Adele Broadbent's Blog, page 234
July 9, 2016
Sharing
(PB = picture book section) (M) = Which letter book can be found under)
Title Author / Illustrator
Marmaduke Duck and Bernadette Bear PB (M) Juliette MacIver / Sarah Davis
Shapes
(PB = picture book section) (L) = Which letter book can be found under)
Title Author / Illustrator
Have you seen my Monster? PB (L) Steve Light
Self Esteem
(PB = picture book section) (I) = Which letter book can be found under)
Title Author / Illustrator
The Goblin and the Girl PB (I) Neil Irani
Eric! PB (W) Chris Wormell
The Ugly Duckling PB (D) Sarah Delmege / Polona Lovsin
July 7, 2016
Charlie and the War against the Grannies
ER – BRO
Author – Alan Brough
Age – 7+
Charlie wants a paper round. But never in a million years can he imagine what he and his best friend Hils (Hilary) would have to do to get one.
When he begins to ask about one, a man runs away screaming, they’re told it’s the most dangerous job in the world and they should leave town, and then they are attacked by very hot chilli sauce. But why?
With Hils’ army expertise and Charlie’s determination they come up against rock-hard throwing hankies, flying false teeth, charging nanas and one glass eye. There are secret HQ’s, trick mirrors, espionage, and army training. They have waged war against the Stinkly Wrinkly’s!
This is the funniest book I’ve read in ages. I was laughing out loud constantly at Charlie and Hils’ antics. Charlie is a worrier and Hils the opposite – speaking everything in army lingo, with Charlie interpreting for the reader. There was tons of toilet humour, crazy characters and silly situations. New from a Kiwi Author. HILARIOUS!
(Humour, Friendship, Silly, Grandparents, Determination, NZ Author, Kiwi Author)
July 4, 2016
Paladero (1) Riders of Thunder Realm
(Not in Napier/Taradale Libraries)
Author – Steven Lochran
Age – 10+ (Excellent Cover!)
Thunder Realm in the Kingdom of AI is a world where dinosaurs are herded like cattle, and the ‘cowboys’ who herd them are trained like knights. In their lengthy training to become a revered Paladero, they may face deadly foes like witches, ghosts, tyrannosaurus’ and murderers and thieves like the infamous Grim Rider.
Joss wants to be a Paladero more than anything despite the danger and the chance comes sooner than he would ever dream possible. He is suddenly faced with three others who have the same dream. But they are all very different and all very mistrusting of each other. Will they ever pull together to achieve their quest’s goal?
This story has it all. Dinosaurs and prehistoric animals, futuristic technology and gadgets, mythical creatures and an age-old quest to complete. There is action aplenty, a transgender character and a seriously endangered species issue to compare to real life. The first in a new series.
(Action, Orphan, Quest, Dinosaurs, Mythical Creatures, Courage, Bravery, Friendship, Endangered, Transgender)
July 3, 2016
Squishy Taylor in Zero Gravity
(Not in Napier/Taradale Libraries – but 4 others in this series are in IR – WIL)
Author – Ailsa Wild
Age – 7+
A new story in this fun series, Zero Gravity has Squishy and her ‘bonus sisters’ (Squishy is part of a blended family) wondering what all the sparks are on the apartment building roof opposite theirs. There’s a rocket shaped thing and a red-headed woman who never seems to leave the building. Is she really building a rocket? Is she an astronaut or maybe even an alien!
Squishy and her stepsisters can’t control their curiosity and go to investigate. What they find is not only a wonderful surprise, something happens that strengthens Squishy’s bond with her ‘Bonus Mum’.
I really enjoyed this story of blended families and how children adapt to them. The girl’s curiosity amped up the intrigue about the ‘Spacewoman’ on the other roof and there was even something to learn about the moon.
(Blended family, Space, Sisters, Stepmother, Series)
June 23, 2016
A Library of Lemons
(Not in Napier/Taradale Libraries)
Author – Jo Cotterill
Age 9+
This story was full of book references which were fun to tick off as read. The characters were realistic – Mae with her loving mum and dad and ‘normal’ way of life, and Calypso with her distant dad who left her to cook her own tea (beans on toast), tidy the house and remind him to buy food.
Calypso is used to being on her own at school, preferring reading than trying to make friends. Her dad had told her that they didn’t need anyone else. They had “inner strength”.
But when Calypso finds a friend in Mae, she realises they do need people and life is so much better with friends, hugs when you need one and a shoulder to cry on when you are sad.
How will she prove this to Dad to bring him out of his melancholy existence after the loss of her mum?
Calypso meets other children who are ‘carers’ – looking after their parents instead of the other way round, and she learns how to cope with her Dad and bring him through the terrible fog of sadness that has settled on his shoulders.
Mae and Calypso’s friendship is heart warming and sad at the same time, as Calypso realises how much she is missing out on without her own mum.
Lovely story of hope after loss.
(Grief, Family, Friendship, Hope, Responsibility)
The Bone Sparrow
ER? – FRA
Author – Zana Fraillon
Age – 13+
The refugee camp is all that Subhi has ever known. Born there 9 years before, he has lived in tents with his Mum and sister Queeny ever since. He has grown up, taught to read by Queeny, taught the power of story and imagination by his Mum and policed by the ‘Jackets’ (soldiers), learning the way of the camp with help from his elder friend Eli.
One day Subhi meets a young girl called Billie. He can’t believe she is from ‘the outside’. She has found a gap in the fence and crawled under it. She has lost her mum, her dad is always working and her older brother slack in his care of her. She has her mother’s stories in a book but can’t read. But Subhi can, and they find a place away from the camp cameras and he reads to her while they sip hot chocolate and eat treats that Billie has brought.
Subhi’s reading makes Billie feel closer to her dead mum and they become good friends.
But change is coming. Queeny grows angrier by the day, his mother sleeps more and eats less every day and the camp is becoming restless.
Suddenly Billie’s life is in danger, the camp’s restlessness explodes and Subhi’s world is tipped upside down. But he can make a difference. He can tell people what he saw.
Due to a violent scene in this novel I think it’s best for 13+
This is a story of imagination, friendship, poverty, control and prejudice. Subhi’s and Jimmie’s story’s are told in separate chapters. Subhi – 1st person and Jimmie -3rd person, making this novel a wonderful tool to learn the dynamics of different points of view.
(Refugee, Friendship, Family, Hope, Story, Imagination, Prejudice, Hate)
June 22, 2016
Forgetting Foster
TEEN – TOU
Author – Dianne Touchell
Age – 13+ (Strong Language)
7 yr old Foster’s hero is his Dad. He loves the amazing stories Dad tells while he’s sitting in the bath, or on his bed with his toy soldiers in battle among the blankets, or in front of a silent TV with it flickering light over them.
But Dad doesn’t tell Foster stories anymore. Mum’s always tired and telling Foster, ‘It’s nothing for you to worry about.’ But Foster is worried. Dad is changing, almost like he’s going somewhere without them, even though he’s still in the same house.
And as Dad changes, their whole life changes and instead of Dad looking after him, he has to look after Dad. Mum forgets to make Foster’s school lunches or even give him money for the canteen, and she’s always arguing with Aunty Linda who comes to help.
Soon Foster feels almost invisible, the adults around him always whispering around him or telling him to go to his room. But he wants to know what’s going to happen. Will Dad come back from wherever he’s gone?
Written from a seven year old boy’s point of view, this story was wonderfully done, showing how children’s perceptions can be confused and misinterpreted using the small amount of knowledge they have about the world around them.
Forgetting Foster is a sad story – because it’s not just a story. This is people’s everyday lives – slowly watching and knowing they are losing someone they love, and dealing with their frustration, anger, and fear as Alzheimer’s disease progresses.
(Family, Alzheimers, Stories, Perceptions)
June 13, 2016
The Book of Pearl
TEEN – DEF
Author – Timothee de Fombelle
Age – 12+
This story is something special.
Part fairy tale, part historical (WWII), part present, and part love story, The Book of Pearl isn’t just a story.
The book that you hold in your hands as you read is actually part of the character’s story.
The structure of the novel is skilfully pieced together, which would be the only thing I would worry about with younger readers. As an adult I found it pleasantly challenging to follow the strands of the three main characters until they had woven together completely at the end of the story, but young readers may struggle with this.
But if you are 12+ and a keen reader – it’s well worth the effort. I’ve never read anything like this before. And guys…it’s not just for girls either. Most of the characters are men.
Truly and cleverly magical.
(Fairies, Fairytales, WWII, War, Tyrant, Hate)
