Book Review: Figgy in The World

From Goodreads: Figgy has two problems. One is her name. Nobody in Ghana has that name. The other is that her grandmother is ill and needs special medicine. Figgy can't do much about her name, but she can do something for Grandma Ama. She will go to America and bring back the medicine, and Kwame, her special goat, will go with her. Out in the wide world she will meet some bad people, but she will also find good friends.

Thoughts: This is the fifth of the Children's Book Council of Australia (CBCA) shortlisted Younger Readers books. Figgy in the World has so much going for it. It provides an entertaining and informative look at a world vastly different to that of Western children. Figgy is strong and determined, willing to do whatever it takes to find the medicine her grandmother needs. Figgy has that best quality found in children - an absolute belief that they can do what they set out to do. 
This book could have so easily have gone wrong, becoming a condescending narrative about a struggling country. Instead the author paints a picture that doesn't hide the harshness of developing country, but also explores it's beauty and strengths. As a reader, I never felt pity for Figgy, I was amazed by her - her resilience, her hard working nature, her friendliness and her concern for all she met.
Figgy in the World explores themes of friendship, family, disparity between rich and poor, social justice and developing an awareness of the world around us. A wonderful book. I think it has a strong chance of taking out the book of the Year award.

Figgy in the World gets 4 stars!

 *        Did not like it
**       It was OK
***      Liked it
****    Really liked it

*****   It was amazing 

Book Review: Withering-By-Sea

From Goodreads: High on a cliff above the gloomy coastal town of Withering-by-Sea stands the Hotel Majestic. Inside the walls of the damp, dull hotel, eleven-year-old orphan Stella Montgomery leads a miserable life with her three dreadful Aunts. But one night, Stella sees something she shouldn't have... Something that will set in motion and adventure more terrifying and more wonderful than she could ever have hoped for...

Thoughts:  This is the fourth of the Children's Book Council of Australia (CBCA) shortlisted Younger Readers books. Withering-By-Sea is the first in a series of mystery books set in Victorian England. Stella is a lively, intelligent, curious girl, stuck in the custody of three terribly boring and proper aunts. When she witnesses a murder one night, her life is suddenly in danger as she tries to fulfil a promise to the dead man.
There are a couple of very appealing things about this series. The first is the main character Stella. Intelligent, quick witted and resourceful, Stella is a fantastic strong female character that will appeal to girls and boys alike. The action is thick and fast, leading the reader through various aspects of Victorian England that many of today's children would find fascinating. Finally the presentation of the book is perfect. Most children I know like anything that makes something a little bit different, a bit special.  Withering-by-Sea is printed not in traditional black, but blue. The illustrations are also done in blue tones (like a blue sepia), adding to the feel of it being just that little bit different. Rossell builds the suspense in the novel to breaking point and then pushes the action forward at a rush that has the reader desperate to find out what will happen. I believe this series will go from strength to strength.

 Withering-by-Sea gets 4 stars!

 *        Did not like it
**       It was OK
***      Liked it
****    Really liked it

*****   It was amazing 

Book Review: The Cleo Stories:The Necklace and The Present

From Goodreads: Cleo desperately wants a necklace. Her parents say special presents are only for birthdays...but Cleo doesn't want to wait. In the second story, it's her mum's birthday and Cleo doesn't know what to give her - until she has the best idea of all. Delightful, warm and irresistible, these stories show how a little girl with a big imagination can always find a way to have fun.

Thoughts: Libby Gleeson is one of those Australian children's writers you can't go wrong with. Her stories are wonderfully told and deceptively simple. In these two stories we meet Cleo, a bright, creative child who has parents that are obviously loving and supportive. Like any little girl, Cleo wants what her friends have and is desperate to give her mum an extra special gift on her birthday. Her solutions for both problems show children that sometimes the best answer is not the one we thought of first, but the one that comes by thinking out of the box. Freya Blackwood's illustrations only add to the charm of this book and give the reader lots to look at. It would be a great book to share with younger children.

The Cleo Stories gets 3 stars!

 *        Did not like it
**       It was OK
***      Liked it
****    Really liked it

*****   It was amazing 

Book Review: The Simple Things

From Goodreads: When Stephen and his parents arrive at Aunty Lola's home, he discovers that his aunt is not only really, really old, but also grumpy and scary. He wants to turn around and go home but his mum says they have to stay until Lola's birthday - three whole weeks away! Will Stephen be able to last that long? Will Aunty Lola?
A book for readers young and old.

Thoughts: This is the second of the Children's Book Council of Australia (CBCA) shortlisted Younger Readers books. Like Two Wolves, it's an exploration of family and it's importance, but from a very different situation. Stephen is very unsure of Aunty Lola, but over time a bound develops that is good for both of them.

For me, this book raised a very good question. Is it ok for older people to be rude? There is much talk of a sense of entitlement from the younger generation, but I see it frequently from the older generation as well. They complain (and Aunty Lola does this) of people being rude and having no respect while displaying these traits as well. The book could lend itself to some wonderful discussion around this, plus our need to make sure we continue to include and think about those members of our family who are older as our own lives become crowded and busy.

This is a lovely book, beautifully written with much to offer.

The Simple Things gets 3 stars!

 *        Did not like it
**       It was OK
***      Liked it
****    Really liked it

*****   It was amazing 

Book Review: Two Wolves

From Goodreads: One afternoon, police officers show up at Ben Silver’s front door. Minutes after they leave, his parents arrive home. Ben and his little sister Olive are bundled into the car and told they’re going on a holiday. But are they? 
It doesn’t take long for Ben to realise that his parents are in trouble. Ben’s always dreamt of becoming a detective – his dad even calls him ‘Cop’. Now Ben gathers evidence and tries to uncover what his parents have done.
The problem is, if he figures it out, what does he do? Tell someone? Or keep the secret and live life on the run? 

Thoughts: This is the first of the Children's Book Council of Australia (CBCA) shortlisted Younger Readers books. It definitely falls into the upper end of the younger readers section. The book explores some interesting themes, right and wrong, family and loyalty towards them.  It would appeal particularly to boys, especially those who live similar lives to  Ben in terms of a lot of screen time and not a lot of outside, getting dirty time. It would be interesting to ask them how they think they would cope, what skills they would need and what decisions they would make. I think they would also identify with his insecurity and how he is unsure of what is going on and what he should do. His annoyance at the wonderfully stubborn Olive, his younger sister, yet his drive to look after her is also something to be explored.

The tension in the book is well built. You know things can't continue the way they are going, but you're not sure how they will be resolved. You know that regardless, Ben will never be the same and quite possibly, despite the hardships, he will be better off for the experience he has had.

Two Wolves gets 3 stars!

 *        Did not like it
**       It was OK
***      Liked it
****    Really liked it

*****   It was amazing 

Book Review: Are You Seeing Me?

From Goodreads: This road trip will have earth-shattering consequences . . . 
Twins Justine and Perry are about to embark on the road trip of a lifetime in the Pacific Northwest.
It's been a year since they watched their dad lose his battle with cancer. Now, at only nineteen, Justine is the sole carer for her disabled brother. But with Perry having been accepted into an assisted-living residence, their reliance on each other is set to shift. Before they go their separate ways, they're seeking to create the perfect memory.
For Perry, the trip is a glorious celebration of his favourite things: mythical sea monsters, Jackie Chan movies and the study of earthquakes.
For Justine, it's a chance to reconcile the decision to ‘free' her twin, to see who she is without her boyfriend, Marc – and to offer their mother the chance to atone for past wrongs.
But the instability that has shaped their lives will not subside, and the seismic event that Perry forewarned threatens to reduce their worlds to rubble . . . 

Thoughts: This is the third of the Children's Book Council of Australia (CBCA) shortlisted Older Readers books. The range of subjects in this years list is fantastic. In this, twins Justine and Perry take the trip of a lifetime in search of sea monsters and answers. Justine is the sole carer of her brother who has an intellectual disability. In her words:

Perry has a brain condition that can cause him to feel anxious or upset in different places and circumstances. He has trouble with people - mixing with them and communicating with them - and it sometimes results in inappropriate behaviours. I appreciate your understanding and patience.

That's her patter for when Perry has trouble coping in situations. One of her ways of bringing him back to her is to ask - are you seeing me.

Told in alternate view points, switching between Justine and Perry, insight is given into how each of the characters view the trip differently. Both are aware there will be big changes when the get home, but only Justine is really aware of how those changes are going to start during this trip. I love how along the way they meet a lot of people who have an understanding of Perry's anxieties and behaviours. I think this is becoming more and more real in a world where disabilities are no longer hidden away and thought to be something to be ashamed of.

I did have a few issues with the book and the ease in which some situations are resolved, but on the whole it was highly enjoyable.

Are You Seeing Me gets stars!

 *        Did not like it
**       It was OK
***      Liked it
****    Really liked it

*****   It was amazing 

Book Review: Nona & Me

From Goodreads: Rosie and Nona are sisters. Yapas.
They are also best friends. It doesn’t matter that Rosie is white and Nona is Aboriginal: their family connections tie them together for life.
Born just five days apart in a remote corner of the Northern Territory, the girls are inseperable, until Nona moves away at the age of nine. By the time she returns, they’re in Year 10 and things have changed. Rosie has lost interest in the community, preferring to hang out in the nearby mining town, where she goes to school with the glamorous Selena, and Selena’s gorgeous older brother Nick.
When a political announcement highlights divisions between the Aboriginal community and the mining town, Rosie is put in a difficult position: will she be forced to choose between her first love and her oldest friend?

Thoughts: This is the second of the Children's Book Council of Australia (CBCA) shortlisted Older Readers books. Every now and then you come across a book that you know will end up on the high school recommended reading list. I think this is one and I really hope I'm right. Nona & Me managed to bring to the forefront many of the issues of Australia's remote Aboriginal communities without making you feel like you were being preached to. It highlighted how difficult it can be to hold onto your convictions when you are young and desperate to fit in. That in itself was refreshing in YA fiction - a protagonist who wasn't the strange, quirky kid, able to stand up for what they believed no matter the opposition. The reality is most teenagers are desperate to fit in, be liked, be part of the crowd. I found the portrayal of Rosie a lot more believable than many YA characters.

There is so much to explore in this book. So much room for discussion and debate. Everything from human rights to the right to force your views on your children. An excellent book.

Nona & Me gets 4 stars!

 *        Did not like it
**       It was OK
***      Liked it
****    Really liked it

*****   It was amazing