Ill. by Jim Field. HarperCollins, 2016. ISBN 9780008185152
(Age: 8-10) Recommended. For Malcolm's eleventh birthday, he has
written out the specifications for a brand new Apache 321 computer
and left the list displayed on the kitchen wall. After the usual
birthday song, Malcolm's happiness turns to disbelief when his
present is a little white chinchilla in a cage. Malcolm stands out
in a house full of pets; he really dislikes animals, after a nasty
incident at the zoo when Louie the chimp threw poo at him.
The one surprise for his birthday is Mum and Day paying for his Year
6 camp to Orwell Farm - a nightmare setting for Malcolm - one filled
with animals! When Malcolm stares deep into the eyes of KPax the old
goat with the hypnotic eyes, his life suddenly changes. The boy
magically morphs into the body of a tortoise. Over Malcolm's
three-day school trip, he embodies a range of animals, experiencing
their lifestyles, their abilities as he develops these
understandings he also has a change in attitude.
Each change is filled with highs and lows, with funny incidents and
some interesting food options. There's manky lettuce for Malcolm the
blue-eyed baby tortoise, a cat fight with Zsa-Zsa the farm cat and a
fun conversation about cats drinking toilet water. Malcolm is
cleverly able to communicate cross-species and all the farm animals
assist him on his journey back to being a human. When Malcolm now a
tiny piglet asks his animal friends to travel into the city and find
his family, their long journey begins. He rides Snowflake the pony
and two bigger pigs, three sheep, a cat and a dog accompany him to
City Zoo. His family love the zoo and visit every Sunday. Of course,
there's plenty of fun as Malcolm morphs into a chimp and encounters
Louie the dominant male for another poo throwing encounter.
Jim Field's cartoons add humour and life to fun Baddiel's story of
growth, change and acceptance.
This is a great story for sharing with a Middle Primary class and
for readers who enjoy animal stories with a twist.
Rhyllis Bignell
Such stuff: a story-maker's inspiration by Michael Morpurgo
Ill. by Michael Foreman. Walker Books, 2016. ISBN 9781406364576
(Age: 10+) Recommended. Themes: Writing; Inspiration; The craft of
story-writing; Authors. Michael Morpurgo is a much loved author for
young readers. He has managed to craft stories that connect with
young readers and yet never speak down to them. He often combines
real life stories involving children and animals and well-known
historical scenarios, with the added ingredient of his fertile
imagination, to weave a compelling narrative that children do not
want to stop reading. In this book he gives an insight into the
history of these stories from the author's perspective and from a
historical perspective. Unfolding before us we hear how he has
struggled with an idea until it has matured and developed into a
complete and engaging plot, and we also glimpse something of his own
life and experience on the way.
Each chapter unfolds the unique story of each of his own literary
creations, and it is like discovering the story of the birth and
early life of his children as we, the readers, are given a personal
insight into 'family' truths and struggles along the way. What
follows is an excerpt from the books he has written or a historical
explanation of the facts upon which the story was based.
Understandably then, this is a disjointed book, but it does allow us
to discover much of the personal history of Michael Morpurgo and to
understand why the name 'Michael' appears so frequently in his
books. I have read many of Morpurgo's books, and have loved every
one, recommending them to able readers who come into the school
library; but now I think I may have to go back and read his entire
anthology of work, so well does he introduce their genesis in 'Such
stuff'. (Note my school has a good collection of students who
clamour for 'More Morpurgo'!)
Recommended for those who have already devoured a number of
Morpurgo's books; the references to his works would be meaningless
without some connection to the author and his written work first.
Carolyn Hull
Can I tell you a secret? A tale about being brave and sharing your worries by Anna Kang
Ill. by Christopher Weyant. Hachette Australia, 2016. ISBN
9781444926439
(Age: 3-7) Highly recommended. The husband and wife team of author
Anna Kang and illustrator Christopher Weyant's colourful picture
book asks an important question - 'Can I tell you a secret?' This is
a valuable resource for teaching wellbeing in kindergartens,
preschools and Early Years education.
'Pssst!' says Monty as he leans in to talk to us from the bulrushes.
'Could you come here for a sec?' The little green frog has a secret
he wants to share, he can't swim and is afraid of the water! A lot
of quick thinking, creativity and hard work have helped him to keep
this from his family and friends, a doctor's note for his swimming
coach, a protective umbrella, even catching a ride on a tall bird's
leg. Questions and responses keep the reader engaged and Weyant's
colourful, comical scenes add to the fun of the story. Monty is a
cute character, with his large green head, expressive eyes, giant
flippers and little hands that show a range of emotions.
When Monty decides to share his secret, he first builds up his
courage by complimenting his mum and dad on dinner and on their
awesome parenting. Facing your fears and sharing your worries are
important life lessons. With his parents' loving response and
reassurances, Monty is able to start learning to swim.
This delightful picture book supports teaching the Health, Wellbeing
and Protective Behaviours curriculum. Young learners can read, view
and discuss how Monty was able to bravely overcome his fears and
take a risk in sharing his secret. They can identify characters that
help the main character stay safe and healthy and the importance of
establishing a safe network of people you can trust.
Rhyllis Bignell
The witch's tears by Katharine Corr and Elizabeth Corr
The witch's kiss bk 2. HarperCollins Children's Books, 2017.
ISBN 9780008182991
(Age: 14+) Witchcraft. Magic. Romance. The second in the series,
following The
witch's kiss will really appeal to lovers of the paranormal
and those who like fairy tales mixed up with the narrative. Merry is
still trying to get over the heartbreak of losing Jack and to make
matters worse she and her brother Leo are drifting apart. Leo is
having problems because of Dan's death and when Ronan, an attractive
and powerful stranger comes into the district he falls for him.
Merry is having other problems as well, trying to learn witchcraft,
and putting up with Finn, a young wizard who is staying at the
house, and she fails to connect the strange things that are
happening around her. Her Gran has disappeared and other witches are
being killed around the countryside and ultimately it is up to her
to do something about it.
This is an engrossing story that is easy to read and very enjoyable.
Obviously it is best to have read the first in the series, as this
is necessary to understand many of the references. Merry and Leo's
great relationship was a feature of the first book, so it was hard
to see them growing apart, and Merry's romance with Finn didn't
quite ring true, but the narrative was interesting enough to keep
the reader wanting to read on.
The action really picked up towards the end of the book and the
strong and startling conclusion to this first book was riveting.
This will ensure that readers pick up the next in the series to find
out what happens.
Pat Pledger
Lady Helen and the dark days pact by Alison Goodman
Lady Helen bk 2. Angus and Robertson, 2017. ISBN
9780732296100
(Age: 15+) Highly recommended. Regency period. Brighton. Paranormal.
For lovers of both the paranormal and the Regency period, Lady
Helen and the Dark Days Pact is a must read. It follows on
closely from the events in Lady
Helen and the Dark Days Club and has everything in it
that a reader would want from a sequel - Lady Helen grows in
strength and understanding, Lord Carlston is as enigmatic and darkly
attractive as ever and the action is very exhilarating. Lady Helen's
family have disowned her and she is staying with Mr Hammond and his
sister in the fashionable town of Brighton where she must learn to
control her powers. When the secretive Mr Pike, who is in charge of
the Dark Days Club, arrives with a difficult task for her and Mr
Hammond, and casts doubts about the loyalty of Lord Carlston, It is
Lady Helen who must bring together all the threads of magic and
betrayals to ensure that all is well in England.
Set in the fabulous town of Brighton, Goodman vividly describes the
fashionable life of the aristocrats in Regency times as well as the
poverty, brothels and grimness of the lower classes. Those who have
travelled to Brighton and enjoyed seeing the grand homes and
wonderful buildings that the Prince Regent installed will enjoy
seeing it all again in the mind's eye, while others will want to go
there just to feel the ambiance.
Lady Helen is an indomitable character, who is able to think things
through and make decisions for herself by the end of the book.
Dressed as a young man she has no hesitation about putting herself
in danger in order to protect the realm and those in her circle. The
action was quite breathtaking at times and the unexpected ending
will ensure that the next book is grabbed as soon as it appears in
the bookstores.
Pat Pledger
Empire of Storms by Sarah J. Maas
Throne of glass bk 5. Bloomsbury, 2016. ISBN 9781408872895
(Age: Adult - Older teen) Empire of Storms is the fifth
instalment within the Throne of Glass series by Sarah J.
Maas and with it comes an in-depth and detailed world written with
realism and complexity that is the broad setting of Maas's realistic
and relatable characters. With the world in chaos and the threat of
the Dark King's army set upon them, it is up to Aelin and her unique
and powerful court-come-companions to stop the menace of this evil.
This threat makes Aelin slowly consider and understand what she is
willing to sacrifice to save her people from disaster as she
attempts to heal old wounds and bond the land she is attempting to
save, uniting a kingdom while under the threat of destruction. Empire of Storms is well written and a pleasure to read for
those whom have also enjoyed fantasies and epics about kingdoms and
heroics, each character is unique and their personalities and
histories run deep within the book. The Throne of Glass
series is aimed for an adult audience due to themes such as
violence, fantasy and romance that are blended within Empire of
Storms. The world itself is given meaning with elaborate detail to
locations and their significance throughout the book, providing the
reader with a sense of reality and connection as they progress with
Aelin's journey to stop the malevolent Dark King. Overall, this is
the type of book that readers can get lost in and can enjoy
accompanying the characters throughout their vital decisions,
actions, and expeditions as they fight for what they believe in and
for those they love.
Sarah Filkin
The Satanic Mechanic by Sally Andrew
Tannie Maria Mystery bk. 2. Text, 2016. ISBN 9781925355130
(Age: 16+) Recommended. Murder. South Africa. Post-traumatic stress
disorder. Bushmen. Once again Tannie Maria, who writes an advice
column for the local newspaper, uses her unique understanding of
food and people to solving a murder. The Bushmen have just won a
court victory over their land from two large corporations, when
their leader, Slimkat Kabbo, is murdered at a festival. At the same
time she is fighting flashbacks to her violent marriage with her
late husband, Fanie, while trying to establish a relationship with
Henk the detective she met in the first book in the series, Recipes for
love and murder.
Readers who enjoyed the first book, will have another treat in store
for them. Newcomers would perhaps be best to read the books in
order, however The Satanic Mechanic would stand on its own.
Tannie Maria is a capable, caring woman, and her recipes are to die
for. She had met and liked Slimkat Kabbo and is determined to find
out who killed him, even though Henk wants her to keep away from
murder. As she struggles with her PTSD, one expert prescribes diet
pills and another, anti-depressants. Tannie Maria then discovers a
group led by the Satanic Mechanic, and it is during these
counselling sessions that she begins to find peace and encounters
another murder.
The sights and sounds, animal life and community affairs of the
Klein Karoo in South Africa, the huge diversity of people and
cultures and the big issues that face the Bushmen, all form a
fascinating background to the murder mystery. Woven all the way
through are little bits of advice that Tannie Maria gives to her
readers, as well as the mouth-watering recipes that she has to help
lift the spirits and keep bad thoughts away.
Although The Satanic Mechanic has some very dark and
depressing themes, it is lightened by the humour, especially about
Henk and his pet lamb, and the thought of all the delicious food and
ends on a hopeful note.
Pat Pledger
American Monsters by Derek Landy
The Demon Road Trilogy bk 3. HarperCollins, 2016. ISBN
9780008157081
(Age; 14+) American Monsters by Derek Landy is the third in
a fantastic trilogy centred on Amber and her bodyguard-now-friend
Milo and their time on the highway of horrors across the U.S as they
continue their escape from Amber's flesh and power hungry mother and
father. But now, after the events at Desolation Hill and the choices
that Amber has had to make in regards to her love life as well as
her forced position at Astaroth's side, the hunters have become the
hunted as they flee while attempting to persuade Amber to join them
and overthrow the almighty Shining Demon, Asaroth. While dealing
with murderers, demons, and wretched beings from hell on her way,
Amber fights to save the friends and relationships she has made on
this terrible and bloody journey. To make matters worse, Amber has
life-threatening propositions forced upon her from all sides that
are all near impossible for her to complete so that she can finally
guarantee her own life and her safety in this evil-tainted world
that she has become exposed to. Amber and Milo face a fight against
the possibility of death while accompanied by unsuspecting allies
and the fact that they are changed because of it, this fight against
evil is the last stand and the end of a gruesome and fear-inducing
chase. American Monsters is a fantastic end to the Demon Road
Trilogy due to its sheer cleverness and utilisation of plot devices,
characters, and relationships from the last two books in the series.
The novel itself is written in a way that keeps the story feeling
like it's progressing at a realistic pace without feeling rushed.
This novel, just like the two before it, is suited to a young adult
audience as there are mature themes within the story. It's fair to
say that American Monsters exceptionally ties together the
trilogy in one final epic read and leaves you wanting for more.
Sarah Filkin
Desolation by Derek Landy
The Demon Road trilogy bk 2. HarperCollins, 2016. ISBN
9780008156961
(Age: 14+) Desolation by Derek Landy is the second in a
trilogy about a girl named Amber whose family issues are considered
more supernatural than most. As discovered in Demon Road,
the first novel in the series, Amber was born and raised by her
parents so that she may (unknowingly) aid their efforts to gain
power after their centuries old agreement was made with Astaroth,
one of the great demons of hell. The only catch in such a role is
that Amber was destined to become a feast as soon as she became of
age and her own demonic powers started to develop and show. Still on
the run from her parents' enormous appetites, both for flesh and for
power, Amber and Milo (Amber's gunslinging bodyguard and friend)
find themselves being chased by Astaroth's hounds of hell as they
make their way towards the town of Desolation Hill where refuge
potentially hides. While seeming a lovely mountainside town,
Desolation Hill is hiding a large and evil secret, the closer Amber
gets to feeling safe from her parents and the Hounds of Hell, the
more she finds herself tangled in the mysteries and evils in this
town. Desolation provides a refreshing point of view, gaining an
insight to Amber's mind and thoughts as she struggles with
complications from both the outside world and her own mind as her
chaotic life gets thrown in every direction. The characters that are
introduced in this book are quirky and vibrant, allowing the reader
to imagine them while reading and to realistically understand their
relationships and feelings. Desolation is better suited for
an older audience due to the mature nature of some of the content.
Overall, Desolation is a fantastic read that keeps the
audience trapped in its pages due to its individuality and realistic
characters.
Sarah Filkin
When I grow up by Andrew Daddo
Ill. by Jonathan Bentley. ABC Kids, 2016. ISBN 9780733333422
(Age: 3-6) Recommended. A young teacher poses this question to her
class: 'what do you want to be when you grow up?' Their creative
answers will delight and surprise you. Standing on a student chair
at the front of the class, each child states their goal, their
future dreams. Little Miss Goldy Locks asks the class to imagine the
buns, braids, bobs and beehives she will create. 'So much hair, so
many stories.' What about an inventor - a invention to clean a
bedroom, clear the table, stack and unstack the dishwasher? Floating
in space, the astronaut will see the stars, she will photograph new
worlds and meet strange aliens.
Daddo writes expressively; he uses alliteration, imaginative
descriptions and rhyming text. He also presents strong female role
models, no stereotypes - the princess can rescue herself, thank you!
The last little girl has a wildly creative list and ends with a
special message, she just wants to be herself.
Jonathan Bentley's mixed-media images are lively, and bring Daddo's
story to life. As each student shares their future dreams, the
colourful illustrations show the astronaut swept into space in a
fiery whizz-bang rocketship and into a fantasy adventure with green
goblins and magical wizards.
Andrew Daddo's When I grow up is a delightful story to share
with a family. This entertaining and enjoyable picture book is
suitable for engaging young learners in thinking about their future
careers, creating artworks or a class big book.
Rhyllis Bignell
Once upon a dream by Liz Braswell
A twisted tale bk 2. Disney, 2016. ISBN 9781484707258
(Age: 12+) A twisted tale series written by Liz Braswell
explores the idea that 'a key turning point in Disney movie didn't
work out as planned.' These dark stories are suited to a young adult
audience as they explore themes of revenge, the forces of evil,
greed and the misuse of power.
In Once upon a dream, the story questions what would happen if
Sleeping Beauty did not wake up. When Prince Phillip falls asleep as
he kisses Aurora, this fairy tale's crowded plot takes a radical
turn. The mind of the princess is controlled by a bad fairy's curse
and Aurora has to escape from a different thorny castle and travel
through a dangerous magical kingdom created from her dreams.
Together with the prince, she traverses the land, with Maleficent's
spies following them. The three good fairies are now evil, Aurora's
parents are unkind, and they greedily rule their kingdom,
eliminating the good witches and fairies. Maleficent is portrayed in
a very different light as well.
Written in the third person, Liz Braswell has changed a significant
amount of the story, switching roles for so many of the familiar
characters. At times, the plot is difficult to follow because of all
the changes. Her graphic, descriptive writing style includes scenes
of death and violence. In the background, the pages are smudged with ink
to heighten the dark feel of the story. Once upon a dream is
definitely written for fans of this genre.
Rhyllis Bignell
The Beast within: A tale of Beauty's prince by Serena Valentino
Disney Paper Rocket, 2016. ISBN 9781474840828
(Age: 9+) This novel presents a very different point of view to the
Disney movie Beauty and the Beast, Belle is a minor player
and the central characters are the Prince and Gaston who begin as
childhood best friends.
Valentino begins with the Beast reminiscing about the curse that
places him in his enchanted castle, disfigured and alone. In his
teenage years, he became vain and bigheaded, even with his best
friend and hunting companion Gaston. The Prince's fiancee, beautiful
Circe, is really the daughter of a pig farmer, therefore she is
rejected. Circe is actually the youngest sister of three witches and
she reaps her revenge by cursing him, and he must find true love by
his twenty-first birthday or remain a beast forever.
The Prince searches for a bride selecting Princess Tulip Morningstar
as the perfect candidate. Here the story deviates greatly from the
original, he treats her cruelly, belittling her, happy that she does
not read and thinks only of himself. Some of this is difficult to
engage in, the more astute reader may be confronted by the Prince's
actions, when he sends her off in disgrace with a promised dowry.
The cruel witches, Lucinda, Martha and Ruby, send Circe off to help
poor Princess Tulip who had jumped off a cliff into the sea, deeply
hurt by the Prince's rejection. Ursula the sea witch had taken
Tulip's beauty and voice, leaving the poor princess to live a life
of ugliness and muteness. The story switches back to Belle finally
and her hurried escape from the castle. The evil witches summon
wolves to chase her and 'scratch, bite her until she bleeds and kill
her.' As the story ends, Valentino returns to the original plot,
Gaston hunting the Beast and Belle's tender kiss breaking the curse.
This twisted fairy tale reads as fan fiction, overly dramatic and
descriptive, dark and macabre, with the Prince's sexist comments and
attitude distasteful.
Rhyllis Bignell
Tales from the Shadowhunter Academy by Cassandra Clare and others
Tales from the Shadowhunter Academy bks.1-10. Walker Books,
2016. ISBN 9781406362848
(Age: 13+) Highly recommended. Fans of Cassandra Clare's series will
be delighted with this compilation of ten illustrated stories
previously published individually as e-books. The stories by Clare,
Sarah Rees Brennan, Maureen Johnson and Robin Wasserman follow the
adventures of Simon Lewis, star of The Mortal Instruments,
as he trains at the Shadowhunter Academy. Simon doesn't know who he
is anymore as he has lost most of his memories so he decides to
train really hard to become a Shadowhunter, hoping that he will
regain his identity as he goes.
This compilation is very clever and engrossing. People who have read
all the books will gain insights into the backgrounds and what has
happened to different characters as Simon progresses through his
training. I was particularly interested to read about Tessa Gray and
what happens to her as an adult, revealed in one of the stories when
she is a guest lecturer at the academy. Other characters appear,
like Jace Herondale and Magnus Blane, but each story grows on the
back of the previous one, and the reader gets to know and sympathise
with Simon as he struggles with his memories of Isabelle, his
feelings of worth and his friendships at the Academy. It makes for a
complete view of the Academy and what is involved in training to
become a Shadowhunter.
Some big themes are touched on - class and privilege, stereotypes
and duty of care, all done in an engrossing way, with Simon having
to make some difficult decisions about who he is and where he
belongs. Each story is illustrated at the beginning, with graphic
novel type of illustrations, which are interesting to peruse.
For readers who are not familiar with the Mortal Instruments,
Infernal Devices, and Dark Artifices series, there is
enough in the stories to ensure that they will pick up the series,
just to find out what has happened in the past and readers familiar
with the books will be eagerly awaiting the upcoming Last Hours
series. Readers may also want to go on and read other books by
Brennan, Johns and Wasserman.
Pat Pledger
Malkin Moonlight by Emma Cox
Ill. by Rohan Eason. Bloomsbury, 2016. ISBN 9781408870846
(Age: 9+) Recommended. Emma Cox's Malkin Moonlight won the
2015 New Children's Author Prize for the National Literacy Trust.
Cox delves deeply into the cat's world, and she creates a believable
society, where cats can communicate, read, marry and support each
other. Similar to Watership Down and Guardians of the
Ga'Hoole, we follow the path of a young kitten as he grows
into cathood, learns life lessons and ventures far from home.
Black cat, Malkin Moonlight is the narrator of this carefully
crafted tale, his story begins with a narrow escape from an unkind
owner. As a kitten, Malkin talks to the Moon who recognises his
special traits and marks him with a beautiful white collar. The
Moon's advice guides his path, and influences the life choices he
makes. He is a kind, brave feline who will make sacrifices for his
friends and use his skills to be a peacemaker.
Malkin's friendship with a beautiful domestic kitten Roux is
mutually rewarding, she teaches him to read and he encourages her to
venture further from her home, to experience the feel of sand on her
paws and the salty sea spray. Malkin's sixth sense assists him in
protecting a swan's eggs from a hungry vole and leads him to rescue
the father swan trapped in netting.
On the night of the Blue Moon Malkin and Roux are married, but
happiness turns to sadness when Roux's owners sell their home and
pub and move across town. A month later, the cats meet again on the
seawall and Horatio the seagull guides them to their new home the
Recycling Centre. Here amidst the sections of Newspapers and
Aluminium and Tin Cans, they settle in to life with the friendly
cats that sleep on the mattresses, read the papers and play amongst
the recycled goods.
On the other side of the wall in the toxic wasteland live the
Putrescibles, evil cats with scarred bodies who eke out their
existence in a dirty disgusting environment. They fight the cats of
the Recycling Plant carrying on a deep-seated feud. Malkin's rescue
of a Putrescible kitten, Calica is the turning point. As the
wasteland is cleaned up and the rubbish removed, Malkin brings both
groups of cats together to live in the safety of the Recycling
Plant.
Emma Cox explores a range of themes including caring for the
environment, sustaining animal life, the impact of pollutants on the
land and waterways. Malkin Moonlight celebrates the power of love,
being courageous, facing your fears and living life to the fullest.
Rohan Eason's line drawings add drama and liveliness to the story.
This is a wonderfully written text, full of descriptive imagery and
well-developed characters perfect for a Middle Primary class novel.
Rhyllis Bignell.
Clash of the worlds by Chris Columbus, Ned Vizzini, Chris Rylander
House of Secrets series. HarperCollins, 2016. ISBN
9780007465859
(Age: 9+) Clash of the Worlds concludes the action-packed
adventure House of Secrets trilogy. Chris Rylander
co-authored this final novel with Chris Columbus after the death of
Ned Vizzini in 2013.
The Walker children are once again in the midst of a difficult
situation; their father's gambling addiction has led to the selling
of their mansion and their subsequent return to their previous small
apartment. Eleanor and Cordelia sneak out in the dark of night;
spend all their birthday money on raw meat to feed their friend Fat
Jagger, a huge colossus who has escaped from his book into their
world. Unfortunately, other book characters have also crossed over
and it is up to the Walkers to remedy the situation. Brendan's
attempt to raise Denver Kristoff the author of the book worlds has
released a Zombie Apocalypse.
Of course, Brendan, Cordelia and Eleanor must return to the story
worlds to right the wrongs and pursue the three Wordkeeper objects
needed for permanently sealing off the fantasy world from the real
one and rescuing Fat Jagger. The evil Wind Witch needs to be
stopped, before she leads her army into San Francisco.
For the best outcome, the three Walkers need to split up, each
paired with a book character. They race through Western world, the
science fiction and fantasy books, to Atlantis, endure epic battles,
frightening life and death situations, with the action continually
switching focus. Unbelievable events occur; Cordelia and Adie's
dramatically escape from the blue whale, Brendan encounters animated
mummies, dealing with duplicate treasure maps and aliens and Eleanor
needs rescuing from Castle Corroway.
The authors have written a nonstop action, fantasy adventure suited
to fans from 9 years, as their offsiders pay a high price for
assisting the Walkers.
Rhyllis Bignell
