Reviews

Stormdancer by Jay Kristoff

PanMacmillan, 2012. ISBN 978 0230762886.
(Ages: 12+) Highly recommended. Fantasy. Yukiko, the daughter of the hunt master, has to come to terms with personal and physical demons in this refreshingly different fantasy. Jay Kristoff has created a world based on the Japan of the Shoguns called Shima but also created layers of difference, especially with the technology based on the Blood Lotus, which is used to fuel the machinery of the Shogunate but also used as a narcotic to subdue and pacify the populace.
When Shogun Yoritomo hears about the sighting of an Arashitora, or thunder tiger, a mythical creature half eagle half tiger he must have it brought to him so it can be tamed and he can ride it like the heroes of legend. Masaru the blood lotus addled hunt master is summoned to undertake the task. He is still a capable hunter, but the cultivation of the blood lotus has poisoned the land and increasing demand has meant the ruin of the environment. There has been very little to hunt in Shima's recent history. Loyalty to the Shogun means Masaru and Yukiko have little choice but to obey in a quest they see as impossible. No one believes there are any storm tigers left.
The Lotus Guild which has control of the production of lotus fuel or chi and distribute inochi fertilizer which is made from the bodies of prisoners. They are a powerful force in Shima they control the technology and religion of the country and they do this with zealous fervor.
The quest to capture the Arashitora does not go to plan. The sky-ship cannot cope with the wild weather they encounter and it crashes in the last of the virgin forest in all of Shima. It is a fight to survive for Yukiko and the guild member who crashes with her. But they discover some allies one of them the Ashitora itself with which Yukiko can communicate by thought.
Stormdancer is a great read especially for the fantasy fan, but anyone can appreciate the well paced story which twists and turns through some 430 pages, but its no hard slog and worth the effort. There are many messages in the book the most obvious being environmental, but there is the message about drug use and corruption of power.
This is is one of those books hotly contested in a global auction and planned to be simultaneously released world wide. A steam punk novel by Australian author, Jay Kristoff, this is the first in a new series called The Lotus Wars.
Mark Knight

The last dance by Sally Morgan

Little Hare, 2012. ISBN 978 1 921714 84 9.
Warmly recommended. Picture book. Environment. On each double page spread, an Australian creature is presented, telling the reader in a short, pithy Haiku of the animal and its fate. Bordering the double pages are pictures of each animal and the central panel contains the poem, the animal and its environment all rendered in the strong lined, highly coloured, decorative illustrations we resognise instantly as Aboriginal Art. And with Sally Morgan as the author illustrator, we know we are in for a treat.
The Haiku tell in a brief few lines something about the creature. So we have the Flatback Turtle, for example,
'Covered by slick oil
He swims
Searching for clear ocean.'
In so few lines we see the animal degraded by pollution, swimming almost helplessly against the probability that his ocean will be always polluted, searching for a clear patch in which to live. The pictures show the animal dismayed at the rubbish seen in his once pristine ocean, trying swimming through it. Similarly, the Swift Parrot searches the clear blue sky for his blue gum nectar once available but now almost destroyed by land clearance. And on it goes, each double page presents the creature and the reason it is endangered, dancing its last dance.
Each of the ten creatures is reiterated at the end of the book, where a small outline of their habitat is given and what is making its life difficult. These include the Corroboree Frog, Carnaby's Black Cockatoo, Spotted-tailed Quoll, Gilbert's Potoroo, Broad-headed Snake, Numbat, Flatback Turtle, Swift Parrot, Yellow-snouted Gecko, and the Dugong.
A whole range of things which have had an impact upon these animals are given in the Haiku: fire, fishermen, drought, destruction of habitat, pollution and introduced species. Each could initiate discussion about these animals in the classroom and what has hampered their survival in Australia, as well as providing a list of endangered species to further research. This beautifully produced book will service the classroom well, particularly with the greater emphasis on sustainability promoted in the new curriculum, while work on Aboriginal Art and Haiku will be greatly enhanced.
Fran Knight

Dragonquest by Allan Baillie and Wayne Harris

Walker Books, 2012. ISBN 9781921977848.
(Ages: 5+) Highly recommended. How wonderful to see a reprint of the award winning picture book Dragonquest (Short-listed, Book of the Year, Children's Book Council of Australia Awards, 1997. Short-listed, NSW Premier's Awards, 1997). A courageous young boy sets out on a bold adventure in search of the last dragon. His companion is a brave Dragon Fighter and together they face many perils: 'the sting of scuttling scorpions, the hundred bites of the banded wasps . . .' and then finally they confront the dragon, 'green glass gleaming in the eye, claws flashing in the smoky sun, fire curling from its mouth . . .'
Here is a book to appeal to any children with a rich imagination and who can imagine themselves as dragon slayers. Baillie's story is rich in description and stunning in its language. The alliteration is superb making this book ideal to read aloud, again and again.
With each nail biting episode, Wayne Harris's illustrations bring alive the dangers that the Dragon Fighter and his brave companion face all the while letting the reader know that the hazards will be overcome. His pictures are a visual feast, with dark and mysterious scenes coloured in deep blacks and greens. Often scary faces peep from behind tree limbs and will send a shiver up the spines of the readers. The final secret denouement, when the last dragon appears and the boy triumphs, is especially appealing and makes a wonderful conclusion to the book.
It is also a book that will appeal especially to boys. Wayne Harris explains in the information at the back of the book, 'Underlying this adventure is the passing on of the mantle of manhood . . . . So in Dragonquest we see the old and the new, one needing to conquer, the other happy to understand.'
Pat Pledger

Judy Moody and the NOT bummer summer by Megan McDonald

Never lie on a lion by Alan James Brown

Ill. by Barbara Vagnozzi. Bloomsbury, 2012. ISBN 978 1 4088 1844 2.
(Ages: 3+) Recommended. Picture book. Animals. Supported by ZSL (the Zoo Society of London) this bright, cheerful book introduces younger readers to some of the animals they might see in a zoo. With the catchy refrain on each page beginning with 'Never', each sentence uses alliteration to underline the point the sentence is making, humerously warning the younger reader what not to do when with an animal.
An example, is 'Never share a cake with a great big snake'. The sentence begins with the word, 'Never', then uses rhyme to end the sentence. Over the page is another refrain, beginning with 'But do', giving a rhyming sentence with a positive spin (But do run a mile from a crocodile) On the verso is the sentence, while on the recto, is the animal and the sound it may make, encouraging the listener to make that noise and join in.
Each page has bold, clear print with bright breezy illustrations, all designed to encourage the child to join in with the story, the sounds and the illustrations. The easy rhymes encourage young children to predict the next words, while the alliteration adds to the fun of reading the book. This is one of three recent publications under the auspices of ZSL.
Fran Knight

Doom rider by David Gatward

Hodder Children's Books, 2012. ISBN 978 1 4449 0769 8.
Seth is a twelve year old boy, who, in his many previous lives, is always murdered before he turns thirteen. This disturbing book is set in a period that seems to be the present in England, however it is an England ruled over by the Protector and where people can get a daily quote from the Bible on their mobile. Seth and his family earn their meagre living by attending religious festivals where Seth is in some demand for his visions and predictions of the future. Dissatisfied with his family and life in general Seth makes plans to leave and strike out on his own. However his plan is discovered by his father and Seth is forced to remain until Lily appears at his performance. Through Lily, Seth begins to learn of his destiny as one of the Riders in the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. What follows is the story of how Seth begins to come to terms with his destiny as he finds the other Riders and has visions of the end of the world. Interwoven in this are the attempts of the Protector and his enforcers, The Chosen, to kill Seth and those who help him.
I found the book extremely dark. The visions that Seth has of the end of the world and hence humanity are disturbing. I'm not sure who the book would appeal to, the religious overtones and the science fiction aspects make, I think, strange bedfellows. It is hard to identify with the characters, but perhaps middle school students looking for something different may find the journey through this complex story rewarding.
David Rayner

Wentworth Hall by Abby Grahame

Simon and Schuster, 2012. ISBN 9780857079169.
An unabashed devotee of historical fiction, this reader leapt at the chance to review this novel - purportedly a Downtown Abbey aimed at the YA market. Hmmm, well, after a very slow start, one started laughing and was surprised as one didn't expect it to be a spoof. Oops, apparently it's not meant to be!
For those of a certain age, or those who enjoy revisiting vintage British programs - recall if you can, The Forsyte Saga - yes, that's right the black-and-white series from the 60s, based on the novels by John Galsworthy. Melodrama, hammy acting, every cliche known to humanity. Now combine that with perhaps The Bold and The Beautiful - histrionics, hokey performances, every banality known to scriptwriting.
Shallow characters, slight plot (eventually) hanging by a thread, and of course, the usual plethora of family secrets, unpleasant people, illegitimacy, unwanted suitors, star-crossed lovers - you name it, it's there.
One doesn't like to disparage a first novel - after all, it has been considered worthy to publish - and apparently, Ms Graham is enamoured of historical fiction, albeit may it be suggested without real in-depth knowledge or research. For example, in the early 20th century when the class system was still very entrenched in England, it would be hard to believe that a very young maid raised by charity within the one stately family home would be able to quote Shakespeare or articulate with a vocabulary that would be more at home with an Oxford scholar. It is not suggested that this shouldn't be put on the library shelves, but please don't expect quality literature - essentially, a slight novel that may divert a girl looking for a undemanding read.
Sue Warren

Coming home by Sharon McGuinness

Ill. Shannon Melville. Wombat Books, 2012. hbk., RRP $24.95. ISBN 978-1-921633-77-5.
'Gemma watches her dad as he sits alone in his garden. Waiting. Day after day. Looking but not seeing. Shoulders hunched. Body slumped.' No matter what Gemma does - whirling like a ballerina, turning cartwheels, even playing a tune on her recorder - nothing seems to break through to that dark and lonely place that her dad inhabits these days. She even wonders if he loves her any more. Weeks pass and then one day . . .
I have been WAITING to review this remarkable book by our very own Sharon McGuinness - she who is behind the wonderful Mrs Mac's Library that is such a wonderful resource for all of us. Gemma's dad suffers from depression and in Coming Home, Sharon has dared to tackle an issue that she knows much about, that many of our students experience within their families, and yet few bring into the open through contemporary realistic fiction that is aimed at the primary school child. This sensitively illustrated picture book that starts in a dark place with just a few spots of colour of hope blossoms into a beautiful story that needs to be shared. Despite its focus, it is a story of hope and learning to enjoy what is, not worry about what might be. Gemma's dad may relapse, but, for now, Gemma's just glad to have him 'home'. The words may seem simple, but they are carefully chosen and convey a powerful message. Perhaps it will be your lead-in to RUOK Day on September 13.
Mental health issues are very slowly losing the taboo that has surrounded them for centuries, and by writing Coming Home Sharon has given us a story that can help us open discussions with a group or be gently suggested to a particular student because the teacher librarian knows both students and the collection. This is a story written with such delicacy that you know it has been written by one who has lived the life and knows how to reach out to children. Sharon is developing a book trailer which will be available on her new site Mrs Mac's Books and teachers' notes are available.
She is also donating all royalties to the Black Dog Institute to help fund education programs and further research. Coming Home's message and quality is being heard in the author community - it will be launched at the State Library in Perth on October 16 by Meg McKinlay (No Bears) at a function also attended by Norman Jorgensen, Sally Murphy, and Susanne Gervay. Acknowledgement and accolades indeed for a new author! Even if you only have $25.00 left in your budget for this year, spend it on this book.
Congratulations, and thank you, Sharon.
Advice, support and treatment for depression is available from:
Black Dog Institute , Beyond Blue  ,  Headspace (Australia's national youth mental health foundation), RUOK?& and Lifeline .
Barbara Braxton

In the lion by James Foley

Walker Books, 2012. ISBN 9781 921720 32 1.
(Ages: 3+) Highly recommended. Picture book. Zoos. From the open mouthed lion on the front cover to the lion's tail swishing the key to its cage on the end paper, this is a treat for all.
A boy and his family go to the zoo, and the lad watches as several people enter the lion's cage, each to preform a task. The dentist with his long toothbrush, the hairdresser with her giant comb, the chef and the zookeeper, all disappear, while the lion's tummy gets to be enormous. A number of nearby animals also disappear, the walrus, a flamingo, two spider monkeys and an armadillo! That is until the lad takes charge, and using the toothbrush as a lever is able to get them all out.
A lovely tale told in the form of The old lady who swallowed a fly, with each succeeding sentence reprising all that has gone before, younger readers and even younger listeners will love to add to the refrain as it swings across the next page. They will laugh with delight at predicting the next line, and at the antics of the animal in question and the part played by the visiting boy.
Graphite drawings and digital colour are wonderfully used in the illustrations, with bright bold colours and minutely detailed animals and patrons covering all the pages. This is a funny book from start to finish and sharp eyed readers will see a lot more in the illustrations. The naughty twins of the dedication seem to be the crying twins in the book, but they will please the eye of the readers when perusing the range of patrons visiting the zoo that day.
The title begs the reader to add 'den' or 'mouth', and the story could be paired with many other zoo picture books, as well as the old favourite poem, The lion and Albert (there is a wonderful rendition of the poem on Youtube), or the tale of Daniel in the lion's den, or the Aesop fable of The Lion and the mouse.
Fran Knight

Be home for Armageddon by Luke Edwards

Omnibus, 2012.
Luke Edwards' first novel, Be home for Armageddon, is a story of amazing complexity and hilarious predicaments.
To give too much more detail would spoil the book for prospective readers, but it details the impact on an urban community of the Holingtons, who arrive unannounced from outer space, seeking to experience life in a developed civilization.
The main character is 17 year old Victor, alarmed and confused when an explosion demolishes a house in his street. His friend, Soo, a 17 year old school girl, adept at creating convincing excuses for getting out of class, urges him to find out what is going on. Once they realise who is living amongst them, they enlist the help of Mr Blake, the science teacher at their school. The trio struggle valiantly to work through the potentially disastrous problems created unwittingly by the visitors while at the same time, maintaining friendly relations with them.
Though their characters aren't developed in any detail, Victor and Soo are likeable young people. Their repartee adds to the humour of the novel as their relationship develops from friendship to something more. Mr Blake, too, in an effort to solve the mathematical equations associated with the dilemma, rekindles a relationship with a former girlfriend.
The story moves at a cracking pace with many laugh out loud moments as Victor, Soo and Blake muster up logical sounding reasons to keep people from discovering the true identity of the.Holington family. Explanations of why the Holington's speak with a refined British accent, what defines neighbourly behaviour and why home schooling is the best option for the youngest Holington are just some of the hilarious moments in the novel.
Luke Edwards has created a light hearted farce which will appeal to teenagers prepared to suspend belief just for the sheer fun of it.
Thelma Harvey

Let's count kisses illustrated by Karen Hull

Lothian, Hachette Press, 2012. ISBN 978 0 7344 1270.
Recommended. This is a beautiful book, which highlights the many wonderful species of Australian butterfly. Supported by a website, the story counts kisses for many Australian animals, such as koala, wallaby, galah, kookaburra, echidna, wombat, platypus, dingo, crocodile and barn owl, and gently prepares the listener for a cosy bedtime.
As the story moves along, there are flaps to lift, butterflies to count, and animals so richly drawn that you could reach into the page and give them a big cuddle. The cadence of the story is light, lulling the listener into a calm and sleepy state, winding down for bed. Karen Hull's illustrations (done in pencil) are amazing and vibrant, and they caring along the rhyme of the story beautifully, adding richness to the text that would be sorely lacking were they not there. The butterflies are a highlight, with an amount of detail rarely seen in picture books of this ilk. The illustrator based the butterfly illustrations on the photography of Geoff Walker, and the result is very lifelike.
Prime for not just bed time, but for increasing the all important early numeracy and one to one correspondence skills, this book is recommended for both home and early years libraries.
Freya Lucas

Rift by Andrea Cremer

Atom, 2012. ISBN 9781907411397.
(Ages: 16 and up) Rift is my first title by Andrea Cremer, and having heard all the praise for the Nightshade series, I decided to pick up this standalone prequel.
Ember Morrow is a daughter of a noble who, dissatisfied with her dad's suffocating rules and plan to marry her off, decides to join the Guard and serve the order of Conatus. Although she's spoilt with dresses and pretty things, her heart lies in learning how to fight and becoming a knight. Her childhood friend, Allistair, is also a member of the guard, and most of the book lies in her training and learning the ways of the Guard.
The perspective switches between Ember, and Cian and Eira, two sisters from the Guard who are fierce commanders in battle. The book starts off heavily with Ember's perspective, and then later switches heavily to Eira's while Ember is out of action. I found this disjointing, but the purpose behind this is soon unveiled later in the book.
Although Rift is plagued with a slow start and lengthy world building, the last third of the book speeds up with battles between magical creatures, a mysterious foe, and conflicting sides. I haven't read the Nightshade series, but judging from a chapter preview of the book, the language is more formal, descriptive and effectively conveys the early fifteenth century setting.
I was surprised to find the heavy fantasy elements within this book, which is divergent from the werewolf paranormal setting of the Nightshade series. There's not a lot of romance, as the blurb may suggest, and the focus seems to be on the setup of a huge war later on.
I didn't find this book terribly exciting, and it seems to lack the pizzazz of some sort. Ember and her love interest Barrow weren't intriguing enough to hold my interest; and Barrow tends to treat her quite coldly, and the budding romance was unconvincing. Perhaps it's the world building and formal language hindering my enjoyment, but we'll just have to see how it develops in the sequel, Rise.
Jeann Wong

Friday Brown by Vikki Wakefield

Text Publishing, 2012. ISBN: 9781921922701.
(Age: Upper secondary) Recommended. Vikki Wakefield's second novel is equally as intense as All I Ever Wanted, and equally as gritty; there's just more: more emotion, more power, and more conflict. Because, let's face it, a book with the same name as its main character is almost required by (literary) law to develop a character who defies convention, and who might be hailed as a game changer. A big ask.
Friday Brown is one such character. Her story is huge. Readers are given a taste of her young, impressionable life on the road with her mother, Vivienne, who is reckless, spontaneous, and slightly dangerous. Friday, now 17, and clearly influenced by her wandering mother, runs from the possibility of a stable home life the minute she is alone. Homeless by choice and grieving by circumstance, Friday's loss and loneliness is palpable.
Friday Brown, the book, is difficult to put down. This author doesn't muck around - there are no toffee apples or candy canes at this show. And Friday Brown, the girl, is difficult to pin down. She's drowning in grief, steeped in curses, and looking for her place in the world - looking in all the wrong places, perhaps. Once she becomes involved with a group of homeless youths, led by the charismatic Auden, she sacrifices her own values and beliefs to fit in. The depiction of Auden is interesting, if not original. The charming yet self-serving leader is cliched, and Wakefield pushes the trope into almost melodramatic proportions. Towards the end of the novel, when Auden's veneer is worn thin enough to reveal her true nature, there are some tense, insightful stand-offs between the two young women. It is great writing.
Both the city and country landscapes are luminous and real. A sense of place, integral to all the characters, ensures the narrative is grounded. While Friday stays in the city, it's clear she feels suffocated - she lacks confidence and strength. When we see her return to the country town the contrast is immediate. She takes charge, she shows courage and wisdom, and ultimately she recognises she's home.
Friday Brown is intense and absorbing. I hope it finds its way into many teenagers' hands. I would imagine it's most appealing to the upper secondary years. Themes include family relations, homelessness, friendship, and identity.
Trisha Buckley

Herman and Rosie by Gus Gordon

Penguin Viking, 2012. ISBN 9780 670 076031.
(Ages: 7+) Highly recommended. Picture book. With the cover reminiscent of an old 78 RPM record, the hard plastic disc peeping out of the dusty brown cover, the stage is set for a story set in the back streets of New York, a place where two people, Herman and Rosie live. They live quite close to each other, have similar interests, love music, but in the midst of this great metropolis, are lonely. During the day Rosie cleans dishes at a restaurant, taking singing lessons int he afternoon  and at night, singing at a small downtown Jazz Club. Herman works in an office where he sells things over the phone, more often talking to the person at the other end of the line, rather than doing his job.
One day Herman loses his job, and after a period of sadness, plays his oboe again. Rosie also loses her singing job and on hearing Herman's music, tracks it down. The two come together with their music, singing and playing the oboe together.
This is a lovely story of coming together, of overcoming loneliness, of finding a soul mate in the midst of a lonely crowd. It is the story of New York, a place where many millions live, and where music is part of the fabric of life. The prose creates images of a bustling, crowded city, one where noise and people rub together, but over all this we hear the oboe and Rosie's voice.
Gordon's illustrations are magical, creating for the younger reader a dense, detailed picture of a living city. The apartment buildings crammed next to each other, the range of signs seen downstairs, inviting people into a bar or cafe, the drab office, the empty nightclub, the maps showing the sights of New York, all create a masterful image of New York, pinning the thread of the city to the pages overlaying it with music. The style of the illustrations will intrigue the reader, when viewing the postcards, or sheets of paper overlaid with an image, or a pay sheet, or lined graph paper, or newspaper, each giving another layer of imagery, that of the scrapiness of the city, with paper tumbling about unwanted, reminding us again of the two lonely souls.
This is a delightful book, whether read on one level, that of the two lonely people coming together, or of a major city and the loneliness inherent in its size or seeing the disposable nature of city life, each gives nourishment to the reader and reasons for further thought, discussion and reading.
Fran Knight

Survive by Alex Morel

Hardie Grant Egmont, 2012. ISBN 978-174297306-7.
(Age: 14+) Highly recommended. Jane Solis who is living in a mental health facility for troubled teenagers after her suicide attempt a year ago is making a trip home to her mother's for the holiday period. Through Jane's first person narration the reader quickly learns that whilst Jane intends boarding the flight home she will not land at her destination; alive that is.  Jane has planned the perfect suicide. Simply written Morel encapsulates the inner pain Jane feels as she describes her life and the events that led her to this decision.
Fate however has other plans and what starts out as a quest for death becomes a fight for survival when the plane Jane is on crashes on a remote snow covered mountaintop. There are only two survivors Jane and Paul Hart, a young man she met on the plane and doesn't particularly like. Paul has some outdoor skills and is physically fit but Jane who has been in the facility for some time is not.  Still they quickly realise that no-one will find them where they are and they need to get off the mountain if they are to survive.  
As Jane and Paul unite to fight for survival we learn that Paul too has some unresolved issues and the race to survive also becomes a race to escape the past for both of them. Graphic descriptions of the harrowing events that occur as they try to make their way off the mountain create a heart pounding adventure but are tempered with the poignant imagery of the burgeoning friendship and love that develops between the pair.
I have never had the inclination to physically harm myself but as a high school teacher have had students who self-harm and/or have suicidal tendencies. Thus when I started to read Survive my first reaction was one of disquiet as I pondered how this complex issue would be dealt with so as not to glorify this issue but also not to underestimate the despair felt by many young people today which can lead to self-harming and suicide. I needn't have worried; author Alex Morel handled it beautifully. Ultimately Survive is a novel that will stay with you long after you have read it.
Denise Russell