Curse Workers, Bk 1. Orion, 2010. ISBN 9780575096714.
(Age 14+) Recommended for lovers of paranormal stories. Cassel is
cursed. He remembers his sly grin of glee at the scene of the murder of
his friend Lila. His family believes that he is a murderer as well as
not having the ability to work magic, which is a disaster in a family
of curse workers. After fighting very hard to look normal and fit into
his school, he is discovered on its steep roof, after a sleepwalking
incident. And things get worse after that. Terrifying nightmares
about a white cat that wants to tell him something and the disturbing
behaviour of his two brothers make him feel paranoid. To discover the
mysterious secrets that surround him, Cassel has to outwit the con men.
Black has created an absorbing world, where workers of magic con the
populace or work for the heads of the mobs. This world is very
different from that in her darker faerie books, Tithe and Ironside,
but
is equally as compelling. The reader is gradually introduced to
this dark and dangerous world when Cassel begins to believe that he may
be at the centre of a big con, and begins to work a con of his own.
Told in the first person by Cassel, who is an unreliable narrator, as
he is never sure just what is happening to him, I was carried along by
the force of his personality. Cassel longs to be normal, and has spent
3 years at his boarding school, being pleasant and trying to fit in. As
the plot develops, Cassel has to take control of what is happening to
him and he plans the ultimate con, using the skills that his mother,
who has been jailed for conning a wealthy man, has taught him. On his
journey, he discovers much about the importance of family and friends
and the consequences of his actions and those of his family. I enjoyed
the way that Black vividly described all her characters, with their
strengths and flaws.
With a believable world peopled with good and evil, a touch of romance,
a surprise ending and some fascinating magic, White cat is sure
to
appeal.
Pat Pledger
The Abused Werewolf Rescue Group by Catherine Jinks
Allen and Unwin, 2010. ISBN 9781742373638.
(Age 13+) Recommended. Toby Vandevelde is horrified to wake up in
hospital with no memory of how he got there. When he is told that he
was found in the dingo pen at Featherdale Park, he is even more
terrified. After a priest and a strange looking guy show up telling him
that he has a rare condition, he finds himself involved with an anaemic
looking group of weirdos who inform him that he needs their help. And
he certainly does - when he is kidnapped and imprisoned!
Told in the first person by Toby, the reader is taken on a thrilling
ride when Toby is incarcerated in an underground prison and discovers
another boy there. Together they go through many adventures in their
bid for freedom. With evil kidnappers, underground goals, car chases,
vampires biting people and shooting incidents, it is a thrill a minute
once the chase is on.
Strong characterisation brings all the people alive, and I was
enthralled with the development of Toby's understanding of his rare
condition and his attempts to bring about a non-violent solution to his
plight. The antics of his two companions, Fergus and Amin, provide many
laughs in the book and Reuben plays a strong role, trying to convince
Toby that he needs to be locked up once each month at the time of the
full moon.
With a surfeit of werewolf books around, it is wonderful to find one
that is totally absorbing, humorous and well written. The Abused
Werewolf Rescue Group is a companion volume to The Reformed
Vampire
Support Group, but can be read alone. Fans of the first book will
welcome the return of members of the vampire support group, and will
love the addition of more werewolves to the mix. Boys will also
identify with the pranks that Toby and his two friends get up to and
should enjoy the action adventure. The introduction of a zombie at the
conclusion of the book leaves an opening for another companion volume
in the future.
Pat Pledger
Mice by Gordon Reece
Allen and Unwin. 2010. ISBN 978 1742372338.
(Recommended) Shelley, a typical teenage girl is bullied at school.
When things take a turn for the worst she winds up in hospital. After
being discharged she is home schooled with private tutors in her new
home, isolated in a remote area of the countryside. She lives with her
mother and all their lives they have been like mice; hiding from
trouble, never standing up for themselves. Until, Shelley's sixteenth
birthday.
The plot of this book is not straight forward, it is so well formulated
that it compels you to read on and never lets on to what is going to
happen next. The plot is realistic and you could easily see how what
happens could happen in real life. The characters are very real, as if
you would expect to encounter someone like them in the course of your
life. Shelley and her mum undergo a major change in their lives, as
well as within themselves and grow to have the courage to face their
fears.
The setting is outlined well and authentic in its detail. Set in
England in the current era, Gordon Reece uses a style of writing that
creates a great deal of imagery. When reading the book, it is as if you
are watching movie. Written in the first person the reader has a great
deal of empathy with Shelley and the predicament she finds herself in.
There are two themes to this book, firstly, bullying in school and how
some schools hush up bullying or turn a blind eye so as not to tarnish
the school's reputation. The second theme is more subtle. It is about
sometimes things pile up inside until you can't take anymore, then you
snap and are changed forever. Sometimes for better, sometimes for
worse, even a bit of both.
The book is aimed at older adolescents but because of the serious
nature of the themes adults will be able to relate to it too. Girls and
boys could read it but it is not for everyone. I would recommend it to
those who can view a text without getting nightmares and can understand
what happens to the characters in a somewhat mature manner. Those who
like the descriptive writing style of Christine Feehan and the way she
creates imagery would enjoy this book. I strongly recommend it and
would rate it 9/10 stars.
Amelia Kelly (year 11)
Pearlie the Cherry Blossom Fairy by Wendy Harmer
Random House, 2010. ISBN: 978 1 74166 378 5.
When Pearlie the Park Fairy from Jubilee Park in Australia is named
'Fairy of the Year', she travels to visit all of the Park Fairies in the
world and finally arrives at the Imperial Palace in Japan. Here she
meets Akiko in the Park of the Imperial Palace. Here, Akiko teaches her
some Japanese language and Pearlie receives an introduction to some
traditional rites such as the tea ceremony and the foods and drinks
associated with them. The cherry blossom festival brings many visitors
to the park and Pearlie meets Yuki the mouse, busily stealing bits of
food from the visitors to the Palace park. When a spring storm,
complete with hailstones occurs, Pearlie is able to show how clever she
can be as she tries to make things right for Akiko and Yuki.
As a cultural comparison, this title is a good way of introducing the
reader to the differences in customs, language and life in another
country. The themes of sharing, friendship, care and concern for
others, as well as the importance of travel in broadening one's
horizons are all included in this simple little book. Along with a
simple story line and the bright and stylized illustrations, this book
should hold much appeal to the beginning female reader.
Jo Schenkel
Low red moon by Ivy Devlin
Bloomsbury, 2010. ISBN 9781599906188.
(Age 14+) Avery Hood is found, covered with blood, next to the bodies
of her murdered parents. Distraught, she doesn't know who has killed
her parents. She has blocked out all memories of what happened except
for remembering seeing a flash of silver. Then she meets Ben, a
gorgeous, mysterious boy, whose eyes flash with silver. When he reveals
that he is a werewolf, Avery trusts him until another family is
murdered. How can she find out whom brutally killed her parents? What
can she do about the deep connection she has for Ben?
Avery, who goes to live with her grandmother, Renee, tells the story in
the first person. Raised by her nature loving parents in a beautiful
forest, she has been home-schooled until her senior years and loves the
trees and quiet of her home. However the townspeople decide that her
parents' house should be destroyed and she and her grandmother have to
fight to keep the land from developers.
A paranormal romance that is sure to please young girls who liked
Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater and the Twilight series, Low
red
moon is an
exciting, easy to read mystery. The suspense is built up deftly and
there are plenty of red herrings to put the reader off suspecting the
murderer. Combined with the romance and lure of a beautiful werewolf,
and some interesting red print and illustrations, this will be an
undemanding, but very enjoyable, crowd pleaser.
Ivy Devlin is a pseudonym of Elizabeth Scott, who wrote the very dark
Living dead girl.
Pat Pledger
I shall wear midnight by Terry Pratchett
Doubleday, 2010. ISBN 978 0385617963.
(14+) Highly recommended. Tiffany Aching is a teenaged witch portrayed
in this marvelous, uproariously funny story set in a fantasy world
which bears a resemblance to Medieval England. Amidst the constant
humour involving outrageous situations, brilliant puns and hilarious
word mangling, some serious and touching issues are handled with
genuine compassion by the author through his characters.
Importantly, Tiffany is a kindly creature with wholesome values who
spends more time doing the largely unappreciated, hard graft of caring
for the aged and sick, delivering babies and assisting the poor than
casting spells. Whilst Pratchet uncompromisingly casts her as a witch,
and has her riding broomsticks or practicing magic, he continuously
emphasizes her kindness and righteousness. Evil is present within the
story but Tiffany is the heroine, prepared to fight to the death if
necessary in order to protect her friends and family in the village.
Tiffany is human, with natural feelings and vulnerabilities, however
she has the gift of magic which has caused her to consciously follow a
calling which necessitates much personal sacrifice and unending work.
One cannot help comparing her with religious figures who deny
themselves intimate relationships, wealth and comfort in their
determination to improve the lives of others.
This is a harmless story. Quite reasonably witches and the black arts
are concepts which are repugnant in Christian communities, however it
is vital to appreciate that Tiffany is a 'good witch' who reviles evil
and promotes universally worthy values.
Having said that, Tiffany is not perfect and is driven to distraction
by the people for whom she cares and most of all by the insanely funny
'Feegles' - miniature Scotsmen and women who live underground and have
appointed themselves her protectors.
The Feegles are exceedingly violent, destructive and intemperate but
they are exceedingly brave and have hearts of gold, causing the reader
to cheer for them frequently.
A range of realistic and a few extraordinary characters come together
in common situations which sometimes evolve into the fantastic within
this wonderful, well crafted story.
Rob Welsh
Madame Pamplemousse and the Time-travelling Cafe by Rupert Kingfisher
Bloomsbury, 2010. ISBN 978 1408800539.
Recommended for independent readers but it could be read to younger
readers as well.
Girls will love Madame Pamplemousse and the Time-travelling Cafe. It is
a quick moving story, full of time-travelling adventures but it doesn't
lack description.
We meet Madeleine, Monsieur Moutarde, Madame Pamplemousse and a very
human-like cat, called Camembert. The story is set in Paris where
a nasty government is in charge. They want to tear down the historic
buildings and replace them with modern shopping centres.
Monsieur Moutarde has created a time-travelling machine, Madeleine is
threatened with children's prison in the past and Madame Pamplemousse
is in the past somewhere.
Can they collect some very special ingredients to help them save Paris
in time?
Kylie Kempster
Mademoiselle Lisa by Delphine Perret
Black dog books, 2010. ISBN 978 1742031620.
What if the Mona Lisa was sick of hanging around the gallery? What if
she decided to do something else? Well, in Mademoiselle Lisa, you get
to see just what the most famous painting in the world would get up to
if given the chance!
Mademoiselle Lisa is a picture book, aimed at older students (middle
primary and up) but will be enjoyed by many ages. Teachers could use it
as an introduction to studying Leonardo da Vinci in Art or as a model
to help children create their own picture book with them as the star.
The book would look good on a coffee table and even if you have no
interest in Art, you will enjoy the idea of being someone else, even if
it is for just a day (or two).
Kylie Kempster
Fire Lizard by Sandy Fussell
Samurai Kids, Book 5. Walker Books, 2010. ISBN: 978 1 921529 46 7.
Recommended. As Sensei and the Little Cockroaches travel through Korea
to the hidden valley of the Hwarang warriors to visit Sensei's teacher,
Pak Cho, the group encounter some confrontations and, early on, meet
with a powerful animal which leaves Yoshi with the mark of the Tiger.
Hyo Moon, the governor, along with his group of corrupt lackeys, has
been controlling and terrorizing the people of the villages of the Nine
Valleys. The desperation of the people leads to Sensei and his band
travelling to Daejeon City to visit the Governor and alert him to the
situation. During the course of the story, the Kids again train in new
fighting techniques, meet some characters who dislike them intensely,
develop some useful alliances and Niya learns more about his teacher.
Despite having enjoyed the other books in this series, it is this title
which has totally engrossed me from the opening page. Perhaps this is
due to the fact that, as a reader, I now know the main characters so
well that the additional characters can develop throughout the story
and I can predict how the Kids will respond to them. Fussell has
created a winning formula as she intersperses humour throughout this
fusion of the Asian cultures, mythology and mysticism. Niya again
narrates, despite the story being that of the group and not just of one
character, and his perspective often gives insights into the characters
of Sensei and the rest of the Kids. A recommended read!
Jo Schenkel
Beautiful creatures by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl
Penguin, 2010. ISBN 9780141326085. Beautiful darkness. Penguin, 2010. ISBN 9780141326092.
(Age 13+) Recommended for lovers of paranormal romance. Ethan Wate
lives in the Deep South town of Gatlin and he can't wait to leave it -
until Lena Duchannes comes to town. Lena is surrounded by mystery. She
lives with the town's recluse, Macon Ravenwood, in a sinister mansion,
and seems to have strange powers. Ethan is convinced she is the source
of his nightmares and the strange song about the sixteenth moon and the
sixteenth year when the Book will take what has been promised.
Beautiful darkness follows on after a cliff-hanger of an ending.
The series captured my attention from the beginning as it is told in
the first person by Ethan Wate, rather than the main female character.
Ethan is a typical teen who plays sport, gets on with his peers, but
secretly reads books and dreams of a wider world. He has been touched
by disaster, his mother dying in an accident and his father locking
himself away in his study to mourn. Lena too is an interesting
character, who longs to be accepted as normal in the school, but finds
that her powers keep her an outcast at school.
The most enjoyable part of the books for me, was the description of
small town life in America's south. I was fascinated by the
descriptions of the American Civil war, the re-enactment of battles and
most of all the way people lived in Gatlin. Ethan's aunts are described
in a touching but humorous way, and Ammy, the Wate's housekeeper, who
is obsessed with crosswords, is a joy to read about.
Needless to say, there is plenty of Gothic suspense and romance, and
although both books are long (over 500 pages each), the action and the
character development kept me reading to the end. Both books are sure
to appeal to readers who enjoyed the Twilight series or Shiver
by
Maggie Stiefvater. References to To Kill a Mocking Bird and
other
literature abound and may lead readers to explore those books as well.
Pat Pledger
You are a star by Michael Parker and Judith Rossell
ABC Books, 2010. ISBN 9780733325397.
(Age 4-8) Recommended. A young child takes a trip out of this world
into the vast universe and learns how the stars and Earth was formed,
as well as discovering that we are all made of stars.
A book that appeals to the imagination You are a star carries
the
reader on a flight of exploration into the stars. Although much of it
is based on scientific fact, the text and illustrations give a
wonderful insight into the life of stars, their vastness and their
origins.
Both boys and girls will identify with the young child, who could be of
either sex. Clad in pyjamas with a star on the front, the child is
pictured pressing against a window looking at the night sky, and then
is shown soaring through the night sky. The illustrations could be a
stimulus for reader to wonder what it would be like to explore the
universe and to enjoy the thought of being a star. The fascinating end
papers show the mythological creatures that are associated with the
stars, such as Taurus and Aries, and will appeal to older children.
The text is simple and would make a good bedtime story or one to read
aloud. Containing joy and wonderment, this story is an original way of
introducing children to space.
Pat Pledger
From those wonderful folks who gave you Pearl Harbor. Frontline dispatches from the advertising war by Jerry Della Femina
ed. Charles Sopkin. Text Publishing, 2010.
(Age: Year 12+) This book, originally published in 1971 as a look at
the advertising world in New York, has been re-released following the
success of the television series Mad men, based in part on it.
Non-fiction, the book reveals the changes in the industry in New York,
from so conservative that, as the author was told, 'people of his kind'
would not be employed on ethnic grounds, to an industry where the
copywriters were frequently high on drugs, did not start work until
late in the day and the sexual revolution of the sixties was clearly
happening.
The themes covered include the precariousness of the work,
even experienced advertisers spending months unemployed at times. The
author also reveals the need for intelligence, as well as the
industry's reputation for glamour and in fact frequently the lack of
glamour. Censorship is an important issue; as an advertiser the author
is usually against it. He also demonstrates the relationships between
the various branches in an agency, and how this can malfunction.
The
book provides insights into how businesses work and how personalities
are important; it has some discussion of the ethics of advertising and
censorship but does not examine the methodology or techniques. The
author's voice is distinctively from New York, his anecdotes are lively
and humorous, and the book moves along at a good pace. Though probably
of limited use for most students for curriculum purposes, it is an
enjoyable and informative read.
Jenny Hamilton
The Uninvited by Tim Wynne-Jones
Walker Books, 2010.
(Ages 14 plus) A complex set of circumstances conspire to ensure
an extended dysfunctional (but strangely loving) family end up meeting
through the vagaries of a wonderfully eccentric dad.
Mimi, an out of luck, mini-cooper driving New Yorker, attempts to erase
an undesirable ex-lover from her mind by heading up to her father's
'undisclosed' holiday retreat in Ontario.
Adventures abound as Mimi discovers Jackson Page, living 'illegally' in
the cabin (suggested by her dad as an antedote for recovering from a
failed relationship.)
As Mimi and Jackson develop a smouldering friendship and sympathetic
understanding of each other's past and future needs, Cramer, a local
resident with issues of his own, spies and interferes (with strangely
quirky logic) into their lives, eerily taking a fancy to Mimi.
The intricately woven relationships unfold, enabling 25 years of
history
to link the main three protagonists and solve many unanswered questions.
The creepy nature of some characters and settings ensure this book is
an entertaining but engaging read right until the end as does the
desire to find out the character connections that permeate the plot!
Deirdre Murphy
Ninth Grade Slays by Heather Brewer
Penguin, 2010. ISBN 978 0 14 320515 9.
Highly recommended. The second book in The Chronicles of Vladimir
Tod - Ninth Grade Slays, continues to follow the life of
Vladimir, his friend Henry and the trials of high school, particularly
when you are a little different! Vladimir has discovered girls, in
particular Meredith and is trying to work up the courage to talk to
her. His uncle Otis continues to write sharing knowledge with Vladimir
about his telepathy and how best to develop it. School begins and
trouble starts: photographers following him, grades slipping. A
trip to Siberian to study under one of his father's friends helps
Vladimir to hone his skills but on his return he must cope with a
vampire attack and confront the slayer hired to kill him.
This well written series is filled with intrigue, danger, search for
identity, friendship and life experiences and despite the market being
inundated with 'vampire' stories this stands out as one worth reading.
Tracy Glover
A secret gift by Ted Gup
Sub-title: How one man's kindness - and a trove of letters -
revealed the hidden history of the Great Depression
Random House Australia, 2010. ISBN 9781741669442.
(Age 14+) On 18th December 1933, an advertisement appeared in the local
paper of a small town in Ohio. It offered gifts of money for Christmas
to 'men or families' in exchange for information about the difficulties
they were facing. The advertisement was signed 'B. Virdot', a name
unknown in the community. The letters poured in. They documented the
bitter harvest of the Depression - unemployment, hunger, illness and
separation.
Seventy-five years later, reporter Ted Gup found the letters in a
suitcase in his mother's attic. The mysterious philanthropist was his
grandfather. The seasoned journalist realised that he had discovered a
window into the lives of those who suffered the greatest financial
collapse of the twentieth century. He was also prompted to find out
more about his grandfather and why he had been moved to help his
community.
Although this book reveals life in small town America in the 1930s, it
tells a universal tale about migration, hard work and the desperation
of people who are thrown into poverty through no fault of their own.
The author reflects on relationships, family secrets and the emotional,
physical and social toll of chronic unemployment. He also sees
parallels between the Great Depression and the recent Global Financial
Crisis. A collection of black and white photographs includes 'then and
now' portraits of some of the town's inhabitants.
By researching the personal circumstances of each letter writer and
interspersing his findings with discoveries about his own family, Ted
Gup has written a gentle but thought-provoking book. Although many
younger readers might find the material fascinating and inspiring, the
author has written his account for an adult audience. His clear,
concise writing is the work of a consummate journalist accustomed to
communicating with readers of the Washington Post and the New York
Times. A secret gift is a story which will reward anyone interested in
the
courage of so-called 'ordinary' people in times of hardship.
Elizabeth Bor
