Westfields Sports High School, Library

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------------Book Reviews Page 1

Two Hands Together

Winner of Book of the Year 2001 : Younger Readers Children's Book Council of Australia

This novel is easy to read and recommended for junior students.

Diana Kidd wrote this book about an extraordinary friendship that develops between two ordinary girls. The book deals with themes such as human bonding, the importance of secrets, trust and racism.

It all starts when Danny, Ella, their mother, Aunty Maisie, Uncle Charlie and the little dog Spike, move in next door to Lily, Jake and their mother and father. Lily's father has an unknown reason for holding something against the new neighbours. His intolerance of them is surprising ashis most prized possession is his "Best and Fairest" trophy which he received when he played in the U 16's football team.

Lily and Jake love to spend time with their new friends playing and listening to Aunty Maisie's wonderful stories about her past and her adventures with the possum skin rug her mother had carefully stitched together.

How do you change someone's beliefs? Will dad ever shed his hard exterior like a snake sheds its skin? Will Dad ever learn to move on and change with the times? What terrible things need to happen before Dad finally changes his ways?

This review was written by Justin Turnbull (7 Blue).

THE LOST THING

Awarded Honours in Picture Book of the Year 2001
by Children's Book Council of Australia

"What is it?"
"I dunno man," he said. I don't think it comes from anywhere, you know some thing's are just like that......just plain lost."

This picture book was written by Shaun Tan and is the story about a lost thing which is portrayed in the format of twisted pictures by the illustrator.

Its the story of a teenager who picks up bottle tops for a living. One day he finds "a lost thing". I would describe this thing as a horrible red, gigantic machine-looking creature. He tries to take it back where it belongs. He tells of how he went about trying to find where it belonged and how he was the only person who realised it was lost or even existed. It describes how he ponders over what makes a thing "lost" as opposed to just existing. Others tend to think of all the disadvantages associated with the "thing" like when his parents say it is dirty, may have germs or carry diseases.

Do people really care about things or other people? Are we too busy in our lives to notice others? There are underlying themes to this very clever and well illustrated book.

This book was reviewed by Teresa Le (7Blue).

WINTER This is another excellent book from well known Australian author John Marsden. It is the story of an orphaned girl named Winter de Salis who lives with an aunt and uncle whom she does not get along with. She recalls little of her past but knows that the family property,Warriewood, is a place she needs to return to. It has been twelve years since her parents died and she has not felt like she belonged to a family.

Memories are destroyed when she arrives at her childhood home which has been alowed to go to ruin. Those managing the property act suspiciously and all the furniture has disappeared. Mystery surrounds the death of her parents. Winter has to take one step at a time to deal with the future. This novels witnesses the transformation from a moody adolescent to a strong willed young woman. An interesting subject for readers of both genders. It will prepare you for understanding the people you will encounter during your lifetime.

RED HEART Victor Kelleher is another Australian contemporary author that should be read. The setting for this novel is the "Promised Land" located along the Darling River. The main characters are Jack Curtis and his nephew Nat who is searching for him. It is set somewhere in the future in post greenhouse times so it highlights the problems assosciated with global warming. Nature, ecology, environment, family relationships, loyalty and adventure are themes of the book.

Nat's journey is one similar to that in Conrad's Heart of Darkness. It is a journey for truth, reality and even death. This book is thought provoking and chilling. It is suitable for the mature reader.

THE PRINCESS DIARIES Meg Talbot has written a fun book that has been also been used as the story for a Disney film of the same name. Mia Thermopolis lives in Greenwich Village, New York. Her mother is a semi-famous painter and a single parent to this ninth grader. Mia's life is pretty boring except for her daydreams about kissing a senior student, Josh Richterm.

Then one day her father comes to town and her life is suddenly different. He is not just a politician but a prince of a small European country. She is acyually crown princess of Genovia. She lacks self esteem feeling that she doesn't"even know how to begin to cope" with her new role in life and being hunted by the paparazzi (reporters).

"I am so NOT a princess...You never saw anyone who looked less like a princess than I do" and then she goes on to point out all the flaws in her appearance such as "I have really bad hair... and... a really big mouth and no breasts and feet that look like skis."

Life is not easy for Mia and this makes excellent, entertaining reading. Girls will identify with her when she has a fight with her best friend etc.

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NEWS FLASH.
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Read the book before you see the movie based on the book. THE DONS Archimede Fusillo has written a very sensitive book about the relationship between Paul and his Italian grandfather, Nonno. Paul not only has to deal with the death of his father but now his grandfather is being affected by Dementia, an illness which many older people suffer from. He tries to help his mother cope with looking after the old man so he doesn't have to live in a home for old people.

This story has lots of relevance to children who have relatives suffering an illness and who need extra care. Fusillo has portrayed the special bond between the old man and his grandson very well. secrets are another subject which is well handled in this book. It is inspiring to read a novel which reveals the beautiful impact older people can have on the lives of young ones. This book is highly recommended as it deals with loyalty, respect and family love.
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