Maddy West and the Tongue Taker

Maddy West and the Tongue Taker by Brian Falkner, illustrated by Donovan Bixley (Walker Books Australia)
PB RRP $19.95
ISBN 9781921977671
Reviewed by Anastasia Gonis

Maddie is a reflective and intelligent child with a rather special ability - she is omnilingual; a talker of tongues. Kazuki, Maddy’s friend from Japan has scant knowledge of English. It is while trying to communicate with him that Maddy realizes she can understand his language. Kazuki, bullied and belittled by his older brother, is timid and introverted, but has formed a strong bond of friendship with the empathetic Maddy. He also has a great imagination and believes he is a ninja and can make himself invisible. This belief will stand him in good stead during the dark days that follow the unsuspecting children.

On the day Maddy starts talking in Japanese, her mother takes her to the doctor to be cured. She discovers that her daughter is a genius and decides that Maddy’s talent can be financially rewarding after appearing on a television program for a substantial payment. This deceptive gift proves to be a magnet to evil intent, black magic, kidnapping and dangerous adventures which will take Maddy from England to Bulgaria, and bring out the crusader in Kazuki.

While returning from the TV appearance on the train, Maddy meets an old man who talks to her of her magic abilities and warns her against the darker side of magic then disappears. Soon after, Maddy’s parents are approached by Professor Coateloch who gets permission for Maddy to travel with her to Bulgaria to read some ancient scrolls hidden in a monastery there.

But Maddy is kidnapped soon after her arrival in Bulgaria, and is forced to translate the stolen scrolls by a witch and her daughters who hold Kazuki under the threat of death. Realization comes too late to Maddy, for her translations involve spells of black magic; recipes for thunderstorms, calling up of animals, and worst of all, the taking of tongues. She also learns that things and people aren’t always what they appear to be.

Maddy’s gift has a luminous side as well. She will encounter the giant wrestler Dimitar and his magical monkey Mr Chester, inherited from his late father, and come to the understand that while the spoken and written language is the greatest tool of communication, it is often wordless actions are of greater significance.

The black and white illustrations add a delicious touch to the atmosphere of the book as does the terrific cover design. It’s another good versus evil delight that is has a clever, well-designed story, with fast-paced adventure, penned by an imaginative master storyteller for the mature 8+ age group.

Recon Team Angel: Assault

Recon Team Angel: Assault by Brian Falkner (Walker Books)

PB RRP $19.95
ISBN 9781921720543
Reviewed by Anastasia Gonis

After Falkner’s previous award-winning works, this breath-stopping sci-fi adventure series will blow the top off every previous fast-paced read.

The setting is 2030, Australia, now known as the New Bzadia. The Aliens have control of Africa, Europe, and most of Asia and are headed for America. Humans are at war with Alien forces that have been slowly strengthening in mass and ability for many years in preparation to take-over the world.

Recon Team Angel in made up of a group of six highly trained teenagers selected from around the world; four boys and two girls. Their leader is Lieutenant Chisnall, the eldest of them all. They have been preparing since puberty for their roles in an elite team to war against the Alien Bzadian army. The Angels’ mission is to infiltrate a top secret Alien Facility behind enemy lines which is in the centre of Uluru, and discover what is being hidden there.

For the infiltration to be successful, the six had been made to look like Bzadians. Their bone structure has been restructured to Alien shape and form, and their skin dyed. They’ve learnt the language and habits, and lived as Bzadians so that they could convince any Alien that they were one of them.

Chisnall is the perfect leader who keeps secrets for the safety of his team. It is only when they lose a member do that they discover that there is a traitor in their midst.

Arriving at Uluru are five Angels and two SAS troopers disguised as RAF officers that the team picked up on the way. At Uluru Military Base, it is not the warhead that they plan to detonate to destroy the alien stronghold that scares the life from them. Nor is it the fact that one of them is a sleeper. It is what they discover in the glass cubicles that gives the gut-wrenching twist to the mission. Chisnall is faced with the hardest decision. How many lives can be classed as collateral damage?

All the adult action is superbly covered but simultaneously balanced by exposing the youthful side of the characters. Their thoughts, dreams and interactions are revealed in a witty, comical way. These comic insertions give the story light-hearted relief from the severity of the chaos that surrounds the teenagers.

Northwood

Northwood by Brian Falkner, illustrated by Donovan Bixley (Walker Books Australia)
PB RRP $19.95
ISBN 9781921529801
Reviewed by Vicki Stanton

Northwood is a thoroughly wonderful story. It is refreshing and quirky with wonderful characters, an unusual setting and a fast-paced plot. Cecilia Undergarment is our hero. She is likeable, though unremarkable except for one detail: the ability to talk to, and understand, animals. It is this ability which starts off the story's chain of events when she discovers that her neighbour Mr Proctor has been mistreating his dog Rocky. Cecilia rescues Rocky and in a fit of rage Mr Proctor bulldozes Cecilia's balloon house and she floats away, landing in the mysterious Northwood from which none who have ventured have returned.

The book begins with the narrator talking directly to the reader and its a device that works well. I was drawn into Cecilia's world immediately. Her balloon house seems entirely plausible and her rather unfortunate surname is never sniggered at. Northwood has a feel reminiscent of a fairy tale although Cecilia is not your fainting female character waiting to be saved by a prince in shining armour. Always polite and considerate, she is nevertheless strong and courageous. Humour is filtered throughout the story (the twins are marvelous). The black lions in the forest add an extra element of malevolence but they are not evil; they are lions acting as lions will.

Donovan Bixley's black-and-white illustrations add to the pleasure of reading this book and are in keeping with the nostalgic feel. The cover is a winner and will be sure to draw readers to pick up the book. It depicts Cecilia and Rocky running through the forest and the lurking black lions and hints at all the action, adventure and fantasy to be revealed.

Northwood is a book which shows that strength does not need to be brutal and respect needs to be earned. It is uplifting and never didactic. One of the books of 2011 for its originality, quirkiness and sense of wonder. I expect to see it shortlisted for many awards and highly recommend it for mid to upper primary school children.