Hard Nuts of History series by Tracy Turner 
Ill. by Jamie Lenman. Bloomsbury, 2015. Play the Game. How Hard are You? ISBN 9781472910974 Ultimate Quiz and Game Book - Know your Hard Nuts. ISBN
9781472910967
(Age: 8-12) Tracy Turner's Hard Nuts of History series
showcases the tough men and women of history - Ancient Greeks,
Warriors, Travellers, Kings and Queens and those in Myths and
Legends. To accompany these fact-filled books, two quiz books have
been released. Play the Game is filled with sheets of cards with perforated
edges, once they have been removed from the book they are dealt to
two or more players. Instructions for the Battle of the Hard Nuts
are given and as each round continues points are given for cunning,
courage, survival skills and ruthlessness. Each colourful card has a
border to indicate where they came from or what the Hard Nut did. The Ultimate Quiz and Game Book is packed full of fun facts,
quizzes - Name that Viking, Heroes of Myths and Legends and games -
Mummy Making! For the ancient weapons quiz objects such as the
chakram, arbalest and tessen are sorted into how they are used -
bash, chop, throw or fire. Women have led battles, explored darkest
Africa and led revolutions - The Trung Sisters, Zenobia, Queen of
Syria and Boudica, who ruled the Iceni tribe.
With bold cartoon caricatures, these two books provide fun and
entertainment. They are great for the history buff, overflowing with
fun facts, games and quizzes.
Rhyllis Bignell
Splinter the silence by Val McDermid
Little, Brown, 2015. ISBN 9781408706893
(Age: secondary to adult) Highly recommended. Crime fiction,
Stalking, Trolls. This latest crime story involving Dr Tony Hill and
Carol Jordan has both of them in limbo. Carol has resigned from the
police, distancing herself from friends, particularly Tony, drinking
heavily and rebuffing overtures of friendship. One night she drives
home only to be stopped by the police and arrested for drink
driving. With no one else to turn to she rings Tony to take her
home. He insists on staying the night and taking her problem in
hand; a hostile Carol wakes the next morning to find he has emptied
all her bottles of booze. His determination to stop her drinking is
paramount.
Meanwhile, she has been touted as the head of a new department in
the north to coordinate major crimes, but this arrest causes
problems for the hierarchy. But when Tony senses something is not
quite right in a suicide report he convinces Carol and her new team
about the veracity of his suppositions and together they work on
using digital footprints to find the killer.
Again a wonderfully engrossing story, the characters are multi
layered and impel us to watch their movements against the backdrop
of women's rights, trolling and cyber bullying. McDermid takes us
into the brain of this man, warped by experience and environment to
see women as not really knowing what they should be, making his
killings look like suicides to wake them up to the reality of being
a wife and mother staying at home.
And McDermid introduces a moral uncertainty which is just as
engrossing as the crime story, with Carol's drink driving charge
being dropped. And with Tony moving into Carol's finished barn, the
next installment of their relationship could be even more prickly.
This is a great read, showing how impossible it is to hide in this
cyber world, how even the most meticulous planning can come unstuck,
and how things that have happened in the past can have unexpected
repercussions.
Fran Knight
The Taming of the Queen by Philippa Gregory
Simon & Schuster, 2015. ISBN 9781471132988
(Age: Adult) Recommended. Philippa Gregory's love of history
underpins The Taming of the Queen. Kateryn Parr was the last
of King Henry VIII's six wives: portrayed in this narrative as
passionate, intelligent, devout and independent, she was once named
Regent during King Henry's absence in France. Philippa Gregory's
gripping perspective honours Kateryn's importance as a reformer, and
vividly suggests the minutia of her daily life at court, once she
accepted King Henry VIII's command that she marry him.
This intimate portrait of Kateryn's life as wife to the King of
England examines the bond that developed between them, and how she
brought together a family that would see Henry reunited with his
children. During her marriage to King Henry, Kateryn simultaneously
immersed herself in her study, writing and reformation activities.
However, in the darker, final days of Henry's life, the focus of
this novel shifts to the ever-growing dangers faced by Kateryn as he
turned his dangerous attention upon her, and her reformation work.
Although The Taming of the Queen is a work of historical
fiction, Gregory has created a believable interpretation of the
inner workings of this royal marriage; of Henry's court with all its
loyalties, rivalries and scheming; of naval battles, and the
intrigues of Kateryn's relationship with Thomas Seymour.
In her concluding summary, this accomplished author comments that
the days surrounding Kateryn's arrival at court were 'alive with
debate about the Bible: English or Latin, about the Mass: bread or
flesh, about the Church: reformist or papist.' Recognising her as
the first woman to publish in English using her own name, Philippa
Gregory's narrative pays homage to this woman 'who dared to write
original material in English.' Kateryn published three books that
still survive today. The Taming of the Queen is an
entertaining and historically exciting perspective on this
protestant woman's life. It is recommended for adults interested in
this period of Tudor history.
Colleen Tuovinen
Pockety: the tortoise who lived as she pleased by Florence Seyvos
Ill. by Claude Ponti. Pushkin Press, 2014. ISBN 9781782690252
(Age: Newly independent readers) Pockety is a tiny tortoise who
leaves home at a very young age to live like a grown up. She meets
Thumb who has also left home to live like a grown up and they build
a hut together so they can. But one day, Thumb is killed by a stone
and although Pockety laughs at first, when she realises she has lost
her dear friend for good, she is devastated. And so her grieving
begins.
This is a quaint story translated from the French original Pochee,
which traces Pockety's grieving process which is very similar to
that of a human. She's in denial, angry, bereft, wanting company and
wanting to be alone. It's sensitive and gentle and the reader's
emotions follow Pockety's journey hoping she will eventually find
peace and comfort.
This is a gentle, sensitive story that will appeal to newly
independent readers who are looking for something a little bit
different. Pushkin developed this series so they could bring the
stories of the world to young children in the hope they will open
new doors and gateways to a whole new world of stories. Pockety is
an excellent example of the success of their goal.
Barbara Braxton
Dearest by Alethea Kontis
Woodcutter Sisters bk 3. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2015.
ISBN 9780544074071
(Age: 12+) Recommended. Fairy tales retold. The third in the
Woodcutter Sisters series, following Enchanted
and Hero
is a delightful retelling primarily of The wild swans, but
with some other fairy tales incorporated into the tale. This is
Friday's story, the loving and giving child of the old rhyme: Monday's child is fair of face,
Tuesday's child is full of grace,
Wednesday's child is full of woe,
Thursday's child has far to go,
Friday's child is loving and giving,
Saturday's child works hard for a living,
But the child who is born on the Sabbath Day
Is blithe and bonny and good and gay.
After a huge ocean has devastated the kingdom, Friday is working
with refugee children at her sister's palace. She stumbles across
seven sleeping brothers in a tower and when she lays eyes on
Tristan, knows that he is her true love. But the brothers have been
cursed - each day they turn into swans.
What is so good about this series is the fact that the book is a
companion volume. The reader does not have to have read, or even
remember, the other books, to fully enjoy this one. Friday lives up
to her description of being loving and giving, helping the homeless,
working out ways to feed many people and giving each child a sense
of worth. However she is also very clever and she manages to work
out a way around the curse, using excellent problem solving skills
and organising everyone to help out.
This is a very rewarding series to read. The heroines are all
intelligent and capable and the fairy tale roots are woven so
cleverly that they bring a fresh outlook to a familiar story. Dearest
has an engrossing narrative and an enticing romance. It is sure to
appeal to anyone who enjoys the retelling of fairy tales.
Pat Pledger
Leo da Vinci vs the Ice Cream Domination League by Michael Pryor
Ill. by Jules Faber. Random House, 2015. ISBN 9780857988379
Even though he is just 10 years old, Leo da Vinci is an inventor,
artist, genius and founder of Fixit International Inc. dedicated to
saving the world from super villains in cahoots with his friend Mina
and sidekicks Isaac the robot and Ragnar the talking pig. No matter
where or when, he is always sketching new inventions from the most
ordinary objects and collecting the most amazing array of everyday
stuff in his top-secret shed where he put his theories into
practice. So when the Ice Cream Domination League move in,
determined to control all the ice cream in the world for themselves
by stealing ice cream trucks and blowing up factories, Leo has a new
problem to solve and a new enemy to face.
This is a new series aimed at younger independent readers who are
looking for a lovable hero written by an author who admits that it
is "a very silly book." " Leo da Vinci vs the Ice-Cream
Domination League is a very silly book - and it was a lot of
fun to write. I've always liked the idea of the young inventor,
working away to create amazing contraptions. And I've always liked
the idea of young inventors saving the world. Oh, and I've always
liked the idea of talking pigs, too. Throw all these things in
together, add some extra silliness, and you have the start of Leo da
Vinci's adventures." Yet for all the 'silliness' of the plot,
nevertheless this is a well-written story as Pryor is a master
storyteller for adults and young adults having been nominated
several times for an Aurealis Award for science fiction, fantasy and
horror writers. Larger font, shorter chapters and clever
illustrations will draw in readers who will then look forward to the
next in the series Leo da Vinci vs the Furniture Overlord to
be published early in 2016.
Barbara Braxton
Way Down Dark by J P Smythe
Hodder & Stoughton, 2015. ISBN: 9781444796322
(Age: 15+) Highly recommended. The blurb to this first book in a
trilogy boasts 'This is a hell where no one can hide'.
This dystopian novel really does take you way down dark. It really
is hell. Chan, the narrator, was born on Australia. She is
seventeen, strong, clever and courageous. The world of Australia is
cutthroat and savage. Australia is a ship that has left Earth and
inhabitants are waiting to arrive on a new safe planet. The leaving
of Australia happened many generations ago and society has split
into the Pale Women, the Bells, Shopkeepers and the Lows. Families
are terrorised by the Lows and life is only possible for those who
can stand up for themselves.
This book has many strong female characters who are well respected
and portray the strong maternal theme that runs through this book.
Agatha looms large in this book and she is integral to the character
of Chan. Importantly in this novel there is little attention given
to the looks of the female characters and this give greater depth to
the story.
Many of the characters are violent and the chaotic scenes in the
book are described so well it is easy to imagine being there.
'There's One Truth on Australia. You Fight or You Die'
This fast paced novel has a twist near the end that leaves the
reader reaching for that second book. Where is it?
Linda Guthrie
Lasseter's Gold by Warren Brown
Hachette, 2015. ISBN 9780733631603
Like most Australians, I had heard of the legend of Lasseter's reef
of gold, discovered in the late 1890's but never located again. What
I wasn't aware of was the amazing expedition undertaken in 1930 in
an attempt to rediscover what was believed to be a vast deposit
worth countless millions of pounds. This is the story cleverly told
by the well-known cartoonist Warren Brown.
Harold Lasseter claimed to have made this spectacular find by
accident, having become hopelessly lost whilst trying to cross the
Continent from Cairns to Kalgoorlie on horseback. Having lost his
horses, and near death, he discovered the reef somewhere near the
border of Western Australia and the Northern Territory in Central
Australia. He stated that he took samples before staggering
deliriously through the desert for days, finally being miraculously
rescued by an Afghan camel driver.
In 1930 he approached the Australian Workers Union with a proposal
to put together an expedition to find the reef. The subsequent gold
fever and greedy scheming he stirred up created a wild commitment to
his plan, based upon this outrageous tale, which seems incredible
with the benefit of hindsight. Brown explains the various
machinations which came together to fund and assemble a grossly
unprepared and laughably disorganised expedition into some of the
harshest terrain on earth - all based on fervent hope rather than a
bushman's experience and common sense.
The author provides all the background to the gold legend, however
the real story in this book is the expedition itself as the
characters involved and their wild exploits are truly remarkable.
The reader is captivated by descriptions of a group of men (some of
whom intensely dislike each other), working together to force a
heavy truck through murderously difficult mulga scrub and almost
impassable and impossible sand dunes. The presence of aircraft, used
for the first time in Australian geological surveying, gives another
dimension. Like many thunderingly good stories, there is much
mystery and speculation about what motivated some very strange
characters to act in the duplicitous and irregular ways that they
did whilst risking death over and over in the arid wilderness.
There are so many complexities to this tale that it could have
become difficult to understand, yet the style and structure of the
narrative is such that everything is explained in a manner which is
meaningful and connected whilst the book reads like an exciting
thriller. The many photographs of the events are amazing to see.
I really like that this author has dedicated so much time to
researching and writing about this incredible expedition and the
legend which started it all, yet he avoids claiming to have solved
the riddle or having written the definitive version of events as
many would have done in his place. Instead, the details are
presented and some bewildering options are discussed, yet the legend
is treated with a kind of respect that recognises that the exact
truth will probably be never known and the reader is left with a
definite sense of wonder that maybe there is some minute chance that
the reef really did exist
This book will circulate like mad in public libraries, however I
sadly believe that school students would fail to appreciate what
they are missing in this marvellous story.
Rob Welsh
The boy with two lives by Abbas Kazerooni
Allen & Unwin, 2015. ISBN 9781743314838
(Ages: 13+) Fictionalised memoir. Ten-year-old Abbas arrives in
England to start a new life having escaped from conscription into
the Iranian army, and immediately after arriving in England Abbas is
sent to boarding school by his guardian, Mehdi. Abbas struggles to
overcome the language barrier and cultural differences, even
commenting about an event at one point that 'In Iran this would
never have happened, nor would it have been acceptable.' However,
time passes and Abbas thrives, learning English quickly and
gradually being accepted by his peers. His hard work and diligence
win the approval of the kindly Mr and Mrs Griffiths, the principals
of the school, who are sympathetic to Abbas.
But while Abbas is enjoying his new life in England, he worries
about his family; especially his mother who is trying to gain a visa
to enter England. Infrequent phone calls to his mother are the only
connection Abbas has, and he clings desperately to hearing his
mother's voice. And just when everything seemed to be going well for
Abbas, he becomes homeless - living out the titular 'two lives' -
one as the school boy at an elite public school, and the other as a
poor, homeless child who spends his days working for a meagre wage
just to survive.
Told in first person narrative, Kazerooni's memoir seizes our hands
and drags us along. The book is about perseverance and sacrifice,
but most of all - optimism. We experience the misery and the
suffering along with Abbas, - but also share in his good times too;
all give the reader an insight into his strength of character.
While Abbas possesses great optimism, the book itself can be quite
depressing. I found that during the reading, the agony of his
experiences was just too much. Because it is a memoir the fact that
it really happened makes it even more depressing. Despite that, this
book illustrates the plight of refugees, and it is a gripping
account of how much some people are willing to sacrifice to have a
better life.
Thomas B.
Star Wars: The adventures of Luke Skywalker, Jedi Knight by Tony DiTerlizzi and Ralph McQuarrie
Egmont, 2015. ISBN 9781405275835
This is the story of Luke Skywalker's journey from farm boy on
Tatooine to Jedi Knight, told in the words of award-winning author
Tony DiTerlizzi and matched with the remarkable paintings of Ralph
McQuarrie, the concept artist behind the series that has captivated
generations since its first release in May, 1977.
There are those so much more able than I to review this new book
from this iconic series, many of whom are in or near their 40s and
are still devoted fans of the series that was an integral part of
their childhood lives and remains a cultural phenomenon still sought
after by the young students I teach today. So I will just use the
words of the foreword by the author.
"It may be difficult to imagine, but there was a time when Star Wars
was not a part of our popular culture. Long before the toys, books
and lunch boxes, and even before the first feature film flickered on
a movie screen, Star Wars existed in the imagination of only one
man: George Lucas. Working from Lucas's various screenplay drafts
and through a creative collaboration with the writer-director,
visionary artist Ralph McQuarrie realised a universe filled with
unlikely heroes, sinister villains and otherworldly vistas.
Rendered in his muted palette and streamlined style, McQuarrie's
gouache concept paintings depict what are now some of the most
iconic moments in the original Star Wars trilogy. Though Star Wars
is a major film franchise, its genesis was told with words and
pictures, so it is with great pride that I return this epic battle
of good versus evil to its original form."
I could get myself massive brownie points with certain family and
friends if I were to pass this book on to them, but given the
voracity for this series amongst my young clients, I know it will be
a surefire hit on the library's shelves instead.
Barbara Braxton
The pointless leopard by Colas Gutman and Delphine Perret
Pushkin Press, 2014. ISBN 9781782690405
Leonard's parents are determined to have him appreciate the beauty
and the benefits of the country. But Leonard thinks it is ugly,
green and boring. While his parents like to spend their weekends
drinking tea in front of an open fire listening to the silence,
Leonard would much prefer to be walking on the pavement, jumping on
benches, going to the cinema and chasing pigeons. But being a little
boy, he has to go with his parents who like to take long walks. On
one of these walks, Leonard meets a talking sheep. And a cow, and a
hen and their conversations prompt Leonard to consider just what a
child is. But they're not impressed and so they take him to meet
Wolf. "We're bringing you a city kid! Bon appetit!" they call. But
when even the wolf rejects him, Leonard is very sad. Perhaps he is
pointless after all.
Translated from the original French story L'enfant this is a
humorous short tale that is told with charm and lightly illustrated
with line drawings that capture the expressions perfectly. It's a
story like no other and perfect for newly-independent readers who
want something a little different.
Barbara Braxton
Dinosaur Disco by Deborah Kelly
Random House Australia Children's, 2015. ISBN 9780857981363
(Age: 3-8) Highly recommended. Really we can never get enough of
dinosaurs! Boys or girls, fiction or nonfiction, surely they must be
one of the most eternally popular choices for kids' books.
In our house this is most definitely true and we loved the crazy
dinos shaking their booties and the boards on the disco floor. Lots
of rhythm and rhyme and onomatopoeia abound as the dinosaurs salsa,
moonwalk and even crump it up. With so many different types of
dinosaurs strutting their stuff the floor starts to really rumble
but the very ground shakes with the arrival of a gate crashing
T-Rex! Let's hope he isn't looking for supper!
The text also cleverly integrates some of those rather pesky long
dinosaur names and luckily there is also a pronunciation guide for
those of us who are not as able as five year olds to get our tongues
around them. To follow up the story some strange but true facts are
also included making this book not only fun but educational.
Daron Parton's illustrations of the decoratively dressed dinosaurs
lend even more quirkiness to the story.
This is bound to be a favourite with many young readers.
Highly recommended for boys and girls aged around 3 to 8 years.
Sue Warren
Me & Mr J by Rachel McIntyre
Electric Monkey, 2015. ISBN 9781405273442
(Age: 15+) Recommended This book is confronting on many
levels. Lara is fifteen, still in high school, and is the
subject of vicious and persistent bullying. The bullying is
humiliating and public. Lara tells her story through her diary and
the reader is privy to the impact of the sustained and demoralising
bullying.
At first the appearance of the new, and startlingly good looking,
English teacher seems a reprieve for Lara. She begins to recognise
some of her positive attributes and very real potential. Then the
reader sees their relationship move on to become a romantic
relationship.
Here, as a reader, there is great concern for the welfare of Lara
and the disaster that looks to be looming for her. Rachel McIntyre
takes the reader on a rollercoaster of emotion as she unveils Lara's
story, and though it ends abruptly she pulls all the elements
together with skill.
This well written book will spark conversation and dissent when the
issues of bullying and teacher/student relationships are discussed
following the reading.
Linda Guthrie
Grandad's Island by Benji Davies
Simon & Schuster, 2015. ISBN 9781471119958
For many children, losing a grandparent is often their first
experience with death and grief. The emotions of this may be openly
expressed or may not be so visible to observers. Using a picture
book to invite discussion on this topic may be very valuable for
either individuals or classes.
There are many quality books that handle the topic of loss with
sensitivity and the wise teacher-librarian will usually have quite a
collection in order to be ready for the occasions when they are
needed.
This new book by Benji Davies examines this topic with a beautiful
and gentle grace as the close bond between grandfather and grandson
and their final parting is described. The colourful illustrations of
his favourite destination underline the 'perfect place' in which
Grandad chooses to stay and reassure Syd that Grandad will be happy
there.
I also believe this would be an excellent choice to deal with the
concerns a child might have about a grandparent going into a care
facility.
Watch the book
trailer to see a preview and find out more about the
award-winning author here. Sue Warren
Once upon a timeless tale series retold by Margrete Lamond
Little Hare, 2015. The Twelve Dancing Princesses. Ill. by Anna Walker. ISBN
9781742974019 The Three Little Pigs. Ill. by Jonathan Bentley. ISBN
9781921994916
These are the two latest additions to this series of timeless tales.
Based on those original, traditional stories that have been handed
down from generation to generation and which we expect our students
come to school already knowing, they are the pre-Disney version of
stories told way back when, retold by Margrete Lamond and
beautifully illustrated by some of the best illustrators for
children, bringing them right into the world of the 21st century
child and a new generation.
While there may be a perception that fairytales such as these are
the domain of the preschooler and very young readers, they actually
have a place on the shelves of every library, primary and secondary.
They are a part of our Anglo-Saxon oral culture and there is an
expectation that when you mention a particular story, the students
will know enough of the core story to bring it to mind. This can
then be compared to other cultures whose history has been passed
down orally. As the original purpose of such stories was a didactic
one - each had a lesson or a moral to be learned by the younger
generation without putting them physically at risk - students can
not only examine what that lesson is, but also compare it to the
traditional stories of other cultures to investigate if similar,
universal truths are a common theme and whether the values of the
past hold true today across society.
Given that many of them are now hundreds of years old , students
could also examine what it is about these stories that has enabled
them to have endured over time, place and space. Even though they
have been retold, re-interpreted and repackaged into a variety of
formats, why does the core and essence remain intact? Why are they
told again and again and again and children's eyes light up when you
pick up a familiar one to read to them? Even students with little or
no English request and borrow these stories over and over.
Conversely, which of today's stories will survive the test of time?
Even though The Very Hungry Caterpillar is now in his mid 40s,
Corduroy is over 40, and Hairy Maclary, Hush and Grandma Poss are
all 30-something, do they have whatever it is it takes to notch up
centenaries and bicentenaries? What is the secret ingredient that
turns "popular" into "classic"?
These stories also lend themselves to helping students understand
that critical information literacy skill of interpretation. Because
there are so many versions available it is easy to collect enough of
them to provide the variety required to examine how both the story
and the illustrations have been interpreted. What has been added,
deleted, or changed to give the story a particular purpose or slant?
How would the story change if it were told by another character?
Which parts of the story have the illustrators chosen to depict and
how are their pictures of the same thing, such as the giant, similar
or different? What common knowledge do we share even though no one
has ever seen a giant? Is there evidence of stereotyping? Why are
the human characters predominantly depicted as having European
colouring?
Riches indeed that go beyond the sharing of a favourite story.
This series which now has 14 titles would make an affordable
addition to the library's collection so students can start to delve
into the deeper questions.
Barbara Braxton
