HarperCollins, 2019. ISBN: 9780008212797.
Tad was the smallest tadpole in the pond - so small she had to
wiggle her tail twice as fast as her brothers and sisters to keep up
- but that didn't deter her from being brave. Even though the others
warned her about Big Blub, a great, big, nasty fish who was as old
as the mud he lived in at the bottom of the pond, she wasn't afraid
because she not only refused to believe in him but also made sure
she kept to the shallow, sunny parts of the pond or hid carefully so
he couldn't find her - just in case he was real. But as the days
went on, Tad's sisters and brothers seem to be dwindling in numbers
until at last she was the only one left. And here comes Big Blub. He
is REAL. What will she do?
Benji Davies has created a beautiful story that not only introduces
young readers to the life cycle of frogs - a common topic in early
biology curricula - but also to the concept of growing and changing
and being brave enough to take the next step, generally. With its
stunning illustrations, it is full of opportunities and ideas to
talk about, consolidating that special bond between reader and child
and the stories they share.
Barbara Braxton
The Rosie Result by Graeme Simsion
Don Tillman book 3. Text Publishing, 2019. ISBN:
9781925773477.
(Age: Adult - Senior secondary) Highly recommended. Fan will welcome
the return of Don Tillman as he tries to juggle his life as a
genetics expert with bringing up his son Hudson and keeping his
family intact. With the quiet humour and empathy that readers of the
previous books expect, (The
Rosie project and The
Rosie effect) Simsion brings his trilogy to an end in a
masterful way that readers will love.
Some big themes are gently explored in the book as Don goes about
the Hudson Project, trying to help his son fit into school life and
hopefully be accepted into the high school of his choice. Does
Hudson have autism, or is his environment and actions of his father
affecting him? Should children with autism go to a special school or
should they go to a mainstream school? How do parents overcome the
stereotypes that teachers may have of children who are different?
Can Rosie overcome the prejudice surrounding a working mother?
While Hudson is grappling with fitting in with school, Don is
grappling with setting up a cocktail bar and trying to work out what
he wants to do with his life as well. Both learn lots of ways to
cope, especially that friends are essential in life, and the reader
is left thinking about little gems like why if people are coached
and practise hard for physical excellence, the same can't be done
for fitting in and getting along with the system.
Readers will not be disappointed in this excellent conclusion to a
feel good and very entertaining series.
Pat Pledger
Silver on the Road by Laura Anne Gilman
The Devil's West book 1, Saga Press, 2015. ISBN:
9781481429689.
(Age: 16+) Recommended. Endeavour Award Nominee (2016) . An original
take on a Western, this fantasy features a 16 year old young woman,
Isobel who makes a choice to work for the devil in the Territory.
The devil is an enigmatic figure who controls all the Territory and
anyone who wants to live there must abide by his rules. When Isobel
signs an Agreement to become his left hand, she doesn't realise just
what that means. Setting off with her mentor, Gabriel Karsun, she
travels the land, meeting magic and chaos on the way.
The setting is fabulous, the loneliness of the land is vividly
described as are Isobel's lessons in managing to learn how to cope
on the road. Acquiring the skills of horse riding, camping and
gathering knowledge of the magic on the road and meeting the
pioneers who are trying to make a living off the land provide a
fascinating background to the strange thing that is eating
communities and spreading disease.
Izzy proves herself to be a capable and sensitive woman. Once she
overcomes her shock about what being the left hand of the devil
really means, she displays great leadership skills, not being afraid
to stand up for what she believes her boss, the devil wants her to
do. The character of the devil is one that will intrigue readers as
they wonder if he is supposed to be the devil portrayed in the bible
or some mystical figure from folklore. And Gabriel too has secrets
that are not revealed in this first book of the series and that is
tantalising as well.
This is a book for fans who are looking for something different in
their fantasy stories. Fans of road trips and readers who enjoyed Tess
of the road by Rachael Hartman may also enjoy the road trip.
Pat Pledger
Last words by Michael Koryta
Mark Novak book 1. Hodder and Stoughton, 2016. ISBN:
9781444742619.
(Age: 16+) Recommended for fans of thrillers. This was the first
book I have read by Koryta, a New York Times bestselling author, and
I couldn't put it down. Not only was it exciting, I was uncertain
until the end just how the plot would resolve itself. Private
investigator Mark Novak looks at a cold case involving the death of
a young girl in a dangerous cave system, names Trapdoor. Ridley
Barnes the man who brought her body to the surface and who many
thought was her killer, had contacted him in an effort to find out
who was the murderer.
It is the setting that makes this an engrossing read. The dark cave,
its underground passages, perilous waterways and the almost
supernatural nature that Ridley Barnes believes the cave has, all
evoke a compelling atmosphere of danger that will keep the reader
gripped to the pages. Mark Novak is a man on another mission, that
of solving the murder of his wife and only takes the case in an
attempt to hold onto his job.
There are many plot threads that will bamboozle the reader. These
include not only the mysterious cave system, but the appearance of a
hypnotist, the dead girl's boyfriend, a curt sheriff and a small
town mentality that is not helpful for Novak's investigation.
The conclusion was gripping and complex and leaves the reader ready
to tackle the next book featuring Mark Novak, Rise the dark,
as he tries to find his wife's killer.
Pat Pledger
Hello Lighthouse by Sophie Blackall
Orchard Books, 2019. ISBN: 9780316362382.
On the highest rock of a tiny island at the edge of the world stands
a lighthouse. From dusk to dawn, the lighthouse beams, sending its
light out to sea, guiding the ships on their way. As the seasons
pass and the waves rise and fall, outside, the wind blows; inside,
the lighthouse keeper writes, and the rhythms of his life unfold.
But change is on the horizon . . .
Whatever the season, whatever the weather, the lighthouse keeper
must keep the light going to warn ships of the dangers nearby. and
this stunning book by Australian illustrator Sophie Blackall takes
the reader back to a time in history when men lived on these
far-flung beacons, isolated from civilisation and charged with
keeping the ships and their sailors safe, regardless of whatever
might befall them. Set on a lighthouse on the tip of Newfoundland,
the story unfolds of the loneliness and the joy of a typical
lighthouse keeper who has a duty above all else.
In 2016, Blackall was awarded the Caldecott Medal, the first
Australian to receive if for her work on Finding Winnie and
now, in 2019, she has won it again for Hello Lighthouse. 'Masterful
ink and watercolor illustrations illuminate the story of a
lighthouse and the family inside. Stunning images of the lighthouse
in all kinds of weather alternate with views of intimate interior
detail and circular motifs. Blackall's skill with composition, line
and close attention to detail have created an exquisite book.'
But apart from the quality of the illustrations, this is a book that
will resonate with so many who are familiar with lighthouses as
there are over 350 of them dotted around our coastline. While there
are no longer any manned, nevertheless they still hold an appeal and
this journey back into another time because regardless of its
position, life was pretty much the same for all those who tended the
beacons.
Something very different that deserves a place in any collection.
Barbara Braxton
Tess of the road by Rachel Hartman
Tess of the road book 1, Southlands book 3. Random
House Books for Young Readers, 2018. ISBN: 9781101931288.
(Age: 14+) Highly recommended. Hugo Award Nominee for Best Young
Adult Book (Lodestar Award) (2019). In this highly readable coming
of age story, Tess is a troublemaker. After trying to be good for
the sake of her twin sister Jeanne who is getting married, she once
again finds herself in disgrace, after punching a relative's nose.
Being told that she must go to a nunnery, she decides to run away
and takes to the road where she meets once again an old friend, a
quigutl. Together they travel across the land, both carrying the
past with them.
Set in the same world as Seraphina,
2012, and Shadow scale, 2015, fans of this series will
welcome another stand-alone story that features dragons and a girl
who won't bow to pressure to be good and behave as a docile young
woman. The reader is gradually exposed to Tess's backstory and the
reason why she is shunned by her mother. It is a heart breaking one
that will remain in thoughts for quite a time after finishing the
book as the reader thinks about the way girls are treated and how
they are blamed for mistakes made, while young men are able to act
irresponsibly and thoughtlessly. However Tess is resilient and
compassionate, intelligent and strong, and she makes the most of the
lessons that she learns on the road in her quest to find the origins
of the quigutl. Tess of the road has an original and unique fantasy setting,
with relatable characters and themes of resilience and empowerment
and well deserves its Hugo nomination. I look forward to the next
book about Tess's life.
Pat Pledger
All right already! by Jory John and Benji Davies
HarperCollins, 2019. ISBN: 9780008330033.
Bear and Duck are neighbours - but two more different would be hard
to find. Bear is huge, slow and somewhat grouchy; Duck small,
energetic and always looking for fun. Told in dialogue with each
character having their own font that cleverly echoes their nature,
each story focuses on a conflict between the two as Bear wants one
thing - usually a quiet life - while Duck wants the opposite. And it
is the same in this latest addition to this series for very young
readers...
It has snowed overnight and Duck wants to make the most of the fun
it offers while Bear wants to stay in his cosy warm house. Even
after Duck coaxes him out he is a reluctant participant in the games
and when he starts to sneeze, Duck bundles him back inside (where he
wanted to be all the time) and assumes the role of nurse. But
Bear is not particularly grateful and when Duck begins to sneeze too
and heads for her home, it remains to be seen whether Bear will step
up and nurse her.
Apart from being a charming story that young readers will enjoy,
there is much it offers for the development of early reading
behaviours for them as well. Firstly, being a series, it is an
opportunity for the adult to ask the child what they remember and
know about the characters already so their thoughts are already set
to the contrasting characteristics of each. When Duck goes to
Bear's house, full of excitement and anticipation, what sort of
reception is she likely to get? There is also the opportunity
to explore the concept of dialogue as the whole story is told in
conversation with Duck's voice in a different, lighter font to that
of Bear's. It offers lots of things to chat about such as why it
snows and why most Australian children won't wake to a snowy
morning; how we need to protect ourselves from catching a cold and
how we can keep from spreading the one we have, and also the things
we can do to make a friendship solid and sustainable.
While bedtime stories should always be about the bond and the
connections between reader and listener, there are subtle ways that
these concepts about print can be shared so that the young one
engages even further with the story and becomes even more determined
to become an independent reader.
Barbara Braxton
The oceans between us by Gill Thompson
Headline Publishing, 2019. ISBN: 9781472257956.
(Age: 16+) Highly recommended. It was 1941. Jack has happy memories
of his mother holding him, as a 5 year old, in her arms, singing and
dancing with him, then hiding with him under the table at the sound
of sirens and German bombers flying over London. But one day whilst
he is at school, there is an explosion, and his whole world is
changed forever. His mother disappears, and Jack ends up in the
dormitories of Melchet House run by the Catholic nuns, a life of
chores and punishments.
Unbeknown to Jack, his mother survived the explosion but was left
with amnesia. She passes her time in a hospital ward desperately
looking for something she is missing, but she doesn't know what it
is.
Life becomes worse for Jack as he becomes one of the thousands of
children shipped to Australia to a promised land of sunshine and
oranges. However, far from being a paradise, Bindoon, the Boys Town,
is a place of hard labour, beatings and abuse. Jack eventually has
an escape, taken to be adopted by Kathleen and John, an Australian
couple unable to have children. But he can't forget the suffering of
the other boys and when his friend Sam dies there, Jack is
determined to one day seek justice.
Thompson's novel brings together many themes: the suffering and
abuse of child migrants brought to Australia and placed in harsh
institutions; Aboriginal children taken from their parents to live a
life of servitude; the racism in Britain towards the Jamaican
immigrants who came on the Windshuttle; the threat of the childhood
disease of polio; and the crude treatment of mental health patients.
The novel paints an authentic picture of the times, and would be of
interest to students studying the history of the period. It
concludes with the apologies of both the British and Australian
prime ministers to the children shipped to Australia as child
migrants, told they were orphans and brought to Australia without
their parents' knowledge or consent.
This book would make an interesting comparison with Jae-Dee Collier's Jae-Dee
survives the home of many mothers (2019), a fictionalised
account drawn from the author's memories of her life as one of the
forgotten children in Australian orphanages, more of a memoir than a
novel. Thompson's story builds a wider context to the experience of
the institutionalised child, yet both share the loneliness and fear
the children suffered, and their longing for kindness and love. Both
stories reveal the long-standing aftereffects of abuse.
That is not to say that The oceans between us is difficult
to read. On the contrary, we are drawn into the lives of the
characters; there is romance, and there are happy as well as sad
moments. I thoroughly recommend it - it keeps the reader engaged
until the very last page.
Helen Eddy
And then there were four by Nancy Werlin
Speak, 2018. ISBN: 9780147510266.
(Age: 14+) Recommended. A book for mystery lovers, Werlin has
written an easy to read and engrossing story about five teenagers
who escape death when a building collapses on them. It is not an
accident, someone is trying to murder them. Gradually the group
piece together a theory, unlikely as it may seem.
The plot contains enough twists and turns, unexpected events and red
herrings that the reader will be kept guessing until the end about
the teens' theory and whether it is true.
Written in two alternating voices, that of Saralinda del la Flor and
Caleb Colchester, Werlin skilfully draws out the characters and
events that befall the group. Saralinda's voice is quite unique with
exclamation points and strange sayings and once the reader becomes
accustomed to it, is very enjoyable to read. Caleb's on the other
hand is darker and told in the second person. All the characters are
unique and interesting, particularly Saralinda who has a club foot
and diabetes, but who with humour, manages to often be the voice of
reason in this diverse group. Caleb has suffered all his life,
labelled a bad boy, Kenyon is an outspoken young woman who has used
social media to call out a rape, while Evangeline and Antoine are
popular school leaders. As a group they don't appear to mesh well,
but when one of them dies, they have to work out a way to stay alive
and use each other's skills and expertise. And there are some
budding romances as well.
Mystery readers who enjoy books by Lauren Oliver and Karen McManus
are likely to enjoy the fast pace and suspense of And then there
were four.
Pat Pledger
Find Spot at the library by Eric Hill
Penguin Random House Children's, 2019. ISBN: 9780241365694.
(Ages: 1-4) Themes: Libraries, Board book, Lift the flaps book.
Lift-the-flap books are usually instant winners with little ones,
especially when there is a cheeky animal or two hiding behind and
this third title in a new Spot series (previous titles are Find
Spot at the zoo and Find Spot at the museum) is no
exception. The series is a real nod to the original Where's Spot
first published in 1980, and while Eric Hill may have passed away in
2014 these have been done with the same humour and fun that has seen
generations of children fall in love with his books. Young children
will especially love finding Spot at the end, all dressed up in his
tiger costume for dress-up day at the library (it would have been
better if they had to lift a flap to find him though). All his
friends are there for the party too. The book also includes all the
elements that children love about visiting the library: borrowing
and returning books, story time, sing-along time, playing and
creating and quiet reading. This series will be a real hit with
toddlers, and this title a definite must for little library lovers.
Nicole Nelson
Encyclopedia of Grannies by Eric Veille
Translated by Daniel Hahn. Gecko Press, 2019. ISBN: 9781776572434.
(Age: 7+) This colourful and busy book gives lots of humorous
information you may have been wondering about grandmothers. It is an
entertaining and light-hearted look at all the different thoughts a
child may have had about grandmothers, like 'Why do grannies always
tell us to speak up? Why do they have creases on their faces?'
Headings include Age, Wisdom, Postcards, Flexibility, Knitting plus
many more.
It is a book to be shared with a child as there are lots of
interesting anecdotes written in quite small text.
This book would make a special gift to give and share with a
grandmother.
Themes: Grandmothers, Questions, Finding Information,
Humour.
Kathryn Beilby
Dress like a girl by Patricia Toht
Illus. by Lorian Tu-Dean. HarperCollins, 2019. ISBN: 9780062798923.
32pp., hbk.
Time for a sleepover and the guests have been instructed to 'dress
like a girl'. But what does that mean?
Does it really mean dresses and high heels, buttons and bows? Or
could it mean a space suit, a wetsuit, a medico's coat or something
entirely original?
Told in rhyme, the opening stanza sums up the focus and purpose of
this book perfectly . . . What does it mean to dress like a girl
Many will tell you in this big, wide world
that there are strict rules that must be addressed,
rules you will need when looking your best.
But when you are given these rules to obey,
the secret is heeding them - in your own way. The strong message is that we are each individuals and we
should be dressing to suit ourselves rather than what others might
say about our appearance, or what 'fashion' dictates or other
external influences. Written for the young girl who is becoming more
aware of the world around her, what others are doing and wearing and
starting to shape her own tastes and preferences, this is a timely
release that should spark lots of discussions not just about what is
'acceptable' but also self-acceptance and the influence of peer
pressure. Do 'clothes maketh the man'?
While Tu-Dean has depicted a diverse range of ethnicities and
origins in the illustrations, there is a strong theme of events like
slumber parties being about the friendships and fun that are common
desires of everyone, rather than differences that divide or separate
or having to conform to a given look to be accepted. Great for the
mindfulness collection.
Barbara Braxton
A dog's journey by W. Bruce Cameron
Pan Macmillan, 2019. ISBN: 9781760786052.
Some of us look after dogs and see to their welfare. What we
don't know is that dogs are born with a dedication to look after
humans and, having relatively short lives in comparison, are re-born
periodically to reengage with their human.
The system is revealed in this story where Buddy is still alive
after his human Ethan (an old man who the dog has served and
protected from childhood) has died. Growing old himself, Buddy is
still protective of Ethan's partner and their grand daughter Charity
until the moment he passes peacefully.
When Charity finds herself lost and vulnerable in her teenage years,
it is clear that a dog must take charge and the former Buddy is
rebirthed as a female dog Molly. Without giving the story away, the
same dog has the capacity to reappear as a different breed or gender
after dying, if their human needs them at some stage of their life.
The former Buddy is surprised to have been reborn, having assumed
that his own life journey would be complete given that his human was
no longer alive. Even as tiny puppies, dogs will have memories of
their former lives, when they were bonded to their human.
This is an unashamedly sappy story but anyone who has owned or spent
time with dogs will recognise the premise and will secretly want to
believe. The story definitely prompts the reader to think deeply
about the amazing loyalty and love shown by dogs, even when their
owners neglect or mistreat them. The ceaseless desire to please
their human, to protect them from harm and to try to soothe their
pain is beautifully depicted in this novel. What struck me deeply is
that dogs have no power to determine their own fate and can only
trust in the goodness of humankind. Sadly, all too often these
innocent creatures will suffer because individuals or human systems
don't recognise the purpose of dogs.
Any person who has ever recognised a dog's silly grin, observed the
tail wag of affection, or felt the press of a loving canine against
their leg should read this book to better understand these
creatures. Those who have not experienced dog moments should read
the book for the same reason.
Rob Welsh
Peppa's muddy festival: a lift-the-flap book
Peppa Pig series. Ladybird Books, 2019. ISBN 9780241375884.
(Age: 1-4) Recommended for fans of Peppa Pig. Any parent who has a
child obsessed with Peppa Pig will welcome this sturdy board book
with lift the flaps, just right for small fingers. In Peppa's
muddy festival, the family is off to a children's festival
where they anticipate having lots of fun. But Mummy Pig is a bit
worried that it will rain and the ground will become very muddy. Not
so Peppa Pig, who loves muddy puddles.
Very bold and vivid colours bring the children's festival to life.
Each activity has a flap to lift and children will have fun guessing
what is under each one, often ones that are not expected. The
family's overnight stay in a tiny tent is fun, but not as exotic as
the glamping that Suzy Sheep's family experiences or the joy of
finding that it has rained overnight and the ground has been turned
to mud. The expressions on the faces of the little animals as they
make mud castles and jump in muddy puddles are exquisite.
Warning, after reading this book to youngsters, it will be hard to
keep them out of puddles!
Pat Pledger
Joe Quinn's poltergeist by David Almond
Illus. by Dave McKean. Walker Books, 2019. ISBN: 9781406363197. 80
pgs.
(Age: 12+) Highly recommended. Themes: Ghosts, Death, Grief,
Beliefs, Coming of age. This dark, atmospheric graphic novel will
grab the reader's attention right from the first time the strange face with its gaping mouth on the front cover is glimpsed.
This is the fourth collaboration by Almond and McKean, (Mouse
bird snake wolf, Slog's
dad, and The savage) and as one would expect from two
such outstanding artists, it is stunning.
Davie is on the cusp of moving from childhood into his teen years.
He is interested Josephine Minto, and isn't sure of his beliefs
about God and ghosts. When Joe Quinn boasts of having a poltergeist
in his house and Davie sees bread and other objects flying through
the air, deep down there is a hope that ghosts do exist as that
would mean that his little sister might be one. The problem is that
Joe Quinn tells stories and when the local priest is called upon to
give his opinion, it turns out that he is not the holy person that
one would wish for.
Almond's exploration of grief and beliefs is dark and powerful. In
the introduction he writes about his childhood where St Patrick's
Church was full of believers but superstitions about ghosts abounded
and people flocked to Lourdes for its healing waters. And Davie's
story is full of the uncertainty of a changing world, one where even
the priest is questioning his spiritual beliefs.
Dave McKean's illustrations are as eye-catching and as
thought-provoking as in his previous collaborations with Almond.
They build on the story and give the reader a visual picture of all
the characters and their surroundings. The drunken, cigarette
smoking priest lurches into Joe's house, Josephine Minto shows off
her tennis skills and Davie, Joe and Geordie emerge as young adults.
This is a complex and clever book, certainly not for the very young,
with its dark themes and questioning of religious beliefs. It is a
coming of age story, with Davie throwing off his childhood and
realising that life goes on and his sister will be remembered 'in
memories and words'.
Pat Pledger
