Reviews

Poison by Bridget Zinn

Hyperion, 2013. ISBN 9781423153306
(Age: 12+) Highly recommended. Fantasy. Humour. Poison. Sixteen-year-old Kyra is a highly skilled potion master and is on the run. After seeing in a vision that the kingdom will be destroyed by events surrounding her best friend Princess Ariana, she has failed in an attempt to assassinate her. Facing being hung for treason if the King's guards catch up with her Kyra flees into the forest, where she meets a very cute pig and a very cute wanderer named Fred.
What makes this story stand out is its humour and witty dialogue. Readers will have lots of fun following the adventures of Kyra, her pig and Fred as she continues on her quest to find Princess Ariana and save the kingdom. Kyra is a feisty heroine who grabs the reader's attention right from the first chapter. Smart, quick witted and daring, Kyra has to come to grips with her powers while evading the guards. The low key romance between Kyra and Fred is very sweet but is not the central theme of Poison - Kyra's quest dominates the plot.
A most enjoyable stand-alone adventure, filled with lots of danger, laughs, twists and turns and some unexpected events at its conclusion, the late Bridget Zinn has created an easy to read book full of feel good moments, laughter and suspense.
Pat Pledger

Why do cats have tails? by David Ling

The Book of Whispers by Kimberley Starr

Text Publishing, 2016. ISBN 9781925355512
(Age: 13+) Recommended. Text Prize for YA and Children's Writing (2015). Historical fantasy. Crusades. Demons. Tuscany, 1096 AD. Luca, young heir to the title of Conte de Falconi, sees demons but must keep quiet about them for fear of a repeat of the exorcism he suffered when very young. When his father decides to go on the crusade to free Jerusalem, Luca follows, carrying with him the Book of Whispers, which only he can open. With the help of Suzan, a beautiful young girl he rescues, he goes on a quest to defeat the evil that wants to take over the world.
This is the first book that I have read that has put a historically accurate version of the Crusades together with demons. Initially I found it rather difficult to reconcile the two, although the idea of demons fits in well with the beliefs of Christians at the time. However as the story progressed, the fight against the demons and the men that they dominated and the gruelling journey that the Crusaders took, takes over and becomes engrossing.
Luca and Suzan's story is narrated in alternate chapters by the two young people. By telling the story in the present tense, the author gives it an immediacy and veracity that sometimes makes for very difficult reading as there are many bloody and very violent murders of the Saracens during the sieges.
This is a memorable book that will make the reader think about the futility of war and the ugliness of religious bigotry. At the same time the adventure and mayhem that Luca and Suzan face will carry the reader through to the thrilling end.
Pat Pledger

At the zoo I see by Joshua Button and Robyn Wells

Magabala Books, 2017. ISBN 9781925360455
(Age: 1-3) Recommended. Board book. Animals. A beautifully designed and sturdy board book this is sure to be a favourite with very young children. Published by Magabala to showcase the work of young Indigenous artists, this is a lovely example of rich illustrations and interesting text.
As the title states, the animals illustrated are ones that might be found in a zoo, and are from many parts of the world as well as Australia. On opening the book, there is 'a flying macaw', in rich vivid colours, and then 'a prowling quoll' in subtle browns with white spots. A particularly intriguing double page is of a devoted elephant, while the 'pacing jaguar' pads across another double page.
The illustrations are outlined in black and the expressions on the faces of the animals are memorable.
This would be a perfect gift for a very young child.
Pat Pledger

Every heart a doorway by Seanan McGuire

Wayward Children bk 1. St Martin's Press, 2016. ISBN 9780765385505
(Age: 15+) Recommended. Fantasy. Goodreads Choice Award Nominee for Fantasy (2016), Alex Award (2017). Eleanor West's Home for Wayward Children caters for children who have disappeared, tumbling through doorways and into old wells and going into strange lands. When they reluctantly reappear, the school looks after them when their parents despair of them fitting back into normal society. Nancy's entry into the home is not a smooth one with murder making a nasty appearance. She and her group of misfits must find out what is happening, while they search for the doorways back into their beloved fantasy lands.
This is not an easy book to categorise or to explain. It is short, engrossing and strange, but very compelling. As well as the nasty murders that must be solved there are many themes the reader will have to explore and think about, not least why the children want to return to the fantasy worlds and not to the life that is considered normal by society.
There is an assortment of characters, including a weird scientist, an asexual main character and nods toward gender diversity, none too explicit but also thought provoking.
This is an extraordinary and perplexing story, one that stays with the reader. I am sure to follow more in this series. (Seanan McGuire also writes as Mira Grant).
Pat Pledger

The secret horses of Briar Hill by Megan Shepherd

Ill. by Levi Pinfold. Walker Books, 2016. ISBN 9781406367584
(Age: 10+) Highly recommended. Fantasy. World War Two. Britain. Horses. When other children in London are evacuated to the country, Emmaline is taken to Briar Hill, Shropshire, a place for children with breathing difficulties, their 'stillwaters'. Her friend Anna, is sixteen and confined to bed, while some children are allowed to walk around the halls of the once beautiful building, and sometimes Emmaline is allowed outside. Here she finds a garden, and in that garden, a winged horse. She has already seen these animals in the mirrors in the house, but now one is in the garden with a damaged wing. Emmaline finds a letter left for her from the Horse Lord, asking for her help with the wounded animal, Foxfire, but to be wary of the Black Horse, whose shadow Emmaline has sometimes seen nearby.
A beautiful and touching story, the group of children cared for in this building are all in various stages of illness, and their lung problems come to the fore as the story unfolds. Emmaline is a wonderful character, wanting to be an explorer, knowing her tuberculosis means this is a pipe dream but heartened when Anna tells her that she already is an explorer, seeking out the garden and its secret, keeping the horse safe. The gardener Thomas has also seen the horse and helps Emmaline with her quest, particularly when the Horse Lord tells her that Foxfire is in danger with the coming of the new moon. She is told to collect colours of the rainbow to protect Foxfire, but finding colour in this grey wintry environment needs all of her skills.
A moving fantasy story of a lonely child, traumatised by what has happened to her family in Nottingham, the resolution of the story will bring tears to the readers' eyes as she learns to accept what has happened and comes to see there is more to life than her bleak surroundings.
War and privation is ever present, with the house cut off from the village and therefore the pharmacy and doctor by the weather, the children aware of the bombing raids on the cities, their talk filled with stories of what has happened and sometimes hearing of death.
The illustrations add a mesmerising dimension to the story and offer the reader a visual accompaniment as they read. Several stand out for me: the children sitting in the cellar with their gas masks on, listening to an unsettling story told by the bully, Benny, (pages 39-40) along with Emmaline sleeping with the sheep (pages 146-7) and Emmaline sitting on Anna's bed (pages 182-3). I kept coming back to these as I read. But all the illustrations are deeply moving with their greys reflecting the children's lives. With links to The secret garden and the Narnia stories, this wonderful story will be eagerly sought after by middle to upper primary readers.
Fran Knight

Gus dog goes to work by Rachel Flynn

Ill. by Craig Smith. Working Title Press, 2017. ISBN 9781921504884
(Age: 5+) Highly recommended. Dogs. Sheep dogs. Australian outback. Farms. When Gus the sheep dog wakes each day ready for work, his man, Tom, comes out and gives him his breakfast, Working Dog Formula, and then he gets into the back of the ute and the two go to work. Gus knows a few words along with Tom, gidday, getup, getdown, getoutovit, come'ere and so on. But one day there is no Tom, and so no breakfast and no ute. So Gus goes off to look for his work. He comes across a group of kids playing football and joins in until the teacher spies him and yells, getoutovit. He recognises this word and scampers off. Then he spies some chooks and rounds them up until a woman rushes out of the house and yells at him to getoutovit. Hungry, he knocks over a wheelie bin only to have the owner tell him to getoutoovit. After rolling in something dead that he thinks is pleasant he herds a mob of sheep until the owner comes and yells at him to getoutivit, but also adds the word gohome. He would love to but has no idea of where it is. Spying an old ute he jumps into the back of it, and there he is found by Tom.
The story is simply elegant with its repetition and fondness for Australian slang words. Readers will follow Gus' story with much interest, and peruse the illustrations with glee. The humour is infectious, and readers will love following Gus' antics as he struggles to do his work without Tom. They will almost smell Gus as he rolls on the dead animal, and shake with him as he shakes himself off.
I love the endpapers with the views of the country settlement and can see readers absolutely engrossed with the detail Smith includes.
This charming book, full of wit is very Australian, with its emphasis on the contractions used in the text, the background lovingly portrayed by Craig Smith, the views of the houses and paddocks of sheep, abandoned utes, crows and galahs. Readers will love reading of Gus and wonder how he will be rescued by his man, after he wanders off by himself. They will learn the basics of looking after a dog and the responsibilities that come with ownership. Readers will love reading this out loud with its repetition and rhythmic language, while Smith's illustrations provide a perfect venue for talking about what is recognisable and what is different for children who live in the bush.
Fran Knight

Stories of life at Sydney Cove by Susan E Boyer

Birrong Books, 2016. ISBN 9781877074493
(Age: 10+) Recommended. Beginning with the life of thirteen year old John Hudson, a chimneysweep imprisoned in Newgate (London), the book follows the lives and thoughts of convicts, their British masters and more importantly the stories of Aboriginal people, following their meeting on Australia's shores in 1788.
The book describes in a careful and balanced way, the struggle of the early years of the colony at Sydney, the attempts to find suitable farmland, the fear of the unknown, the meetings between the two cultures, the wonders of nature, the plots, unexpected opportunities and the disasters that changed lives. There are excellent insights into the lives of young, old, and women. Stories highlight leadership, adventure, dilemma, mystery and discovery in the lives of the two societies.
The book is based on thorough research and provides descriptions based on documented descriptions from the time. Based on an earlier adult book: Across great divides, the language of this edition is simplified for the young reader, and information is highlighted in text boxes, great illustrations (based on originals) and simple maps.
This book for young readers acknowledges the good and bad aspects of first settlement history but also celebrates the land's opportunities, and the deepening understanding of culture and environment. The reviewer found this book very appropriate in the light of recent controversy about 26th January as the date for Australia Day.
Paul Pledger
Editor's note: Teacher resources are available from the author's website.

The navy-blue suitcase: Curious tales from a travelling life by Sally Van Gent

Wakefield Press, 2016. ISBN 9781743054062
(Age: 15+) Biography. Travel. Childhood. The navy-blue suitcase begins with a mystery - the photograph hidden in Sally's mother's suitcase under the bed. However don't expect the book to be an unwinding of family secrets with clues leading to a final revelation; this is not that kind of book. It is more a collection of vignettes from the author's life - beginning with scenes of children playing in the fields of England and moving to the varied landscapes of the Middle East, to Russia, and to Australia. The stories create pictures of different places, different people encountered along the way. If one was to search for a theme, perhaps it would be the recurring kindness of strangers even in the strangest of circumstances.
Sally shows herself to be a strong determined person, ready to explore the challenges of life, in sharp contrast to her mother, who is forever trapped by the manipulations of her husband, continually exploiting her gullibility. Sally however manages to break free and make her own life, following her own adventures, which we as readers enjoy along with her. However, in the end, I did find myself feeling a little let down that we never do find out the secret of the old photograph.
Nevertheless it is enjoyable reading and there are fine pencil drawings illustrating scenes throughout the book, adding to the old world charm.
Helen Eddy

Spy toys by Mark Powers

Ill. by Tim Wesson. Bloomsbury, 2016. ISBN 9781408870860
(Age: 7-9) Spy toys is an action-adventure story in which a cast of misfit creatures, a doll, a teddy bear and robot rabbit, join forces to protect the prime minister's son. Along the way, there is pandemonium, with daring rescues, giant snowballs, slapstick antics, an evil elephant and a Mayonnaise Bomb to defuse.
Snaztacular Ultrafun is the world's largest toy company with an amazing range of high quality toys, each fitted with 'a tiny computerised brain and a unique personality.' Poor Dan a Snugaliffic Cuddlestar bear is rejected because of a faulty chip that makes him so strong he can crush a car (not a child). He teams up with cast-off Arabella, a Loadsasmiles Sunshine Doll that fails because of her short temper and her inability to interact with children. The mysterious Auntie Roz recruits Dan, Arabella and Flax a custom-made police robot rabbit to become THE SPY TOYS ready to fight crime.
Mark Powers' junior novel is fast-paced, humorous, with eccentric villains and strange situations. Tim Wesson's over-the-top comical illustrations compliment the action and bring the strange characters to life. The McBiff triplets are suitably scary and so is Rusty Flumptrunk the humanoid elephant.
Rhyllis Bignell

My best friend is a goddess by Tara Eglington

Harper Collins, 2016. ISBN 9780732299903
(Age: 13+) Highly recommended. Surprising as it is for fiction aimed at teenage girls; this novel is highly engaging and thought provoking. For once, a book that celebrates intelligence rather than harping on about how being beautiful is everything!
When Adriana returns from eighteen months in Borneo her best friend, Emily, thinks that everything will go right back to normal - Friday night movie nights, and sharing secrets. Her plans go array however when Adriana returns a goddess, even more beautiful than the 'Tens' they always hated, while Emily is still the same old Emily waiting for the 'boob-fairy' to bless her. It isn't only Adriana's newfound beauty that comes between them but, as expected, a boy. Theo is dreamy in every way. He is the embodiment of Emily's artistic fantasies. And Adriana's crush. Like with any best friendship, Emily knows she can't act on her feelings and instead chooses to keep them to herself, forcing a bigger wedge in their friendship than ever before. It isn't long before it becomes clear that Adriana must leave her loser friend behind, but despite this knowledge she clings to Emily's friendship until she has no other option but to destroy it.
The thing about friendships is that things change and people have to adapt to their new situation. It could be that one friend moves, or gets another friend, or maybe there's a boy (or girl) that gets in the way. This is a novel which shows how things sometimes have to change. And how sometimes they don't have to change all that much. I would highly recommend to girls aged thirteen and up; not only is this a guidebook for coping with change, but also a great way to say beauty is not everything.
Kayla Gaskell, university student

The fail safe by Jack Heath

Allen and Unwin, 2016. ISBN 9781925266078
(Age: 12+) Recommended. Spies, Future, Dystopian fiction.The next thrilling adventure after Cut out, The fail safe has Fero in a bind. He has remembered just who he is, but must keep this knowledge hidden from the two people posing as his parents, lest they kill him. Some memories of his real life come back awkwardly, others are triggered by something happening. When the TV news shows one of his friends being killed over the wall he knows he must act. And escape.
With CCTV everywhere, and monitors focussing on him, face recognition software is hard to trip up, so he plans his escape meticulously. He triggers a fire in the tube station, sure to result in pandemonium, but it only takes seconds for the scanner to pick up that he has gone. A cat and mouse search ensues with some people directed to search for him. But he follows a woman he sees acting suspiciously and is taken to be a spy, but in doing as she directs, is recaptured. Still trying to behave innocently he convinces them that he is still Fero and the exciting game continues.
Set against two neighbouring countries somewhere between Russia and the Ukraine, the tension is palpable as the conflict between theme escalates, resulting in a wall being built between them. Fero hears harsh words said against his country but with a nuclear option being readied by both sides, he must make a decision.
Boys in particular will enjoy this thriller being played out by Fero (Troy) trying to evade capture and having to prove his innocence to those back home who see him as a traitor. Action packed, fast paced and thrillingly written make this a treat for reluctant readers.
Fran Knight

Ned's Circus of Marvels by Justin Fisher

Ned's Circus of Marvels bk 1. HarperCollins, 2016. ISBN 9780008124526
(Age:12+) Film and television animator and designer Justin Fisher's debut novel Ned's Circus of Marvels conjures up a frenetically paced fantasy adventure, with a huge cast of bizarre characters set in an alternate world beyond the Veil. Here, mysteries unfurl, dark magic abounds and good and evil forces fight for control. Fisher weaves an intricate multi-layered story, where he combines elements of steam punk engineering with a coming of age tale and a quest to bring two pivotal characters together to save the world.
Ned Waddlesworth is an ordinary boy who lives with his engineer father in the quiet London suburb of Grittlesby. Unbeknownst to Ned, he holds the key to saving the world and his life will dramatically change forever on his thirteenth birthday. With evil clowns chasing them, his father races him across town to the safety of Benissimo's Circus of Marvels. George the talking, book reading, banana loving giant ape becomes his protector, Ringmaster Benissimo is there to guide Ned's journey and blind Kitty the farseer and witch supplies him with sage advice and wisdom. The circus performers are really a trained army of creatures, shape shifters and darklings, ready to wage war to save the world. Ned constantly questions the people and creatures around him, as well as trying to come to terms with a travelling circus that flies to different locations.
The overarching plot is lost in the middle of the narrative, with so many subplots, character additions and deviations. Ned's search for Lucy the other key holder who can stop the veil disintegrating needed to be central to the storyline. There are however, moments of love, sacrifice, humour and friendliness, a family reunion all set against the preparation for war and the ultimate marathon battle led by warring brothers.
Ned's Circus of Marvels is suited to the confident reader who enjoys reading fast-paced fantasy adventures.
Rhyllis Bignell

The complete adventures of Figaro and Rumba by Anna Fienberg

Ill. by Stephen Michael King. Allen and Unwin, 2016. ISBN 9781760292997
(Age: 6-8) Highly recommended. Author Anna Fienberg and illustrator Stephen Michael King's The Complete Adventures of Figaro and Rumba is a celebration of friendship, food, music and adventure.
In the first story The Crocodile Cafe, we meet Figaro a lively, happy-go-lucky dog who lives with his best friend Rumba the cat, who misses his home in Cuba, and puts all his energy into a cleaning their house. When the two friends finally catch the Very Fast Train after a few wild adventures, they meet a Cuban smooth-talking, conga-playing crocodile who owns a cafe. Along the way the two friends learn some life-lessons about trust and rescue some Cuban felines the wicked crocodile had catnapped.
Fortuitous circumstances occur and Figaro and Rumba take over the ownership of the crocodile's cafe renaming it The Cool Cat Cafe. Figaro finds the never-ending music rehearsals at the cafe difficult especially when lead singer Marta continually points out his difficulties joining in with the group. He chats to Ronaldo the sloth who cleans the building and discusses the mysterious stranger he sees and hears at night. One day, Figaro leaves the cafe behind and heads off for a big adventure with little ginger cat Dora in Martha's classic Catmobile. After a fabulous drive in the open top car along the beach road, an unfortunate accident happens. Along the way Figaro discovers a new musical talent, clears up the mystery of the grey coloured stranger and enjoys the Fiesta filled with singing, salsa and Cuban food at the Cool Cats Cafe. Stephen Michael King's colourful, expressive illustrations bring the unique characters to life, he vividly shows their expressions, emotions, drams and triumphs.
This junior fiction novel is a great light-hearted story for young readers beginning their chapter-book journey. Anna Fienberg's Figaro and Rumba stories are perfect for this young audience, with relatable characters, fun adventures and a celebration of music, singing and dancing.
Rhyllis Bignell

The busy tailor crab by Bingbo

Ill. by Gumi. Starfish Bay Publishing, 2016. ISBN 9781760360412
(Age: 6-10) Recommended. Written by award winning Chinese author Bingbo, The Busy Tailor Crab follows a famous tailor crab who is a thriving business man stitching clothes for the other animals; that is until he sews a pair of pants for caterpillar. Paired with Gumi's illustrations, pictures are detailed with attention to the little things - markings on the insects, visible text on Tailor Crab's pin-boards . . .
Amongst Bingbo's text and Gumi's illustrations, The Busy Tailor Crab is a book of many messages including problem solving, how to run a successful business, fairness, negotiation and flexibility, how to treat other people and an early introduction to money.
In conclusion, Bingbo's story provides ample opportunities for discussion; do you think tailor crab is being fair to all the animals? What do you think he should have done etc? Overall, The Busy Tailor Crab is another delightful picture book from Bingbo who has authored hundreds of children's stories and won over fifty awards for his work.
Keely Coard