Red Day

 Red Day by Sandy Fussell (Walker Books Australia) ISBN 9781760651884 PB RRP $17.99

Reviewed by Dianne Bates

Charlotte (Charlie), the main character of this book for young people, is super-sensitive and has a condition known as synaesthesia. It enables her to see colours in odd places, like letters or days of the week; she sees musical notes as water and sometimes she ‘hears’ colours. She says, ‘The sky was blood red the day my brother Eli died.’

Set in a modern-day small town –Cowra NSW -- among the remnants of a Japanese POW camp, the story starts when Charlie meets Japanese exchange student Kenichi (Ken), who is staying with her and her mother, an experience she is not looking forward to. When Charlie and Ken start to investigate Himura Shin, a former Japanese prisoner-of-war who gave Charlie’s great-grandmother a photo which hangs in the local information centre, Charlie’s senses intensify and she experiences flashbacks, nausea, and hears unfamiliar voices in her head pulling her back to the town's violent past. In fact, since Ken came to stay, anything to do with the POW camp or the photo her mother donated to the town, physically affects her.  Ken, too, wants to find the whereabouts of the remains of his great-grandfather. This leads to Charlie and Ken undertaking a break, enter and steal adventure.

This unusual historical mystery manages to combine heartfelt contemporary storytelling at its best, with vivid historical flashbacks of a period of Australia’s history. As time passes and Charlie and Ken work together to solve the problem, Charlie overcomes her resistance to having Ken in her life: she bonds with him and by the time Ken is ready to return to Japan, she has come to like and respect him. Highly recommended for YA readers.

Curly Tales: Short Stories with a Twist

Curly Tales: Short Stories with a Twist by Bill Condon, illustrated by Dave Atze (Big Sky Publishing) PB RRP $12.99 ISBN 9781925520590

Reviewed by Sandy Fussell

A wonderful array of crazy, oddball characters fill the pages of this book. Meet Professor Julius Brigg, a brilliant pig with ‘a mind like a steel trap wrapped in bacon’.  Meet Big Charley, a mangy cat, so mean he doesn’t use kitty litter. And Doddie Q Moo, a cow who likes two read signs. “Go back, you are going the wrong way” makes her heart flutter.

Each of the thirteen stories is based on a proverb with a twist such as ‘curiosity chilled/killed the cat’ (poor Big Charley) and ‘every Doddie/everybody makes mistakes’ (you can’t force your family to join a sign reading club). Short explanations of the proverbs are included at the back of the book. The illustrations are as humorous as the text. Imagine an anaconda trying to squeeze an armour-plated armadillo (you can’t squeeze/please everyone) or a father and daughter flea fun day out (the best things in life are flea/free). 

The generous illustrations, large print and use of different fonts will appeal to young, independent readers. This book is humorous and clever, for those who like short stories, a good laugh and lashings of quirky wordplay. It will suit readers aged 6 to 11 years. 

Sad, the Dog

Sad, the Dog by Sandy Fussell, illustrated by Tull Suwannakit (Walker Books)

HC RRP $ 24.95

ISBN 9781921529641

Reviewed by Anastasia Gonis

Sandy Fussell, author of the outstanding Samurai Kids series, has created her first children’s picture book. And what a debut! She makes an impression with strong messages, fantastic characters and moving themes.

Perception is everything for Sad the dog. How he perceives himself and his actions is in total contrast to how his owners, the Cripps, perceive things. ‘Hey, you!’ and ‘Dog!’ is what they call him. Unwanted and unnamed, he passes his days in an emotionless environment. His presence is barely tolerated. He is reprimanded continuously for simply doing dog things. Though he is fed and kept clean, he isn’t loved. He calls himself Sad.

One day Mr and Mrs Cripps simply pack up everything and drive away, leaving Sad alone and distraught at the house.

The arrival of a new family the following day makes Sad afraid, even when the young boy Jack, smiles at him. That night Jack introduces himself to the dog, and lays a path of dog biscuits that lead to a comfy bed. Next day the boy is still kind. Sad can tell by his tickling hand behind his ear. Jack plays with him. They dig in the yard and sail in boxes on dry land. And when Sad barks, no one reprimands him. Sad hears Jack name him Lucky, and knows his days of sadness are over.

Addressing themes of loneliness, friendship and love, this brilliant debut picture book gives the promise of new beginnings, both in the character’s and the writer’s life. Thai illustrator Tull Suwannakit’s second book with an Australian publisher is sure to set his career on fire, due to this exceptional translation of Fussell’s text.

Muted shades of brown, green and ochre, dominate the watercolour illustrations. The full page artwork enhances the emotional expressions on the character’s faces. The harshness of Sad’s keepers is perfectly portrayed in strong, sharp lines of their facial expressions and body language. The boy’s adoration for the dog he sees as a gift that came with the house and a new life is depicted in every scene. Simply perfect!

Sad, the Dog

Sad, the Dog by Sandy Fussell, illustrations by Tull Suwannakit (Walker Books Australia) HB RRP $31.99

Reviewed by Dianne Bates

The cover of this picture book for readers aged 6+ years is gloomy, and like the dog depicted, it looks sad. An unwanted Christmas present, the nameless dog is looked after competently by an elderly couple, but they don’t really care about it. They are so disinterested in the dog that when they move house, they dump poor Sad.

Happily, life is not always gloom and sadness; there is always hope. And, into the neglected dog’s life comes a new chance at happiness in the shape of a small boy. Jack cares for his new, adopted pet in the way any pet ought to be cared for and by the end of this story this now lucky dog Sad has a new name.

The author, Sandy Fussell, is well-known for her immensely popular Samurai Kids junior novel series, and other prize-winning novels; this is her first picture book. It’s sure to be a winner. The story is told in clear, simple words that are wonderful for reading aloud, especially by a parent to a child; the watercolour illustrations perfectly match the tone of the story.

Offering hope to anyone is probably the best gift anyone can give another, and this book certainly offers a loveless dog much hope by story’s end.

Black Tengu

Samurai Kids: Book 8 Black Tengu by Sandy Fussell, illustrated by Rhian Nest James (Walker Books)
PB RRP $15.95
ISBN 9781922077622
Reviewed by Anastasia Gonis

The Cockroaches and Sensei are on their way to the Tateyama Mountains. But that is not where Sensei takes them. They find themselves at Ezo, the island where Sensei grew up. He has carried many secrets with him, some that Niya can’t access with his thoughts. These secrets have stolen the master’s sleep and made him determined to cleanse himself of his demons and free himself of the past.

They are not welcome at Fuyama Castle and Sensei is initially thrown in jail due to his past misdeeds. Lord Fuyama gives him the option of fighting to the death with the Dragon Master, but Sensei is still determined to resolve his issues without blood being spilled. Here we discover what caused the terrible burden of guilt Sensei has carried with him all these years. This is relayed to the Cockroaches with the usual stops and starts in Sensei’s storytelling.

As usual the group faces many challenges, including one against the great higuma bear. Sensei comes away from his village freed from his past but not free of the Dragon Master. The Cockroaches prove that they are now self sufficient and have learned well the lessons taught to them by Ki-Yaga, for they know that he will not always be with them. Niya is given the student, Sakito of the wolf spirit to train, a boy that  fits in perfectly with the rest of the band.

It is after Niya joins Sensei in a purifying fire walk that things shift. Sensei’s role of teacher and instructor ends and the Cockroaches know they are now capable of carrying on without him.

Sensei’s last challenge is to defeat the Dragon Master. But it is Niya’s intelligence, wisdom and courage, learned from his master that resolves the final battle.

 Is Sensei the Black Tengu? This also, is revealed at last.

This is the last book in a sensational series which has conveyed to readers the value of virtue mainly compassion, patience and honour, through its meaningful storyline and subtle prose.

Samurai Kids Book 7: Red Fox

Samurai Kids Book 7: Red Fox by Sandy Fussell, illustrated by Rhian Nest-James (Walker Books)
PB RRP $ 15.95
ISBN 9781922077509
Reviewed by Anastasia Gonis

The Sea Dragon is shipwrecked and Sensei and the Little Cockroaches, working as crew, are cast into the sea. Niya awakes alone. With a sprained ankle, and having lost his crutch, he drags himself and whatever useful debris that has washed up, to a place of shelter.

Beneath his makeshift cover, he imagines the worst about his friends. He believes he is being taken prisoner when men come and carry him away to their village nearby.  But relief replaces anxiety when Chen appears and hospitality is offered. Sensei’s teachings regarding respect for the customs of the people they encounter are adhered to in return.

Youke, a princess that has chosen not ‘to live life as a caged bird’ is passing through the village with her companion Somnang, who chooses not to speak. The two samurai believe if their companions are alive, they’d be headed to the temple at Angkor. Youke offers to show them the way. Unexpected adventures and many dangers challenge the group from the outset of their journey, beginning with Niya being bitten by a snake in the forest. During his delirium, Sensei’s voice in his head directs him to the monks’ temple.

Niya’s hopes soar when a passing traveller informs the group that another boy wearing the same clothes, who is ‘blind, but it’s as if he can see’, is in his village.

Chen makes a friend of the silent Somnang through their mutual interest in drawing and the journey is filled with creating maps and images of the birds they encounter.

At the temple they reunite with Sensei and the others except for Yoshi, who is now receiving medical treatment at the King’s palace after being hurt while saving a girl from a tiger.

But a new threat enters the lives of the Little Cockroaches and Sensei in the form of Chan-Zen, a noted physician visiting the temple. The group is immediately uncomfortable in his presence and sense he is not what he appears to be. They are forced to accept his company as they travel towards Yoshi in Udong. There are challenges and moral dilemmas for the group to work through, while Chen makes a life-changing decision. They must look to Sensei’s teachings to do the right thing at all times, adhering to the samurai code of chi, jin, yu – wisdom, benevolence and courage.

Event: Society of Women Writers NSW

The next meeting of the Society of Women Writers NSW Inc will be Wednesday, June 13

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

Workshop (10 – 11.50) Amanda Hampson: "Five First Pages " - 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) Sandy Fussell: The Accidental Author

Guest Speakers: (1.25 - 2 pm) Sonia Goernitz: Write, Publish & Market your Own Book

Book sales: 2pm onwards (conclusion 2.30pm)

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

Bookings required before 10am Mon 11th June to:

Eunice Lovell—9959 5568 or email: ealovell@bigpond.com

OR

Sandra: 4296-1182 or email: sgdavis@ozemail.com

Jaguar Warrior

Jaguar Warrior by Sandy Fussell (Walker Books)
PB RRP $14.99
ISBN 978-1-921529-29-0
Reviewed by Anke Seib

In Tenochtitlan, where clumsiness is paid for in blood, a young slave boy should not anger his captor. Yet, huddled in his box prior to being sacrificed to the Serpent-Sun god to end the dry season, Atl still plans to escape. When the pale lords raise their swords against the city, Atl’s master insists he return to his birthplace, Purépecha, to seek help for Tenochtitlan. Thus, Atl has his chance. But why carry a message to save the people who were going to kill him? On one hand there is no reason, on the other there are many.

The Spanish invasion of Mexica forms the backdrop for this story, Mexica being the civilisation we now term the Aztecs. Ichtaca, Atl’s master and temple priest, believes the boy’s successful mission is Tenochtitlan’s only chance of survival. The Captain of the Temple Guard, however, is furious at the boy’s release. He sets off to kill Atl and appease the Serpent-Sun god, believing that while the boy runs free, Mexica will fail. All Atl really wants is freedom. So begins a dramatic, action-packed story about choice, loyalty and integrity.

Before crossing his first hurdle, Atl unwillingly takes a companion, Lali, who is also running from someone. They fight like brother and sister but rely on each other for survival. When they rescue a slave from a jaguar attack and witness the cruelty of his master they do not hesitate to snatch his freedom too, including him in their journey. Each character is tied to the other, increasing their risk of capture, yet even they hide some truths from each other. A fourth member, Dog, joins the group and the race to alert Purépecha.

The book’s cover immediately draws one into an ancient past with its sense of mystery and foreboding. Totems carved in stone, fire burning behind hollow eyes and gold lacing the carvings is sure to appeal to boys, as will the story. I’d recommend it to readers aged ten to fourteen and am sure girls will also drink it up. Particularly appealing to me was the skilful use of alternating viewpoints, Atl’s told in first person to draw readers in, the Captain of the Temple Guard told in third, helping heighten the terrifying threat he poses.

Action is fast paced and snippets of history add an extra dimension. I loved being immersed in a culture of ancient people, their myths, legends, beliefs and rituals. I also admired how the protagonist and his companions were as real as any young figures in fiction set in our world: thoughtful, intelligent, resourceful and witty. Walker’s website provides excellent teaching notes and the book’s many facets will be enjoyed in class as well as by all who value a great read. It is further testament to Fussell’s growing list of awards.