Crash Landing – Family Disasters

Crash Landing – Family Disasters: Book 1 by Nathan Luff (Scholastic), RRP $15.99 Middle Grade ISBN 9-781761-122729

Reviewed by Susan Hancy

Jakob is well aware that he's not one of the cool kids at school. He knows how it feels to be laughed at and he's learnt from experience that it's best to not draw attention to himself. That means not acting like his worrywart Scrooge of a father and his socially awkward, laughs-like-a-donkey-braying mother. And it certainly means not being caught together with Jodie, the weirdest girl in school. She dresses up like a snail and obsesses over Jakob as her future husband. Unfortunately, as the daughter of her Mum's best friend, Jodie is tied at the hip to Jakob and part of his extended family. After a super embarrassing family dinner out where the waiter, one of Jakob’s “cool” classmates, sees wedding photo evidence of Jakob and Jodie along with being “snotted” on by Jakob's mum, Jakob is certain that he can’t return to school any time soon.  The solution? Lay low by flying out of the country on a family holiday under the pretext of worrywart Dad needing some relaxation to avoid a heart attack. 

 

Jakob manages to convince his parents that the holiday package he has found is a great idea and a great bargain. Catch 1: it’s a package for four and his parents decide to include Jodie. Catch 2: the airline is particularly budget. It’s so budget that they lack any safety standards for their four (only) passengers and when the duct tape flies off the plane wing they crash into the Pacific Ocean. Luckily, all four passengers and the nutcase pilot manage to make it to a volcanic island where they encounter a group of castaways who've been waiting three years to be rescued. Jakob sees this as an opportunity to reinvent himself to be cool amongst a group of kids who don't know his background. But a series of calamities and backfiring attempts to impress do little to hide his and his family’s embarrassing traits. Facing near drowning when the volcano erupts, Jodie reveals her heartbreaking reason for associating herself with snails and Jakob is driven to embrace his and his family’s weirdness when he realises that he doesn't want to die with his parents thinking of him as selfish and ungrateful.

 

This is a fast-paced chapter book with something going wrong on almost every page turn and plenty of snot, vomit and farts. I can imagine upper primary grade boys loving this story and groaning out loud. With short chapters and expressive illustrations by Chris Kennett, it's an easy, fun read for even reluctant readers. 

Nerd Herd Outfoxed

Nerd Herd Outfoxed by Nathan Luff & Chris Kennett (Scholastic Australia) PB $14.99 ISBN 978 1 760974626

Reviewed by Karen Hendriks

Barny the Lamb has been kidnapped and taken to the den of Mrs Fox. His best friends, Shaama Llama Ding Dong and Billy the Kid decide to save him. But will they make it in time before their friend is a lamb dinner?

 

This book is the third in the Nerd Herd series. Barny the Lamb, Shaama Llama Ding Dong and Billy the Kid are meek and mild, but together they’re a herd.

 

Nathan Liff has written a cool, fun read, that keeps the reader page turning and laughing. The humour instantly appeals and the dialogue cleverly shows the internal thoughts of the characters and their personalities without telling. The voice is strong, and the story is told through the eyes of Barny the sheep. The characters are distinct and well rounded.  The sentences pace the story much like a movie reel. They rise and fall with the action. The page turns keep the reader hooked. Please, after you. Liff has masterfully delivered a story that is deceptively simple but this is hard to achieve. ‘Foxy? Like a fox?’ I asked. ‘No, foxy is an expression, it means you look really attractive.’

 

As the plot develops and grows, the reader is kept guessing. Mrs Fox is sort of crazy and driven by her love for Mr Fox who has mysteriously disappeared. This creates another hook for the reader. Where is Mr Fox? The opening two sentences captivate.  Last, you heard of me, I’d been snatched by a fox and carried off into the night. It’s Ok. Also, the use of questioning develops humour and speaks closely to the reader encouraging them to think and use their imagination.  ‘Mrs Fox, how about we play hide-and-seek?’ I asked.

 

Chris Kennett has done it again, delivered comical illustrations that are cartoon -like, full of action and expression. They play with the words and add extra layers of meaning by showing not telling. The characters’ personalities shine much like they are on stage. I particularly like how the illustrations take the fear away for a child of this age reading the story because we all know foxes eat cute animals and Kennett has balanced this well in the story. There is just enough to feel Barny the lamb or the chickens could be eaten,  but then the silliness of it all brings the laughs. Onomatopoeia adds sound effects and dramatizes events and humour. The cheeky cover is a hit, and at a glance we can see all the characters and it is super easy to guess the villain and the problem.

Nerd Herd Outfoxed, is a book for 6-9 years that allows the reader to escape into a world of fun. It can be read as a standalone or as part of the series. This is a book that can be a bedtime read that a parent would also love. Many children will enjoy this story. 

Bad Grammar

Bad Grammar by Nathan Luff (Walker Books)
PB RRP $ 16.95
ISBN 9781921977862
Reviewed by Anastasia Gonis

Bad Grammar is what Bourkley Boys Grammar is called. It’s the last resort for boys who don’t fit in. Situated in the remote outback, it has hammocks and dirt floors, no privacy and bad food. That’s where Marcus gets sent.

Marcus is a computer games addict; a loner not interested in school. He has made no new friends since his mate Bashir left for India, and is totally indifferent to everything. He’s an only child whose parents spend little time with him. He has created a world of his own in which he is a dragon-slayer; a warrior with a Warrior’s Guide to every problem.

But his parents have had enough. So he travels to Bad Grammar with other misfits. There it is hell on earth as the three prefects make sure life is a misery for all the boys. Scarface takes particular interest in making Marcus suffer, especially after he has stolen his memory stick containing everything worthwhile on it. He uses this to blackmail Marcus into doing every humiliating thing he orders.

But he is befriended by oversized Trent who is there to lose weight, and is also Fred’s best friend. Fred’s non- stop talk drives Marcus crazy, but the three soon become close. They try to find a way to retrieve Marcus’ memory stick and support him in his attempts to escape, which leads them into all sorts of trouble and additional punishment.

It’s when mutiny is initiated by Scarface that things somersault. Secrets, mysteries and truths are finally revealed about Bad Grammar and the adults who run it.

This is a fast-paced book in every way. Things are happening continually in rapid sequence, through the dialogue, with the characters and within the descriptions. The story is full of craziness and unbelievable events. But it’s entertaining, ridiculous and well-written, and keeps the reader turning the pages. This is suitable for age 9+.