The astro naughty naughty Baddies by Mark Sperring
Illus. by David Tazzyman. Bloomsbury, 2019. ISBN: 9781408897782.
(Ages: 5-9) Themes: Humorous Stories. This is a follow-up to 2017's
The
naughty naughty Baddies, in which four diabolically dreadful
children attempt to steal all the spots off the Queen's Little Doggy
Woof-Woof. In this instalment the Baddies are about to blast off to
the moon. Why? To capture some aliens of course and win a toy-tastic
reward of course. But taking off into space and bringing back aliens
isn't naughty, is it? Why not pretend to be aliens and HOODWINK the
President into giving them the reward?!
Mark Sperring is probably best known for his Dino series (Dino-Mummy,
Dino-Daddy,
etc.) and David Tazzyman for his illustrative work in the
bestselling You
can't take an elephant on the bus. Tazzyman's cartoonish,
scribbly illustrations work perfectly with this madcap tale
featuring four intelligent but horrid children and humorous details
abound within each picture. The text reads incredibly well aloud and
has perfect pace, rhythm and suggested expression ('In three clicks
of a knitting needle the DASTARDLY plan was underway and, at EXACTLY
four minutes past snack time, the Naughty, Naughty Baddies landed in
the President's bedroom'). This is silly and fun with an
uncomplicated storyline and school-age children will love it. Adults
might not want to be encouraging naughty behaviour but their
behaviour is ridiculous rather than naughty (and they don't actually
get away with the reward) and the President is also a laughable
person, far too easily tricked by these children and their makeshift
alien costumes!
Nicole Nelson
Don't make me cross by Smriti Prasadam-Halls
Ill. by Angie Rozelaar. Bloomsbury, 2019. ISBN 9781408885611
(Age: 4+) Recommended. Themes: Selfishness, Sharing, Anger, Birthday
parties, Friendship, Family. Little Monster is very unhappy. It is
his birthday and although he has invited his friends, they do not
seem to revel in his winning all the games or eating all the best
food. He likes to win, and when he does not, he becomes very cross,
displaying his bad temper for all to see. Sitting at the table he
takes all the best food, after all it is his birthday, much to the
chagrin of his guests. When the group plays hide and seek, the
disgruntled guests take the game at its word, and hide so that
Little Monster cannot find them.
Told in four line rhyming stanzas, children will laugh out loud at
the antics of Little Monster, displaying his bad temper and selfish
behaviour for all to see. Children will love anticipating the last
word of each verse, learning some of the verses to repeat with the
reader, or say out loud to their friends. They will easily recognise
the bad behaviour of the monster, and learn that perhaps his
behaviour is not the kind of behaviour that wins friends. They will
laugh out loud at the results of his selfishness as he falls over
the table laden with all the food, but smile as his friends forgive
him when he realises the folly of his behaviour.
A neatly drawn cautionary tale, children will recognise the moral,
and be enchanted with the funny illustrations, making the most of
the behaviour tantrums put on by Little Monster. The looks on the
faces will brings tears of laughter, while the things the monster
does in wrecking his own party will cause readers to talk about the
things he should have done in welcoming people to his party.
Fran Knight
The island of sea women by Lisa See
Simon and Schuster, 2019. ISBN: 9781471183850.
(Age: 16+) Highly recommended. 'A woman is not meant for the
household!' Did you know that on the island of Jeju in Korea, it was
the tradition in the 1930s for women to go to work, diving for
abalone, octopus, sea urchins, crabs and sea slugs, bringing in
their sea harvest to support their families? It was the men who
stayed home, cooked the meals and tended to the children. The
haenyeo, women divers, were expert at capturing their breath and
diving deep, taking what they needed and living in harmony with
their environment.
Young-sook and Mi-ja are two haenyeo friends, diving together.
Young-sook is continuing her family tradition, diving with her
mother, whilst Mi-ja is the daughter of a despised Japanese
collaborator living with an abusive uncle and aunt, never knowing
the love of a mother. Young-sook's mother takes Mi-ja into the
diving collective, and trains her along with her daughter. The two
girls become the closest of friends.
From the first chapter, we know that something has happened between
the two girls. It is 2008 and Young-sook, as an old woman, is
collecting algae along the shore when she is approached by an
American tourist asking about her grandmother Mi-ja. Young-sook
denies ever knowing her. Why does Young-sook lie, and why does she
refuse to have anything to do with the visitors?
Whilst telling the story of Japanese and American conflict in Korea,
during the 1930s, 1940s, World War II and the Korean War, Lisa See
explores what it means to be close friends, the shared secrets, the
jealousies, and the heart-breaking betrayals - for only a loved
friend knows how to inflict the deepest wound. I think most readers
would identify with that situation - when someone they cared about
lets them down or hurts them in some way. But the mystery of what it
was that divided the two young women carries the reader breathlessly
to the very last chapter.
This is a really interesting book, combining a well-researched
history of the period, with a thought-provoking exploration of
friendship, and the bitter after-effects of being unable to forgive.
Helen Eddy
Izzy + Tristan by Shannon Dunlap
Hachette, 2019. ISBN: 9781510104358.
(Age: 15+) Themes : race, romance, chess, gangs, drugs, school
relationships, mental health. This book ends with the same words it
starts with. 'This is not a novel. It's a romance.' It is a story
about romance, one of fierce longing and desire to be with the one
you love. It is a modern day love story of two people with totally
different backgrounds and a typical 'star crossed lovers' feel to
it.
Tristan is an African American teenager living with his Aunt while
his father comes to terms with his mother's untimely death. Even
though he has lived with his Aunt for two years and has a tight
family bond with Marcus his street smart cousin, Tristan doesn't
feel like he belongs there. Marcus is confident and a con artist
with a posse who cling onto his every word. Tristan is a chess
wizard and academic and Marcus uses this to his advantage by setting
up matches between unsuspecting opponents and his cousin for cash.
Tristan isn't comfortable with this but doesn't feel he can stand up
to Marcus, and despite their close family bond, Tristan feels a
little intimidated by him.
Izzy's parents have moved Izzy and her twin brother Hull into a new
neighbourhood and new school, hoping for new experiences for their
family but things don't go quite as well as they had hoped. They are
a white family in a borough of predominantly mixed races and the
perception of them is of a rich white family living amongst the not
so fortunate. Hull is also a wiz at chess and an encounter with
Marcus and Tristan takes an unexpected turn.
Meanwhile Izzy and Tristan first meet in class and it is almost love
at first sight. Even after the incident involving her twin and
Tristan, Izzy isn't put from her attraction to him and a clandestine
relationship evolves. Unfortunately, Marcus also has his eye on Izzy
and the two of them decide against telling Marcus of their love.
Izzy's friend Brianna is secretly in love with Marcus and she tries
not to let it bother her that Marcus is in love with Izzy but as is
always the case with blind love, decisions can blur peoples
misguided intentions. Friends and family bonds are fractured, and
the reader is kept on their toes waiting to see what eventuates.
As the story evolves it becomes apparent that a critical incident is
imminent despite the couples' struggle to keep their relationship
going. Whilst it appears that some relationships are mending there
is still that underlying feeling of foreboding. The ending is
expected in some ways and surprising in others.
This would be a good comparative text for Romeo and Juliet.
I would give this book to 15+ readers
because of some of the language and themes (minimal).
Gerri Mills
The wonder of trees by Nicola Davies
Illus. by Lorna Scobie. Hodder Children's Books, 2019. ISBN:
9781444938197.
(Ages: 5+) Highly recommended. Themes: Trees, Animal habitats.
Nicola Davies is an English Zoologist and prolific writer of
children's books, including picture books, non-fiction and novels.
This title follows the same style as Davies and Scobie's 2017
publication The variety of life, which looked at the
incredible diversity of life within the animal kingdom. This title,
The wonder of trees, does a similar thing in celebrating the
incredible adaptability of trees, and explains how creatures,
including humans, rely on them. Lorna Scobie's watercolour
illustrations are beautiful, delicate and full of vibrant colour
from flowers, leaves and animal life and make the book deserving of
its large format. The author/illustrator combination work perfectly
as both Scobie and Davies work almost exclusively on projects
involving the natural world. This is equally accessible for a
five year old and a fourteen year old because of its short
paragraphs, large illustrations and its use of simple language,
despite containing some complex information. There is no contents or
index page but the book is clearly defined into sections with
headings running in bold down the side of each page. The first few
pages outline what trees are and how they evolved, including ancient
and now extinct trees. The next section deals with different parts
of trees, including close up illustrations of the teeny-tiny tubes
in wood and information about how root fungus allow trees to
communicate with each other. There are also close-ups of different
varieties of tree bark. There is then a section about how different
animals and plants use trees for habitats, food, transport and
safety. The next looks at specific habitats or communities of trees
(taiga forest, temperate woodlands, dry gum forests, cloud forests
and tropical rainforests) and the last looks at the relationship
between people and trees, both how we benefit from trees and how we
are destroying them. The book finishes by detailing how we can help
by planting trees in our backyard or community. A quite
comprehensive and easily accessible glossary is included at the
back. Each of the trees pictured within the book and many of the
animals, are named, both with common name and scientific name. This
is an incredibly comprehensive look at the world of trees, useful
for school projects but also just a beautiful book to peruse at
leisure. It is a true treat which will fascinate, educate and
inspire both young and old.
Nicole Nelson
Happy girl lucky by Holly Smale
Valentines book 1. HarperCollins, 2019. ISBN 9780008254148. Happy girl lucky is an easy read for young girls who are
innocent and always try to see the best in everything.
Meet Hope Valentine, a fifteen year old girl who has the life of a
Barbie. Except she isn't allowed to be showed off to the public
until she is sixteen. Hope has 3 siblings Faith, Mercy and Max who
are all celebrities because they are a valentine.
In Hope's mind life is like a movie. Everything is edited to look
perfect. She looks past every bad thing. She is aways happy - it's
Hope's thing. After all she is happy girl lucky! She dreams of
finding the perfect boyfriend. Hope just can't wait to get out and
be revealed to the world.
One night her older brother Max sees Hope looking a bit down and
decides to sneak her into a party with lots of celebrities. Hope's
whole family is there. Hope sees her sisters arguing and decides to
eavesdrop on their conversation. She hears them calling her
insulting names and talking about a serious secret. As Hope sees
everything in a good light she doesn't want to hear a bit more of
it. So she leaves. As she is boarding the train, the doors close on
her! She is then pulled through the doors by the most gorgeous boy
she has ever seen. She sits with him on the train and they talk. She
is amazed. As he leaves Hope wishes she got an invite to meet him
again one day. Then a few seconds later he appears in front of Hope
once more.
Annabel W. (student)
Star Wars character encyclopedia by Simon Beecroft et al.
New edition. DK Publishing, 2019. ISBN: 9780241386071.
(Age: 8+) Recommended. Fans of the Star Wars sagas will welcome this
new edition of Star Wars character encyclopedia, with its
guide to approximately 218 characters, including the heroes, droids
and enemies of the galaxy. It includes new characters from Rogue
One: A Star Wars story, Star Wars: The last Jedi, and
Solo: A Star Wars story.
Arranged in alphabetical order, each character has a page of
attractive photographs and information about their affiliation,
appearance and what their skills are. There are stills from the
movies, and the photographs of the characters themselves are
beautifully produced and will thrill any reader who loves the
movies.
DK Publishing can be trusted to produce handsome, well bound and
interesting books and this is no exception. It contains a useful
contents page of all the characters found in the book and a
comprehensive index provides access to details about the characters
and their actions.
It is fun to dip into the book, looking for familiar and well-loved
characters, but fans will want to start at the beginning and read
until the end. It is a book that won't stay on the library or class
room shelf for very long.
Pat Pledger
How high the moon by Karyn Parsons
Puffin Books, 2019. ISBN: 9780241346891.
(Age: Secondary students and mature Year 7) Recommended. The book's
front cover immediately leaves the reader with no illusions about
the serious event that is to occur in the story. A torn newspaper
graphic announces that the novel was 'inspired by the tragic true
tale of George Stinney, the youngest ever American to be executed at
the age of fourteen . . . '
The newspaper is 'The South Carolina Times' and the date is 1944,
which gives background information about the setting and time. This
historical perspective may not be obvious to the young adult reader
but Karyn Parsons's story reveals the racism of Southern America
through the eyes of young black Americans.
Ella is the main character and it is her journey of self-discovery
that directs most of the plot. Ella lives in a loving extended
family with her grandparents and cousins. Her mother has moved to
the North to pursue a better life and Ella has no knowledge of her
father.
Surprisingly her mother sends for Ella to join her in Boston and at
first this seems exciting, but her mama's day job and busy night
life as an aspiring jazz singer means Ella is often alone. She
yearns for school and her past family life and her main focus is
trying to discover information about her dad.
This story is told from the perspective of several characters and is
an insight into the strong racial feelings of the times. Ella is
amazed by the differences between attitudes in the more liberal
North and racist Southern USA, especially the fragile, tenuous
existence of black people in her home state of South Carolina.
The title of the novel is an Ella Fitzgerald song and a link to the
jazz music of the time.
This is a wonderful story that deals with powerful issues. I would
recommend this story to secondary students and mature year 7's.
Here is a video
of the author talking about her novel.
Jane Moore
A Curse of Ash and Embers by Jo Spurrier
Tales of the Blackbone Witches book 1, Harper Voyager, 2018.
ISBN: 9781460756331.
(Age: 13+) Highly recommended. Aurealis Awards Best Young Adult
novel shortlist 2018. Themes: Witches, Curses, Coming of age. When
Elodie is sent off to be a servant she doesn't dream that she would
be working for a witch. Desperate to leave a home where she is
belittled by her stepfather and used as a drudge, she travels to a
distant village where she finds Aleida, a young witch and
immediately sees that she is needed not only as a servant but as
someone who has Aleida's back. Aleida has been in a massive fight
with her mistress Gyssha Blackbone, who has made huge monsters that
ravage the countryside and who has cursed her. For Elodie, anything
is better than going home.
This is a fantasy tale that will quickly grip the reader's
attention. Elodie is an engaging heroine: sensible and pragmatic,
she is also compassionate and helpful. As the story progresses, the
reader knows that she will do everything she can to help Aleida foil
the wicked Gyssha, even though she finds it very difficult. Aleida
is a mysterious character and Spurrier cleverly unfolds her story
and other surprises along the way.
There is plenty of action for those who like adventure and the
descriptions of the ways that witchcraft is used gives an
interesting background to the world that Elodie and Aleida inhabit.
I really enjoyed reading this story and look forward to the sequel.
Although there was a touch of romance, it was Elodie's growth in
confidence and self esteem on escaping her past and the growing
friendship between Aleida and Elodie that made the story
interesting. A Curse of Ash and Embers is likely to appeal to fans of
stories about witches and warlocks like Tempests
and slaughter by Tamora Pierce and How
to hang a witch by Adriana Mather.
Pat Pledger
The quiet at the end of the world by Lauren James
Walker Books; 2019. ISBN: 9781406375510. 352p; p/b.
(Age: Middle secondary+) Recommended. In a future where the human
race is infertile, the last two people to ever be born confront the
fear of loneliness when a mystery disease rages through an
already dwindling population.
It's difficult to discuss what makes this book good, because its
best aspects hinge on a plot twist that shouldn't be spoilt. It
tackles some interesting ethical issues that are becoming
increasingly relevant today, and some thought provoking takes on the
future of humanity. Don't worry though, it's not all heavy futurism
- the novel also contains some quite personal themes of love and
secrets. It's quite engaging, with a unique narrative device of
reading through archived chat-logs online, interspersed at
precisely paced intervals with more traditional narration. The
representation in the cast is inspiring - bi and trans will last as
long as humanity does.
You will just have to read it yourself, it is a wonderful read. The
book is suitable for middle secondary-aged readers due to the themes
discussed, however it can be a good conversation with classes as to
the diversity and power of humanity.
Vincent Hermann
Sea Bear: a journey for survival by Lindsay Moore
Greenwillow Books, 2019. ISBN: 9780062791283. 48pp., hbk.
Imagine you are a polar bear.
Your coat is thick. Your teeth are sharp.
Your front paws are paddles, your back paws are rudders, and you can
swim for miles.
Your home has always been the sea and the ice.
A sea bear, far north in the Arctic, hunts and naps and raises her
young. She moves with the ice, swimming, running, stalking seals,
resting. She follows the rhythm of the sea and the seasons. But what
happens when those rhythms change? What happens when there is no
ice?
Told from the perspective of a female bear, the reader is taken on a
journey of the Arctic seasons starting in spring when the ice is
thick and the baby seals numerous, through to summer when the water
warms and the ice melts, making it too thin to stand on and the
seals more wary and quicker. Smelling land on the offshore breeze,
the bear starts to swim to shore for food but it is a long arduous
and perilous journey filled with lots of other creatures of the cold
seas. But above all, polar bears are patient and so she continues
knowing that the world will turn, the time will pass and winter will
come again. Courage, determination, resilience - even in the animal
kingdom.
As well as the evocative text, it is the illustrations which make
this book a stand-out. Using a palette of a myriad of blues, the
reader is treated to all the moods and times of this wonderland
- starry night skies, ocean depths and shallows, the aurora borealis,
the breaking ice pack and isolate seashore. While it could be a
story of any sea bear, using the first person builds a connection
with the reader so we are invested in her survival as well as that
of all her kind. Her companions of the deep become less threatening
as they pass by each other as Moore's illustrations reflect her
Master of Science in Medical and Scientific Illustration.
A page of information about sea ice and polar bears and another
introducing the creatures she passes on her journey to shore add to
the value of this book which shines a light on the plight of Arctic
(and Antarctic) creatures as global warming continues and the amount
of sea
ice declines each year.
A valuable addition to your environment and sustainability
collection.
Barbara Braxton
The boy: His stories and how they came to be by Oliver Jeffers
HarperCollins, 2018. ISBN: 9780008294342. 168pp., hbk.
In 2004, Oliver Jeffers set out to do a painting of someone trying
to do something impossible - a boy catching a star with a butterfly
net - and that idea evolved not only into the book How
to catch a star but into a series of four stories
including Lost and found, The way back home and Up
and down.
Now collected into one collection, this book also offers a unique
look behind the scenes at the development of each book. As well as a
letter from Jeffers himself explaining how the series grew (and may
still do so, although that is unlikely), it contains more than 100
distinctive sketches, notes and ideas that he has chosen from his
archives that show the thoughts, events and incidents that shaped
the stories.
Apart from its inherent beauty, this book has much to offer about
how stories grow in the minds of their creators, giving it an appeal
and a use far beyond the target audience of the original stories
themselves.
Barbara Braxton
On the come up by Angie Thomas
Walker Books, 2019. ISBN: 9781406372168.
(Age: Young adult) Recommended. On the come up by Angie
Thomas is a hard-hitting contemporary young adult novel novel that
brings light to topics such as racial stereotyping and
discrimination of people due to their social class.
Bri has always dreamed of being a famous rapper like her dad so when
she gets the chance to compete in an amateur rap battle in her
inner-city neighbourhood she jumps on it. She believes that becoming
a rapper is the key to saving her family from poverty and to rise
above the racism and hate she experiences from being African
American in her community.
The characters in this novel were realistic and unique from each
other. Their personalities and ambitions in the novel were memorable
and special to that character. This made you feel like you were
getting to know and forming real relationships with the characters
in the novel.
The plot was unique and spoke about racial inequality in a way that
clearly highlighted the injustices minorities face daily in real
life. These heavy topics are delivered in a non-graphic and easy to
interpret way so readers young or old will feel as if they have
gained knowledge and a deeper understanding of racial prejudice.
The imagery and language choices were true to the setting of the
novel which is a predominately African American neighbourhood. It
felt as if I was transported to America and could hear the
characters through their realistic dialogue. The language choices
were clear and easy to understand which is most likely because this
book is aimed at young adults.
Overall, I would recommend this book to a younger audience who would
like to know more about the injustices racial minorities face in
modern day society. It is a fast paced but still emotional impactful
read. If you enjoy realistic characters and an action packed plot
this is the book for you!
Amy Folker (student)
Master of Sorrows by Justin Call
Gollancz, 2019. ISBN: 9781473222878. 577 pages, paperback.
(Age: 12+) Recommended. Contains violent scenes and depictions of
death. High fantasy. The Academy of Chaenbalu has stood against
magic for centuries. Hidden from the world, acting from the shadows,
it trains its students to detect and retrieve magic artifacts, which
it jealously guards from the misuse of others. Because magic is
dangerous, something that heals can also harm, and a power that aids
one person may destroy another. Of the Academy's many students, only
the most skilled can become Avatars - warrior thieves, capable of
infiltrating the most heavily guarded vaults - and only the most
determined can be trusted to resist the lure of magic. More than
anything, Annev de Breth wants to be one of them. Master of sorrows is a strongly written dark fantasy novel,
similar in tone and feel to the likes of We are blood and
thunder by Kesia Lupo. Call does not hesitate to highlight the
dark side of humanity, with the themes of lies, deception,
discrimination, wars, and death featuring prominently in the novel.
His worldbuilding is astounding and makes the story's setting feel
grounded and real. He crafts a deeply flawed, young protagonist who
bears too much at too young an age, making you feel empathy for
Annev, rejoicing at his triumph and despairing as he falls while he
fights for his chance in the sun. While Master of sorrows
follows a trend of stories with academy-trained warriors, thieves
and assassins, it stands out from the rest due to the protagonist's
desire to rise above the brutality and act with mercy and
compassion, which are often lost in similar stories. We see this
empathy was developed through his bond with his mentor and as Annev
experiences discrimination due to physical deformities, which in the
novel, mark him as a vile agent of evil. Call speaks against this
cruel and misinformed idea as he presents Annev as a flawed but
deeply caring individual.
While this novel's themes are evident, the events seem jumbled and
plot points were touched upon then never raised again in a way that
felt unfinished or not explored to its full potential. There are
also extremely disturbing descriptions not suitable for a younger
audience. Despite this, this was a strong high fantasy novel full of
both gritty realism and the buoyant kindness of the protagonist. I
would recommend to people who enjoy stories such as Nevernight
by Jay Kristoff and We are blood and thunder by Kesia Lupo.
Stephanie Lam(Student)
Courting Darkness by Robin LaFevers
His fair assassin, Counting darkness duology, book 1.
Anderson Press, 2019. ISBN: 9781783448265.
(Age: 16+) Highly recommended. Themes: Historical fantasy, France -
History, Brittany, Assassins. After devouring the three books in the
award winning His fair assassin series, I was thrilled to read the
story of Genevieve, a young girl who has been undercover for so
long, that she is no longer sure that she will be called up as a
daughter of Saint Mortain by the convent. She becomes embroiled with
a prisoner and manages to take matters into her own hands. Meanwhile
Sybella from Dark
triumph, returns and is accompanying the duchess on her way to
be married to the King of France. She is surrounded by enemies and
her only hope is to get help from the novitiates who had been hidden
in the French court so many years ago.
Although Courting darkness could be read as a stand-alone, with the
author giving enough information to set the scene, readers would
enjoy the book more if they had read the first three books in His
fair assassin series, Grave mercy, Dark
Triumph, and Mortal
heart.
The story is told from two points of view, that of Sybella and
Genevieve. Sybella relates the travails of Anne of Brittany, who is
trying to save her country. Sybella is terrified for the safety of
her two sisters and is desperate for help. Genevieve's involvement
with the unknown prisoner and her uncertainty about Saint Mortain,
give another view of what is going on, and the mystery surrounding
the prisoner is tantalising.
The world of medieval France is enthralling, with the descriptions
of the intrigue, the power mongering, the fear and the prisons
taking the reader right into this time in history. Peopled with real
characters as well as the fantasy daughters of Saint Mortain, it
makes for a fascinating read for lovers of historical fantasy.
A difficult wait for the second book in the duology is in store for
the reader, who is left on a tantalising cliff-hanger. Readers who
like Juliet Marillier's books, the Witchlands trilogy by
Susan Dennard and the Lumatere chronicles by Melina
Marchetta are likely to enjoy Counting darkness.
Pat Pledger
