Walker Books, 2015. ISBN 9781406359008
(Age: all) Highly recommended. Interconnectedness, Sun's journey,
World view
Graham takes the most simple of everyday occurrences to create a
subtle and rich picture book extolling the interconnectedness of
mankind. The sun's appearance in the horizon opens a new day for
everyone as it climbs its way across the Arctic Circle, uncovers the
barrenness of northern Canada, lights up Japan, then China, the
Middle East and the cities of Europe until it barges through the
window of Coco's bedroom.
Along the way the sun illuminates small pockets of the natural
world: a polar bear and her two cubs, a trawling ship on heavy seas,
a whale, a panda, a snow leopard, a fox and hen, a donkey taking his
owner and his wares to market, camels trekking across the desert, an
eagle high above. Each represents the vastness of the natural world,
while interspersed with these, we see a child and his mother walking
in the snow, a family in a yurt, a child in a plane, a Japanese
street, a woman asleep in her tiny room, a boy putting his toe
through the ice as the shawled women look on, and then we get to
Coco. The sun marks each activity, shows the way for them to travel
or seek out their world, communicate with each other, interact with
their surroundings, bask in its rays.
The sun is the common thread for everyone and everything on this
earth and its warmth enables us to live.
As Coco wakes to the sun, Graham brings his story from the world
wide to the particular, as anyone familiar with his work will know.
His sublime whittling down of major themes always makes me gasp as
he distills the monumental to the specific. From the wide world we
are taken to Coco and her family, waking with the sun, eating
breakfast together, as Coco runs outside to greet he new day with
her friends and neighbours.
Graham includes lots to look at in his watercolour illustrations,
detail not missed by younger readers. I love the toy panda and polar
bear on the floor of Coco's bedroom, duplicating the animals earlier
in the book, or the theme of snow all the way through, of cold and
ice. Many pages have birds still flying south for the winter, while
some people are still snuggled up in bed. The detail of the old
woman in her small room will encourage readers to ask questions
about her and her lifestyle. Every page is littered with questions
begging to be discussed and readers will overflow with observations
and thoughts.
Again, this work is endorsed by Amnesty International 'because it
reminds us that this world belongs to all of us, and we all have the
right to enjoy life, freedom and safety'.
Fran Knight
Being a girl by Hayley Long
Ill. by Gemma Correll. Hot Key Books, 2015. ISBN: 9781471403903
(Reading Ages: 12 -13+) Highly recommended. Parental discretion, may
be needed as some of the content requires the reader to be
emotionally mature. Subjects: Health, Puberty, Adolescents, Girls,
Life Skills, Personal Grooming, Dating, Social Relations,
Psychology. Author Hayley Long has read the entire internet and
gathered everything you need to know about being a girl. She
celebrates life, she encourages the sisterhood with a really open
and insightful dialogue. Nothing is off limits, she tackles a
plethora of topics with humour, insight and honesty. Gender
identity, including being transgender is presented with comments,
questions and opportunities to fill in fun quizzes - are you any
good at being a girl? Herstory includes discussion on gender
inequality, being transgender, the Suffragette Movement, sexism and
introduces six women who have stamped their mark on the world.
Each chapter explores another social, emotional or physical issue.
Raging hormones and the cattiness of a high school classroom, turns
into a table of cats - cattiness combined with Gemma Correll's witty
cat sketches. There's Top Cat, Scally Cats right down to Strays and
the girl who tries to be invisible - Cat Food. Bloody Periods are
the most realistic chapter covering everything a girl needs to know.
Crushes, friendships and dating, health and hygiene are explored and
the reader is treated as a friend without being talked down to or
given too much irrelevant information. This is an important
contemporary book written with sincerity and sensitivity. Hayley
Long's text with her honest and open comments, combined with the use
of bold texts, different fonts, diagrams, tables, cartoons make this
a socially relevant book, just right for girls on the brink of
adolescence.
Rhyllis Bignell
Goodbye Stranger by Rebecca Stead
Text Publishing, 2015. ISBN 9781925240320
(Age: 11+) Highly recommended. Bridge, Tabitha and Emily swore that
they wouldn't fight but now that they are in Grade 7, things are
beginning to change. Emily has connected with the soccer team,
Bridge has taken to wearing cat's ears all the time and Tab is
obsessed with a feminist teacher. Then Emily begins to text pictures
of herself to Patrick and the girls find themselves with problems.
At the same time, another teen is skipping school and going through
pangs of remorse because she has betrayed her best friend.
This is a stunning read about making mistakes, the joys and
tribulations of friendships and growing up by a wonderful author who
writes in a very sympathetic and compassionate way. The reader knows
that Emily will get into trouble when she starts sending photos of
herself to Patrick and receiving ones from him. Even though Bridge
and Tab try to persuade her of the folly of doing it, Bridge still
helps her take a photo. The way the girls handle this misstep and
the consequences of the mistake make for spell-binding reading. At
the same time an unnamed girl is relating the mistake she has made
about telling a secret to a friend who can't be trusted, and the
reader is kept guessing just who this might be.
The relationships between Emily and Patrick and Bridge and Sherm are
handled with a deft touch. Sherm is angry with his grandfather, who
has left his grandmother after 50 years of marriage, and the reader
finds out about this in a series of letters that he writes but
doesn't post. It is unusual to read about divorce between an older
couple and Stead shows how a marriage break-up can affect people of
all ages. Tab too comes to realise that she must act responsibly
within her feminist beliefs. Stead also subtly shows the physical
differences that can occur as girls grow up. Emily's body has
matured and she is becoming much more interested in boys, while
Bridge is still looking young.
Utimately this is an unforgettable book about young girls coming of
age written with wit and compassion. It would make an interesting
Literature Circle book engendering discussion about the
appropriateness of sending photos, what makes a good friend and how
to overcome the consequences of a bad decision.
Pat Pledger
Alex as well by Alyssa Brugman
Curious Fox, 2014. ISBN 9781782020899
(Ages: 13+) Recommended. Growing up. Sexuality. Now a teenager, Alex
feels more female than male, and refuses to take the medication
which suppresses his femininity. Born without specific gender
alignment, Alex has been brought up as a boy by sometimes caring but
often confused parents, but is determined to make his own decisions.
He leaves school where he has been bullied, and enrolls in another
school as a girl, wearing a dress and drawing her hair extensions
back into a pony tail. She is amazed at how differently she is
treated as a girl, and the underlying values attributed to one sex
over the other. It is fascinating to see Brugman playing around with
sex roles through this novel, exposing for us the different traits
credited to each gender through the body of the sometimes capricious
Alex.
But things do not go as she expects. Her new life is at odds with
the old, she is lonely and unsure of herself. She makes friends but
is attracted to one of the girls, while one of the boys is attracted
to her. Going to a solicitor to gain a new birth certificate telling
the world she is female, she makes her only friend, one who believes
her, explores the issues for her and protects her when her parents
become cloying.
It is the scenes with his parents that disturb. They come across as
totally confused, their relationship in tatters because of Alex and
their treatment of him, and they feel that life has treated them
unfairly. At times I wanted to yell at them, they never see Alex in
terms other than their failed male child, they never sit down with
her to talk things through, nor allow Alex to explain how she feels,
there is never a counsellor visited or doctor consulted, but the
internet and the rubbish advised by 'friends' seems to take
precedence, particularly where her mother is concerned.
I was enthralled with Alex's story, wanting her to make it in the
end, find her feet and make a stand. This she does, but in accepting
that her parents will never be wholly supportive she realises in the
end that we are all flawed, especially when it comes to gender and
what is expected of us.
Fran Knight
Abigail by Catherine Rayner
Little Tiger Press, 2015. ISBN 9781848956469
(Age: 4+) Highly recommended. Giraffes, Humour, Counting, Africa.
Abigail loves to count. She begins to count the spots on the
ladybird, but it climbs under the leaf. She begins to count the
stripes on the zebra but it moves away. She begins to count the
spots on the cheetah but he runs away. And the leaves on the tree
disappear as zebra eats them. Ladybird suggest she counts the
flowers in the vast plains and the friends begin. But zebra and
cheetah are not very good at it, so Abigail must help them. At first
they say lots and many to describe the number of flowers they see
but with Abigail's patient help begin to count the flowers. But they
are stopped when night begins to fall, but when they look up they
see a sky full of things to count.
This is a lovely story of friendship as the animals help Abigail
find something to count even though they are not very good at it,
and she in return patiently helps them succeed. This story
reiterates the skill of counting and shows the reader how important
it is. It also differentiates between a precise number and the words
which describe groups of numbers. The background of the plains of
Africa is stunningly presented and children will be amazed at the
diversity of flora and fauna shown with so clearly with simple
watercolour images. They will be delighted at the surprise page near
the end and marvel at the size of the giraffe. I love the trees with
their typical flat underbellies, especially as used on the
publication page adding another level of humour to this delightful
book. Rayner is a Kate Greenaway Medal winner (2009) and her books
with their lovely watercolour images have always intrigued me.
Fran Knight
YIKES, Ticklysaurus! by Pamela Butchart
Ill. by Sam Lloyd. Bloomsbury, 2015. ISBN 9781408839690
(Ages: 2-6) Sam Lloyd's vibrant multi-coloured dinosaurs bring to
life Pamela Butchart's rhyming picture book, YIKES,
Ticklysaurus!
All of the dinosaurs are bored and glum on a hot day in their muddy
swamp home. Brontosaurus wants something fun to happen. One of his
friends, the big, purple and yellow Ticklysaurus know just what to
do. It is time for a game of Tickle Chase, yikes! Brontosaurus is
the first to be caught and in the excitement, does a wee. Tickly's
arms reach everywhere up to the tree where Pterodactyl is hiding and
into Stegosaurus's cave. No one is safe from the spaghetti arms of
the Ticklysaurus with a tickle, tickle, wiggle, giggle each of the
friend's is found except for T. Rex. No the funny dinosaur can't do
it, so he turns to tickle you!
A humorous read aloud story for families, kindergartens and
preschools to share.
Rhyllis Bignell
Go set a watchman by Harper Lee
Cornerstone, 2015. ISBN 9781785150289
(Age: 14+) Recommended. Scout is now the grown-up Jean Louise, 26
years old, living in New York, but returning to Maycomb County, her
childhood home, for her annual visit to see her father Atticus, now
aged 72. But at heart she is still that fiercely independent Scout,
the much loved character at the centre of To kill a mockingbird,
the Pulitzer Prize winning novel by Harper Lee. There is the same
feistiness and tomboyishness that draws the disapproval of her aunt
Alexandra and the wider community as well - they are only too ready
to believe sensational stories of her behaviour. The scenes that
recall her childhood escapades with Jem and Hank are a delight, and
readers will share Atticus's quiet amusement at the scrapes they get
into. Hank the childhood comrade is now her suitor and the romance
between them adds an extra interest to the story.
Not wanting to reveal too much of the plot, I'll just say that Go
set a watchman is the story of Jean Louise encountering the
ongoing undercurrents of racism in the county, and finding how to
express her views and assert her own independence. She has to find
where she stands, not only with the community but also the people
close to her, her aunt, Hank her boyfriend, and most especially her
father. Go set a watchman was written before To kill a
mockingbird but when submitted for publication the editor
advised Harper Lee to concentrate on the story of Scout and Jem's
childhood during the dangerous time that the brave and highly
principled lawyer Atticus took up the defence of a black man falsely
accused of raping a white girl - it is a time of the Klu Klux Klan
and mob lynchings. This back story is only briefly mentioned in Go
set a watchman, but it is essential to understand how Atticus
became such a strong moral compass for his daughter, and how it was
that she managed to grow up not seeing differences in skin colour,
only the differences in age and experience. Fortunately for us,
Harper Lee took the editor's advice, and we now have the masterpiece
that is To kill a mockingbird.
Readers who would like more about the adventures of Scout and her
friends will enjoy Go set a watchman for a few more stories
of their childhood scrapes and to also find out what becomes of her
when she grows up. For students studying the era of black civil
rights this book also provides another level of insight into those
times. Most intriguing though is looking at this book in the context
of discussion about what makes a really good novel, and exploring
the idea of how a good story might need to be reworked to bring it
to its full potential.
Helen Eddy
Under My Skin by James Dawson
Hot Key Books, 2015. ISBN: 9781471402968
(Age: 13+) Highly recommended. 'You have changed me so much and, here's the thing: I needed to change. Before you I thought I was weak scared and uncertain . . . You made me see I was wrong. You made me realise I could do things I never thought I could do.'
James Dawson writes teen Horror with great skill and this book is no exception. It is difficult to put this book down as the writer skilfully draws the reader into the sinister and terrifying world Sally encounters.
Sally Feather is 17 years old. She is shy and lives with parents who keep her world cloistered and safe. Sally gets straight A's in school and has a beautiful singing voice. She finds High School to be a complete nightmare. She's not an A-Lister, a Hot Jock, or a Band member, she belongs to the waifs and strays. Sally wants more. Inside Sally is a wild child looking to escape.
Have you ever thought about getting a tattoo? A tattoo can be a very special secret for a shy teenager. This story has Sally, one afternoon after school, finding herself in a Tattoo Parlour and leaving with a truly beautiful American pin-up girl on her lower back. The girl is sexy, daring and dangerous and Sally's life will never be the same. Then the reader meets Molly Sue. At first Molly Sue seems to be a likeable character, however some incidents begin to build an unease in the reader and take on a sinister glow.
This is more than a horror story as it cleverly layers the issues of abusive relationships, cyber bullying, friendship, jealousy, anorexia and self-image through this gripping tale. The book is engaging from beginning to end as Sally transforms in confidence, rebelliousness and strength. Her strength is never more evident than in the dramatic conclusion.
Linda Guthrie
Almost Grace by Rosie Rowell
Hot Key Books, 2015. ISBN 9781471401275
(Age: 14+) Recommended. 'I will support and love you through
whatever it is that is causing you anxiety but I will not follow you
down this road of self-destruction.'
This book, the story of Grace, is set in South Africa. There are
explanations throughout the book of Afrikaans words. Grace has just
finished High School and is unsure of what the future may hold for
her. She is controlling the only thing she can control - her body.
It soon becomes apparent that she is eating little and her friends
and family are very concerned for her. She travels with her two
friends, Brett and Louisa, to a holiday house they are renting on
the coast at Baboon Point.
Here Grace meets Spook. He is older, mysterious, and appears to be a
carefree nomadic surfer. There is a familiarity about him that lends
to the attraction. When Spook leaves his car with the group for a
few days and goes off alone, the group encounters the dangerous
world of poaching.
'You have to let go of all that bullshit in your head.'
This story explores the ideas of identity, relationships and freedom
as we see the world through Grace's eyes. She is a searcher, looking
for meaning in her life. What will she find?
Linda Guthrie
Galactic Hot Dogs: Cosmoe's Wiener Getaway by Max Braillier
Ill. by Rachel Maguire and Nichole Kelley. Simon & Schuster,
2015. ISBN: 9781471123122
From The Wimpy Kid to Captain Underpants there has
been a surge in books featuring both text and cartoon styled
pictures. Some are easier to read than others. Cosmoe's Wiener
Getaway will appeal for the cartoon style but I fear that
there could be too much text, and action on each page for less
confident readers to be able to negotiate and understand. I had to
re-read quite often, but then I'm more than probably out of the loop
with both the style, language and content.
Cosmoe the Earth Boy and his alien friend Humphree have entered
their space ship the Neon Wiener in the Intragalactic Food Truck
Cook Off, run by evil Queen Dagger. Their offering is a Mega-Dog, a
giant hotdog, which is stolen by Princess Dagger who then stows away
on the Neon Wiener. Her mother the Queen, thinking that she has been
kidnapped, sends the Royal Amada of Jack Jets in pursuit.
In their bid to escape, especially as the Princess refuses to return
to the Queen they eventually discover the Lost Triangle (The Bermuda
Triangle of Space apparently) where legend has it treasure is to be
found. The treasure is one slice of a map-o-sphere. When they find
all 3 slices it will lead them to the Ultimate Evil. When this
information is accidently broadcast all and sundry are after them as
they follow clues to the other pieces.
With space pirates, Zombies all manner of evil space creatures, hot
sauce and fighting, the action is fast, furious and often quite
confusing. Like a good action comic there is an abundance of
exclamation marks and Onomatopoeia in a variety of fonts.
A saving grace is that the evil Princess turns out to be not so evil
after all, though she definitely enjoys the rough and tumble of
battle and has a leading role in the action joining forces with the
Neon Wiener crew to save the galaxy.
Sue Keane
The Big Wish by Brandon Robshaw
Chicken House, 2015. ISBN: 9781908435897
(Age: 9+) Recommended. Themes: Humour, Friendship, Wishes. Eleven
year old Sam's life is about to change radically. The holidays are
over and he's all set to start at Mary Seacole Comprehensive school,
new uniform, new bag and school supplies. With his old friend Evan
and dire warnings from older sister Maeve, they leave for their
first day. All goes well until recess when there's an encounter with
school bully Scorpus.
Sam's home life is unsettling as well, dad's job is a bit
vulnerable, his sister Maeve's boyfriend has moved on and mum's
worried about finances. That evening on a walk with his father and
Billiam their dog, Sam looks into the sky and wishes on a shooting
star. He asks for a million wishes, to fix all of his family's and
school problems. Next morning to Sam's surprise, his wish has come
true. Wishes come with responsibilities, Sam soon realises that
there are consequences and some are not in the best interest of the
person or people involved. There are humorous moments, when Evan and
Sam turn into giants with the right size clothing, the incident with
the giant hamburger and chips and also some hazardous moments. Sam
changes into The Incredible Hulk and nothing Scorpus tries can hurt
him.
In the end he comes to an understanding about decision making,
population explosion due to no more deaths and has to work out a
creative way to use up the final 998835 wishes.
Brandon Robshaw's novel could be used to read to a class, as a
stimulus for debates about making moral choices and the consequences
of Sam's actions.
Recommended for readers from 9 years.
Rhyllis Bignell
Matilda by Roald Dahl
Ill. by Quentin Blake. Puffin. 2015. ISBN 9780141341248
(Age: 8+) Recommended. Themes: Family Life, Good and Evil,
Telekenisis, School. Roald Dahl's Matilda has been brought
to life on the stage. All the well known characters are there, the
all singing, all dancing the naughty students of the Crunchem Hall
Primary School, Miss Trunchbull the intimidating headmistress,
caring young teacher Miss Honey, magical Matilda and the
self-centred Wormwood family. This edition of the much-loved story
has been released as a tie-in to the musical.
First published in 1986, Roald Dahl's much-loved story delivers all
the expected elements to a new audience. Matilda is a special child
left to fend for herself by her dodgy car salesman father and
bingo-playing mother. At an early age, she teaches herself to read
and at four and a half, she walks through town to the library where
she is introduced to Dickens and Kipling and develops a love of
literature. She also enjoys little acts of revenge, one memorable
scene is the hair dye incident, adding her mother's blonde colour to
her father's dark hair dye bottle.
The school scenes are Dahl at his best, his characters are larger
than life, Miss Trunchbull's punishments are frightening. Matilda's
intelligence and sense of justice is nurtured by her young teacher
Miss Honey. She finally has someone who loves and appreciates her
character.
Children love the exaggerated humour, the silliness, the fight of
good and evil, the over-the-top characters. Quentin Blake's
illustrations add to the drama of this junior novel.
Recommended for readers over 8.
Rhyllis Bignell
Catalyst by Helen Coggan
Hodder & Stoughton, 2015. ISBN: 9781444794670
(Age: 14+) Highly recommended. Helen Coggan began this novel at the
age of 13 and has now published her first novel at the age of 15.
Her interview with BBC can be viewed here.
This action packed fantasy novel centres on Rose Elmsworth. She
lives in world newly formed after the First War of Angels. Society
in London is now divided. There are the Gifted (skilled in magic),
the Ashkind (mere mortals) and the Leeched (citizens that have
failed their Testing as teens and have had their abilities
stripped). Rose, however, is a 'hybrid'. Hybrids are greatly feared
and they are hunted and destroyed by the 'Department'. Rose and her
adoptive father David (also a hybrid) can become monsters at times
not of their own choosing and at vulnerable times must lock
themselves away to protect themselves. Rose is intelligent, feisty,
strong and has a close relationship with David. David is a leader in
the 'Department'.
This book is a real page turner and the reader is hooked from the
first page. As the story unfolds Rose is not only keeping her own
secrets safe, she is coming to terms with the secrets she gradually
learning - about David, the Department, the escaped prisoner and the
Demon child. Rose struggles with the use of violence, and the
actions taken by the Department to control the citizens.
Davis has a mysterious past, and this along with the dramatic and
surprising ending to the book, leaves the way open for a sequel.
Linda Guthrie
Second Life by S.J Watson
Text, 2015. ISBN 9781922079251
(Age: Adult) Recommended. S.J. Watson is the author of the best
seller Before I Go To Sleep and he likes to put a twist in
his novels that leaves the reader gasping in surprise and scrambling
back through the novel to look for the clues missed in the first
reading. His latest novel Second Life is a psychological
thriller that centres on Julia and her relationships with her
husband, son and sister.
At the beginning of the novel Julia learns that Kate has been
murdered in an alleyway in Paris and that the murder is not solved.
Despite this, Julia (the main character and narrator) does not
endear herself to the reader. It is difficult to resist judging her
thoughts and actions and as her life begins to spiral out of control
and the reader begins to experience the chaos that addiction brings
to the life of an addict. The justifications Julia gives for her
actions are revealing of her past addictions and obsessions, and in
some way explain the almost placid response of her husband, Hugh, to
her increasingly odd behaviour.
This is a story of addiction - to alcohol, drugs and sex. The
writing is compelling as it portrays the double life Julia leads as
she begins to unravel the mystery of her sister's death and becomes
embroiled in the world of online dating and virtual sex. As the book
trailer artistically shows, there is the possibility that Julia will
lose it all - her family, her friends and her self-respect.
This is a book best suited to be read by adults.
Linda Guthrie
The Alex Crow by Andrew Smith
Electric Monkey, 2015. ISBN 9781405273428
(Age: 16+) Highly recommended. On cover: Warning: Contains explicit
content. Themes: Refugees, Cloning. Genetics. Genetic engineering.
15 year old Ariel is a refugee from the Middle East. He had hidden
in a refrigerator when his village was attacked and was the sole
survivor. Now living in the US, he is sent with his adoptive brother
Max to a camp for boys who are obsessed with tech. This is his story
which is intertwined with that of a schizophrenic melting man who
has bombs and survivors from an arctic expedition from the late 19th
century who had brought home a strange devil like man who had been
frozen in the ice. Weaving through this story is mention of the Alex
crow a bird that has been brought back from extinction by Ariel's
adoptive father's company.
This is a strange, compulsive and challenging story that I was
unable to read in one sitting. It has major themes of refugees and
genetic engineering and ethical considerations about scientific
enquiry but it was Ariel's story that kept me engrossed. I had to
come back to it time and again as I knew that I had to find out just
what had happened to him after his village was destroyed. It is not
a pleasant or escapist story but it has enough humour that will
especially appeal to boys to lighten the tone and it is certainly
one that stays with the reader. The Alex Crow is not a story for the faint hearted. All the
strands contain disturbing themes: the plight of refugees, abuse,
murder and manipulation of family members by scientists interested
only in their horrible experiments. There is frequent talk of
masturbation and only two women feature in the story - Max's mother
who is weird and Martha Nussbaum, the author of a tract, Male
extinction, the case for an exclusively female species. The
Alex Crow is a book that will challenge the reader to think
about issues facing society today.
Andrew Smith is an award winning author (Grasshopper Jungle
won 2014 Boston Globe-Horn Book Awards and was a Printz Honor 2015)
and he certainly lives up to the comment written at the back of the
book that careful is not his middle name.
Pat Pledger
