March 2012 – Page 3 – Aussie Reviews

Liar Bird, by Lisa Walker

I curled up under my shawl, listened to the alien sounds of the bush and wondered how I’d ended up here, miles from my natural habitat. Headphones in my ears to block out the noise, I finally fell asleep to someone singing about a bus to Bondi.
Some hours later I woke up with a start – sweating. It was the dream, the one I’d had every night since it happened – a large and menacing long-footed potoroo lurked outside my window. It opened its mouth in a sinister smile, showing long, sharp teeth. Where to now, Cassandra? it said.

Cassandra Daley is a PR expert who will do whatever it takes to help her clients – even if she has to resort to a few dirty tricks. But when her fibs are found out, she is left disgraced, and has to look for a new job. A job in the country could be just the thing. But Beechville is pretty hard to get used to – there are frogs in Cassandra’s toilet, people who love her one day and avoid her the next, and a disappearing boss. Then there’s the pretty hunky ranger who seems to have it in for her – in spite of which she finds herself increasingly attracted to him.
Cassandra finds herself connecting with the town and almost enjoying her jb – until the night she finds out the town’s secret. Suddenlys he’s back in the limelight with the press – this time in a good way – and she has to figure out just what is important to her. Is it possible she’ll always be a liar bird?

Liar Bird is a funny look at PR, conservation and city v country, with polished city-girl Cassandra gradually finding her more down to earth alter-ego Cassie as she struggles to adapt to life in a small town. Her voice is refreshing and readers will enjoy the way she talks to her resident tree frog as she recounts the story, as well as the range of characters with whom she interacts. But, while the story is chiefly funny, it also explores issues of honesty, self-identity and conservation, engaging the reader in considering these.

This is a debut novel, with Walker’s dexterity evidence her name will be seen again.

Liar Bird, by Lisa Walker
Harper Collins, 2012
ISBN 9780732294120

This book is avaialble from good bookstores or online from Fishpond. Buying through this link supports Aussiereviews.

Hatched, by Asphyxia

MONDAY
Shall I tell you my best secret? One day I’m going to be Lady Martha the Magnificent. I don’t know what my special talent is, but I’m going to find it. And when I do, ordinary people will fall over themselves to read my diary and learn all about my childhood.

Martha Grimstone is trying to find her place in the world. She lives with her grandfather, an apothecary, her aunt, who runs the family home, and her mother, a seamstress, who endlessly mourns the death of Martha’s father. Most of the time it seems to Martha that none of the adults notices her, or really appreciates her talents, and Martha spends her days trying to please. She practices her deportment as she collects the eggs for Aunt Gertrude, she takes meals to her mama, and she collects herbs for Grandpa Grimstone’s concoctions. If only she could make everyone happy!

Hatched is the first title in a new Gothic series for younger readers. Told in diary format from the perspective of Martha, and illustrated with photographs and collages, the story will appeal to a range of readers – from reluctant readers who will benefit from the visual elements, to more advanced readers who will enjoy the Gothic feel. The Grimstones are drawn from puppet characters used by the author in puppet shows and now translated into the written word.

This is a quirky offering which is bound to be a success with middle primary aged readers.

Hatched (Grimstones), by Asphyxia
Allen & Unwin, 2012
ISBN 9781742376882

This title is available in bookstores or online from Fishpond. Buying through this link supports Aussiereviews.

A Bear and a Tree, by Stephen Michael King

The unlikely trio – a big white bear, a little girl and a mouse – come together in a surprising way against the delightfully whimsical winter landscape of King’s imagination

It began to snow, and Bear knew it was time for his big sleep. But instead of saying goodbye, he lifted Ren and nestled her in his coat. Bear was as warm as a summer memory.

As Bear prepares for his winter sleep, he finds his friend Ren (a human girl) crying because her favourite tree has lost its leaves. Even though he should be settling down to sleep, Bear picks Ren up and takes her to marvel at the wonders of winter – falling snow, a gurgling reek, glistening icicles and bendy branches. They join with Mouse to watch the twinkling winter stars and spend the night counting them. But in the morning, Bear is tired – and Ren knows that he must sleep. Together the three friends trace back to the tree, where they leave souvenirs of their journey before Bear, finally, settles down to sleep for the winter.

A Bear and a Tree is a breathtaking celebration of winter – and of friendship. The unlikely trio – a big white bear, a little girl and a mouse – come together in a surprising way against the delightfully whimsical winter landscape of King’s imagination. Like all of his book’s, King’s illustrations are seemingly simple and yet say so much, with a dream-like quality which the soft blues and whites of the winter landscape abet beautifully.

This a book which is perfect for snuggling up to read, in much the same way as the characters themselves snuggle up. Excellent for bedtime reading, or for rainy-day reading, or for any=time reading, really.

A Bear and a Tree, by Stephen Michael King
Penguin, 2012
ISBN 9780670075829

This book is available in good bookstores, or online from Fishpond. Buying through this link supports Aussiereviews.

366 Books February Update

Two months into the National Year of Reading, means two months down in my attempt to read 366 books this year. That means it must also be time for an update.

So 31 days in January, 29 days in February means, by now, I should have read 60 books. And guess what – that’s exactly where I’m at! On target to get to 366 books. These are the books I read in February:

34	Come Down, Cat	Sonya Hartnett	Penguin	Picture Book
35	The Outcasts	John Flanagan	Random House	Young Adult
36	Quinn’s Riddles	Aleesah Darlison	Walker	Children’s
37	Willow’s Challenge	Aleesah Darlison	Walker	Children’s
38	Krystal’s Choice	Aleesah Darlison	Walker	Children’s
39	Ellabeth’s Test	Aleesah Darlison	Walker	Children’s
40	The Secret Signal	Simon Haynes	Bowman	Children’s
41	Poetry Matters	Ralph Fletcher	Harper Trophy	Non Fiction – Writing
42	HipsterMattic	Matt Granfield	Allen & Unwin	Non Fiction
43	Darius Bell & the Crystal Bees	Odo Hirsch	Allen & Unwin	Children’s
44	The Coming of the Whirlpool	Andrew McGahan	Allen & Unwin	Young Adult
45	Sam, Grace and the Shipwreck	Michelle Gillespie	Fremantle Press	Picture Book
46	The Bicyle	Colin Thompson	ABC Books	Picture Book
47	Tin Toys	Bruce Whatley	Random House	Picture Book
48	The Jewel Fish of Karnak	Graeme Base	Penguin	Picture Book
49	A Bus Called Heaven	Bob Graham	Walker	Picture Book
50	Vampyre	Margaret Wild	Walker	Picture Book
51	Desert Boys	Peter Rees	Allen & Unwin	Non Fiction
52	The Flying Emu	Sally Morgan	Walker	Children’s
53	Foal’s Bread	Gillian Mears	Allen & Unwin	Adult
54	The Carousel	Ursula Dubosarsky	Viking	Picture Book
55	Assault	Brian Falkner	Walker	Young Adult
56	The Red House Mystery	AA Milne		Adult
57	Matilda is Missing	Caroline Overington	Bantam	Adult
58	Bom! Went the Bear	Nicki Greenberg	Allen & Unwin	Picture Book
59	Rudie Nudie	Emma Quay	ABC Books	Picture Book
60	Equinox	Lara Morgan	Walker	Young Adult

If you are quick to count you might notice that although I’m up to 60, I actually started the month ahead, and so didn’t quite read a book a day during February. There are a couple of reasons for this, to do with school going back, writing commitments and speaking engagements. But there are also some books which need more than one day to read. For example, Peter Rees’ Desert Boys took almost a week to get through – which was well worth the effort, although it took me close to not meeting my quota for the month

As with January, I’ve linked the titles above to the reviews of the books, where I’ve reviewed them. If there is no link it means I haven’t reviewed the book – most probably because it isn’t Australian (in January there were some Australian books which I didn’t review because I was sending them to Claire to review instead).

A new month started today – that’s another 31 books to get read! I look forward to keeping you updated with my progress.

I hope you’re still celebrating the National Year of Reading.