Space detectives by Mark Powers. Illus. by Dapo Adeola
Bloomsbury, 2021. ISBN: 9781526603180. (Age:7-11)
Floating above Earth is the encapsulated space city of Starville. This amazing space station is home to a variety of famous celebrities and wealthy citizens.
Connor and Ethan are spending their summer holidays on Starville, selling ice creams and waiting to solve crimes and mysteries. Edwina Snoddy is the daughter of Starville’s supreme governor and during a mishap at the ice cream stall the two boys are invited by Edwina to a special function for the governor. It is during the function that disaster strikes, a mysterious computer virus affects Starville’s orbit and the whole space city is on track to being destroyed! Ethan and Connor are the space detectives but can they save the space station from crashing into the moon?
This is a fun space story with alien creatures, inventions and interesting plot twists. Readers will enjoy the wacky space creatures, such as the “Tufted Grotsnobbler” who features throughout the story.
A vibrant front cover and black and white illustrations throughout the book add to its appeal.
Mark Powers has written other fun stories such as the “Spy Toys” series and a fantasy series called “Drafted.” This is the first fiction series Dapo Adeloa has illustrated and he is the co-creator of a picture book called “Look Up”. Both author and illustrator live in England.
An amusing book for students 7 to 11 years old. A short book trailer is available here.
Themes Space stations, Holidays, Detectives.
Jane Moore
How to talk to a tiger by Jason Bittel. Illus. by Kelsey Buzzell
The title How to talk to a Tiger and Other Animals and the beautiful cover illustrations instantly draw the reader in. This engaging non-fiction text gives a myriad of information about how animals communicate. The contents page is divided into four sections, Sights, Sounds, Smell and Taste, and Electrosensory and Touch, and discusses many animals and their behaviour. From electric blue flames found in the seas off the islands off Bermuda which are actually Bermuda fire worms, how the jackdaw uses its eyes to engage in a staring competition to keep a nest and to the male lyrebird of the south of Australia that mimics all sounds it hears, this book will continue to provide hours and hours of reading enjoyment. While the font is relatively small it is broken into easy to read and follow chunks and is complemented by wonderful illustrations which draw the reader’s eye to the text. As well as a detailed index, this book also cleverly labels each sense reviewed next to the odd page numbers.
This book is a perfect book to browse as there is so much information to be learnt and shared and would be a perfect addition to a home, school or public library.
Meet the Oceans is a wonderful vibrant read-aloud book showcasing the main oceans and seas on Planet Earth. Each page is filled with bold, bright colourful illustrations and fun rhyming text to engage the younger reader. The story follows a young child and trusty dog on a mini submarine journey around the major oceans and seas covering Earth’s surface. Along the journey they meet numerous sea creatures and formations such as beluga whales in the Arctic Ocean, silver swordfish in the Atlantic, jawfish in the Caribbean Sea, the Great Barrier Reef in the Coral Sea, giant Blue whales in the Indian Ocean and icebergs, penguins and Antarctic research stations in the Southern Ocean. On the Pacific Ocean pages the author discusses the effects of plastic on sea creatures and on the South China Sea pages talks about large ships jostling for space and seabirds. On the final pages is a plea for us to take care of our oceans and seas and the book finishes with a cleverly drawn map of the world.
This book is a perfect introduction to oceans and seas for early years and primary students. A welcome addition to any home, school or public library.
Themes World Oceans and Seas, Sea Creatures, Rhyme.
Kathryn Beilby
The Strangeworld Travel Agency : The edge of the ocean by L.D. Lapinski
The Strangeworlds Travel Agency: The edge of the ocean is the second book in the Strangeworlds trilogy written by UK author L.D Lapinski.
The heroine is the resourceful and gutsy twelve year old Felicity (Flick) Hudson who in the first book in the series, realised that she was in possession of the magical power of being able to create a schism - "a tear in the fabric of reality" in order to gain entry to other worlds. The growth of contol of this power mirrors the growth of understanding of much including the gentle brushstrokes of suggestion of budding single sex attractions that occur in an uncontrived manner alongside all the other relationships between the characters within the book. Thus The Strangeworlds Travel Agency:The edge of the ocean, besides being a fantasy/sciencefiction/adventure book, is also a coming of age story.
Flick joins the Strangeworlds Travel Agency which consists of a tight group of interesting characters. Their travels to other worlds are accomplished by stepping into the right suitcase which takes them from the ordinary world of Little Wyverns to impossibly magical otherworlds. The friends are summoned by a pirate queen to save the world of The Break, a map of which is conveniently placed at the beginning of the book. The Break is a two dimensional world which is rapidly shrinking as parts of the edge break off. This loss of land could be caused by evil forces or the reader could see this story as an allegory referring to the eco refugees of today. Flick and her friends have to unite previous enemies and ultimately lead the inhabitants of The Break to safety through a combination of magic and trust. This book is well written, full of high action and dangerous, heart stopping adventure with escapes constantly made just in the nick of time.
The Strangeworlds Travel Agency: The edge of the ocean is a robust read for capable readers who are able to hold multiple storyline threads together. Readers of Terry Pratchett's brand of humorous fantasy and science fiction would enjoy this new series.
This is the first book in a series, written by two sisters, Shannan and Tayla. This novel introduces the main character of the series, Lola; a nine, soon to be ten-year-old girl from Australia, who has her own vlog on YouTube. She likes chocolate, dreaming big and believes that she needs to keep her fans up to date on everything in her life. Lola is a confident and extroverted fourth grader who has a best friend named Vee. The story begins with Lola planning her fabulous 10th birthday party. She is still unsure who she should invite as the final guest to her party. While contemplating this major dilemma, Miranda, her neighbour and arch-rival, announces she is going to have her own party and outdo Lola's. When hearing that her 10th birthday party could be potentially overshadowed by a water slide and chocolate fountain, Lola wonders what she should do. Still worrying about this, she then meets a new girl at school, Piper. Piper claims to be her #1vlog fan! Lola thinks nothing of this fleeting interaction as she busily prepares and plans her best birthday party. But when you have a #1 fan who is the president, vice president, merchandise director and official photographer AND they are wearing a t-shirt with your face on it and know the name of the bakery down the road from your house and the date of your party . . . what could possibly go wrong!
The Secret Upstairs fan club party is a humorous and engaging story relevant to the digital age. It explores the life of a young vlogger and delves into potential risks when using the internet. The story explores friendships, truth telling and how sharing personal information with online viewers can backfire. The laughable storyline and entertaining characters, including a country-music loving cat named Stampy, will appeal to the young children today; while teaching them valuable lessons on cyber safety, relationship building and family honesty.
Let's Build A House by Mike Lucas is a fun and lively step-by-step introduction to building for younger readers. As a real-life engineer the author has the perfect knowledge and understanding of the steps involved in constructing a house - from digging the foundations through to the finished home. A father and daughter are drawn onto each page and work alongside the builders. Each construction step is clearly introduced and then rhyme is cleverly used to engage the reader to become a part of the building process:
Now for the outside walls. Build them higher brick by brick. Mix some mortar, make them stick. Not too runny, not too thick.
The presentation of the book is upbeat, colourful and busy. The bright and appealing illustrations on each page show many of the tools and equipment that builders use on a daily basis which may foster a wealth of discussion. This vibrant picture book would be a welcome addition to support the Design & Technology Component of the Australian Curriculum F-2 Years and is ideal for home, school or public library.
Themes Builders, Houses, Tools, Rhyme.
Kathryn Beilby
Heartsick by Jessie Stephens
Pan Macmillan, 2021. ISBN: 9781760981549. (Age:Senior Secondary, Adult) Highly recommended.
The title of this narrative nonfiction book is apt. The reader is compelled to turn the page, yet aching for the loss and heartbreak that unfolds for the characters.
It is tempting to skip the preface and or introduction for a book but it is here that the reader learns that the author believes that "There are few things we can control less than how someone else feels about us." It is also where it is explained that Ana, Claire and Patrick are based on the lives of real people. Extended interviews were held before, during and after the writing process.
Ana is in her early forties and has been married to a man she loves for twenty-five years. She loves another man, and has done for twenty-five years. Patrick is in his early twenties and has never had a girlfriend before. He has met Caitlin and now his every thought is shaped around her. Claire is in her mid-thirties and has returned to Sydney from London with her new partner Maggie. This is not the only change that takes place.
The characters tell their stories in turn, and the stages in the relationship mirror each other - the thrill of the beginning through to the devastation at the end. Jessie's writing reminds the reader how easy it is to read a situation when you are not emotionally invested. The writing evokes empathy for the turmoil experienced by the characters and also many moments where the reader is mentally urging the character to stop and reconsider their actions.
There are no platitudes in this book. It delves deeply into the deep despair of the loss of love. The visceral, whole body sensations are richly told. At the end of the book Jessie shares her experience with lost love, along with startling statistics around the impact of lost love on the health of adolescents and men.
Lenny is 12 years old and in his first year at 'big school' in Scotland. He is overweight and is a target for bullies both inside and outside of school. Lenny doesn't think much of himself, but we see he is witty, brave, empathetic and talented. He can sing brilliantly and writes insightful haiku poetry such as:
Teen, wearing boxers, Wants to kill his reflection Mirror always laughs
Lenny's parents are distant - his father is a lorry driver and is away from home a lot, while his mother spends most of her days moping around and writing letters to Lenny's absent older brother, Frankie.
To escape his bullies Lenny often skips school and sits on a bench next to the canal. This is where he meets Bruce, a homeless man living in a cardboard house.
Bruce takes Lenny under his wing and builds him up with kindness and wisdom. Bruce says "People are like countries . . . and countries are full of magical things, interesting places, and each one is unique . . . whatever shape or size, you're magical, interesting and unique, Lenny".
The unlikely friendship between Bruce and Lenny is heart-warming and leads them to embark on a road trip. The trip impacts all the relationships in the story and brings to light several truths that need to be told and heard, including the whereabouts of Frankie.
Lenny comes to see that he matters, he is loved and he can bring joy to others, while Bruce eventually opens up about his past and why he lives the way he does. Lenny's many haikus reflect the storyline throughout, becoming optimistic by the end.
Author Brian Conaghan was born and raised in Scotland and writes his characters with gentle humour, believable emotion and vibrant Scottish language. The story can be followed without necessarily understanding every word, but reading the dialect is fun and provides lots of low-pressure opportunities to practice inferring meaning of unknown words based on context clues.
A fantastic educational resource pack available for this book covers important discussion points such as bullying, homelessness, haiku poetry, body confidence and unexpected friendships.
Land of big numbers is a collection of short stories mostly set in China, by journalist Te-Ping Chen. The first one 'Lulu' tells of twins: Lulu a brilliant university student, becomes more and more embroiled in dangerous online political activism, whilst her brother, less gifted, becomes obsessed with gaming. Lulu is repeatedly arrested by the authorities, each time her punishment more severe. Her brother, however, has the opportunity to fly to Sydney for the global gaming finals. These two themes of government control of people and the opportunities offered by current day technology recur in many of the stories and whilst they paint a picture of the China that Chen has come to know well, they are themes that reflect modern life around the world.
The final story 'Gubeikou spirit' describes people trapped on a train station platform waiting for a train that never comes. They can't leave because the rules state that you must leave from a different station to the one you entered. Any act of rebellion is gradually worn down to passivity as the people await their fate. Only Pan, a young woman, 'exhilarated and afraid' grabs the moment to escape, giving us hope that an individual can stand up and make a difference.
These are just two in a collection of really interesting and unusual stories, offering brief glimpses into people's lives, exploring change and issues of freedom and oppression, tensions between older generations and younger, rich and poor, the individual and the group, and within cross-cultural relationships. And while the stories are ostensibly about China, and fascinating for that aspect alone, they also raise issues that are relevant to all societies, providing a wealth of ideas for discussion.
Themes Short stories, China, State control, Freedom, Oppression.
1865, southern England. Nell lives a quiet life, attempting to blend in despite having birthmarks that set her apart. Jasper Jupiter's Circus of Wonders comes to town, but Nell has no interest. The same cannot be said for everyone else, including her father, who sells her to Jasper. Betrayed and hurt, Nell cannot believe what has happened. But when Jasper tells her he can make her grand, she wonders if maybe she can be someone. Jasper's brother, Toby, is always by his side - through childhood, through the Crimean War (Jasper a soldier, Toby a photographer), and feels indebted to Jasper. But Nell has caught his eye, and things may be about to change.
Circus of Wonders is a different kind of historical fiction, where power is up for grabs, women are featured prominently and the circus is the centre of it all. Fans of the movie, The Greatest Showman, will enjoy this in depth exploration of the lives of the troupe who perform in the Circus of Wonders, with the story being shown from the points of view of Nell, Jasper and Toby. Macneal has created a realistic historical circus, complete with performing animals, spectacular acts and 'wonders of nature'. With flashbacks to the Crimean War, readers will be immersed in the past and 'present' of England in the 1800s and the Crimean war. Throughout the book, the underlying current of 'who owns/runs my life' is present for all the characters, something that many readers will find relatable.
Themes Historical Fiction; Circus; Romance; Ownership; Power; Beauty Perception; War.
Melanie Pages
The treehouse joke book 2 by Andy Griffiths. Illus. by Terry Denton
Pan Macmillan Australia, 2021. ISBN: 9781760980511. (Age:6-10) Recommended.
The Treehouse funsters have collated and illustrated a collection of jokes and riddles designed to tickle the fancies of their young readers. Most of these jokes are 'oldies, but goodies' that new generations of children will discover and share. I can see this book flying off the shelf and giggles being shared! With an array of knock, knock jokes and word play as well as slightly longer jokes this is not a reading challenge, but it will be enjoyed by readers aged 6-10. Terry Denton's cartoon illustrations are again a quirky delight.
Themes Jokes, Humour.
Carolyn Hull
Echo Mountain by Lauren Wolk
Penguin Random House, 2020. ISBN: 9780241437551. (Age:10-14) Highly recommended.
I loved Beyond the bright sea by Lauren Wolk and when I saw that her latest book Echo Mountain had been shortlisted for the 2021 Carnegie Medal, I immediately grabbed it from my local library. Lovers of historical fiction will be immediately engaged by the story of Ellie and her family, who after losing everything in the Great Depression, flee to Echo Mountain and begin a new life, building a log cabin, growing vegetables, and bartering for goods. Ellie loves the life and is intrigued by the beautifully little wooden animals and flowers made by an unknown carver that she finds around the countryside. When her father lies in a coma after a terrible accident, she is left to take over many of her father's jobs like hunting and chopping wood. She loves roaming in the woods and one day she is led by a large hound to an isolated part of the mountain where she finds the hag, Cate, and a wild boy named Larkin.
Life in 1934 Maine is vividly brought to life. Ellie has an affinity for the feelings of animals and other living things and finds it difficult to kill for food, but this is the only way that her family can survive. She is determined to find a way to bring her father out of his coma and her problem solving is most unusual. However, she is a determined girl who takes risks and is prepared to learn by doing, learning from her mistakes and she seems to have an innate ability to heal. It is fascinating to read of the remedies that were used to help the healing process, including putting maggots on wounds and potato poultices on sores.
The author describes in lyrical prose the natural beauty and dangers of the mountainside and brings Ellie's family to life. Her mother is burdened by poverty and feels unable to play her mandolin or bring any music into their lives, while her sister Esther longs for her old life. Little brother Samuel's outlook on life and quaint sayings add some humour to the story and the dogs, Captan, Maisie and Quiet are all important characters.
Readers will learn that first impressions are not necessarily the right ones and will celebrate the resilience of the mountain folk and the determination of Ellie. This would be an interesting book for a class novel and readers who enjoy a survival story may enjoy Nowhere on earth by Nick Lake.
Darcy Phillips has a complex life and family. Her parents are separated, her older sister is a creative transgender and Darcy is actively involved in the Queer and Questioning Club at her USA school, identifying as queer. Darcy has had a long-term crush on her best friend Brooke, but it has never been realised as a romance, but the friendship is warm and close. Because her mother is a teacher at her school Darcy has regularly waited on campus after school and this provided the opportunity to take 'ownership' of a locker which has become her mailbox for her 'Relationship advice service'. Despite her youth, she has become remarkably knowledgeable and wise with her advice which is well-researched and psychologically balanced, as well as being quite lucrative and she has managed to keep her identity very secret. When Alexander Brougham, a wealthy and good-looking former South Aussie, who has his own relationship and family predicaments, discovers her identity as the 'Agony Aunt' he pays well for good advice. The secrecy her service demands and the lies she once told to keep Brooke unattached will one day come back to haunt her, but along the way she also swings in her affections and discovers that Alexander Brougham is more than just a client to her. The complexities of life and romance for the coterie of teens is quite charming.
Because this book is openly written as a Queer Rom-Com, it could have been quite opinionated, but the author (who has a psychology role as well as being an author) has just created a well-written romance story with a plethora of LGBTIQ teens populating the very normal dramas of teenage life and romance. The advice to problems of the mostly heterosexual clientele is given as email responses scattered amongst the narrative and is extraordinarily rich in its wisdom. There is a light touch in the way relationships are discussed, balanced insights into relationship complexities and an almost comedic deftness in dealing with Darcy's own ironies as she struggles to work out her own relationship dramas while successfully solving the problems of others with ease. Maturity will be needed for readers, but LGBTIQ young people will appreciate seeing themselves in YA literature.
Themes LGBTIQ, Romance, Relationships, Lies and secrets, USA schools.
Another book in the favourite Spot the Dog series will be welcomed by small children who delight in the cute spotted dog and his adventures. This time Spot is visiting his grandparents and children will love the front cover showing Spot, with a happy grin on his face, carrying a gift basket and flowers on his way their house. This is a study board book, with the familiar drawings of lovely spotted dogs. It is not difficult to distinguish Grandma and Grandma just from the size of their noses and their expressions show how happy they are to see Spot.
The lift-the-flaps are lots of fun. Spot gets into a cupboard that has cookies; another flap reveals Spot ready to garden with a spade and fork, and children will giggle when another flap reveals poor Grandpa being hosed by Spot. Each double page spread has one sentence or question in big bold print and the other page contains the lift the flap that complements the text. Older children will find that this is an easy book to memorise and may begin the road to recognising words on a page.
Spot also has fun finding things like a ball that his mother played with as a young pup and children will relate to this and may be able to tell of toys that they have found at their grandparents' home. This would make a lovely gift for a child before they go on a trip to their grandparents, or a book for grandparents to keep and read when their grandchildren visit.
House of Earth and Blood, by prolific fantasy romance writer Sarah J. Maas, is another entertaining offering for fans and new readers alike. House of Earth and Blood is the first in a new series titled Crescent City, set in the world of Midgard where humans, Fae, angels, demons and other magical creatures coexist. The novel follows half-human, half-Fae Bryce Quinlan, a carefree young adult living her best life until a tragedy changes her world forever. Two years after her best friend is brutally and inexplicably killed, Bryce finds herself at the centre of a murder investigation that will have far-reaching consequences for both herself and her community.
Unsurprisingly for a Maas story, there are plenty of characters with painful and tragic pasts; every protagonist is damaged and traumatised in their own way. However, unlike Maas' other recent release, A Court of Silver Flames, Crescent City is saved from being a tedious cliche by Bryce's characterisation. Bryce is a strong, determined and sassy leading lady. She is less helpless, less forgiving of misogyny and prejudice and more assertive than many of Maas' other female protagonists. Maas appears to be more self-aware as an author in House of Earth and Blood, seeming to poke fun at some of the romance genre tropes she has heavily relied upon in the past.
Maas' worldbuilding has also improved in this novel. The world of Midgard is an intriguing mix of Ancient Roman and Celtic architecture and mythology and modern technology and culture. Woven throughout are the magical elements that anchor the book to the fantasy genre.
Like all Maas novels, House of Earth and Blood has a long, bloody and sexy narrative that, at times, can veer into the overdramatic. Overall, however, it is an entertaining and enjoyable read which bodes well for this new series.
