Puffin, 2019. ISBN: 9780241360514. 239p.
(Age: 9+) Highly recommended. Themes: Fantasy. If life is a paradox,
then The Secret Dragon is duplicitous to its core. Mari
wants to be a palaeontologist like her father, who was tragically
struck by lightning when she was a toddler. Her mother, Rhian, is
not academically minded but invested in the living animals on their
farm. Mari finds the dragon egg after the new vet's son, Dylan, sets
off a landslide near her dig on the cliffs. Inside, is the stuff of
folklore, a living red Gwiber or Wyvern, which Mari christens
'Gwebe'. The Gwiber is also conflicted - affectionate and
troublesome. Mari thinks about making her father proud and naming
her momentous find in his honour - Pterodactyl Jonathani. She
deceives her mother and wags school in order to discuss the
discovery with Professor Griff Griffiths, a palaeontologist working
in children's television.
With Dylan as her assistant, Mari learns to connect to her own
mammalian wisdom. Yet paradoxically, it is Dylan who is taken in by
Ffion's charms, allowing their classmate to steal Gwebe from Dylan's
shed. Tension between mum and daughter mounts when Dylan's dad,
Gareth asks her mum out on a date. Rhian feels 6 years is long
enough for Mari to get used to the idea of replacing her father.
But, more lies surface . . .
The book captures the inevitable tension between different types of
people and their motivations. Professor Griff turns out to be other
than he seems and Dylan helps Mari to choose between the living
dragon or her prospective career. When Mari sneers that being
popular means both wanting to be like everyone else before being
collectively mean to someone different, she echoes the nuances of
the human paradox in Clarke's book. This is a novel ideal for group
study. It ably demonstrates that very little is what it seems.
Ed Clarke is a film and TV producer versed in adult drama, but we
eagerly await his next children's adventure, The Order of the
Dragon, due in 2020. The 10 fossil facts appended, are mostly
devoted to Clarke's inspiration, Mary Anning - the first person to
find a 'sea dragon'(Plesiosaurus) skeleton. It was so strange at the
time, it was thought to be fake. You see, in the best novels, the
circle closes for the reader's plenitude.
Deborah Robins
The fated sky by Mary Robinette Kowal
Lady Astronaut book 2. Tor Books, 2018. ISBN: 9780765398949.
(Age: Adult - Senior secondary) Recommended. Themes: Science
fiction, Women astronauts, Space colonies, Mathematicians, Gender
stereotyping, Racism. Fans of the award winning The
Calculating Stars will devour The fated sky
which is set a couple of years later. Lady Astronaut Elma York is
now living on a colony on the Moon and may have the chance to be
part of a trip to Mars. After an asteroid devastated Earth it had
became imperative for new worlds to be discovered, and Elma is
determined to be part of that journey. Along with 13 other
astronauts of differing race and nationalities, she is assigned to
the Martian mission and sets out into space.
Kowal examines what it would be like to live and work together in a
space vehicle, where the Captain doesn't believe that women should
be allowed into space, and where a South African man doesn't trust
his non-white companions. This examination of gender stereotyping
and racist attitudes as well as the dangers of the voyage, make for
a breathtaking and thought provoking read in this alternative
history. It is fascinating to ponder what would have happened if the
NASA space program had continued in the 60s, and what effects the
racism and sexism so evident then would have had. The fated sky, like The calculating stars, is sure to
be on many short lists and award lists and readers will hope for a
third book, while looking out the short story, The lady
astronaut of Mars (2014), which was the catalyst for the
series.
Pat Pledger
Run away by Harlan Coben
Cornerstone, 2019. ISBN: 9781784751173.
(Age: 16+) Recommended for lovers of thrillers. Themes: Mystery,
Drug addiction, Fathers. An exciting stand-alone thriller, Run
away grabs the reader right from the first page and with many
twists and hooks, keeps up the momentum until the unexpected end.
Simon Greene's daughter Paige has disappeared. A drug addict, she
has an abusive partner. Simon continually searches for her and one
day he believes that he has spotted her in Central Park. She runs
and following her trail leads Simon to danger and things that he
could not have imagined.
Harlan Coben is a master at hooking the reader in and keeping the
suspense and tension going until the dramatic conclusion. Coben's
portrayal of the father who just can't give up on his daughter, even
after her abusive boyfriend is found dead, is very effective.
Simon's steps to find Paige and to find out who is the murderer, are
vividly described and make it very difficult to put the book down.
The dark side of the drug world is a dangerous place for him to
venture into and this background makes the story even more
thrilling. Run away kept me guessing until the end and although all the clues
are there when you know what has happened, they weren't obvious to
me while reading. Verdict: An exciting thriller that was hard to put
down and easy to read as it was a stand-alone.
Pat Pledger
Computer coding games for kids by Carol Vorderman
Dorling Kindersley, 2019. ISBN: 9780241317747.
(Age: 8-16) Themes: Computer programming, Programming languages,
Computer games - design and construction. Computer coding
projects for kids presents a visually appealing step by step
guide to computer programming for kids, beginning with the
playability components that make a fantastic computer game,
characters, mechanics, objects, rules, goals, controls difficulty
levels and the game world. Computer games range span across
different genres - traditional, combat, role playing or puzzles. By
developing understandings of how coding works, the basics of Scratch
3.0 and sourcing the program, we are introduced to the first game
Star Hunter. With clear instructions, screen grabs, easy to follow
instructions and little pixelated characters providing helpful
hints, young programmers will soon achieve success.
Computer coding concepts are also explained from using coordinates,
looping, Boolean expressions and writing strings of coding. In the
Scratch section, there are progressively longer games to program.
Cheese Chase is a maze game where Mimi the Mouse tries to avoid the
beetles and ghosts on her journey to find the cheese. Jumpy Monkey's
mission is to jump and eat all the bananas. In the second section,
the Python language is introduced, utilising the same format while
building on the concepts learned in the Scratch chapters.
Dorling Kindersley publications are always visually appealing and
realistically written to suit the target audience. Each computer
game is precisely broken down into easy to understand steps, with
plenty of tips and concepts explained. Computer programming for
kids has been revised from the 2015 edition to bring the
coding up-to-date with Scratch 3.0. Just right for young techies
keen to begin programming and for those who enjoy the challenges of
mastering more complex gaming techniques.
Rhyllis Bignell
Zanzibar by Catherina Valckx
Gecko Press, 2019. ISBN: 9781776572564. 65p
(Age: 7+) Early Chapter Book. Zanzibar is an ordinary, contented
crow who unfortunately begins to believe that he is lacking in some
way. Achille LeBlab is to blame. As the special correspondent to the
'Voices of the Forest' newspaper, he is seeking interesting
subjects to write about. He tells Zanzibar that apart from his name,
there is absolutely nothing special about him.
Without rhyme or reason, Zanzibar reaches the very arbitrary but
specific belief that his special talent is the ability to lift a
dromedary in the air with one wing.
The quest for an Arabian camel begins and he tells Paulette the mole
his intentions. Sidi, the Fennec fox, helps him to find a very thin
camel called Cheb. Madam Adelle is a moth yet the postman is a
Seagull, named Monsieur Seagull. It seems only animals with jobs
have surnames and these describe their species, or their occupation,
since the lizard reporter is Monsieur LeBlab.
But will Zanzibar's belief in his ability be justified and will
Monsieur LeBlab want to write a story about an incredible feat?
Indeed, where is the evidence?
Historically, crows were trouble and not extraordinary. Nearly 200
years ago, the Indian crow was introduced to the island of Zanzibar
but spread to the mainland where it very quickly became a pest.
Coincidentally, 100 yrs ago, George Bateman translated an East
African folktale about a clever crow in his collection, Zanzibar
Tales. Science has decided, they are actually extremely good
problem solvers.
Thus, the retro look and feel of this children's book hints at the
kind of story we will read. But Valckx's Zanzibar is naive,
more like the characters in enchanting French classics such as Babar,
where animals seem to be concerned with one dimensional
circumstances before reaching a simple conclusion. And so . . . we
discover that it is never too late to do something incredible.
Learn more about this Dutch author.
Deborah Robins
The agony house by Cherie Priest
Illus. by Tara O'Connor. Arthur A. Levine Books, 2018. ISBN:
9780545934299.
(Age: 12+) Recommended. YALSA Quick Pick for Reluctant Young Adult
Readers. Themes: Ghosts, Horror. With a clever graphic/novel hybrid
The Agony House provides chills and thrills for the teen
reader. Seventeen-year-old Denise Farber, her mom, and her
stepfather are trying to renovate the Argonne House, a very old run
down house in New Orleans, but ghosts inhabiting the house are not
happy. Denise finds an old comic book in the attic, starring feisty
Lucida Might, crime fighter and it may have clues to an old crime
and the reason that horrifying incidents are happening in the
'Agony' house.
The gripping composition of this combination of types, graphic and
novel, make it quite difficult to put down. O'Connor's illustrations
from the comic and stand-alone pictures all stand out in blue, while
the text from Priest is engrossing and easy to read. Denise is a
determined heroine, very able in confronting not only ghosts but
opposition to the renovation from her neighbourhood. The agony house is a memorable ghost story that fans of ghost
stories and the supernatural are sure to enjoy.
Pat Pledger
Encyclopedia of grannies by Eric Veille
Gecko Press, 2019. ISBN: 9781776572434.
(Age: 4+) Themes: Humour, Grandmothers, Diversity, Expectations.
With a tongue placed firmly in the cheek, this overview of what to
expect from a grandmother will encourage howls of recognition
alongside surprises for the unwary as a huge array of behaviours are
attributed to the grandmothers of the world.
The board book type of publication will be able to ward off rough
wear and tear as many young children will want to read of their
exploits and share what their grannies do. From the front hard cover
showing a grannie in her tights springing across the page her two
grandchildren hanging onto a leg each, readers will respond with
smiles and lots of laughter. This is not what a grandmother is
expected to do.
Opening the book, a page is devoted to the general sort of
grandmother, then their ages, and what to call them. And over the
pages, more unusual behaviour is shown: knitting, flexibility,
vocabulary, their cats, the way they use buses, how they travel and
so on, each different page alive with humorous comments about how
they live and expounds the idea that they are knowledgable, clever,
fond of cats, certainly fond of their grandchildren and live lives
full of interest and variety. Not to be underestimated, and
certainly not ignored.
Funny illustrations serve to highlight the text, and readers will
have fun reading the small boxes of text on each page to see how it
fits with the theme. This book will serve to be a great starting off
point for discussions about grandparents as part of the family.
Fran Knight
Becoming Dinah by Kit de Waal
Orion Children's Books, 2019. ISBN: 9781510105706. 243p., pbk.
(Age guide: 13+) Highly recommended. Who doesn't love a road trip
novel? This is not a standard coming of age story but a fresh take
on a much-loved classic. Kit de Waal uses the road trip to chart the
journey from one state of being to another, using flashbacks to
explain the main characters' pasts and how they came to be where
they are. The author takes Melville's Moby Dick and brings
it into the current age, casting Ishmael as a girl and Ahab as the
former leader of the defunct New Bedford Fellowship. Both are in
pain and both are obsessed - Ishmael/Dinah struggling with sexual
identity and coming of age; Ahab with the pain of a life he
cherished in ruins. We join Dinah and Ahab as they traverse the
countryside in The Pequod, an old VW camper, in an attempt to
retrieve Ahab's stolen van, and we feel the darkness and confusion
that has taken over their lives. Their obsessions define the story
and are quite heartbreakingly relatable and tragic. This is a novel
about love and loss and isolation; about looking back and the
process of rebirth in moving forward. It is about finding out who
you are . . . finding your tribe. Given the variety of themes -
obsession, sexual identity, isolation, personal growth as well as
being a retelling of Moby Dick, this book could be used in
the classroom as a class text or as an independent reading novel to
explore a number of ideas.
Gaye Howe
The runaways by Ulf Stark
Illus. by Kitty Crowther. Gecko, 2019. ISBN: 9781776572342. 129p
(Age: 9+) Recommended. Kitty Crowther's colour pencil illustrations
create low expectations of an outwardly self-published title, but it
wasn't long before this reader was teary eyed. Indeed, fan's of
Fredrik Backman's A man called Ove will appreciate the
humour and pathos behind every grumpy old man.
Grandpa is retired. A ship's engineer, he built his wife a white
house, high on an island. The Runaways is a typical
inter-generational story where the patriarch and his grandson share
a close bond. Of course Grandpa is a blue collar worker while Dad is
a white collar type. Dad never makes time to visit his father who
broke his leg in a fall, after Grandma's death. To make matters
worse, Grandpa makes the hospital staff as miserable as he feels.
But Grandpa remains a strong influence on Gottfried Jnr and the two
plan an escape with the help of Adam. Adam is really Ronnie, the
freckled baker, but everyone calls him Adam because of his prominent
Adam's apple. Adam, a worthy adversary for Grandpa, agrees to help
the runaways to catch the ferry and spend one last night in
Grandpa's old house. Gottfried conceived a football camp and Grandpa
claimed to be visiting Gottfried's father - just so Grandpa can sit
in Grandma's chair by the window and understand what she saw.
Metaphysical questions arise about memory and what we each perceive,
given our separate memories, experiences and imaginations.
Figurative language enchants the reader: 'I held Grandpa's hand and
after a while he went to sleep. I looked at him and thought about
all the things we'd done together. He looked happy. He snored
quietly. It sounded like a ship starting its engines, about to
depart.'
Grandma's lingonberry jam, retrieved from his own cellar on the
island, inspires Grandpa to live to finish the jar, but the sublime
Gottfried has his own quest - convincing Grandpa that there is an
afterlife.
Deborah Robins
The Pigeon has to go to school by Mo Willems
Walker Books, 2019. ISBN: 9781406389012.
(Age: 3-6) Recommended. Themes: Fear, Going to school. Another
wonderful book from Mo Willems will be just right to read to young
children who are off to school or pre-school and are having a few
fearful moments wondering what will happen. Pigeon is afraid that he
really, really won't like school. Perhaps the teacher won't like
pigeons and there is so much stuff to learn. His head might pop off
if he learns too much. He thinks there should be a place to practise
all the stuff - yes that's right, it is school! And to top it off he
has to take the bus - wow! (A nod to the first book, Don't let the
pigeon drive the bus.)
Illustrated with the fabulous drawings of Pigeon, with black
outlines, and one eye, and with colourful one tone backgrounds, the
reader will delight in the funny antics of Pigeon, and will readily
identify with his fears. The print is easy to read and beginning
readers will have fun with the narrative, while younger children
will have many of their fears about beginning school allayed by
Pigeon's humorous dialogue.
Mo Willems strikes just the right tone with his characters, and The
pigeon has to go to school is sure to become a favourite, just
as Naked
Mole rat gets dressed became a household favourite with
my grandchildren.
Pat Pledger
Extraordinary birds by Sandy Stark-McGinnis
Bloomsbury Children's Books, 2019. ISBN: 9781526610874
(Ages: 9-12). Recommended. Themes: Foster care, Families, Birds,
Bullying. A truly heart-warming story that gives the reader insight
into the life of a child in foster care. December is eleven and has
been to many foster homes in her short life. She firmly believes she
is a bird and will soon develop wings to allow her to fly away, she
just needs the right tree from which to launch. She has fallen from
many trees in her quest to find the one that will encourage her
wings to sprout from the large scars on her back.
Her biological mother left her behind when she was 5 with the scars
and a book called The complete book of birds: volume one.
Therefore, December's knowledge of birds is encyclopaedic and the
facts that the author uses constantly throughout the book add
another layer to the story for her young readers. December uses
facts about birds to categorize the people she meets or what they
are doing, helping her make sense of her ever-changing world.
December's self-sufficiency and independence means she is often a
target for school bullies and this subject is also covered in the
story, bringing in a character that December befriends at school who
is a boy transitioning to a girl. Her relationship with Cheryllyn
helps her character develop to trust other children and form her
first close friendship. Not getting too close to people is something
she has been very good at through her life as it makes moving on so
much easier.
When December is placed with Eleanor, who also loves birds she is
not sure if she can let go of the story that has given her life
meaning for so long and finally find a place where she belongs.
Eleanor gives her the space and care she needs to come to the
realisation she can be part of a family and be happy.
Gabrielle Anderson
New Class at Malory Towers by Patrice Lawrence et al.
Hodder, 2019. ISBN: 9781444951004.
(Age: 8-11) Themes: Short stories, Boarding School, Girls. Enid
Blyton's Malory Towers popular boarding school stories were
written in the late 1940s and early 1950s, suited to the children of
post-war Britain. Now, a new generation of writers has taken these
stories and added new characters, twenty-first century thinking and
issues. Blyton's central character Darrell, named after her second
husband, still plays a central role.
Patrice Lawrence's introduces Marietta whose 'skin was still much
darker than her father's and her face was framed by rows of neat
plaits.' Marietta comes from a circus background; her mother's been
injured in the boxing ring and consequently something drastic has
happened to her daughter. 'A Bob and a Weave' explores themes of
acceptance, diversity and overcoming fears as Marietta grows and
changes.
Lucy Mangan's story 'Bookworms' challenges stereotypes and looks at
the problems schoolgirl pranks cause. Popular girl Darrell is on
thin ice, her mischievous actions have been noticed by the sports
mistress. One more misdeed and she's benched from the next lacrosse
game. Darrell discovers a new place to hide and meets a new friend,
Evelyn Hartley who loves keeping the library in order. She
recommends a new book for Darrell, The Lion, the Witch and the
Wardrobe and opens up the world of literature to her.
'The Secret Princess' by Narinder Dhami brings new girl Sunita
Sharma into Malory Towers. There's an air of mystery about her and
the third form girls speculate about her family background. When
Alicia comes up with the idea that she's an Indian princess, Sunita
decides to play along with interesting results.
Rebecca Westcott's 'The Show must go on' sees the girls preparing
for the fourth form showcase. Everyone has different talents, some
are good at sports, others at tumbling and juggling. They must come
together, work through their differences and present a unique
performance for their parents and visitors. New Class at Malory Towers rewrites Blyton's elite boarding
school stories making them accessible to a new generation of
readers. These four authors have set their stories in post-war
Britain in a world without technology and social media. The issues
the school girls face are still familiar, developing their
self-esteem, struggle with acceptance, inclusivity, bullying and
building friendships.
Rhyllis Bignell
Silver in the Wood by Emily Tesh
Tom Doherty Associates, 2019. ISBN: 9781250229793.
(Age: Senior secondary - Adult) Recommended. Themes: Fantasy,
Folklore, Secrecy, Magic, Recluses, Diversity. What an impact for a
slim volume of just 109 pages, which can be read in one sitting!
Tobias is a wild man who lives alone in the forest. When Henry
Silver, the new owner of Greenhollow Hall, comes to visit, old
secrets are stirred up as the woods seem to come alive.
Reminiscent of the Green Man myths, the author's details about the
lush green of the woods and the trees, the cottage where Tobias
lives and the strange dryads who are his friends provide an eerie
background to the story of how Tobias has become the Wild Man of the
woods and the impact that Henry Silver will make on his life.
Interesting supporting characters like Pearl the cat, Henry's mother
and a young woodsman, add depth to the magic of the story.
Silver in the wood is perfect for fantasy and folklore lovers who
want to escape briefly into a magical green world with fascinating
people. I can see it being nominated for a Hugo Award in 2020.
Pat Pledger
Incredible journeys: discovery, adventure, danger, endurance by Levison Wood
Illus: by Sam Brewster. Wren and Rook, 2019. ISBN: 9781526360434.
(Age: 8-14) Recommended. Themes: World exploration, World explorers
- Alexander the Great, Vikings, Christopher Columbus, Magellan and
Drake, Captain James Cook, The Silk Road, Amelia Earhart. This book
is a shining light on the adventurous spirit of those who have
explored the world and opened the way for trade, adventure and
travel to those who have followed their path or been inspired by
their fortitude. Levison Wood is himself an explorer and adventurer
of some repute, even though he is not yet 40 years old. With a
background in the British Parachute Regiment, he has also travelled
extensively in some of the world's most difficult terrains and
circumstances - traveling the length of the Nile and of the
Himalayas as an example. His curiosity, bravery and pursuit of
knowledge as he traverses the world makes him the perfect person to
inspire a new generation of explorers.
The book details the routes and experiences of many early explorers
whose exploits are well known. The list of these important people
includes Alexander the Great, Marco Polo, Christopher Columbus. He
also details other lesser known explorers whose pursuits are also
significant and includes the details of many women who were able to
defy the stereotypes of their generation and venture into obscure
territory. Their stories are not so well known, but they too were
breaking new ground and exploring new possibilities. Interspersed
with personal reflections of Wood's own journeys through the lands
and routes of the historically famous explorers are annotated maps
and also some general information about how to pursue 'exploring'
for younger readers.
Illustrations by Sam Brewster are naively detailed and the colour
palette is limited, but the overall impact is still appealing for
young readers.
Recommended for ages 8-14, and especially for those of an intrepid
nature or who are 'armchair' explorers.
Carolyn Hull
When we were warriors by Emma Carroll
Faber and Faber, 2019. ISBN: 9780571350407. pbk., 148 pgs.
(Ages: 7+) Emma Carroll has beautifully written a book which
explores themes of family and friendship with some mystery and
adventure during World War Two. The book consists of three short
stories set along Devon Coast in war torn England during the summer
of 1942.
In each short story we enter the life of a child and discover how
their own life and other children's lives were disrupted by
evacuation to the country and bombings in these country towns. Many
children were separated from their families.
What I really liked was how an ordinary everyday child rose up and
showed both courage and strength and with their friends they took
hold of each adventure. The characters all had their own
personalities which were very real and likable. Out of everyone I
have to say Eddie Johnston the American soldier and Velvet were my
favourite.
Each story was a standalone read but also were connected in an
interesting way.
Story 1 - 'The Night Visitors' was about Stan and his sisters and
how their lives changed by being moved from London to Frost Hollow
Hall after their house was bombed.
Story 2 - 'Oliver's Army' was based on Oliver and his adventures in
Budmouth Point and oh what adventures he had. Oliver and his
siblings were part of the Kinder transport during the war.
Story 3 - 'Operation Greyhound' was about Velvet and how she coped
with obstacles found in bomb shelters to save everyone's pets and
what to do when she found a man lying in the street during an air
raid.
After reading When We Were Warriors I am interested in more
of Carroll's books especially the ones based around Frost Hollow
Hall.
Maria Komninos
