Reviews

The Coming of the Whirlpool by Andrew McGahan

Ship Kings: Book One. Allen and Unwin, 2011. ISBN 9781742376479.
(Ages 14+) Highly recommended. In the first few pages of this young adult novel we discover there will be four books featuring Dow Amber, who will become a famous and courageous mariner. When we encounter Dow for the first time he is living in a poor village and reluctantly following his father into a career as a woodchopper. However Dow has a intense longing for the sea and through the actions of his village elders  is apprenticed to a bitter and angry fisherman in a village hundreds of miles away. The people who live around the bay known as The Claw have a bleak life, gathering fish and other goods to be given in homage each year to the powerful and ruthless Ship Kings. When town along the the bay and the visiting Ship King fleet are attacked by unknown ships Dow finds himself sailing away from his homeland on a quest for answers.
Australian author Andrew McGahan has written award winning books for adults and this book highlights his writing talent.. The vivid creation of another world was reminiscent of the islands featured in the Earthsea trilogy by Ursula Le Guin. The detailed descriptions and the engaging character of Dow make this a compelling new series for teenagers
Highly recommended for fantasy lovers.
Chris Lloyd

Shadows on the moon by Zoe Marriott

Walker Books, 2011. ISBN 978-1-4063-1815-9.    
(Age: 14+) Fantasy. Romance. One day soldiers came to Suzume's house. She and her cousin Aimi were excited to see them, but their excitement soon turned to horror as Suzume's father was killed and his servants slaughtered before their eyes. Then Aimi, too, fell victim to the soldiers' weapons and Suzume just managed to escape because of her magical powers. A shadow weaver, her ability to cover herself in darkness saved her. Declared officially dead because her father had been accused of treason, Suzume was forced to hide her identity as she travelled with her mother and Lord Terayama.  Determined to avenge the death of her father and Aimi, she took on many identities in her quest for personal safety and revenge. As she played the part of a subdued young girl of noble birth, then a kitchen drudge and finally a courtesan, the real Suzume seemed to be difficult to find.
Set in a fantasy Asian country much like feudal Japan, Marriott has created a vivid world that seemed very real to me as I read. The land and the life of the people were described in beautiful detail. I was also able to suspend disbelief and accepted that Suzume was able to mask her real self by shadow weaving. The strangers from the land of Athazie, especially Otieno who was attracted to Suzume, also have magical powers, but in their country they were accepted as part of normal life.
One of the most heart wrenching aspects of Shadows on the Moon, was the relationship that Suzume's mother had to her. She was content to go off with Lord Terayama, not allowing Suzume to grieve for her father, or indeed to mention his name again. When she had twin boys, she no longer wanted Suzume, as all her attention went to the babies. Not only was she selfish and heartless, she was also prepared to betray Suzume to Lord Terayama, knowing that he would kill her.  
This could be read as a retelling of Cinderella, but in this case there was a wicked mother, an evil stepfather and a girl who self harms to remind herself that she was alive. The romance between Otieno and Suzume was subtle, and Otieno was such an attractive, caring individual that it was difficult to understand why Suzume didn't forget her plans for revenge.
An enjoyable fantasy that was easy to read, with a tortured heroine, evil characters and a magical world, this book is sure to appeal to teenage girls.
Pat Pledger
Editor's note: This review first appeared in Fiction Focus.

Drink Slay Love by Sarah Beth Durst

Allen and Unwin, 2011. ISBN 9781742379166
(Age: 15+) Pearl enjoys life as a sixteen year old vampire, prowling the streets at night, snacking on humans and driving fast cars. All of that changes when she is stabbed in the heart by a white Unicorn which then heals her. Her family denounce the existence of Unicorns, dismissing this brush with death but Pearl begins to notice some unusual changes. Firstly, she has a new ability to tolerate daylight and secondly, she is developing a conscience, which impedes her ability to hunt.
Pearl's family decide to put her ability to survive daylight to good use. They are preparing to host the vampire king of New England and need to prepare a sumptuous, bloody feast. If Pearl attends High School she will have access to a large number of students and consequently lots of lovely blood! Pearl is torn between betraying her friends or her family. Either option could have fatal consequences for her.
Vampire stories seem to be the ever popular choice for young adults and this one will not disappoint. Ultimately a variation of the classic good versus evil theme, the novel creates a sense of tension which unfolds in a climatic way. It has all the elements that teenage readers will find appealing, adventure, high school dramas and romance.
Tina Cain

The Power of Six by Pittacus Lore

The Lorien Legacies series. Penguin, 2011.
(Age 13+) The Power of Six follows quickly on from the popularity of the first book of this series, I am Number Four and the subsequent late 2010 release of the Hollywood film version. This novel continues following the destruction of the Paradise school, when John, Sam and Number Six are labelled wanted 'International Terrorists' and are forced to flee the small the American town. This means John is forced to leave his human girlfriend Sarah and thus positions the story with an ongoing subject of John continuously missing Sarah balanced with an emerging physical attraction to Six. The Power of Six simultaneously follows the one of the other nine Gardes from the planet of invaded Lorien, Seven, also known by her adopted name on earth, Marina. Unlike John (or Number Four) Seven went to Spain when they arrived on earth and was living in St Teresa orphanage and convent with her guardian (known as Cepan) Adelina. Marina's Cepan has failed to train her in the skills that would later require in fighting the enemy Mogadorians because she was influenced and distracted by her new devotion to the church and God. As a consequence, Marina (Number Seven) is forced to discover her new special powers (called Legacies) by herself, which for her includes the ability to heal others. John, Six and Seven soon discover that their connection to each other occurs in the context of their special chests, the contents of which are further revealed throughout the book. Unfortunately for these three Gardes, the Mogadorians have also gained access to these chests and have using the powers contain within these chests to hunt down and destroy the remaining members of Lorien on earth. The Power of Six has certainly plenty of action, plots and sub-plots to keep readers engrossed. The themes of lust, loyalty and love that permeate both John's and Marina's stories make this popular novel slightly more than just an entertaining fantasy fiction novel. The Power of Six film version would soon be anticipated by fans of this series.
Adam Fitzgerald

Darkness Falls by Mia James

Orion, 2011.
Age 14+) (Darkness Falls is the second book in the Ravenwood Vampires series and picks up several months from the first book which revealed that a large percentage of students at the exclusive Ravenwood School are in fact vampires. April is recovering from a shocking attack from a fellow student and the horrific death of her father.
Although I haven't had a chance to read the first book in the series I was able to piece together the story line. April the main character is a very complex individual whose story draws the reader in - I could barely put the book down wanting to know what was going to happen next. In some parts of the book April is your typical teenager and yet in others she shows maturity beyond her years. She is coming to terms with the fact that her Mother may be dating again so soon after the death of her beloved Father. She is trying to get her head around the fact the she is Fury and if this fact is discovered by the vampires at Ravenwood her life won't be worth living and that she has given her vampire boyfriend a virus that is killing him.
The story takes the readers on a twisting mysterious journey that keeps them guessing at all times. Just when you think that you have the story line figured out another unexpected situation pops up. It not only looks at April's adjustment to what she really is but it delves deeper in the dynamics of all of her relationships. Although it has similarities to other books in this popular genre, it offers unique qualities that make it ever so appealing. The creepy atmosphere of the Highgate Cemetery and the unseen forces watching April's every move make it more than a creepy romance. I also liked the fact that it was set in Britain. I would thoroughly recommend this book to older teenage readers and I eagerly await the third in the series.
Elaine Grottick

Beat the band by Don Calame

The Christmas Book by Dick Bruna

Hardie Grant Egmont, 2011. ISBN 9781921288814.
This is my all-time favourite Christmas book sparking one of the most enduring activities that I did with the re-telling of the Christmas story. This re-issue of the 1964 original by Dick Bruna (of Miffy fame) tells the story in a simple, uncomplicated way that ensures children learn about the events that underpin this important celebration and help them understand that there is more to it than a fat man in a red suit and bulging stockings.
The illustrations are typically Bruna with simple lines and colour blocks that have a character all of their own. There were few children in my 35-year career who were not exposed to this book and it's great to know that it is on the market again. If it is not in your collection, it should be. I'm looking forward to sharing this with Miss 5 on Christmas Eve.
Barbara Braxton

The Summer Gang by Cornelia Funke

The first CHIX adventure. Chicken House, 2011. ISBN 9781904442868. $16. 166 pages.
(Age 10+) Best friends Charlie, Hannah, Izzie and Xa form a secret girl's club (CHIX) to seek adventure and have fun. They have to deal with rivalry from an all boys gang and some family dramas. The story ends with us wondering about a family secret so readers will be keen to find the next in the series on the shelves.
Cornelia Funke is a best selling German author and with her blend of warmth and humour in writing about children's lives it is easy to see why. This series will be popular with girls looking for an easy to read series with engaging characters. The publishers have chosen wisely with an eye catching cover.
Chris Lloyd

Angel Creek by Sally Rippin

Text Publishing, 2011. ISBN 978 1 921758 05 8.
(Ages: 11+) Fantasy. The idea of a guardian angel is given a tweak in this fascinating story from Sally Rippin. Jelly (a nick name for Angelica) and her two cousins, Gino and Pik, find a small angel in the creek nearby her house, a a place they are told not to visit following the drowning of a young boy several years before. The angel is distressed and clutches Jelly in alarm, so they take it to somewhere safe where they can feed it and help it regain its strength. It is Christmas and Gino's family has come to stay with Jelly and her parents and their grandmother who lives in a flat at the back of the house. When her grandmother has a heart scare, the house is disrupted, the parents keeping vigil at the hospital while the children are left, under the eyes of a neighbour, but with more freedom than is normal.
So the story pans out, the children helping the angel, Jelly feeling more and more uncomfortable about why the angel is here, no-one knowing for sure whether Grandma will return from hospital. Getting to the angel in the shed at the local school, closed for the summer, means avoiding the bullies who try and take advantage of them. One boy however, stands out from the crowd and helps Jelly unexpectedly at the end. A story of Jelly's growing up, of taking a stand and finding friendship both with her cousin and the boy who helps her, promising to be a friend when she attends high school the following year, the story has aspects which will surprise the reader, involved in the fascinating story of Jelly and her brush with an angel.
Fran Knight

A straight line to my heart by Bill Condon

Allen and Unwin. 2011. ISBN 978 174237 730 8.
Some might consider it presumptuous for a grown man to write in the persona of a seventeen year old girl, however Bill Condon tells this gentle, affirming story with credibility. Tiffany is an endearing character who would have been an orphan, had she not grown up in the sleepy country town of Gungee Creek with Reggie, his late wife and his step-son Bull. In the narrative's setting, Reggie's advanced years see him regarded as a much loved grandfather, whilst Bull's role is the gruff but kindly father figure, complete with 'Dad jokes' and constant concern for Tiff's welfare.
Whilst she is a happy young woman with a mature attitude to life, Tiffany is still susceptible to its vagaries and difficult episodes. These include her best friend's pending move interstate, undertaking work experience with the local paper, illness within the family and the arrival of a real, live young man in Davey, the first boy to be interested in her!
Tiffany hopes to be a reporter and soon discovers that her sense of humor, clever way with words and assumptions about motives need refining for her to succeed. Her kind heart and healthy perspective on life need no adjustment at all however.
Condon's characters are likeable and authentic. It is gratifying to see that those with whom Tiffany interacts on other levels, such as Bull's girlfriend Zoe, her best friend Kayla, news reporters Joan and 'The shark' all demonstrate a desire to see her succeed and be happy. This is refreshing in modern literature which often obscures reality by the over representation of exploitative, threatening or sinister characters.
This is a simple story with few extremely dramatic elements. As a snapshot of a short period in an average teenager's life, this is believable and the creation of an engaging, interesting story within these limits is a credit to the author.
Rob Welsh

A bush Christmas by C. J. Dennis

Ill. by Dee Huxley. Black Dog Books, 2011 ISBN 9781 742032 07 8.
(Ages 4+) Recommended. Picture book. The C. J. Dennis poem, A bush Christmas (1931) is given a new outing in this beautifully illustrated production from black dog books, now an imprint of Walker Books Australia. With warmth and verve, Dennis has his family visited by an old loner from a shack near Woollybutt. Rogan comes to spend Christmas Day with them each year, drinking with dad, eating mum's generous helpings of turkey and pudding, then entertaining the children with stories of Christmas in England, where the snow and ice contrast vividly with the extreme temperatures of an Australian Christmas.
This story overflows with Australian charm, family togetherness at this time of the year, welcoming a neighbour into their home and having fun with their guest. All the while Mum is in the background doing the hard slog of cooking, serving then clearing up. Dee Huxley wickedly shows the disparity between the eaters and the worker in his lovely portrayal of Mum, red faced and wild haired, wondering about the pile of washing up at the end of the day. Read out loud, read together as a small group or just read alone, this is a lovely poem, with surprising rhymes, redolent of times past, but underlining the important and unwavering values of Christmas. This is a delightful production and makes a welcome change from the plethora of bland Christmas books I have read over the past months.
Fran Knight

Grace at Christmas by Mary Hoffman

Frances Lincoln Children's Books, 2011. ISBN 9781847801470
(Ages 4+) Highly recommended. Gently told by Mary Hoffman, and beautifully illustrated in watercolour by Cornelius van Wright and Ying-Hwa Hu, Grace at Christmas will delight all young children.
It is the story of Grace, a young girl who loves Christmas Day even better than her own birthday. She loves going to Church on Christmas Day with her Ma and Nana, and loves acting out the Christmas story. She just loves everything about Christmas Day.
When she discovers she is to share her favourite day with strangers, she is upset, and grumbles to her friends at school. She even phones her daddy, who lives in Africa, and hopes he will understand her dilemma. When he tells her she must make her guests welcome, Grace cannot help wishing it was her daddy who would be sharing Christmas with her.
However, after Savannah arrives, and Grace discovers that Savannah is lonely, the two become friends, and together they perform the nativity story for the grown-ups.
This lovely book will make an excellent school library or class resource. It tells the Christmas story, but equally it highlights the importance of friendship, and introduces the topic of separation with sensitivity.
Mary Hoffman is a prolific children's author, having written over 90 books ranging from picture books to novels. I recommend it most highly.
Colleen Tuovinen

Taken Away by Celine Kiernan

Allen and Unwin, 2011. p/b. ISBN 9781742377520.
(Ages 14+) Celine Kiernan's mastery of imagery and ability to enthrall, will keep the young adult spellbound in her new novel Taken Away; added to this mix, is an edgy and faintly disturbing tale of  'Loss. Theft. A Haunting.'
Sixteen-year-old twin brothers, Patrick and Dom, live a normal family life, that is, until the fire. What follows will surprise - Dom is overtaken by a ghost. This is a story of Patrick's desperate race to save Dom from 'the grey' before he is lost to his family forever. It is no coincidence that the twins save an old man from drowning in the ocean, and Patrick comes to the horrible realisation that his brother is possessed by another man's soul.
It is impossible not to feel the chilling cold of the haunted or the indescribable grief of the twins drawing apart as Dom's painful removal from the present becomes more certain. Wartime battle scenes ramp up the tension as the novel approaches its climax.
Although there is minimal swearing in the opening pages, this does not underpin the character of the novel. Kiernan sweeps the reader along, weaving the 'other world' into this novel with ease; the novel slips between dimensions in a truly believable manner. With 255 pages, it is an ideal length to hold the interest of secondary readers age 14+.
I really enjoyed this book and would recommend it as being suitable for placing on school library bookshelves. It is a well-crafted introduction to a darker genre of fantasy prose.
Colleen Tuovinen

The Outcasts by John Flanangan

Brotherband Series Bk. 1. Random House, 2011. ISBN 978-1-74166-449-2.
(Age 10+) Highly recommended. As a fan of John Flanagan's Ranger's Apprentice series, I was looking forward to the first of the new spin off series, Brotherband . Would the world of the Viking-like Skandians be as gripping as the stories of Ranger Will and his friends?
The Outcasts did not disappoint. Of course the reader of the Ranger's Apprentice will remember the Skandians, but the focus is on a new character, young Hal who doesn't fit the warrior image and uses his mind to invent and create rather than use the brute strength of the other boys.
Hal is at the age of becoming a warrior and with other boys must be selected into a team or brotherband as part of his training. The boys must endure 3 months of weapon training, battle tactics and seamanship. Hal reluctantly becomes the leader of one of the three teams and his group the 'Herons' are the outcasts, the unwanted, hence the title of the book. It is a great honour to be the winning team and the boys fiercely compete to earn points. Can the outnumbered and unlikely 'Herons' ever have a chance of winning?
There are many similarities between Hal and Will from The Ranger's Apprentice. Both are small but clever and have a strong friendship with a bigger, stronger boy. Will was taught by Halt who was a father figure to him and Hal is mentored by Thorn, a gruff and one handed ex warrior who has his own personal issues to deal with.
As the Skandians are a seafaring race there is a lot of discussion and action around boats and sailing so I was thankful for the small introduction on sailing terms at the beginning of the book.
I am looking forward to the next title as The Outcasts ends with a new adventure.
Highly recommended for 10 years + and will be enjoyed by John Flanagan fans.
A book trailer is available for the Brotherband series.
Jane Moore

The ring of fire by Chris Bradford

Young Samurai series. Puffin, 2011. ISBN 978 0 141 33255 0.
(Ages 11+) Recommended. Chris Bradford's sixth in his Young Samurai series sees Jack involved in another life and death struggle. Whilst fleeing the Shogun's forces he battles against a harsh Japanese winter. To survive he accepts a job to protect a poor village from the ravages of a cruel, bloodthirsty bandit called Akuma. It's not until he reaches the village that he finds just how poor it is and how powerful Akuma and his band are. He is able to recruit help in the form of some old friends. However the odds are still stacked heavily against them.
They have to not only turn the village into a defensible fortress, but also turn the villagers into a reliable military unit. No easy job especially as in Japan it was an offence for peasants to be armed. The fact that Jack is a gaijin (an outsider) who poses as a Samurai is also a problem, not only culturally, but the Shogun has also offered a reward for him, which would be very tempting for poor villagers for Jack's capture.
Bradford keeps the action moving and the reader's interest involved with exciting battles and fights. I'm sure those who've read the other books in the series will enjoy this one and be eager for the next installment. 320p looks a lot, but the print is large and well spaced, the chapters short and the end of the book gives details of the characters's names and a glossary as well as the opening chapters for the next installment, just in case you needed any enticement.
Mark Knight