Penguin Books, 2018, ISBN 9780141367002
(Age: 15+) Highly recommended. Emily Barr presents a fast-paced,
adrenaline-filled novel that keeps the reader on their toes right
until the end. The novel follows Ella Black, a teenager who believes
battling her inner darkness - which she has named 'Bella' - is her
biggest challenge. That is until her parents take her out of school
and whisk her away to Rio. Frustrated with her parents' refusal to
provide her any explanation for their spontaneous trip, Ella's
curiosity culminates in her finally discovering out for herself the
purpose of their trip. The information proves to be devastating and
Ella finds herself unable to cope with the result of her prying. She
chooses to run away, and in doing so, uncovers even more deep, dark
secrets about her life. Consequently, Ella must learn to cope with
these revelations, whilst simultaneously exploring and coming to
terms with who she really is.
An important tale about being comfortable with you are and where you
come from, this novel is appropriate for ages 15 and up due to its
references to violence and mature themes.
Ella is a fantastic protagonist, as her internal conflict and
adventures keep the reader engaged, and unwilling to put the book
down. The characters that she meets on her journey are realistic,
wonderful, whole people that you will take with you even after you
close the last page. If you're a fan of adventure, mystery and
romance, you will not regret picking up this book!
Daniella Chiarolli
The rules of magic by Alice Hoffman
Simon and Schuster, 2017. ISBN 9781471168987
(Age: 14 - adult) Recommended. This novel takes the reader into a
world of magical possibility! Magic 'works' in this story of family,
love, loyalty, jealousy, war and peace. Deeply embedded in the New
York of the past, its settings are rich in detail, its stories and
characters resonating with anyone who loves a good plot set in an
interesting and vibrant city.
Plunged into a world of different possibilities we are told that,
through magic, things can be changed - and sometimes revenge can be
exacted on those who have hurt others. Grounding her story firmly in
the idea of witchcraft as a gift to be used carefully and
intelligently, Hoffman describes the witches as understanding the
extraordinary aspects of human behaviour - and who know how to use
the aspects and matter of the world to bring about change.
Hoffman's characters are deftly drawn, and so comfortably human that
it would be impossible to not be convinced of their authenticity. We
are drawn deeply into the world of the novel, reading about the
violence, hatred and fear that some characters endure, in America
and in Europe during the terrible conflict of the Second World War.
The comfort and healing that is offered by witchcraft is evident in
the narrative - whether by medical intervention, nursing, magic or
love, or a combination of these gifts. Through her superb
characterisation, her deft handling of situation, and her
description of how magic works, Hoffmann imbues this world with
credibility.
Accepting the magic or suspending disbelief, in this captivating and
enjoyable novel we discover a fine tribute to human endeavour. At
its heart it is about people and families in good and bad times, and
about how we find ways to cope during such times. This narrative
glimmers with the possibility of forgiveness, love and loyalty in a
world where kindness is often scarce. I would recommend it as a
well-constructed narrative that addresses important human issues -
suitable for high school students and adults.
Liz Bondar
A wrinkle in time by Madeleine L'Engle
Time quintet book 1. Penguin, 2018. ISBN 9780241331163
(Age: 8+) Highly recommended. Themes: Science fiction.
Individuality. Time. STEM. This movie tie-in edition of the classic
novel first published in 1962, will bring L'Engle's wonderful book
to the attention of many more readers. This was the first time that
I had read the book and found that its timeless themes of being true
to yourself and fighting evil would still resonate for today's
readers.
Accompanied by her brother Charles Wallace and friend Calvin, Meg
Murry goes on a quest to find her missing father, who had been
experimenting with time travel. Helped along the way by Mrs Whatsit,
Mrs Who and Mrs Which, they travel through time to another dimension
where they encounter the evil It, who wants everyone to conform to
its idea of perfection.
L'Engle has high expectations of her young readers and their ability
to follow difficult concepts, but at the same time has written an
exciting adventure story that has great appeal. The book is
sprinkled with quotes from philosophers and scientists and she
explores scientific and mathematical concepts along the way. Readers
undoubtedly will be pursuing the meaning of the word 'tesseract' as
they follow Meg and her companions' dangerous journey through time
and space.
Meg's character stands out. She is often in trouble at school and
doesn't fit the expected mould but when she is faced with danger,
she is able to come up with solutions with courage and
determination. Her relationship with her brother and Calvin are
realistic and the actions of Mrs Whatsit, Mrs Who and Mrs Which will
keep readers enthralled as they try to work out just who and what
they are.
I believe another generation of readers will be inspired by A
wrinkle in time, whether it is read aloud to them or they
discover its adventure and challenge for themselves. Readers will
also find the section at the back with information about the author
to be very informative as well.
Pat Pledger
Maisy goes to the bookshop by Lucy Cousins
Walker Books, 2018. ISBN 9781406377071
(Age: 2-5) Recommended. Popular author and illustrator Lucy Cousins
first created her Maisy Mouse character in 1990 and her picture
books continue to be much loved family favourites. Her bright
colours, familiar characters and everyday settings are just right to
share with toddlers and pre-schoolers. Maisy goes to the bookshop is the latest adventure in this
popular series. The young mouse enters the shop to discover her
friends busy choosing books from the colourful displays and shelves.
She enjoys reading a bear book, a noisy truck book, a long fish
book, even a book about drawing and painting. Her friends are there
to share in the fun; Charley the crocodile imagines he's a pirate,
while Eddie the elephant looks at a first aid book; will he be a
doctor or a firefighter? After story time with Ostrich the
shopkeeper, Maisie and her friends enjoy cupcakes from the cafe.
After a bus ride home, Maisie is happy to share her new bird book
with her pals.
Lucy Cousins' stories with their recognisable formats, simple
settings, easy to read text and familiar characters are great
resources for teaching narrative to early years students.
Rhyllis Bignell
Scythe by Neal Shusterman
Arc of a Scythe, book 1.Walker Books, 2018. ISBN
9781406379242
(Age: 14+) Recommended. Teens Top Ten. 2018
Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers, Goodreads
Choice Award Nominee for Young Adult Fantasy and Science Fiction
(2017), Michael L. Printz Honor (2017). Themes: Dystopian fiction,
Death, Good and evil, Violence. Citra and Rowan are two teens who
have been chosen to be the apprentices of Scythe Faraday, one of the
Scythes who ends life in a society where hunger, poverty and even
death itself has disappeared. This is the only way to control the
population size and the pair have to learn how to choose and glean a
life. However Scythe Goddard, who really enjoys killing, begins to
change the rules about taking a life and Rowan and Citra find that
they are in danger of being killed in the political fallout.
Shusterman has written a riveting but also challenging book that
looks at what would happen in a world that has conquered disease and
death itself. He has described a world where creativity seems to
have disappeared and little innovation is necessary as the
Thunderhead, an impartial cloud computer, has oversight of
everything except the work of the Scythes. At the same time he keeps
the reader's interest with the action packed adventures that Citra
and Rowan are faced with as well as the ethical dilemmas with which
they have to come to terms.
Diary entries break up the narrative and provide readers with time
to pause and think about what it means to live in that society, the
feelings of the Scythes about killing and what death means to an
individual. Amid all the bloodshed and violence, there are glimpses
of humour, and readers are faced with the question that Citra and
Rowan must face as Scythes - could they kill another person?
A fabulous cover, fast paced action and a world that should be a
utopia but isn't, all make Scythe a most memorable tale and
enthralling beginning to the series.
Pat Pledger
Lola Dutch by Kenneth and Sarah Jane Wright
Bloomsbury, 2018. ISBN 9781681195513
(Age: 4+) Highly recommended. Themes: Humour, Adventure, Art,
Friendship. Lola Dutch loves to do different things, to have
adventures with her friends, Bear, Crane, Gater and Pig.
Bear travels along behind her, telling her that sometimes she is
just too much, as she flings herself into yet another scheme.
When they wake in the morning, Bear is ready for tea and toast, but
not Lola. She asks her friends what they want and makes up an
extraordinary feast of pancakes, pastries and grits. Going for a
walk, the group descends upon the library where she revels in books
about inventors, scientists and great writers, taking home a
cartload of books about art and artists. With that in her mind, she
starts painting all the walls and even the ceiling. "Too much" says
Bear. After all that effort, it is time for bedtime and the group
all get into their nightwear. But bedtime for Lola is never ordinary
and children will laugh with glee as they see what she does and how
the story resolves.
Readers will love following Lola's zany activities through the day
beginning with breakfast, a time at the library, painting the house
and then bed time. Her day parallels the day of many of the readers,
but with a vastly more interesting overlay of actions. Children will
love her quirky take on the familiar and follow her actions with
gales of laughter.
The illustrations add another level of humour to the tale, asking
readers to look in more detail at each page. I particularly liked
the pages where she and her friends are painting the house,
referencing many known artists and their work. It will be fun with a
class to check out each of these paintings and their artist. The
whole book resonates with delight, and readers will love Lola and
the Bear as they clean up after breakfast or go to the library and
then to bed. Bear is always there to help Lola complete her schemes.
A friendship to be savoured.
Fran Knight
I love you stick insect by Chris Naylor-Ballesteros
Bloomsbury, 2018. ISBN 9781408869925
(Age: 4+) Highly recommended. Themes: Stick insects. Butterflies.
Friendship. Recognition. When the stick insect spies another of his
kind, he falls in love. She is the most beautiful stick insect he
has ever seen and he dreams of their life together. They will have
fun and laugh together, join a band and make some marvelous noise,
dip their toes in the ocean, surf and fly with the birds. In the
background the butterfly keeps warning, 'It's a stick!'
Without drawing breath our ardent lover tells his beloved that they
will ride on motorbikes, and hop on a rollercoaster, go to the
pictures together with a huge bag of popcorn.
When he finally leans towards her he finds that butterfly is correct
and he bemoans the fact that no one told him, eliciting a wonderful
line from the butterfly.
Children will laugh with the stick insect as he imagines their
wonderful life together, becoming more aware that butterfly is
correct in her assertion.
It begs the question of things not being all they seem, or of
judging books by their cover, or taking a step back, of the saying
'fools rush in'. These could be discussed with children as they read
this book.
Teachers and students will take the opportunity to further research
this insect and possibly set up a stick insect tank in the
classroom.
The arresting illustrations use only a few lines to get across the
stick insect's ardour, sometimes filling in the background with
water colour wash that creates part of the setting. His highly
original illustrations took my eye when I read, I'm
going to eat this ant(2017) and I am hopeful that more
will appear from this engaging and creative author.
Fran Knight
One house for all by Inese Zandere, adapted by Lawrence Schimel
Ill. by Juris Petraskevics. Book Island, 2018. ISBN 9781911496069
(Age: 4+) Highly recommended. Themes: Compromise. Consensus.
Discussion. Friendship. Difference. Three friends, Crayfish, Raven
and Horse are all grown up, having been the best of friends all of
their lives. They wish to remain together, sharing their lives as
they have done in the past. They all plan to marry and want a place
together where their wives and families can reside as well. But they
each have different needs. Crayfish draws a house with very wide
doors, underwater. Horse wants a place that is three acres big with
a living room made of thick juicy grass. Raven wants a place high in
the tree tops.
They look at the three drawings and the horse says that he cannot
fly to Raven's house, and Crayfish says he cannot live in a tree,
while Raven says that he and his wife cannot live underwater. They
each realise that they have only been thinking of their own needs
and so put their heads together for a solution.
A wonderful tale of sharing opinions, of thinking of others when
making decisions, of consensus, it has the feel of a fable in its
tightly packed sentences, full of resonance.
Children will adore the solution reached and many will love to draw
the house the three decide upon. The sparse text is beautifully
rounded, making it easy for young children to read themselves or an
older person read out loud. The illustrations are wonderful, quirky
and colourful, very different, full of interest and thought.
Children will spend a lot of time reading the illustrations while
listening to the tale.
Fran Knight
The amazing animal atlas by Dr Nick Crumpton and Gaia Bordicchia
Flying Eye Books, 2017. ISBN 9781909263116
Little people love big books so this one that is 375mm tall will
certainly appeal. Add to the size is the content which is also a
favourite of little people and this new publication will be a
welcome addition to the collection.
Beginning with a huge double page spread that shows the animal side
of the tree of life in pictorial format which is followed by another
double spread of their key habitats around the world, it then starts
in the Arctic and makes its way through all the continents showing
the iconic creatures of each region with some pages opening out to
magnificent double double-page spreads! Information is in short
paragraphs which will encourage further exploration in more detailed
texts.
Having whet the appetite with the amazing variety of creatures that
share the planet with us, there are four pages devoted to
identifying why they are at risk and what we can do about it - very
much a case of "Now that I know this, what can I do about it?"
Complete with a contents page, index, and references this is also a
great resource for helping young readers use the cues to find the
information they want - no one is too young to begin their
information literacy.
A sound investment for either the library or the home collection.
Barbara Braxton
I swapped my brother on the Internet by Jo Simmons
Ill. by Nathan Reed. Bloomsbury, 2018. ISBN 9781408877753
(Age: 7+) Highly recommended. This laugh out loud novel starts with
a pop up ad that immediately grabs the attention of nine-year-old
Jonny, and also the reader. Who hasn't dreamed about getting rid of
their annoying sibling at one time or another? For Jonny, of course
he was going to click! The SiblingSwap.com website opens and is
filled with pictures of brothers and sisters playing and laughing
together. Jonny begins to fill in the form . . . but in his haste
fails to tick the box that says "living", and the one that says
"human" (I mean that was obvious, wasn't it?) so SiblingSwap.com
begin to send Jonny a line of increasingly bizarre replacements for
his brother Ted. Jonny finds himself trying to make do with a
merboy, a boy raised by meerkats and then the ghost of Henry the
Eighth! The only person Jonny can trust with his secret is his best
friend George, who finds all of it very interesting compared to life
helping his Dad in a fish finger factory.
This story will have young readers, or whole classrooms full of kids
in peals of laughter. Every child will be able to relate to wish
fulfilment gone wrong. As the brother replacements begin to get more
and more weird, Jonny begins to figure out that Ted is really okay
after all . . . at least compared to his replacements. Teachers
could use this as a gateway for talking about relationships, sibling
rivalry, trust or jealousy. Jonny is forced to look at some of his
annoying habits too, so could be used as a means for self
reflection.
The story is easy to read, and well put together. Readers will find
it hard not to giggle as King Henry tells Jonny off for being a
potty-mouth about his Cockapoo named Widget.
This book is highly recommended, please read it to your children or
your class.
Clare Thompson
My brigadista year by Katherine Paterson
Walker Books, 2018. ISBN 9780763695088
(Age: 10+) Highly recommended. Themes: Cuba, Literacy, Gap year,
Volunteering, Civil war, Corruption. After Castro took power from
the corrupt, USA supported leader, Batistia, things changed for
Cuba. Castro wanted the country to become more literate and
thousands of teens were recruited to go into rural Cuba and teach
people to read and write. In this absorbing novel by the award
winning Paterson, she tells the story of these brigadistas through
the eyes of her central character, Lora. At thirteen she is caught
up in the fervour of helping Cuba become literate, trained to be a
teacher, given her supplies and a hammock and a brief knowledge of
first aid, then sent to a village in the mountains, a place where
anti Castro forces still exist, where one of the brigadistas was
killed in the previous year. This is the first time she has left the
safety of her home, and her parents are fearful for her, but she is
determined to go.
Lora's story is deftly told. Paterson is able to diffuse complex
ideas into an easily absorbed story. The reader learns about the
background to this highly volatile situation, with arms supplied by
the Americans to the anti Castro forces as Castro is seen as too
Russian leaning for the USA, where the teachers sent are viewed with
suspicion and must earn the trust of those they live with. Behind
Lora's year in the jungle is the invasion of the Bay of Pigs (1961)
and so the reader is able to absorb a different view of a little
known historic incident.
Brought up with an anti Castro western view of Cuba, this little
book offered me a a chance to reassess ideas held in the past, and
for younger readers this is an historical novel of immense interest
and research which will give readers a new perspective on why Trump
and Obama have such differing views of the USA's relationship with
Cuba.
The central character leads the way, developing skills necessary to
live with an unknown family, learning their way of life, learning to
fit in and to teach them the skills necessary for a modern Cuba.
And all the while is the threat from the terrorists in the mountains
behind the village.
A wonderfully involving coming of age story, Paterson shares a
background unique in children's literature.
Fran Knight
What's your favourite colour? by Eric Carle
Walker Books, 2017. ISBN 9781406356526
(Age: 5-Adult) Highly recommended. Themes: Colour. Children's book
illustrators. In this beautiful book 15 outstanding illustrators
have chosen to let the reader know what their favourite colour is
and have drawn a picture to illustrate this, telling why they have
chosen that colour and why they love it. The contributors include:
Eric Carle, Lauren Castillo, Bryan Collier, Mike Curato, Etienne
Delessert, Anna Dewdney, Rafael Lopez, William Low, Marc Martin,
Jill McElmurry, Yuyi Morales, Frann Preston-Gannon, Uri Shulevitz,
Philip C. Stead, and Melissa Sweet and readers will be fascinated by
the colours chosen and the wonderful illustrations that accompany
them. Each artist has a double page spread with a usually short
piece about the colour and then a gorgeous drawing in that colour.
I was particularly taken with the two illustrators who chose grey as
their colour as I had not personally considered it as a favourite.
Melissa Sweet wrote a haiku for grey: Foggy morning grey
Makes other colours glimmer.
Even the gull's beak And then gives a list of different greys and an illustration of
Maine, its boats and water. In comparison the grey chosen by Rafael
Lopez "dares to be different" and knows how to make the other
colours sparkle and a cheeky grey octopus proves this in the
illustration. Marc Martin chose crimson red because "it is the
colour of the crimson rosella" and vibrant rosellas fly across his
double page spread. Other pages are equally as interesting.
This book will inspire readers to consider their own favourite
colours and why they have chosen them. In the classroom children
could do their own drawing and writing and all readers will be
inspired to find books by these wonderful artists to see more of
their art work. There is short biographical information about them
at the back of the book with a photo of each artist as a child and
this is fascinating as well.
Pat Pledger
Three cheers for women! by Marcia Williams
Walker Books, 2017. ISBN 9781406374865
(Age: 7+) Highly recommended. Themes: Women. Marcia Williams returns
with her signature comic-strip style in Three cheers for women!
which celebrates over 70 women who have made a great contribution in
all walks of life throughout history. The front end papers grab the
eye with a multitude of banners featuring the areas that women have
excelled in: leaders, inventors, discoverers, thinkers, authors,
environmentalist, doctors, campaigners to name just a few. Of the
women featured some are very well known and some less famous, but all
have led interesting and inspirational lives. The women featured
with their own double page spread are Cleopatra, Boudicca,
Joan of Arc, Elizabeth I, Mary Wollstonecraft, Jane Austen, Florence
Nightingale, Marie Curie, Eleanor Roosevelt, Amelia Earhart, Frida
Kahlo, Wangari Maathai, Mae C. Jemison, Cathy Freeman and Malala.
Then there is a section for Leaders and World-changers, with brief
biographical information about women like Edith Cowan, Australian
politician and social campaigner and Sheryl Sandberg, American
executive, activist and author. Readers will learn much about their
lives and will be inspired to follow up and do research on them.
Another double page spread looks at Sportswomen and Creatives and
readers will have fun finding names they know (JK Rowling, Beatrix
Potter) as well as ones they probably haven't heard of (Zaha Hadid,
Iraqi-British architect, and Paula Rego, Portuguese artist). Hooray
for Scientists, Pioneers and Adventurers features Dame Jane Goodall,
Elizabeth Kenny, Australian nurse, Rachel Carson, conservationist,
among many others.
There is a Dear Reader letter at the end from Williams that states
that the women in the book have reminded her "that, whether you are
a boy or a girl, you are never too young to too old to do something
world changing!" A clear index concludes the book.
The facts, quotes and great cartoon style will grab the reader's
attention and the achievements of the women will remain in the mind
as a reminder of what these individuals have achieved. This is
highly recommended for any library or classroom.
Pat Pledger
Dark in death by J.D. Robb
In death, book 46. Piatkus, 2018. ISBN 9780349417868
(Age: Adult) Mystery. Eve Dallas is called in to investigate the
killing of a woman in a cinema while watching Psycho. An
ice-pick had been sunk into the back of her neck by the murderer who
then disappeared. As Eve puts together the clues to this murder, new
evidence comes to light: an author comes into the station claiming
that the murder was based on one of her police mysteries and from
there on Eve knows that there will be further murders as the author
has written a number of books in her series. Further investigation
turns up another murder that resembled one of her plots and Eve
knows that she has a serial killer on her hands.
Fans of the In death series will not be disappointed. This
is an easy to read and engrossing mystery and Robb's narrative as
always keeps the interest of the reader. The murderer is not at all
obvious and the plot twists through a series of events and theories
as Eve puts all her intellect and good solid police work to find out
who is behind the bizarre killings. On the way, there is much
fascinating information about police procedures as well as how a
best-selling novelist handles the demands of her fans, which
certainly has a ring of truth to it.
The continuing relationship between Roarke and Eve will please
romance lovers. Fans are sure to want to pick up the next in the
series as each of Robb's plots are certainly different and unique,
at the same time keeping the familiar and very likeable main
characters of Eve, Roarke, Peabody, Mira and Nadine.
Pat Pledger
Women in science by Jen Green
DK, 2018. ISBN 9781465468604
More and more as news coverage reports scientific breakthroughs, it
is a woman who is the face of the science rather than the
stereotypical man in a white coat. Women leading scientific
discoveries is not a new phenomenon, as this new DK publication
demonstrates with its introductory section about scientists of
ancient times, but at last it is becoming understood and accepted
that science is not "bizniz bilong men".
Written especially for young readers who are verging on independence
or who have made that journey, this book links the achievements of
just a handful of women who have made significant contributions to
their field of study. Familiar and unfamiliar names are included as
well as a brief introduction to just some of the fields that come
under the science umbrella, encouraging the reader to perhaps be the
next big name.
There is a quiz to spark further investigations as well as the
characteristic DK attention to detail in the layout and supporting
clues and cues.
As well as introducing young readers to the work of these remarkable
women, there is scope for it to be the springboard as they answer
the questions, "Who would you add? Why?"
Barbara Braxton
