Quercus, 2016. ISBN 9781784293093
(Age: Senior secondary to adult) Highly recommended. Crime fiction,
Scotland, Bees. Washed ashore on the island of Harris, a man has no
idea of who he is or why he is where he is. He can recall being in
the sea and knows that he has a head wound, but beyond that,
nothing. He struggles up the beach and heads towards a cluster of
houses, and realises that one is his. Here he searches the place for
some clue of his identity and finds nothing. A woman who comes into
his house and later into his bed, obviously knows him intimately and
when they follow the dog the next day up the hills from his house,
they stumble over a group of beehives. He finds small pieces of
information grabbing his attention but none is able to create a
proper memory of who he is and why he is there.
When a body is discovered on the island off shore, an island he has
been seen at, DS Gunn takes him in for questioning, but he stalls,
not willing to say that he has no memory. Meanwhile in Edinburgh, a
young girl works out that her father, believed to have suicided two
years ago, is alive and sets out to search for him. She knows that
his research student is near Harris and thinks she may be able to
find her father through him. Along the way she meets her father's
old friend who tells her about the research that her father was
involved with before his 'suicide'. He and several others were
researching the effect of neonicotinoids used in crop sprays upon
the bee populations around the world, linking their decline to the
effect of these sprays on their memories. Without remembering where
to find pollen, the bees die, which means that the pollination of
our major food sources will not occur and so we will die.
This research is being undermined by the global spray manufacturers
and so several men, after losing their positions in laboratories
funded by these companies, have decided to do the research in
secret.
Karen in searching for her father stumbles into the secret research
and so the strands come together, of Karen looking for her father,
of the secret research, of the death on the island.
DS Gunn is a wonderful ploy to the amnesiac, asking questions,
liking the man but aware that he could be a killer, giving him the
opportunity to work things out. The exciting last chapter where all
the threads come together on a bleak night off Harris, is
mesmerising as May's description of the weather and the surrounds
grabs attention. His presenting of the theme of the suppression of
data by big companies is mind boggling, and a short trawl using
Google will add to the readers' knowledge.
Fran Knight
This is where the world ends by Amy Zhang
HarperCollins, 2016. ISBN 9780062417879
(Age: 14+) This is where the world ends by Amy Zhang is a
vibrant and brilliant novel full to the brim with relatable emotions
and situations. Although the novel has some more sombre themes to
it, there are many aspects of this book that speak to teens and how
they are coping with everyday life and any tragedy within their
lives. It is a story about Janie and Micah and their nearly opposite
personalities. They are best friends and have been since they were
children, even as they grew up and apart, they still had a strong
connection to each other.
The story is not set in the traditional linear fashion of novels,
but rather, each character tells the sad story from their own stance
in the timeline, all to unravel the truth of what really happened
one deep dark night (just like in the setting of one of Janie's
fairytales) and the outcome of such a sad event. The story line of
the novel follows both Janie and Micah in their everyday experiences
separate to each other at school and at home and includes their
inner-monologues and thoughts about themselves and each other. Amy
Zhang has included another way of telling the thrilling and powerful
story by including excerpts from The Journal of Janie Vivian. These
pages include drawings and designs relevant to the character and
display another means of character expression throughout the novel.
This book would be better suited to readers 14+ due to sexual and
violent themes found within the story. This is where the world ends is a strong and fierce novel
that captivates readers, relates to readers and gives them another
perspective on life through the collective eyes of Janie and Micah,
two very strong and memorable characters.
Sarah Filkin
The mystery of the clockwork sparrow by Katherine Woodfine
The mystery of the clockwork sparrow bk. 1. Egmont, 2015.
ISBN 9781405276177
(Age: 11-14) Recommended. Mystery. Thriller. Fabulous for fans of
mysteries and adventure this sparkling story set in the beautiful
rooms of a gorgeous new department store will tantalise with its
plucky heroines, brave young boys and evil villains. Sophie and Lil
both work in Sinclair's which is going to open with a grand fanfare
and a wonderful collection of jewellery and artifacts, including a
clockwork sparrow that plays tunes at random. When it is stolen,
suspicion falls on Sophie and with her friends Lil, Billy and Joe,
she sets out to find who has stolen it.
This is a ripping adventure story, with some breathtaking moments
as the four friends face the most dastardly villains in London. The
setting of the Edwardian store Sinclair's, with its clothing
departments and restaurants, courtyards and basements, provides a
grand background for the youthful sleuths to track down clues and
face enormous danger.
This is a fun and compelling read, and is sure to please readers who
want some excitement and adventure in their reading or those who
enjoyed Murder
most unladylike by Robin Stevens. It is
followed by The mystery of the jewelled moth, and I am sure
our intrepid detectives will once again face the danger of the
criminal underbelly of London.
Pat Pledger
Introducing Teddy: A story about being yourself by Jessica Walton
Ill. by Dougal MacPherson. Bloomsbury, 2016. ISBN 9781681192116
(Age: 5+) Recommended. Diversity. Gender identity. Young Errol's
life is filled with enjoyment, together with his best friend Thomas
the teddy, they ride their bike, plant vegetables and share lunch in
the tree house. One sunny day Errol wakes up ready for another
play-filled day. Thomas, however, is feeling very sad, and even
swinging at the park doesn't help.
Errol and his teddy, Thomas, are best friends who do everything
together. Whether it's riding a bike, playing in the tree house,
having a tea party, every day is enjoyable. The mood changes when
the teddy gathers enough courage to share his deepest feelings. 'In
my heart, I've always known that I'm a girl teddy, not a boy teddy.
I wish my name was Tilly, not Thomas.' Errol's heartwarming response
is one of acceptance, he just wants his teddy to continue to share
playtimes together and continue to be his best friend.
Author Jessica Walton's easy to read narrative was written from her
personal family experiences. Her father transitioned into becoming
Tina, and she saw the need of writing a story to help her young
son develop an understanding of gender identity and the process of
transitioning. Dougal MacPherson's ink-and-watercolour illustrations
are emotionally engaging, the stark grey playground asphalt adds to
the mood of the story. The teddy's transformation cleverly drawn
with the bow-tie transitioning into a hair bow. Light and shade, the
important use of white space, background washes of blue and yellow
draw the eye to focus on the engaging Errol, Thomas/Tilly and their
friend Ava at play.
Accepting diversity and gender identity are the key messages in
Introducing Teddy.
Rhyllis Bignell
Editor's note: There is a Friendship
Activity pack available.
The truth according to Arthur : a book about fibbing by Tim Hopgood
Ill. by David Tazzyman. Bloomsbury, 2016. ISBN 9781408864999
(Age: 4+) Recommended. Lying, Honesty, Accidents. With the sub
title, a book about fibbing the reader knows from the start
that this book will be educative. But it does so in a highly
entertaining way. At first a little reluctant to read a didactic
tome, I was surprised at the way the story is presented and the
illustrations serve a level of humour which is infectious, and the
layout of the book, with its different sized fonts, made the reading
a pleasure.
Arthur has ridden his brother's bike, something he has been told not
to do, and as a result, scratched his parents' car and damaged the
bike. He is at a loss to decide what to do. He practises many
stories on his friends: he tries bending the truth, and stretching
the truth, of hiding the truth or just ignoring it. Each attempt at
not telling the truth leads him to another mess which is not
believed by his friends. The truth, a gray blob that accompanies him
but is often ignored, stands by him, reminding him of what he should
do. When the time comes he owns up to what he has done, and now the
truth and Arthur are the best of friends. Mum's predicted response
was not what he expected and telling the truth gained him admiration
not punishment.
The line and colour wash illustrations are deceptively simple,
adding humour to the story. Readers will laugh out loud at the
consequences of Arthur's attempts at distorting the truth,
recognising their own efforts at covering their tracks. This book
will initiate much discussion within classes and with children at
home.
Fran Knight
Remade by Alex Scarrow
Macmillan, 2016. ISBN 9781509811205
(Age: 14+) Highly recommended. 'It hasn't liquefied all of this
person yet.'
This book is a real seat of the pants ride through the unthinkable.
'Replication was the highest priority. Very soon it had 'fathered' a
copy of itself, and now both of them were working hard on
replicating again.'
Are you intrigued?
'He poured out his Weetos and drenched them in milk, little realising
that this was going to be the last 'normal' breakfast time he was
ever going to experience.'
Alex Scarrow has crafted a book that has the reader compulsively
turning the pages, hoping that what looks to be happening will
somehow not happen on the next page. The writing creates an
atmosphere of tension, dread and horror that make this book
impossible to put down.
The scene is a previously unidentified virus erupting in several
locations across the world at the same time, and then taking hold of
the planet. At each stage the reader is lead to feel hope that
disaster will be averted.
What sets this book apart from others is Scarrow's skill in expertly
releasing this virus into the world. The story unfolds in such a
believable way, the reader can feel as if this event is actually
unfolding. The scenes between Leo, his younger sister Grace and
their father are poignant. Despite the distance that separates them,
there is an overwhelming drive to help each other. Leo's courage in
taking on the virus and working to save his family has the reader
urging them on to safety.
This is not a book to read right before going to sleep, and haunts
the reader well after the book has closed for the last time.
Linda Guthrie
A Midsummer Night's Dream by William Shakespeare, rewritten by Terry Deary
Shakespeare Tales series. Bloomsbury, 2016. ISBN
9781472917775
(Age: 7+) Highly recommended. Shakespeare, Elizabethan times. As
with Macbeth, this story is told through the eyes of Molly,
a servant with a troupe of players who tour England presenting
Shakespeare's plays to whatever audience comes along. One of the
actors, Richard Armin, is the fool employed in many of the plays.
Molly tells us that Shakespeare even wrote comic scenes in some of
the sadder plays to include Armin. But she and Armin do not like
each other and he treats her badly.
The background tale of Molly and her place within the troupe is
lively and informative and will give readers an idea of just how
children their age survived in these perilous times. This book is
set in a Nottingham Market and readers will see for themselves the
lifestyles of the people in the town in Elizabethan times.
Against Molly's story is that of A Midsummer Night's Dream,
with a precis of the play given between Molly's tale. Deary gives
the reader a brief but satisfyingly ample outline of the tale with
the fairy Oberon making his wife love the first person she sees when
she wakes after being given a love potion. The comedy has her seeing
a donkey while the other characters, Hermia, Demetrius, Helena and
Lysander are also given the love potion and much confusion arises as
two of these people are supposed to marry each other and two are
planning to elope. Confusion ensues from all directions, but is it
all a dream?
The series of books now includes four plays, Macbeth, A
Midsummer Night's Dream, Romeo and Juliet and Twelfth
Night, designed to bring Shakespeare to a new audience.
Fran Knight
Fenn Halflin and the Fearzero by Francesca Armour-Chelu
Walker Books, 2016. ISBN 9781406363128
(Age: 10+) Highly recommended. In Fenn Halflin's world, the sea has
been taking over for as long as he has been alive and before. The
landborn, who are lead by Terra Firma, hunt and banish the seaborn
from the land, keeping the safe, land areas for themselves. They
kidnap children to be slaves and to build walls around the land.
Fenn is 13 and has been hidden by his grandfather, hidden from Terra
Firma who are always looking for boys. Unknown to Fenn, he is the
lost child of two resistance leaders who were killed by Terra Firma.
One night, the warship is seen and Fenn's grandfather organises for
Fenn to leave. They are separated. Fenn is smuggled out on a ship
but halfway through the journey, fear encourages the captain to
abandon Fenn in a shanty town located in the middle of the sea and
from which, escape is impossible. Will Fenn and his new friend
escape this place of despair. A place where food is scarce and you
have to fight to survive. Fenn Halflin and the Fearzero is the first in a series about
the end of the world. The heroes are all children, showing readers
you can make changes and be brave no matter your age. The writing is
suspenseful in places, making it highly engaging. The author uses
descriptive writing to immerse the reader in the happenings in this
watery and scary world. Highly recommended for boys aged 10+ but
anyone who likes an adventure story will definitely be hanging out
for the next instalment.
Kylie Kempster
Macbeth by William Shakespeare, rewritten by Terry Deary
Shakespeare Tales series. Bloomsbury, 2016. ISBN
9781472917805
(Age: 7+) Highly recommended. Shakespeare, Macbeth, Elizabethan
times. In this lively series, a character is introduced who becomes
a narrator presenting the play within the confines of that person's
life and times. With Macbeth we meet potgirl, Mary as she cleans up
the blood on the stage after another performance of Macbeth. She
tells us about the pig's blood used for the killing scenes, and
between her talk about her life and work, the author presents the
play.
Mary is a sympathetic character, a young girl taken into the harsh
service of a tavern owner, a person who treats her badly, yelling at
her in front of customers, beating her when she does things wrong,
and paying her very little. She must take the jug of ale around to
the customers while they stand in the yard watching the play, and
she learns the play well. She talks to some of the actors, showing
the reader how these men exist going form town to town, and she
meets William Shakespeare. After one particularly nasty scolding
from her employer she hides in one of the stage baskets and gets
away, joining the troupe.
All the while the play is going on, and we read a summary of the
plot and characters in text designed for the younger reader. The
story is well written for a younger audience and the series will add
to the growing interest in Shakespeare's plays for this
audience. At the end of each book is given several pages of lively
information about the play.
Fran Knight
Circle by Jeannie Baker
Walker Books, 2016. ISBN 9781406338010
(Age: all) Highly recommended. Natural world. Birds. Inter
relationship. Environment. The circle of life is reprised on every
page in this beautiful new book from illustrator/author Jennie
Baker. Her story of the godwits, the birds which amazingly wing
their way from Alaska to Australia and back each year, will stun the
readers. The story itself is a powerful reminder that we are all
interrelated, that what humans do has an impact upon the rest of the
planet, and from the perspective of this one small bird, that our
interference with the coastline seriously degrades their habitat.
Linked with her glorious collage illustrations the book reflects the
environment in which we all live and makes a spine tingling
imperative that we do much more to protect it.
The life cycle of the godwit is shown through one bird, one with
white splashes on his wings, and we follow him throughout the book.
He flies from Alaska to Australia, a journey of 11,000 kilometres
and on the return journey he finds a mate, they build a nest
together and raise their chicks. Each arm of their journey is
fraught with danger as their environment is degraded, places they
once stopped to rest are gone, buildings dot the coastlines, land
clearance has put their feeding places at risk and foxes search for
their chicks.
Every page greets the inquiring reader, intriguing them with hints
of just how each picture is made, astonishing them with information
about this amazing bird, revealing just how we have made the
environment so difficult for these birds to survive. Each page
impels the reader to stop and think about why our earth is now in
such great peril. Our interconnection is repeated throughout the
book, no reader can miss the powerful message being offered.
The circle motif is repeated throughout the book with the curvature
of the earth shown in many of the illustrations. The reader cannot
escape the image of the reserve where the boy watches the birds at
the beginning of the book, compared with the reserve at the end:
degraded, overused, with industry encroaching on its borders.
Readers will easily spot the impact of man on this environment, the
lights of the city seen from on high as the birds fly north, the
increasing rubbish seen on the beach, the degradation of the
waterfront, the number of buildings seen in the background, planes
in the sky. Further inspection of each wonderful image will enhance
the readers' interpretation and awe. And readers will ponder the
image of the boy, at first disabled and in a wheelchair, dreaming of
flying, at the end leaving his crutches behind and running onto the
beach, and later still dreaming of flying with his crutches beneath
his bed. The bird and the boy have been on impressive journeys,
causing the reader to stop and speculate on each of them, and
wondering how the boy, a bird watcher, can use his knowledge to make
a change. This book throws the question back on the reader, and will
create much discussion in classrooms and libraries.
Fran Knight
Editor's note: Teacher's notes
are available at the publisher's website.
Flawed by Cecelia Ahern
Harper Collins 2016. ISBN 9780008126360
(Age: 14+) Is there anything worse than imperfection? In a world
that champions perfection should your flaws be laid bare for the
world to see? With a system that is inherently flawed - how can it
be overthrown? From within? Or from without, could the Flawed rise
up and begin a revolution? How? Who would lead them?
When the system fails and you become the most flawed person in
existence what do you do? Sentenced to five brands (foot, hand,
heart, head, and tongue) for the simple act of compassion towards
another human being, Celestine North finds herself the reluctant
emblem of a revolution she never had any intention of fighting. She
put her trust in one man, her boyfriend's father, Judge Crevan. A
fearsome man, but a man just the same. With Crevan and her family
pressuring her to lie in the courts when she is on trial for being
flawed, Celestine begins to question a system that would judge her
flawed for simply helping an old, sick man who just happened to be
flawed. Even though he was flawed, he, like Judge Crevan, was just a
man. For her compassion and her honesty Celestine's life is forever
changed - she can never go back to her life of utter perfection. Her
dreams, her plans, and her future are all ruined-forever.
Sitting in the same class as Veronica Roth's Divergent
series, Flawed is certainly recommended for girls aged
fourteen and up who like dystopians. While the first few chapters
are questionable, the book improves and mellows out into an easy
read with a great and terrifying concept. Certainly something to
make the reader appreciate our society.
Kayla Gaskell (University student)
The girl who raced Fairyland all the way home by Catherynne M. Valente
Atom, 2016. ISBN 9781472112835
Recommended for fantasy lovers. Fantasy. Adventure. Fairies.
Magical world. This is unlike anything I have read before, although
there is an essence of Alice and a looking-glass world, a
hint of a crossover with a Wardrobe world, and a dose of psychedelic
fairy-tale adventure within its idiosyncratic style. My desire is to
write a review that reveals a little of the cloudburst that has
occurred within me as I read. This is a book with a magical
maelstrom of characters that are woven in a kaleidoscope of fantasy
magic, adventure and mystery, mixed with a pandemic of
inscrutability. The windstorm of characterisation of features and
follies is at first very difficult to follow, and the ultimate
fantasy 'Race' to sort out who deserves to be the current reigning
Royal takes the reader to places that no one knows or can fathom.
The confusion of plot and characters at first floored this reader -
it was hard to create a mental image of all that was exploding onto
the page in this unique fantasy creation. However the idiosyncrasies
and inherent humour of the language used, and the quirks of
expression were so unique that they had an irresistible charm that
created a desire to keep reading. (I am not so sure that this would
be enough for some younger readers, who would find the worlds and
wordsmithery confusing.) Note the following early descriptive
example to describe the world in which we find the central
character, September.
'A vast and hungry country takes tea somewhat differently than you
and I. Fairyland's teatime consisted of a dollop of rain in the
Autumn Provinces, a particular delicate icing of clouds over the
Painted Forest, a healthy squeeze of blazing sun in the Hourglass
Desert, and a fresh, green wind blowing wild through the streets and
alleyways and secret corners of Pandemonium.' (p2)
The winner in this incredibly unique telling is the language use;
metaphor, simile, word-play, personification and a general licking
of alliteration at every turn. The characters are also given
exceptional features, costumes and skills by the author Valente, who
obviously has a very verdant imagination. Each chapter has a
Dickens-like preamble to guide the reader into the next panoply of
wonder.
This can be recommended to those who love fantasy deeply, but who
also are inspired by words and wordplay. It might be confusing for
those who lack persistence or who devour books in small bites! This
is the last of the Fairyland series... but the first I have
read. It may be that those who already love this world would not be as
likely to be confused.
Carolyn Hull
Fizz and the dog academy rescue by Lesley Gibbes
Ill. by Stephen Michael King. Fizz series. Allen and Unwin,
2016. ISBN 9781760112844
(Age: 7+) Highly recommended. Dogs. Police. A second book in this
wonderful new series about Fizz the police dog, see the animals at
their training academy. Gibbes has fun having the dogs arrive in
vehicles which bely their size and breed. They are first checked
over by a vet and here we see that Amadeus, the burly German
Shepherd is still as dictatorial and rude as ever.
At the academy they are given tasks to achieve and as the story
proceeds, it is obvious that someone is sabotaging their efforts.
The balance bean collapses, trapping Apollo beneath it and he must
go to the clinic for help. But the teeth marks on the beam seem to
impel Fizz into action as he puts all of his skills into place to
suss out the saboteur. He amasses a number of clues before he is
able to expose the problem and a funny conclusion is reached which
will surprise the reader.
Again the humour is evident as Amadeus is up to his old tricks of
belittling the other dogs, while Fizz is able to make friends with
some new faces. Kings's illustrations are a treat, giving an image
for readers to concentrate on as they read, and giving another level
of humour for children to laugh at.
These will be sought after in schools, libraries and bookshops, and
another two are available as well, Fizz and the show dog jewel
thief, and Fizz and the handbag dognapper. With short,
easy to read chapters and a contents page, these will be a hit with
new readers.
Fran Knight
Fizz and the police dog tryouts by Lesley Gibbes
Ill. by Stephen Michael King. Allen and Unwin, 2016. ISBN
9781760112851
(Age: 7+) Highly recommended. Dogs. Police. Employment. A laugh out
loud story of Fizz, desperate to be a police dog, and help with the
running down and capture of criminals, but hampered by his breed. He
is a fluffy little lap dog, destined like his parents and siblings
to be a show dog or a companion dog, not a working dog like the
bigger dogs, Rottweilers and German Shepherds. He is booked in to
see Ms Trunchon from the Dog Employment Agency and is determined not
to go.
His friend, Tom suggests he go along to the police dog tryouts the
next day, so determined and bold, he goes. He is astonished to find
that many dogs have lined up at the gates, and all very different
from him. There are German Shepherds and Rottweilers, Bulldogs and
Labradors, all large and powerful and some full of bravado.
One German Shepherd, Amadeus, the son of a police dog, bullies other
dogs around him to ensure that he wins the competitions.
Three tests are given to the dogs and as each fails the test, so
they are told to go home. The tension is palpable and despite
Amadeus and his entourage baiting Fizz, calling him names and
belittling him, he carries on. Readers will be surprised that he
does not win the main competition but relieved when he is taken
along to be a different sort of police dog, one where his skills can
be put to better use.
This is a lovely opener to a new series about Fizz, leading the
reader into the scenario where he is a police dog, working with the
police to sniff out crimes and criminals. The series has a lot which
will endear it to a readership as it promotes standing up for
oneself, working for a goal that everyone says is beyond you and
standing up to bullying. All the elements are there for a successful
series of books, and Fizz is a delightful character with many other
minor characters just as endearing. King's lovely illustrations
add to the humour of the tale, as each dog is given their own
characteristics, and Sergeant Stern is a treat. King obviously
enjoyed adding to the humour of the book through his illustrations
and they suit the story admirably.
It's great to see an early chapter book series with a contents page
and short, easy to read chapters, just right for newly arrived
readers.
Fran Knight
Thanks for the trouble by Tommy Wallach
Simon and Schuster, 2016. ISBN 9781471146121
(Age: 16+) Highly recommended. 'Take stealing, for example. My Dad
taught me that our society punishes people who only steal a little,
but it rewards people who steal a lot.'
Parker Sante is a creative spirit who doesn't speak. He writes. He
truants school and spends his time in the foyers of hotels. He
watches guests and steals.
The day he meets a silver haired girl his life changes forever. She
thinks he has a 'deranged form of graphomania' and he thinks Zelda
is throwing her life away.
'Well, I'll make you a deal. I'll go to college if you don't jump
off the Golden Gate Bridge.'
Would you want to live forever? This book explores the compromises
made when life is without end, contrasting this with a life not
lived, but avoided.
'Young people feel things so deeply, don't they?' she said quietly,
almost to herself. 'Everything's happening for the first time.'
These two well developed and engaging characters affect each other
deeply, but the life of only one of them will be transformed. The
short stories written by Parker add another layer of depth to an
already intriguing narrative. Is Zelda who she says she is? Can you
ever become tired of life? There is an exploration of friendship
that reveals many home truths and quiet understandings about the
nature of humans and the grace of kindness.
Wallach has created scenarios that resonate with the world of the
young adults and reinforces the value of believing in and remaining
true to yourself.
Linda Guthrie
