Constable Twitten Mystery book 2. Bloomsbury, 2019. ISBN:
9781408890530.
(Age: Adult) Themes: Detective novel, Deception, Subterfuge, Murder,
Mystery. Young Constable Twitten is very sharp, he has read
Mitford's Noblesse oblige and knows that the language a
suspect uses can betray his origins, whether upper or lower class.
He also has a mind for detail, and regularly updates his notebook
with observations and paths of inquiry. Unfortunately however, he
has to contend with the clumsy ineptness of Sergeant Brunswick and
the vain delusions of his superior, Inspector Steine. And then there
is their tea lady Mrs Groynes, whom Twitten believes to be a
villainous mastermind. But nobody believes him.
First there is the discovery of a body, in a deck chair on Brighton
Beach, not a suicide as Steine too readily dismisses, but a murder
committed in broad daylight amidst other holiday makers on the
shore. Twitten continues to follow his leads, determined to solve
the crime, but it just becomes more and more convoluted the deeper
he gets. It involves two sweethearts, a family of thugs, and string
of confidence tricksters. Twitten's colleague Brunswick goes
undercover as a trumpet player in the local nightclub, joining a
whole gang of double agents. Fortunately for the reader, at this
point Truss, the author, provides us with a little list of who's
who.
There are many odd characters and funny scenes; in fact one scene is
just so hysterically funny, it just caps off the whole book. The man that got away is the second in the Constable
Twitten Mystery series, and while it easily stands alone, it
does make the reader curious to read its predecessor. This book will
appeal to readers who enjoy the Miss Marple type of detective story
with a lot of quirky characters adding red herrings to the plot.
Helen Eddy
The immortal jellyfish by Sang Miao
Flying Eye Books, 2019. ISBN: 9781911171799. 40pp., hbk.
Grandpa is explaining about the immortal jellyfish to his grandson,
a creature that begins its life again when it is about to die. When
the boy asks his grandfather if humans are immortal, he is told that
there are other ways humans can live on but sadly the old man dies
before he can explain. While the boy is devastated, one night his
grandpa appears in a dream and takes him on a journey to the Life
Transfer City where those that have died can choose a new identity.
But before he discovers his grandfather's choice he is taken back to
the real world on the back of a beautiful white bird . . . Will he
ever recognise his grandfather again?
At first glance, this seems a rather morbid book with its dark
palette, but it really is a most beautiful way to help young
children deal with the passing of a loved one as sadly, so many have
to. Helping them understand that those who die live on in our
memories and thoughts, the things we see, do and smell or taste,
even when they are no longer physically here is a way that we can
help with the grieving process, particularly if there is no
religious belief of an afterlife. It offers a way for the bereaved
child to think about those memories and what their loved one might
choose to be, as well as being able to share those thoughts rather
than not talk at all, which is so often the case. Grown-ups often
want to protect little ones by not talking, but often that's just
what the child needs to do.
Sensitive and heart-warming, but not sickly-sentimental, this is
something special for one of the most difficult parts of growing up.
Barbara Braxton
Don't worry, Little Crab by Chris Haughton
Walker Books, 2019. ISBN: 9781406385519. 48pp., hbk.
In the rockpool above the sea, live two crabs: Big Crab and Little
Crab. Today, they're going for a dip in the sea. "This is going to
be so great!" says Little Crab as they go tic-a-tac, tic-a-tac over
the rocks, splish splash, splish splash across the pools and
squelch, squelch, squelch through the slimy, slippery seaweed. "I
can go ANYWHERE", says Little Crab.
But when he reaches the sea and sees the size of the ocean waves, he
is somewhat daunted and very reluctant to take that final leap. Will
he find the courage?
The illustration style is very distinctive and it tells as much of
the story as the text does. bout a little one finding the courage to
face their uncertainty. This is a common theme in children's picture
books, this time inspired by the creator's observations
of crabs and their human-like way of moving. and the way they
braced for the impact of a wave but then went about their business
once it frothed away. In fact, the story of its evolution gives a
real insight into where authors get their ideas and how they are
shaped, so it is worth sharing that too. It wasn't so much the
message that came first, but thinking about what was in front of him
and working from that! Perhaps a lesson for budding writers about
being observant and curious and working backwards!
Barbara Braxton
Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo
Alex Stern book 1. Orion, 2019. ISBN: 9781473227972.
(Age: Adult) Recommended. Good Reads Best Fantasy Winner,
2019. Themes: Sexual abuse, Rape, Drugs, Secret societies. Alex
Stern, the sole survivor of a terrible multiple homicide, is in
hospital when she is offered the chance to go to an elite
university. Why her? She has been a school drop-out, has been
involved with drugs and drug dealers and her life was going nowhere.
Tasked with checking on the occult used in Yale's secret societies,
she is drawn into a strange and different world, mentored by
Darlington, who introduces her to the rituals of the rich and
privileged people who belong to them.
Bardugo has previously written YA fantasy and this is her first
foray into fiction for adults. It is dark and disturbing and
certainly for adults. The themes that are explored against the
fantasy background of the secret societies include rape, date rape
and the attitude of rich and powerful young men who believe that
they can have everything without any consequences. Alex however
doesn't believe that and her revenge is challenging for the reader.
The question of class, privilege and poverty is also explored, as
Alex struggles with her classes and realises that the murder of a
poor woman doesn't have the impact of that of a rich white person.
Add in ghosts who haunt her, the quest to find who is a murderer,
and the gradual realisation of her powers and the reader will be
dragged along with Alex.
This is a book for readers who enjoy a mix of dark horror and
fantasy, laced with themes that are pertinent in today's world.
Pat Pledger
Atlas of Ocean Adventures by Emily Hawkins
Illus. by Lucy Letherland. Quarto Group, 2019. ISBN:
9780711245303.
Highly recommended. This beautiful book, focusing judiciously on the
world's oceans, is a timely addition to any library collection. The
pages are busy with detailed soft water-colour illustrations of
marine animals and birdlife of every ocean and continent with each
placed within their particular habitat. The book is large (37x27cm)
and the pages are of good quality, responsibly sourced paper.
Each double page opens to reveal a new part of the world. A large
marine landscape/habitat covers both pages. Upon this landscape the
creatures can be found and each is accompanied by interesting facts.
Each page contains an inset box with a map highlighting the place in
the world depicted in the landscape. Most pages contain a second box
with a detailed labelled diagram of particular animals.
The wealth of information contained within these pages is easily
retrieved by the young researcher through the index or the contents
pages and further enhanced by titles, sub-titles, friendly language,
maps, illustrations and diagrams. The casual reader's attention
would be drawn by the sheer pleasure of turning the huge pages and
looking at the intricate pictures. Atlas of Ocean Adventures opens with a large double page map
of the world's continents and oceans and then focuses on particular
oceans and the unique wildlife found in each. At the end there is
information about the dangers to oceans and activities which send
the child back into the book searching for details in the
illustrations.
This is a very special book. Junior and Middle Years teachers would
find it a useful and attractive resource for teaching within the
Geography and Science areas of the curriculum. It is a book that is
made for sharing - adult to children or children together. It's the
kind of book that would make a very special gift for a child.
Although it could be in a general student borrowing circulation,
this book deserves to be displayed prominently in a reserved
reference area within a library where it could be available for
maximum access for students and teachers.
Wendy Jeffrey
The Raven Tower by Ann Leckie
Orbit, 2019. ISBN: 9780356507002.
(Age: Adult) Recommended. Listen. A god is speaking.
My voice echoes through the stone of your master's castle.
This castle where he finds his uncle on his father's throne.
You want to help him. You cannot.
You are the only one who can hear me.
You will change the world.
This challenging and thought-provoking fantasy will have fans of
award winning Leckie wanting to talk and discuss it. A change from
her science fiction (Ancillary Justice and Provenance) Leckie
explores the idea of how gods and men fare when a pretender takes
over the throne.
Written to the warrior Eolo in the second person (using pronouns
you, your, and yours), by the Raven, it took me some time to become
familiar with this as it was relatively new to me, but once I
settled into the book, found it a fascinating way of getting to know
the characters from a different perspective. Eolo is a warrior, body
guard to Mawat, the true heir to the throne, and seen from the
Raven's eye is cool and courageous and very willing to take risks to
uncover what is happening and whether murder has been committed.
Underlying all is the story of the Stone, a great and patient god,
and the stories of how men use gods to try and understand and
manipulate what is happening in their world. And what an ending! It
will stun readers and leave them desperate to reread parts to see
how Leckie managed to pull it all together.
This is a challenging fantasy; the second person writing may daunt
some until well into the novel and the thought of how people have
worshipped different gods over the ages makes for a fascinating
background to the story.
Pat Pledger
The Girl and the Dinosaur by Hollie Hughes
Illus. by Sarah Massini. Bloomsbury, 2019. ISBN: 9781408880524.
(Age: 3-7) Recommended. Themes: Rhyming Book, Imagination,
Dinosaurs. Sarah Massini's (Kiss it Better, The Boy and
the Bear) beautifully rich and detailed illustrations are
perfect for this magical, dreamy tale. 'There's a town beside the
sea, not so very far from here, with golden sands and rock pools,
and a tattered, battered pier. And there's a girl upon the beach her
name is Marianne, she's digging for a dinosaur just beneath the
sand.' The fisherfolk are worried that Marianne is too preoccupied
with old bones; 'She needs to find some friends', they say. But one
night Marianne wishes with all her heart for her dinosaur to come to
life. 'The wishing stars burn bright that night, the air is thick
with dreams, and a deeply sleeping dinosaur is waking up, it seems .
. . ' And so, we are witness to Marianne and her dinosaur friend's
magical journey in the night: past unicorns and giants, through
magical moonlit clouds and to a party place for all children and
their dream creatures. 'Back to the town beside the sea and back to
empty beds, and back to secret memories to keep from grown-up
heads.' Upon waking, Marianne finds other children who also dream
and imagine and they dig and explore together.
The peaceful, sparse and windy English seaside scene created by
Massini is reminiscent of Emily Sutton's illustrations: evocative
and full of texture. There are so many stunning double-page spreads
and the colour choices and Marianne's flowing red hair are perfectly
executed. The poetic language used throughout is rich with imagery
and flows beautifully when read aloud.
This is a calming and charming bedtime story perfect for dinosaur
lovers and all children who dream.
Nicole Nelson
The Somerset Tsunami by Emma Carroll
Allen and Unwin, 2019. ISBN: 9780571332816.
(Age: 10-12) Highly recommended. At last, a book to challenge young
minds! A book with some substance! The Somerset Tsunami
takes the young reader to another place and time - to the socio-
economic and political landscape of early seventeenth century
Somerset. For the Australian child, this is a leap. Not only is the
geography unfamiliar but the vernacular, the lifestyle - everything
that goes on in the lives of the characters is of another time.
Emma Carroll brings historical fiction alive. The Somerset
Tsunami storyline develops through the voice of Fortune, a
brave and smart heroine. She comes from a poor family who live in a
tiny hamlet called Fair Maidens Lane, somewhere on the Bristol
Channel. Carroll locates the story in a time of great social divide
where the poor cottagers lived powerless hand-to-mouth existences
with the greater social evils of the slave and sugar trades as a
backdrop. The role of women in society at that time is painted for
the reader and the threat of Witchcraft trials overhang the
characters as they fight for survival. Family love and loyalty tie
the characters together in the face of constant danger.
As well-known by today's inhabitants, a tsunami did destroy the
coastal hamlets in Somerset changing lives forever and perhaps
offering new opportunities to the brave. The rush of the tsunami
mirrors the chilling rate of challenges faced by the characters as
they try to evade their pursuers.
Carroll presents a cast of well-rounded characters. Gender roles are
explored. The characters are not stereotypical and they survive and
thrive. This is great representation of difference for young readers
to empathise with. Our heroine, for one, is no shrinking violet -
eventually going to sea as a sailor. Carroll allows her characters
to grow into themselves with natural acceptance of whatever that may
be. Love and relationships and what one does for love of the other
are central to the story.
This book would be ideal for age 10 to 12 stronger readers and would
work well as a serial read. Young readers could be encouraged to use
their atlases and explore historical themes arising from the book
that interest them.
Wendy Jeffrey
The girl who reads on the Metro by Christine Feret-Fleury
Translated from French by Ros Schwartz. Mantle, 2019. ISBN: 9781509868339.
(Age: 16+) Highly recommended. Travelling on the Paris Metro to work
in a real estate office, Juliette had often passed her time covertly
making out the book titles or the page being perused by fellow
commuters, and wondered about the lives of the readers and their
book choices. In a spontaneous variation to her route one day, an
encounter with a sprite of a girl, Zaide, leads her to the strange
dusty world of a bookshop, 'Books Unlimited', and its mysterious
owner Soliman, who dispenses books to 'passeurs' - not the agents of
the secret French resistance WWII escape routes, but people who pass
on books to the person most in need of them. Soliman tells Juliette
about Hornbaker's concept of BookCrossing, releasing books into the
wild, leaving books in public places for people to find; only
Soliman wants his passeurs to give the right book to the right
reader. It reminded me of Ranganathan's laws of library science:
every person his or her book; and, every book its reader. Juliette
had been studying readers on the Metro for a long time but the idea
of matching the right book to the right reader seems overwhelming to
her. But somehow she seems to have the knack . . .
The novel is set in the modern world of stressed work lives and
mobile phones, but the story invokes the quirkiness of past French
films, and I could just see Amelie star Audrey Tatou in the
role of Juliette, a person of lightness and grace, caught in the
humdrum of daily life, and bringing a spark to her encounters with a
variety of unusual people: the man in the green hat with his insect
book, the sad woman with Italian recipes, the pretty young woman
tearfully reading page 247 of the romance novel.
However Juliette has always led a sheltered life, never going
further than the few Metro stops to her work, her only adventures
those in the books she's read. When she enters into the bookshop
with its teetering piles of books, and then is suddenly asked to
take care of it all, the task seems overwhelming. But the friends
she has come to know help her to inevitably take courage and find
her true vocation.
This is definitely a book for book lovers; there are many references
to treasures of literature, both classical and modern. At the end
there is a list of amazing books. Readers will be familiar with
many, but are invited to also add their own favourites, books they
would "recommend to a friend - or to your worst enemy, so they will
no longer be so, if the magic works".
Helen Eddy
The Land of Roar by Jenny McLachlan
Egmont, 2019. ISBN: 9781405293679.
(Age: 8-12) Recommended. Themes: Fantasy, Imaginary lands,
Adventure, Magical Creatures, Good vs Evil, Twins. Rose and Arthur
are twins who have spent holiday time with their grandad. As young
children they played in Grandad's attic and created a mythical land
where they were the heroes of imaginative battles and adventures.
Now back at Grandad's home as eleven year olds, Rose and Arthur are
not quite the connected twins that they used to be. Rose is only
interested in her mobile phone and impressing the older girl next
door whereas Arthur is keen to relive their childhood adventures in
the attic. Rose treats Arthur disdainfully and Arthur keeps on
hoping Rose will become the adventurous and fun sister she once was.
Grandad decides that this year he will give the children the attic
as their own space but they will need to tidy it up and throw things
out. While clearing things out, Arthur finds two important childhood
memories of the Land of Roar which he cannot quite believe are true
- an old hand drawn map and a sign saying "Enter here for the land
of roar". While Grandad is helping Arthur he disappears into the
Land of Roar through a rolled up bed mattress. This is where the
twin's amazing journey begins. Arthur follows and meets all manner
of magical creatures in his search for his missing grandfather. Rose
eventually joins him and with their friend, Win, they must fight the
evil Crowky in order to save their grandad.
The author has used every fragment of her imagination to create an
exciting adventure where anything and everything is possible - magic
roads, magic tunnels, stuffed scarecrows that fight, Lost Girls,
dragons, mermaids, Prosecco the wooden horse from the attic and so
much more. Young readers will enjoy the action and tension
throughout the book as well as the clever illustrations to support
the story. Throughout the whole story, Arthur is never quite sure if
the Land of Roar is real or something he and Rose made up. Grandad
tells him it is real in his imagination and "I wonder if every child
has a world like this only not everyone is lucky enough to find it."
Kathryn Beilby
The Grace Year by Kim Liggett
Del Ray, 2019. ISBN: Del Ray, 2019. ISBN: 9781529100594. 404 pg., paperback.
No one speaks of the Grace Year. Little is known about what goes on
during it, but every girl in the county knows one thing is certain.
It will change them, if they survive it that is. The Grace Year
by Kim Liggett is a feminist thriller centered on Tierney James, who
lives in a village where all the girls are banished to the outskirts
at sixteen for the entire year. To brave the wilderness and expel
their magic is what they are told but really, they must also brave
each other. Trust no one, not even yourself. The Grace Year kept me grabbing the book wanting more and
more whenever I had the chance. Kim wrote of such compelling
characters that had such complex feelings and compulsions of their
own that I wasn't able to tell what was going to happen next. Kim
also described Tierney James well: she is a strong minded, logical
yet rebellious girl coming into her womanhood and after following
the rules of the county for all of her life she still finds it hard
to break free from it all, to finally be free of what she has been
told is expected of her. Going against what has been told of her,
going against the men who control her life, even going against the
other women around her, Tierney faces it all with as much strength
as she can muster. The question is: Will it be enough?
Kayla Raphael. 404 pg., paperback.
No one speaks of the Grace Year. Little is known about what goes on
during it, but every girl in the county knows one thing is certain.
It will change them, if they survive it that is. The Grace Year
by Kim Liggett is a feminist thriller centered on Tierney James, who
lives in a village where all the girls are banished to the outskirts
at sixteen for the entire year. To brave the wilderness and expel
their magic is what they are told but really, they must also brave
each other. Trust no one, not even yourself. The Grace Year kept me grabbing the book wanting more and
more whenever I had the chance. Kim wrote of such compelling
characters that had such complex feelings and compulsions of their
own that I wasn't able to tell what was going to happen next. Kim
also described Tierney James well: she is a strong minded, logical
yet rebellious girl coming into her womanhood and after following
the rules of the county for all of her life she still finds it hard
to break free from it all, to finally be free of what she has been
told is expected of her. Going against what has been told of her,
going against the men who control her life, even going against the
other women around her, Tierney faces it all with as much strength
as she can muster. The question is: Will it be enough?
Kayla Raphael
Rainbow Magic: Camilla the Christmas Present Fairy by Daisy Meadows
Orchard Books, 2019. ISBN: 9781408352465. 155pp., pbk.
Best friends Kirsty and Rachel are very excited to give each other
their Christmas presents! But when Jack Frost steals Camilla the
Christmas Present Fairy's magical objects, the magic of giving is in
danger. Can the girls help get Camilla's items back and save
Christmas for both the human and fairy worlds? The
Rainbow Fairies have been delighting young girls who are newly
independent readers since 2003 with 254 fairies published and 11 yet
to come. The series follows the lives of Kirsty Tate and Rachel
Walker and their magical adventures with their fairy friends, Queen
Titania, Queen of the fairies, King Oberon, King of the fairies and
Jack Frost, who is the enemy of the fairies and his servants, the
Goblins. With all the elements of fantasy that young girls love, the
series has remained popular for 16 years so if you have someone
ready to make the transition to novels this could be the one to
start them. This new release features three stories, each with short
chapters and illustrations to support the reader and with so many
others in the series to move on to, it is perfect for managing this
new step of the reading journey. There is also an
online site so that there is much more to explore and engage
in to enrich their experience, as well as suggestions for other
series that will broaden their reading horizons.
Barbara Braxton
Some places more than others by Renee Watson
Bloomsbury Children's Books, 2019. ISBN: 9781526613684.
(Ages 8-12). Highly recommended. Themes: Family relationships,
Fathers, Daughters, African American people, New York city. New York
city can be a wonderful, busy place and for Amara it's the only
place she wants to be for her twelfth birthday. She is eager to go
with her father to Harlem to meet his estranged father and his other
family and get to know the place where her father grew up. Feeling a
little unsettled by the fact that her mother is finally having
another child and questioning her strange relationship with her
mother, Amara feels she will understand so much more about herself
and her family if she can get to know more about their history in
New York. Her father makes it clear that this is a work trip for
him, and Amara finds it hard to accept that this is the reason he is
avoiding her Grandpa Earl so much when they get there. Amara puts
herself in danger in a large confusing city as she acts out when she
gets frustrated with her cousins' attitude towards her and the fact
that her father doesn't seem to want to spend any time with her in
New York.
The trip for Amara is enlightening in lots of ways as she learns
more about her father's childhood and how Grandpa Earl now realizes
the mistakes he made when his son was a boy and is trying to make
amends. Her grandpa tells her things about her father that bring
them closer together and ultimately heals the rifts that seemed so
insurmountable at the beginning of her journey. She also has a
school history project to complete. The author includes information
about the Suitcase Project that Amara's teacher sets them which is
designed to get the children to research more about their families.
It provides the perfect vehicle for Amara to fulfill her mother's
wishes to get her father and Grandpa talking and the information
included at the end of the book will provide classroom teachers with
a great resource to use after reading this book.
This is a touching, thought provoking story with well-drawn,
engaging characters that will make a big impact on the reader. It is
about how exploring the places from our past can help us understand
who we are and how our family effects our lives.
Gabrielle Anderson
Yinti Desert Cowboy by Pat Lowe and Jimmy Pike
Magabala Books, 2019 (c2000). ISBN: 9781925936933.
Recommended. Themes: Aboriginal life; Station life and work. The
Yinti stories follow young Aboriginal lad, Yinti, as he grows, lives
and works in North West Australia. In the third book in the series,
Yinti has begun work as a station-hand on one of the cattle stations
out of Derby, in Western Australia. Demonstrating great skills and
capacity to learn quickly, he puts his considerable talents to work
as a 'cowboy', wrangling cattle and riding horses. A later stint on
a sheep station develops his station skills further. Aboriginal life
changes as most of his community head to work with the kartiya
(white people) who are running the stations, and their traditional
skills are adapted to a new way of life. With the advent of wages,
the provision of kartiya food supplies, and with risks of the
stockman life sometimes requiring medical treatment as a consequence
of injury, there are many changes in Yinti's life.
The insights into Aboriginal life after moving from a purely
traditional hunting lifestyle are revealed in this simple collection
of anecdotal stories, based on Jimmy Pike's own experience. The book
is a great insight into aboriginal ingenuity and capacity, and is
worth reading. Although there are references to historical
atrocities involving aboriginal people, this is handled very simply
and yet powerfully for a young audience.
Having now read all three of Yinti's stories, I am impressed at the
power of these stories to create cultural understanding. They are
certainly worth sharing with a young audience and would make great
read-aloud stories. Note, by the end of this, the third book in the
series, Yinti is exploring 'adult life' and a romance with a married
girl at the back of the station wood-pile is obliquely hinted at,
rather than explained in detail. This book is perhaps more suited to
a slightly older reader as a consequence.
Carolyn Hull
Emily Brown and Father Christmas by Cressida Cowell and Neal Layton
Hodder Children's, 2019. ISBN: 9781444942002. 32pp., pbk.
It's Christmas Eve and Emily Brown and Stanley have hung up their
Christmas stockings and are snuggled up in bed reading when they
hear "Ho Ho Help" coming from outside their window. It is Father
Christmas and despite having the latest climbing equipment, he is
swinging precariously from a rope and needs rescuing. Emily suggests
that dropping down the chimney might be better because "Sometimes
the old ways are the best ways." But Father Christmas is determined
to embrace the new ways even though it gets him into strife all
night. Will the children around the world get their gifts on
Christmas morning or will they all be disappointed?
This is a very funny story that will appeal to both the reader and
listener alike. With its refrain of "Sometimes the old ways are the
best ways" it marries the magical side of Christmas deliveries that
we are familiar with, with the idiosyncrasies that we have all
experienced with modern technology. This is a Christmas story that
has some substance to it with a determined, credible main character
who will resonate with many and a storyline that will linger,
particularly when our technology next plays up and we are wishing
for some traditional Father Christmas magic.
Barbara Braxton
