The Bane chronicles by Cassandra Clare, Sarah Rees Brennan, Maureen Johnson
Walker Books, 2014. ISBN 9781406352429
(Ages 14+) This is a companion volume of stories to accompany The
Shadowhunter Chronicles written by Cassandra Clare - a series which
has been consistently popular over the past five years. Clare has
spoken of the fascination she had for the abandoned buildings in the
large cities of the United States; places which evoked fantastical
and historical imaginings and so, she began the stories of the
warlocks, vampires and humans. These eleven stories give the reader
some insight into the lives and loves of Magnus Bane, the leading
character in the already published Chronicles. Warlocks live forever
- so imagine what they have seen over time. Magnus is such a
likeable, flamboyant and heroic character blessed with good looks, a
fine sense of fashion and a great sense of humour plus amazing
magical powers. I was very drawn to these stories, which encompass
historical time periods from the 18th century through to the present
day. With a consistently readable writing style, Clare has drawn her
characters well; this special collection will be loved by her
reading fans.
Julie Wells
Footpath flowers by Jon Arno Lawson
Ill. by Sydney Smith. Walker Books, 2015. ISBN 9781406362084
(Age: Junior primary) Highly recommended. Small things, Childhood,
Environment. A young girl and her father walk through the city back
to their house. Along the way she collects the flowers she spies
growing in the most unusual places, around a telegraph pole, in the
cracks between the pavement of the footpath, or the gaps between the
cement layers on a bridge or the spaces between the pavers near the
bus stop. She picks herself a small bunch of flowers, smelling their
perfume as they walk, and she gives a flower to those she meets
along the way. Each of the recipients sees their environment in a
different way because of her gift, and eventually her dad, the one
who walked the same route and saw nothing, also opens his eyes.
Father with his bag of shopping and his mobile phone often at his
ear, simply walks the route, but the girl, resplendent in her red
coat, sees all. She spies out the flowers, finding their colour in
most unusual places, sees the people standing in a queue for a bus,
the contents of the shop windows, the dead bird on the ground. In
giving away the flowers she brings colour to the world, the person
asleep on the park bench, the dog, and finally her own family.
The wonderful illustrations begin with the stark ink buildings.
Shadows run across the pages as the two walk with their shopping.
The sights of the city are there to see, but she sees the smaller
things, the important things, the flowers at their feet. More colour
is added to the pages as she delivers her flowers, and the pages
become softer as they enter the family home. Smith offers us a world
full of small things, and the young reader will delight picking them
out on each page. They will see what the young girl sees, and marvel
at her small gestures of kindness in offering flowers to those she
meets.
A wordless hymn to the importance of the little things, this picture
book will delight and charm those who read it.
Fran Knight
The Beloved by Alison Rattle
Hot Key Books, 2015. ISBN 9781471403798
(Age: Mature senior secondary) Themes: Role of women in society
(1800's); Abuse - emotional and sexual; Historical drama; Family
drama. Set in 1848, this is a tale of family abuse, powerlessness,
betrayal, exploitation and family dysfunction threaded with a link
to religious abuse, heresy and corruption. Alice Angel, lives in a
household dominated by a manipulative mother who emotionally abuses
her daughter. Alice's responses to the abuse and the perceived lack
of love from her mother, which from the reader's 21st Century
viewpoint seem reasonable, are deemed to be evidence of her mental
instability and she is at risk of being sent to a mental asylum.
This uncertainty leads Alice to escape into an uncertain future, and
then into the unfortunate arms of an in itinerant preacher who
manages to convince her, and many other women, that he is their
Saviour - The Beloved. The servitude that follows is spiritual
abuse, and yet the vulnerable women from rich and poor backgrounds
succumb to the seductive charms of the enigmatic leader willingly.
Gradually Alice discovers that all is not what it seems, and the
abuse is revealed in all its horrors.
This is a sad tale and reveals how a woman's position in the world
was often easily manipulated in the 19th Century. The willingness of
the women in the tale to succumb to the spell of the charismatic
religious leader, who deceptively claims divinity, was immensely
sad. The fact that this is based on a piece of English history
(Agapemonites) is disturbing.
Some maturity is required to read this book, both as the result of
the descriptions of abuse (including sexual abuse), but also to sift
through the irreverence and false claims of the religious leader.
(Note: Christians will find the warped and corrupt expression of
their beliefs to be distressing but not surprising, as it still
continues today.)
Carolyn Hull
Poppy in the Field by Mary Hooper
Bloomsbury Publishing, 2015. ISBN 9781408827635
(Age: 13 years+) The first world war carries on and VAD Poppy
Pearson finds herself mending a broken heart from the love of her
life. Desperately trying to put him behind her, Poppy travels to
France nearer to the front lines hoping to help more of the wounded
soldiers of the dreadful battle, easing their pains, treating their
wounds. Poppy tries to do as much good as she can amidst the bad,
but many heartaches rattle her journey forward. With the loss of
family and the gain of new friendships and love, and difficulties
for both her and the soldiers she cares for, she battles against all
odds, sacrificing much and gaining little and the war is proving to
not only be on the battlefield, but inside Poppy as well.
The followup book to the novel Poppy, Poppy in the field
is story of gentle love and painful loss, regret, guilt and death.
Hooper unfolds the story of the renowned World War I in the eyes of
Poppy Pearson, a heroine who - though in a foreign situation to many
- readers will be able to relate with as we follow Poppy and her
letters in the many troubles she faces both in the sickroom and at
home. Hooper writes a heartfelt story that will leave many smiling,
sobbing and most probably, both.
Clarissa Cornelius (Student)
How to be Bad by E. Lockhart, Lauren Myracle and Sarah Mlynowski
Hot Key Books, 2015. ISBN 9781471404849
(Age: 15 years+) 'Think about it . . . the open road. We can do
whatever we want, whenever we want to do it.' How to be Bad follows the lives of three teenage girls who
are the complete opposites, and their impulsive decision to go on a
road trip for the weekend. Jesse, the saint, Vicky, the rebel, and
Mel, the new girl, all pile into a beat up Opel to experience life
on the open road - to make up with boyfriends, to escape reality as
they know it, try and gain real friends and maybe catch up with a
stuffed gator on the way. The sassy trio embarks on a trip of a
lifetime and take many twists they had no clue were even on the map
. . .
With three teens and three writers, different perspectives are used
in the story to see in the eyes and walk in the shoes of the girls
whose lives intertwine with each other's. This is a fast-paced,
relatable story of broken hearts and friendship's up and downs,
displaying stellar arguments and the journey to fix them, strangers
that become close friends, and close friends that keep too many
secrets. Lockhart, Myracle, and Mlynowski writes of the pessimisms
and highlights of a youth's life, a story that leaves you wanting
more of the sass, tears and laughs the girls have to offer.
Clarissa Cornelius (Student)
My Brother is a Superhero by David Solomons
Nosy Crow, 2015. ISBN: 9780857634795
(Age: 9-12) Highly recommended. Themes: Brothers and sisters,
Comics, Humorous stories, Heroes and heroines. Eleven year old Luke
Parker, life is rather average, he lives with his parents and older
brother Zack in an ordinary area of London. Luke is an avid comic
book reader; he loves reading about superheroes and their daring
adventures. One evening after an hour in their backyard treehouse,
Luke urgently needs to wee, and this changes the course of both
brothers' life. In those few minutes, Zorbon the Decider's
spacecraft lands and Zack is chosen to save two universes. He is
given six powers to help him, including telekinesis and the alien
leaves him with a final warning 'NEMESIS IS COMING'.
Luke is extremely upset: his nerdy brother loves maths and has no my
interest in being a superhero and saving anything. Luke relishes the
role of guiding Star Lad - Zack's superhero identity, making his
costume - a shower-curtain cape and constantly reminding him about
what is required. Life changes after a Saturday afternoon visit to
Comic Connection, Luke's favourite store, Star Lad stops an out of
control bus with his bare hands, lifting it into the air like a
champion weightlifter. When Luke's classmate Lara decides to unmask
Star Guy, Luke has his own mission how to prevent Zack's identity
being found out.
This is an action packed novel, the narration is humorous, the
impossible problems of being a superhero who can't drive to a crime
scene, there's the dilemmas of a first crush, Luke's witticisms and
asides to the reader and a monumental amount of superhero knowledge.
David Solomons' My Brother is a Superhero is a tremendous
novel for readers, who love all things alien, extraterrestrial,
adventurous and funny.
Rhyllis Bignell
Pip Bartlett's Guide to Magical Creatures by Jackson Pearce and Maggie Stiefvater
Scholastic, 2015. ISBN 9781760156954
(Age: 8-10) Recommended. Themes: Magic, Fantasy, Mythical Animals,
Veterinarians. Pip Bartlett's dramas begin on Career Day at school
when the Unicorns arrive, eight beautiful creatures brought in by
the Barreras family. Pip is fascinated by all magical creatures, and
she constantly refers to favourite book, Jeffrey Higgleston's
Guide to Mythical Creatures filled with facts, diagrams and
descriptions. Young Pip has a special secret; she can communicate
with all magical creatures and they can understand her. When her
teacher Mr. Dyatlov sends them off to the Career Stations outside,
Pip hurries over to talk to the Unicorns. Unfortunately, Raindancer
asks Pip to ride her and they set off on a disastrous adventure,
followed by the rest of the herd crashing through the stands and
stall, breaking the school sign and wrecking the garden.
Pip is sent off to spend the summer with her Aunt Emma and cousin
Callie's home and veterinary practice for the summer while her
geologist parents are off on digs and conventions. This is a clinic
that treats magical creatures, and on the first day there's a
Lilac-Horned Pomeranian, a stressed HobGrackle whose stinky sweat
melts metal and an Invisible Salamander waiting to be treated. Pip
is in her element surrounded by animals she can talk to and try to
help. Cousin Callie resents working all summer in the busy practice,
but Pip is in her element talking to all the wild and unusual sick
animals. With her new friend Tomas, who is highly allergic to most
things, Pip sets out to capture the invading Fuzzles, furry little
creatures who set themselves on fire.
Jackson Pearce and Maggie Stiefvater's story bring the world of
magical creatures to life. With wildly colourful, imaginative animal
names and descriptions and a feisty and sometimes overeager
protagonist this is a terrific story for the animal lover and would
be great to read to a Middle primary class.
Rhyllis Bignell
Foxtrot by Becka Moor
Five Mile Press, 2015. ISBN 9781760063412
(Age: 4+) Recommended. Individuality, Humour, Foxes, Dancing. With
bold bright illustrations, Moor creates a fox who loves to dance, so
much so that he dances all the time. He dances out of bed, does the
splits putting on his socks, mambos with his marmalade and twirls
with his toast. Music rules his life and he dances all the time. But
once out of his house, he causes mayhem. He stops traffic, knocks
things off the shelves in the supermarket, causing mayhem at his
friends' parties. They decide that this must stop and try a range of
things to stop Foxtrot dancing. Tying his shoelaces together causes
him to fall over, sticking his feet to the floor with honey leaves
him all alone, so he tries to seek out some alternatives. He tries
rock climbing, drag racing and acting, all to no avail. But one
morning when he wakes and drags himself downstairs he spies the
picture of his old teacher and her dancing studio where he learnt to
dance. She is too old to teach so Foxtrot decides that he will take
over and teach others to dance. All his friends join in getting the
hoses ready for his students.
This lovely story of being an individual and sticking to what you
love will have a lot of friends as children will care about Foxtrot
trying to reinvent himself for the sake of his friends. At home or
in a class discussions will ensue focussing on individuality and the
freedom to be yourself.
Fran Knight
Lorali by Laura Dockrill
Hot Key Books 2015. ISBN 9781471404221
(Ages: 10+) Lorali follows the story of mermaid princess, Lorali,
and her transition to land after surfacing (growing legs). Having
been taught all her life about the perils of the human world, Lorali
is understandably non-plussed by its wonders (television, cake and
music). As she struggles to find a place in this unfamiliar world
she is helped along by friends of fortune and the unlikely
lighthouse keeper who had loved a woman who became a mer.
It is the night of Rory's sixteenth birthday and he and his friends
are looking to get wasted; however first Rory has to visit the beach
at Hastings. When the storm hits Rory runs to the old pier for
shelter only to find he isn't alone. A young woman, about his age is
lying there completely naked. Like any awkward teenager, he quickly
covers up her nudity and takes her home. She doesn't speak
throughout the trip and Rory makes the assumption that she's a mute,
or a runaway. Unsure what else to do with her, he puts her up for
the night, forging the beginning of their friendship. Meanwhile the
Whirl is in an uproar and Queen Keppel wants everyone on the lookout
for her missing daughter. After recruiting the Ablegares (pirates),
she rashly, she sends Opal Zeal a walker-obsessed mer, up to the
surface to enlist the help of humans. Opal, who has always dreamed
of meeting humans, does gladly and quickly looses herself in her
fame. The mermaids aren't the only ones looking for Lorali; a ship
of poachers are also making their way to Hastings, eager to harvest
the tapestry (tail) of the mer princess.
This is a fantasy novel set with an overlap in Hastings reality. The
author leaves no doubt about the setting, making several references
to the traditional haddock and chips and incorporating slang
effectively. Dockrill gives her mermaids a unique spin by erasing
reproduction and celebrating a system of salvation. Even her sirens
are different from traditional telling. I quite enjoyed reading Lorali
and would recommend for girls aged ten and up.
Kayla Gaskell
If you plant a seed by Kadir Nelson
HarperCollins, 2015. ISBN 9780062298898
(Age: Pre-school - Yr 3) Mouse and Rabbit plant some seeds - a
tomato seed, a carrot seed and a cabbage seed. In time, with love
and care and nurture and nourishment, the seeds grow and they enjoy
the fruits of their labour. Delicious. But the word spreads to the
birds who would also like to partake of the rich, ripe plants - and
demand that they are given some. But Mouse and Rabbit are reluctant
to share. And so begins a tale that is almost Aesop-like in its
didacticism as selfishness is contrasted with generosity and the
fruits of the latter are "very, very, sweet". Not only do Mouse and
Rabbit have an endless harvest of abundance, they have many new
friends too.
Award-winning creator Kadir Nelson has created a magnificent story
through a clever combination of sparse text and rich illustrations
that will engage the very young reader over and over again with
something new to discover with every reading. The colours gleam
against the backgrounds and the use of perspective is superb.
Together, a theme about reaping what you sow that is as old as time
is interpreted in a way that is as new as tomorrow's dawn offering
lots of scope for sharing and reflecting.
Barbara Braxton
Where's the Elephant? by Barroux
Egmont, 2015. ISBN 9781405276481
Picture book. It starts as a simple hide-and-seek book with the
reader encouraged to find the elephant, the parrot and the snake
amongst a forest of trees of all shapes and sizes and colours. Turn
the page and the same challenge applies - but this time it's a
little easier because some of the trees have been chopped down. And
on the next double-spread it is easier again as even more trees have
disappeared. And then, where the trees were a house appears and then
another and another. And so it continues until there so many houses
and buildings that there is just one tree, and the elephant, the
parrot and the snake are clearly visible enclosed in a fence with
Zoo on it. Until they take matters into their own hands.
Stunningly illustrated by this award-winning French illustrator and
inspired by a visit to Brazil where he saw the forest set alight to
provide space to plant soy beans as well as the concept of Where's
Wally?, in some ways the theme of this wordless text is akin
to that of Jeannie Baker's Window. The encroaching of
civilisation and its impact on the environment and the creatures
within it is explored in a way that not only the youngest reader
will understand but which will serve as a springboard for more
mature readers to investigate.
The colours and shapes of the lush forest evoke positive emotions
but as the white of the cleared land and the muted tones of the
houses and buildings take over the pages a sense of sadness takes
over. There are no words - they are not needed.
This is the perfect adjunct to a theme of Change, particularly if
the focus is on how humans have an impact on the environment and the
needs of creatures that dwell there. Given Australia's poor record
of stopping species becoming endangered or even extinct, this is a
focus area that demands attention and where better to start the
appreciation of what we have than with the very young?
Barbara Braxton
Mirror Sight by Kristen Britain
Green Rider Book 5. Orion Publishing Group, 2014. ISBN:
9780575099685
(Ages: 13+) After Karigan G'ladheon, Green Rider and messenger for
King Zachery, shatters a powerful evil looking mask, she wakes to
find that she is not in the time period she is supposed to be.
Trapped in a sarcophagus she is finally freed by circus folk whom
she seems are not nice people at all. After escaping from their
clutches she then finds herself in a bleak future where she is being
hidden by an archaeologist, Professor Josston, whom has his servant
Mirriam and Lorine tend to her injuries. But can Karigan trust these
new people? Her Green Rider skills have no power here in this new
world and everything seems strange to her. After following her host
into an underground tunnel Karigan finds familiarity in an abandoned
town and she finally finds answers to the questions that have been
plaguing her. Do her people from her own time have a message to tell
her and how can they be sending her messages into the future? With
the help of Cade and the horse handler Luke, she must find a way
back to her own time and confront the evil emperor.
Even though I have not read the previous books in this series I
found it enjoyable as a stand-alone book. It is written well with
interesting twists and turns and the reader would be able to follow
which time frame they are reading about through the characters each
chapter is describing. This fantasy book would be enjoyed by readers
whom have liked anything written by Jaqueline Carey, Sarah Maas and
Elizabeth Moon.
Jody Holmes
The novice by Taran Matharu
The Summoner book 1. Hachette, 2015. ISBN 9781444926644
(Age: 13+) The Novice is a young adult, fantasy novel by
Taran Matharu. It is deftly written and is a great introduction to a
new world filled with strange magic, demons, and the people who
summon them. Although written in third person it still has a
personal feel to it, and the writing style is easy to read and
understand. I believe it is a book that would interest readers aged
thirteen to seventeen (though don't let that stop you if you're
older!)
It all starts when the young protagonist, Fletcher, comes across a
summoner's book. Inside is a scroll to summon a demon, and when he
speaks the words, the demon appears. Soon, he is in a situation
where it appears he is guilty of committing a crime, though he is
innocent, so he flees with his demon and his book.
He is soon admitted to a Summoner's Training School, in which he
bravely faces all his trials in an attempt to earn enough knowledge
for the challenge at the end of the year. But with vicious nobles,
teachers who are dead set against him and a past that is just dying
to come haunt him, Fletcher encounters a lot of hurdles.
Nonetheless, he makes some rather unlikely friends and struggles
towards his goals, his demon never too far. However, it always seems
like there is someone plotting against him, and that the odds are
not in his favour.
It makes for an exciting, fun read you just can't put down. The
antagonists (and there are a few) will make you grit your teeth, but
it's all worth it to see how things play out amongst Fletcher and
his friends, in this school of demon raisers. The Novice is definitely a worthwhile read that could
interest a wide variety of readers, and will most likely leave you
wishing for the next book to be in your hands right away, though
there will be a wait for the sequel!
Annie-May S. (Student)
Alien Attack by Alan MacDonald
Ill. by Nigel Baines. Superhero School series. Bloomsbury,
2015. ISBN 9781408825242
(Age: 7 - 9) Recommended. Themes: Heroes, Villains, Life on other
planets, School stories, Humorous Stories. Stan, Minnie, Miles and
Pudding the Wonderdog are back in the next instalment of Superhero
School and it is just as exciting as the first novel. There
are superheroes learning to fly not very successfully, incidents
with Bionic Bubblegum, aliens landing and causing drama and the
Mighty High students busy revising for their first year HEROES
exams.
During an excursion to the annual Superhero Convention, Miles comes
in contact with little green aliens who have landed in the leisure
centre car park. The touch of long sticky alien tongue on Miles'
forehead leads him into all sorts of trouble. Back at school, his
friends are busy learning to fly with Professor Bird, diving into an
empty pool where two students are holding a blanket! Much to
everyone's surprise Miles is a natural flying over the pool, even
doing a loop-the-loop. Meanwhile, across town the aliens have a
prisoner who looks exactly like Miles wearing a blindfold made from
undies. Alien Attack is a great read for younger children combining a
cartoon format with easy to read action-packed chapters. Nigel
Baines' graphic cartoon illustrations compliment this Alan
MacDonald's superhero story.
Rhyllis Bignell
Winter siege by Ariana Franklin and Samantha Norman
Bantam Books, 2015. ISBN 9780857501479
(Age: 13+) Highly recommended. Medieval England, Crime, Redemption,
Civil war. When Ariana Franklyn died in 2011, she left behind a
small body of work set in medieval times involving a woman trained
as a physician solving crimes through forensic investigation always
a step in front of those who wanted to kill her as a witch. These
four novels, Mistress of the art of death, The death
maze, Relics of the dead and The assassin's prayer
were mesmerising in their Medieval setting, showing attitudes to
women and medicine at the time. But she had a last novel in
progress, and her daughter, Samantha Norman has completed it and it
is now published.
This story takes a slightly different route from the previous four,
detailing the lives of Gwil, a mercenary who rescues a young girl
raped and left for dead by a monk known for his cruelty. It is the
time of civil war between the forces of King Stephen and his sister
Matilda, involving much of southern England.
Gwil and Pen take refuge in a castle where Maud is the one in
charge, but her enforced marriage sees her relinquish control to an
older man, now her husband, and his whore, Kingva. When he has a
stroke, the only person Kingva turns to is a monk who arrives in the
castle with King Stephen's men, on the lookout for a piece of
parchment taken by Pen, the girl he raped. When Maud refuses to
submit to King Stephen's men after sheltering and then helping his
rival, Matilda, escape, a siege lays the castle open to treachery.
This is a powerful historical crime story set in turbulent times
where lives are often lost for little or no reason. The callousness
of wondering mercenaries is appalling, and Gwil seeks to redeem
himself by caring for Pen. The narrator of the story evokes a change
of heart from his scribe, who is at first condemning of the
participants in the story but by the end learns compassion and
empathy.
The episodes detailing the siege are just wonderful, laying before
the reader the extremes of life lived during such a time.
A wonderful thriller, following the development of Pen and her
protector Gwil, the shadow of the monk is always there, even though
Pen fortunately has no recollection of the incident. A menacing read
right to the last.
Fran Knight
