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Junior and Young Adult fiction
Baillie, Allan - The China Coin
Leah and her mother are on a mission, to find out the secret of
an ancient coin... and find a family they never knew. The search
takes them to China. Leah's mother is Chinese but has been raised
in Australia, after her family fled from the Communists in the Decade
of Chaos. She never knew her father well and when he died, he left
her the coin... and the mystery. Leah's father has recently died
from cancer and has no wish to find out about her grandfather's,
and now her mother's, coin. She finds China a strange and frightening
world but what scares her even more is her mother, who seems to
be trying to become a native, and what is going on in the news.
Tension is stirring and students talk of protests against the government.
Leah is unaware of it until she is caught up into the mob. But will
Leah and her mother ever find their family with just one coin and
a letter? Will they survive the chaos which is to come?
This is a really terrific story, set after the Decade of Chaos
has just ended. I really enjoyed reading this book, the mystery
really drew me in. I also liked seeing the changes in Leah's character,
she started to become less narrow minded as the book went along
and started to actually enjoy herself, which was very different
to when she first entered China and kept complaining!
I think that Melissa Eccleston narrated this book really well.
There are some audio books where she really irritates me by putting
on a breathy voice for some accents but she suits this type of book
really well. This is probably the best I've ever heard her narrate!
Reviewed by Stephanie, Year 12
http://www.lollipopsmagazine.com/audio/adolescentfiction.htm 27/06/2002
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Bowles, Colin - Surfing Mr Petrovic
Tao's life has reached a crossroad: his parents are seperated,
his school friends are tormenting an old Croatian neighbour and
he feels powerless in both situation. The climax and resolution,
although predictable, are entirely believable and satisfactory.
Students will be captivated with Wemyss' expressive rendition of
the novel. The local Fremantle setting exudes a great sense of place
and identity for students.
Primary Focus Fiction 2003. p.48
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Caswell, Brian - A Cage of Butterflies
A small group of adolescents all with 'genius' IQs live in a place they
call 'the farm'. It is a think tank. A place where Greg, Mikki and their
friends sit tests and explore theories away from the pressures of society.
For them the farm is a place free from the taunts of the school
playground; it is a place where they are no longer 'freaks' and their
differences make them the same. None of the teens ever expected that the
farm, a place of refuge for them, also housed another group of much
younger, very different children. The babies.
Unlike anything that the scientist Macintyre has
ever seen, the babies are seven-year-olds, all born in the same
hospital, the symptoms all identical. Diagnosed as autistic the
babies do not respond, yet display flashes of intelligence that
border on brilliance. Macintyre is determined to discover their
secret at any cost. So the babies turn to their fellow inmates Greg,
Mikki and the others to aid in their survival.
A dense novel, A Cage of Butterflies is set in a
remote area outside Sydney. Students will recognise the bush area,
and relate to the climate discussed. As the novel centres around
a group of adolescents, many teen issues are raised, the main being
the feeling of ostrasisation that most young people fear. The group
in the novel are all 'brains' and therefore are shunned by the main
group, yet together they find a kind of harmony. Many will relate
to their feelings of helplessness when they are faced with a problem
much bigger than they are.
The reading is absorbing and Rebecca Macaulay has an interesting
way of making the characters individual and obvious. Students who
have read the book laughed when they heard the tape, but they admitted
that listening to it as they were reading would have been beneficial.
Age 15+
Rebekah Aspinall, Lake Grace SHS
Education Department of Western
Australia.
Curriculum Materials Information Services Fiction Focus Vol.
13. No.3 p. 12-13
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Caswell, Brian - A Cage of Butterflies
Greg and Michel live on the farm with several other
people. The farm (also known as the think tank) is an advanced learning
facility for kids with high IQs. All is normal as a place crawling
with scientists can be until Mariam makes contact with the kids
in the think tank. She is hidden in a different high security building.
It is unknown to the kids in the think tank and as Greg said: they
could be doing anything in there, they could be pulling the wings
off butterflies to see how loud they scream. The building has five
young children, the head scientist tries to find out how they think
and tries to use them.
I love A Cage of Butterflies's action and
it is an amazing book as it is believable. The narration is very
good. The narrator is perfect for the part.
Stephanie Ferguson Lollipops what's on for kids
July/ August 1999
p.14
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Caswell, Brian and Chiem, David Phu - Only the Heart
The novel itself, is a simply told yet moving story of the Vo family,
who come to Australia as refugees, in the aftermath of the Vietnam War.
The language I found straightforward and dramatic in its simplicity yet
the story's presentation is more complex. Various members of the family in
turn become narrators and perhaps because of the unfamiliarity of the
names, looking back to the family tree, at the front of the book,
punctuates the reading of the first few chapters. The theme is of course
survival, but the reader who has little understanding of this Asian
culture is led there gently both through the story and the telling of
it.
The six and a half hour reading of Only the Heart
was shortlisted for the Braille and Talking Book Library Awards.
The clear reading is narrated by Rebecca Macauley and starts with
the blurb on the back, the biographical details of the authors and
the dedications. It doesn't include the family tree which is of
course a fairly visual thing, but without this initial understanding
of the family and with the one voice used throughout, some of the
impact of the story is lost. Also, preceding each first-person contribution
in the book is an introduction covering setting and circumstances
in the third person. This is written each time in italics and although
there is some vocal indication of this in the reading, it is again
difficult to fully appreciate the structure.
I listened to excerpts of this unabridged novel with
year eight students. While I had already read the novel, the students
had not and they were thrown into the story with no real preparation.
Their biggest problem was the speed at which the story is delivered.
They complained of not being able to 'see' what was happening in
their heads and found the narrative passages monotonous. The passages
of dialogue were more expressive but they felt that they didn't
really feel involved in the telling.
It would appear that for sighted youngsters who read copiously, this
narrated version is not as appealing as reading the book for themselves.
However, for the visually impaired who may well have better application to
listening, it may be more successful. Along with my students, I would have
preferred a more dramatic presentation. Age 13+
Marlene Dullard, Hamilton SHS
Education Department of Western
Australia
Curriculum Materials Information Services Fiction Focus Vol.
12 No. 3. 1998 p. 7-8
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Clarke, Judith - Angels Passing By
Tom's life isn't that great. He has two old fashioned parents, his mum
never sticks up for herself and even lets the dog boss her around. There
is also a problem with the two school bullies who are pushing him around.
They even gave him a dope plant and dare him to grow it. But what shall he
do with the plant which is growing so fast it is hard to hide from his
parents anymore? How will he stop his parents from embarrassing him? Now
that his mum is finally going back to her fondly remembered Half Moon Bay
will she ever be normal?
This is a fairly good book if you are looking for something light to
listen to. However, this isn't my type of story. I didn't like Tom's
character too much. He is really cruel to his parents and dog. Just
because he has his problems it doesn't mean he has to take it out on them.
Luckily he starts to change a bit at the end of the story.
Since Stig Wemyss is narrating the story it makes it a bit better as
Stig Wemyss is a really great narrator and even manages to make this story
a bit more interesting.
Stephanie Ferguson, Year 10 Lollipops what's on for kids
September
/ October 2000 p. 12
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Crewe, Gary and Neilsen, Phillip - Edward
Britton
Edward Britton and Izod Wolfe are both convicts at the boys' prison
at Point Puer. Both were transported from England to Australia.
That is where all the similarities end.
Edward Britton is an actor who claims to have been unfairly arrested.
He stands out among the other boys because of his age and because
of the ability to read and write better then many of the officers
guarding the prison. He falls in love with Susan Buckridge, the
daughter of one of the officers, and that is where all the trouble
starts for him, because he is considered to be scum, a criminal.
Izod Wolfe is Irish and his family is dead, having died of starvation
during the potato famine when their family was evicted for not paying
the rent. Izod was the only one to survive, a simmering rage being
all that kept him going for so long. He wants revenge for his family
against Buckridge, the man who ordered the destruction of his home.
I loved the contrast between the two boys: Edward, the romantic,
optimistic dreamer; Izod, the pessimistic realist. This is a really
sad and pretty shocking story, life in prison is not pretty and
was like hell for nearly all of the boys. The book started off switching
between following Edward and Izod but later on, their lives became
so entwined that what effected one, often effected both, despite
the fact they barely knew each other or even spoke to each other.
The narrator was really excellent, switching between Izod's gruff
Irish accent and Edward's more educated voice. I don't think that
he did the female voices very well but it would be hard as he has
too deep a voice to be able to and sound realistic.
This really is an excellent book but because of the events of the
book, I don't recommend it to younger listeners, there are some
parts in there which are really shocking.
Reviewed by Stephanie, Year 12
http://www.lollipopsmagazine.com/audio/adolescentfiction.htm 27/06/2002
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Disher, Garry - The Divine Wind
Stuart Halusz reads the story with an emotive voice bringing alive all
characters regardless of gender or race. His characterisation is authentic
with appropriate accents and tones. Students will gain a great deal of
atmosphere and understanding from this quality performance. It enhances
the study of the novel and creates a more dynamic approach to studies of
Australia in any secondary classroom. Age 14+
Donna Gardiner, Belridge SHS.
Education Department of Western
Australia
Curriculum Materials Information Services Fiction Focus Vol.
14 No. 2 2000 p.60.
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Disher, Garry - The Divine Wind
Hart is the son of a pearling master, Misty is the
daughter of a Japanese diver employed by Hart's father. Both share
an idyllic childhood in the pearling town of Broome with their friends
Jamie and Alice--who is also Hart's sister. As they grow older,
Hart and Misty fall in love. But after a fishing accident, which
throws the town in turmoil, Misty and Hart seem to grow apart. But
as World War Two begins, and with the imminent invasion by the Japanese
of the north of Australia, prejudice and hatred sweep the town,
and soon, every Japanese national becomes suspected of treason.
Can Misty and Hart's love survive?
Garry Disher has carefully chosen his characters to demonstrate the
prejudice encountered at the onset of World War Two in a provincial
country town; Hart and Alices's father is an uneducated pearler whilst
their mother is cultured but unhappy. Misty's father is a diver who works
for Hart's father. Jamie's father is a magistrate. As children, they
unconsciously cross the boundaries of class and race. But as the war
begins their loyalty to friends and country seem somewhat different as
seems to be their knowledge of what is really happening. Who will they
choose and for which reason is what The divine wind is all about.
Stuart Haluz is most convincing as Hart- in fact
he is just as I imagined Hart to be when I first read the book--and
perfectly conveys all the emotions which he encountered in these
troubled times and which were to mark his fate.
The Divine Wind was shortlisted for the Vision Australia
Library Awards.
Cecile Ferguson Lollipops what's on for kids
December 1999 / January
2000 p. 16
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Disher, Garry - From Your Friend, Louis Deane
When Louis's parents decide to move to a small coastal town, Louis
hates it. Nobody seems to either like him or understand him, and he feels
he doesn't belong. The only person he seems to be able to talk to is Mr.
Chatters, the windmill man.
Then Mr. Chatters niece arrives in town, and no sooner
has she set foot in school than wild rumours start spreading about
her: she's a druggy, she's been expelled from school, she sleeps
around. But somehow, Louis finds himself drawn to the strange girl
and even tries to become her friend. But in his own quest to belong,
Louis soon succumbs to the pressure of gossip rather than follow
his own instincts. Will he ever be able to make up to Tilly and
earn her friendship? How can he make up to her?
From Your Friend, Louis Deane is another brilliant
social study by South Australian author Garry Disher. This moving
story takes us amongst the often harsh competition and "need to
belong" which teenagers impose on each other in order to gain friendship--and
this isn't particular to country towns only. As we proceed through
the story, we are made to reassess the values we have in life and
wonder why we have such a need to judge people. The brilliant reading
by Stuart Halusz--who has just won the 2000 Sanderson Young Adult
Narrator of the Year Award--enables us to enter Louis and Tilly's
world and reassess what really matters in life.
A great audio which combines the talents of a master storyteller and a
brilliant narrator.
Cecile Ferguson Lollipops what's on for kids
December 2000 / January
2001 p. 16
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Fienberg, Anna - The Witch in the Lake
Leo's village is in fear of the story and no one risks going near
the lake, let alone at night, except for Leo and his best friend,
Merilee. He is determined to find out if the legend is true and
also to prove that his family is not a failure. Leo is a wizard,
like all the men in his family have been, but his father says that
he is destined for greatness and will save the family. Leo's father,
Marco, never has had the power that Leo has, and never uses the
limited power he has, preferring to refer to medical textbooks,
a dangerous past time in medieval Italy. Leo knows that something
has happened in the past between his family and Merilee's, something
which caused Marco to stop using his magic and Beatrice, Merilee's
aunt, to hate him and his father, but he doesn't know what happened
exactly nor how it could be so terrible that the hate still lives
on. He tries to stay friends with Merilee but Beatrice, in a spiteful
rage, takes her away to train to be a wise-woman, a herbalist. Leo
doesn't know how he will cope with the loneliness which comes, nor
with the fever which threatens Marco's life. Will he be able to
find out the truth about both his family's past and Merilee's? Will
he be able to face the past?
I didn't really like Melissa Eccleston narrating this book, she
wasn't that great at it. She did much better narrating The China
Coin (which has also been reviewed recently) but you can't really
complain. I don't think she did the accents very well but that's
just my opinion. The story was still quite good but I think she
really went overboard with the characters' voices.
Reviewed by Stephanie, Year 12
http://www.lollipopsmagazine.com/audio/adolescentfiction.htm 27/06/2002
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French, Jackie - Hitler's Daughter
This novel is set in rural Australia with fabulous descriptions of
muddy dirty tracks, stray cows and bounding kangaroos. French then
transports the reader to the world of Germany during the Second World War.
Her use of German words adds authenticity to the story of a little girl
brought up out of sight of the rest of the community. A girl, who believes
that Adolph Hitler would love her more and let her call him father, if
only she didn't have a birthmark on her face.
Jackie French's novel opens up for discussion aspects of World War Two
and could be a great springboard into the historical period. It also asks
the reader to examine their beliefs. Would a person be evil if his/her
parent had committed many terrible crimes? Should we care about the past?
Would we still love someone despite his/her actions?
This book lends itself to being read aloud and Caroline Lee does this
well. My class of year 8 students was mesmerized as they listened to the
story unfold. It works well and I would certainly recommend it for middle
school classes.
Aurora Reid, Xavier College, SA SAETA Review
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French, Jackie - How the Finnegans Saved the Ship
Mrs Finnegan and her seven children travel by sea
from Ireland to join Mr Finnegan in a new life in Australia. When
the ship hits an iceberg, Mrs Finnegan responds magnificently to
the emergency. Pleasantly narrated and easy to listen to.
Primary Focus Fiction 2003, p. 32
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Gilbert, Kevin - Me and Mary Kangaroo
First published in 1994, this story is about childhood
memories of the author, Kevin Gilbert and his pet kangaroo, Mary.
Greg Fryer narrates the story in an anecdotal manner, which is easy
to listen to, after an initial, somewhat flat beginning. Children
will benefit by listening to the CD in segments.
Primary Focus Fiction 2003, p. 33
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Gleeson, Libby - Refuge
Libby Gleeson's Refuge is an engaging, topical and highly political
text. The focus is on Australia's near neighbours and the effect their
political unrest has on Australia as a nation. More importantly it
illustrates the effects on individuals and the choices we make when
sympathising with people in refugee situations.
Gleeson carefully weaves a multi-layered narrative with
characters who have escaped and are in the process of trying to
forget traumatic memories of their homeland. The plot works on many
levels and is the main engagement for readers.
Anna and Andrew are the main protagonists who through mostly hasty
decisions, find themselves responsible for hiding Rosa, an illegal
immigrant from Timor. Through the trials of these students' lives the text
juxtaposes the far greater dangers daily facing Rosa, highlighting the
horror of being deported.
Refuge challenges the reader to understand the plight
of the East Timorese people who are seeking asylum in Australia
and will appeal to the revolutionary fervor of young adult readers.
As an auditory text, Refuge read by David Tredinnick,
conveys the feelings and agendas of the characters. Tredinnick convincingly
portrays the sense of hurt and frustration at a system under equipped
to deal with this humanitarian issue. Although the playing time
is longer than a film, it is constantly engaging and does justice
to a fine novel.
This text would work well in a range of areas from Social Sciences,
Languages, Art and English Studies. It is a worthwhile text to study with
students who have the maturity to comprehend wider world issues.
Donna Gardiner, Duncriag SHS
Education Department of Western
Australia
Curriculum Materials Information Services Fiction Focus
Vol.13 No. 2 1999 p. 18
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Gleeson, Libby - Refuge
Andrew and his sister live a comfortable lifestyle
with their well-off family. Anna is a bit of a live-wire who seems
to get involved in endless 'good causes' at Uni. Andrew doesn't
always know what to make of his eccentric sister. No sooner is she
back at Uni than Anna gets involved in a new cause--saving East
Timorese people who are seeking refuge overseas from their troubled
country. Thinking that Anna is once more getting too passionate
about a cause she knows nothing about and probably only finds fashionable
for a time, her parents reject the idea of Anna even getting involved
in the first place. With the unwilling help of her brother Andrew,
Anna decides in spite of her parents opposition, to hide Rosa--an
East Timorese refugee--in their large house.
Don't be put off--like my daughter--by the slow start
of this story: it does get better as you listen on. Libby Gleeson
has managed to weave a superb novel about both parent/teenager relationships
and the East Timorese/Indonesian political problem. I would have
preferred a female reader but David Tredinnick's rendition of Refuge
is lively and enjoyable.
Refuge is a novel which raises a lot of questions
about today's political world, and which teenagers from Year 9 onwards
should listen to.
Cecile Ferguson Lollipops what's on for kids
April / May 1999 p.
19
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Harnett, Sonya - All My Dangerous Friends
This complete and unabridged reading of Sonya Harnett's amoral but
quite gripping story runs to over five hours and as such has little
application to the classroom, and probably the library. This is a shame
because the excellent reading by West Australian Michelle Offen makes for
compelling listening, although the amoral world uncritically entered is a
cause for concern.
The blurb, both printed and read to us, says it all: 'This
darkly funny, disturbing novel explores a lawless world where morality
is a nuisance'. The emphasis is on dark rather than funny. Louie,
the protagonist and for most of the time the narrator, slips from
her fairly ordinary but not unpleasant university student life,
via a first real boyfriend, into a grey world where self is all
and morality and values do not exist. Perhaps the most disturbing
element of the novel is the ease with which Louie makes the deliberate
choice to lose her integrity and abandon her sense of values for
satisfaction of self. Another side issue in the school context is
that the novel could be seen in some parts as a manual for crime,
although it has this characteristic in common with much of the crime
genre.
Harnett's novel successfully engages the listener in the growing
tension of Louie's involvement, leading to the final moment of such
extreme violence that she is jolted back to her ordinary world. This
climax is so effective because, while always rippling under the surface,
violence only actually emerges in this one scene. The characters are well
created and credible, the naivete of some a reminder of our own
undergraduate days. If one was able to spend the five hours with a senior
class listening to the tape (probably less time than many would take to
read it) the issues of juvenile crime, personal choice and will are all
presented for discussion. Moral questions range across violence against
women, loyalty and friendship, police methods and the pursuit of
selfishness.
Winner of a Vision Australia Library Award, the
recording is crisp, clear, well paced and beautifully read. However,
its length and unchallenged amorality are considerations in the
school context. Age 15+
Hugh Rayner, Teacher
Education Department of Western
Australia
Curriculum Materials Information Services Fiction Focus Vol.
14 No. 2 2000 p.61
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Harris, Christine - Fortune Cookies
This collection of short stories lets you look into
the lives of people from countries rarely understood. Sarah meets
her great aunt after being adopted and never knowing her family;
Miki longs to be with her new boyfriend without her father banning
her; the daughter of Ta--who risks her life against tigers and darkness
to have her freedom, even if it is only at night; and when Halil's
father disappears, Halil is accused of being a criminal and is subsequently
put in prison.
Fortune Cookies is a brilliant collection
of stories from countries like Japan, the Philippines, Korea, Singapore
and Australia, to name just a few. Fortune Cookies throws
away the stereotypes people have about each particular country we
come across in the book, and allows readers to catch a brief glance
into each character's life.
Stephanie Ferguson Lollipops what's on for kids
April/ May 2000 p.
13
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Harris, Christine - Jamil's Shadow
When Jamil is orphaned, he takes on his father's
shepherding role and, at the same time, manages to build a solid
wall around his emotions. It takes a stray dog to melt his heart
and allow him to function normally. Expressively narrated. Shortlisted
CBC Book of the Year: Younger Readers 2002.
Primary Focus Fiction 2003. p.13
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Hathorn, Libby - Chrysalis
Can Lara help Mara, the shy new girl, escape from her past and live?
Lara has to know how she feels too. Does she love Stan, her faithful,
first boyfriend, or Jake, the artist on the road with the Crimson River
rock band. What about Pearl? Will Gladwyn ever let her use the scholarship
she has won? Most of all can Lara cope, now that Gowd Gadrey is back in
town, and wakening memories best left forgotten? Can anyone emerge from
the chrysalis stage?
Chrysalis is the brilliant sequel to Thunderwith.
The story is excellent and so is the narration, Kate Hosking is
one of the best narrators I have heard and her skills, teamed up
with those of best-loved author Libby Hathorn, make this book unforgettable.
Stephanie Ferguson,Year 10 Lollipops what's on for kids
April/May
2000 p.13
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Hathorn, Libby - Thunderwith
A moving tale of a young woman's growing up, set in the
rainforests of North East Australia, Thunderwith has appeal
for the young adolescent who is tackling the important issues of
identity and belonging.
Lara, who has recently lost her mother to cancer, is readily accepted
by her long lost father. His new family, however has grave reservations
about her and Lara is made to feel like an intruder. How she learns to
accept their differences and make herself part of a family again is the
subject of this award-winning story by Libby Hathorn.
This well-presented boxed set of six audio cassettes,
makes up some eight hours of listening time. Lise Rodgers' voice
is well modulated and easy to listen to. She spaces her reading
effectively, and the introductions and instructions to the listener
are clear and unambiguous. Although the children's voices are irritating,
the reading seems to go quickly. The listener is taken into the
story from the start, and the different strains of voice make each
character distinct. Age 13+
Fran Knight, The Heights School, SA
Education Department of Western
Australia
Curriculum Materials Information Services Fiction Focus Vol.
14 No. 2 2000 p.62
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Hathorn, Libby - Thunderwith
The novel Thunderwith is about a teenage girl
named Laura whose mother has recently died of cancer and she is
sent to live with her father and his new family on a farm in northern
New South Wales. Laura feels very much alone in this new situation
and faces many ordeals both at home and at school until she finds
the strength to deal with her problems from an unexpected friendship
with a magical dog. My Year 8 mixed ability English class had read
part of the novel before we began listening to sections of the audio
tape during lessons. Able readers found it too slow to listen to
the tape as they wanted to read faster. Slower, less able readers
or students who had been absent for some time enjoyed following
or catching up in this way. Eventually the novelty wore off and
most students became annoyed by the female solo performer's attempts
to read the various roles in different "voices" to represent the
different characters. They laughed at the attempts to create the
youngest child's voice and felt patronised. Basically, a reading
such as this needs more than one narrator/actor to do justice to
the magnificent novel and to make an audio version appealing to
secondary school age children.
Millie Rankin, Brighton Secondary College, SA SAETA Review
Hathorn, Libby - Thunderwith
When her mother dies, Laura feels completely alone and like an intruder
in her father's new family. Gladwyn, her new step-mother, shows absolutely
no sympathy whatsoever for Lara whilst Pearl, the oldest daughter, is more
than hostile to Lara too.
Things are no better when Lara starts at her new school, where she is
bullied by her neighbour's son. At school, she takes refuge in the library
where she meets Neil, an Elder, who enthrals her with his Dreamtime
stories. Back at the farm, she seeks refuge in the bush where she meets a
'dingo' dog, which she names Thunderwith. In Thunderwith she finds the
solace and love she lacks at home. She decides to share her secret about
Thunderwith with Neil, who soon becomes her best friend. Things also seem
to improve with her sisters and brother. Will she at last find happiness
in such a harsh environment?
Don't be put off--like my daughter--by the first
few chapters (about one and a half tapes) of the book. The slow
start to this book soon becomes captivating as the story develops
and gains substance. You will soon be gripped by this fascinating
story about poverty and survival in the country, bullying, friendship,
courage and love. Thunderwith has it all and it's no wonder
why it was an 1990 Honour Book for the Children's Book
Council of Australia and has now become compulsory reading in
the New South Wales English Curriculum.
Lise Rodgers's narration perfectly portrays Lara's
feelings though it can be a bit unnerving at times as she 'becomes'
Opal, Garnet, and Jasper, as her voice is more suited for either
older children or adult voices. But her role as narrator is perfect
and will leave you wanting more in no time. Thunderwith is one of
the best stories I have listened to recently, and I can hardly wait
for Louis Braille Audio's release of Chrysalis--the sequel
to Thunderwith--sometime next year.
Cecile Ferguson Lollipops what's on for kids
December 1999 / January
2000 p. 16
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Herrick, Stephen - The Spangled Drongo: a verse novel
The verse novel The Spangled Drongo was first
published in 1999 and set the pattern for several subsequent verse
novels including Love, Ghosts and Nosehair, A Place Like
This and The Simple Gift all published by UQP in the
Young Adult fiction series.
Stig Wemyss reads the poems in a convincing voice
for twelve year old soccer--mad
Sam who lives with Auntie Ashmara and falls in love with
Jessica, the girl next door. The heart warming story develops through the
poems which are read expressively and effectively. Each poems title is
announced before the poem is read.
I would anticipate using this resource with a Year 8 English class as
part of an active listening task or during a unit of work on poetry, to
introduce the concept of free verse and the notion of a novel in verse. If
anything will turn around students' negative attitudes to poetry, this
kind of resource will.
Chris Thompson, Brighton Secondary College, SA SAETA Review
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Herrick, Stephen - The Spangled Drongo: a verse novel
Sam loves soccer more than anything else on the planet.
He lives with Rinaldo--his dog, a parrot called Parrot and his weird
aunt Ashmara who is an artist and loves Indian curries and yoga.
Until recently, he and Goose, his best friend, have only been interested
in soccer and nothing else but things have changed since Jessica
moved next door. She loves soccer too but also has other interests
like bird watching Her favourite bird is the rare Spangled Drongo
which she has yet to find since she has moved. Thanks to Jessica,
Sam soon learns that there are other interesting things in life
apart from soccer.
This is a great free verse novel. I had read other of Stephen Herrick's
books before so I wondered how it would sound on tape but I wasn't
disappointed. It sounds just like a regular book. Stig Wemyss (one of my
favourite narrators) was reading this book out which means that with its
great story and narration, this book is absolutely terrific!
Stephanie Ferguson, Year 10 Lollipops what's on for kids
September /
October 2000 p. 11
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Hutchins, Elizabeth - Bring Back the Songs
When Nessa's mum died, her father remarried and Nessa suddenly found
herself with not only a stepmother, but also a step sister who are keen
for Nessa to forget her past.
When her family moves up north to the place where she was born, Nessa
discovers things about her mother and her family her father had never told
her about. As Nessa digs into her past, she suddenly discovers the
richness of a culture she knew very little about. But does she want to be
part of this culture? We follow Nessa as she comes to terms not only with
her past, but also matures and chooses to acknowledge her newly found
background.
Elizabeth Hutchins' Bring Back the Songs is
the moving novel about a young teenager who faces two major tasks:
growing up (like any teenager), and also discovering how important
a cultural heritage is in life. As she discovers a rich culture
and history, Nessa comes to accept that it's ok to be who you are.
Rebecca Macauley's narration is successively fresh, enthusiastic and
passionate as she depicts the dilemmas which Nessa has to face and accept,
as well as bring out all the other characters the listener will encounter
in this amazing story.
Bring Back the Songs is definitely one audio
book I would take with me on a desert
island!
Rebecca Macauley was also the reader of these other
Louis Braille Audio books: Love Charlie Mike; Camphor Laurel;
and A Cage of Butterflies.
Cecile Ferguson Lollipops what's on for kids
December 1999/ January
2000 p.15
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