Beetle Boy

Beetle Boy by M.G. Leonard (Chicken House) PB RRP $16.99

ISBN 978-1-910002-70-4

Reviewed by Jenny Heslop

After the disappearance of his dad, Darkus is sent to live with his Uncle Max. The police seem to think his father ran away and have given up looking for him. So with the help of his uncle, his two new friends and the strange beetles that live in the dump next door, Darkus sets out to rescue his father.

This story hooked me straight away and I was surprised by just how much I loved it. Darkly humorous, the storyline is quirky and unique, with a huge dose of magical realism which sneaks up on the reader. The characters too, are wonderfully quirky, and though some appear on the surface to be a little clichéd, they become less so as the surface is scratched.

Darkus, brave and resourceful, becomes friends with two unlikely kids Bertold and Virginia. They are full of life and jump whole-heartedly into the adventure with him – although Bertold has to overcome his uneasiness with bugs. The ridiculous and horrible cousins who live next door are spectacular in their nastiness, and the vibrantly vile villain Lucretia Cutter has one redeeming feature, a beautiful daughter/fair damsel in distress Novak, to whom Darkus can appeal for help. Even Uncle Max who warned Darkus ‘Adventures are dangerous, Darkus, and villains are real.’ was up for helping the kids rescue his Darkus’ dad.

Darkus, Virginia and Bertold have the ultimate base camp from which to plan their moves. A den buried deep in a heap of furniture on enemy territory, with many different tunnels, escape routes and booby traps. This is the ultimate in cubby houses!

And then there are the beetles which include Baxter, Newton, Marvin and Hepburn. These are beetles unlike any I’ve seen or read about before. Larger than your average beetle, they have the advantage of being able to communicate with humans through body language - but only if the human in question cares to look closely enough. And it’s a good thing these beetles are on the side of good – aka Darkus and his friends – as they can provide a whole army.

This is an appealing book on many levels. The cover is eye catching, reflecting the humour and subject of the story inside, with beetles and insects climbing across the fore edge. Scattered throughout the pages are fabulous little illustrations of the beetles and people as well. It is an adventurous tale of a daring quest, with many nail-biting moments balanced out by very funny scenes.

Beetle Boy is for lovers of danger, quirkiness, beetles and great story telling. It will delight readers from the age of 10 years (but is a solid /lengthy read) and has an entomologist’s dictionary at the end for those who are beginners in the world of insects.

And better still, it is the first of a trilogy. 

Forevermore

Forevermore by Cindy Miles (Chicken House)

PB RRP $17.99

ISBN 978-1-908435-92-7

Reviewed by Jenny Heslop

Ivy's mum has remarried and her new family moves from Charleston, South Carolina, the only home Ivy has ever known, to the remote Scottish Highlands. Ivy’s new stepfather is a laird and lives in a huge castle, Glenmorrag, on the rugged coastline. Ivy is expecting her life to change, but what she is not expecting is a ghost. And falling in love with someone who lived two hundred years ago was certainly not in her plans.

Forevermore is a wonderfully gothic tale with all the classic elements from this genre. From the brooding crumbly castle perched on top of a cliff high above the sea, to the evil presence trying to harm Ivy, along with a mysterious but attractive ghost, a sinister grandmother and a feisty independent heroine.

Ivy is great character. She is independent, but doesn't reject help and friendship when it's offered and has a realistic mix of bravery and caution. She is unsure if people will think she's crazy if she talks about the ghosts at the castle so is wary of mentioning them while making an effort to fit in, both at home in the castle and at her new school where she feels very different.

The use of music (Ivy is a beautiful and dedicated violinist), helps to weave an uneasy atmosphere around the castle. In my head it is always twilight at Glenmorrag and bright and sunny away from the castle, such is the skill of the creation of this eerie presence wrapping itself around the castles inhabitants.

This is a suspenseful story of ghosts and love. The mystery element is gripping, but the greatest strength is in the characters and their relationships; first love, friendships and family bonds.

This in an absorbing book and would suit thirteen to fifteen year olds.

Fearless

Fearless by Cornelia Funke (Chicken House)
PB RRP $17.99
ISBN 978-1-906427-26-9
Reviewed by Jenny Heslop

Treasure hunter Jacob Reckless has managed to save his brother, but now faces death because a fairy curse has been burnt into his heart. The only chance he has to save himself is to find a treasure no-one has ever before found. Up against him is the fiercest rival he could imagine and even with the help of Fox, his beautiful shape-shifting friend, Jacob knows he may not succeed.

And so begins a search like no other, a test so great Jacob must push himself to the limit, with the stakes high and the prize being his life. But will he lose Fox’s life in the process?

This is a story like no other I have read. I did find it confusing at first but this is probably because I had not read the first book in the series. The writing is rich and evocative, the atmosphere dark and grim, and the world amazing and imaginatively constructed. I loved that so many fairy tales drifted in and out, such a mix of creatures with roots in diverse cultures. Many lesser known myths and legends make appearances or serve as a base for the tales and adventures related.

The Mirrorworld series is a very rewarding read for lovers of fantasy from the age of 11 and up. Start with Reckless, then read Fearless.

The Kill Order

The Kill Order by James Dashner (Chicken House)
PB RRP $16.99
ISBN 978-1-908435-59-0
Reviewed by Jenny Heslop

Mark and Trina are fighting for their lives.

Most of the human race has been wiped out by sun flares and the intense heat, toxic radiation and flooding that followed these. Those surviving, including Mark, Trina and their band of friends, have set up small communities and are concentrating on rebuilding their lives as best they can. But when a Berg (huge airships) arrives bringing darts filled with a virus instead of supplies, Mark finds himself on the run again. As the virus mutates and people get even more desperate, Mark and Trina rely on friends, two ex-soldiers, and their own survival instincts.

The Kill Order is action packed and addictive. As the intensity builds, it becomes impossible to put down and I had to read it in one sitting. The action starts with the survivors. The sun flares and Marks’s subsequent flight to the mountains is told in dreams and this works surprisingly well. Part of the suspense of the story is in the conflict between Mark’s sleep deprived present and his reliving the horror of his past when he does reluctantly succumb to sleep and dreams.

Tagged as a ‘must for fans of The Hunger Games’, the storyline is completely different but the theme and atmosphere is reminiscent - the dystopian setting, the desperation and the bleak disregard - of those in charge - for the general population.

The Kill Order is for teens. There is violence, death, destruction and some disturbing scenes once the virus takes hold and begins to mutate. But like all dystopian and apocalyptic tales, it will question what you would do to survive, how far would you go to save the ones you love. And fans of the genre will be totally engrossed in the story, cheering Mark and Trina on to the sad but inevitable ending.

The Kill Order is the prequel to the popular Maze Runner series by James Dashner. The first in the series The Maze Runner is currently in production and a movie is expected sometime towards the end of 2014.

The Wolf Princess

The Wolf Princess by Cathryn Constable (Chicken House)
PB RRP $16.99
ISBN 978-1-9084353- 42-7
Reviewed by Jenny Heslop

Sophie has strange dreams of Russia, her beloved father and wolves. Then she and her best friends Delphine and Marianne get to go to St Petersburg on a school trip. But then they end up in a remote palace with a mysterious Princess in the middle of the Russian Winter and the girls begin to suspect something is not quite right about the visit.

The Wolf Princess explores the sense of dreams and reality and the blurred line in-between the two. It also touches strongly on the concept of home and what that means. As the adventure continues, Sophie, an orphan girl who often feels out of place at boarding school, gains confidence while her two ‘larger-than-life’ friends fade into the background.

The story begins slowly, but the promise of excitement to come shines through and the intrigue mounts throughout until the dramatic climax. In places the plot is a little stiff, the writing awkward and there can be too much ‘telling’ of Sophie’s feelings at times so that the two friends feel like a cliché. But Sophie’s character is wonderful and the writing in many places is beautiful, especially when describing the snow filled woods, the dilapidated palace and the wolves. ‘Be careful of the moon, little Sophie,' Ivan Ivanovich whispered. ‘It will bewitch you. Before you know it, you can no longer live in the day, but only in the world of dreams.’

The dreams of travelling to an exotic place with best friends, discovering you are a long lost princess, the romance of a snowy Russian world, luxuriant train journeys and hidden diamonds will all touch a chord with many young girls (10 +). It is a fantasy they will happily indulge in and the thrills of blizzards, distant wolves and secret histories will keep the reader on edge and well entertained. The purple and silver cover and pages are eye catching.
 

Shadow Runners

  Shadow Runners by Daniel Blythe, cover design by Steve Wells (Chicken House) 

PB RRP $16.99

ISBN 1906427801

Reviewed by Dawn Meredith

Shadow Runners is immediately appealing. The cover design shows a young woman’s face, shrouded in fiery light and the silhouettes of five teenagers standing on a hilltop below, backlit by purple skies and lightning. The blurb tells of Miranda, the new kid in town, who is drawn towards a group of social fringe dwellers who seem to know and understand the weird things she begins to experience in this normally uneventful town she dubs ‘Dullsville’.

Miranda, her mother and baby brother have moved here from London after the death of her TV presenter father. There’s a lot to get used to. Miranda is supposedly only twelve years old, but I found her character to be closer to sixteen, based upon her language, maturity and interactions with other characters. Also the cover shows a girl of about that age, which probably threw me off. But, that is a minor thing. Shadow Runners keeps you turning the pages, long into the wee hours, just to find out how Miranda is coping with the strange challenges thrust upon her whilst trying to come to terms with her beloved father’s death.

There’s a bunch of misfit kids at school who seem to know a lot about Miranda. They’re not perturbed by the bizarre dreams she keeps having, the mournful tunes in her head and the terrifying visual representations which start to haunt her daylight hours too. Her only friend is the dark, tortured orphan, Jade, who has lots of secrets of her own. Does that mean she can’t be trusted? It turns out Miranda’s mother, a therapist and healer, has passed down extraordinary abilities to her daughter, which Miranda’s rebellious nature refuses to acknowledge as being real and rational.

A teacher from school, Miss Bellini, is the only adult Miranda can turn to. And she’s the leader of this group of cosmic super sleuths, who battle against the forces of darkness threatening to engulf this modern seaside town, where links to events in its ancient past swarm forwards in time. In order to stop a malevolent character, reborn time after time, from taking over Miranda’s body, Miranda must battle forces she is just starting to believe in. Ancient evil. Dark spirits. It’s all a bit dramatic! But Miranda finds strength and comfort in the most unlikely places in this story of self-discovery and personal triumph. Teens will love Blythe’s hip language and sarcastic sense of humour. There’s plenty of good solid characters to believe in and an ending that leaves the reader wanting more.

Dawn Meredith is a May Gibbs Fellow and an author living in the Blue Mountains. www.dawnmeredithauthor.blogspot.com. 

Floors

Floors by Patrick Carman, illustrated by David Wyatt and Chris Turnham (Chicken House)

PB RRP $16.99
ISBN 1906427909
Reviewed by Dawn Meredith

Floors is a fabulous book! It’s a crazy romp through the wild imagination of Patrick Carman, who has created a fictional hotel, The Whippet, to rival any in our known world. It has official floors and secret floors, internal hidden floors, high speed elevators for ducks, expansive gardens and quirky guests. The Whippet is the creation of eccentric millionaire and inventor, Merganzer Whippet, who leaves the running of his unusual establishment in the hands of a terse manager, Ms Sparks and the maintenance crew, consisting of Leo Fillmore and his father Clarence, who reside in the basement, snug against the boiler.

And don’t forget the ducks. Every good mystery must have ducks. You never know when one will come in handy.

The colourful cover of this book is immediately appealing, jammed with all sorts of interesting elements from the story, which catch the eye and fire the imagination. There’s a shark’s head emitting tickertape maintenance orders, a chatty robot, cogs and wheels, lurking shadows and a boy in a suspended bucket shining a torch into the gloom. Merganzer’s distinctive profile is seen in silhouette, just as it appears on stationery and mysterious boxes throughout this intriguing story.

As a rebellion against massive over-development in the city, a haven from the vertical urban sprawl, the Whippet Hotel is a sanctuary for guests and a troubling enigma for greedy developers. Leo, our child hero, adores Merganzer Whippet and is dismayed when the proprietor leaves the hotel unexpectedly. But then messages begin to appear, especially for Leo. Boxes must be found and their contents utilized in a tightly woven quest to save the hotel from ruin. Ms Sparks adds tension, as does the ominous Bernardo Frescobaldi, a millionaire with his eye on the dilapidated hotel and parklands taking up valuable real estate. Leo befriends younger boy, Remi, whose mother works as a maid in the hotel and trust develops. He also enlists the dubious assistance of a small robot who can’t stop blabbing.

Leo and his father are extremely loyal to their beloved hotel and keep it in working order as best they can. They know all its little foibles, but lately disaster has struck every day and they are scrambling around the building trying to contain it and please the finicky guests, who keep threatening to leave. It seems someone wants the Whippet to fail. Is it Captain Rickenbacker? Mrs Yancey? Mr Bump?

I enjoyed the twists and turns, the strangely themed rooms and floors, such as the Cupcake Room, The Room of Rings, The Central Park Room, The Puzzle Room and the terrifying, Flying Farm Room. Despite his love of the Whippet, Leo’s life is frequently in danger as he follows the trail of clues left to him by Merganzer Whippet.

Carman has an easy style and endearing sense of humour which he sprinkles upon plot and character alike. Floors was a thoroughly enjoyable book.

Dawn Meredith is a May Gibbs Fellow and author living in the Blue Mountains. www.dawnmeredithauthor.blogspot.com

Ravenwood

Ravenwood by Andrew Peters (Chicken House) 

PB RRP $16.99 

ISBN 9781906427467

Reviewed by Dawn Meredith

From page one I was hooked, immersed into the truly unique world of Arborium, in the treetops of ancient forests, where wood means life and Earth means certain death. The whiff of Arthurian quest is definitely appealing as Arktorius Malikum, a teenage plumber of mysterious heritage, rises to champion.

The evil dendran Fenestra is determined to destroy Arborium, the last haven for those loyal to King Quercus. There is danger at every turn and if not for his unlikely ally, Mucum, Ark would not succeed. 

The dark corners of a society completely made of wood, with its dangers and frailties is explored beautifully in this book. Friendship, betrayal and heroism all prevail alongside a tenderhearted regard for family. There are many solid messages in this story, though they are never thrust upon the reader. The interplay between Ark and his narcissistic nemesis, Petronius works well. Interestingly, Peters gently steers the reader towards an understanding and tolerance of what makes someone choose the darker path, in this case the desperate desire to please a parent. Ark himself triumphs on a personal level too as he battles against prejudice of those who live below ground, the rootshooters, in the immensely intriguing world of the giant tree root systems.

My favourite bits included the revelations of the Raven Queen Corwenna, Mucum’s awkward romance with the pale, tall, pragmatic rootshooter Florence, and Peters’ skill with descriptive language:

With a wingspan as wide as a roof and eyes that glittered like diamonds, a huge raven came soaring from the darkness, drawn by the perfume of lifeblood, her claws ready to take the injured prey as it stood defeated and defenceless.

Peters has a particular talent for inventing dialects which add a richness to his characterization: Say’s Flo to the boys, “Yow lot from up top be somewhat little. Yow needs to get some good grub down. Then yow might grows a bit, and catch moi up, warhh?” There’s fun invented swear words too: “What the holly are you doing here?” and terms such as make-be-leaf, squit-shoveller, acorn-nutters are a delight.

Ark’s quest becomes a struggle to warn the king of the impending threat to the kingdom whilst trying to elude capture and death by malevolent forces. At the back of his mind is always the nagging thought that he doesn’t quite belong, despite a loving family, that his destiny is determined by an another. Can a lowly sewage worker be anything other than despised? Is truth really the greatest weapon? Will the special skills he has inherited from his biological mother be enough to save them all?

Dawn Meredith writes from the Blue Mountains and was awarded a May Gibbs Fellowship in 2011. Her brand new book, The Anything Shop was released in October. You can follow her exploits at www.dawnmeredithauthor.blogspot.com