LARBALESTIER, Justine Razorhurst Allen & Unwin, 2014 372pp A18.99 NA$25.99 pbk ISBN 9781743319437 SCIS 1666637 Justine Larbalestier is a powerful storyteller who is able to create characters that readers really care about. The setting is in Sydney’s inner eastern suburbs around Surry Hills, King’s Cross, Woolloomooloo, Paddington and Darlinghurst, curing the dark days of 1932 when powerful crime groups ran the area and razors were the main weapons of control. In an historical sense, she paints a vivid picture of the difficulties of simply surviving in this violent, sordid environment. Her two main characters, Kelpie and Dymphna live entirely different…
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Natalie KING Awakening Penguin, 2014 272pp NZ$19.99 pbk ISBN 9780143570790 SCIS 1649099 If you are into romantic melodrama with a touch of the supernatural, then you could well get hooked into this story. When young Zelie, a newly-arrived UK immigrant, goes on a school trip to Lake Tekapo where a remote township in the South Island mountain chain can be found and where she now lives, her life is about to change forever. She comes across Katie, an extremely ill, fellow school mate who seems precariously focused on a missing amulet which she sees on the bed of the freezing lake. …
JONSBERG, Barry Pandora Jones: Admission Allen & Unwin, 2014 303pp $17.99 pbk ISBN 9781743318119 SCIS 1657128 Pandora Jones is one of a few survivors after the world is hit by a fast-acting, deadly virus. She finds herself transferred to The School, a walled environment full of young people who are trained in survival arts by adult teachers. The conditions are harsh. Food is scarce and there is limited electricity. Each student is encouraged to specialise in a skill. Pan’s is almost immediately self-evident – she has telepathic power that enables her to find things, and possibly to see into the…
JARZAB, Anna Tandem Random House (The Many Worlds Trilogy Book 1), 2013 428pp $19.99 pbk+e ISBN 9780857982995 SCIS 1641870 Tandem explores the concept of parallel universes and what happens if you are moved from one universe to the other very suddenly. Sasha Lawson, the heroine, is a nice girl who lives with her grandfather and has just had a wonderful time at the prom, in her universe. At least that was her life until she was kidnapped and taken to another universe to a replace a princess who was about to be married off to prevent a war and has…
CACCIOLA, Carmelo (text) Mark Buchanan (illus.) Zachery and Nonno go to the Races Self Pub, 2014 32pp $12.00 pbk 9781921452062 SCIS 1680019 Whilst we’ve never before seen children’s book written about a trip to the horse races, with the Spring Racing Carnival almost upon us, there may be no better time to take a closer look at this title. Hidden behind this story about a visit to the racetrack is a tale about persistence, bravery and remaining positive even when circumstances appear to be hopeless. Zachery is taken for a day out to the races for the first time with…
HALES, Bronwyn (text) Paul Lennon (illus.) 10 Wombling Wombats Pascal Press (Steve Parish KIDS), 2013 lift-the-flap $9.95 ISBN 9781922123855 SCIS 1655335 10 Wombling Wombats follows the usual structure of a countdown book, with added ‘lift the flaps’ to extend the illustrations and reveal the next number in the countdown. The rhyming language is pleasing, alliteration is used to nice effect, and the tone is perfect for a toddler. The illustrations by Paul Lennon have a fun comic feel, and are colourful and cheerful. All the animals are Australian and include a few less typically used natives, such as the dugong…
Some new additions to Information Book series… Random House Meet . . . Douglas Mawson Mike Dumbleton/Snip Green & Meet . . . Nancy Bird Walton Grace Atwood/Harry Slaghekke ($24.99) Lonely Planet World Search Busy Places: Explore Real Cities Around the World (lift-the-flap $19.99) New Frontier Aussie Heroes Edith Cowan, A Quiet Woman of Note Hazel Edwards/Angela Grzegrzolka ($14.99 pbk)
STOCKDALE, Susan Bring on the Birds Working Title Press, 2014 unpaged $24.99 ISBN 9781921504594 SCIS 1655839 This book is especially written for the young ornithologist. Not only does the book contain vivid illustrations of the various birds depicted, but also at the end of the book more in-depth information about each bird is provided. The story depicts the various actions (such as swooping, hanging, swimming) or physical characteristics (such as jagged bills, fluffy crests, puffy chests) of birds, and each bird is represented by vibrant illustrations that add richness to the text. This book is great for toddlers who will…
SIMPSON, Tania Te Rangingangana The Last Maopo. The Life and First World War sacrifice of Wiremu Maopo Libro International, 2014 157pp NZ$34.99 pbk ISBN 9781877514661 SCIS 1660773 Given that collectively we are remembering the centenary of the outbreak of the First World War, the publication of this carefully researched book that contains the letters and life story of Wiremu Maopo, who served three and half years in the Māori battalion, is apt indeed. It is a poignant story told in two parts as it were. There is his story of his incredible patriotism, his personal loss, his whanau and community…
RICHARDS, Kel (text) Glen Singleton (illus.) Big Book of Aussie Dinosaurs Scholastic, 2014 23pp $15.99 pbk ISBN 9781742830568 SCIS 1663754 This book of facts and fun has everything you have ever wanted to know about when dinosaurs ruled Australia. The dinosaurs are there as lively illustrations in ink and wash. The text comes in small paragraphs that often end in an exclamation mark, because, yes, dinosaur facts can be surprising and exciting. Size is an important dimension to get right when thinking about dinosaurs, and they did come in all sizes. Their eating habits are essential knowledge too. Then comes…