Elementae series, book 2. Bloomsbury, 2019. ISBN:
9781547602544.
(Ages: 12+) Highly recommended. Themes: Fantasy, Air, Magic,
Slavery, Science - Experiments. Aspasia was captured by the
Trifectate as a young child from her family. She was sold as a slave
to a ruler called Cyrus and made to do slave trading. Secretly she
is an Elementae with air powers. As time goes by, she puts together
a crew of Elementae on one of Cyrus's ships, the Anorca, to free as
many women, children and Elementae they can get their hands on so
they don't have to suffer slavery. Cyrus is close to discovering
Aspasia's secrets that could kill her. She searches the vast ocean
trying to find her brother, Gryphon, and her sister, Pera, before
Cyrus finds them and sells them off to slave masters, whom would
kill them. Aspasia travels to a slave sale in the Trifectate and
buys three new recruits who all hold an Elementae power. She
purchases two girls and one boy who has an extraordinary power that
she has never seen or heard of before. Aspasia's crew and new
recruits suddenly find themselves right in the center of a boiling
war that will cover every last millimetre of the ocean. Will she get
her freedom or will she die in the hands of Cyrus?
This heart stopper and page turner of a story will make you want to
read more. Each time I put the book down, my heart was racing and I
was breathless as if I just ran a race. The way the story was set
out and the way the characters acted and behaved made me feel as if
they were real people who lived in this world. At one point I was
going to ask my parents if we could fly to the Wyvern Islands and
visit Aspasia and her crew of Element. Personally, I was so on the
very edge of my couch that I actually fell off. This story is about
freedom and power and how saving people can bring good and bad. This
magical tale of Aspasia and her crew was absolutely a show stopper.
I would recommend this book for 12+ and I think I would give it out
of 5 stars probably 4.5 personally.
Ruby O. (Student, year 7)
Watch us rise by Renee Watson and Ellen Hagan
Bloomsbury, 2019. ISBN 9781547600083.
(Age: 12+) Highly recommended. In this novel, Renee Watson and debut
novelist Ellen Hagan give voice to Jasmine and Chelsea, two teenage
best friends who are frustrated with the sexism and racism that
comes their way unnoticed. Creating a blog called 'Write Like A
Girl' as part of a Women's Rights Club they establish within their
school, they post poems and essays about feminism. While the blog
goes viral, and the girls are flooded with positive responses to
their creative content, some trolls emerge and things escalate
within the school, leading to the principal shutting the club down.
Refusing to be silenced, Jasmine and Chelsea risk everything to keep
their voices, and the voices of other young women, heard.
This is an empowering story about undying friendship, loving
yourself and others for who they are and the importance of fighting
for what you believe in no matter the challenges you face. With
poems, essays and journals scattered throughout, this is a powerful
read with the ability to inspire young 'art-ivists' to use their
artistic talent to speak out about the social issues they feel
strongly about. An important novel with a lot to say, particularly
in today's political climate, Watch us rise will have a
lasting impact beyond the reader turning the last page.
Daniella Chiarolli
The Good Egg by Jory John
Ill. by Pete Oswald. HarperCollins, 2019. ISBN 9780062866004.
The Good Egg is verrrrrry good. It does all sorts of things like
rescuing cats, carrying groceries, watering plants, changing tyres,
even painting houses. If there is anything or anyone needing help,
it's there to assist. Back in the store where it lived with another
11 eggs - Meg, Peg, Greg, Clegg, Shel, Shelly, Sheldon, Shelby,
Egbert, Frank and the other Frank - altogether in a house with a
recycled roof, things weren't particularly harmonious because The
Good Egg found the behaviour of the others confronting. They ignored
bedtime, only ate sugary cereal, dried for no reason, threw
tantrums, broke things... and when The Good Egg tried to be the
peacemaker and fix their behaviour no one listened. It became so
hard and frustrating that its head felt scrambled and there were
cracks in his shell, so The Good Egg left.
As time went by, it began to focus on the things it needed rather
than what it thought everyone else needed and in time it began to
heal...
This is a sensitive story that explores finding a balance between
personal and social responsibility so that the egg, or any person
really, can live at peace with itself. It's about helping the
perfectionist lower their expectations of themselves so they are not
always struggling and feeling failure, and, at the same time, accept
that those around them will always have faults and to be comfortable
with those. Self-perception is such a driver of mental health and
self-imposed standards of excellence are impossible to live up to
and so the spiral towards depression begins, even in our youngest
students.
A companion to The bad seed, John and Oswald have combined
sober text with humorous illustrations to present an engaging story
that has a strong message of accepting oneself and others for who we
are, not who we think we should be.
Great addition to the mindfulness collection.
Barbara Braxton
Jack of Hearts (and other parts) by L.C. Rosen
Penguin 2018. ISBN 9780241365014.
(Age: 18+) Themes: LGBTQ. Don't get me wrong, my secondary libraries
have acquired a number of LGBTQ novels beginning with Kate Walker's
Peter in the nineties. To be honest, the hedonism of the
students in this one, likely disturbs me more than their sex lives.
However, considering our secondary school populations can range in
age from 11 to 18 years, I'm not sure whether Jack of hearts
is that one step too far - much like Rammstein's imitative
pornographic music video became as immoral as the social commentary
they so powerfully achieved.
Previously published in the USA, Rosen's actual storyline is a
suspenseful cautionary tale of cyber safety. Jack, a highschool
student, falls victim to an anonymous stalker, who uses both text
messages and printed notes folded into origami shapes. Due to his
reputation as a promiscuous gay teenager, school authorities are not
much help, so Jack and his friends attempt to investigate the
identity of an increasingly ominous person - presumably also gay,
like Jack. The characters are fully fleshed out as they too become
targets. Jenna is a serious, aspiring journalist and straight. She
encourages Jack to write a weekly guest column for her blog, which
is essentially a sex advice column. Ben, is gay but unlike Jack, a
romantic who is waiting for a deep and meaningful relationship with
his first boyfriend. Jack's mum is a doctor and single parent, who
has a healthy relationship with Jack. Nance is that one teacher who
'gets it'. Jack himself, despite his own preferred 'love them and
leave them' lifestyle, is an insightful student of human nature,
advocating good communication, kindness and self-respect in every
piece of advice he gives.
Here's the thing, the quantity and explicit nature of Jack's own sex
life is the deal breaker for me. That said, I can't see the problem
including it with 18+ material. Perhaps, a solution would be to add
it to non-fiction as a relationships advice manual, where the
narrative element becomes a suspenseful and interesting
counterpoint; not that the publisher thought to develop either an
index or glossary. The gambit of Jack's relationship knowledge would
warrant both.
I enjoyed Jack of hearts because I am an adult, yet
obviously there are YA publishers whom Jack acknowledges for their
support, who feel otherwise. Lastly, Penguin includes a bonus first
chapter to whet our whistles for another LGBTQ title, The
miseducation of Cameron Post by Emily M. Danforth - now a
motion picture.
Deborah Robins
What Momma left me by Renee Watson
Bloomsbury, 2019. ISBN: 9781681199498.
(Age: 12+) Recommended. Themes: Family, Domestic violence.
Originally published in 2010, Newbery Honor Award winning author
Renee Watson's newest UK edition of What Momma Left Me,
seeks to uplift another generation of YA readers with a contemporary
cover.
Serenity and her younger brother Danny lose both parents as a
consequence of domestic violence. Serenity begins journaling her
healing in the home of their maternal grandparents. A new start in a
new community forces them to look outside themselves to develop
symbiotic relationships with wider family, parishioners, students
and hardest of all - professional counsellors. Serenity uses her
epiphanies to help her new friend, Maria, having learned that little
good comes of secrets. Danny's catharsis comes only after further
tragedy but to some degree from realizing that materialism cannot
fill that dark hollow of human despair, from which no one is immune.
Serenity crushes on Jay, who is somewhat of a rough diamond, but
stays focused on her school work and writing. Every chapter explores
both a line of scripture and a poetry device from her first period
Poetry class, to be learned and applied. The last chapter called
'Amen' begins with an Ode. Serenity's naive ode to a Red Velvet Cake
is an important metaphor and specially blended Mother's Day surprise
for her Grandmother. Readers are treated to the recipe in the end
papers.
Both Danny and Serenity falter but their family, faith and
community, reconnect them to bittersweet memories and dispel their
fears that they are not destined to repeat the same cycles of
violence. The novel arrives full circle back to the scripture that
sustains Serenity on the day of her mother's murder.
This is a book centred on grief, but certainly refuting the metaphor
that the disease of domestic violence is either inherited or
chronic.
Deborah Robins
Harry Potter: A history of magic by the British Library
Bloomsbury Children's Books, 2019. ISBN 9781526607072.
(Age: 10 - Adult) Highly recommended. Themes: Magic. Fantasy. Harry
Potter. Another book for fans of Harry Potter, this handsome volume,
now in paperback, is sure to appeal to anyone who has read the books
or seen the Harry Potter films. Curated by the British Museum for
their 'Harry Potter: A history of magic' Exhibition, this book has
immediate appeal with its vivid cover and beautiful illustrations by
Jim Kay and copies of manuscripts from the British Museum. These are
dispersed throughout the book and make for a fascinating initial
perusal of the book, for those who like to flick through to get a
feeling of what is inside.
It has an introduction by Julian Harrison, the lead curator of the
exhibition and learned articles from people like Julia Eccleshare,
Lucy Mangan and Tim Peake, but what made it stand out for me were
copies of the original manuscripts that J.K. Rowling had written,
and pictures of some of her drawings of characters and scenes. It
was fascinating to see her annotations, her erasing of certain words
and the appearance of her characters in her clever illustrations.
The British Museum exhibition must have been a wonderful experience
for people who managed to see it, and this book makes it accessible
to all. It is a book that begs to be read from cover to cover, but
it rewards the person who dips into information that interests them.
I was really taken by the information about mandrakes and the
drawings of them were fascinating. Any reader will gain much
knowledge about the history of magic and will wonder at the
knowledge that J.K. Rowling brought to her books.
A table of contents gives easy access to different aspects of the
history of magic, including potions and alchemy, herbology,
astronomy and charms as well as care of magical creatures.
This would make a beautiful gift for any Harry Potter fan, and would
grace any school or public library collection.
Pat Pledger
The big race by David Barrow
Hodder, 2019. ISBN 9781444929294.
(Age: 4+). Recommended. Themes: Competition. Friendship. On race day
Lion takes down the name of all those strong, big and fast animals
who wish to enter the race. At the starting line are the fastest,
biggest and strongest animals, Lion, Cheetah, Crocodile and Buffalo,
each determined to win. But alongside these animals is the little
Aardvark, scoffed at by the others. He is just as determined, and as
the field sets off, he is just behind the pack, running hard to stay
with them.
He swims, traverses the waterfall, rides his bike, all keeping in
touch with the rest of the field, and when they ascend in their hot
air balloons, he is there beside them in his personal lifting
apparatus. But when this goes pop and he lands near the finishing
line the others are in a struggle to get over the line, ending up in
a big scramble of heads and feet, bodies and tongues, but who came
first?
Children will love to read of this take on the tortoise and hare
story, as the Aardvark takes on the mighty animals, pitting his
strengths against theirs. The funny illustrations will be a treat
for all readers, adults included, as they see allusions to the range
of sports played out each day on our TV set, people vying with each
other, pitting their abilities against the others, all for a medal at
the end.
Fran Knight
Princess Scallywag and the no-good pirates by Mark Sperring
Ill. by Claire Powell. HarperCollins, 2019. ISBN 9780008212995.
Princess Scallywag and the Queen are out on the royal yacht enjoying
the fresh air when they are invaded by three stinky, sweaty, no-good
pirates waving their swords and determined to take them prisoner.
But three stinky, sweaty, no-good pirates are no match for the
quick-thinking Queen and the persnickety princess, although it is
touch-and-go for a while as they desperately try to save themselves
from being made galley slaves, scrubbing the decks and walking the
plank!
A sequel to Princess
Scallywag
and the brave, brave knight, this is a bold adventure story
for those who like their princesses feisty, clever, and subversive.
Barbara Braxton
A curse so dark and lonely by Brigid Kemmerer
A Curse So Dark and Lonely book 1. Bloomsbury, 2019. ISBN:
9781408884614.
(Age: 13+) Recommended. Themes: Fantasy, Good versus evil, Monster,
Folklore, Cerebral palsy, Fairy tales retold. Kemmerer returns with
a retelling of Beauty and the beast for a modern audience.
Harper Lacy is sucked into the world of Emberfall after trying to
rescue a girl on the streets of Washington. There she meets Prince
Rhen, who is desperately trying to break the curse that an evil
enchantress has placed on him; every autumn he turns into a monster
killing everyone in sight, including his own family. The curse will
only be broken if a girl falls in love with him.
There is action a plenty as our intrepid heroine shows Prince Rhen
and his commander, Grey, what it means to be brave and daring, even
when she is in danger and in an unknown land. Readers will love her
feisty nature, her quick verbal come backs and her intelligence, as
well as her ability to overcome adversity. They will also empathise
with Rhen as he struggles to overcome his arrogance and begins to
care for the people under his care. Grey too is a young man that
readers will love for his loyalty. (Kemmerer has a deft hand with
male characterisation, as she ably demonstrated in her best-selling
series, Elementals). Minor characters are also fleshed out
well in the second half of the book, and readers will look forward
to the return of Harper's brother Jake and her guard Zo.
The setting of Emberfall feels real, with an enchanted castle,
people struggling with poverty and a Queen from a foreign land who
has begun an invasion. The story is narrated in two voices, that of
Rhen and Harper, and Kemmerer's easy to read style makes this an
engrossing read. The cliff-hanger at the end ensures that readers
will pick up the next in the series.
This is a story that will appeal to readers who have enjoyed Marissa
Meyer's stories. Those who like the fairy tale Beauty and the
beast could go on to read Beauty by Robin McKinley,
and Jane Yolen and Shannon Hale have written excellent books
retelling fairy stories. Juliet Marillier's Sevenwaters
series is another to recommend to readers waiting for the sequel to
A curse so dark and lonely.
Pat Pledger
Larklight by Philip Reeve
Ill. by David Wyatt. Bloomsbury, 2006. ISBN: 9781526606617.
(Age: 10+) Highly recommended. Larklight is a rip-roaring
adventure science fiction book with a wonderful whimsical story and
terrific characters, now a major motion picture. It is set in
familiar Victorian times with the added dimension of the British
Empire ruling some of the planets. Larklight is a large dilapidated house that flies around in
space in an orbit near the Moon. Art Mumby and his sister Myrtle
live there with their scholarly father. One day Mr Webster,
supposedly from the Royal Xenological Institute, visits and they
discover to their consternation that he is an enormous white spider
like creature, one of the First Ones, who captures their father and
takes over Larklight. Art and Myrtle manage to escape in a lifeboat
and are rescued by the pirate Jack Havock, who takes them aboard his
ship The Sophronia. Many hair-raising adventures follow in
their efforts to foil the First Ones and save the British Empire.
Wyatt's wonderful, funny and detailed drawings are a joy to look at
and add to the enjoyment of the incredible creatures and objects
that pervade the story. The book is one that booklovers will want to
keep for its beautiful illustrations, (including a final one of the
author and illustrator recording a new species of ogleweed), long
involved chapter headings and humourous footnotes.
Apart from the breath taking adventures, readers will love the zany
humour and references to Victorian customs and the weird beings that
live in this world. Hoverhogs whiz around and clean up, winged
ships, powered by a device called an Alchemical Wedding, flap their
way through the aether and the Crystal Palace attacks London.
Readers can look forward to further adventures and lots of fun.
Pat Pledger
Pirate Pug: The dog who rocked the boat by Laura James
Ill. by Eglantine Ceulemans. Bloomsbury, 2019. ISBN: 9781408895948.
(Age: 5-7) Recommended. Themes: Dogs, Adventure, Pirates, Sailing. Pirate
Pug is the fourth fun adventure for this roly-poly pet and his
owner Lady Miranda. Although Pug can't swim, they are off on a
seaside, staying in the deluxe suite of the Smuggler's Rest Hotel,
Pebbly Bay. Running Footmen Will and Liam are responsible for
transporting the holidaymakers down to the beach in a sedan chair
which comes in very handy along the way. An unfortunate accident
with a beach ball sees Pug with an eye injury and he has to wear a
pirate patch.
The town of Pebbly Bay is preparing for the annual parade,
celebrating four hundred years of freedom from pirate rule. Lady
Miranda and Pug meet the mayor who's wearing a special memorial
chain that is snatched by Rio the parrot. A chase ensues, pitting
Miranda and her new friends against three mean boys who've been
throwing stones at Rio the parrot.
Ingeniously with Liam and Will's help the sedan chair becomes a
galleon and the children are off sailing to Finders Keeper's Island.
Laura James builds the tension and drama with Pug captured by the
enemy gang, a sunken ship and finally everyone needs to work
together to save the day. Pirate Pug is written in large easy to read font, with
colourful and engaging illustrations adding fun to this story. Laura
James explores the themes of friendship, teamwork and how to face up
to your fears. As a perfect transition from picture book to
beginning chapter books, share the junior novel with Junior Primary
classes opening up discussion about the characters' feelings and
actions, interesting settings and narrative writing.
Rhyllis Bignell
Mary Poppins by P.L. Travers
Ill. by Lauren Child. HarperCollins, 2018. ISBN: 9780008289362.
First published in 1934, Mary Poppins was the greatest success of
Australian born Pamela Lyndon Travers. It gained a new lease of life
when Disney produced a musical movie adaptation in 1964 starring
Julie Andrews and Dick Van Dyke and introducing the world to songs
like A Spoonful of Sugar, Chim Chiminee and of
course, Supercalifragilisiticexpialidocious. Now, with the
release of Mary
Poppins Returns, the stories of this magical nanny are being
discovered by a new generation and so the publication of a
reimagined, abridged edition of the original, beautifully
illustrated by Lauren Child, is the perfect way to build a bridge
between the movie and its original premise.
When seemingly staid and upright Miss Poppins arrives to be the new
nanny for the Banks children - Jane, Michael, and the twins, John
and Barbara - it seems that nothing much will change from previous
nannies. Good behaviour is encouraged, misbehaviour punished and
order and routine are important. But within her stern exterior are
some magical powers such as being able to slide up banisters, float
in the air, step into pictures, stick stars on the sky, and talk to
animals. Mary takes the Banks children on a series of magical
adventures, such as using a magical compass to travel around the
world, and suddenly the children find themselves forming a
relationship with her that they don't have with their busy,
neglectful, upmarket parents.
Lauren Child has created an edition of this classic tale that is
perfect for this time and generation and which should have pride of
place in any collection featuring classics which are being
introduced to a new generation. It is excellent as an independent
read-aloud but would also be great as a bedtime read-along,
introducing younger readers to the concept of novels with chapters
that continue the story with the same characters.
Barbara Braxton
The lucky horseshoe by Chloe Ryder
Ill. by Jennifer Miles. Princess Ponies book 9. Bloomsbury,
2019. ISBN: 9781547601646.
(Age: 7-9) Themes: Ponies, Magic. Chloe Ryder's ninth Princess
Ponies story The Lucky Horseshoe takes Pippa and her
magical ponies on another entertaining adventure. It's St Patrick's
Day and poor Pippa's experiencing loads of bad luck, her cereal's
run out, she trips on the front steps and she's placed in a
different team for gym class. As she lays in bed thinking about her
day, she hears a noise outside her window and there are her friends,
Captain Rascal a black and white horse with a purple eye patch and
three other ponies. They need Pippa's help to stop Divine a
trouble-making pony from taking over Chevalia with an evil spell.
Just at the end of the street is a bedecked pirate ship tied up to
the bank. They set sail on The Jolly Horseshoe to search the
coves of the enchanted island of Chevalia to find Captain
Scallywag's hidden treasure. Their trip is filled with danger, high
seas, fierce winds and the mast caught by ropes. After Pippa climbs
high to free the sails, their magical seahorse friends tow them to
safety. Encounters with cowsharks, watching a special theatre
performance and meeting royalty, all lead Pippa up to uncovering
something special. Life on Chevalia is exciting and magical, this
young girl loves helping her friends and solving mysteries. Lucky
for Pippa, time in the magical kingdom is different to her earthly
time!
Chloe Ryder's junior chapter book is just right for young horse fans
who like a little magic and adventure. Jennifer Miles' line drawings
bring the enchanted horses of Chevalia to life.
Rhyllis Bignell
Flat Cat by Hiawyn Oram
Ill. by Gwen Millward. Walker Books, 2019. ISBN: 9781406371543.
(Ages: 3-8) Recommended. Themes: Freedom, Independence, Materialism.
Bright crayon illustrations bring the world around the flat cat to
life (because Jimi-My-Jim really is just a flat, line drawing).
Sophie lives at the top of a big apartment building in a beautiful
city with a beautiful cat. She really spoils Jimi-My-Jim with the
best food, toys, fancy collars and cheeky clothes. 'Most of the most
spoilt children in the world didn't have as many tantalising toys as
Jimi-My-Jim'. Jimi tries to be grateful and do what Sophie wants but
deep down he feels trapped. 'When Sophie went off with her parents
each morning Jimi sat at the window watching her go, watching the
world he longed to be a part of, watching a cat he so wanted to
meet'. He really does live a 2-dimensional life and starts to feel
and look flatter and flatter. When the chance to escape presents
itself, Jimi doesn't hesitate, making straight for the cat he so
wants to meet. The cat, named Blanche, shows him around town and
Jimi has the best day, ending in a party back at the apartment. When
Sophie and her parents arrive home to the mess all his new friends
disappear, leaving Jimi to face the telling-off alone.
'I think I know why you did it', says Sophie later, 'You wanted the
world, you wanted the wild and all I've done is smother you with
THINGS'. He is soon presented with his own set of keys and some
rules: keep out of fights, be in bed by ten and no dodgy friends in
the apartment.
The illustrations and text are humorous (children will love the
Jimi's ridiculous outfits and the dodgy cat party) but there is also
a nice message about how living life and doing gives us happiness
rather than things. It is also about how part of loving someone is
letting them be who they are, not just keeping them to ourselves.
Nicole Nelson
Calm mindfulness for kids: Activities to help you learn to live in the moment by Wynne Kinder
Dorling Kindersley, 2019. ISBN 9780241342299.
(Age: 8-12) Highly recommended. Themes: Mindfulness. Kindness.
Emotional wellbeing. Wynne Kinder brings her comprehensive
experience in mindfulness education and creating digital content for
the brain breaks program GoNoodle
to this Dorling Kindersley information book. Calm mindfulness
for kids is beautifully presented with photographs of children
engaged in calming and distressing activities. Presented in six
chapters, educators and children can delve in to the sections -
Focus, Calm, Move, Change, Care, and Reflect. They are guided
through each chapter, through the distressing, learning calm breath,
sensory experiences, caring for themselves and collaborating with
others.
Mindfulness is a key tool which underpins classroom harmony,
promotes positive energy and helps support children developing
positive emotional health. There are colourful circles placed
throughout to help grownups support and explain the activities. In
'Bubbles of kindness' there is an easy-to-follow exercise with the
ingredients listed, bubble mix and twisted pipe-cleaners. Adults can
help the child focus on sending kind bubble thoughts to their
friends and those they find difficult to relate with.
'Reflecting is a way to turn an experience into wisdom.' By making a
gratitude paper chain, siblings, families, classes and teams can
write something they are grateful for on individual strips of
coloured paper, then build a chain to decorate their home or
classroom. A mindful body begins with eyes closed focussing on
breathing and quietly stilling the body. Each activity boosts
self-confidence and builds esteem. They are malleable enough to suit
the individual child's flexibility and levels of understanding. Calm mindfulness for kids is an excellent resource for
teachers supporting students developing their personal and social
capabilities. Kinder illustrates that promoting children's positive
wellbeing can be achieved in short sessions, without expensive tools
and is inclusive for all. For families, this is a wonderful tool to
promote a well-grounded sense of self-knowledge and self-confidence,
great for parents and children
Rhyllis Bignell
