Monthly Archives: February 2018

Feb22

Begone the Raggedy Witches (The Wild Magic Trilogy: Book 1) – Celine Kiernan

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raggedy

Walker Australia

ISBN: 9781406366020
Imprint: Walker
Release Date: April 1, 2018
Australian RRP: $16.99
New Zealand RRP: $18.99

 

Just wow!! If you have readers who love HP or other magical worlds they are going to love this new series. Set in Ireland with a close family of three generations but one that has secrets. Mup lives with her mum, baby brother, dad (when he’s not away working on oil rigs) and great aunt.  But the night that Aunty Boo lies in hospital on her way to leaving this earthly realm strange things befall this family. First Mup sees the ‘raggedy witches’ leaping from tree to tree, following their car all the way home. Then as she tries to go to sleep she hears the witches enter the kitchen and despite her Aunty’s spirit telling her not to go downstairs, of course she does. Her Mam is surrounded by the horrible and frightening creatures and it’s as if she’s been bewitched into leaving with them to go to some other place. It’s only at the last minute that Mup and Aunty are able to prevent this but the witches don’t give up easily. Their next move is to kidnap Mup’s dad.  When Mup realizes that her Mam is the heir to the evil Queen of Witch’s Borough, she also realizes that she too is a witch and suddenly the whole family are embroiled in a rescue mission to save her dad and the long-enslaved inhabitants of her mother’s true world.

Men and women who can transform at will, ravens that rhyme and cats that talk, illegal magic and outlawed clans, the tyrannical Queen and her evil pack of followers are all part of the mix against whom Mup and her family must do battle. This is one exciting fantastical ride through a new world. It was a one sitting read for me and no doubt others will find it just as compelling.

The next instalment will be just as intense I predict because we all just know that nasty grandmother and Queen is not going to ‘go’ quietly!

Highly recommended for your middle school readers both boys and girls.

Feb14

Shout Out to the Girls: A Celebration of Awesome Australian Women

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shoutout

Penguin Random House

9780143789420

February 26, 2018

Random House Australia Children’s

RRP $29.99

 

What a fantastic book to add to your “Mighty Girl” collection! Covering a diverse selection of outstanding women from diverse fields of achievement and endeavor, this is a worthy addition to any primary or lower secondary collection.

The layout is particularly attractive with a palette of gorgeous colours and each subject with a ‘shout out’ to the person and the reason, a quote that relates followed by a double spread page of information and facing portrait.

There are women from our past as well as those at the forefront of their field now. Here you will find Edith Cowan and Louise Mack, Rachel Perkins and Stella Young, Jessica Watson and Vivian Bullwinkel and so many more – fifty in all.

This is a really beautiful book to savour and  conveys so much positivity to readers about the limitless potential of women to succeed.  As well all proceeds from royalties go to the Smith Family which is a terrific initiative.

Highly recommended for readers aged from around ten years up to sixteen.

 

Feb11

A Wrinkle in Time – Madeleine L’Engle [movie tie-in edition]

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wrinkle

Penguin Australia

9780241331163

January 29, 2018

Puffin

 

$14.99

How old were you when you first read this iconic book? I believe I was in 6th class so around 11/12. After the legion readers the novel has attracted since its first publishing in 1962 it seems hard to believe that the author had faced numerous rejections in its journey.  Since it went on to win the Newbery Medal, Seqouyah Book Award and Lewis Caroll Shelf Award, as well as being runner-up for the Hans Christian Andersen Award it would seem that those shortsighted publishers guilty of not realising its power lost out.

Although it has been adapted for screen and theatre previously, it is the forthcoming Disney production that has given this timeless novel a huge resurgence and this movie tie-in edition will be no doubt in high demand for young readers.

Just in case you’re completely in the dark the story tells of an extreme adventure undertaken by three children. Meg Murry is considered a bit of a problem child at school prone to emotional outbursts but quite bright. Not as bright however as her five year old brother Charles Wallace, generally regarded as a child genius and possibly also a little unevenly matched with their new friend Calvin. Meg and Charles Wallace come from a loving family with a brilliant and beautiful scientist mother, twin brothers who are athletic and popular and a scientist father who has been missing for over a year.  Three strange beings appear and instruct the trio of friends that they are to rescue Meg’s missing father who has been trapped on a remote planet by an evilness known as The Black Thing. The children soon learn about tessering – the ‘wrinkle in time’ of the title. That is, the ability to move through space at such a speed that time and equilibrium is not disturbed – too greatly. Though there is success in rescuing Mr Murry the children are faced with dreadful dangers as Charles Wallace is entrapped by The Dark Thing and Meg is almost destroyed.  Full of philosophy, belief, trust and loyalty and confidence this book has always been and will remain a rich source of endless debate and discussion.

Highly recommended for readers from around ten years upwards.

Movie trailer here – due for Australian release at the end of March.