The Dreaming Collection

The Dreaming Collection written and illustrated by Queenie Chan, (TOKYOPOP) 2010, PB  RRP $26.99 ISBN 9781427818713

Reviewed by Pauline Hosking

This omnibus edition comprises Volumes 1-3 of The Dreaming graphic novel, a mystery-horror story inspired by Picnic at Hanging Rock, for readers 13+ years. The illustrations are fabulous. Each page overflows with action and emotion and  the backgrounds are full of realistic, careful, architectural features. Many teenage girls will love the detail on the Victorian costumes and the manga inspired look of characters.

Less successful is the storyline which has occasional lapses in continuity. Twin sisters Jeanie and Amber arrive at a mysterious boarding school deep in the Australian bush. Here they must pretend they are NOT twins, because the scary ancient principal, Mrs Skeener, doesn’t tolerate twins. Slowly, Mrs Skeener’s secrets, and the secrets of the school, are explained.  Ever since the school was founded, girls have wandered into the surrounding bushland and vanished. The third volume reveals that the disappearances are the work of the Quinkan. These are wicked aboriginal night spirits which lure sleeping children into the bush.  After a dramatic climax, evil is thwarted and the school burns to the ground. But the experience has damaged both sisters and they grow apart.

In an interview included in the book Queenie Chan admits she has taken ‘quite a few liberties with the Quinkan’.  These may not concern the US audience or publishers of the books, but they did worry me. 

Overall, though, The Dreaming looks amazing and has enough suspense to keep young readers eagerly turning the pages.

The Selwood Boys - Battle Royale

The Selwood Boys - Battle Royale by Tony Wilson (ABC Books) HB  RRP $14.99   ISBN 978-0-733335-45-7

Reviewed by Karen Hendriks

In this recent book in the series, Tony Wilson introduces AFL Royalty, the Selwood Boys and shares stories about the four future AFL stars growing up in the Selwood house.  There's madness, mayhem and sibling rough and tumble everyday - and lots of footy, of course! 

Meet the Selwood boys: there are the twins, Troy and Adam, strong and sporty and full of energy, then Joel, who is talented and itching to be a fair dinkum footy player, and finally little Scott, who just does his best to keep up and not be left behind. Joel dearly wants to be off the sidelines, and on the footy field to play with his big brothers. But Mum and Dad are making Joel wait, so he has to make do with being the boundary umpire for his brothers.

It'll be a battle royale that's bound to involve the whole family! The book targets ages 7 to12 years.  Battle Royale is a fantastic tale for all young readers, especially boys aged seven and up with a love for AFL footy. 

The book not only covers the code, but the themes of family, sportsmanship, friendship and bullying.  Battle Royal is perfect for teachers who are looking for a fun book to cover bullying.   This is the first book in a series of four so I can also recommend Book 2 - The Miracle Goal, with books 3 and 4 coming out very soon.

The Graces

The Graces by Laure Eve (Allen and Unwin) PB RRP $19.99 ISBN 9780571326808

Reviewed by Daniela Andrews

‘Wouldn’t you ever be tempted?’

‘… Black magic?’ he teased. ‘Nah … Those kinds of things always have consequences …’

When lonely River moves to a new town mid-term, she forms an obsession with the three Grace siblings – the twins, Thalia and Fenrin, and their younger sister, Summer. Everybody says they are witches. There are those that keep well away from them, and those that follow them like puppy dogs. River wants more than their attention – she wants to become one of them. She is living with a dark secret that she believes magic can fix. She’s also attracted to Fenrin. She forms a close friendship with Summer, hoping to learn all she can from the Graces, despite the warning she’s given by social outcast, Marcus: ‘when you do something they don’t like, your life is going to go very wrong’.

The novel is described by the publisher as a cross between The Craft (movie) and The Secret History (Donna Tartt). Readers will also draw comparisons between Stephenie Meyer’s Cullen family (Twilight) and the Grace family. The Graces is slow-paced in terms of action, but it builds up to a dark and gripping climax with an inevitable plot twist. Its constant sense of foreboding makes the book hard to put down. The protagonist, River, is very secretive – not just with the other characters in the book but also with the reader, who might therefore find it hard to form a connection with her. She is not always likeable. I don’t believe she is supposed to be. The author challenges us to decide for ourselves where our alliances lie: will we also fall under the spell of the Graces? (I love the hidden message on the spine of the book!)

Other than witchcraft, the book also covers themes of broken friendships, broken families, bullying and unrequited love. It will appeal to readers aged 12 – 16 years. The author, Laure Eve, has previously written two fantasy novels. She concludes The Graces with much remaining mystery around the parents, Esther and Gwydion, and also takes the story in a new direction. Fortunately, she also leaves us with a promise for a sequel in September 2017.

Double Trouble: Dinosaur Danger

Double Trouble: Dinosaur Danger by Sarah Fraser, illustrations by Louis Shea (Scholastic Australia)

PB RRP $7.99

ISBN 978-1-74362-376-3

Reviewed by Jenny Heslop

Seven year old twins Tommy and Coop are known for their love of  pulling pranks. They collect all sorts of gadgets from a joke shop and use them to play tricks on their family, friends and class mates. But on a school excursion to the museum with Mr. Crotchet, the boys know they will have little opportunity for pranks. The button and knot exhibition is shaping up to be as boring as they expected until they see a sign which reads "Dinosaur Danger! Do Not Enter." Maybe there is a way to pull the best prank ever? Or will they get pranked themselves?

Double Trouble is a new Australian series for boys, pitched to the five plus beginner readers market. The boys are cheeky, funny and full of surprises. Each title is slim, with short chapters, large font, easy words and plenty of pictures.

Louis Shea is well-known for illustrating many children's picture books and this series features his humorous illustrations and expressive characters which emphasise the naughtiness and boy humour throughout.

Model Mania: the fabulous diary of Persephone Pinchgut

Model Mania: the fabulous diary of Persephone Pinchgut by Aleesah Darlison, illustrated by Serena Geddes (New Frontier Publishing)
PB RRP $14.95
ISBN 9781921042409
Reviewed by Vicki Stanton

Book two of Aleesah Darlison's series about ten-year-old identical twins Persephone and Portia Pinchgut has Portia aspiring to fame and fortune as a model. Unfortunately, as we see in Perse's diary entries, it all goes to Portia's head and she forgets about the importance of true friends. Portia is indeed lucky to have such understanding and supportive people around her who are prepared to forgive her foibles. In the end, however, she realises that an actor's seemed fabulousness in public can sometimes hide a totally different (and mean) personality, and that true friendship is more than skin deep.

The diary format will suit reluctant readers. Serena Geddes' black-and-white humorous illustrations are sprinkled liberally throughout the book, breaking up the text and adding that extra dash of quirkiness. The cover will appeal to the targeted readership with its diary look, stars and 'girl stuff'.

In book 3, Persephone and Portia head to Fiji with Gran. Fans of the series can also check out Perse's blog at www.totally-twins.blogspot.com