Big Bash League

 Big Bash League by Michael Panckridge (Random House Australia) PB RRP $14.99

Switch-Hit Showdown ISBN 9780143782230

Double Delivery ISBN 9780143782193

Captains’ Clash ISBN 9780143782216

Bowling Blitz ISBN 9780143782254

What is Big Bash League you might wonder? Chances are that you are not a huge fan of cricket, for BBL has many followers (see http://www.bigbash.com.au) Australian author Panckridge who has already produced some child-friendly sporting books, has his finger on the pulse with a new series of novels suitable for readers 8 to 12 years which tells stories of cricket-loving kids. In the first, Double Delivery, both boys are featured in games that take place in a Queensland oval with cricket-mad twins Millie and Maggie wanting to join in. But of course there’s reluctance with a ‘boys-only’ mentality. Meanwhile, in the caravan park where the twins are staying, things are disappearing, so this book based on cricket games, also serves as a mystery tale.

Switch-Hit Showdown is set in Melbourne with a Renegades fan, Barney, meeting his match in a game against a team, headed by Fifi, which blitzes his. Before the grand final, however, it seems a spy mission is in order.

In Bowling Blitz, talented fast-bowler, Jimmy and his sister Izzy, having just moved from Perth to Adelaide, are huge BBL fans. But Jimmy’s not so fussed about being an Adelaide Strikers supporter. As in the other Big Bash League titles, there is more than just cricket happening: Jimmy has a problem with a kid and his dad from a neighbouring cricket club who are trying to poach him.

The last of these four titles, Captains’ Clash, is set in Sydney, where Fletcher, Jana and their mates are counting down to a full T20 match --their greatest cricket game ever. But brother and sister and their mates first need to settle a score with another team.With decent-sized typeface, chapter headings and illustrations, these stories are easy-to-read and fast-paced, and offer good reading especially to reluctant readers, both boys and girls. For cricket fans the publisher has included notes at the back of each book which offer all-round tips (such as getting fit, good techniques and practice) and bowling tips (grip, run-up (follow-through and so on). There is also in each of the books, depending where the story is set, there are statistics about local clubs: the Perth Scorcher fans, for instance, can read about results, records, team players, strike rates and more.

It’s great to see books – and a sport – which includes both males and females participating. The series ought to do well this summer!

The Boy Without a Soul

The Book of Gabrielle- Part 2: The Boy Without a Soul by Michael Panckridge (black dog books)

PB RRP $16.99

ISBN 978-174203183-5

Reviewed by Anastasia Gonis

Gabrielle is the ‘chosen one’ the Voice in her head tells her; chosen to help others as long as she doesn’t delve too deeply into her past. She can see things others can’t, but she has no memory of anything before waking up in a hospital three months ago. But being fostered out into a loving family and starting at a new school is about to create new experiences in her current life.

Gabrielle meets brothers Michael and Jack. Michael the eldest is always competing with the quiet Jack. They exchange the usual bickering and attention seeking which disguises the real affection they have for one another. Gabrielle immediately notices something in Jack’s behaviour that appears abnormal. Her suspicions are confirmed by his lack of reaction when she confides in him that she can see dead people.

Ms Blackmore, their current school counsellor has inveigled her way into her position on the basis of an illustrious past in the Sciences, and has persuaded the principal to install surveillance cameras throughout their school as protection, but against what is not made clear to the headmaster. For there are sinister activities at hand and Blackmore’s past is not what people have been told. She has been secretly undertaking cloning experiments, and under her new guise of counsellor, has found an endless supply of victims to use in her dark practices.

 

The three children’s lives get woven together amidst tragic happenings and frightening revelations. But the feisty and persistent Gabrielle is not easily thwarted no matter what the odds. When Jack goes missing, Gabrielle and Michael turn Blackmore’s world back to front and upside down in their attempt to reveal the truth about what’s really going on in the school. Time is against the children and Blackmore is more powerful than two children trying to save a third.

This is a highly enjoyable series for early teenage readers with a fantastic protagonist in Gabrielle, full of fast-paced action, mystery, and twists and turns. The story is surpassed only by the incredibly unhinged imagination of the author who creates new jaw-dropping situations in every chapter for the children to work their way out of.

The Boy Who Wasn't There

The Boy Who Wasn't There by Michael Panckridge (black dog books)
PB RRP $16.99
ISBN 9781742031835
Reviewed by Vicki Stanton

The Boy Who Wasn't There is the first book in a new series, The Book of Gabrielle. Gabrielle, or Gaby, has woken in a hospital and has no memory of her previous life and no connection to anyone or anything from her past. A voice speaks to her and says she will receive redemption by helping others. She arrives at her foster home and strange and terrifying occurrences happen. Swarms of moths, spiders and birds attack, frightening visions appear and she feels as though she is being suffocated in the night.

A mysterious boy also lives in the house and Gaby is unsure of her foster parents. Gaby's story is also interspersed with notes from another inhabitant of the house. The story moves along quickly and Panckridge writes simply but in a compelling fashion. The Boy Who Wasn't There is a real page-turner. Twists are around every corner and I loved how during the bird attack Gaby makes a connection with the birds and eventually has some control over them.

The Book of Gabrielle series is bound to be a winner and will attract both girl and boy readers keen to discover Gaby's story as well as solve the mystery within each title.