BRAT: Spring 2003 Issue
BRAT is published as part of the Book Council's quarterly magazine Booknotes.
It includes profiles of authors on the Writers in Schools programme, and a round up of recently published New Zealand books for children and young people.
To receive the latest issues of BRAT hot off the press, join the Book Council.
Books for Readers and Teachers
Intermediate Fiction
The Truth about Toffee by Janet Slater Bottin and Alice Bell, Scholastic, $13.95, pb. Every week Skye Ryder rides her favourite horse, Toffee, at the local stables. But Toffee is marked for the knacker’s yard so Skye heads a campaign to save him, which involves organising petitions and giving interviews to the media. The story unfolds through the poems, emails, and letters Skye writes to her grandmother, and through photo captions, speech bubbles, and newspaper articles. The unusual collage format and large kid-friendly fonts recreate a child’s scrapbook, although the odd sentence is unconvincing as a child’s writing. The book’s relatively useless contents page is a strange inclusion. It doesn’t list page numbers and the chapter headings are lost anyway amid the general clutter on each page. The girly tone may disturb some readers. 7–9 years.
Henry and the Flea by Brian Falkner, Mallinson Rendel, $16.95, pb. If this book were a movie, it would inevitably be described as “feel good”. Twelve-year-old Henry is consumed by his ambition to play rugby league for the Warriors. With the help of The Thing (the convenient ability to slow down time with two blinks of his eyes), Henry’s dream is realised, and the rest of the book describes his experiences playing in the Warriors for a season. Some may find this a lame dramatic device in a book that otherwise has its feet firmly planted on the ground. However, readers’ irritation levels may be eased by the story’s good-humoured enthusiasm. The quality of Falkner’s writing is his saving grace. It’s as lean and focused as the Broncos before a test match, and a pleasure to read. 9–14 years.
Mystery at Tui Bay by Janet Pates, Scholastic, $13.95, pb. This novel won the Tom Fitzgibbon Award for best children’s fiction by a previously unpublished author. It tells the story of Emma and Scott, a twin brother and sister, who have been sent to help at their aunt and uncle’s camp ground during the school holidays. The children’s domestic duties are interrupted by a spate of petty thefts, and they decide to get to the bottom of the mystery. Although the story flows well and is solidly written, it lacks spark. This problem isn’t helped by the author’s unadventurous use of the third person—the text is often flat and stilted. Moreover, the point of view is often confused, which gives the story a patchy tone. However, this glitch isn’t likely to disturb younger readers—only picky adults. 9–12 years.
A handful of blue by Vince Ford, Scholastic, $15.95, pb. Vince Ford has managed yet again to capture the concerns of children, their vernacular, and their interactions. His sixth novel is set on a sheep station on the East Coast and revolves around Jeremy, whose idyllic life is under threat as a run of bad luck gains momentum. The bad run culminates in the threat of a mortgagee sale of his parents’ farm and a whale stranding. Aside from some purposeless interjections from Jeremy’s friend Eddie (thankfully, dropped after the first chapter) and a one-dimensional nasty neigbour, Ford tells his tale skilfully, with humour and sensitivity in equal measure. His central character is particularly well drawn. 10–13 years.
Dawn Hawk by Ken Catran, Lothian, $15.95, pb. It’s not difficult to see why Ken Catran’s novels have won a swag of awards. He writes with confidence and ease; his text is virtually free of distracting technical glitches. Dawn Hawk (part of Lothian’s Crime Waves series) is narrated by a character obsessed with becoming a famous writer. He takes this opportunity to showcase his droll wit and seemingly endless ability to make snide asides—an amusing feature of the story. The narrator and his fearless female sidekick set out to find Dawn Hawk, one of the Wright brothers’ first planes, which they believe is entombed beneath their town. They quickly become embroiled in a larger-than-life adventure that unfolds over a twenty-four hour period, involving cigar-smoking Americans, pre-teen girls capable of flying bi-planes, sneaky gardeners, and amoral old ladies. Sometimes the text is a little wordy, but for the most part, this is an entertaining read for 10–13 year olds.
Senior Fiction
Eyes in the Shadows by Alan Bunn, Scholastic, $15.95, pb. Alan Bunn draws on his teaching experience to examine bullying in various forms. His novel revolves around Mark, a talented but lonely photographer who spends his life hiding behind his lens, and Nicole, a schoolgirl model who is being harassed by an anonymous phone caller. These two characters meet, eventually dealing both to the local bullies and their own weaknesses. Bunn’s writing has a strong visual element, and scenes flick by like a slideshow —a clever feature given the central character’s preoccupation with photography. His frequent use of verbs gives the story a manic energy, and with the pace so fast, the text sometimes suffers from a disjointedness. While issues-driven books are often burdened by their good intentions, this novel is saved (perhaps only just) by its drama and pace. Suitable for readers aged 12 to 15 (some of whom will take pleasure in the recognisable Dunedin setting).
Home Is the High Country: my small animal friends by Mona Anderson, Reed, $19.95, pb. Hard to gauge what age group this book will appeal to. It contains six stories about animals the author cares for during her years on Mount Algidus Station in the foothills of the Southern Alps. Kea, muscovy and paradise ducks, puppies, possums, and hedgehogs all appear in these gentle, domestic tales. Each story has one full-colour, full-page illustration with two or three black and white sketches, but the overall effect is still text heavy. This makes the book less appealing for younger readers, and older readers may be put off by the over-the-teacups tone, which treads a fine line between amusing and annoying. For serious animal lovers only. 11 years plus. Watermark by Penelope Todd, Longacre, $16.95, pb. Eighteen year old Zillah heads alone to the West Coast in response to a mysterious letter. She stays in a bach by the sea for a week, during which time she is manipulated by a weird brother and sister duo who are complete strangers to her. This slightly wacky scenario allows Todd to explore identity, self-reliance, survival, decision-making, morality, and death. For the most part, she does this well, although some of these themes are superficially dealt with—no surprise given their complexity and number. Several of the finer details in this, Todd’s fourth book, also lack credibility, particularly the motivations of the siblings. However, none of these flaws is fatal. Todd’s sharp, tight prose is always beautifully controlled and judged, and her evocative descriptions of the West Coast and its wild, elemental nature are a pleasure to read. Definitely one of New Zealand’s more thoughtful and accomplished writers of Young Adult fiction.14–17 years.
Picture Books Matariki by Melanie Drewery, and illustrated by Bruce Potter, Reed, $14.94, pb. The Maori new year has received more attention recently, and this book will be a welcome resource for those who wish to provide children with more information about it. The story captures the experiences of two young children as members of their whanau teach them about Matariki. Readers should be able to identify with the brother and sister’s growing anticipation as the purpose of their midnight adventure is revealed. Melanie Drewery’s text has a good sense of rhythm, and the realistic illustrations are impressive. Bruce Potter draws great faces and creates beautiful light. 4–7 years.
Taku Hiahia He Kaia Moana Toku Papa by Clive Taylor, Scholastic, $13.99, pb. This is the Maori edition of I Wish My Dad Was a Pirate, first published in 2001. Clive Taylor tells the tale of a boy who fantasises about all the exciting things his father might have been, including a superhero, an astronaut, king of the jungle, and, of course, a pirate. He comes to the inevitable conclusion that dads are often best the way they are. The funky illustrations maximise the appeal of this simple story—but be ready for a schmaltzy end. 3–6 years.
Dance for Me by Dot Meharry, and illustrated by Brian Harrison, Reed, $14.95, pb. In this story, Dot Meharry explores memory and the different ways it can be shared and recorded. Emma is staying with her grandparents by the sea. Together, they sew a dancing dress from leftover pieces of fabric, an activity that inspires storytelling and oral history. This is a timeless device, attractive to children, but the artwork in this book lets the story down, giving it an old-fashioned, almost dusty feel. The pictures have a stilted quality that may alienate some readers. This problem isn’t helped by the quaint tone that lurks in the text. 5–8 years.
Pania of the Reef by Peter Gossage, Reed, $14.95, pb. This well-known story of Pania, the sea creature, and her doomed love for a young Maori chief is retold using bright, highly stylised illustrations and simple text. Despite its picture book format, the publisher recommends that this book is suitable for children aged seven and above—perhaps due to the fact that Pania and her chief spend the night as “man and wife”. This, and some gaps in the text, may need some explanation.
Tane’s Weta by Jennifer McIvor, and illustrated by John Rundle, Reed, $14.95, pb. In this original ‘myth’, Tane creates the weta to clear the forest floor of dead insects and decaying leaves. It transpires that the weta’s soft body provides little protection, a problem that can no longer be ignored after five of Weta’s children are mistakenly crushed by Tane’s foot. To redress this, Tane creates five new species of weta, each with its own unique feature. Jennifer McIvor uses lyrical prose, which is enhanced by John Rundle’s sophisticated artwork. He has painted the forest and its creatures in muted tones —a nice change from the hyper-vibrant illustrations that often accompany this genre. Available in English and Maori, with brief weta facts on the inside back cover. 6–8 years.
The Shrimp Who Wanted to Be Pink by Judy Lawn, and illustrated by Kevin Wildman, Reed, $12.95, pb. A shrimp longs to change his semi-transparent colour to a more alluring pink, despite advice from fellow shrimps not to change the status quo. He decides to canvass opinion from a variety of species—most of whom would eat the shrimp if only they could see him properly to catch him. Eventually Shrimp lands in a bucket belonging to two children, and narrowly escapes a barbecuing. Lesson: pink shrimps are dead shrimps. The sometimes mundane text lets down the imaginative plot, and the illustrations are often cluttered by an unnecessary border. 4–6 years.
The Three Billy-Goats Gruff by Gavin Bishop, Scholastic, $15.95, pb. The blurb for this retelling promises to reintroduce an old favourite “in a fun and exciting way”. The senior goat does threaten the troll with his two spears and curling-stones, a detail that appears to be poetic licence, but other than this, there is little to distinguish the text from the traditional version. No innovation then, but the illustrations give the story a shot of adrenalin, particularly Bishop’s crazed-looking troll. Overall, an appealing picture book. 4–6 years.
The Battlefield by Don Long, Reed, $14.95, pb. A young girl is disturbed by the knowledge that a battle was fought on her family’s farm during the New Zealand Wars. Re-enacting the battles in the old trenches with her brothers and visiting the nearby memorial increases her curiosity. This leads to a class trip to the battleground so that the students can attempt to understand what happened and how the battleground once looked. On the last page, is a very basic overview of the New Zealand Wars and some of the changes they brought about. These notes, together with the book, would make a useful starting point for teaching children about this topic. A unique book that is well suited to being read aloud in the classroom. 8–12 years.
The Great Jellification at the House of Ebenezer by Ron Bacon and Richard Hoit, Waiatarua Publishing, $29.95, hb. An unusual book—best described as a picture book for readers aged twelve years onward. Around the size of your average atlas, it allows the author and illustrator to maximise on a sense of fun, which appears to be their primary objective. The fly leaf contains information about how the illustrations were made but doesn’t mention the text, which jostles for attention throughout the book. It tells the story of a grand party at Ebenezer’s, a rich benefactor who doesn’t feature in the book other than providing a large pool of jelly in which various guests frolic. The substantial text is told entirely through rhyming couplets. An inevitable pitfall is that the author is forced to use far more words than necessary. The text is way too long and the good parts are overwhelmed. A kinder- on-the-eye font wouldn’t have gone amiss, either. Anthologies
Storylines: The Anthology edited by Tessa Duder, Scholastic, $24.95, pb. Storylines Festival annually celebrates the work of New Zealanders who write and illustrate stories for children. To mark the tenth Storylines Festival held in June this year, Tessa Duder has edited this anthology, which provides a selection of work from many of the better-known names involved with the festival. Includes non-fiction pieces, illustrated stories, and poems. Suitable for children aged 8–12 years.
The Body in the Driveway and other stories compiled by Penny Scown, Scholastic, $13.95, pb. The horror stories in this collection were written by authors who are disdainful of the splatter fest that usually characterises this genre. (Each story is accompanied by a personal comment from its author—most of whom express the desire to deliver something more than the obligatory gore.) As a result, the stories are thoughtful and original. Most are driven by a great plot and lean, effective writing. Many, surprisingly, also have a sense of humour. “Chesney’s Chainsaw”, by James Norcliffe, is a winner, exploring the repercussions of a callow youth’s thoughtless felling of some ancient pines. David Somerset’s “The Bell” is equally engaging. Other authors include Bob Kerr, Joy Cowley, Matin Baynton, and Kingi McKinnon. One of Scholastic’s better efforts of late. 12 years plus.
The Secret Game Plan and other stories by Maria Samuela, Reed, $14.95, pb. Each of the five stories in this collection deals with the trials and tribulations that burden your average eight-year-old (or so). These includes folk dancing, visiting the murder house, coveting your best mate’s scooter, attempting (unsuccessfully) to break the tie with a well-loved stuffed toy, and beating the boys at a lunchtime rugby game. While the author seeks to capture the concerns of children and their take on the world, her adult perspective is always hovering, and occasionally intrudes. In places, the writing feels contrived and lacks credibility. Despite this, the book is well suited to being read aloud—a dramatic reading should help to gloss over these failings. 7–9 years. Non-fiction
Design Your Own Career Path: A practical workbook for secondary school students by Ruth Chandra Winslow, Essential Resources, $29.95, pb. This book is designed to assist senior high school students as they develop and refine their career plans. Each of the nine units contains practical exercises that require students to interact with their peers, to think critically, and to provide written responses. Topics include drawing up a career path and taking responsibility for it, developing a positive attitude, committing to goals, marketing skills and qualifications, and dealing with job application forms and interviews. Information and instructions come thick and fast, so teacher guidance would be beneficial. This book seems pricey, given its low-key presentation, but most pages are designed to be photocopied, and permission is given to do so.
Horses; Dogs; Cats; Pigs – Four titles in Scholastic’s “Animals are not like us” series, $11.95, pb. This series of books was written to teach young children about animals (horses, dogs, cats, and pigs, respectively). Though much of the information is still relevant, time has taken its toll on aspects of these books—first published in 1998—particularly their overall look and the photographs. Some pages are cluttered with images, and there’s not always a great picture/text match. Despite this, the everyday nature of the animals chosen should have some appeal to children. Also available in Maori. 3–5 years. Snowboarding by Jan Trafford, and photographed by Ian Trafford, Reed, $15.95, pb. Mountain Biking by Jan Trafford, and photographed by Ian Trafford, Reed, $15.95, pb. Both of these titles are part of Reed’s new Kiwi Extreme series, which looks at various extreme sports. The colloquial tone will appeal to the target audience—as will the contemporary photographs. Unfortunately, the design of the books overwhelms the Traffords’ strong photographs and clear text. An excessive use of key lines, silhouettes, ghosting, and numerous arrows results in visual chaos. One page alone in the snowboarding title sports six different fonts, and the list of related web sites on the last page is difficult to read because of the clunky font. Though form has triumphed over function in these titles the information is topical and of high interest. The mountain biking title has a cleaner look—which may prevail in the future. 11 years plus. Niue by Charles Cooper, Reed, $14.95, pb. This twenty-four page book would be suitable for children who have just learned to read independently. The text is large and well-spaced and there isn’t too much of it. As a general introduction to Niue the book does its job well. Unfortunately, there is a sense that the author had a limited number of photographs to choose from. An entire page of text describes schools and churches on the island, but there is no photo of either. Information about houses is accompanied by an image of woven baskets being sold at a market. This may seem picky but the book is intended for younger readers who will be expecting a better match. They will also be challenged by the captions placed oddly throughout the book. One caption about the flying fox sits beneath a photo of a bird, and it would be easy to imagine that the two are linked, which will cause confusion.
