Bloomsbury, 2017. ISBN 9781681195278
(Age: 10-14) Recommended. Themes: Science fiction. Genetic
engineering. Utopias. Friendship. Megan Frazer Blakemore's science
fiction novel The Firefly Code explores friendship and life
in the beautifully crafted utopian world of Old Harmonie. Everything
from a regulated diet to strict guidelines for living is adhered to
by the residents. Parents can genetically design their children and
when they have their thirteenth birthday they learn their genetic
makeup and choose their latency a special gift.
Twelve year old Mori and her friends, Julia, Theo and Benji live in
cookie cutter houses on Firefly Lane. They love riding their bikes,
swimming and hanging out together. Mori's curious about the history
of her environment, and she loves to explore deep in the woods right
near the fence separating the outside world from hers. When new girl
Ilana moves into the vacant house, she seems to be too perfect, and
the friends are curious about her textbook life and family, her past
and her sometimes strange behaviour.
Mori and Ilana form a special bond; Mori's inquisitiveness is piqued
by Ilana's actions causing her to carefully observe her behaviours.
The two girls build a secret retreat they call 'Oaksedge' in the
woods, a special retreat where Mori nurtures her special trees. When
the friends decide to explore the abandoned house left by the
founders of Old Harmonie, friendships are tested and questions are
raised. Mori takes Dr Varden's notebook explaining the origins of
the society based on genetic engineering of bees and their
behaviour. With an unexpected fire, the disappearance of Ilana and
Mori's determination to uncover more about her great-grandma's role
in starting this special place, this is an exciting story.
Blakemore's novel told from Mori's perspective is an engaging read,
exploring everyday life, friendships and realistically discussing
the role of genetic engineering and the impact of life in a utopian
society. The Firefly Code is a suitable science fiction
narrative for the middle grades as a class novel.
Rhyllis Bignell
The history of bees by Maja Lunde
Simon and Schuster, 2017. ISBN 9781471165689
(Age: Senior secondary - Adult) Highly recommended. The history of
bees is told as three story strands in different settings and times:
William, a biologist in England in 1852; George, a beekeeper in the
United States in 2007, and Tao, a worker in China in 2098. They are
separate stories that gradually draw closer together, told in short
alternating chapters that grab your attention and make you want to
read on. The theme of bees and their role in pollination is what
unites the stories but there are also overlapping themes of parents
and their dreams and expectations of their children. It is here that
Lunde's writing is most powerful, as she captures so subtly and
perfectly the misunderstandings, the unexpressed feelings, silences
and disappointments between husband and wife, and between parent and
child.
At the same time we learn the history of bees, of the invention of
the first man-made beehives, the burgeoning industry of beekeeping
and commercial pollination, the disaster of Colony Collapse
Disorder, and the repercussions for future humankind with the loss
of the bee and its pivotal role in nature. There is so much we can
learn from the bee - the unity and dedication of the bee community
is contrasted with the selfishness and self-centredness of man. This
book sounds an environmental warning about where humans are headed;
it is a story painted in pictures with the lives of three families
who also seem on the brink of collapse, struggling to understand
each other and live together in harmony. However, there is hope, and
William, George and Tao each contribute to the answer.
Helen Eddy
A necessary evil by Abir Mukherjee
Vintage Publishing, 2017. ISBN 9781911215127
(Age: Senior secondary to adult) Highly recommended. Themes: Crime
fiction, India, Historical fiction, Racism, British Raj. When
Captain Sam Wyndham and his sergeant Surrender-not Banerjee attend a
local prince who is in Calcutta for talks about cooperation between
the principalities in 1920's India, they did not expect to be
witnesses to the man's assassination. Surrender-not is mystified,
the prince was an acquaintance from school, and he must go to the
funeral in the principality of Sambalpore to ensure that he and Sam
can investigate further.
But the palace is not what they expect: no one can be trusted, least
of all the major in charge of the investigation, having already
seized someone as the culprit.
Wyndham's opium craving comes to the fore, clouding his judgement
and making him impatient and suspicious of those near to him.
His one time lover, Annie Grant is also in the palace, a guest of
the prince's brother, Punit, now heir to the throne, and Sam is able
to use her to get closer to the people he wants to question: the
women within the court closed to him, a white male.
These books make fascinating reading, recreating the India of the
Raj in the 1920's with a backdrop of unrest, of wanting the British
gone, of racism, the wealth of the principalities and the caste
system. The first in the stories introduced the former Scotland Yard
detective Sam Wyndham and his sergeant, Surrender-not, in A
Rising Man (2016) a duo with underlying tensions as
Surrender-not, the Harrow educated man of considerable depth and
knowledge is subordinate to the flawed Wyndham. Forays into the
zenana, the private world of the harem, a tiger hunt and splendid
dinner with the maharaja with a silver train on the table taking the
champagne to the guests, all add spice to this multi layered story.
For lovers of crime fiction, historical fiction, tales of the Raj or
simply a tale of the tension between the two main protagonists, this
is a treat.
I thoroughly enjoyed every word particularly the foreshadowing of
the eventual demise of British rule in India.
Fran Knight
All the crooked saints by Maggie Stiefvater
Scholastic, 2017. ISBN 9781742767611
(Age: 15+) Recommended. Themes: Miracles. Music. A strange, lyrical
and ultimately uplifting story All the crooked saints
follows the fortunes of the Soria family, a family that has a saint
who can perform miracles for the pilgrims who come to Bicho Raro.
There is one catch, the pilgrims receiving a miracle have their
darkness made manifest but then they have to come to terms with it
before it disappears as a second miracle. In the Soria family are
three young people who want to change things: Beatriz wants to be
free to be an intellectual; Joaquin longs to be the Diablo Diablo of
the renegade radio station that he comperes and Daniel, the current
saint, wants to be with the pilgrim, Marisita, but is forbidden to
help her with her darkness.
Stiefvater brings her highly original take on this story, which was
slow to start for me, but as I became familiar with the family
members and the pilgrims who wanted a miracle, it gained momentum
and became a story that I think about often. Its message of darkness
that people have and how they must overcome it alone by themselves
will resonate with readers.
The three young main characters, Beatriz, Joaquin and Daniel are
very engaging, and every person in the ill-fated Soria family is
intriguing and captivates the reader's attention. The beauty of the
setting - the starkness of the desert - gives the story much
atmosphere and the reader is caught up in the tension of Daniel's
disappearance into the desert and fear for his survival. Music too
is so important to the plot ranging from the songs that Joaquin
talking as Diablo Diablo sends out on the pirate radio station, to
the lyrics that give back a pilgrim her voice. All the crooked saints is complex and demanding, but fans of
Maggie Stiefvater will not be disappointed with its rich themes of
redemption and star-crossed romance.
Pat Pledger
Here we are: Notes for living on planet Earth by Oliver Jeffers
HarperCollins, 2017. ISBN 9780008266165
"Well, hello.
And welcome to this Planet.
We call it Earth.
Our world can be a bewildering place, especially if you've only just
got here. Your head will be filled with questions, so let's explore
what makes our planet and how we live on it. From land and sky, to
people and time, these notes can be your guide and start you on your
journey. And you'll figure lots of things out for yourself. Just
remember to leave notes for everyone else. Some things about our
planet are pretty complicated, but things can be simple, too: you've
just got to be kind."
Written for his baby son, Jeffers tries to offer an explanation of
this planet and how it works so that young Harland (and any other
little children) will be able to negotiate it successfully. Even
though this planet is a complex place, Jeffers manages to extract
its essential elements - there are basically two parts, the land and
the sea - and using direct narrative, his iconic illustrations and
simple labels he explores the concepts of the planet and the people
and animals who inhabit it. Huge ideas reduced to simple but
carefully chosen words that convey both explanation and advice.
"People come in many shapes, sizes and colours. We may all look
different, act differently and sound different... but don't
be fooled, we are all people."
Throughout there is the underlying message of choosing to be kind and
gentle to the land, its people and all its inhabitants, underpinned
by a quote from J.
M. Barrie; as part of the dedication page.
With so much emphasis on the environment in our school curricula
these days, this is the perfect book to create a child's awareness
of their surroundings beyond their immediate self. But there are so
many avenues that could be explored by posing questions such as "Is
there more land that sea?" or "If most of the land is at the top of
the planet, why doesn't the planet roll?" that could lead to
investigations by all ages. Here we are: Notes for living on planet Earth was the No. 1
New York Times Bestseller and voted No. TIME Best Book of the Year
for 2017. It's easy to see why. A must-have in your collection and
one to be recommended to teachers as the staple that underpins all
their lessons this year.
Barbara Braxton
Coco: The essential guide by Glenn Dakin
DK, 2017. ISBN 9780241288412
Hundreds of young people are going to 'Coco' the latest holiday
release from Disney Pixar, the story of a Miguel a young Mexican boy
who loves music even though it is banned in his family. On the eve
of Dia de
los Muertos, the night ancestors return to the Land of the
Living, a magical incident takes Miguel to the Land of the Dead
where he discovers a family secret that explains the ban.
While Miguel doesn't want to fight his family, music is his passion
and he needs to find a way to be able to express it in his home.
This new release from DK enables those young people to explore and
understand the movie more thoroughly as it introduces the settings
and the characters as it moves through the significant parts of the
plot. It even has a double-page spread which sets up Miguel's
dilemma - should he follow tradition or should he follow his heart?
One of the surefire ways to get young children to transition between
screen and print is to offer them resources that feature their
favourite screen characters so there is a feeling of familiarity and
connection already, and when those resources enrich and enhance the
screen experience as brilliantly as DK do, then they have to be
valuable. From the popular sugar skulls which decorate the endpapers
through to the vivid, full-colour illustrations, many using graphics
from the movie itself, through to the enticing layout, small
snippets of information in text accessible to the target audience
and a voice that talks directly to the reader, this is a book that
will extend the movie experience long after its 100 minutes on the
screen.
Common sense media offer a review
of this movie (and many others) so parents can determine if it is
suitable for their child.
Barbara Braxton
Genuine Fraud by E. Lockheart
Allen and Unwin, 2017. ISBN: 9781760295936
(Age: 12+) Recommended. Jule is a liar. A liar and a thief. She's
gotten by on her wits and her strength defies female stereotypes -
something she is incredibly proud of. She is a dangerous woman and
she loves it. Chance leads her to Imogen, but it is her own guile
which keeps her by the heiress's side, quickly becoming one of
Imogen's closest friends, so close that Imogen lends her the London
apartment, not to mention clothes, money, and . . . identification.
But Imogen's light doesn't shine on any one person for too long and
soon it becomes clear that Jule must go into hiding to avoid
Imogen's other friends, boyfriend, and even the boy, Paolo, who
knows her by Imogen's name. Just when everything was going perfectly
it begins to fall apart and Jule is once again forced to rely on her
own resourcefulness to keep herself and her new life safe.
Power is a strong theme throughout the novel, purporting the message
that women can be just as powerful as men. Jule's power comes from
her unexpected physical abilities and use of her intellect. However,
the novel also shows that power can corrupt as Jule will go to any
lengths to retain the power gained through Imogen's wealth - even if
it catches the attention of local detectives and alerts Forrest,
Imogen's ex, of the possibility she might still be alive.
I would recommend it for people twelve and up looking for an
exciting story with a strong female lead in the style of James Bond
or Jason Bourne.
Kayla Gaskell
Hark, it's me, Ruby Lee by Lisa Shanahan
Ill. by Binny. Lothian, 2017. ISBN 9780734416568
(Age: 4+) Recommended. Themes: Humour, Responsibility. When the
teacher, Mrs Majestic-Jones hands out the tasks or the week, Ruby
longs to be the messenger, after all she can say Hark, it's me, Ruby
Lee, very well, and often. But she is always overlooked, getting the
task of being the rubbish monitor instead. One day the messenger is
away and so Ruby gets the job, but in taking what appears to be a
simple message to the front office, Ruby gets waylaid by her
incredible imagination.
Avoiding the speckled forcklewockle, she forgets the message. So Mrs
Majestic-Jones, gives the message on a piece of paper, but Lucy
loses this too when she and George meet the Squinker, then the
teacher gives the message to George who accompanies Lucy but still
it gets waylaid when they run into the shlurgle. Lucy has the
position taken away.
But that very afternoon, a pigeon flies into the classroom, and Lucy
uses her skills to save the day, with funny results.
A warm hearted look at a child's eagerness to help, Lucy's attempts
to do the work stipulated by the teacher seem to end in disaster,
but in the end her skills are used to advantage. Readers will love
the way she uses her skills to save the day, and the position her
teacher gives her as a result will make the readers laugh out loud.
The irrepressible Ruby will worm her way into readers' hearts as she
tries so hard to be useful. They will readily recognise the school
setting and the pitfalls of an overexcited imagination causing
lapses in concentration, but even this flaw in Ruby's world makes
her a necessary part of the class makeup.
Fran Knight
Dinosaur dash by Mo Farah and Kes Gray
Ill. by Marta Kissi. Go, Mo, Go! series. Hodder, 2017. ISBN
9781444934014
(Age: 6+) Recommended. Running, Dinosaurs, Adventure. Mo Farah,
Britain's most successful long distance runner, has worked with
author, Kes Gray to produce a series of books called, Go, Mo,
Go! in which Mo and his four friends find themselves in some
difficulty, and only by running can fin their way out. In this the
first in the series, Dinosaur dash, Mo and Vern, Lily, Banjo
and Lyra, decide to run backwards. They hold each other's hands but
find that by running backwards, have run back in time, to the
dinosaur era. Each time they turn around, they are about to be
trampled or eaten, squashed or flown away by one of the dinosaurs.
Young children will love reading about the dinosaurs as part of the
story which subtly gives information about the dinosaurs' size,
abilities and food they eat. Each time the quintet is found by yet
another dinosaur, they must run to get away. But in finding
themselves atop a mountain feeling safe, the mountain comes alive,
spurting hot lava out of its top, making them run again, but this
time, back home.
Easy to read, with an emphasis on running carefully added to the
plot and the added interest in the dinosaurs, this series will be
readily picked up by younger readers, particularly those who are
newly independent. They will feel at ease with the larger print,
different fonts underscoring the repeated words and phrases, the
many illustrations and readable amount of text on each page. At 70
pages long, this series is most accessible to newly confident
younger readers.
Fran Knight
Jek/Hyde by Amy Ross
Harlequin Teen, 2017. ISBN 9781489243768 Jek/Hyde is a modern retelling of the classic Stevenson novel
The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. Set in an
industrial town called London, the novel follows Lulu, a
seventeen-year-old who is worried about her best friend and crush,
Jek. Jek is insanely smart for the seventeen-year-old and because of
his mother's position at London Chem he has acquired enough
equipment to have a fully functioning lab of his own. As he grew
older his experiments became less and less family friendly and,
unknown to his mother, his interest in psychoactive drugs grew.
While Jek's science ensures he is a recluse this can be hard for
Lulu who has been pining for him since they were children.
But Jek isn't the only boy around and Lulu soon meets Hyde. He is
thrilling and dark. Completely anti-nice-guy. He's at all the London
Chem Brat parties but also seems to be a friend of Jek. Despite
their apparent friendship they are never seen together. After
catching Hyde emerging from Jek's place Lulu confronts Jek only to
find that, for once, this is not a subject they can talk about.
Hyde's mystery remains and when Jek disappears it's Hyde that Lulu
goes to to find him. But is she too late to save the boy she loves?
While this novel is a way to read The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll
and Mr. Hyde in a modern setting its introduction of a love
triangle strips back the inner conflict of Jekyll and Hyde. While
the novel does touch on drug addiction it doesn't deal with it. I
wouldn't recommend other than as a more accessible version of the
original text.
Kayla Gaskell
I'll keep you safe by Peter May
Hachette, 2018. ISBN 9781784294946
(Age: secondary - adult) Recommended. Themes: Crime fiction,
Scotland, Outer Hebrides, Harris Tweed, Weaving, Fashion industry.
In the midst of the most important sales fair for his product,
Ramish Tweed, Rory Macfarlane is killed, blown up in his car in the
streets of Paris, with his lover, Irina Vetrov. His wife, Neave who
has accompanied him to the fair, is mind numbingly shocked,
especially when she is questioned as a possible suspect. She is
eventually allowed to leave Paris and return home to the Isle of
Lewis with a child's coffin containing what is left of her husband
of ten years, the man who as a teen saved her life, promising to
always keep her safe.
Upon return, she must put the funeral arrangements in place while
dealing with her always bitter mother in law while an old school
friend, Seonag, initially offering comfort outstays her welcome
after slipping into her bed one night. Neave's parents have refused
to attend the funeral, harking back to an incident which took the
life of their younger son, while the arrival of Lieutenant Braque
from Paris stirs the pot even further, with simmering tensions
between the islanders forming a fascinating part of the mix.
With Braque working with Inspector Gunn on the island, trying to
piece together some of the disparate clues, Neave returns home to
her beautiful house, built by the couple intending to live out their
lives there. Remote, but high on cliffs overlooking the ocean near a
small bothy they built for walkers, the house is a stunning part of
the backdrop to this novel, and it is to this house that Neave
returns after the funeral, there to unknowingly confront the
murderer, a murderer who has already killed Lt Braque.
As with Peter May's other stories, particularly the Lewis
Trilogy and Coffin Road, the setting is tantamount to the
story, the cold and bleak islands of the Outer Hebrides, a metaphor
for the windswept, barren relationship between many of the
protagonists. Readers will get a feel for the weavers in their
crofts, looking back to a time when most crofts had a loom and the
noise of its working would fill the days.
This is a highly readable and enjoyable crime novel, set in the
bleak Hebridean landscape. Full of the sights and sounds of the
people and their customs, language and traditions, I'll keep you
safe is a story bound to further enhance the numbers of crime
fiction tourists now visiting Scotland's shores.
Fran Knight
One, Two, Three, ROAR! Judy Moody and friends by Megan McDonald
Candlewick Press, 2017. ISBN 9780763695767
(Age: 6-8) A bind up of three short stories, this book would appeal
to younger readers between the ages of 6-8. Each of these simple
tales focus on Judy Moody and her friends, Rocky, Amy and Jessica.
The first of the three stories, Jessica Finch in Pig Trouble
is about a young lady who loves pigs and is desperate to be given
one for her birthday. Children could easily relate to the concept of
birthday wishes. Secrets are kept, and friendships are tested but
the resolution is positive. Rocky Zang in the Amazing Mr Magic begins with Rocky being
keen to perform his magic tricks for an audience. Unfortunately,
things don't go quite according to plan and Rocky is disappointed
until, eventually, he manages to complete a trick which impresses
Judy and makes him feel happy. Amy Namey in Ace Reporter tells of a keen would be reporter
endeavouring to find a great scoop which would merit being a
front-page story. She shares her ideas with her friends and together
they try to uncover a newsworthy story. Not only does she come up
with a piece she deems fit for 'publication', she learns of a
similarity between she and her mother and this creates a good
bonding experience.
They are gentle and not at all challenging or threatening, providing
positive messages about friendship and tolerance and the fact that
different interests can unite people instead of dividing them.
Jo Schenkel
Bloomsbury activity books
Bloomsbury, 2017. My first French words. ISBN 9781408876794 My first Spanish words. ISBN 9781408873700
(Age: 4-6) Sticker activity book. With bright bold illustrations,
thematic pages looking at the young child's world, these sticker
books are interesting educational tools for introducing a second
language or supporting the foundations of developing a mother
tongue. Initial introductions, sounding out the noun then finding
the corresponding sticker allows for interaction and vocalisation of
the new words. These learning opportunities make it fun to learn new
words. My first French words introduces transport, things in a
mother's handbag, clothes, things in the garden and animals
everywhere. After matching more than 200 stickers, to familiar
environments including the bathroom, school and bedroom there's time
to check their memory on the 'I knew my French words' pages. My first Spanish words is set out in a similar format, with lively
illustrations and large easy to peel colourful stickers. Familiar
topics include things that go, animals, animals everywhere and
numbers and counting.
These Bloomsbury Sticker Activity Books give the young reader a
chance to experience new vocabulary in a fun way.
Rhyllis Bignell
Greta Zargo and the death robots from outer space by A.F. Harrold
Bloomsbury, 2017. ISBN 9781408869475
(Age: Middle primary) Greta Zargo is an eleven year old orphan who
hopes to become famous in her chosen career as an investigative
journalist. As an unpaid employee of the local paper, Greta believes
that she needs a great scoop to ensure that she will finally have
one of her articles on the front page. Instead, she is sent out to
investigate what she deems to be the least exciting events ever,
including the disappearances of several cakes. Independent,
resilient and determined, Greta lives alone, receiving only the odd
visit from her Aunt Tabitha to ensure that she is safe and happy.
Meanwhile, as Greta is focused on uncovering the truth behind the
cake thefts, a silver death robot is plummeting towards earth,
determined to wreak havoc. Who will be able to stop the destruction
of earth? Will Greta be able to write her prize-winning article
about the amazing creature? You need to read this book to discover
the answer.
Initially, I found myself disliking this book intensely, but the
more I read the more humorous I found the story. I quite liked the
interjections on the sides of many of the pages and was quickly
reminded of The Hitchhiker's guide to the galaxy. Double
spaced type and lots of illustrations will undoubtedly make this an
easily accessible title for middle primary students with a sense of
humour. I look forward to seeing the finished product.
Jo Schenkel
How to feel awesome every day by Elly Awesome
Random House, 2017. ISBN 9780143786085
(Age: 9-14) Despite my initial 'cringe' when this book arrived for
review, I was quickly converted to see it as a positive title for
young girls from the age of 9 to 14 to read. A combined activity
book and journal, it was written by an author previously unknown to
me. I soon did a little research and realised that Elly Awesome is
prolific on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram and 'Toasted TV' and
discovered that the book is filled with positive suggestions as to
how girls could spend their time. The book could easily have become
preachy and sanctimonious but, instead, it is a rather delightful
little 'how-to' for young girls wishing to keep active.
From mental health and wellbeing quizzes to goal setting, recipes,
exercise suggestions, colouring and creative DIY ideas, this book
ticks off a multitude of topics which would give any reader a boost.
Even as an adult, I went away from reading feeling somewhat
uplifted, merely thinking about some of the topics and how I would
have answered the questions the author posed. Initially, I was
confused as to the age of the target audience but I believe the book
would hold a relatively broad appeal.
With well-being coordinators and growth mindset a big part of the
curriculum, this book ticks a lot of boxes and I can see some tasks
possibly being included in the classroom programme too. This is a
great title for young girls to assist them with boosting their
self-esteem and general well-being.
Jo Schenkel
