recommendation for a wiki site for
summer reading for teachers, which (I probably shouldn't admit) I
didn't know about, but proved very useful and easy-to-read.
Next I looked at the Running a Reader's Cup entry, as we are
running one this year at Underdale High. This had many good ideas,
some of which we incorporated into our Book Cup, some of which we
were already doing, and some of which we considered but are doing a
little differently. Promote reading is of course a volume of
suggestions and ideas, not hard-and-fast rules, so some will be more
applicable or relevant than others. Loo reviews and Pee and reads are definitely
outside-the-square, or should I say, inside the [thunder]box,
approaches I had not previously heard or thought about. Nevertheless
their advocate makes a good case, and may well be worth trying.
Other articles are too numerous to detail, but perhaps two words
would suffice: highly recommended.
Peter Helman
