Reviews

Dolls of hope by Shirley Parenteau

A Friendship Dolls Book
Candlewick Press, 2015. ISBN 9781536200263
(Ages: 8-12) Highly recommended. Themes: Friendship. Japan. Dolls. Adventure. Bullies. Can humility and honour live side-by-side in a progressive society? Chiyo is a young Japanese girl born into a relatively humble and simple family in a farming community. It is 1927 - a time when traditional Japanese life is on the cusp of change. But for Chiyo, her adventurous spirit is about to create opportunities that she could never imagine. While attempting to check that her older sister's potential suitor is worthy, she ends up being sent to boarding school (at his expense and suggestion) and into an environment that is challenging to her core. Despite the 'mean girl', Hoshi, constantly causing havoc, Chiyo eventually gets a chance to be involved in the Friendship Dolls event - the American Dolls having been sent to Japan from America to be a diplomacy tool to create positive relationships between the two countries. Chiyo is 'tripped' at every step by Hoshi, but her grace shines through and she is eventually chosen to be the protector of the doll 'Emily Grace', and the face of the Japan Doll. Even this joyful role comes with pain as Hoshi's jealousy causes strife. Even though Chiyo's spirit and honour is challenged, she finds ways to rise and smile through difficult circumstances.
Shirley Parenteau's tale gives great insight into more traditional Japanese culture and thinking - especially their esteem of honour and humility. But she is also able to show the spirited, but gentle personality of the central character, almost as a metaphor of a changing Japanese society. This tale will be enjoyed by female readers aged 8-12, especially those interested in other cultures (or for students of Japanese). The cover is a little too 'sweet' for my liking and may perhaps prevent some potential readers from selecting this book from the shelf. It does highlight the historical and Japanese connection, but is a bit too 'cute and girly'.
Highly recommended, for ages 8-12
Carolyn Hull

The Life and Death Parade by Eliza Wass

Quercus Books, 2018. ISBN 9781784295271
(Ages: 12+) Highly recommended. An exquisite painting of the stages of grief and acceptance following the death of a loved one. Eliza Wass shares a breathtaking story of love, loss, and the lengths people go to to preserve their loved ones.
Nikki met his fate after meeting a psychic who told him he had no future. The Bramley family have been wallowing in their grief for a year. Kitty's boyfriend is dead and yet he haunts the family home - his death causing Kitty to feel even more out of place than before. A third-generation orphan, Kitty believes that her greatest talent is in losing people. But can she turn that around and help the people who have sheltered her and cared for her since her mother's death?
In her desperation to discover the truth of Nikki's death, Kitty finds herself at the Canal where, a year ago, it had all changed. But this time the psychic's boat is different - a boy sits on deck. His name is Roan and he claims he can speak to the dead. Thinking it might help, Kitty takes Roan back to the castle to speak with Holiday and Lady Bramley. While Roan makes quick progress helping them with their grief, Kitty discovers that while most of The Life and Death Parade is a farce, Roan is the real deal, talented in many things, including resurrection. Faced with the most difficult decision of her life, Kitty must decide if Nikki should stay dead, or return to life.
Beautifully written, Eliza Wass presents a book that deals with the grief of losing a loved one gently, a testament to her own experience. She includes excerpts of poems written by her late husband which break up the work. I read the novel in one sitting and would highly recommend to readers twelve and up.
Kayla Gaskell

Want to play trucks? by Ann Stott

Ill. Bob Graham, Walker Books, 2018. ISBN 9781406378238
(Ages: 4+) Highly Recommended. Themes: Playgrounds. Trucks. Play. Jack and Alex meet most mornings at their local playground to play together, while their mums sit on the seat in the background, chatting and keeping an eye on them. The two play in the sandpit, Jack pushing his beloved trucks around the space, while Alex plays with his dolls. When Jack asks Alex to play trucks, there is a small problem to overcome. Alex would prefer to play with his doll. They decide that the doll can drive the truck and so all is well. When they turn to the forklift truck, things must be decided again. The tutu will not fit in the driver's seat, so again a compromise must be made. The doll is divested of her tutu and dressed in dungarees. All is well.
An ice-cream truck can be heard in the background, all playing is stopped for a treat. And the treat is something no one can argue about.
This delightful tale of a small moment in the sandpit; the use of strong words between the boys, is resolved by the children as they decide what is important. Playing together, finding a way to overcome a disagreement is the basis of their friendship. This gentle tale of peace and understanding is beautifully paralleled in Graham's distinctive water colour illustrations, reflecting the two families which meet at the playground and the efforts made by the two friends to remain friends and join in their game.
I love the mothers in the background, chatting away, while their children work out their own disagreements for themselves. And in the city backdrop, life moves on with people cycling past, a kite is caught in the tree, a person is helped past in his wheelchair, a squirrel watches the children and people walk their dogs. What a wonderful story to encourage discussion about friendship and compromise, about disagreements and coming together.
Fran Knight

Record breakers by DK

Dorling Kindersley, 2018. ISBN 9780241296967
(Ages: 8-80) Recommended. Themes: Records. Animal records. Human achievement. Dorling Kindersley's Record breakers focuses on our Planet Earth, amazing human achievements in people power, the prowess of athletes, engineering feats, animal records, and space data. Beautifully presented with amazing photographs, diagrams, charts, clear captions, easy to read labels, this is an entertaining book just right to share with the whole family.
Investigate where the world's population lives, the spikes rising out of the map show the number of people living in each continent, Greenland has the lowest density. Interested in gems, the most precious, valuable and rare ones are displayed, the pink star diamond weighing 59.6 carats sold in 2017 for $71.2 million!
Human achievements include climbers who scaled Mt Everest, the deepest free divers and the amazing survivors who showed stamina and strength enduring extreme conditions. Female football stars include USA's Abby Wambach who scored 184 goals in 256 matches from 2001 to 2015. Imagine jumping further than two Volkswagen Beetles: Mike Powell jumped 8.95m at the 1991 Tokyo World Championships.
Giant cruise ships, the largest airship to the world's largest self-powered vehicle, NASA's Crawler Transporter, world breaking records and giant machinery are included in Feats of Engineering.
Of course, records in the Animal World are both exciting and hard to comprehend, the Giant Anteater's tongue stretches 61cm while the Colossal Squid's eye is 28cm in diameter. Animal migration, amazing mini-beasts and super-sized snakes will delight the animal lover.
Record breakers is an engaging, educational encyclopaedia of facts, there's something there for everyone to enjoy, to marvel over and discuss.
Rhyllis Bignell

Storm-Wake by Lucy Christopher

Chicken House, 2018. ISBN 9781906427733
(Age: 14+) Recommended. Themes: Survival. Coming of age. Nod to Shakespeare's "The Tempest". Moss is a young girl who has grown up on a magical island with her father, who believes that he can use the flowers growing there to control the weather and stop the floods that he claims have devastated the world. When a wild young fish-boy, Callan, is washed up on the shore, Moss grows increasingly attached to him, but finds it difficult to know what to believe when he begins to question her father. Then two young men are shipwrecked and she has to question everything that she has grown up believing to be true.
I did not realise that this was loosely based on "The Tempest" until well into the story. However astute readers who are familiar with the play, will read the quote at the beginning of the book and see the parallels featuring a father who takes his daughter to an isolated island, and a young feral boy who threatens their peace. At the same time, readers who are not familiar with "The tempest" are able to read it as a survival story and a coming of age story, as Moss grows physically and mentally, and Pa deteriorates as he consumes more and more of the storm flowers on the island, living in a drug induced fever. The appearance of the two young men from the real world who are shipwrecked adds a new dimension to the story and Christopher gathers together many interesting threads as her tale draws to an end.
The lyrical writing and the magic surrounding the island drew me in and after a rather slow start, I found it very difficult to put the book down. The descriptions of being totally isolated, with just the three of them, Moss, Pa and Cal, living together and surviving, combined with dreamlike sequences, draw the reader in, and often it is difficult to know what is real and what is not.
This is a unique and magical story that will appeal to readers who like to be challenged.
Pat Pledger

Varina by Charles Frazier

Sceptre, 2018. ISBN 9781473686144
(Age: 16+) Recommended.
In 1906, a man whose shade of skin is 'noted' by the desk clerk, asks to see a hotel guest, Mrs. Davis, and is told he may wait outside on a bench. But he persists in staying by the fireplace until he meets her - the famous Varina Davis, or V as she is called, once wife to the President of the Confederate States of America. James Blake is trying to recover his own history, and in the following meetings with V, she recounts his life and hers. He was a waif, brought up with her own young children - the question is though, could he really have been one of them, or was he a much-loved pet? Was he owned? Could there really be love, friendship, and affection between people who are owned and their owners? Kevin Powers answered this in the negative in his brutal expose of master and slave in A shout in the ruins, also set during the American civil war. Frazier's novel is more nuanced. Slavery may be wrong but relationships are complex, as is continually revealed throughout the story of Varina's life. And in the end, after the war, was the freedom brought by the Union soldiers truly freedom? At the end of the book, when James is travelling home from V's funeral, he is told by the train conductor to move 3 cars back to the one with the sign saying COLORED.
Readers of historical fiction who seek a story of great romance set against a background of the civil war will be disappointed. There is no sweeping hero, no grand love story. Varina's choices as a young girl are limited and she makes the best of what she can. Gradually she asserts her intelligence and independent spirit, and also her humanity, to make her own path, and protect her children, including James, as best she can. Perhaps some of the later choices she makes could be seen as a kind of atonement for earlier self-perceived failings. All in all it is a brilliant portrayal of a complex person, a woman of intelligence, moral integrity and kindness, who despite her upbringing in slave owner country could probably have worked out a better solution than the cruel and wasteful war the country became embroiled in.
Helen Eddy

Grandma Dangerous and the dog of destiny: Book 1 by Kita Mitchell

Hachette, 2018. ISBN 9781408355060
Age: 8+) "WARNING: DO NOT GIVE THIS BOOK TO YOUR OWN GRANDMA. SHE MIGHT GET IDEAS...
Danger is her middle name!
Ollie's dad is missing - but Grandma Dangerous is on the case! She has a hot-air balloon, thirty packets of biscuits and a pooch with magical powers (she says).
But as they sail through the skies, Ollie realises they're not just on a rescue mission...
Grandma's on the run!" (Publisher)
This is a really funny read. It resonates with books by Roald Dahl and I am sure fans of these extremely popular authors will love this. What child does not like adults and, in particular one's parents, being the butt of many jokes and adventures? Ollie can not believe his luck when he has to be looked after by his grandma, aka Grandma Dangerous. Grandma has promised to be on her best behaviour but it is not too long before mischief and adventure comes knocking. Ollie's dad, a famous explorer has gone missing. His mum is too busy looking after his injured sister, Lucy, so it is left up to the two of them and Ollie's school friend, Piper. They set off to Australia with a hot air balloon as their mode of transport! Of course the plot becomes quite complicated in a funny way. The main characters are likeable with Grandma sure to be a hit with the reader. Who does not like a grandma that doesn't make you eat vegetables, feeds you lots of sugar and takes you on amazing adventures? A welcome addition to the collection - suitable for ages 8 and up.
Kathryn Schumacher

Splat the fake fact by Adam Frost

Ill. by Gemma Correll. Bloomsbury, 2018. ISBN 9781408889503
When it comes to free reading choices, young boys, particularly, tend to go for the non fiction titles about sharks, dinosaurs, motor vehicles and the "Guinness Book of Records". They are fascinated by the world of the weird and wonderful that they can pore over and learn so much from in discussions with their friends as they examine the pictures even if they can't read the text yet. They are laying their foundations of the basic concepts of information literacy but their interest is driven by the illustration rather than a need for specific information.
Splat the fake fact takes this interest up a notch, encouraging the reader to actually think about what they are being told, discover the correct answer through some research and then do something about it. On every page there are incredible, hilarious, unlikely facts that are completely true... and one fact that isn't! The reader is invited to find the imposter fact and reveal it before it goes out into the world - and then take some action like scribbling on them, lasering them, drawing silly hats or crossing them out. While that might not be the recommended action for a community library book, nevertheless the combination of humour and cartoon presentation will engage young readers into understanding that not everything they read is true; that there is real "fake news" and the need to verify what they see and hear through some basic research.
While this would make an ideal read for that young person moving on to independent reading and research, it could also have a place in information literacy levels with each page being a jump start for an aspect of the information literacy process. Starting with "What do we already know?" and "What more do we need to know?" and "Where could we find that information?" students can be led on that journey of lifelong learning, developing those core concepts in a way that connects to the interests of the age group.
While many teachers like to use websites like Save the Pacific Northwest Tree Octopus to have students to learn to test what they are reading and evaluate the validity of it, Splat the fake fact is a few steps before this with its accessible language, funky illustrations, and graphic layout. Each fake fact is identified, often in another crazy puzzle that requires more learning to decipher, but more complete explanations are given at the end of the book.
Some students might even like to use the puzzles as models to create their own fake facts, setting up a weekly challenge for library users to investigate, learning to use the library's resources as they do.
What looks like a book that might be used as a child's Christmas stocking stuffer, might just be the best investment you make in your library collection this year!!!
Barbara Braxton

Night Flights by Philip Reeve

Ill. by Ian McQue. The Hungry City Chronicles book 5. Scholastic, 2018. ISBN 9781742997674
(Age: 12+) Highly recommended. Themes: Science fiction, Steampunk. Good versus evil. Slavery. In "Night Flights" Philip Reeve returns to the world of "Mortal Engines", to provide readers with three short stories about Anna Fang, aviatrix and spy, who is a secondary figure in the series. Anna Fang's story is fascinating. In "Frozen Heart", her beginnings are described, first as a happy child on board her parents' ship, then captured by the traction city "Arkangel", where she is held as a slave working to dismantle scrap metal from the ships that the city captures and eats up. Determined to be free again she catches the eye of the son of the owner and helps him build a plane and in a daring bid for freedom uses her wits and intelligence to escape. In "Traction City Blues" an adolescent Anna lands on London, another traction city and here faces a Stalker who she wants to recruit as a weapon against the slaver ship. Finally in "Teeth of the Sea" Anna goes to Pulau Pinang, where she uncovers a mystery about the disappearance of raft boats and in the final chapter meets the two children who will be the main characters in the Chronicles.
All three stories are compulsive reading and would serve as a fascinating introduction to the "Hungry City Chronicles", although she is a minor character in those books. Anna is determined and uses her fine mind to work out strategies for escape and on a practical level, uses her engineering skills to build an aircraft. She is faced with disappointment on a personal level and learns to be very careful of the people that she can trust.
The illustrations by Ian McQue are fabulous, and the reader gets a wonderful picture of the personality of Anna, as well as the destructive nature of the predator traction ship "Arkangel".
With "Mortal Engines" soon to be a major film directed by Peter Jackson of "Hobbit" fame, it won't be difficult to find new fans of this excellent, challenging and exciting series.
Pat Pledger

Old hat by Emily Gravett

Mirror Mirror by Cara Delevigne (with Rowan Coleman)

Trapeze, 2017. ISBN 9781409172758
(Age: 16+) Highly recommended. Red, Naomi, Leo and Rose are four misfits who become the closest of friends upon the formation of their band, Mirror Mirror. Band rehearsal is an escape for all four, giving them momentary freedom for the hardships they face in their regular lives. Red has an alcoholic mother and often absent father, Leo's criminal brother encourages him to follow in his footsteps, Rose uses alcohol and boys to numb her painful past and Naomi runs away from home to finally be free. Just as the band are coming to terms with their group-identity and feel as close as a family, Naomi goes missing and subsequently turns up half dead in the Thames. The police believe that she did this to herself but Red begins to find clues suggesting that things are not as they seem. The trio decide that they must take matters into their own hands to truly find out what happened to Naomi.
A tale of determination, mystery and friendship in the face of adversity, this novel reminds its reader that they are stronger than they know and can make a difference in this world. In her debut novel, Delevigne presents realistic characters, deep emotional twists and an all-around inspiring story. Through Red, the reader is brought on a journey of self-discovery while learning some powerful messages along the way. A beautiful yet sorrowful story that truly captures the turbulence that is our teenage years.
Daniella Chiarolli

Secret Seven: Mystery of the skull by Pamela Butchart

Hachette, 2018. ISBN 9781444941531
(Age: 7+) "When Peter discovers an old skull hidden in his bedroom, it's time for an urgent meeting of the Secret Seven. Setting off to investigate, the friends see a gigantic hole in the grounds of a local hotel. Could there be any connection between the two strange events? The Secret Seven are determined to solve the mystery. It's time to look behind the green door of the Secret Seven's shed again." (Publisher)
I was so excited to be given this book to review - a much loved author and series from my childhood! Pamela Butchart does not disappoint with her take on the series and I am sure a whole new generation will discover them. Surprisingly the series is set in the same world and time as the original but it has intertwined new mysteries. The addition of the illustrations by the very talented Tony Ross will be sure to please the reader. Of course things such as sandwiches, cake and midnight adventures feature heavily throughout the book and it took me right back to my childhood. The book does not feel the least bit dated in our modern world and I was impressed to see that the author stuck to the 50s and 60s - the time of the original series. Fans of Enid Blyton, mystery, adventure and stepping back in time will love this book. Ages 7 and up will rediscover or discover their own love of a truly classic series. The new cover will ensure it attracts the attention of a new generation.
Kathryn Schumacher

Professor Astro Cat's human body odyssey by Dr Dominic Walliman and Ben Newman

Flying Eye Books, 2018. ISBN 9781911171140
(Age: 8+) Highly recommended. "Professor Astro Cat's human body odyssey" is big, colourful, engaging and full of facts. Each double page offers interesting facts and illustrations about the different parts and systems of the body. Readers can follow Professor Astro Cat as he explains in short, descriptive paragraphs and labelled diagrams what is going on inside the body. Look inside a cell or at the different bones of the body. Read about the medicines humans need as well as ways to be healthy. There are a collection of fun characters supporting Professor Astro Cat as well as their human helper (the author in cartoon form) Dr Dominic Wallman.
"Professor Astro Cat's human body odyssey" is a gorgeous way to learn about the body from a young age. Each double page could be investigated before bed and independent readers can start anywhere in the book. This book is full of technical language which is a great tool for getting children talking and increasing their vocabulary. The double pages could also be read in a classroom when there are a few minutes to spare (great in a Health lesson). The Glossary/Index is also helpful as there are many definitions to support understanding. This text is also good for teaching children about the elements of a non fiction text thanks to its larger format being easier for a whole class to see.
It is highly recommended for independent readers aged 8+ but younger readers will love investigating the illustrations and asking questions (just like Mr 6 in my classroom).
Kylie Kempster

Baby's first bank heist by Jim Whalley

Ill. by Stephen Collins. Bloomsbury, 2018. ISBN 9781408891193
(Ages: 4+) Highly recommended. Themes: Animals, Babies. Utterly crazy and equally hilarious, this is the tale of an errant infant, Frank, immediately distinctive in a black and white Babygro. An ardent animal lover, he has an overwhelming desire for a pet of his own, but his parents won't allow it, stating that pets are too expensive to upkeep. This leaves Frank with only one option and he desperately becomes a bank robber. The issue is this tiny lad is not content with just one animal, and with cash in abundance, within no time at all he has all the pets he ever desired, from a meerkat to a rhino, and the entire house resembles a menagerie.
Until . . . one afternoon his Mum makes a startling discovery!! Frank's deceitful escapade has been discovered and it is now time to make amends. With none of the stolen loot left, what can the family do to raise the funds to repay the bank? And what do they do with all the newly acquired animals? There is only one way to set matters right. I won't say what ensues but will merely add that baby Frank spends some time behind bars.
This pet related preposterous tale will get both children and adults spluttering with glee at the pint-sized criminal mastermind, as wily as the animated film star (Boss Baby). Debut author Jim Whalley narrates in suitably deadpan rhyme while Stephen Collin's witty expressive illustrations will delight young and old alike.
First in a series of picture books featuring Baby Frank and his criminal activities, children will love Frank's logic and naughtiness.
Donna Isgar

A first book of the sea by Nicola Davies

Ill. by Emily Sutton. Walker Books, 2018. ISBN 9781406368956
(Ages: 3-7) Highly Recommended. Themes: Poetry. Oceans. Emily Sutton is a whimsical, traditional illustrator, whose work is perfectly suited to this earthy, old-fashioned and hearty collection of poems. The author and illustrator have collaborated successfully in the past on Tiny and Lots, and have now put together a hardcover book with over fifty short poems, perfect as a first book of poems for young ones but will also interest junior primary children. The poems are about oceans and ocean life and celebrate the vastness, mystique and intrigue of the great blue world that surrounds us. The book is separated into four categories, as shown within a contents page: down by the shore (Catching a wave, Paddling, Shore crab), journeys (Limpets, Sailor's jig, Blue whale's map), under the sea (Longline fishing, Seaweed jungle, Shipwreck) and wonders (Rockpool, Albatross, Sea people). The poems are helpfully titled so you know what each is going to be about and can pick based on children's interests. They also seem carefully curated to include favourite aspects of young readers (shipwrecks, deadly sea animals, sharks, giant squid, etc.).
The illustrations, beautifully textured and intricately detailed, are perfect and because of the large format and the brevity of the poems, are full partners rather than just an afterthought. While the author and illustrator are English the book isn't identifiably so (except for the poem about big shopping and entertainment piers that are not a feature of Australian beaches). The poems evoke the feelings of being in and around the sea, such as the thrill of catching a wave or searching for shells, but they also provide fascinating information that reminds us of the power and long history of the world's oceans ("The sea has shaped them, rubbing and rolling, rolling and rubbing, for a thousand, thousand years"). They remind us of how to take care of our oceans ("Deadliest of all is the plastic we throw away that strangles, suffocates and poisons"). They inform us of the wisdom of those who live in harmony with the sea ("the old man draws the night sky out in pebbles to teach his grandson the pattern of the stars") and about how man has learned to deal with the wildness of the sea ("From one to twelve runs Beaufort's Scale, to tell ships when it's safe to sail"). There are a wide variety of poem styles, some rhyming but most not.
There are many conversation points within the book and some poems openly encourage children to engage with the book (in "Favourite dolphin" the only text asks "Choose just one? It's impossible to pick!" and shows a plethora of dolphins of different varieties). The big fold-out page for the large humpback whale tells the reader how to sing like a humpback. The last poem, "Happiness", is a reminder of the simple pleasures of the sea ("Sand in my shoes. Salt in my hair. A pebble in my pocket. The horizon in my eyes"). Simple, evocative, glorious.
Nicole Nelson