In the Dark

In the Dark by Carole Poustie (Celapene Press) PB RRP $16.95
ISBN 9781925572001

Reviewed by Kylie Buckley

Ish is a thirteen year old boy who spends his summer holidays with his mum and sister at his gran’s house ‘up near the Murray [his] favourite place in the world’. He and his older sister, Molly, have also planned to spend a week of their holidays with their father, who moved to Sydney after separating from their mother.

Ish’s plan of fishing every day on the Murray, with his dog Lucky, comes to an abrupt end shortly after arriving. He and his sister become grounded, after a careless accident, and must spend most of their days at the house. Soon after being grounded Ish finds himself in hot water again when he enters his gran’s forbidden old cellar and comes across a letter. The letter is not addressed to him, however, he chooses to open it and the contents immediately changes his world.

It seems that their parent’s separation has put a strain on everyone’s relationship. Molly is rude and disrespectful and has trouble relating to anyone. Ish is resentful towards his dad for moving away. The children’s mother and their gran also have trouble connecting at times. Will time with their father in Sydney help smooth things out? Or will the letter Ish found change relationships forever?

In the Dark is a middle fiction novel suited to those who like drama and suspense. It has themes of family, friendship, loss and dishonesty. The story is written in the first person by Ish, a nickname given to him at birth. Throughout the story Ish writes poetry, a passion he shared with his late grandfather. Not only does he use it as a way of expressing himself but it is also a way of keeping a beautiful connection to his grandfather. In the Dark is Carole’s second novel for children.

War Horse

War Horse by Michael Morpurgo (Egmont UK)

ISBN 978-1-4052-7188-2

PB $14.95 RRP

Reviewed by Nean McKenzie

First published in 1982, this special edition of War Horse has been reprinted for the centenary of World War one, with a new introduction by the author. The book was already well known, being the basis of the 2011 Stephen Spielberg movie (nominated for several Oscars and BAFTAs) and a highly acclaimed international stage show. War Horse is a story for children aged 10+ about a horse who goes to war, told from the unique perspective of the horse.  

The story starts off on a farm in Devon where a young horse is bought home to fifteen year old Albert, by his drunken father. There is an immediate bond between Albert and Joey, as he calls the horse, which develops into an unbreakable  friendship. However when war breaks out, Albert's father sells Joey to the army and he is shipped off to the trenches in France. Albert is broken hearted but vows to find his horse again when he is old enough to enlist.

In France, Joey sees battle, injury, death and finds friends on both sides of the trenches. He pulls carts of wounded soldiers and ends up in No Man's Land, where the soldiers stop fighting so he can be rescued. Being a horse, Joey has the ability to understand people no matter whether they are English, French or German, so transcends language barriers. Although in parts a very sad story, eventually Joey is reunited with Albert and the book does have a heart-warming ending.

Through the very effective character of Joey, the concepts and hard truths of war are explored in an adventure type story. The writing has some denser passages and longer words, which may not suit all young readers, but this style fits in with the historical tone. A highlight of this war story is that it is told from such a neutral perspective, which could be an important reason for its continued popularity.  Over a million copies of War Horse have sold since 2007. 

Jumble Cat

Jumble Cat by Archie Kimpton, illustrator Kate Hindley (Hot Key Books)

PB RRP $12.95

ISBN 978-1-4714-0278-4

Reviewed by Jacque Duffy

  

Jumble Cat is a wicked romp of a story full of … well, wickedness. I can imagine boys 8 – 12 years rolling around on the floor in fits of laughter whilst reading this book.

Archie Kimpton’s Jumble Cat is fart humour with finesse. His way with words is nothing short of captivating. Not only are his words as poetically jumbled as the Cat but the way he describes certain characters is almost naughty.

The main character Billy Slipper is normal enough in a Cinderella kind of way but oddly enough, his best friend is a ninety something year old woman. Together they befriend a foul mouthed jumbled–up cat and win thousands in prize money only to have it stolen. They embark on an adventure scaling castle walls, stealing and crashing his monstrous mother’s car, so they can rescue the grungy rude cat from a demented taxidermist.

 Archie’s writing is a delight to read, and quite often I put my hand to my mouth in a No, he didn’t just say that kind of way. This excerpt is Billy’s mother Phillipa Slipper:

“Believe it or not, Phillipa Slipper was in a good mood. She was always in a good mood after her course. ‘Do you know what I learnt this evening?’ She twittered excitedly. ‘How to kill butterflies. Do you know the best way to kill a butterfly?’ She didn’t wait for an answer. ‘You could try a fly swatter, but you might leave a terrible mark on the wall. So you can either suck them out of the air with a vacuum cleaner, or if that doesn’t work, try catching them in a jar, put the lid on and watch them suffocate. Simple! And no mess.”

Jumble Cat is Archie Kimpton’s first book and I daresay not his last. The layout of the book is clean and easy to follow. Each black and white illustration is strong and gives a less confident reader a well-deserved rest.

Young readers will enjoy this book and I very much enjoyed this book. I look forward to reading more by this author.

Jacque Duffy is the author and illustrator of The Bear Said Please picture book and the series ‘That’s not a …” learn to read books used in all Queensland State Primary Schools and one local history coffee table book.

The 39 Clues Cahill vs Vespers Book 5: Trust No One by Linda Sue Park (Scholastic Inc)

HB RRP $17.99

ISBN 978-0-545–29843-8

Reviewed by Jenny Heslop

Thirteen year old Dan Cahill and his older sister Amy are in a race against time. Their elusive enemies, the Vespers, have requested an impossible task in return for the lives of Dan and Amy's family and friends whom the Vespers have kidnapped. Now, they also know that there is mole amongst them. And it could be someone very close to Dan and Amy.

What will they have to do to find the missing ancient manuscript and keep Atticus safe from the deadly Isabel Kabra? And who is Vesper One, the leader of the terrifying group who are pulling the strings of the Cahill's life? This time the mission may just be too much for the children to complete.

This is the next instalment in the muti-platformed popular series The 39 Steps. It is an action packed thrilling adventure which begins and ends in the thick of the roller coaster ride. The story line is full of intrigue and feels like a young spy story with likeable, resourceful, brave main characters and their darkly evil nemesis.

The book comes with six clue cards which can help intrepid readers become part of the adventure on line at www.the39clues.com. 

Jim’s Lion

Jim’s Lion by Russell Hoban, illustrated by Alexis Deacon (Walker Books)

HC RRP 19.95

ISBN 9781406346022

Reviewed by Anastasia Gonis

Jim’s Lion was first published in 2001 by Walker Books. That edition was illustrated by Ian Andrew. In this new edition, Alexis Deacon has created a stunning interpretation of the late Russell Hoban’s work. Its themes include strength and courage, overcoming fear and weakness, and the power of dreams.

Jim is sick and afraid. His dreams are filled with places he goes to in his sleep. He fears that when the doctors put him to sleep, he will lose those places and dreams.

He needs to find the inner strength to overcome whatever is hindering his recovery. His nurse suggests he look for his animal finder; the animal that can bring him back from wherever he will go when the doctors put him to sleep. She also gives him a don’t-run stone. Now it’s up to Jim.

These are the tools Jim needs for an optimistic state of mind. He discovers his finder is a lion. He must be like the lion; fearless, powerful and strong to fight his fears and overcome his sickness. His lion is always there to save and protect him from the threats, dangers and the darkness he has to travel through. Jim is sheltered and protected until he becomes the lion.

Powerful and full of symbolism, Jim’s Lion is an extraordinary work of art in every sense, and a collector’s delight. Hoban was called a genius. This book once again reinforces that truth.

You Choose: The Treasure of Dead Man’s Cove

You Choose: The Treasure of Dead Man’s Cove by George Ivanoff, illustrated by James Hart (Random House Australia)

PB RRP $14.99

ISBN 9780857983831

Also available as an ebook

ISBN 9780857985453

Reviewed by Marian McGuinness

  

With its manga-inspired cover The Treasure of Dead Man’s Cove is the first book in this new series called YOU CHOOSE … aimed at boys seven years and up.

In the vein of the Choose Your Own Adventure stories of the 80s (devoured by my chapter-book-shy sons), George Ivanoff is on to a winner with this latest addition to his 70+ children’s books.

The scenario is fast and furious. You are on a beach holiday. You find an old map … aye me hearties, a Pirate Map! While your parents read on the beach you wander over the cliffs and find a tunnel leading to …

No. You’re going to have to go down that path yourself; I’m heading back to choose another scenario.

The opening pages are full of promise: treasure, pirates, Dead Man’s Cove and One-Eyed William who had a ‘huge ruby in his deformed empty eye socket.’

Ivanoff has speckled the stories with interesting characters. Who could resist Professor Wagner with his ‘mismatched eyes – one small and squinty, the other wide and staring.’ In the museum there’s the ‘tall woman with spiky blonde hair’ who ‘looks as if she’s been sucking a lemon,’ and what’s a pirate story without a macaw named Mr Fibuli and a town mayor who speaks pirate-talk.

Fun puns run amok in the town: Toys Argh Us, Long John’s Silverware and Shiver Me Timbers Hardware.

There are numerous pathways for the reader to explore. Each path choice is about a page in length, which makes for quick, fun reading. The stories are totally plot driven and each page number is superimposed with skull and crossbones for added effect.

With 19 endings, there are plenty of scenarios to follow. Will you discovery the secret stone, that when pressed, opens into a cavernous pirate graveyard filled with Indiana Jones-like booby traps? Can you escape fast enough not to be skewered by a spear?

Black and white etchings of coins, treasure chests and maps smatter the pages as ‘you’ the reader make the decisions and take control of the storyline. The Treasure of Dead Man’s Cove is a swashbuckling start to the series.

Infinity Ring: Cave Of Wonders

Infinity Ring: Cave Of Wonders by Matthew J. Kirby (Scholastic Inc)

HB RRP $14.99

ISBN 978-0-545–38700-2

Reviewed by Jenny Heslop

It is the year 1258. Europe is cloaked in the Dark Age while the great city of Baghdad has become a centre of learning for scholars, merchants and explorers. It is in this foreign Arab world, that Dak, Sera and Riq must now navigate the narrow alleyways and exotic spice and rug markets to identify SQ Agents from Hystorians and fulfil their next mission. They must prevent a great library, The House of Wisdom, from being destroyed by the enemy.

In their ‘own time’, the children's world is being split apart by cataclysmic events, caused by rips in history. It is up to them to travel time, repairing these gaps where they can. Along their journey Sera, Dak and Riq are helped by Hystorians, custodians of true history. But there are also SQ Agents at every turn, desperate to prevent the children from setting history straight.

Cave of Wonders is the fifth book in the time travelling, multi-platformed adventure series, Infinity Ring. Each book is written by a different author and continues the adventure undertaken by three children in an effort to save the world. There is a top secret clue, hidden inside the cover of the book, which may be opened at the conclusion of the story. This clue gives access to a new adventure awaiting the reader on www.infinityring.com 

This fast paced, time travelling adventure series is a good one for eight to fourteen year olds.

Spirit Animals Book 2: Hunted

Spirit Animals Book 2: Hunted by Maggie Stiefvater (Scholastic Inc)

PB RRP $12.99

ISBN 978-1-74283-999-8

Reviewed by Jenny Heslop

Hunted, the second book in the Spirit Animals series, follows Wild Born, where the four young heroes of Erdas - Connor, Abeke, Mailin and Rollan - found the ‘Granite Ram’ talisman, the first of the lost talismans they are searching for. Now they are back at Greenhaven, an island fortress which serves as the headquarters of the Greencloaks, guardians of Erdas. Here they train hard to come together as a team and bond with their spirit animals, the Four Fallen Great Beasts.

But when word is sent that the next Great Beast, Rumfuss the Boar has been traced to a remote castle in the wilds of Eura, the children must set off in a hurry before the Conquerors learn of the location and beat them to the talisman. Rumour is growing also, of the Devourer using Bile to force bonds between his followers and spirit animals.  And that this unnatural bonding gives humans more control over their animals, making them even more powerful.

The books in the Spirit Animals series are all written by different authors. Hunted is by Maggie Stiefvater, author of many popular fantasy novels for children and teens. She continues the quest of the children and its many threads with great skill. The writing is fabulous and evocative, with the relationships - both between the four children, and with their animals - coming to the fore.

As the children grow they are tested. Themes such as loyalty, trust, rules and leadership are all explored within the context of an exciting adventure story where it is the children themselves directing the path while still learning where they need to accept adult help.

The Spirit Animals Series will suit middle school readers mostly, between grades five and eight and is Scholastics’ new multiplatform release. Read the book, and then discover on-line the action role-playing game, complete with a spirit animal of your own, at www.spiritanimals.scholastic.com

Puppy Pie

Puppy Pie by Sam Jasper (Palmer Higgs)

PB RRP $19.95

ISBN – 978-192502777-8

Reviewed by Emma Cameron

The story opens as nine year old city girl Gull joins country cousins one school holidays during hemp harvest time. Someone has just dumped another lot of puppies off to the Hepplewhite’s. That’s what every neighbour does with offspring that are the result of the Hepplewhite’s dog, Useless, impregnating the area's dogs. Gull is horrified at Uncle Harry’s joke about turning them into puppy pie.

The farm’s relying on this hemp crop to clear a huge overdraft. When the hemp lies down, mid-harvest, Uncle Harry thinks it’s his fault that the district’s farmers might lose their crops too. Harry’s wife Helen’s psychic powers seem to be draining her more than usual and she keeps falling asleep. With the help of Shirley, a CWA neighbour, Gull and cousins hide Helen’s ‘sleeping sickness’ from Harry because he has enough to worry about.

They send her to stay with relatives. But minus her psychic help, how can they work out why the hemp keeps falling over? Filled with many mysteries and scenes of constant chores, meal breaks, and neighbours helping one another the tale’s unusual characters include a flea named Ma. While a family prophecy says a girl named Gull will save the farm, Ma and her flea family play a vital role.

Ma’s large family, who readers are all introduced to, need lots of attention. And Ma’s worried about what’s happening to the hemp too. When she takes action it puts Gull and company on track to work out what evil forces are at work to destroy the community. Once they know, Gull steps up to the mark. Fortunately, Shirley is working at the local bank, which means she can let Gull gain access to the computers in order to copy some vital evidence.

Just as the bank announces that land owners must sell up, Gull and Shirley manage to get what they need to expose the evil force and his accomplice. All is saved and the town can rest easy. Crammed with facts about farming, food, insects, dogs and cats, the story’s multiple viewpoints let readers see how a farmer on the brink of failure is reduced to grief as well as how a flea thinks. Fortunately, all ends well and, despite the worries they all face, there is still much rib-poking and joking going on.

Spirit Animals Book 1: Wild Born

Spirit Animals Book 1: Wild Born by Brandon Mull (Scholastic Inc)
PB RRP $6.50
ISBN 978-1-74283-997-4
Reviewed by Jenny Heslop

Wild Born is the first book in a new series Spirit Animals. Much like The 39 Clues or Infinity Ring series, each book in this engrossing series will be written by a different author with Brandon Mull kicking off the series. In Eras, having a rare bond with a spirit animal means great power, for both human and beast. And, as Connor, Abeke, Meilin and Rollan discover, with this power comes great responsibility. These four have summoned the animals of legend and their path is set – only they have the power to stop the dark force which is rising in the land. The fate of the world rests on their young shoulders.

Wild Born is an exciting ride. It is action packed all the way and ends on a cliff hanger which leaves the reader wanting more. Although I found the writing a little strained at times, the premise of the storyline and the exciting action scenes easily kept me involved. The world Mull has created is fabulous, the fantasy plot intriguing, and the characters make me care about what is happening to them and the world the live in.

For fantasy or animal lovers, this is a series well worth investing some time in. Popular fantasy author Maggie Stiefvater has written the second book and I can’t wait for that one. The Spirit Animals Series will suit middle school readers mostly, between grades five and eight and is Scholastics’ new multiplatform release. Read the book, and then discover the action role-playing game online, complete with a spirit animal of your own, at www.spiritanimals.scholastic.com

Stories for Boys

Stories for Boys a selection of stories by Australian authors, illustrated by Tony Flowers (Random House Australia Children’s)
PB RRP $14.95
ISBN 9780857980885
Ebook ISBN: 9780857980892
Reviewed by Marian McGuinness

Keeping up the pace and excitement, but this time for six to eight year old boys, is this fine and funny anthology from another twelve fabulous Aussie authors. And they know the stuff that will engage our boys with fabulous adventures featuring: ghosts, robots, jellyfish, lice and terror-dactyls.

As well as some of the authors from the ‘girls’ series, there are offerings from: Bill Condon, Tristan Bancks, Nick Falk, Aleesah Darlison, Celeste Walters and Sophie Masson.

Some stories are written in past tense, some present tense. There are short, accessible sentences with simple words, others with doozies thrown in for good measure, like ‘follicle’ and ‘realm’. There are great similes, ‘rain hammers on the roof like bullets’ and ear-wrenching onomatopoeia where ‘lightning crackles … doors creeeeak and thunder rumbles’. Each story uses a wealth of literary techniques to subliminally encourage readers to create and colour their own stories.

Plot and character are the main focus and there are plenty to choose from. There’s Tom who visits his pop in a nursing home. The thing is, his pop hates kids. Tom has a problem.

What happens when Jack wishes that his mum were an octopus – a riotous romp of tentacle fun ensues. Or perhaps you’d prefer the story set on a space station where giant jellyfish roam, or something closer to home, Sophie Masson’s romp in the Possum in the Roof.

And then there’s the hilarious story of Ferdie the frog who goes to market in a box of lettuces. Celeste Walters delights with her rhythmic and imagery-filled writing when ‘fat hands and thin hands and bodies with trolleys were pushing and shoving and pawing and pouncing’ as Ferdie goes on his adventure around the supermarket. The end result is that all readers will want a frog like Ferdie.

With the animated, boyish illustrations by internationally acclaimed artist, Tony Flowers (illustrator of the Saurus Street series), along with the perfect-sized font and plenty of white space in format, Stories for Boys, is a great addition to the bedside table.

Racing the Moon

Racing the Moon by Michelle Morgan (Allen and Unwin)
PB RRP $15.99
ISBN 978-1-74331-635-1
Reviewed by Ann Harth (www.annharth.com)

Joe Riley rigs billy cart races and sells eggs in the streets of Sydney during the Depression. His techniques for making a few shillings, although not strictly legal, are a matter of survival. His parents want something better for Joe and he is sent to a boarding school across the harbour. Joe is miserable. He misses his family, his home and especially his freedom. St Bartholomew feels like a prison – the food is terrible, the uniform scratchy and the boys, superior. But these are nothing compared to his interactions with Brother Felix. After a final life-changing altercation, Joe is sent to The Farm, a reform school south of Sydney.

At The Farm, Joe grows to feel as though he belongs – something he never did at St Bartholomew’s. He makes close friends, gains valuable skills and finds fulfilment in hard work and productivity. The year is almost over and Joe is ready to go home but before leaving The Farm, he has one final and dangerous challenge. Joe Riley must Race the Moon.

This historical novel for children aged 12-14 will transport young readers into New South Wales during the 1930s. Rich with sensory images, and accurate historical details, Racing the Moon offers a taste of life during the depression in three distinct settings: the streets of Sydney, a Catholic boarding school and a tough, but fair, reform school. 13-year-old Joe tells his story in the realistic voice of a young boy and the reader is invited to grow close to him as they watch him experience a painful, but beneficial year away from home.

I would recommend this story for young people who enjoy character-driven historical fiction. Clear and compelling, this book will leave its audience with a genuine feel for life during the Depression. Michelle Morgan lives in the Southern Highlands with her family and the local wildlife. She has written many plays, some of which have been performed during short play festivals in NSW. She also writes songs with her husband. This is her first novel. For more information about Michelle, visit http://www.michellejmorgan.com.au/ 

Ann Harth is a published children's author, freelance editor, ghostwriter and writing teacher at Australian College of Journalism. She loves to read and is committed to creating children's literature that inspires, entertains and triggers a tiny twist in the mind. Her latest middle-grade novel, The Art of Magic, is now available from Amazon and Barnes & Noble. 

Paruku The Desert Brumby

Paruku The Desert Brumby by Jesse Blackadder (HarperCollins)

PB RRP $14.99 

ISBN: 9780733331794 

Reviewed by Hazel Edwards

  

Jesse Blackadder's books have well researched settings, whether Antarctica or historical Scotland. Her audience has now extended to younger readers with the animal series which started with 'STAY, the Last Dog in Antarctica'.These are 'faction', involving stories, dramatised around fact. The realistic detail of seeking the outback brumbies to fulfil the Sheik's contract, from a young girl's perspective, especially when accompanied by her vet father, is credible in 'Paruka:The Desert Brumby'

Family relationships are well drawn but it's the horse details which will make 'Paruka The Desert Brumby' the kind of novel, 10-15 year old horse-mad girls will recommend to each other. And even the ones who are not horse-mad. Authentic outback detail and a subtle way of opening up some broader issues of ownership of natural resources.

The inserts written from the viewpoint of the brumbies are beautifully written. Poetic and sustained.

  

Hazel Edwards OAM  is a National Reading Ambassador.

Certain Death

Certain Death by Tanya Landman (Walker Books)
PB RRP $13.95
ISBN 9781406347432
Reviewed by Anastasia Gonis

The posters advertising that Brady Sparkle’s circus was coming to town ‘promised that the first performance would end in Certain Death.’ Someone had blacked out the word almost.

Studying human behaviour is a hobby of Poppy Fields. As soon as she read the posters, she became suspicious. Nobody else had noticed the wording. Poppy, with Graham her best friend and companion sleuth, decide to look into the matter.

There is a death as predicted at the first performance but not of the intended victim Irena, the aerial acrobat. But was Irena the intended victim? The bullet ricocheted and hit the lady sitting next to Poppy. Who fired the shot?  It certainly wasn’t Yuri the sharpshooter. Another performer is arrested and the case is closed. Poppy and Graham have a different opinion on who the culprit might be.

There are too many people who want to dispose of Irena. Spying, eavesdropping, searching and analysing, uncovers a plethora of clues. The investigative would put Sherlock Holmes in the shadows. Their persistence and intelligence uncovers a motive that even they wouldn’t have considered.

Certain Death is a fantastic read, fast-paced with a clever complex storyline. The characters are exceptional, even the bad ones. Readers of all ages will enjoy these riveting murder mysteries by Tanya Landman. They’ll keep you in suspense till the last page.

Brumbies in the Mist

Brumbies in the Mist by Paula Boer, illustrated by Rowena Evans (IFWG Publishing Australia)
PB RRP $16.99
ISBN: 9780992302023
Reviewed by Hilary Smillie

This is the third book in the 5-book series about brumbies by gifted horsewoman/writer, Paula Boer, and follows the adventures of city-bred Louise and Ben, a country boy through and through. A lot has happened since the two young teenagers captured Louise's buck-skin mare, Honey, and Ben's colt, Brandy, when they staged their own muster.

Brandy had grown into a feisty stallion and one of the problems Ben is facing is how to persuade his father not to geld him. He wants to put him to stud and see what type of progeny he sires. Louise is worried her mum won't let her keep Honey because of the expensive upkeep and riding lessons Louise hopes to have.

Once again, Paula unfolds a story which will keep young horse-lovers glued to each page. They will easily relate to the several dilemmas presented and anxiously read on to see how each solution is reached. The majority of horse-related terms are included in a Glossary at the front, and it is most satisfying to be able to quickly turn to this information as unfamiliar words arise.

The text and illustrations which include maps of the areas where the children live and ride combine to give a great "feel" to the book and bring the reader right into the situation. Paula is a sympathetic writer and Rowena's effective sketches makes reading Brumbies in the Mist a most pleasurable experience. Young horse lovers will be eager to obtain the whole series.

Dunger

Dunger by Joy Cowley (Gecko Press)
PB RRP $16.99
ISBN 9781877579462
Reviewed by Anastasia Gonis

Themes of generational differences and sibling relationships are covered in this brilliant book by the talented New Zealand author, Joy Cowley. The story has a character driven plot and is told in alternate chapters from the point of view of eleven year old William, and his fourteen year old sister Melissa.

With money as an incentive, the siblings agree to spend their vacation helping their grandparents repair their home. Home is an old wood hut. But this lack of modernity is nothing compared to the strangeness of the two old hippies. Between them they have seeing, hearing and mobility problems. There is no mobile reception, an old wood stove is used for cooking, and the water pipe frequently gets flooded out by rain. What have they gotten themselves into?

Will and Melissa are forced to stay the ten days or forfeit the money. They find that country living can become an adventure as they learn practical and valuable life skills, initiative and resourcefulness. Discovering unknown things about their father’s childhood, both realize the importance of knowing about their family’s past.

This is a fantastic read, realistic and clever. The characters are outstanding and readers will come away satisfied that they have learned a great deal about life from the contents of this excellent novel.

When did you see her last?

When did you see her last? by Lemony Snicket, Art by Seth (Hardie Grant Egmont)

ISBN 978 1 74297 297 8

HB $16.95 RRP

Reviewed by Nean McKenzie

This is the second book in the middle readers series All the Wrong Questions. When did you see her last? gives just a brief summary of what came before, then launches into action. In the almost abandoned town of Stain'd-by-the-Sea a girl (and brilliant chemist) called Cleo Knight has gone missing. With the help of Moxie, teenage journalist, and the hindrance of his chaperone, S. Thoedora Markson, thirteen year old Lemony Snicket sets out to discover what has really happened.

Lemony Snicket's distinctive voice is planted firmly inside the character's head, sometimes in the form of stream of consciousness, other times explaining in dictionary detail what more complicated words mean. Behind it all is the rather black, tongue in cheek humour, also present in the Series of Unfortunate Events, which makes you laugh out loud while reading. Characters say delightfully unexpected things such as: '...Nothing wrong with leaving a guy all alone in a dangerous place. Maybe on our way into town we can find a puppy to run over because we're such nice guys.'

Quirky characters abound. My favourites are Mimi and Harvey Mitchum, the husband and wife police team who can't stop arguing, and their son Stewie the police siren. Nurse Dander and Doctor Flammarion also make excellent bad guys. The illustrations, suitably retro and in various shades of purple and black, effectively add atmosphere to the story. The end papers of the book are covered in squids, such as those which supply the ink for 'Ink Inc', the largest company in Stain'd-By-The-Sea.

       

The plot goes by at a sizzling pace with twists and turns and as a result, is sometimes a little confusing. Only part of the mystery is solved in this book, as there are longer running ones through the series. There's the beautiful but possibly untrustworthy Ellington Feint, a man called Hangfire with an evil plan and most of all, just who is Lemony Snicket?  Hints are dropped and the reader is left with more questions at the end of the book than at the beginning, despite the case being cracked and the missing girl found. The only solution is to wait for the next book and read on.

View From the 32nd Floor

View From the 32nd Floor by Emma Cameron (Walker Books)
PB RRP $16.95
ISBN 9781922077295
Reviewed by Anastasia Gonis

William has a new name every day chosen from his dictionary of names. His day is defined by the name he chooses. From the first moment Rebecca moves into the building opposite his on the 32nd floor, William’s world shifts.  So do the lives of all the tenants in the building, particularly the ones he knows, whom he watches daily through his binoculars.

 William is determined to bring out the isolated and lonely neighbours from their shells into a world of friendship and community. With Rebecca as his ally (she has made away with his heart with her hobbling gait that reminds him of a pony), he moves towards this end gently using his gift of compassion and friendliness.

With the help of their Lists which grow longer each day, can Rebecca and William bring Mrs Stavros out from behind her shadowed curtains, and convince old Mr Crispin to join Tai Chi classes for his health? Can the two youngsters unite the tenants in the biggest get-together ever?

Clever and beautifully constructed, this moving, character driven story has many layers and themes. Emma Cameron is a gifted writer whose first verse novel Cinnamon Rain was an outstanding debut. This is equally as good and will also  remain unforgettable.

Killer Ute

Killer Ute by Rosanne Hawke (University of Queensland Press)
PB RRP $14.95
ISBN 978 0 7022 4960 0
Reviewed by Jo Antareau

Joel Billings is a twelve-year-old boy who doesn’t wait for things to happen, he makes them happen. Despite, or perhaps because of, his traumatic infancy, Joel is a resourceful child. His own parents used substances and abandoned him at birth, and despite being raised by a loving grandmother, Joel struggles to trust. This is the type of reality that many children have to face, and Hawke does not try to sugar-coat it. In this, the final of a trilogy, Joel is suddenly pulled out of his life just before the start of high school, and is taken on holiday to a remote farm with his foster Dad, the biker Dev.

Joel’s radar is immediately alerted to adults deceiving him again. Even his wonderful foster father seems to be in on it. Why is he there? Why was he not allowed to say goodbye to his friend? The farm is near the coast, but why are the adults preventing this water-loving child from going to the beach? But Joel is one step ahead of the adults; he has managed to smuggle a phone with him. But will this put him at risk? Of what?

When a huge ute appears to deliberately run him and Dev off the road, the pieces start to fall into place. It seems that his vengeful father is pulling strings from prison to threaten Joel again. Again, he has to deal with ruthless adults who don’t care about a boy standing between them and what they want.

This is a fast paced adventure story for children aged over 9.

Sailmaker

Sailmaker by Rosanne Hawke (University of Queensland Press)
PB RRP $14.95
ISBN 9780 7022 4973 3
Reviewed by Jo Antareau

In the sequel to The Keeper, life’s good for Joel Billings. His father is behind bars, his foster Dad, Dev has stuck with him through tough times, and is now accepted by Joel’s family. And water-loving Joel has a windsurfer all of his own. Still, some doubts linger. Dev might not want to hang around forever, he has a life outside of Joel’s world.

A tear in the sail of his windsurfer leads Joel to the sailmaker, an eccentric who lives a hermit- like existence on an island where he tends the lighthouse. Stories about the place being haunted don’t scare Joel off; quite the opposite, he wants to spend the night there.

Joel also finds an abandoned boat, a tinny, drifting near shore. But who owned it? And where is that person now? These thoughts are far from Joel’s mind as he and his best friend Mei spend the night on the island. But a sudden storm cuts them off from the mainland, and the children are plunged straight into danger. Joel needs to keep a cool head and use his resourcefulness to survive.

First published in 2002, this has been re-released as a companion to the newly published third book in the series, Killer Ute. Another fast paced story by Rosanne Hawke for children aged 9 and over. Although Sailmaker is the second in a series, it is able to stand alone.