story time books

Hunky Dory is by Jean Ure, a prolific author for the 9-13-year-old group. This is the (fictional) autobiography of the life (so far) of Dorian. Dorian’s problem is that he’s rather good-looking, but not interested in the girls who are interested in him. The only one he likes is Rosemary (known as the Herb) who is a tomboy and not “girly” and therefore acceptable as a friend. The story is his slow (very slow) realisation that the Herb is indeed a real girl and that he quite likes her anyway. His sister, the Microdot, is 10 to his 11, and she’s trying to get him to acknowledge one of her friends who admires him. Funny family and friend comment, and Dory is a great character who changes realistically through the book. Boys and girls will like this for different reasons.

David Hill’s latest novel for teenagers, Duet, has been described by some as a story about teenage pregnancy. If I were the author I’d feel short-changed by that description. It’s a story about music, about relationships, about passion, about families and a whole lot more, and it’s by a writer who has got to the point where the writing seems effortless, something that’s achieved by years of experience. It is beautifully written so that the reader cares about the characters, not just the two young musicians, but their families and friends as well, and there’s a perfectly judged balance of serious and funny. It doesn’t shy away from any of the consequences of the pregnancy, but it also acknowledges the other things happening at the same time. The sex scenes are also expertly written so that they don’t feel voyeuristic or gratuitous. Congratulations to David Hill and to Mallinson Rendel Publishers.

Lee Weatherly has written three previous novels for children and teenagers. This one is very interesting. Alternate chapters are labelled Kat and Kathy. The girl who was Kathy has “retrograde amnesia”, and now calls herself Kat. She has no memory of her family or friends, but we have her diary of what has happened before the accident which appears to have caused her amnesia. So the story unfolds on two levels, one in the past, from the diary, and one in the present, where her mother is desperate for any sign of memory return, and some of her friends think she’s faking it to avoid responsibility for something she’s done, which seems to have been something awful.  The tension is well maintained, and eventually all is revealed. Although there’s no “adult” or mature content, the sophisticated way the story is told makes it unsuitable for all but the best readers under 12

A new New Zealand book by Anna Mackenzie. Set in a post-apocalyptic world where the previous civilization has been destroyed by an environmental disaster, it’s the story of Ness’s inner struggle with the repressive island society she’s grown up in. The event which causes the questioning to increase to a new level is her finding a stranger washed up on the beach. He tells her about the world outside her island, and that changes other things. Very interesting book. Intermediate age and up, but readers need more sophistication than for many books aimed at this age group.

Jan Fearnley is the author of the wonderful Watch Out, Wilf! one of my favourite picture books since a granddaughter introduced me to her library copy. This is another classic in the making. The Tibbles family, all cats, get ready to go visiting the grandparents. Each time they get just down the road a different member of the family remembers something, from locking the door to needing the toilet, etc. Lots of lovely repetition which will have children joining in, some unexpected twists and wonderful pictures. This one will be a favourite very quickly.

Monsters under the bed with a twist. A young monster’s mother tells him not to be afraid of humans under the bed, because they only exist in stories, they’re not real. He’s not convinced and decides to sleep under the bed himself to make sure. Then a lost human human child comes into the cave where his bed is, and having got into bed decides he should check under it, just in case. The book ends with boy and monster running off terrified. Lovely rhyming text by Jeanne Willis and great illustrations by Susan Varley. For those who will enjoy the humour but not be too scared by the monster.

This is a teenage novel from Simmone Howell, an Australian author. I suppose it can be described by that old cliche as a coming-of-age story. Gem is a 17-year-old wannabe film-maker with two friends who reject the “barcode” conventionality of their peers and want to create their own underground. Wonderful characters and dialogue make this a very good teenage read about friendship, family and relationships, with a bit of feminism and art criticism thrown in. If you like good teenage/young adult books this should be on your list to read soon.

Logan is an eighth grade boy who is attempting to come to terms with something he’s done or not done. Ann Dee Ellis maintains the tension through the book as we get glimpses as Logan gets closer to talking about what has happened. He’s also being bullied at school and at scouts because others know some of what’s happened through rumour and gossip, though they often have the story wrong. Logan develops a friendship with Laurel who loves palindromes and they exchange increasingly sophisticated examples by notes and email. Very powerful stuff about memory, friendship, bullying and more. Not suitable for those under about 11 who won’t cope with the sophisticated narration.

Now in paperback, Jacqueline Wilson’s second installment of Tracy’s story is quirky, funny and real. Tracy is picked to play Scrooge in the school production of A Christmas Carol, but loses the part when she reacts to a taunt about her mother and bloods the nose of Justine (of many insulting middle names) Littlewood. Tracy is convinced her mother will turn up to see her: after all she’s a famous actress herself, and her optimism about this contrasts with her cynicism about life in The Dumping Ground (the children’s home where she lives). The usual spot-on over the top characters, hilarious dialogue, and all Jacqueline Wilson’s skills. Will be greatly desired by Jackie fans who haven’t already had it in hardback.

Tabitha Suzuma’s second novel is a stunner. Raven is a deeply disturbed teenager in foster care. As the story progresses the reader finds out more of what has his distress, but at first only through Raven’s eyes. It has amazing portrayal of character: Raven, his foster parents and foster sister, the school bullies and Lotte who befriends him are all wonderfully drawn, and the climax of the book is beautifully written. Too much plot would give away necessary tension, but this is a wonderful teenage read. It reminds me slightly of David Almond’s books in that although it doesn’t shy away from blackness, it is ultimately life-affirming. It also has no content which stops it being suitable for slightly younger readers if they can cope with the writing.