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Reviews - Junior and Young Adult fiction

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reviews - more junior titles
reviews - adult titles 

Brown, Christopher — The Black Dog Gang

Read by Christopher Brown

‘Robert Newton captures the flavour of Sydney’s Rocks district in the dawning 1900s superbly, from the earthy characters to the channels carrying human waste and disease through the cobbled streets. Poverty is rife and families survive on hard work, love and street smarts. Frankie Maguire is the central character and a definitive representation of the youth of the time … Christopher Brown is believable as the voice of Frankie and does justice to a range of emotions and characters with a convincing Irish accent. Historically accurate, and believable, The Black Dog Gang is good to listen to.’

Suzie Hicks, Viewpoint vol 16 no 2, Winter 2008 p49

Condon, Bill — No Worries

Read by Stephen Phillips

‘Condon’s story deals with Bri’s problems with humour and honesty. Bri matures as the story progresses and his concern for his mother is poignant and touching. Bri often feels powerless in the light of her illness, and this is highlighted in the reading of the story by Stephen Phillips. The story is told in the first person, and Phillips makes Bri seem very real, vulnerable and believable … This is an absorbing reading of a wonderful story that will make listeners laugh and cry.’

Judy Blyton, Viewpoint vol 14 no 2 Winter 2006 p17

Condon, Sean — Michael Sweeney’s Method

Read by Stephen Pease

‘Michael Sweeney and his friend, Dud, have worked hard at remaining invisible for most of their school lives and now that they are on the home stretch in Year 12 it looks as if they have almost got away with it. This all changes when they befriend the American kid. One gesture out of character leads Michael drawing attention to himself in all kinds of ways, and not always to his benefit. He meets Lucy, a dream girl spotted from a bus clutching a foam skull. He also finds out more about his parents than he probably wanted to know and for the first time gets a clear view of himself and his future.

This recording is brought to life by Stephen Pease, who manages the various voices with changes in pitch and timing rather than manipulation of accents. To seventeen year olds there is nothing irrelevant which happens in their lives, however dead ends are magnified when listened to. Filmic ending and all, Michael is an endearing character and it’s a good listen.’

Margaret Kett, Viewpoint vol 16 no3, Spring 2008 p45

Dubosarsky, Ursula — The Red Shoe

Read by Marie-Louise Walker

‘This audio book is narrated by Marie-Louise Walker, whose voice reflects the personalities of each character in the story. Her voice has a perfect tone for the era, placing the listener in the 1950s. The Red Shoe is a story of suppressed memories, guilt, love, betrayal and family. It illustrates the unimaginable effect that extraordinary events can have on an ordinary family.’

Leanne Vandermeer, Viewpoint vol 15 no 3 Spring 2007 p47

Dubosarsky, Ursula — Theodora’s Gift

Read by Marie-Louise Walker

Theodora’s Gift is a reflective book that is read in such a way that the listener is drawn in to the quietness and gentleness of the novel. Dubosarsky is a wonderful wordsmith and I enjoyed listening and savouring the many reflections of characters. Marie-Louise Walker captures the essence of the novel well, making this audio version an absorbing listening experience.’

Sharon Hayes, Viewpoint vol 16 no 1 Autumn 2008 p45

Gardner, Scot — Gravity

Read by David Tredinnick

‘When I began listening to Gravity, what struck me was David Tredinnick’s quintessentially Australian voice. At first the coarse language and gruffness of conversation between the young male characters was confronting, but Scot Gardner has interpreted the voice of youth perfectly. The more I listened, the more comfortable I became with the young, masculine, sometimes blunt, often stumbling and unsure way in which Adam and his friends talked. Listening to Adam’s frustrated inner thoughts and his inability to express his feelings or take responsibility for his behaviour would ring true with many teenagers, who like Adam, experience moments of unexplainable frustration that seem to overwhelm them … A brutally honest and moving story that is accessible and relevant for many young people, on the cusp of adulthood.’

Leanne Vandermeer, Viewpoint vol 15 no 3 Spring 2007 p48

Gwynne, Phillip — Jetty Rats

Read by Andrew Windsor

‘Andrew Windsor, as the voice of Hunter, injects humour, naivete, credibility and a little pathos into the reading. I loved listening to this story, laughing out loud, even more than I had loved reading the book. Jetty Rats, on audio, is great. Highly recommended — listen to it on a trip to the beach with a car full of teenagers. They’ll love it too.’

Judy Blyton, Viewpoint 13 no 1,Autumn 2005 p38

Hawke, Rosanna — Soraya the storyteller

Read by Kellie Jones

‘Shortlisted for the CBC Book of the Year — Younger Readers, Soraya the storyteller is an accomplished offering from Rosanne Hawke … Kellie Jones’ reading of the book is competent and well-paced. The importance of storytelling to the story, and the retelling of the folktales, makes this book a natural choice for reading aloud, and Jones is at her best recounting the magical tales of Sheherazade and the Arabian Nights … The story gives a good view of the plight of asylum seekers in Australia, outlining their difficulties and struggles to adapt after losing so much. Soraya is a resilient young girl, and her story will resonate with many young readers, and, hopefully, lead to many thoughtful classroom discussion.’

Judy Blyton, Viewpoint 13 no 2, Winter 2005 p44

Herrick, Steven — Cold Skin

Read by Christopher Brown & Kelly Jones

‘As each character in Cold Skin ‘speaks’, they slowly reveal their thoughts and dreams, strengths and weaknesses, layer by layer. The reader, like the townspeople of Burruga, may find themselves guilty of presumption, of judging, overlooking and perhaps even laying guilt upon certain characters too quickly and failing to look beyond the superficial. Cold Skin is delivered with both gentleness and harshness … Steven Herrick gives each character a believable voice with subtle, honest simplicity that is conveyed beautifully when written in verse.’

Leanne Vandermeer, Viewpoint vol 16 no 3, Spring 2008 p48

Herrick, Steven — Lonesome Howl

Read by Rebecca Macauley and Christopher Brown

‘When given the opportunity to review Lonesome Howl as an audio book, I was curious to see how a verse novel would carry when read aloud. It was wonderful! Rachel Macauley and Christopher Brown’s reading is perfectly timed, told with a natural intensity that made me feel as though I was actually sitting with the two main characters Lucy and Jake, listening to their story, having a conversation … This story is about family, friendship, and inner strength. A story about hope, love, forgiveness and new beginnings, told with soft words and tender subtlety. Steven Herrick’s novel strikes a chord with the beautiful simplicity of each line.’

Leanne Vandermeer, Viewpoint vol 15 no 3 Spring 2007 p49

Hyde, Michael & Kent, Val (eds) — Hunger & other stories

Read by Rebecca Macauley & David Tredinnick

‘This excellent collection of twelve stories by some of Australia’s best writers makes for compulsive listening … The readers, Rebecca Macauley and David Tredinnick, capture the characters well and offer enough variation to create a credible atmosphere for each story. David Tredinnick won an Adult Narrator of the Year award in 1998 and 1999, and a Sanderson Young Adult Narrator of the Year Award in 2001.’

Mariana du Toit, Viewpoint 13 no 1,Autumn 2005 p39

Jinks, Catherine — Living Hell

Read by Stephen Pease

‘The opening sentence in Living Hell captures the listener’s curiosity immediately: ‘You have to understand what it was like’. So begins the story of the last survivors from the planet earth, living aboard a highly sophisticated and self-sufficient ship called ‘Plexus’ … This exciting science fiction thriller is cleverly constructed. Tension mounts with each page as the true horror confronting the inhabitants of Plexus unfolds. The characters in this novel are dynamic and believeable, each reacting to the changes around them in unique ways … Stephen Pease captures Cheney’s youth exceptionally well. Pease is able to manipulate his voice in a variety of different ways with ease, giving each of the many characters in Living Hell a distinct personality and voice.’

Leanne Vandermeer, Viewpoint vol 16 no 3, Spring 2008 p49

Laguna, Sophie – Bird and Sugar Boy

Read by Stephen Phillips

‘The audio version, read by Stephen Phillips, presents Bird as an engaging narrator: with an innocence and a yearning he doesn’t understand … Phillips also gives Bird’s voice sadness and a quality of powerlessness: he sees where his difficulties and his problems lie, but is unable to work his way through them. However, his perspective on his life, friendship with Sugar, his relationship with his father, and his connection with Uncle Gary and Lena are narrated in a loving, humorous way and the end is uplifting and positive.’

Judy Blyton, Viewpoint vol 15 no 3 Spring 2007 p50

Metzenthen, David — Black Water

Read by David Tredinnick

‘In the audio book of Black Water (Louis Braille), words and voice are a seductive combination. David Metzenthen injects more humour than you’d think possible into a slow-paced story about two brothers’ recovery from trauma in a small Victorian fishing community during World War I. He’s a whiz at laconic dialogue and at expressing youthful exuberance, and David Tredinnick is just the reader to exploit every quirk of character and nuance of mood.’

Ruth Starke, Australian Book Review, December 2007-January 2008, p23

Shanahan, Lisa — My Big Birkett

Read by Kellie Jones

My Big Birkett is a very funny tale of family drama, friendship and finding your own way in the world … Kellie Jones brings the story to life by managing to clearly define each character’s voice, from Raven to Gemma, and their respective family members. Kellie also has the ability to portray the different moods of the novel from the wonderful comic scenes to those that have a more serious and moving tone. I laughed out loud reading the novel for the first time and Kellie Jones had me doing the same as I listened to the audio version.’

Sharon Hayes, Viewpoint vol 16 no 1 Autumn 2008 p54

Winch, Tara June — Swallow the Air

Read by Tara June Winch

‘This audio-version of the book is read by Winch herself, and as her writing is so lyrical and poetic, it lends itself beautifully to being read aloud. While Winch says this book is not autobiographical, it does reflect her experiences and this is obvious in the reading. She tells May’s story simply and with little drama, but with quiet authority, and uses words and poetic imagery to great effect. There is a soft, dreamy, sing-song quality to Winch’s voice that makes this bleak story a joy to listen to.

The short length of this audiobook makes it very accessible for classroom use — it could be seen as a series of interlocking short stories — and given the current debate on issues of indigenous communities, sections could be used to present the issues as seen through May’s experiences in a first-person, non-judgemental way.’

Judy Blyton, Viewpoint 15, vol 3 Spring 2007 p56

Junior & YA non-fiction

Jamal, Nadia & Chandab, Taghred — The Glory Garage: growing up Lebanese Muslim in Australia

Read by Melissa Eccleston

‘Nadia Jamal and Taghred Chandab, both journalists of Lebanese Muslim heritage, provide us with a rich picture of their culture in this collection of real life stories. These are human stories of a diverse culture and the dramas within family life … The girls in these stories are caught up in two worlds and must try to reconcile the different expectations of them at home while they try to fit into Australian society … The stories are read by Melissa Eccleston in a clear voice and flow well … This book with its strong sense of humanity should go a long way toward fostering empathy and understanding of what it means to be growing up Muslim in Australia at this time.’

Sharon Hayes, Viewpoint vol 14 no 2 Winter 2006 p45

*Reviews as of the 14th of March 2003

Baillie, Allan - The China Coin

*Bowles, Colin - Surfing Mr Petrovic

Caswell, Brian - A Cage of Butterflies

Caswell, Brian and Chiem, David Phu - Only the Heart

Clarke, Judith - Angels Passing By

Crewe, Gary and Neilsen, Phillip - Edward Britton

Disher, Garry - The Divine Wind

Disher, Garry -From Your Friend, Louis Deane

Fienberg, Anna - The Witch in the Lake

French, Jackie - Hitler's Daughter

*French, Jackie - How the Finnegans Saved the Ship

*Gilbert, Kevin - Me and Mary Kangaroo

Gleeson, Libby - Refuge

Harnett, Sonya - All My Dangerous Friends

Harris, Christine - Fortune Cookies

*Harris, Christine - Jamil's Shadow

Hathorn, Libby - Chrysalis

Hathorn, Libby - Thunderwith

Herrick, Stephen - The Spangled Drongo : a verse novel

Hutchins, Elizabeth - Bring Back the Songs


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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See also:

reviews - more junior titles
reviews - adult titles
 
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