May 2015 – Aussie Reviews

A Time of Secrets, by Deborah Burrows

There was a fierce, well-controlled energy about Eric Lund, and I couldn’t help wondering what he’d be like if he became angry. I suspected that he didn’t give in to anger lightly, though. He was holding me close and his hand was firm on the small of my back. I was very concious of the feel of his left hand, holding my right in a secure grip. I looked up, into his eyes. For a moment we just stared at each other, watching each other’s faces as our bodies moved together in time to the music.

When Australian Women’s Army sergeant Stella Aldridge meets Eric Lund, he reminds her of her dead husband, in disturbing ways, and yet she cant’ stop thinking about him, even after he is sent off a mission soon after they meet. Her mind should be elsewhere. She has overhead a threat to kill someone, a threat which links Eric and her new boss, the very attractive Lieutenant Nick Ross. While Eric is away, Stella must work with Nick to try to uncover a traitor who is putting surveillance missions, and lives, at risk.

A Time of Secrets, set in Melbourne during World War II, is an absorbing blend of romance, action and mystery.Readers are given an inside look at part of Australian war history they may not know about, with the fictional characters and relationships set amongst the real events of the time. Stella, previously an artist, and a war widow, has enlisted in the Women’s Army and her flair with languages has seen her deployed to Melbourne to work in Intelligence. Her determination not be hurt does not stop her from taking risks or from looking after herself and those around her. Readers will enjoy watching her development, as well as seeing that of the men in her life.

Excellent historical fiction.

A Time of Secrets, by Deborah Burrows
Macmillan, 2015
ISBN 9781743532997

Available from good bookstores and online.

The Warlock’s Child 3: The Iron Claw by Paul Collins & Sean McMullen

In the entire world there are few things that can strike fear into the heart of a king. The sight of his army retreating would be high on the list, and the royal taster clutching his stomach and collapsing would be even higher. At the very top, however, there could be nothing to rival three very angry dragons the size of warships towering over you and asking questions for which you have no answers.

Although King Lavarran II of Savaria was backed up by five thousand of the city militia and fifty of his shapecasters, he felt very exposed. He was standing on the open plain outside his palace to shield him from the forge-hot breath of the dragons – not that the palace walls would have stopped the dragons for very long.

Although King Lavarran II of Savaria was backed up by five thousand of the city militia and fifty of his shapecasters, he felt very exposed. He was standing on the open plain outside his palace to shield him from the forge-hot breath of the dragons – not that the palace walls would have stopped the dragons for very long.

The three dragons hovering above the city are puzzled. They sense the presence of a young dragon in the city of Savaria, but there hasn’t been a dragon hatchling for 3000 years. Although they can tell when a human is lying, their questions to the king and his court don’t provide any helpful answers. But the answers do buy the humans some time. While Velza and Latsar are trying to do their own investigations, Velza’s brother, Dantar and his friend Marko are being both helped and hindered by Merikus in their quest to leave town. Dantar and Velza’s father cannot be found, although his presence and influence is felt everywhere. The race is on to discover just what the warlock, Calbaras is up to.

The Iron Claw is book three in ‘The Warlock’s Child’ six book fantasy series. Each is told from three viewpoints: the dragons; Velza, a young female warrior, and Dantar. Velza and Dantar are children of Calbaras a highly skilled but secretive warlock. Neither child seems to have much of a relationship with their father. There are twists and turns aplenty as the children (and the dragons) seek to find Calbaras and also to unravel the mystery of why the dragons seem to be protecting Dantar. Each action-filled title is short enough for younger readers, almost as if the stories are serialised, rather than stand-alone novels. Either way, readers will be looking for the next instalment. Recommended for mid-primary readers.

The Warlock’s Child 3: The Iron Claw, Paul Collins & Sean McMullen Ford St Publishing 2015 ISBN: 9781925000948

review by Claire Saxby, Children’s author and bookseller

www.clairesaxby.com

Violet Mackerel's Formal Occasion, by Anna Branford & Sarah Davis

“This is the best small thing we’ve ever found,” says Rose.
“By far,” agrees Violet.

When Violet Mackerel and her friend Rose find a beautiful locket buried in the dirt at the park, they are very excited, although they worry whether someone is missing the locket. Then, when Mum loses a basket of precious knitted toys on the train, they realise just how sad and worried somebody can be when they lose something. They hatch a plan to give Mum a lovely surprise – a formal occasion. In the meantime, Violet tries to cheer Mum up by writing stories about what might have happened to the missing toys.

The eighth in Violet Mackerel’s ongoing adventures, Violet Mackerel’s Formal Occasion is also a beautiful stand alone story. Violet is a likeable main character, who is caring, resourceful and funny, a combination sure to appeal to young readers. The gentleness of the series means they are just as perfect for sharing as they are for individual reading, and the soft, grey-scale illustrations are a beautiful complement.

With acts of kindness, friendship, and cupcakes, and in a delightful hardcover format, Violet Mackerel’s Formal Occasion is delightful.

Violet Mackerel’s Formal Occasion, by Anna Branford, illustrated by Sarah Davis
Walker Books, 2015
ISBN 9781925081091

Available from good bookstores and online.

Carousel, by Brendan Ritchie

‘We almost got a door open today,’ Taylor said.
Lizzy and I looked at her.
‘What do we do if it opens?’ asked Lizzy.
‘Get the hell out of here,’ said Taylor.
‘Doesn’t it depend on what’s out there?’ I asked.
‘What do you think is out there, Nox? Zombies? A nuclear holocaust? You’ve heard the noises. We have to go out there,’ said Taylor.
I stared hard at the floor and wondered why the idea of a door opening freaked me out so much.

Nox doesn’t really understand how he’s come to be stuck inside Carousel shopping centre with only three companions, nor what has happened to the outside world. But it’s where he is, and it’s become a disconcerting kind of new-normal. His fellow residents are Canadian musical duo Taylor and Lizzy, and teenage Rocky, each of whom seems to cope with their containment in their own way. Their seemingly endless days of containment become a mix of figuring out how to survive, how to entertain themselves, and how to escape. Then there’s the dilemma of what they will do if they do escape. They have no contact with the outside world, and no idea what has happened out there and why are the ones who have survived. As time passes, though, they do have a growing need to find out.

Carousel is an absorbing young adult read with a dark edge. The four protagonists are, to their knowledge, the only survivors of some sort of apocalyptic event, but they have no way of knowing how true this is, and whether the disaster has just wiped out Perth, where the shopping centre is located, or if perhaps the whole world has changed.

The story is told from the first person viewpoint of Nox, a university graduate who has studied creative writing but hasn’t fulfilled any writing ambition, As such, it is Nox who we get to know best, but as the novel progresses the stories of the other inhabitants also develop. Readers will be absorbed by their predicament and intrigued by the mystery of what has happened and why they are there. The ending hints at a possible sequel, but the story stands satisfyingly on its own.

A strong debut novel suitable for teen readers.

Carousel, by Brendan Ritchie
Fremantle Press, 2015
ISBN 9781925162141

Available from good bookstores and online.

Zafir by Prue Mason

Zafir shivered, It was an icy morning in the city of Homs and the wind felt sharp enough to strip the skin from his body. Tetah, his grandmother, had said it might even snow. Zafir hoped it would, but he wished winter didn’t have to be this cold. Although he was wearing a scarf, long trousers and a sweater under his school blazer, he still had to sit on his hands to keep them from turning into icicles as he hunched on the front seat of the old yellow taxi.

‘Is it going to snow,’ Zafir asked Abu Moussa, the taxi driver who took him to school every day. There was no bus from Al Waer and after what had happened in Dubai, Mum didn’t want to own a car.

‘Is it going to snow,’ Zafir asked Abu Moussa, the taxi driver who took him to school every day. There was no bus from Al Waer and after what had happened in Dubai, Mum didn’t want to own a car.

Zafir has moved with his parents from Dubai to Homs after the death of his maternal grandparents. While he used to like visiting his paternal grandmother, living in this small city is not as much fun as he thought it would be. On his way to school, he witnesses an act of violence, but no one else seems to want to admit that it happened. Zafir begins to discover that the unrest in Syria and is escalating into revolution. No one is immune to the troubles. His father is arrested, his mother is in danger. Everyone around him is affected and Zafir must develop his own resources to survive.

Zafir is a new title in the ‘Through My Eyes’ titles from Allen & Unwin. Each is the story of a conflict through the eyes of a child. Zafiris set in war-torn Syria. Zafir is a normal young teen for whom the normal interests of friend and skateboards, freedom and Facebook are disrupted by war. His parents are educated and tolerant but as the conflict worsens they too must decide how they will respond. Zafir discovers that there is much in his world that is not as it seems and now it is time for him also to decide on his responses. He has to learn who to trust, and how to stay close to his family and friends. He also discovers that no matter how he and others respond, war will affect them all. Recommended for upper primary readers.

Zafir: Through My Eyes, Prue Mason
Allen & Unwin 2015 ISBN: 9781743312544

review by Claire Saxby, Children’s author and bookseller

www.clairesaxby.com

Two Tales of Twins from Ancient Greece and Rome, retold by Ursula Dubosarsky ill David Allen

Artemis and Apollo: Twins of the Moon and the Sun

Once there was a pair of astonishing twins – girl named Artemis and a boy named Apollo.

Artemis and Apollo were born on the island of Delos. This was no ordinary island. It floated around the sea, never keeping still. But it was the perfect for the twins to be born, because their mother, Leto, had been told she was not allowed to give birth on solid land. Artemis was born first. She was such a clever baby that as soon as she was born, she immediately helped Leto give birth to the second twin, a baby boy, Apollo.

Artemis and Apollo: Twins of the Moon and the Sun

Once there was a pair of astonishing twins – girl named Artemis and a boy named Apollo.

Artemis and Apollo are the twin children of Leto and the god Zeus. They are amazing children born into an amazing family. Their lives are full of adventure, danger and wonder. This retelling focuses on their birth and childhood while briefly mentioning their future roles as Moon and Sun gods.

Romulus and Remus are twin boys born in dangerous times in Ancient Rome. Although dearly loved, they are set afloat in the Tiber River to keep them safe from their warring uncle. Their uncle has stolen their father’s crown. They are guided by the river god and set upon the bank where a mother wolf nurtures them. Some time later they are found by a shepherd and his wife and raised as their own. As they grow, they become restless and fix upon a plan to leave their home and begin a kingdom of their own.

Illustrations are black outline and mostly pastel coloured, reminiscent of hand coloured lino prints.

‘Two Tales of Twins’ offers a pair of stories from ancient mythologies, written for a young audience, but rich with detail and drama. They provide an introduction to these complex and often contradictory tales through the stories that young readers can relate to – where the main characters are children. They stand alone as complete stories, but for interested readers they offer many opportunities to seek out more of the stories, more of the mythology. Recommended for primary-aged children.

Two Tales of Twins from Ancient Greece and Rome, retold Ursula Dubosarsky ill David Allen
Christmas Press 2014 ISBN: 9780992283834

review by Claire Saxby, Children’s author and bookseller

www.clairesaxby.com

Run, Pip, Run by J. C. Jones

Pip Sullivan was expecting her tenth birthday to be the best day of her life. She had done everything she could think of to make it so. Instead it was on course to be the worst – except for maybe her actual birth day when she had been abandoned in an apple crate on sully’s doorstep. Of course, Pip didn’t remember her actual birth day, having been just a ‘skinny squawker’ of a baby at the time. This was according to Sully, who said it was mostly best to ‘call a spade a blasted shovel’. Sully didn’t believ in bulldust, or that unexpected events – like the sudden arrival of a loud and smelly newborn baby in his life – were anything to celebrate.

Pip’s life has been a happy if slightly unusual one. Despite being abandoned by her mother at birth and not being related to Sully, they have a strong loving bond. Sure, Sully is somewhat unorthodox as a parent-figure, more than a bit grumpy and more inclined to study the form guide than recipe books, but he’s Pip’s only family. Now Sully is sick and Pip knows that everything could change. Sully has instilled in Pip a very strong sense of optimism and instinct for survival. So she takes off, evading the police, other authorities, tricky situations and her teacher. Pip discovers she has more friends than she knew and meets new ones in her flight, including an unusual cat and a smelly dog. She is determined to save Sully, get him better and return to her old life.

Pip is a wonderfully engaging character, full of curiosity, drive, compassion and an ability to connect with people. Despite her beginnings and unusual childhood, she is a wonderfully grounded child, avid learner, an astute judge of character, practical, loyal and trustworthy. Sully has taught her to be suspicious, a trait that will get her both into and out of trouble. Run, Pip, Run is a wild adventure and Pip an intrepid adventurer. Reader will cheer her successes, call out warnings as danger approaches and hold their breath as Pip appears to fall. Recommended for mid-primary readers.

Run, Pip, Run

Run, Pip, Run by J. C. Jones

Allen & Unwin 2015 ISBN: 9781743319222

review by Claire Saxby, Children’s author and bookseller

www.clairesaxby.com

Me and Moo by P Crumble ill Nathaniel Eckstrom

This is me, and this is Moo

Can you tell which one is me and which one is Moo?

Moo lives under my bed, and at night he

Eats Mum’s flowers from the backyard.

I tell him not to eat the flowers but

He just loves the purple ones.

This is me, and this is Moo

Can you tell which one is me and which one is Moo?

Moo lives under my bed, and at night he

Eats Mum’s flowers from the backyard.

I tell him not to eat the flowers but

He just loves the purple ones.

The young narrator introduces his friend Moo and talks about how Moo came to be his friend and part of his family. Moo was small when he arrived but is now much bigger than the narrator. His family accept Moo, despite his clumsiness and his struggles with the house rules. Now that the narrator is at school, Moo sometimes goes too. And it is at school that the narrator discovers that other children have special friends too. These special friends are really good at different games, much better than the narrator’s friends. When a sleepover gets a little scary, the narrator tells his friends about Roar, the lion who lives in his wardrobe. Illustrations are digital in muted greens, blues and browns and provide plenty of humour to the spare text.

Me and Moo is a story of imaginary friends. While Moo helps the narrator in his everyday life, the imaginary friends of his school friends also help him to realise that he is not the only one who sometimes needs help. When the sleepover looks like it might be derailed by the scary stories the narrator is telling, he offers Roar, who lives in his wardrobe as protection for them all. Gently told, with a solid dollop of humour, Me and Moowill help timid children to feel less alone. Recommended for pre- and early schoolers.

Me and Moo, P Crumble ill Nathaniel Eckstrom
Scholastic Australia 2015 ISBN: 9781743625323

review by Claire Saxby, Children’s author and bookseller

www.clairesaxby.com

Footy Dreaming by Michael Hyde

Music blasted from the clock radio, loud and insistent. Noah groaned, and still half asleep, searched for the snooze button, but only managed to send the radio crashing to the floor.

He buried his head in the pillow, his mind still in his dream of scrappy play – in and under, then a player marking the ball, forty metres out. Noah thought the player was him but couldn’t be sure, and didn’t know whether he’d kicked the ball or not. …

… On the other side of town, a fit of coughing and spluttering from the kitchen woke Ben from a deep sleep. Ever since he’d been a little kid doing Auskick, bouncing a ball on the way to school, or clutching one of his dozen footballs while he slept, Ben had dreamed about playing footy – dreamed about playing with an AFL club.

Music blasted from the clock radio, loud and insistent. Noah groaned, and still half asleep, searched for the snooze button, but only managed to send the radio crashing to the floor.

Noah and Ben both play weekend footy in the country town where they live and where they attend the same high school. They are both being tipped as contenders for the Bushrangers Development squad. Noah plays with the Mavericks, Ben with their archrival Kookaburras. As the new season of football begins, pressure builds for both boys. For Noah, racism is an extra complication he needs to find a way to manage both on and off the field. Ben is struggling with the attitudes at the club where his father played and where he is expected to remain. The boys form an unexpected friendship, united in their striving for Bushrangers selection.

Footy Dreaming is told in third person omniscient so the reader is able to experience a wide range of viewpoints, although most of the action happens in Noah’s and in Ben’s point of view. But there are also the voices of the townspeople. There’s racism, family loyalty and dynamics, club loyalty, football passion, first tentative relationship, gender roles and more. Primarily, Footy Dreaming is about striving to be the best and to have a chance to shine. There’s plenty here to generate classroom or family discussion. But before that, it’s a ripper read, ideal for early- to mid-secondary readers.

Footy Dreaming, Michael Hyde Ford Street Publishing 2015 ISBN: 9781925000993

review by Claire Saxby, Children’s author and bookseller

www.clairesaxby.com

The Flywheel by Erin Gough

As far as English teachers go, I could do worse than Mr Hammer. He’s a smart guy with a good haircut and an admiral passion for punctuation. He’s taught me since the start of high school and I have only two misgivings: his views on the semicolon and the fact he ruined my life.

To be fair, when he paired me with Georgina Trump for a class project probably wasn’t his intention. Class Harmony is Mr Hammer’s big thing, and I understand that bridging the gap between those in the class who carry pink clutch purses and those who don’t is a legitimate part of that.

It was in a similar spirit of goodwill that I decided to make an effort with Georgina. This was despite the fact that when Mr Hammer said, ‘Georgina, you’re with Delilah,’ she pretended not to know who I was, even though we’ve gone to school together for over four years now.

Delilah has more freedom from parental supervision than most 17 year olds. Her father is taking what seems like an adult gap year, extending his overseas trip in the belief that she’s brilliantly managing their café, The Flyway. However, she may have overstated her competence and the café’s success, in her conversations with her travelling father. She may also have overstated her achievements at school. Delilah lurches from disaster to disaster, digging herself deeper into the stories she tells her father, trying to keep ahead of school bullies, manage the challenges at work and trying to contain her growing crush. In her growing desperation, she both needs and rejects the assistance of friends and family.

The Flywheel is the second publication from The Ampersand Project and Hardie Grant Egmont. This debut young adult novel is both touching and hilarious. Delilah is a delightful mix of wisdom and naivete, bravery and hesitancy, maturity and childlikeness. Her parents are caught up in their own worlds and Delilah is seriously lacking strong role models. Well, actually she’s not – she just needs to work out who she can rely on. And she needs to learn which of her own instincts to trust. The Flywheel is a rollercoaster coming of age story, speeding from highs to low and back again, exploring the nature of friendship, responsibility and love. Recommended for mid secondary readers.

The Flywheel, Erin Gough
Hardie Grant Egmont 2015 ISBN: 9781742978178

review by Claire Saxby, Children’s author and bookseller