July 2013 – Page 2 – Aussie Reviews

Ghost Club: A Transylvanian Tale by Deborah Abela

‘You’re not getting away that easily.’

Angeline fixed her sights on the faint red glow of the ghost that had appeared on the screen of her Tracker. She and Edgar had been following this particular spectral pest for days, and once again it was almost in her grasp.

She stepped carefully and quickly over the damp forest floor, which was twisted with roots and choked with the musty decay of leaves. Swirls of mist caught in her torchlight, creeping from between the trees and circling her ankles like snakes.

She knew she shouldn’t be her on her own. …

… But she tonight she’d had little time to act, so act she did.

‘You’re not getting away that easily.’

She knew she shouldn’t be her on her own. …

… But she tonight she’d had little time to act, so act she did.

Angeline Usher and her brother Edgar are ghost catchers. They are the youngest ghost catchers in the Ghost Club and very excited to be visiting Transylvania for the annual Ghost Club Convention. Dylan is a more reluctant ghost catcher, but despite this, he has a good eye for details. As a trio, they make an effective team. The highlight for the Convention is a talk by famous (and gorgeous) Ripley Granger. The entire Usher family are besotted by him. Angeline can quote from all his books. But when in Transylvania, surrounded by so many ghosts and stories, even a Convention of Ghost Club ghost catchers can be taken by surprise.

Ghost Club: A Transylvanian Tale is the third offering in this series. The adults stay close by but are still in the background. There’s their ghost catching parents, their inventing grandmother, ghostly grandfather, a poet called Gloom and the agoraphobic and knowledgeable Endora. The three young ghost catchers are able to do their ‘catching’ because of the combination of their skills. Each brings something unique to the team. Abela suggests that ghosts are souls who have unfinished business in this world. Therefore the job of the ghost catcher is to locate the ghost, determine what troubles them and then fix it so they can rest in peace. Dylan’s behaviour gives voice to those who might experience fear and demonstrates that despite it, it’s possible to act when action is required. Recommended for mid-primary readers.

Ghost Club: A Transylvanian Tale , Deborah Abela Random House Australia 2013 ISBN: 9781742758534

review by Claire Saxby, Children’s Author

www.clairesaxby.com

Available from good bookstores and online.

What the Raven Saw by Samantha-Ellen Bound

He sat perched on the bottom gable of the church’s roof, a smudge of glossy blue-black with a tiny, alabaster eye.

The raven was trying to watch the funeral below, but he had to keep looking back to check the weatherhen wasn’t giving him the eye.

Oh, the shame of it.

He sat perched on the bottom gable of the church’s roof, a smudge of glossy blue-black with a tiny, alabaster eye.

The raven was trying to watch the funeral below, but he had to keep looking back to check the weatherhen wasn’t giving him the eye.

Oh, the shame of it.

She had the act down pat – pretend to be all nice and silent and still. The perfect little weathervane, pointing from north from south. No problems here. But as soon as the raven let his guard down, there she was with her beady eyes.

She was after something of his. He knew it. But no amount of razzle dazzle would get her anywhere near his treasure.

What the Raven Saw is narrated, as the title suggests, by a raven. Raven lives in a church yard. It’s generally peaceful, people mostly left him alone, and that suited him just fine. It was a great place to hide his treasure too. Then there was the bonus of the Sunday morning singing, led by his only friend and equal, the splendid-voiced Father Cadman. Then a young boy’s funeral introduces Raven to her sister, the fiercely angry Mackenzie. Raven despises pigeons, is very wary of the obviously-avaricious weatherhen, mostly ignored the moaning ghosts of the graveyard, but Todd, the young boy, is impossible to ignore and Raven’s life begins to change. For reasons he’s not very keen to explore, Raven is the lynch-pin in lives and happenings all around him.

Raven is a delightfully grumpy, proud and self-contained protagonist. He thinks well of himself and apparently not much of anyone else. ‘What the Raven Saw’ is full of lovely language and an unusual observation of life. Raven can speak to and understand fellow birds, scarecrows, ghosts and humans. His musings are wonderfully funny and his pronouncements sometimes absurd. While he observes sadness and anger in the humans, he also experiences their optimism and belief. Those fortunate enough to hear Raven speak seem intent on seeing only good in him, despite his best efforts. Gradually, their belief in him allows him to see beyond his assertions and to live the good they are sure is there. This is a warm and gently humourous look at life through the eyes of a bird. Recommended for mid-primary readers and beyond.

What the Raven Saw, Samantha-Ellen Bound
Woolshed Press 2013
ISBN: 9781742757353

review by Claire Saxby, Children’s Author

www.clairesaxby.com

Available from good bookstores or online.

Aussie Animal Opposites by Elizabeth Lea ill Liz Faul

Young yabby

Old owl

Funny frog

Serious seal

Young yabby

Old owl

Funny frog

Serious seal

Aussie Animal Opposites presents Australian animals while demonstrating some alliteration and as the title suggests, opposites. Each opening offers a pair of opposite set in backgrounds which suggest their normal environments. Characters are presented in anthropomorphic and cartoony style, and contain plenty of humour. Later openings show paintings of each animal featured and the final opening attributes the original artist and where the image first appears. Each of these later images also offers information, asks questions of the reader and suggests activities for young children.

Aussie Animal Opposites offers different things to different readings and perhaps readers. Very young children will respond to the alliteration and the opposites and will be able to begin to recognise the animals depicted. As they engage further (slightly older?), they can learn more about the animals themselves – both through the images and the information provided. Further rereading offers opportunities for shared learning and activities. This is a sturdy larger-than-some board book and it is the cartoony characters who feature on the cover. Perhaps the factual information will engage an older sibling while the younger is learning about big and small, old and young. Recommended for very young readers.

Aussie Animal Opposites, Elizabeth Lea ill Liz Faul National Library of Australia Publishing 2013 ISBN: 9780642277664

review by Claire Saxby, Children’s Author

www.clairesaxby.com

Available from good bookstores or online.

Princess Betony and the Thunder Egg by Pamela Freeman, ill Tamsin Ainslie

Princess Betony looked nervously behind her. She wished Lady Pineal would stop hovering so close.

‘Now, Your Highness,’ Lady Pineal said, in that tone of voice which meant she didn’t believe Betony could do anything right. ‘If you please: toe pointed …’

Betony pointed her right toe. Then she swept her foot around behind her, as far as she could –

‘Ow!’ Lady Pineal said, and started hopping on one foot, rubbing the leg that Betony had accidentally kicked.

Princess Betony looked nervously behind her. She wished Lady Pineal would stop hovering so close.

‘Now, Your Highness,’ Lady Pineal said, in that tone of voice which meant she didn’t believe Betony could do anything right. ‘If you please: toe pointed …’

Betony pointed her right toe. Then she swept her foot around behind her, as far as she could –

‘Ow!’ Lady Pineal said, and started hopping on one foot, rubbing the leg that Betony had accidentally kicked.

Princess Betony is back in a second fantastical adventure in Floramonde. This time she is to collect the thunder egg, a gift from the Wild Magic. She is apprehensive, but it will mean a break from the tedious curtsey practice with the relentless Lady Pineal. And it seems that it is a task that only she can fulfil and she must do it alone. Opinions are varied: ‘too dangerous’; ‘impossible’; ‘too tricky’. Only her mother, Queen Salixia understands what an honour it is that Betony has been asked, and only Salixia realises the consequences if Betony doesn’t go. Betony makes her own decision to go, excited and apprehensive in equal measures. What follows is a magical adventure through the Dark Forest and into Teapot Mountain. Black and white illustrations appear on each opening.

Princess Betony and the Thunder Egg is a beautiful almost pocket-sized hardback book, complete with dust jacket and place-marker ribbon. The cover and endpapers are covered in snowflake or ice crystal shapes. Betony is more comfortable making decisions outside in the ‘real’ world than she seems to be with the formalities required of a princess in a palace. Her clumsiness vanishes as she sets out on her quest to bring home the thunder egg. Her parents support her quest, her mother with less anxiety than her father – perhaps trusting her to be open to the world around her and therefore in less danger. Wrapped in this fairy tale are many reassuring messages about becoming independent even when it might be a bit scary. It also recognises that success and bravery are more likely when others believe in you. But mostly, this is a lovely and thoughtful adventure for quiet and resourceful princesses who don’t mind getting their frocks dirty. Recommended for early primary and younger children as a read-to.

Princess Betony and the Thunder Egg, Pamela Freeman ill Tamsin Ainslie
2013 Walker Books
ISBN: 9781921720246

review by Claire Saxby, Children’s Author

www.clairesaxby.com

Available from good bookstores or online.

Arkie Sparkle, Treasure Hunter Tick Tock: Day 7 Antarctica by Petra James

6.45 am

It was grey and rainy outside, and gloomy quiet within.

Arkie, TJ and Edie were sitting at the kitchen bench and Cleo was snoozing at their feet.

Seven envelopes were lined up in front of them, each one with a time marked on it, all two hours apart.

Arkie and Edie were staring at the first envelope, untouched pieces of toast beside them.

TJ was munching on Muesli and banana, and slurping her hot chocolate.

‘How can you eat at a time like this TJ?’ said Arkie. ‘It’s not normal. My stomach’s in twisty knots.’

6.45 am

It was grey and rainy outside, and gloomy quiet within.

Arkie, TJ and Edie were sitting at the kitchen bench and Cleo was snoozing at their feet.

Seven envelopes were lined up in front of them, each one with a time marked on it, all two hours apart.

Arkie and Edie were staring at the first envelope, untouched pieces of toast beside them.

TJ was munching on Muesli and banana, and slurping her hot chocolate.

‘How can you eat at a time like this TJ?’ said Arkie. ‘It’s not normal. My stomach’s in twisty knots.’

Arkie Sparkle is part of a global treasure hunting clan. She might only be 11 years old, but she’s been learning from masters all her life. It’s Day 7 of the race to rescue Arkie’s parents from mad Uncle Sebastian. Arkie and her supporters have triumphed through the first six instalments of this Treasure Hunter series. This time he’s set a series of challenges – pitting Arkie, TJ and Edie against Clem and Cate – in Antarctica. They are to begin in Scott’s hut. If, and only if they win, will Arkie learn where her parents are being held. Arkie doesn’t believe Clem is as evil as his father, but the others are not convinced. The race begins and Arkie and co set off once more. This is their last chance. Black and white illustrations are scattered throughout and there are several different text types.

‘Day 7: Antarctica’ is the seventh instalment in this race around the world. Arkie needs to marshall all her resources if she is to save her parents. ‘Antarctica’ is an explosive paced treasure hunt where the hunters have to deal with a relative who is not playing fair. She and her helpers persist and there are themes of good triumphing over evil sure to stir the heart of all those on the side of justice! For no matter how dastardly Sebastian’s plots are, Arkie succeeds in the end. Each instalment (book) is short, with potentially challenging words highlighted in different fonts. There are plenty of wonderful gadgets and technology to assist their endeavours. Ideal for readers who want gutsy, enterprising main characters. Recommended for mid primary readers.

Arkie Sparkle, Treasure Hunter Tick Tock: Day 7 Antarctica, Petra James
2013 Macmillan
ISBN: 9781742612102

review by Claire Saxby, Children’s Author

www.clairesaxby.com

Available from good bookstores or online.