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The Year My Life Broke

I received my copy from the publisher.

9781742613352

By: John Marsden

Tarrawagga is a hole. It simply is not a place anyone, with any choice in the matter, would move to. Yet this is where Josh finds himself. He is not happy with the turn his life has taken, and he isn’t all that interested in getting involved and making friends like his parents want. Somehow, without really meaning to, he becomes someone he barely knows. He doesn’t get involved in sport and works at being unpopular. His athletic prowess catches up to him and he starts playing cricket for a team that isn’t his school and this proves to be his downfall, because in a place as small as Tarrawagga secrets don’t stay that way for long.

Then there is the house next door. At first he thought no one lived there. Then he meets the kid from over there. Then bullets start flying. This sort of excitement is totally not what Josh expected from a dump like this place.

This comes across as a real slice of life kind of book. The town is totally believable to me (maybe because I’ve lived there only it was called something different, in fact I’ve lived in several theres). Josh is as real as they get, the heartbreak of leaving a life you know and are comfortable with, the difficulty of starting a new school, the suckiness of not being popular at school. The simplicity of Josh’s life is what makes the whole thing so very tangible. This story is at times funny, frustrating and enthralling, in short it is life. Marsden shows a masterful touch in bringing Josh off the page. His family, friends and even the town add a texture that you can so easily visualise. Life can throw you poop sometimes and really it’s all about what you do with it.

Publisher: Pan Australia

Published: 01 December 2013

Format: Paperback 180 pages

Categories: Life, School, Moving

ISBN 13: 9781742613352

Purchase: here or use Booktopia link on side of page

The Trap Door

I got my copy from the publisher.the-trap-door

Infinity Ring series bk 3

By: Lisa McMann

Finally Dak, Sera and Riq are back in the United States, only the year is 1850 and the continent is divided on the issue of slavery. These are bleak times but the Underground Railway brings a touch of hope as it helps runaway slaves make their way to freedom. Things aren’t as they should be though as the SQ are taking control of the railway and sending every slave back to captivity. This is a tricky time for them all to work their way through, Riq in particular, he knows about his ancestors from this time and their escape from slavery but now he finds himself in the midst of it, every action he takes might change his future. When the life of a small boy  is in his hands Riq will risk everything to see this boy to safety.

This is a fascinating story. Like the 39 Clues books, these are written by different authors and set in very different locations, only in this instance there are also different times. Where Clues takes famous people and puts them into the story this series takes famous events and twists them. In this case slavery. This story is very much Riq’s story as he is the one who goes through the biggest change, this is his story, his family’s past. It is good, I think for Riq to be the focus and hopefully some of what he goes through can get readers thinking about the implications of slavery. You have to have a good grasp on history to pick up some of the changes and I don’t now how much younger readers will get of that. Still it is filled with action and exciting scenarios to keep any reader interested. It might be possible to set projects around the events in our history that these are based on (however it is coming up holiday season in the southern hemisphere and I’m pretty sure no one will appreciate me giving parents etc ideas for holiday study).

An intriguing concept and good read.

Publisher: Scholastic US

Published: 02 May 2013

Format: Hardback 192 pages

Categories: Adventure, History

ISBN 13: 9780545386982

Purchase: here or use Booktopia link on side of page

The 39 Storey Treehouse

I received my copy from the publisher.the-39-storey-treehouseBy: Andy Griffiths

Illustrated By: Terry Denton

Andy and Terry have added another 13 levels to their treehouse. It is a spectacular place, full of amazing things to do. The problem is they have a book deadline. Never fear the good news is Terry has invented a ‘Once Upon A Time’ Machine. This is great it means their book can be written while they go off and have fun and it will still get done before the deadline. It is a simple matter really to program all the things they want in the story and then just hit start. Problems happen though when the machine won’t let them back into their treehouse when they decide to finish the book themselves. Things go from bad to worse as somehow the universe gets uninvented. How are Andy and Terry going to make things better and are they going to get their book finished on time.

If you are a fan of this writing duo then you will know just what to expect, great amounts of sheer silliness. The text is clear and easy to understand, the story is action packed and funny, the illustrations are plenty, detailed and perfectly suit the story style. It’s hard to miss with a book from these two. Don’t be expecting substance but for those who find it difficult to get into reading this series is probably worth putting in their hands, if for no other reason than the fact who wouldn’t want this treehouse. (I totally would never want to leave there.) A fun way to spend some time. Best suited for those 8+ though an interested reader from 6+ could also enjoy it.

Publisher: Pan Australia

Published: 01 September 2013

Format: Paperback

Categories: Humour, Fun

ISBN 13: 9781742612379

Purchase: here or use Booktopia link on side of page

Little Red Riding Hood

I received this from the publisher9781742760711By: Alison Jay

Little Red lives in Fairytale Village, and you know how the rest of the story goes. There is a bad wolf, a grandmother and a woodcutter. What is really awesome about this picture book is Alison Jay’s illustrations. They are amazingly detailed and very distinctive (the cracked ceramic looking finish). Fairytales are fun to share and little children will enjoy this version, but they will enjoy it a little more if you take the time to really examine the pictures. You will see if you look, the Frog Prince, Rapunzel, the Three Little Pigs, Hansel and Gretel and Puss in Boots. There is more than one stray going on this day, in Fairytale Land.

A really lovely book and recommended.

Publisher: Koala Book Company

Published: 01 December 2013

Format: Paperback 32 pages

Categories: Fairy Tales

ISBN 13: 9781742760711

Purchase: here or use Booktopia link on side of page.

mf-wide-jackie-20131127122729928576-620x349

Every two years a new Children’s Laureate is announced and for the next two years we have the wonderful Jackie French filling that role.

wombatdiary

Jackie may be known best for her Diary of a Wombat books, but her back catalogue is one of great variety coving many ages and many genres. She has some wonderful historical books for middle grade readers.

donkey

Other picture books,

tomorrow book

And a fun series about Phreddie the Fairy who is much more my sort of fairy than the usual ones we get to read about.

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She also has some wonderful YA titles.

rose

“This is a chance to give back,” she said of the high-profile appointment. “When I was a very, very scared teenager my wonderful teacher gave me books and also offered me a bed to sleep in. And if it hadn’t been for her, and her courage, I would not be a writer and I might not even be here today.

“In a little way over the next two years I want to give back what I have been given…Every child in Australia needs a book to go to bed with, and a bed to read that book in,” she said. “Every child in Australia can learn to read and for kids like me who are dyslexic, with spelling that you might call ‘original’, and whose work always looks like a wombat has sat on it, never feel that you are dumb, never feel that you have failed.”

This can only be a good thing for children’s literature.

I received my copy from the publisher.9780545447751Geronimo Stilton

Cavemice Series bk 2

The day isn’t going well, not when everyone in Old Mouse City has a terrible stomachache. The local shaman doesn’t seem to be able to help much and the Club Brothers are making a lot of money of this epidemic. Geronimo is chosen to find the cure because he is one of the few mice who isn’t suffering. Geronimo isn’t too enthusiastic about this as it requires going on a dangerous journey to a mysterious cave. Geronimo will do a lot for a pretty mouse though and the Shaman has a very pretty daughter, not that Geronimo would ever say anything because he is simply too shy.

A fun prehistoric adventure wrapped in a mystery. Geronimo would have preferred to go on this one alone, if he really has to go that is, but unfortunately his cousin Trap joins him, which means things get a little more interesting. This spin off series is fun, with perhaps less fact moments than the other ones but when dealing with dinosaurs and a lifestyle very different to our own, it is good to encourage children to imagine. The story, as always is entertaining and the bright coloured illustrations and contoured words make the series continually appealing for those only just beginning their booky journey.

Great for beginning readers.

Publisher: Scholastic UA

Published: 01 June 2013

Format: Paperback 128 pages

Categories: Historical, Adventure

ISBN 13: 9780545447751

Purchase: here or use Booktopia link on side of the page

The House of Hades

By: Rick Riordan

9780141339191

Heroes of Olympus Bk 4

Percy and Annabeth are trapped in Tartarus, their only hope is to journey across the land of the dead to the Doors of Death. This will perhaps be the most testing and brutal of all trails they have gone through. To make matters worse monsters are regenerating at an increased rate and none of them like the demigods, in fact Percy and Annabeth are the reason quite a few are in Tartarus in the first place. Still they have each other and that will get them through much and then there is Bob, a surprise addition to their team, and one that could just tip the balance.

On the surface Jason, Hazel and the others are trying to get to the House of Hades so they can be at the doors to help Percy and Annabeth. This is not turning out to be as simple as flying there. Gods and monsters are doing everything they can to stop them. Hazel discovers that Hecate has a plan for her, Frank fights his fears of his parentage and comes into his own and Nico faces up to his deepest secret. Will all that be enough, with the God’s being split between their Greek and Roman selves,  and the Roman demigods determined to attack Camp Half-Blood? Gaia must be stopped but is that even possible with the team split up this way?

An awesome action filled instalment of the Heroes of Olympus series. Percy and Jason are still obviously leaders but it is not all about them. Percy and Annabeth have a real partnership and together they are much stronger than could be expected. So much of this adventure hinges on Hazel learning new skills and how to have faith in herself and Frank stepping up to be the son of Mars that he is. Frank’s story arc in this is one that builds slowly but reaches an awesome crescendo and it is going to be interesting to see where he goes in the next book. Nico’s torment is something we finally have some light shed on and it is so sad in some ways, you just want Nico to be able to move through it, it too is something that we are left wondering about. Leo too gets the chance to have some growth in a rather unexpected way (but I’m not giving any spoilers).

The pace never wavers and as such this book like those before it is hard to put down. The world Riordan creates is varied, full of the familiar and unfamiliar, and it blends together seamlessly. It seems totally fine that one minute the heroes are using magical and advanced technology and the next it’s all swords and flying horses. These books are addictive, the blend of action and mythology often leaves me wanting more.

Recommended.

Publisher: Puffin Books

Published: 08 October 2013

Format: Paperback 565 pages

Categories: Fantasy, Mythology

ISBN 13: 9780141339191

Purchase: here or use Booktopia link on side of page.

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