Shoestring - The boy who walks on air by Julie Hunt
Illus. by Dale Newman. Allen & Unwin, 2020. ISBN: 9781760297213.
356pp.
(Ages: 10 - 13) Recommended. This unusual story is set in another
world and time. Shoestring has the amazing ability to walk on an
invisible tightrope. He was once a street urchin but was taken in by
May, the owner of a gambling business called The Luck Palace.
Shoestring embarks on a journey with a troupe of magicians,
musicians and gymnasts, who travel in horse drawn wagons, on a tour
to entertain and gain fame. However early into the trip he is
bewitched by a pair of powerful and evil gloves. The gloves lead him
to steal again and lose all sense of right and wrong. The gloves
also steal different troupe members skills such as their hearing or
memory. May and her cantankerous fortune telling macaw, Metropolis,
are recruited to help and the troupe is then in hot pursuit of how
to be rid of the gloves that are causing such mayhem. They are told
a riddle they need to solve and another plot driver is a set of
fortune telling cards, rather like Tarot cards. The gloves are part
of an elaborate revenge plot by super-nasty woman, Marm, who blames
May for the death of her son.
All in all this is a weird adventure which requires persistence to
get to the explosive climax. There are so many characters and
bizarre things happening that it may suit a reader who loves fantasy
and a big challenge. At times it is convoluted with many back
stories. The main characters of Shoestring and Metropolis are both
conceited and unlikeable, although Shoestring comes to his senses.
Metropolis is a major voice and there are long parts when she tells
her side of the story. The book works as a stand-alone but there are
many references to its graphic novel prequel KidGlovz.
The illustrations are terrific and integral to keeping track of the
characters and places. The style is reminiscent of Brian Selznick's
The Invention of Hugo Cabret and this is a high quality
hardcover publication.
Jo Marshall
Clementine Rose collection five by Jacqueline Harvey
Penguin, 2020. ISBN: 9781760897437.
(Age: 6-10) Recommended. Fans are in for lots of fun in the latest
collection of three of the Clementine Rose stories in one
large book. It will be thrilling for young readers to have a large
book in their hands and emerging readers are sure to feel important
and secure in their reading with this delightful collection. It is
interspersed with funny illustrations that add to its appeal. The
print is large and clear, very suitable for this age group. At the
end of each story is a list of characters and their roles.
All three books have previously been reviewed on ReadPlus:
The first story is Clementine
Rose and the wedding wobbles, where Clementine prepares
to be a bridesmaid in her mother's wedding to Drew. Chaos must be
averted! Clementine
Rose and the bake-off dilemma follows, with Clementine
having inside access to the cooking show that is being filmed in the
village.
Then comes Clementine
Rose and the best news yet and Clementine Rose's news is
that she is to have a new brother or sister.
As one reviewer writes: "Clementine is ageless as the young
seven-year-old with the propensity for creating smiles and sometimes
getting things slightly wrong".
Pat Pledger
TRUEL1F3 by Jay Kristoff
Lifelike book 3. Allen & Unwin Australia, 2020. ISBN:
9781760295707.
(Age: 15+) Recommended. Right from the start I was wondering just
how Kristoff was going to bring all the threads of this brilliant
trilogy together. Would the characters Evie and Lemon from the
adrenaline pumping LIFEL1K3
and DEV1AT3
resolve their differences and once again become besties? Would the
Yousay be devastated by nuclear war in a fight between the tech
corporation Daedelus or the hive-like BioMass? Would Ezekiel be
reunited with his brothers and sisters, or would Gabriel bring
everyone down in his attempt to rid the world of humans? And could
the fast-paced action of the first two books be maintained? I did
not need to worry, Kristoff has done an outstanding job of resolving
dilemmas and bringing characters back together, with adroitness,
skill and wonderful imagination.
It is essential to read the three books in the trilogy in order as
each book builds on the actions and character growth in the one
before. TRUEL1F3 starts immediately after DEV1AT3,
with Lemon Fresh captured with devastating consequences by BioMass.
Meanwhile Gabriel's grip on sanity deteriorates as he accesses the
means to replicate his beloved Grace and the struggle to take over
the world by Daedelus and BioMass continues.
Fast paced action pushes the story on with some almost unbelievable
alliances being made to save humanity. However, the moral dilemmas
will make the reader pause and think. Kristoff questions what
constitutes true life - can it be humans, genetic mutations with
super powers like Lemon Fresh and Abe, super intelligent clones like
Evie and Gabriel, or the many wonderful robots like Cricket, who
have to obey the Three Laws of Robots? There are many heart-breaking
choices to be made and grief to be faced as this trilogy comes to
its ultimately hopeful conclusion.
Science fiction fans and readers who enjoy the thrill of a fast ride
will be sure to want to read this series, and then may go on to the
award-winning Illuminae
Files, co-authored by Kristoff and Amie Kaufman.
Pat Pledger
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by J.K Rowling
Illus. by Levi Pinfold. Gryffindor House Edition. Bloomsbury, 2020.
ISBN: 9781526618153.
(Age: 9+) Recommended. Collectors of the Harry Potter books
will rejoice in this latest offering featuring the courage, bravery
and determination of Gryffindor House. The book is handsomely
produced, from its bold red cover and sprayed red edges to the
gorgeous gold foils around the rising phoenix in the centre of the
cover and striking illustrations surrounding it. Inside the book,
Levi Pinfold, winner of the CILIP Kate Greenaway Medal, has done an
outstanding job of portraying Godric Gryffindor, surrounded by
twining leaves, a rampant lion and slithering snake. Also, at the
front of the book is a beautiful map of Hogwarts School and an
introduction to the story. Right at the end there is a portrait of
Sirius Black and an outline of his life and achievements.
This is one in a series of highly collectable Harry Potter
books and fans will find it difficult to resist this edition.
Readers new to the series will be happy to have such a splendid
book, telling the tale of Harry finding that he has the Order of the
Phoenix at his back to fight Voldemort.
Pat Pledger
The blue giant by Katie Cottle
Pavilion, 2020. ISBN: 9781843654513. 32pp., pbk.
Meera and her mother are planning on a day at the seaside, something
they've done before often. But this time they are greeted by a
large blue giant who beckons them to follow him beneath the waves
and see the problems of the ocean creatures that have been caused by
human laziness and degradation. Both learn valuable lessons and
although they do their best, it is a job too big for one, so it's
time to call on family and friends for help.
As warmer days approach and the lure of the beach becomes stronger,
this is a poignant and timely picture book that introduces children
to the issues of pollution, waste management and the oceans, with
suggestions of lifestyle changes to help the world become a better,
cleaner place. As the worldwide lockdown because of the pandemic has
provided the planet with a brief breathing space and shown that it
can heal given help and time, perhaps this story will help students
start to see their favourite place through a new lens as they
consider what they can do (or not) to contribute to the health of
this vital resource.
Barbara Braxton
The Enigma Game by Elizabeth Wein
Code Name Verity. Bloomsbury Children's Books, 2020. ISBN:
9781526601650.
(Age: 13+) Highly recommended. Elizabeth Wein delivers another
stunning, engrossing story of war-time pilots and dogfights,
espionage and friendship which will thrill her many fans, but can
also be read as a stand-alone. Louisa Adair has been left an orphan,
her mother killed in the Blitz and her father at sea. Desperate for
a job, she hides her age and Jamaican background, and finds work
caring for Johanna von Arnim, a retired German opera singer, whose
niece lives near Windyedge Airfield in Scotland. There she meets
Jamie, the 19-year-old pilot who flies Blenheim bombers and Ellen a
driver for the RAF and becomes involved in a conspiracy to find a
codebreaking machine known as the Enigma.
Told in three voices, that of Louisa, Jamie and Ellen, the reader is
immersed in their lives and the stirring events that occur around
them. Louisa is the daughter of an English music teacher and
Jamaican sailor and must fit in, while Ellen hides her Traveller
background to avoid prejudice. Jamie's arguments with his commanding
officer mean that he is willing to hide the Enigma machine so that
he can get an advantage over the superior German aircraft.
Descriptions of the bombing raids, the intense pressure that the
pilots were under and the grief when friends are killed will keep
readers glued to the page as they follow the exploits of Jamie and
his comrades. They will also find it easy to identify with Louisa
and the growing bond she has with the old woman who has taken the
English name of Jane Warner, to fit in at the pub that her niece
owns.
This is an exciting and emotional story that I could not put down.
It was mesmerising to read about the youth of the bomber pilots,
their heart-breaking losses, the work of young women in World War 2
and the importance of breaking the German codes. The Enigma Game
follows The
pearl thief, and comes before the heart-breaking Code
Name Verity and Rose
under fire and readers who haven't yet read them can
expect the same compelling and outstanding stories of courage and
strong young people.
Pat Pledger
My Dad is . . . by Ed Allen
Illus. by James Hart. Scholastic, 2020. ISBN: 9781743836699. 24pp.
(Age: 4+) Recommended. With the approach of Father's Day, comes a
few books with Dad as the main theme. In this tactile presentation
from Scholastic comes a hands on book, one with a cover which
incorporates a barometer of the things Dads are known for. With a
spinner that can be swung around onto points describing the Dad in
question, 'the loudest farter', 'the BBQ master', 'a bad joke
maker', kids will love swinging the needle around to point out what
their Dad is good at.
The plastic cover over the barometer will keep the needle and the
pointers safe from small hands, and the strong fold out front page
will further enhance its longevity.
Opening the book comes the introductory line, 'My dad is a man of
many talents', and each page shows him in a different guise, be it a
story teller, a master chef, a man with the strongest grip ever, a
Dad who takes the children on adventures but also makes the loudest
farts which can clear the room, snores louder than a hippo with a
blocked nose and one who tells the most awful jokes. But this mix of
the good and the bad adds up to only one thing, Dad is his best
friend.
A charming look at what makes up a dad, this will get laughs of
recognition and sympathy as kids share what their fathers do.
Hart's bold colourful illustrations support the story well, giving
readers the opportunity to compare their family with the one
illustrated.
Fran Knight
Baby Touch : Night-Night by Ladybird
Penguin, 2020. ISBN: 9780241422366. Board book.
(Age: 0+) Recommended. What a lovely book to read at bedtime. Little
children are sure to love this touch and feel book, right from the
vibrant purple cover that has star cut-outs and a little touch and
feel circle. Opening the book up, the rhyming words will make for an
enjoyable read aloud, with the refrain 'Baby, say' repeated as the
child says 'Night-night' to flowers, tree, bird and bee. Then there
is a final line on the double page spread, "Time for bed, sleepy
baby."
The large star cut-out appears on each page, gradually getting
smaller as the story progresses and all coloured in different pastel
shades. The pages are made of strong board and the star cut-out is
sturdy enough for fingers to trace around it.
Each double page spread has not only the rhyme but pictures of
little creatures and objects with words and sounds underneath, which
will enhance the reading experience for a toddler. The final double
page spread is done in a deep blue with a gorgeous rocket ship
blasting off to the moon, its tail a pink soft fabric.: Baby, say. Night-night stars, And night-night moon. Night-night, baby . . . It's dream time soon.
A gorgeous bed-time story, perfect to read aloud, Night-Night
will have happy fans and make bed-time a restful and happy time.
Pat Pledger
Little Disasters by Sarah Vaughan
Simon & Schuster, 2020. ISBN: 9781471194900.
(Age: Adult - Senior secondary) Published in 2020, Sarah Vaughan's novel matches the unsettling
situation of this year, in which the world became almost universally
tense, with an abiding concern about the disasters of the outbreak
of the coronavirus, where we have begun to ask questions about our
competency to face the reality of a new and changing world. Placing
the narrative in the apparently comfortable social group of young
families, with parents who want to be 'the best' in this role, and
to do everything they can do to ensure that their children thrive,
Sarah Vaughan raises questions that are so much a part of coping for
many people in today's world.
Plunging us immediately into a home, a crying baby and a parent who
is tense with anxiety, questioning her capacity to be a good and
loving mother, we are alert to the possibility of her losing
control. Sarah Vaughan challenges us to make sense of the different
situations, as well as the central issue of a baby's well-being, by
moving us in and out of different times, and also focusing on
different characters and places. Through this device, the writer
enables us to seek to understand just why the situation that
dominates the narrative has occurred. As we are drawn into this
particularly difficult and tense time, we are challenged to see how
the expectations of parenthood in the modern world pose such a
challenge to families. We are led to question how, with their drive
to be involved in the education, social life and well-being of
children, they can cope. With their own well-being, their
questioning of their competency, and sometimes bearing the added
responsibility of ensuring the well-being of the older generation,
that is the grandparents, the parents must find the strength to make
a happy family while coping with every aspect of the fast-paced
modern world.
This is a vibrant, thought-provoking, and somewhat unsettling novel,
set very much in the reality of the modern world. It is not
appropriate for younger readers but it is a challenging, and
sometimes disturbing, read for older adolescents and adults.
Elizabeth Bondar
Dry to dry: the seasons of Kakadu by Pamela Freeman
Illus. by Liz Anelli. Walker Books, 2020. ISBN: 9781760650285. 32pp.
(Age: 5+) Recommended. Another in the series of Nature
Storybooks published by Walker Books invites readers to 'delve
into the natural world'. This series of books promises that 'every
wonderful word is true' as a story develops in one font while the
facts are given in a more formal style in a different font, usually
placed at the bottom of the page. With a substantial index, and
extra information at the back of each book, they support
environmental work in any classroom while encouraging younger
readers to be dazzled by the world in which they live. Dry to dry shows us the two main seasons of Kakadu in
Australia's north. This huge wetland, now a national park of world
heritage status, supports at least 280 bird species, while many
animals known to environmentalists across the world live there.
The book opens and finishes with the dry, and we see and read of the
animals that survive during the two seasons and how they live in
such conditions. Packed within a couple of paragraphs on each page
is an enormous amount of information, told in tight, sparse prose.
Several pages along, the lightning strikes begin with the cockatoos
headed for their roost before the rain. These rains only start the
creeks flowing again, it is later that the wet comes, filling them
to the brim, overflowing into the land beyond, until Kakadu becomes
a wetland. A range of animals is mentioned, frogs that provide food
for predators, crocodiles looking for frogs and crustaceans, a
myriad of birds, some flying in from the Arctic, some from closer
realms, jabiru with its nest high in the banyan tree, while during
the downpour, snakes and goannas seek higher ground in the same
tree.
But then the rains cease and the heat bears down, drying up the
wetlands, creeks recede to waterholes, the waterholes sink beneath
the ground, the turtles bury themselves waiting for the wet to come
agin.
At the end, alongside a page of information about Kakadu, a page is
devoted to the Aboriginal way of dividing Kakadu's seasons. They
distinguish six seasons and these are explained with their Kakadu
word and given a reference to the book's pages.
This lovely book, full of information accessible to younger readers
fits alongside other Kakadu books such as Walking with the
seasons at Kakadu (Allen & Unwin, 2003) Kakadu calling
(Magabala, 2013) and My home in Kakadu (Magabala, 2006).
The mixed media illustrations are stylish and impressionistic,
colours muted and understated, and children will enjoy looking for
the many animals, birds and plant life shown. Some are given with
flair, an impression rather than a detailed examination, while
others are more carefully drawn, giving children a more precise
picture of the animal shown. I can imagine children getting out
other books about Australian flora and fauna to identify some of the
animals and plants shown. I love the glimpses of human life, the
tour bus, the kids playing around the termite mounds, the bird hide,
road signs, campervan and river cruise.
And I was overjoyed to see a pair of maps indicating where Kakadu is
on the continent of Australia and a closer map of Kakadu National
Park. Teacher's
notes are also available.
Themes: Aboriginal life, Kakadu, Northern Territory, Environment,
Animals, Birds.
Fran Knight
The Curator by M.W. Craven
Washington Poe book 3. Constable, 2020. ISBN: 9781472131959.
(Age: Adult - Senior secondary) Recommended for readers who enjoy
the mystery genre. Another engrossing mystery featuring Poe and
Tilly is sure to grab fans of this pair. In another unique plot,
following The
puppet show and Black
Summer, the pair are faced with a strange case. Why are
some women anaesthetised before they are killed and others not? What
is the mean of the message #BSC6 left behind and how is the killer
managing to leave his macabre messages behind with no one seeing
him? The intervention of the disgraced FBI agent who gets in touch,
brings even more information. She believes that Poe is dealing with
a man known as The Curator, more deadly than a serial killer.
Craven is an amazing writer who comes up with quite different plots
in his novels. This one is bizarre and engrossing and kept me glued
to the page right until the unexpected end. It left me thinking back
to the clue left early on for astute readers but which can easily be
overlooked.
After reading a couple of stories in a series, I am often a bit
fatigued by the sameness of the characters but this is not true of
Poe and Tilly. Their working relationship, trust and friendship
grows in The Curator, and DI Flynn, now heavily pregnant, is
a sympathetic character too. And the writing, full of suspense and
some humour, the bleakness of the Cumbrian landscape, flows along
smoothly and makes for a book that begs to be read in one or two
sittings.
Books by Craven are not to be missed by anyone who enjoys a good
mystery.
Pat Pledger
Tiger and Cat by Allira Tee
Berbay Publishing, 2020. ISBN: 9780648529156.
(Age: 4+) Highly recommended. Allira Tee is an illustrator and
author based in Melbourne. She loves animals and people watching and
discovering the uncanny behavioural similarities between the two.
Inspired by nature, Tiger and Cat is her debut picture
book.
And we can see her observations of friendship, of being true to
yourself and similarities between animals and people reflected in
this book as Tiger goes off to boot camp to learn how to be a proper
tiger.
He and Cat are the best of friends: they do everything together:
play, eat, explore and dance. But Tiger is sent off to camp where he
is expected to do different things. While Cat stays home, trying to
do the things they have always done together. Everywhere Cat goes he
sees Tiger, but the people he sees are not Tiger, until he comes
across a young girl in a tiger onesie. Cat tells Susie all about
Tiger, and being six years old, Susie knows exactly what to do. And
a letter is sent, and Tiger comes home to his friends.
Allira creates her highly original illustrations by hand using ink
or graphite and finished with coloured markers, pencils, watercolour
or digital techniques.
This neatly evolved story of friendship and being yourself will be
appealing to younger readers beset by instructions of how to act and
suppressing your own behaviour to fit in. Themes: Cats, Tigers,
Friendship, Belonging.
Fran Knight
A clue for Clara by Lian Tanner
Allen & Unwin, 2020 ISBN: 9781760877699.
(Age: 9+) Highly recommended. Bullied and despised chook Clara,
retreats to the farmhouse where she sits all say watching
television. Her favourite shows are detective series, Death in
the city and Amelia X Girl detective. She develops
skills similar to the sleuths she admires, determining to become a
detective herself, and solves the egg stealing episode at the chook
house, although Rufus the rooster takes all the glory for himself.
She wants to share her abilities so when a police car comes to the
farm, investigating the latest round of sheep thefts, she tries in
vain to communicate with them, but when she inadvertently finds
herself in the police car, she works out a way to communicate with
the young girl in the back seat, Olive, the policeman's daughter.
Humour abounds in this merry tale, as the reader sees a slightly
worse for wear chook, the lowest in the pecking order in the
farmyard, using her television inspired skills to solve a crime. The
contrast between what the reader knows and what Clara thinks she
knows will have readers laughing out loud. Her attempts at using
morse code to talk to the girl for example, is seen by the girl as
just an annoying peck from the strange chook on the floor of the
car. Eventually Clara works out that she can peck out messages on
Olive's mobile phone, and they communicate. Olive is being bullied
by a new girl in the school, Jubilee, and her father Mr Simpson is
the talk of the town, Little Dismal, as he has saved the pub from
being closed and has offered to install CCTV cameras to catch the
thief.
But Clara suspects his girl of being a master criminal so her
surveillance of the family leads to the solving of the crime, but
not in the way Clara thinks. The witty text is wonderfully
supportive with equally funny illustrations by Cheryl Orsini.
This smart, clever and very funny story of standing up to bullies,
of friendship in the most unlikely of places, of coping with grief,
all wrapped up in a story about a girl and her pet chook is one of
the most endearing tales I have read for a long time.
Tanner quietly introduces the fact that Olive's mother has died, and
the grief that surrounds Olive and her father is pervasive. The
efforts of those around them makes the bullying by the 'Merrycan'
girl even more despicable, and it is with a loud cheer that she
becomes undone. Life in rural Australia with the problems of stock
theft, of towns closing down, of people moving away, of a lone
police officer trying to cope with angry farmers, saddled with
drought, dwindling prices and fewer staff to help work the
properties forms a most credible background to the story.
It is a book that begs to be read and enjoyed. Teacher's
notes are available.
Fran Knight
Ten sleepy sheep by Renee Treml
Penguin Random House Australia, 2020. ISBN: 9781760896768.
(Age: 0-3) Highly recommended. In a gentle rhythmic narrative that
reads aloud beautifully, the young child is invited to count
backwards from ten, looking at the animals that could be found on a
farm. Ten sleepy sheep walk back to the shed. 9 sleepy pups settle in bed.
Right from the beginning when 5 sheep and 5 little lambs can be seen
walking back to the shed on an Australian farm, the young child will
enjoy counting sleepy puppies, foals, chicks, calves,
ducklings, parrots, lizards, foals, koalas and a joey.
The pastel backgrounds fit beautifully into each of the pictures - a
soft brown to show the background of the Australian farm with white
sheep walking across it, pale green grass for foals to lie on, a
gorgeous blue for baby ducklings and pretty lilac for parrots. Each
of the animals or birds is outlined in black and filled in with soft
whites and browns, with detailing bringing the fur of the kangaroo
and koalas alive.
This is a lovely, gentle board book that will be appreciated at
bedtime as the young child is soothed to sleep.
Pat Pledger
We're going on a treasure hunt by Martha Mumford
Illus. by Laura Hughes. Bloomsbury, 2020. ISBN: 9781408893395.
(Age: 1+) Recommended. Lots of fun can be had as four bunnies go off
on an exciting quest to find ten gold coins and a treasure chest.
Children will enjoy following the cute rabbits, all dressed as
pirates, as they prance along avoiding obstacles and uncovering gold
coins one by one.
The repetition of the refrain on every second double page spread
ensures that children will be able to join in as they hear it again
and again: We're going on a treasure hunt. Yo! Ho! Ho! Help us find the golden coins . . ARRRRR! Off we go!
Even very small children will enjoy the rhythm and repetition and
will love to see the cute little animals and birds on the way. Older
children will find the repetition of every second double page will
be a great help when they are just beginning to read and the story
is sure to be one that children who want to start to read aloud will
pick up. Sounds made as the cute little rabbits chase the coins add
to enjoyment of the narrative: Watch out for the Crabs . . .
Snip, snap, snip! and the parrots, squawk, squawk,
screech.
The lift the flaps are quite sturdy and reveal a gold coin with the
number written on it. This will enable older children to enjoy
counting from one to ten. Other lift the flaps reveal animals and
even a very hungry shark to delight all and bring smiles to faces.
Laura Hughes illustrations are very engaging. The rabbits are so
cute, dressed in pirate hats, bandanas and eye patches and the
bright colours of the beach, sea and vegetation are gorgeous.
This is perfect to read aloud for younger children and one that
older children can use to practise their reading as was the previous
book, We're
going on an elf chase, which followed a similar
format. It is sure to be a keeper.
Pat Pledger
