Posts Tagged ‘children’s novel’
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Book Review: Ranger in Danger: Rapscallion’s Revenge
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Summary (Five Mile Press)
You decide your destiny.
You’re off to the top end of Australia in disguise.
Bring on the danger!
Massive crocodiles, hungry sharks, wild pigs and uncharted shipwrecks…
Can you capture the crocodile hunters, before they stalk you?
And who is the mysterious Rapscallion?
Your fate is in your hands.
Comments
I still have fond memories of the Choose Your Own Adventure books I read when I was in primary school (about a gazillion years ago). The thrill of making a choice and facing the consequences and then backtracking if things didn’t turn out quite right was a heady taste of literary power.
The Ranger in Danger series brings this style of ‘Decide your Destiny’ reading into a modern setting. Based on the adventures Sean Willmore, an Australian ranger environmental activist and founder of The Thin Green Line Foundation, the books feature contemporary environmental issues and world settings mixed with the opportunity to interact with the way the story progresses.
Set in Australia, Rapscallion’s Revenge has readers working as an undercover Wildlife Ranger trying to capture a ruthless gang of crocodile hunters in the Northern Territory. From following suspicious strangers at the airport terminal to struggling to survive a death roll with a monster crocodile, readers get to make decisions about how the story unfolds. The book includes a glossary of possibly unfamiliar words including animals featured in the story and indigenous Australian words.
The Ranger in Danger series combines a great environmental message with an exciting story that is different each time you read it. Fantastic for primary school-aged readers, there are currently six books available in the series, each set in a different country. With Christmas just around the corner, they are ideal for Christmas stocking fillers for children with an interest in the environment or a love of adventure stories.
Review copy details
Title: Ranger in Danger #4: Rapscallion’s Revenge
Authors: Sean Willmore, Alison Reynolds
Publisher: Five Mile Press, 2010
ISBN: 978-1-74211-794-2 (166 pages)
Website: Ranger in Danger
Genre: Children’s fiction/novel – adventure, environment
This review is part of the international Green Books Campaign 2010. The 
Ranger in Danger series is printed on paper manufactured from 100% recycled material.
For links to reviews of other Green Books Campaign titles, including more books from the Ranger in Danger series, visit the Eco-Libris Green Books Campaign 2010 homepage.
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Book Review: The Greatest Blogger in the World by Andrew McDonald
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Summary (from Hardie Grant Egmont website)
Charlie Ridge has one small goal in life – to be the Greatest Blogger in the World. The internet has been in a frenzy since a competition began to win the website address www.thegreatestbloggerintheworld.com, and Charlie is making sure he’s the number one contender. Charlie has plenty to blog about – his best mate Phattius Beats, who runs an illegal red-cordial business at school; his little brother, who insists on wearing a tuxedo to kinder; and his number one crush, who is the teacher’s pet and always wears knee-high boots. Oh, and his pet duck, Barcode.
Then some really blog-worthy things happen. When the school mascot is stolen and a multinational corporation tries to take over the school formal, Charlie has his chance to Be the Hero, Get the Girl and Save the Day. That’s got to give him a leg up on the quest to be the Greatest Blogger in the World, right?
Comments
How could any modern kid resist a novel with a central character like Charlie Ridge and a support cast like his family and friends? Andrew McDonald had my attention from the earliest pages with the tux wearing brother and the duck named Barcode.
This is a great book for confident primary-school aged readers, covering the kinds of topics that are very much part of their world – the influence of the internet and advertising, friendships, fitting in at school, feeling misunderstood or overlooked and odd parental behaviour.
Anyone who has seen McDonald’s very amusing pictorial guide to avoiding camera loss or his more recently post on the development of ‘ebrooks’ will not be surprised to discover that the pages of The Greatest Blogger in the World are also brimming with offbeat humour. With clever and witty dialogue and situations, readers will enjoy laughing at and with many of the books characters.
For those parents concerned about such things, there is some disrespect shown by the children towards their teachers and parents. In addition, Charlie’s parents hardly reflect well on busy working mothers or stay-at-home fathers, however the whole book with written with a such an active sense of humour and almost cartoonish caricature of these characters that it is difficult to take them seriously or take offence.
I really enjoyed this book, particularly as it managed to be appropriately funny and engaging for its target audience while still offering a little food for thought for those readers interested in taking something more meaningful away from the story.
Review copy details
Title: The Greatest Blogger in the World
Author: Andrew McDonald
Publisher: Hardie Grant Egmont, 2009
ISBN: 978-1-92150-223-1, 261 pages)
Suitable age: 9+ years
Genre: Children’s general fiction/novels
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Book Review: Toppling by Sally Murphy
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Summary (from Walker Books Australia website)
John is obsessed with dominoes. But not with playing the traditional game, he is obsessed with toppling. He spends hours setting up spirals, ramps, patterns and lines of dominoes all for that satisfying toppling beginning with a small push in the right direction, everything falls as it is meant to.
When John’s friend Dom falls sick and is diagnosed with cancer, it is John and his friends’ worlds that fall apart. Can they face Dom and support him through this uncomfortable illness? It’s hard for all at first but John and his friends find a way to comfort Dom and laugh with him again. They even find support and understanding from an unlikely source within their class, the school bully.
Comments
Another wonderful novel by Sally Murphy in the style of her previous novel Pearl verses the World.
It’s definitely worth keeping the tissues nearby if you are reading this with your children. If your kids are reading it by themselves, its worth following up with them to make sure they don’t have any questions or issues arising from the story, as Dom’s diagnosis with cancer and other elements of the story could be confronting for some children.
I love Murphy’s free verse style with her novels and the illustrations by Rhian Nest James are a wonderful complement to the story, adding depth and meaning and enabling Murphy to keep the text and descriptions to a minimum.
I’ve always believed that it is important to give children opportunities to think about ‘bigger’ issues in a way that is age appropriate and I think that Toppling is a wonderful way of doing just that. The free verse format, relatable characters, humorous touches and appealing illustrations all work well together to create a novel that is very readable for a younger audience despite the serious issues it raises (such as serious childhood illness, friendship and bullying).
Details
Title: Toppling
Author: Sally Murphy
Illustrator: Rhian Nest James
Publisher: Walker Books Australia, 2010
ISBN: 978-1-921529-42-9, 127 pages
Ages: 8+
Genre: Children’s fiction
Related links
- Review of Toppling at Suite101.com
- Sally Murphy’s Aussie Reviews website
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Book Review – The Black Circle by Patrick Carman (The 39 Clues series)
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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
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Book Review – Don’t Breathe a Word by Marianne Musgrove
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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
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Book Review – The Night they Stormed Eureka by Jackie French
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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
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Book Review – It’s Yr Life by Tristan Bancks and Tempany Deckert
1Title: It’s Yr Life
Author: Tristan Bancks, Tempany Deckert
Publisher: Random House, 2009 (282 pages)
ISBN: 978-1-74166-397-6
Suitable Age: 13+
Description:
Sim’s from Byron Bay. Milla lives in Hollywood. Sim’s in a foster home and dumpster-dives for food. Milla lives in a mansion with her celebrity parents.
When they’re forced to email each other for an assignment, it’s doomed to fail. So why haven’t they stopped? Secrets . . .
What did Sim find that has him running scared? Whose footprints are outside Milla’s window – and how can she fix her screwed-up family before something really bad happens?
Comments:
I really enjoyed the central characters in this story. Their email correspondence was fun to read and there was quite a lot of humour in their exchanges, especially when they were arguing with each other. Sim and Milla were great characters that opened up a lot of opportunities to compare different lifestyles, philosophies, interests and the US and Australian cultures.
I also enjoyed the pop culture references scattered throughout the story. It did slow my reading down a little as I had to stop to google different terms, but it certainly rang true as the way information is shared now. Why send someone a page of information when you can send them a website URL?
I do wonder whether the many pop culture references will date the story too quickly. In five years will teens still want to read about what teens today are interested in? The world changes far too quickly and it is very easy to appear out of date by referencing something as new once it becomes common knowledge. (I should know, I’m about 10 years behind the rest of the world when it comes to technological advances and still get ridiculously excited about stuff that is already out-of-date for others).
Despite this, I think that this is a book that teens will enjoy and quite possibly it will maintain its appeal by marketing itself as a retrospective look at teen relationships in the early years of this century.
It’s Yr Life has humour, mystery, family dramas, friendships, sibling issues and pop culture references combining to produce a fun teen read which should also appeal to those who enjoyed Bancks’ Mac Slater: Cool Hunter books.
Related links:
Tristan Bancks website
Tempany Deckert website
Suite101.com review of Mac Slater: Cool Hunter Book #1 and Book #2
Suite101.com review of It’s Yr Life by Tempany Deckert and Tristan Bancks
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Sharing Classic Stories with Children
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I love sharing favourite novels from my childhood with my children. The more formal language offers a balance to the casual tone of many of their modern favourites and the stories are often full of adventure and fun.
I was beguiled last year by a large hardcover edition of Charles Kingsley’s The Water Babies illustrated with a combination of drawings by Heidi Taylor and stunning photography by Zena Holloway.
The recent movies based on the C S Lewis’ Narnia Chronicles have also reminded me of how much I enjoyed reading these books as a child. Last Christmas I reviewed a wonderful edition of A Christmas Carol illustrated by Robert Ingpen, making this story much more approachable for reading with my children than a standard novel.
I was pleased to receive some copies of some Walker Illustrated Classics titles recently, which seek to combine classic 
stories with modern illustrations. The series includes some of my favourite classic children’s novels. I have the following titles…
- The Jungle Book: Mowgli’s Story by Rudyard Kipling, illustrated by Nicola Bayley
- Tales of Hans Christian Andersen, illustrated by Joel Stewart
- Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll, illustrated by Helen Oxenbury
…and will be keeping an eye out for these titles as well
- Beowulf, retold by Michael Morpurgo, illustrated by Michael Foreman
- Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales with comic-strip style illustrations by Marcia Williams
- Don Quixote retold by Martin Jenkins, illustrated by Chris Riddell
- The Sorcerer’s Apprentice retold by Sally Grindley, illustrated by Thomas Taylor
Follow the link to the Walker Books website for a full list of Walker Illustrated Classics.
Do you think modern children can still relate to classic novels and stories? What are your favourite novels from your childhood? If you have children, which of your favourites have you shared and did your children love the stories as much as you did?
Related Links:
Meredith recalls the pleasures of Blyton in Lashings and Lashings of Good Old Fashioned Fun
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Book Review – The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart
1Title: The Mysterious Benedict Society
Author: Trenton Lee Stewart
Publisher: Chicken House, 2009 (474pages)
ISBN: 978-1-906427-02-3
Suitable Age: 10+
Ever have one of those “why haven’t I heard about this book before now?” moments? One of the disadvantages of living in the land Down Under is that it sometimes takes a while for information to drift far enough south for us to hear about it.
So, I have only just found out about the fantastic Mysterious Benedict Society series, as the first book was only released in Australia in May 2009. In the same month, the paperback version of the second book, The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Perilous Journey, was released in the US and a third book, The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Prisoner’s Dilemma is due for release in the US in late 2009.
The Mysterious Benedict Society has the same kind of feel to it as Harry Potter and the Lemony Snicket books. Action, adventure, great characters, and themes about friendship, loyalty, courage etc for those interested in getting a deeper message from the book. Before you send me heated emails declaring that it is nothing like HP, I’m referring more to the use of language and style of adventure than the content. No wizards or magic in MBS, but lots of great interaction between characters and exciting plot developments.
I particularly enjoyed the very clever use of language in this book. There are some great puns in the character and place names (the evil LeDroptha Curtain has established his Learning Institute for the Very Enlightened on Nomansan Island).
It is so exciting to find such a clever, well written and exciting book suitable for the tween market. The four children, two girls and two boys, who are selected by Mr Benedict to work as spies at Curtain’s Learning Institute are interesting and quirky characters that tweens should find appealing. There is a great sense of fun and humour in the book running alongside the more serious themes.
I don’t want to spoil the suspense by giving away details of the plot, but I highly recommend this book for both boys and girls who love to read adventure or mystery stories. I gave it to my 10-year-old son to read and he loves it.
Now I just have to decide whether to buy the second and third books in the series from the US or wait until they are available in Australia. *sigh*
For a more detailed review of The Mysterious Benedict Society, visit Susan’s reviews at Suite101.com.
