Puffin Books, 2019. ISBN: 9780241346891.
(Age: Secondary students and mature Year 7) Recommended. The book's
front cover immediately leaves the reader with no illusions about
the serious event that is to occur in the story. A torn newspaper
graphic announces that the novel was 'inspired by the tragic true
tale of George Stinney, the youngest ever American to be executed at
the age of fourteen . . . '
The newspaper is 'The South Carolina Times' and the date is 1944,
which gives background information about the setting and time. This
historical perspective may not be obvious to the young adult reader
but Karyn Parsons's story reveals the racism of Southern America
through the eyes of young black Americans.
Ella is the main character and it is her journey of self-discovery
that directs most of the plot. Ella lives in a loving extended
family with her grandparents and cousins. Her mother has moved to
the North to pursue a better life and Ella has no knowledge of her
father.
Surprisingly her mother sends for Ella to join her in Boston and at
first this seems exciting, but her mama's day job and busy night
life as an aspiring jazz singer means Ella is often alone. She
yearns for school and her past family life and her main focus is
trying to discover information about her dad.
This story is told from the perspective of several characters and is
an insight into the strong racial feelings of the times. Ella is
amazed by the differences between attitudes in the more liberal
North and racist Southern USA, especially the fragile, tenuous
existence of black people in her home state of South Carolina.
The title of the novel is an Ella Fitzgerald song and a link to the
jazz music of the time.
This is a wonderful story that deals with powerful issues. I would
recommend this story to secondary students and mature year 7's.
Here is a video
of the author talking about her novel.
Jane Moore
A Curse of Ash and Embers by Jo Spurrier
Tales of the Blackbone Witches book 1, Harper Voyager, 2018.
ISBN: 9781460756331.
(Age: 13+) Highly recommended. Aurealis Awards Best Young Adult
novel shortlist 2018. Themes: Witches, Curses, Coming of age. When
Elodie is sent off to be a servant she doesn't dream that she would
be working for a witch. Desperate to leave a home where she is
belittled by her stepfather and used as a drudge, she travels to a
distant village where she finds Aleida, a young witch and
immediately sees that she is needed not only as a servant but as
someone who has Aleida's back. Aleida has been in a massive fight
with her mistress Gyssha Blackbone, who has made huge monsters that
ravage the countryside and who has cursed her. For Elodie, anything
is better than going home.
This is a fantasy tale that will quickly grip the reader's
attention. Elodie is an engaging heroine: sensible and pragmatic,
she is also compassionate and helpful. As the story progresses, the
reader knows that she will do everything she can to help Aleida foil
the wicked Gyssha, even though she finds it very difficult. Aleida
is a mysterious character and Spurrier cleverly unfolds her story
and other surprises along the way.
There is plenty of action for those who like adventure and the
descriptions of the ways that witchcraft is used gives an
interesting background to the world that Elodie and Aleida inhabit.
I really enjoyed reading this story and look forward to the sequel.
Although there was a touch of romance, it was Elodie's growth in
confidence and self esteem on escaping her past and the growing
friendship between Aleida and Elodie that made the story
interesting. A Curse of Ash and Embers is likely to appeal to fans of
stories about witches and warlocks like Tempests
and slaughter by Tamora Pierce and How
to hang a witch by Adriana Mather.
Pat Pledger
The quiet at the end of the world by Lauren James
Walker Books; 2019. ISBN: 9781406375510. 352p; p/b.
(Age: Middle secondary+) Recommended. In a future where the human
race is infertile, the last two people to ever be born confront the
fear of loneliness when a mystery disease rages through an
already dwindling population.
It's difficult to discuss what makes this book good, because its
best aspects hinge on a plot twist that shouldn't be spoilt. It
tackles some interesting ethical issues that are becoming
increasingly relevant today, and some thought provoking takes on the
future of humanity. Don't worry though, it's not all heavy futurism
- the novel also contains some quite personal themes of love and
secrets. It's quite engaging, with a unique narrative device of
reading through archived chat-logs online, interspersed at
precisely paced intervals with more traditional narration. The
representation in the cast is inspiring - bi and trans will last as
long as humanity does.
You will just have to read it yourself, it is a wonderful read. The
book is suitable for middle secondary-aged readers due to the themes
discussed, however it can be a good conversation with classes as to
the diversity and power of humanity.
Vincent Hermann
Sea Bear: a journey for survival by Lindsay Moore
Greenwillow Books, 2019. ISBN: 9780062791283. 48pp., hbk.
Imagine you are a polar bear.
Your coat is thick. Your teeth are sharp.
Your front paws are paddles, your back paws are rudders, and you can
swim for miles.
Your home has always been the sea and the ice.
A sea bear, far north in the Arctic, hunts and naps and raises her
young. She moves with the ice, swimming, running, stalking seals,
resting. She follows the rhythm of the sea and the seasons. But what
happens when those rhythms change? What happens when there is no
ice?
Told from the perspective of a female bear, the reader is taken on a
journey of the Arctic seasons starting in spring when the ice is
thick and the baby seals numerous, through to summer when the water
warms and the ice melts, making it too thin to stand on and the
seals more wary and quicker. Smelling land on the offshore breeze,
the bear starts to swim to shore for food but it is a long arduous
and perilous journey filled with lots of other creatures of the cold
seas. But above all, polar bears are patient and so she continues
knowing that the world will turn, the time will pass and winter will
come again. Courage, determination, resilience - even in the animal
kingdom.
As well as the evocative text, it is the illustrations which make
this book a stand-out. Using a palette of a myriad of blues, the
reader is treated to all the moods and times of this wonderland
- starry night skies, ocean depths and shallows, the aurora borealis,
the breaking ice pack and isolate seashore. While it could be a
story of any sea bear, using the first person builds a connection
with the reader so we are invested in her survival as well as that
of all her kind. Her companions of the deep become less threatening
as they pass by each other as Moore's illustrations reflect her
Master of Science in Medical and Scientific Illustration.
A page of information about sea ice and polar bears and another
introducing the creatures she passes on her journey to shore add to
the value of this book which shines a light on the plight of Arctic
(and Antarctic) creatures as global warming continues and the amount
of sea
ice declines each year.
A valuable addition to your environment and sustainability
collection.
Barbara Braxton
The boy: His stories and how they came to be by Oliver Jeffers
HarperCollins, 2018. ISBN: 9780008294342. 168pp., hbk.
In 2004, Oliver Jeffers set out to do a painting of someone trying
to do something impossible - a boy catching a star with a butterfly
net - and that idea evolved not only into the book How
to catch a star but into a series of four stories
including Lost and found, The way back home and Up
and down.
Now collected into one collection, this book also offers a unique
look behind the scenes at the development of each book. As well as a
letter from Jeffers himself explaining how the series grew (and may
still do so, although that is unlikely), it contains more than 100
distinctive sketches, notes and ideas that he has chosen from his
archives that show the thoughts, events and incidents that shaped
the stories.
Apart from its inherent beauty, this book has much to offer about
how stories grow in the minds of their creators, giving it an appeal
and a use far beyond the target audience of the original stories
themselves.
Barbara Braxton
On the come up by Angie Thomas
Walker Books, 2019. ISBN: 9781406372168.
(Age: Young adult) Recommended. On the come up by Angie
Thomas is a hard-hitting contemporary young adult novel novel that
brings light to topics such as racial stereotyping and
discrimination of people due to their social class.
Bri has always dreamed of being a famous rapper like her dad so when
she gets the chance to compete in an amateur rap battle in her
inner-city neighbourhood she jumps on it. She believes that becoming
a rapper is the key to saving her family from poverty and to rise
above the racism and hate she experiences from being African
American in her community.
The characters in this novel were realistic and unique from each
other. Their personalities and ambitions in the novel were memorable
and special to that character. This made you feel like you were
getting to know and forming real relationships with the characters
in the novel.
The plot was unique and spoke about racial inequality in a way that
clearly highlighted the injustices minorities face daily in real
life. These heavy topics are delivered in a non-graphic and easy to
interpret way so readers young or old will feel as if they have
gained knowledge and a deeper understanding of racial prejudice.
The imagery and language choices were true to the setting of the
novel which is a predominately African American neighbourhood. It
felt as if I was transported to America and could hear the
characters through their realistic dialogue. The language choices
were clear and easy to understand which is most likely because this
book is aimed at young adults.
Overall, I would recommend this book to a younger audience who would
like to know more about the injustices racial minorities face in
modern day society. It is a fast paced but still emotional impactful
read. If you enjoy realistic characters and an action packed plot
this is the book for you!
Amy Folker (student)
Master of Sorrows by Justin Call
Gollancz, 2019. ISBN: 9781473222878. 577 pages, paperback.
(Age: 12+) Recommended. Contains violent scenes and depictions of
death. High fantasy. The Academy of Chaenbalu has stood against
magic for centuries. Hidden from the world, acting from the shadows,
it trains its students to detect and retrieve magic artifacts, which
it jealously guards from the misuse of others. Because magic is
dangerous, something that heals can also harm, and a power that aids
one person may destroy another. Of the Academy's many students, only
the most skilled can become Avatars - warrior thieves, capable of
infiltrating the most heavily guarded vaults - and only the most
determined can be trusted to resist the lure of magic. More than
anything, Annev de Breth wants to be one of them. Master of sorrows is a strongly written dark fantasy novel,
similar in tone and feel to the likes of We are blood and
thunder by Kesia Lupo. Call does not hesitate to highlight the
dark side of humanity, with the themes of lies, deception,
discrimination, wars, and death featuring prominently in the novel.
His worldbuilding is astounding and makes the story's setting feel
grounded and real. He crafts a deeply flawed, young protagonist who
bears too much at too young an age, making you feel empathy for
Annev, rejoicing at his triumph and despairing as he falls while he
fights for his chance in the sun. While Master of sorrows
follows a trend of stories with academy-trained warriors, thieves
and assassins, it stands out from the rest due to the protagonist's
desire to rise above the brutality and act with mercy and
compassion, which are often lost in similar stories. We see this
empathy was developed through his bond with his mentor and as Annev
experiences discrimination due to physical deformities, which in the
novel, mark him as a vile agent of evil. Call speaks against this
cruel and misinformed idea as he presents Annev as a flawed but
deeply caring individual.
While this novel's themes are evident, the events seem jumbled and
plot points were touched upon then never raised again in a way that
felt unfinished or not explored to its full potential. There are
also extremely disturbing descriptions not suitable for a younger
audience. Despite this, this was a strong high fantasy novel full of
both gritty realism and the buoyant kindness of the protagonist. I
would recommend to people who enjoy stories such as Nevernight
by Jay Kristoff and We are blood and thunder by Kesia Lupo.
Stephanie Lam(Student)
Courting Darkness by Robin LaFevers
His fair assassin, Counting darkness duology, book 1.
Anderson Press, 2019. ISBN: 9781783448265.
(Age: 16+) Highly recommended. Themes: Historical fantasy, France -
History, Brittany, Assassins. After devouring the three books in the
award winning His fair assassin series, I was thrilled to read the
story of Genevieve, a young girl who has been undercover for so
long, that she is no longer sure that she will be called up as a
daughter of Saint Mortain by the convent. She becomes embroiled with
a prisoner and manages to take matters into her own hands. Meanwhile
Sybella from Dark
triumph, returns and is accompanying the duchess on her way to
be married to the King of France. She is surrounded by enemies and
her only hope is to get help from the novitiates who had been hidden
in the French court so many years ago.
Although Courting darkness could be read as a stand-alone, with the
author giving enough information to set the scene, readers would
enjoy the book more if they had read the first three books in His
fair assassin series, Grave mercy, Dark
Triumph, and Mortal
heart.
The story is told from two points of view, that of Sybella and
Genevieve. Sybella relates the travails of Anne of Brittany, who is
trying to save her country. Sybella is terrified for the safety of
her two sisters and is desperate for help. Genevieve's involvement
with the unknown prisoner and her uncertainty about Saint Mortain,
give another view of what is going on, and the mystery surrounding
the prisoner is tantalising.
The world of medieval France is enthralling, with the descriptions
of the intrigue, the power mongering, the fear and the prisons
taking the reader right into this time in history. Peopled with real
characters as well as the fantasy daughters of Saint Mortain, it
makes for a fascinating read for lovers of historical fantasy.
A difficult wait for the second book in the duology is in store for
the reader, who is left on a tantalising cliff-hanger. Readers who
like Juliet Marillier's books, the Witchlands trilogy by
Susan Dennard and the Lumatere chronicles by Melina
Marchetta are likely to enjoy Counting darkness.
Pat Pledger
Little Badman and the invasion of the killer aunties by Humza Arshad and Henry White
Illus. by Aleksei Bitskoff. Puffin Books, 2019. ISBN: 9780241340608.
(Ages: 9-12) Highly recommended. Themes: Family relationships,
Pakistanis in Great Britain, Rap music, Friendship, Missing persons,
Good and evil. Humza Khan is a typical 11-year-old who is prone to
making up stories and mucking around in class, but he does not see
this as a problem because he knows he will one day be the most
famous Rap artist the world has ever seen. He and his friends notice
something funny happening at school when, one by one, the staff
disappear and are replaced with Pakistani 'aunties' who seem
determined to fatten up the children. The great food seems wonderful
at first but slowly Humza, his friends Umer and Wendy realize it
must be part of an evil plan. The friends are brought closer
together by their need to solve this mystery. Humza's uncle, who is
called Grandpa because of his aged appearance, is also a character
that features in their hunt to find the truth.
Many Primary school boys will identify with Humza's character and
through the story he grows as a person to know and fully appreciate
his family through his adventures at school. As he says '. . . there
is nothing in the world like an alien slug invasion to make you
appreciate your loved ones . . . ' It is a fast-paced, rollicking
story that will keep the audience reading to the end.
Throughout the story we are given glimpses of the Pakistani culture
that forms so much of Humza's life in Britain. This may not be easy
for children in Australia to understand but it could bring about
some great discussion about immigration and refugees. The book is
written in first person and would be a good story to read aloud with
an upper primary class.
The author Humza Mohammed Arshad is an English actor, comedian and
writer of Pakistani descent. He is best known for his web series Diary
of a Bad Man (2010-2013) and Badman (2015-2018). Henry
White is a comedy writer who has written for TV, on-line and most
recently in children's fiction.
Gabrielle Anderson
The Curses by Laure Eve
Faber and Faber 2019. ISBN: 9780571328048.
(Age: 12+) Recommended. The Curses, sequel to The Graces,
follows The Grace children and their recently resurrected friend,
Wolf. Wolf is the first person who has ever been resurrected but
something's off with Wolf, is it just that he'd been dead and come
back or is he completely changed? No longer wary of the love he and
Fenrin share, the pair grow closer and more reckless. Meanwhile,
Thalia grows close to Nathaniel, their dead cousin's boyfriend who
only seems to be encouraged by Thalia and Iona's resemblance. Is it
only Summer that can see something's wrong? And how does the Grace
family curse play into all this?
Strange things have begun to happen in town and it seems witchcraft
is never far away. With River's power and the handful of other
amateurs trying their hand at magic, it's up to the residence
witches to reign in the magic before anyone else can be harmed. With
the help of River, the wealth of Marcus' supernatural knowledge, and
a great deal of initiative perhaps Fenrin, Thalia, and Summer can
clean up their mess before their parents find out.
With magic and plenty of mischief, Eve's novel explores grief,
greed, and making mistakes. This coming of age novel shows that
everyone has a lot of learn, regardless of their age with not only
the children but also the parents being shown as complicated and
conflicted beings. I would recommend for lovers of fantasy twelve
and up.
Kayla Gaskell
Queen of air and darkness by Cassandra Clare
Dark Artifices book 3. Simon and Schuster; 2018. ISBN:
9781471116704. 880p; p/b.
In this third instalment in the Dark Artifices series of
Shadowhunter novels, Emma Carstairs and Julian Blackthorn must deal
with the loss of Julian's sister and the Inquisitor, as well as the
oppressive machinations of the latter's replacement. Even more so
than usual for sequels, Queen of air and darkness is hard to
get into at the start, being part of a well established series and
spending a lot of time at the start dealing with the events of the
previous book. However, once the reader's caught up and the new plot
kicks into gear, there's plenty to like. While the antagonist's
racist agenda is a bit one-dimensional and old hat, it's not the
real focus, serving as a backdrop to explore troubled romances and
the coping of loss, which it does well.
The prose is descriptive and engaging, and Clare proves she knows
how to keep some levity in a grim situation without adversely
affecting the tone. Fans of Clare's other novels will find this just
as fantastic and enthralling as her other titles. The book makes use
of a diverse range of character representations including
transgender.
Some readers may be put off by the size of the book and due to the
vast thickness of the novel, this is recommended for avid readers,
lovers of Clare's other novels and bookworms. Although the sheer
engaging and impossible-to-stop reading way Clare writes for her
audiences, the story will seem like it is over quickly.
Vincent Hermann
Enchantee by Gita Trelease
Macmillan, 2019. ISBN: 9781509895977.
(Age: Young adult) Recommended. 8.5/10. Themes: Young Adult -
Fantasy, Romance, France and Paris 1789. An exciting fantasy tale
where the illustriously rich King Louis XVI, Marie Antoniette and
the image conscious aristocrats living in their palaces or the inner
courts of Versailles, are starkly presented against the diminished
poor peasants and their hovels. Arrogance and disregard for
humankind is contrasted against courage, persistence, fortitude and
devotion to the well-being of loved ones.
Orphaned seventeen year-old Camille strives to care for her frail
younger sister Sophie while learning to move away from an older,
abusive brother Alain, addicted to glamour, money and position. So
poor and desperate, Camille resorts to her limited knowledge of
inherited maternal 'magic' (Magie - dark margic) in order to make
money. After some surprises about her past and her abilities,
Camille learns that the magie will offer hope of a future of
security in terms of food, housing, health and safety. However, with
this lure, Camille begins to pursue grander schemes for herself and
her sister. Is she fast becoming addicted to gambling, like her
desperate brother? Is she quickly becoming addicted to magic as she
slowly loses herself?
Amongst all of this, Camille makes friends with aristocrats (a group
of people who she resents). Camille finds unexpected romantic love,
but is he attracted to the-true-to-herself Camille, or to her alter
ego the Baroness de La Fontaine? Double identities exist and will
slowly be exposed.
HOPE - is presented to her in the form of a new invention devised by
a small group of forward thinking gentlemen - to fly and be free.
Hope was instilled in Camille by her father who was a printer. He
taught her about the importance of freedom of the press. She learnt
the value of the word in print - 'It was a kind of magic. A magic to
alter the World'. This hope is what France needs in order to bring
about change, revolution - to begin to balance the massive divide
between the rich and the poor, between those with positions and the
common people. Enchantee is a wonderful debut historical fantasy novel by
Gita Trelease (who states that she is searching for a secret portal
to take her back to Versailles). This novel has so many messages for
readers who are looking for a story which enlightens while providing
page-turning entertainment.
Maria Burford
Bloodwitch by Susan Dennard
The Witchlands book 3. Tor, 2019. ISBN: 9781447288855.
(Age: 15+) Recommended. Themes: Fantasy, Witches and warlocks,
Battles. Fans of the first two books in the Witchlands series, Truthwitch
and Windwitch,
will welcome the story of Bloodwitch Aeduan, who has joined the
Threadwitch Iseult and the strange little girl, Owl to fight the
raiders who are destroying the countryside. However he will have to
come to terms with the actions of the Raider King, his father.
Meanwhile the Windwitch, Merik, is held by the Fury and must try to
save his friends' lives and Safi the Truthwitch is with the empress
who is trying to uncover a rebellion in her kingdom.
The world building in the Witchlands series is fascinating:
it is easy to believe in the court life of the empress that Safi
serves as well as the bleak countryside, the awful slaughter and the
strange monks and monastery. The cover too, will have instant
appeal.
These books need to be read in order as each follows the other and
builds on the motivations, courage and perseverance of the main
characters. There is action aplenty in this complex series and the
growth of the characters' understanding of what each stands for and
believes in, stands out. The author brings the series to a
satisfying conclusion, but not without some surprises and
heartbreak. This series will have broad appeal to readers of
fantasy.
Pat Pledger
Hop little bunnies by Martha Mumford
Illus. by Laura Hughes. Bloomsbury, 2019. ISBN: 9781408892930.
(Ages: 0-3) Recommended. Themes; Bunnies, Lift the Flaps, Rhyming
Story. This comes after the similar title We're Going on an Egg
Hunt and is based on the popular Hop Little Bunnies
song. UK illustrator Laura Hughes's work is delightful, making the
book an instant visual winner. Her work is beautiful and young
children will love lifting the multiple flaps on every second page
to wake all the sleepy animals (they are sleeping on the front of
the flap, then awake underneath). The same format, illustrative
technique and text type was used for We're Going on an Egg Hunt
and it works so well. 'See the little bunnies sleeping till it's
noon. Shall we go and wake them with a merry tune? Oh how still, are
they ill?' There is lots of repetition here, favourite animals of
young children (sheep, chicks, bunnies, etc.) and animal sounds that
they will love joining in with. At the end we sing the animals a
happy bedtime song and they all go to sleep.
This will be a real favourite that can be read or sang at bedtime or
any other time of the day. Little ones familiar with the song will
probably even be up and hopping themselves!
Nicole Nelson
Ombria in Shadow by Patricia A. McKillip
Fantasy Masterworks series. Gollanz, 2014. ISBN:
9781473205741.
(Age: 15+) Highly recommended. Themes: Fantasy, Sorcerers, Princes
and princesses.
World Fantasy Award for Best Novel (2003), Mythopoeic Fantasy Award
for Adult Literature (2003). This award winning novel is a feast for
the fantasy lover, one for those who wants a challenge and something
different. Ombria is a strange place with a palace riddled with
secret passages and rooms. Buried beneath the city is a shadow city,
inhabited by ghosts and Mag, a waxling created by Faey, a powerful
sorceress. When the Prince of Ombria dies he leaves only a very
young son, Kyel, and Domina Pearl, a ruthless old woman, takes over
the kingdom as regent. She expels Lydea, the Prince's mistress,
leaving her to die. But Mag saves her and together with Ducon, the
prince's bastard nephew, they try to overcome Domina Pearl's evil
intentions and save Kyel.
Written in beautiful prose, Ombria in shadow brings to life a
strange world on many levels. The reader is taken on a wondrous trip
through dusty passages with strange doors in the palace, and on a
further journey through the city with Ducon as he draws shadowy
doors and eerie buildings. There is mystery about the worlds that
McKillip describes; there is even mystery about the ending and the
reader has to pause and reread to find understanding of the
connectedness of the worlds and of Mag and Ducon's role in them. And
the magic described is original and fascinating.
The love that Ducon and Lydea have for young Kyel is central to the
book and glows throughout. It is refreshing to have the love for a
child as the main theme rather than romantic love. The idea of
loyalty to those who are loved is also one to explore and ponder
over, especially that of Mag and Faey, who discovers love for her
waxling.
It is easy to see why Ombria in Shadow is still in print
after so many years. It is a perplexing, demanding and lyrical book
that will keep the reader thinking long after it is finished.
Pat Pledger
