The book collectors of Daraya by Delphine Minoui, translated by Lara Vergnaud
PanMacmillan, 2020. ISBN: 9781529012323.
(Age: Adult) Highly recommended. How do you even begin to describe
this book? For most people, Syria is a far-off place in the midst of
a war that not many could say what it is about. We just know that
cities are being destroyed and its people are fleeing as refugees.
President Bashar al-Assad has painted the rebels as militant Islamic
terrorists led by Daesh or ISIS. However journalist Delphine Minoui
stumbles on an online photograph of the secret library of Daraya,
the Damascus suburb under siege by Assad's forces. It shows young
men browsing before neatly arranged shelves of books. It is an
underground library of books rescued from the rubble of bombs, each
book with the previous owner's name meticulously recorded on the
first page, in the hope that one day the book will be reunited with
its owner. In the meantime, the library is the haven of the young
rebel fighters, not terrorists, but idealistic young men who want
freedom and democracy for their country. They collect the books and
share them; the titles range from the love poems of Nizar Qabbani to
Shakespeare, to Saint-Exupery's Little Prince, to American
self-help books, to J.M Coetzee and Paulo Coelho. The library
becomes a safe meeting place for ideological discussions and English
language classes.
Outside the library the inhabitants of Daraya faced the ongoing
barrage of barrel bombs, sarin gas attacks and napalm. Minoui tells
us the story through snatched moments on WhatsApp, FaceTime and
Skype, text messages and shared photographs and videos. We get to
know each of the young men who protect the library, their passion
for books, photography, art, and poetry, and their dreams for a
better future for their country.
Daraya falls in the end, the besieged inhabitants beaten by
malnutrition and starvation. But Minoui's book remains a testament
to the courage of the young men who fought back against a cruel
dictator and aspired for a better world.
Themes: Books, Libraries, War, Resistance, Freedom, Syria.
Helen Eddy
A Guinea Pig Night before Christmas
Guinea Pig classics, photographed by Phillip Beresford, sets
made and designed by Tess Newall. Bloomsbury Publishing, 2020 ISBN:
9781526613561.
(Age: All) Recommended. Guinea pigs photographed in cute costumes
are the feature of this rendering of the classic Christmas story The
night before Christmas. The publishers have not changed the
text of the original poem at all, they have just used the guinea
pigs and a cute little stuffed mouse as the"actors" in this story.
The detail of each costume is amazing, my favourite being the line
of guinea pig reindeers in the centre of the book, priceless.
Many children who saw this book commented that the lead reindeer was
not Rudolf, but the publishers have added 'the ninth reindeer' in a
cute little cameo at the end of the book with an explanation as to
why he doesn't appear in the original poem. There is a brief
paragraph towards the back of the book about pets being abandoned
around the Christmas season reminding us that we can support local
rescue centres with donations in the holiday season. The Guinea Pig
actors are also credited at the end of the book.
This book is one of a growing number of adorable titles in this
series with some of the other titles including The Nutcracker,
A Christmas Carol, A Guinea Pig Nativity,Romeo
and Juliet, Oliver Twist and Pride and Prejudice.
A Facebook page "Guinea Pig classics" is also mentioned by the
publishers on their website. Themes: Christmas, Guinea pigs, Classic
stories.
Gabrielle Anderson
The werewolves who weren't by T.C. Shelley
Bloomsbury Children's Books, 2020. ISBN: 9781526600806.
(Age: 10-12). Recommended for mature readers who have read the first
book. Follow up to 2019's The
monster who wasn't, which is a must-read before picking
up this one. This story continues from the events in the first book
and there are multiple concepts and relationships that are difficult
to make sense of without the earlier background.
Sam looks like a normal boy but has a unique secret. He is half
monster and half fairy, hatched only 4 months ago, with great
strength and heightened senses. He is adopted by a human family and
settles into a human life, including starting at school.
At school he meets three other students who smell nice to him but
initially act very oddly. It turns out they have a secret too, one
that makes them just as strange as Sam is, and so the foursome
quickly form a strong bond.
Then a figure from Sam's past returns and seems to be using fairy
dust to subdue and gather up monsters. Sam's friends vanish and new
threats emerge as Sam races to figure out what's happening and why.
He must weigh up where his loyalties lie and what he is willing to
lose, and this sets the scene for a mighty struggle for survival.
This story is quite complex overall, rather wordy in parts (I found
myself skipping through some of the longer descriptive passages
between action scenes) and full of wonderful detail about various
types of fanciful monsters. A younger reader may find this book
difficult and/or frightening.
For the mature reader though it has lovely themes of belonging,
identity, loyalty and friendship. West Australian author Shelley
includes some humour too showing Sam still getting used to human
life and speech (at one point he says "mistaken toe" where he means
'wrong foot'). The ending is hopeful and very intriguing, obviously
paving the way for book 3 which is due in 2021.
Themes: Monsters - fiction, Gargoyles, Families, Fairies,
Relationships, Dogs, Werewolves, Adventure.
Kylie Grant
I stole my Genius sisters’ brain by Jo Simmons is a cautionary tale that will have children (and their parents) laughing out loud. This story is about a not so smart boy who hatches a plan to get his smarty-pants sister’s brain! He is a funny kid who loves experimenting and inventing and just really wants to go to an Invention Fair in Paris. He thinks that by becoming smart his parents will treat him better and give him more attention.
This funny book really hooked me in and had me staying up late to finish it! I really enjoyed the character portrayal, and how the author engaged the reader with plot twists and turns.
Children will also love this book because it is full of disgusting inventions sure to make them giggle, this part especially engaged by 11-year-old who would usually rather read a comic!
The illustrations added to the humour of the story and really made the characters come to life. The hair in particular is worth a mention…..It has movement, height and flair! It really adds to the engagement factor!
My only disagreement with the author is the depiction of the parents. They were very focused on Keith’s sister Minerva and didn’t seem to treat Keith well when he had something he wanted. Otherwise, it is a really fun read about sibling relationships.
I liked that by the end there is a realisation that the siblings really want what the other has and there is a possibility that they will unite as a family and become happier and more as one.
Illus. by Matt Ottley. Walker Books, 2020. ISBN: 9781925381894.
(Age: children to adults). Highly recommended. How to Make a
Bird written by Meg McKinlay is a poignant and striking
picture book that would be suitable for readers of any age. The
story is of a young girl who creatively constructs a bird from
objects she finds in the natural world such as bones, shells and
feathers. We see her growing collection of smallish items in an old
battered case that she spreads on the floor to choose from in order
to enhance her ever-evolving bird. She adds a heart and colour but
still the bird sits as cold as a statue. The child knows that to set
her bird free she must gather it in to her hands, give it life and
gently let it go. This young girl has worked through a design
process from the conception of an idea to her final creation. This
story shows how even the smallest idea can be transformed into a
work of beauty and creativity.
The illustrations by artist Matt Ottley are simply stunning. Muted
in tones but steeped in detail they complement the text perfectly.
One reading is not enough of this book, there is so much to be
gained by poring over each page and searching for more clues to
understand the flow of the story. A truly inspiring and gentle read.
Teacher's
notes are available. Themes: Birds, Ideas, Design, Nature,
Imagination, Creating.
Kathryn Beilby
The Greatest Inventor by Ben Brooks
Hachette Children's Books, 2020. ISBN: 9781786541123.
(Age: primary) Recommended. This is a quirky story, full of whimsy.
Many children already know Ben Brook's books through the very
popular Boys who Dare to be Different 1 and 2 and Kids
who Dare to be Different. These books do not languish for long
on shelves. Brook's new book The Greatest Inventor does not
disappoint.
Victor, our hero, is a really good sort. In an unusual beginning the
prologue is narrated by the story teller who has writer's block. The
writer, lost in a forest in snowy Finland, is rescued by a boy who
subsequently becomes the hero of the story. My class of ten year
olds were captured after the prologue.
Victor feels that his little village is too boring and safe. He
desperately wants adventure. The villagers have hard, honest lives
and owe nobody anything. One day the self- styled . . . "greatest
inventor ever to set foot in the land of King Marshalla" arrives and
attempts to sell contraptions. The villagers won't buy. In anger he
casts a malicious spell over the village. Victor must release the
village from the spell. He travels with an unlikely companion a
talking turtle (tortoise?) called Saint Oswald. As they follow the
inventor, they come upon villages that are under the spell of the
inventor's contraptions. Other children, intent on rescuing their
villages, join them on their quest.
It becomes apparent that other villages have fallen into debt and
are doomed to permanent servitude. A monumental battle between the
children and the forces of evil ensures. In the end they all go home
which is where all good stories should end.
This book is a satisfying, mischievous romp - pure escapism. George
Ermos's black and white illustrations enhance the text. The children
are grounded in solid values. Sanity is restored to a world that has
lost touch with what really matters. Victor realises that he is part
of a world much bigger than himself. A delightful, fantastical romp
with a message.
Recommended for Primary aged children.
Wendy Jeffrey
October, October by Katya Balen
Ill. by Angela Harding. Bloomsbury Children's Books, 2020. ISBN:
9781526620491
(Age: 10+ ) Highly recommended. October is a girl who thinks of
herself as a wild wolf living in the woods with her equally wild
father. In the woods she is confident and self-sufficient. She
spends her days digging, climbing, running, learning, scavenging,
growing food and using her imagination to make up fantastic stories.
She does not need the 'woman who is her mother' and the only time
she feels out of her depth is on rare trips into town for supplies.
On her 11th birthday October has just adopted a baby owl. She and
her father are following their annual birthday ritual when something
terrible happens, and suddenly everything is different.
October is wrenched out of her wild life. She feels lost and angry
in equal parts and shuts down.
It takes time, bravery, love and friendship for October to let new
people into her inner circle and become open to finding something to
be excited about again.
October's relationship with her parents is a clear theme throughout.
Her father is fair, wise and warm as he guides, encourages and
protects her. Her connection with her mother is complicated and
sometimes ugly, but her mother offers unconditional love along with
great patience, grace and kindness.
Katya Balen uses long sentences to brilliantly convey the
breathlessness, anger, excitement, bewilderment and imagination of
October. The illustrations by Angela Harding show the baby owl
maturing, stretching and thriving throughout the story, mirroring
October herself.
The end is very moving and satisfying as October comes back to the
woods, where nothing and everything has changed.
"Being wild and free is different for every person and every thing
and it can be folded into the woods or whirling through the city
streets".
Includes a sneak peek at Balen's 2019 middle/upper grade novel, The
space we're in.
Themes: Family, Relationships, Imagination, Nature, Fathers,
Mothers.
Kylie Grant
A dog's perfect Christmas by W Bruce Cameron
Pan Macmillan, 2020. ISBN: 9781529010114.
(Age: Secondary/Adult) Highly recommended. Winstead, a nine year
wolf hound becomes aware one day that his Daddy is sad. His owner
gets up in the morning with aching bones and crooked fingers, and
turns to the pillow next to his where his wife once slept. Their
house has been sold to cover the debts her illness accrued, and he
is now living with his son and his family. His granddaughter comes
in each morning to wake him, but Ello is a taciturn young girl on
the brink of becoming a teen, at odds with everything around her.
Her three year old twin brothers, Ewan and Garrett cause mayhem
within the household, and mum, Juliana cannot wait to drop all three
at school and have some time to herself, going to Target for
respite. She is meeting her husband, Hunter for lunch and has
something to tell him.
Hunter is given a promotion in his office but warned that a lack of
success means being fired. He cannot understand his wife's distress
at home, and is at a loss to help with the children or his father,
Sander, who counts the pills in the medicine cabinet. This chaotic
household is very recognisable and the descriptions poignant and
very funny. The readers' involvement builds as Juliana reveals she
is very unhappy, Hunter's work nose dives into a scrambled mess,
Ello's friends bully her and she is saddled with baby sitting Dad's
boss' son, newly arrived at school. When Mum is taken to hospital
and the diagnosis becomes dire, the family grows together, helped by
the stray puppy Ello has found on her walk home from the skating
rink. Named Ruby it becomes part of the family, a crutch for the
children as they cope with their mother's illness.
This is a beautifully written story of a family and their fractured
relationships, repaired by a stray dog which adopts them. And did I
mention this story happens at Christmas, adding another layer of
stress and the cold in Michigan in December is finger numbing.
Themes: Family, Death, Christmas, Grandparents, Suicide, Pets,
Animals, Twins, Anxiety, Michigan.
Fran Knight
The Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Deep End by Jeff Kinney
Penguin, 2020. ISBN: 9780143796084.
Highly recommended. This was read and reviewed by my 10 year old
son, who has read most of the others from this series and really
enjoys them:
First of all I thought this book was good, because it was funny and
a good story.
The story is about the family and they go on a holiday, and they
travel to lots of places. While they are at a caravan park lots of
bad things happen. One of the bad things is when the bridge to get
out of the caravan park is struck by lightning they can't get out.
Everyone gets panicked and they buy everything . . . this is very
familiar to me because of Covid-19. At the end Manny saves the day
as he drives the van to fix the bridge and let everyone out!
I would recommend this book to people who have read any of the other
Diary of a Wimpy Kid books. I giggled a lot as the pictures are
hilarious, they add to the story and with some parts of the story
you wouldn't understand the story without the pictures.
I give it 4.5 starts out of 5 - I would have given it 5 stars if
there were even more funny pictures.
I think his review says it all. This book was real hit with a 10
year old, and I also think this book would really suit readers who
need a bit of extra encouragement. The funny illustrations are a
real draw card and keep in line with all the others in the series. A
great addition to the series, and highly recommended!
Lauren Fountain
Angels weep by Colin Falconer
Constable, 2020. ISBN: 9781472132703.
(Age: Senior secondary/adult) DI Charlie George and his team
investigate the abduction of a young woman. Time is of the essence
if they are to find her alive. Their workload is dramatically
increased when there is another young woman taken off the street and
orders are to assume the abductions are linked. The budget is
stretched and very little sleep is had by the team as they
desperately search for the two victims.
The second target is a young woman, Sarah Howlett, married to Danny,
an investment banker. She seems to have a great life: handsome
successful husband, beautiful home, a young child and a nanny to
help with young Ollie. Danny however is controlling, abusive and has
lost a huge amount of money trading illegally.
When the first victim is found alive but traumatised, elation is
short lived. There is no second victim and there does not seem to be
a link to Sarah Howlett, so the team must look with fresh eyes at
the evidence they have.
Charlie George is well acquainted with dysfunctional families. He is
the product of one. In the midst of his investigation a surprise
seventieth birthday has been arranged for his mother who has
dementia! His drug addled brother has been flown from Australia and
has been billeted with him. He rarely sees his siblings and a family
reunion at the care home is the last thing he needs as he struggles
with his case load.
Sarah Howlett is hit by a car seemingly escaping from her husband
who she claims is trying to kill her. She has injuries not all
sustained in the traffic accident and is deeply traumatised. The
husband Danny Howlett is nowhere to found and Sarah's father is
furious that progress seems to have stalled.
Colin Falconer cleverly contrasts the social divides in London, and
takes the reader into the lives of a fascinating range of London
society. Most seem to be damaged goods in some way. There are not
too many happy families in DI George's circle, including his own.
Falconer is able to ramp up the intrigue with some unexpected twists
and turns to deliver a thoroughly satisfying read.
Themes: Abuse, Abduction, Domestic violence, Crime, London.
Mark Knight
Zombierella by Joseph Coelho
Illus. by Freya Hartas. Fairy tales gone bad. Walker Books,
2020. ISBN: 9781406389661.
(Age: 8+) Highly recommended. The perennial fun of twisted fairy
tales takes on a new lease of life as Cinderella becomes a zombie
after falling down the stairs, slipping on dog poo deliberately left
by her fake sisters. Readers will laugh out loud as they recognise
bits of the well known Cinderella, turned around for a
modern audience with zombies, coffins, skeleton horses, and a
vampire prince. A ball is called every three days by the prince,
newly arrived in town with his retinue. But Cinderella is left home
to clean. Falling on the stairs, she dies, to be revived as a zombie
by Death, and given the opportunity to attend the ball. The prince,
of course, falls for her, but she slips away. On the third night,
her fake sisters become aware of who the beautiful girl is and pour
glue on the stairs, stopping her progress. Not to be outdone,
Cinderella breaks off her foot to run away, leaving the prince with
a foot and ankle to match. The fake sisters do more than cut their
toes off to marry the prince, and in the end, love rules and the
story concludes most happily.
What a wonderful retelling, I laughed out loud and I am sure the
readership will too, especially with the array of detailed very
funny illustrations to guide them. A whole array of vampire and
zombie paraphernalia dot the pages, intriguing the readers, and the
grisly stuff, pulling out Cinderella's guts, or pulling off her
foot, for example, is simply grist for the funny bone, goading
people to laugh with gusto.
And I was pleased to read the epilogue by the librarian who
unearthed these dark, mad tales, that there is more to come.
Walker Books' website
gives more information about poet Coelho, and this is the first of a
three part series called Fairy tales gone bad. And I loved
the wrap around cover.
Themes: Vampires, Zombies, Cinderella, Twisted fairy tales, Humour,
Verse.
Fran Knight
Christmas is murder: a chilling short story collection by Val McDermid
Sphere, 2020. ISBN: 9780751581775.
(Age: Secondary/Adult) Highly recommended. In a few pages, award
winning crime writer McDermid is able to create a scenario,
characters and a crime, enticing an already enthralled reader to
keep going, wanting to see where the story heads. Twelve short
stories all framed by Christmas, are tantalisingly brief, but each
is complete in itself, dealing with a murder, and sometimes making a
point along the way. In 'A wife in a million', a detective
investigates a series of murders: someone is spiking condiments at
supermarkets with arsenic, while her unemployed partner scans the
papers each day searching for work. It is her suggestion that brings
the investigation to a close.
Another tale reprises the Holmes' stories as Watson and Holmes go to
Sarajevo to stop a killing (not the one you think!). In another a
young girl unsure of whether Santa Claus is real or not, pushes a
burglar down the stairs on Christmas Eve, after she finds him with
her Christmas presents. In 'Happy Holiday', DCI Jordan and Dr
Tony Hill solve a murder, while another story has a couple
cycling through Scotland, finding a remote folly, and after her
partner is killed, she lures the driver to the folly to exact
revenge.
Settings are so different: the Scottish Highlands, Scottish towns,
various castles, lochs and coastlines, while the characters inhabit
many guises. A thoroughly involving set of stories, sure to keep
readers amused and absorbed over Christmas.
Themes: Short stories, Christmas, Murder, Investigation, Crime
fiction, Scotland.
Fran Knight
Kay's anatomy by Adam Kay
Illus. by Henry Paker. Penguin Random House, 2020. ISBN:
9780241452943.
(Age; 9+) Recommended. Kay's anatomy is a comedic anatomy
book with the revealing subtitle: A complete (and completely
disgusting) guide to the human body. Written for the youthful
audience who loves humour with everything in life and enjoys the
bizarre and disgusting aspects of the human body - from the top of
the skull to toe nails via every gross fact in between. Adam Kay
studied Medicine so information in the book is factual, however it
is heavily laced with jokes, humorous asides and quirky
illustrations. With a focus on the questions that kids would like
answered and on bodily secretions, noises and smells, there is
something to learn or something to laugh at on every page, including
reference to Covid 19.
This is the kind of book that kids will read from cover to cover and
laugh at every page. Fortunately, they will also learn a lot about
human anatomy in the process. Illustrations are extremely amusing
cartoons that will attract the visual learner and will draw them to
the well set out information. Note: The book explains the
reproductive system in a simple but thorough way with clear
illustrations and explanations for a young audience. I enjoyed the
humour and the clarity of the information for young readers, but
kids will love all the snot, fart and vomit references and every
other disgusting piece of information.
Themes: Human anatomy;
Humour.
Carolyn Hull
I follow you . . . until you are mine by Peter James
Pan Macmillan, 2020. ISBN: 9781509816286.
(Age: Secondary/adult) Highly recommended. Set in Jersey, James'
latest thriller is most unsettling. Dr Marcus Valentine is a
distinguished gynae-oncologist, a leader in his field and looked up
to by both his colleagues and patients alike. He is also an
obsessive man - time is important and everything has its place.
While driving to work he almost runs a woman down. A woman who
reminds him disturbingly of his first love. Georgie Maclean becomes
a preoccupation which rapidly turns to an addiction.
Peter James is able to knit the lives of Georgie, her partner Roger
Richardson and Marcus Valentine into an increasingly volatile dance.
Valentine believes he is in control but he has to take ever more
complicated steps to keep his passion secret.
After a plane crash involving Roger, Valentine takes charge of the
surgery to save his life but deliberately omits to take care of a
small problem which will eventually end in his death.
Georgie is also pregnant, a long awaited precious event. Valentine
would also like to be rid of that troublesome addition. He does not
wish to be saddled with another man's child. As his fixation with
Georgie becomes more delusional he really believes that they will
live together in a blissful loving partnership.
As James' narrative moves on the pace steadily increases as does the
suspense. He has been able to paint the Dr Valentine as a pompous,
self-opinionated sociopath a thoroughly dislikable character, while
the reader's anxiety for Georgie and Richard steadily mounts as the
story unfolds. A thoroughly satisfying page turner. Highly
recommended.
Themes: Crime, New Jersey, Obsession, Thriller.
Mark Knight
The book of not entirely useful advice by A.F. Harrold
Bloomsbury Children's Books, 2020. ISBN: 9781526618016. 121p.
(Age: 9+) Recommended. Poetry, Nonsense. Penned by English poet,
A.F. Harrold, young children are rewarded with chunks of snappy
rhyme and sometimes bonus glee. The foreword advises us not to
follow any of the bad advice, thereby writes the author, making this
a useful collection. Delicious extras make the anthology evermore
useful: a searchable index, contents and a glossary of 'Knots of the
world'. Not to mention interactive blank canvases for the reader's
own drawings or poems; plus an advice generator - customize the
template to build your own Advice-A-Tron animated by a roll of the
dice.
Aesthetically, our interest is sustained by the cute animations of
A.F. Harrold, several animals and selected children. Mini Grey
throws in a colourful parrot saying "Bum" twice - double the
hilarity. A.F. Harrold rounds his text with an afterword including
some final advice not attached to poems such as: "You are not alone.
We all feel like that sometimes."
But what of the poetic advice? Not letting the broccoli drive the
car seems too obvious followed by such nonsense lines as "Always
keep an onion handy, They're great for self-defence" and poems
entitled "Gravy is Not Perfume". But this closet poet throws in the
odd serious gem to groom his young readers to appreciate the
paradigmatic insertions in poetry.
Roots It's a good picnic to which you need carry no food, simply slip off your shoes, let your toes grow down, rooting around, deep into the soil, supping and sifting, and you palm up your hands and drink the sunshine. The Book of Not Entirely Useful Advice is a library must and
would engage lower/middle school readers on a lazy afternoon in:
drawing or writing - or simply learning to be still and more
self-aware. With poetry, less really is more.
Deborah Robins
