Orion Children's Books, 2018. ISBN 9781510104396
(Age: 12+) Highly recommended. Twelve-year-old Jerome is shot by a police officer who mistakes his
toy gun for a real threat. As a ghost, he observes the devastation
that's been unleashed on his family and community in the wake of
what they see as an unjust and brutal killing.
Soon Jerome meets another ghost: Emmett Till, a boy from a very
different time but similar circumstances. Emmett helps Jerome
process what has happened, on a journey towards recognizing how
historical racism may have led to the events that ended his life.
Jerome also meets Sarah, the daughter of the police officer, who
grapples with her father's actions.
Wow! Wow! Wow! This is possibly the best book I have read this year.
Rhodes has done a fantastic job of evoking emotions of hate,
compassion, love and empathy all rolled into one. She has tackled
the issues of race discrimination in the USA towards
African-American youth, particularly boys in an unusual way -
changing the perspectives the book is written from. Throughout the
book it interchanges between Jerome telling his story while he was
alive and also his viewpoint when he is a ghost. With such strong
themes including racism and violence, I would recommend this book
for children aged 12 and up. This would make a fantastic read aloud
and create a mountain of discussion. A must have for the collection!
Kathryn Schumacher
I have lost my way by Gayle Forman
Simon and Schuster, 2018. ISBN 9781471173721
(Ages: 14+) Recommended. Themes: Friendship, love, acceptance, loss.
Around the time that Freya loses her voice while recording her debut
album, Harun is making plans to run away from everyone he has ever
loved, and Nathaniel is arriving in New York City with a backpack, a
desperate plan, and nothing left to lose. When a fateful accident
draws these three strangers together, their secrets start to unravel
as they begin to understand that the way out of their own loss might
just lie in helping the others out of theirs. I have lost my way by Gayle Forman is a book about
friendship, love and finding yourself when you feel like all is
lost. The story is told over one life changing day and is told from
alternating perspectives. One of the main themes in this book is
loss. The three main characters, Freya, Harun and Nathaniel, have
all lost something important to them. Freya has lost her voice
during the recording of her debut album, which she has spent the
last few years of her life working towards. Harun has lost the love
of his life, the only person that truly understood him. Nathaniel
has lost everything and now, he has nothing left to lose.
At the start of the book, not much is known about each of the
characters, but as the story progresses, we learn more about their
lives and what lead them to become who they are today through
flashbacks. I absolutely loved how mysterious they all were and the
fact that they all had different backgrounds, religions and sexual
orientations just made them seem all the more real. The diversity in
this book was amazing and it was represented really well.
A definite downside of this book is that it took me quite a while to
get into. In my opinion, it was difficult to figure out which
character's perspective it was being told from and the fact that it
would jump from third person to first person during the flashbacks
made it slightly confusing and hard to follow at times. It was also
very fast paced and since it was told over a single day, I found it
less believable than if it had been told over the course of a week.
Overall, I have lost my way is a really nice story about
love, loss and acceptance that teenagers everywhere would enjoy,
especially if they feel like they have lost their way too.
Grace Austin (Student)
When the mountains roared by Jess Butterworth
Hachette, 2018. ISBN 9781510102118
(Ages 9-12) Highly recommended. Themes: Grief. Fear. Wildlife
conservation. India - Family life.
Jess Butterworth drew inspiration for When the mountains roared
from her own family stories, her grandparents' travels to India in
the 1960s and her own childhood experiences living with them at the
foot of the Himalayas. She descriptively captures the sensory
experiences, the diverse sights and sounds, cityscapes and
countryside and wildlife encounters. Her understandings of the
Indian way of life resonate here. The imprint of the leopard, from
the roaring white silhouette and the rich yellow and brown markings
of the covers that continue as bold chapter headings, set the scene
for her message of wildlife conservation.
Coping with the death of her mother, Ruby is overcome by her fears,
afraid of the dark, of travelling by car, going to sleep and not
waking up in the morning. She lives with her father and grandmother
in Western Australia in a rural hotel which has fallen into
disrepair and her father has borrowed money from loan sharks to save
the property. Desperate to escape from their problems they abandon
their home, take only a few possessions, their collie dog Polly, and
drive through the night to Perth. Along the way they collect a baby
joey which Nan hides in her luggage.
Nan's afraid of flying so they board a cruise ship bound for India.
Their tiring journey finally brings them to the bottom of the
Himachal Pradesh and a haunted mountain. Life for the family is
confronting, their new hotel needs a large amount of work, with the
owners involved in wildlife poaching. Ruby captures photos of the
beautiful world around the hotel; she is an observer, listening to
secret conversations and trailing her father's employers. There are
moments of fun and laughter, the colourful Holi festival, caring for
Joey, watching Bollywood films, making friends with Praveen and
dancing to Bollywood music with Dad and Nan.
Ruby's bravery in tracking the poachers, searching for the elusive
leopard, attests to her strength of character, overcoming her fears
and grief. With her Grandma and loyal friend Praveen they embark on
a treacherous journey into the mountains, each show courage in the
face of danger. The resolution brings both closure and hope for the
future, the author concluding with a heartfelt message about the
need to conserve and protect native wildlife and the risk of
invasive species taking over the natural environment. When the mountains roared is a beautifully crafted story,
where each of the main characters comes to terms with the loss of a
loved one, and is an emotive journey amongst the beauty and
splendour of the Himalayan foothills. Share this with a middle
primary class, explore the detailed and descriptive narrative, the
insightful poignant journey Ruby undertakes, then research the
endangered wildlife and the impact of the poaching trade.
Rhyllis Bignell
The price guide to the occult by Leslye Walton
Candlewick Press 2018. ISBN 9780763691103
(Age: 14+) Recommended for people with an interest in mental health
and magic. TW: This novel contains self-harm. This is certainly a
novel that would be difficult to walk past, The price guide to
the occult is both loud and distracting with neon yellow on
black surrounded by red-edged pages.
The novel follows a cursed family of Blackburn women, all of whom
are destined to have a three-day romance in which a child is
conceived and denied by a man descended from the original eight of
Anathema Island. Together with the curse of heartbreak, each
daughter is 'gifted' with a burden of magical talent, some stronger
than others. Fern Blackburn, the eighth daughter, received the gift
of always getting what she wanted. However, the one loophole in her
gift was never being able to have Quinn Sweeny, the love of her life
and the father of her daughter, Nor. Fern's obsession with
possessing Quinn is all encompassing, and she will stop at nothing
to secure his love - even if that means sacrificing their daughter.
Nor is only a teenager. Her only worries should be grades and boys.
But she is also a Blackburn woman... with a secret. Fear of her
mother has made her tame and afraid of her own powers, for indeed
she is the first since the matriarch, Rona, to possess more than
one. When Fern returns, Nor's fear only grows until she is unable to
keep her power in check. A storm is brewing, and only one Blackburn
woman will prevail. The price guide to the occult was engrossing. Despite the
many references to self-harm and the gruesome murders Fern commits,
it was an enlightening exploration of the relationship between a
neglectful mother and her child. Similar in ways to Practical
magic and Little shop of horrors, it was certainly an
enjoyable read. Recommended for ages fourteen and up with an
interest in mental health and magic.
Kayla Gaskell, 22
Spot goes to the swimming pool by Eric Hill
Puffin Books, 2018. ISBN 9780241327074
(Age 1-4) Highly recommended. Board book. Themes: Swimming. Fear. A
delightful way to introduce the idea of swimming at a swimming pool
to very young children, this board book is sure to be a hit with its
intended audience. Spot is a bit nervous about the water, thinking
that it could be cold but Mum encourages him to try it out and with
her help and encouragement is soon letting go of the side of the
pool and splashing around in his safe rubber ring.
The bright colours bring to life the poolside, water and swimming
accessories. The wonderful expressions on the faces of Spot, his
mother and friend Steve are delightful and leave the reader
appreciating the joys of a mother who is patient and loving and
helpful friends. The pages are sturdy and should stand up for heavy
use by little hands, as this is sure to become a firm favourite.
Spot has been a favourite of children for many years and Spot
goes to the swimming pool will be a lovely way to introduce a
new generation to this lovely little dog and then perhaps follow up
with some of the many books that Eric Hill has written about him.
Pat Pledger
Best buds under frogs by Leslie Patricelli
Candlewick Press, 2018. ISBN 9780763651046
(Age: 8+) Recommended. Themes: Friendship. School. Moving from the
city to Pine Lake where she must catch a bus to school, Lily is
apprehensive, and barfing on the first day does not endear her to
the group of friends who had assembled around her. But Darby takes
her on, and soon the two are best of friends, with sleepovers and
catching the bus together.
So begins this amusing story of fitting in, of starting a new school
in year four, of finding someone who will be your best friend. Darby
and Lily set up a club, the Rizzlerunk Club, named after the sea
captain who ran aground in the lake, his head mysteriously becoming
attached to a giant octopus and climbing into the old boat shed on
the shore near Darby's home. Fun and mayhem follows the girls, as
they contend with the remarks from the others in their class and are
somewhat baffled when they take on the club the two have created for
themselves.
Darby's stories are all about ghosts and ghouls and Lily is even
more apprehensive the first time she goes to her house and meets her
family, a large group of people who all look like Darby, even down
to the glasses they all wear. They are all pleased that Lily is
Darby's new friend, who they think is much better that Darby's
former fiend, Jill, who has moved away. But alarm bells ring when
she unexpectedly moves back to the lake, bringing with her her own
sense of the funny and dramatic which embroiled Darby in many
mishaps in the previous year.
Patricelli's first novel for mid-primary people is most successful,
pitched at their concerns, fitting in, finding friends and coping
with family issues. She has included funny little illustrations,
many of which can be found through the text.
Fran Knight
The disturbed girl's dictionary by Nonieqa Ramos
Lerner Publishing Group, 2018. ISBN 9781512439762
(Age: 14+) Recommended.
Macy Cashmere is a teenager living in the ghetto trying to survive
life the best she can. Her father is in prison, her mother
entertains a constant stream of male 'guests' and her little brother
has been taken away by Child Protection Services. She battles
constant hunger, poverty and the need for her family to be together
again like it was before her father went to prison.
At school she has only two friends (Alma and George) who she is
fiercely protective of and is constantly in trouble for not
conforming and thus considered a 'disturbed' student. Despite this,
school is really her constant in life. Her way of keeping track of
her life is by her entries in her dictionary which is not really a
diary as we know it but more of a memory keeper.
Macy's only true constant in her life and the one she holds onto
dearly is her friendship with Alma. Alma is a shining star, kind to
her peers, a good student and a loving sister to her young siblings.
When Alma starts to drift away, Macy tries to find out why she isn't
talking to her and what has happened in Alma's life to make her drift
away from the friendship.
This story is raw, full of language and themes not suited to a
younger audience. It is exactly how you would imagine life in the
ghetto to be and the daily struggles of those who live there and
those who try to help those who live there. Don't expect happy
endings but rather an insight into who Macy is, why she does what she
does and how she copes with the actions of those who mean something
to her.
Themes in this book are: poverty, neglect, hardship, friendship and
sexual promiscuity. I would recommend this book to students 14+.
Gerri Mills
Uncle Gobb and the Green Heads by Michael Rosen
Bloomsbury, 2018. ISBN 9781408851340
(Age: 7-9)
Uncle Gobb is that really annoying relative who's overstayed his
welcome. Poor Malc and his mother have to endure his constant
roaring, his interfering ways and his opinions about everything from
learning history, to poetry and education. Uncle Gobb and the Green
Heads is the second over-the-top story that sees Malcolm, his
peculiar Uncle Gobb, their family and friends off to America. Malc's
dad lives there and he really wants to reconnect. Along the way
Uncle Gobb's genie 'Doctor Roop the Doop' and Malcolm's genie who
streams out of his nose provide comedic moments and varying levels
of assistance. Both protagonists have ulterior motives for
travelling.
At school, Malc suffers episodes of Blurting Out and Big Trouble;
with his best friend Crackersnacker they endure History and provide
creative answers for the Timeline Book. Brenda the Mender offers the
family her millions of air miles so they can travel overseas. More
bamboozling and confuzling action follows, as Malcolm and his best
friend, his mother, Uncle Gobb and the Weasels, Aunty Brenda the
Mender leave to fly to America. While Malcolm is planning to get rid
of Uncle Gobb, his relative also has an epic plan to get rid of his
nephew.
This is definitely a lighthearted story, where questioning an
adult's actions and motives aren't priorities. What a convoluted
plot, with stream of consciousness asides, absolute silliness,
jokes, fun chapter headings, and fact-filled text boxes interspersed
with Layton's bold cartoons. This book is suitable for the younger
reader who enjoys this humourous style of writing and silly
characters doing crazy things.
Rhyllis Bignell
Alma and how she got her name by Juana Martinez-Neal
Candlewick Press, 2018. ISBN 9780763693558
(Age: 4+) Highly recommended. Themes: Ancestors. Family.
Names. Upset over her very long name, Alma questions her father
about why she has been given a name that doesn't fit on her page. He
then explains, showing her where each of her names comes from and
why she has been given that name. He takes a photo album from the
bookshelf and shows Alma some of the reasons she has her names: Alma
Sofia Esperanza Jose Pura Cabdela.
Sofia is for her grandmother, a woman who taught her father how to
read. Esperanza is for her great grandmother, a woman who loved to
travel and could not, following her son's voyages on her map. Jose
is for his father who taught him to paint and how to to really see
people. Each name has a tale to tell, as Alma comes to see the
importance of her names and her naming. Each name shows a different
aspect of her family and her forebears, and she can see how she gets
some of her characteristics, handed down from generations of people
who came before her.
Each page is built up with graphite images, enhanced with coloured
pencil and print transfers, all done on handmade textured paper.
The paper, not quite white, suits the idea of generations coming
before, of continuity, of family. I love the repeated stripey
trousers that Alma wears, paralleled with one of her ancestors, and
the predominance of paintings and books which litter the pages
underlining again the continuity of interests and skills which make
up her family.
The author's story of her own name follows in an afterword,
stressing again the ideas behind the picture book. A wonderful book
to use when talking of families and their similarities.
Fran Knight
The Paris seamstress by Natasha Lester
Hachette, 2018. ISBN 9780733640001
(Age: 16+) Recommended. In 1940, young Parisian Estella Bissette finds herself unwittingly
drawn to help a dying man, and becomes the courier of secret plans
to the French resistance. She passes them to a dark mysterious
stranger, a spy, in an encounter that will change the course
of her life. Because of her actions, she has to leave France, and
finds herself on the last ship to New York, an escape route
available to her due to American birth papers that her mother has
kept secret and only now reveals. Estella has to leave her mother
behind and set sail to start a new life in a foreign land. She wants
to carve a career for herself as seamstress and designer with the
help of her friends Sam, a cutter at a fashion house, and Janie, an
adventurous Australian model.
In 2015, young Australian Fabienne Bissette attends the New York
exhibition of her grandmother's fashion line Stella Designs. She
also has a chance encounter with a two people she feels strongly
attracted to. Somehow the lives of Estella and Fabienne are
intermeshed with secrets that people have kept buried until it is
almost too late.
The story is one of dark secrets and family shame, but also of drive
and achievement by strong female characters, set in the context of a
burgeoning fashion industry in America during the war and post-war
years. The historical background has clearly been thoroughly
researched and author Natasha Lester, previously a marketing
executive for L'Oreal, shows her inside experience of the fashion
world and her knowledge of fashion history. Also, her intimate
knowledge of those iconic cities, Paris and New York, shines
throughout the novel. Less detail is provided about the third city
in the story, Sydney, but it is refreshing to read a historical
novel set in Europe and America with Australian characters leading
the story.
The novel maintained my interest throughout with its mix of romance,
war history, fashion world, and mystery. It would appeal to readers
of historical fiction, but especially to those interested in
fashion.
Helen Eddy
Trouble at school by Chris Higgins, illustrated by Emily McKenzie
Bloomsbury, 2018. ISBN 9781408868850
(Age: 6+) Recommended.
Themes: School stories. Friendship. Problem children.
Chris Higgins brings best friends Bella and Magda back in Trouble
at school an amusing story about first days, dealing with a new
teacher and difficult classmates.
Before the start of term, perfectionist Bella sets her school bag in
order and prepares her new uniform, she even organises her younger
brother Sid. Unfortunately when they stop to pick up Magda she ends
up with her friend's breakfast spilled all over her. To make matters
worse, Bella stays and helps in Sid's class for the whole morning
and Mr. Smart, her teacher, is not impressed. He's all about neatness,
order and discipline. As Bella's first day continues there's more
issues, some caused by Magda and some by troublemakers Claudia
Cleverley and her friend Hetty Snoop.
Magda's view of life, her fun and cheekiness help Bella to gain
confidence. There's the banter with the dinner ladies, Magda's
always wanting something exciting and the creative way they sort out
Claudia and Hetty. Miss Pringle the arty relief teacher brings a
totally different energy to the girls' class. Her unique teaching
style provides an opportunity for Bella, Magda and their classmate
Tom to express themselves. Emily McKenzie's comic illustrations are
fun and add humour to the story especially with the cow painting
reveal! Trouble at school is just right for a young reader beginning their
chapter book journey; with themes of friendship, developing
confidence, problem solving and growing in independence.
Rhyllis Bignell
Ash Princess by Laura Sebastian
Pan MacMillan, 2018. ISBN 9781760555504
(Age: 12+) Recommended. Fantasy. The Queen is dead, the people have been enslaved, and princess Theodosia might as well be too. Confined to a pretty jail and watched constantly by three men, her shadows, since the castle was taken ten years before, Theodosia is now the obedient Lady Thora, and bears plenty of reminders to remain so. With every move of the resistance comes fresh pain and the familiar itch of skin knitting itself back together. She is an expert at surviving. When Ampelio is captured, everything changes. The man is familiar, and while Thora tries to ignore them, Theodosia's memories return. This man, who speaks hastily in Astrean, a language which has long since been forbidden, is her father. Unable to stay quiet, Thora mis-steps, speaking out in Ampelio's defence. The Kaiser, being a cruel man, rewards this disobedience not with a whip, as Thora expects, but with charging her with the execution. As the life floods from Ampelio she must decide whether surviving in this alien world is enough.
As the spark of rebellion grows into a flame, Thora/Theodosia is joined by three renegades who have replaced her shadows. Of the three, one is a childhood friend, Blaise, who is determined to see her safely away. But Theodosia is not finished. She can't leave without any retribution. Quickly, a plan is hatched to kill the Kaiser's right-hand man, the Theyn, and Prinz Soren. But will Theodosia be able to commit such cold acts when these are people she has been raised to admire? Can she, a young woman, rid Astrea of it's invaders?
While slow in places, the novel is overall a fun read. Recommended for fans of adventure fantasy twelve and up.
Kayla Gaskell, 22
Rory Branagan detective by Andrew Clover and Ralph Lazar
HarperCollins, 2018. ISBN 9780008265830
(Age: 8+) "Hello. I am Rory Branagan. I am actually a detective.
People always say, 'How do you become a detective?'
And I say, 'Ahhhh... you don't just FIND YOURSELF suddenly
sneaking up on baddies, or diving out of the way as they shoot, or
hurtling from an open plane towards the ground! You have to want
it.'
And what made ME want it? I needed to find out what
happened to my dad... "(Publisher)
What a highly entertaining book to read. Children 8 years and up
will find this a highly entertaining read and will be proud of
themselves for reading such a lengthy novel with it having in excess
of 300 pages! Don't be put off by this - there are large
illustrations interspersed between the text with some pages only
containing a sentence. Rory and Cassidy are strong lead characters
and have many likeable traits. This is the first book in a series of
seven and the authors have successfully mixed crime with humour. Themes
such as suspense, mystery, determination and friendship are
developed throughout the book. It would make a fantastic read aloud
and one that would be enjoyed by boys and girls alike. A welcome
addition to the collection.
Kathryn Schumacher
Car, car, truck, jeep by Katrina Charman
Ill. by Nick Sharratt. Bloomsbury, 2018. ISBN 9781408864968
(Age: 3-5) Recommended. Themes: Cars. Rhyming story. Sing along.
Read aloud, Nursery rhyme. Machines. Sung to the tune of 'Baa baa
black sheep', this funny story will delight its younger readers,
listeners and singers. In bright primary colours every possible form
of wheeled transport is shown and included in the rhyming couplets,
starting with
"Car, car, truck, jeep
Have you any fuel?
Yes sir, yes sir,
Three tanks full" children will quickly learn the rhyming sequence and
participate in the sing along, predicting the rhyming words at the
end of each pair of lines. There is a tank full for the red bus, one
for the train and one for the jet plane. From there, mum and the
kids go down the lane past the tractor, then see a motorbike weaving
its way amongst the traffic, they pass another train, see a
hovercraft, then a helicopter, a truck, a yellow taxi, a dumper
truck, police car and ambulance, until finally they are amongst a
lot of traffic all headed home, tired out by the day's work.
Each page will have children hunting out the things described in the
verse, commenting on what each does or sounds like, participating in
the rhyming lines and making appropriate sounds. A whole heap of fun
for younger readers and teachers alike, along the way discussing
with them what they can expect to see on the road and how useful
each of these machines is to our lives.
This may even lead to discussions about road rules and safety on the
road and in these machines.
Fran Knight
Piecing me together by Renee Watson
Bloomsbury, 2017. ISBN 9781681191058
(Age: Young Adult) For Jade, a young black woman living in New York
who attends a school that offers specific help to students,
particularly financial help for those who need it, the final years
of high school are pivotal to her future. She has to travel a long
distance to attend school and because of the straitened
circumstances of her family's life, often has little to eat. Taking
the opportunity to learn Spanish opens her mind to the meaning of
words, and she embraces the opportunity to think about her world in
a new way. We see the chapter headings as pertinent to the novel in
that they reflect Jade's thoughts and her joy in incorporating her
new knowledge into her life e.g. Chapter 10, presentar, to introduce.
To find out who she is and what possibilities exist for her in the
future, she feels driven to seek answers from her everyday
experience. This is limited, as her family struggles to have enough
to eat, she has to travel a long distance by public transport to get
to the school, and her mother needs to work long hours to support
them, desperate to keep Jade in school to enable a better future for
her. Fortunately, the school institutes a program that offers
mentorships by women not too much older than the girls, and this is
the door that offers hope.
We are gradually made aware of her family's poverty, yet, despite
this her mother is determined that their life be one that is
grounded in love and kindness. Watson's intention is to enable us to
recognise immediately that Jade's family is decent, good and
desperately clinging to the hope that Jade will be able to find a
path to a more hopeful future. Her turning point arises when she
decides to speak out about what is wrong with the program,
suggesting that what girls like her need is not just what has been
planned but what she has come to understand needs to be done.
Watson's writing is intensely powerful, without guile, and her
narrator's voice is a call that does not excite agitation or a call
for violent upheaval, structuring characters and plot that
foregrounds the need for a rational and calm approach to the
education of all minorities, one that will enable them to able to
choose and thrive in the world, taking their place fairly and justly
alongside all others.
This challenging book is exciting and uplifting in the hope it
offers, setting a challenge for people who do not realise the level
of poverty in which some people, impoverished by education and
financial background, colour or race, manage to live, in big
third-world cities such as New York.
The narrative fits perfectly into its niche, occurring in the
present, modern world that foregrounds the claim for equality but
too often falls short of this high ideal. It is suitable, and indeed
highly recommended, for adolescents and adult reading, its clarity
of issue never suppressing the wonderfully told narrative that
captivates us to the last page. The characters are deftly drawn and
match their circumstances, and the place, New York City, comes alive
through the vivid construction of place by its writer. It is a
compelling book precisely because it advocates change through ways
that do not frighten people, rather calling for the recognition of
the humanity of all and the need for us all to be equal, in all
ways.
Elizabeth Bondar
