Bloomsbury, 2020. ISBN: 9781526616715.
(Age: Adolescent - Adult)This is an extraordinarily chilling story,
beautifully written and deftly constructed to expose the reality for
one particular family living in a country town in Germany, seemingly
towards the end of the Second World War. We learn how they
experienced the growing lack of food, and of the money to buy it,
Binder describing their response to the horror of the bombs that
were dropped intermittently in the early part of this story, this
terrifying situation becoming more frequent as the narrative
progresses.
Binder positions us to understand the emotions experienced by the
people, particularly the fear and the dwindling hope experienced by
one particular family - Etta, Josef, and their children, Max and
Georg. Josef suffers deeply from his emotional response to the
events, his fear preventing him doing much at all, and it falls to
Etta to work out how to provide them with food. While the boys are
taught some basic skills and then expected to work in a supporting
role for the army, we understand that while this is seemingly apt
for Georg, it is dreadfully overwhelming for Max.
Ultimately, the narrative plunges us into the darkness of 'ordinary'
life in Germany at that time, as we are made aware of the outcome of
the increasing number of bombing raids, the growing lack of food
supplies, the fear that they all experience, and the terror of the
bombs. Undoubtedly this was a terribly harsh and frightening time
for all the people of Europe, Binder suggesting that while they knew
something of the actual state of the war, their focus was definitely
on survival. This stunning new work would be appropriate for
adolescent and adult readers.
Elizabeth Bondar
The haunting of Alma Fielding, a true ghost story by Kate Summerscale
Bloomsbury, 2020. ISBN: 9781408895443.
(Age: Adult) Recommended. This account of the investigation into the
Alma Fielding poltergeist case of the late 1930's is not historical
fiction, it is a meticulous examination of the extensive records of
ghost hunter Nandor Fodor, which author Summerscale had the good
fortune to recover from the Society for Psychical Research archive
in Cambridge in 2017. She recreates the events of Fodor's
investigation, in the context of the time just before World War II,
where the public imagination was seized by stories of ghosts and
demonic possession along with seances seeking messages from lost
loved ones after the first war.
Nandor Fodor, a Jewish-Hungarian refugee, wanting to affirm his
reputation as a psychical researcher, became obsessed with the case
of Alma Fielding, sensationally reported in the newspapers as a
young housewife who with her husband, son and lodger, had become the
centre of a maelstrom of flying household objects, a smashing
wardrobe and other strange disturbances. Fodor, open to the idea of
spirits and mediums, yearned for proof of another realm, and wanted
to establish scientific evidence for the spiritual world. Many times
he was disappointed, with his research exposing hoaxes and
fraudulence, but with Alma Fielding he hoped to have at last found
the genuine thing.
The story moves through three sections, the ghost hunter, the ghost
hunt, and then the ghost herself, as Fodor moves from hauntings to
gradually develop a theory of psychological disturbance and buried
memories of loss and abuse.
In continually wanting to establish scientific evidence, in the
determination to remove any chance of artifice, with the tests of
Alma's truthfulness and searches of her body, Fodor finds himself
facing the same dilemma as the protagonist of The
wonder by Emma Donoghue (2016) - is he complicit in
contributing to the young woman's psychic disturbance? Is he also
causing her harm and compounding her distress?
However, unlike Donoghue's work of historical fiction, with
Summerscale's non-fiction approach, we are just presented with the
known facts, and are left to imagine the rest for ourselves. It is
an intriguing story nonetheless, of the ideas at the time of Freud's
notion of female hysteria, and would appeal to readers who like a
fact-based approach.
Themes: Poltergeists, Ghosts, Spiritualism, Mental trauma, Psyche.
Helen Eddy
Ruby and Graham by Lucy Barnard
New Frontier Publishing, 2020. ISBN: 9781921928758.
(Age: 4+) Ruby seems to be the life of the party. She loves to have
fun and all the animals in Acorn Wood love to have fun with her.
Graham on the other hand, loves to organise things, but finds one
day that the animals ignore him, wanting to be with Lucy.
Despondent, he tries to think of ways he can be more like Lucy. He
begins to dance, wear cool clothes, swing up high on the swing in
the tree, the fun pendulum swinging Graham's way. But now everyone
is having fun and partying in the wood, and chaos erupts. No one is
there to organise or clear up or simply be sensible. Lucy admits
that she wishes she was more like the old Graham, while Graham says
that he quite likes being more like Lucy. But this is a problem.
Together they decide that Lucy could learn to be more organised and
he retrieves his clipboard and they set to work. The whole group
cleans up the forest, and all is set for the two animals to see that
there is merit in both their abilities.
A neatly resolved story about finding your feet and using what
skills you have to the best advantage, neither animal is derided for
their difference, but each skill is seen as a positive skill to have
although the consequences of neglecting one skill can be dire for
the whole community. Both animals have a skill that can be shared to
advantage, and the sharing of the two skills means that all share in
the outcome. Teaching
notes are available.
A story that celebrates difference, and encourages children to work
together, joining their skills for a mutually agreeable outcome.
Themes; Difference, Sharing, Friendship.
Fran Knight
That's Not My Wombat by Fiona Watt
Usborne, 2020. ISBN: 9781474980470. 10pp., board book.
The latest in this series
of over 150 charming board books for our very youngest readers that
encourage them to use their senses to discover the world around them
focuses on the wombat, such an iconic Australian creature. With
shiny claws, smooth paws, soft tummy and several other distinctive
features. little hands will enjoy exploring the textural elements
that are the hallmark of the series. Like its companion That's
not my koala, which highlights the koala, it teaches our
littlies to look more closely at the details that distinguish the
wombat from other marsupials. The repetitive text and clear pictures
encourage prediction, thus developing those early concepts about
print that are so essential while engaging them with the reading
experience in a way that only print books can.
Definitely one to add to the Christmas stocking or baby shower gift!
Barbara Braxton
The mission house by Carys Davies
Text Publishing, 2020. ISBN: 9781922330635.
(Age: Adult) Highly recommended. I enjoyed this book from the first
page; I loved how scenes in India were conjured with just a few deft
words, and the unusual characters drew me in. I found myself reading
more and more slowly because while I wanted to get to the heart of
the mystery, I was enjoying the story so much I didn't want to come
to the end. The writing style is sparse but with just the right
words dropped into a sentence to convey a place and a feeling. And
there is a gentle vein of humour that made me smile but still
empathise with the anxieties that torment the main character Hilary
Byrd.
Hilary Byrd is a man too much in his own mind, he has come to India
to find himself again following a prolonged period of depression,
possibly a nervous breakdown, in his past life as a librarian in the
UK. A chance encounter on the train escaping from the heat of the
plains to the coolness of the hill stations of south India leads him
to accept an invitation from the Padre to stay in the mission house
while the young missionary, Henry Page, is overseas. And it turns
out to be just what Byrd needs - cool, peaceful, undemanding, and
with a small circle of people that he can get to know gradually on
his own terms: the kindly Padre himself, the orphan Priscilla with
the limp and missing thumbs, and the auto driver Jamshed, uncle to
another orphaned young person, Ravi the hopeful Country and Western
singer complete with guitar and horse.
Byrd seems to have finally found a place where he feels like there
is some meaning to his life, some sense of fulfilment, and where he
feels comfortable as his friendships grow. But early on, the author
Carys Davies lets us know that something does go wrong, with just
the side mention of a police statement and witness recollections.
It's enough to alert us that Byrd may be deluded and there is some
kind of tragedy ahead.
I found this to be a really intriguing story of the fragility of
people's hopes and dreams, the unsaid words, the good intentions,
the mistakes and misunderstandings, set within the context of a
country with a history of oppression and simmering conflict. The
takeaway in the end? - probably the treasure of kindness and
friendship in unexpected places and the personal rewards in giving
to others. It is an unusual story of small lives impacted by larger
political events.
Themes: Anxiety, Depression, Loneliness, Post-colonial India,
Friendship, Relationships.
Helen Eddy
Meesha makes friends by Tom Percival
Big Bright Feelings. Bloomsbury, 2020. ISBN: 9781526612953.
(Age: 4+) Recommended. Meesha a shy girl who loves making pictures
from scrap materials, numbers and sounds, cannot make friends. Other
children are loud and boisterous and do not like the things she
likes, so she avoids them. One day her parents go to a party taking
her along. She is worried but takes the friends she has made with
her. These friends, made from paper, cardboard, and scrap materials
are not loud or boisterous but sit in her carry bag just waiting for
her to take them out. At the party the other children are noisy and
chaotic, ignoring the little girl with the carry bag. Meesha
withdraws to a safe place under the stairs and takes out her friends
to play. A boy named Josh comes long and asks if he can play too.
She is unsure but allows him to play with her friends. He is
impressed with Meesha's handmade toys and makes some too, suggesting
that they show the others. Meesha is unsure, but it all works out
well in the end and she has a bevy of new friends all of whom try
out their new skills making the toys.
This charming tale of being yourself will appeal to younger readers
who can recognise their own fears and concerns through Meesha. They
will understand what it means to be alone in a group, to have no
friends, to feel unsure of yourself when in a new situation, of
being a little reticent when others offer friendship. All of these
concerns will have resonance with younger readers as they navigate
the world in which they live, where friendship is important to your
self esteem and being part of a group offers security. The fourth in
a series of books about anxious moments in a child's life, these
provide a great starting point for discussion amongst students at
home, in the classroom or library. The other three, Perfectly
Norman, Ruby's
worry and Ravi's
roar are part of a series called, Big Bright
Feelings, and support mental and emotional health issues
amongst children.
Themes; Emotional health, Mental health, Self esteem, Confidence.
Fran Knight
Tiny pieces of us by Vicky Pellegrino
Hachette, 2020. ISBN: 9781869713850.
(Age: Adult - Older adolescents) This most unusual narrative is
about the donation of body parts to those in need, captured in a
narrative that is riveting, heart-warming, and thought-provoking.
When her young son is killed in a traffic accident, Grace decides to
donate as many parts of his body as would be useful for those in
need. This decision will change her life.
Mourning her son's death, Grace feels very lonely. Spending time
alone pondering her life, she decides to create a new family by
asking all of the recipients of his body parts to meet her and thus,
potentially, to become linked, as it were, like a family. Most are
somewhat skeptical of such a connection but gradually see her
rationale and so decide to accept her offer to meet. This decision
is not suggested by the medical experts as appropriate, yet the
connection is surprisingly accepted and becomes something that
changes how they view their lives.
This narrative would be suitable for older adolescents and adults as
Pellegrino raises some interesting points that reflect aspects of
the modern world in terms of both medical and social issues.
Elizabeth Bondar
Mini Rabbit must help by John Bond
HarperCollins, 2020. ISBN: 9780008264888. 32pp., hbk.
Mother Rabbit has written a very important letter to Granny Rabbit
and Mini Rabbit offers to take it to the post box. His mother agrees
he can do this but he has to be very careful and he also has to get
to the post box before five o'clock because that is the last
collection. So Mini Rabbit packs some cake, some slime and a stick
and sets off. What could possibly go wrong?
Not only is this a charming tale that will make young readers laugh
at all the mishaps Mini Rabbit has, but they will also have fun
predicting what might happen next. It is also excellent for mapping
the events of the story to help them understand sequencing and the
language of time.
A new series from a British creator that will become a favourite.
Barbara Braxton
One of us is next by Karen M. McManus
Penguin Books, 2020. ISBN: 9780241376928.
(Ages: 14+) Highly recommended. Author Karen M. McManus has done it
again - written a fabulous YA mystery novel that readers won't be
able to put down. One of us is next takes readers back to
Bayview High, the setting of her first book, One
of us is lying, with a different cast of characters.
Phoebe, Knox and Maeve are the key characters in this story, which
starts out detailing the notoriety of the case that took over the
school and the media the year before - the death of Simon Kelleher
(see One
of us is lying). These three characters are high school
students at the same high school where Simon died, and while he is
now gone, his 'legacy' has continued. Other students have vied for
the top position of gossip-monger, but after the school cracked down
on it, things settled down. That is, until now. The entire student
population of the school gets a message from 'Unknown', inviting
them to play 'Truth or Dare'. After the first student, Phoebe,
refuses to respond, her 'Truth' is revealed to the whole school. The
rest of the school learns to always take the dare.
Coming from each of these three main characters' points of view, the
narratives are interwoven so well that the story flows incredibly
smoothly. The suspense builds nicely, with plenty of drama,
intrigue, changing relationships and mystery. There is a lot of hype
around Karen McManus's books, and after having read this book, I
have to say it is well deserved. I highly recommend this book, along
with her other two One
of us is lying and Two
can keep a secret. Ideal for readers who enjoy
contemporary YA mystery and suspense novels, more suitable for older
readers.
Themes: Secrets and lies, Relationships, Social media, Mystery.
Mel Phillips
I believe I can by Grace Byers
Illus. by Keturah A. Bobo. Balzer & Bray, 2020. ISBN:
9780062667137.32pp., hbk.
One of the downsides of this new instantly-connected world with its
emphasis on social media is that there is a generation growing up
who are becoming dependent on external validation for everything
they do, who view their self-worth through the lens of the number of
likes and friends they have, and whose self-belief and
self-confidence as a person is very low. In this look-at-me world,
resilience seems to be in low reserves and what came naturally as
previous generations dealt with what we encountered, is now
explicitly taught.
In this companion to I
am enough, young children of all shapes, colours and
sizes are encouraged to be their best selves and to reach their
potential by believing that they can, without needing approval from
outside sources. They let the power of their
imaginations project them into the future and know that because they
are just who they are, they can achieve those dreams. They can be as
fierce as the lion's roar and as powerful as the dragon's flames,
and even though they might falter and make mistakes or not succeed
at what they try, they learn from those experiences to build on what
they tried and take another step forward.
It is aimed at our younger readers in the hope that they can build
their sense of identity and worthiness before they are old enough to
officially be on social media platforms (COPPA
restricts membership to 13+) and promote positive mental health, an
area that's of increasing concern amongst our youngest.
While the dark side of social media is now being recognised and
explored and talked about in mainstream media, this video shows
what can be achieved through the power of self-belief. Molly
suffered horrendous epileptic seizures from the age of 2 and in an
effort to save her life, had a third of her brain removed at 16.
Look
at her go!!!
A must-have and a must-promote in any mindfulness collection and
program.
Barbara Braxton
Helping our planet by Jane Bingham
Usborne, 2020. ISBN: 9781474982764. 240pp., pbk.
As our students become more independent they start to hear the
message about the plight of the planet more loudly and realise that
even though they are still young, there is much they can do as
individuals to contribute to the solution rather than the problem.
Focusing on issues such as saving energy, reducing waste, cutting
down on plastic, water conservation, shopping and travelling
thoughtfully and caring for the planet's plants and creatures, this
book presents more in-depth information that respects the reader's
growing maturity and understanding. It includes a section on how
they can make their voice heard so others take notice so rather than
just becoming aware of the issue, they understand that they can also
take action on a broader scale.
By this age, students will also have a feeling for which particular
area attracts them the most, so the accompanying Quicklinks
also offer a way forward for greater awareness and action. With
information in manageable chunks alongside lots of illustrations,
this is one for those who are ready to take their journey to the
next step.
Barbara Braxton
Looking after your health by Caroline Young
Usborne, 2020. ISBN: 9781474982757. 224pp., pbk.
(Age: 8+) While we teach our younger students about eating well,
exercising and getting enough sleep, the emphasis on maintaining
physical health seems to drop off after those early years and while
there is a growing awareness of encouraging positive mental health,
our bodies don't get much attention in literature for some time
until puberty approaches.
This book is a part of a series from Usborne targeting those middle
years readers from about 8 years, encouraging them to stay aware of
and be committed to the issues they encountered at an earlier
age. Using information in accessible chunks accompanied by
lots of black and white images, the book tackles aspects of good
health such as diet, sleep, exercise, and mental health, providing
more in-depth information that respects the reader's growing
maturity, understanding and search for knowledge. As usual there are
also the Quicklinks
which offer more to explore.
Young people with questions that they might be reticent to ask, for
whatever reason, will appreciate this book, as well as those who are
keen to maximise their well-being as they grow and develop.
Barbara Braxton
Out of Copley Street, A working-class boyhood by Geoff Goodfellow
Wakefield Press, 2020. ISBN: 9781743057575.
(Age 14 - adult) This is a powerful memoir that tells the story of
the young Geoff Goodfellow growing up in a working-class suburb of
Adelaide in the 1950s and 1960s. In an innocent, intelligent and
brutally honest narrative, Goodfellow tells the story of his boyhood
in the northern suburbs. The narrative plunges us into the reality
of Geoff's life with his family, their struggle to make ends meet,
and his determination to find work to help the family by earning an
income, even though he knows that he ought to complete his
schooling.
We are positioned to see the man he will become in the photograph on
the book's cover, his grin suggesting a friendliness and sense of
humour that is very much reflected in his narrative. Deciding to
make a life for himself that is true to his personality and apt for
his situation, he initially takes on work as a milkman. Finding that
this does not work for him either, he works with a local butcher for
a short while but finds that this too is not right. We are aware of
his father's struggle to work, his experience fighting in the war
having left him deeply troubled. Geoff's decision to take on work on
an oil rig shows his determination to find a way to earn an income,
and thus to help his family by supporting himself.
This narrative is vividly persuasive, as it becomes evident to the
reader that Goodfellow's talent lies in his ability with words, in
his vivid evocation of his experiences throughout his childhood and
adolescence, seen so vividly in his storytelling. This compelling
narrative would be suitable for all readers from early adolescence
through to adults.
Elizabeth Bondar
The great Godden by Meg Rosoff
Bloomsbury, 2020. ISBN: 9781526618511.
(Age: secondary) Highly recommended. 'The actors assembled, the
summer begins', is the last sentence of the second chapter in this
captivating read.
The unnamed narrator, watching all from the tower above the house,
often using a telescope to survey the proceedings below, is in love
with Kit as he winds his way into all their lives, just as markedly
as his glowering brother does not.
This summer is just like every summer in the past, a family staying
in their beach house, their good friends, Malcolm and Hope nearby.
The second child, Mattie falls for Kit and the two become
inseparable, although only on Kit's terms, while Hope and Malcolm
prepare for their wedding at the end of the summer. Malcolm learns
his lines to star in a new production of Hamlet, Tamsin the
narrator's younger sister goes off riding most days and the fourth
child, Alex spends his time hunting down nature, often under the
floorboards.
The story is woven around the theatre: Kit hopes to go to RADA,
Malcolm learns his lines, Mattie the beautiful poses for England,
Mum sews for the opera company, Kit and Hugo are the LA raised
offspring of a minor actress, but all have a part to play this
summer. Kit and Hugo are staying with Hope and Malcolm while their
mother works on a film in Yugoslavia. These two young men change the
usual dynamics of summer at the beach.
The weeks moves along, the narrator getting part time work at the
local shop, Dad returns to London for work, while the girls help
sew, choose bridesmaid dresses and prepare for the wedding.
Tamsin has seen people illegally netting birds on her rides, a sail
around the bay is due to take place and the two families meet every
day for swimming, cards, barbecue and idle chat. The scene it
instantly recognisable, families lounging at the beach, happy in
each other's company, mulling over past holidays, eager about the
changes in store.
Each of the characters is masterfully developed: the reader knows
each one intimately. The unnamed narrator is a wonderful creation,
tugging at the readers' imaginings, playing with the perception that
readers have of just who is telling the tale. Rosoff builds the
story step by step, succinct and mesmerising until the bubble
bursts, surprising us all, the families unaware of the power Kit has
over them all.
Theme: Friendship, Families, Relationships, Growing up, Power.
Fran Knight
Where is the green sheep? by Mem Fox and Judy Horacek
Puffin, 2017. ISBN: 9780143501763. 32pp., board book. Here is the blue sheep, and here is the red sheep. Here is the bath sheep, and here is the bed sheep. But where is the green sheep? There are some stories that you can recite word for word even if it's years since you last read them, such is their power and the insistence of the little ones in your life to "Read it again, Grandma!" I owe a debt of gratitude to Mem and Judy because this is the story that Miss Now-9 learned to read on and when Grandma got tired, Miss Now 14 was able to take over the reading duties. No other book, no matter how well promoted, ever came close to the demand for this one and so with Puffin's 80th birthday celebrations in full swing, it seems timely to promote it to a whole new generation of parents and grandparents so they too can achieve this particular rite of passage. With its rhyme, rhythm and repetition and simple illustrations that help the youngest reader to predict the text and share the joy when it is confirmed, Fox and Horacek have hit on the right recipe for a story to encourage our youngest readers to love the sound of our language. Given Mem's background in working with and writing for littlies though, this is hardly surprising and you know any book with her name on the cover will be a winner. In fact, so iconic is this title from one of Australia's most-loved author-illustrator partnerships that there is even a 2020 edition that really puts the icing on the cake of this special year. There can be no greater tribute. Barbara Braxton
