My Sister Rosa (YA/Adult Fic)

AUTHOR: Justine Larbalestier (US)
PUBLISHED: Allen & Unwin ; 2016.
PAGES/ILL: ~400 pages.

PLOT:
Teenager Che has a lot of things he wants to do. Improve his boxing. Get a girlfriend. Leave New York and go back home to Sydney. But the most important thing is keeping his little sister, Rosa, in line.
Rosa is cruel. She delights in deception and making other people hurt. Che is convinced she's a sociopath, but Rosa's sweet outward disposition easily fools the people around them. Che's life gets increasingly complicated as Rosa's games lead to horrific consequences.

REVIEW:
This is being advertised as a YA novel, but I would emphasise that it is for OLDER young adults (17+).

This is one of the best books I've read this year. I'm writing this a few months after I finished the book and it has still stuck with me. It's a great story if you can handle sociopathic children completely devoid of empathy who delight in manipulating others (and the reality that they DO exist).

AGE: 17+/Adult.
GENRE: Realistic psychological/thriller fiction.
RATING: STRONG 5 stars.

Series: Young and Yang (Middle Grade Fic)

AUTHOR: Kristen Kittscher (US)
PUBLISHED: HarperCollins ; 2013.
PAGES/ILL: ~370 pages.
SERIES: Young and Yang. The Wig in the Window ; The Tiara on the Terrace.

PLOT: (Book 1: The Wig in the Window)
Best friends, 7th graders Sophie Young and Grace Yang, love mysteries and have made a game out of spying on their neighbours. When they discover a bloody scene at the home of their bizarre middle-school counsellor, they are on the case to prove she is not what she seems. Soon the girls are breaking secret codes, being followed by a strange blue car, and tailing strangers. As the case heats up, they are under pressure, which threatens their friendship.

REVIEW:
This is a really fun story for fans of The Secret Seven, The Famous Five, Encyclopaedia Brown, and Nancy Drew (and their parents would have likely liked Trixie Belden and the Hardy Boys). The age-range would target children who have long since moved on from the Nancy Drew and the Clue Crew series, but are not be ready for the full series featuring the older Nancy Drew.
The plot has little twists and more suspense than your average middle-grade mystery fiction.
Overall, I highly recommend this series. It would be an appropriate class read-aloud for Grades 4-6

For promoting it in school libraries, I would display this book (along with the others I've listed) together with articles about real-life child investigators, such as this one.

For more mystery and suspense books, check out the list from A Mighty Girl.

AGE: 9+.
GENRE: Detective and Mystery Fiction.
RATING: 4 1/2 - 5 stars.

Spinning Starlight (YA Fic)

AUTHOR: R.C. Lewis (US)
PUBLISHED: Disney Hyperion ; 2015.
PAGES/ILL: ~330 pages.

PLOT:
Sixteen-year-old heiress and paparazzi darling Liddi Jantzen hates the spotlight. But as the only daughter in the most powerful tech family in the galaxy, it’s hard to escape it. When she escapes a kidnapping attempt and can't get in contact with her brothers, she's drawn into an inter-planetary conspiracy she could never have imagined. When her brothers' captor implants a device in Liddi’s vocal cords to monitor her speech, their lives are in her hands: One word and her brothers are dead.
Liddi travels to another world, where she meets the one person who might have the skills to help her bring her eight brothers home — a handsome dignitary named Tiav. But without her voice, Liddi must use every bit of her strength and wit to convince Tiav that her mission is true.

REVIEW:
I have to admit that this book drew me in and I read it in an afternoon. It is based loosely on Hans Christian Andersen’s The Wild Swans. I think, though, that it would be better to read Spinning Starlight before The Wild Swans so that you aren't trying to draw comparisons and can take the story for what it is on its own.

This is an enjoyable, compelling story. Young teen girls would especially like it.
The author has written another work in the same vein - retelling the story of Snow White in 'Stitching Snow'. I'll be looking out for it.

AGE: 13+.
GENRE: Fantasy/Science Fiction/Adventure.
RATING: 5 stars.

The Ant Patrol - books to teach social skills (PB)

This series came across my desk the other day, and I think they are worth sharing. This series, Ant Patrol, is primarily for parents and teachers to use with children who may require additional help with social skills, particularly those with ASD (but not exclusively).

They are published by M.A.ST.E.R, which has additional information and resources on their website.
They are also available from SkillBuilders, a site with extensive resources for building foundational skills, from socio-emotional to physical, etc.

The stories revolve around a colony of ants. Different ants have different traits.

 - Felix the Fire Ant struggles to control his temper and easily flies into a rage when things don't go his way.
 - Wilbur the Worry Ant is fearful of new experiences and is hesitant to participate.
 - Me-Me the Self-Focused Ant can only see her own perspective of things. She expects everyone else to do the things that she likes to do.
 - Hugo the Socially Unaware Ant also struggles to see others' perspectives. When another ant falls over, Hugo laughs because he thinks it looks like fun. He struggles to understand emotions in others.
 - Iris the Inattentive Ant can't concentrate. She is constantly day-dreaming and struggles to focus.
 - Alfie the Hyperactive Ant just can't sit still. He has so much energy and doesn't think before he jumps into something. He has a lot of trouble waiting for things.

Throughout the stories, big leader ants, Hoppy the Helpful Ant and Sergeant Ant, guide the other ants through life. Hoppy helps the other ants with their difficulties and teaches them ways to be more socially aware.
The books include significant information to help parents and teachers to guide their own children in learning the same lessons.
Some tips include focusing on breathing, being aware of and monitoring their own emotions (e.g. level of anger, and what situations may provoke angry feelings), and learning to tune in to others' feelings.

AGE: 4-8, with adult guidance.

RATING: 5 stars.

The Lost Thing (video)

The Lost Thing by Shaun Tan is a picture book for upper primary school students about a teenager who finds something (a cross between a robot, a dog, an octopus, a crab, and something unknown) lost and looks for a place where it could belong. It has quite a lot of social commentary embedded in the pictures and sub-text.

It was made into a short 15-minute film.

This book and film could be used together in a literature study for middle school students.

Aviary Wonders Inc. (PB)

FULL TITLE: Aviary Wonders Inc. Spring Catalog and Instruction Manual : renewing the world's bird supply since 2031.
AUTHOR: Kate Samworth (USA)
PUBLISHED: Clarion Books, c2014.
PAGES/ILL: 31 pages, illustrations.

PLOT:
In a future when deforestation and other environmental factors have caused many bird species to go extinct, businessman Alfred Wallis offers a catalog of parts for creating replacements, from hand-carved beaks to Italian-leather feet. Mix-and-match wings, beaks, crests, legs, and more. Clients discover problems when they try to mix and match parts that don't work together.

REVIEW:
The book takes a humorous look at a future where you can create a bird in much the same way that one would make something out of Lego, or in a build-a-bear store (except that this pet is alive). It is very creative, funny, and though-provoking.

It would be a good discussion prompt in sustainability and environmental lessons - what will the future be like if our wildlife disappears? For light-hearted imagination, children can imagine what bird they would create themselves.

AGE: 7-12. This picture book may be read/browsed by children aged 4+, but the deeper storyline, the environmental message and the humour is ideal for older children.

GENRE: Fantasy fiction
RATING: 4 1/2 - 5 stars.

The Story of Ferdinand (PB)

AUTHOR: Munro Leaf (U.S.)
PUBLISHED: 1936

The timeless tale of the bull who preferred to smell flowers rather than fight. A wonderful story about individual differences, and accepting people for who they are.

AGE: Preschool - Primary school ages (enjoyable by all ages)
RATING: 5 stars

Stuck (PB)

AUTHOR: Oliver Jeffers (Northern Ireland; U.S.)
PUBLISHED: 2011

When Floyd's kite gets stuck in a tree, he throws everything from a shoe, to the kitchen sink, to a whale after it to get it down.  What will happen to the kite?  (not to mention the whale...)
Jeffers does it again with a book that will delight all readers.

AGE: Preschool - Primary school ages
RATING: 5 stars

Penguin and Pinecone (PB)

AUTHOR: Salina Yoon (U.S.)
PUBLISHED: 2012

When Penguin finds a Pinecone, love and friendship blossoms instantly. Penguin cares for pinecone, and knits it a scarf.  Penguin learns that pinecones can't grow in the snow, so he goes on a long trek to return Pinecone to its own environment. After he leaves Pinecone in the forest, Penguin worries about his friend, and returns to check on it.
A lovely touching story of care, generosity, and friendship.

AGE: 3-8
RATING: 5 stars

Grumpy Little King (PB)

AUTHOR: Michael Streich
PUBLISHED: 2012

The Grumpy Little King was always grumpy. He didn't like being little and to make up for it, he decided he wanted more land in his kingdom. So he started a war.  But the soldiers on the battlefield aren't impressed. This is an engaging and thoughtful story about the foolishness of war.

AGE: Primary school
RATING: 5 stars

This Moose Belongs to Me (PB)

AUTHOR: Oliver Jeffers (Northern Ireland; U.S.)
PUBLISHED: 2012

An exquisite tale of Wilfred who finds a moose and takes ownership of him and calls him Marcel. Marcel is mostly an obedient pet, but Wilfred soon finds that Marcel answers to other names. A beautiful story about the "ownership" of wild animals.

AGE: Preschool - Primary school age
RATING: 5 stars

Diary of a Wombat (PB)

AUTHOR: Jackie French; Bruce Whatley (illustrator) (Aust)
PUBLISHED: 2003

Now published in a series, this delightful set of picture books looks at life through the eyes of a cuddly and lazy wombat as he goes about eating, sleeping, digging holes, and training its humans to produce treats.

Other titles in the series include
Christmas wombat
Diary of a baby wombat
How to scratch a wombat

AGE: 3+ (enjoyable for all ages)
GENRE: Humorous fiction
RATING: 5 stars

Where the Forest Meets the Sea (PB)

AUTHOR: Jeannie Baker (Aust)
PUBLISHED: 1988

REVEIW: In a combination of realism and fantasy, WTFMTS tells the story of a young boy visiting a Nth Queensland island with his grandfather.  Through his eyes we see the past, present, and possible future of pristine rainforest.
The book has strong environmentalist themes.

AGE: 5-10
RATING: 5 stars

Series: The Ranger's Apprentice (Fic)

AUTHOR: John Flanagan (Aust)
PUBLISHED: 2004+
SERIES: The Ranger's Apprentice
FIRST BOOK: The Ranger's Apprentice

PLOT: Will is small for his age, but agile and energetic. All his life, he has dreamed of becoming a great knight like the father he never knew, so he is devastated when he is rejected as an apprentice to Castle Redmont's Battleschool. Instead he is apprenticed to Halt, the mysterious Ranger whose uncanny ability to move unseen is thought to be the result of black magic. Reluctantly, Will learns to use a Ranger’s secret weapons: a bow and arrow, a mottled cloak and a stubborn little pony. It may not be the sword and battlehorse he longs for, but when Will and Halt set out on a desperate mission to prevent the assassination of the King, Will finds that a Ranger’s weapons are not so useless after all . . .

REVIEW:
The author wrote the series for his 12 year old son (who was apparently very small) to show him that you don't need to be big and buff to be extraordinary. Issues dealt with include orphanage, responsibility, death, war, friendship, trust, bullying, overcoming adversity.

Links to a website, and the books are also available as e-books. At the date of this post, a movie is in the works.

A good one to start out with if children aren't sure if they enjoy the fantasy genre or not.

AGE: Average reading age would be 10+. Exciting enough to engage adults as well as children.
GENRE: Fantasy, Adventure
RATING: a strong 5 stars

Where Is The Green Sheep? PB

AUTHOR: Mem Fox (Aust)
PUBLISHED: 2004

NOTES: Starting with colours (red sheep, blue sheep), the book follows a predictable pattern (Here is the __ sheep. (x2) .... But where is the green sheep?)
The ideas are connected and follows an ABCB rhyming pattern.
VERY cute story!

AGES: birth to 3
RATING: 5 stars

Where's My Cow? (PB)

AUTHOR: Terry Pratchett (UK)
PUBLISHED: 2005

REVIEW: Pratchett may not be known for picture books, but you only need to skim this one to see his style coming through. It's a story about reading a story and making up a story. May go over the heads of some children (it's quite unusual, and the double/triple layering of the story can take a bit for young minds to wrap their head around), but a great book which lends itself to adult-child discussion about what is happening.

AGES: 5+.
RATING: 5 stars.

The Elsewhere Chronicles (GN)

AUTHOR: Nikko Bannister (U.S.)
PUBLISHED: 2007.

PLOT: Rebecca, Noah, Max and Theo discover a passageway into another world in the abandoned house of Grandpa Gabe, Rebecca's grandfather. When Rebecca and Max are trapped on the other side of the passageway, Noah and Theo rush to their aid. In ElseWhere they meet monsters - wicked spies called Shadows, - and strangers who become friends. They use their wits, brawn, and light to fight off the Shadows - and to protect our own world.

REVIEW: A 4-book graphic novel series by Lernerbook publishers. Linked to a website. Excellent illustrations. Story takes some understanding and interpretation (some links between the dialogue and the illustrations need to be made by the reader).

AGES: 8+.
GENRE: Adventure, Horror, Graphic Novel.
RATING: 5 stars.

Series: The Magic School Bus (Jnr Fic)

AUTHOR: Joanna Cole, Bruce Degen (USA)

PLOT: A class of school children learn in unusual ways thanks to their unusual teacher and a bus which can take them anywhere.

NOTES: The original books have been adapted into Scholastic Readers. The Scholastic website also links to classroom and home activities. Some books can be read online as Google Books.
This brilliant series will help children learn and encourage interest in a large variety of topics.
There are also tv series and films based on the books.

AGES: 5+.
GENRE: Fantasy, Adventure.
RATING: 5 stars.