Title: Dust
Author: Christine Bongers
Publisher: Woolshed Press, 2009 (232 pages)
ISBN: 978-1-74166-446-1
Suitable Age: 13+

Book Description

Twelve-year-old Cecilia Maria was named after saints and martyrs to give her something to live up to.

Over my dead body, she vows.

In the blinding heat of 1970s Queensland, she battles six brothers on her side of the fence, and the despised Kapernicky girls, lurking on the other side of the barbed wire.

Secrets are buried deep, only to surface decades later when Cecilia drags her own reluctant teenagers back home to dance on a grave and track down some ghosts.

Warm but tough-minded, DUST glitters with a rare and subtle wit, illuminating the shadows that hang over from childhood and finding beauty in unexpected places.

Comments

The themes raised by this very appealing novel are quite serious and I was surprised at the impact the story had on me.

At the most surface level, I enjoyed the interaction between Cecilia and her brother Punk and the descriptions of their Australian country town home. As a child of the 70s, I found myself transported back in time reading Bongers’ descriptions of the family home and lifestyle.

Many of the issues Cecilia faces, peer pressure and the desire to fit in, sibling rivalry, school expectations, friendship issues etc, are common to most children growing up and these descriptions also stirred up memories for me of some of the high school events that seemed so significant and earth-shattering at the time.

At the most significant level, Bongers’ descriptions of the experiences of the Kapernicky sisters at the hands of their step-father are very challenging. Although the descriptions are never given in graphic detail, the obvious suffering and trauma experienced by these two girls has a significant impact on Cecilia when she becomes aware of it and this flows through to the reader.

It is an indication of the quality of the writing that Dust remains an appealing story despite the confronting issue of child sexual abuse that it raises. Perhaps it is because this subject is raised in the context of the impact on Cecilia and her character, rather than the direct impact on the victims of the abuse, that Bongers is able to maintain the flow of the story and keep this issue in balance with the other themes.

Parents should exercise discretion when giving this book to their children given some of the more confronting issues it raises. There are references to both the abuse of the Kapernicky sisters and general teenaged sexual references that may not be suitable for younger or more sensitive readers.

This is the debut novel for this Australian author and I would certainly be keen to read any further novels that she produces.

Related Links:

• Christine Bongers author website
• Dust review at Suite101.com

Title: The Hunger Games
Author: Suzanne Collins
Publisher: Scholastic, 2008
ISBN: 978-1-407109-08-4, 454 pages
Suitable Age: 12+

Book Description

Katniss is a 16-year-old girl living with her mother and younger sister in the poorest district of Panem, the remains of what used be the United States. Long ago the districts waged war on the Capitol and were defeated. As part of the surrender terms, each district agreed to send one boy and one girl to appear in an annual televised event called, “The Hunger Games.” The terrain, rules, and level of audience participation may change but one thing is constant: kill or be killed. When her sister is chosen by lottery, Katniss steps up to go in her place.

Comments

I’ve been reading rave reviews about this book for months, but for one reason and another I kept putting off picking up The Hunger Games myself.  I was wary of all the hype when I finally started reading, but I have to say that this novel lived up to every word of the enthusiastic recommendations

After only a few chapters I was hooked and found myself sitting up into the early hours of the morning reluctant to put the book down and turn out the light. I’m now not so patiently waiting for the Australian release of the second book in the trilogy, Catching Fire, which will be available in October 2009.

The primary characters, the Hunger Games entrants Katniss and Peeta, are compelling and I am keen to see how Collins continues their friendship/relationship in Catching Fire. On a more thought-provoking level, the political situation in Panem and the obvious big brother-style government surveillance and control offer readers significant themes to ponder.

The concept of a government initiated and televised fight to the death between a selected group of teenagers raises some interesting issues. While the descriptions aren’t particularly graphic, the fact that there are deaths of children as young as 12 at the hands of other children/teens during the Games may make it unsuitable for younger readers. My copy suggests an age range of 11+, but I would suggest 12+ or older given the underlying violence, especially if the reader is particularly sensitive.

I am really looking forward to reading the next instalment and seeing where Collins takes this story, both with the characters of Katniss, Peeta and Gale (Katniss’ best friend) and the political situation in Panem.

Even if you aren’t a fan of science fiction in general, don’t assume that The Hunger Games won’t appeal to you. While there are elements of Sci-Fi in the setting, this is a novel driven by great characters and a fantastic story concept rather than the trappings of the sci-fi genre.

Related links:

Suzanne Collins author website

Title: 90 Classic Books for People in a Hurry
Author: Henrik Lange
Publisher: Nicotext, 2008
ISBN: 978-91-85869-29-9
Topic: Literature, Humour

This is a fun gift book ideal for the book lover with a sense of humour. 90 classic literary works are each summarised in four illustrated cartoon panels or more accurately a title panel and three story panels.

The selection covers a wide range of genres, everything from The Bible to Douglas Adams’ Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy. There are some more recent titles, such as Yann Martel’s 2001 The Life of Pi, but the majority of titles are from titles published prior to 1950.

Most of the summaries are quite humorous for anyone with knowledge of the book in question. Some come across as more straightforward, and seem to fall a little flat in comparison to other panels. For some books, the fact that they can be summarised in three small cartoon panels is amusing in itself.

Meredith and I had a good giggle flicking through this book. It doesn’t compare with the interesting overview that books such as Beowulf on the Beach offer, but it is amusing and offers a quirky summary of some fantastic titles.

This book is an adaptation of the original book – 80 romaner för dig som har bråttom, published in 2007.

90 Classic Books for People in a Hurry is distributed in Australia by Bookwise International, RRP $16.95

Title: The Black Circle (The 39 Clues #5)
Author: Patrick Carman
Publisher: Scholastic, 2009
ISBN: 978-0-545-15291-4
Suitable Age: 8+

I know I’ve written about this series before, but with each new title I am once again reminded that this series is based on a fantastic concept.

With the release of the The 39 Clues #5: The Black Circle, the series is now at the halfway mark with another 5 titles to be released over the next 12 months, concluding in September 2010.

For those who missed my earlier reviews of The 39 Clues both here at Reading Upside Down and at Suite101, the novels follow 14-year old Amy Cahill and her younger brother Dan as they hunt for clues all over the world to solve a family mystery. Other members of their extended family are also searching for clues, with each individual or team aiming to be the first to solve the mystery and gain control of vast power and wealth.

While Amy and Dan’s adventures around the globe are enthralling in themselves, readers can also register to take part in The 39 Clues competition, gathering game cards and trying to solve the clues themselves. There are significant prizes on offer and the competition is being run in several different countries. Full details are available at The 39 Clues website, where registered users can also go online to play games, keep track of their card collection and gain extra clues and information.

Clues are scattered through the story, website, game cards and “hidden” in secret codes in the book page numbers and covers. Lots of fun for kids who love mysteries, codes and logic puzzles. I also love that the book shares some great locations around the world with the kids as they follow Amy and Dan’s adventures.

My 10-year-old son loves these books and eagerly awaits each new release. He took the latest book to school when he had to give a talk on his favourite book recently and now has several classmates and his teacher hooked as well.

It isn’t too late to register and join in The 39 Clues fun. There are now two separate sets of game cards available (one for books 1 – 3, another for books 4 – 6) and there is a playmat and instructions for a Cahill card game, Double-Cross, available at The 39 Clues website.

Related Links:

The 39 Clues update article at Suite101.com

Title: The Sleepwalker’s Introduction to Flight
Author: Siôn Scott-Wilson
Publisher: Picador, 2009 (383 pages)
ISBN: 978-0-230-70544-9
Genre: Modern fiction
Grab: Anything caffeinated – you’ll want to stay up to finish this one

The back-cover blurb of The Sleepwalker’s Introduction to Flight had me hooked:
“A curiously brilliant nocturnal comedy about a boy who cannot sleep…”

At fifteen years of age Mikey Hough, the only child of disinterested wealthy parents, wants nothing more than to become a Clavidista – one of the famous cliff-divers of Acapulco. But his attempts at cliff-diving in the backyard of his home in London go horribly wrong. Mikey wakes up in hospital two years later with the inability to sleep, a malady which allows him only a few short weeks of life.

When teen neighbour Livia challenges him to do something with the limited time left to him, Mikey sets out to help an ex-RAF pilot recover his stolen Distinguished Flying Cross. This mission takes them into a world of drug deals, violence and senior citizens.

Despite the darkness of the book’s premise (Mikey is after all living with the certainty of his own imminent demise), this is a laugh-out-loud funny read. The characters are immensely likeable, with much of the humour coming from those on the periphery such as Roger the pilot, Mikey’s nurse Aggie and the elderly Pond sisters.  Livia is streetwise and impetuous; while Mikey’s smart mouth belies a measure of insecurity.

There is also enough substance to the story and characters. Mikey’s plight is the obvious central point, but Livia’s backstory with her menacing guardian Coombs, and the involvement of the residents of Roger’s retirement community ground the story, and prevent it from becoming too flippant.

Fast-paced and highly entertaining, The Sleepwalker’s Introduction to Flight bounds from one hilarious scenario to the next. From scenes in nightclubs run by shady criminals to chases through hospital hallways to daring midnight escapes from guarded airfields, the plot barely lets up for an instant.  Like Mikey, I found myself being propelled towards the end of the novel, and the ride is exhilarating.

Title: Don’t Breathe a Word
Author: Marianne Musgrove
Publisher: Random House, 2009 (135 pages)
ISBN: 978-1-74166-296-2
Suitable Age: 10+

Book Description

‘I, Mackenzie Elizabeth Carew, do solemnly swear never to communicate anything about what happened tonight.’

That’s what I promised my sister Tahlia, and I’ve tried my best to keep that promise. It’s hard, though. Grandpa is acting so strangely since his accident. I’m sure Mrs B. suspects something, and Mahesh must think I’m weird for avoiding him. My best friend Annie is too busy hanging out with Regan and Tegan to notice. But someone will find out if we’re not super careful. It’s lucky Tahlia has a plan . . .

Comments
I thought that this novel by Marianne Musgrove dealt with the issue of dementia in a very thoughtful way. As with Pearl Verses the World by Sally Murphy, I was impressed at how the author was able to do this while still offering readers an entertaining story.

I particularly liked that Tahlia’s struggles to conceal her grandfather’s failing mental health weren’t dealt with in isolation. She was also dealing with the stress of changing friendships as she moved towards high school, disagreements with her sister and step-sister, and overdue school assignments.

It seems odd to refer to a novel where the central characters are going through such emotional upheaval as enjoyable, but Don’t Breathe a Word really was an entertaining book with an element of humour underlying much of the story. Tahlia and her friend Mahesh trying to sneak Tahlia’s grandfather back home in a shopping trolley was just one of several great scenes.

Raising issues such as dementia and other serious illnesses with children can be difficult. This novel offers a great starting point for discussions at home and at school. There are teaching notes available for Don’t Breathe a Word through Marianne Musgrove’s website.

Marianne Musgrove is a South Australian author whose previous books include the award winning The Worry Tree and Lucy the Good.

Related Links:
Review of Don’t Breath a Word at Suite101.com
Review of Pearl Verses the World at Suite101.com

Title: The Shoe Princess’s Guide to the Galaxy
Author: Emma Bowd
Publisher: Allen & Unwin, 2009 (276 pages)
ISBN: 978-0-7475-9404-8
Genre: Mum Lit
Grab: Some fluffy kitten-heel mules and a cup of tea

OK – I’ll state straight up that I am not really the target market for this book. I own precisely three pairs of shoes at the moment – a pair of black, heeled ankle boots, some black mary-janes and a pair of all-purpose walking shoes. In summer I get by with a revolving door of multi-coloured thongs. (I could clarify this for any American readers, but it’s more fun to leave you with that visual, don’t you think?)

So a story about a trendy new mum who is obsessed by shoes may not seem quite the fit for me. But it didn’t really matter that my idea of glamour is painting the toenails on my bare feet, because the shoes are just the ‘window-dressing’ in this delightful first novel from Aussie author Emma Bowd.

The Shoe Princess’s Guide to the Galaxy is written in the first person from central character Jane’s point-of-view, but interspersed with emails from friends and family members as well as excerpts from the shoe fashionista’s website of choice www.shoeprincess.com.  (It’s real – check it out.)  This made a nice change from the straight narrative of “mum lit” while it still ticked the boxes of marital misunderstandings, dealing with motherhood (in this case, the transition from working-girl to new mum) and quirky characters that we have come to expect in this genre.

A fun and easy read, The Shoe Princess’s Guide to the Galaxy will appeal to fans of the Shopaholic series as well as mum-lit fans in general.

Title: Jesus Calling
Author: Sarah Young
Publisher: Thomas Nelson, 2004 (382 pages)
ISBN: 978-1-5914-5188-4
Topic: Christian devotional

This compact 365-day devotional has a very gentle, encouraging tone as it invites readers to put aside the worries of everyday life and connect in a more intimate way with God through prayer and reflection.

I enjoyed reading the introduction by Sarah Young as she described her own journey and how she came to present this devotional in this particular format. The entries are written in first person, with “I”, “Me”, “Mine” etc referring to Christ and “you” to the reader. This seems a little unusual at first, but it does serve to create the intimate, warm atmosphere that Young is aiming for.

The devotional entries are a brief two paragraphs with 2 – 3 Bible references offered (Bible text not included). The compact page size has a small area for notes, but it would probably be best to keep a separate journal if you prefer to record prayer notes and reflections.

The very gentle tone of this devotional makes it ideal for someone who is going through a particularly difficult time in their life. Jesus Calling has a strong focus on putting aside the worries of the day and accepting the peace that comes from spending time in the presence of God.

In the edition I have, the text is reasonably small and a dark orange/red colour, which might make it difficult to read for anyone with vision problems.

The small format makes this devotional suitable for putting into a reasonable sized handbag or bag. It would also be necessary to include a Bible to look up the reference verses, however the tone of the devotional leans more towards quiet reflective prayer than “quiet time” experienced on the commute to work or outside the home so this would not necessarily be a problem.

I enjoyed the intimate first person tone and the very gentle reminders to refocus my attention away from my worries and back onto God. While I do tend to prefer a more challenging daily devotional, Jesus Calling is certainly ideal for those times when life seems overwhelming and I need to experience God’s calming presence.

Title: The Night they Stormed Eureka
Author: Jackie French
Publisher: HarperCollins, 2009 (291 pages)
ISBN: 978-0-7322-5841-8
Suitable Age: 10+

I’m a big Jackie French fan. I’ve always enjoyed her picture books and in the past 18 months have been impressed by the YA historical fiction titles that I have read. I think that she has a wonderful gift as a storyteller and particularly like the way she is able to portray a well known historical time or event in a fresh way.

In The Night they Stormed Eureka, 15 year old runaway, Samantha (Sam), finds herself travelling back in time to Ballarat in 1854. She is taken in by the Puddlehams, a kindly couple who run a meal tent, and discovers that she has arrived just before the fateful Eureka Stockade, a rebellion by miners and townspeople against the oppressive government authorities in the goldmining town of Ballarat in 1854.

French uses Sam’s inquisitiveness to educate readers about a range of customs and historical details. Sam is a very likeable character and although the time travel detail is obviously a fantasy concept, Sam’s character and behaviour seem very real and authentic. Her personal journey throughout the novel, as her self-confidence and affection for the Puddlehams grows, adds a more personal element to the historical tale.

One of the great drawcards for French’s historical fiction is the fact section at the conclusion of the story. The story itself is so compelling that readers are keen to continue reading through the additional information, where French explains various terms and customs and makes a point of highlighting where her story has deviated from actual events.

The Night they Stormed Eureka is another fantastic historical fiction novel from an accomplished and versatile author. I’ve mentioned recently that I most appreciate writing with intelligence and good humour and I think Jackie French writes with both as well as an obvious passion for her subject. Another wonderful story to share with readers both young and old.

Related links:

• Jackie French website
• Suite101 review – The Night they Stormed Eureka by Jackie French
• Suite101 review – A Rose for the Anzac Boys by Jackie French
• Suite101 review – Emily and the Big Bad Bunyip by Jackie French
• Suite101 review – The Camel who Crossed Australia by Jackie French
• Suite101 review – The Donkey who Carried the Wounded by Jackie French

Title: Dear Fatty
Author: Dawn French
Publisher: Arrow Books, 2009 (366  pages)
ISBN: 978-0-09-951947-8

I was always a fan of Dawn French’s work – both in her roles in film and television such as The Vicar of Dibley and with her long-time comedy partner Jennifer Saunders (the “Fatty” of the title). After reading these funny, warm and personal memoirs, she now seems like one of the few celebs I could imagine inviting over for a cuppa or glass of plonk, a packet of Tim-Tams and a natter without cleaning up. You know – those friends that can show up at a moment’s notice and you don’t panic about the breakfast dishes in the sink, the sticky kitchen floor and the cat hair on the good lounge. I’d be too busy laughing to feel slack, and I like to think she’d be kind enough to overlook such things.

When French addresses her readers in the opening chapter of Dear Fatty, it is obvious this is not going to be a stock-standard celebrity autobiography. With each chapter a letter addressed to a specific person in her life, French maintains a vague chronological order of the memorable times of her life, but avoids all the boring explanation in-between. Fans of Dawn’s comedy will be delighted with the humour with which she approaches almost all subjects – from teen embarrassments to teaching to stardom. I really did laugh out loud. And yet there is a beautiful honesty as well, particularly in the chapters written to her father (who died when she was just 19) and her husband, Lenny Henry, that makes you feel like you know her personally.

Which is probably why I can picture Dawn French in my lounge room. I’m imagining Catherine Zeta-Jones there too, because I think they kind of look alike, and I like to think she’d bring a few extra bottles of a good cab sav and have the best Hollywood gossip to share. The three of us could be gal pals. Oh dear, slipped into fantasy there… and some women fantasize about Brad Pitt…