The Sleeper and the Spindle (Pic Fic)

AUTHOR: Neil Gaiman (UK) ; illustrated by Chris Riddell.
PUBLISHED: Bloomsbury, c2014.
PAGES/ILL: 66 pages, ill.

PLOT:
A thrillingly reimagined fairy tale from the truly magical combination of author Neil Gaiman and illustrator Chris Riddell weaving together a sort-of Snow White and an almost Sleeping Beauty with a thread of dark magic, which will hold readers spellbound from start to finish. On the eve of her wedding, a young queen sets out to rescue a princess from an enchantment. She casts aside her fine wedding clothes, takes her chain mail and her sword and follows her brave dwarf retainers into the tunnels under the mountain towards the sleeping kingdom. This queen will decide her own future and the princess who needs rescuing is not quite what she seems.

REVIEW:
This dark fairy tale adaptation (not for young children) is spectacular (but I have a bit of a soft spot for Gaiman's work). The story has threads of the familiar, but at the same time is a new story. The black and white illustrations are enhanced with gold accents. With the Vellum cover, it's a delight.

AGE: 8+.
GENRE: Fairy tale
RATING: 5 stars.

Series: Take Back The Skies (Jnr YA Fic)

AUTHOR: Lucy Saxon (UK)
PUBLISHED: Bloosmbury, c2014.
PAGES/ILL: 378 pages, map.
SERIES: Take Back The Skies.
FIRST BOOK: Take Back The Skies.

PLOT:

Catherine Hunter is the daughter of a senior government official on the island of Anglya, in the world of Tellus. Since the monarchs went missing during a war, the government officials have controlled everything. She lives a privileged life, unlike the Commoners, whose children have been Collected for a war no one knows much about. Unhappy with her caged life, she stows away on the skyship Stormdancer. As they leave Anglya behind, Cat learns about other lands in Tellus and that her government is involved in a despicable secret scheme and has been lying to the people of Anglya. With the help of the crew of the Stormdancer, she vows to set things right. (And along the way, she falls for one of the crew members.)

REVIEW:
First of all, cudos to a 16 year old for writing it, but I was really disappointed in this story. I really wanted to like this book, and for the first half I did.

The world Saxon has created is rather great. A little steampunk, a little fantasy. The main and supporting characters started off quite likeable. However, the story falls down with some of the plot and character developments.

The plot is developed (if you can call it that), reaches the climax, and ends way to fast. As for the love interest, you can see Fox and Cat falling for each other a mile off. Unsurprisingly (because the characters and the author are teens), it's a fairly juvenile relationship, going from 0-10 in a matter of chapters, and, annoyingly, with constant "saying the wrong thing and being taken the wrong way" back and forth they keep up for almost the entire book.

The progression of events is thus:
- Cat leaves her privileged life and stows away on the skyship Skydancer where she makes friends with the crew and falls for Fox, who does the whole "I'll act like an arse because I secretly like you" thing while Cat does the "I'm independent and I'll overreact" thing.
- The government plot comes to light - they are kidnapping kids for something and lying to their people about being at war.
- The adults on the Skydancer have known something was up for YEARS, but Cat gets them to mount an offensive in one conversation (obviously only those on the Skydancer have a clue and none of the other nations know what is going on, and obviously they should do something without finding out more details or alerting authorities in other lands).
- They plan what they are going to do for all of a day or two, managing to find blueprints of the government building they need to infiltrate, along with making secret video and audio equipment, explosives, etc.
- Once in the building, they discover exactly what is going on (turning children into half-machine soldiers), find the missing monarchs, and Fox and Cat realise their feelings for each other and are in 'love'. (And the previously-missing prince gets an instant crush on Cat that makes you gag).
- The next day, they rescue the monarchs as well as a lot of children, broadcast to the world images of what is going on, and go after the skyship on which the completed child/machine soldiers are being kept. - They find the ship, kill the main baddie, Fox dies (in an unlikely scenario), the Prince makes a move on Cat, she swears she will never love him or marry him (all this within a few hours).
- "Two years later" Cat marries the Prince. The end.

Riiiight. The first part is fine. I'll even overlook the Mission Impossible plot of infiltrating a secret government plot in a matter of days.
What would have made it more interesting, though, is the baddie getting away, finding out there are MORE ships with child/machine soldiers, and Fox living to fight another day in the next book where they continue to hunt for the baddie and try to find the other ships and eventually maybe having to fight those machines. (This also means the prince can get over his nauseous little infatuation and find someone else, Cat and Fox's relationship might actually develop into something quite good while providing the romance in the story, and then the trio could actually work quite well).

Instead, they kill the baddie, and we immediately jump to 'two years later'. So.... a government conspiracy just magically vanished like smoke after destroying one building and killing some people? What about the child/machines? What did they do with them? What about the kids who hadn't been made into machines yet? How far did the conspiracy reach? What was the punishment for those captured? What did the other lands make of it? How did people react to learning about the plot and finding out what had happened to their kids? How about learning that the missing King is actually part of the conspiracy? Or that some people in other nations are in on it, too? There are a lot of options to take this plot further, but instead it's over in one chapter and 'two years later'.

Oh, and Cat goes completely against the 'tough independent' character she's been (sometimes taking it a little too far) for the whole book and goes from a 15 year old losing the 'love of her life' to a 17 year old 'doing her duty' and marrying the sack-of-wet-cement prince which she swore she never would (I HATE predictable and obvious foreshadowing), while still, apparently, being in love with the memory of Fox.

Since a 16 year old wrote it, yes, the writing is juvenile with a lot of "telling" rather than "showing" (although it's still very good for her age). This is another book which is a bit of a let-down and could have been much better (see my review of 'Death & Co.').


AGE: 11+.
GENRE: Fantasy/Steampunk fiction
RATING: I'd give it 3 1/2 - 4 stars until the end. The end gets a 2. Overall, I'll give it 3, but I can see some pre-teen girls giving it a 5.

Series: Death & Co. (Fic)

AUTHOR: McCune, D.J. (Ireland)
PUBLISHED: Hot Key Books, c2013.
PAGES/ILL: 279 pages
SERIES: Frankie Death & Co.
FIRST BOOK: Death & Co.

PLOT:
Lumen are charged with guiding souls down their Light after death. Luman can move fairly freely between the real world and the Hinterland where they meet the souls. Adam belongs to a Luman family, but he's not sure he wants the job. He likes being 'normal' - having friends, going to schools, and beginning to date girls. But Adam has a special gift, and when he starts to embrace it, he realises he can change more than his own destiny. But not without a price...

REVIEW:
This is one of those books which, for the most part, I liked, but which didn't live up to potential. Some parts of the story I'd give a strong 4 stars. Other parts get a 2.
For the potential appeal to children, I give it 4 stars.

The premise of the plot (adapting the 'Ferryman' folklore) is great and it's such a pity that the author didn't do it justice. The target audience is supposed to be teen, but it reads more like a middle grade book.

I found Adam and his friends fairly juvenile. A sub-plot has Adam and his friends playing pranks on a head teacher, fooling and humiliating him. The story shows this teacher as a bully and dumb enough to fall for the pranks - a very juvenile idea. This sub-plot was not necessary and just took time away from the main story line (exploring the world of the Lumen). Sure, it introduced us to the 'normal' part of Adam's life, but it wasn't done particularly well. It felt too lower and middle grade (Captain Underpants-esque) compared to the other themes (you'd think a boy who has grown up with the responsibility of helping souls move on after death would have a little more maturity).

There were missed opportunities for character development and world-building. Children won't notice the lack of development so much, but it would have contributed making the book higher quality (obviously).

Overall, I did enjoy reading the book and will read the next one. Unfortunately, it could have been so much more (hopefully the next book/s will build a bit more guts into the story line).

I can see that it does have appeal for children (suitable age depends on the child). While it's promoted for YA, it's more pre-adolescent (9 or 10+), although you'd have to know the 9 y.o to know how much 'death' is ok for them (for example, in one scene Adam and his family are in the Hinterland, helping souls who have just been mass-executed in a military coup). It's for kids who have moved way beyond Diary of a Wimpy Kid/Captain Underpants, but are no where near ready for Hunger Games. It's about on par with the early Harry Potters or Skulduggery Pleasants.

AGE: 9-14.
GENRE: Fantasy fiction.
RATING: 3 1/2 - 4 stars.

Series: Shoutykid (Jnr Fic)

AUTHOR: Simon Mayle (UK)
PUBLISHED: HarperCollins, c2014.
PAGES/ILL: 397 pages, ill.
SERIES: Shoutykid.
FIRST BOOK: How Harry Riddles Made a Mega-Amazing Zombie Movie.

PLOT:
Told through a series of texts, emails and letters, follow Harry Riddles' ups and downs in life with school, girls and his family.
When his dad looses his job, Harry begins thinking that making a zombie movie might just be his ticket to success (and money).

REVIEW:
This book will appeal to fans of Captain Underpants, Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Charlie Merrick's Misfits, or Compton Valance. The format will have high appeal with reluctant and struggling readers.

AGE: 7-10.
GENRE: Realistic fiction
RATING: 4 stars (not because it is a literary great, but because of its high appeal to under 10s, especially reluctant readers).

Series: Frankie Fox, Girl Spy (Jnr Fic)

AUTHOR: Yvette Poshoglian (Aust)
PUBLISHED: Lothian Children's, c2014.
PAGES/ILL: 121 pages, ill.
SERIES: Frankie Fox, Girl Spy
FIRST BOOK: Ready, Steady, Spy!

PLOT: (Ready, Steady, Spy!)
Frankie Fox, daughter of millionaire inventor Fergus Fox, is sure there are strange things happening around her house. Someone's been in her room, her new bus driver is suspicious, and why is her science teacher teaching her how to diffuse a bomb?
When her father is kidnapped, she discovers an amazing secret - she is a spy! Along with her next door neighbour, she becomes a member of Griffin, a secret organisation intent on taking down the evil Alliance and protecting the world's freedom.

REVIEW:
This book is sure to appeal to young girls (and boys, but girls will be the main audience) who are just starting to move into longer chapter books. To the book's credit, problems are not resolved within a chapter, and the reader is encouraged to solve the clues along with Frankie.

There are some holes in the story and some parts could use rewording, but overall it's a good story for young girls.

AGE: 6-10.
GENRE: Spy stories
RATING: 3 1/2 - 4 stars.

Series: The Mapmaker Chronicles (Fic)

AUTHOR: A.L. Tait (Aust)
PUBLISHED: Lothian, c2014.
PAGES/ILL: 238 pages.
SERIES: The Mapmaker Chronicles
FIRST BOOK: Race to the End of the World

PLOT: (Race to the End of the World)
Quinn is just a farmer's son. And one of the very few not of the nobility to know how to read and write, thanks to his mother. He also has a phenomenal memory. It is these skills that the King is looking for when he decides that his kingdom should be the first to map the entire world, so Quinn must leave his family and embark on an adventure he's not sure he really wants.

The King has decided three ships will compete against each other to be the first to bring home the most detailed map. Quinn is recruited to a ship captained by a slave who is competing for his freedom, and along the way they encounter strange creatures, barbaric tribes, and subterfuge from the other competitors.

REVIEW:
Promoted as being the next 'Ranger's Apprentice', this story was enticing enough that I read it in one sitting (about 3 hours or so) one night and will be on the look-out for the next book. While, as an adult, I would have liked a little more character and story development, there is enough to make it accessible for younger children and still interesting for older readers. The journey is based on how explorers created maps in the past and includes encounters with unknowns such as a narwhal and the aurora borealis. Told in the third person and mostly from Quinn's point of view, it deserves a solid recommendation.

Would be a good class read-aloud for grades 3-5.

AGE: 7-12. (Reading age about 9+).
GENRE: Fantasy fiction
RATING: 5 stars.

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.

Series: The League of Princes (Fic)

AUTHOR: Christopher Healy (USA)
PUBLISHED: HarperCollins, c2014.
PAGES/ILL: 516 pages, illustrations.
SERIES: The League of Princes / The Hero's Guides
FIRST BOOK: The Hero's Guide to Saving Your Kingdom

PLOT: (The Hero's Guide to Being and Outlaw -#3)
Prince Liam. Prince Frederic. Prince Duncan. Prince Gustav. Known as the League of Princes, but we know them simply as "Prince Charming". These are the princes who live in a land with Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella, Snow White, and Rapunzel. And they must join forces to fight evil and save their kingdoms.

When an evil wizard plots to take over the 13 kingdoms (and his plot is a good one - frame the princes for murder, kidnap the 'victim', and get the bards to sing songs about how horrible they are), the League must pull together to clear their names and defeat evil, all while escaping prison, trolls, witches and more.

REVIEW:
Lighthearted and easy to read, with the occasional suspenseful moments, this is a fun romp.
It maintains the reader's interest with challenges which aren't solved in a single chapter, and reasonably well-developed characters.

Recommended for those looking for something in a similar vein but a bit meatier than Treasure Hunters.

Would be a good class read-aloud for grades 3-5.

AGE: 8-13. (Reading age 9+).

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

Series: Princess DisGrace (Jnr Fic)

AUTHOR: Lou Kuenzler (USA)
PUBLISHED: Scholastic, c2014.
PAGES/ILL: 224 pages, illustrations.
SERIES: Princess DisGrace
FIRST BOOK: First term at Tall Towers

PLOT:
When Princess Grace arrives at Tall Towers, she ruffles some feathers. She is not what a "Princess" is "supposed" to be. She is clumsy and bedraggled.
But her heart is in the right place, and she quickly develops strong friendships. Her cousin, Princess Precious, bullies her, picks on her, and is downright nasty - so nasty her behaviour is very "un-princess-like" and a special honour (leading a parade) is taken away from her and given to Grace.
Even then, Precious tries to derail her, but Grace saves the day in the end.

Tall Towers is a boarding school for princesses, where they learn princessy things like walking with books on their heads and looking after their unicorns.

REVIEW:
To be honest, the writing is average and the plot is sappy and predictable, however it will still engage very young girls with a loveable character, while giving a positive message about friendship, trying hard, and taking pride in being yourself and doing your best.
This is one book which won't cross gender lines. You might get one boy in thousands who will read this, but only if he is a voracious reader who reads anything he can get his hands on, including his sister's books.

Recommended for girls who are looking for something a step up from Rainbow Magic.

AGE: 6-9. Interest age is 6+, but most 6 year olds won't have the ability to read at this level yet. The recommended age on the back of the book is 8+, but the storyline is unlikely to capture much interest beyond 9 (depending on the child, of course. Some girls stay happily in light fantasy about fairies and unicorns for most of primary school. There is nothing wrong with this, but this book will be scorned by girls who are starting to look for meatier reading).

GENRE: Fantasy fiction
RATING: A solid 3 stars.

Mortlock Wing of the South Australia State Library voted one of the most beautiful in the world

The Mortlock Wing at the State Library of South Australia has been listed in the top 20 most beautiful libraries in the world! Read more here.