Vanguard Press, 2018. ISBN 9781784654320
(Age: 14 +) Highly recommended. Genre: Historical fiction, WW 2.
This is the story of two girls in the Netherlands caught up in World
War 2 and the German occupation. Michaela's story starts at the end
of the war. She begins her new life after being in hiding and faces
the challenges of freedom, school, and friendships. She struggles in
trying to understand about what really happened during the holocaust
as she begins her new life in freedom.
Hannie and her family were captured during the war and sent to a
concentration camp. Her story is touched on briefly as she faces the
horrors of the time. This is very challenging to the reader, and we
can feel the despair of Hannie and her family.
Two girls, two different pathways during the same war. This
compelling story not only gives you an understanding of the time but
shows us the strength the girls needed in facing the challenges
ahead of them.
I enjoyed this very moving story and readers who have loved the
"Diary of
Anne Frank" will find this a must read.
Links with "Diary of Anne Frank"
Rating 9/10
Debra Pepper
Losing the Girl by Marinaomi
Life on Earth Book 1. Graphic Universe, 2018. ISBN
9781512449105
(Age: older teens) Themes: Graphic novel, Relationships, pregnancy, friendship. Part one introduces us to Nigel
Jones, a likeable skateboarding boy living with his mum, dealing
with his parents' separation while trying to find a girlfriend. The
graphic style is simple and expressive, particularly
Nigel's hair. Small details like action indicators, unusual
perspectives and individual text types add depth and interest. Nigel
asks Emily for a date and she asks him if there is a serious side to
his joking around. They quickly get closer and he asks her if she is
a virgin. They discover they are both virgins and kiss. Part two is
from Emily's perspective. She confesses to her friend Paula that she
wants to lose her virginity to someone more memorable, like older
boy Brett Hathaway. The strong black and white graphic style comes
into its own at a party where Emily's increasing emotional
instability under the influence of alcohol and Brett Hathaway is
effectively expressed in how she is drawn. She does lose her
virginity and becomes pregnant. Older sisters and friends help
clarify her options but the emotional roller coaster is vividly
expressed. As the abortion approached Emily retreats more and more
into herself until she is a brief outline. Friendships are tested
and some harsh lessons are learnt. Part three is from Brett
Hathaway's point of view. Secretly in love with Joanna who wants to
be just friends he learns about Emily's abortion and goes to see
her. The softer grey washes are expressive, but not as engaging as
the previous styles. The Fourth section is from Paula Navarro's
perspective. Emily's not so attractive friend, draws her own
narrative in her own sketchy style. Scarred by her own abusive
relationship with Darren, she is unable to support Emily as she too
is attracted to Brett and her story is infused with guilt and
jealousy. The end is complex, incorporating colour for the first
time and returning to a thread about a missing student who may have
been abducted by aliens! "Losing the Girl" is a complex interweaving
of perspectives on the lives of ordinary suburban teens told through
their own relatable voices. We are led to feel their awkward moments
and mundane concerns interleaved with life changing decisions in a
sophisticated graphic presentation. Teens will find this appealing
though the sex and one incident of smoking drugs might preclude
younger readers. It will have wider appeal than graphic novel fans,
especially readers from non-English speaking backgrounds and less
literate students.
Sue Speck
Being a princess is very hard work by Sarah KilBride
Ill. by Ada Grey. Bloomsbury Publishing, 2018. ISBN 9781408881941
(Age: All ages) Highly
recommended. Themes: Self Esteem, Rhyming book. If you ever thought being a REAL Princess was loads of
fun, and even easy, then this funny rhyming picture book will set
you straight. Imagine sitting on a throne for hours, to practising
handshakes and waving at your subjects when all you feel like doing
is having a nap. Think of having no time to play, keeping all those
body noises inside and most definitely no nose picking. Tables
manners must be immaculate and no fussy eating allowed. Worse still
the dragons you might have to contend with, and the frogs just
waiting to be bestowed with a kiss. Having to look neat and
spotlessly clean always, which pretty much makes anything remotely
fun out of the question. Just being yourself, a REAL little girl,
moody, energetic, noisy and yes messy, of course, but also generous
and kind is so much better.
That's the opinion (anyway) of one would-be young princess's Mum and
Dad, who want their child to know that they love her for who and
what she is. The rhyming text is complimented with fabulous
illustrations with double spread pictures full of wonderful details,
many of them taken from traditional fairy tales, adding another
dimension for the reader to enjoy.
Perfect for young would-be princesses and parents that want to get
the message to their child to appreciate their "inner beauty" and
develop themselves in spite of any "quirky" traits they think they
may have.
Donna Isgar
Save the date by Mary Kay Andrews
St Martin's Press, 2018. ISBN 9781250190291
(Age: Older adolescents - Adult) Plunging us into the frenetic life
of the young woman who has chosen to be a wedding florist, whose
work begins with flowers and catapults into the full thing - the
flowers in the church (and often for the reception too), the flowers
carried by the bridal party, the decoration of the reception venue,
flowers for the bride and often advice for the bride, or sometimes
for the mother-of-the-bride, or even the groom, Mary Kay Andrews
sets up a protagonist who keeps up a pace that seems impossible to
imagine. This novel would be suitable for older adolescents and
indeed for adults intrigued by this particular world in the southern
states of the USA.
Cara Kryzik is on the rebound from an unsuccessful relationship, and
has started up her own shop to supply the luxurious floral
decorations expected for weddings, both commonly at the church and
in the wedding venue as decreed by the mores of society in the
southern US states. Her brief goes beyond the flowers that might be
carried by the bridal party, as she begins to create the
decorations, responding to the brides, for the whole ceremony and
reception, also advising on many other aspects of the wedding. The
costs are high, and not just in monetary terms, as so much is
expected by the brides, the mothers of the brides, the attendants
and indeed the family, and Kara is under enormous pressure for
almost every wedding, pre-wedding and post-wedding celebrations for
which she caters. However, the complexity of her life is extended
further as she deals with a broken marriage, a new lover, unhelpful
workers and a father who wants to run her life.
Fast-paced, like Kara's life, this novel takes us on a journey to
the southern United States, exploring the pressures exerted by the
families on the brides as well as the weight of the expectation of
perfection in every single aspect of the whole ceremony and
celebrations on that very special day. However, the underlying story
of Kara dominates, and we are drawn deeply into her family troubles,
her attempts to leave her old life behind to forge her way into a
new life, the dominating father and the element of trust that
concerns her deeply in her relationships.
Captivating and fast-paced, this delightful novel depicts southern
life so vibrantly, exploring both its expectations of family members
in their daily lives, and especially on such occasions as a wedding,
Andrews constructs a world, moreover, into which she draws us
deeply, exploring this world's complex pressures on young people to
meet and marry the right person, to display the family's success in
suitable fashion, and to impress the world around them with their
events. Its richly evocative atmosphere is the heart of this novel,
and is the core of its strength.
This novel would be suitable for adolescent readers, but would also
be a captivating story for all ages, particularly those who are
interested in the world of the southern United States, or those who
have not experienced the particular way of life that is depicted so
richly in this novel.
Elizabeth Bondar
Melowy and the song of the moon by Danielle Star
Scholastic, 2016. ISBN 9781338151763
(Age: 6-10) The Melowies are a select group of winged horses who are
born with a hidden symbol on their wings and a magical power. The 4
ancient islands of Aura are the homes of the Melowies. The Melowies
must leave their island homes and attend school at the Castle of
Destiny.
In this second book of the series, the 5 Melowies will be part of a
musical performance at the school.
This book has themes of friendship, self-confidence and jealousy.
Selene has to overcome her fear of failure and is supported by her
friends to audition for the role of Moon, explaining the title
"Melowy and the song of the moon".
These small novels are about 80 pages long and are packed with
intensely coloured illustrations. Maps at the beginning of the novel
show all the island realms of Aura and each part of the Castle of
Destiny. There is also a fact sheet on the 5 Melowies, which helped
me distinguish each Melowy when I was reading the story.
The Melowies have the same friendship issues as middle primary aged
students and these books have instant appeal with their bright
colours and fantasy Pegasus characters.
The Melowies will appeal to students aged 6-10 years old.
Jane Moore
Melowy: Dreams come true by Danielle Star
Scholastic, 2018. ISBN 9781338151749
(Ages 6-8) Theme: Fantasy. Short and quick to read. Magical Pegasi
go to a school for magical horses.
Aura, a 'magical land' that's 'in a distant galaxy' has four Island
realms (Winter, Spring, Day and Night) that are populated by Pegasi.
Some Pegasi are Melowies, marked with a hidden symbol on their wings
that indicate magical abilities. Melowies are summoned to school at
the 'Castle of Destiny' in the clouds. Frontmatter details these
realms, provides a map of the castle, and provides short profiles on
the five main characters.
The story opens on the day the new Melowies arrive - which also
happens to be the anniversary of Cleo's arrival day (the day she was
found mysteriously at the castle, origins unknown and no melowy
mark). The story centres on Cleo and Maya, a shy Pegasus from
Spring. During the entrance test, Cleo enters mistakenly, and Maya
asks her to stay and help, and she unsurprisingly ends up assisting
all the main characters.
The brightly coloured Pegasi have unicorn horns, highly decorative
wings, heavy eye make-up, and long flowing manes. There is not a
hint of subtlety about them. The epilogue's twist foreshadows a
threat to Aura.
Donna Isgar
Cicada by Shaun Tan
Hachette, 2018. ISBN 9780734418630
(Age: all) Highly recommended. Themes: Cicadas, Employment,
Workplace, Bullying, Difference. Unappreciated, Cicada works in a
bleak office in a very tall building. He has worked there for
seventeen years without a break. He never makes mistakes, yet his co
workers taunt and bully him because he is different. His request for
a promotion is turned down, because he is not human. He is not
allowed in the staff rest rooms. He stays late to finish his work,
yet no one thanks him. When he retires he is told to clean his desk.
He has no home, no money and no place to be. He climbs to the top of
the building, desolate and ready to say goodbye. But here something
wonderful happens and Cicada is able to show all humans that he is
made of better stuff and does not have to spend his life in the
office building, but can fly off to greener pastures.
This scintillating story, full of hope and promise that will appeal
to all those who read it. It is multi-layered, at once ruminating on
the drudgery of modern work, of bullying in the workplace, of
prejudice against those who look different, with hints about
homelessness and hopelessness but also of looking forward and of
optimism, as Cicada breaks out, paralleling the fact that cicadas
can live underground for up to seventeen years before emerging.
Tan's rich oil paintings reflect the muted colours of the dreary
work space, with Cicada's bright green just poking above his
partition.
Hints of Escher and Edward Hopper amongst others, can be spotted
within the pages, while the poem quoted on the publications page
adds another layer of meaning and interest to the story.
"Calm and serene
the sound of a cicada permeates the rock"
and Tan's clipped words reflect a minimalism which is deafening in
what it leaves out, each small stanza ending with "Tok Tok Tok"!
Each offering from Shaun Tan is breathtaking in its originality.
Fran Knight
The Storm Keeper's Island by Catherine Doyle
Bloomsbury, 2018. ISBN 9781408896884
(Age: 9+) Recommended. "When Fionn Boyle sets foot on Arranmore
Island, it begins to stir beneath his feet . . . Once in a
generation, Arranmore Island chooses a new Storm Keeper to wield its
power and keep its magic safe from enemies. The time has come for
Fionn's grandfather, a secretive and eccentric old man, to step
down. Soon, a new Keeper will rise. But, deep underground, someone
has been waiting for Fionn. As the battle to become the island's
next champion rages, a more sinister magic is waking up, intent on
rekindling an ancient war." (Publisher)
This will certainly be one that does not gather dust on the shelf.
It is a gorgeous read full of adventure with magic interwoven
throughout the story-line. It is also packed with a range of
emotions allowing you to go on a true roller coaster ride. The
relationship between Fionn, his grandfather and father supports
this. Fionn is a powerful character who immediately connects with
the reader and Arranmore Island is a place we all yearn to visit. It
is certainly a clever author that can write a book that will appeal
to the younger reader and also an adult audience. I would recommend
the book for readers 9 and up and for both girls and boys. It fits
into fantasy, adventure, family and a touch of mystery. I believe
this is part of a trilogy and I am sure many children will be left
hanging and waiting for the release of the second book. A must have
for the collection.
Kathryn Schumacher
Truthers by Geoffrey Girard
Carolrhoda Lab, 2017. ISBN 9781512427790
(Age: 16+) Highly recommended. Themes: Conspiracy; Terrorism - 9/11;
Truth and Lies; Foster children; Identity; Mental health. Katie's
Dad has been forced into a mental institution because he claims to
know something about the 9/11 terrorism plot that could imply there
was government complicity in what happened. Is he being silenced
because he has spoken out? Is his former service in Afghanistan in
some way involved? Conspiracy or truth? Is he just a victim of drug
use and PTSD because of his former service or does he really know
something that would upset the world's perception of what actually
happened on 9/11? Katie is plunged into the drama as she tries to
find a way to free her war-hero father from this 'imprisonment' that
seems to be more than just mental health treatment. Plunged into the
"Truthers" world (conspiracy theorists acting within cyberspace and
beyond, with hackers working to uncover hidden 'truths'), she
becomes twisted and challenged by what is truth for her father and
for her own personal history.
This is a brilliantly compelling and slightly disturbing story - but
one that you won't want to stop reading. The teenaged characters are
intelligent and very likeable (and there are hints of a blossoming
romance and 'coming-of-age' drama). The plot is begging to be made
into a movie script. This author has delved deeply into the
conspiracy world and has revealed the dilemma in the cyber-world of
determining truth and of hiding information. And for Katie, there is
added mystery about her own existence and identity.
Highly recommended for ages 16 - Adult readers.
Carolyn Hull
Let's go ABC! Things that go, from A to Z by Rhonda Gowler Greene
Illustrated by Daniel Kirk. Bloomsbury, 2018. ISBN 9780802735096
(Age: 3-6) Alphabet. Vehicles. Rhyming book. Each page of this
alphabet book contains a short rhyme about a vehicle for each letter
of the alphabet, e.g., "I pick up speed. I'm gaining height. I catch
the wind, ascend-in flight! I'm an... Airplane!" Each letter is
hidden within the illustration or placed somewhere on the vehicle,
eg. the L is the seat within the limousine. This feature, along with
the large capital alphabet spread on the endpapers, will help
children develop a visual understanding of letters. Exclamation
marks are everywhere but they do help to add to the energy of the
book. Putting the name of the vehicle at the end of the rhyme is
clever as it prompts the child to name the vehicle after the
predictive cue "I'm a... ". There is a good mix of familiar (bus,
motorcycle) and unfamiliar (iceboat, zeppelin) vehicles and features
animals as well as some other characters (santa, snowman) beloved by
children. There is lots of action within each page and the text
reads well at a fast pace, which will keep the young listener
engaged. This is noticeably American, as is always the case with
books featuring emergency vehicles, but will still appeal greatly to
little vehicle lovers, despite things looking a little different.
Children will enjoy finding the letter hidden within the picture as
well as other things that start with that letter. The illustrations
are crisp, bold and easy on the eye. This is a fun book for those
developing visual letter awareness and initial sound knowledge.
Nicole Nelson
Max Champion and the great race car robbery by Alexander McCall Smith
Ill. by Kate Hindley. Bloomsbury Children's Books, 2018. ISBN
9781408886137
(Age: 6-8) Recommended. Themes: Motor car racing. Criminals. Values.
Good versus evil. When Max discovers that his grandfather was the
inventor of the Champion motor cars he is stunned to discover that
the greedy Mr Grabber had stolen his ideas and his car, Arabella,
many years ago. Max decides to try and find a way to get back what
his grandfather had lost.
Even though the Champions are poor they are very happy and always
honest. Grandfather Gus is philosophical about the loss of his
inventions, his mother works hard at her sandwich making business
and Max mows lawns to help out. When his mother has to make a
mountain of sandwiches for Mr Grabber, Max helps out and it is in
the Grabber's mansion that Max uncovers some of the secrets that the
Grabbers have been keeping.
This is feel good story of the poor but honest Champion family
overcoming the rich and dishonest Grabber family, as Max manages to
overcome all the difficulties he faces, and in a wild car race,
finally wins out. Kate Hindley's illustrations bring the story to
life and add an element of humour that children will delight in.
Permeating the story are the values of decency and honesty, working
hard doing the right thing. Grandfather Gus has some very pertinent
advice to give Gus amidst the excitement of his hiding from the
villains, a thrilling car chase and winning out in the end.
This would make a great read aloud story and give rise to much
discussion when values are being examined in the classroom.
Pat Pledger
Let me lie by Clare Mackintosh
Hachette, 2018. ISBN 9780751564877
(Age: Adult - Older adolescent) Themes: Mystery and suspense.
Suicide. Grief. The dedication at the start of the narrative
positions us perfectly to be led into a complex story of love,
loyalty and betrayal, with Clare Mackintosh's choice of Benjamin
Franklin's wise words to precede the narrative: "Three may keep a
secret if two of them are dead". Indeed the use of "lie" in the
title of the book itself is enigmatic, as we begin to realize what
has happened.
Single mother, Anna, has an eight-week old child, Ella, with her
partner, Mark, the psychologist she had been seeing since the
disastrous disappearance of her parents, in what appears to have
been separate suicides. Prior to the opening of the narrative, we
learn, Anna's parents appeared to have run a successful car sales
business for many years, apparently making money and in a successful
personal relationship. However, the manner of their deaths,
apparently suicide, and the things that Anna begins to discover
suggest that all was indeed not well. This is where Murray, the
retired policeman who is fascinated by the mystery, decides to
investigate privately, both to help Anna, who is dismayed, afraid
and angry, and to answer the questions that puzzle him.
Apart from the obvious lack of care of their daughter, having been
somewhat venomous and not particularly loving parents, Anna had
thought her life to be predictable and normal. She discovers,
gradually, that all had not been well, that her parents had cared
little for her and for each other, and she has been devastated by
the lies that had filled her life and the dreadful events that
appear to have occurred.
This book is imbued with a sense of decency, in how we should treat
one another, how we should respond to tragedy, how indeed we should
live in today's complex and often difficult world by caring for, and
recognizing, the humanity and goodness of others. Tense, disturbing
and at times shocking, this new novel tells a good story and leaves
us understanding the terrible nature of some people, and of the
hidden secrets and venom of some people's lives. Mackintosh elicits
strong emotions in the reader as we begin to understand what others
find the strength to do, not only to survive, but to approach life
with love, hope, loyalty and respect so that they, and we, can live
justly, if we are lucky, in this sometimes very daunting and dark
world.
This book is suitable for adults and older adolescents, as it does
deal with admirable and honourable attributes of humanity, tainted
by the presence of betrayal, cruelty and violence.
Elizabeth Bondar
Tropical Terry by Jarvis
Walker Books, 2018. ISBN 9781406378627
(Ages: 3-6) Themes: Fish, Appearance. Coral Reef City is filled with
some of the most colourful and fabulous fish of the ocean. A flurry
of action words ("dashing, flashing, swirled") echo the movement of
the sea seen in the illustrations, which feature minimal background
detail comprised of white line drawings and speckled shades of matte
blue, making the fish and colourful coral stand out. All of the
pages are double page spreads to give the full panoramic experience
of the sea. Poor Terry . . . in the midst of such a vibrant world he
is plain blue and a very average fishy shape. He does have two great
friends, Cilla the crab and Steve the sea snail, but as much as he
loves playing with them (he is really good at hide-a-fish), he longs
to be part of the tropical fish crew (they call him "Terry the DULL
fish" and are definitely not interested in his silly games). After
fancying himself up with colourful bits and bobs, Terry is finally
able to join the popular gang, but when they run into a spot of
bother, it's Terry's hiding skills that save the day. After this
Terry realises that standing out isn't always great and starts to
take pride in what makes him unique and special. The illustrations
are beautiful but as a whole the book is let down a little by the
text which lacks suspense and drama, especially when read aloud. In
addition, while the story attempts to show that brains are superior
to beauty it doesn't do this in a way that will be obvious to a very
young audience.
Nicole Nelson
I Love You Dino-Daddy by Mark Sperring
Ill. by Sam Lloyd. Bloomsbury, 2018. ISBN 9781408893449
(Ages: 3-6) Themes: Fathers, Rhyming book. As a republication of a
2015 title, initially published as "Dino-Daddy", this puffy
hardcover book has a shiny foil title that somehow makes it seem
cheap at first glance. However, on opening it contains first-rate
illustrations (the cover illustration is overshadowed by the
glittery text and stars) and a rather lovely rhyming text. The
dinosaur family are a beautiful vibrant green with rich facial
expressions and oodles of energy. The pictures are imbued with a
sense of fun, chaos and craziness that many kids will identify with
as how it feels to hang out with dad. Hands-on, rough and tumble
play, silly magic tricks and jokes on dad when he falls asleep on
the couch are all accounted for. This is gender stereotypical, with
dad being the fun, slightly irresponsible parent, but entertaining
nonetheless (and you could always swap Daddy for Mummy when
reading). The simple, rhyming text reads aloud well ("And though he
has a list of jobs he has to dino-do, he always seems to find the
time to play a game . . . or two!") and the humorous illustrations
do a lot of the talking. A great Father's Day gift or read aloud
that celebrates time spent together.
Nicole Nelson
What will I do when I grow up? by Margherita Borin
Berbay Publishing, 2018. ISBN 9780994384157 What will I do when I grow up by Margherita Borin is a picture
book that as the title suggests, discusses a variety of careers
people can do when they grow up. It centres around the high street
of a town (or the Main Street as we know it in Australia) and
focusses on a Chef, Builder, Scientist, Teacher and an Artist.
Each vocation is explained in a simple way, in respect to what the
person may do, what instruments or equipment they may use and other
things that may be involved with the job. Each section also ends
with the question 'Would you like to be a... when you grow up"
leaving it open for discussion with the reader.
Each of the jobs also has multiple pages of illustrations showing
areas within the workplace and the actual equipment that may be
used. For example - the chef section shows a kitchen, chef's
uniform, utensils (knives, pots and pans, scales, blenders, mixers
and graters to name a few), and a whole page of raw and cooked
ingredients. The builder shows a work site, machinery and building
equipment.
When reading this with my kids it was a good tool to talk about what
they knew about these jobs and if they liked any of them. We also
spent a lot of time looking at all the different pictures, naming
them and how they can be used. Obviously there are a lot more jobs
in the world than these 5 but it is a good introduction to the idea
of a career and also an understanding of what adults do and who is
behind many of the things we love i.e. How was our house built? Who
cooks our dinner at a restaurant? How can we cure diseases and learn
about the world? Who will we meet at school? We give it 3.5 out of
5.
Lauren Fountain
