Beyond the Red Door, by Janet Shaw

BLIND SCHOOL. Red door….Why I had been placed at such a school became even more of a puzzle as the strict rules of the prison-style institution closed in on me like the slamming of a cell door. Rules that made no sense. They would try to change me, to make me someone I clearly wasn’t. But as each rule was laid down, the spark inside me grew even brighter.

Janet Shaw was not born blind. Adopted at brith, it was not until she was thirteen months old that she was diagnosed with a inherited condition – a malignant cancer called retinoblastoma. She had one eye removed and the other was damaged by the radiotherapy which saved her life against the odds. After that she endured a lifetime of operations and limited vision, but never considered herself as either blind nor less able. It was not until she was thirty-three years old that she lost all vision and made the difficult decision to have her remaining eye removed.

Beyond the Red Door is Janet Shaw’s inspiring story. Despite the difficulties of living with limited vision and with ongoing pain in her ‘good’ eye, she refused to be limited in what she could achieve. She travelled, had a career and, in her thirties, became a champion disabled cyclist.

The book also reveals her struggle for identity and to form a relationship with her birth parents. With a strong and stable family life with her adoptive family, it was not until she was grown that Shaw made the decision to try to find her birth parents. When she did finally meet her birth mother, she had to face a painful rejection. Meeting her birth father, however, was more rewarding, although it took several years for their relationship to develop. Shaw’s birth father is a high-profile media personality (whose name is revealed in the book) who did not know of her existence until she made contact. The pair had to work through difficult circumstances to forge a relationship.

Janet Shaw’s story is intensely personal and honest. It has incredible lows but also great highs. It is the story of an extraordinary person striving to be the best she can be. No one who reads this book will doubt that she has succeeded.

Janet Shaw will be competing in the Athens 2004 Paralympics. Her fighting spirit is sure to stand her in good stead for this challenge.

The Red Door, by Janet Shaw
Allen & Unwin, 2004

Silence the Dragon, by Pamela Graham

The boys glanced from side to side as they stole slowly through the straggly shrubs and weeds into the backyard. The house gave out strange vibes. Even though it looked dead, it seemed to send out messages that it might reach out and grab you. A creepy feeling spread over the boys’ skin the entire time they were in Mr Cooper’s yard.

Mr Cooper’s house has stood empty ever since he died – covered in vines and gradually falling apart. Fozzy and Josh are scared of the house, but can’t resist the mangoes which grow on a tree in the back yard. On one of their visits, however, they discover that the house is no longer empty. A teenage boy has moved in.

The boys soon become friends with Zen, a runaway who is making the house his new home. Zen helps them work on an entry for a school science competition and the boys provide Zen with companionship and, occasionally, a fresh sandwich. At first Fozzy and Josh think that Zen is lucky to live by himself, but gradually they come to realise that not everything is as good as it seems.

Silence the Dragon is fun novel for 10 to 12 year olds, with a recommended reading age of about 11. The story focusses on friendship and loyalty, as well as family and responsibilty, in a way which is fun and non-preachy.

Silence the Dragon is a green level title in the new Breakers series from Macmillan Education. It is suitable as a classroom reader or for private enjoyment.

Silence the Dragon, by Pamela Graham
Macmillan education, 2004

Percussion, by Jay Verney

It’s like my Aunt Ruby – the day she died, she said goodbye to her husband, Arthur, got into bed, made a few calls saying nice things to nieces and nephews . . .talked to Mama, that’s her sister, who was just beside herself because she lived too far away to get there on time. She made herself comfortable . . .and off she went that afternoon about five.

This death, described by one of the minor characters in Percussion is not a key part of the book, but it does speak of the central focus of the book – on death and dying. Whilst some of the death is metaphorical – the death of a marriage, for example – one of the central characters dies a violent death. Despite the focus on death, this is not a dark and depressing novel, for like Aunt Ruby’s passing, death is not always traumatic and it can mark the beginning of recovery.

Penier Bay (the locals call it Pineappale Bay) is a town which seems in need of recovery. It is a town of conflict, of alcoholics and of oppressive heat. Tension bubbles beneath the surface incessantly. Yet perhaps Pineapple is more real than the places Anna Maher visits with her mother Maggie and grandmother Veronica in the United States. There they attend a veterans’ reunion and watch Veronica’s elderly friends avoiding the inevitability of death. Maggie, suggests that in Pineapple Bay living and dying were far cheaper achievements and… funerals were certainly nothing like the rituals of show-and-tell engaged in by the American death industry.

The action of the novel switches between Pineapple Bay and the United States, and also switches from past to present so that the story circles and unfolds gradually. It is not until the final page that the last piece of the tale falls into place and reveals the significance of Veronica’s death.

Percussion is the second novel for Jay Verney. Her first, A Mortality Tale, was shortlisted for the Vogel Award and has been rereleased to coincide with the publication of Percussion. Those who have read the first will enjoy the overlap of character and setting. Whilst Percussion is in no way a sequel, the reappaearance of the central character of A Mortality Tale is an intruguing touch for those readers.

Percussion is a wryly humorous, absorbing novel.

Percussion, by Jay Verney
UQP, 2004

Princess Tamsin, by Annette Wickes

Jamie had played cricket for our school’s cricket team at the weekend. He’d made forty runs and taken five wickets. Now he was close to being the most popular boy in school.
No doubt about it, being good at sport is the way to win friends. So what hope is there for someone like me?

Tamsin isn’t happy about moving from the city to the country. She’s left behind her old house, her old school and her Dad. As far as she’s concerned, that’s too many changes.

Fitting in at a new school isn’t easy, either, especially at a school where everyone else is sports-crazy. Tamsin doesn’t like sport and she is hopeless at it. She can’t hit a ball and she drops catches. The only good thing about the school is the big old river red gum that stands in the yard. Perhaps, in an unexpected way, this tree could be the key to Tamsin fitting in.

Princess Tamsin offers both humour and empathy as the reader watches Tamsin struggle to adjust to all the changes in her life and, most importantly, fit in. Tamsin overcomes her problems with the support of those around her, but also finds plenty of inner strength as she uses her talents to mould a place for herself in her new school.

Princess Tamsin is a light-hearted yet insightful look into the life of an eleven year old girl.

Princess Tamsin, by Annette Wickes
Omnibus, 2004

Summer's Story, by Wendy Graham

Summer could still hardly believe it. Me! she thought. All those skinny, suntanned girls who hang out at the lifesaving club, and Dylan wants to meet me there!
But what to wear? She pinched a fold of fat above her waist…

At fourteen, Summer has big plans. She’s going to be a famous writer and she’s starting an all-girl rock group with her best friend, Amy. When she meets Dylan, she falls in love, and life is great. Well, it would be if she didn’t have to deal with a nagging New-Age Mum and a gran with alzheimers, who seem to be competing to bring the most embarrassment to Summer.

Summer has always been rebellious and, with all that’s going on in her life, her attitude towards her mother’s dumb rules and wierd behaviours aren’t likely to change soon. But she is about to find out that some dreams aren’t meant to come true.

Summer’s Story is a story of growing up – first love, family, friendship and self-belief. Summer is a very real character and teenage girls will find her easy to relate to as they watch her struggle with many situations which will be familiar. Summer’s Story is funny, compassionate and real.

Summer’s Story, by Wendy Graham
Scholastic, 2004

By the River, by Steven Herrick

In 1962
I was fourteen,
and the flood swept
refrigerators, bikes
used tyres, and
Linda Mahony
downstream.

Harry was named after Harry Houdini, the great escape artist, which is perhaps why he’s so good at wriggling out of trouble. Like the time that Johnny Barlow wants to flatten him for throwing stones at his brother’s window. Harry doesn’t lie, but Johnny still leaves him alone.

Life for Harry isn’t all about escapes, however. His mother died when he was seven, leaving his Dad to bring up Harry and his younger brother. Harry also mourns the loss of his friend, Linda, who was swept away in a flood. Even apart from these deaths, small-town life can be difficult. There are always gossips, always hardships. Harry seems to be biding his time till he can leave.

Still, there are good things, too. Eating chunks of watermelon in the backyard after school, chasing clouds of butterflies in Cowper’s Paddock and swimming in Pearce Swamp.

By the River is a story of undercurrents and of survival. More simply, it is a tale of growing up in the 1960s. Steven Herrick writes in verse, which means he has to work to make every word, every line, powerful. He achieves this with aplomb. Whilst issues of death and intolerance are at the centre of the book, it is not a depressing read – being instead tender and subtle. Harry yearns for freedom, sensing he will find it by leaving town, yet as the novel progresses he comes to a greater understanding of the town and its people. This doesn’t mean that Harry won’t leave, but perhaps that when he does he won’t be running away.

By the River is a coming of age story, with Harry’s growth creeping up on the reader. Teen readers will enjoy the form and the story.

By the River, by Steven Herrick
Allen & Unwin, 2004

Life Skills For kids, by Kim Davis

Being a child isn’t always fun and games. Kids have lots of things to deal with – difficulties with school work, bullying, family problems, social problems and more. And not every child shows what s/he is feeling inside so that the adults around them can help them. Life Skills For Kids is designed to offer kids this help, by showing them ways to understand and control their feelings.

Author Kim Davis, a teacher, therapist and counsellor has put together a program that helps children develop an awareness of the connection between their feelings and what is happening in their life. Using fictional stories and reflective activities, Life Skills for Kids is an interactive book which can be worked through by the child on his/her own or, ideally with parental support.

Life Skills for Kids contains four stories, each with follow up activities, followed by sections explaining relaxation techniques such as massage, meditation, dance, and understanding dreams.

Life Skills For Kids offers a great resource for kids, parents, teachers and counsellors.

Life Skills for Kids, by Kim Davis
Ibis Publishing, 2004

 

Survival Around the World

Top athletes spend a lot of time travelling overseas, and one of the most important things they need to focus on when away from home is maintaining good diet. Even non-athlete frequent travellers are well advised to do the same. Survival Around the World is a recipe book which makes maintaining a healthy diet just a little easier.

Put together by sports dieticians at the Australian Institute of Sport, with help from the athletes, it presents a range of healthy and nutritious recipes from around the world – from regions including the Pacific, North America, Asia, Greece and the Middle East.

Recipes are supported by nutritional analyses as well as cooking hints and a range of travelling hints from AIS athletes.

Survival Around the World is the third official cookbook from the Australian Institute of Sport, following on from the popularity of Survival for the Fittest and Survival from the Fittest. You don’t need to be an athlete or a traveller to enjoy the book – with recipes such as Thai Chicken Soup, Ham and Zucchini Risotto and Lemon Coconut Muffins, there are plenty of ideas on hand for any cook.

Survival Around the World, by Louise Burke, Greg Cox, Nikki Cummings and Ben Desbrow
Allen & Unwin, 2004

The Wombat Who Talked to the Stars

Unlike their cousins, the Southern Hairy-Nosed Wombat and the Common Wombat, the Northern Hairy-Nosed Wombat is seriosuly endangered. There are only 113 Northern Hairy-Nosed Wombats living in the wild. In this delightful children’s book Jill Morris explores the plight of these creatures using a combination of fact and fiction.

Presented as a journal from the first person perspective of one the wombats, Male Number 25, the book explores the differences between the Northern Hairy-Nosed and its cousins, its habitat, the events which have led to its near-extinction and what is being done to save it.

Male 25 uses a variety of writing forms in his diary – a poem, charts, diagrams, recount and simple reporting of facts and is ably supported by the illustrations of Sharon Dye, who also uses a variety of techniques, including aged parchment backgrounds, botanical illustrations and full colour spreads.

The Wombat Who Talked to the Stars has won a swag of awards since it was first published in 1997, including the Excellence in Educational Publishing Award (1997), the Best Children’s Book in the Whitely Awards (1997) and a shortlisting for the Eve Pownall Award, 1998.

The Wombat Who Talked to the Stars is excellent nonfiction about a subject that should be important to all Australians.

The Wombat Who Talked to the Stars, by Jill Morris and Sharon Dye
Greater Glider, 1997, reprinted 2004

The Art of Romance Writing, by Valerie Parv

Writing romance novels can’t be that hard, can it? All you need is a copy of the secret formula, fill in the balnks and hey presto you are on the way to publication! Unfortunately, it isn’t quite that easy. If it was there would be a lot more rich romance authors in the world. Fortunately, for those who do want to try their hand at romance writing, Valerie Parv shares plenty of practical information in The Art of Romance Writing.

Parv, who has had over 50 novels published and is considered the Queen of Australia’s romance genre, debunks many of the myths surrounding romance books and the art of romance writing. In place of these misconceptions she offers solid, practical advice for romance writers and would-be romance writers.

Covering everything from plotting a story, to viewpoint and characters as well as choosing a publisher to target, submitting a mansucript and more, Parv shares her expereince in a way which is accessible and informative.

This is a new edition of the book, which was first published in 1993 and has been fully revsied to reflect changes to the market and genre in that time.

The Art of Romance Writing is an essential tool for anyone considering writing romantic fiction.

The Art of Romance Writing, by Valerie Parv
Allen & Unwin, 2004