Penguin Books, 2020. ISBN: 9780241374627. 336pp.
(Age: 13+) Recommended. Haylah Swinton, sometimes known as 'Hay',
but mostly as 'Pig', is a teen with attitude . . . a funny attitude!
She is comedic and uses jokes (and chocolate) to cope with life. She
is the older sibling of Noah - a 4-year-old with his own naive
comedic spark. Her single-mother lovingly cares for her two children
and also works shift work at the hospital and so relies on Haylah to
organise and look after Noah regularly. The responsible teen though
is seldom seen as anything other than - large. She is a big girl
with a desire to be appreciated and understood for herself, but she
is also happy to be laughed at, particularly as she wants to be a
stand-up comedian. When she connects with the dreamy, older boy Leo
over their mutual enjoyment of stand-up comedy, she begins to think
she might have stumbled across someone who understands her and can
make her laugh and who might actually be interested in her. But not
everything goes smoothly, and her first stand-up gig might just be a
social disaster! When her life does cartwheels and she upsets her
mother's new relationship and her oldest friends, a kiss destroys
her equilibrium and everything seems to be going 'Hay'-wire. Then an
opportunity presents itself to fix problems, to stand up and be
respected and to be laughed at, all in the same evening.
This is a coming-of-age story (set in England) about learning to be
comfortable in your own skin, but also about how to view yourself
when you do not fit the 'norm'. Haylah is both funny and feisty, and
there are moments that are just laugh-out-loud enjoyable in her
life. But the strength of this book is learning to walk in her shoes
and to laugh with her, but also to understand her independence, her
sense of humour and her occasional angst. The fledgling comedian and
feminist is also just a girl who wants to know that someone likes
her, without having to change to meet anyone else's ideas about who
she should be, how thin or smart she should be, or what she should
wear. This is worthy of recommending to teenage girls with a sense
of fun, as they too negotiate where they fit in the world. In
addition, there are many funny lines and jokes throughout the book,
and the extremely charming Noah expresses the naive joy of being
4-years-old in very delightful moments in the book. This is
appealing and a pleasure to read. Themes: Coming-of-age; Comedy;
Family life; Appearance.
Carolyn Hull
The Animals at Lockwood Manor by Jane Healey
Mantle UK, 2020. ISBN: 9781529014181. 336pp.
Recommended for adult readers. War threatens London. Not only are
precious children evacuated, but valuable museum artifacts. The
Natural History Museum chooses Lockwood Manor as a safe location,
and Hetty Cartwright as the chosen guardian.
However, Lockwood Manor is large and foreboding, chilling and moody
- a mansion of many rooms. A sad family history echoes in its halls,
and in the eyes of Lucy, the daughter of Lord Lockwood when Hetty
first arrives.
Brusque introductions (and departures) have Hetty on edge, as do the
movement and disappearance of some museum exhibits in her care.
Told in 2 voices - first Hetty, then Lucy, this debut novel from
Jane Healey weaves together historical fiction and mystery, as Hetty
endeavours to protect the collection from war, a zealous host, a
ghost(?) and vengeful past residents of Lockwood Manor.
With gothic elements of doom and gloom (courtesy of WWII), madness,
females compromised simply by being female, and talk of ghosts, The
Animals of Lockwood Manor provides a little twist - with the
relationship between Hetty and Lucy - no Mr Rochester in sight.
Linda Weeks
Peter Rabbit 2: Bunny trouble
Penguin, 2020. ISBN: 9780241410875. 32pp. Peter Rabbit 2: Bunny trouble is a level 2 (progressive
reader) book from the Penguin Young Readers series. It is a
story based on the new Peter Rabbit movie, where Peter
snuggles himself into Thomas's truck and takes a trip to the big
city. He comes into some trouble and is very lucky when his friends
come and help him.
This particular story/level is designed for readers who are able to
use the pictures as clues, can decipher beginning/middle/ending
sounds and can make predictions within an in-depth plot (according
to the levelling information provided). I am guessing that the Penguin
Young Readers series is based on American guided and
traditional reading levels, as I was unfamiliar with the information
provided for parents and educators at the beginning.
This reader would be great for students who enjoy the Peter
Rabbit movies, but are also reluctant readers. This book may
assist them by providing a topic that interests them, and is a bit
different from the regular classroom reader stories.
It has engaging images taken from the movie, along with fun and
bright backgrounds added by the publisher. This may be a bonus for
the unenthusiastic reader, and those that rely on the images for
clues and engagement.
Overall a reasonable reader or story, with the bonus of being part
of the Peter Rabbit empire, which may add to the interest
for many children.
Lauren Fountain
Let's go! On a train by Rosalyn Albert
Illus. by Natalia Moore. Let's Go! series. New Frontier, 2020. ISBN:
9781925594980. 16pp.
(Age: 2+) A simple rhyming story has two friends going on a steam
train journey. Let's go on a steam train
And choo-choo through the land
We wait down at the station
Where we hold each other's hand.
Young children are given the opportunity to examine a train journey
in this book, part of the Let's Go! Series that looks at different
modes of transport. They start off at the station, with its Platform
number and clock with the conductor waving from the train.
They see the fire being stoked and watch the countryside from their
seats.
All the illustrations are brightly coloured and detailed while there
is a diverse range of ethnic backgrounds and gender in the children
and the workers.
Older children looking at forms of transport would be able to
identify how train travel has changed from their grandparents' time
while younger children will enjoy the rhyme and rhythm of the
narrative.
Pat Pledger
Butterfly yellow by Thanhha Lai
University of Queensland Press, 2020. ISBN: 9780702262890.
(Age: 14+) Highly recommended. Dedicated to the unknowable number of
refugees at the bottom of the sea, Butterfly yellow tells
the story of Hang, a young Vietnamese girl making her way across
Texas, searching for the last remaining member of her family, her
young brother Linh who as a toddler was airlifted to America
following the Vietnam War. As she trudges across the dry landscape
of Texas in long sleeved high necked clothes covering the faint red
scar lines that score her body, her path crosses with a young man,
Lee Roy, a wannabe cowboy with a droopy moustache, seeking out rodeo
excitement. Hang has only a crumpled card with an address, handed to
her many years ago by the American who took her brother, and she
longs to be reunited with the young child she remembers and loves so
much. She is fiercely determined; having endured a horrendous
experience as a refugee boat person, her case file labelled Extreme
Trauma, details that are only gradually revealed as we learn more
about her past.
This is a poignant but heart-warming story of the slow development
of trust and friendship between the Vietnamese refugee and the naive
cowboy. Lee Roy is by Hang's side, initially reluctant, but then
patient and kind, as her Americanised brother rejects any memory of
her. And the people around them, each in their own way, help the
young friends to find a way to a better future.
The writing is beautiful, and very poetic. Hang's forays into
English are captured with Vietnamese tonal typography, and the
reader is grateful for Lee Roy's ear for the accent and his
interpretations of her words. It is a very realistic portrayal of
the struggles to understand different sounds and language
structures. But their differences melt when Lee Roy is astounded to
discover that old Clint Eastwood movies and rap poetry are a shared
connection between them.
In the end it is a positive story of people overcoming hardship,
overcoming differences, building better understanding, friendships
and a new future.
Winner of the Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction. Themes:
Refugees, Vietnam War, Language, Friendship.
Helen Eddy
Our Dark Secret by Jenny Quintana
Pan Macmillan, 2020, ISBN: 9781509839476. 320pp.
(Age: Adult) Our Dark Secret is a dark, slow moving story
focussed on complicated families, angst-filled teenage and adult
relationships and deep mysteries. Beginning in the late 1970s,
introspective Elizabeth, a bulimic teenager, who is bullied by her
classmates narrates her story as her home life disintegrates. When
angel-like Rachel and her family move into the village, Elizabeth
seeks her out as a friend. A fortuitous accident leads the girls
into an awkward friendship, and Elizabeth is overly self-sacrificing
to ensure the relationship continues. As their parents' marriages
fall apart, the teenagers seek refuge in a hidden den in the
orchard. Unfortunately, a murdered man's body is discovered in the
girls' hang-out spot, with long-lasting consequences.
Twenty years later, Elizabeth is a troubled adult, still dealing
with her bulimia, moving from job to job, lonely and struggling. She
wants to leave memories in the past, but when another body is
discovered in the village, she must confront the deep far-reaching
truths. She still connects with Rachel, their friendship strained,
but the consequences of their past actions play heavily on both.
Quintana's introspectively draws on the psychological aspects,
exploring themes of bullying, separation, divorce, abuse, secrecy
and obsessive friendships. She descriptively captures the details of
village life, food, music, gossiping and rumour spreading, in
simpler yet still difficult times. The year references form chapter
titles as she weaves the threads of the story between the
twenty-year gap. Our Dark Secret is a multi-layered
introspective drama, confronting and raw, patience and perseverance
are needed to finally gain insight into the connections between the
two murders. Themes: Friendship, Coming of Age, Mystery, Identity,
Family relationships.
Rhyllis Bignell
Scribble Witch: Notes in Class by Inky Willis
Hodder Children's Books, 2020. ISBN: 9781444951653.
(Age: 6-9 years). Molly Mills is a nine year old girl who loves
pencil toppers and pencil cases but finds school a challenge. She
and her best friend, Chloe, do not like their teacher Mr Stilton and
Molly seems to put him offside throughout the school day. Tasked
with planning a pirate story Molly just does not know where to
begin. She is given a very old dictionary to help with her spelling
and after dropping the dictionary Molly finds a paper drawing of a
witch. Molly decides to cut the witch out and place it in her pencil
pot. This is the beginning of the magical Veronica Noates aka Notes,
a scribble witch. She knows that Molly is sad about her pirate draft
but that is minor in comparison to the bombshell that Chloe drops on
Molly. Chloe is leaving to go to a school closer to her house and
has one more day left at Dungfields School.
Molly spends the rest of the day in shock and cannot even talk to
Chloe. Chloe is hurt so spends time with Emily who Molly does not
like. Meanwhile Notes is getting Molly into more trouble with her
teacher by writing notes that are meant to help but do not.
Eventually Chloe is let into the secret of Notes and the two girls
spend the rest of the day watching Notes and her magic. Chloe's
final day with Molly is one of fun and togetherness with Notes and
Molly wishes Chloe could stay but it is not to be. However after
disappearing for most of the day, Notes has come up with a clever
way for the two girls to keep in touch.
Throughout the story are pencil drawings and handwritten notes and
words by Inky Willis. The change of font and emphasis placed on
special words creates a fun and entertaining read for younger
students. The notes and scribbles written by Notes are written in a
childlike and at times, confusing way and may need an adult to
explain the meaning initially to the reader. A second book in this
series, Scribble Witch: Magic Muddles is due out soon.
Themes: Best Friends, Leaving School, Friendship, Magic, Witch,
Pencil Toppers, School Life.
Kathryn Beilby
Beyond reasonable doubt by Gary Bell QC and Scott Kershaw
Elliot Rook, QC book 1. Raven Books, 2019. ISBN:
9781526606136. 352pp.
(Age: senior secondary/adult) I have three crime fiction books on
the go, but once I picked this up, they were all set aside. Elliot
Rook, fifty or so years old, a QC in a prestigious London practice,
a successful old Etonian, is approached by a solicitor who tells him
that his client has asked only for him. Billy Barber is an
acquaintance from Rook's days in the Midlands, a product of the
disgruntled ex coal mining towns in the shadow of Thatcher's
Britain, a criminal who blames immigration for Britain's woes. Rook
would prefer to forget all his dealings with this man, the brother
of his closest friend through school and early adulthood, but Barber
knows things about his past and he is forced to represent this
racist thug when he is accused of murder. But he will not answer any
questions from the police or Rook which forces Rook to make his own
inquiries. The Girl was found naked, badly beaten and strangled
along a disused railway track, and Barber's phone records tell the
police he was nearby. His racist threats, known to all via media
posts and action groups outside the mosque, make him a prime
suspect.
At a loss to defend his client, Rook and his new junior, Zara
Barnes, travel to Cotgrave in Nottinghamshire to trawl through some
of his past. Here Zara is reminded of why she wanted to get out of
the place, and Rook follows leads into Barber's life which get him
almost killed.
A non stop breath taking journey sees all the work done by Rook and
Barnes coming together at the Old Bailey, Court Number One, Zara's
first case. Here the routines of the courtroom are explained as the
case proceeds, making the reader fully aware of just how the system
works without being overwhelmed with information. Bell makes it all
so readable, so I was thrilled to see that this is the first in a
series about the wonderful Elliot Rook a man whose past has
implications everyday, making his decision making all that more
complex. Themes: Crime fiction, Law courts, Trial, Racism,
Prostitution, Trafficking.
Fran Knight
Only mostly devastated by Sophie Gonzales
Hachette, 2020. ISBN: 9781444956481.
This is a powerful story of adolescence with its joy and its pressures, its highs and its lows. Sophie Gonzales draws us into the lives of the characters, evoking our empathy for them in their adolescence, their journey through school and their hopes for the future. Gonzales presents the world from the point of view of an adolescent whose feelings are complex and whose choices are determined by his recognition of who he is, and his definition as homosexual, presented in an utterly captivating, evocative and candid narrative.
Portraying so vividly the joys and the disappointments of the lives of teenagers, Gonzales paints a vivid picture of the interactions of adolescents, with other adolescents, their teachers and the adults who are part of their lives, particularly with their parents. Her focus is on their questioning of the values that they discover, both good and not so good, describing, vividly, their fear of failure, in school, relationships and life. Yet she tempers this more serious aspect of adolescence with the excitement that lies at the heart of this time of change in their lives, based so much in their changing body, point of view and hope for the future. Gonzales focuses on young people's quest to find their path, while maintaining their own identity, evoking our empathy and enabling us to see how we all have to face the necessity of making choices, of listening and observing the world, and choosing to spend time with people who enable us to be true to ourselves.
Choice is at the heart of this novel, seen so vividly in the attraction of the young male protagonist to another male, where Gonzales describes the description of the glow that envelops us when we first realize that we are captivated by some one else. When Ollie falls in love with Will, he is stunned. Through beautifully described reactions, thoughts and interactions, we see how this narrative raises questions about what it is to be human, about how to handle the dawning of alternative sexuality, Gonzales drawing us in with her focus on the right to be different, and ultimately so gently describing the indescribable joy that humans experience when they share the joy of love.
This is a moving and powerful story of the joy and the ache of adolescence, of the fear that one won't be good enough in so many ways, and of the dread of failure, in school, work and mostly deeply felt, in relationships. Deftly drawn, these characters are alive and real, with their emotions so clearly understandable and their lives so beautifully described. Concerning the sexual attraction of the same gender, Gonzales' describes society's responses to same sex interaction, gently and realistically showing how we can accept and be proud of our inborn drives. Themes: Homosexuality, Cancer, Dating.
Elizabeth Bondar
Meet the Planets by Caryl Hart
Illus. by Bethan Woollvin. Bloomsbury, 2020. ISBN: 9781408892985.
32pp.
(Age: 3-6) Highly recommended. Blast off in a rocket to meet all the
planets in the solar system, including Pluto the dwarf planet. In
rhyming couplets, Caryl Hart has provided readers with a fun and
informative book that is very enjoyable and which describes each
planet and its characteristics.
Children will enjoy the rhymes which read aloud very well and they
will have fun joining in and learning about each of the planets.
Starting off with an introduction to the sun (I'm friendly but
don't get too close now / or I'll frizzle you up to a fry!),
the small child accompanied by a dog, zooms around meeting each
planet in turn: speedy Mercury, Venus covered in fierce spitting
volcanoes, Earth and its silver Moon, Mars covered in rust-coloured
dust, Jupiter the biggest of planets, Saturn with its sparkly rings,
freezing Uranus, ice giant Neptune and little dwarf planet Pluto.
Set against a black background, the planets are illustrated with
wide eyes giving each a distinct character and the vivid colours
also match the characteristics of the planets. I loved the
illustration for Mercury, with colours streaming behind its grey and
white face, making it easy to remember that it is the fast planet.
Jupiter, vivid in yellow and orange, hugs its moon Ganymede and is
huge, taking up a whole page. The end papers show the planets
revolving around the sun in order. They are a perfect complement to
the clever text and will really appeal to young children.
This book is a memorable and unique way to introduce children to the
planets and will be enjoyed by all who read it. Themes: Astronomy,
Planets, Rockets, STEM.
Pat Pledger
Fantastically great women who saved the planet by Kate Pankhurst
Bloomsbury Children's Books, 2020. ISBN: 9781408899298. 32pp.
(Age: All) Highly recommended. Readers will be engrossed as they
follow the achievements of women who broke barriers in promoting
scientific ideas and helping to preserve the natural
environment. Many were unknown to me and it was wonderful to
read about their achievements and even more to read the positive
suggestions at the back of the book asking how the reader will speak
up for our planet.
The first two pages name the women written about in the book, with
small illustrations of them and the next page contains a general
introduction about the women and how "they sowed seeds of change in
others and inspired them to see they had the power to save the
planet too . . . " The women chosen for the book come from many
countries and nationalities and from many backgrounds, starting with
Eugenie Clark who researched sharks and inspired others to learn
about the oceans and respect marine life. Ingeborg Beling from
Germany studied bees showing how the study of insects can lead to
understanding nature. Eileen Kampakuta Brown and Eileen Wani
Wingfield campaigned against a nuclear waste dump close to Woomera
in South Australia, while poor women in India formed the Chipko
Movement to save trees by hugging them and stopping the loggers. I
was intrigued with the information about Maria Telkes who "became
known as the Sun Queen for her solar-powered ideas" and loved the
information about Isatou Geesay who led the movement to recycle
plastic bags into things that could be sold.
Each woman is given a double page spread of information,
interspersed with quirky illustrations and speech bubbles that grab
the reader's attention and make them want to read more about the
work that the woman did and what she achieved. This is a book that
may on first look appeal to younger readers, but people of all ages
will find it fascinating. Themes: Women - Biography, STEM, Activism.
Pat Pledger
In the key of code by Aimee Lucido
Walker Books, 2020. ISBN: 9781406389333. 416pp.
(Age: 12+) Highly recommended. There is nothing ordinary about this
wonderful prose poetry book, it is an enjoyable and original
narrative, written in poetic style, about a young girl who is trying
to find her place in the world. Emmy has moved with her parents to
California from Wisconsin. Her father is pursuing his dream as a
pianist with San Francisco Symphony Orchestra, her mother is an
opera singer (currently working in a not-so-perfect job to support
the family) and Emmy knows that she will never be a performer; fear
has overtaken her in the past. Starting at her new school reminds
her that she does not fit and is not like others around her, and
although she is 'fine', it is very difficult being a solo student.
By accident and providentially she ends up in the Computer coding
elective and eventually discovers a friend in the musically gifted,
Abigail. In this class with the amazing Ms Delaney she discovers the
language of Java and the poetry of code and joy of performing on the
computer keyboard. Abigail and Emmy are both attempting to find
where they fit; music and code floats around them as they grapple
with friendship and their future directions. Ms Delaney leads them
with directions in Java that provide joy, but she has her own
struggles to contend with. The joy of new friends, new pathways and
the wonders of code make this a novel and poetic journey that is
worthy of investigation.
Aimee Lucido acknowledges Kwame Alexander as editor in her post-word
at the end of the book, and it is evident that the prose-poetry
narrative writing fraternity has another writer of quality. The
weaving of code language through this book is deftly managed - there
is an inherent poetry in the alternate language, and it is beautiful
and musical as it threads through the storyline. I hope young
readers see the wonderful and unique style features of this story,
as well as being drawn into the development of Emmy and Abigail as
they find their place and develop their talents with independence
and flair. They too become performers worthy of applause. At the
conclusion of the book there are clear explanations of the Java
coding terms and musical terms in use throughout the book. Teacher's
notes are available.
Highly recommended for lovers of coding and readers aged 12+.
Themes: Friendship; Fitting in; Identity; Music; Coding.
Carolyn Hull
Bugs in danger by Mark Kurlansky
Illus. by Jia Liu. Bloomsbury Children's Books, 2019. ISBN:
9781547600854.
(Age: 10+) Recommended. Subtitled Our Vanishing Bees,
Butterflies, and Beetles. Imagine reading a book by an author
who is knowledgeable about a specialised subject and so skilled at
writing, that learning while you read is a pleasure. Mark Kurlansky
is such an author and the insects that are disappearing from our
world are his subject. Bugs in Danger is an informative and interesting exploration
of the lives of insects, their interaction with humans over the
ages, and the predators, pesticides and habitat destruction that
threaten their existence. Throughout the text, Kurlansky emphasises
the role played by insects in the survival of life on earth. The
book is divided into five parts, each one dealing with a class of
insects. The final chapter, 'What Can I Do?' suggests simple but
effective strategies that people of all ages can use to save these
tiny creatures. Humorous chapter headings add to the pleasure of
reading the text, without detracting from its serious purpose.
Despite his conversational writing style, Kurlansky uses scientific
terms, explaining them clearly so that readers do not feel
overwhelmed by expert knowledge. Similarly, the author weaves
aspects of the work of scientists, including Charles Darwin, into
the exposition. Although the book is largely concerned with insects
in the United States, it includes references to species from around
the world. Occasional text boxes provide additional information and
statistics, while Jia Liu's drawings in shades of grey illustrate
different species or help to explain insect behaviour. A
bibliography, which has been divided into titles for younger and
older readers, and a comprehensive index ensure that the book is a
useful source of information. Bugs in Danger is not only an enjoyable and rewarding book.
It also provides a thought-provoking insight into what might be lost
if insects disappeared.
Elizabeth Bor
There's a hippopotamus on our roof eating cake by Hazel Edwards
Illus. by Deborah Niland. Penguin Random House Australia, 2020. 40th
Anniversary Edition, ISBN: 9781760896270. 32 pp.
(Age: 3+) Highly recommended. Some picture books prove to be
keepers, handed down from generation to generation and this is one
of those highly prized picture books that are treasured by families.
Highlighting the power of the imagination, a little girls knows why
there is a hole in the roof - there is a hippopotamus there eating
cake and that hippopotamus can do whatever he likes. He doesn't like
baths so is having a shower, he eats cake all the time and when the
little girl has a bandage on her knee he has one too. And no one
growls at him because he is too big.
The text is delivered in short descriptive sentences on one side of
the page and these bring the narrative to life. It is wonderful to
read aloud and so easy to imagine the little girl pointing out all
the things that the hippopotamus can do that she is not allowed to
do. The illustrations by Deborah Niland are wonderful too. The
little girl is featured under the text, and is quite small in
comparison to the very large, pink hippo on the opposite page. The
expressions on both are priceless and children with have lots of fun
looking at the bold colours and laughing at the antics of the hippo.
This 40th anniversary edition has a beautiful felt pink hippo on the
cover for little hands to touch and feel, making it even more
memorable.
It is not difficult to see why this has become a children's classic,
and I have no doubt that it will be kept for the next generation of
young children to laugh over and enjoy.
Pat Pledger
Hattie by Frida Nilsson
Illus. by Stina Wirsen. Gecko Press, 2020. ISBN: 9781776572717. 160
pp.
(Age: 6 - 9 years) Hattie is a six year old child eagerly awaiting
her first day at school. She lives in the Swedish countryside on a
small isolated farm with her parents and a number of animals. On her
first day at school she makes friends with Linda who is a quiet shy
child but happily follows Hattie's lead throughout the story. Hattie
acts before she thinks and often ends up having to apologise for her
actions and face the consequences of her thoughtlessness. Putting
soap in another student's drink bottle, locking another student in a
shed, trying to conjure up a White Witch are just a few scenarios
featuring Hattie at the forefront of things that happen during the
school day. No wonder her poor teacher looks like he needs a
holiday!
Even at home Hattie rules the roost. Her parents are forever caring
of Hattie but she continuously tests their patience. When Hattie's
mother is disappointed in her behaviour she runs away causing great
angst for the family. While on holiday in Greece, a day's family
outing is spoilt by Hattie's demands. Hattie is continually moving
from one thing to another leaving some sort of upset in her wake.
The story interestingly covers the seasons in the northern
hemisphere and events such as Advent, Easter, Summer and Winter
holidays, Hattie's birthday and end of year concert.
While Hattie is a mischievous child prone to dramatizing and over
thinking situations, she is an endearing character. She has a very
contrite and caring side when she realizes she has gone too far. It
is an easy to read story with short chapters and would be a great
read aloud story for Junior Primary students. The simple
illustrations by Stina Wirsen are spaced throughout the text and
make a welcome addition to the story. Themes: Starting school,
Friendship, Farm life, Seasons, Mischief.
Kathryn Beilby
