Greenland book 2. Translated by Charlotte Barslund. Text,
2019. ISBN: 9781911231301. 400pp.
(Age: Adult) Recommended for lovers of dark Nordic noir, Cold
fear takes the reader on a cold and grisly trip through
Greenland as Matthew Cave tries to solve the mystery of his sister's
abduction and father's disappearance. Cave first appeared in The
Girl Without Skin and while Cold Fear could be read as
a stand-alone, it continues the story that had been hinted at in the
first novel. Matthew is faced with the question of why his father
disappeared so many years ago, and why he was accused of a double
murder. Now that his cold case has been reopened on the suspicion
that he is still alive, it becomes imperative to work out what
happened. But more immediate is the urgency of finding what has
happened to his sister. Tupaarnaq, the woman with many tattoos,
returns to help find his sister, while on her own quest for revenge.
Not for the faint hearted, Cold fear has many horrifying
scenes of child abuse and imprisonment, grisly murders and dangerous
attacks all set against the cold bleak landscape of Greenland which
Nordbo describes so well. There are many twists and turns to keep
the reader guessing as old secrets are brought to light. Readers
will be fascinated by the role that Greenland has to play in
international politics and could find themselves looking up
locations found in the book.
Throughout all the nail biting events Matthew Cave's determination
and persistence in carving through the lies and treachery lends
authenticity to the story as he works out what has happened with
skilful investigation. And what a thrilling and unexpected ending!
Pat Pledger
Invisible in a Bright Light by Sally Gardner
Zephyr, 2019. ISBN: 9781789544848. 320pp.
Recommended for those who like a challenge, aged 14+. The
dream-fantasy scenario and premise of this book has all the logic
and clarity of a medication-induced dream. Initially very confusing,
the book follows the characters Celeste and Maria who are one and
yet two, and who must rescue the people who have disappeared from
the ghost ship. Their life in the theatre is muddled with their
former life before the mysterious disappearance of many of the ghost
ship's characters; they are in the spotlight and also invisible. A
formidable man in an emerald green suit (akin to Rumpelstiltskin)
appears and enables the girls to win a contest to save the lost
souls. Along the way, they rescue the daughter of an objectionable
operatic genius and perform like stars on stage.
Sadly, this bizarre narrative is so perplexing and dream-like as it
ripples through time, with characters appearing and disappearing,
acting with eccentric personality traits in an unfamiliar context,
that it may leave young readers floundering. However, if you loved Alice's
Adventures in Wonderland and like to be confused as you read,
then this book is for you. Entering someone else's dream is
automatically confusing, but ultimately a persistent reader may
actually enjoy the theatrical journey of this book and the rescuing
of the young character Hildegard and putting the broken shards of
the 'glass' back into some semblance of order. Be prepared to be
confused! Themes: Fantasy; Dreams; Ghosts; Theatre.
Carolyn Hull
All bodies are good bodies by Charlotte Barkla
Illus. by Erica Salcedo. Little Hare, 2019. ISBN: 9781760503932.
24pp., hbk. I love hands!
Hands that are white and hands that are brown,
Freckles mean sunshine has sent kisses down.
Short fingers, long fingers, bendy or straight,
Hands to clap, or high-five your mate.
Even though the human body comprises the same elements, each is
unique. No two are the same unless you are an identical twin. In
this superbly illustrated book, each body part such as hands, hair,
eyes and even tummies is featured while those characteristics which
make them unique are celebrated. It doesn't matter if your nose is
long and thin or short and flat or even turned up like a pussycat,
we each have one and each does its special job.
With its bouncy rhyme and positive message about accepting the
diversity and differences which make each of us special, it actively
promotes the acceptance of the body regardless of shape, colour, or
size so that we appreciate our individuality and are inclusive in
our choices. When even our youngest readers are aware of their
physical appearance these days and start to develop their
relationship with their body, this is a critical message that
encourages the positive mental health mindset so essential to
developing resilience and empathy and offering lots of scope to
collect and interpret data as the children compare and contrast
their differences.
Barbara Braxton
Brave and bold: Female DC super heroes take on the Universe by Sam Maggs
DK Penguin Random House, 2019. ISBN: 9780241389164. hbk, 127 pgs.
Ages: any super hero fan, but if I have to give an age 7+. I so much
love my comics but don't know much about DC super heroes until now.
I do know the major ones and this book opens up a new universe to me
of DC female super heroes. It's a great introduction and especially
helpful to those teachers and parents out there who want to be in
the know for their students and children. I would keep Brave and
bold nearby for quick reference.
You will find a forward by Gail Simone who is a bestselling DC
writer. Then you get a two page spread-out for each female super
hero presented in the book. You get a page about the character that
I found very easy to read and very informative. You also get
colourful drawings of the characters that looks awesome and will
find children and fans drawn to the book. Did you know that some
people who have seen Supergirl in action say she may be more
powerful than Superman?
I loved how each page starts with a character's quote and I did
recognise some of them from movies or comics. It is also separated
into 4 different parts, compassionate, bold, curious and persistent,
all traits that the super heroes have.
Reading through the book, I was thinking how many female super
heroes are there? There are heaps. I was also thinking, where is my
favourite super hero of all time, Raven? I even came across Lois Lane
who I wouldn't have considered a Super hero. I was getting closer
and closer to the end and my heart missed a beat . . . there was
Raven from Teen Titans. Brave and bold would be great on anyone's book shelf that
likes their super heroes.
Maria Komninos
Pretty guilty women by Gina Lamanna
Hachette, 2019. ISBN: 9780751576696.
(Age: Adult) This is a story of a wedding, and conversely, and
unexpectedly, a story of a murder. While these two events may seem
incongruous, in this narrative there is such a large amount of
loving friendship, and indeed a large amount of love, that a murder,
in this context, somehow seems even more terrible. Yet the guests
make the decision to put aside the issue of one guest murdered, and
to go ahead with the drinking, partying, socialising and preparation
for the big day.
Unexpectedly, while flying across the US, one woman rather
unexpectedly has a sexual encounter with a man in the toilets of the
aircraft. We read about the great amount of alcohol consumed, while
the pre-wedding drinks and socialising takes place, ironically
entailing the murder of one man. Even more ironically, all four
women, friends since university days, confess to having committed
the murder. Why, we might well ask! It is certainly not easy to
understand their motivation to confess, yet we are persuaded that it
is the bonds of friendship that drive these confessions, obviously
not all being true.
Not a book for younger children, nor indeed for young adolescents,
this is pitched at a mature adult audience, and is most notable for
the mystery at its heart. A light read about a strange group of
people, albeit well educated, who seem to simply be happy to spend
their money on pleasure and frivolity, fuelled by copious quantities
of alcohol.
Elizabeth Bondar
Don't tickle the hippo! by Sam Taplin
Illus. by Ana Martin Larranaga. Touchy-Feely Sound book. Usborne,
2019. ISBN: 9781474968713. 10pp., board book
"Don't tickle the hippo - you might make it snort!" But, of
course with its touchy-feely patch being too tempting to leave
alone, the littlest reader is going to tickle it - and won't they
get a surprise when they do (if the adult has turned on the switch
for the sound effects!).
This is another series in this new generation of board books that
invites the child to interact with the text and the illustrations,
to find the fun in the print medium and start to build up an
expectation that stories are fun, that they have a part to play in
making them come alive and they have the power to do so. Each
creature makes its own sound when the patches are felt and the
cacophony at the end of the book makes for a satisfying conclusion.
It will become a firm favourite bound to generate a thousand giggles
as the child is in control.
Barbara Braxton
The pursuit of William Abbey by Claire North
Orbit, 2019. ISBN: 9780356507422.
(Age: Adult) Recommended. William Abbey is a truth-speaker. It is a
curse on him, a curse by the mother of a black boy cruelly murdered
by a lynch mob in Natal, a curse for standing by and failing to
speak out and prevent the torture. Abbey is a doctor but he can do
nothing for the charred dying boy. And now his shame will haunt him
forever, as the boy's misshapen ghost relentlessly pursues him
around the world wherever he goes. Each time as the ghost of Langa
draws closer, Abbey finds he can see into the inner heart of whoever
is near him and he is compelled to reveal the truth of what he sees
there, he babbles their secrets, and ultimately whoever he loves
will die.
We learn his story as he gradually reveals it to a nurse at the
bedside of soldier who has had his guts ripped out on the battle
fields of 1917 France. The nurse senses that there is some dangerous
connection between the two men, and is determined to protect her
patient. But will she be able to face the horror of the tale he will
tell? And what is her truth? Is she brave, or will she fail?
Abbey is not the only person cursed to be a truth-speaker. In his
desperate travels to escape his pursuer he meets others doomed to
speak and doomed to lose their loved ones. Can he save the people he
cares about, can he avoid loving anyone, and can he find a cure for
his condition somewhere in the far reaches of the world? There are
those who want to exploit his truth-revealing skills, he is wanted
as a spy; and there are those who want to discover the workings of
his brain, probe and analyse it as the ghost approaches.
Within this framework of mystery, horror story, is a highly
researched examination of the history and politics of the late 19th,
early 20th century world, from the colonial ravages of Africa and
India, to Peru, to the machinations of Europe, to the black white
conflicts of America, to the songline guardians of Australia, North
puts the spotlight on human conflict and failure across the globe.
It is a harsh unflinching look at imperialism and its destructive
interactions, and reveals the moral turpitude of the human race.
Whilst the original premise may ignite interest, fans of mystery or
romance stories may find this book hard going, as the spotlight is
steadily focussed on the complexities of human nature and politics,
and the failings of individuals, and indeed the human race. It is a
serious examination of a particular time in history with
ramifications for present times as well.
Helen Eddy
Forgotten fairy tales of brave and brilliant girls ed. by Lesley Sims
Usborne, 2019. ISBN: 9781474966429. 208pp., hbk.
Ask a young child for the title of a fairy tale and you are likely
to be told Cinderella, Snow White, Sleeping Beauty, Ariel or
Rapunzel or whatever the Disney princess-du-jour is. But in fact,
there are many more fairy tales than those that were collected and
written down by the great storytellers like the Brothers Grimm,
Charles Perrault and Hans Christian Andersen. Fairy tales were told
orally for many generations before they were preserved in print,
each being shared a little differently by the teller according to
time, place and circumstance, but each having a fundamental truth at
its core.
For whatever reason, the tales that were collected and written share
common characteristics of strong men and weak women who needed to be
rescued by the male's prowess and those in which the females were
the leading protagonists were almost lost to time. The story
of their discovery and recovery is almost as fascinating as the
stories themselves, and shows the slowly changing attitudes towards
women and their place in society. Food for discussion and debate
right there!
In the meantime, this remains a collection of very readable and
beautifully illustrated fairy tales that deserve to be as well-known
as their more famous counterparts. Perhaps the next Disney heroine
will arise from this anthology. Regardless, stories about brave and
brilliant girls are always good for the soul.
Barbara Braxton
Laetitia Rodd and the Case of the Wandering Scholar by Kate Saunders
Bloomsbury, 2019. ISBN: 9781526611116.
Recommended for readers aged 15+ - Adult readers. Themes: Murder
mystery; Redemption; Religious expression Laetitia Rodd is the widow
of a former English Archdeacon and a very proper woman, living in
rather reduced circumstances since her husband's death. Her history
though has left her with compassion, lots of time and a collection
of very interesting clerical acquaintances. She is also rather good
at solving mysteries - this is the second book where her detective
and observational skills are put to use. Her brother, a renowned and
rambunctious lawyer, gets her involved in an investigation on behalf
of a dying man which leads her to the home of a clerical household -
her match-making skills had enabled their marriage ten years before.
This interruption into her normal quiet life is further complicated
when she becomes involved in investigating a murder. The suspected
murderers seem to be the least likely to have completed the crime,
but all the evidence points towards them. Mrs Laetitia Rodd,
Inspector Blackbeard (a former 'colleague' in investigation) and her
brother as legal counsel all work together to untangle the evidence
and possibly defend the suspects. The complications continue, as
happens in all good murder mysteries, and Mrs Rodd must work hard,
with all her good graces to work our where truth lies. And truth
does get uncovered, and justice is done.
This is a murder mystery, in the style of Television English
clerical murder mystery dramas or even of an Agatha Christie Miss
Marple murder mystery, where confession, faith, goodness,
subterfuge, evil and murder are mixed together in a complex web. Mrs
Rodd is a delightful character able to move through religious
circles, with Oxford scholars, in rich and wealthy homes and with
the poorer members of the community, and with wit and wisdom is able
to unravel all the plot complications of a classic and old-fashioned
murder mystery.
This is a pleasure to read. Set in a time of decorum and mannerly
behaviour, and with faith observances a part of the culture of the
day, the crimes and problems of the day are often hidden with
tactful discretion to be uncovered unobtrusively by the careful
investigations of the gracious central character.
Carolyn Hull
Genesis by Robin Cook
Macmillan 2019. ISBN: 9781529019124.
(Age: senior secondary/adult) Recommended. Robin Cook has set his
sights once again firmly in the medical world. Laurie
Montgomery-Stapleton is Chief Medical Examiner in New York and her
husband Jack is one of the medical examiners who works for her. We
enter the world of autopsies and forensic investigation.
A seemingly routine drug overdose throws up some anomalies, which
pathology resident Aria Nichols is eager to solve. Dr. Nichols is
intelligent, quick, decisive but shows no empathy or courtesy with
co-workers or the general public. Perhaps it's as well she is
working with the dead.
The body count begins to rise but the dots are not joined,
especially when the first victim is not considered to have been
murdered by anyone other than Aria. It is when she meets with the
victim's friend that using ancestral DNA becomes a possibility in
finding the killer. She has concluded with no evidence that the
killer is a married man who has been secretly having an affair with
the victim. The possibility of murder becomes firmer when the friend
is pushed into the path of a subway train.
This escalation continues when medical examiners are confronted with
the body of Aria Nichols in the morgue. Her death is in every way
similar to that of the first victim. Dots begin to be joined, but
the killer is eliminating those with any knowledge, and the final
victim could be Dr Laurie Montgomery-Stapleton.
The most interesting elements of Cook's narrative are the
descriptions of autopsies and their procedures. The characters are
fairly standard with some being stereotypical, even the brash
abrasive Aria is just a shell and Cook doesn't delve deeply into
anyone's psyche. There is a need to confirm thoughts about who
"dunnit", but the most interesting aspects are DNA ancestral
histories and the uses to which they may be used, never envisaged by
the developers.
Themes: Crime, Medical procedure, Autopsies, Mortuary procedure,
Police, DNA.
Mark Knight
Paddington's Post by Michael Bond
Illus. by R. W. Alley. HarperCollins, 2019. ISBN: 9780008357245.
48pp., hbk.
Living with the Browns in London is very different from Paddington's
original home in Darkest Peru and there is much to see and do and
absorb. Using Michael Bond's original stories, Paddington reflects
on the changes and writes letters, draws maps, and creates other
mementos, each of which is enclosed in its own envelope waiting for
the young reader to discover and read.
Since his 60th anniversary in 2018, there has been a resurgence in
love for this childhood favourite and this is another opportunity to
share the love with a new generation. Children love stories that
have letters that they can pull out and read - it adds an extra
layer of intrigue and mystique - and this will be no exception. It
might even inspire them to write to Paddington and tell him about
where they live and the things they like to do.
Barbara Braxton
Juno Valentine and the fantastic fashion adventure by Eva Chen
Illus. by Derek Desierto . Macmillan, 2019. ISBN: 9781250297303. Juno Valentine and the Fantastic Fashion Adventure is a
picture book that has been written to address some of the issues of
the day e.g. promoting "Girl power". Specifically for girls and
particularly American girls, it describes the adventures of Juno
Valentine, a small girl who finds self-expression through fashion,
with the help of some famous women.
The collage inspired illustrations express happiness and buoyancy,
promote the obligatory multicultural cast of characters and include
a focus on fashion items and textile patterns.
As Juno progresses through a time warp type of adventure, she
receives wardrobe help from women through time from Joan of Arc
through to Michelle Obama. At the end of the book there is a
glossary on these women.
This book would appeal to young girls who derive identity from
clothes. Other important values that create a solid sense of self
are not evident. The cast of women role models is particularly
American. Juno Valentine and the Fantastic Fashion Adventure is mildly
entertaining. It would be most appreciated by young American girls
who are interested in consumerism and fashion as self-expression.
Wendy Jeffrey
The Daughter's Tale by Armando Lucas Correa
Simon and Schuster, 2019. ISBN: 9781760851248. pbk., 303 pgs.
(Age: 12+) What would you do for someone you love? A Daughter's
Tale is a fictional story, based on true events of WWII, about
a mother, Amanda Sterling and her daughters and the difficult
decision she has to make to protect her children. The decisions
Amanda had to make were heartbreaking but it was a matter of
survival. We also meet some extraordinary characters along the way
that risk their own lives to help others, while others were . . . .
what can I say?
If you liked reading Nightingale by Kristin Hannah or The
Book Thief by Markus Zusak you probably enjoy this one.
I think Armando Lucas Correa has done a great job writing about a
major event in our history that was very horrific. He has managed to
tell us a story of horrible things that happened during WWII. He
tells us a story about Amanda and Julius Sterling and how their
lives changed in 1939, when the Nazis descend into Berlin. Their
family is broken apart. Correa has managed to keep the details of
their story lighter compared to other historical fiction books based
on events during WWII. The horrific parts are not too graphic. I
think this is good because it won't freak out students as they read.
And I would let them read A Daughter's Tale. Yes, you will
get emotional about some of the stuff that happened but it doesn't
go into graphic details.
The story is also based in 2015, New York. An 80-year-old Elise
Duval receives a phone call from a lady that gives her letters
written to her by her mother during WWII. This is a part of Elise's
past she has forgotten. I personally felt for her. As I was reading
I did recall some of the atrocities of what the Germans did to the
innocent people. I especially, remember hearing about what had
happened in the little French village Oradour-Sur-Glane . . . you
will have to read the book to find out more. Also the French
Resistance.
The characters were likable and you could picture them in your head.
I must say my favourite was the priest at the orphanage.
The one thing I love about historical fiction, you always learn
something you didn't know before and I did reading A Daughter's
Tale. I think this a great read to learn and remember about
what happened during an important part of our history. It's
something that no one should forget.
Also, well done to Nick Caistor on his translation of this wonderful
story into English so we all can enjoy reading The Daughter's
Tale.
Maria Komninos
The Taylor Turbochaser by David Baddiel
HarperCollins, 2019. ISBN: 9780008334178.
(Age: Mid primary - Upper primary) The Taylor Turbochaser is
an action packed story of escapism and camaraderie. This book turns
stereotypes on their heads. The central character, Amy, is a petrol
head like her father. She is also confined to a wheelchair. This
does not diminish her love of cars, speed and rally driving. She is
a natural.
When a complication hits, Amy, Jack, her 14 year old brother, Rahul,
her friend and inventor of crazy devices and Janet (all quirky
characters) head off on a crazy road-trip in the ingenious
contraption, The Taylor Turbochaser. This machine seems to develop a
personality of its own, something like Chitty, Chitty Bang Bang.
All the elements children like, e.g. escaping from parents (who are
likeable) and a police chase in a cross country dash from England to
Scotland exist in this book. It could be read as an auditory
experience because it's full of onomatopoeia and great interchanges
between the characters. Hilarious conversations pepper the action as
the children work together falling into scrapes and ingeniously
escaping.
Of-course there is cow poo and farts and all the rest of it. The Taylor Turbochaser would make a great read aloud for mid
to upper primary ages. The teacher would not have to read much
before children would be lining up to borrow it or begging to have
it read as a serial. Serious themes such as dealing with disability
underlie the fun.
This book is a romp that demystifies disability and celebrates
friendship, resourcefulness and family togetherness. Children need
fun books like this.
Wendy Jeffrey
Prince of Ponies by Stacy Gregg
Harper Collins, 2019. ISBN: 9780008332310.
(Age: 11+) Recommended. Themes: Horses; World War II; Refugees. This
is not a sickly-sweet pony club story, rather it is a mature story
based on historical fact that combines the history of some famous
horses that were almost part of Hitler's equine breeding programme.
It also includes the fictional story of their youthful Polish
rescuer - Zofia; and then her protege, the Syrian refugee - Mira. Prince
of Ponies begins with Zofia's account of her introduction to
the Arabian stallion - Prince of Poland - during a time of great
stress as the Germans were taking over her home in Poland in World
War II. The bond that was forged between rider and horse gave her
opportunity to survive and then flee from Hitler's advancing program
of destruction. The account of Zofia's early life is related to Mira
so that she can record this history and she is also trained to ride
the horse - Amir, from the breeding line of the original stallion.
Mira's own life of struggle as a Syrian refugee living in Germany is
a side issue to the training and performance of the horse and its
youthful rider. With a hint of the bullying that Mira must face in
her school context, this is also a story about rising above the poor
treatment inflicted by others.
This book is reminiscent of stories written by Michael Morpurgo
where a serious historical incident is woven into a powerful story.
It is written as the story of Mira, but includes the recount of
Zofia as a separate narrative. The relationship between the much
older Zofia as riding coach and the young Mira is unusual, but
connects the two narrative elements. This is a book that is worthy
of recommendation for the historical quality of the story, but horse
lovers and enthusiasts of dressage and show-jumping will also be
impressed by the detail of this in the book. The growth and maturing
of the young protagonist as she overcomes difficulties and fears
will also appeal to readers.
Recommended to readers aged 11+ (Not just for lovers of horses!)
Carolyn Hull
