Reviews

Traitor's revenge by Andrew Hammond

CRYPT. Headline, 2012. ISBN: 978 0 7553 7822 7.
Strange things are happening in York and London. They're emerging from the shadows and are after something. A voice that seems to becoming from the darkness is being listened too by one man. This is not case for any normal group of counter-intelligence to investigate. This is a case for CRYPT; a group of cunning teenage agents who use their extra sensory perception and high-tech gadgets to investigate crimes that the police cannot solve. CRYPT will need to keep their wits about them to survive, for what's in the shadows want them out of their way.
I loved this book! It shows the reasons to be afraid of the shadows but also the wonders they hide - which I love. The characters are amusing and - despite their age - are strong-minded and wilful. Bex and Jud are my favourite agents and their friendship is amazing to read. The dark corners always held something and were in great detail. Each page held something of importance and was easy to follow. The changes of scenes in the book did not make it confusing but kept it all tied together. It was a page turner to say the least.
Cecilia Richards (student)

Old Possum's books of practical cats by T S Eliot

Ill. by Axel Scheffler. Faber and Faber, 2010. ISBN 978 0 571 25248 0.
Recommended. Poetry. From its introduction about the naming of cats, in which readers are told that cats have three names, one being the ordinary name, one a particular name, and then one that the cat knows himself, to the last poem about Cat Morgan, the pirate cat, there is much to enjoy in this reissue of this very popular book of poetry. First published in 1939, the poems are as fresh as ever, and will be enjoyed by a new audience, enhanced with the colourful illustrations by Axel Sheffler.
From the old Gumbie cat, Jennyanydots, who likes to just sit, Rum Tum Tugger, who always go where he's not expected to go, or the dancing Jellicles, or Old Deuteronomy, each poem plays with words and will capture the imagination of the listeners and readers. Many are very well know, Macavity and Mr Mistoffelees for example, partly from the musical, Cats, but some are not so well known and will be enjoyed over again by the readers as they come across lesser known poems such as Cat Morgan, the pirate cat, and Bustopher Jones, the cat about town. And my favourite, Skimbleshanks, the railway cat, is always worth rereading, while another, The pekes and the pollicles, is one I did not know as well, and so enjoyed reading it until it became familiar.
A great addition to any library.
Fran Knight

August by Bernard Beckett

Spoiled by Heather Cocks and Jessica Morgan

Allen and Unwin, 2012. ISBN 9781742379753.
(Age: 15+) It is the dying wish of Laurel Dix that her daughter Molly go to live with the famous father that she has been shielded from for sixteen years. Suddenly Molly is catapulted from rural Indiana to begin a new existence in opulent Hollywood Hills with her rich and manic movie star Dad, Brick Berlin. Molly has a warm reception from Brick but her same age step sister, Brooke, does not take kindly to sharing the spot light with an unsophisticated sibling she didn't know existed until five minutes ago!
Molly is overwhelmed coming to terms with the loss of her mother, the scheming and manipulative Brooke and the relentless paparazzi. What follows is a journey of self discovery, fashion and friendship.
The authors are famous for their celebrity blog GoFug Yourself.com and the book is replete with their famous one liners and caustic observations of the superficial world inhabited by the rich and famous. Not to be taken seriously, this book is a fun and light read and soon to be followed by Messy, a sequel to the dramas of Molly Dix and Brooke Berlin.
Tina Cain

Keeper of the realms: Crow's Revenge by Marcus Alexander

Penguin, 2011. ISBN 9780141339771.
(Ages 13+) Charlie Keeper is a 13 year old girl, living with her senile grandmother in her strange family home in London. Her parents have been missing for nearly 7 years, and her guardian, the cruel lawyer Mr Crow, takes advantage of her grandmother's confused state and Charlie's own lack of power to mistreat her and embezzle the family funds. One day while exploring her odd house (it appears larger on the inside), she comes across Jensen who is a Treman from Bellania, a world that exists on an alternate plane to the earth, but is accessible via a portal in her house. He disappears through a door, but Charlie is unable to follow him.
When the mysterious and evil Bane enters the house and threatens Crow with terrible consequences if he does not help him acquire the pendant that Charlie wears, a mad chase through the house ensues, which sees Charlie transported through the portal into Bellania. There the real adventure begins as she races against time to save her parents, free Bellania from Bane's malevolent grip, and awaken her Keeper powers.
When the blurb on the back of a book compares it to The Wizard of Oz, The Narnia Chronicles, Lemony Snickett and JK Rowling, it has a lot to live up to. Whilst the premise is appealing, and I really wanted to like this book, to me it doesn't deliver on its potential. It has none of the real freshness or sparkle of these books, but is rather derivative, clumsy and laboured. In its favour, it is good to have a young female protagonist as the hero in this genre, there are some interesting characters and narrow escapes, and I'm sure that most younger readers will enjoy Charlie's antics and adventures. Whilst I found Charlies temper tantrums and foot stamping aggravating, to be fair she is confronted with many dreadful situations and is increasingly worried about the fate of her Gran back in London as well her missing parents.
It is not giving away anything to say that this book ends with a cliff hanger - it is the first of a projected three book series - however, it failed to capture my imagination or leave me wanting more.
Alicia Papp

Stuck by Charlotte Calder

Ill. by Mark Jackson. Walker Books, 2012. ISBN 978 1 921720 58 1.
(Ages 4-6) Picture book. A charming story of a kite getting stuck in a tree will have kids laughing out loud as they watch and enjoy the antics of the family and friends trying different methods of getting the kite down. Sticks, a boomerang, a rock, a cricket bat amongst other things are thrown up at the kite, but all fail to dislodge the toy. By the time everyone has tried their luck, the tree is full of the things thrown. In the end the cat races up the tree following a bird, and dislodges all the things so that everything falls back down. But of course, now the cat is stuck.
A warm picture book, with delightful illustrations, this book will find a place in school libraries and classrooms as it shows children trying things out for themselves, solving a problem they have. The clever illustrations which use graphite and water colour, show different perspectives, which could be discussed with the students. Sometime the picture is of a view looking up at the tree, sometimes the view is from the tree to the ground, giving quite a different view of the children.
This is a new edition in paperback, and a slightly different cover.
Fran Knight

Me and you by Niccolo Ammaniti

Trans. by Kylee Doust. Text, 2012. ISBN 9781921758775.
(Ages: 14+) Recommended. The Italian author Niccolo Ammaniti is able to present both the innocence and egotism of children and the dark, threatening worlds they may inhabit in a convincing and gripping way. In this novel Me and you, the voice of fourteen-year-old Lorenzo is believable and persuasive. He describes himself as uninterested in, at best, and as frightened by, at worst, the world of his peers, and he gives way to rages. His psychiatrist describes him as someone who cannot empathise with others, except his parents. Lorenzo learns to survive by using Batesian mimicry, pretending to be as his classmates are, boorish, loud and disruptive. However, Lorenzo creates trouble for himself when he overhears a group of friends planning a skiing trip. Lorenzo is a good skier and imagines being part of the group. He tells his mother that he has been invited along. Trapped in his lie by his mother's happiness Lorenzo consequently plans to spend the week hiding in a cellar, in the dark with his computer, cans of drink and food. All seems to be proceeding well until his sojourn is interrupted by his half-sister Olivia who Lorenzo is forced to realize is an addict suffering frighteningly painful withdrawal symptoms. Her desperate need and his ability to help her bring about a change in Lorenzo, symbolized by a story he invents about a robot, created to unfeelingly destroy, that learns to live and breed like sea turtles. Lorenzo realizes that he can change his behaviour and learn to become a friend to others. The outcome for Olivia is not so positive. As in Ammaniti's earlier work I'm not scared the resolution is shocking. The novel is simply written but thematically rich. The world of Lorenzo is created with acute observations and details. Me and you compares well with other novels written from the point-of-view of main characters with a difficulty in relating to others. This is recommended for secondary readers.
Jenny Hamilton

Ships in the Field by Susanne Gervay and Anna Pignataro

Ford Street Publishing, 2012. ISBN 9781921665233.
This is a very special book written by Susanne Gervay, one of my favourite authors and illustrated by Anna Pignataro, one of my favourite illustrators. It is a celebration of Australia's multicultural heritage with both author and illustrator drawing on their family's history of being post-war European refugees to create a story that demonstrates the amazing resilience and hope of the human spirit regardless of the trials it encounters. Told through the eyes of a child, it touches on many emotions from the sadness of memories too raw to have many layers to soften them, to the joy and excitement of a new life as a family in a new place, while stopping, momentarily, at the happy spots of what has been and anticipating what is yet to come.
This is such a magical blend of words and pictures that there is something most of us will relate to. For me, it's the phrase 'ships in the field'. For one with a distinctive Kiwi accent (even after all these years), getting it wrong is something I'm used to although no one has corrected me as beautifully and tactfully as the little girl does to help her father.
It would be the perfect starter or accompaniment to any investigation of what it means to be Australian, because that is what we all are, and opens the door to enable our students understand that they and their families have a past, a present and a future.
Barbara Braxton

Nancy Bentley the first Australian female sailor by Tracey Hawkins

New Frontier Publishing. 2011. ISBN 9781921042768
Suitable for children up to 8 years. This picture book is set in Tasmania. It relates the true story of an incident in the life of Nancy Bentley. Following a snake bite Nancy needed a doctor urgently. Her desperate father decided that the closest doctor was the ship's surgeon on board the HMAS Sydney at nearby Port Arthur. So, her father put her into a row boat to get her treated as quickly as possible.
The rules at the time did not allow women on board, and the Captain had to officially enlist Nancy into the RAN. Thus, aged 6 years old in 1920, Nancy became the 'first Australian female sailor'. Following her recovery Nancy was awarded a Good Conduct Medal and taken on a short voyage to Hobart to the movies as a special treat. Did Nancy really sail from Port Arthur to Hobart on the HMAS Sydney without her parents?.
Although this story is told in a narrative form, the language is formal. At times the story seems disjointed. On one page the ship is heading out to sea and on the next page it has arrived in Hobart.
There is an old-fashioned cover and stylised, naive illustrations. They are uninspiring but quite suited to an 'olde world', quaint story such as this. There are interesting endpapers covered in a variety of documents related to Nancy's story. At the back of the book we find a more formal biography of Nancy's life and a copy of her RAN Certificate of Service.
It is a curious narrative. I am unsure of the motivation for telling Nancy's story. She seems to be an ordinary girl. And this incident would surely have had little influence on Australian naval or feminist history.
Margaret Strickland

In Darkness by Nick Lake

Bloomsbury, 2012. ISBN 13579108642.
(Age: 15+) Recommended. Shorty is a teenage gangster from the violent slums of Site Soley where survival is a daily challenge. Now he lies trapped beneath the rubble of a hospital following the Haitian earthquake, afraid that he will be entombed forever. Alone in the darkness Shorty reflects upon the events in his life that have shaped his destiny.  His wandering mind becomes possessed by the thoughts of Toussaint L'Ouverture, the Haitian rebel who forced the French out of Haiti two hundred years ago. Both of them seek freedom but it will take strength and the courage of self belief to achieve it.
This is a story of two Haitis, the past and the present, compellingly intertwined. The political history of Haiti and its battle to be free from colonial power runs parallel to the story of modern Haiti. The slums, gang warfare and violence are a reality of day to day existence and evoke the passion to be free from oppression. L'Oeuverture channels this passion through Shorty.
This is an excellent book for the sophisticated reader. The author is able to tell the story of Haiti's history in an exciting and innovative way. It is a very satisfying page turner and the two stories of past and present are equally gripping and informative.
Tina Cain

Assault by Brian Falkner

Recon Team Angel. Walker Books, 2011. ISBN 9781921720543.
(Suited for: 13+) Recommended. In the year 2030 humanity is at war with an advanced alien race. The stage for this battle: Earth. For nearly two decades the world has only just managed to hold off the invaders but there is still hope. Recon Team Angel, a global team of multi-national, multi-purpose teenage soldiers has been in training and now the time has come to strike. Sent on a classified behind enemy lines infiltration mission not even they know the purpose of their objective. What they will find will not only shock them but will prove crucial if mankind is to survive the war.
The author immediately attempts to engage the reader with a short introduction and a glossary defining the military slang that is used throughout the story. This achieves its objective well but from there on in, the interest of the reader falls away. Although the bulk of the book is well written there are several chapters or segments which do little to appeal to the reader. This lack in consistency is what prevents this book from becoming a great read, rather than being just a good one. The climax at the ending is one the reader will enjoy but it is left too late.
Older readers will find themselves losing interest and struggling to really appreciate the book while the military jargon and action will entice the younger ones. Overall Assault is a good science fiction book that amidst several slow dull passages has the potential to be an enjoyable read.
I recommend this book.
Michael Adams

Inheritance by Christopher Paolini

The Inheritance Cycle: Book Four. Doubleday, 2011. ISBN 9780385616492.
(Suited for: 16+) Recommended. Not long ago, Eragon was just a poor farm boy, unaware of the importance that his future held. Now with the help of the elves, dwarves and his dragon, Saphira, Eragon is preparing for the war against Galbatorix. The resistance against the cruel Galbatorix is building with the Varden's army growing in size and strength every day. As the war approaches it seems that the deciding factor will not be won by the armies on the battlefield but in the fight against his half-brother Murtagh, and his dragon Thor. And if he is unable to conquer Murtagh, what hope do he and the people of Alagaesia hope of winning the fight for justice against Galbatorix.
The book opens with Paolini giving a brief overview of the previous books in the series. It is used to broaden the audience for the book to not just those who have read the series but to newcomers. It does little to achieve this goal and first-timers to the series will find themselves somewhat bored by the opening. The opening chapters encompass Paolini's style of writing as the fast-paced story telling that brought him so much praise for the Inheritance Cycle.
While newcomers to the series will struggle to find themselves engaged by the story and style of writing, fans of the series will find it to be a fitting end to the saga. With this as the final book of the Inheritance Cycle, Paolini will continue to win praise for the series.
I recommend this book.
Michael Adams

Life : an exploded diagram by Mal Peet

Walker Books, 2011. ISBN 978 1 8442 8100 8.
Recommended for senior secondary students and adults. This book begins and ends with a bang.  A Spitfire shooting a chimney pot to pieces in 1945 and the World Trade Centre exploding in 2001.
In between is a thoroughly enjoyable story, largely about Clem, a working class boy and Frankie, daughter of a wealthy local landowner.  Interspersed with this are the evolving stories of their families especially Clem's. As well there is as a background the developing missile crisis in Cuba in 1962.
The relationship that develops between Clem and Frankie is both touching and hilarious at least to the reader. The author handles the various components of the book with great skill and melds them together into a whole that is entertaining, humorous and affirming all at the same time. The characters are extremely well drawn and the observations of life in Britain in the period acutely well done.
I loved this book; it's beautifully written and the author skillfully weaves everything together to produce an outstanding reading.
David Rayner

The Heir of Night by Helen Lowe

Orbit Books, 2010. ISBN 9780356500089.
(Ages: 14+) Thirteen-year old Malian, the Heir of Night, is launched unexpectedly and suddenly into a world of conflict, magic and divided alliances. While the once powerful fires of the Derai burn low, the glacial chill of realms lived in form and fantasy arise like frosty tendrils from the pages; storms whip the embattlements of the Keep of Winds, and Malian, the young heir apparent, plays among the corridors and stairwells of the forbidden Old Keep. With the Swarm's dark power stirring, Malian begins to understand her own destiny will be lived between dimensions. Kalan, the young novice priest, and Yorindesarinen, the hero of the Derai, appear to Malian in the forbidden section and for now, they resist the Dark Swarm. Ultimately though, the black shadow must be conquered, prompting the young heiress and her noviciate friend to flee the only home Malian has known. Through sighing winds and snow, and with the sinister shadow close upon them, will their combined wit, courage and psychic powers be enough to overcome the enemy?
Helen Lowe, an award winning author and poet, is based in New Zealand. The Heir of Night is the first of her four-book fantasy, chronicling the wars of the Derai and their traditional enemy The Dark Swarm. Young readers especially will identify with its main characters, Malian and Kalan. Written in the third person, it weaves effortlessly between dialogue and imagery, and although the battle scenes are graphic, they are in keeping with other novels of this genre. The complex cast and plot are introduced slowly and carefully. Lowe's effort will be worthwhile as the ensuing books reveal the remainder of the saga.
The Heir of Night will surely leave fans of the genre eager for its sequel. This book would be suitable for high school library bookshelves.
Colleen Tuovinen

Unleashed by Nancy Holder and Debbie Viguie

Wolf Springs Chronicles. Doubleday, 2011. ISBN: 978-0-857-53071-4.
(Age: Mid to older teens) Unleashed is an enchanting novel that holds and captivates your imagination and mind. Katelyn McBride is the new girl, a position hated by most of the population, she moved to Wolf Springs, a small quiet town where everyone knows everyone, because of the tragic death of her mother, Giselle Chevalier, world renowned ballet dancer, who died in an earthquake, leaving Katelyn nowhere to live but her Grandfather's house in southern, isolated Wolf Springs. Katelyn, homesick and depressed, gains friendship with one of the mildly bad boys, Trick, young, handsome and strong, Katelyn finds herself attracted to him before you can say 'Hill-Billy Central'. Fortunately he is her ride to school and back, every day, Yes! Her status as the new girl isn't that bad because everyone treats her like a celebrity because she is from L.A. She then meets gorgeous ex-cheerleader Cordelia Fenner. Horribly unfortunate deaths occur, Haley and Becky both die in the forest, the blame on wild animals, but could it be? Things get suspicious and exciting when they are put together for a history project and Katelyn ticks off a long-lost silver mine with a beast to guard on the possibility list, Cordelia seems to get cold feet and is constantly in two states of mind about the whole project. More complications appear when she visits the Fenner residence one day, Katelyn is assessed by Cordelia's older sisters, Regan and Arial along with her stunningly sexy cousin Justin, who Katelyn has to fight to keep her hands off.
Things start to get really weird when Katelyn gets attacked by a wolf with bright blue eyes and when Cordelia is informed she becomes very secretive and suspicious. With the deep leg wound healing in only days, Katelyn starts to freak and begs Cordelia to tell her everything. This is where things get more interesting and extremely but enjoyably intense.
Unleashed is a brilliant novel to get into and it leaves you craving for more. I think this book will be better suited to mid to older teens who like romance, mystery and thrill. I don't always rate books but if I did this would land a solid 8 out of 10. It was really enjoyable. I hope there is a sequel and I hope it is just as enthralling.
Sarah Filkin, Yr 10