Mortal Combat : Time's Running Out by Martin Chatterton
Random House; Australia, 2012. ISBN 9781742753164.
Recommended for 8-12 years. Mort the 10,000 year old boy is back! In
fact this book begins right where the first leaves off with Mort
battling a headache from time travel in the Retro and confronted by a
submachine gun wielding World War 2 German Stormtrooper protecting
Hitler.
Chaos and mayhem reign as this story travels back and forward in time
from one hilarious episode to the next. Mortimer DeVere is the main
character who along with his sister Agnetha lives on the Isle of Unk.
Their parents return from a 200 year holiday during the story but only
add more to the chaos. Trish Molyneux and her wimpy assistant Nigel
from the Unk Shire Education Department are caught up in the mayhem as
they continue their noble quest to return the children to school at all
costs.
With cloned historical figures like Genghis Khan, Viking hordes,
Spanish Galleons and a pair of hungry T-Rex added to the cast anything
that can go wrong will. Mort needs to find a way to correct the rip in
time he creates when Hitler is taken on a trip in the Retro and history
is altered when he is eaten by the dinosaurs.
Girls will enjoy the fact that Agnetha saves the day, replaces Hitler,
which she has cloned from the bone Genghis saved as a souvenir, and
recovers the item left behind which they are sure has caused all their
problems.
The cartoon like illustrations at the beginning of each chapter, add to
the fun as do the occasional full page illustrations which give younger
readers visual clues to the action. I am looking forward to the next
instalment of Mort's outrageous adventures.
Sue Keane
Moonsong by L. J. Smith
The Vampire Diaries: The Hunters Vol. 2. Harper Teen, 2012. ISBN
97800620177703.
A new school and a new life, Elena hopes that, finally, everything can
be normal again - as much as you can with a human, two vampires, a
witch and a hunter as friend, how much normal can you get. Everything
has changed for Elena and even Damon is getting along with everyone,
for a change. Even though Elena has moved away from Fell that doesn't
mean that she left her past behind her. At Dalcrest College, Elena's
new school, students are disappearing from campus and ending up dead.
Everyone is suddenly a potential enemy. Elena and her friends hurry to
find who the killer is before more end up dead.
Elena and her friends are a really tight knit group and I found that
amazing. The ties the characters have to one another is wonderful, they
all act like a family rather than friends. The book is well written and
flows. It's an easy read and is good with all the twists and turns.
Cecilia Richards (student.
Shadows by Paula Weston
The Rephaim, book 1. Text Publishing, 2012. ISBN 97819219222503.
(Age 15+) Recommended as a light paranormal read. Gaby Winters
is
recuperating from a car crash that has killed her twin brother Jude.
The beauty of Pandanus Beach has helped to heal her body but she is
overwhelmed by the grief of her sibling's death and every night she
has
horrible nightmare of demons and hell-spawn. When Rafa comes to town
she is must come to terms with the fact that because he has appeared
in
her nightmares there may be some truth to the claim that he knew her
brother. What is the truth about the terrible dreams that she
has
about the Rephaim? Where has she come from and who can
she
trust?
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. What was particularly engaging was
the
combination of the realism of the setting contrasted with the
paranormal aspects of the novel. Weston deftly described Pandanus
Beach, the cafe where Gaby worked and the friends that she had begun
to
form relationships in such a way that a very clear picture emerged
of
what Gaby was like and where she lived. The contrast of the terror
of
the nightmares and the threat of the Rephaim seemed just as real as
Gaby tries to navigate through her feelings of who is trustworthy
and
just what is happening around her.
There is plenty of action for fans who enjoy the fight between
angels
and demons, but it is the mystery about who Gaby is and what has
happened to her brother Jude that most intrigued me. The characters
were very well developed and Rafa is mysterious enough to make me
want
to read the next novel in the series to find out just where he
stands
in regard to Gaby and Jude.
This is certainly one of the better paranormal novels that has
appeared
recently and is sure to appeal to fans of this genre. Some violence
and
swearing make it more suitable for older teens. Overall a gripping
and
interesting read.
Pat Pledger
What's the time, Mr Wolf? by Debi Gliori
Bloomsbury Books, 2012. ISBN 978 1 4088 1940 1
(Ages: 4+) Recommended. Picture book. Nursery rhymes. The well known
refrain, What's the time, Mr Wolf? is on most pages in this
engaging
and colourful picture book, extolling many well known nursery
rhymes,
inviting readers to join in and then recognsie the characters and
the
rhymes that they know. Much fun will be had either in the classroom
or
at home, as children, teachers and parents try to find the many
references given.
From being woken at 7 am by four and twenty blackbirds, asking the
time, then hearing his neighbours in their straw, wood and stone
houses
slamming their doors on the way to work, or Red Riding Hood knocking
on
his door with the morning post, Mr Wolf is besieged by people asking
the time or simply interrupting his day. Lots of references to time
and
the passing of time continue throughout the fun filled book until
the
last page when we find what Mr Wolf has been rushing to do.
The references to nursery rhymes in the text are paralleled in the
illustrations encouraging children to find as many characters and
situations that they know about. I can imagine many children will
have
a great time with this large picture book, full of detailed and
colourful illustrations. This will be a book to share, and read over
again, finding something new each time it is read.
Fran Knight
Life on the goldfields by Doug Bradby
Black Dog Books, 2012. ISBN 978 1 742042 13 9.
(Ages: 9+) Recommended. Non Fiction. Australian History. Black Dog
Books' series, Our Stories has produced some fascinating and
most useful books for the home and classroom. Allied to the renewed
interest in Australia's History, these books are concerned with Ned
Kelly, the Kokoda Track, Burke and Wills and the latest, Life on the
goldfields. Each of these books gives an overview of the topic to be
spoken about and the double page on each of the sections is covered
with information, pictures, photographs and maps makes it easier for
the student to read. For this latest book, the recognized format has
changed to make it more text based, rather than small bites of
information. I found this an odd change, considering the different
ways in which students now gather the information they need, but
still interesting, and I am sure students will pick out the
information they are searching for.
For the goldfields, we are firstly acquainted with the reason so
many people wanted to leave England and why and how they did so. I
was surprised to read that so many were literate, and intrigued with
the facts given about the voyage to Australia. Chapters following
include getting to the diggings, life on the diggings, the food and
shelter, how women (diggeresses!) and children fared, the mining
accidents and then finally a summary of what this event did for
Australia. The photographs and drawings are interesting and some are
new to me, while I longed for a map of the places mentioned.
At the back is a useful index, and glossary, and as with the others
in this series, is a pleasure to dip into or use as a research tool.
Fran Knight
Marked by Denis Martin
Walker Books, 2012. ISBN 978 1 9219 7754 1.
Cully is a newcomer to a small town in New Zealand. There he
is
attracted to and intrigued by a girl whom he would like to know
better. He first sees her whilst he is waiting for the ferry
and
she has an argument with a man. Unsure whether to interfere he
is
saved from action by the arrival of the ferry. When he starts
at
his new school he sees the girl again but she is not inclined to be
friendly. Eventually through a friend he gets to know Kat
although she is still distant. What unfolds from there is an
exciting thriller as Cully begins to learn more about Kat and become
involved in the mystery that surrounds her.
There is a level of violence in the story that is in sharp contrast
to
the peaceful New Zealand countryside in which it is set.
Tension
increases as Cully attempts to find out more and he discovers that
Kat
is being watched by a group of ruthless and brutal people.
The story moves along and the body count rises as the author fills
in
more details and we learn the secrets surrounding Kat and her so
called
mother.
I think this fast paced exciting story will appeal to middle-upper
secondary students who will find the action and hint of romance make
a
good combination with a satisfactory ending.
David Rayner
The Forsaken by Lisa M Stasse
Orchard Books, 2012. ISBN: 9781408318805.
(Age: 14+) With an embedded sticker proclaiming, 'If you love The
Hunger
Games read this!', The Forsaken is very clear about
its target
audience.
We are in a future world where North America has joined with Canada
and
Mexico to form a United Northern Alliance (UNA) ruled by a
benevolent
dictator, Minister Harka. The action soon kicks in; we are given a
brief glimpse of a controlling society before being told that once a
year, young people of 16 are given a test. If they fail they are
relocated to an island, ostensibly a gaol, called Prison Island
Alpha.
In only a couple more pages our seemingly placid and cooperative
protagonist is whisked off to the prison and must survive by her
wits
alone.
Alenna is a thoughtful narrator. We have access to her every doubt,
suspicion, and triumph. It sometimes seemed too much was being
explained, analysed, and explored. The plot could have been tighter,
although I appreciate some teenagers enjoy extra details and more
explanation .
Mysteries are set in place, enemies and friends abound, and the
reckless but undeniably attractive Liam seems to have a connection
with
Alenna she finds hard to resist. Many of the secondary characters
struggle to develop authentically. Gadya, the girl who saves and
befriends Alenna, is a moody thing - often in turns angry, snarky,
then
friendly, and of course jealous of the growing friendship between
Alenna and Liam. Stasse has no qualms about killing off characters
we've come to know, which is meant to make Alenna's situation more
dangerous and tense, but ends up seeming unnecessarily violent. Kids
appear and disappear, motives are muddled and unresolved, and the
big
reveal is less than impressive. The Forsaken sets itself up for a sequel, maybe even more.
I'm
not sure
who will read it. It's a little too cerebral for action fans, and a
little too action packed for romance fans. I'm not sure it knows
what
it wants to be. Themes include resistance movements, dystopian
governments, and orphans.
Trisha Buckley
Silhouette by Thalia Kalkipsakis
Hardie Grant Egmont, 2012. ISBN 9781921759659.
Scarlett Stirling loves the strict regime of the dance classes at
the
National Academy of Performing Arts. And she doesn't mind the
blisters
and sweat. When she auditions for a part in a music video she
thinks that she wouldn't get the part. Scarlett ends up with a
part in the video, and when she meets charismatic musician, Moss,
her
life changes. Scarlett is torn between her world with Moss and her
world with all her commitments. Trying to make the two worlds as one
while blow up, so which world will she try and keep alive? Will it
be
Moss she chooses or her love as a dancer?
Silhouette bleeds an insight into the life as a dancer and what it
takes to make it as a professional. The book was slightly
predictable
but was still a very good read. I loved reading about the hardships
Scarlett had to face. The connection Scarlett had with her teacher,
Jack, and her friends was the highlight of the book for me. To read
the
problems that a dancer has to face daily and all the completion that
they have to compete for was great; I never knew how much they had
to
face.
Cecilia Richards (student)
Chasing Odysseus by S.D. Gentill
The Hero Trilogy, book 1. Pantera Press, 2011. ISBN 9780980741865.
Hero is abandoned by her mother when she is five. Her mother, a
champion of the Amazons, does not want a child with poor eyesight
and so Hero is left with her biological father Agelaus. Agelaus is a
herdsman who lives in the mountains in a cave with his three adopted
sons. They live a peaceful life until Hero is fifteen, when war
breaks out between the Greeks and the Trojans and the herdsmen are
unfortunately caught in the middle of it.
Based on a Greek myth, the four siblings watch the fall of the city
of Troy and then watch as the herdsmen are blamed for it.
This first book in the trilogy follows the adventures of Hero and
her three brothers as they set out on a quest to clear the
reputation of their people. They encounter many strange people,
wondrous lands, princes and princesses, gods, warriors and grand
adventures. The book begins well but, with all the crazy adventures
the four go on, it gets a little bit hard to follow in the middle.
Then, at the end, as all trilogies do, it leaves you hanging. I'm
sure some readers will like it; Chasing Odysseus did catch
me, but it didn't keep me interested.
Rachel Brabin
It's a Miroocool by Christine Harris
Ill. by Anne James. Little Hare, 2012. hbk, RRP $A24.99. ISBN
9781921541018.
Audrey Barlow has reached one of the milestones of childhood - she
has
lost
her first tooth! But Audrey lives in the outback, many kilometres
from
the
Tooth Fairy's usual nightly route, so how will she find her way to
Audrey's
bedside and the billy containing that precious prize? Because Audrey
is
clever, she has lots of ideas and spends the day making sure that
the
Tooth
Fairy will find her and goes to bed knowing she has done as much as
she
can
to guide the fairy. But she doesn't count on the fickleness of
nature,
and
during the night all her plans are wrecked. Will she wake up
disappointed
and disbelieving in a tradition that has been around for decades?
The
ending is magical - so much better than a gold coin or whatever
inflation
has put the value of a tooth at, these days. (Miss 6 has her first
wobbly
one, so I wonder if she will also treasure the Tooth Fairy's gift in
the
same way, when the time comes. I will give her this book!)
Many students are familiar with this lovable wonderful character
through the
Audrey of the Outback novels that Christine Harris has
created,
so to
see
a hardback picture book story will just delight them. And if this is
their
first introduction to her, then the promise of a series of novels to
read
afterwards will be greeted with anticipation. Audrey brings a
particular
slice of Australian life to the lives of children who will probably
never
experience it for themselves. Just HOW could you guide the Tooth
Fairy
to
your house when it's not even marked on a map? In fact, Audrey's
ideas
had
such an impact on Miss 6 that now, when she has a problem, we ask
"What
would Audrey do?"
The whole is brought to life by the remarkable artwork of Ann James
which
complements the story perfectly. Even the youngest reader is able to
envisage the isolation of Audrey, feel the dryness, and delight in
the
solutions that Audrey thinks of. The medium, colours and style work
so
well
together to convey the landscape, the actions, the mood and
atmosphere
that
this is the perfect author/illustrator match. We could feel Audrey's
concern
when she realises her predicament; feel her delight and excitement
as
she
carries out her plans and thinks she has all bases covered; and her
anguish
as Mother Nature rears her head. These pictures are drawn by someone
who has
lived Audrey's life.
Apart from the value in having the readers predict how Audrey might
solve
her problem, this book has a particular place on library shelves
just
because of its setting. It is a rich springboard for a
compare-and-contrast
exercise about how children in rural and remote Australia do the
everyday
things that children everywhere must do. It's a superb introduction
to
helping children understand that theirs is not the only life led.
There's
even a song written and sung by Bill Marsh to accompany it available
at
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YqG9Wx5d0ZY
that incorporates images that
complement the artwork and take the children to where Audrey lives.
Teaching notes for a range of themes that could be explored are
available
. Audrey even has her own blog and
website.
This one definitely deserves a place on the shelves.
Barbara Braxton
Bitterblue by Kristin Cashore
Gollanz, 2012.
(Age: 15+) Highly recommended.
Bitterblue is
now Queen of Monsea. Leck, her violent father, has
left a terrible legacy which her advisors
would like her to forget about. They want her to forgive all those
who
committed
acts of atrocity under Leck's rule and move forward. Bitterblue
escapes
the
castle and while walking the streets of
her city disguised as a commoner, begins to realise that the only
way
to forge
a new path is to understand the past.
Cashore is a clever author with a deft way
with description and atmosphere. She keeps the reader's attention
with
her
beautifully developed characters and setting and she also has the
ability to maintain
a gripping pace that kept me reading this book virtually in one
sitting.
Bitterblue comes of age by the end of the
book. Her excursions into the wider world where she meets Saf and
sees
how the
common people live give her an insight into what she should do for
the
kingdom.
Cashore doesn't compromise about the difficulties of being in love
and
the
responsibilities that people in different roles must take on in
life.
She doesn't
take the easy way out with the love story between Bitterblue and
Saf.
Instead
she leaves the reader pondering on what it means to be a ruler and
whether
personal needs and wants can come before those of the kingdom.
What I have enjoyed so much about this
fantasy series is that each book can be read separately although of
course
maximum enjoyment comes through first reading the other two books,
Graceling and Fire. Bitterblue is equally
as good
if not better than the first two books and is a joy to read and
think
about.
The
three books in this series are well worth having in libraries. They
are
so much
more challenging than most of the fantasy that abounds at the moment
and are
sure to get discussions going about feminism, the role of women in
society and
the responsibility that being in love can bring. These books are
ones
that will remain on my shelves to be
reread.
Pat Pledger
The Secret of Zanzibar by Frances Watts
ABC Books, 2012. ISBN 9780733330650.
Recommended. The Secret of Zanzibar is the final book of the
Gerander Trilogy and brings to the conclusion the adventures of
triplets Alex, Alice and Alistair, Tibby Rose and a cast of
relations and friends.
Time is running out for the members of FIG (Free and Independent
Gerander) as Queen Eugenia of Souris is about to march on Cornoliana
and claim the throne of Gerander. Alex and Alice's mission is to
encourage a mass peaceful protest to prevent the Queen entering the
City, whilst Tibby Rose and Alistair are off to Templeton to enlist
the help of her Godfather Granville, editor of the local paper.
Their mission is to inform the Sourians of the truth of the
occupation of Gerander.
The fortunes of the two groups are followed in alternating chapters.
This allows for the author to build on the suspense as the reader is
left hanging at an important point, then bought back to the story of
the other group. Great for serialisation! The confrontation at the
gates of Cornoliana brings a surprise twist and begs the question
'Where to next?' for both the characters and author.
The characters are mice operating in a fantasy world, but the themes
of freedom and resistance are universal and the situations the young
spies find themselves in, hiding from the Queen's guards or
imprisoned and interrogated are reflective of the real world at the
present time. There are many other themes touched on in the book
including prejudice, freedom of the press, home and family which
would serve as teaching or discussion points.
I love the way the author has taken famous quotes and tweaked them
slightly to fit the story eg. 'You never really understand a mouse
until you consider things from his point of view - until you climb
into his skin and walk around in it,' attributed to Atticus Finch a
wise mouse from the book To Kill a Mocking Bird and 'All that
is needed for evil to triumph is for good mice to do nothing.'
An enjoyable read with something to say.
Sue Keane
Slave girl by Alexa Moses
Angus and Robertson, 2012. ISBN 0 73229498 4.
(Ages: 10+) Historical fiction. While on an exchange visit to New
York, precocious thirteen year old student, Jenna, wants to be
nowhere near the museum that her teacher has taken her to. She would
do anything to be at the fabulous hair salon she has read about, but
instead follows the cat in the museum back through a portal into
Ancient Egypt. There she is mistaken for a slave girl and given
menial tasks to do, handed from one owner to another because she is
useless at all she is given to do and answers back without a
thought.
I found the girl insufferable, but then I was wanting her to learn
something about Ancient Egypt instead of trying to get back home,.
The background to this novel is marvellous, a tribute to a young
mum's feeding times in the early hours of the morning watching
television, and so readers will certainly learn easily a lot about
Ancient History in reading this story. The tale of the girl did not
hang together as well as it might, but it was still a fascinating
read, one sure to capture the imaginations of its readers of upper
primary school age.
Fran Knight
My Mum makes illustrated by Dee Texidor
Lothian Children's Books. ISBN 978 0 7344 1281 2.
This vibrant book is a real celebration of the role that Mum plays
in
the life of the young narrator. From the minute the girl gets up,
Mum
is there, making sure that her daughter is up, dressed and fed. They
do
cooking together, make crafts, play with friends, do gardening (with
a
subtle nod to the growth of organic plants, which reads as a little
smug and pretentious to be honest), oversees rest time, and tucks
her
young daughter in with a story at night.
The girl recognises that Mum is ALWAYS busy doing things, and that
sometimes she has to play on her own (which is a nice balance,
otherwise the message young ones could take away from the story is
that
Mum is a one stop entertainment machine!), and that now Mum has made
something new! A baby!
My only concern with this book is that, in reading it to a young
child
with a new sibling, or a sibling on the way, is that it is setting
them
up for disappointment. It's a very special Mum indeed that can keep
up
all the former activities, right down to the planting of the organic
plants, with a newborn in the house as well. Perhaps the book would
have been better to run a few pages longer, and capture the reality
of
'once baby comes, things will be different, but now I can make
things
for baby'.
Nonetheless, this is a bright, colourful and collage filled
celebration
of a dedicated Mum, and a daughter who knows she has a very busy and
talented Mum. The book touches on Mum having enough love to share
with
2 children, which is always a valuable take away message.
Freya Lucas
Rigg's Crossing by Michelle Renee Heeter
Ford Street, 2012. ISBN 9781921665707.
A teenage girl is found in the wreckage of a car and requires a
lengthy hospital stay to recover from her psychological and physical
injuries. Little is known about the girl who staff name 'Len' other
than a violent altercation obviously occurred at the scene of the
accident. She doesn't appear to have been registered at birth, isn't
registered with Medicare and may have been home schooled.
Until Len is able to provide more information about her past it is
difficult to know how best to help her. A decision is made to place
Len in a therapeutic refuge for troubled teens where she has access
to professional counselling.
The circumstances under which Len arrives at the refuge are
mysterious and the potential for a thrilling story looms large.
However the story evolves more as an internal monologue of Len's
daily life at the refuge as she seeks to reassemble a sense of
identity. The arrival and departure of other residents, intrusive
counselling sessions and the return of memories from her troubled
life are a few of the issues Len has to deal with. A heightening of
tension is signalled when characters from her past make an
appearance. Unfortunately these developments prove to be
diversions that promise much but deliver little. Consequently, the
conclusion feels disappointing.
Tina Cain
