Battlefield, by Alan Tucker

‘BANZAI!’
The Japs charged, but I wasn’t scared. Even though they had me outnumbered three to one, I knew I could do them. I’d beaten them every other time.
I stood my ground, watched their rifles and held my bayonet at the ready. Dad had taught me the drill: ‘Stick them in the ribcage under their leading arm, son.’
He learned to kill during the last war. He never got to bayonet anyone, although he tried the day the Germans captured him. If he hadn’t been blinded with gas he’d have been able to see straight and jab one or two of them. He says gas is a coward’s weapon. But I’d use it to free my brother.
‘BANZAI!’

Barry lives on the family farm near Cowra, with his parents and six sisters. Battlefield is set in the final months of the second world war. Barry’s only brother, Jack joined the army but is now in a Japanese POW camp. Cowra has it’s own POW camp. Firstly it had Italians but now it has the hated Japanese. They don’t follow the rules of war. They don’t surrender, they play by their own rules. Barry is desperate to enlist, and in the meantime, he practises being a soldier. His teachers are his father, and his sister’s girlfriend Jack who trains new recruits and reckons he’s as good as any of the recruits. His army and enemy are his little sisters. But there are rumours of a Japanese breakout from the camp and Barry wants to be ready.

Battlefield is set a long way from the war in the Pacific and even further from the war in Europe, but both come to Cowra in their own way. Barry is isolated by his father’s silence about war and by his brother’s absence. He’s a very determined character, and will be ready for anything when his turn comes. Barry’s father teaches him to shoot, but also teaches him about the dangers of guns. Jack teaches him about tactics and strategy. Barry practices soldiering every day and plots ways to get closer to the interment camp. He wants to skill himself for the real thing. Battlefield is told in the first person which brings the reader very close to Barry, but also allows the reader to experience his fallibility. There are themes about war, family, gender roles and more. Recommended for upper primary- to early secondary readers.

Battlefield

Battlefield, Alan Tucker
Scholastic Press 2010
ISBN: 9781741695519

review by Claire Saxby, Children’s Author
www.clairesaxby.com

This book can be purchased online from Fishpond. Buying through this link supports Aussiereviews.

Aussie Legends, by Tom Baddley

The story of Australia is full of wondrous facts,
Of men and women, young and old, and their amazing acts.
But there’s one name that seems to stir opinions good and bad
Ned Kelly – wild bushranger – was he marvellous or mad?

Australia’s non-indigenous history is very short, but is peopled (and horsed) by some memorable characters. Before books were widely available and affordable, many stories were circulated by oral storytellers. Rhyme was also used by some of our most famous storytellers like Banjo Patterson and Henry Lawson to capture the stories of Australia. And Tom Baddeley has chosen rhyme to tell the stories of six Australian legends. Each story begins with a map showing where the legend lived and is accompanied by full page illustrations. Aussie Legends is a sturdy hardback, with a green and gold cover.

History is fascinating, but it’s not always accessible to younger children. Tom Baddeley has combined history with poetry to bring stories to new generations of children. These stories are teasers, tasters. The stories are an introduction to non-indigenous history and will hopefully inspire further reading, further curiosity about other times and other people. The illustrations show the times as well as the legends. Stories like those of Phar Lap and Don Bradman also reflect the nationalism and pride Australians felt for their heroes. Others, like the story of Ned Kelly, talk about the continued challenge of deciding whether Ned was hero or villain. Recommended for primary readers.

Aussie Legends

Aussie Legends, Tom Baddeley ill Tracey Gibbs
Fremantle Press 2009
ISBN: 9781921361609

review by Claire Saxby, Children’s Author
www.clairesaxby.com

this book can be purchased online from Fishpond. Buying through this link supports Aussiereviews.

Blood Moon, by Garry Disher

It is schoolies week and in Waterloo, on the Mornington Peninsula, police are already stretched dealing with drunk, rowdy or simply exuberant teens. But then the bashing of a well-connected school chaplain puts pressure on Detective Inspector Hal Challis and his crew, and the subsequent murder of a local planning officer creates chaos.

While police investigate the two major crimes they must also deal with a sexual assault on a female schoolie, the mysterious drugging and humiliation of a toolie, and his gun rampage seeking retribution. meanwhile, the police officers have personal issues to deal with Hal is in a relationship with Sergeant Ellen Destry, another Sergeant, Scobie Sutton, has marriage problems, and tension is brewing between three uniformed officers.

Blood Moon is a wonderful crime fiction offering, with lots going on. The various crimes at times overlap, and the lives of different members of Hal’s team are explored along the way. The characters’ lives are as important as the solving of the crimes, with the reader able to connect with victims and investigators alike.

An absorbing read.

Blood Moon

Blood Moon, by Garry Disher
Text Publishing, 2010

This book can be purchased online from Fishpond. Buying through this link supports Aussiereveiws.

Dancing in the Dark, by Robyn Bavati

Two more steps and –
‘Where do you think you’re going?’ says my father.
I open my mouth to speak but –
‘I asked you a question,’ says my father.
I take another step towards the door.
‘Stay where you are.’ His voice is a command. ‘If you leave now, if you set foot outside that door, you are not to come back. Do you understand, Yehudit? You are not to come back.’

Ditty Cohen is not supposed to be watching TV, but when she does, she sees a broadcast of a classical ballet and is instantly hooked. She must learn ballet herself. But when she asks her parents she is told that ballet is out of the question – it is immodest, it will not make her a better person, and it is not something a good Jewish girl can do.

For the first time in her life Ditty finds herself questioning her parents’ directives. She sneaks off to take a free lesson, and soon she is dancing every day. Her passion is equalled by her talent, and she finds herself unable to give it up. Soon, Ditty finds that she is not just covering up her secret dancing, but also her doubts about her whole life as a Haredi Jew.

Dancing in the Dark is an absorbing tale of one teenager’s struggle with family expectations, her faith, and the dilemmas which choosing to defy her parents’ force her to confront. For most Australian teens, Ditty’s life and faith will be unfamiliar, making the story doubly interesting. But, on another level, all teens will find the dilemmas of self versus family, and of meeting societal expectations, familiar.

Ditty is an honest and open narrator, and her story is well crafted, and will intrigue teen readers.

Dancing in the Dark

Dancing in the Dark, by Robyn Bavati
Penguin, 2010

This book can be purchased online from Fishpond. Buying through this link supports Aussiereviews.

Style Files, by Amanda Nicholls

When the school bell finally rang, Melody sprinted to the bus stop to tell the twins the news.
‘I got an email from the editor of Total Girl! She told me how to create a magazine!’ melody squealed.
‘OMG! that is totally awesome! What did she say?’ Abby gushed.

Melody Michaels loves magazines and fashion equally. So when she has to create a magazine as part of a school assignment, of course it has to be a fashion magazine. Soon her fashion zine, the Style File, is the talk of the school. Then, when her favourite magazine, Total Girl runs a contest to find a fashion communist, Melody wonders whether she would have a chance of being considered.

Style Files is the first title in the new Totally Stylin series from Total Girl magazine and Allen & Unwin. With easy to read text, a simple plot and lots of friends and fashion, as well as a free gift of a pink sparkly coin purse, this will appeal to girls aged 8 to 10, who will look forward to collecting the series.

Style Files (Totally Stylin')

Style Files (Totally Stylin’), by Amanda Nicholls
Allen & Unwin, 2010

This book can be purchased online from Fishpond. Buying through this link supports Aussiereviews.

Itsy-Bitsy Babies, by Margaret Wild & Jan Ormerod

This itsy-bitsy baby sucks her thumb.
That itsy-bitsy baby bangs on a drum.

Itsy Bitsy Babies is a delightful read aloud offering perfect for the very young. With a simple rhyme and repetitive, patterned text, this is a quick, gentle read ideal for cuddle time or bedtime reading.

The illustrations feature babies of different ages from new born to toddler, and from differing ethnic groups, romping, resting, eating, playing their way through the pages.

From the talented, award winning pairing of Margaret Wild and Jan Ormerod

Itsy Bitsy Babies

Itsy Bitsy Babies, by Margaret Wild & Jan Ormerod
Little Hare, 2010

This book can be purchased online from Fishpond. Buying through this link supports Aussiereviews.

The AWW Cooking School

There is no shortage of cookbooks on the market, but what sets The AWW Cooking Schoolapart from so many others is that it features recipes which even a beginner can cook, with ingredients easily available.

Many recipes include step by step photographs, and the book is divided into straightforward chapters for easy access – pasta, rice, vegetables, desserts, cakes and so on. ‘Special features’ of double page spread help with identification of and understanding of food types including noodles, spices, fruits, salads, cheeses and more.

From the publishers of the Australian Women’s Weekly, this sturdy hardcover offering is ideal for a new cook, giving a thorough grounding in cooking a wide variety of dishes, in a manner which is accessible and informative.

Would make an ideal gift for an engagement or twenty first birthday.

The AWW Cooking School

The AWW Cooking School ACP Books, 2010

This book can be purchased online from Fishpond. Buying through this link supports Aussiereviews.

Wibbly Wobbly Street, by Trudie Trewin & Cheryl Orsini

Wibbly Wobbly Street wound up and down, thin and out, right and left and everywhere in between.
It was a peculiar street full of peculiar happenings.
And the people who lived there liked it just the way it was.

All of the streets in Squareton are straight and smooth and wide, and flat and trim and tidy – except Wibbly Wobbly Street. True to its name, Wibbly Wobbly Street wibbles and wobbles all over the place – and that is exactly how the people who live there like it. But the Mayor and the Councillors of Squareton don’t like it – and they decide it must be straightened.

Wibbly Wobbly Street is a hilarious picture book about nonconformity and the fun of being different. It is also just a plain silly story of street-straightening and a celebration of language. Author Trudie Trewin has fun making up words (rectangle-fied and wibblectomy, for example), and using real words for maximum fun – hopscotch, askew, wibbliest and more. The text also wibbles and wobbles to emphasise the meaning, and the illustrations, by Cheryl Orsini, wibble and wobble too, with whimsy and fun on every page.

A delightful tale.

Wibbly Wobbly Street

Wibbly Wobbly Street, by Trudie Trewin and Cheryl Orsini
Scholastic, 2010

This book can be purchased from Fishpond. Buying through this link supports Aussiereviews.

Delilah's Dream, by Ian Trevaskis & Janine Dawson

Delilah sat alone in the henhouse and laid a creamy-smooth egg, and dreamed.
She dreamed of a life beyond the farmyard gate; a life full of wild and wonderful adventures.
When she told her sisters of her dreams, they cackled and laughed. Hannibal shook his comb and told her not to be silly, that she was just an ordinary, everyday farmyard hen.

Delilah isn’t like the other hens. She dreams of doing big things – but nothing bigger than one day flying. The other chickens scoff at her dreams, but Delilah is undeterred. Then, when a fox visits the farmyard late one night, it is Delilah, and her adventurous spirit, that saves the day.

Delilah’s Dream is a gorgeous picture book story about following dreams, self-belief and friendship. With gentle text by Ian Trevaskis, and watercolour and ink illustrations by Janine Dawson, Delilah and her friends come to life with humour and a mild message.

Very cute.

Delilah’s Dream, by Ian Trevaskis and Janine Dawson
New Frontier, 2009

This book can be purchased online from Fishpond. Buying through this link supports Aussiereviews.

Gina the Dancing Queen, by Marisa Alo

Welcome to Rhythms Dance School
Always Remember
The Three Golden Rules of Dance
A. Relax
2. Feel the rhythm
3. Follow the music

Gina the Giraffe desperately wants to dance, but every times she tries she gets tangled and falls in a heap. But she is determined to learn, and visits a dance school, where she learns the three golden rules of dance. Now, every time she struggles, she remembers the rules and is transported on flights of fantasy which have her dancing like a queen.

Gina The Dancing Queen is an endearing picture book tale about dancing, the importance of self belief, and acceptance. With a simple storyline with some text repetition which will encourage young prereaders to join in, and pages populated by a wide range of animal characters, this will appeal to young children of both genders, and dance fans will be especially enamoured.

Gina The Dancing Queen

Gina The Dancing Queen, by Marisa Alo
Windy Hollow, 2009

This book can be purchased online from Fishpond. Buying through this link supports Aussiereviews.