Reviews

In Lonnie's Shadow by Chrissie Michaels

Ford Street Publishing, 2010. ISBN 9781876462918, p/b, 334pp.
(For mature readers, 14+ years, Australian author). Highly recommended. Set in the 1860s in inner city Melbourne, this interesting tale is framed around archaeological finds from the present day - 'a retrieval of memories overlaid by time.' An inventory at the beginning of the book lists items found at Casselden Place included in a public exhibition. These items become the chapter headings and the action of the chapter explains how these items have come about. This imaginative use of subjects for a chapter heading by no means takes away from the story, and the reader soon becomes involved in the life and times of young Lonnie McGuinness, caught in slum life, trying to eek out a living with illegal horse racing, yet aspiring to become a jockey at some reputable stables, if he can escape the oppressive backstreets.
Murderers and thieves abound in this seedy world - a little easier for the wily Lonnie to survive but not for young girls, in particularly his dear friend Pearl, who is tossed about in miserable circumstances; everyone is witness to many harsh cruelties.
Michaels writes with a true sense of the times; poverty swamps everyone; homes and streets are awash with rubbish and the accompanying overpowering smells.
Life is hard and it takes fortitude to survive these times. The descriptions of character and place are evocative and are confidently authentic.
Also, it is worth checking the Museum of Victoria's website to get a sense of the times so well described by the author.
Full of tense excitement, with the ongoing adventures of Lonnie as he battles to avoid being branded a criminal, through little fault of his own but of his circumstances, In Lonnie's Shadow is highly recommended.
Julie Wells

Because you are with me by Kylie Dunstan

Hachette, 2010. ISBN 9780734411310.
Highly recommended for 4+. Sometimes it takes a bit of help from someone you love to find the courage to do scary and new things. Together a father and daughter discover all the things they can achieve, from walking down the hallway in the dark to eating all your vegetables.
The illustrations are unusual and beautiful. Using a striking collage technique with lokta paper, Kylie Dunstan has created a colourful father and daughter story that will appeal to young readers who are experiencing firsts in their own lives.
Kathryn Pledger
Editor's note: Kylie Dunstan's picture book Collecting Colour won the 2009 CBCA Award for Picture Book of the Year.

Montacute House by Lucy Jago

Bloomsbury, 2010.
(Age 13-15) Set in 1596, this title has all the trimmings.
For the villagers of Montacute, May Day did not bring good news. A boy's body was found with terrible burns and suspicious markings. For Cess this did not mean too much until her friend goes missing. Cess is one of the poorer members of the community. She and her mother are shunned as Cess was born out of wedlock. For all this Cess has great determination and is destined to do well. However the secrets that are revealed during the novel could spell disaster for Cess and those closest to her.
Themes include: Rituals, witchcraft, Village life, 1500's history.
It would pair well with The crucible.
Suitable for years 9-10.
Wendy Rutten

Lady Jane Grey: Queen for sale by Caroline Corby

Walker Books, 2010. ISBN 978 1406312553.
(Ages 10+) Recommended. Historical novel. Lady Jane Grey, great niece of the ailing Henry VIII, is a prized possession to her parents, the Dorsets, and their greed. Used as a pawn in the marriage stakes of like minded climbers within the court circle, Jane is told she is to marry the sickly Edward who follows as king when Henry dies. He is her cousin, and she feels sorry for him, sickly and pale, and guided by favourites who have wormed their way to be close to him. Her other cousins, Elizabeth and Mary she sees rarely. Henry's last wife, Katherine, seeing Jane at odds with her brutal parents, takes her into her household where she seems to lead a peaceful life, until Katherine and her baby die, leaving Jane alone again. With Edward ailing, the Dorsets marry Jane off to Darnley, the son of their benefactor, Northumberland who is close to the throne, and when Edward dies, Jane becomes queen. Nine days later she is beheaded, and so ends the shortest reign in history. Jane is only 16.
A story of the greed of those close to power, using whatever means at their disposal to gain and keep power, the story of Lady Jane Grey is mesmerizing in its sweep of British history following the death of Henry VIII. Corby fills in the background, giving Jane a life beyond the courts, seeing her as a pawn to be used in the game of power in the court. The background of her life and times is stunningly recreated, with the overlay of fiction to hold it together. One in a series called, Before they were famous, the others include Cleopatra, Boudica and William of Normandy.
Fran Knight

When I love you at Christmas by David Bedford and Tamsin Ainslie

Little Hare 2010. ISBN 978 1 921541261.
Picture book. The repetition on each page will encourage readers to join in with the language as they turn each page to find the young girl preparing for Christmas. Wrapping the gifts, making biscuits, hanging stars from the tree, singing and dancing and making cards are all done on the days before Christmas, and the toy tells the little girl that is when she loves her, getting ready for the day. But it goes on for she is also loved when she tosses and turns waiting for the day, and then when it comes, she is also loved opening presents, but the best of times is when the little girl gives her toy a present.
Full of the wonderful things a child does before Christmas, and following through the things done on Christmas Day, the book turns the story from being child centred and present centred to the toy loving being loved and hugged at Christmas. The presents lie around forgotten; it is the warmth of the holding and loving that is more important. A cute reminder of the best things at Christmas, this book will be a neat antidote to the commercial aspects thrown at children at this time of the year.
Fran Knight

Candor by Pam Bachorz

Hardie Grant Egmont, 2010. ISBN 9781921564826.
Suggested reading 15 years onwards. Candor is a technologically advanced, exclusive town which exists cloistered from contemporary mainstream Florida society. Residence within the town is highly sought after by wealthy families who join a long waiting list to gain approval from its founder and owner Mr. Banks.
Superficially, the town is perfect, being drug, alcohol and crime free and possessing excellent education and health facilities alongside magnificent houses on manicured streetscapes.
The unrealistic flawlessness of the town provides a hint of sinister influences which are gradually revealed by the protagonist Oscar Banks, the seemingly perfect son of the town's massively wealthy founder. Mr. Banks senior strives to control his residents and maintain their obedience and devotion to the town by playing inaudible subliminal messages. The messages are nothing short of mind control and the town's residents little more than automatons programmed by an egomaniac. The psychological manipulation is so intrusive that people have no free will and whilst they consider themselves happy and fulfilled, this is merely an artificial construct produced by the messages which determine every aspect of their lives.
Eventually residents become addicted to the messages. Aspirations to move elsewhere are suppressed and people are prevented from physically distancing themselves from the manipulative influences by resultant ill effects such as withdrawl symptoms and even psychosis.
Banks senior's deeds are reprehensible, however his misguided intention is to create a wholesome society with family values, moral relations and good health. The fact that he causes mental illness escapes him.
Oscar Banks has discovered his father's secret and develops methods of resisting and moderating the subliminal directives. The reader finds hope that he is able to undermine or confront his father, especially when Oscar becomes smitten by a new resident, the beautiful Nia, who is clearly non-conformist.
Bachorz cleverly beguiles us however because it becomes apparent that Oscar is a slimy individual, being motivated purely by personal financial gain and sexual favours. Classic themes would portray Oscar protecting Nia, allowing them both to escape and hopefully free the townsfolk by notifiying external authorities. However this author is brave in devising a truly repugnant character as the anti-hero, even if this part of the plot is perhaps unsatisfying because of it.
Oscar is mercenary, immoral and completely selfish. He is seemingly unaware of his own hypocrisy in condemning his father whilst perpetuating similar practices for his own ends. The reader is repulsed by his childish obsession with his needs in the damaging manipulation of his victims. It is dismaying that Oscar desires the affections of Nia even when inducement is necessary to artificially synthesise them and the self acceptance of his predatory behaviour was disturbing.
Readers will be interested to discover how the narrative develops.
Rob Welsh

Nerrilee's World by Anne Hamilton

Wombat Books, 2009. ISBN: 9780975232194
(Ages 4-8) An oil spill in the bay leads to the mermaid Nerrilee rushing off to visit her friends, spreading the news and checking on their well being. Although she keeps asking other creatures about her friend, Talissa, she doesn't meet up with her until the very end of the book, when another spin is put on the activities of the day.
Throughout the story, the reader is introduced to a myriad of sea creatures as well as following the journey of the mermaid. With repetitive, rhythmic language, this is perhaps better suited to younger children and yet the language is simultaneously stilted and lacking simplicity. The illustrations of the underwater habitat are colourful, stylized and realistic in contrast with those of the mermaids which seem to be far more Disney style and hence out of place. With the text laid over the top of the background illustrations, the format seemed to be at odds with the pictures and held little appeal. Illustrations of the different creatures which appeared in the story on the final two pages were the highlight of the book.
Jo Schenkel

Blueeyedboy by Joanne Harris

Doubleday, 2010. ISBN 9780385609517. 410p.
(Age: 15+) Recommended for Year 11+. Told in the form of online blogs to a webjournal, sometimes in first person, sometimes third, the novel is about the only surviving brother of three and his widowed mother, Gloria, who is possessive, cruel and ambitious. Because she colour codes the children's clothing for her convenience they become known as Black, Brown and Blue in the Webjournal. When two of the boys show signs of synaethesia Gloria takes them to a wealthy academic who sponsors them until a more interesting case, that of a blind girl who claims to sense colours, is discovered, and the boys are rejected, one of them seeking revenge. The webjournal charts the 'progress' of one of the brothers through childhood and adolescence to an adult obsessed with murder and revenge. The plotting is complicated and intriguing; the reader is not sure which brother is the author of the journal, or who the girl writing responses is, or whether what is written is fact or fiction. The sense of threat increases as unexpected developments happen, the bloggers being revealed for who they are. The narrative techniques are interesting but the language is not overly demanding. Ultimately about the helplessness of children, even adult children, faced with a manipulative and determined parent, the theme is universal.
Jenny Hamilton

Wishful Thinking by Ali Sparkes

Oxford University Press, 2010.
(Ages 10+) Imagine having your own god, who grants you a Wii and makes you popular with the most unobtainable girl in the school, and all he requires is a little worship in return. Sounds good? Kevin Rutley certainly thinks so, and when a freak mishap with a bunch of wishes scrawled onto a cafe napkin reach Abandinus, Celtic god of the River Ouse, Kevin and his friends Tim and Gracie, decide they are on to a very good thing indeed.
But it's not just Abandinus who makes an appearance, Arimanius, god of the underworld tries to inveigle Kevin into his clutches and when Kevin resists, his much loved Nana is critically injured in a car crash. Kevin and his friends discover that gods are not just fairy godmothers, granting wishes left right and centre. Like humans, they have their own agenda and the three friends soon find themselves helpless pawns in a clash of monumental dimensions between warring gods.
Wishful Thinking revolves around little known English and Greek gods, although the god of roads, Semitas, is I think Ali Sparkes own creation. Dressed in a day-glo vest and responsible for hold ups and orange cones, Semitas is a brilliant invention that I am sure many adults call upon in times of stress; 'oh god, not another traffic jam.'
I am a huge fan of Ali Sparkes and this just confirms her place as an inventive, exciting author perfect for upper junior and lower secondary children. As always her story is original and fun with equal measures of comedy and action - the perfect recipe to get young people reading.
Claire Larson

This is Shyness by Leanne Hall

Text, 2010. ISBN 97819216556521.
(Age 15+) Highly recommended. Winner of the 2009 Text Prize for Young Adult and Children's Writing, Leanne Hall has written a mesmerising tale set in Shyness, a suburb where there is perpetual darkness. When she is out on a mission to forget her life, her mother and her mother's Internet date, Wildgirl meets a strange boy at the Diabetic Hotel. He introduces himself as Wolfboy and together they go out on an adventure exploring Shyness, where the sun doesn't rise and danger prowls the streets. Wolfboy takes Wildgirl to a club, inhabited by people dripping in wealth and glamour as well as a black market shop behind a bowling alley. Walking through a park, they are mugged by a gang called the Kidds, who are sugar-crazed and use tarsiers, monkey like creatures to steal Wildgirl's lighter. Then the adventure hots up as they go on a quest to recover it.
This is a totally original book with a story line that I haven't encountered anywhere before. Telling the story in alternative chapters by Wolfboy and Wildgirl, Hall took me on a roller coaster ride to unexpected and surprising places. Wolfboy and Wildgirl are engaging characters and I was fascinated to learn their stories as the book progressed. Their problems and how they face them are gradually revealed as they get to know each other during one night. Wolfboy is struggling to come to terms with the death of his brother and the child that he left behind and this is revealed early in the book. Wildgirl's problems however take longer to be exposed.
This is not an easy book to write about as the plot, setting and ideas are so unique. It would be a great class text for older students as there are so many ideas to consider in it. Themes of cyberbullying, suicide, grief, greed, and addiction are interwoven in a suspenseful chase through the darkness.
At the end, I was left with many questions and things to think about. Is the Darkness real, or is it darkness of the mind? Does the sun rise or not? Is the book really set in the future?
What more can you ask of a book that it is original, beautifully written, moving and memorable? An amazing debut, This is Shyness is a book that shouldn't be missed and deserves a place on library shelves.
Pat Pledger

Plum Puddings and Paper Moons by Glenda Millard

ABC Books, 2010. ISBN 978 073332864.
Highly recommended. The Silk family prepares for Christmas with the usual swag of things to do, someone in the kitchen making plum puddings, others making paper chains, several getting a tree ready, but all redolent of Christmases past, full of fun and humour, families and safety. But this year, the eldest girl, Scarlett, works at a local cafe to earn money, and talking to the dishwasher, comes to realise that not all families are like her own. Here is a refugee, and in telling his story, Anik draws Scarlett into his world, one of fear and death, of leaving behind those that you love, of making the treacherous trip across the sea to a place of safety.
Perplexed at what to do, Scarlett makes black arm bands from her black tights and asks others to wear one too. Scarlett declares peace in the town of Cameron Creek, and impels everyone to walk for peace on Christmas Eve, to remember the reason that Christmas occurs, for thanking others for the peace we take for granted. A diverse array of people join her march, showcasing the range of people, age groups and backgrounds that make up today's Australia. The Silk family met in four previous Glenda Millard books will be well known to younger readers, and this the fifth in the series, brings a freshness that is most appealing. Older readers will enjoy this story as well as younger, as the theme is universal and timely.
Fran Knight

Foxly's Feast by Owen Davey

Hardie Grant Egmont, 2010. ISBN 9781921690594
Recommended for the Early Years.
'Foxly's tummy is rumbling. He's looking for a fantastic feast and has some big ideas, but could there be more to Foxly that meets the eye?' As Foxly travels through the story looking for things to eat, he passes many small animals on the way. As the story goes on his hunger increases and so does the size of the animals he passes, until in the end it is time to eat - but this is a fox with a difference, and there is more to the story than meets the eye. A wonderful feast for all he passed, this vegetarian fox is happy with a bowl full of apples.
Unusual illustrations make this picture book quite fascinating.  I really like the fact that after the story is read and you look again at the pictures you can pick up a whole other story happening along the text. Students will enjoy pouring over the washed out pages to find the ingredients for his feast as he collects them on each page and his backpack and bags begin to grow.  At first glance I could not see the appeal for the high commendation by the Macmillan Children's Book Prize that was awarded to illustration students, but after reading the text and carefully re-examining the pictures I can definitely see the appeal. This book is different, clever and fun. I recommend it for younger students.
Zana Thiele

Curse of the Wendigo by Scott R. Welvaert

An Agate and Buck adventure. School mysteries. Raintree, ISBN 978 1 406 21604 2.
Recommended for Upper Primary and older students. A gruesome story about the Wendigo, a creature found in the myths and legends of the Algonquin tribes of North America. The name comes from an old Algonquin word meaning 'evil spirit'or 'spirit that devours humans'!  The story is set in the Canadian woods where Agate and Buck set out to find their parents who have disappeared. The children follow the map they found in their father's trunk and it led them to Fiddler, a man who claimed to know their parents well. During a meal in Fiddler's tent Buck tells them of the tracks with 'claws at the toes like a bear, or a wolf' p37. Fiddler becomes very excited at this news leads the children. Along the way they meet the beautiful Calandra who opens the Temple for them and they meet Igam the head of the Majictaw. Evil Coyote, living deep under the burial grounds, has the children's parents prisoners for he wants to use them to catch the children. Steeped in legend and mystery the story unfolds with chilling sadness. Once again the Glossary, Discussion Questions, Writing Prompts and Author Information are interesting and useful. Typeface and font allow for easier reading.
Sue Nosworthy

Interview with Aleesah Darlison

Totally twins: Musical Mayhem by Aleesha Darlison

Ill. by Serena Geddes. New Frontier, 2010. ISBN 9781921042348.
(Age 7-10) Highly recommended for girls. Persephone and Portia Pinchgut are twins and there is total mayhem when Portia drags Perse along to the audition of the school musical. Perse cannot sing, in fact her singing is so bad that her fellow classmates can remember the last time she sang and still tease her about it. She is terrified of appearing in public but her secret diary is a great consolation as she reveals her inner turmoil. Fortunately Perse can think on her feet and she manages to get herself out of hot water!
It's great to see a chapter book for girls where the humour is infectious. Darlison has the happy knack of writing funny dialogue and descriptions that made me laugh out loud at times. The diary format will appeal to young readers especially as Perse has a unique way of expressing herself. There are many instances of vivid imagery, like Perse being afraid that she is going 'to make a total gooper' of herself with her 'horrendous cat-getting-its-tail-pulled-singing' (pg 20), that will enthral the reader and keep up a high level of interest.
However it is not just the humour that entices the reader. I was touched by Perse's descriptions of her rivalry with her sister Portia, who comes across as confident and popular, while Perse is much quieter and more sensible. With her father far away and her mother preoccupied with her yoga and laughter therapy, it is her diary that provides her with the opportunity to work out her thoughts and emotions. Perse is a wonderful character that children will identify with. She is strong enough to acknowledge her shortcomings and work out ways to get round them.
Black and white line drawings by Serena Geddes are interspersed throughout and add to the interest. I especially liked the illustrations of the twins that complement the humour in the book.
Activities and colouring in pages can be found at Darlison's site.
I can see this book being used as a read aloud by librarians and class teachers for its zany humour. I look forward to the next book in what I think will be a very popular series.
Pat Pledger