Walker Books, 2019. ISBN: 9781406375510. 352p; p/b.
(Age: 13+) Highly recommended. Themes: Science fiction, Dystopian
fiction, Romance, Viruses, Diversity. How far would you go to save
those you love? After a virus devastated the world and left people
infertile, Lowrie and Shen are the two youngest left. Their ageing
community loves and cossets them, and their days are happy,
searching for bits of history in the mud of the Thames. Then they
uncover a secret that threatens everything they have believed.
I read The quiet at the end of the world a few months ago
and it was reviewed
previously, but it is a story that has continued to stay with me and
one that has a theme that often has me thinking of the meaning of
humanity. James slowly builds up the tension as Lowrie and Shen find
old treasures from the time when the virus first occurred. Lowrie
researches the past of Maya, who describes what happened when the
virus first took over the world and the development of the Babygrow
app that became a couple's surrogate child. As their ageing
community gradually decline, Lowrie and Shen have to face some hard
decisions and heartbreak.
James skilfully builds up a world that feels real as Lowrie and Shen
gradually uncover what has happened in the past. There is action and
adventure, great character development and a riveting story line
told in archived chat-logs and traditional narration.
This engrossing story would make a great class novel or literature
circle text, giving participants lots of discussion points about the
meaning of life, family and love.
Pat Pledger.
Devils unto dust by Emma Berquist
Greenwillow, 2018. ISBN: 9780062642783.
(Age: 14+) Recommended. Themes: Zombies, Coming of age, Adventure,
Western, Dystopian fiction. Adventure galore, a Western setting,
zombies, some heartbreak and a great heroine - what more could a
reader want to while away a few hours?
Willie is a survivor. She has been looking after her younger
brothers and sisters after her mother died from the sickness that
turned her into a horrifying zombie-like creature called a shake and
her father succumbed to alcohol. When her father steals from a shake
hunter in the town of Glory where she lives and she is held
responsible for the debt, she knows she will have to find him. With
the assistance of two hunters she sets off into the desert on a
desperate quest to get the money back from her father.
This was a compelling and easy to read story that blended a story
set in the old West with a dystopian tale of sickness gone awry.
Willie was an engaging character, capable and determined to look
after her family as best she could. Her relationship with Micah her
brother and the twins was very relatable and the reader can't help
but be drawn to Curtis and Ben, the two honest hunters Willie hired
to escort across the desert. Short chapters and humorous dialogue
helped to lighten the darkness of the shakes.
There was plenty of action as the shakes tried to attack the small
party, and some heartbreak and unexpected twists will keep the
reader glued to the page until Willie's quest comes to an end. There
is a small opening for a sequel which the reader would welcome.
Readers who enjoyed the Western setting might like to read the more
complex The Devil's West series (Silver
on
the road, The
cold eye, and Red
waters rising) by Laura Anne Gilman, while those who
like a road trip might enjoy Tess
of the road by Rachael Hartman.
Pat Pledger
Disappearing Earth by Julia Phillips
Scribner, 2019. ISBN: 9781471185861.
(Age: 15 to Adult) Highly recommended. Set over the course of a
year, each of the twelve chapters examines a month in the lives of
different women and their families, all intricately connected by the
disappearance of two young girls. This remarkable book takes place
on Kamchatka, a remote peninsular in far-Eastern Russia, and is rich
with descriptions of the volcanic landscape and tundra with their
herds of reindeer. We are given an insight into lives filled with
loss and longing, of ethnic tensions and traditional Russian values
trying to find a place in the modern world.
While the mystery of the girls' disappearance begins the book and
the investigation is interwoven throughout, this actually reads more
like a series of short stories, with each focusing on a different
woman who has been somehow affected by the event including family
members, a witness, and a detective. There are many characters, and
it is easy to get them mixed up, but thankfully the author has
provided a list of primary characters at the start of the book. This
book was not at all what I expected it to be, it is so much more.
Donella Reed
Roald Dahl's colours illustrated by Quentin Blake
Penguin Books, 2019. ISBN: 9780241370315.
(Age: 1-5) Highly recommended. Board book. Themes: Colours. Another
stunning board book featuring the captivating illustrations by
Quentin Blake from Roald Dahl's stories for older children. These
will make the book familiar to adults reading it aloud, and will be
a fabulous introduction to the world of Roald Dahl for children.
Each of the double page spreads features a coloured background for
the colours chosen, pink, red, green, blue, purple, orange, grey and
yellow. For example, pink for 'I see plenty of peculiar porky pink
pigs' has hilarious pictures of pigs against a beautiful pink
background. Of course the famous 'green enomous crocodile hungry for
his lunch' features against a lovely lime green background. Only one
of the little people racing away from the snapping crocodile has a
green shirt and this will be a fun way for the adult to show that
there are different shades of green. This is also true of the dark
orange coloured fox against an vivid orange background. It was
interesting to see the colour grey featured and many children will
identify with the idea of a grey suit or grey trousers.
The description of each items associated with the colour is in a
bold black print which makes it easy to remember and there is a
special touch at the end with a gorgeous lift the flap featuring 'a
yellow giraffe with a neck that goes up . . . up . . . up!' Its
construction is also very sturdy with hard boards for heavy use.
This is a fun introduction to colours for children and is sure to
become a favourite.
Pat Pledger
A good girl's guide to murder by Holly Jackson
Electric Monkey, 2019. ISBN: 9781405293181.
(Age: 13+) Highly recommended. Themes: Mystery, Thriller, Murder,
Diversity, Friendship. What a compelling mystery - one that was
almost impossible to put down! Pippa Fitz-Ambobi decides to
investigate the murder of schoolgirl Andie Bell as her final year
research project. Even though the police had closed the case, based
on evidence that her boyfriend Sal Singh had murdered her, Pippa has
always had doubts and sets about interviewing suspects and family
members in an effort to see if she can find evidence to prove his
innocence.
In a tightly packed narrative, consisting of entries into her
Extended Project report and narrative about what is happening every
day, Pippa delves into the secrets of her small town and uncovers
some shocking truths about the people that she thought she knew
well. Highly organised and intelligent, Pippa, with the aid of Sal's
brother Ravi, goes about the investigation in a systematic way that
allows the reader to follow the clues and try and work out who did
the murder, or if there was a murder. At the same time Pippa's
humour helps to lighten the darkness of some of the evidence and
there are some very sad moments as well.
There are lots of plot twists that will keep even seasoned mystery
readers trying to unravel the truth, and both Pippa and Ravi are
people that the reader would like to know. Pippa's view of people
begins to change as she finds out things from the past and she is
uncertain of who she can trust. And if Sal didn't murder Andie, how
dangerous is her investigation?
This is a terrific thriller that will keep the reader on the edge,
very unwilling to put it down until the case is unravelled. People
who enjoyed One
of us is lying by Karen McManus and There's
someone inside your house by Stephanie Perkins will be
sure to enjoy this as well, and I am really looking forward to more
stories by Holly Jackson.
Pat Pledger
A nearly normal family by M. T. Edvardsson
Macmillan, 2019. ISBN: 9781529008135.
(Age: senior secondary to adult) Recommended. Themes: Sweden, Crime,
Family. The Sandell family seems to have it all. Adam is a pastor in
the Church of Sweden, Ulrika is a successful lawyer and their
daughter Stella is a vibrant student and athlete. There have been
the usual ups and downs, as there are with families, but they are
looked on by other residents in the small provincial city of Lund as
a model of success.
Things take a lurch into the unexpected and unknown when Stella is
taken into custody for the murder of Christopher Olsen. The story
unfolds from the points of view of Adam, Ulrika and Stella and gives
very different insight into each individual and the dynamics of this
'ideal' family.
Adam's recount is the first, and as a reader, I found this man hard
to empathise with. His interference with the case and distrust of
the lawyer defending Stella began to annoy me so much I almost gave
up on the book. It was Stella's account that turned things round.
Her character formed by the narrative of her father gave the
impression of a selfish, spoiled teenager full of angst and
rebellion. As her side of the story is slowly and at times
reluctantly revealed an empathy is developed. Her strong friendship
with Amina is at the centre of the web of emotion and loyalty which
Edvardsson brings to life.
Stella who is 18 at the time of the murder has been involved with
Christopher Olsen an older man at 32. Chris is a wealthy, successful
businessman the son of a professor of law at the local university.
There is some uneasiness about his treatment of women when it is
discovered a former girl friend, Linda Lokind, has made a complaint
to the police about Olsen. The investigation came to nothing and its
Linda's reputation and state of mind which has come into question.
The final voice is that of Stella's mother Ulrika. It is the
shortest narrative but one which gives the greatest insight and
perhaps shows the greatest understanding of Stella and of Amina.
The Sandell family was not the one any of its members wanted. Adam
wanted a perfect image projected to his congregation as a reflection
of his role as loving father and husband. He is a controller and in
the end not open with Stella or Ulrika. Stella is a complex
character and she feels guilty about her behaviour and reactions to
her parents but is unable to express them. She has many secrets she
keeps from her family and even some from Amina. Ulrika feels guilt
being the working mother working away from her family so often, but
also feeling excluded from the bond which Adam and Stella formed as
a baby and into her childhood. She too has secrets.
This novel was involving not least from the dynamics of the family,
but also the community in which they live. The Swedish police and
judicial system is an interesting contrast to the US or British with
which we are far more familiar. Edvardsson's resolution is not
entirely unexpected, but the master mind behind it all is more of a
surprise.
Mark Knight
Nits! by Stephanie Blake
Gecko Press, 2019. ISBN: 9781776572243.
(Age: 4+) Themes: Nits, Classroom behaviour, Friendship, Humour. A
disarmingly simple text tells the reader of the friendship between
Simon and Lou. Simon loves Lou but she loves Mamadou. Simon is quite
upset at seeing Mamadou kiss Lou, but when Lou begins to scratch at
the nits in her hair, her friends, including Mamdou, desert her. But
not Simon. He assures Lou that her mother will fix her problem, and
kisses her. And so Simon gets nits as well.
Simply told the story shows how easy it is to get nits, and tells
readers what to expect when they get them. The story reiterates that
there is nothing to be afraid of and tells readers that their
mothers will be able to get rid of them for them.
The simple clear illustrations underline the straightforward message
contained in the book, and will appeal to the target audience of
early primary readers.
Astute teachers will use this book as an introduction to the
prevalence of nits within school communities and take the
opportunity to encourage preventative action as well as showing the
children how they can be managed.
Fran Knight
The rest of the story by Sarah Dessen
Balzer and Bray, 2019. ISBN: 9780008334390.
(Age: 14+) Highly recommended. Themes: Family, Friendship,
Self-perception, Class structure, Anxiety. Sarah Dessen does it
again - The rest of the story has all her wonderful
hallmarks, beautiful writing that grabs the reader straight away, a
feel good look at a difficult family life, a swoon worthy but slow
romance and a clever view of class structure and wealth.
When Emma Saylor is sent to spend the holidays at North Lake with
her grandmother and cousins, people she hasn't seen since she was a
small child, she finds things difficult. Here she is called Saylor,
the name given to her by her dead mother, while at home she is
called Emma by her father and other family members. There are
unknown cousins to become acquainted with and Roo the boy who had
been her best friend when she was little. Roo is the key who helps
her find out about her mother and her past.
Emma is a character that the reader will immediately identify with.
It is easy to relate to her feelings when she arrives at her
grandmother's house. She has to navigate family shoals while coming
to grips with the fact that there are two communities at North Lake.
There is the working class group at North Lake, where her mother
grew up and where her grandmother runs a motel, and there is the
rich Lake North resort, where the wealthy spend their holidays.
There is Roo, the caring boy, who lives on the working class side
and the rich boys who stay at the resort. And there are all the
stories that she finds out about her mother who died when she was
ten and the side of the family that she didn't know about. Who is
she - the Emma from the rich family who stay at the resort, or
Saylor, the girl who helps her cousins clean the motel? And can she
overcome her anxiety especially about driving?
Dessen is one of my favourite authors. I love her characters and
even though she often explores complex family and personal
situations, she always leaves the reader hopeful of a good outcome
and better understandings as her characters grow and develop. Her
books are ones that fans will want to revisit and The rest of
the story is certainly one that would richly repay a reread.
Pat Pledger
Hey baby! by Stephanie Warren Drimmer
National Geographic Kids, 2019. ISBN: 9781426329319. 192pp., hbk.
'In every corner of the Earth - from the Arctic to Australia, from
ocean depths to mountain tops, from dry deserts to lush rain forests
- tiny tots are learning to find their way in a big beautiful
world.'
But these are not human babies - they are animals of all shapes and
sizes and each has its own life story, some more complex and
demanding more attention than a human baby. Using the most stunning
photos, this is a collection of pictures, poems, stories, folktales
and information from Nature's nursery that will introduce young
readers to the diverse creatures of this planet. Grouped according
to habitat such as mountains and plains, forest and streams, oceans
and seas, each creature has a short fact box giving the name of the
young, its home and its food as well as other information, and each
section also has a Tot Lot which is a group of eight creatures with
not quite so much detail but adding to the wonder of the variety of
fauna that shares this planet with us. Many have a story or even a
classic poem to accompany them, such as 'The Legend of the Pink
Dolphin' or 'The Duck and the Kangaroo' by Edward Lear to further
engage the young reader as this is a book to be shared or read by an
independent reader.
An investment in a child's learning.
Barbara Braxton
Cats and Robbers by Russell Ayto
Bloomsbury, 2019. ISBN: 9781408876503. 32pp., pbk.
While inside the house everything appeared to be as it should,
outside three robbers were spying on it and making a list of things
they would take once they were inside. They had dismissed the
paintings, the vases, the sculptures and the sweets and their
primary goal was the safe! So in they crept intent on their mission.
But they did not know they were being watched by two cats. Two cats
who had their own reasons why the safe was sacred and would not be
taken, and who put into place a plan to protect it.
This is a delightfully funny story that will have young readers in
stitches as the slapstick comedy plays out and they want to discover
who wins! The twist in the end is perfect . . .
Written with repetitive phrases and clever use of bold font, it is
made for reading aloud with the reader using the cues to build up
the tension and suspense. This is not a book that can be read in a
monotone with no passion or engagement. Lots of fun and lots of
scope for ideas to foil the robbers and their plans.
Barbara Braxton
The Three Musketeers by Russell Punter
Illus. by Matteo Pincelli. Usborne Graphic Legends. Usborne, 2019.
ISBN: 9781474938112. 104pp., pbk.
In 1844 Alexandre Dumas gave the world his story of Les Trois
Mousquetaires and now 175 years on it is again being made available
to young readers in graphic novel format so they, too, can share the
adventures of young d'Artagnan after he leaves home to travel
to Paris, to join the Musketeers
of the Guard. Although d'Artagnan is not able to join this
elite corps immediately, he befriends the three most formidable
musketeers of the age - Athos, Porthos and Aramis, 'the three
inseparables,' as these are called - and gets involved in their
adventures. Set in the France of 1626 when there was fierce rivalry
between the republicans and the monarchists, and bound by the famous
cry of 'All for one and one for all.'
Graphic novels have proven to be an invaluable way of introducing
young readers to the classic stories of old and this is no
exception, and with the current thirst for high action, high
adventure with superheroes, this is the perfect way to lead
children's reading on to something just as exciting while opening up
a new world of literature. To help with understanding the
context because it is set in the real world but a different time,
there are pages at the back that set the scene and Usborne have
their usual Quicklinks page to help the reader explore even further.
A must for independent readers seeking to expand their horizons, as
well as an addition to a unit comparing superheroes past, present
and future!!
Barbara Braxton
Fated by Teri Terry
Orchard Books, 2019. ISBN: 9781408350669. 460 pages, paperback.
(Age: Teenagers+) Recommended. Fated is an exciting origin story to
the Slated series. It tells of the chaos that started when
the borders closed around the UK and the forceful control the
government imposed, the start of rebellion from both those who wish
harm to others and those who just want peace, and lastly the
consequences of the actions made by all. The story follows Sam, the
daughter of the deputy prime minister, and Ava a scholarship student
who goes to school with Sam. Both are thrown into a flurry of events
when the government starts to lay blame on the youth, imposing rules
and restrictions that only apply to them.
This story is truly a gripping read and the perfect choice to help
you decide if you want to read the Slated series. Sam's
character is very intriguing as she is still figuring out what she
wants to do with her life, she knows what she likes but doesn't have
the motivation to pursue it. Though thankfully with the help of Ava,
she slowly comes to find something to believe in and that provokes
her to take action. Ava is different from Sam as she is very driven
in her studies, and knows that sometimes it's best to keep her head
down and focus. Both girls are discovering themselves and with all
the chaos that unfolds around them, it isn't easy.
Overall, this is a wonderful and enticing story that has definitely
gotten me interested in the story enough to want to read the
trilogy. I would recommend it to teenagers and up.
Kayla Raphael
The beekeeper of Aleppo by Christy Lefteri
Zaffre, 2019. ISBN: 9781785768934.
(Age: Senior secondary - Adult) Highly recommended. Lefteri tells
the story of a Syrian couple, Nuri and Afra, traumatised by the
destruction of their home and the death of their young son Sami,
setting out on a path with other refugees to seek safety in another
country offering some kind of hope of a normal life. Afra has been
struck blind by the same bomb that killed their 5 year old son. She
is dependent on Nuri to dress her, care for her, and find some kind
of livelihood. Yet as we read on, we gradually come to realise that
Nuri himself is a broken man, haunted by images and memories that
will not let him rest.
The two of them cling to the hope of reuniting with another Syrian
couple, close friends, Mustafa and Dahab, joint partners in their
former bee-keeping venture in Syria, who have now found safety in
the UK. Their dream is to care for bees together again in England.
Bees are an amazing community that works together for the benefit of
all.
Lefteri interweaves stories and experiences of other desperate
refugees, people who shared their stories with her whilst working as
a volunteer at a refugee centre in Athens. That experience stayed
with her of people who had been through the most horrific of
circumstances in their journey towards survival and renewal. As she
says The beekeeper of Aleppo is 'about profound loss, but it
is also about love and finding light'. It is to be hoped that her
book will provide some greater understanding of the global refugee
problem and the need for all people to open their hearts to caring
about fellow human beings, who from no fault of their own are in
desperate need of refuge and support.
Helen Eddy
Sea-ing is believing by Steven Butler
Illus. by Steven Lenton. Nothing to See Here Hotel. Simon
and Schuster, 2019. ISBN: 9781471178733.
(Age 9+)Recommended. Themes: Fantasy, Ghosts, Hotels, Secrets,
Strange fantasy creatures. The Nothing to See Here Hotel is more
than unusual - it is positively disorderly and rambunctious! And if
you thought rambunctious was an unusual word, 'you ain't seen
nothing yet'! Steven Butler has created a spirited (in more ways
than one) and rollicking fantasy tale with strange creatures and
more created words than you can throw a ghost at! In the third book
of the series involving the 'hidden' Hotel that caters for magical
creatures of all variabilities and quirks (some bad and some good),
the return of their feted ancestor Abe as a ghostly apparition
presents all sorts of interesting questions. He also reveals the
grand Ballroom which has been magically missing and presents all
sorts of astounding possibilities and there is an amazing ride to
get there. The drama unfolds when things are uncovered that suggest
that all is not what it seems.
The quirkiness of this book and the array of weird and wonderful
creatures will be enjoyable for young readers . . . it is a literary
roller-coaster with exploding and fantastical creatures dropping
from all angles to impact the passage of the story. The explosion of
created words (reminiscent of the BFG's classic vocabulary) is also
immensely entertaining in an explodiferous and confusaplonking way!
Illustrations by Steven Lenton help to reveal what the imagination
cannot quite fathom.
Carolyn Hull
Roald Dahl's ABC illustrated by Quentin Blake
Penguin Books, 2019. ISBN: 9780241370308.
(Age: 1-5) Recommended. Board book. Quentin Blake's marvellous
illustrations are on display in this alphabet book which will be
fabulous for young children. The famous enormous crocodile from
Roald Dahl's book is featured, bringing lots of humour and
excitement to the book.
'A is for . . . Anteater
B is for . . . Books
C is for . . . Crocodile
D is for . . . Delicious!' (Publisher)
Each page has the upper case letter as well as the lower case letter
in bold print that would be easy for little fingers to trace and to
gradually remember. The background against which each letter is
situated is done in bold colours so that the letter stands out well
and this will make it easy for children to gradually learn to
recognise them. The board book is very sturdy, and should hold up to
a lot of use from young children.
Of course the drawings are wonderful. As well as the fun with the
snapping crocodile, children will delight in the 'F is for fox',
that has the fox chasing a terrified chicken, and the 'U is for
upside down' is hilarious. Not to mention the 'V is for vegetables'
that has an elderly man spitting out a cucumber and will have
children and adults in stitches. The 'X is for xenopus (A particular
sort of frog' is also cute and children will love to try and say the
new word out loud. The familiar illustrations have come from Roald
Dahl's books and will be recognised by adults and will be a pleasant
introduction to the books when the young child grows is old enough
to read them.
This is a lively ABC book that should prove to be a keeper.
Pat Pledger
