Maze of doom; The haunting of spook house by George Ivanoff
You Choose Flip Me series. Random House, 2015. ISBN:
9780857983862
(Age: 8-10) Recommended. George Ivanoff's You Choose Flip me
Books won a children's' choice YABBA Award in 2015. These chose your
own adventure style novels are fast-paced adventures set in a creepy
funfair and a haunted Spook House. Every choice you make determines
your fate; each decision is fraught with danger and tinged with
excitement. How long can you stay alive? is it possible to survive
the horrors that await you! Do you rush ahead at your own peril or
carefully consider each option, with a cause and effect, a brave,
bold move or a more careful one? The Maze of Doom is filled with shadowy corridors, a creepy
gatekeeper Soldeed and a teenage girl desperately looking for her
lost boyfriend. Along the way, there's an antique fortune telling
machine, are Madam Zoltar's chants worth listening to? Fiery
dragons, a treacherous drawbridge, a dense hedge maze, there are so
many dangers and obstacles to overcome. The Haunting of Spook House explores the creepy neighbourhood
house built by an archaeologist in the 1800s, who's wife came home
to find him turned into a mummy. Once again, every decision made is
surrounded by danger; there are spiders, a ghost hunter, time travel
and friends playing tricks. If you come to a disastrous end, there's
always a chance to start again.
Exciting fun and recommended for readers from 8-10.
Rhyllis Bignell
Secret sisters by Jayne Ann Krentz
Piatkus, 2015. ISBN 9780349409368
(Age: Adult) Recommended. Romantic suspense. Jayne Ann Krentz is a
best-selling author of romantic suspense, both historical novels and
those set in the present. In Secret sisters she leaves the
series for which she is so well known, and in this stand-alone
novel, she brings together two young women Madeline and Daphne, who
had been friends and secret sisters when they were young. A terrible
crime at the hotel that Madeline's grandmother owned led to both
families leaving the island when they were children, and it wasn't
until her grandmother's death that Madeline has returned to the
island to wind up her grandmother's affairs. Once at the abandoned
hotel, Madeline uncovers secrets and feeling threatened and unable
to trust the local police, she brings in Jack Rayner, her security
expert, to lend a hand. With the assistance of his brother Abe, and
reunited with Daphne, the four face danger and uncover a long buried
mystery.
I enjoy romantic suspense and Jayne Ann Krentz never fails to write
a compelling and often amusing romance with lots of mystery thrown
in. The friendship between Madeline and Daphne is a highlight of the
story and the theme of secret sisters an interesting one. Add to
this two intelligent and capable young women, a dark and brooding
man and his geek brother and a murderer on the loose and the reader
has a great escapist read.
Good romantic suspense novels manage to have the mystery and
suspense complementing each other and Krentz actually manages to
have two romances: that of Madeline and Jack, and also Daphne and
Abe, while at the same time tantalising the reader with clues to the
mystery and keeping up the tension as one murder follows another.
Right from the very first creepy chapter, when a man is standing in
the shadows trying to decide which young girl he wanted to take, to
the dramatic and unexpected denouement in the final chapters, the
reader is taken on a compulsive ride, always wondering just what is
going to happen next.
This is a perfect summer or holiday read, just right for fans of
Jayne Anne Krentz, or those who love romantic suspense.
Pat Pledger
The birds of Bethlehem by Tomie de Paola
Nancy Paulsen Books, 2012. ISBN 9780399257803
It is the morning of the first Christmas and the birds of Bethlehem
have gathered in the field to search for stray pieces of corn that
might have dropped from the harvest. But this morning they are more
interested in gossiping than eating as they talked about the events
of the previous day. According to the green birds many people had
been seen coming over the hills, while the yellow birds added that
the inn in the town was full, and the blue birds told of a man and
his wife being led to a stable. Even the red birds had a tale to
tell - of an angel appearing and talking to the shepherds who were
tending their sheep in the fields. The brown birds saw the sky
filled with heavenly hosts singing but the white birds tale was the
most interesting of all because they followed the shepherds. And so
all the birds decided they needed to see for themselves.
Using his signature illustrative style and folkloric telling of
stories, Tomie de Paola creates a new version of the Christmas story
using the birds of Bethlehem to explain what happened on that day
all those years ago. Using a warm palette, soft lines and a simple
background, the birds in their colours predominate just as they do
in the text. There is a sense of awe and anticipation as each couple
shares their observations leading up to all of them flying to see
what had taken place that had evoked such amazing sights. It's a new
look at an old story that will appeal to those for whom the story is
new as well as those who have heard it before - from a different
perspective.
When I asked my US colleagues for their essential stories to read at
this time, The Birds of Bethlehem was recommended by many.
It is easy to see why.
Barbara Braxton
Snow Bunny's Christmas Gift by Rebecca Harry
Nosy Crow, 2015. ISBN 9780857633507
(Age: Pre-school) One snowy morning just before Christmas, Snow
Bunny is playing with her friends in the forest. But each time they
decided on a new thing to do, one by one the friends head for home
as the cold creeps in and they would rather be indoors. Soon Snow
Bunny is left with on her own and as she ponders what she will do
she spies a shiny coin in the snow. That gives her an idea and she
hurries off to Mr Badger's shop to buy something special. And that
night in her cosy cottage she works on something that will be just
perfect for her friends.
Very young children will love this gentle story, illustrated in the
softest colours and tinged with sparkly silver to really bring it to
life. With its strong message about the value of friendship and
giving rather than receiving, it's a lovely way to reflect on the
true spirit of the Christmas season.
Barbara Braxton
Mango and Bambang: The Not-a-Pig by Polly Faber
Ill. by Clara Vulliamy. Mango and Bambang, bk 1. Walker
Books, 2015. ISBN 9781406361438
(Age: 6+) Highly recommended. Mango Allsorts is a clever girl who is
good at all sorts of things, not just karate and chess. She is kind
and helpful too and when she see a strange bump in the road she
realises that it is an Asian tapir and not a danger to drivers and
pedestrians. Patiently she helps Bambang navigate his way through
the busy city and they become firm friends, having some strange
adventures along the way and also consuming lots of banana pancakes.
The story is divided into four brilliant stories, perfect for the
independent reader or to read aloud, one at a time. The language
from Polly Faber is sophisticated, with new words and alliteration
(eg. Cynthia Prickle-Posset was positively purple now pg 107)
that the young reader will relish and the illustrations by Clara
Vulliamy are delightful and full of humour. The expressions on the
faces of all the characters will have the reader giggling aloud.
Mango is a wonderful little girl and the reader will be in awe of
the patience that she demonstrates when getting Bambang across the
street and out of danger. Bambang grows in confidence in the busy
city and he is able to help Mango with her clarinet playing when she
is frightened about playing in front of people. So together they
grow and develop each assisting the other as true friends do.
This is a perfect gift book, beautifully presented with a dust
jacket with purple stripes and gold embossing and it would also be a
great addition to any library.
Pat Pledger
Old School by Jeff Kinney
Diary of a Wimpy Kid bk 10. Puffin, 2015. ISBN 9780143309000
(Age: 9+) Recommended. Jeff Kinney's popular series returns for its
tenth instalment in Old School - Diary of a Wimpy Kid.
Faithful to the familiar format, Greg Heffley chronicles the ups and
downs, the dramas and difficulties of his everyday existence. Each
page contains hand-written notes on lined paper and quirky cartoon
illustrations that highlight his dilemmas. Loved by millions of fans
around the world, this series has engaged and motivated reluctant
readers and high-interest low-reading age students.
Wimpy Kid Greg Heffley's home life continues to be chaotic:
Grandpa's moved back from the retirement home - owing to financial
concerns - and taken over his bedroom; toddler brother Manny's
toilet training involves no pants after dinner and Mum and Dad are
always reminiscing about times past without technology. Even their
pet pig now wears shorts, walks on his hind legs and has taken over
the spare room, and it has more freedom than Greg does. Dad stresses
over the costs involved in running the household and Rodrick is told
to find a job to pay for petrol money. Rodrick's job as the mascot
for the Old-Timey Ice Cream Parlour leads to some funny incidents.
Mum's cleanup day at the park on No Technology weekend, involves
lemonade stand competitions, Girl Scouts taking charge a group of
teenagers and Community Service teenagers issues.
Greg is happy to return to Middle School, where he signs up to be a
Homework Buddy and help a third-grader named Frew. However,
super-smart Frew takes over and completes all of Greg's homework
instead. The class trip to Hardscrabble Farm for a back to basics
week, test Greg and his best friend Rowley's abilities. No showers,
no deodorant, a fish in the toilet and a final night's adventure
sleeping in a shelter in the woods, provide some of the best and
funniest moments.
Rhyllis Bignell
Shooting at the Stars: the Christmas Truce of 1914 by John Hendrix
Abrams Books, 2014. ISBN 9781419711756
Amongst all the stories of horrors that have emerged from World War
1 and which have been at the forefront of much of what our students
have learned this year, comes a beautiful, true story of hope and
heroes.
By November 1914, it was clear that the war was not going to be over
by Christmas which was a common belief of those who marched off to
serve in those very early days. And so as seasons turn to winter and
snow and sleet and rain bring more mud and disease to the exhausted
troops in the trenches often only separated by a few yards from the
enemy, unofficial truces began to happen - part of the "etiquette of
war" of the professional soldier of the time. The wounded were
recovered, the dead were buried, trenches were shored up and there
was even banter and barter between the opposing sides. According to
the BBC http://www.bbc.co.uk/guides/zxsfyrd
on Christmas Eve the German's lines were dotted with Christmas trees
and candles and eventually the two sides started singing carols. The
next day there were spontaneous football games and while there was
much anger from the High Command because they feared mutiny, the
stories have endured.
Based on primary sources, Shooting at the Stars is the story
of Charlie, a young British soldier of the time written in a letter
to his mother and accompanied by the most evocative illustrations.
Rain has turned the trenches to thick, heavy mud and rats fight the
soldiers for the meagre food rations. However while thick frost
stabilises things on Christmas Eve it is also very cold so the
troops chance a fire to keep warm. As they step outside they hear
singing - from the German trenches which are festooned with tiny
Christmas trees lit with candles. And so begins the retelling of
this remarkable night when the true spirit of Christmas was
celebrated. War had taken a holiday. The dead were buried,
photographs taken, mementos exchanged, even an impromptu football
game with an old biscuit tin. And even though the high-ups are
furious and order the soldiers to load their rifles ready to fire on
those they had spent the day with, quite possibly they would shoot
at the stars.
Beautifully designed, this emotional story is accompanied by
historical notes, a glossary, an index and a bibliography making it
more for the older reader but also very accessible for those a
little younger. It shows a human side to a horrible conflict, one
that brings the soldiers of both sides into focus rather than just
being faceless, unknown and almost invisible. Some of the images are
available at http://www.abramsbooks.com/product/shooting-at-the-stars_9781419711756/
and combined with the subject, the text and the layout, the package
is a most powerful story.
Barbara Braxton
Monsters by Emerald Fennell
Hot Key Books, 2015. ISBN 9781471404627
(Age: 16+) Recommended for people who like dark thrillers. Murder.
Horror. Abuse. In the idyllic Cornish town of Fowey, the body of a
young woman is found in fishing nets to the horror of the
townspeople, but the delight of the young 12 year old girl who is
obsessed with reading about murders. When Miles Giffard comes to the
hotel where she is staying with her aunt and uncle, they begin to
investigate and sneak out of the hotel to play out murder scenes.
Then another murder is committed and even though someone is arrested
they are certain he is not the murderer.
The horror of the events are a stark contrast to the picture perfect
town of Fowey, where Daphne du Maurier once lived, and readers may
well be encouraged to pick up her novels to find out about them. The
suspense of who is killing off young women will keep mystery
aficionados enthralled, and a terrifying conclusion could well lead
to nightmares in this compulsive read.
Although narrated in often a comic and heart-rending way by a 12
year old girl and with a cover that could indicate it is for a young
adult audience, this is not a story for young teens. There are many
dark themes, including child abuse and neglect on one hand with the
young narrator and on the other hand a mother pandering and
over-indulging the young boy, Miles, who is not allowed to behave
like a normal 12 year old boy. Indeed all the adults in the novel
are either monsters or highly unlikeable but so well described that
they come alive on the page. Uncle Frederick would be one of the
most horrible characters I have read about for a long time, while
Jean the long term boarder at the hotel, Winny the hotel maid and
Miles' mother are also detestable. The down trodden Aunt Maria and
Dorothea, Jean's companion elicit some sympathy from the reader. The
narrator pulls at the heart strings - she has been orphaned in a
horrible way, is unloved and unwanted, but highly intelligent and
needy. Miles too has not been fortunate, with a needy mother who
hasn't given him a normal home.
Readers will learn much about manipulation and power plays while
being taken on a roller coaster ride of murder and corruption.
Pat Pledger
Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll
Ill. by Rebecca Dautremer. Hodder Children's Books, 2015. ISBN
9781444930207
(Age: all) Highly recommended, Classics, Fantasy, Illustrative
technique. 2015, the anniversary of the publication of the classic
tale, Alice in Wonderland, is celebrated by Hodder with this
large beautifully illustrated book destined to be a classic in
itself.
The unabridged original story is there for new and returning
readers, but presented with illustrations that threaten to drag the
eyes away from the text. I reread the book, half remembering old
stories read to me as a child, half remembering incidents from
various books and film versions read and seen over the years, but
hooked by the timeless tale of a girl taking a risk as she follows
the White Rabbit down a long dark hole.
The familiar characters are there to entreat the readers, the
adventure luring readers in as they follow Alice through a myriad of
dreamlike sequences, the poems found there to be read out loud and
read over again until lines are learnt.
The outstanding illustrations by Dautremer will make the reader gasp
with excitement. One of Carroll's photos of the original Alice is in
the back of the book, not the blonde girl often seen in
illustrations drawn for the many publications of this book, but a
brunette, used in this book to stunning effect. From the front cover
showing long tendrils of hair falling over Alice's face to the last
page, Alice is magnificently different. We see her sitting on the
sofa at the start of her adventure, then seeming to wake on the last
page as it finishes. After drinking the bottle with 'drink me'
written on it, she grows to gigantic proportions and is illustrated
from the angle of her feet, looking up to her head now dangerously
close to the roof. This unusual perspective is one of many, as the
characters are depicted off centre, and some given an intense
closeup while others are depicted in ways unseen before. I love the
caterpillar (p 50), and the gardeners painting the roses red (p 85),
I adore the Red Queen (p 118) and the frequent pencil images. The
panoply of stilts throughout the story is a recurring theme: stilts
on which many creatures teeter (p 115-6), to the long trunks of the
mushrooms (p 56-7) and Alice's long neck (p 58), the flamingo's long
legs (p 91) and the long legs of the chairs at the table for the Mad
Hatter's tea party (p 78-9) all often draw the eyes from the bottom
of the page to the top. The illustrations dwarf those found in other
renditions of this book, and create a magnificent tome to celebrate
the sesquicentenary of its publication.
I imagine many children will receive this for Christmas, and
libraries will put it on display in pride of place to promote and
enhance their collection of classic tales and to showcase the
prodigious talents of this illustrator.
For those in Victoria a display has been mounted to celebrate
Alice's sesquicentenary at the museum.
Fran Knight
Wolf by Wolf Ryan Graudin
Wolf by Wolf duology, bk 1. Hachette, 2015. ISBN
9781780622026
Recommended for 14 years olds and above. It's 1956 and has been 10
years since the Third Reich and Imperial Japan won the war,
seventeen year old Yael who escaped the Nazi death camp, is about to
undertake her first mission, the one she has been trained the last 3
years for, to kill Hitler. Yael, a survivor of painful human
experimentation who has the power to change her appearance into
anyone she chooses, must complete her mission by entering the Axis
Tour: an annual motorcycle race across the world from Berlin to
Tokyo impersonating last year's only female victor, Adele Wolfe.
With her mind totally focused on the race she doesn't need the
distraction of Adele's twin brother Felix and Adele's former love
interest Luka both entering the competition. She must decide whether
these two can become allies or enemies.
I was so not excited to read this book - it was a case of judging
the book by its cover, however before long I was well into the third
chapter and really enjoying it!! The story is written in the past
and the now but easy to follow the timeline of the plot. It is fast
paced with many 'edge of your seat' moments. The characters all had
so much depth to them including the other racers who didn't become
faceless competitors. I really loved her relationships with both
Felix and Lowe and even the interactions between themselves. And I
really loved the twist at the end!!!! I can't wait to see how the
sequel will turn out. Recommended for fans of The Hunger Games,
Valkyrie, The Scorpio Races, The Maze Runner,
Code Name Verity and X-Men.
Jody Holmes
Anzac Boys by Tony Bradman
Barrington Stoke, 2015. ISBN 9781781124345
It is 1906 and following the death of their mother, 12-year-old Bert
finds himself in a Catholic orphanage in London with his younger
brother Frank. Life is tough, hard and cruel with the boys living in
fear of both the bullies and the priests. One day, not long after
they arrived, they are summoned to Father Murphy's office - a place
where a visit never ends well. As they go in great trepidation, Bert
tells Frank that no matter what he will take care of him - words
that come to haunt him for a very long time.
However, instead of being in trouble the boys are informed that they
are being shipped to Australia as part of a scheme where British
orphanages provided boys to work on the farms of Western Australia.
The voyage to this new land is pretty much without incident and
lifelong friends are made, but, to their dismay, on their arrival
the boys are separated. Bert eventually discovers that Frank has
been sent to New Zealand but because "a clean break' is seen as the
best way to cope with the separation he is not allowed to know where
Frank is and cannot contact him. Throughout the harsh years that
follow, he tries to find him but is thwarted at every turn. When he
turns 16 Bert receives a letter summarily dismissing him from the
care of the orphanage and is completely left to his own devices,
unwanted as the farm labourer he has been because there are plenty
more free boys where he came from.
Still determined to find Frank, he heads for Perth and is soon swept
up in the recruitment of men for the war. Meeting up with other
mates also dismissed from the orphanage, this big new adventure
beckons and before long Bert is on his way to Egypt where he meets a
New Zealand soldier - one who wants nothing to do with him until
they confront something bigger than both of them.
Bradman has taken his inspiration for this story from the words of
the classic, haunting song And the Band Played Waltzing Matilda
by Eric Bogle bringing it to life in a very different way. It is
written in such a way that the reader gains a real insight into what
life was like for many young lads at the time and why going to war
was such an enticing alternative but which became a horrible
reality. Throughout there is a sense of hope that the brothers will
meet again and reconcile but within it there is a strong tale of
growing up, maturing and learning who you are. And being able to act
on that when push comes to shove and your brother's life is on the
line.
Specifically written and produced to fit within the publisher's
parameters of 'dyslexic friendly', it will appeal to a wide
audience and is a most worthy addition to any collection focusing on
the 100th anniversary of this important event in Australia's
history.
Barbara Braxton
Tinder by Sally Gardner
Hachette, 2015. ISBN: 9781780621487
(Age: 17+) Highly recommended. This story is inspired by Hans
Christian Andersen's fairy tale Tinderbox, published in
1835. Sally was inspired by the fairy tale and the stories of
soldiers returning from current frontiers of conflict. She set this
tale in the time of the Thirty Years War in Europe (1618-1648) and
doesn't hold back on the graphic details of war and the associated
atrocities that can occur.
18-year-old soldier, Otto Hundebiss, makes a deal with death itself
and flees the battlefield. In mysterious circumstances he is nursed
back to health and provided with dice that will direct him in his
journey to safety. The language is evocative and the imagery is
powerful - taking us back to the original feel and intention of
fairy tales.
The illustrations from the book, by artist David Roberts, are dark,
frightening and add menace to the tale. This book has all the fairy
tale favourites: magic, a princess, werewolves, a sorceress ('The
Lady of the Nail') and a host of interesting characters (Mistress
Jabber, Head on a Plate).
This is a story of great love and great loss. It calls into question
our capacity to be in charge of our lives and the influence of good
and evil. The ending brings questions for the reader, such as 'Does
great power bring us what we desire?'
Linda Guthrie
Cockatoo, too by Bethanie Deeney Murguia
Five Mile Press, 2015 ISBN 9781760401047
(Age: 4-8) Highly recommended. Humour, Birds, Numbers, Word play.
This is a laugh from start to finish as two cockatoos play with the
words, 'too' and 'two'. Suddenly two more cockatoos fly down,
wearing tutus. So the joke continues with too, two and tutu. Just
when the readers think they have it all sorted, a parcel arrives
with 'to cockatoos' on it, giving a different 'too' to play with,
say out loud and think about. Happily dressed in their tutus, the
four cockatoos see four toucans arrive, dressed in their tutus ready
to can can.
The playful look at familiar words and their meanings will have
children laughing out loud as the story is read. The gentle use of
the word 'too' in many different ways will expose the readers to
different meanings and sounds of the same word. And the addition of
can at the end rounds off a neatly presented word play picture book.
I love the vibrant illustrations, with the water colour recreating
the jungle background and deft strokes adding a few flowers. The
cockatoos and toucans have distinctive features inviting readers to
think about their differences, and the endpapers will intrigue the
readers wanting to seek out the almost hidden features.
A wonderful read a loud, the tongue twisting emphasis on the word
'too' will delight readers, impelling them to have a go. What a
wonderful way to introduce the English language with its sometimes
confusing words to a young audience, using humour and illustration
to great effect. A New York author/illustrator, more about Bethanie
can be found here.
Fran Knight
Timmy Failure: Sanitized for your protection by Stephan Pastis
Walker Books, 2015. ISBN 9781406363494
(Age: 9+) Highly recommended. Timmy Failure: Sanitised for Your
Protection finds our main character, Timmy Failure, heading to
Chicago with his mum. They are helping her boyfriend move and have
planned a short holiday with Molly and her family after the move.
The car breaks down, Timmy heads to Chicago with Molly and her
family and according to Timmy, Molly is the biggest felon around.
She is his prime suspect in the stolen money case he is working on.
Molly confesses to stealing the money and hands it back but not
before forcing Timmy to dance with her. He is not impressed. Will he
survive the trip to Chicago? Will his polar bear ex-business partner
spend all of their hard earned money on chocolate? Did Molly really
steal the money or is there another suspect? Timmy will do his best
as he is the best detective for the job.
This is the third instalment in the Timmy Failure series and
like the others is hilarious. It will really appeal to all readers
but is highly recommended to reluctant boys aged 9+. They will
giggle at Timmy's comments and antics as they follow the easy to
read text and accompanying cartoons. Timmy is not your regular hero.
He speaks his mind and saves the day. Readers will be kept wondering
through the whole story about his polar bear partner - is he real or
make believe?
Kylie Kempster
The Cleo stories: A friend and a pet by Libby Gleeson
Ill. by Freya Blackwood. Allen and Unwin, 2015. ISBN 9781743315286
(Age: 6+) Highly recommended. Chapter book. Family. Friendship.
Pets. Two more enchanting stories from the award winning duo,
Gleeson and Blackwood, will be certain winners with the newly
emerging independent reader who wants something a little more than a
picture book.
In Cleo makes a friend, Cleo is very bored. It is raining
outside, her friends are away and her mother wants her to tidy her
room. All the scenes are very familiar, and will resonate with young
readers who will be able to identify with Cleo, whose friend
Isabella has told everyone that Nick was her boyfriend when he is
only a friend. Eventually after making Mum cross about using her
make-up Cleo goes to the garden and there she discovers a friend.
In Cleo wants a pet, Cleo is desperate to have a puppy like
Nick's but Dad comes up with lots of reasons why a puppy would be
too much work. Cleo finally comes up with a satisfactory solution to
her problem.
Beautifully illustrated by Blackwood, this is the second book
featuring Cleo, following The necklace and The present and is
outstanding both in the narratives and in the delightful
pictures that bring the little girl and her family alive.
Pat Pledger
