Random House, 2013. ISBN 9780857531124.
(Age: Yr 3+) It is 1953 and Elsie Kettle and her Nan are looking
forward to seeing the coronation of the new Queen. But all
their plans are dashed when Nan's persistent cough turns out to be
tuberculosis and she is hospitalised in the sanatorium.This
means Elsie's mum, who occasionally visits in between showgirl
engagements, has to return to look after Elsie. But not for
long, because mandatory testing shows that Elsie also has
tuberculosis. Hers is not in her lungs, but in her knee -
transmitted by drinking infected milk which was common in those
days. Her limp, which so aggravated her mother, was not caused
by her ugly boy-shoes nor put on for attention and she too finds
herself in hospital.
But hospitals and treatments in the 50s are not like they are today
and Elsie finds herself in Blyton Ward with seven other children,
each strapped into splints and kept immobile for months. Being the
new girl is hard enough, but it's made worse by seemingly harsh and
uncaring nurses, particularly Nurse Patterson, strict routines, no
privacy and a bedside neighbour who immediately christens her
Gobface. Each evening the children are read a story from Enid
Blyton's Faraway Tree series and Elsie's ability to create new
stories, particularly one about Nurse Patterson meeting her fate in
the Land of Polar Bears, gradually allows her to fit in. However,
she has always sought solace in cats, whether on her Nan's button
box, her pink pyjamas or the real thing, she brings them to life so
she is not so lonely, so her spirits are lifted when she befriends
the ward cat, Queenie.
It is her ability to escape to a land of fantasy that enables Elsie
to endure the boredom, pain and loneliness, particularly on the
weekends which is the only time parents may visit and her mother
doesn't turn up week after week after week, even after the Queen
visits. Elsie knows she has acquired a new 'uncle' and this is
confirmed when her mother disappears to Canada which raises a whole
lot of issues because Elsie is due to be discharged. Who will look
after her?
This book plods along at a sedentary pace opening up a world very
different to what any Australian child might have experienced in
hospital. The thought of being totally incapacitated locked
into what Elsie first believes are torture racks seems unimaginable
but that was the treatment of the times, and many children underwent
it until milk became tested and treated and the risk of infection
eliminated. Yet despite its rather grim setting and storyline,
Wilson has crafted a charming story with engaging characters which
carries the reader along wanting to help Elsie, shake some
compassion into her mother, bless Nurse Gabriel and put faith in a
happy ending. With its 411 pages, it is better for the
independent reader who is able to manage such a task and if this is
their first Jacqueline Wilson title, they will be looking for
others.
Barbara Braxton
Crunched! by Michael Wagner
Maxx Rumble Footy 1. Ill. by Terry Denton. Black Dog Books, 2013
ISBN: 9781922077813. RRP $9.95
(Age 7-9) Highly recommended. Maxx Rumble is back to entertain a new
generation of boys with his wildly exaggerated football stories.
First published in 2004 and now republished by Walker Books under
the Black Dog Imprint, this series and the Maxx Rumble Cricket
series are sure to engage even the most reluctant sport-loving
reader from 7-9 years of age.
Maxx is a member of the Stone Gully Saints and they are up against
the Grunting Bullies. He loves to exaggerate his prowess, his goal
kicking, even the size of the sumo wrestlers who try to double-team
him, Tarkyn and Wedgie. 'They kept squashing me. I thought my eyes
would pop out! I thought every bone in my body would break! I
thought I was dead!' The action is exciting and engaging, the
novel is a page-turner, ending with the Club Records and explanatory
Round 1 ladder.
Michael Wagner is a prolific author and his humorous style of
writing in the Maxx Rumble series makes a great read. Terry Denton's
cartoon style of illustration adds even more fun and amusement to
the text. Just observe the change Tarkyn and Wedgie undergo
from footie players to sumo wrestlers as Maxx tells his version of
the game. Michael Wagner's website has great
teaching tips, more information about Maxx, writing tips for
students, downloads and information about Michael's other stories as
well.
I would highly recommend this series for boys and girls who love AFL
from 7-9 years of age.
Rhyllis Bignell
The Reece Malcolm List by Amy Spalding
Entangled Teen, 2013. ISBN: 9781620612408.
(Age: 13+) Highly recommended. Themes include: Family relations;
Grief/Loss; Romance; Friendship; Identity. The Reece Malcolm List
can best be described a pretty typical YA novel aimed at girls, but
it does what it does so well, that it's hard to fault it for being a
little too predictable and for Devan being a little too perfect.
Devan's father died three months ago, and as the book starts, she's
winging her way to Los Angeles to live with her mother, Reece
Malcolm, a woman Devan has never met or been told about. Reece
Malcolm (for almost the entire book, Devan refers to her mother
using both names) is a well-known novelist, and is reclusive and
mysterious. I was totally caught up in Devan's quest to learn
anything and everything about this woman, who is not easy to live
with or in any way motherly. Devan is a very quiet, solitary
girl, although her love of and talent for singing is one thing she
isn't shy or modest about. It's the one part of her life she can
control and these sections of the novel provide readers with a
glimpse into the lives of teenagers who love show choirs, musical
theatre, and performance. A bit like 'Glee' - but not really. I liked
Devan's mish-mash of friends and her acceptance into this tight
group. Devan and Reece Malcolm's relationship is more bumpy,
more unexpected, and more challenging. I liked Reece. She is a
flawed yet wonderfully unique character. I especially enjoyed Brad's
inclusion in this strange family situation. The love story plot
works well and Devan's potential suitors are both interesting and
worthy. I think teenage girls will love this.
Trisha Buckley
Freaks like us by Susan Vaught
Bloomsbury Publishing, 2013. ISBN 9781408836163.
Sixteen year old Jason considers himself a freak. He suffers from
schizophrenia (SCZI) and attends a class at school specifically for
the Severely Emotionally Disturbed or the SED class. His two best
friends are also 'freaks' or alphabet kids, as they call themselves.
Sunshine is a selective mute (SM) and Derrick suffers from attention
deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Being different means that
they are often subject to bullying and their opinions are frequently
disregarded. They have learnt to stick together, protect their
privacy and look out for each other.
Jason is sweet on Sunshine so when she disappears on the way home
from school he is devastated. He knows that Sunshine has been very
troubled recently but she swore him to secrecy. There are always
voices in his head but they become worse when he is under stress. As
the search for Sunshine gets underway, he finds it increasingly
difficult to distinguish between reality and the things that the
voices in his head are telling him. His medication would help
but he doesn't want to take his night time dose because it will
knock him out for hours and he is desperate to help the searchers.
Some of the investigators think that Jason is implicated in
Sunshine's disappearance. Freaks are always the first to be blamed.
He is in a race against time, battling the demons within himself and
those that threaten him externally.
This book provides an interesting insight into the challenges and
prejudices that face those suffering from mental illness. It also
highlights the vulnerability of certain sectors of our community and
will be enjoyed by anyone who enjoys thought provoking issues.
Tina Cain
The last runaway by Tracy Chevalier
Dutton, 2013. ISBN 9780525952992.
(Age: 14+) Recommended. Honor Bright is a young Quaker woman who
travels to America with her sister to escape disappointment when the
man she hoped to marry weds another woman. She finds herself alone
in a very strange land and has difficulty coming to terms with the
huge differences in attitudes in Ohio where she settles. She must
come to grips with the injustice of slavery and the stretch between
what she believes is just and principled and what is acceptable in
this new country. She becomes involved with the Underground Railroad
and makes friends with two remarkable women.
Tracy Chevalier is a favourite author of mine and I found it very
difficult to put this fascinating historical story down. Told in the
third person in alternate chapters it relates what is happening in Honor's
life, and each of these chapters has a heading that grabs the attention
and provides a context for the story that follows. Other
chapters are in letter form as Honor writes home to England telling
her family and friends her feelings and what is happening to her.
Honor is an intriguing character, quiet and modest, but with a
strong sense of justice. She uses silence as a means of meditation
as a Quaker and also as a way of letting others know what she
believes. She struggles as she attempts to fit in with her new
family, while trying not to compromise her beliefs about slavery.
I found the setting of pioneer Ohio seen through the eyes of Honor,
new to the land, provided a rich background to the story. The farm
where she lives, milking the cows, looking after the chickens and
bringing in the harvest, are vividly described. The skill that Honor
brought to quilt-making, and the hats that the women loved, brought
alive the domestic life of women of that time.
The themes of slavery, freedom, compromise, love and religion make The
last runaway a very worthwhile read.
Pat Pledger
Red River stallion by Troon Harrison
Bloomsbury, 2013. ISBN 9781408819364.
(Age: 12+) Highly recommended. Red River stallion mixes the
traditions of the American Indians with the English and Scottish
settlers who helped settle America. It is set in the 1830's and
revolves around Amelia Otterchild McKenzie, a half Indian half
Scottish orphan. She cares for her younger sister and is taken in by
members of the Cree tribe and taught to read by white men.
One evening, Amelia is rescued by a large red horse and it is this
miraculous event that changes the direction of her life. The two
girls set out for the Red River Valley, helping Orchid, the horse's
owner, and hoping to find Amelia's long lost father.
The author uses descriptive language to draw you into the life and
hardships of Amelia. It is highly recommended for girls, aged 12+,
who are independent readers and enjoy dramatic stories. Set against
the backdrop of a wild land, Red River stallion is a
wonderful blend of history and a girl's search for her father and a
place to belong.
Kylie Kempster
Alice-Miranda in Paris by Jacqueline Harvey
Random House Australia, 2013, 325pp, P/b. ISBN 9781742752884.
(Ages: 8+). Highly Recommended. Alice-Miranda and her school
friends are in Paris as part of a choir performing during Fashion
Week, when famous Parisian designer Christian Fontaine has some
expensive fabric stolen. In the apartments directly opposite the
school group's hotel, there is a young boy gazing out the window at
the children. The children wave to him and ask him if he wants to
join them for a game of basketball. The boy is Fabian Bouchard, a
young fashion designer whose Uncle Claude is obsessed with making
him a star, whether Fabian wants it or not. Fabian wants to go out
and talk to the children but his mother won't let him, saying there
are people out there who will hurt them. What is Fabian's secret and
can the high-spirited Alice-Miranda and her friends solve the
mystery of the stolen fabric? Alice-Miranda is a very likeable
character; she is a thoughtful girl who is always happy to help
people. Alice-Miranda in Paris is full of mystery and
adventure with some humour in parts. This book is a good read for
primary aged students learning French. It has a glossary of 22
French terms used throughout the book and mentions famous French
landmarks. There is also a good message about plagiarism. If you
enjoyed the previous six books in the Alice-Miranda series
then you'll enjoy this one.
Michelle Thomson
The trap door by Lisa McMann
Infinity Ring bk. 3, Scholastic Inc., 2013, 192pp, H/b. ISBN
9780545386982.
(Ages: 8+) Recommended. Dak, Sera and Riq are Hystorians, people who
travel back in time to fix disruptions in history. In book three of
the Infinity Ring series the young time travellers travel
back in time to Maryland, a slave state in the United States. The
year is 1850, when slaves who escaped into the North from the South
are captured and sold back to the South.
Riq's family is from Africa and because of his skin colour is
mistaken for a runaway slave and captured, leaving 11 year old Sera
and Dak to try and free Riq before he is sold. Dak, Sera and Riq
need to fix the past in order to save the future but because Riq's
family were slaves, they need to be careful to ensure his family
history remains intact. If they intervene, making drastic changes,
it could mean Riq will never be born.
Read the book and learn why history has gone wrong and how it can be
fixed. Follow the included Hystorian's guide, solve puzzles along
the way and then play the game by logging onto the Infinity Ringwebsite. This is a good
interactive adventure with a blend of history and mystery. A moral
message is also portrayed with Riq making sacrifices to help others.
Riq is a very likeable character who is well-mannered, helpful and
friendly to strangers, which leads him to risking everything to save
the life of a young boy.
Michelle Thomson
Bewitched by Colin Thompson
The Floods series, bk 12. Random House Australia, 2013. 227 pp. ISBN
9781742755304.
(Ages: 9-13) This is classic Colin Thompson humour in the same vein
as the preceding books in The Floods series and some of his other
work. For those unfamiliar with this series the Floods are the royal
family of Transylvania Waters and also happen to be witches and
wizards. This is no enchanting Harry Potter-esque fantasy world
though. The Floods and the world within the world that Colin
Thompson has created are quite simply eccentric. The large gothic
Floods family with their quirky characteristics are reminiscent of
The Addams Family, and Transylvania Waters itself is well known for
donkeys that have the power of speech and differing personalities.
Some are perpetually grumpy on account of not being horses and
others are incredibly happy on account of mysterious chemicals in
the clover and thistles.
In this edition of the series, King Nerlin is slipping into total
Doolallyness. He even has an invisible friend called
Geoffrey-Geoffrey, has started to enjoy the taste of grass
sandwiches and refuses to walk past a tree without stopping to say
hello. Hence the journey to see the Old Crones in hope of a cure
begins. There are other sub-plots threaded throughout which are all
nicely tied up at the end of the book with one of many convenient
explosions.
Thompson's wit and humour shine through, however at times the plot
seems to fall a bit flat or drag on. In addition the humour
sometimes borders on being quite crude, despite its cleverness, such
as when Nerlin loses control of his vowels and needs to wear
incompetence pants. The sparse black and white illustrations and the
regular footnotes add to the eccentricity of the text and make it a
little more approachable for a first time reader to the series.
While the humour is clever it may at times be beyond the grasp of
younger children. Overall this was a little 'too silly' for me but I
am sure it will be enjoyed by many children for exactly the same
reason!
Nicole Smith-Forrest
Meet Lina by Sally Rippin
Penguin, 2013. ISBN 9780143307006
(Age: 9+) Recommended. Historical fiction. Our Australian Girl
series. Lina is clever and her Italian-born parents, keen for her to
succeed in their new home in Melbourne, encourage her to apply for a
scholarship at the up-market private Catholic College some way away,
intent on her becoming a lawyer or doctor. Here she succeeds but
keeps to herself that she lives at Carlton, in a small cramped
cottage with her hardworking parents, grandmother, two brothers, a
baby and her uncle, lately come from Italy. To keep this family
running well, Lina must do her chores, but things collide when her
new friend invites her home after school, a time when Lina should be
looking after her baby brother.
A story brimful of the plight of migrant children in the 1950's who
found their new home at odds with the customs and beliefs of their
parents, Lina is a likeable character, full of life and hope, loving
her family, willing to help and take her part, but equally wanting
to get to know her new friends, and develop her skills as a writer.
Tension between several of her new friends boils over when the
girls, Lina and Mary, put together a magazine. Their spat takes them
to the Mother Superior, who makes them work together on a new school
magazine, and the girls, once at odds, must now cooperate. The subject of
this will be the next in the series of four stories about Lina,
living near the Italian-rich Lygon Street. Our Australian Girl is a series much in demand in schools
wanting a fresh approach to historical novels and fitting in with
the new curriculum. Each story is of a girl set in a particular
decade, the four stories published separately. Each novel gives
information about the girl's life and times, with snippets of
information at the end, and several pages of the start of the
following story. Teacher notes and an extensive website complement
the books.
Fran Knight
Shiverton Hall by Emerald Fennell
Bloomsbury, 2013. ISBN 9781408827789. 248 pp.
(Ages: 9-13) Recommended. This is a fantastic debut novel by author
Emerald Fennell. A self-confessed horror aficionado, Fennel is also
a successful actress with a clear knowledge of just what a young
horror junkie craves in a novel. There are obvious Harry Potter-isms
here but they were gloriously indulgent for me as a reader rather
than being merely imitative. As an example, there is a bus that
takes the boarders into the nearby town of Grimstone as a weekend
outing where they frequent Miss Bessie's Sweet Shop. Could this be
reminiscent perhaps of J.K Rowling's town of Hogsmeade? The main
similarity between the two books however is the relationships
between the main group of misfit characters and their easy dialogue
between each other. There is also a kind of cosiness in the way
they are grouped into houses and have shared common areas. Like
Hogwarts, despite the evilness all around the school, there seems to
be something quite pleasant, homely and comforting about the school
and the people within it. That is where the similarities end
however as Shiverton Hall is set well within the 'real' world, four
hours outside of London and is not in any way centred around
wizards, witches or magic.
The story begins with Arthur Bannister being unexpectedly offered a
scholarship at the Shiverton Hall boarding school. The place is
downright spooky to look at and is shrouded in tales of curses and
evil, not to mention the school bullies and the headmistress who
seems determined to make his time at school horrible. Even though
Arthur quickly makes friends with George, Jake and Penny, everything
is quickly starting to turn bad. Supernatural beings seem to be at
play here and, as Arthur soon finds out, there are some friends you
don't want to have at all. Can Arthur and his friends work out what
is happening and why, before someone really gets hurt?
Throughout the book are smatterings of ghost tales told by Arthur's
friend and Shiverton Hall's resident ghost expert George. These
spooky tales of Shiverton Hall's past are surprisingly scary,
usually result in a death, and are sometimes gory. Definitely not for
the faint hearted or the easily spooked child. But for those
children who can't get enough of Goosebumps type horror this is the
book for them. It appears definite that there will be follow up
books to Shiverton Hall as while the loose ends of this tale are
tied up it is clear that the school is hiding many more dark
secrets.
Nicole Smith-Forrest
Factor 4: The awakening by Paul Mason
A & C Black, 2013. ISBN 9781408180679.
(Age: 9+) Highly recommended. If you could be a superhero, what type
of hero would you be? In Factor 4: The awakening, four students face
this question after they are exposed to a yellow gas. Zaf, Tara,
April and Ian develop special powers after an accident. They have
the powers of Earth, Wind, Fire and Water.
This story is a quick-paced, short story with easy-to-read text. The superhero
theme will be great for any reluctant reader, especially boys, and
girls will like the female role-models. Factor 4: The awakening is the first in a series and we not only
meet the four main characters but also their teacher who teaches
them to use their powers for good. The other theme I liked was the
link to the environment. The group's goal is to help protect the
environment and fix environmental disasters, a relevant topic for
today's children.
Kylie Kempster
Ben and the icky-ooky-sticky-smick by Sally Sutton
Walker Books, 2013. ISBN 9781921529009.
(Age: 5+) Recommended. What happens when you lose your favourite
pet? What if you are the only one who knows what it looks like? This
is the problem facing Ben. Ben has lost his icky-ooky-sticky-smick. Ben and the icky-ooky-sticky-smick is a lovely picture book
to share and read to children. The nonsense words (used to name
bugs) make it a funny story but the knowledge of these nonsensical
words is also a great help for younger children learning to read.
Ben searches his whole house, looking for his lost pet. Along the
way, different family members discover unusual bugs and Ben's insect
knowledge is amazing. An especially nice factor in this book is the
relationship Ben shares with his grandpa. It is his grandpa who, in
the end, helps him find his pet.
I would recommend this book to all parents (and teachers) to read
with their children and independent readers aged 7 to 10 will enjoy
reading it to themselves.
The illustrator, Gary Venn, has used a paper collage feel to create
simple and colourful images, making this book a great model for any
art lesson. It would also be a good model for older children to
create their own nonsensical words and write in a similar style to
the author.
Kylie Kempster
Keeping the castle: a tale of romance, riches, and real estate by Patrice Kindl
Viking, 2012. ISBN 9780670014385.
(Age: 14+) Highly recommended. ALA Best Fiction for Young Adults
2013. Althea is the practical one in her family. She keeps
everything going, but knows that she must marry a rich man to
preserve the dilapidated family castle for her little brother
Alexander. Unfortunately there is a dearth of rich suitors in the
small town of Lesser Hoo until the rich Lord Boring arrives bringing
along with him his business partner, Mr Fredericks. Althea begins to
plot to snare Lord Boring but things keep getting in her way.
In this very clever and witty take on Regency life, Kindl
brings to life the efforts that young women have to take when
marriage is their only future. Althea is a forthright young woman
whose sharp tongue often brings her into disrepute but who can match
the conversations of Mr Fredericks with ease. Readers will
sympathise with her as she acknowledges that convenience and wealth
must come before true love. She is often unaware of what is really
happening around her as she goes about the business of trying to
find a rich suitor and keep the castle going.
Kindl has a rich assortment of characters, Althea's two stepsisters,
her mother, brother and Mr Godalming, all of whom provide a rich
context for much of the conflict and humour in the book. Crumbling
Crawley Castle is almost a character in its own right and it is easy
to picture this strange gothic monstrosity jutting out precariously
on the very edge of a cliff.
I loved the sly humour, the repartee and the smart dialogue in Keeping
the castle. Fans of historical fiction and of Jane Austen and
Georgette Heyer, will revel in this fabulous and entertaining parody
and it is ideal for readers looking for a feel good book.
Pat Pledger
A Tangle of Traitors by F.E Higgins
The Phenomenals series, bk 1.Macmillan Children's Books, 2013. 223
pp. ISBN: 9780330507554.
(Ages: 9-13) In the first book of this new series F.E Higgins is
introducing the reader to her new world and the characters that her
new series will follow. The story centres around the individual
tales of four characters who towards the end of the book find
themselves inextricably linked and are named in their infamy 'The
Phenomenals'. We are treated at the beginning of the book to
the definition of Phenomenals as 'particularly vile and are
characterized by their tendency to gather in small groups and their
ability to come and go unnoticed'.
The story is set in Degringolade where a bubbling tar pit holds the
wretched spirits of all the murderers and criminals the town has
condemned. A city of superstition, Deringoglade is characterised by
card-readers and frightened villagers carrying bags of lucky charms
and stepping over cracks to ward off evil. We are introduced to the
characters through a narrator who little by little gives us further
glimpses into who they are. We learn about Vincent the picklock, who
arrived in Degringolade by chance and immediately runs into trouble.
We find out about Folly, the secretive loner who lives in a tomb and
stalks the shadows of Degringolade and Citrine, the heiress to a
huge fortune who only wants the truth. And then there is Jonah, the
deadly harpoonist who survived being swallowed by a whale and will
fight for righteousness.
There is a whole other vocabulary to this world Higgins has created
and it is quickly picked up as the book progresses as it has
commonalities with the English language. 'Kew' is said in place of
thank you and 'spetivus' seems to mean wow or awesome. The gadgets
and machines that the people use are also different, as is the
terminology associated with them. A trikuklos for example appears to
be some kind of motorised three-wheeled bicycle that must be
'pedalated'.
When each of the four characters become embroiled in the same mess
there is only Folly's secret hiding place and their joint knowledge
and skills to keep them safe and save the day. But the danger has
not passed and the whole city is in trouble. Why can't anyone else
see what is happening? The Phenomenals, as they have been
penned by the Degringolade newspaper reporter, will need to work
together if they want to make everyone in the town see what has been
happening right under their noses. The story will be continued in
the next instalment of the series A Gaggle of Ghouls.
Nicole Smith-Forrest
