Children's Book Council Picture Book Short List

Children's Book Council of Australia

So here is the last category is the Children's Book Council 2014 short list I am reviewing. The picture book category! Let's get the show on the road right away!

Rules of Summer - written and illustrated by Shaun Tan

You know if it's Shaun Tan you are in for a treat. When you are the youngest sibling, you don't get to make the rules. Even worse, often you don't know what the rules are until you break them, or the rules get changed without notice. And punishment can be swift and harsh. But so can forgiveness.
Rules of Summer is another lush Shaun Tan production with illustrations that are a visual feast, full of imagery and hidden meanings.

Source: Rules of Summer

The text is deceptively simple, but along with the illustrations can leave the reader full of dread. Spectacular.

King Pig - written and illustrated by Nick Bland

King Pig can make the sheep do anything he wants, except like him, which is what he wants. King Pig is the perfect book to subtitle - a cautionary tale. It encourages self reflection and taking a look to see if sometimes it's your behaviour contributing to the problem.
Ninck Bland's illustrations are great! I've never seen more dejected looking sheep in my life.

Source: A Strong Belief in Wicker

King Pig is oblivious to the impact his own behaviour towards the sheep. I like that when King Pig realises what he has been doing and finds a way to say sorry, it doesn't immediately absolve him of all his past transgressions. If he wants the sheep to like him, he is going to have to work at it. As the end of the book said though, It wasn't perfect, but all the sheep agreed, it was a pretty good start.

The Treasure Box - written by Margaret Wild, illustrated by Freya Blackwood.

"This is a book about out people, about us," he said. "It is rarer than rubies, more splendid than silver, greater than gold."

This single book is the only one left after the enemy bombed the library and everything burned.
Margaret Wild tells the story of Peter and his father's flight, the hiding of the treasure, the recovery of it and it's return to it's rightful place.
Freya Blackwood's (who also illustrated one the early reader short listed books - Banjo and Ruby Red)illustrations however, make this book incredible. The illustrations are paper collage with objects drawn, cut out and then pasted into a scene. It gives them a 3D effect that combined with the dull colours, truly portrays the despair of the situation.

Source: Freya Blackwood

Throughout the book, certain parts of the illustrations (like the tree above) are constructed from torn book pages which come from foreign editions of Sonya Hartnett's The Silver Donkey and Morris Gleitzman's Once and Then - themselves excellent Australian children's books about World War I and II. The end pages are also covered in these torn pages. This book is a great addition to the body of literature available when discussing war and it's effects on society as a whole.

Silver Buttons - written and illustrated by Bob Graham

In the moment between Jodie drawing the 2nd silver button on the boots of her duck and her drawing the 3rd silver button, something momentous happens - Jonathan takes his fist step. From there, Graham slowly expands outwards from the lounge room, look at what happens, in gradually widening circles, in that one small moment.
Graham moves the perspective of his pictures from up close to aerial "shots" of the city. Expanding and contracting the view, giving the reader a feeling of scale. The pictures are worth examining as there are often hints or links between them.

Source: Babyology

  The expanded view also allows the reader to gauge how far from the original event they have moved. Silver Buttons is a wonderful study in scale and waht can be happening in one single, precious moment.

 

The Windy Farm - written by Doug MacLeod, illustrated by Craig Smith

This family lives on the windiest farm on Windy Hill. One day the wind blows half the house away and Rich Uncle Jeff (who has an oil well in his backyard) refuses to help. Then one day they make some wind mills and start farming wind and everything changes!

Doug MacLeod has written a book about clean energy and it is perfectly clear who are the energy baddies and who are the energy goodies. Uncle Jeff (aka the oil companies) is mean and nasty and his pumping of oil is unsustainable. The residents of Windy Farm are lovely and resilient, "Never mind," says Granddad when the house blows away. They show ingenuity and compassion, producing energy that is environmentally friendly and sustainable.

Source: My Front Room

Craig Smith's illustrations are wonderfully chaotic. You can just about feel the wind come off the pages. Uncle Jeff's house is foreboding and the oil well in the backyard is ugly. In the end everyone gets what they deserve and the world gets more green energy. What more could you want!

Parachute - written by Danny Parker, illustrated by Matt Ottley

Toby always wears his parachute. It keeps him safe and secure. One day, he lends the parachute to Henry so he can get down from a high place. Then Toby is left alone to get down by himself.

Most kids I know have had a security object - whether it be a blanket, a toy or some other random object. They are important, but as we all know, at some point we have to let them go. This is a lovely book about that letting go process. The beautiful part is how Toby let go of his security object, his parachute to help someone else. It starts a journey of letting go completely, allowing the child to do it in his own time.

Source: Brona's Books

Matt Ottley's pictures always delight me. His use of perspective in this perfectly reflects how sometimes, things look bigger and further than they really are. It would be a wonderful book for discussing fear and how I mind can make it seem worse. I also love how Toby talks himself through the fearful situation. The triumph of beating his fear is all his.

So there it is, the 6 short listed picture books! I'll do a post in the next day or two where I will select what I think should be the winner of each category. The winners are usually announced the Friday before Book Week, so that should be Friday 15 August. You can be sure I'll let you know who wins!

Children's Book Council Early Childhood Short List

Children's Book Council of Australia

Now that I have finished reading the Children's Book Council of Australia's Younger Reader and Older Reader short list, I thought I would move on to their two picture book categories. The CBC has an Early Childhood list and a Picture Book list. This came about almost 20 years ago when they realised there was a good number of picture books for older readers being produced and it was not really fair to be judging them against those picture books for younger children. 

This post will look at all 6 of the Early Childhood Short listed books. It's a bit of a long one, so grab a cup of tea and enjoy!

The Swap - written by Jan Ormerod, illustrated by Andew Joyner

Caroline Crocodile is jealous of all the attention her baby brother is getting from their mother. When her mother goes to swap a hat that isn't quite right, Caroline figures she can do the same with her baby brother.
As the youngest of 3, I can only imagine the disgruntled feelings a new baby can cause in older siblings. Jan Ormerod explores this sensitive topic with tact and a sense of humour.

Source: Momo Celebrating Time to Read

Andrew Joyner's illustrations beautifully compliment the text. Caroline's expression leaves you in no doubt how she feels and while many on the pictures have a lot going on (look for the white rabbit running late, a lama reading an ereader, a mouse that crashed his motorbike), they don't feel busy. A lovely book to remind parents and older siblings that brothers and sisters are important too.

Banjo and Ruby Red - written by Libby Gleeson, illustrated by Freya Blackwood

Banjo and Ruby red have a love hate relationship. Banjo barks, Ruby Red ignores. She goes into the chook pen when she is ready and not a minute before. On day when Banjo barks, Ruby Red is not in her customary spot on the wood heap. Banjo goes looking, but is he too late to save Ruby?
Libby Gleeson writes a lovely story about friendship without hitting you over the head with it. Friendships have different forms, but at the end of the day, you're there for you friends when they need you.

Source: Freya Blackwood Blog

Freya Blackwood's illustrations are beautiful. She portrays the chaos of the hens being rounded up, Banjo's frustration and Ruby Red's dignity in simple, but effective illustrations. Equally well drawn is Banjo's concern, his care and the cementing of their friendship. Beautiful.

Kissed by the Moon - written and illustrated by Alison Lester

Alison Lester has written a prayer that any parent would pray for their baby. It's pure, classical Lester - lyrical, heartfelt and beautifully illustrated in her trademark style. I would think the advantage of being an author/ illustrator is being able to match the vision of how the pictures will highlight the text.

Source: Alison Lester

Lester's pictures are always lovely, whimsical and fun. (If you click the link under the illustration above it takes you to a page where you can buy Alison Lester prints!) She often takes me back to the magic of the world seen through the eyes of a child. This book would be the perfect present for a new mum and bub.

I'm a Dirty Dinosaur - written by Janeen Brian, illustrated by Ann James

Fun! Perfect word to describe this book - pure, unadulterated fun! A book kids can get involved with a be noisy about - stomping, shaking and roaring. And what's more fun than getting dirty, playing in the mud and stomping about!

Source: Brona's Books

However, it's Ann James' illustrations that make this book special. The illustrations are simply but incredibly effective. I've never seen a more joyful dinosaur in my life! James perfectly captures Janeen Brian's words and lifts to the wonderful height it reaches. A must for any dinosaur lover.

Baby Bedtime - written by Mem Fox, illustrated by Emma Quay

This is what I call a ritual book. One of those books which describe a betime ritual and where the reading of it becomes a ritual itself. Mem Fox is good at them - 10 Little Fingers and 10 Little Toes was a staple part of our bedtime for months!
Mem Fox specialises in making the simplest words special. She repeats things we've said to our babies - I could gobble up your toes - or thought - I could gaze at you all night. Along with the gentle rhythm of the text, it's a wonderful read aloud.

Source: Emma Quay and her Books

Emma Quay's pictures a beautiful compliment to Fox's words. Soft, textured and warm. Along with pencil and acrylic paints, she has utilised op shop finds like doilies, lace, belts and baskets. To top it all off, she has finished it off with photoshop edits - a perfect moulding of old and new.

Granny Grommet and Me - written by Dianne Wolfer, illustrated by Karen Blair

Granny Grommet meets her grommet friends at the beach where they surf, soak in rock pools and snorkel over the reef. Our narrator is a little less sure about the ocean - there are strange things under the waves - but with a little gentle encouragement, they are soon discovering the delights of the beach.
Dianne Wolfer has covered many themes in this book. Being older doesn't stop you doing the things you love, friendship, fear and overcoming it and the natural environment. Any of these themes could be explored further with this book. I love the gentle nature of the narrators discoveries, Their fear is overcome by small things, insignificant by themselves, but a powerful force added together.

Source: Mumabytes

Karen Blair's pictures capture the different aspects of a beach perfectly. Wide expanses of blue, white edged water and long sandy beaches, warm shallow rock pools and the amazing world found on the reef. I also love that the gender of our narrator isn't clear in the text or the pictures, allowing children to insert themselves into the story easily.

Book Review: Life in Outer Space

From Goodreads: Sam Kinnison is a geek, and he’s totally fine with that. He has his horror movies, his nerdy friends, World of Warcraft – and until Princess Leia turns up in his bedroom, he doesn’t have to worry about girls.
Then Sam meets Camilla. She’s beautiful, friendly and completely irrelevant to his life. Sam is determined to ignore her, except that Camilla has a life of her own – and she’s decided that he’s going to be part of it.
Sam believes that everything he needs to know he can learn from the movies ... but now it looks like he’s been watching the wrong ones.

Thoughts: This is the final book from the older readers short list for the Children's Book Council that I needed to read. It was fantastic. Up until this point I was thinking it was going to be really hard to choose a winner, but for me, this is clearly it. 
Where to start? Keil has written a book that works - all of it. The characters, the story, the setting - it just works. I know Sam and his friends because it was me and my friends at school. Fringe dwellers, noticed by certain people who decided their role at school was to make life difficult for those they didn't like. I also like the way that Camilla moves between the groups, seemingly immune from what others think of her. As a teacher I discovered these kids can manage that movement because they truly don't care if you like them or not. They are comfortable with who they are and don't need anyone else's approval. Kids like that fit in any where and if they do attract the attention of a bully, it doesn't last long because they refuse to react the way they are suppose to. They are too hard a target. It's a skill I wish we could teach.
I truly don't know what else to say. The book is well written, the characters are believable and endearing, the story paced just fast enough to keep it moving without feeling like you are being rushed - on the whole it's just about near perfect. Recommend it? Absolutely.
 

Book Review: The Incredible Here and Now

From Goodreads: Michael’s older brother dies at the beginning of the summer he turns 15, but as its title suggests The Incredible Here and Now is a tale of wonder, not of tragedy. Presented as a series of vignettes, in the tradition of Sandra Cisneros’ Young Adult classic The House on Mango Street, it tells of Michael’s coming of age in a year which brings him grief and romance; and of the place he lives in Western Sydney where ‘those who don’t know any better drive through the neighbourhood and lock their car doors’, and those who do, flourish in its mix of cultures. Through his perceptions, the reader becomes familiar with Michael’s community and its surroundings, the unsettled life of his family, the girl he meets at the local pool, the friends that gather in the McDonalds parking lot at night, the white Pontiac Trans Am that lights up his life like a magical talisman.

Thoughts: The fifth of the Children's Book Council Older Readers books. I swear the more of these I read, the harder the choice is.
This book is quintessentially Western Sydney suburbs. The melting pot of cultures, the pride of those who live there and misconceptions of those who don't. Michael is dealing with the loss of his beloved older brother, Dom. Dom the boy who could charm anyone with a smile. However, the book is not infused with grief. It does express the confusion and almost detachment that comes with having to deal with this level of grief. Learning to move on, but hanging onto the past events.
Told in snippets, The Incredible Here and Now leaves the reader constantly wanting more, needing to delve a little further into the lives of these beautiful, well executed characters and their suburb.

Book Review: The First Third

From Goodreads: Life is made up of three parts: in the first third, you're embarrassed by your family; in the second, you make a family of your own; and in the end, you just embarrass the family you've made.
That's how Billy's grandmother explains it, anyway. She's given him her bucket list (cue embarrassment), and now, it's his job to glue their family back together.
No pressure or anything.
Fixing his family's not going to be easy and Billy's not ready for change. But as he soon discovers, the first third has to end some time. And then what?
It's a Greek tragedy waiting to happen.

Thoughts:  This is the fourth book on the Children's Book Council short list for older readers. 
The first third is a book about love. Family love, romantic love, friendship love - messy, confusing, wonderful love.
From reading other reviews I take that Will Kostakis has drawn heavily from his own life when writing this book. For me that has infused it with an authenticity that is hard to manufacture. I completely believed the characters, the events and the feelings of Bill Tsiolakis (a nod to The Slap author Christos Tsiolakis maybe??). I identified with his feelings of separation from his brothers - something I have experienced with my sisters. (we got over it - close as anything now!) I especially connected with his relationship with his younger brother - that feeling you have done something wrong, but you don't know what.
The other thing this book got me thinking about was the traditional Greek grandmother character. I know this stereotype is built on some rather real characteristics of Greek grandmother's. However, Bill's mum and her life is experience is very different from her own mother and I feel she will be a very different (but just as loving) Yiayia to her mother. In real life, is the traditional Greek grandmother (or any traditional grandmother figure) a dying breed? Will the children of my kids generation know this type of grandparent? Does it matter? Most probably not, their grandparents will love them, even without the stereotypical behaviour and beliefs. 
The First Third is again a strong candidate on this short list. As I said in some other review, so glad I am not a judge! 

Book Review: The Sky So Heavy

From Goodreads: For Fin, it's just like any other day - racing for the school bus, bluffing his way through class, and trying to remain cool in front of the most sophisticated girl in his universe, Lucy. Only it's not like any other day because, on the other side of the world, nuclear missiles are being detonated.

Thoughts: This is the third book on the Children's Book Council short list for older readers.  
I found this to be very reminiscent of John Marsden's Tomorrow When The War Began. Similar as there is a group of  teenagers split, for various reasons, from adults, who need to work out how to survive on their own. However, this time, instead of an invasion and a enemy to fight, there is an accident induced nuclear winter and the enemy is the cold, lack of resources and possibly your own government.
The main character, Fin, seems wise beyond his years, but them I suppose becoming solely responsible for your younger brother in a disaster situation may make you grow up fast! Zorn does a great job in portraying him as outwardly calm, but lets the reader see the underlying fear, worry and uncertainty that Fin feels. 
The Sky so Heavy also raised many questions about what could happen to society in a situation such as this. Possibly the scariest thing is the scenario she has created is not beyond the realms of possibility. It is also possible to draw parallels to many issues in society today. Shutting people out for to provide "security" for a few, people outside the borders refugees fleeing a dangerous and untenable situation, border control, "illegals" within the boundaries and who has the right to decide who has access to safety and resources and who doesn't. Issues that become a lot closer to home when it happens to citizens within your own country.
Just like Wildlife and Fairytales for Wilde Girls   this is a strong story that deserves it's place on the short list. I'm sure this is not the last we'll see of Fin, Lucy and Max.

Book Review: Song For A Scarlet Runner

From Goodreads: Peat is on the run — forced to flee for her life when she's blamed for bringing bad luck to her village. She heads for the endless marshes, where she's caught by an old healer-woman who makes Peat her apprentice and teaches her the skill of storytelling.
But a story can be a dangerous thing. It can take you out of one world and leave you stranded in another — and Peat finds herself trapped in an eerie place beyond the Silver River where time stands still. Her only friends are a 900-year-old boy and his ghost hound, plus a small and slippery sleek — a cunning creature that might sink his teeth into your leg one minute, and save your life the next.

Thoughts: This is the fifth and final younger reader book on the Children's Book Council 2014 short list. There are usually 6 books on the list and I'm not sure why there is only 5 this year. All the books are very strong and very worthy of being on the list, so maybe there just wasn't anything else that measured up.
Song For A Scarlet Runner is, I think, the first in the series. Once again the characters in this are strong and believable. Hunt takes you into another world where words have power and stories can be dangerous. People you think are evil aren't and people who appear evil at first may not be. Through her characters Hunt explores friendship, loss, the importance of making your own decisions and how decisions made a long time ago can affect the here and now. I really hope there is a sequel to this book as I would love to catch up with all the characters again.

Book Review: Violet Mackerel's Possible Friend

From Goodreads: Violet Mackerel has moved into her new house. There is a girl next door who could be a possible friend. Her name is Rose and she has a pink and white bedroom and a doll’s house. Violet hopes that Rose might not be just a possible friend for very long. Instead, she would quite like Rose to be a very good friend.

Thoughts: This is the fourth book I've read for the Children's Book Council younger readers short list.
The Violet Mackerel books are a lovely  little series. I reviewed the first one in the series, Violet Mackerel's Brilliant Plot  for the 2011 short list. This is the 5th one in the series and I read it during a one hour stint on the check out counter at work one slow night. I was so happy to be drawn back into Violet's world that I then got number 2,3 and 4 and pretty much read them the same way over the next couple of weeks. 
In this particular volume, Violet discovers a knot in the fence at her new house. When she accidentally pushes it out, she leaves a small thing and a note to apologise. Soon Violet and Rose from next door have exchanged small things via the knot and have arranged a play date. When Violet goes to Rose's, she discovers that quite unlike her house and room, Rose's place is tidy, sparkly and new looking. Now Violet is worried her less than tidy, sparkly and new house is not good enough for Rose.
Branford beautifully explores Violet's insecurity and fear, giving a wonderful insight into issues that appear big to children, that adults may just dismiss. I love the wonderful caring support Violet gets not only from her mum and step-dad, but her older sister and brother. Branford writes a family that is full of love and support, a family that clearly reaps the benefit of such a relationship. I also love that in this apparently perfect family, tempers still run short and children get grumpy. 
Violet Mackerel books are beautifully written and easily accessible. I highly recommend them for younger readers.

Book Review: A Very Unusual Pursuit

From Goodreads: Monsters have been infesting London's dark places for centuries, eating every child who gets too close. That's why ten-year-old Birdie McAdam works for Alfred Bunce, the bogler. With her beautiful voice and dainty looks, Birdie is the bait that draws bogles from their lairs so that Alfred can kill them.One life-changing day, Alfred and Birdie are approached by two very different women. Sarah Pickles runs a local gang of pickpockets, three of whom have disappeared. Edith Eames is an educated lady who's studying the mythical beasts of English folklore. Both of them threaten the only life Birdie's ever known.But Birdie soon realises she needs Miss Eames's help, to save her master, defeat Sarah Pickles, and vanquish an altogether nastier villain.Catherine Jinks, one of Australia's most inventive writers, has created a fast-paced and enthralling adventure story with edge-of-your-seat excitement and chills.

Thoughts: A Very Unusual Pursuit (which has also been published under the title How to Catch a Bogle) is the third of the Children's Book Council short listed younger readers books for 2014.
Birdie's sweet, pure voice makes her the perfect apprentice for Alfred, the Bodger. It's Birdie's job to stand in an incomplete circle of salt and sing to lur out the child eating bogle so Alfred can kill it. It's a respectable profession and preferrable to the alternatives of mudlarking or the work house.
Set in the Victorian era, Jinks exposes her reader to a fairly historically accurate (apart from child eating bogles - but then again, who really knows!) picture of the era. The description of life for those less fortunate and their choices could lead to some great discussion with kids.
I've been a fan of Jinks for quite a few years now, especially liking her Pagan's Crusade series. She writes really interesting and believable characters, including the adults who I often find become two dimensional figures in children's books - almost fringe dwellers or very stereotypical. Jinks' adults are varied and real. This is one series where I will be searching for the next book.

Book Review: My Life as an Alphabet

From Goodreads: This isn't just about me. It's also about the other people in my life - my mother, my father, my dead sister Sky, my penpal Denille, Rich Uncle Brian, Earth-Pig Fish and Douglas Benson From Another Dimension. These are people [with the exception of Earth-Pig Fish, who is a fish] who have shaped me, made me what I am. I cannot recount my life without recounting elements of theirs. This is a big task, but I am confident I am up to it.
Introducing Candice Phee: twelve years old, hilariously honest and a little ... odd. But she has a big heart, the very best of intentions and an unwavering determination to ensure everyone is happy. So she sets about trying to 'fix' all the problems of all the people [and pets] in her life.

Thoughts: This is the second of the younger readers books I am reading as part of the Children's Book Council short list. Candice's teacher has asked teh class to write about themselves, starting each paragraph with a different letter of the alphabet. Candice decides she will do a chapter for each letter and thus begins a look into the life of this lovely, quirky child, her family and her school life.
Candice is dealing with quite a few things - a dead sister, a depressed mother, a lack of friends (except for Douglas Benson from another dimension)and a father who is estranged from his brother, Candice's rich Uncle Brian. Through it all she keeps upbeat, looking for solutions - some which work and others that fail spectacularly.
Barry Jonsberg never gives Candice a diagnosis, preferring to allow her to be "just me". It would be easy for adults reading the book to give an amateur diagnosis of  Asperger's, but I think most kids reading the book wouldn't even consider it, even missing the one clumsy reference by a teacher to it being a possibility.
On the whole, My Life as an Alphabet is a lovely read and well deserves it's place on the shortlist. 

Book Review: Fairytales for Wilde Girls

From Goodreads: A deliciously dark bubblegum-gothic fairytale from a stunning new Australian talent.

‘He's gone the same way as those little birds that bothered me with their awful songs! And you will too, you and your horrible heart-music, because you won't stay out of my woods!'
There's a dead girl in a birdcage in the woods. That's not unusual. Isola Wilde sees a lot of things other people don't. But when the girl appears at Isola's window, her every word a threat, Isola needs help.
Her real-life friends – Grape, James and new boy Edgar – make her forget for a while. And her brother-princes – the mermaids, faeries and magical creatures seemingly lifted from the pages of the French fairytales Isola idolises – will protect her with all the fierce love they possess.
It may not be enough.
Isola needs to uncover the truth behind the dead girl's demise and appease her enraged spirit, before the ghost steals Isola's last breath.

Thoughts: This is the second older readers CBC shortlisted book for 2014, and while it is very different from Wildlife, it is just as good - glad I'm not a judge! This is young people's Gothic at it's best - dark, moody, twisted - throw in  a bit of romance, intrigue and grief and you find yourself being drawn into the world of Isola Wilde and her princes. 
I loved the individuality of Allyse Near's characters - clearly defined, well drawn, flawed, quirky. I also love the issues this book deals with - mental illness, grief, bullying, friendship. However nothing is clichéd, nothing is predictable or stereotypical. The book won't appeal to all YA readers, but for those looking for something different to what is usually served up, looking for something with a bit more depth, this is the one to go for.

Book Review: Light Horse Boy

From Goodreads:  In 1914 Jim and Charlie abandon the Australian outback for the excitement and adventure of the war to end all wars. But in the Light Horse they quickly discover the brutal realities of life on the frontline. And nothing will ever be the same again.
Featuring stunning charcoal sketches by Brian Simmonds alongside primary source documents and historical photos, Light Horse Boy goes behind the scenes of the great ANZAC legends for an intimate look at their experience of World War I.
Thoughts: I love my Kindle, but books like this are why we need to keep hard copy as well. A book like this would just not work in an electronic format. This is beautiful. It's well written, well researched and just all round charming. It follows the story of Jim and his horse Breaker as they fight in the Great War - World War I. It starts with Jim joining up as a 17 year old (lying about his age) and follows him through to the end. The story is told through traditional third person narration and letters between Jim and his sister Alice back in Australia. Wolfer skilful story telling shows younger readers how many of those who joined up saw it as a big adventure and how they came to realise it was actually a terrible, horrible experience. In the lead up to Anzac Day, this book would be an excellent resource in any classroom to facilitate discussion and reflection.
I read most of this book sitting on a beach, surrounded by sand in the hot Australian sun. It made me pause to think as I read the descriptions of the Egyptian sand and sun and how something I was enjoying so much could also be so harsh and hard.
I read this as part of my yearly challenge to read the Children's Book Council of Australia Younger Readers Book of the Year awards. It's the first I have read in this category and it's was a great start.

Book Review: Wildlife

From Goodreads: Life? It’s simple: be true to yourself.
The tricky part is finding out exactly who you are…

In the holidays before the dreaded term at Crowthorne Grammar’s outdoor education camp two things out of the ordinary happened.
A picture of me was plastered all over a twenty-metre billboard.
And I kissed Ben Capaldi.
 
Boarding for a term in the wilderness, sixteen-year-old Sibylla expects the gruesome outdoor education program – but friendship complications, and love that goes wrong? They’re extra-curricula.
Enter Lou from Six Impossible Things – the reluctant new girl for this term in the great outdoors. Fragile behind an implacable mask, she is grieving a death that occurred almost a year ago. Despite herself, Lou becomes intrigued by the unfolding drama between her housemates Sibylla and Holly, and has to decide whether to end her self-imposed detachment and join the fray.
And as Sibylla confronts a tangle of betrayal, she needs to renegotiate everything she thought she knew about surviving in the wild.
A story about first love, friendship and NOT fitting in.

Thoughts: This is the first book I've read from the CBCA Older Readers shortlist for 2014 and what a wonderful way to start! Fiona Wood has written a great book about realising what true friendship is, the importance of being yourself and the trials of being a teenager. And she has done it with characters who are believable and identifiable. I think to appeal to the older readers or young adult audience you need to give them characters and stories they can see themselves in. I'm fairly sure just about everyone has known a Holly or a Ben, can pick out the Michael in their year level.
Wildlife is described as a companion book to Six Impossible Things which I suppose means you don't have to have read Six Impossible Things to understand Wildlife. It's true, I haven't read Six but I certainly want to now, especially since I assume it gives you more of Lou's story. I hope there is more in this series, I think it has a lot of places to go and I really would like to know how the characters continue.

Children's Book Council of Australia Book of the Year Shortlist

Children's Book Council of Australia

It's that time of year when the CBCA releases it's short lists for the Children's Book of the Year Awards! The CBCA has 5 categories - Older Readers, Younger Readers, Picture Books, Early Childhood and the Eve Pownall Award for Information Books. Each year I read the books in the Older Readers and the Younger Readers category. I may or may not try to get to the other categories.

This year's lists are as follows:

All links lead to GoodReads.

Older Readers

 

The Incredible Here and Now - Felicity Castagna

Life in Outer Space - Melissa Keil

The First Third - Will Kostakis

Fairytales for Wilde Girls - Allyse Near

Wildlife - Fiona Wood

The Sky so Heavy - Claire Zorn

Younger Readers

Violet Mackerel's Possible Friend - Anna Branford, Ill Sarah Davis

Song for a Scarlet Runner - Julie Hunt

City of Orphans: A Very Unusual Pursuit - Catherine Jinks

My Life as an Alphabet - Barry Jonsberg

Light Horse Boy - Dianne Wolfer, Ill Brian Simmonds

I'll read them in no particular order and review them as I go. I've either borrowed them from the library or am on the request list for them. So looking forward to this!