Series: Treasure Hunters (Fic)

AUTHOR: James Phelan (Aust)
PUBLISHED: 2013
SERIES: Treasure Hunters
FIRST BOOK: Treasure Hunters

PLOT:
The Kidd siblings have grown up diving down to shipwrecks and traveling the world, helping their famous parents recover everything from swords to gold doubloons from the bottom of the ocean. But after their parents disappear n the job, the kids are suddenly thrust into the biggest treasure hunt of their lives. They'll have to work together to defeat dangerous pirates and dodge the hot pursuit of an evil treasure hunting rival, all while following the cryptic clues left by their father to find a treasure which may hold the secret to their mother's disappearance.

REVIEW:
This book is hits the target age with humour, adventure, skilled and intelligent kids outwitting adults, families sticking together, pirates, treasure, mystery, and bad guys.

It lacks substance (certainly no where near the sophistication of Harry Potter), and the plot is very unrealistic - the children are quite ok with the disappearance of both parents, every crisis is resolved within the chapter and a new one crops up in the next (which is also expeditiously and over-simply solved). However, it is exactly these elements that make for such fun and light reading for children.

Some of the humour might go over some kids' heads, but it will still be a good read for both boys and girls. Illustrations will keep the interest of some reluctant readers. It is a book for children who are looking for something quick and easy.

Could be a class read-aloud with 3-5th graders.

AGE: 8-12
GENRE: Realistic fiction with a dash of fantasy
RATING: 3 1/2 stars

RIP Matthew Richell (publisher) 1973-2014

RIP Matthew Richell, CEO of publishing house Hatchette Australia. He died in a surfing accident at Tamarama.

News item: King James Bible from 1669 found in a charity booksale

A King James Bible printed in 1669 has been found in a Lifeline charity booksale in Wahroonga. It was published by John Bill and Christopher Barker, who were printers for the King. It is missing the title page, but is still worth about $800.

My Brother's Secret (YA Fic)

AUTHOR: Dan Smith (UK)
PUBLISHED: London : Chicken House, c2014.

PLOT:
Germany, 1941. 12-year-old Karl Engel is looking forward to joining the Hitler Youth, like all boys his age.

But when his father is killed, and his family moves in with his grandparents, he discovers things that leave his faith in the Führer shaken. Everyone seems to know something he doesn't. When he joins his brother in rebellion, his life will never be the same.

REVIEW:
This book is very interesting (I read it on my lunch break over a week and it was very difficult to get back to work :) ), and could be recommended to reluctant readers and to tweens/teens interested in history. It could be included on the reading list when introducing WW2 - certainly it lends itself to further discussion about Germany and the war, and how it may have felt to be a German at that time.
I liked the progression of the main character (from a very naive and rather irritating boy to a character with courage and convictions) and the inclusion of factual information about the Edelweiss Pirates.

This book could be a class read-aloud with 6th or 7th graders.

Also in this vein (war): Boy in the Striped Pajamas or Then.


AGE: 12-15. While the actual reading level is around age 10 or 11, the topics require a little maturity if you want children to read this and understand the implications in the broader context of a complex real-life war.
GENRE: Realistic fiction / Historical fiction.
RATING: 4 - 4 1/2 stars.

The Adventures of Sir Roderick, The Not-Very Brave (Fic)

AUTHOR: James O'Loghlin (Aust)
PUBLISHED: Australia : Pan, c2014.

PLOT:
Being a knight is the last thing Roderick wants, but that's what he becomes when he saves the Queen's life. When the Queen bids her knights to seek out a wizard, he must go where he is sent, and thus begins an adventure involving an invisible girl, a talking bear (who is rather funny), the wizard, a kidnapping, giant cockroaches, and more!

REVIEW:
The bear adds some light humour, and the plot has enough twists that it stays interesting till the end. There are some moments that could be scary for some children (but certainly not as scary as Goosebumps and the like). There are themes of magic, friendship, betrayal, bravery and courage, questioning authority, trust, and self-actualisation.

It would be a good option for a third-grade read aloud (the plot would go way over the heads of some 2nd graders).

AGE: 8-12.
GENRE: Fantasy fiction.
RATING: 4 - 4 1/2 stars.