Book Two of the Nowhere Chronicles. Orion, 2011. ISBN:
978-0575095809.
(Age 13+) Highly recommended. The second book in Sarah Silverwood's
brilliant series, 'The Nowhere Chronicles, The Traitors Gate
follows on perfectly from where The Double Edged Sword left
off. Set in two parallel worlds called 'The Somewhere' and 'The
Nowhere' The Chronicles follow the secret-ridden life of Finemere
Tingewick-Smith, his connections with the two worlds and their
mysterious protectors.
It's Christmas in the Somewhere. Who would have thought such a jolly
occasion could turn so sour? The Rage is approaching and there is no
stopping it taking over innocent minds. No one is immune. Not even
the Gypsy Traders can keep a cool head. The prophecy is coming into
being and it looks like there is nothing anyone can do to prevent
it.
A sickening power is being unleashed in The Nowhere's London and
unless Fin and his friends can thwart it all of London will be
overrun with The Mad. With grief and chaos everywhere can they
stifle the threat of The Mad? Even with the knights help it might
not be enough. Visions of red eyes and black tongues engulf the
story holder. The split stories long to be reunited. Can the
prophecy be held at bay? Even, could the four teenagers survive the
night in The Nowhere?
Both books offer new and exciting complications and offer the reader
insight into the emotional scenes. The Chronicles have a somewhat
complicated plot which makes for a superb storyline guaranteed to
keep the reader guessing up until the very end. It is packed with
action, emotion and that hint of magic that every book needs; I
would highly recommend this for any person over the age of thirteen
as some content may unsettle younger readers.
(Kayla Gaskell, Student, 15)
Nanny Piggins and the Rival Ringmaster by R.A. Spratt
Random House Australia, 2011. ISBN: 978-1864718157.
Suitable for ages 10+. This is the fifth book of the series. A
blurb by the author, in the first few opening pages, explain the
story
so far. These books are written in a way that there is no
story
sequence so the reader doesn't have to have the previous books to
get
up to speed with the storyline. Each book is a collection of
adventures that the main character, Nanny Piggins, has. In this
book,
the reader is immediately involved with the comings and goings of
Nanny
Piggins' life!She is nanny to three children: Derrick,
Samantha
and Michael. No mother is in the story but Mr. Green is their
father, who tries to stay out of Nanny Piggins' way (he doesn't like
her and thinks a pig is unsuitable to look after his children). As
you
read into the story, you are introduced to some characters that
Nanny
Piggins grew up with, like Boris, the 700kg dancing bear.
Nanny
Piggins' real name is Sarah and she grew up as a perfoming pig in a
circus. The Ringmaster turns out to be evil and the bane of
Nanny
Piggins' life. An invitation to Nanny Piggins from the
Ringmaster, is delivered by a brick through a window. The
Ringmaster is going to make a person disappear right before their
very
eyes on the steps of the town hall. The Ringmaster is accused
of
kidnapping Mr. Green and of tax evasion and so ends up in
jail.
Is this the end of the Ringmaster?
A chance meeting with Esmerelda the elephant from Nanny Piggins'
circus
days strolls into her life. All of the circus folk run away
from
their circus for a holiday in Nanny Piggins' backyard. They
miss
the Ringmaster and decide their life at the circus has become boring
without him. Do the performers return to their life in the
circus
after a holiday with Nanny Piggins? Will the Ringmaster get
out
of jail?
There are many more adventures of Nanny Piggins in this series that
young readers will enjoy.
Janet Cassidy
Pyramid Puzzle by Susannah McFarlane
EJ12 Girl Hero Book 10. Scholastic, 2011. ISBN 978 1 921684241.
(Age 7-10) Strongly recommended. Mystery and adventure usually make
for good reading and this short
novel certainly delivers.
In preparation for Elle's birthday Emma has been planning a special
surprise. Whilst sharing her plans with her other two best friends,
Hannah and Isi, another girl in her year Nema eavesdrops and
misunderstands the plans the friends are making. She proceeds to
feed
information to Elle in an attempt to drive a wedge through the young
girls' strong friendship. Emma is surprised by Elle's odd behaviour
towards her and is trying to find out what's gone wrong when she is
whisked away from school to help with a more important task.
Emma Jack is EJ12 a special agent for SHINE - a top secret
organisation
dedicated to keeping the world safe from people who would try to
harm
them. People like those in SHADOW another organisation dedicated to
making trouble and causing mayhem. Emma loves her work and is always
keen to take on a new task - this one will take her to exotic places
and test her secret agent skills. Isi her friend is also an agent
(IJ12) currently undergoing basic training - so Emma is pleased to
have
someone around who understands the organisation and its demands.
This is the tenth title in this delightful series aimed at the 7 -
12
age group and one I would strongly recommend.
Tracy Glover
Star League series by H.J. Harper
Random House Australia, 2011.
(Age: 9-12) Star League is an appealing action series filled with
humour due the six unlikely main characters, each of whom has a
quirky special ability. Jay the movie star has a special way of
helping people work together. He has his work cut out. Not only does
he work as an actor to keep up normal appearances, but he leads the
Star League team comprising a werewolf, a ninja, a zombie, a robot
and an animancer. Written in the first person, each book in the
series tells a good verses evil adventure involving one of the Star
League characters.
These books are filled with energetic twists and turns that surprise
the reader. These books will appeal to a variety of tastes among
middle and upper primary readers. Could be a useful quick read for
the slow or reluctant older reader.
Book 1. Lights, Camera, Action Hero by H.J. Harper ISBN
9781864718669.
Book 2. Curse of the Werewolf by H.J. Harper ISBN
9781864718676.
Book 3. Raising the Dead by H.J. Harper ISBN
9781864718683.
Book 4. The Ninja Cove by H.J. Harper ISBN 9781864718690.
Sue Whittaker
Always Jack by Susanne Gervay
Angus and Robertson, 2010. ISBN 9780732290207.
Jack's back! Hero of I am Jack and Super Jack and
his family, including Nanna (and her infamous purple underpants),
are back in another story, this time dealing with a crisis that so
many families face - breast cancer. Known for being the author who
tackles the big issues, Susanne has drawn on her experiences as a
breast cancer survivor to weave a story of how a family can receive
such shattering news and then pull together to emerge stronger than
ever.
The cover, by Cathy Wilcox, sets the scene perfectly. Jack is on his
surfboard paddling on calm waters unaware of the big wave that has
risen behind him and is about to come crashing down. His world, at
the moment, consists of his scientific experiment with his ponto,
his photography, his budding relationship with both Anna and
soon-to-be brother Leo, and THE wedding between his mum and stepdad
Rob. What happens when his mum receives the news after a routine
mammogram makes for an intriguing and intimate look at this family's
relationships and you soon understand that this disease is a family
problem, not just a mum problem.
Initially, in her innate bid to protect the children, Jack's mum
tells the children to keep it to themselves, not to worry and that
she will be all right. But this is not what Jack and Samantha need
to hear. They are worried, they need to tell their friends and they
can clearly see mum is not all right so feel she is lying to them.
They feel confused, powerless and shut out of this
Thing that is SO big that even the wedding is postponed. But Nanna
has some remarkable advice that brings the family together and helps
them endure the surgery and the subsequent radiation treatment so
that it becomes almost a positive in their lives.
'Story gives children a voice', Susanne says, 'particularly in these
sorts of circumstances. My job, as an educational psychologist and a
storyteller is to give them that voice so that those around them
know what they are thinking'
But this is not a sad , heavy book - Jack's zany jokes, his
life-changing project on Vietnam with his friend Christopher, and
his deep love for his sister despite the surface bickering, shine
through to provide a positive, uplifting tale that leaves a real
impact on the reader. It is not didactic but there is a powerful
message both between and beyond the lines.
Endorsed by the Cancer
Council NSW and the National
Breast and Ovarian Cancer Centre this book is an essential
addition to your collection. But it is also an essential addition to
the libraries of those organisations whose role is to support
families
Affected by cancer so perhaps, as Christmas draws near, you might
choose to donate a copy to them. My colleague and I gave one to our
local McGrath Foundation breast care nurse. A percentage of the
proceeds goes to the Cancer Council and the NBOCC so your purchase
will touch so many lives.
If you are affected by this disease, the helpline number is 131120
and details of the National Screening program is at http://www.cancerscreening.gov.au/
Barbara Braxton
Susanne Gervay's JACKS and Books Make LIFE OK
Susanne Gervay is our guest blogger this week. Susanne has just won the 2011 Australian Family Therapists' Award for Children's Literature for her book Always Jack. She has also received the Order of Australia for her service to children's literature and to professional organisations.
Here is her article:
When my daughter plays her trumpet, my heart smiles at the beat. When my son sings making us all block our ears, I laugh. He sounds like a frog, but he doesn't care. I bring popcorn and drinks. The karaoke session is loud, funny.
There are good times, but also difficult times. Life is filled with challenges - illness; family breakup; parental expectations; natural disasters, war, economic pressures, aging grandparents and the fabric that is our lives.
Young people are part of family, community, journey, but they don't have the experience or voice to navigate it especially when it gets rocky. Story is a special guide. Through emotional engagement with characters and events in story, young people can find friendship, understanding, pathways to choices that give them a voice.
I'm a mother, daughter of post war refugees, teacher, specialist in child growth and development. Reading books and writing have always been my way to escape, dream, right the wrongs of the world. I never imagined I'd be a published author, but am privileged that I am.
In my books I tackle whatever slips into my life and heart - school bullying, daughter-father relationships, refugees finding home, cancer, burns. I write stories with characters that travel with readers if they want the company and friendship.
I write with emotion and humour, bitter-sweet at times, warm and funny at other times. The issues are deep. The writing is slight-of- hand as readers are drawn into story until the characters and journey become theirs.
I seek to write multi-layered stories that offer different journeys for children, teens, adults. They have multiple reach into trade, schools, counselling and special areas such as Burn Outreach and anti-school bullying programmes.
All my books are endorsed by significant organisations. I am proud that they are endorsed by The Children's Hospital Westmead, The Cancer Council, The Alannah and Madeline Foundation, Life Education Australia, Room to Read and many others. My writing is deeply personal as I share experiences with my readers, hoping that my books travel with them as friends.
JACK books welcome you inside
Reading age:- 9 -12 years old, parents and teachers and community.
My son was bullied at school. I couldn't believe that I didn't know and wasn't there for him.
The father of Jack's friend rang me to say that Jack was in trouble. I confronted my son. It was painful as he broke down, as I broke down. He didn't want to go back to school again. My son was afraid at school and I didn't know. I felt such a failure.
Bullying is so insidious. It started with nothing. A joke that got out of control. There are all sorts of triggers that start bullying - when a kid comes back to school after being sick and new social groups have formed; jealousy, insecurity, fun, fear. There are all sorts of reasons that begin the process of bullying. It's about power and victimisation destroying the bullied, the bully and community.
My Jack is a 'normal' boy. He makes jokes, argues with his sister, kicks a ball, tries to get out of homework, loves to take photographs and make things. Yet he was bullied. It started with a joke. That's all. A joke.
Jack tried everything to win against bullying, but he couldn't do it alone. He won against bullying with the help of his family, Nanna, friends who came back, teacher, school and himself.
'When I asked my son if I could write I Am Jack, he said yes, for all those kids out there. I Am Jack is more than about the bullied. The bully, supporters of the bully, teacher, school, parents can find answers in I Am Jack and work towards a safer world.
I Am Jack has become a much loved, rite-of-passage anti-school bullying novel in Australia, adapted into a play by the award winning theatre company Monkey Baa, and currently being adapted with the other JACKS into a feature film.
Super Jack
Super Jack is a companion book to I Am Jack. It can be read as the second book in the trilogy or as a stand alone, like all the JACKS.
The wonderful characters in I Am Jack return with a few more entering Jack's life. These characters are inspired by my family and people in our lives. Nanna is a real person and when she coughs too hard her teeth fall out. She loves to buy bargains is a bit hard of hearing and loves her grandchildren. Rob is the step-da. Like Nanna, he's inspired by his real step-dad who loves making those dishes sparkle and is a surfer and is quirky like all of us. Rob's son Leo is jealous that Jack lives with his Dad. There're lots of emotions, jokes, dramas as families blend, Nanna's aging causes issues and tensions mount.
'The John Marsdens of the writing scene are very good at top-level abuse and the Paul Jennings are excellent in sheer fun but Susanne Gervay is rare in her ability to place common problems for children within the spectrum of normal family life. The result is that she makes it OK for the children to talk about them.' The Weekend Age, Review Section
Always Jack
As a writer, I write with a light touch, humour, bitter-sweet emotions, the every day elements of life of a boy's life. Jack inspired by my son, is an everyman, part of his family, school, community and like all kids, he's aware of unfolding challenges in his life - divorce, aging Nanna, sibling rivalry, friendships, cancer, his mate whose family is from Vietnam.
Always Jack came out of personal experience as a multiple breast cancer survivor. It was hard to explain to my children who were 6 and 9 the first time. I wanted to reach them and all kids so that it's safe to talk about cancer. Kids are part of the family and the journey.
Life is complex and Always Jack is about more than cancer. The very special story of Christopher and his family who were refugees from Vietnam are integral to Always Jack. The story came from my experience speaking at the World Burn Congress in New York. I heard Kim Phuc (the girl running naked from napalm in the 1972 Pulitzer Prize winning photo by Nick Ut) giving a moving account of growing up with burns, political pressures, family dislocation and her search for meaning. The Vietnamese experience is part of Australian experience, as it our Anzac tradition. They became entwined in Jack's story.
The Sun Herald Review by Aleesah Darlinson beautifully summarises Always Jack and the drivers in why I wrote it:-
Tackling the touch issues with a light touch in I Am Jack, Jack battled bullies at his school and won. In Super Jack, Jack faced the trails of a newly blended family. Now, in Always Jack, our hero faces a challenge bigger than he's ever faced before.
Nanna is older and wobblier than ever. Jack is experiencing strange emotions whenever he sees his best friend Anna. Then there's mum and Rob's impending wedding, which seems to be taking over the world.
But these entire woes pale into insignificance when mum delivers the news that she has breast cancer. As usual, Jack sums it up incredibly succinctly: 'I look up at him. It's hard to speak. 'But it's cancer Rob.' I can't live without mum. None of us can love without mum.'
But while mum's illness makes Jack re-evaluate aspects of his life, it doesn't dominate the narrative. This is the skill in Gervay's storytelling: to encapsulate the realism of a young boy's life, yet still deal with big issues such as Cancer. Death. Divorce, grandparents, sibling rivalry, friendships, refugees and the Vietnam War.
How does Gervay deal with so many issues in one relatively short children's book? The answer is that she treads lightly. Jack is Gervay's vehicle for spreading words of wisdom but at no time does she preach. Eternally, Jack and his story remain wholly believable. Readers will not only empathise with Jack but love his sensitive introspection and his wisecracks designed to alternately entertain and annoy his family.
At its heart, Always Jack is a powerful tool for providing comfort to children of cancer sufferers and for educating the uninitiated. More than that, it's a true Australian story that could happen to any of us. And as a multiple breast cancer sufferer and survivor herself, no one understands better than Gervay what it's like to battle - and overcome - the disease.
Part survival manual, part therapy, part autobiography, part fiction, Always Jack succeeds in distilling a complex medical conditions for young readers to digest.
'Mum is in her white sack when she waves us over. 'I've organised that you kids can have a quick look into the radiation treatment room.' It is super quick but it's interesting. Reminds me of a laboratory. There's a major X-ray machine like a big metal right angle hanging over a metal bed.'
As Gervay says, she wrote Always Jack, 'for families who go through cancer to share the journey; and to invite other kids and community to join in.'
The illustrations sprinkled through the book, by Sydney Morning Herald cartoonist Cathy Wilcox, are as delightful and entertaining' as Jack himself. Beautiful, sad, funny - Always Jack will make you laugh and make you cry. Guaranteed. Carrying the NSW Cancer Council's stamp of approval, Jack's story will stay with readers always.
I am Jack, the play
MonkeyBaa Theatre for Young People adapted I Am Jack into a funny, brilliant one man show.
Watching this play had me laughing, crying, caring. It was moving and wonderful.
This is JACK's 3rd season being performed. It did an Outback tour which reached indigenous kids. Loved that. It will be performed at the Ipswich Literature Festival 6-9th September and was the feature at the Somerset Celebration of Literature festival, Queensland.
2011 Performance Details:-
Downstairs Theatre Seymour Centre Sydney
October 26th - November 4th 10.30 am and 12.30 am shows
Cost $16 (teachers free)
Bookings: 02 9351 7938/ admin@monkeybaa.com.au
Other Books
Picture Book
Ships in the Field to be published 1st February 2012 Ford St Publishers
- reaching into the refugee experience.
YA Novels
That's Why I Wrote This Song by Susanne Gervay with music, lyrics and vocals by Tory Gervay
The Cave
Butterflies
Susanne Gervay's Contacts:-
http://www.sgervay.com
http://www.sgervay.com/blog
http://www.youtube.com/user/sgervay
Time Riders: the doomsday code by Alex Scarrow
Puffin, 2011.
Recommended. Time travel, adolescent. Time Lords, the Holy Grail,
Knights Templar, Richard the Lionheart and his brother Prince John
and of course, Robin Hood set against a backdrop of impending
environmental disaster, this story has it all. It might seem as if
Alex Scarrow has taken all the elements of popular fantasy, Science
Fiction and English mythology and put them through the blender. You
might, justifiably, dread the result. Scarrow, however, has achieved
a highly readable thriller, full of action, adventure, mystery and
humour, all set in a very believable historical context.
Three teenage protagonists, all drawn from different eras and places
in time, come together in a Time Team under the avuncular eye of an
absent controller. These very recognisably normal teenagers form the
most secret of secret societies destined to spend their lives
correcting 'historical contamination' and ensuring history remains
'correct'. Third book of a series, Liam, Maddi and Sal and their
indomitable 'meat robots'- superhuman beings with superfast
computers in their brains grown to order to protect and support the
Team, travel through time to protect us and stop time travel from
destroying the world.
In this story a desperate stow away from a future Earth, dying
from global warming and ecosystem collapse, steals a battle robot
and sets in play a turn of events which allows the French to take
control of England and thus changing everything about the world as
we know it.
It may sound far-fetched and extreme Science Fiction, but Scarrow
has clearly understood and vividly painted the politics and daily
life of early medieval Europe. While this is a highly entertaining
and thought-provoking story it can be a little uneven with some
clumsy language construction followed by some beautiful metaphors.
Alex Scarrow's 'other job' as a computer games designer has clearly
led into the development of the ideas as well as the digital
material which supports the series. The YouTube downloads, and an
online game and blogs will ensure this story will appeal to young
fantasy readers, but it does deserve a wide readership. The
portrayal of the Middle Ages in this could add significantly to
students understanding of this time period as they undertake the
Year 8 Australian History Curriculum. Teacher notes are provided on
the website for the first two books in the series and cover issues
such as 'Genetic Engineering' and 'What makes us Human'.
Diana Warwick
The Ottoman Motel by Christopher Currie
Text, 2011. ISBN 9781921758164 The Ottoman Motel is the first novel by Brisbane author
Christopher Currie. The genre is an interesting and, at times,
confusing mix of adventure, coming-of-age and gothic mystery. The
plot is set in an out-of-the-way seaside village called Reception, a
place where visitors arrive but do not leave unless dead. Twelve
year old Simon arrives with his parents to visit his grandmother,
unseen by them for some time, since Simon as a toddler was injured
while in her care. The three travelers stumble upon what turns out
to be a drugs manufacturing and distribution centre. When Simon's
parents disappear and are presumed murdered, Simon is taken in by
the family running a boarding house in Reception. Meanwhile
Grandmother, living in the same boarding house, is entertaining one
of the criminals in her bed. The boarding house owner has also
suffered tragedy, his wife and mother of his two children having
drowned in mysterious circumstances. Another resident, Pony, has
survived the murder-suicide of his parents. Madaline, the police
constable, is fighting her fears of her inadequacy and a past
botched investigation. Despite this cast of unlikely characters the
novel is quite gripping and written in a lively way. The characters
and the dialogue are unexpectedly quite believable, with poetic
insights that add colour. However, the mix of genres ultimately
works against the plot and it is frustrating that the central
mystery is unresolved. The novel also struggles at times to strike
an appropriate tone, and the audience is problematical. While the
main protagonist is a twelve year old, the descriptions of the
sexual relationship of the gay criminals are not suitable for middle
school readers. Senior readers may enjoy the book.
Jenny Hamilton
501 fun facts, weird trivia and amazing lists on nearly everything you need to know by James Buckely Jr and Robert Stremme
Scholastic 2011. ISBN 978 1741696837.
(Ages 8+) Humour. Well the title says it all, there are certainly
some weird and wonderful lists collected together in this book,
destined to keep many children occupied for hours. In the main
Australian, with a few lists of world interest thrown in, the lists
range from Prime Ministers of Australia, to just who has been
knighted by the Queen (one being George W Bush!), similes which
include animals, the greatest empires of the world and many more.
Designed to interest and intrigue, the lists will keep many kids
amused in the library before school, or at home on a wintry day, or
once the word gets out, at recess and lunch times. A winner as a
stocking filler at Christmas time, a great book just to hand to a
child at any time, this is a great $13 worth of book. Who could not
be amused by a list of poisonous snakes, or the zoos of Australia,
who's who in Harry Potter, gross stuff that people eat, wild phobias
and more. Do you know what a blennophobia is? Or what you are not
allowed to do in Taiwan, or which airport is the busiest in the
world? Or perhaps what people eat in space? 224 pages of riveting
fun for young and old, this book is most enjoyable, and will along
with Ripley's believe it or not and the Guinness book of
records, prove a hit. (P.S. Blennophobia is the fear of slime,
and you can't wink in Taiwan.)
Fran Knight
The Legend of Sleepy Hollow by Washington Irving retold by Blake A. Hoena
Graphic Revolve series. Raintree, 2011. ISBN: 978 1406 224979.
When the new school master, Ichabod Crane, arrives in Sleepy Hollow,
he
visits some of the local families for his evening meals. During
these
visits he hears the legend of Sleepy Hollow and the Headless
Horseman.
Not only the school teacher, but also the singing teacher, Crane has
amongst his singing students the beautiful Katrina, a young lady
whom
he chooses to teach privately. The unattractive Crane has as his
rival
for her affections a strapping young man named Brom. Unbeknownst to
many locals, the handsome Brom plays practical jokes on Ichabod. Is
he
responsible for the demise of Ichabod Crane? Will the truth ever be
revealed?
With cartoons taking several forms, from colourful stylised pictures
to
depict the current day, sepia for the historic components of the
story
and silhouette style for the night time and more gruesome parts of
the
tale, the illustrations add an extra dimension to the text. Minimal
word count, simple language and different fonts for speech and
descriptive text make this another accessible tale for not just
those
who enjoy classic tales but also for the reluctant reader.
Jo Schenkel
Literature to support the Australian Curriculum: Annotated lists of fiction and poetry by Fran Knight
Pledger Consulting, 2011. ISBN: 978 1 876678258.
Highly recommended. This brilliant resource is a must for every
school library. As stated in the title, it contains clearly set out
lists of titles under the themes of Asia, Sustainability, Indigenous
literature and Poetry as well as providing suggestions for class
texts and titles to read aloud. With a focus on the various age
groups, Knight sorts titles to fit entry level to Year 3, Years 4 to
7 and Years 7 to 10. A precis for each title is provided to enable
one to get a feel for the book without having to search the shelves
and databases. Particularly for teacher librarians who are regularly
bombarded with requests for titles which may fit a theme or subject
area, this will make life considerably easier. Alongside Pat Pledger
and Fran Knight's other titles, Flash Fiction, Historical Fiction
and Values Fiction, this title would be a support for any teacher or
teacher librarian wishing to truly immerse students in quality
literature. Their previous publications are still relevant and easy
to add new titles to as they are released.
Having read many of Fran's reviews, it is obvious that she is a
prodigious reader and I value her opinions on the many titles
included in this publication. I now eagerly await a similar title to
suggest texts for each subject within the National Curriculum,
particularly for use alongside the specific history topics. Whilst I
appreciate the networking of colleagues on such lists as OZTL, as we
collaborate to find titles to suit a theme, it will be an asset to
have good solid lists in place as a first resort. A highly
recommended title!
Jo Schenkel
Editor's note: A sample of the book and order form is available at http://www.readplus.com.au/resources.php
The dead I know by Scot Gardner
Allen and Unwin, 2011. ISBN 978 1 74357 384 3.
Sleepwalking Aaron has been found by authorities in the oddest of
places and after helping the funeral directory with the body of a
young girl who suicided from a local cliff overlooking the sea,
Aaron fears that this will be where he too will go. He has
internal worries about something he cannot admit to himself,
nightmares which provide no clues, only an intense and gnawing fear,
and despite the best efforts of his guardian, a woman called Mam, he
feels that his life is coming undone.
A school drop out, constant truant and disinterested student, he is
surprised when the local funeral director, John Barton, hires him
This man tells the school counsellor that the boy knows death, and
places his trust in him. He manages to get Aaron to clean himself
up, takes him for a haircut and expects him to be at the funeral
home on time. He expects him to communicate, not with the grunts he
usually gives but a response to the cheery good morning given to him
each day.
The first few funerals he is involved in leave him light headed and
unsure but the director's confidence is never shaken. He travels
with John to retirement homes to pick up bodies, to a home where a
man has died, to the road where a motorcyclist has been killed, a
home where a baby has died and then a suicide. Each death he is
involved with makes Aaron stronger, each funeral he attends builds
his confidence. At home in the local caravan park, he has increasing
trouble with Mam, who is becoming more aggressive, clumsy and
forgetful One night he must take her to the hospital, and stunned at
the questions he is asked and the routines of the place he rings
John Barton for help.
Barton comes to his aid without question, eventually taking Aaron
home to his place while Mam remains in hospital. The staff at the
hospital become suspicious of what is really wrong with the woman,
but Aaron is non committal. At home at the caravan park, a family he
avoids explodes into his life when their son is killed. Aaron is
accused and thrown into jail, but it is the intervention of John
Barton that sees him released into his care. Barton's young daughter
Skye is attracted to Aaron and they share some of their fears
All the themes come together in a wholly believable way as the boy
reveals what has happened to him and who his Mam really is. The
reality of all their lives is exposed, showing that people cannot be
judged on what is seen. At its heart a thriller, as the reader is
led along the sometimes scary path of wanting to know just what is
happening, the book explores death and mental illness
This is a great class text or an ideal small set when doing a
literature circle about death, mental illness or growing up. Teacher
notes are on the Allen and Unwin website.
Fran Knight
Our Gags by Catriona Hoy and Annabelle Josse
Walker Books, 2011.
(Age: Beginning readers) Recommended.This is a short novel of three stories about a special grandma. It
is
told in the first person by the little girl in the family.
'Our Gags' is the nickname the family in this story give to their
Grandma. The first story, The Gags Machine, begins when the
Mum
has a
new baby and Gags becomes the Gags machine as she helps wherever she
can to keep the household running while Mum looks after the baby. In
the second story Gags Ahoy, they take the baby for a walk to
the park.
Gags amuses the little girl by playing a variety of games - billy
goats gruff, princesses and pirates amongst the playground
equipment.
In the last story Gags on Holiday, the family going on
holidays
and
whilst Mum and Dad unpack Gags amuses the girls on the beach until
an
over excited dog causes a mishap.
This novel is part of the Walker Stories series of which there are
around 18 titles. They are an excellent introduction to novel
reading
for young readers. Recommended reading.
Tracy Glover
Urban Assassin by Jim Eldridge
Egmont, 2011. ISBN 9781405254779
(Age 13+) Mitch, Nelson, Two Moons, Tug, Benny and Gaz are part of
an
elite Special Forces unit made from collaboration between Great
Britain
and the USA. The book opens on them thwarting a terrorist
attack
an embassy in Turkey. They manage to stop the attack, but just when
it
is over, they are called back to base with maximum urgency. MI6 has
found evidence for an assassination plot against the British prime
minister. When the MI6 spies showed a picture of the main suspect,
the
men were shocked. He was an ex-Delta force soldier who had fought
with
all the men except Mitch before he was invalided out of the Special
Forces.
This book seemed to be more aimed at younger kids of eight or nine,
but
was far too gory to be for anybody under 13. It was fairly well
written, and had an average plot. I wouldn't recommend this book,
mainly because of the age problems.
Gareth Peer (Student)
Where's Wally? The Great Picture Hunt! by Martin Handford
Walker, 2006. ISBN 9781406333756.
This reprint of Where's Wally? The Great picture Hunt! comes
with a mini magnifier in a pocket inside the front cover of this
postcard size paperback. The reader will need it, as this is a
miniature version of the popular larger paperback versions. There is
a lot to find. Almost 2cm tall versions of Wally, Woof, Wenda,
Wizard Whitebeard and Odlaw are hidden on each page, and each is
looking for something way smaller that they have lost.
Patience and extremely good vision are needed for the search in this
(one of six) tiny mini books.
Sue Whittaker
Primary Teacher/Librarian
