Shalott – Into the Unknown

Shalott – Into the Unknown by Felicity Pulman (Holmes House Press) PB ISBN: 9781922389602

Reviewed by Jeffery E Doherty

Shalott – Into the Unknown is the first book in Felicity Pulman’s new retelling of her earlier Shalott series, extensively re-written for a new generation. In her own words, “They’re now a lot more magical, although they’re essentially the same story.” And the book is certainly magical.

“The Lady of Shalott” by John William Waterhouse (1888) is one of my favourite paintings. It took my breath away, and I have a print hanging on the wall in my office. It is obvious that the poem by Tennison (the inspiration for the painting) has deeply affected Pulman as much as it did Waterhouse, as well as Cassie, the main protagonist in the story. Cassie’s quest is to change the fate of the Lady of Shalott, saving her along with King Arthur and the knights of the Round Table.

The book has a Narnia feel about it. Although this was all supposed to happen in a computer program, Cassie, and a group of four other teenagers are transported to the magical kingdom of Camelot. What Cassie, her twin sister El, their friend Meg, and two boys, Stephen, and Lev (who they barely know) discover in this fantastical medieval world challenges everything they believe. Their story intertwines with the characters from Arthurian legend, King Arthur himself, the tragic lovers Lancelot and Guinevere, Mordred, and the ambitious Morgan le Fay.

Pulman has woven a tale of intrigue and courage, with a cast of interesting characters. The teens are all complex and wonderfully flawed. Their lives are fleshed out and deftly developed during their attempts to help Cassie complete her quest, and to discover a way to transport themselves home.

This is a delightfully imaginative story mixing Arthurian legend with modern day technology. This book will appeal to both girls and boys, teens, and young adults, especially fans of historical fiction.

 

Shalott books by Felicity Pulman

Books from Australian author Felicity Pulman are Shalott: Into the Unknown ISBN 9781922389602; Shalott: Dangerous Magic ISBN 9781922389626; and Shalott: End Play ISBN 9781922389640.  Available from all online booksellers.

#1  Five Australian teenagers set out into the unknown to rescue the ‘Lady of Shalott’ and to save Camelot. Instead they find themselves caught up in the illicit love affair between Guinevere and Lancelot, the intrigues of the court, and the ambition of the magical Morgan le Fay. Will they find the courage to survive fire and plague and be able to find their way home? What Callie finds in Camelot will break her heart, while all of their lives will be changed forever.

#2  Is Lev still in Camelot – or did he die in the fire? Can El survive the plague? And can Callie undo a death – or will she cause another? As Callie vies with Guinevere to win Lancelot’s love, and the Old Ways clash with the new, the ambitious Morgan le Fay weaves her dangerous magic. When the teenagers are caught in the crossfire, death awaits them all.

#3   Will Callie have the courage to face her true quest – and can she trust the treacherous Morgan le Fay to help her? Cast adrift from all she knows, Callie needs to find a way to save herself before she can rescue her sister and friends from the last deadly battle between King Arthur and Mordred.  As past and present collide, can Callie find a way forward, when everything she ever wanted seems lost?

Praise for the Shalott trilogy: ‘In this extraordinary trilogy Felicity Pulman shows both her understanding of the Arthurian legend, of the Shalott story, and a rich and imaginative capacity to expand and explore its deep meanings for today’s teenagers. This is an unsettling, unusual, intriguing and moving series, rich in character, action and mystery, full of the atmosphere of Arthurian legend, yet without falling into the trap of mere retelling.’ Author Sophie Masson.

    ‘I know that both I and my students hold the series with affection. You managed to capture so many themes. The place of sibling rivalry, challenging gender stereotypes, self-determination, and the magic and meter of a poem that has been considered a classic. You reimagined a narrative poem in such a way that inspires young writers to build intertextuality in their own writing. We love your work.’ Juliette Bentley, teacher, writer and innovation advocate. Adobe Master Teacher, Adobe Creative Educator and Certified Google Innovator.  (Juliette also mentioned that this series is ‘provocative’!) 

Shalott: Dangerous Magic.

Felicity Pulman is happy to announce publication of her second book in her Shalott trilogy – Shalott: Dangerous Magic.

Five teenagers set out into the unknown to change the legend of Camelot and the fate of the Lady of Shalott. Instead, they find they are rewriting their own lives and destiny. As the Old Ways clash with the new and they become caught up in the illicit love affair between Lancelot and Guinevere, the intrigues of the court and the ambition of the magical, but deadly, Morgan le Fay, they need courage and ingenuity to survive the dangers they face, and to find their way home. What happens to Callie in Camelot will break her heart, while her quest will change all their lives forever.

Shalott: Dangerous Magic ISBN 9781922389626

Shalott: Into the Unknown   ISBN 9781922389602   

The Shalott Trilogy

The Shalott Trilogy by Felicity Pulman

#1 Shalott: Into the Unknown    ISBN 9781922389602

#2 Shalott: Dangerous Magic         ISBN 9781922389626

#3 Shalott: End Play                      ISBN 9781922389641

My award-winning Shalott trilogy, first published in early 2000, has now been revised and updated to introduce today’s teenagers to Arthurian legend and the hauntingly beautiful poem, The Lady of Shalott, by Alfred Lord Tennyson.

Five teenagers set out into the unknown to change the legend of Camelot. Instead they find they are rewriting their own lives and destiny as their true quest is revealed and they become caught up in the illicit love affair between Guinevere and Sir Lancelot, the intrigues of the court, and the deadly magic of the ambitious Morgan le Fay.  Will they have enough courage to survive the dangers they face? How will they find their way home when everything they know and believe is challenged? And are they replaying the legend – or creating it?  What Callie finds in Camelot will break her heart, while her quest will change all of their lives forever.                            

Available in print and as an ebook from all online retailers.

For more information, writing tips and teaching resources please visit my website: www.felicitypulman.com.au

The Little Penguins of Manly Wharf

The Little Penguins of Manly Wharf by Felicity Pulman, photography by David Jenkins (Foundation for National Parks and Wildlife)

HB RRP $24.95

ISBN – 978-0-9875708-0-2

Reviewed by Emma Cameron

This book’s text opens with young Anna introducing herself and her friend Toby as National Parks and Wildlife Service volunteers on the team of Penguin Wardens who help guard the only Little Penguin breeding colony found in an international city. There’s lots involved in being a citizen scientist, including tracking progress of animals by keeping log books of observations, and alerting people to the dangers that threaten survival of this endangered species.

We all hear of how dogs, fish hooks, plastic bags and bottles pose hazards to these creatures, but it’s not until we see the extent of it that we truly understand what an issue it is. Anna’s grandpa says that when he was her age, in 1952, there were as many as 500 penguins in the Manly area. By 1990 there were only about 35 left. When readers meet a number of penguins in Anna’s tale and hear their stories, the tragedy that they face because people are either unaware or just inconsiderate is brought to the forefront.

Though penguins mate for life, partnership can only last as long as no harm comes to either member of a pair. Mr Stickybeak lost his first partner when she vanished after a series of misfortunes. Then his second partner was hit by a powerboat. Fortunately, he paired up with Mrs Silverwing whose mate had also died. The new couple had successfully raised two lots of chicks at the time of Anna’s writing the book, so the stories are not without joyful news.

Readers of this work will also see the many members of an interactive and cooperative community that all play different roles in achieving a common goal. Beaut colour photos, some covering a full page, show the action and the people introduced. These include rangers, scientists, park wardens and Taronga Zoo staff. I was taken in by the work these volunteers do and felt comforted to know how many people out there care enough to act this way.

Pages devoted to penguin facts as well as those about threats to the species help give a very clear picture of how fragile these animals are. Outstanding reading for those aged 8-14, the proceeds of book sales go towards the care and protection of these beautiful birds. And this is marvelous news, as the work of the volunteers and the many organisations that support them has seen things begin to turn around and any dollars will help it continue.

Event: Literary Lunch

Lunch, writing and writers: it doesn't get any better! Come along to the next meeting of the Society of Women Writers NSW Inc on Wednesday, June 12, 2013.

Venue: Dixson Room, State Library of NSW, Macquarie St, Sydney

Felicity Pulman

Workshop (10 am – 11.50) 

Presenter: Felicity Pulman: "Ideas for Stories" - workshop:  $15.00 (No Need to book - everyone is welcome) 

Convenor: Beatrice Yell - 9452 2299

Literary Lunch:   (12.30- 1pm)

Member Talk: (1- 1.20 pm) Margaret Ruckert: Musefood - a muse feast

Guest Speaker: (1.25 - 2 pm) Jan Latta:  Self Publishing on New Digital Media

Cost: $40 for non-members, $35 for members, $15 (workshop only)

Bookings required before 10am Mon 10 June to:

Please book by email if you have access to a computer

Contact Name: SWW Lunch Booking

Email address: swwlunchbooking@gmail.com

Mobile phone: Text message to 0403 177 208

Your text message should be addressed to swwlunchbooking or swwlunch and should contain: date, your name and number.

SOCIETY OF WOMEN WRITERS (NSW)

The next Workshop and Literary Lunch of the Society of Women Writers NSW Inc will be Wednesday, May 9.

Venue: Dixson Room, State Library of NSW, Macquarie St

Workshop (10 – 11.50) Aleesah Darlison: "Writing for young children”

Workshop: $15.00. Bookings for workshop: Beatrice Yell - 9452 2299 or email: ybeatrice@hotmail.com

Literary Lunch: (12.30- 1pm)

Member Talk: (1- 1.20 pm) Felicity Pulman: "Digital Publishing"

Guest Speakers: (1.25 - 2 pm) Mahboba Rewi: Mahboba's Promise: Afghanistan's women

Book sales: 2pm onwards (conclusion 2.30pm)

Cost: $30 for non-members, $25 for members, $15 for workshop

Bookings required before 10am Mon 7th May to:

Eunice Lovell—9959 5568 or email: ealovell@bigpond.com OR Sandra: 4296-1182 or email: sgdavis@ozemail.com

Bruno Fiddlestein’s Dilemma, Mrs Papadopoulos’s Purple Hippopotamuses and Widow Hegarty’s Goat

Bruno Fiddlestein’s Dilemma, Mrs Papadopoulos’s Purple Hippopotamuses and Widow Hegarty’s Goat: collections of short stories by Vashti Farrer, illustrated by Naomi Kelly (Five Senses Education P/L)
PB RRP $12.95 each
Reviewed by Felicity Pulman

Vashti Farrer’s humorous and quirky short stories and poems have long been enjoyed by readers of NSW School Magazine, and her work will now reach a far wider audience with the publication of both old and new stories in these collections with subtitles: ‘stories to snortle at,’ ‘tall tales,’ and ‘unlikely escapades’. Readers will chortle over the antics of such things as a friendly emu called Ethel, a pair of naughty purple hippopotamus slippers, a pigeon with street smarts, the match-making goat of Widow Hegarty, and the garden gnomes who make themselves useful. They’ll also discover how Miss Muffet overcame her fear of spiders, and what happens when you play the violin to vegetables.

Of particular interest to my grandchildren were the fun stories about their favourite animals: cats and dogs that often got into trouble or had to save their owners. Some old favourites are also included in the collections: the stories of Lulubelle and Bones, Mr Pavlov’s Possum, and Green Piece’s Princess Euphorbia (ribbit!)

Alert readers will enjoy the puns. Imagine having classmates with names like Will Argue, Aidan Abbett, Wanda Round, Iona Broome and Luke Heare, and being taught by Miss Happ!

Naomi Kelly’s delightful drawings illustrate most of the stories and poems, adding an extra dimension of fun. Enjoy these wonderful collections, and remember:

‘Don’t maffle, cronk or chimble

When a bumblepuppy’s nigh,

It might clawscrunt up your mazzard

Nurk your goblocks on the sly.

It might knoup your knevel slister,

Sloom your snortle on the run,

Till you’re faffled, motched and gloppened

And it’s had its bit of fun.’

(c) Felicity Pulman, 2011

Lilli-Pilli, The Frog Princess

 

Lilli-Pilli, The Frog Princess by Vashti Farrer, illustrated by Owen Swan (Scholastic Press Australia) 

HB RRP $24.99

ISBN 978-1-74169-620-2

Reviewed by Felicity Pulman

The pastel line drawing of a joyful young girl leaping off the pink front cover on long frog legs is guaranteed to prompt a curious child to investigate further.  This is a delightful modern fairy tale of a young princess who cannot please her royal parents, Queen Euphorbia and King Nasturtium, or live up to their expectations because, unlike the other royal princesses, she has long frog legs that get in the way of everything she does.

The curving text on some pages perfectly illustrates the leaps and capers of her progress from acrobatics at the Royal Swimming Pool, through lessons on how to be a proper princess, to the dance floor of the Grand Ball where prospective suitors complain that she’s treading on their toes.

Princess Lilli-Pilli is rescued from ignominy by Prince Antirrhinum, star gymnast of the Royal Circus, who twirls and whirls her and throws her into the air, to the amazement and delight of everyone (except the Royal Dancing Master.)  The princess’s future happiness is assured, especially when she becomes the prince’s partner in the Royal Circus’s newest act: The Flying Antirrhinums.

Owen Swan’s delicate illustrations complement perfectly the quirky humour of Vashti Farrer’s text – doing ‘pullovers, back-flips and hip-back circles’ sounds like such fun!  Above all, this story gives a positive message to children that, even if you’re different in some way, even if you don’t fit in, it’s still possible to be happy and fulfilled because everyone has a special talent of some sort.

 

Felicity Pulman is the author of numerous award-winning novels for children and teenagers, including Ghost Boy, the Shalott trilogy and the Janna Mysteries.