Gecko Press, 2020. ISBN: 9781776572731.
(Age: 4+) Highly recommended. Swedish author, Anna Hoglund has
created a fable like story of a young girl who saves her father
using cunning and ingenuity. Translated for an English audience by
Julia Marshall, the story is wonderfully supported by copper plate
etchings with splashes of watercolour. The simplistic but never
simple drawings are evocative of the bleak landscape and the sparse
life of the girl and her father. He is a knight and must go out and
deal with a giant turning people to stone. She waits at home alone,
and as time passes she despairs that he will not return and so
decides to try and find him. She looks at her mirror and asks
herself what would happen if the giant saw himself in the mirror.
She sets out with her mirror and a knife and swims through the cold,
dark water not knowing where she is going. She stays overnight with
a woman who gives her an umbrella and she moves on to find a land
with many many stones. When the ground begins to shake and the giant
approaches, she unfurls the umbrella, and the giant looks down
through the hole he makes in it and sees himself in the mirror.
Her courage kills the giant and saves those turned to stone. She and
her father now live in a peaceful land and neither will be alone
again.
This is a lovely hand sized book which children will often return
to, reading of the girl using her courage and ingenuity to rescue
her father.
And the delightful illustrations will attract their attention as
they read the text. Gecko Press publishes 'curiously good books' and
the website tells us that one good book can spark a lifetime of
reading. The books they publish are certainly books that spark
interest and are very different to those offered by other
publishers. Read more here.
Themes: Courage, Giants, Mirror.
Fran Knight
The Betrothed by Keira Cass
HarperCollins, 2020. ISBN: 9780008158828.
(Age: Young Adult). Keira Cass fans have been eagerly awaiting for The
Betrothed since the last book in her hugely popular The
Selection series was published in 2016. Unfortunately, they
may be disappointed when they read it. Unlike the author's previous
works which focused on a Bachelor-style love contest set in a
post-dystopian America, The Betrothed is a historical
romance pivoting on a much maligned YA trope - the love triangle.
King Jameson declares his love for Lady Hollis Brite, a noblewoman
who has grown up around the King, constantly vying for his
attention. While initially delighted to have been singled out by the
monarch, during their courtship Hollis meets Silas, an artisan from
a refugee family that has fled a neighbouring country. Hollis is
drawn to Silas, despite her inital attempts to resist him and when
King Jameson proposes to her she must decide whether being queen is
what she truly wants in life.
While the novel begins intriguingly and promises a fun romp, it soon
devolves into cliche after cliche as Hollis 'ums and ahs' over what
she should do and who she should choose. A frustrating ending is the
unfortunate cherry on top for this disappointing plotline.
A positive for the novel is Cass' easy-to-read style. As in The
Selection, her prose is frothy and bubbly; well suited to her
target young adult audience. There are also some well-developed
secondary characters who make for enjoyable reading. However,
readers who were initially ecstatic for the start of a new Keira
Cass series may find themselves reluctant to continue reading
further. Themes: Love, Royalty, Friendship, Identity.
Rose Tabeni
Dear child by Romy Hausmann
Quercus, 2019. ISBN: 9781529401424.
(Age: Adult - Senior Secondary) Highly recommended for people who
can cope with books in the vein of Room
by Emma Donoghue. Locked in a windowless cabin in the woods, Lena's
life is bound up by rules made up by the man who captured her to be
the mother to his two children. Everything is regimented, and there
is severe punishment if she deviates from, or questions, his demands.
Lena manages to break free from the cabin one night accompanied by
Hannah, but her escape raises many questions. Who is she? What has
happened to Lena who disappeared 14 years ago? Who is the man found
dead in the cabin and what has happened to Hannah's little brother?
This is a tightly plotted thriller that keeps the reader guessing
the whole way through with its twisty, exciting, and often
heart-wrenching events. There are many tense moments, and the
description of Lena's treatment in the cabin is not for the faint
hearted. It is also disturbing to read about her attempts to make a
normal life again and the grief and heartbreak of Lena's father
Matthias and his desire to find out what happened to Lena is very
compelling.
Written in three voices, that of Jasmin, Hannah and Matthias, the
story unfolds as they tell their version of what has happened and
how they feel.
The conclusion is stunning and very memorable. Dear child will
leave the reader determined to read any novels that this talented
author might produce in the future.
Pat Pledger
The Puppet Show by M.W. Craven
Washington Poe book 1. Constable, 2018. ISBN: 9781472127440.
(Age: Adult - Senior secondary) Highly recommended for mystery
lovers. CWA Gold Dagger Award 2019. Washington Poe is brought in to
investigate a series of murders where the victims are burnt alive in
prehistoric stone circles. His name has been carved into one of the
victims and accompanied by Tilly Bradshaw, an awkward criminal
analyist, he follows a trail that is obviously set up for him. I
picked up The puppet show after thoroughly enjoying Black
Summer, the second in the series as I found the
personalities of both Poe and Bradshaw to be ones that I really
liked and wished to read more about.
Craven's narrative is engaging and there are enough twists and turns
to keep any mystery fan engrossed in trying to work out what is
happening. And that ending was a surprise for me, which always makes
for a more enjoyable read for a person who reads a lot of mysteries.
There is a gradual fleshing out of the personalities of Poe and
Bradshaw and the growth of trust between them makes for a great
working relationship. Both are unusual characters, Poe dogged in his
following of the case, over-riding his superiors and going his own
way, and Tilly socially inept, but brilliant in her ability to
analyse what is going on.
The cold landscape of Cumbria with its prehistoric stone circles
makes an interesting background to the murders and the serial
killer, nicknamed The Immolation Man, is one scary murderer.
This is a series that is sure to have a strong following from
readers who enjoy clever plotting and excellent narratives.
Pat Pledger
The Lost Witch by Melvin Burgess
Andersen, 2020. ISBN: 9781783448357.
(Age: 15+) Highly recommended. Leeds Book Awards Nominee for 14-16
(2019). This is not a book for the faint-hearted or for fans of easy
to read stories about young witches. As the back-cover states, it is
not suitable for younger readers, but for older readers, the
combination of the supernatural and tough realism that Melvin
Burgess, author of Junk, is famous for, makes for an engrossing,
dark and compelling read. Bea has begun to see things that no one
else can see - as the family are returning home late one night, she
sees evil creatures, the Hunt, and discovers that she can summon
help for the creatures that are being chased. Known as the Summoner,
she has the rare ability to call the spirits of people and animals
out of their bodies. She meets a charismatic young man Lars, who has
taught her how to skate board as well as a young girl, Silvis, who
introduces her to her grandfather, Odi, who warns her to be careful
as the huntsmen want to use her to gain these magical spirits.
However her parents believe she is hallucinating and take her to a
hospital where she is chased by the Hunt but rescued by Lars and
from then on Bea is confused, not knowing who she can trust and what
is the right thing to do. Lars assures Bea that he is on the side of
good and is against the Hunt, but gradually the reader becomes
concerned for her well-being as she is introduced to drugs and
begins to summon the spirits of living creatures.
Bea is a likeable but naive young woman who doesn't know where to
put her trust and under Lars' influence seems unable to work out
what is good and what is evil. He assures her that by helping him
her family will be rescued and Bea goes along with what he wants her
to do. The final, dramatic event when Bea must take responsibility
for her actions and try to set things right will have readers on the
edge of their seats.
Burgess' narrative is perfectly constructed, with twists and turns,
leaving the reader wondering who can be trusted. His characters come
alive and it is easy to believe this tale of myth and magic, witches
and the Hunt. Bea's friendship with the loyal and sympathetic Silvis
is a highlight of the story, but the failings of her father make a
grim contrast, as the reader finds that parents are not always right
and do the correct thing for their children.
Pat Pledger
The Unadoptables by Hana Tooke
Puffin Books, 2020. ISBN: 9780241453612.
(Ages: 9+ years). Highly recommended. The Unadoptables by
Hana Tooke is an exciting and cleverly written middle grade read.
The story is action-packed with mystery, danger, adventure and some
very evil characters. In 1800 five orphans are abandoned in the same
week in different receptacles at the Little Tulip Orphanage. Chapter
One begins with the rules for abandoning babies being broken and an
introduction to each child who is given an unusual name by the cruel
and dastardly matron Elinora Gassbeek. The children, named Lotta,
Egg, Fenna, Sem and Milou, have their own special qualities that
they share with each other. They have never been adopted and have a
strong familial bond and survival instinct. They are treated
miserably and work all day and night for little food and no
comforts. Milou is determined to find her parents and is a wonderful
storyteller. She creates all sorts of reasons as to why she was
abandoned and keeps a Book of Theories. Milou is the driving force
behind the five escaping the orphanage after the villainous Mr
Rotman offers to buy them from the matron to become child slaves on
his ship. He and the matron are in partnership and profiting from
the sale of the orphans. Milou with the help of the other children
finds a home in the guise of a windmill using map coordinates left
in her baby coffin. The abandoned property also contains an old
rundown theatre and puppets similar to the one Milou has had with
her from her arrival at the orphanage. Once at the windmill the five
decide to stay and live there but need to earn money to survive.
They embark on a grand plan to raise money by holding a puppet show
for the local community and also in the hope of finding Milou's
parents whom she strongly believes are searching for her. Added to
this scenario is the suspicious neighbour, an official from the
Kinderbureau, a man-eating dog, one of the children held captive,
the dramatic rescue, plus a mysterious stranger and there is the
makings of a great tale for avid readers of mystery and danger.
Themes: Orphans, Family, 1800's, Amsterdam, Adventure, Excitement,
Danger, Mystery.
Kathryn Beilby
Ten minutes to bed Little Dinosaur by Rhiannon Fielding
Illus. by Chris Chatterton. Penguin Random House UK, 2020. ISBN:
9780241386736.
(Ages: 2-5) This is a new title in a series of Ten Minutes to
Bed books (including Little
Monster and Little
Mermaid). It's an overt bedtime story set in The Land of
Nod (the endpapers show a map of the land and where each of the
characters live) and is similar in concept to other books about
bedtime reluctance such as Play and I Am Not Sleepy
and I Will Not Go to Bed. In addition, a counting element is
included as it counts down the minutes until bedtime from ten to
one. 'Ten minutes to bed!' Mum tells Rumble. But Rumble just loves
to have fun. So off he thunders, sending birds and frogs hopping and
fluttering, splashing about in the mud and running all the way to an
erupting volcano. 'Five minutes' say all the dinosaurs racing past
him in a rush to escape the lava. 'Four minutes to bed . . . but
where am I, I wonder?', he says when he finds a safe place to rest.
It's rainy and thundery and getting dark when a shadow appears. It's
Mum, come to take him home. 'Two minutes,' she said. 'You are never
alone.' Before the last minute is even done, Rumble is in bed and
fast asleep, snoring.
Rumble's romping journey will delight young ones, who will see in
the illustrations the progression from sunset light to moonlight.
The mountain forest where the dinosaurs live is vivid and magical
and the depiction of light will cleverly calm and soothe children
(glowing lights within the forest, moon and shimmering stars). There
is a nice message here for children about being responsible and in
control of their own body and winding down for sleep. Little
Dinosaur seems to pay no attention to the countdown but by the end
of the ten minutes he is already asleep. It may even help some
younger children to set in place their own countdown to bedtime and
assist with an understanding of self-settling. Themes: Bedtime,
Counting Book, Rhyming Book, Dinosaurs.
Nicole Nelson
Tashi series by Anna and Barbara Fienberg
Illus. by Kim Gamble. Allen & Unwin, 2020. Tashi: The book of spells and secrets. ISBN: 9781760525149. Tashi: The book of magnificent monsters. ISBN: 9781760525217.
(Age: 7-9) Highly recommended. Allen & Unwin have republished
many of the Tashi stories written between 1995 and 2009 in four
volumes, richly illustrated by Gamble. Selling over a million copies
worldwide, Tashi is now a TV series and there have been many other
books featuring this wonderful character.
Republished in volumes of eight stories compiled under titles such
as The book of spells and secrets and The book of
magnificent monsters, younger readers will have the thrill of
reading about Tashi for the first time, while older readers will
pick up a volume to be reacquainted with an old friend.
Each of these two volumes contain a clutch of stories, all about
thirty pages long accompanied by Gamble's readily recognised
illustrations of the tall hatted hero. Each is followed by its
companion story. In The book of spells and secrets can be
found Tashi lost in the city, published with another story, On
the way home, in 2004.
In The book of magnificent monsters appears the tale, Tashi
and the phoenix, followed by An unexpected letter,
published together in 2006.
Tashi and the Baba Yaga as with many other stories begins with Jack
telling his family about his friend, Tashi and the wonderful
adventures he has. In this one, Tashi tells Jack about the time he
finds a house that has arrived in the woods near his home after a
fearful storm. Invited in he realises that he is to become dinner
and cleverly gets himself out of the pot, by tricking the young
girl. Gone follows telling of the chickens being lost from
the hen coup in the garden.
Each of the stories tells an adventure and also gives a precept for
life: being kind, being careful of strangers, helping others, being
kind to your friends and so on.
With their bright new covers, the stories will be wonderful read
alouds as well as being most attractive for younger readers to pick
up. Themes: Tashi, Adventure.
Fran Knight
Wonderscape by Jennifer Bell
Walker Books, 2020. ISBN: 9781406391725.
(Ages: 10+). Highly recommended. Wonderscape author,
Jennifer Bell, has written an exciting and intriguing gaming
adventure set primarily in the future. Her three main characters,
Arthur, Ren and Cecily, are all thirteen years old and from the 21st
century. They are all very different, have no real connection to
each other except attending the same high school and bring their own
special qualities to the eventual quest they must undertake. An
explosion in Peacepoint Estate leads to the three being transported
through a Wonderway (portal) to a wooden ship, Principia, where they
meet the first of the many historical figures, Isaac Newton. They
also are exposed to the mimics (robots) which play a pivotal role
throughout the story. On the ship the children are given
Wondercloaks which have amazing attributes that assist them on their
complex and dangerous journey. Wonderscape is actually an
I-RAG - an in-reality adventure game where players known as
wanderers complete challenges for rewards and to be able to progress
to another realm. Every realm is themed around a different hero from
History and there is a riddle to be solved. The realms are hazardous
and in order to find their way back to the 21st Century, the three
travellers must go through a number of them to search for a missing
person and the time-key that will unlock the Wonderway to home - all
within fifty six hours or they will become in Arthur's words
"slime". Travelling with the three children is a dog named Cloud who
is full of surprises and is crucial to the overall outcome of the
quest. The Wonderscape game was designed by three adopted
siblings, Tiburon Nox, Valeria Mal'fey and Milo Hertz, who each took
on different roles. There is conflict within the family which has
led to a change of the initial principles of the game which is now
on a self-destructive path.
The amazing plot and story-telling in Wonderscape keeps the
reader wanting more. Those who are gamers will readily identify with
many of the terms and concepts in the story and those who are not
gamers will learn a little bit more about this 21st century
phenomenon. Themes: Gaming, Time travel, Danger, History, Mystery,
STEM, Friendship, Trust, Problem solving.
Kathryn Beilby
Spellhacker by M.K. England
Harper Teen, 2020. ISBN: 9780062657701. 402p.
(Age: 14+) Fans of high fantasy thrillers will think they have died
and gone to heaven - or at least Kyrkarta. The action starts almost
immediately with an earthquake. Brave spell weavers and tech witches
spontaneously assemble in the street to minimise the damage and it's
wickedly intense.
Kyrkarta has a history of such disasters - the last quake unleashed
something. Maz or magic used to be plentiful, but since the
earthquakes released the spellplague killing thousands, Maz is no
longer common. Maz takes many forms and a Periodic Table of Maz
prefaces Chapter One. We aren't given the atomic weights so the list
is basically a ready reference or glossary of terms. There are three
categories of Maz strains - Core, Perceptual and Augmenting.
Categorised under these strains are the 14 types of Spells. Wataz
Maz is "Core" and produces water and flowing effects, while Magnaz
is used for amplification or "Augmenting".
Maz has become so expensive that Diz and her three friends created
their own black market for Maz - illegally siphoning it off and
selling it. Ania is a Techwitch, Remi a Spellweaver and Jaesin,
Diz's "ex", is a Mundie like Diz. They've planned one last heist,
but they become mixed up in a dangerous conspiracy.
Diz's love interest, Remi, is referred to in gender-neutral pronouns
providing us with recognisable reference points, welcomed because
the level of fantasy is difficult to delve into at first. Thanks to
the group of L.G.B.T.Q.I.A. teens who are very likeable, sarcastic
and flirty, the appeal of Spellhacker is characterisation in
addition to the novelty, which breaks with traditional expectations
of books about magic. If you like Sci-Fi mixed with fantasy and
action, you'll get more than you can handle in the future realm of
Kyrkarta. Spellhacker is available as a downloadable audio.
Themes: High fantasy. Magic.
Deborah Robins
A knock at the door by Tom Wood (writing as T. W. Ellis)
Hachette, 2020. ISBN: 9780751575934.
(Age: Senior secondary/adult) Highly recommended. When two
government agents knock at Jem Talhoffer's door her life is turned
upside down. They ask for her husband Leo and suggest he is involved
in organised crime. She cannot believe that her handsome perfect
partner would have anything to do with such things. While the agents
are questioning and searching she receives a call from an Agent
Carlson, which casts doubt on the identity of the Feds. She is urged
to leave her home and make a run for it.
Jem and Leo have moved from the city for the peace and calm of small
town America. They have found the perfect house isolated from its
neighbours but not too far from the town's amenities. Jem takes yoga
classes, but tends to keep to herself while Leo a wine merchant
takes care of business and often travels overseas.
Jem takes off through the woods, but hasn't thought through her
escape. She is bare footed and has bought nothing with her. She
makes it to the road, feet cut, scratched, bruised and flags down an
old man in a pickup truck. It seems as if luck has changed, Trevor
the driver, is straight as the day is long. He is one of the many in
the USA that has no trust in the government or people in suits, he
has no phone and is self reliant.
They head into town where Jem decides she will confide in the local
police chief, Rusty, an eminently sensible and trustworthy woman.
However when she arrives she is dismayed to find the two agents are
already at the police building. She makes a move to leave when a car
pulls up with Agent Carlson at the wheel; he urges her to get in and
he assures her she will be safe. But Jem doesn't know who to trust
and heads for the police building. She ends up being driven back to
her home by the two agents, but things then really take a turn for
the worse.
Tom Woods is writing here as T. W. Ellis, and has the narrative
delivered by Jem and Rusty (the police chief). The reader is
naturally sympathetic with Jem's story and the dilemma in which she
finds herself. The question is always: what would you do if you
found yourself in the same situation? The narrative provided by
Rusty is very different. The reader is allowed into her life, a
strange mixture of the very private and the very public, but there
is a feeling of dependability and trust.
There are many twists in the plot and you are left feeling very much
like Jem. Who do you believe, who can you trust. There are also
moments of shock when the most unforeseen actions take place. Whilst
not always quite believable Ellis provides a roller coaster ride,
that has perceptions overturned and personalities questioned. A
thoroughly recommended read.
Themes. USA, Crime, Thriller, Conspiracy.
Mark Knight
Greek Myths by Jean Menzies
Illus. by Katie Ponder. Dorling Kindersley, 2020. ISBN:
9780241397459. 160pp.
(Ages: 8 - 12) Recommended. Greek Myths is a beautifully
presented, simply written, thorough compendium. Although it is
non-fiction, with an index, it helps to begin reading it from the
beginning. In this way you understand how Gaia created the world and
then subsequent Olympian Gods and Goddesses such as Zeus, Hera,
Hades and Poseidon came to be. This section is followed by nine
myths of Gods and Humans such as the myth of Pandora's Jar. Nine
well known tales of heroes such as Jason and the Argonauts follow.
There's much treachery, trickery and violence amongst the Gods and
you realize the extent to which we refer to these characters and
tales in everyday life, e.g. The Trojan War, Icarus and Midas.
Throughout these sections are single fact pages devoted to each of
the main Gods and Goddesses. This helps the reader consolidate who
is who. A reference section has further useful pages explaining how
we know about this Ancient History, more information about mythical
creatures and monsters and how the Greek names were used to name
planets, animals and plants. There is a particularly useful
pronunciation guide as well.
Katie Ponder's many digitally created illustrations are well suited
to the myths. The whole design of the book, with quality buff paper
in a large hard covered volume, is very appealing. This book will be
useful in schools where Ancient History is part of the Australian
Curriculum in the middle years. It will also be of interest to young
readers who love books like Rick Riordan's Percy Jackson
series. There have been many anthologies of Greek Myths over the
years but I think the design, large font and easy to read style will
help connect these myths with today's audience.
Jo Marshall
Oi puppies! by Kes Gray and Jim Field
Hachette, 2020. ISBN: 9781444937367.
(Age: 4+) Highly recommended. Another in the wildly funny series of
books, Oi
frog, Oi
cat, Oi
dog and Oi
duck-billed platypus, comes another which follows the
same storyline, thus instantly gathering together its enormous
retinue of fans, eager to participate, predict and laugh out loud.
The front cover alerts the reader to the stunned dog; eyes wide and
staring, urging the reader to offer help as it is overwhelmed by
seven puppies all in different stages of excitement. Both Cat and
Frog try to help Dog, offering advice while ordering the puppies to
sit. But of course, none do. Each of the puppies is named and each
name reflects a trait shown by the puppy, giving the illustrator
wonderful comic license to show them in all their glory. The puppies
jump and crawl, climb, use the cat's whiskers as a swing, tug the
Frog's shorts, the exasperated looks on the animals' faces adding to
the fun of the story.
At his wit's end, Frog calls the Oi Animals Seating Supply Company,
and the next few pages shows each of the puppies aligned to a
rhyming seat. So Buster gets a duster, Jock a sock and Tiddles a
fiddle. Each page shows an animal and its name with a rhyming word,
all augmented with wonderful funny illustrations, sure to evoke
laughter from the reader. They will love predicting the rhyming
word, making suggestions of their own, and laugh out loud at the
twist that comes at the end of the tale.
And the very last page hints at number six in the series coming
along soon.
Themes: Puppies, Dogs, Humour, Verse, Pets.
Fran Knight
Puffin Little Environmentalist: Composting
Penguin Random House Australia, 2020. ISBN: 9781760897017. 96pp.
(Age: 6 +) Highly recommended. This small format book is just right
for any child (or indeed adult) who is interested in doing something
about the amount of waste that goes into landfill. How to make
compost is explained in simple, easy to understand language that
will appeal to young children who are becoming independent readers.
It will also appeal to an adult who may be reading to a child as
this book gives great hints about composting that they could do
together.
Commencing with an introduction to what a compost bin is, the book
continues on with information about compost, what can be done with
it, why we should compost and best of all, it gives a detailed way
of making a small compost bin that would fit in a backyard or on a
balcony. This small compost bin consists of a plastic bin with holes
in it and shows children how to make compost themselves, just
requiring a small amount of help from adults, by purchasing the bin
and drilling holes in it.
The simple language, easy to follow instructions and rationale will
provide the newly independent reader with enough information to get
started. A good Contents page, Fast Facts page, Glossary and Quiz
complete this very useful book. Illustrations and the little puffin
that parades throughout the book also add to its appeal.
This would be ideal as a present for young children who wish to help
the planet and will provide children and adults alike enough
information to have a go at composting.
Pat Pledger
Shapes and colours by John Canty
Berbay Publishing, 2020. ISBN: 9780648529187. 32pp.
(Age: 0)+) Highly recommended. All the colours of the rainbow and
many different shapes are beautifully illustrated in this lovely
picture book from John Canty, the award-winning author/illustrator
of the Heads
and tails series.
Right from the beginning as the reader turns the cover, bright
shapes appear, with the words, What's red? What's orange? What's
yellow? What's green? and What's blue? Each sentence appears in a
shape that matches the colour, so we see, for example, a green frog
and a yellow banana, all designed for the young child to guess what
the object is. Turning the page, the frontispiece has What's indigo?
and What's Violet, and then the reader will guess that these are the
seven colours that this carefully designed book will contain.
The shapes for each colour are coloured on a double page spread with
the question in one big drawing in the centre. The child needs to
guess what each picture is, and then when the page is turned, finds
a detailed multi-coloured picture of each shape, with the main
colour as the background. I especially liked the colour indigo, with
its vivid picture of a beetle gracing the page.
New words will be introduced to the young child. For example on the
page featuring What's orange, there are a couple of difficult
shapes, and when the page is turned, the reader will find a picture
of a popsicle, orange, safety vest, autumn leaf, pumpkin, traffic
cone and carrot all surrounding a large picture of a goldfish.
This is an imaginative way of introducing different colours and
shapes and is a book that will prove to be a keeper and one that may
well be treasured and handed down to the next generation.
Pat Pledger
