Young Adult Fiction - Mature Readers

NZ Writer  Denis Wright  Nanotech  Mākaro Press (Submarine) 2015   $25.00pb 212pp

ISBN 9 780 9941 695 7

Themes: Year 13 High School students/ Kidnapping/ Racism/ Science Field Trips/ Sexual abuse

Set in Auckland, New Zealand, the basis of the novel is the invention of an American biologist who creates a virus that works on the pigmentation in the skin that could be used for great good to cure diseases in certain ethnic groups. However, it also has the power to wipe out the groups completely without touching the white population.

At a high-powered conference the biologist is captured by a group of     

White supremacists and also, because they manage to get in the way, a group of highly intelligent science students from Wellington. The story is told in an ‘easy’ manner by one of the students who, because of traumatic events in his life when he was much younger, has not spoken aloud much since then.

There is blood, killings, sex, some swearing but I found this an addictive, read-at-a-sitting experience. However, because of its themes of ethnic cleansing and sexual abuse I would be very careful how it was issued in a secondary or public library situation.

My only quibble is with the group’s teacher, Bernie, who at times was so OTT she was hard to believe. But even Bernie had her moments – and her class would certainly never forget her

The writer, who also wrote Violence 101 Penguin Books which won the Best First Book in the NZ Post Children’s Book awards in 2009 is a teacher in a Wellington High school. He has captured the tone of the voices and actions of his group of high school students with perfect pitch.

Year 11 up – suggested mature readers only

Fiction - 9 to 12 year olds New Zealand 1943

TO BE PUBLISHED IN AUGUST 2015

NZ Writer

Joy Cowley

The Bakehouse

Gecko Press, 2015   $19.99pb 138pp

ISBN 978 1 7765 7007 2

Themes: Children in wartime/ Deserters/ Families/ Wellington, New Zealand 1943/ World War II

11-year-old Ben lives in Lyall Bay, Wellington. It is 1943 and Ben wants more than anything to be part of The War. He little suspects that when he and his two sisters begin to explore an old bakehouse partly hidden in the flaxes and high grasses, that soon he will be totally involved in The War in what becomes a network of lies and deceptions. This is a story to grip younger readers (around 9 to 12 year olds) in a different look at wartime and to bring back so many memories to people of my generation who lived through it all without sometimes realising the seriousness of what was happening – including the threat of invasion by the Japanese. This book arrived in my box on Saturday and I spent all that afternoon greedily gobbling it up, then, on Sunday, I read it again to slowly savor every word.(And what a wonderful movie it will make!)

Recommended

Year 5 up/  – Age 9 up

Picture Books - Preschool up

Swedish Writer & Illustrator

Ulf Stark, illustrated by Eva Eriksson

When Dad Showed Me the Universe

Gecko Press,  2015   $19.99pb 28pp

ISBN 978 1 92727182 7

Themes: Fathers and sons/ Humour/ Understanding

Dad removes his blood-flecked white coat after a day working in his dental surgery and takes his young son (the narrator) out into the cold Swedish night to look at the universe. While the little boy delights in the detail of the blades of grass, the snails and the thistles, his father has his head in the stars identifying the Scorpion, the Little Bear and the Big Dog. Then, to the wicked delight of his son, he steps in a large dog turd and it is time to go home. Ulf Stark, who wrote the book in 1998, is one of the few children’s writers who could take a subject like the whole universe, reduce it to a comfortable and understandable size and inject a great element of humour as well.

The gentle illustrations by Eva Eriksson are as much a part of the story as the text.

Preschool – Age 4 up

Picture Books - Preschool

UK Writer & Illustrator

Debi Gliori

Alfie in the Bath

Bloomsbury 2015   $28.99hb 24pp

ISBN 978 1 4088 5351 1

Themes: Bath time/ Imagination

A simple story about a small rabbit with a big imagination making his bath time come to satisfyingly involving life. As well as real bubbles the bath is filled with octopi, a submarine, deep-sea monsters, crabs, whales and storms - and the bathroom floor is awash.  Just as well there is a father rabbit lurking in the background who seems very handy with a mop. The pages are covered in soft yet vibrant pastel images and the minimal text is just waiting for children to add their own bath time stories.

Preschool – Age 3 up

Fiction - Tom Fitzgibbon Award Winner 2014

Suzanne signed many copies of her book

Last night I went to the Wellington launch by Fleur Beale out at the Children’s Bookshop at Kilbirnie of Suzanne Main’s How I alienated my Grandmother.  It was a very happy occasion with many of Suzanne’s friends and family who had gathered to congratulate her both on the publication of the book and on its being awarded the Tom Fitzgibbon Award 2014. (The book had already been launched by Fleur in Auckland at the Margaret Mahy Day a couple of weeks ago)

There was a table full of delicious child appreciated food - much enjoyed by a group of (mainly) small boys who divided their attention between this and listening quite spellbound to the reading of the first chapter of the book. 

Non-fiction 10 years and up

NZ Writer (Images from many sources)

Raymond Huber 

Peace Warriors

Mākaro Press 2015   $25.00pb  131pp

ISBN 9 780 9941 1722 9

Themes: Peaceful resistance/ War and Peace

Stories and facts, quotes and timelines, poetry and events all go to make up this small but tightly packed book about the power of non-violent resistance.  The opening story tells of Sophie Scholl who at 12 joined the Hitler Youth Movement because she loved the idea of the outdoor life and at 21 was beheaded for standing up to the Nazi Party. It includes the familiar events of the Rainbow Warrior and finishes with the story of Johnny Johnson, a New Zealand Quaker who worked for the Friend’s Ambulance Unit in China. The book is a sampler of information in which to dip, to read, think and to follow the many, many suggestions for finding out more.

Recommended.           

Year 6 up/ Age 10 up (particularly useful for secondary students who want their information and ideas in short bites)

Fiction for 7 years and up (Chapter Books)

Swedish Writer and Dutch Illustrator

Ulf Nilsson, illustrated by Gitte Spee

The First Case

Detective Gordon series

Gecko Press 2015   $19.99pb 96pp

ISBN 078 1 9272 7150 6

Themes: Animals/ Funny stories/ Justice/ Mercy

Detective Gordon, a fat and kindly toad, was fond of stamping important papers, consuming large amounts of tea and cake and sometimes just sitting, then drifting off to sleep in the warmth and comfort of the central police station. What he did not enjoy was creeping through the chilly wet snow in pursuit of criminals in the company of an emotionally rather fragile young mouse that he had named Buffy. But at that stage she had yet to prove her worth.  An engaging story that will be enjoyed both by an adult reading it aloud to a group or a child reading it to her or himself.    It’s a great book to handle with illustrations and images that blend into the text and jacket flaps that double as bookmarks. 

Year 3 up/ Age 7 up