LOTTIE BIGGS IS NOT MAD

LOTTIE BIGGS IS NOT MAD  by Hayley Long

(Review by: student)

This is the story of Lottie, whose real name is Charlotte. When Lottie receives her English coursework, she discovers that it is actually 'Extended Personal Writing'. She sets to work, and during her writing, she discovers all kinds of things, like the feel of jealousy and the truth about her own behaviour. Meanwhile, she tells us all about her job at Stole Mates, a shoe store that is stoked with hideous shoes, and Gareth Stingecombe, who she might just have a crush on. This is a light, laughable book about friendship, love and finding your true self.

About the author:  Hayley Long was born in Ipswich in 1971.  She wrote her first ever book when she was seven years old.  It was called 'Toot the Owl' and even though it wasn’t very good, her mum never threw it away.  After leaving school, Hayley went to university in Aberystwyth and then spent several years working in various countries in Europe.  She is now teaches English and writes books.

'Lottie Biggs is not Mad', the first in a series of books for young adults has now been translated into several different languages and has been awarded the White Raven label for ‘noteworthy and remarkable books’ by the International Youth Library in Munich. 

Pan's Whisper

PAN'S WHISPER  by Sue Lawson  (LWH)

Yes, you’d be right in thinking Pan is rebellious, troublesome and damaged. The story opens with Pan arriving at a foster home with her case worker, Gemma, where her foster parents, Rose and Ian, along with their two other foster children, Olivia and Nat, welcome her into their home. Pan however is sure she won’t be here for long and plans to escape at the earliest possible moment.

Pan struggles to fit into a nice loving family with rules, a new school and deal with the loneliness she feels, which she blames her mother and half sister for. She has a lot of issues bottled up inside, some memories she can’t quite remember, but why? Rose gives Pan the opportunity to write to her sister but she refuses at first as she is still angry with her being in this situation… living in Leggoland! As time goes by she does decide to write to her sister, Morgan, and gradually as she is unraveling her thoughts and memories she begins to remember and write more.

Hunter, one of the boys in Pan’s class, befriends her and eventually she opens up to him about her problems. He seems to be the only one to understand. He too has had to deal with family issues and if anyone can help her, Hunter can. Pan is paranoid and only thinking about herself and her issues, however she soon decides she has been selfish and does need help from others. As she opens up, deeper relationships are formed with those around her.

A small book packed with punch. This is a gripping story and is cleverly written by another  Australian writer. The book is divided into three thoughts, with the chapters being narrated by Pan, followed by the letters she has written to Morgan, (each one questioning what has happened in the past), then this is followed by what was really happening at each occasion, (what Morgan was going through and how she had protected Pan throughout her childhood). I started to imagine I knew how this story would end… one of two ways. I was wrong… there was another! The writer sure had my emotions wrapped around her little finger and throughout this compelling story until the end, when in the final chapter I let it all go and just bawled… yep embarrassing I know!

GRAFFITI MOON

GRAFFITI MOON by Cath Crowley    (LWH)

I must admit it took me quite a few pages to really get into this book, but I am glad I persevered because I really got hooked and warmed to the characters and ended up really enjoying the story. Lucy and her two girlfriends have finished Year 12 and are out on the town to enjoy themselves. Lucy is fascinated/in love with a Graffiti artist called 'Shadow' and adores his paintings that are scattered around Melbourne. She is artistic herself and feels a bond with Shadow and the depth of meaning behind his graffiti and creates an imagine of what he would be like and what he looks like and all she wants to do is find him.

They meet up with 3 boys from their class at a party who say they know Shadow and his friend Poet.  When one of the boys, Ed, convinces Lucy he knows Shadow well and invites her to follow him on a tour of some of Shadow and Poets best graffiti walls she jumps at the chance. Will she ever get to meet shadow? Has sh ealready met Shadow without realising it? And who is this person known as Poet?

Each chapter of this book is written from the perspective of Ed, Lucy or Poet which I enjoyed. It dealt with misconceptions, expectations and reality. It raises the question do many of our youth fall between the cracks in the education system and drop out of school unnecessarily, because their talents aren't recognised, and they don't fit into the 'mould'.

This book won an 'HONOUR' at the CBCA (Children's Book Council of Aust) book of the year awards this year in the 'Older Reader' section.

About the author:   Cath Crowley was born in Melbourne in 1971 but before she started school her family moved to a property in Gippsland. Our house was a long way from the town.She read a lot because there wasn’t much else to do. She loved any books about private detectives or adventure– Trixie Beldon, Nancy Drew, The Wolves of Willoughby Chase. Cath enjoyed anything by Judy Blume, anything by Jane Austen and couldn’t put down Wuthering Heights or Jane Eyre. Dr Seuss being a favourite.

She didn’t write books straight after high school but went to Uni and studied radio production and literature, then became a teacher and taught English. She traveled overseas and while in Europe Cath wrote letters to her brother, who later turned them into a musical called 'The Journey Girl'. After that she studied professional writing at TAFE. She wrote articles for papers and magazines, then finally wrote 'The Life and Times of Gracie Faltrain' and things took off from there.

WHISPER

WHISPER by Chrissie Keighery   (LWH)

 This really is a fantastic book and I glad I took the time to read it. being a teenager is hard enough but being a deaf teenager is so much harder. Demi is in a new world trapped ... trapped by her new deafness, where everything she took for granted is gone. After convincing her mum to send her to a deaf school, Demi tries to make new friends and come to terms with all the changes in her life now that she's 'profoundly deaf'.

Having been involved with deaf people and communicating through signing, I felt this book was a great insight into the life of someone who can't hear and how unknowingly we can restrict knowledge and communication from them and cause embarrassment and isolation to them. This is evident when Demi's hearing friends turn their backs to her when talking and how sometimes she only gets portions of the conversation. How would we feel if the things we take for granted are gone forever?

This book was beautifully written and well researched. At times I felt I was in Demi's world and annoyed at the 'hearies' who, sometimes through lack of knowledge, did things to make it so much harder for Demi. I learnt a lot from reading this book and feel I have a greater insight into her world. Demi struggles with relationships from her world before deafness and her new friends. I was scared with her when she was left alone at home.There is also lots of humour in this book and lots of inspiring moments.

I think this book should be used as a class novel so teenagers can be more knowledgeable about deafness and the challenges it creates. The book also touched on issues about how we rightly or wrongly perceive others.

About the author:  Chrissie Keirghery is an Australian author who also publishes under her married name, Chrissie Perry, for younger readers and has written 13 'Go Girl!' titles.'Outside In' is another Young Adult book by Chrissie which I plan to find and read real soon. To listen to an interivew with Richard Stubbs and Chrissie on ABC radio please click on the link below.

Interview with Chrissie
Chrissie Perry website

SIX IMPOSSIBLE THINGS

SIX IMPOSSIBLE THINGS by Fiona Wood   (LWH)

(Short listed for CBCA Book of the Year for Older Readers - 2011)

This book is a fun book, suitable for boys and girls, and has a little drama, romance and comedy. Dan Cereill, who is a slightly nerdish 14 yr old, has his world turned upside-down when his family split, he starts a new school, his father comes-out as a gay, and they are bankrupt having to move into their dead grandmothers home. His life is a mess already, without getting a crush on Estelle, the girl who lives next door, to confuse things. Dan makes a list of 6 things he would like to happen however they seem impossible.

The book tells of his struggle to fit in at school, avoid the bullies, try to help his mum earn some money to pay their bills and now struggling with his first romance. Dan is a lovely character with good intentions and through the story he reinvents himself and finds confidence to attempt things he never would have before. Will he accomplish his 6 impossible things?  Read the book to find out!

About the author:  Fiona Woods is an Australian who usually writes scripts for television shows such as Neighbours, Home and Away and The Secret Life of Us. This is Fiona Wood's first Young Adult novel.