Randa Abdel Fattah |
Marion Lloyd Books |
0439950589 |
May 2006 |
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At the start of the novel Amal Mohsamed Nasrullal Abdel-Hakim is beginning a new year at school. She makes the decision to wear the hajib (veil), a choice which shocks the staunchly traditional McCleans Grammar School ‘ with ‘more than one hundred years of proud history’ ‘, shakes her friends and concerns her parents. |
Monthly Archives: July 2006
Granny Sarah and the Last Red Kite
Malachy Doyle, ill. Petra Brown |
Pont Books |
184323677 |
Jun 2006 |
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The red kite in ‘Granny Sarah and the last red kite’ evokes far more than mere ornithological interest. Vested within it is the sense of special accord Lowri feels for the stories from her Granny Sarah’s past, for her Granny Sarah’s house and its surroundings and ultimately of course for her Granny Sarah too! |
The Ex-Files
Pete Johnson |
Puffin Books |
0141319836 |
Jul 2006 |
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Split between two narrative voices, those of Bella and Danny, ‘The Ex-Files’ uncovers the feelings of rejection and loss following the end of a relationship and brilliantly charts the onset of changed behaviour and attitude that often follow. Balance is achieved between normalising these feelings ‘ depicting the way people tend to be afflicted ‘ whilst sensitively maintaining the individuality of both cases. |
On the Ghost Trail
Chris Powling |
A & C Black |
0713676809 |
Jun 2006 |
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Sibling jibes, rivalry and jackanapes form the background to Chris Powling’s book ‘On the Ghost Trail’ which forms a part of the ‘Mystery and Adventure Stories’ collection for year three pupils in A & C Black’s ‘White Wolves’ range for guided reading. An accompanying resource guide can be bought to support use in class. This series has been developed in conjunction with the Centre for Literacy in Primary Education. |
Taking Flight
Julia Green |
A & C Black |
0713675942 |
Jun 2006 |
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A father figure is absent for Luke in ‘Taking Flight’ by Julia Green. It is easy to empathise therefore with the sense of closeness existing between Luke and his grandfather, who appears to constitute the boy’s sole paternal influence. His grandfather’s house and its gardens represent a safe-haven for him, an area in which Luke’s imagination is unshackled, a clear opposition to the rigour and rules implied in his school life. The sense of freedom and the ability Luke has to be a child: to explore, to discover, to play and to imagine, relieve him of responsibility. |
In The Bush
Roland Harvey |
Allen and Unwin |
1741145929 |
Jun 2006 |
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The hustle, bustle and jostling of family life are perfectly presented in Roland Harvey’s ‘In the Bush’. The narrative voices of five family members are successfully interwoven in this picture books, giving a meticulous multi-dimensional account of a family camping holiday with dad’s insistent needs concerning the campsite, Uncle Kevin’s dare devil deeds and Frankie’s exuberance about pretty much everything. |
Elsewhere
Elsewhere by Gabrielle Zevin |
Bloomsbury |
074757720X |
June 2006 |
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I’ve always secretly believed that my pets could understand everything I said, and that it was my own ignorance of their language which made meaningful communication a problem. It seems Gabrielle Zevin has a similar inkling, since her latest book (just published in paperback) opens with a moving account of a dog’s reaction to her teenage owner’s death, and its frustration at not being understood by the remaining members of the family. My heart was immediately won over by this touching prologue, which sets the tone for what becomes a magical, philosophical and tender interpretation of the Afterlife. |
Dino-Dinners
Mick Manning and Brita Granstr’m |
Frances Lincoln |
1845076842 |
Jul 2006 |
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If you’re struggling to tell the difference between an Oviraptor and a Velociraptor, or knowing your Tyrannosaurus from your Brachiosaurus, ‘Dino-Dinners’ is the book for you. |
J is for Jamaica
Benjamin Zephaniah |
Frances Lincoln |
1845074017 |
Jun 2006 |
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What constitutes our memories and impressions of a place? Whatever else may play a part, the role of the senses is key, perhaps a sound, a scent, taste, a sight or a particular feeling might evoke an instant picture of a place so potent as to make one pause for thought, lost amidst the concentration of contemplation. |
Snap!
Mick Manning and Brita Granstr’m |
Frances Lincoln |
1845074084 |
Jun 2006 |
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Guzzle, gobble, snap, snap, ate, caught, snap, snap, swallow’ There’s a wonderful style and warmth of expression in Mick Manning and Brita Granstr’m’s latest collaboration, ‘Snap!’. Starting with the imperative, ‘Look!’ it presents readers with an x-ray-specs-view of the food-chain in masticatory-motion! |