The Cloud Road is the second book in Isobelle Carmody’s ‘Kingdom of the Lost Book’ fantasy series for younger readers. After the events of The Red Wind, brothers Bily and Zluty are on the run. The mysterious rain of stones destroyed their idyllic home in the valley, and they have decided to flee, carrying what they can. Their friend Redwing flies with them, and Zluty keeps the strange metal egg he found in his pack. At Bily’s insistence, they have also brought the Monster, the wounded creature that Bily is fascinated with and Zluty can’t quite trust. The monster claims to know of a new place they can live, but first they must cross the White Desert and something they’ve never seen: the monster calls them ‘mountains’. On the way they meet new allies, encounter terrifying new enemies and begin to unravel the mysteries of the strange world they live in. Bily and Zluty are brave, curious and intrepid explorers. Carmody’s world-building remains first class, and the many mysteries of this world begin to unravel in this volume, adding a level of intrigue to the adventure. This is recommended for younger fans of fantasy tales.
Heath Graham is a teacher and former bookseller. This review first appeared on the Books+Publishing website in February 2013. View more pre-publication reviews here.
Marcus is a great warrior—a dragonslayer! At least, he is online. Gaming is the one place he feels at home since his only friend Bashir moved to India, a fact his parents just don’t understand. After Marcus’ attempt to buy himself a friend backfires disastrously, his mum and dad decide some more drastic action is needed: they enrol him in a boarding school. Bourkely Boy’s Grammar is a ‘unique school’ for ‘boys who have trouble fitting in’, in the depths of the Outback. Marcus soon discovers the truth about Bourkely: most of the students are bullies and thugs, the school itself is ramshackle and decaying, the teachers wear koala suits to class, the principal is a bearded brute with a vicious pet dingo, the library is haunted by a sabre-toothed nun, and worst of all, there are no computers! Armed with his wits, his new friends Fred and Trent, and his knowledge from The Warrior’s Guide to Everything by R J Bergin, Marcus has to survive at the school they call Bad Grammar. A funny fast-paced book, full of outlandish characters and incidents, and frequent asides from The Warrior’s Guide to Everything, this is a recommended read for young adventurers.
Join Ruby (and her rubber duck) as she learns to swim. Ruby uses goggles, floaties and flippers, learning to float, kick, breathe, and finally, to swim! Phillip Gwynne is best known for his YA novels Deadly Unna? and Nukkin Ya, but he has also written for the Aussie Bites series and a novel for adults, as well as a previous picture book The Queen with the Wobbly Bottom. This book was inspired by his young daughter, also named Ruby. Gwynne’s simple, sing-song text beautifully captures both the sense of routine and the growing confidence that comes with learning to swim. Experienced picture book illustrator Tamsin Ainslie’s gorgeous watercolour and collage illustrations complement the text well. Ruby is depicted as happy, smiling and confidently exploring the water, with several costume changes and her toy rubber duck in each illustration. Ruby’s confidence would serve as a good example for kids who might be fearful of the pool. This is a good read-along story for beginning readers, perhaps especially for those who are reluctant near the water.
Sam and Tara are best friends. Sam has an artistic bent and loves working with his hands, while Tara is passionate and driven by social justice. Across the 21st century and into the 22nd, these things are the only constants. These 10 short stories explore a range of possible futures, investigating social and technological possibilities ranging from the astonishing to the terrifying. Each future examines the implications of a potential development, from artificial intelligence to genetic engineering, global warming, cloning, financial collapse, life extension and more. Through the eyes of Tara and Sam, we experience 10 different scenarios for the next 100 years. Michael Pryor returns to the field of science-fiction to give us this collection of stories in the best tradition of futuristic speculation. Pryor combines his usual deft touch at characterisation with some well-informed futurism to produce an engaging range of stories. He explores ethical dilemmas that arise in worlds that we would consider utopias as well as much darker futures. The book is supported by an excellent selection of teacher resources aligned with the Australian Curriculum. This is a thought-provoking read for middle secondary students.