Mouse Mayhem

Mouse Mayhem written and illustrated by Wendy McKay-Taylor (Little Steps Publishing)

PB RRP $16.95

ISBN: 9781925117486

Reviewed by Anne Hamilton

First it was one mouse, creeping into the house -- then two, hiding in a boy’s shoes. Soon there were hundreds, thousands … springing out of the paddocks and looking for food and shelter. They nibble through everything—including plastic, newspaper, car wiring.

I’ve experienced a mouse plague on a farm, so I know how realistic this story is. However, to most people, it may seem outrageously exaggerated.

The watercolour illustrations are too cute by far to really portray the menace of mice in such overwhelming numbers. Young readers are much more likely to feel more sympathetic to the pesky critters that to the cat or people—and certainly feel uncomfortable with the solution to the problem. 

It’s the sort of book that would probably go well in country schools but is likely to be far less appreciated in the city.

Light

Light by Michael Grant (Egmont)

ISBN 9781405257589

PB  RRP $22.95

Reviewed by Nean McKenzie

Light is the sixth and final book in the YA series about the FAYZ (Fallout Alley Youth Zone) — an isolating dome in California, under which no one is more than fifteen years old. The many characters, each with a unique mutation, follow on from the previous books: Gone, Hunger, Lies, Plague and Fear. Under the FAYZ, kids continue to struggle for survival against starvation, each other and the evil presence of the Gaiphage, now in the human form of a scary girl called Gaia. The big difference in Light is the dome is clear, enabling adults from the outside world to look in. And they're horrified.  

With the dome clear, there are new problems under the FAYZ. Kids who can see their parents, stop working to produce food. Sam (the main character) and his friends are not confident they will make it out of the dome, even though the end is in sight. It is more likely they'll starve or be killed by Gaia who is growing in strength. She now possesses all the powers of each kid, including Sam's laser-shooting hands and Lana's healing powers. But they must unite and fight against her.

This story is about redemption and facing consequences. In the back of each kid's mind is the same question: what happens if they do get out? They know the adults will not understand the sometimes terrible things they have done. But first there is the difficulty of surviving. In the end a key character must be sacrificed to save not only those inside the FAYZ, but also the world outside. The 'end game' comes quickly.

Light is a long book, at 434 pages. (The whole series is around 3000!) The story is not for the squeamish with decapitation, severed limbs and cannibalism. There are some violent fighting scenes as well. There is a  recommended age of 13+ but it will depend on the teenager. Light is fast paced and jumps between the many characters skillfully.

After the conclusion there are four end chapters called 'aftermath,' which describe how the survivors of the FAYZ fare in the real world. This ties up loose ends and enables readers, who have stuck with these characters for the whole series, to finally say goodbye.  

Plague

 Plague by Michael Grant (hardie grant Egmont)

PB RRP $ 22.95

ISBN 9781405256575

Reviewed by Anastasia Gonis

Enter the fourth book of the exceptionally successful Gone series with the fifth, Fear, due in early 2012.

A breeze has begun to blow over Perdido Beach and the FAYZ. It is hair-raising for there hasn’t been a breath of air moving since the barrier came up when all the adults disappeared.  Petrol has almost run out and water is in minimal supply. Albert, a former underdog, has proven to be an astute business man. He has created a food distribution business which has lucrative rewards, but which also keeps all the people of Perdido Beach fed.

Things are extremely tense between Sam and Astrid as Astrid refuses on religious grounds, to consummate their relationship. Quinn, Sam’s best friend, is still head of the fishing crew and has shown that he can step up to the mark when he’s challenged by something that interests him.

But Caine, Sam’s wicked twin brother, and Diana his girlfriend, have been living away from the town in a movie star’s house where luxury, food, videos and fine clothes were there for the taking. It is here that Diana makes the decision to give in to Caine’s coercion, believing that he has changed from the callous murderer to a more compassionate being.

Drake and Brittney now share a body due to the power of the Darkness. Like a split personality, one person merges when the other submerges and this entity is invincible. Drake finally escapes from his basement dungeon, more vengeful and inhuman than ever.

But there is more to fear than Drake now. The Darkness has set its sights on Little Pete, Astrid’s autistic brother. There is something connected to the child’s powers that the gaiaphage desperately wants. When Drake becomes his worshipper, the Darkness sends him on a mission with results more horrifying than before. Parallel to that horror, is the sickness that is claiming children’s lives which began after the breeze started blowing.

But the horror doesn’t end there.  Sam is sent to find water at a new location. He encounters the leader of the Wolf Pack who has something growing out of its body- something grotesque that is extremely contagious. This is followed by monsters hatching out of human bodies at a startling rate. Their size, power and indestructibility appears to herald the beginning of the end for all the inhabitants of Perdido Beach.

Plague is riveting reading but cruel, horrible and violent in places. It comes recommended for mature young adult reading.