Favourite Heroines and Villians

Who is your favourite literary hero or villian?

According to a World Book Day poll, many heroes are women! including Matilda, Hermoine and Katniss.


Find out if you agree by reading HERE.https://www.thereadingroom.com/article/majority-of-favorite-children-s-book-heroes-are-female/1404

National Simultaneous Storytime

National Simultaneous Storytime is an annual campaign that aims to encourage more young Australians to read and enjoy books. Now in its 16th successful year, it is a colourful, vibrant, fun event that aims to promote the value of reading and literacy, using an Australian children's book.

This year's book is I Got This Hat by Jol and Kate Temple. 

Next Thursday, May 26, Mrs Leask, has kindly offered to read the book to OLF's Kindy classes, who will be coming to our library wearing their favourite hats... stay tuned for some cute pics! They will also be making I Got This Hat bookmarks to take home with them.

Here's a bit of Wednesday fun - The ladies at Mitcham Library service give their version of the book. Enjoy!

Meet the Author

Claire Zorn

Love Claire Zorn?

Recently she chattered to SpineOut magazine about her new book One Would Think the Deep. Here's a snippet!

What was the inspiration for the story of your new book?

I read a news story a couple of years ago about two brothers who got into a fight with each other at a pub... I was struck by the complexity of the situation... and wanted to flesh out and explore the grey area [of] violence.

What do you like most about writing?

Making up characters and writing dialogue. It sounds nuts but its like I can hear them talking. I eavesdrop of them.

Read more of Claire's interview here:

https://sites.google.com/a/syd.catholic.edu.au/english-st-ursula-s-college/

New Books!

The Special Ones by Em Bailey 

Find it on the fiction shelf - F BAI

A great read, suspenseful and a bit scary! Em Bailey wrote Shift, another stand alone terrific read. The special ones are four virtuous teenagers whose lives are followed by many. The problem is that they are kept in captivity by 'The Master' who tells them that he is saving them from the dangerous world outside. Esther understands what is happening, but how can she escape and will she endanger the other three if she does? The 'followers' have no idea that the three girls and one boy are being held captive.

Frankie by Shivaun Plozza

Find it on the fiction shelf - F PLO

Shivaun Plozza has written short stories, essays and poetry, but this is her first novel. It is extremely brave and Frankie is a feisty teenager with lots of problems. Set in Melbourne the story is about how Frankie is coping with her difficult life when someone turns up and says that he is her half-brother. The trouble is that he stirs memories that Frankie has pushed away. What is the truth and will she be able to deal with it when she finds it!

Special by Georgia Blain

Find it on the fiction shelf - F BLA

In this dystopian tale we meet Fern who has been wiped from all data and must survive by working to earn enough to stay alive. She used to be Halston, an exclusive school for those who have enough money to have been genetically designed. Who should she believe? The ones who rescued her and then left her? Her mobile that tells her she is not Fern? or her own beliefs?

Nginingawila Ngirramini: Our Story by Tiwi College Alalinguwi Jarrakarlinga

Find it on the biography shelf - BIO NGI

This is a collection of mini autobiographies of nine Tiwi girls. It is beautifully produced with the help of the Indigenous Literacy Foundation and tells of their heroes, sacred places and some of the happy moments in their lives.

Protest in Australia: What Do We Want? by Sue Lawson

Find it on the non-fiction shelf - NF 303.48LAW

An interesting topic not often written about, Protest in Australia: What Do We Want? covers lots of past protests with many photos and illustrations. Sue Lawson has done extensive research in this accessible book.

The Simple Things by Bill Condon

Find it on the fiction shelf: F CON

The Simple Things centres on the relationship between Stephen, a fairly clueless ten-year-old boy, and his formidable great aunt, Lola. When Stephen’s family decide to visit Lola for three weeks, Stephen comes face-to-face with this seemingly fierce woman whom he has only ever known as a name on a birthday card. Reluctant to warm to her at first, Stephen soon learns that Lola isn’t just any old lady. He begins to see that despite their age gap, they really do have a lot in common, and it is through this unlikely friendship that Stephen does a lot of growing up and Lola does a lot of mending.

This is a cute, humorous book that won’t take you long to read, but will give you some food for thought. Especially about the simple things in life and the importance of family.

- Mrs Crisafulli

Boy Overboard by Morris Gleitzman

Find it on the fiction shelf: F GLE

Boy Overboard is the story of an Afghan family who love, but ultimately have to flee their homeland. For Jamal, and his sister Bibi, soccer is the solution with the two hatching a plan to lead Australia to World Cup glory in order to reverse all the horror they have endured under the Taliban regime.

Morris Gleitzman, uses humour and engaging characters to create an open, accessible dialogue on current global issues such as gender discrimination, human rights and cultural difference. But at the heart of this book is a simple narrative of one family’s plight to seek refuge in Australia and the harsh realities of this process.

Despite such heavy topics, this is actually an enjoyable read with lots of funny antics to lighten the mood and the resilience and determination of Jamal and Bibi to survive, is nothing short of inspiring.

- Mrs Crisafulli

The First Third by Will Kostakis

Find it on the fiction shelf: F KOS

Billy’s yia yia (Greek grandmother) will tell you…

“Life is made up of three parts: in the first third, you’re embarrassed by your family; in the second, you make a family of your own; and in the end, you just embarrass the family you’ve made”. Billy is used to being embarrassed by his family. But when his yia yia is taken ill, and asks him to complete her bucket list (things to complete before you die), it definitely ups the ante on the embarrassment scale!

Charged with finding his mother a husband, bringing his freedom-loving older brother back from Brisbane, and reconnecting with his troubled little brother, Billy sure needs a helping hand.

Luckily, he’s got his best mate, Sticks, along for the ride, which includes a spontaneous trip to Melbourne among other complicated ventures. All this… and Billy is still trying to sort out his own “First Third”. Including, how to get through school, ride a bike for the first time, eat enough food (Greek!), and kiss a girl without her running away.

Will Billy come out the other side with all the answers and some sense of who he is as well? You’ll just have to read and see!

- Mrs Crisafulli

Auggie & Me: Three Wonder Stories by R.J. Palacio

Find it on the fiction shelf: F PAL

In Auggie & Me: Three Wonder Stories, the author R.J. Palacio is very clear; “… this is not a squeal to Wonder." In saying that however, this book offers three fascinating parallel narratives occurring at the same moment in time as Auggie's journey in Wonder.

Here we discover the stories of Julian (yes, the jerk), Charlotte (Auggie's "welcome buddy") and Christopher (Auggie's oldest friend) and see how their experiences with Auggie, past and present, affect their own journeys, both through middle school and beyond. It’s all in the perspective. To witness an event from a different point-of-view and to understand where a character is coming from can be quite the revelation!

A must if you've read Wonder, but still an enjoyable book if you haven't.

- Mrs Crisafulli

Library Wars (Manga) series by Kiiro Yumi

Find it on the graphic novels shelf: GRA YUM

I discovered the Library Wars manga series through blind date with a book, I am so glad my friend got me to take part in the program. Library Wars takes place in Japan in the near future, where the government has created the media betterment act, giving people the right to remove books, magazines, newspapers and other media which they consider harmful to society. They send out employees of the Media Betterment Committee (MBC) to gather up any media that they see as harmful and destroy it.

The libraries formed the Library Freedom Act in opposition to the MBC and with the help of local communities, established their own army, called the Library Forces, to fight against the MBC and protect books. Libraries are the only protected places from the MBC whilst the bookstores aren't. A girl named Iku Kasahara was at the bookstore when the MBC showed up, removing all the books on their list. Her favourite book, the one that she happened to be buying at the time, was on the MBC's list. She receives help from a Library Force agent who is able to save her book.

Admiring the agent's work, she graduates from university as a Librarian, joins the Library Forces and is the first girl to be accepted as an agent. After training hard and proving to be a great agent she is placed into the elite team alongside another newbie, Hikaru Tezuka as well as Atsushi Dojo and Mikihisa Komaki, both second class agent Librarians. Iku faces many challenges, some life threatening, others playing with her heart. Learning lessons along the way and overcoming some of the biggest obstacles she has ever faced!

- Antoinette Dagher (7C)

Thanks Antoinette for this wonderful review. We're so glad that you found this series through "Blind Date with a Book" which we will be running again in Book Week this August - Mrs Crisafulli

The King Arthur Triology by Rosemary Sutcliffe

Find it on the Gifted and Talented shelf. Books are marked with a green dot.

The King Arthur Trilogy is a fantasy/medieval series by Rosemary Sutcliffe. The series consists of three books, ‘The Sword and the Circle’, ‘The Light Beyond the Forest’, and ‘The Road to Camlann’. The stories are based around the Arthurian legends, and retells what may have happened in the lead-up to Arthur’s life, and what happens during Arthur’s life.

I believe that the book is appropriate for ages 12+, because the majority of scenes which would be deemed inappropriate for a child are skillfully written in a way which isn't as visual.

Rosemary has retold this story well, and I personally love the difference from the dialogue in the story to how people would speak today, it’s archaic, but easy to understand.

Overall I definitely enjoyed this classic retelling of the Arthur story, and would recommend it to anyone who’s interested in fantasy stories.

 - Allyssa C-Forbes (7B)

Thanks Allyssa for a great review! The library also has copies of other books about King Arthur as books and eBooks. Come into the library and ask about them! - Mrs Lansdown

Just A Girl by Jane Caro

Find it on the fiction shelf: F CAR

Elizabeth was born in one of the most interesting times in English history. Her father was King Henry VIII. Her mother, Anne Boleyn, was the second of Henry's eight wives. After her mother was executed, she was raised in an environment of personal and political intrigue. Elizabeth was the second of Henry's three children and as third in line to the throne, was not expected to become Queen. In Just a Girl, it is the night before Elizabeth's Coronation as Queen Elizabeth I of England. She tells the story of her journey from girl to queen. While historically accurate, Just a Girl is also a fascinating read for anyone who like family and political drama.

If you enjoy this book, you can continue Elizabeth's journey in Jane Caro's next book, Just a Queen.

- Mrs Lansdown

Nona and Me by Clare Atkins

Find it on the fiction shelf: F ATK

Nona & Me is a poignant story about black and white Australia, told from the perspective of Rosie, a white Ŋäpaki girl, born and raised in the remote Aboriginal community of Yirrkala in Northern Arnhem Land. Rosie & her parents are spiritually adopted by their Aboriginal Yolŋu neighbours, becoming family. So when Rosie and Nona grow up together, they are in every sense of the word: sisters.  

When the girls are nine years-old, Nona moves away and when she returns years later, Rosie is in Year 10 and much has changed. No longer connected to the community, Rosie has new friends, and prefers to spend her time in the mining town of Nhulunbuy where she goes to school. When Nona turns up in Rosie’s class, gone is the easy relationship they once shared and in its place sits the uneasy complications of race and identity. 

Beautifully told, Nona & Me is Rosie’s story. We are there as she tries to make sense of her own beliefs, that of her parents, her school and everyone in between. Rosie attempts to navigate the seeming “two worlds” in which she lives, but with racial tensions never very far away, can Rosie stay true to herself? to Nona? and to her spiritual family?

- Mrs Crisafulli

Crow Country by Kate Constable

Find it on the fiction shelf: F CON

“Crow comes from this place; this place comes from Crow. And Crow has work for you.”

Totemism is a part of Aboriginal lore that binds people to the land and the animals, and in Crow Country we are introduced to Crow, totem of the Dja Dja Wurrung Yung Balug Clan. When 10-year-old Sadie reluctantly moves from Melbourne with her mother, Ellie, to Boort in country Victoria, all she sees is, “… parched yellow paddocks and empty roads.” But when Sadie stumbles across Indigenous rocks and carvings long hidden within a dried up lake-bed, she is suddenly confronted by Crow who implores her to correct a grave injustice that took place there long ago. 

To do this, Sadie must time-slip back to the 1920s where she finds herself caught up in Boort’s complex history and its past stories of greed, war and prejudice. Sadie’s connection with the past extends to the present where she struggles to find her feet in this strange new place, and finds two new boys in her life who both have very different perspectives on culture and belonging. An ultimate ‘outsider’ Sadie must decide who to believe and what’s important in order to fix past wrongs for Crow who is never far away.

This is an enjoyable book that will take you into the very heart of Australia's history and how this history can shape all that it to come... but remember too that history is never unchangeable.

- Mrs Crisafulli