Brotherband – Return of the Temujai

Brotherband: Return of the Temujai by John Flanagan (Penguin Random House)

Reviewed by Jeffery E Doherty

John Flanagan’s Brotherband books are a spin-off from his exciting and successful Ranger’s Apprentice series. Return of the Temujai is the eighth instalment in Brotherband series.

The Heron Brotherband are on a mission to check on the defences at Fort Ragnak, the one pass through the mountains between the Eastern Steppes and Skandia. The fearsome Temujai Warriors from the steppes have never given up on their ambition to conquer Skandia and they are on the move again. The border fort is secured, but if the fearsome Temujai can find another way down to the coast, all will be lost. Hal and his small crew are then sent by Erak, the Scandian leader, to investigate and do whatever it takes to stop their most formidable enemy from invading the coast.

I have read most of the Ranger’s Apprentice books, but this is the first of the Brotherband series that I have looked at. Even though, Return of the Temujai is the eighth book in the series, it can be read as a stand-alone. I found that it was easy to follow. The characters were well developed, and I slipped into their interactions without any of the usual confusion when picking up a series midway through. The book is full of action, clever plotting and plenty of humour.

This is an excellent book that would suit readers 8-12 years old. I would highly recommend it, particularly for reluctant boy readers who need books with loads of action and adventure. I am definitely going to catch up on the earlier books in the series and look forward to Flanagan’s next instalment.

Dr Boogoloo and the Girl who lost her Laughter

Dr Boogoloo and the Girl who lost her Laughter by Lisa Nicol (Random House Australia) HB RRP $19.99 ISBN 978014 3782599

Reviewed by Dianne Bates

Blue is a girl whose name keeps changing depending on the moods and interests of her largely absent mother. Blue's father is absent, too, and only occasionally available via Skype. Blue is ‘blue’ as she’s often alone; this is no doubt due to her lonely life and is responsible for her losing her laughter – a condition that’s persisted for 712 days. 

Mr Boogaloo, on the other hand, whose clinic is called Boogaloo Family Clinic of Musical Cures, is a jovial chap whose aim in life is to help others. His patients include Charlie whose head is ‘filled with mean, nasty thoughts’ and Dan Mutter who has the delicate problem of always forgetting to wear underpants to school. Boogaloo’s usual remedy is to play music – such as calypso tune played on bagpipes or music from a flumpet, flugelhorn and fujara. Any problem can be solved with music rather than pills according to Boogaloo!

Blue’s case is exceptional, so, after her mother takes her to the esteemed doctor hoping for a cure, Boogladoo’s indispensable wife Bessie who has ‘a fairy-floss cloud of mandarin-orange hair’ and whose skirts house a small family of pygmy possums, is Blue’s first port of call. She takes the small girl on her magical bicycle which looks as if an entire orchestra of instruments have collapsed on top, to the Snorkel Porkel Crumpety Worpel Laughter Clinic where Blue’s therapy begins. Because Blue’s condition is ultra-serious, a cure must be worked at. Hence there’s much effort expended by many laughter performers and much more.

This is a book which is filled with colourful and often invented language (as well as musical instruments). Every moment offers imaginative actions as well as characters which are unusual, awe-inspiring (such as the enormous blues-singing whale, Leonard) and downright amusing. Any child from 8 to 11 years, who likes to be entertained and have their imagination stretched, is sure to enjoy this charming, often humorous and fast-paced, quirky tale.

Rights have been sold to a musical based on this middle-grade novel by writer/filmmaker, Lisa Nichol which should be interesting as there are lots of weird musical instruments and personalities featured.

The Travel Bug

The Travel Bug by Benjamin Gilmour, illustrated by James Gulliver Hancock (Random House Australia) HB RRP $24.99 ISBN 9780143780137

Reviewed by Dianne Bates

The protagonist of this story is a no-name ‘strange little bug’ which identifies other creatures in the landscape, such as earwigs, weevils, flies and fleas, but his own kind of species is a real mystery. With his blue suitcase packed, he buys a round-the-world ticket and gets on board the back of a cricket to search for an find his identity.

The reader can plot the bug’s journey on the map of the world found on the fly pages, starting in Japan and then heading to Afghanistan. As he travels, he meets other bugs such as scorpions in Kandahar which are feasting, musicians in Spain, and ‘a spider in tartan’ in Scotland. There are numerous other countries featured in this story told in rhyming verse which include jungles and cities. In New York the bug meets with a professor with is -- finally -- able to put a name to him.

The charming flat colour and black line illustrations that accompany the written text make use of patterns, many of them like those found in zentangles.

This is a simple story with a twist at the end which is sure to be enjoyed by small readers up to the age of 6 years.

The Other Side of Summer

The Other Side of Summer by Emily Gale (Random House Australia

PB RRP $16.99

ISBN 9780143780113

Reviewed by Dianne Bates

Living in England, the Jackman family is grieving the death of teenage son and brother, Floyd, a gifted guitarist. Central to the story is his younger sister, Summer, who feels alone and angry. Her mother is in a state of depression, her sister Wren is uncontrollably nasty, and their father is trying his best to hold everyone together. As if Floyd’s loss and Mum’s ‘disappearance’ aren’t enough, there is further loss to come – the loss of home when Dad, an Australian, decides to move the girls to his homeland. And too, there is the loss of Summer’s closest, long-time friend, Mal.

Summer doesn’t outwardly express her fierce underlying anger or her continual internal talk of and to Floyd. She even keeps her cool when the new Australian neighbours impinge on the Jackman family, offering unwanted friendship and family BBQs: at school she keeps her distance from others, especially an Asian girl who is trying to befriend her.

However, after some time she makes an unlikely friend, a needy boy who (literally) drifts in an out of life and who seems magically connected to a guitar which Floyd once owned and which Summer treasures.

Emily Gale writes clearly and convincingly with lots of memorable language, but this is a difficult book. Throughout it is always a sense of unhappiness and lack of hope. While Wren changes dramatically in Australia and becomes much easier to live with, Summer seems determined not to make the most of her situation, always living in a past that mostly includes her dead brother. Thus it’s the novel’s content which is the problem, rather than the story-telling and characterisation.

Nevertheless, this book will possibly appeal to teenagers, especially girls aged 14+ years.

My Life and other Massive Mistakes

My Life and other Massive Mistakes by Tristan Bancks, illustrated by Gus Gordon (Random House)

HB RRP $15.99

ISBN 978-0-85798-529-3

Reviewed by Jaquelyn Muller

Warning: Do not attempt to read this book in church, during a board meeting or if you suffer from Irritable Bowel Syndrome; and you’re kidding yourself if you expect to be able to sneak in a few pages while waiting in a doctor’s surgery; you are likely to be politely redirected to the psychologist down the hall!

Because it is not just the laughing, giggles and chortles that are likely to draw odd glances from onlookers, but your contorted facial expressions that may also breed concern for your mental state. Yes, thanks to Tristan Bancks’ latest book in the My Life series, you are likely to find yourself alone on bus seats and in elevators (oh hang on; I see what he did there)!

                                             

My Life and other Massive Mistakes is a chapter book, however when teamed with illustrations from the brilliant Gus Gordon it transforms into a vivid out of control billy cart ride (and we all know how those end).  The short story nature of the chapters will appeal to 8 – 12 year olds and those who find longer form stories more painful than picking a broken nose.

Each chapter is its own hilarious tale recounted by Tom Weekly, a primary school revolutionary hell bent on mischief and taking down any administration within a 15 minute recess, but in a disarming loveable, larrikin kind of way.

Similar to the appeal of the Wimpy Kid or Treehouse books, the My Life series contains many fun ponderings along the way, including Nine Reasons Why Sloppy Food Should Be Banned and 15 Things You Won’t Hear Your Mum Say Anytime Soon.

Essentially the book conveys a sense of living life to the fullest and embracing creativity, which is what childhood should be. I remember a time when my younger brother embraced his creativity when he decided to make money by selling statues of dead cane toads, but not before storing them in the freezer and giving my mother a nasty surprise when she took out the frozen chook for a Sunday roast! I think we all know someone like Tom Weekly.

In addition to the My Life Series, Tristan Bancks has also released the Mac Slater, Coolhunter books. His YA novel Two Wolves was recently shortlisted for the 2015 CBCA Book of the Year Awards for Younger Readers.

Caesar the War Dog: Operation Green Parrot

Caesar the War Dog: Operation Green Parrot by Stephen Dando-Collins (Random House)

PB RRP $16.99

ISBN 978-0-85798-471-5

Reviewed by Jaquelyn Muller

Award winning history writer Stephen Dando-Collins has appealed to my love of action stories in this latest instalment about Caesar the War Dog in Operation Green Parrot.

As we commemorate the 100^th anniversary of the ANZAC landing and our lives are constantly overrun with modern war imagery, communicating to kids about the realities of military operations is a complex balance. Dando-Collins uses his experience in historical and military writing to reveal a story that is honest yet sensitive to a 9 – 12 year old age group.

The fourth book in the series takes the reader on location in Mexico, on a thrilling ride with Caesar and his army handler Sergeant Ben Fulton, the Australian contingent of the UN Global Rapid Reaction Responders (GRRR) unit.

The rattling action of the opening few chapters quickly introduces the main characters and the storyline involving bomb attacks, Mexican crime cartels and anti-terrorism manoeuvres. The explanatory nature of the text negates the reader to have read all previous books in the series, but its high sensory feel will leave younger readers wanting to discover Caesar’s other adventures.

The use of Caesar as the central character softens and allows for light-hearted moments in an otherwise harsh topic. The relationship between Caesar and his handler Ben and his family, not only illustrates a relationship that readers of this age may relate to, but also documents the sacrifice that defence personnel and their family’s make to allow them to perform active duty. Through this we see loyalty, bravery, humanity and respect between people and animals.

The pace Dando-Collins creates gives us the feeling we are along for the ride and his informed clear explanations of military terms, projects a ‘news broadcast’ feel during the action sequences.

This series is going to appeal to more boys than girls no doubt, but any young reader with an interest in action stories and animals will find this more than fits the bill. There are some fascinating stories about real life army dogs at the back of the book, which further illustrate how these animals have become such a valued and respected icon of our military history.

In addition to the three other Caesar books, Stephen Dando-Collins has written a similarly war themed book Tank Boys, for slightly older 12 – 16 year old readers. Other titles in this genre for consideration are the I Survived series by Lauren Tarshis, which places young fictional characters in significant war events from history.