Orbit, 2015. ISBN 9780356502120
Adults only recommendation. Anyone who has travelled in the Southern
States of America would know that the large cities that sprout in
the deserts must have a supply of water to keep them alive amidst
the cacti. In The Water Knife we see the future when water
becomes such a source of power within the States dependent on the
might of the Colorado River that the supply and absence of water
leads to major catastrophic social conditions. Southern States
become destitute without a regular supply of water and terrorism and
the manipulation of power and the subsequent refugee crises go hand
in hand. The 'water knife' is an expression to describe the violent
'right hand man' of one of the Power wielders holding onto to water
and keeping it from the ordinary people. He is the enforcer, the one
who clears the way by any means, to ensure that ultimate control
remains in the hands of one ruthless power-wielding water mogul
based in Las Vegas.
Only those with power and money (those from rich water-controlling
regions including California; and the Chinese whose technological
skills have been utilised) can survive in the harsh deserts. Money
is not always legally obtained (imagine gangs and thug standover
tactics, combined with drug cartels). The moneyed few can buy into
the artificial micro-climate facilities (arcologies) that enable
almost total recycling of all water. Technologies to enable
recycling of all body fluids keeps the poor from total desiccation.
But the horror of living in this parched existence, with some
excluded from easy access to any water, leads to a lawless world,
and kindness and compassion are casualties. In the midst of this we
see the lives of several survivors - ordinary people who need to
make a living by any means to escape the extortion of local
power-lords, and a Journalist who won't let a story go. These
stories become linked amidst assassinations, violence, corruption,
prostitution; and this is all woven into an amazing story that is
powerfully compelling, despite the horror of the descriptive work of
Bacigalupi. This is not a book for the faint-hearted or the
squeamish. The violence is horrid . . . as is the view of the world
that is possible where moral rule seems to have lost its influence,
and where dollars rule. Trust is the first casualty, closely
followed by compassion.
This is an astonishing and gripping thriller and is very much an
adult book. It is a potential map of an apocalypse waiting to come.
America beware! Abusive language, extreme violence - including
sexual violence including horrific rape, all described in graphic
detail – no holds barred - make this an impossible choice for a
school library, but it is a compelling book with an author who
wields the plot and descriptions of the people enmeshed in the
disaster with complete mastery. This book is shocking and yet its
window into a potential and disastrous future is so compelling it is
difficult to turn away.
Carolyn Hull
The Adventures of Miss Petitfour by Anne Michaels
Bloomsbury, 2015. ISBN 9781408868041
(Age: 7-10) Miss Petitfour loves baking and her 16 cats. Yes, that's
right 16 cats. They travel together by flying, using a tea-party
tablecloth that catches the breeze. All the cats hang on to each
other's tails and take off on a new adventure or shopping trip,
depending on how the wind blows.
There are five chapters each describing Miss Petitfour's exploits
and the local village with its unique and quirky residents.
The cats are introduced early and are repeatedly named in order
throughout the book. There is Minky, Misty, Taffy, Purrsia, Pirate,
Mustard, Moutarde, Hemdela, Earring, Grigorovitch, Clasby, Captain
Captain, Captain Catkin, Captain Clothespin, Your Shyness, and
Sizzles.
Miss Petitfour and her cats enjoy their whimsical life and each
other's company. Children will love reading these warm and gentle
stories and many will be able to recite the cat's names.
The accompanying illustrations by Emma Block suit the story
beautifully. The colours and design remind me of 1960's children's
picture books.
This novel will certainly delight cat lovers and will appeal to
children aged 7 to 10 years. The Adventures of Miss Petitfour
would be an excellent book to read aloud to a class.
Readers are invited to upload their own cat photos to #Miss
Petitfour.
Jane Moore
The rest of us just live here by Patrick Ness
Walker Books, ISBN 9781406331165
(Age: 12+) Patrick Ness has an amazing following with readers so
enthusiastic about his Chaos Walking Trilogy. Reviews have
been very positive about his latest title, The Rest of Us Just Live
Here. Mikey and his group of friends are eagerly awaiting their
graduation from high school. Their small town has experienced
vampires and the undead, and it now faces the threat of the
Immortals. The Indie kids, also attending school, are chosen to
fight the invaders. Patrick Ness focusses on the real story and
places the fantasy element on the sidelines, the action being
summarised in short chapter headings. Even though the world around
them is a frightening and disturbing place, the teen friends are
tackling friendship and family issues, some more unusual than
others. As with his other stories Ness is concerned less about
providing answers to what is happening out there, and more about
learning how to handle the questions. The back story is elusive and
puzzling but the main story remains unexpected, challenging and
imaginative. The reader is right there with the characters,
experiencing the fear when the Immortals emerge from the forest, the
confusion over the characters' feelings for one another, and the
loss that comes with friends going their separate ways. Mikey's
connection with family is strong: he has a caring relationship with
his sister and grandmother and tries to understand his mother more
as she seeks a political appointment above all else.
The language is slick and clever, with a great contemporary feel,
and perfect touches of humour. This story will have great appeal
though I suspect not with the same impact as Ness' previous work.
It is interesting to note that the award winning Chaos Walking
trilogy is about to be made into a movie, and Ness has just signed
up to create an eight part Doctor Who spin-off for the BBC.
Julie Wells
Gabriel-Ernest and other tales by Saki
Ill. by Quentin Blake. Alma Books, 2015. ISBN 9781847495921
(Age: 15+) Hector Hugh Munro's stories are satirical vignettes of
English society life before World War 1. In this compilation by Alma
Classics, nine of the best tales have been republished. Saki (Hector
Munro's pen name) was an observer of life, who used his acerbic wit,
pithy social commentary and mastery of the vernacular of the late
Victorian era to write these short tales. Each one has a twist,
something to shock or surprise the audience, a sting in the tail.
One of his most familiar characters is Gabriel-Ernest, a feral
teenager who lives in the woods and loves to eat flesh, especially
human flesh. When Mr. Van Cheele meets the sixteen-year-old
sunbaking nude near a forest pool, his decision to bring the
adolescent home leads to an unfortunate ending. Quentin Blake's ink
sketches capture the quintessentially English settings, the era and
the cast of characters. Gabriel-Ernest is drawn a gentle character
with none of his darker nature shown.
Another tale with a disturbing ending is Sredni Vashtar, where
Conradin, an ill ten-year-old boy who lives with his strict
guardian, secretly hides his pet polecat-ferret in the garden shed.
He idolises the animal and performs religious ceremonies in front of
his cage. When evil Mrs. De Ropp punishes him by removing his pet
Houdan hen, the young boy pleads with the ferret to avenge this
cruel act.
Other tales explore magic, revenge, secrets and hidden rooms,
upper-class English society and their way of living and comments on
the role of children and their education. At the conclusion,
information on the author, his characters and other masters of short
stories are included. Gabriel-Ernest and Other Tales is for the discerning reader
who enjoys period settings, Dahlesque humour and social
observations. Alma Classics recommended reading age is 9+, however
owing to the macabre content this story collection is better suited
to an adolescent audience.
Rhyllis Bignell
The First Christmas by Jan Pienkowski
Random House Childrens, 1984. ISBN 9780385755184
Regardless of one's religious beliefs or lack of them, I believe
that it is an important part of our role as teachers to enable
students to understand the origins of a time of year that claims our
attention like no other. This book which uses the text from the King
James version of the Bible is the perfect introduction. Superbly
illustrated by Jan Pienkowski using silhouettes against the most
stunning backdrops, it portrays the story in a unique way that does
not interfere with any preconceived, more classical images the
reader might have.
The illustrations bring the text to life, giving it meaning where
there may have been none because of the unfamiliar syntax of such
long-ago words. Pienkowski has interpreted the text in his own way
with much detail that even being in silhouette form evoke emotion
and movement and intrigue. And there is whimsy such as the two small
figures on the poop deck of the Wise Men's ship, who are pointing in
different directions and plainly arguing about which way is East. As
well as the exquisite illustrations, the pages are embellished with
all sorts of delightful touches that make the reader feel they have
one of those illuminated books of old in their hands.
This is the perfect book for beginning the Christmas Countdown - as
classic as sharing 'Twas the Night Before Christmas on
Christmas Eve.
Barbara Braxton
Counting lions: portraits from the wild by Katie Cotton
Ill. by Stephen Walton. Frances Lincoln Children's Books, 2015. ISBN
9781847807212
(Age: all) Recommended. The cover art of this large format picture
book is quite striking as the large head of a lion stares out at the
reader. Illustrated in charcoal, every feature of this magnificent
creature is beautifully drawn with whiskers and mane almost moving.
Virginia McKenna, famous for rearing Elsa, provides the foreword to
this book, speaking of the wonderful drawings of the animals but
also of their declining numbers in the real world which is part of
the reason for it being a counting book from one to ten. As the
reader turns each page another animal is highlighted, accompanied by
words of observation in bold orange text, which fades somewhat to
explain the threatened nature of these species. Throughout, the
astounding drawings dominate each double page spread. To close the
book Katie Cotton has added a paragraph of useful information about
each of the animals, followed by notes and further reading. This is
a very special book to be shared by any age group.
Julie Wells
The tattooed heart by Michael Grant
Messenger of Fear bk. 2. Electric Monkey, 2015. ISBN
9781405280778
(Age: Middle - Upper secondary) The Tattooed Heart is the
second instalment in Michael Grant's Messenger of Fear
series. Following on from the eponymous opening novel, this second
volume continues the violent game playing story in an often
compelling horror fantasy. The Messenger of Fear exists to punish
the bad, the evil, the truly wicked in this society and the book is
full of juicy examples, some topical others archetypal.
The twist in The Tattooed Heart is delivered by the
development Mara's character as she shadows The Messenger in his
grisly task. All the best novelistic fodder is here; life, death,
betrayal, redemption and big moral questions are posed. As Mara
becomes more intimately involved in the Messenger's work she starts
to question her own motives and desires. Ultimately striving to care
in a hate-filled world drives the (tattooed) heart of this clever,
thought-provoking novel.
There are of course clear dystopian tropes here and fans of Stephen
King and Richard Matheson will find much to entertain and ponder. It
is perhaps here that Michael Grant takes inspiration more so than
the most recent young adult dystopian stories. More Running Man
than Hunger Games; more I Am Legend than Divergent
or Maze Runner, The Tattooed Heart is suitable for
the middle to upper Senior School age group. Younger and more
sensitive readers beware!
Stephen Bull
All of the above by James Dawson
Hot Key Books, 2015. ISBN 9781471404672
(Age: 15+) Highly recommended. The small town of Brompton-on-Sea is
the last place on earth sixteen-year-old Toria expects much to
happen. But when she moves there, it turns out she experiences a lot
more than she bargained for, including but not limited to:
self-harm, one particularly attractive bass player, two chances at
love, eating disorders, a broken-down mini golf course, a very
unusual group of friends, and one statue of a disapproving seal.
There's one thing for sure - school will be the least of Toria's
worries.
One of the best things about All Of The Above is its
characters. While several of them are mildly stereotypical, e.g. the
overtly 'cool' rebel with pink hair, the flamboyantly gay friend,
etc., there are just enough subversions to the norm that the
characters feel fresh and real. Toria in particular is an excellent
narrator, witty and relatable without being too perfect.
Special mention should be given to Dawson's excellent treatment of
serious issues like eating disorders and self-harm, among others,
and also in his treatment of sexuality - it's rare to find a book
that approaches LGBT issues and characters as well as this. All of the above is actually quite long for a simple teen
novel, but it never quite feels that way. It's not like it roars
along at a quick pace, but it flows well and it's easy to read - not
just in the technical sense, but in the compelling way the
characters and the plot unfold. The humour helps too, smoothing over
what could be awkward scenes with Toria's sharp inner dialogue and
amusing references to popular culture.
It's hard to find a teen book as funny as this that has such great
characters and tackles such serious issues, but All of the above
succeeds - truthfully - at all of the above.
Rebecca Adams (university student)
What would Alice do? Advice for the modern woman by Lewis Carroll
Pan Macmillan, 2015. ISBN 9781447288527
(Age: 14+) Recommended. I personally quite liked What Would
Alice Do? Though it is a little unusual, the book is filled
with quick, handy hints for the 'modern woman'. Each piece of advice
comes with a quote from the Alice in Wonderland and Through
the Looking Glass books. The book itself is split into
sections such as: Alice on being inspirational, taking risks and
being brave.
All in all, What Would Alice Do? is a great little book of
hints and wisdom.
I would recommend this to girls from the age 14+ as some of the
language and wording is a bit old fashioned.
Rebekah A. (Year 8 student)
Jackdaw and the Randoms by Stuart David
Hot Key Books, 2015. ISBN 9781471404696
(Age: 14+) Recommended. Blurb: 'Most people call me The Jackdaw.
If they don't, I tell them they probably should.
Meet fifteen-year-old Jack 'Jackdaw' Dawson, a young man with a
serious plan. Daydreaming in class one day, Jack is hit over the
head with an idea so blinding, so extraordinarily visionary and so
downright fantastic he knows it can't fail. It's his ticket out of
school - an app that will stop you from getting into trouble for
daydreaming in class (ahem . . . ) Fame, glory and tons of money
seem just around the corner - but then Jack runs into a few
problems.
First of all, his warring parents are determined to push him into
a career of their choosing (mum says office, dad says factory)
without much thought as to what Jack might actually want. Secondly
(and quite importantly) Jack doesn't know the first thing about
making apps, and the only person who does wants nothing at all to
do with Jack.
That is, unless he does her a favor... which leads to someone else
needing another favor, then another and another - until Jack finds
himself sat upon a very precarious pile of promises to a whole
bunch of random people. Can the Jackdaw complete his scheme, or is
this too much for even his superior brain to cope with?'
Publisher.
Review
'40% Scheming, 30% Hilarious, 20% Weirdos, 10% Genius.' A statement
that Jackdaw And The Randoms truly lives up to. There not
once was a dull moment throughout the story of Jackdaw and his
schemes, from million dollar ideas to Elsie Green and her weird ways
there is always something going on.
I went into this book a little unsure of how I felt as this
particular genre was not frequently featured on my shelf, however I
am so thankful to have received this book and had the time to read
it. The characters were quirky, original and true to themselves
throughout the whole story. The storyline was unlike any other I've
ever read before but it was indeed enjoyable. The cover art is very
amusing and oddly confusing if you have not read it yet.
Rating
Writing Style: 4
Characters: 3.5
Storyline: 4.5
I would recommend this book to 14+ readers who are looking for
something unusual and humorous.
Jemma Hadley (Student)
The Tapper Twins go to war (with each other) by Geoff Rodkey
Orion Children's Books, 2015. ISBN 9781444014983
Recommended 8-12 years. For readers looking for something a bit
different in form and construction than the usual narrative or
recount, the first of the Tapper Twins books combines the voices of
both twins in an oral history of their war. Included are examples of
text messages, photos, annotations and digital images from an
imaginary computer game, reminiscent of Minecraft, and chat logs
from another imaginary social networking site.
Whilst the record of the fight between the siblings is funny and
definitely entertaining, the issue of cyberbulling is seriously
portrayed. The moral of this story is clearly stated by one of the
characters 'mindless destruction and revenge don't solve anything'
and 'karma exists' so what you do has often unexpected consequences.
The Tapper Twins, Reese and Claudia live in New York and attend a
private school. According to Claudia the war began when Reese
embarrassed her in the cafeteria front of the whole sixth grade.
Reese says it started when Claudia ate his last toaster pastry in
the kitchen at home. Whatever the truth Claudia is determined to
seek revenge and escalates hostilities, putting a fish in his
backpack which everyone but Reese notices.
Reese retaliates with smelly cheese which is quickly discovered by
Claudia and returned. When Reese and his friend upload a video of
Claudia singing to social networking site Clickchat and she becomes
a victim of cyberbulling, the war has reached a whole new level on
Claudia's part despite Reese deleting the video and apologising.
When Claudia decides to defeat Reese in his favourite computer game
on MetaWorld, Amigo Planet, it is a battle to the death. Whilst a
truce is eventually called the consequences of the war are more wide
ranging than either Claudia or Reese expected.
An amusing and salutary lesson for those inclined to a bit of cyber
revenge in any form.
Sue Keane
Awesome animal stories for kids by Aleesha Darlison
Ill. by James Hart. Random House, 2015. ISBN 9780857989680
(Age:6-8) Recommended. Aleesah Darlinson's collection of animal
stories is just right for the newly independent reader. Each short
tale is engaging and easy to read; there is a touch of magic, a dash
of fantasy, humour and wise advice from the animal and human
characters.
The author's country childhood experiences surrounded by native
wildlife, farm animals and a range of pets are reflected by two
stories. In Orphan Foal, the young owner learns the great
responsibility, the rewards and the difficulties involved in hand
rearing a horse. Swoop explores the raising of a baby magpie
and the struggle of knowing when to release it back to the wild.
Two tales with a seaside setting are fun to read. A crazy, creative
Labrador comes to Digby's aid when he enters his first Sand
Sculpture Competition. Holly's boring day at the beach turns into a
magical underwater adventure with Serena the mermaid.
Jack returns to cheer up Puff the Magic Dragon, a grandfather cat
spins a tale about brave King of the Felines - Alvarado and a
dinosaur fan turns into Dino-girl!
Illustrator James Hart's brings the stories to life with dancing
starfish, alien pets, winged ivory ponies and castles filled with
royal pig and a jealous pug dog.
An enjoyable junior novel just right for a class read aloud, to
introduce different genres and literary writing styles.
Rhyllis Bignell
Departure by A. G. Riddle
HarperCollins, 2015. ISBN 9780008156879
(Age: 15+) Recommended. When Flight 305 unexpectedly loses power and
crash-lands somewhere in remote England, the survivors have enough
trouble just staying alive in the unforgiving wilderness. But soon
enough, they realise they've landed in a different world - and five
strangers may just have clues to where they are:
Nick Stone, a mysterious man who soon becomes a leader after the
crash; Harper Lane, a writer about to make an important career
decision; Sabrina Schröder, a doctor who's spent far more time in a
research lab than treating wounded people; Yul Tan, a computer
scientist who seems permanently attached to his laptop; and Grayson
Shaw, the alcoholic son of a billionaire.
As more truths are discovered about what happened, it will be up to
Harper and Nick to unfold the mysteries surrounding their
whereabouts and the crash - and how their decisions will affect the
world.
After reading Departure, it comes as little surprise to
learn that it has already been optioned for film rights. After all,
a major strength of the book is its 'set pieces', so to speak - take
for example the opening plane crash and its aftermath, which manages
to be both utterly terrifying and breathtakingly real, and will
surely translate well to the screen.
Although Departure loses its steam slightly after the
opening scene, and again towards the end of the novel, it manages to
be a gripping science fiction story for the most part. The
characters are intriguing and have good development, although they
can be frustrating at times. The sci-fi aspect of it is very
well-done, and should please even the 'hardest' of sci-fi fans,
although this can also be a minor flaw - occasionally the
descriptions of technology are so complex and lengthy that they
become boring. However, in the grand scheme of things, these flaws
are small, and the book suffers little for it. Departure is an intense, thrilling story, perfect for sci-fi
fans in particular.
Rebecca Adams (University student)
How to fight a dragon's fury by Cressida Cowell
How to Train Your Dragon, bk 12. Hodder Children's Books,
2015. ISBN 9781444916584
(Age: 11-13) Recommended. How to fight a dragon's fury is a
fiction chapter book, about a boy named Hiccup, his dragons, Alvin
the Treacherous and his enemy, Dragon Furious.
Hiccup has to go on a treacherous journey to be crowned King of the
Wilderwest before Alvin. Can Hiccup also stop the Dragon Rebellion?
He is quickly running out of time, and after having a bump on his
head which made him forget his mission, how is it possible to beat
Alvin the Treacherous and his mother with the Excellinor?
Hiccup is the main character who goes through many difficulties,
such as when some sand sharks come and shoot poisonous darts at him
and his dragons Toothless, Woodensfang and the Hogfly. With Vampire
Spy Dragon hanging around like a vulture it seem impossible to get
out! Or is it?
The Hogfly flies up attempting to catch the darts but one hits him.
Instead of falling asleep, Hogfly swells up like a Balloon and the
dart bounces off him harmlessly, hits one of the sand sharks making
it fall asleep to its own defence system.
My favourite part of the book is when Hiccup and his enemy Dragon
Furious talk it up and Hiccup tries to stop the Dragon Rebellion.
Just as Hiccup convinces the great Dragon, Alvin and his mother try
to start the rebellion again. With some persistence Hiccup manages
to end the Dragon Rebellion forever and becomes King of the
Wilderwest!
I really enjoyed this book because it was full of mystery, adventure
and fear. The best part was that it seemed I was looking through
Hiccup's eyes and I think that is a great way to engage the reader.
I recommend this book for 11-13 year olds.
Amelie M. (Year 7 student)
Half wild by Sally Green
Penguin, 2015. ISBN 9780141350882
(Age: Older teens) Half wild by Sally Green is the next
instalment in the exciting and enthralling story of Nathan Byrn, a
half code, half White Witch and half Black Witch, and his continuous
flight from the White Witch Council's Hunters who are out to capture
him and any other Black Witch they come across. As Nathan continues
to traverse the countryside, living off the land and being close to
nature, he carries out his search to find his one friend, Gabriel,
to assist him in breaking a curse and waking his childhood
sweetheart, Annalise. But not only has Nathan's love life gotten
more complicated, but so have both his relationships with his father
and the internal relationship Nathan has with his gift. With an
abundance of new allies, enemies and in-between, it's time to see
how much of his life Nathan can really control and if he can really
make a difference in the world of witches, will he risk what he has
already for the good of others? Half wild is a fantastic novel that places the reader in a
front row seat to the theatre of Nathan Byrn's mind and actions. The
characters in Half wild are all individual and relatable in
various ways as moral decisions are put on the table and are
discussed with emotion throughout the storyline. This novel is
suited for an older teenage audience as it can be quite graphic with
themes of violence and gore. Half wild contains many other
themes as well including action, adventure, fantasy and survival.
In conclusion, the journey of Nathan Byrn in the novel Half wild
is one many readers of action and fantasy themes would find
appealing and would be anxious and waiting for the third book in the
series to be released.
Sarah Filkin
