Review blog

Click here for the ReadPlus Review Blog RSS feed. Copy the link location into your feed reader.


Click here to see all reviews

Jul 02 2009

One dragon's dream by Peter Pavey

Walker Books, 2009 (c1978) ISBN 9781921150746
(All ages) Highly recommended. It is wonderful that this fabulous Picture Book of the Year has been reprinted. It is such a treat: a counting book with intricate pictures that just beg to be examined again and again. It revolves around the dreams of a dragon who sleeps in a beautifully carved bed and has a tabby cat in attendance. His bedroom is full of wonderful objects: a suit of armour holding a broom for a lance, a bird's cage with a clock in it and a rocking horse with a mouse sitting on it; plus many other amazing details. As the counting progresses, the reader must find the correct number of objects that the story refers to. For example it is a lot of fun to find the 4th elusive frog in the picture for 4, or the six stern storks for 6. The counting story and the pictures that illustrate it are complex and really stimulate the imagination.
This would be wonderful present for grandchildren, a fascinating book for primary schools and an outstanding example of a picture book for secondary schools.
Pat Pledger

Jul 02 2009

Ten mile river by Paul Griffin

Text, 2009
(Age 14+) Recommended. 14 year old Ray and Jose are best friends. Jose is good looking with a talent for wise cracking; Ray is large, strong and very intelligent. Finding the juvenile detention centre not to their taste, they go on the run from the authorities. They decide to hole up in an abandoned shack near Ten Mile River. They furnish it with a stolen TV, Cable TV and other stolen goods and keep body and soul together by stealing cars. When they meet Trini, they both fall in love with her and she tries to get them to join the mainstream society.
The powerful narration pulled me into this gritty urban tale as soon as I started it. I became totally involved in the story of the boys' lives and was horrified with how they lived. Clever dialogue brought alive the boys' beliefs and Jose's mispronunciations often had me laughing at the same time that I wanted to cry because of his lack of schooling.
I emphasised with Ray's dilemma about staying on the run. He is smarter than Jose and can see the hopelessness of their plight, but cannot seem to break away from his bonds of loyalty to the other boy. Often going along with Jose and making idiotic decisions, it seems as if he will never be able to use his formidable intelligence and will always give way to the other boy.
Griffin gives the reader an alternative view to the many books that are written about teens with angst, but who usually have comfortable home lives, with at least one parent caring for them. It is a searing novel about street kids staying alive in New York.
I can imagine that this book would have strong appeal to reluctant boy readers or those who are disenchanted with school. It could possibly be a useful novel to use in class. Because of the strong language, though, it would need to be read thoroughly by the teacher before using it as a class set.
Pat Pledger

Jul 01 2009

Fate by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

Random House, 2009. ISBN 9761741663044
(Age 13+) In this sequel to Tattoo, Bailey Morgan looks and acts like a normal teenager during the day, but at night she is the third Fate, weaving what happens to life. Every evening she travels to Nexus where she works with two Sidhe ancestors on making the fabric of life. Then she meets the rest of the Sidhe and her whole life changes as she becomes entangled in a complex and dangerous web that the Otherworld is spinning. Meanwhile in her normal life, she is facing her graduation and wondering how she will cope without her friends and where she will be travelling in the future.
The book is written in the first person and I loved Bailey's voice as she recounts what is happening to her and what she is feeling. She is a strong girl who is faced with many choices, and Barnes vividly brings to life her dilemmas and her fear that she will lose her human friends. The beautiful Sidhe and Greek gods and goddesses that make up the Otherworld are fascinating in their quest for power. The subtle hints of humour throughout the book add an extra dimension and there are enough crushes on interesting boys to keep romance alive.
This book can be read as a stand alone as I did but I'm sure that having read the first book would give more insight into Bailey's world. It is well written and entertaining and is sure to gain a following by girls who like books with strong heroines with mystical powers.
Pat Pledger

Jul 01 2009

Skulduggery Pleasant: The faceless ones by Derek Landy

HarperCollins, 2009.
(Ages 10+) The Faceless Ones, the third title in the series of Skulduggery Pleasant books, is best read sequentially as the story line and myriad of characters could otherwise prove confusing. In book one, until she meets an extremely well dressed skeleton named Skulduggery, Stephanie (aka Valkyrie) is a relatively ordinary teenager. Life soon changes from the mundane, once she and Skulduggery pair up to fight the many magical and evil forces revealed throughout the course of the books. Landy has created an assortment of fascinating characters from the strong, manipulative females such as China Sorrows and the Sea Hag to Fletcher Renn, the last Teleporter in existence. He also adds a liberal sprinkling of evil characters such as the Faceless Ones. By the third book, Valkyrie is able to lead a double life thanks to her 'Reflection' emerging from the mirror to carry out her daily human existence and she has become a confident, independent young woman, capable of making her own decisions and better able to protect herself.
This series has become immensely popular, particularly amongst competent male readers eager to read novels containing humour, fantasy, violence and gore. With the opening line, 'The dead man was in the living room, face down on the floor beside the coffee table,' Landy creates the hook for the reader to go on and devour the novel. With the amount of trailers and internet advertising for the film, the audience for these books will only increase, especially with Landy having already set the scene for a thrilling sequel.
Jo Schenkel

Jun 30 2009

The good daughter by Amra Pajalic

Text, 2009 ISBN 9781921520334
(Age 14-16) Sabiha has become conscious of having Bosnian background since her grandfather's arrival in Australia. Before that, she and her mother were somewhat alienated from the community, due to her mother's single status and unconventional lifestyle.
Sammie, as she prefers to be called, rebels against the newly imposed constraints of her community while her mother strives for acceptance and a husband. Sammie has her own problems as she tries to maintain her friendship with her best friend from a previous school, as well as gaining acceptance in her new one.
Throughout the novel, Sammy grows in sensitivity in her insight into herself and others; we too gain insight into her mother's struggles with personal relationships, exacerbated by her bi-polar condition, as well as the struggle to be accepted by a community of Bosnian refugees, themselves in search of a new identity.
While the explicit explanations of Bosnian customs and history tend to pall in the initial chapters, the story engages your attention when it deals with relationship and friendship issues. The clash of cultures is central to these relationships but at times we feel as if we are being given a lecture instead of discovering these insights implicitly. Especially interesting, however, is the way we see these migrants adopting more traditional religious and cultural beliefs than they held when in Bosnia.
One concern with the novel is the treatment of homosexuality. It is a little disappointing that Brian, who is initially sniggered at and called 'gay' because he is well groomed and well dressed, is, in fact, homosexual, reinforcing stereotypes.
Overall, however, it is an engaging read that young people of 14-16 should enjoy.
Gwenda Steiner

Jun 30 2009

City of glass by Cassandra Clare

Walker Books, 2009
(Ages 14+) Clare has come up with a very satisfying and gripping conclusion to her magical The Mortal Instruments series. Clary, still on a quest to find a cure for her mother who is in a coma, enters the City of Glass to find chaos and war. She confronts the evil Valentine who has to be overcome or the world will be devastated. Can the Shadowhunters put aside their mistrust of the Downworlders and combine with the werewolves, vampires and faeries in a fight to the end? In the meantime, Clary has to make decisions about her forbidden love for Jace and the love that Simon bears for her. And who is the mysterious Sebastian?
This final book in the series is a great read. There is plenty of action for those who love adventure and the romance thread is very well written. Clary is no wimp - she is a strong leader, with special powers, who does what she has to make the world safe for everyone. The other characters in the book are equally compelling and make the story well worth reading.
City of glass had enough surprises, twists and turns to keep me guessing about what would happen next and the ending was very rewarding. This is a series that I suspect I will return to reread - certainly it is one that I will keep on my shelves. I look forward to reading the next book that Clare writes.
Pat Pledger

Jun 29 2009

Ruby and Leonard and the great big surprise by Judith Rossell

Little Hare Books, 2009 ISBN 9781921272967
(Ages 5-9) Ruby and Leonard, two mice who live with their brothers and sisters in a tin at the back of the cupboard in the kitchen, plan to make a batch of cupcakes for someone's birthday. The pages that follow outline the tasks they must do to make the cakes, each illustration showing the procedure in detail. The detail not only includes what each mouse must do, but the ingredients and the tools needed to make the cakes. Consequently, any reader, young or old, will be able to watch the cakes being made and see exactly how they are made. For a class making something for lunch, this book would make an excellent manual, for a class doing a procedural text, and wanting an example of on, this book is an excellent model, for a child reading the book alone, it would be fun for them to follow the details of what the mice do, and for a family to read at home, the book will encourage the family to cook together.
For me the surprise at the end is that they were all made, after so many slips and spills through the text, which will delight the younger reader. The last page gives the recipe which is one I'm sure many classes, children and families will want to try for themselves after reading engaging this picture book.
Fran Knight

Jun 29 2009

Jolt by Bernard Beckett

Text, 2009. ISBN 9761921520211
(Age 14+) Recommended. An exciting thriller from an award winning New Zealand author, the action and excitement in Jolt keeps the reader on edge. 16 year old Marko wakes up in a psychiatric ward. Convinced that the doctor is trying to kill him, he decides to get his own revenge. When he stops taking the pills that he prescribed, he begins to remember the horror of the preceding days. He had been on an outdoor education trip, trying to go from coast to coast in less than six days when his teacher was threatened by a group of men in the bush. Unable to help her, he flees the scene. Then an earthquake struck and he and his companions had to fight for their lives. In the hospital, he is uncertain about who he can trust and doesn't know whether the others from the excursion are alive.
The story is told in alternative chapters. Beckett builds up the horror of the happenings in the bush in one chapter and then with the use of Italics in the following chapter, relates the mental trauma that Marko is going through in the form of a journal. The tension of the story kept me reading and I was never sure just what Marko would do and whether he would survive.
Although Jolt was first released in 2001, it still really holds its own as a gripping suspense story that has appeal for boys. Teacher's notes are available.
Pat Pledger

Jun 29 2009

The Scarecrow by Sean Williams

HarperCollins, 2009. ISBN 9780732284763
(Age 11+) Recommended The Scarecrow is the satisfying conclusion to Williams' Broken Lands trilogy, which began with The changeling, followed by The dust devils which were both finalists for the best children's novel in the Aurealis Award. Ros is on a quest to get rid of the crystal containing the Golem of Omus. Travelling with Adi and the camel Know-it-All, he arrives at the coast, hoping to drop the crystal into the depths of the ocean. However they encounter the treacherous Quirk who disappears with Varis, Adi's relative and guard. In their search for Varis, they come up against the Scarecrow, a terrifying amalgamation of material and human who desperately wants the crystal for himself.
Williams has created an exciting and tense finale to his series. The Scarecrow is a unique creation and quite frightening. The action sequences on the island where Ros confronts him are very tense and I could picture them in a gripping science fiction film.
The Australian setting with its harsh dry land and the huge cliffs overlooking the ocean provide a wonderful background to the struggles of the characters. It is truly a coming of age for Ros as he decides whether he will accept Pukje's offer to gain the knowledge about the magical Change that he thirsts for, or stay with Adi and her tribe.
I thoroughly enjoyed this series. The Scarecrow is a demanding story with an awesome setting and readers will be tempted to read other books by this author.
Pat Pledger

Jun 26 2009

The Ant Colony by Jenny Valentine

HarperCollins, 2009. ISBN 9780007283590
Highly recommended. The house is like an ant colony, everyone living in their own compartment, together but separate, until one incident brings them altogether and they find friendship and hope for the future. When Sam runs away from home and comes to London, he wants to be alone, leaving what has happened behind him. He wants to disappear - be in a place where no one knows him or cares about him. The house is full of other alone people, some because of addiction, some who can no longer face the world, and unwittingly, Sam becomes part of their worlds, and begins to care what happens to them.
The little girl, Bo, leans on him for strength and companionship when her mother leaves her for the day. She plays with him, as she has no one else; she talks to him and makes him interact. He sometimes takes her to the park, along with the little dog of the old woman downstairs. But when he speaks crossly to Bo one day, after her incessant questions, she runs off, like he did, and everyone in the house feels responsible and looks for her, the group brought together by their fear of what may have happened.
Told in alternate chapters, one written by Bo, and the other by Sam, Valentine gradually reveals their lives as they learn to navigate around each other. Bo has the nous of someone much older than 10, learned from being left by herself so often, and having to deal with things few 10 year olds would know about, while Sam has made an awful mistake in his life, and must learn again to trust and be trusted.
I simply love this story, everything about it rings true. The accident which makes Sam run away is one we often read of in the paper, and many students will know of someone who is in a similar situation.
Fran Knight

Jun 26 2009

The remarkable secret of Aurelie Bonhoffen by Deborah Abela

Random House, Australia, 2009
(Age 8-10) Having been brought up at the Seaside Pier funfair, Aurelie Bonhoffen has had the kind of life of which many children would dream, filled with fun, freedom, and fabulously eccentric extended family. On the evening of her twelfth birthday, Aurelie discovers her family has a remarkable secret which, to date, had been hidden from her. It is this secret which enables the family to protect the pier from the clutches of the evil characters who wish to see it demolished.
By including characters that embody many of the typical stereotypes of good and evil, Abela injects the story with a great deal of humour. Uncles Rolo and Rindolf are truly zany and likeable, whilst the 'baddies' including the principal, the mayor and Crook are the exact opposite. At the same time as trying to solve the mystery, the reader is encouraged to cheer on the team that is working to save the Pier and restore it to its original glory. To the adult the clues appear to be obvious, yet children enjoy the twists and turns without feeling the outcome to be entirely predictable.
Abela has created an entertaining and engaging read for younger to middle primary students with mystery, adventure and magic all rolled in to one novel. As a stand alone title, this works extremely well.
Jo Schenkel

Jun 25 2009

Worldshaker by Richard Harland

Allen and Unwin, 2009. ISBN 9781741757095
(Ages 12+) Recommended. Colbert Porpentine is a teenager living on board Worldshaker, a huge steam driven Juggernaut that flies around the world. It is a highly structured society of 10,000 people, ruled by Queen Victoria and run by her commander in chief, Mormus Porpentine, with the elite families at the top of the pecking order, followed by officers and Menials who are mute servants. Last of all, there are another 2,000 Filthies, who are not considered human at all. When Col discovers Riff, a young Filthies girl, hiding under his bed, he can't imagine how his world is going to change.
Harland has created a very believable world, in which class distinctions are all important. The highly stratified aristocratic society that Col has been born into is vividly described. As the author skilfully unfolds details about the ship and how its society operates, the reader becomes very involved in Col's gradual awakening to what is really happening around him.
It is the characters that drew me into this book. Right from the first page I became engrossed in Col's naivety about the people around him and I loved the courage and leadership that Riff displayed. Mormus is satisfactorily drunk on power and Col's grandmother is deliciously evil.
There is plenty of action and suspense to suit those who love adventure, with some daring escapes through dangerous machinery and some exciting fight sequences and I look forward to the next instalment.
Readers who enjoyed other titles from the steampunk genre (books set in alternative Victorian times), like Philip Reeve's Larklight and The laws of magic series by Michael Pryor, will find this one enjoyable. It is darker and more complex and a great read, with lots of sly humour to alleviate the seriousness.
Pat Pledger

Jun 25 2009

Prom nights from hell by Meg Cabot et al

HarperCollins, 2009. ISBN 9780007319893
(Ages 14+) A collection of five entertaining short stories by authors who enjoy a following by those who like the vampire, paranormal and horror genre, Prom nights from hell will engage readers who have enjoyed the Twilight series. Just having Meg Cabot and Stephenie Meyer's name on the front cover is enough to bring the readers in.
The exterminator's daughter by Meg Cabot centres around Mary, a vampire killer's daughter, who is out for revenge because vampires have taken her mother. She spots that Sebastian is a vampire and has lured her best friend Lila to the prom. Determined to kill him, she comes armed with a crossbow but events get in the way. A fun take on trying to kill a vampire.
The most scary story for me is The corsage by Lauren Myracle which stars Frankie who desperately wants Will to take her to the prom. After visiting a clairvoyant who gives her a corsage capable of granting wishes, Frankie makes the mistake of not thinking through what she really wants with disastrous results.
I thoroughly enjoyed Kiss and tell by Michelle Jaffe for its Supergirl like main character, Miranda Kiss, and the humour in the dialogue, although there were some slightly risque comments.
Hell on Earth by Stephenie Meyer has an interesting take on demons and angels with a gorgeous hero who is the child of an angel. Madison and the dim reaper by Kim Harrison is a fascinating glimpse into a case of the living dead, but was too complex to fit well into the short story genre.
Girls will enjoy the idea of a prom night gone bad and will enjoy the angst of the main characters as they worry about having a partner for the night and finding true love amidst horror and mayhem.
Pat Pledger

Jun 22 2009

By the picking of my nose by Martin Chatterton

Little Hare Books, 2009. ISBN 978192127287
(Age 8-11) 11 year old William Shakespeare loves going to the theatre, but because of the rules only allowing adults, and his father wanting him to go into the family business of tanning, he must put on a false beard and build up his height by adding pieces of wood to the soles of his shoes. Found out by the manager, peering at all the audience in case there is an imposter, Will must flee. His father, also aware that the boy loves the theatre, arrives in time to see his son headed for the Queen's private room, and there they all collide. Will clambers under her skirts, but a hair from his beard finds a tear in her knickers, and tickles her nether regions, causing pandemonium. Running through backstage he is hidden by three women, and these predict, by looking at a booger from his nose, that he will be an actor.
And on it goes for another 180 pages or so, making puns with Shakespearian names, titles of plays and anything Elizabethan. All a romp and sure to cause hilarity amongst the 8-11 age group for whom it is intended. The endless use of jokes about bums, noses and what is in them is an added extra for that age group. By the author of  The Brain finds a Leg, and its sequel, Brain full of Holes, Chatterton's humour will have wide appeal.
Fran Knight

Jun 22 2009

Gone by Michael Grant

Egmont, 2009. ISBN 9781405246347
(Age 13+) Recommended. Imagine how a group of kids would react if suddenly all the adults disappeared. This is what happens in a small town in Southern California. In the blink of an eye everyone over the age of 14 has gone and the children are left to fend for themselves. In the aftermath of this disaster, bullies emerge; gangs begin to form and some of the children, like Caine from Coates Academy, display strange powers. Sam, a natural leader and Astrid, an intelligent nerd, band together with Little Pete, Quinn, and Edilio to try and find answers amid the chaos before they too disappear when they turn 15.
The adventures that the group have in trying to survive without adults in this very fast paced science fiction thriller keep the reader on the edge of the seat waiting to see what will happen next. The small town of Perdido Beach has been completely covered with an impenetrable dome, there are wild coyotes roaming the desert and a strange being deep in a cave. Add fights between rival gangs, trying to find enough food to stay alive and dealing with some strange powers to this mix and you have a story that is difficult to put down.
There is enough character development to flesh out the tale. Sam and Astrid are caring, intelligent teens and Mary and her brother who take over the nursery and look after all the babies are finely drawn. Albert takes over the local McDonalds and feeds the children, giving them a sense of security! The charismatic Caine and his group of bullies are quite frightening and the battle that develops between Caine and Sam is engrossing.
Although not as thought provoking as The knife of never letting go by Patrick Ness or The tomorrow code by Brian Falkner, the action in this book will have teens reading to the end. They will almost certainly come back for the second in the series: Hunger, a preview of which is given at the back of the volume I read.
Pat Pledger

Jun 19 2009

Switched by Sienna Mercer

Egmont, 2009. ISBN 9781405240864
(Ages 10+) Telling us that this the first in a series called My Sister, the Vampire, then boldly claiming to be a younger version of the Twilight series, made me curious. It's a claim I've seen often lately, and none has been any better than the Twilight series, which I thought was, at best, mediocre. Still, many millions have bought the books and read them, then sighed over the film versions. So I look at claims like this with some trepidation.
When Olivia goes to her new school, fearful and concerned in her pink outfit, she spies a girl she thinks she knows. The next chapter, from the other girl's point of view, allows us to see that Ivy feels the same. The two eventually meet up and compare backgrounds and come to the astonishing conclusion that they are sisters, better than that, twin sisters. As each girl gets to know the other, the reader can see that the Goth Ivy is hiding something. With the pages littered with nods to Charlotte's web, blood imagery, talk of stakes and garlic, to name a few, then we know that Ivy is probably a vampire and the race is on to read how and when Olivia will find out.
A funny look at vampires, this book, the first in a group of four, will be a hit in upper primary and lower secondary schools as they sink their teeth into the series.
Fran Knight

Jun 19 2009

Chester's back by Melanie Watt

HarperCollins, 2008 ISBN 9780007270248
This sequel to the funny Chester (2007) the picture book about a forward and pompous cat, which kept intruding upon the illustrator's page, doesn't quite match the original in humour. In this new book, Chester is part of the story about a cat living in a far away land. The story begins like a fairy story, but Chester keeps on intruding, and keeps this up right to the end of the book. At first he is a cave cat, and then he gets behind the illustration and takes over all together, calling auditions for the story. His ego sees himself in a luxury limousine going to the theatre where he is a star, but he is drawn as a cat with a star around his neck and so calls for a new illustrator who will allow him to be a star.
The illustrations of this egomaniac cat are very funny and the way he intrudes upon the page will encourage readers to look for him and follow his antics.
Fran Knight

Jun 18 2009

Pop Princess by Isabelle Merlin

Random House, 2009. ISBN 9781741663365
(Age 12-14) The second book by Isabelle Merlin, set in France, Pop Princess, like the first, Three Wishes, will appeal to romantically inclined girls of lower secondary school age. Both books have their heroines living a fairy tale life, surrounded by luxury and money. A dream come true, but not without humour and intrigue.
In Pop Princess, Lucie goes to Pairs to be a paid companion of teen idol, Arizona Kingdom. Although the girls are allowed out to shop, have coffee and sample the delights of French food, from their flat on the Champs Elysses, they are accompanied by a minder, and know that they are watched incessantly. The girls devise a plan to elude their minder, and meet two street musicians who show them around and help them hide from constant surveillance. But on one outing, Lucie thinks she sees her father, an investigative journalist, talking to a man she is told is a member of the Russian mafia. But her father is supposed to be in Russia, so she is confused.
Arizona's father too, causes problems for the girls with his unvarying attitude to who they can meet and what they are able to do. The two girls make choices about what to do with all that is happening around them. They are most unsure of whom to trust, and survive a ransacked apartment, kidnapping and being held by gun men before all is revealed and they find that the police and Lucie's father's investigations all collide to make an exciting conclusion.
Fran Knight

Jun 18 2009

The Witch's children go to school by Ursula Jones and Russell Ayto

Orchard Books, 2009. ISBN 9781408300725
(Ages 5-7) Recommended. It's Gemma's first day at school and at the school gates she meets the Witch's children, who assure her that she has nothing to worry about even though the Grade 3 children are frightening her. The eldest of the witch's children changes Gemma into an ogre because ogres are not afraid of anyone. The ogre doesn't like everyone being afraid of her but the Eldest can't change her back and then the Middle One uses her magic to change the school into a story book and the Little One changes the school inspector into a smelly cheese. Things are looking very chaotic but all turns out well as Mum comes to the rescue.
Written and illustrated by an award winning team (The witch's children and the Queen won the Nestle Children's Book Prize), this is a delightful story to read aloud, and could lead to many discussions about the fears children have about coming to school for the first time. What fun to imagine that scary Class 3 are Ali Baba and the forty thieves and that the whole school can change into a story book complete with dancing princesses and a puss with boots that are too large. There is also a sense of security and relief to know that an adult can come along and sort things out - even if she is a witch.
Russel Ayto's illustrations are quirky and mischievous fun jumps out from every page. Young readers will be sure to enjoy this book, both to listen to and as a first book to read independently.
Pat Pledger.

Jun 18 2009

Mending Lucille by J.R. Poulter and Sarah Davis

Lothian Children's Books, 2008.
(Ages 5-7) Highly recommended. Shortlisted by the Children's Book Council of Australia, this is a heart wrenching yet uplifting book about a small girl whose mother has left her, flying away on an aeroplane. She is devastated by her loss, and her only consolation is her doll, Lucille, who is broken. Her father is unable to fix the doll and suggests that she throw it away, but she is determined to keep it and hides it behind the driver's seat in her father's truck. One night they go to a new place for tea and the waitress, Chrissie, takes Lucille and mends her. Things begin to get better after this.
In this beautifully illustrated story, Sarah Davis has given the story a wonderful added dimension with her realistic pictures of the little girl, her grieving father and the warm, loving Chrissie. The theme of mending a hurt bird and letting it go free to find someone to love is also done in a sensitive way.
A book to treasure for the positive message about coping with grief and the loss of a parent through divorce or separation Mending Lucille would also give hope to those children who are dealing with a new family situation.
Pat Pledger

Jun 17 2009

The tomorrow code by Brian Falkner

Walker Books, Australia, 2008. Random House Books (UK)
(Ages 12+) Highly recommended. 'Crack the code or tomorrow is history' is the phrase on the front cover of this thrilling sci fi novel that looks at how people are exploiting the world and how nature might fight back against an ecological disaster. Teenagers Tane and Rebecca receive a coded message from the future, warning them about catastrophic devastation that only they can prevent. Together with Fatboy, Tane's brother, they must decipher the clues and try and stop the shapes in the mist made by an experiment gone wrong, from killing everyone in the world.
Don't be put off by the rather bland cover, this is one of the most exciting thrillers that I have read and I feel it can be compared with Patrick Ness's The knife of never letting go for sheer suspense. I read this book in one sitting. It has a tightly plotted story line that compels the reader to keep reading.
The three main characters have to use their intelligence to crack the codes. They work out how to win a lottery and use the proceeds to buy a submarine called Mobius. Lots of exciting action follows involving driving the submarine to an isolated island where research is being undertaken, riding motorbikes and fighting as ecowarriors. The three teenagers are believable, well rounded characters, with sibling rivalry and a dysfunctional mother well portrayed.

As well as people who love a good thriller, readers who enjoy mathematics, codes and technology will be fascinated by the science behind the book and can read about it at the book's site.  It is on the shortlist for the Esther Glen Award.
Pat Pledger

Jun 17 2009

Stanley Paste by Aaron Blabey

Viking, 2009. ISBN 9780670071807
(Age 5-8) Highly recommended. Poor Stanley Paste hates being small. He's never picked for sport and can't defend himself from the school bullies. Then he meets Eleanor Cabbage who hates being tall because the girls call her a giraffe and other names. Stanley wishes he was tall like Eleanor and Eleanor wishes she was small like Stanley and from that day on they are inseparable. Together they seem to have fewer problems and life grows easier.
A celebration of diversity and the power of friendship, this is a fascinating book that leads to much pondering of what it means to be unique and how individuals can cope with being different. Blabey's illustrations are singular; Stanley's tiny frame, big eyes and wild blond hair are very appealing and when Eleanor wins first prize in the dress-up competition for coming as a giraffe, the reader wants to give a big cheer for her courage and humour.
Much classroom discussion about being tolerant of difference, valuing everyone and the importance of friendship could ensure from reading this book aloud.
I loved it for its strange, funny illustrations and went back to examine it again and again. This is a truly memorable book and one for every library.
Pat Pledger

Jun 17 2009

Magic to the bone by Devon Monk

Harper Voyager, 2009. ISBN 9780732289324
(16-Adult) Allie Beckstrom is a Hound, a tracker who seeks out the source of illegal spells cast on the innocent. In her world every use of magic has a cost, and sometimes people want to use it without paying. She is hired to help a dying boy who has had the cost of magic Offloaded onto him, and finds to her dismay that the spell leads her back to her estranged father, with whom she has a disastrous relationship. When her father is found dead and all traces lead back to her, she goes on the run.
I found the idea of a Hound tracing illegal magic to be quite an interesting one, and the action kept me reading to the end. The suspense was heightened by the fact that every time Allie uses her magic she loses some of her memory, and she was unable to recall what had happened to her. A hint of romance with the fascinating Zayvion Jones added to the enjoyment.
An entertaining but not particularly memorable book, it will be enjoyed by those readers who like paranormal suspense or urban fantasy. There is a sequel, Magic in the blood.
Pat Pledger

Jun 16 2009

The book from Baden Dark by James Moloney

Angus and Robertson, 2009.
ISBN 9780732287672
(Ages 8-13) The Book from Baden Dark draws together the characters Bea, Fergus, Nicola and Marcel, heroes of The Book of Lies, in a new quest. Marcel is now a powerful magician and is able to decipher the real story concealed in The Book from Baden Dark. With Bea, half elf and half human, who is in search of her lost grandfather, and Fergus, Marcel ventures into the secret underground world of Baden Dark. The three discover and combat powerful forces, including what seems to be the source of evil in the world. However, Marcel's powers have outstripped his ability to control them and he is in danger of making a decision that would irrevocably commit him to the Underworld and harm his friends. Ultimately he chooses the human world and is saved by the skill and loyalty of Bea, who eventually joins him in Elstenwyck where Nicola is now queen. Many favourites characters, including Gadfly, from The Book of Lies reappear and the plot is engaging. Those who enjoyed the earlier work will also enjoy this.
Jenny Hamilton

Jun 15 2009

A book for kidz by C.J. Dennis

Black dog, 2009. ISBN 9781742030944
(All ages) Highly recommended. A reprint of C.J. Dennis' original book with his own illustrations is a treat for all. Dedicated by the author to 'All good children over four and under four-and-eighty' and with a new introduction by Andy Griffiths, A book for kidz contains entertaining poems and two short stories. The tongue in cheek humour and the contagious rhyme and rhythm and easy tone ensure that it is accessible to people today.
The tongue twisting fun of the poem, The triantiwontigongolope, describing an unknown insect, is one of the most memorable poems and will prove to be just as popular with children today as it was when it was first printed in 1921. Hist is another sure-fire winner with its touches of chilling suspense and delicious sense of humour.
I recall fondly many of the poems found in this book from my childhood and then reading them and teaching them to a receptive audience later as a teacher. Many are timeless and can be read for sheer enjoyment and stimulation of the imagination like the thought-provoking poem, You and I.
Others would fit in beautifully with classroom themes such minibeasts (The ant explorer), and the history of transport, (The tram-man, The porter, Going to school). Other themes like occupations (The sailor, The teacher), and the circus (The circus) are also covered.
This is a fabulous collection that deserves a place in every library. It is wonderful to see such an engaging Australian classic being reprinted.
Pat Pledger

Jun 04 2009

Crime Stories by David Belbin et al.

Evans Publishing, 2009. ISBN 9780237536183
Sci-Fi Stories by Mary Chapman et al, Evans Publishing, 2009. ISBN 9780232536190
(Ages 10+) These two small books (about 60 pages long) each has 4 short stories along the theme of the book. Each story is written by one of the authors on the cover, and each story is written in large type face, with a clear, easily read font. The stories are easy read, will provoke discussion in a class room, but are equally easy to digest if reading alone. They are part of a series of books called Shades Shorts and will fill a niche for those students who want something thin to read.
The first story in Sci-Fi Stories will intrigue. It tells of a hated teacher, showing the students a chimaera in a tank in the science laboratory. Told that it had no feelings the boys realise that it shuns the teacher as much as they. There are hints of a society removed form ours, when the teacher hits the students with an electric shock to demand their attention.
Each of the stories is easily absorbed, and will fit the bill for those students seeking them out, providing a quick read, and possibly a template for writing their own. Fran Knight

© Copyright Pledger Consulting 2007-2009

Archived Blog Entries

Latest News

ALA best books for young adults
Pullman awarded Oxford Honorary Degree
Free online Chaos Walking story
East Sussex children's book award 2009
Coke used to bribe boys to read
Gaiman wins Lotus awards
Kate Greenaway Medal winner
Bog child wins Carnegie
Australian Book Industry Awards
Why kids love spy books
Gemmell prize for fantasy
Winton wins Miles Franklin Award
Little Brother optioned for film
Tomorrow series to be filmed

ReadPlus Features

Sample theme animation
Read similar authors...
How to find lesson plans
Print similar authors bookmark

Promote Reading

Raising a reader
Rights of the reader poster
Reviews: Author index
The Reading Game
Books for boys
Teenage Book Community