Reviews

Alibi by Sharon Shinn

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I have been a fan of Sharon Shinn’s fantasy novels, especially the Twelve Houses, Elemental blessings and Samara series, and I was happy to pick up her latest novel, Alibi, set in a future where teleportation is a common form of transport. This enables Taylor Kendall, a professor of English, to teach in Houston while living in Chicago, and take a part time job tutoring Quentin who has a fatal degenerative disease. He is the son of billionaire Duncan Phillips, who refuses to allow him to have the latest medical treatment. Taylor quickly becomes embroiled in the household, enjoying her tutoring and becoming increasingly attracted to Bram Cortez, head of security. When Phillips is murdered, everyone who could have teleported to the mansion is a suspect, including Taylor.

The idea of teleportation has always fascinated me as it was often featured works by early science fiction authors like Phillip K. Dick. Anne McCaffrey too had the dragons of Pern teleporting back and forth as their riders visualised a place. And Shinn’s use of it as a device to question alibis is intriguing.

Alibi is light on the murder aspect of the plot, with the story focusing on it in the last 20% of the novel. It is Shinn’s skill with creating likeable characters and her light touch with romance that kept me reading. Taylor is an engaging woman, dedicated to her students and to bringing joy into Quentin’s life. Her relationship with her brother Jason and her gang of friends sparkles and I found it easy to imagine life in the billionaire’s household.

Fans of Shinn will enjoy this easy-to-read story and people who read the futuristic mysteries featuring Eve Dallas by J. D. Robb are also likely to enjoy it.

Themes Science fiction, Teleportation, Murder.

Pat Pledger

Arte's anxiety disappears by Sharon Cameron. Illus. by Serena Originario

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This gentle picture book shares a story about a family pet dog who suffers from anxiety alongside a young girl who also has worries. Both react in different ways to stress and this is explained in simple language. For example, the dog barks at strangers or chews furniture and the girl may get angry, say mean things or chew her nails.  Some helpful hints are provided to deal with stressful moments such as playing with favourite toys or belly breathing. The illustrations, in soft pastel colours surrounded by plenty of white space, complement the text.

In the final pages are Discussion Questions and some valuable Ways to Calm Down. The author is a Registered Counsellor and certified Animal Assisted Therapist.

Themes Anxiety, Worries, Dogs, Humans.

Kathryn Beilby

You are a wildlife warrior! by Bindi Irwin with Smriti Prasadam-Halls. Illus. by Ramona Kaulitzki

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Ernest wildlife warrior Bindi Irwin shares her knowledge about saving animals and their place in the planet in this new book, You are a wildlife warrior, as she shows her daughter the range of animals seen at Australia Zoo. A walk around this zoo reflects the range of animals kept there, and underlines the endangered status of many of them, encouraging children to celebrate conservation and protection. She walks past zebras, giraffes, turtles, rhinos, crocodile, kangaroo, and several very loud birds.

As each exhibit is passed, information can be found which will interest children. The rhyming stanzas will intrigue as children predict the rhyming word, looking at the things they have learnt about the animals pictured. On some pages a more informative fact box can be read, informing the readers further. Koalas, meerkats, echidna, lemurs, and cheetah are also focussed. Bight, informative illustrations by Ramona Kaulitzki show the animals clearly, allowing children to look more closely at their attributes. 

On each page more information is given through the illustrations as Bindi and her daughter are shown doing some of the work needed in a zoo. They feed, groom and count as they pass through the zoo, promoting the ideas of conservation, encouraging children to take part in caring for the animals they see and encouraging them to see how much work is involved in maintaining these animals in the zoo or in the wild. The second to last page tells children a little about the zoo’s hospital which treats over 10,000 animals a year, and more surprisingly has had 11,000 koalas admitted since 2004.

Two pages at the beginning of the book introduce Bindi and her daughter, Grace, and two pages at the end of the book will inform the reader about their role in saving these animals, following on from the work begun by her father, Steve Irwin.

An easy to read and brightly illustrated book will attract young readers wanting information about animals they have heard of and encourage their knowledge of conservation and how they can help.

Themes Conservation, Animals, Zoos, Steve Irwin, Australia Zoo.

Fran Knight

Searching for treasure by Johanna Bell and Emma Long

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Sometimes a book comes along that you are certain is going to be a classic and most likely win many awards. Searching for treasure is one of those.  It is a joyful exploration of what can be found when walking on the beach, illustrated in glorious pastels.

Searching for treasure on the high tide line.
One step, two steps, what can you find?

The book has an engaging and unusual layout; there is an easy to read aloud narrative in large print for young children and for older children and adults, in-depth information in very tiny print about the sea creatures that lurk in the sand and rock pools. I was forced to use a magnifying glass when reading the small print to my five-year-old grandson.  He had lots of fun using it too, to make large images of the shark’s eggs, shells and seaweed that adorn the pages. Enticing fold-outs that eager readers will want to turn are included and the fabulous gatefold at the conclusion of the book will stun readers.

Readers will learn much about the creatures that live on the shoreline. An example is: ‘Bivalves like oysters, mussels, cockles, scallops and clams have two shells that join together in the middle. When you open them up, they look like a butterfly.’  This information is accompanied by a picture of the shell. This is just one piece of information amid a plethora of drawings on one double page. There are razor shells, moon snail eggs, sea urchins, crabs and sea weed, all held in the hands of the little girl who is exploring the shore line.

Readers will find much to fascinate, not just in the information but in the wonderful pictures, often showing objects from an unusual perspective. The hairy legs of the adult holding a young child’s hand as they walk onto the beach will bring a smile to faces, while the impressive way all the objects found on the beach are gathered together is very memorable.

Searching for treasure did not stay on my bookshelf. It was a must take as my grandson went to the airport to fly home. I am sure it will be kept and passed onto the next generation. Highly recommended.

Themes Beaches, Shore line, Marine life.

Pat Pledger

Caution! This book contains deadly reptiles by Corey Tutt. Illus. by Ben Williams

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The vibrant striking cover of Caution! This Book Contains Deadly Reptiles offers an immediate hook to explore this fabulous book.  With appealing endpapers showcasing many different types of reptiles, children are in for a reading and viewing treat with a difference. This beautifully presented book provides fascinating information from twenty First Nations Language Groups about some of the unique reptiles that inhabit their Country.

The contents page clearly defines each Language Group and the reptiles are listed below in the traditional name with the English name in brackets. Before viewing the listed reptiles, the AIATSIS map is presented followed by a welcome from author Corey Tutt and more detailed information about turtles, lizards, crocodiles and snakes, complete with a How You Can Help section.

Each Language Group section in its own colour, begins with the traditional name and the language spoken. A small labelled map shows where this place is located in Australia along with a pronunciation guide. There is also a thoughtful request to acknowledge the Elders and Traditional Owners of this Country. Every reptile discussed has its traditional name first followed by the English name and its body measurements. It is then ‘stamped’ with endangered, least concern and/or venomous. The facts about the reptile are included under the headings of What does it look like?, What makes it DEADLY (as in awesome), Favourite Feeds, Predators and prey, How does it breed? The accompanying illustration of the reptile provides a colourful highlight. In the final pages is a glossary, information about the author and illustrator plus acknowledgements and resources.

This is a truly inspiring book about reptiles and has been a part of First Nations language revitalisation: 'the act of bringing back the use of a language that has very few speakers or writers.’ An important resource for all primary/middle schools and public libraries.

Themes First Nations, Language Groups, Reptiles, Country, Facts.

Kathryn Beilby

Aslan and Benny by Jemima Shafei-Ongu. Illus. by Jade Goodwin

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Aslan is fearless, living up to misname, the lion in The lion, the witch and the wardrobe. He can cycle down a hill very fast on his bike, find his brother when he goes missing, battle with his friends in outer space. He loves going to his cousin’s house on Sunday. Here they have a family barbecue and the children play together all day long. But one Sunday they go to Yenge’s house, he finds they now have a dog, Benny. Aslan is terrified of the dog and will go nowhere near him. He spends his time at his cousin's house on the staircase, a place the dog is not allowed to go. He watches while the rest of the children play their games.

On one Sunday Yenge talks to Aslan about being scared. They make up a funny song about the dog, and Yenge tells him that sometimes she is scared. She shares with the him the simple remedy of breathing, an exercise which calms the mind and concentrates the body on something other than the problem. Mum reminds him of places where he was initially scared but now is fearless.

The next Sunday with the smell of fresh baklava filling the room, Aslan ventures into the kitchen. He is aware of his fear, but contains it, he practises his breathing and reaches out to the dog. He is surprised how warm and bristly the dog feels. Now they are the best of friends, and looks forward to Sundays at his cousins’ house. 

This charming tale of overcoming fears will have resonance with many children whose lives are confined by worries. Breathing exercises have more prominence in recent books, and children are encouraged to try meditation to help them focus. It is wonderful to see a book which represents our wider community, and offers different words for children to learn and be familiar with.

Vivid and bright illustrations by First Nations artist Jade Goodwin, illustrator of Ash Barty’s Little Ash series and picture book, My Dream for You cover each page, promoting a loving family centred group of people.

Jemima Shafei-Ongu is a Sydney-based writer promoting inclusion and representation in children’s literature. Jemima explores themes of belonging and connection, and these themes come shining through in this book which includes some Turkish words, a guide to their pronunciation offered on the last page.

Themes Inclusion, Family, Fear, Belonging, Meditation, Self worth.

Fran Knight

Chickenpox by Remy Lai

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Sibling relationships can be hard at times but as the eldest of five children in the Lai family 12-year-old Abby has a lot to contend with. They embarrass her in front of her friends, take her stuff and eat her snacks. She takes any opportunity to get away from them but when friends Monica and Julia come over to hang out at Abby’s place she is so annoyed with her siblings that she gets into a fight with them, behaving childishly, causing more embarrassment. But even worse is to come, Julia gets chicken pox and after the two-week incubation period the Lai children start to come down with the virus.

Set in 1998, before immunization was common in Indonesia, most adults caught the disease, they call ‘watery pox', in childhood and, like Abby’s parents, have developed immunity. The Lai children must undergo 7 to 10 days quarantine at home together, jail time with no escape. As the illness progresses Abby sees her siblings suffering and unnaturally quiet with fevers. Fact pages deliver bulletins on how the disease progresses and the children get over their fevers but are still quite itchy and grumpy. As the eldest and responsible daughter Abby tries to help her mother and look after her sisters and brother with mixed results, and of course she gets the blame when things go wrong. As they pass through the blistering and itching phases everyone has to adjust and adapt. Abby worries about what her friends at school are saying about her after the childish outburst, added to that, they seem to think that Abby ‘likes’ classmate Sandy, so embarrassing. Contrary to Abby’s expectations they do all survive their jail time and they may even have grown closer through the experience. Abby negotiates some difficult conversations with her friends and is able to return to school with confidence.

The hilarious family chaos is beautifully captured in vividly dynamic graphics, full of action and 1990’s references like boardgames, Nintendo, cassette players and TV without a remote. The information on the virus is well delivered and the author’s note mentions that a vaccine became available in 1995 so most people now do not get chickenpox.

Themes Sibling relationships, Chickenpox, Friendship, 1990s Indonesia, Memoir.

Sue Speck

My language rights: A child's right to their language by Judy Thompson and Tete Garcia

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My Language Rights provides a look into the array of languages in our homes, schools, streets and cities. These different languages reflect our culture, contain our stories, keep our memories safe, and are tantamount to the passing on of a way of life from one generation to another. In Australia the diverse range of languages reflect our culture, confirming the multicultural nature of our society where 40% of people are born overseas. A walk down any street will mean listening to language other than English spoken by passers by. Languages reflect their background, their culture, their attachment to past generations, all revered through the use of the language. 

Each double page has a statement about language, and the accompanying illustration reflects the truth of that statement. On one we have a group of children saying hello in different languages, and the illustration shows those children calling out their hello in their own language, with something about them also shown, which for astute readers will make them more aware of the culture that child reflects. A poignant page tells us that sometimes people stop using their own language. An arresting illustrations shows the word ‘forgotten’ and reasons for the loss of language are given. In Australian it is most upsetting to see that Indigenous languages, once numbering over 300, have now almost all been lost, partly through government regulation, but also because these people were moved from their land and so lost sight of their language within its context, and we can see this narrowing repeated across the world. 

After that, positive statements are made about language: my language should be heard on television, seen in print, seen on signs, and treated with dignity. All of these lead to the most important page, of being able to share language. From this comes all the other comments about protecting language, being able to sign, sing and speak language. Every person has the right to use their own language.

The Declaration of Human Rights covers lots of rights but not language and this is the focus of this book, to highlight what this right is and how important it is for people everywhere to be able to use their own language.

PEN’s International Universal Declaration of Linguistic Rights upholds the right of every child to speak its own language, recognising language rights as a fundamental human right.

Themes Multiculturalism, Diversity, Language.

Fran Knight

Our world of wild wonders by Jevita Nilson. Illus. by Jess Racklyet

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Jevita Nilson and Jess Racklyet have once again combined to create another delightful factual narrative. Their first book Our World is Full of Wonder explored magnificent natural wonders of our world. Their second book Our World of Wild Wonders explores the unique animals that live in our world.

The gorgeous blue cover showing our Planet Earth surrounded by some well-known creatures is an enticement to explore this book. The narrative begins with images of zebras racing across a double page with a whale below and an eagle above. The poetic text accompanying the soft yet vibrant illustrations on this first page goes as follows:

‘There is a world of wild wonders where mighty wings soar
in dappled skies, herds of hooves pound endless
plains, and giants glide through sun-kissed waters.
Shall we go explore?’ 

Throughout the book, readers are introduced to natural environments and the diverse animals that inhabit each place. Some of these include a murmuration of starlings in the evening skies of the British Isles, goats climbing on the sheer cliff face of the European Alps, pods of dolphins off the coast of New Zealand, an echidna searching for safety in the face of a wildfire in Australia, chameleons in Madagascar.

This book is a visual delight with the stunning illustrations perfectly complementing the expressive and highly accessible text. In the final pages is a map of where each of the twelve creatures can be found and further valuable information. There is also a glossary. This is a fascinating book to share with young children.

Teacher notes: Our World of Wild Wonders , Jevita Nilson, Jess Racklyeft, 9781486318667

Themes Wildlife, Environments, Habitats, Adaptation, Natural Wonders.

Kathryn Beilby

Seven sisters by Katherine Kovacic

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Fans of psychological thrillers are likely to find Seven sisters a taut, gripping story. Naomi is a young woman whose sister had been murdered and the man who committed the crime got away with it. When her grief counsellor, Mia, suggests that she might find a group helpful in overcoming her loss, she is at first sceptical but decides to give it a try. In the group she meets Gabrielle, Brooke, Katy, Olivia and Amy, other women who have also suffered disappointment at the hands of the justice system. Together with Mia, they concoct a plan of revenge, each helping to kill one of the men who have murdered their loved ones.

Kovacic manages to steer the reader through the story, giving insight into the seven main characters and the men they are hunting. It is tautly plotted and each method of murder is different and believable. The suspense builds as each woman grapples with a means to take revenge. I was gripped with fear that the crimes would be discovered by the police, while struggling with the ethical dilemma of whether it is right to take the law into your own hands.

With themes of domestic abuse and its impact on family members, failure of the judicial system, and whether taking an eye for an eye is ever justified, readers are left with a memorable story, ideal for fans of Patricia Highsmith and Candice Fox.

Themes Murder, Revenge, Psychological thriller.

Pat Pledger

The library of bears by Cat Rabbit

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Softie is the only bear in the library who has not been borrowed. All the others have had adventures and tell their stories each night after being returned. Softie gets up each morning, and sits on her shelf, waiting to be borrowed, but nothing happens.

One day she is borrowed, her library card filled out and stamped and filed. But going off with her new friend, KB, is not as great an adventure as she expected. She ends up a little scared, very sweaty and covered in potatoes.

KB takes her into her bed and cuddles her to stop her tears. She tells Softie about all the things in her room and what they mean to her. She tells Softie that tomorrow they will take notice of all the things they do, so that Softie can tell a story like the others. They eat delicious toast and jam, see the biggest daisy, meet a friendly cat and sit in the warm sun and read together. They write down all the things they have done during the day and go to sleep exhausted. The next day Softie is returned to the library and Stuffie, Softie’s friend, is waiting to hear how she went.  At the end of the day, she sits in front of all the other bears and tells them what she did. They cheer her at the end of her story. The next morning, she gets herself ready and waits on the shelf, ready to be borrowed for her next story.

This charming book about resilience and being positive will be loved, especially with the many teddy bears shown on each page. Poor Softie feels left out and when she is finally borrowed things are not as she wants them to be. She must take time to see how different everyone’s adventure is and write down the story that she shares with KB.

Kids who feel overlooked or left out, will gain a positive outlook following Softie’s story. She felt just as they do and overcomes this making new friends to write stories about. She ends up on the shelf, with a positive look on her face, ready for her next adventure.

Pages are covered with all sorts of teddy bears, prompting the readers to compare these with the ones they have at home. What an opportunity for a Teddy Bear’s picnic or bringing your favourite bear to school when listening to the story. The endpapers are a delight, and the handmade clothes and furniture will give the readers another layer of interest while the read. Cat Rabbit is a textile artist and more of her work can be seen here.

Themes Teddy bears, Resilience, Story, Libraries, Adventure.

Fran Knight

Creature corridors by Billie Rooney. Illus. by Anke Noack

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As the human world continues to encroach, raze and build on the natural environment of both native Australian plants and animals, it becomes a dangerous place for creatures to live and move about safely. This newly released book, Creature Corridors, carefully tells the story of what needs to be done in order to allow our animal life to continue to thrive and share their environment with the human population.

Written as a factual narrative, this debut picture book written by author Billie Rooney, is an interesting and informative book explaining the term ‘creature corridor’ in clear and accessible text. For younger readers it is an engaging introduction to the needs of the animals to move around to find food, to breed and seek shelter. There is information about the different types of wildlife corridors already established in the form of metal, concrete or rope bridges, tunnels, newly planted trees, free flowing rivers and the pulling down of fences to allow animals access to safe areas.

The detailed full page illustrations are both colourful and striking in their detail and add to the message of the story. The shared information in the final pages about Wildlife Corridors and the Corridors in the story are valuable for further background information and research. There is a simple glossary perfectly pitched at this age group. An excellent book about a topic that may be unfamiliar to many children and adults.

Teacher notes: Creature Corridors, Billie Rooney, Anke Noack, 9781486318100

Themes Conservation, Biodiversity, Habitat loss, Creature Corridors, Environmental issues.

Kathryn Beilby

Brightest wild by Tania Crampton-Larking

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The Australian bush is a new wild world for 11 year-old Alex, newly arrived from London with her mother Hailey, come to live with her mother’s Aussie boyfriend Art. It’s a culture shock for them both, with the heat and humidity striking them as they get off the plane, but for Alex it is especially hard leaving her home with its memories of her beloved father, Papa, who was taken from her by a fatal asthma attack. Feelings of panic can threaten to overwhelm her.

They make a fragile blended multicultural family in Australia. Alex’s mother is Irish and her father was Hindu Indian. Alex inherits her father’s dark skin and hair. Meanwhile, Art’s former wife is a Mirning woman, and his son Koen takes after her. Koen’s twin sister lives in Perth with their mother. There is a barely suppressed antagonism between Art and the teenage Koen as the boy shows his resentment at the situation he is in.

Crampton-Larking is particularly good at depicting Alex’s loneliness as the new girl in school, unable to make friends and in fear of the bullies who target her. The bushland near her house becomes a refuge, and she discovers the peace and tranquillity of the natural surroundings. Her world is brightened as she meets other kids who also have hideaways in the scrub, and she learns about the significance of Country to First Nations people and issues of climate change and its impact on the environment.  

The theme of climate change is explored in a careful way, with emphasis on caring for the country and acting together to make positive change. Alex feels a connection with the global youth movement, ‘the billions that will make a difference’.

There are a number of serious themes in the book, family conflicts, bullying, colonialism and Aboriginal displacement, bushfires and climate change, but the author manages to keep the tone up-beat and easy to read. The emphasis on family and caring, good friendships and positive attitudes means that it stays appropriate for the middle-grade readership it is aimed at. The manuscript was a joint winner of the State Library of Queensland’s black&write! Writing Fellowship competition in 2019, and it’s great to now see it published and available to young readers.

Themes Environment, Blended family, Cultural diversity, Bullying, Climate change, Aboriginal culture.

Helen Eddy

Football Superstars: Kerr rules by Simon Mugford. Illus. by Dan Green

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In this simple book Sam Kerr’s career and its highlights are presented in a youthful style. With cartoon-like and fun illustrations the journey to greatness is presented in a way that is accessible for 6-10 year olds. Written outside of Australia (the author makes a slight faux pas in his description of AFL ball handling - a ‘handpat’), the book is just a collection of facts, highlights and stats that might interest a sport lover. 

This book is a quick read. It would be good for Silent Reading time at school - not challenging and easily consumed in small nibbles of information. There are no hints or clues about how to develop as a player from Sam herself, so this is just for those interested in Sam’s playing career.

Themes Sam Kerr, Soccer, AFL, Women’s sport.

Carolyn Hull

Nesting by Roisin O'Donnell

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This is a poignant and gripping story, a book that I will not easily forget! It follows the painful and fear-filled steps of young mother, Ciara, as she extricates herself from her marriage and the coercive control of an emotionally and psychologically bruising husband. Despite being set in Ireland, this is a universal story. Separated from her own family who live in England, she is alone in trying to solve her circumstances and feels the weight of her decision every day. With her two young girls, pregnant and homeless, she must strike out on her own while negotiating the ongoing criticism from her ex-husband and the difficulties of homelessness or temporary accommodation. The love of her children and the possibility of a life without fear is all that she can hold onto as she attempts to move forward. With profound resilience in the face of constant insecurity, Ciara is both strong and vulnerable. Her future must first negotiate courts, legal orders, housing applications, financial hardship, and job applications while pregnant. All this while fielding the regular threats and manipulation directed to her by her ex-husband and his family. When there are no external bruises it is difficult to prove abuse, but Ciara must persevere to protect herself and her children. Understanding the dynamics of power expressed badly is so clearly unveiled in this heart-rending story. I was often brought to tears as I journeyed with Ciara through the pain of her early time as a single mother and the abuse that she had endured. That she had survived was a testament to her ability to see love for her children as a motivation to keep moving forward. 

This is a very painful story, but it is echoed by many women around the world, and it is powerfully written. Some women who are abused also carry physical scars or die before receiving help, but this book demonstrates that psychological distress can create awful marriages. Toxic masculinity can even be expressed by ‘nice men’.  This book is an adult story, its subject is harrowing and yet there are elements that are worth reading to create empathy for those who struggle with abusive partners. A mature teen 17+ could also learn from the warning signs that this story flags, but this is not a love story and the hope that is possible must take a very tortuous route. I could not put this book down, but it has left me with an aching heart for all those who suffer in their relationships with controlling partners.

Themes Relationship breakdown, Abuse - psychological, Power imbalances, Coercive control, Single-parenting, Homelessness, Resilience.

Carolyn Hull