Allen & Unwin, 2015. ISBN 9781760113919
(Age: 9+) Recommended. Humour. Gothic stories. Ghouls. Beautifully
presented, this compendium of the four Grimstones stories will be a
welcome addition to any library, with its shiny paper, delicious,
inventive illustrations and easy to read chapters. Hatched, Mortimer
revealed, Whirlwind and Music school are collected in this one
volume for readers of this eerie set of Gothic tales. The first two
books in the series are reviewed in Readplus.
The diaries of the youngest member of the Grimstone family, Martha
will encourage all sorts of readers to peer into this book, as she
introduces her very strange family and investigates the death of her
beloved father, Mortimer.
With enticing pictures of Martha with her wan thin expression bathed
in black clothing, leading the reader to postulate how the
illustrator achieved the images, the pages turn to reveal diagrams,
notes, tips on how to do things, bold headings of frustration,
recipes, drawings, pages from other books, double page illustrations
and loads of little drawings that fill many nooks and crannies, all
designed to intrigue. At the end of the book Asphyxia gives a brief
summary of how she and her partner achieved the illustrative work
and she refers the readers to her website for further
information. I can imagine many readers poring over the pages to see
how the images are put together and try it out for themselves, and
as a result have many libraries and classrooms set up with Grimstone
puppets with ghoulish settings as a display.
The Gothic humour pervades the whole book and will capture a wide
audience.
Fran Knight
The cat who came in off the roof by Annie M. G. Schmidt
Allen & Unwin. Imprint: Pushkin Children's Books, 2015. ISBN
9781782690368
(Age: 12+) Highly recommended. Have you heard of this author? No,
neither had I but the title intrigued me - I do like an interesting
title. Plus I'm a cat person. This charming novel held my interest
fully for the return trip to the city today.
Tibbles is a journalist - but not your average one. He is painfully
shy, he is an excellent writer but seems to find only stories that
are not 'newsworthy' and he is a cat lover. When his editor
threatens him with dismissal if there is 'just one more cat story',
Tibbles is at a loss. Then Minou appears - literally, 'treed' by a
ferocious dog in his local park and then later in the evening by
crawling through his attic window. A strangely attractive young
woman, Minou exhibits cattish behaviours - well, after all, she's
been 'treed' by a dog and now she is in Tibbles' kitchen gnawing on
a fish skeleton from his rubbish bin!
So begins one of the most delightful and original novels I have read
in a long while. Minou is in fact a cat, who has somehow become a
human, though not without her erstwhile tendencies as a feline.
Tibbles begins his ascendancy and redemption as a journalist when
Minou starts to bring him tidbits from the 'Cat Press Agency'.
Obviously the many cats of a small town would have insight into much
of the town's real news.
This is such a happy read - easy, light, almost - dare I say it? -
fluffy! I loved it! I urge you to read the love story of Tibbles and
Minou - with its unfolding drama due to the obligatory villain.
Having just recently revisited the 101 dalmations with the
wonderful 'twilight barking' sending of information, this truly
resonated.
From the publisher: 'Annie M. G. Schmidt was regard as the Queen of
Dutch Children's Literature and her books have been an essential
part of of every Dutch childhood for the last fifty years. (She
trained as a librarian!).'
I thank her for bringing some real reading joy to my life at the
moment.
Highly recommended for readers of around 12 and up!!
Sue Warren
Which way, Dude? : BMO's day out by Max Brallier
Ill. by Stephen Reed. Adventure Time series. Hardie Grant
Egmont, 2015. ISBN 9781760123208
(Age: 8-10) Adventure, Fantasy, Science fiction. This Choose your
own adventure repackaged to include the reader in all sorts of
activities apart from making life changing decisions about the main
characters, will draw readers in to the zany world as presented in
the series on the Cartoon network (TimeWarner).
Finn and Jake are plying their favourite game, Portender Defender
with their tiny robot friend, BMO, when a knock at the door rouses
them. It is Peppermint Butler and he has dreadful news. The princess
Bubblegum is in deep trouble and they must help him rescue her. So
follows a fast paced adventure story which has the reader electing
to go on different paths to find the princess. Along the way the
reader must pass through mazes, answer questions, finish puzzles, do
a word find and work out a code to find answers to the question of
just where is the princess.
With puzzles at the end of almost every chapter, and each short
chapter offering lots of little cartoon illustrations, younger
readers will find this an easy read, propelled along by the funny
story. Instructions are clearly offered in boxes on the pages, so
the readers will know exactly what they have to do to continue.
Boys in middle years at primary school will find this a funny book
to get their teeth into.
Fran Knight
Uncle Gobb and the Dread Shed by Michael Rosen
Bloomsbury, 2015. ISBN 9781408851302
Suited to 8+ readers. Themes: School; Thinking. I think you have to
be young to find this book enjoyable. It is 10+ on the Quirky Scale
(which normally is 0-5 in its range). The main characters have
incredibly bizarre nick-names, and views on the world. Uncle Gobb
seems to be a cross between a dictator within the education system
and the world's most unpleasant uncle. The plot is unusual, and
chapter headings and non-fiction inserts are also weirdly irregular
and sometimes quite far - fetched. The redeeming features are that
the book has moments of humour, strange illustrations and unusually
it makes a reasonable, although amusing, critique of 'fill in the
gaps' worksheets and discipline strategies. This is not as endearing
as the Tom Gates or Diary of a Wimpy Kid Series, but
it may appeal to the eccentric child.
Carolyn Hull
Super Fly by Todd H Doodler
Bloomsbury, 2015. ISBN: 9781619633780
Themes: Bullying; Comedy; Super - heroes; Insects. Eugene Flystein is
the central character in this amusing book written by Doodler (not
his real name!). Eugene is starting at the new school in
Stinkopolous (on the edge of the city dump). He is not a big, bold
fly and immediately meets the bully in the school - Cornelius
Cockroach. The rest of the story explains how Eugene transforms into
Super Fly - The World's Smallest Superhero (with the support of his
only friend Fred Flea) in a classic super-hero fight against evil.
Not surprisingly, part of the appeal of this book is the
'disgusting' world that flies and insects inhabit.
Young readers will find this enjoyable, with the references to gross
food, environments and overcoming the mean cockroach. Doodler
illustrates the story with cartoon-like quirky drawings. This is a
simple tale designed to entertain, and it hints at a sequel.
Carolyn Hull
The girl is murder by Kathryn Miller Haines
The Girl is Murder bk 1. Roaring Brook Press, 2011. ISBN
9781596436091
(Age: 14+) Recommended. Mystery. Historical. World War 2 US. Iris
Anderson's world has fallen apart. Her father has lost his leg in
the attack on Pearl Harbour and has returned home, determined to
make a go of his private detective agency. Iris is dying to help him
out, especially when his is engaged to find a boy from her school
who has gone missing, but he is not interested so she sets out on
her own to investigate. She finds herself sneaking out, going to
dances in Harlem and getting mixed up with a cool gang at school.
This is a very solid and interesting mystery set in World War 2 in
New York. I loved the historical aspect, the feelings about the war,
the youth of the soldiers who were having a last fling and
descriptions of the clothes, dancing and attitudes. The dialogue
abounds with slang from the period and references to dances and
music make it a fascinating study of the time. All this provides a
great backdrop to the mystery of the young boy who has gone missing.
The author provides lots of red herrings to bamboozle the reader and
there are plenty of clues that I recognised in hindsight after the
thrilling ending.
The characterisation is quite complex as well. Iris is grieving for
her mother who has committed suicide, and neither she nor her father
know why. She doesn't have much of a relationship with her father,
who has been away for most of the previous five years and is unhappy
that she has had to leave her private school and go to a public
school where she has no friends. Teen readers will identify with her
belief that she is capable of investigating on her own and will be
able to see the danger that she puts herself in by sneaking out and
going to forbidden places. The contrast between the rich and poor,
the attitudes to Germans and Italians, the effect that the war has
had on her father and her friend Pearl is all richly described.
Readers who enjoy mysteries will love the sassy heroine, the great
supporting characters and the fascinating plot in The girl is
murder. It is followed by The girl is trouble.
Pat Pledger
How to be bad by E. Lockhart, Lauren Myracle and Sarah Mlynowski
Hot Key Books, 2015. ISBN 9781471404849
(Age: 15+) Recommended. Friendship. Road trip. Jesse and Vicks are
good friends but things seem to be going a little awry as Jesse
keeps a big secret from her friend and Vicks can't stop worrying
about her boyfriend who has moved to college and hasn't contacted
her for a fortnight. Mel is the new girl in town. She is rich and
but is in the shadow of her pretty sister and is desperate to make
friends. They decide to escape Niceville and go on a road trip to
visit Vicks' boyfriend in Miami, having some hilarious escapades on
the way.
The characters are so very different. Jesse lives in a trailer park,
is poor but religious and uptight. Vicks is more of a wild child,
and is determined not to be the girl who becomes clingy because her
boyfriend doesn't call. Mel is a middle child and is often called
upon to be the casting vote when her two siblings can't agree, and
feels unwanted. Their trip includes looking at Old Joe, a stuffed
alligator, going to Disney land and staying in a hotel set up as a
pirates' haunt, as well as wrestling a wild alligator, and these
adventures lead to a growth in their friendship and understanding of
each other and themselves. On the way they meet Marco, an
attractive, caring boy who invites them to a party and their actions
there are a real catalyst for each to take stock of themselves.
In an interesting note at the back, the three authors describe how
they came together and wrote the book. Each took the voice of one of
the characters, and the story is related from that person's point of
view in alternating chapters. It is fun for the reader who has
previously read books by the authors to guess which character has
been written by that author.
This is a fun read with amusing moments and insights into friendship
and class which is sure to be enjoyed by readers who like road trips
and sassy girls.
Pat Pledger
To hold the bridge by Garth Nix
Allen & Unwin, 2015. ISBN 9781743316559
(Age: 11+) Highly recommended. Fantasy, Short stories, Survival.
When Garth Nix writes another episode of the Old Kingdom series,
every reader will take notice, and this novella which is the first
story presented in this large collection of his stories will please
them all. I read again of the world he imagined and presented so
clearly in those books rekindled as Morghan attempts to join the
Greenwash Bridge Company. The company has been charged to build a
bridge north of the Old Kingdom across islets and rivers separating
them form the north. The company takes on a few cadets and Morghan
tries out despite his misgivings and disability. But the
Bridgemistress senses his ability with the Charter marks and he is
welcomed to be trained, finding that one night his abilities must be
used for his own survival.
So begins this fine edition, and the next stories are just as
engrossing as Nix takes us again into his worlds. Clearly devised
settings against which well defined characters strive for survival
will thrill all readers.
A story set in today's world of gaming held my attention as The
quiet knight defends the new girl and her brother at school. The
quiet knight holds that name in his gaming on the weekend at a local
woolshed where the owner has built tunnels and mazes along with
lowered ceilings and other obstacles for the gamers to enter in
costume. Tony lost his voice in an accident years ago, but here he
can be what he wants to be, and the reader is gratified when the
young woman recognises him outside the game.
Others stand out as well. His take on the Rapunzel story is given in
the funny, Unwelcome guest, and another reflecting themes
from his inestimable Shade's children is presented in You
won't feel a thing. Which ever one is read will engage the
reader's brains as things must be worked out, clues gathered and
imaginations unleashed as he takes us to all sorts of new and
fantastic places.
Fran Knight
I'll give you the sun by Jandy Nelson
Walker, 2015. ISBN 9781406326499
(Age: 15+) Highly recommended. Adolescent. Love. Twins. Art. 2015
Michael L Printz award. Josette Frank Award for Younger Readers
(2015). ALA Top 10. Jude and Noah are twins and both are obsessed
with Art, Jude making wonderful sand sculptures and Noah constantly
drawing. They were incredibly close until a tragedy hit their family
and by the time they are 16, have drawn apart. Jude has been
accepted into a prestigious art school, while Noah who wasn't
accepted, has abandoned his art and joined the in crowd at a
different school. Then Jude meets a gorgeous boy and a famous
sculptor and gradually the real story of what has happened in their
lives comes to light. I'll give you the sun is a glowing story of loss, sibling
rivalry and family relationships set against a brilliant background
of art. The story is told in the two voices of the twins, Noah
recounting what has happened in the early years and Jude relating
what is happening in the present. Noah is 13 years old, constantly
seeing what is happening as pictures in his head and it is from him
that we learn about the family dynamics, the jealously between the
twins about their mother's attention and the sexual leanings of the
characters. Jude is 16 when she recounts what is happening and from
her we learn about the break in the family, her struggles with Noah
and what is happening in the family 2 years after the tragedy.
Binding the two stories together is the charismatic Oscar who Noah
meets when he is 13 and Jude falls in love with two years later and
the sculptor Guillermo, who undertakes to teach Jude how to sculpt.
With often funny dialogue, especially from Noah, Nelson's
heartbreaking prose sweeps the narrative along involving the reader
in the lives of the twins. The atmosphere of dedication to art that
comes from Noah, Jude and their mother is a central focus for the
reader who learns much about art and sculpture along the way. There
are mysteries too that intrigue - why is Noah not in the prestigious
school of art when he showed so much promise in the early pages of
the story, what happened to make the family fall apart and who is
the mysterious Ralph that the parrot next door talks about. Jandy
brings all to a satisfying and haunting conclusion.
This is a book that will remain stamped on my memory. Readers who
enjoy books by John Green, David Levithan, and Rainbow Rowell are
likely to enjoy this one.
Pat Pledger
Resonance by Celine Kiernan
Allen & Unwin, 2015. ISBN 9781743313084
(Age: 12+) Recommended. Fantasy, Dublin 1890's, Historical novel,
Angels. The theatre district of late nineteenth century Dublin is
the fascinating setting for this fantasy, steeped in the history of
the these times. Several young people are introduced early: Tina,
the theatre seamstress is loved by Joe, a street worker living with
the appalling Mickey, and a down at heel magician, lately travelled
from America to work at the theatre, Harry, become endeared to the
readers. We see their poverty, the demeaning circumstances of their
lives, their hand to mouth existence, being exploited by those
around them, all a neat contrast for what is to come. Through these
impoverished streets hunts a team of men from another sphere,
Immortals, on the prowl for something to tempt their ailing friend,
a morsel which will revive him. The hints about this reinvigoration
will make the reader's spine tingle as all sorts of possibilities
are hinted at. The paths of these two groups inevitably intersect,
and a carriage whisks the dying Joe away, Tina kidnapped as well but
with Harry finds a way to join them.
The description of the nineteenth century theatre scene in Dublin is
mesmerising as is the description of the poverty in the back
streets, along with the gangs, violence and crime. I really enjoyed
the first part of the book set in Dublin, but found the section set
in an icebound world more difficult to get my teeth into. But I kept
going, wanting to follow and know the fates of our protagonists. The
Immortals have taken their prey back to the castle to keep the angel
alive, so the story becomes one of cat and ouse as the trio will do
what they can to survive. The Immortals are an odd bunch, having
been in the castle for over two hundred years and as the story
proceeds, the reader will have all sorts of questions in their mind
about just who they are. They bizarrely need new people to entertain
them and the reader knows that those chosen for whatever reason to
be the entertainers may also have a short life. But Harry, the
American magician steals away in the coach as well and is outside
the thrall of the Immortals, bent on rescuing his new friends and
appalled at what the Immortals are doing to the captive angel. The
main characters I found most endearing, and their back stories
hinted at in the first part, are gradually revealed as their
survival becomes uppermost in the tale.
For fantasy lovers this is a treat, engaging characters, a slice of
strongly described reality in a finely tuned historical context then
a different world where angels are a reality.
Fran Knight
The darkest part of the forest by Holly Black
Orion Books, 2015. ISBN 9781780621739
(Age: 14 years+) Highly recommended. 'I am a knight. I am a
knight. I am a knight...'
In strange Fairfold, a prince sleeps in a glass coffin in the middle
of the forest. He had been there since forever, for as long as
anyone could remember. He was not human, but then again, not a lot
was in Fairfold.
Hazel and Ben were born into the strangeness of their hometown,
Fairfold, where tourists disappeared daily. Fairfold, where
residents knew spells and held charms. Fairfold, where humans and
fae coexist. Fairfold, where the prince in the glass coffin sleeps -
and they loved it, the prince especially. Whispering promises,
conjuring up tales, they had wished to free him as knight and bard,
but little did they know, their prince has something even more
dangerous lurking in his shadow.
Fanciful and whimsical, The darkest part of the forest
reinvents the beloved fairytales and adds a streak of the darkness
no folktale will be complete without, with characters that win your
heart and monsters that make you rethink saying your desires out
loud.
Black takes your inner child and flies you among the pages with her
detailed and wonderfully written tale of heroes and heartaches,
about family bonds, sacrifices and sorrow. This story leaps you off
cliffs in a rush of shocks that astound and clever twists that
leave one gasping, never a boring moment, you will be left out of
breath, completely taken by the peculiarity of Fairfold, as Hazel,
Ben, fae and humans band together and fight the evil of the dark
forest.
Clarissa Cornelius (Student)
Triple magic by Karen Wood
Trickstars series. Allen and Unwin, 2015. ISBN 9781743319055
(Age: 8+) Recommended. Horse riding. Magic. Family.
Perseverance. Ruby is one of three; one third of triplets who live
with their mother and grandfather. The girls imagine a life that is
more exciting than their poverty will allow. A chance discovery of a
trunk containing family secrets and magical influences leads them to
pursue adventurous trick riding on their gypsy horses and brighten
up a shared birthday. This is the first book in the Trickstars
series, and we see the story from Ruby's perspective. The traits of
each triplet are revealed early without taking over from the action.
Hints of struggles from the past and potential future threats in
combination with their new skills as trick riders will lead to
further adventures. This will be enjoyed by female readers aged 8+
and is written well for this age group.
Carolyn Hull
Soul print by Megan Miranda
Bloomsbury, 2015. ISBN 9781408855409
(Age: 13+) Recommended. 'I am Alina Chase - my soul is my own.'
Set in the near future, the world makes the amazing discovery of
souls. They can be accessed, they can be studied. Souls never die,
they get reborn into new bodies, new identities. But are they the
same person? Will they have the same likes, dislikes, same
interests, same fears? The studies say yes.
Alina is being held captive on an island, guards surrounding every
exit possible, with servants and caretakers who never stay for too long.
Her mother gone, her father dead, her whole life spent in boundaries
all because of one thing: her soul is June Calahan's, a notorious
criminal that nobody wants to have her history repeated, and so is
Alina's fate. But one day, she escapes, escapes with the help of
strangers and she finds herself in June's place - running, hiding
and finding the truth.
Gripping you tight and never letting you go, Miranda grabs your
shoulders and leaps with you off into a frenzy of action and
suspense. Readers will have no problem falling in love with the main
heroine as she struggles to prove to the world and herself that she
is her own identity, not a copy, not a soul, but Alina Chase. Dive
into this book of self identity, innocence and guilt, loss and new
love, chase the answers and hide from the lies. Twists and truths
that sends one gasping and riddles in desperate need of solving - Soul print does not disappoint.
Clarissa Cornelius (Student)
Summertime, all the cats are bored by Philippe Georget
Translated by Steven Rendall. Gilles Sebag bk 1. Europa,
2013. ISBN 9781609451219
(Age: Senior secondary-Adult) Recommended. Mystery. Detectives.
France. SNCF Crime Fiction Prize, City of Lens First Crime Novel
Prize. Translated from the French language. When a young Dutch woman
is found murdered near a campground, and another is kidnapped,
Inspector Gilles Sebag is set the task of finding the perpetrators.
He finds himself in the middle of a deadly game, where the kidnapper
sends the police clues and asks for him by name.
This is an intriguing crime story made particularly interesting as
it has quite a few mysteries for Sebag and an enterprising reader to
solve. First of all who murdered the young Dutch woman and what is
her relationship to the old widow, Robert, who found her body? Then
who is the clever person who has kidnapped the unfortunate young
woman and keeps her imprisoned? And then too, is Sebag's wife having
an affair or not? Sebag appears to be disillusioned with his job,
often arriving late to work and content to have had his career put
on hold because of something he had done in his early years in the
police force. However, he is clever and once he decides to really
investigate, is a determined yet flawed detective.
Set on the French Mediterranean, the author vividly describes the
French countryside and the lifestyle that Sebag and his family have
in a way that makes the reader feel as if the place is familiar.
Family relationships also play an important part in the story. Sebag
feels he is losing grip of his children as they go their separate
ways for the summer holidays, and his wife has chosen to take a
Mediterranean cruise without him.
Well-paced, exciting and often frightening, this is well worth the
read for mystery lovers and I will be sure to hunt up the second in
the series, Autumn, all the cats return.
Pat Pledger
A trifle dead by Livia Day
Cafe La Femme Bk 1. Deadlines, 2013. ISBN 9780987216298
(Age: 15+) Recommended. Crime. Food. Tabitha Darling runs a trendy
cafe and is always searching for the perfect dessert. She is sick of
all the policemen who frequent her cafe and when a musician is found
dead in the flat upstairs she tries to keep out of the
investigation. But as a series of strange crimes by the Trapper
occurs across Hobart, she begins to think that perhaps they are
aimed at her. With Stewart, a cute Scottish blogger along for the
news, she starts to investigate, much to the annoyance of Bishop the
policeman she has known for ages.
This is a laugh out loud mystery in the vein of the Stephanie
Plum stories by Janet Evanovich. The dialogue is snappy, the
characters are well developed and the backdrop of Hobart is
fabulous. There is plenty of suspense, with a few very scary moments
and lots of yummy food including recipes for trifle, all of which
will keep any mystery lover reading to finish the book quickly.
I will certainly snap up the next book in the series.
Pat Pledger
