Eat the Sky, Drink the Ocean

Eat the Sky, Drink the Ocean edited by Kirsty Murray, Payal Dhar and Anita Roy (Allen & Unwin)

YA Speculative Feminist Anthology RRP$16.99

ISBN 9781743319789

In late 2012, Australia and India were rocked by violent crimes against young women. In Delhi, thousands protested against rape. In Melbourne, thousands stood vigil in memory of a young woman raped and murdered while walking home. The fate of all young women, what they should fear and what they can hope for, were hot topics in the media around the world. Out of that storm rose the idea for this anthology. (From the introduction)

To see a collection such as this, written specifically for young people with its feminist message by contemporary authors who crossed cultural boundaries  and set in exciting alternate and dystopian worlds and different realties hit all the right notes for me.

The anthology includes seventeen works of fiction, including a play and six graphic stories written by twenty-two authors and illustrators and set in dystopian or fantasy worlds and sometimes in distant galaxies.

Contributors were given the added challenge of working in collaboration with a partner from the other country on which they give an insight in brief notes at the back of the book.

My favourite stories include ‘Cast Out’ by Samhita Arni, ‘Cat Calls’ by Margo Lanagan and ‘Memory Lace’ by Payal Dhar; I also was immersed in the graphic story by Isobelle Carmody through the illustrative style of Prabha Mallya. In 'Cast Out', girls showing signs of magic, even in self-defence, are cast off in the ocean to die a gruesome death. The main character also finds herself in this position, and what she finds will change her life as much as it has been saved. 

Reading the inspiration behind the story which was based on conversations between Samhita Arni and her Australian counterpart, Alyssa Brugman, on feminism and consumerism gave an insight into how this story came to be. Brugman’s story ‘Weft’ is a very different, thought-provoking story showing the main character’s reflections while she is in the process of buying a full head of hair.

This is a strong contender for my favourite anthology of the year!

Yvonne Mes is a children's author. Her first picture book, Meet Sidney Nolan (Random House) is scheduled for release in October 2015. www.yvonnemes.com

TO GET TO ME

TO GET TO ME by Eleanor Kerr, illustrated by Judith Rossell (Random House Australia Children’s)
HB RRP $19.95
ISBN 9781742758831
Also available as an ebook
ISBN 9781742758855
Reviewed by Marian McGuinness

Peter and Ahmed are best friends. Peter wants Ahmed to join him at Taronga Zoo, but there’s one problem. Ahmed lives far, far away, in Africa.

This beautifully crafted picture book for toddlers and early readers is a joyous journey. It’s a child’s version of planes, trains and automobiles (plus a camel, a ferry and a chairlift), as Peter works out all the different forms of transport Ahmed must use to meet him.

As Ahmed leaves his home in what appears to be Morocco, Kerr juxtaposes the various transports with clever word play, using onomatopoeia, alliteration, repetition and rhythm that new readers will be able to enjoy and repeat.

TO GET TO ME a tale of long distance friendship, adventure and culture.

There are landscapes for Ahmed to manoeuvre, such as deserts, sand dunes and mountains, and cityscapes to discover, with airports, train stations and ferry terminals until finally he rises, up … up … up … in the chairlift at the zoo to be reunited with Peter who is surrounded by a colourful array of animals.

Rossell’s illustrations are in the brightest of colours and reflect the two vivid settings of the Moroccan desertscape and Sydney’s urban landscape. There are iconic pictures of each other’s countries on the boys’ walls and young children will have fun identifying all the exotic animals. The two boys have so much in common but are kind of mirror images of each other. One has gum trees out his window; the other has palm trees. Rossell is a veteran illustrator, having more than 80 books to her name. As well as being informative, her illustrations are a lot of fun. Readers and listeners will delight in examining all the forms of transport.

Five Times Dizzy and Dancing in the ANZAC Deli

 Five Times Dizzy and Dancing in the ANZAC Deli by Nadia Wheatley (Lothian/Hachette)
PB RRP $16.99
ISBN: 9780734413819
Reviewed by Hilary Smillie

Nadia Wheatley wrote these two excellent books in 1982 and 1984 respectively. They are now considered classics and for this 30^th anniversary edition, Lothian have combined the stories in one book. Five Times Dizzy received the New South Wales Premier’s Special Children’s Book award in 1983. In 1986, it was adapted into a twelve-part television series for children. Dancing in the Anzac Deli was commended in the 1985 Australian Children’s Book of the Year Awards, and in 1986 received the IBBY Honour Diploma for writing.

Inspired by Nadia’s experiences of living in Greece as well as in the Sydney suburb of Newtown, the stories are centred around Mareka and the Wilson kids who live in Smith Street, Newtown. In the first book, Mareka is troubled about her Yaya (grandmother), a short stout lady dressed in black the Greek way, who misses her village in Crete and especially Poppy the goat. When Mareka is not helping out at her dad’s delicatessen, she is pondering what she could do to make Yaya happy. Then there is the rivalry between herself and the Wilson kids who spend their time laughing and whispering about her, especially Patricia who is around the same age as Mareka. Jenny Wilson who is eight likes M’reka but if Mareka plays with her, the others in the gang snigger even more. But their mum is nice and both families want the kids to be friends.

At last Mareka hits on the idea of buying Yaya a goat. She needs to raise the money but her best efforts leave a shortfall. When someone accidentally betrays her secret in front of the Wilsons, it looks as if Mareka’s plan will fail until Mrs Wilson comes up with a great fundraising idea. Not only is it successful but it brings the whole street together. Love and friendship abounds and Mareka and Patricia are wary friends.

Peppered with a lot of Greek words and references, this romp of a story about Greek immigrants adapting to the Australian way of life is inspiring, informative and fun.

Dancing in the Anzac Deli continues the lives of the Smith Street crowd. One morning Mareka comes into the delicatessen to find the window has been smashed and new glass is being installed. Her parents appear tense and unhappy, and a Greek called The Munga, a creepy, sinister man, visits her father and appears to be the reason behind her parents' anxiety.

The Munga works for the Red-Headed Man who wants to take over the delicatessen to use as a second-hand fridge shop. The local councillor, Kyrios Graham, knows he is a bad lot, using the fridge business as a front for other deals - protection money and bribes to name a few. The Red-Headed Man uses The Munga to scare people into doing what he wants, which is why the Anzac Deli's window was smashed.

When the Smith Street children find that the empty Haunted House they play in has been rented out and now has a Trespassers will be Prosecuted sign in the front, they go to see Alderman Graham to plead for his help. But it is hard to find a loop-hole to enable Graham to rid Newtown of the two thugs.

Nadia Wheatley weaves a very enjoyable and action-packed story, giving a wonderful insight into the Nikakis family and their Greek superstitions and tales which the Aussie children of Smith Street find fascinating. One such superstition saves the day, and the whole street rejoices by dancing in the Anzac Deli.

These are two immensely entertaining stories kids will relate to easily and learn about another culture into the bargain.

Thai-riffic!

Thai-riffic! by Oliver Phommavanh (Puffin)

PB RRP $16.95
ISBN 9780143304852
Reviewed by Vicki Stanton

Thai-riffic! is an impressive debut novel from Oliver Phommavanh. Oliver’s other lives as a primary school teacher and stand-up comedian shine through in this work with his knack for writing humour and revealing the intricacies of school life and what makes kids tick.

Albert (Lengy) Lengviriyakul is a teenager living in Sydney who feels out of place. While Lengy’s parents and brother enjoy their Thai traditions and the Australian way of life, Lengy has more difficulties. He is embarrassed about his parent’s Thai restaurant, the length of his surname and everything else about himself which he believes makes him stand out as not Australian.

Oliver’s use of first person to explore Lengy’s feelings works perfectly. In a series of hilarious incidents, in which Lengy works to embarrass his parents and deny his heritage, more and more people are drawn to him and Lengy comes to realise that he is as Australian as the next person and that Australia is all the richer for its multicultural flavour.

Secondary characters are well-rounded, in particular, Lengy’s parents and the inspirational teacher Mr Winfree who should be used as a template for anyone with aspirations to educate our children. Black and white comic strip illustrations are sprinkled throughout the text, adding even more humour and an extra dimension to the text. I particularly like the table of contents being formatted as a menu!

I look forward to Oliver’s next book. I’m sure that, like this one, it will be a ripper.