about the books

Life an exploded diagram by Mal Peet

2012-01-12T17:14:00.000+11:00

This is a wonderful coming of age book set against the backdrop of the Cuban missile crisis. The book opens with the birth of Clem Ackroyd at the end of WWII in 1945 and continues through to 2001. Clem Ackroyd is born to working class parents in Norfolk and we get a wonderful sense of his life and the characters of his parents and his grandmother who live with him are finely drawn and realised. The book is told through Clem’s eyes and he takes us back in time from 2001 where he is a designer living in New York. The book centres around his family and their relationships and also Clem’s teenage years as a student on a scholarship to a grammar school. Clem has defied the social laws and got uppity and above himself and won a scholarship to a grammar school along with his friend Goz who is a wonderfully drawn character whose dry wit is a great foil to Clem’s character. The class system in England is beautifully portrayed in Peet’s book and Clem is under no illusions that his scholarship gives him education but no privileges so it is rather hopelessly that he falls in love with the local gentries daughter Frankie and begins a first romance with her. Their romance is carried out clandestinely against the backdrop of the Cuban missile crisis. It is at this point that Peet oscillates between giving us a precise account of the personalities involved in the crisis and their impact on world history and the growing relationship between Clem and Frankie. Peet gives us a sense of how history affects us at so many levels and his assessment of how close we came to nuclear war in 1962 and how mad some of those closest to power were is chilling. Clem and Frankie’s passion and love is beautifully realised by Peet but underlying their relationship is a desperation born not only of its clandestine nature, but also the class differences and the fact that time seems against them. It is fitting that Clem chooses to read Andrew Marvel’s to his coy mistress to Frankie. And their world does explode but not courtesy of the Cuban missile crisis but rather an unexploded mine from WWII which rips their families and them apart. This a tender, funny and engrossing read which will make you think, laugh and remind you of how history really does have an impact on our lives.

Rita@ Hawthorn

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Staff review: August by Bernard Beckett

2011-12-16T16:46:00.001+11:00

An interesting book set in some other reality where we meet Tristan and Grace, trapped in a car-wreck waiting until daylight for the hope of rescue. While they wait, they talk, and it becomes apparent that they have a complex shared history. Tristan, a philosopher raised in a strict religious community, struggles with the issues of love, life and free will. Grace, whose actions as a child have set her on a path of much greater hardship, has no time for philosophy, just survival. As readers we experience a tale that is part love story and part thriller, with a great twist at the end. A satisfying read for teens and adults alike.

Caitlin @ Balwyn

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Staff review - Where there's smoke by John Heffernan

2011-12-15T14:16:00.000+11:00

This latest book from Australian author and farmer John Heffernan was partly inspired by the Black Saturday bushfires of 2009. The story centres on a boy called Luke, who lives with his mum in a town called Edenville. They’re relative newcomers to the town but have made friends, put down roots and love the area. It’s been a hot, dry summer and the bush around the town is tinder dry. A family friend of Luke’s, Tiny Cobb is convinced that things are looking bad, but the adults in town have become complacent – they’ve always been fine in bushfire season. Why should this year be any different? But it is different, and as we read on we learn just how bad it’s going to be. An interesting read for upper junior / teenage readers, I found the book very easy to read. There was a subplot that I found a little frustrating – it was left unresolved and I felt it could almost have been left out of the story altogether, but the actual description of the fire and the devastation it causes was compelling. A must read for an appreciation of the horror of bushfires and the importance of bushfire awareness and preparation.

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REVIEWbyU - The Ballad Of Cauldron Bay by Elizabeth Honey

2011-08-30T17:08:00.001+10:00

Reviewed by: Amelia
Rating: 4 stars

I really liked this book because it is funny, sad and lots of other things.

It made me laugh when Donna said to Henni "Tell I am a surfing mama."

It made me feel sad when Frank told Tara that the surfers had left. I also liked the part at the start when Henni said "The things you have to do for your birthday presents." I also really liked how the book was set out for what if Tara came at the start and she left before the end, it just would not be right.

This book is about when the people who live on Stella Street come down to the beach for a holiday. And Tara who looks like a fashion model comes to join them! She does not want to join in and she absolutely hates Henni. One of their best adventures was when Henni got sucked out to sea and Tara saved her. That is how they got to be friends!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Staff Review - Boyfriends with girlfriends by Alex Sanchez

2011-08-13T17:24:00.001+10:00

From the author of the "Rainbow " trilogy comes this sweet and funny story of four teens struggling with being in love. Lance is gay and sure about it, but loves Sergio who is definitely bi. Allie has a boyfriend but could she like girls too? Kimiko fancies Allie but is afraid of getting hurt. Is Lance biphobic? There are obstacles aplenty on the road to romance but, ultimately, this is a story about the importance of friendship and being true to yourself in a world that doesn't always understand.

Katy @ Kew

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Staff Review - Silvermay by James Moloney

2011-08-12T16:55:00.000+10:00

Silvermay is James Moloney's newest fantasy. The first part of a trilogy, it is the story of Silvermay Hawker whose life is unremarkable until the day Tamlyn arrives in her village with a young mother, Nerigold and her son Lucien. Silvermay's family befriend Tamlyn and Nerigold and hide them from the dark forces who are seeking Nerigold's son Lucien. When Tamlyn and Nerigold leave the village Silvermay goes with them to help look after Lucien. Their journey takes them to some ancient mosaics which foretell a violent and dreadful future for Lucien. In this world where it is hard to distinguish between friend and foe, Silvermay battles to protect Lucien from those who seek to control or destroy him. This is an exciting, fast paced fantasy with many unexpected twists that will keep you guessing.

Rita@ Hawthorn

REVIEWbyU - The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

2011-08-02T16:12:00.001+10:00

Reviewed by: Bella
Rating: 5 stars

I really loved the Hunger Games series because it had that action adventure feel to it. I love that there is also a little bit of romance in these books as well. The main character is a girl Katniss Everdeen and she lives in District 12. She is then forced into a arena to fight to the death with 23 other contestants. I think that the Hunger Games is the best book that I have ever read and my whole family loved it.

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REVIEWbyU - Earth to Hell by Kylie Chan

2011-08-01T19:30:00.001+10:00

Reviewed by: Larissa
Rating: 4 stars

Set eight years after its predecessor (Blue Dragon), Earth to Hell is the first of a new and exciting series, Journey to Wudang. Emma, the now 16-year-old Simone and the entire Earthly and Celestial Planes all face new threats from Simon Wong's associates who have joined forces with Kitty Kwok and the Hong Kong Underworld. The main story follows Emma and Simone fighting to free their old colleague and close friend, Leo, who is 'lost' in Hell.

I have thoroughly enjoyed this book but for those who haven't read the Dark Heavens trilogy first, the storyline would be lost. I personally found that it was required for me to re-read the former trilogy to fully appreciate and understand the book and in order to "enjoy the ride" more thoroughly. Though there were many exciting new aspects brought into this new series, I missed the interaction and excitement between Emma and John Chen which was so prominent in the Dark Heavens trilogy. Nevertheless, if you enjoy Chinese mythology, fantasy and martial arts, you'll love this book and the previous series!

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REVIEWbyU - The Alchemyst by Michael Scott

2011-08-01T16:37:00.001+10:00

Reviewed by: William
Rating: 5 stars

The Alchemyst is a really cool story about Josh and Sophie Newman. I think it is a really great book because there are very creative forms of magic in it. I liked the part Where Sophie gets her powers awakened by Hekate and gets trained in the magic of air by the witch of endor. My favourite characters would definitely be Nicholas Flamel, Josh and Sophie. I recommend it to ages 10 and up or really good readers who are younger.

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REVIEWbyU - The History & Social Influence of the Potato by Redcliffe Salaman

2011-08-01T10:40:00.000+10:00

Reviewed by: Laura
Rating: 4 stars

Fact. Potatoes were used to treat scurvy.
Fact. Shakespeare twice refers to the potato.
False. Potatoes are a major source of nitrogen.
These are just some of the things you come to learn upon delving into Redcliffe Salaman’s “The History and Social Influence of the Potato.” But how does one come to discover such a book?

While perusing the isles of the library, by chance I happened to come across this masterpiece. It was not a book easily overlooked either, with a width of 4.5 centimeters, it visually outshone all of the other books which had the misfortune of sharing a place on the 600 section of the library.
Salaman, perhaps quite rightly, identifies the oddities which ensue from committing almost his entire life in labor to the history of the potato, where he notes in his prologue: "Indeed, there have not been wanting those who have regarded these activities with the shake of a head and an indulgent smile, indicating that nothing, short of mental instability, could excuse a lifelong attachment to such a banal subject."

But banal subject, this is not. Boasting 619 pages of extensive insights and analysis into not only the history of the potato, his text also offers interpretations of the potato in literature, drawing upon figures such as William Shakespeare as well as reflecting upon the influence of potatoes on aspects of society including art, media, community and politics.

But whilst personal costs may have resulted for Salaman in producing this book, he inevitably leaves his readership richer (and unquestionably richer than the soil that sustained potatoes 16th century Ireland) in potato-y knowledge.
For any other like minded, avid potato fans out there, with your newfound wealth of potato- based knowledge, credit to the work of Salaman, you can undoubtedly impress your peers and intellectual superiors.

And for those who can not access this masterpiece at the library, it is also available on Google Books.

You will never be able to look at the humble potato the same way again.
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Staff review - The Savage by David Almond

2011-07-19T04:04:00.001+10:00

Blue is stricken with grief after suddenly losing his father. Battling this inner turmoil, Blue’s sadness is made worse by trying to cope with the school bully, Hopper, who won’t stop harassing him.
His teacher suggests that he try expressing his feelings through writing. What does he have to lose?

Blue immerses himself in writing and illustrating a comic book story about a ‘wild kid’, The Savage. The Savage is a killer who lives alone in the woods with no family and no language, eating people who get too close to him. Blue relates to the Savage: “He was just like me, only weirder, wilder and closer to some magic, and some darkness and some dreams”. Blue’s story about the Savage includes places, faces and desires that seem to mirror those of Blue’s own reality.

Although dark and violent, Blue’s imagination allows him to deal with his internal chaos: “Sometimes it was nearly like I was him and he was me”.

This is a cool story...inside a story, which is both dark and inspiring. Part traditional narrative and part graphic novel, ‘The Savage’ is a good read for anyone who believes in the powers and possibilities of imagination.

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Staff review - Sock and Glove by Miyako Kanamori

2011-07-18T16:03:00.000+10:00

Sock and Glove is a lovely new HOW TO book by Miyako Kanamori a designer for a soft toy manufacturer in Japan.

The beauty of this book is the whimsical and clever use of ordinary cast-off socks and gloves to create a whole menagerie of oh so cute animals ...there's Marcus the monkey and Billy the dog, and a super sweet pink pig.

The layout of the step-by step illustrations and instructions are very well thought out making them very simple, quick and easy to create

What I really love about this book as with so many things Japanese is the integrity of the aesthetic, it's the small things that are really important; minimal simple white backgrounds and rustic wood let the special little details such as the hand stitching to create facial expressions come alive.

It was such a treat to come across this delightful book in our collection and hope you enjoy and have as much fun as I have had in making them.

Mehera

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REVIEWbyU - Grace by Morris Gleitzman

2011-07-04T10:54:00.000+10:00

Reviewed by: Josie
Rating: 4 stars
Grace is a good book about a girl living in a strict Christian church, whose dad is expelled and not allowed to see her. I would recommend it to girls aged 10- 12.

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Discussion with Robert Newton

2011-07-01T14:19:00.000+10:00

Reviewed by: Will
Rating: 5 stars

On the 15th of june Robert Newton came in and had a chat with the boys.

I think he had a very good clear loud voice and he kept us interested the whole evening. I also liked the way he told us about the way he writes his books

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REVIEWbyU - Runner by Robert Newton

2011-07-01T14:08:00.000+10:00

Reviewed by: Will
Rating: 5 stars

It was an excellent gangster book and it just kept me reading day and night.

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2011 Boroondara Literary Awards - Young Writers

2011-06-17T16:44:00.000+10:00

Calling Boroondara's budding writers
Now is the time to pursue those dreams of becoming a published author.
The 13th annual Boroondara Literary Awards is now open. Budding writers have until 5pm on Friday 27 August to submit their entries.
Entrants have the potential to receive cash awards in two sections.

A prize pool of over $2,000 is available in the Young Writers section, with close to $3000 available in the Open Short Story category.

The Young Writers section includes categories for poetry and prose for students from Year 7 to Year 9 and Year 10 to Year 12, and young people living, working or studying in Boroondara.

The Open Short Story section is a national competition inviting literary works between 1500-3000 words from writers across the country. Anyone in Australia may enter this category. There is a Best Boroondara prize as well as general prizes.

The Boroondara Literary Awards will be conducted in partnership with Leader Newspapers and the Balwyn Rotary Club.

More info

Staff Review - The thief, by Megan Whalen Turner

2011-06-14T14:24:00.000+10:00

This is a Young Adult book which won the Newberry Honour award in 1997. It is the first in the Queens Thief series. It is about a thief, Gen, who is imprisoned after he steals the Kings Seal and then brags about it in public.

His chances of ever seeing the light of day again look slim until the king's scholar, the Magus, needs the thief's skill for a seemingly impossible task - to steal a hidden treasure from another land. To the Magus, Gen is just a tool. But Gen is a trickster and a survivor with a plan of his own.

This book started slowly for me and appeared to be quite a simple story until the end when much was made clear! It was fun, the characters are believable and grow as the story progresses. There are a number of twists and turns, mainly towards the end. I really enjoyed this story and look forward to reading the others in the series.

Justine

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REVIEWbyU - The Memory Bank by Carolyn Coman

2011-06-14T13:44:00.003+10:00

Reviewed by: Sarah
Rating: 5 stars

You may think all memories are lost and that the dream you had last night was forgotten, but just like money, memories are stored in a bank. The wonderful characters Honey and Hope discover ways to see each other when parents can do the worst thing possible. This story shows a Childs happy life but there is always a bad side to things. A war between to groups separates families and friends but when the truth comes out what will
happen? I recommend this book to people aged 10 and up who like a good old miracle. I also loved the beautiful illustrations as well. They told part of the story and it was easy to get the message.

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REVIEWbyU - The witch in the lake by Anna Fienberg

2011-06-14T13:31:00.001+10:00

Reviewed by: Sarah

Rating: 5 stars

When I first started reading this book I couldn't put it down. The exciting characters Leo and Merilee are so interesting. Here is a pasage in the story.

Leo was at the waters egde taking off his shoes ready to jump at the lake.''Oh Leo you scare me, you really do, don't you remember the song we use to sing in kindergarten and all the laws about this lake and the witch who waits their under it.'' Then on the far side off the waters egde Leo and Merilee saw a hand escape from a thick blanket of dark water and heard a voice that cried through Leo's ears "Leo"...I recommend this book to children who want to be scared to their wits.

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Library Services Advisory Committee - Call for Nominations!

2011-06-14T11:07:00.000+10:00

The City of Boroondara is currently calling for community nominations for its Library Services Advisory Committee. If you live, work or study in Boroondara and would like to have a say about your libraries, have a look at the Committee's Terms of Reference on Council's website. Nominations close on 20 June and should be emailed to anne.holmes@boroondara.vic.gov.au.

Doug Macleod answers some questions......

2011-06-07T18:16:00.000+10:00

Doug Macleod recently visited Hawthorn Library and was kind enough to answer some follow-up questions for our blog......

"If you didn't live in St. Kilda, where on earth would you like to live?"

I haven't spent long enough in other cities to judge. St Kilda suits me because I like our community. It's very uncool to be judgmental in St Kilda, and I especially like that. We have a diverse population. Kids run businesses, fifty-year-olds ride skateboards. There's a community vegie patch next to Luna Park and we even have penguins. Keith is a little old man who lives in our street and he seems to have found out the secret to life. He loves people, and they love him. He's great to talk to, and knows everyone. He isn't a bore. Everything he says is interesting. This is a remarkable achievement in a built-up area. One morning I went to the ATM on Fitzroy Street, collected my receipt but forgot to take the cash. (It was an intense writing morning. I really shouldn't be let out when I'm like that.) When I realised my mistake ten minutes later, I returned to the ATM, and of course the money was gone. But two English backpackers came up to me and asked if I'd just done something stupid. I said I had. They handed me my money and refused to accept a reward. Even the backpackers are good.

"Are there any foods that help your writing process?"

I do most of my work in the morning, so breakfast is a vitally important meal. It's usually fruit and cottage cheese, because I'm trying to get my blood pressure down. (This is a new thing for me. Apparently having a job where I sit in the front room in my pyjamas typing stories is bad for my blood pressure.) Nectarines are amazingly good for creativity. You can write as many as two thousand words after eating a single nectarine. Bananas are good for comedy. Grapes for historical fiction. Roald Dahl always had the same morning meal - Norwegian prawns and half a lettuce - and insisted that it helped him to write for kids. I've never tried a Norwegian prawn. Victoria Wood said they swim around sewage outlets with their mouths open. It's a potent image, and a good example of the power of the written word.

"Could you write a serious book or does the humour always come through?"
My next book is serious. I've never done one before and I didn't think it was any good, but Penguin gave me a contract for it. I hesitated to sign but my editor kept reassuring me that the manuscript was fine and that he would help me turn it into a book. And just today I have learned that my editor has decided to leave Penguin. It's horrible news. Just thinking about it makes my blood pressure go up. At the moment it's 250 over 3 but I've lost faith in that blood pressure gauge that I bought at Aldi on Inkerman Street. Don't you think it's interesting that there's a shop where you can buy a bag of nectarines and also a blood pressure gauge?

Visit Doug Macleod

REVIEWbyU - The Animals of Farthing Wood, by Colin Dann

2011-05-26T14:13:00.000+10:00

Reviewed by: Hannah
Rating: 5 stars

We follow the fortunes of the animals as they try to find a new home in an increasingly crowded world. They go through a fire and nearly drown crossing a river. Will their group stay together? This is a great book for a mother and daughter to read together. I rate it a 10 out of 10 because the moment I picked it up I just wanted to keep reading!

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REVIEWbyU - Lord Sunday, by Garth Nix

2011-05-26T13:59:00.001+10:00

Reviewed by: Gareth
Rating: 5 stars

This book is the last book in the keys to the kingdom series.the keys to the kingdom series is about a young boy named Arthur Penhaligon and his adventures when he is choesn as the rightful Heir. In this book we find out what being the rightful heir actually means for Arthur. I really enjoyed this book and think that it is a really good finish to this series. I recommend this book for people in grade 5-7. 5 stars

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REVIEWbyU - The Graveyard Book, by Neil Gaiman

2011-05-26T13:28:00.000+10:00

Reviewed by: James
Rating: 4 stars

The Graveyard Book was a powerful and slightly, in some ways, cynical because the main character, Nobody Owens, is brought up by ghosts in a graveyard and his creepy, but kind, guardian Silas. Nobody, or Bod's, family were murdered when he was young by a man named Jack who is still out to kill Bod. That is what the book is mostly about, hiding from the man Jack in the graveyard with all the ghosts, and Silas. For me, the first few chapters droned on a bit, lacking action. But thankfully the action returned in the last chapters. GREAT BOOK!

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Staff review - Jarvis 24, by David Metzenthen

2011-05-26T13:11:00.000+10:00

Scatter brain 16 year old Marc Jarvis takes on new challenges and adventures when he begins work experience at a local used car yard. Not only are there new workmates to befriend but more importantly Elektra the gifted runner who has arrived in Melbourne to follow her dreams. I particularly enjoyed all the local references in the funny and poignant coming of age story from this award winning author.

Glenn

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