AUTHOR: Terry Pratchett (UK) (2000)
PLOT: A group of sorcerers summon a dragon to terrorise a village. The survival of the village is in the hands of a motley group of police.
NOTES: This graphic novel is based on Pratchett's books of "Discworld". The language is quite advanced (average 5th grade level). Unlike some graphic novels, this one is pleasingly devoid of the nudity, sex, and language so prevalent in this genre.
AGES: 9+.
GENRE: Fantasy, Adventure.
RATING: 5 stars.
Saturday, July 24, 2010
Series: Deltora Quest
AUTHOR: Emily Rodda (AUST) (2000)
PAGES: ~ 120 pages, 16 chapters.
PLOT: A group of young people search for the keys to release their land from the clutches of the evil Shadow Lord. In their travels they must discern good from evil, and learn that what you see initially is not always the truth.
NOTES: Deltora Quest 1: 8-book series. The characters must solve puzzles that children will delight in (mirror-image writing, people talking backwards, riddles). Some parts could be quite scary for some young children.
There are several sub-series. Deltora Quest 2: 3 books; Quest 3: 4 books.
Also includes How to Draw Deltora Monsters/Dragons books, Deltora Quiz book, Tales of Deltora, Deltora Monsters.
Includes a website, card game, video game, cartoon (anime).
ISSUES: good vs evil, friendship, trust, responsibility, courage, coming-of-age.
AGES: 8-13.
GENRE: Fantasy, Adventure.
RATING: 5 stars.
PAGES: ~ 120 pages, 16 chapters.
PLOT: A group of young people search for the keys to release their land from the clutches of the evil Shadow Lord. In their travels they must discern good from evil, and learn that what you see initially is not always the truth.
NOTES: Deltora Quest 1: 8-book series. The characters must solve puzzles that children will delight in (mirror-image writing, people talking backwards, riddles). Some parts could be quite scary for some young children.
There are several sub-series. Deltora Quest 2: 3 books; Quest 3: 4 books.
Also includes How to Draw Deltora Monsters/Dragons books, Deltora Quiz book, Tales of Deltora, Deltora Monsters.
Includes a website, card game, video game, cartoon (anime).
ISSUES: good vs evil, friendship, trust, responsibility, courage, coming-of-age.
AGES: 8-13.
GENRE: Fantasy, Adventure.
RATING: 5 stars.
Series: Scream Street (Jnr Fic)
AUTHOR: Tommy Bonbavand (UK) (2008)
PAGES: ~150 pages, 13 chapters.
PLOT: A young boy who has recently transformed into a werewolf and his family are 'banished' to Scream Street. He befriends a wannabe-vampire and a young mummy, as well as a surfer-dude-zombie and witch, who help him in his quest to find a way for his 'normal' parents to go home.
REVIEW: Similar to Freak Street series, but more advanced in plot and language.
This is an 8-book series. Linked to a website.
Well-written.
AGES: 7+. Focus age would be about 8-9.
GENRE: Horror, Humor.
RATING: 5 stars.
PAGES: ~150 pages, 13 chapters.
PLOT: A young boy who has recently transformed into a werewolf and his family are 'banished' to Scream Street. He befriends a wannabe-vampire and a young mummy, as well as a surfer-dude-zombie and witch, who help him in his quest to find a way for his 'normal' parents to go home.
REVIEW: Similar to Freak Street series, but more advanced in plot and language.
This is an 8-book series. Linked to a website.
Well-written.
AGES: 7+. Focus age would be about 8-9.
GENRE: Horror, Humor.
RATING: 5 stars.
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Daniel X: Alien Hunter (GN)
AUTHOR: James Patterson, with Leopoldo Gout (USA)
PUBLISHED: 2008
PLOT: A young teenager seeks out and destroys the nasty aliens who come to terrorize Earth. Being an alien himself, he's well equipped with a "magic" list of the aliens he needs to find, and an imagination powerful enough to create real objects, even imagining friends who help him in the hunt.
NOTES: A graphic novel that connects with a novel, The Dangerous Days of Daniel X.
ISSUES: loss of parents, loneliness, good vs evil, power of imagination, feeling of isolation and responsibility.
AGE: 10+.
GENRE: Graphic Novel, Thriller, Fantasy
RATING: 5 stars.
PUBLISHED: 2008
PLOT: A young teenager seeks out and destroys the nasty aliens who come to terrorize Earth. Being an alien himself, he's well equipped with a "magic" list of the aliens he needs to find, and an imagination powerful enough to create real objects, even imagining friends who help him in the hunt.
NOTES: A graphic novel that connects with a novel, The Dangerous Days of Daniel X.
ISSUES: loss of parents, loneliness, good vs evil, power of imagination, feeling of isolation and responsibility.
AGE: 10+.
GENRE: Graphic Novel, Thriller, Fantasy
RATING: 5 stars.
Series: Ghost Hunters (Jnr Fic)
AUTHOR: Cornelia Funke (UK)
PUBLISHED: Originally written and published in Germany by Loewe Verlag (2003) ; in the UK (2006+)
PAGES/ILL: ~15 chapters/100+pgs (short chapter books)
REVIEW: Currently a 4-book series about Tom and his grandmother's friend who help friendly ghosts, and hunt and capture/destroy/get rid of nasty ghosts. With each ghost having its own personality and likes and dislikes that can be used to help or hunt them, Hetty, a seasoned ghost hunter, begins to train Tom in the art of ghost hunting. Mixes horror and humour for a bit of a fun scare.
Not as scary or serious as Goosebumps.
AGE: 7+.
GENRE: Horror, Humour
RATING: 4 1/2 stars.
PUBLISHED: Originally written and published in Germany by Loewe Verlag (2003) ; in the UK (2006+)
PAGES/ILL: ~15 chapters/100+pgs (short chapter books)
REVIEW: Currently a 4-book series about Tom and his grandmother's friend who help friendly ghosts, and hunt and capture/destroy/get rid of nasty ghosts. With each ghost having its own personality and likes and dislikes that can be used to help or hunt them, Hetty, a seasoned ghost hunter, begins to train Tom in the art of ghost hunting. Mixes horror and humour for a bit of a fun scare.
Not as scary or serious as Goosebumps.
AGE: 7+.
GENRE: Horror, Humour
RATING: 4 1/2 stars.
Series: Goosebumps (Jnr Fic)
AUTHOR: R.L. Stine (USA)
PAGES/ILL: 20+ chapters/100+ pgs per book : some ill.
REVIEW: This is a set of horror stories, dealing with every topic from voodoo and satanism, to haunted dolls, ghosts, vicious animals, and made-up animals/monsters, to simply kids playing tricks to scare others.
An endless series made up of 3 bands: "original", "HorrorLand", and "Choose-your-own-adventure"
some books "continue" into the next book.
Similar to The Midnight Library series and Anthony Horowitz Horror series.
AGE: 10+, but I know some 7 year olds who read them. Remember, some of the books ARE genuinely scary and may give sensitive children nightmares. Other kids will enjoy the adrenaline rush of reading thrillers.
GENRE: Horror.
RATING: 4 1/2-5 stars.
PAGES/ILL: 20+ chapters/100+ pgs per book : some ill.
REVIEW: This is a set of horror stories, dealing with every topic from voodoo and satanism, to haunted dolls, ghosts, vicious animals, and made-up animals/monsters, to simply kids playing tricks to scare others.
An endless series made up of 3 bands: "original", "HorrorLand", and "Choose-your-own-adventure"
some books "continue" into the next book.
Similar to The Midnight Library series and Anthony Horowitz Horror series.
AGE: 10+, but I know some 7 year olds who read them. Remember, some of the books ARE genuinely scary and may give sensitive children nightmares. Other kids will enjoy the adrenaline rush of reading thrillers.
GENRE: Horror.
RATING: 4 1/2-5 stars.
Thursday, July 15, 2010
Diary of a Wimpy Kid series
AUTHOR: Jeff Kinney (USA) (2007)
NOTES: There is now a movie based on the books.
ISSUES: coming-of-age, friendship, life
PLOT: Presented in diary form (lined pages and all), a young boy gives a humorous recount about events in his life from a realistically egocentric point of view. Similar to Tales of a Forth-Grade Nothing (Judy Blume). Children (especially those on the verge of adolescence) will be able to relate, and enjoy these stories of growing-pains.
AGES: 7/8+ GENRE: realistic fiction RATING: 5 stars.
NOTES: There is now a movie based on the books.
ISSUES: coming-of-age, friendship, life
PLOT: Presented in diary form (lined pages and all), a young boy gives a humorous recount about events in his life from a realistically egocentric point of view. Similar to Tales of a Forth-Grade Nothing (Judy Blume). Children (especially those on the verge of adolescence) will be able to relate, and enjoy these stories of growing-pains.
AGES: 7/8+ GENRE: realistic fiction RATING: 5 stars.
The Tale of Despereaux
AUTHOR: Kate DiCamillo (UK) (2003)
PLOT: Follows 4 main characters and how their stories intertwine. Despereaux is a mouse born unlike other mice. Pea is the princess he falls in love with. Roscuro is a rat who feels "wronged" by the princess and wants revenge. Mig is a young girl sold into slavery who wants to be a princess more than anything.
It's a tale of friendship, love, and forgiveness.
Appropriate for third grade class read-aloud.
AGES: Read aloud (parent-child) from 5 or 6+; a lovely book to share with a young child. Children can read for themselves from whenever their reading ability permits.
GENRE: fantasy.
RATING: 5 stars.
PLOT: Follows 4 main characters and how their stories intertwine. Despereaux is a mouse born unlike other mice. Pea is the princess he falls in love with. Roscuro is a rat who feels "wronged" by the princess and wants revenge. Mig is a young girl sold into slavery who wants to be a princess more than anything.
It's a tale of friendship, love, and forgiveness.
Appropriate for third grade class read-aloud.
AGES: Read aloud (parent-child) from 5 or 6+; a lovely book to share with a young child. Children can read for themselves from whenever their reading ability permits.
GENRE: fantasy.
RATING: 5 stars.
Sunday, July 4, 2010
The Very Naughty Mother series
AUTHOR: Gretel Killeen (Aust) (2000+)
PLOT: In "The Very Naughty Mother Runs Away", the mother decides to run away because the children wanted her to eat her brussel sprouts, which she hid from them, and then lied about eating them. Subsequently, she is kidnapped and the children have to rescue her.
REVIEW: This series is a load of rubbish. While some children may delight in the juxtaposition of a mother who behaves like a naughty child, and her two children who have to raise and rescue her, it is not done with style or quality. There are far better nonsense writers (Dr Seuss, Paul Jennings) for children to enjoy. This book is full of "toilet words" which, yes, children think are funny, but this book over-does it, and it's certainly not something to be encouraged.
AGES: NONE! I don't recommend this to anyone. If you HAVE to, though, it would be for ages 6-8.
GENRE: Adventure, Fantasy.
RATING: 0-1 star.
PLOT: In "The Very Naughty Mother Runs Away", the mother decides to run away because the children wanted her to eat her brussel sprouts, which she hid from them, and then lied about eating them. Subsequently, she is kidnapped and the children have to rescue her.
REVIEW: This series is a load of rubbish. While some children may delight in the juxtaposition of a mother who behaves like a naughty child, and her two children who have to raise and rescue her, it is not done with style or quality. There are far better nonsense writers (Dr Seuss, Paul Jennings) for children to enjoy. This book is full of "toilet words" which, yes, children think are funny, but this book over-does it, and it's certainly not something to be encouraged.
AGES: NONE! I don't recommend this to anyone. If you HAVE to, though, it would be for ages 6-8.
GENRE: Adventure, Fantasy.
RATING: 0-1 star.
Saturday, July 3, 2010
Freak Street series
AUTHOR: Knife and Packer (Aust) (2008)
NOTES: 8-book series about four unusual families who live on Freak St (wizards, humans, zombies, aliens). Bit of a comic book style (sentences and short paragraphs between pictures).
Website: http://www.freakstreet.com.au.
** A similar series, but more advanced, is Scream Street series.
AGES: 6-8 (10 if reading ability is low). Older, competent readers will find no challenge in the basic storyline and characters.
GENRE: horror, adventure, fantasy. RATING: 4 1/2 stars.
NOTES: 8-book series about four unusual families who live on Freak St (wizards, humans, zombies, aliens). Bit of a comic book style (sentences and short paragraphs between pictures).
Website: http://www.freakstreet.com.au.
** A similar series, but more advanced, is Scream Street series.
AGES: 6-8 (10 if reading ability is low). Older, competent readers will find no challenge in the basic storyline and characters.
GENRE: horror, adventure, fantasy. RATING: 4 1/2 stars.
Get Real series
AUTHOR: Phil Kettle (Aust) (2009)
ISSUES: friendship, school, adventure, imagination
NOTES: 10-book series about the adventures of two boys (time travel, etc). Includes jokes and writing ideas at the back of the book. 9 chapters, ~60 pgs, lg type.
AGES: 6-9. GENRE: adventure, fantasy. RATING: 4 1/2- 5 stars
ISSUES: friendship, school, adventure, imagination
NOTES: 10-book series about the adventures of two boys (time travel, etc). Includes jokes and writing ideas at the back of the book. 9 chapters, ~60 pgs, lg type.
AGES: 6-9. GENRE: adventure, fantasy. RATING: 4 1/2- 5 stars
Radio Revolution series (Kids Inc)
AUTHOR: Tempany Deckert (Aust) (2007+)
NOTES: A 4-book series. Very mild in terms of excitement/action, but easy to read. 60 pgs, lg type, 7 chapters. Part of the Kids Inc titles.
ISSUES: friendship, fitting-in, school problems, music.
PLOT: Five friends (4 boys, 1 girl) love music and want to get their own show on the local radio station.
AGES: 7-10. Would attract young children who seem to be 'mis-fits' with strong reading ability in particular.
GENRE: Realistic Fiction RATING: 4 1/4 stars
NOTES: A 4-book series. Very mild in terms of excitement/action, but easy to read. 60 pgs, lg type, 7 chapters. Part of the Kids Inc titles.
ISSUES: friendship, fitting-in, school problems, music.
PLOT: Five friends (4 boys, 1 girl) love music and want to get their own show on the local radio station.
AGES: 7-10. Would attract young children who seem to be 'mis-fits' with strong reading ability in particular.
GENRE: Realistic Fiction RATING: 4 1/4 stars
Fashion Police series (Kids Inc)
AUTHOR: Tempany Deckert (Aust) (2007+)
NOTES: A 4-book series. Very mild in terms of excitement/action, but easy to read. 60 pgs, lg type, 7 chapters. Part of the Kids Inc titles.
ISSUES: friendship, fitting-in, school problems, fashion and clothes, mysteries, death (one of the character's mums died in the recent past).
PLOT: Two 14-year-old-aged girls and a boy become friends over their love of fashion and design. They win an internship at a local fashion house, and attempt to make-over the kids at their school.
AGES: 6-9. Would attract young girls who seem to be 'mis-fits', with strong reading ability in particular.
GENRE: Realistic Fiction RATING: 4 1/4 stars
NOTES: A 4-book series. Very mild in terms of excitement/action, but easy to read. 60 pgs, lg type, 7 chapters. Part of the Kids Inc titles.
ISSUES: friendship, fitting-in, school problems, fashion and clothes, mysteries, death (one of the character's mums died in the recent past).
PLOT: Two 14-year-old-aged girls and a boy become friends over their love of fashion and design. They win an internship at a local fashion house, and attempt to make-over the kids at their school.
AGES: 6-9. Would attract young girls who seem to be 'mis-fits', with strong reading ability in particular.
GENRE: Realistic Fiction RATING: 4 1/4 stars
Dragon Blood Pirates series
AUTHOR: Dan Jerris (Aust) (2008+)
NOTES: A 6-book series. A little bit "thin" at times in terms of concise story-telling. Reader has to bring lots of own knowledge and ideas to form a "picture" of the story. 84 pgs, large type.
ISSUES: Pirate lore, stealing, friendship, good vs bad.
PLOT: Two boys discover a portal to a land of pirates through an old sea chest. They join a motley crew of "good" pirates, and help them outwit the "bad" pirates in search of treasure, etc.
AGES: 6-9. Would attract young boys (but girls as well) interested in adventure and pirates.
GENRE: Fantasy, Adventure. RATING: 3 1/2-4 stars.
NOTES: A 6-book series. A little bit "thin" at times in terms of concise story-telling. Reader has to bring lots of own knowledge and ideas to form a "picture" of the story. 84 pgs, large type.
ISSUES: Pirate lore, stealing, friendship, good vs bad.
PLOT: Two boys discover a portal to a land of pirates through an old sea chest. They join a motley crew of "good" pirates, and help them outwit the "bad" pirates in search of treasure, etc.
AGES: 6-9. Would attract young boys (but girls as well) interested in adventure and pirates.
GENRE: Fantasy, Adventure. RATING: 3 1/2-4 stars.
Thursday, July 1, 2010
I am the Cheese
AUTHOR: Robert Cormier (Aust)
ISSUES: death, family, trust, running away, psychology.
PLOT/NOTES: Slightly disjointed (not chronological). A psychological thriller, with a twist at the end. Follows a young boy in two slightly separate stories; one in an interview with a psychologist in the third person; one a recount in the first person.
AGES: 13+ GENRE: Realistic Fiction, Thriller RATING: 4 1/2 stars
ISSUES: death, family, trust, running away, psychology.
PLOT/NOTES: Slightly disjointed (not chronological). A psychological thriller, with a twist at the end. Follows a young boy in two slightly separate stories; one in an interview with a psychologist in the third person; one a recount in the first person.
AGES: 13+ GENRE: Realistic Fiction, Thriller RATING: 4 1/2 stars
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