Hodder and Stoughton 2017. ISBN 9781473667402
Recommended for middle to upper high school students.
Arranged marriage. Romance. Indian culture. Identity. High
achieving, second generation Indian Americans, Dimple Shah and Rishi
Patel have both won positions at their choice of university; Dimple
to study web design at Stanford and Rishi, engineering at MIT. Behind
the scenes their parents have been matchmaking so when Dimple asks
if she can go to an expensive summer school on web development they
unexpectedly say yes, secretly knowing that Rishi Patel will enrol,
allowing them to get to know each other. Dimple is certain of what
she wants and has resisted all her mother's efforts for her to use
traditional Indian makeup and dress fashionably to attract the Ideal
Indian Husband, IIH, so when she arrives at the summer school and a
stranger approaches her and says 'Hello future wife' she is
appalled. Dimple is furious with her parents for the deception and
she tells Rishi she wants a career not marriage, however they are
partners in a competition to create an app during the summer school
and Dimple agrees to work with Rishi to develop her idea. While
working together Dimple discovers Rishi's talent for cartooning and
can't understand how he can put it aside to follow his father's
choice of engineering rather than develop his passion. Rishi loves
tradition and stability and wants to do the right thing for his
family. Alternating chapters from the point of view of Dimple and
Rishi highlight the funny side of their situation and their
unfolding romance. Both main characters embrace their rich Indian
cultural backgrounds and readers can learn a lot about the
challenges and rewards of blending them with modern western
aspirations in a positive way. While the main characters are well
drawn the minor characters are disappointing, particularly the
stereotyped rich kids and the plot features web development and app
design yet we learn nothing about the process they are supposed to
be spending all their time on.
Overall it is funny and romantic with a rich cultural background and
about pursuing your passion. It gives an alternative view to the
stories about second generation immigrants desperately struggling to
overcome stifling cultural expectations like in Helen Thurloe's Promising Azra.
Sue Speck
Truthwitch by Susan Dennard
The Witchlands book 1. Pan Macmillan, 2016. ISBN 9781509825028 (Age: 15+) Highly recommended. Fantasy. 2017 Locus Awards nominee. Safiya and Iseult are two young women with uncanny powers. Safi is a Truthwitch, who can tell when something is true. This power is very valuable and empires would do anything to have a Truthwitch as a servant. She keeps her talent hidden and trains with Iseult, whose true powers are unknown, even to herself. When they encounter a Bloodwitch, who can follow on the scent of blood, they must flee their home and go into hiding. At court, Safi meets Prince Merik, a Windwitch and danger faces all three when the elderly King decides that he will marry Safi. With the Bloodwitch, Aeduan following them closely, Safi and Iseult go on the run. This is a story to keep the reader completely engrossed with the exploits of Safi and Iseult as they come into their powers and realise that they have a part to play in the fate of their countries. The friendship of these two Threadsisters sustains the story, which is very original and compelling. They lean on each other, using each other's skills to come up with solutions and face danger together. Prince Merik's character is complex and the slight romance between Safi and him will delight any romance lovers. The Bloodwitch is quite sinister, but Iseult seems to be able to come to grips with abilities, even as he hunts them relentlessly. The first in the Witchlands series, Truthwitch will delight fantasy lovers with the friendship between its two main characters who can save themselves, the political machinations of court, swordplay and piracy as well as romance. There is a book trailer at the author's website. Pat Pledger
Windwitch by Susan Dennard
The Witchlands book 2. Pan Macmillan, 2016. ISBN 9781447282310 (Age: 15+) Highly recommended. Fantasy. Windwitch continues the story this time giving more detail about Prince Merik, who is a Windwitch convinced that his sister is not looking after their kingdom. After his ship is blown up and he just escapes with very bad burns, he is ever more certain of her treason and travels to the capital determined to fight for the weak. Meanwhile, Safi has just managed to escape with her life with the Empress of Marstok when they are shipwrecked and Iseult begins the long journey trying to find her. She is able to broker a deal with the Bloodwitch Aeduan and together they follow her trail. There are many twists and turns in this story, which was not as easy to read as Truthwitch, as it swings from one main character to another in differing chapters. However the reader gets to know the personalities, strengths and weaknesses of the four witches and the geography of the world that they are fighting for. The complex political and power struggles begin to make sense, although Dennard gives a few tantalising glimpses of new characters who are sure to be important. There are many dangers to face and all four meet them bravely. The reader gets caught up with needing to see Safi and Iseult reunited and to learn how Prince Merik comes to term with the reality of his relations with his sister. This is engrossing and complex fantasy writing and I can't wait for the next in the series.
Pat Pledger
Olga and the smelly thing from nowhere by Elise Gravel
Harper Collins, 2017. ISBN 9780062351265
(Age: 7-9) Themes: Pets, Science Research. Olga and the Smelly
Thing from Nowhere is a notebook novel combining easy-to-read
text with red, pink and black cartoon graphics. The protagonist Olga
is an unusual quirky character, who wants to be an animal scientist;
in fact, she prefers animals to humans. She takes her scientific
role seriously, using an inquiry-based learning style, documenting
her findings in her notebook. Many bathroom humour jokes,
descriptions of bodily functions and cartoons of peeing and pooping
add to the humour and silliness of this story.
When Olga discovers an unusual animal that looks a cross between an
inflated hamster and a three-year-old's drawing of a potato, which
smells really bad, she takes it home and hides it in her bedroom. In
her observation notebook she records the creature's features,
actions, noises 'meh' and 'dowdowdow' when panicked. Olga tries to
discover what kind of animal it is by trying to take it into the
library with the help of Ms. Swoop, the tattooed punk librarian.
After an interesting encounter at the dog park, where they meet
Chuck a small dog with a bladder problem, they visit Mr. Hoopah's
corner store. He sells a unique assortment of products including
nacho-scented toilet paper, cans of live flies and meatloaf nail
polish. After experimenting with some very bizarre foods, Meh the
Olgamus Ridiculus falls into a bowl of olives that is his favourite.
There are mean girls who transform Meh after kidnapping him, plenty
of scientific observations, olive recipes and a hunt for the missing
pet involving a small dog and many pee breaks.
Elise Gravel's junior novel Olga and the Smelly Thing from
Nowhere is a fun story, with many bathroom humour jokes,
descriptions of bodily functions and cartoons of peeing and pooping
that add to the humour and silliness of this story.
Rhyllis Bignell
The stars are fire by Anita Shreve
Little Brown, 2017. ISBN 9781408702994
(Age: 16+) Set in Maine, US, in 1947, the story begins with endless
rain but with a season change everything turns to summer drought -
the parched land and hot wind have people on tenderhooks anxious
about the threat of fire. Claire is a young mother of two, trying to
work out why the tenderness has gone from her marriage. When the
inevitable fires break out, her husband is among the men who leave
the town to fight the flames. Whilst he is gone, the fires turn and
head towards her home. She and her friend Rosie have to make quick
decisions in the crisis. It only Claire's clear thinking that saves
their lives and their children, but there is a terrible cost. Her
home destroyed, and her husband missing, Claire has to work out how
to make a new life for herself and her children. Though there were
problems in her marriage, the children miss their father, and Claire
is torn between wishing for his safe return and the possibility of a
different life where she is in control, can go to work, and find new
independence and happiness. For a while it looks like it might be
within her grasp. But then everything changes . . .
The characters in the novel have to fend against the challenges of
extreme weather - first the rain, then the fires, later cold and
snow confine them to one room trying to keep warm. The struggles
with the environment mirror the struggles within - the challenge of
relationships that turn harsh and unforgiving. A situation that
should invoke love and compassion becomes instead a source of
torment and misery. It seems like moments of happiness are transient
as life continually offers yet another battle.
There is romance in this story but also very real issues of domestic
violence, child protection, and finding inner strength. So while the
writing style is easy to read and the story soon draws you in, the
themes are suited to a more mature reader.
Helen Eddy
Falling by Anne Provoost
20th Anniversary edition. Allen and Unwin, 2017. ISBN 9781760293925
(Age: 15+) Recommended. Depicting racial tensions between migrants
and established citizens of an unspecified region in France or
Belgium, the prescience of the author is underlined in this 20th
Century anniversary edition by the current refugee crisis in Europe.
Lucas is a metropolitan teenage boy who reluctantly accompanies his
mother on a trip to a provincial town in order to deal with his late
Grandfather's house and property. The weather is oppressively hot
and Lucas is truculent and unenthusiastic until he discovers a
chainsaw, reunites with Caitlin (a girl he used to play with as a
child) and meets some locals Benoit and Alex.
The story starts slowly and dark details of Lucas' Grandfather's
past are gradually revealed. Lucas is an object of pity and slight
ridicule as he is the only one who doesn't have knowledge of these
events from the past and it causes him angst and embarrassment as he
deals with geographic and social displacement. Lucas' mother remains
silent due to her own discomfort and bears some responsibility for
later events because she fails to prepare and guide her son through
this difficult matter.
The title is apt on different levels. Lucas falls in love, he falls
in with the wrong crowd and falls into a great deal of trouble. The
reader feels a sense of anguish and frustration when he makes such
poor decisions which affect himself and others in profound ways but
this is because what is portrayed is entirely realistic. This is a
cautionary tale about the power of charismatic and unscrupulous
individuals and their capacity to manipulate people who have
vulnerabilities or who lack the worldly wisdom which would normally
help them to protect themselves. The events and terrible
consequences resulting from poor judgement are not limited to the
circumstances depicted in the novel. Crimes of violence and drug
involvement as well as deaths from misuse of motor vehicles are
examples where individuals sometimes surrender their own values and
better judgement in order to go along with others who somehow
disable a person's capacity for self-responsibility. This is a
powerful story with great relevance and is a worthy read in its own
right, however the prominent message concerning who young people
should trust and rely upon will not be lost upon adolescent readers
and I recommend it.
Rob Welsh
Dogs and doctors by Elen Caldecott
The Marsh Road Mysteries.Bloomsbury, 2017. ISBN 9781408876060
(Age: 9+) Highly recommended. In Dogs and Doctors readers
meet a group of children who are rather good at solving mysteries.
Sylvie has to stay in hospital and on her first night Barry, the
therapeutic dog, is kidnapped. The group of friends are on the job
the very next day. They interview people, steal CCTV images and lead
the security guards to the laundry. Barry has been here but a chase
through the parking lot enables the escape of the dog napper.
Meanwhile, a piece of valuable art work, on loan to the hospital,
has gone missing. Are the two crimes connected? Was Barry a decoy
dog? Is Barry safe? Will the friends beat the police and solve the
crimes? The group of friends undertake some rule breaking to get to
the truth but they do contact their police connection when danger is
imminent. Dogs and Doctors is part of The Marsh Road Mysteries
series but it is a stand-alone story. It is great to see loyalty
amongst friends as well as accepting friends for all their faults.
The story is an excellent read for girls and boys, especially if
they love an adventure where they can't pick the culprits. Dogs and
Doctors is descriptive and exciting. The text is easy to read and
would make a great model for students creating their own mysteries
when writing. It is highly recommended for readers aged 9+.
Kylie Kempster
Superstar Tapir by Polly Faber and Clara Vulliamy
Mango and Bambang, book 4. Walker Books, 2016. ISBN
9781406361490
(Age: 7-10) Highly recommended. Superstar Tapir is the
fourth book in this delightful series starring Mango and the tapir
Bambang. It is divided into four separate stories, each quite unique
and interesting. In Snow day, Bambang is intrigued about the idea of snow and
wonders just what it, is, and even though there is no snow around,
Mango comes up with lots of different ideas about what snow looks
like and feels like. Their adventures culminate in a ride in
George's wagon, pretending to be a snow sled and when they stand
under a blossom tree they pretend that it is now and they and make a
snow angel out of the blossoms. A night at the fair sees Mango's father finally leaving his
study to take them off to the fair. After he wins them toys at the
hoopla stall, Mango and Bambang go to see the Egyptian treasures
where they are accosted by their old enemy Cynthia Prickle-Posset.
What adventures!
Their friend, Rocket the dog faces some trials in Rocket to the
moon, when he is convinced that he has found a space ship to
take him away. Mango and Bambang have to use all their ingenuity to
find him when he disappears.
In A tiny tapir's tears, Guntur the tiny tapir reappears as
a star in Minty Verbena's latest movie. Mango and Bambang are
invited to the opening and here they have to rescue him when he
begins to fall from a collapsing chandelier.
All the stories are a pleasure to read and the black and orange
illustrations add to the interest and humour.
Pat Pledger
Everything, everything by Nicola Yoon
Ill. by David Yoon. Random House Children's Books, 2017. ISBN
9780552576482
(Age: 13+) Themes of romance, family relationships, illness. This is
Nicola Yoon's debut novel; a touching romance between two young
people wanting to experience love but it could be the death of one
of them.
Bubble girl, Madeline Whittier is allergic to the outside world. She
has not left the house since her father and brother died in an
accident when Maddy was a child and now, at 17 years old, she yearns
for a relationship that is different to those she has with her
mother, her nurse and her tutor. This desire is a closeness that may
only be achieved with Olly, the boy moving in next door, the boy
with eyes the colour of the Atlantic Ocean.
Madeline's story unfolds with drawings, diary entries, lists,
charts, and personal narratives. The illustrations, which were drawn
by Nicola Yoon's husband, David, added an unusual and personal touch
to the telling of Madeline's story. I particularly enjoyed
Madeline's Spiral on page 233; it is an illustrative elegy to
Madeline's dreams. And on pages 237-8 we come to a halt along with
Maddy's heart with black pages and few words. This type of visual
emphasis on emotion turns a book into a more physical reading
experience which students will enjoy examining.
I did find that the story had two drawbacks. Although the characters
and relationships were being developed expertly before my eyes, the
most important character to the plot, Madeline's mother, was sadly a
missing substance. I know that Madeline was loved by her mother but
the way Nicola Yoon continuously described the same mother daughter
activities and Madeleine's love and desire to save her mother any
more pain was tedious to read about. The second drawback was Maddy's
calm resignation to her life. If a teen was actually in this
predicament would there be more teen angst, more tension, than
portrayed by the fictional character of Madeline? This could be a
position for debate amongst students.
For a debut novel it is very exciting that Everything,
Everything is being turned into a movie and I hope it can do
Nicola Yoon's work justice.
Sharon Smith
The whole thing together by Ann Brashares
Penguin Random House, 2017. ISBN 9780141386300
(Age:12+) Recommended. The novel The whole thing together,
written by Ann Brashares describes the realisation that people
saving and caring for something or someone can be brought together
by a sudden disaster. The whole thing together makes you
rethink your family and friends because the author uses a family
reunion to bring the story to life. A messy divorce years before,
resulted in shared custody of Ray and Sasha's siblings. As the
youngest of their respective families and unrelated, both Ray and
Sasha find themselves sharing their half-siblings and holiday home
bedroom - but not each other. A chance meeting sparks romance and
you can imagine the result when all members of the extended families
are finally brought together in the one place.
This story, set in New York, is easy to relate to, although for me
it was hard to connect with the characters. This is because the
author switches the perspective of the characters before the reader
can connect with them.
Overall the novel was simple but enjoyable and those who read it
will find comfort doing so. I recommend this book mainly to those
who are looking for an easy read with a little twist - a wonderful,
open and loving story targeting readers between 12-18 years of age.
Cara F. (Student)
The naughty naughty baddies by Mark Sperring and David Tazzyman
Bloomsbury Publishing, 2017. ISBN 9781408849736
(Ages: 2 - 6) Highly recommended. Picture Book. A highly improbable
and amusing tale whereby 4 baddies hatch a 'dastardly' plot to steal
the spots of the Queen's little dog amongst other minor naughtiness
like the sticking out of tongues and the blowing of raspberries.
What greater fun is there to be had than to see oneself as a 'baddy'
creeping around with your friends in a quest to make as much
mischief as possible? And to put oneself in a position of power over
someone as powerful as the Queen herself is definitely irresistible
to the average 4 or 5 year old!
There are a number of powerful words used in the text that would
bear discussion with the young reader, 'dastardly' and 'fiendish'
being great additions to anyone's vocab. Delightful, 'diabolically
dreadful' and 'dastardly' alliteration is used throughout, and that
wonderful repetition of the 'naughty, naughty baddies' is sure draw
in the young reader when read aloud.
Creeping is at the forefront of the baddies' skills with 'sneaking'
coming in at close second. My three year old granddaughter is quite
convinced that her creeping skills are vastly superior to any
adult's ability to spot her little body wending its way slowly along
the lounge room curtains. If you creep well enough you can get away
with anything and steal the spots off the Queen's doggy, indeed the
4 baddies do. What happens as a result of this improbable crime
needs to read to be believed.
The ending was a little up in the air for me - not a particularly
satisfactory resolution with the tables turned on our most powerful
leaders. It may leave the little reader wondering exactly what
happened.
Elizabeth Avery
Nanette's baguette by Mo Willems
Walker Books, 2016. ISBN 9781406376210
(Age: 2 - 6) Recommended. Picture Book. It's all in the rhyme! Just
exactly how many words can one get to rhyme with baguette?? You will
quickly find out on reading Mo Willems' latest picture book.
Cleverly illustrated with photographs of his own purpose made paper
and cardboard constructions, Nanette, the little French frog is sent
to the bakery by her mother on a quest for a baguette; indeed, to
'get the baguette'. She can't resist the wonderful smell, however,
and wonders how on earth she will give her mother the bad news on
arriving home. The delightful ending will put a smile on the dial of
every small reader; just no one can resist the smell of warm
baguette.
This is definitely a book to be read aloud, the whole fun of it
being in the rhyme. Whilst the plot is one all young children will
relate to, it isn't particularly deep and meaningful; just crazy
fun. My three year old granddaughter likes a little more of a plot
than this book developed but nevertheless enjoyed thinking about how
many words could be rhymed with baguette very much warmed to the
thought of eating one.
Elizabeth Avery
The city bleeds gold by Lucy Saxon
Tellus series book 3. Bloomsbury, 2017. ISBN 9781408847732
(Age: 11+) Recommended. An initial impression was one of
disappointment, starting with the all too convenient map of the
Tellus archipelago. Learning that the protagonist Noah has an alter
ego, Daniel, who is pretty much the Spider-Man of this fantasy
realm, didn't help matters - but to be fair, this is Volume 3 and
the world of Tellus has already been well described in Volumes 1 and
2: Take Back the Skies and The Almost King. The City Bleeds Gold gains momentum with Daniel's nocturnal
forays into the lower city to protect his fiance, Princess Crysta.
Crysta is the future Queen of Erova, the largest territory of
Tellus. In her parents' absence, it is her job to organize the
annual festival to ensure the favour of the Goddess and the
sustainability of the kingdom. Noah, a commoner and mask-maker like
his father, is not exactly the most popular choice of future consort
according to just about everyone but Crysta. With both Damian, head
of security, and the younger princess Rosa, in tow, they focus on
protecting Crysta and the supremacy of Erova from an assortment of
threats. Daniel (Noah in disguise) has both the ability and the
motivation to be spying on potential enemies but is unacknowledged
due to his secret identity.
A measure of romance means that the main characters are developed
well. A young author of 21, Saxon expertly builds suspense as Daniel
uses the roof tops to spy on and stymie the bad guys. When Daniel's
intelligence gathering finally plays out, the novel becomes a heady
page-turner in the milieu of the high fantasy and appropriately
named, Tellus series.
Deborah Robins
Wimmera by Mark Brandi
Hachette, 2017. ISBN 9780733638459
(Age: 16+) Recommended. The prologue to this story starts the
mystery off - two young boys, after idling away time yabbying
unsuccessfully in a country dam, explore into the bush further, and
make an intriguing discovery. The story then moves to some years
earlier and it is a different set of boys passing their summer
holidays together - Ben and Fab are good mates, they enjoy each
other's company, and the banter between them is easy and natural.
But Fab doesn't have an easy life, he is picked on by the bullies at
school taunting him for being a wog, and at home things are even
worse when his father loses his temper and starts beating him up.
Ben tries to protect Fab, standing beside him when he needs help in
the schoolyard and even trying to take the blame for a cricket
accident to deflect the wrath from Fab's father. The friendship and
trust between them is real, the conversations are natural, and they
fit easily together.
It sounds like one of many engaging stories of adolescent boys
growing up in the Australian country. However this story goes to a
darker place very quickly. There is a shocking young suicide next
door, a sign that all is not as it seems. And when the grieving
family moves out of that house, the new resident with the smart car
becomes an object of curiosity for the boys - who is he? Is he a
secret agent? The new neighbour, Ronnie, a tall muscular man, seems
to take an interest in Ben, offering him the opportunity to make
some money with odd jobs. He is friendly, he offers to help Ben,
shares secrets with him, and builds up a gradual intimacy. But it is
not the friendship of mates like Fab, it feels strange and Ben
doesn't know how to handle it.
The way that Ronnie charms Ben's parents and gains their trust, and
the description of the gradual grooming of Ben, provide insight into
how a paedophile might work, revealing the very real quandary that a
young unsuspecting teenager might find themselves in. What can Ben
do about it, what will happen next? Can Fab help?
This book carried me along very quickly and I read it in almost one
sitting captured by the tension of wanting to know how the boys
handle the menace and what happens next. It is a dark story, but
there are no ugly graphic details, the danger is merely suggested.
We don't have to know the details to solve the mystery. The
denouement makes sense; the descriptions of the relationships have
an authenticity that makes one feel that if it is not a true story,
it is coloured by real events, and is worth reading to gain an
insight to how such things might happen. It left me pondering things
afterwards - questions such as what makes a friendship, what is the
dividing line between genuine closeness and closeness that is
manipulative and exploitative? How do you know when to trust and
when not to? Maybe it is just luck, and we could all use Fab's lucky
rabbit's foot.
This won the 2016 UK Crime Writers' Association Debut Dagger.
Helen Eddy
Editor's note: This is also available as an audiobook through
Audible and iTunes.
The Blizzard Challenge by Bear Grylls
Bear Grylls Adventures. Bear Grylls, Bonnier Publishing
Company, 2017. ISBN 9781786960122
(Age: 7-11) Bear Grylls is a well known adventurer and survival
expert. He's had several TV programs and has written books for both
adults and children. His Mission Survival books were
targeted to older primary school students but this series Bear
Grylls Adventures will appeal and be accessible to a younger
reader.
The theme in The Blizzard Challenge is survival and being
the best person you can. Physical struggle and adversity against
nature teach lessons about both persistence and self belief. The
first message on Bear's website is 'Life is an adventure. Live it'.
This is something that Olly learns in this first book.
Olly is reluctantly on a camping trip and he lets down his friends
during the activities. He doesn't want to put up the tent, build a
den or be part of the team. While wandering in the woods he is given
a compass by another child whom mysteriously comments, 'I think you
need this'. This compass has a strange fifth direction which takes
Olly straight to Bear Grylls on a high mountain range. Bear teaches
Olly how to survive in sub zero temperatures and hazardous
situations such as walking on a cracking frozen lake and enduring a
blizzard.
Olly returns from his adventure having learnt important lessons
about the environment and himself. He passes the compass onto the
next adventurer who features in Desert Challenge book 2 of
this series. There are 4 books available in this 12 book series.
Emma McCann is the illustrator and her drawings feature throughout
the book. Colour is used only on the cover.
Bear Grylls appeals to children and this series will interest to 7
to 11 year olds. Jane Moore
