Egmont, 2010. ISBN 9781405247399.
(Age Range:16-18 Upper Secondary) I approached this book with
interest, considering the success and popularity of William Nicolson's
The Wind on Fire Trilogy presenting fantastical worlds of
fast-paced
action and imaginative characters all beautifully described.
Obviously, the subject matter of Rich and Mad is quite
different and, I
suspect, strange territory for the author.
Maddy Fisher decides in the opening paragraph that it is time for her
to fall in love; 'can't-eat can't-sleep crazy in love.' At this time
in her life, though, she has no clue as to who she may fall for. Maddy
takes the reader on a love-search journey to home, school, friends'
houses and the shops where we share in rather silly, self indulgent
conversations with family and friends about her wish to find a love
partner. The most unlikely boy around is Rich, yet it is easy to
predict that he will make it happen! Rich Ross is in Maddy's year
at school but he is attracted to Maddy's friend Grace. There follows a
stream of incidences where friends betray each other, and lies and
jealousy bring unhappiness.
Nicolson writes a superficial story with little character interest. Any
attempts at description are clumsy and ill-fitting. One cannot
take seriously the phrase - 'The vapour trails of high-flying jets were
slowly disintegrating, forming long streamers of transparent cloud
against the blue' to begin a chapter entitled 'The Boy with the Sex
Manual'.
There are aspects of this book which will be read and enjoyed but it is
generally cliched and lacking depth. There are better books around
which look at first sexual experience where characters play out an
interesting storyline as well.
Julie Wells
Jekel loves Hyde by Beth Fantaskey
Penguin, 2010. ISBN 9780143204046.
(Age 14+) Jill Jekel is devastated. Her father has been murdered and
the only person who seems to understand her grief is the mysterious
Tristen Hyde, who turns up to comfort her at his funeral. Then she
discovers that her college fund has spent by her father, her mother is
severely depressed, and that all her plans for the future are in chaos.
There is one light in the tunnel for her - her science teacher
encourages her to make up a chemistry experiment and apply for a
scholarship which will fund her future studies. The perfect solution
seems to be to join up with Tristen and use the names of Jekel and Hyde
to gain the attention of the judges by trading on the Robert Louis
Stevenson's story, The strange case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde.
Told in alternating chapters by Jill and Tristen, I was fascinated to
see how the author conveyed ideas from the classic story into a modern
horror setting. Jill finally decides to break into her father's
forbidden box in his study and steal the notes about experiments that
are in there. When recreating the formula, they hope to save Tristen
from the murderous rages that he fears since his grandfather has told
him that he is descended from Mr Hyde. But for Jill, a taste of the
potion brings out her dark, wild side.
In the meantime Tristen's father has taken over the care of Jill's
mother, but when Tristen reads his father's journal, he fears that all
is not right. As the two continue their search for the formula, their
romance waxes and wanes, the mystery deepens and danger threatens.
With a brooding, gorgeous boy and a girl who is just realising her
strengths, a Gothic mystery and some surprising plot turns, there is
enough action to keep readers engrossed to the end. Some may even be
inspired to turn to Stevenson's classic novel to see why the original
story has lasted so long.
Pat Pledger
40 Super human body tricks by Ruben Meerman
ABC Books, 2009. ISBN 9780733325694.
Middle school. A whole lot of fun can be had reading through and trying
out some of
the experiments outlined by Surfing Scientist, Ruben Meerman. Featured
in ABC TV's RollerCoaster, Meerman is well known to young kids in his
aim at making science and the body interesting. From making a
broken nose, to counting the amount of sugar in a typical can of soft
drink, there are 40 amazing things to do in this book.
I loved the Straw heart beat monitor and tried it myself, as well as
the Blind taste test and of course the mind puzzles and brain teasers
at the end of the book. I can imagine classes trying out some of the
double page instructions for themselves, or kids trying things out at
home. It's a funny book, full of easy to read instructions, and easily
digested explanations of why these things occur. A contents page that
is easy to follow, with 2 pages of Amazing body facts and World records
at the end of the book add to the fun of it all, and of course, the
last experiment to try is making your own snot. What fun!
Fran Knight
Yellow is my favourite colour by Judy Horacek
Penguin, 2010. ISBN 9780143504283.
(Age 1-3) Highly recommended. Boardbook. Yellow is my favourite colour
is a beautiful picture books in verse which describes all the colours
that a little girl likes, although her favourite colour is yellow,
because it 'brings sunshine' to her day. Horacek, the illustrator of Where
is
the green sheep? by Mem Fox, again
brings her beautiful cartoon like figures and vivid colours to this
story. The little girl is drawn as such a happy person, her laughing
face showing different views of her exuberance as she revels in the
different colours. I especially loved the pictures of her
bouncing on pink cushions and winning a car race in her yellow car.
It is perfect for small hands to manage and wonderful to read aloud.
Not only a joyful addition to stories for the very young, it also
provides a parent or caregiver the opportunity to teach the colours in
a fun way and then to discuss what the toddler's favourite colour
is. After reading this to a young child, it wouldn't be hard to
find reminders in the home and on walks of all the colours found in the
book.
This is such a happy, energetic book that I am sure it will become a
favourite of any young children lucky enough to get their hands on it.
Be prepared to read it over and over!
Pat Pledger
Shades series by various authors
Evans Brothers, 2010.
Dragonwood by Alex Stewart
ISBN 9780237541354
Well recommended. Pip, the Halfling assassin, has taken a bet to
obtain the head of Graznik, the leader of the Dragonwood orcs. This is
a thriller with a clever twist. It has a good plot followed with
strong characters who lead the way. The names are interesting and add
to the interest. Pip's relationship with Kalliandashira is interesting
to say the least! The plot develops smoothly and the fascinating way
the story ends is well concealed.
Off the rails by Anne Rooney
ISBN 9780237541347.
(Age 13+) This book really belongs to the adult section of crime but is
written in a very simple way. Karl sees a carpet with a leg hanging out
as his train passes a crossing. The reader learns that groups
have vendettas against groups of people, in this case gypsies.
Sue Nosworthy
Editor's note: The publisher
recommends the series as suitable for
12-16 year olds and it is aimed at reluctant readers.
Slime Squad vs The Fearsome Fists by Steve Cole
Random House, 2010. ISBN 9781862308763.
Highly recommended. Another good versus evil by the creator of
Astrosaurs, with lots of boy appeal (ie slime, sewers and smelly
feet).
The unlikely monster hero is Plog and the enemy are the Fearsome Fists.
The battle takes place in Trashland where its inhabitants read
newspoopers and watch smellyvision. Other members of Slime Squad are
Furp, Zill and Danjo whose leader is the 'all seeing PIE', a computer
directing them to rescue characters like Mrs Bumflop. Trashland is full
of monsters living in 'suburbs' with very humorous names such as Mucky
Mattress Marshes, Poo-nited States, Heavy Metal Hills and Plastic Bag
Forest, just to name a few. (An extensive list can be viewed on the
story map included at the beginning.) Illustrations by Woody Fox
enhance written descriptions of Plog with cauldrons on his feet (to
stop the smell), and the ugly Fearsome Fists engaged in battle with the
Slime Squad. I highly recommend this story for children who love to see
good triumph and a monster with nothing going for him become a hero.
Vicki Nunn
Shark Girl by Kelly Bingham
Candlewick Press 2010. ISBN 9780763646271.
(Ages 12+) This verse novel tells the story of blossoming artist, Jane
Arrowood, snatched from the jaws of a shark by her brother, while out
swimming with her family. She loses her arm and faces the
potential loss of friends, her talent for drawing and painting and her
sense of belonging. Told in the first person, Kelly Bingham
captures a strong and absorbing voice.
After a long convalescence, cared for by a loving mother and
challenging brother, Jane faces her return to school. The journey
to some sort of normality is long and difficult and she realises that
her life is changed forever. Frustrated, she wants life to be as
it was, but, gradually she comes to an understanding of what life
now means - she is the one who needs to face the reality and adjust,
accepting the love and support of friends and family members, even if
they don't always respond as she would hope. She discovers that
Max, the school heart-throb may even be interested in her as a person;
herself as she is now!
Jane finds comfort in Justin's friendship, a young boy she meets in
hospital who has lost his leg. Her confidence is boosted by his
pragmatic acceptance of life's disappointments.
He friends respond to her in different ways - as is only natural - but
she comes to understand the pressures they place on themselves, too, in
confronting her accident.
She learns to understand the responses of her family, though often
exasperating.
Her talent for drawing is not lost as she grows in determination and
courage. She comes to accept the fact that family photos now reveal a
new Jane, but not any less of a person.
Though somewhat long, and at times repetitive, Shark Girl
reveals a
young girl's journey through life after a tragic accident.
The choice of verse narration works well as her inner thoughts are well
explored. The narration is interrupted at times with news media
articles, and letters from readers of these, but this clever device
widens the interest level of Jane's story.
The language is realistic and often evocative, and, despite its length
and reiteration of responses, this novel is very readable.
Julie Wells
Destroying Avalon by Kate McCaffrey
Read by Kellie Jones. Louis Braille Audio, ISBN 9780732033705.
I utilised the Destroying Avalon text (CD format) in my
Pastoral Care Classes when we were focussing on Cyber bullying. I had
already read the novel and was aware that it had been highly
recommended for students by child psychologist, Dr Michael Carr-Greg.
I thought that this would be a good way to deliver the story for
teachers because: It would eliminate the need to read the book and thus
conserve the
voice. It would remove the issue of having to read lots of
swearing/language
that I felt could be uncomfortable to read! It provided listeners with
another voice to rather than hearing the
same old teacher's voice!
For the reasons outlined above, I believe that the delivery method was
good.
The class was a composite Year 9/10 group with 14 students. I asked
students to review the text and the delivery method and I have
included some of their responses. They were asked: Please
indicate the extent to which you enjoyed the story (1 being
lowest enjoyment, 10 being highest).
The average response was 7.
Please indicate the extent to which you enjoyed the delivery method
(1 being lowest enjoyment, 10 being highest)
The average response was between 5 and 6 with some respondents citing 1
and others a 9. It was very well received by some whilst
others did not like the delivery method at all. Their responses
were quite extreme.
A compilation of quotes when asked the question, 'Would you recommend
the text for future students, why or why not?' follows:
'Yes, because it makes kids think about what they are doing on the
web. It would definitely be good for the future.' (Female
student,
15)
'Yeah, it beats doing worksheets and other stuff about bullying.'
(Female student, 14)
'Yes because it delivers a powerful, in-depth look at bullying'. (Male
student, 15)
'Yes, I would recommend this book to future students because it shows
how things like bullying can become very serious and may lead to
death'.
(Male student, 15)
'Yes because you can learn from other people's experiences and find out
what to do in these circumstances. It was enjoyable.' (Female
student, 14)
'Yes. It seemed like a very good thing to be aware of and it was easy
to understand what could happen in a real-life matter.' (Female
student,
15)
'The book, yes. The audio CD, no (Voice gives me a headache).' (Female
student, 14)
'Yes and no. Yes because it delivers it in a way that will stick
in our minds. No because some people can't just sit still to get
it, they have to be moving.' (Female student, 15)
Melissa Wendland
Trouble at the Zoo by Chris Kunz
Bindi Wildlife Adventures. Random House Australia, 2010. ISBN
9781864719963
A new series featuring Bindi Irwin, famous daughter of crocodile hunter
Steve Irwin. No 1, titled Trouble at the Zoo, is a quaint
little story
for beginner readers. In this first adventure we are introduced to the
Irwin family, celebrating Bindi's 11th birthday, as well as Australia
Zoo, where the family live and work. Although a short story the book
covers all the excitement of a themed costume party open to the public
at the Zoo, and how the plot by a zoo patron to steal one of its
animals is quite easily foiled by the Irwin siblings. It includes of
course the message of wildlife conservation and endangered animals that
is expected when reading about Bindi Irwin. Delightful in its
simplicity, it will appeal to children dedicated to saving wildlife
themselves. What is special about this series is each book also
includes information about the animals in the story written simply so
children could use for school projects or just to better understand the
creature.
Vicki Nunn
Where I belong by Gillian Cross
Oxford University Press, 2010.
(Ages 13+) Highly recommended. Gillian Cross weaves an
original, complex and satisfying story of three very different young
people. Khadija is a Somali girl sent to England to live among Somali
strangers. She must pretend they are her family for the sake of an
education, a job and money that will help her poverty stricken family.
Abdi was born in the Netherlands, lives in England and has never
visited his homeland but is Somali through and through. He is doubtful
about welcoming Khadija into his family. Freya is a London teenager
living under the shadow of her Father, an award winning war
photographer and her mother, a celebrated fashion designer.
The three teenagers are thrown together when Freya's mother, Sandy sees
Khadija in the street and decides that this tall and stunning girl must
be her next model. However, Sandy insists that Khadija must have a new
name and wear a full veil so that her identity is never revealed. She
also decides that for maximum impact the fashion show should be shot in
Somalia and beamed by satellite across the world. Things become
seriously complicated when Khadija's brother is kidnapped in Somalia
and a 10,000 pound ransom is demanded.
This is a story about our shrinking world, the power of the media and
the uncomfortable fit of high fashion in a place usually associated
with warlords, piracy and poverty. Cross forces her characters to
face the trauma of family betrayal and the nature of homeland and
identity. Khadija must conceal her identity from an ever intrusive
media frenzy, while desperately trying to rescue her kidnapped brother.
Abdi may never have visited Somalia but when he eventually arrives he
makes a shocking discovery that will change his life forever. Cross
expertly draws together the hints, clues and red herrings to deliver a
superb plot twist that is completely unexpected.
With equal appeal for girls and boys this would make an excellent class
reader for middle secondary students as there is so much to think about
and discuss.
I have admired Gillian Cross since I first read On the Edge,
and she is
still on form some 25 years later. My only very minor criticism is that
the story is told alternately by the three teenagers and occasionally I
found the constant shift between characters a little clumsy. However
this is also part of the story's strength as the reader becomes
immersed in the thoughts and feelings of each of the teenagers. I
hope this one makes next year's Carnegie shortlist.
Claire Larson.
Captain Stella by Ruth Starke
Aussie Chomps. Puffin, 2010. ISBN 97801433051506
(Age: Middle School) Highly recommended. Ruth Starke has once again
told a perfectly believable story about a
young girl helping her grandmother and her friends turn around the
fortunes of an opportunity shop, destined to be closed by the local
council. Stella, the main character from the award winning, Stella
by
the Sea, has to stay with Granny Bee while her parents are at a
real
estate conference in Las Vegas. Helping Granny Bee and her friends at
the op shop is worrying when she sees the utter mess and total disarray
of all the goods on sale, but she is amazed at the variety of customers
the shop attracts. The people who visit include some who simply come
along each day to pass the time with friends, or who join in with
morning tea or who, new to the country, find a place where their
untried language skills can be practiced.
Faced with the shop's closure, Stella devises a plan to reinvent the
place as a vintage and retro shop, so attracting new customers. She
enlists the help of several of her friends, Chester, the retired cook,
Jeffrey and Shane the florist and hair stylist, the Kings, the printers
from down the road, and Ted, the old man who almost lives at the shop.
Together, this disparate group works to transform the shop, making it
into something more attractive, so that the assessor will change his
mind. But a clever twist sees the inspector have a change of heart for
an entirely different reason. And along the way, in keeping with all of
Ruth Starke's books, the underlying multicultural nature of Australia
is displayed beautifully. It is an absolute delight to revisit Stella
in this wonderful story.
Fran Knight
The Prince of Mist by Carlos Ruiz Zafron
Text Publishing, 2010. ISBN 9781921656354.
(Age 11+) Recommended. When Max Carver's father decides to move his
family to a small town on the coast, Max is fascinated by the secrets
in the old house that they live in. It has a strange garden with
statues that look like a circus troop. An eerie clown statue which
stands at the centre of the six-pointed star in the garden, seems to
come alive. A black cat with strange eyes attaches itself to the family
and they find old films belonging to the previous owners, the
Fleischmanns, whose son has died in mysterious circumstances. In the
bay below the house is a ship that was wrecked many years before in a
terrible storm. Max meets Roland and together with his sister Alicia,
they go diving to investigate the shipwreck. Gradually the chilling
story of the Prince of Mists emerges. The Prince of Mist was first published in 1993 and was
specifically
written for young adults by Carlos Ruiz Zafron who has had enormous
success
with his adult novel Shadow of the wind. It is a haunting story
of the
evil Dr Cain who promises wish fulfilment, but at a terrible price. I
was fascinated with the idea of having a wish granted and it was a
compelling exercise to see what people were prepared to give up to gain
what they wanted. The story is much more subtle than found in many of
the gothic thrillers around, and although deceptively easy to read,
leaves behind much to think about.
Told in the third person, all the characters are fleshed out well. Max
is an inquisitive boy, who is determined to find out about the
frightening Clown apparition. The Prince of Mists emerges as a very
sinister and frightening character, who is scary enough to stay in the
reader's memory. Roland and Alicia's delicate romance add to the
interest and the adults in the family, seen through the eyes of Max,
are believable.
I thoroughly enjoyed this suspenseful, well-written and creepy ghost
story.
Pat Pledger
Chicken Stu by Nathan Luff
Scholastic, 2010. ISBN 9781741695566.
(Age Middle school) When weedy asthmatic Stuart is sent to stay with
his aunt and uncle for
the Christmas holidays, things look bad from the start. Stuart is not
close to his cousins, the loud and boisterous James and Matt who are no
help in guiding him around the mysteries of farm life, while Auntie
Gwen makes it her personal business to rid Stuart of his allergies and
fears. City life has made him soft, so living on a farm for six weeks
will do wonders, she thinks. Much fun ensues in this easy to read
story, as Stuart learns about the perils of the crutching shed, the
vagaries of milking a cow, catching the poddy calf as well as having to
contend with the young girl next door, who appears to have a liaison
with Matt, despite Auntie Gwen's best intentions.
Rural life has a whole lot of things that frighten Stuart horribly, and
for a while he wishes to be with his mother, but things take a turn for
the better in this laugh out loud story.
Fran Knight
Fightback by Steve Voake
Faber, 2010. ISBN 9780571230037
(Suggested reading age 11-14.) Recommended. Voake, writer of Blood
Hunters
has
created a story that begins at a frenetic pace and continues at
full-bore until the last page. Boys especially will be captured by the
excitement and tension within the narrative which does not labour with
complex vocabulary or excessive description. Readers must surrender
themselves to the fact that the plot is a series of wholly implausible
situations and outcomes. Similarly one must ignore the formulaic nature
of the story that features endless stereotypes such as the chief
protagonist, an adolescent boy avenging his father through a wildly
rich benefactor who combats crime. A beautiful young female ally who
possesses deadly combat skills is included alongside an elderly Chinese
master of martial arts who mentors the boy until he achieves a state of
heightened awareness and defensive proficiency.
Self deprecating humour and constant action beguile the reader into
abandoning reality and entering into the spirit of the story. This is
not high-brow literature, yet it will definitely appeal to boys, many
of whom may reject more intellectually demanding novels or those which
do not contain these action themes.
Works like this have real value as motivational reading and it would be
surprising if this title did not reappear as a graphic novel in the
near future. The descriptions of violence are not excessive and the
morals are sound with justice battling the evil of drug trafficking and
corruption. I recommend this title to teachers and librarians who
struggle to promote reading to unmotivated boys.
Rob Welsh
Graphic Dickens series
Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens. Evans Brothers, 2009.
Great Expectations by Charles Dickens. Evans Brothers, 2009.
(Age 10+) Most of the well known characters remain in this abbreviated,
graphic
version of Dickens's well known and loved tale of an orphan boy finding
a home, Oliver Twist. All of his hardships are well created,
his
beginning at a workhouse, his mother's death as a result of his birth,
to the workhouse where he famously asks for more food, then on to the
coffin makers and to Fagan's hidden den in London. The story is
enticing, a young boy pitting himself against the brutality of early
nineteenth century London, alone and bereft of support. All of the
squalor of London at this time is shown, the chimney sweep, the abuse
of young children, the heartless courts and the criminals who prey upon
the young, seeing a chance for a young body to squeeze through small
windows so they can steal.
In graphic novel form, the story has been shortened and so some of the
background figures are not there, but those that are recreate the story
well. Readers will love the Bumbles, the meanness of Monks, the
innocence of Mr Brownlow and the simple good heartedness of Oliver's
aunt. Each of the characters has recognisable qualities, shown not only
in the spare dialogue, but the illustrations. The artistry has movement
and flare which will have great appeal to the young audience it is
aimed at. This graphic series will give the tales of Dickens a new
readership
So too, with Great Expectations, the graphic form will entice a
new
audience to this well known tale of a poor boy expecting a considerable
monetary favour from a benefactor, but realizing that he has pinned his
hopes on the wrong person. The poverty, transportation system, courts
and police system at work in 19th century England all are exposed by
Dickens in this tale. I devoured the classics in comic form
during the 50's and this new series, published by Evans Brothers will
easily find a home.
Fran Knight
