Reviews

Goliath by Scott Westerfeld

Ill. by Keith Thompson. (Leviathan Series). Penguin Viking, 2011. ISBN 9780 6 70 07305 4
(Age: 12 - Adult) Goliath, the last in the Leviathan trilogy, is a steampunk story set during WWI. For those who are still coming to terms with this relatively new genre, it has been described as the future as Victorians would have imagined it. In fact many steampunk books are set in or near the Victorian era. Think fantastic inventions of machines, gears and cogs.
Book 3 continues the adventures of Prince Alek, who is striving to reclaim his Austrian throne and Deryn a girl who masquerades as a boy so she can be in the British Air Service.
The story reflects WWI history but contains its own fantastical creatures, machines and events. The world is divided into 2 sides, the Clankers and their machinery and Darwinists who use living fabricated beasts.
At the beginning of the book Deryn and Alek are aboard the Leviathan, an airship best described as a cross between a whale and a zeppelin. The ship has been ordered to pick up a scientist, Mr Tesla who claims to have a secret weapon, 'Goliath' that can destroy a whole city and stop the war.
There are battles, lots of fighting action, intrigue as well as the drama of the continuing affections between Deryn and Alek. The wonderful illustrations by Keith Thompson add a whole other dimension to Westerfeld's invented world. They helped me gain a greater understanding of the unusual machines and a better grasp of the action.
I enjoyed reading this last book in the trilogy more than book 2 but after some internet researching, I know there are many fans of the whole series. Deryn is a strong female character (even if she pretends to be a boy) and the main feature of the book covers. Will these books have equal appeal to both genders with its mixture of fighting and romance? I am unsure but I would definitely recommend these books from 12 year olds up to adults.
A wonderful book trailer is available to help with promoting this series.
Jane Moore

Are we there yet? by Alison Lester

Penguin, 2002. ISBN 978 0670880676.
(Ages: 4+) Highly recommended. Picture book. The National Year of Reading, 2012, has chosen this picture books as its focus for reading and book activities in Australia in 2012, and rightly so. It is an amazing book, considered a classic, detailing the exploits of a family and their trip around Australia in their family 4 wheel drive. With the refrain of 'are we there yet' common to everyone, everywhere, the family hits the grey nomad trail, one increasingly covered by younger families as well. A map at the start helps set the scene as the family packs up grandpa's old camper trailer with everything they think they will need for the three month trip.
A small Australian map every few pages acquaints the reader about how far they have gone and reinforces the position of the places they have stopped at. From The Cooroong to Uluru, Wave Rock to Sydney Harbour Bridge, the sights and sounds of Australia are presented in Alison Lester's beautiful illustrations and economical words. What better introduction to the Australian scenery could we hope for? I can imagine every classroom using this book as an introduction to any unit of work based around Australia, its land and its people.
The glowing pictures of various places around Australia are set against the family's trials and adventures, with the group pictured in their various costumes suited to the climate they are travelling through. The whole is presented with warmth and humour, underlining the vastness of the land through which the family moves, and also its friendliness and comraderie.
Fran Knight

The name of the star by Maureen Johnson

Eli the good by Silas House

Candlewick, 2011. ISBN: 9780763652883.
Set in the United States, in the summer of 1976, this is a novel about the ongoing impact of the Vietnam war for returned veterans and their families. Told through the eyes of ten year old Eli, the novel opens with 'The first true day of summer for me began with a scream . . . ' pg 4. It is his father screaming in his sleep after travelling back to Vietnam in his dreams.
Eli's Mum is a science teacher whose love for her husband and family makes a big difference in their lives. Eli's older sister Josie is at the difficult teenage stage. She is always complaining, even about her adoring boyfriend Charles. She has an ongoing dispute with her mother about wearing shorts that have an American flag printed on them.
Eli's Aunt Nell arrives with her records and record player to live with the family. Nell's participation in an anti Vietnam protest and the publicity it received is a source of ongoing tension with her brother. Eli overhears that Aunt Nell has cancer and this secret adds to the poignancy of her time with the family.
 Eli's best friend is Edie, the girl next door, and it is with her that he secretly reads the letters his father wrote to his mother from Vietnam. The other secret that Edie discovers is that his sister Josie has a different father to him.
So while this novel is set in a particular time and place, the United States in the 70's; the themes of teenage angst, family conflict, war, betrayal and ultimately the difference that love and committment can make are themes that are universal. A good read.
Jenny Brisbane

Wolves, boys and other things that might kill me by Kristen Chandler

Speak, 2011. ISBN 9780142418833.
(Age 13+) Recommended. K. J. lives near the Yellowstone National Park where her father is a fishing and wildlife guide. She is a loner who spends her time helping him out in his shop and in the wilderness. Over the summer she has turned into a more noticeable version of herself and when she meets Virgil, the new boy at school, things begin to change. While researching an article on the controversial wolves who live in the park, she starts to see her home in a new light.
There are people who love the wolves, like Virgil's mother, who is researching their behaviour, and people who hate them, like the ranchers who lose their cattle from their raids. Tension runs high in the small community and K.J. unwittingly adds to it with her newspaper article. Chandler adds a dash of mystery to her story with the advent of someone who is an arsonist and who peppers Virgil with shot during a parade.
K.J. is an engaging heroine. An orphan, she tries to live up to her father's high expectations of her and her ability in the wild. This father-daughter relationship is central to the book and K.J's love for and problems with her father add a dimension that is not often found in novels for teens. The budding romance between K.J. and Virgil is deftly dealt with, as are the relationships between other characters in the book.
A thought provoking novel that will appeal to anyone who is interested in conservation, this issue-based book is a very good read. Readers will gain solid information about the behaviour of wolves and the reasons for the controversy about their return to Yellowstone National Park in a well rounded, well written way.
Pat Pledger

Melody burning by Whitley Strieber

Allen and Unwin, 2012. ISBN 9781742379135.
(Age 13+) Thriller. In the crawl spaces and niches of a large Los Angeles building lives a boy named Beresford. When very young he witnessed a horrible death and has hidden ever since, making the chutes his home. When rock star Melody comes to live in the hotel he falls in love in her, even though he is not sure what love is. Melody has been too busy to fall in love, with her mother pushing her to become famous. In the hotel also lives a dangerous pyromaniac, who urged on by an evil man, is making plans that will affect the futures of Beresford and Melody.
This is a very fast paced thriller that held my attention for the whole book, which I finished in one sitting. The suspense of what would happen with the pyromaniac and also what would happen with the growing relationship between Melody and Beresford, kept me glued to my seat.
I was intrigued with the idea of a feral boy who never went out into the sun and who watched over the occupants of the building. Beresford's story is told in the third person and a strong, intelligent but emotionally and educationally deprived teen emerges as events unfold. Equally fascinating are the descriptions of life as an emerging pop star, told by Melody in the first person. The angst over song writing, the fans, her pushy mother and the paparazzi are brought to life and the reader gains a sympathetic view of her feelings through the songs that she writes.
This is recommended as a light, exciting read for teens. Whitley Shrieber is a horror writer who has previously written for adults.
Pat Pledger

Stork by Wendy Delsol

Candlewick, 2010. ISBN 9780763648442.
(Age: 12+) 16 year old Katla Leblanc has moved from Los Angeles to the wilds of Minnesota with her mother after her parents got divorced. Fashion is all important to her, but being trendy brings stares from the locals and horrors of horrors, she finds that she is a Stork, a member of an ancient group of women who decide which mothers are worthy of babies. Then there is Wade, who she had a bad date with before school starts, and Jack the editor of the school newspaper, who thinks she should know him and seems to hate her. As Kat learns more about her powers and the near fatal experience she had as a young child, she must face up to what she really is.
Drawing on Norse mythology, Delsol has created a different background for her story. I was intrigued by the idea of a group of Storks making decisions about which mother would be the best for a potential infant. It was interesting to see Kat taking on her role as Stork and deciding that she had to make mature decisions, and not just ones that could give her revenge on a popular girl or help out her friend. Jack too has a background that is steeped in Norse mythology. He doesn't feel the cold and strange things happen around him. The school is producing The Snow Queen by Hans Christian Andersen and references to this story also add depth.
Delsol scatters humourous one liners throughout the book, which kept a smile on my face. Kat is mad about fashion, and teens who enjoy clothes will enjoy the many references, often funny, to clothes. They will also have fun with the makeovers.
This was a quick easy read with Kat's dilemmas and witty repartee keeping my interest for the whole book. Girls who like romance, high school angst and paranormal events should appreciate the unusual Norse folklore background. There is a sequel, Frost.
Pat Pledger

Bambert's Book of Missing Stories by Reinhardt Jung

Translated by Anthea Bell. Ill. by Emma Chichester Clark. Egmont, 2008. ISBN HB 9 7814 0523 640 9.
I highly recommend this book for 10 year olds to adults. A must read.
Who is Bambert and how are his stories missing? The title itself made me curious, the book captured me instantly and I read the entire collection of stories in one sitting.
Bambert is a recluse and lives above a grocer's shop in his own self contained world. He is very short and finds it painful to walk, even with the aid of a stick. He feels he would be pitied or mocked in public so the only person he sees is Mr Bloom the grocer downstairs, who provides him with all of his requirements.
Bambert's talent is writing stories which he records in his 'Book of Wishes'. Bambert realises his stories need to be set free and one night he releases each of the 11 stories on its own small hot air balloon to be found and then returned to him by the finder, telling him where they had been discovered. The 11th story is blank and he hopes it will return written.
Each story is revealed on its return (from a variety of countries) and what a diverse and amazing collection they are. They include the sad and beautiful To the Eye of the Sea about a whale who returns after many years to find his young rescuer, to the more horrific and heart rendering tale of the escape of Jewish children from Nazi soldiers in The Glass Rafts.
Even though the book is in a larger picture book format, these poignant, emotional and at time disturbing stories are not for the young child. I would love to read this book out loud to a year 5-7 class, as each story leaves the reader with so many thoughts, feelings and even questions.
Emma Chichester Clark's illustrations fit perfectly with the text and the book has been beautifully translated from the original German by Anthea Bell.
What happens with the last unwritten story? I will leave you to find that out, but be prepared for a heart-wrencher and a surprise about the stories' actual journeys. The love and friendship that has been secretly bestowed on Bambert will bring a tear to the eye.
Jane Moore

Clockwork Prince by Cassandra Clare

Walker Books, 2016.
(Ages 15+). Recommended. This is the second of three books in the Infernal Devices series, which is a prequel to the hugely popular Mortal Instruments. Set in Victorian London, it follows the journey of Tessa, a 16 year old American orphan, who discovers that she is not what she always thought she was - human. She is rescued by the initially suspicious and guarded Shadowhunters, who then help and support her in her search to discover her origins, and the role she is destined to play in the evil designs of the Magister.
This is an evocative story set in the atmospheric, murky and class ridden world of Victorian England. Shadowhunters battle rogue vampires and Downworlders, fight to keep the fragile peace and uphold the Accords, all unbeknownst to the human population. They are desperate to uncover the malevolent plans of Mortmain, also known as the Magister, who is creating an army of clockwork soldiers and machines in his mission to overthrow the Shadowhunters and conquer the world.
I liked this book much more than the first in this series, Clockwork Angel. Tessa has grown as a character and is more accepting of her strange past and uncertain future. She is losing the constraints of her strict and austere upbringing and is proving to be brave and resourceful.
Something I really enjoyed about this book is the author's evident love of literature and poetry. The main characters are passionate about books and reading, and literary references are woven into the narrative. The discussions on favourite books and authors such as Charles Dickens, may encourage some readers to seek them out. There is also quite a lot of humour, wit and very funny one liners which helps to allay the often dark and sometimes tragic tone. As well as the ubiquitous love triangle, there is also murder, masquerade balls, mechanical assassins, secrets, betrayals, curses, carriage rides, corsets, and a whole cast of supernatural characters.
Cassandra Clare's books have been a real favourite with teenage girls, and this book will be no exception. The third book, Clockwork Princess, will not be out until the end of this year, so we will wait with bated breath to find out how this enjoyable series ends.
Alicia Papp

Library Lily by Gillian Shields

Ill. by Francesca Chessa. Gullane, 2011. ISBN 978 1 86233 830 2.
(Ages: 5+) Picture book. Lily always has her head stuck in a book: she reads while eating breakfast, she reads while cleaning her teeth, she has a book when supposedly sleeping, in fact she has one with her all the time, so much so that everyone calls her Library Lily. But Mum thinks there may be more to life than a book (Gadzooks!) and takes her to the park, where she reads all the signs and after that has little to do, until Milly comes along. Milly does not like to read, is adventurous and playful, and questions Lily's constant reading. Milly takes Lily on one of her adventures and Lily finds that she has fun doing that but then introduces Milly to her books, and the pair sees that they can both have fun in both fields. The bright, bold eye catching illustrations show Lily and Milly doing the things they love.
A neatly resolved story about two friends finding a common ground, sharing what each loves with the other and so coming together each sharing their passion with the other, will have a measure of interest and support in classes where topics are under discussion such as sharing, reading and friendship. But its main relevance will be in classes and libraries in 2012, the National Year of Reading, where reading is being celebrated around Australia, promoted in all libraries, encouraging young and old to read. This book is one of several published this year proudly supporting reading as a past time.
Fran Knight

Legend by Marie Lu

Razorbill, 2011. ISBN 9780141339412.
(Ages 14 +) Recommended. This dystopian novel is set in Los Angeles in a time of conflict, plagues and extreme inequity. The story is told from two perspectives, one of Day, a Robin Hood like teenager who is trying to ensure the safety of his family, and June who is part of the ruling elite. Of the two it is Day that I particularly warmed to and I found his chapters more engaging and believable. For someone who is meant to be a genius June takes a long time to realise what is really happening in the Republic and this became quite frustrating.
It is written in present tense which adds to the fast pace of the story and makes it hard to put down. There is romance between the two main characters and this developing relationship is well handled by the author. The setting of the Republic is intriguing and frightening to imagine, particularly the sections dealing with the frequent plagues. Legend is obviously the first in a series as there are unresolved threads at the end of this book. A good book to put in the hands of middle school boys who have enjoyed the Pittacus Lore books.
Chris Lloyd

Crossed by Ally Condie

Razor Bill, Penguin, 2011. ISBN: 9780141333069.
(Age: 14+) Highly recommended. 'The Society chooses everything. The books you read. The music you listen to. The person you love. Yet for Cassia the rules have changed. Ky has been taken and she will sacrifice everything to find him. And when Cassia discovers Ky has escaped to the wild frontiers beyond the society, there is hope. But on the edge of society nothing is as it seems . . . A rebellion is rising. And a tangled web of lies and double-crosses could destroy everything.' Product description.
When I got this book I literally ran around the house jumping and screaming. The sequel to Matched, Ally Condie has taken the story to new levels with a few new characters and more in depth views of the settings. I can honestly say that I will be internet stalking her for the rest of my life. Ally is my new favourite author. I sincerely hope she continues her writing career and I cannot wait until her third book comes out.
Taylor Oxenham (student)

Cold hands, warm heart by Jill Wolfson

Walker, 2012. ISBN 9781406325416.
(Age: 12+) Dani is a 15 year old who has had more doctor's appointments and hospital visits than she cares to remember. She was born with her heart on the wrong side of her body and is waiting for an organ donor. 14 year old Amanda is a top gymnast in perfect health who suffers an accident at a meet. Their lives are about to become entwined.
This is a moving story about the heartbreak and joy of giving and receiving organ transplants. It opens with the story of Amanda, told from the viewpoint of her brother Tyler, who tells the reader about the heartbreak that a family goes through when making a decision about whether or not to allow a loved one's organ to be donated. It also tells the story of Dani, who is waiting for a heart transplant and how the donation of a heart entirely changes her and her mother's lives. Secondary characters like Milo, with whom Dani begins a tentative relationship while in hospital and the irrepressible little girl Wendy who is also waiting for a transplant, flesh out the story and the impact of organ donations.
I read this story quickly as it kept my attention the whole time. However there were moments when I felt that Wolfson was really writing it to illustrate the importance of becoming an organ donor and that her main aim wasn't to tell Tyler and Dani's story, but rather to convince the reader to do the right thing. (I'm sure that after teens have read this story they will be determined to become organ donors). However the information about the process of organ transplants, the impact that they can have on both the donor's family and the recipient's family, was fascinating and Milo's insights into death were thought provoking. It was easy to identify with Tyler's family and their reluctance to meet the people that the organs were donated to, while at the same time experiencing the joy and hope that filled the people who received the donations.
Often heart wrenching, this story that has tackled a difficult subject with clarity and empathy, will remain with me.
Pat Pledger

How Do You Feel? by Anthony Browne

Walker Books, 2012. ISBN 9781406338515.
(Age 2-5) Highly recommended. How do you feel? Do you feel happy or sad? Curious or surprised? Bored or lonely? Using his signature young chimp, Anthony Browne explores a myriad of emotions in this book for young children.
The emotions portrayed in this book will be easily identified by the very young. What small person hasn't felt happy or sad, angry and guilty? Parents or teachers reading this book aloud could lead a discussion into what sorts of emotions that the young child has and what things provoke these emotions.
The illustrations are as always a joy to look at. Browne had captured perfectly the facial expression and body language that demonstrates each emotion. I especially liked the contrast between the tightrope walker and the shy concert presenter and laughed out loud at the little chimp being silly.
A beautiful, simple book, this one is sure to become a classic.
Pat Pledger

Look, a book! by Libby Gleeson and Freya Blackwood

Little Hare, 2011 ISBN 978 1 921541 80 3.
(Ages 4+) Picture book. An older woman returning from a foraging or shopping trip, drops a book as she enters her house yard, surrounded by a ramshackle fence. Two children pick up the book and scrambling up onto the old outhouse building, are transported by the words, flying over the rooftops on their piece of galvansied iron. They return the book to the older woman and reading it with her, are transported again, flying on an old plastic drink bottle, over the houses and the rubbish left around.
The illustrations will sweep the reader up into the imaginative flight taken by the author, flying over the cityscape, watching a landscape at once surreal yet containing the things the children have seen in the woman's yard. With the blurb, You never know where a book can take you, this is a book to share with small and large groups, as imagination takes hold encouraging the readers to talk about books they have read and the places they have gone with books.
The whole book has a times past feel to it, the illustrations show an older woman living in a house which seems as it if has stepped out of the Depression era, and this is underlined by the outhouse and stick washing line. Yet other things bring the story into the present. The rubbish contains things children of today would recognise, the shopping trolley, custard container and plastic chair the woman sits on to read to the children, all tell of a modern age.
Appropriately 2012 is the National year of Reading in Australia, designed to promote reading and books throughout the country and this along with several other books, will be read and reread as teachers promote reading with their classes.
Fran Knight