Treasure Island - Robert Louis Stevenson

Recommended for all ages.

Danger, adventure, mutiny, buried treasure - Treasure Island was everything I expected it to be and more. This classic had been on my 'to-read' list for a long while, owing to my love of Stevenson's writings and pirate literature. And Stevenson does a marvellous job - the narrative is smooth and fast-paced and the writing is clear (allowing for its age), but it is the characterisation that will blow you away. From the creepy blind beggar (Pew) to wily Long John Silver and clever cabinhand Jim, Stevenson brings his characters to life as only a masterful storyteller can.

If you haven't read Treasure Island, here's your big chance. Particularly if you like reading good yarns about pirates. And it's squeaky-clean (unlike a lot of young peoples' fiction today).

Just in Case: How to be Self-Sufficient When the Unexpected Happens - by Kathy Harrison

Recommended for ages 8-adult.

Just in Case is a factual book about how to prepare for and survive pretty much any unexpected event. I was prompted to pick this off the library shelf after reading an email from a student in Japan. The Japanese seem to be remarkably resilient in the way they are rebuilding their lives and communities following the deadly earthquake and tsunami which hit the country in early March. How many Australians would be able to take care of themselves and their families following any kind of disaster?

Fortunately Harrison's book means we don't have to wonder about that very question. With her simple guides, lists and instructions everyone can learn the 'know-how' to keep their household rolling in the event of a disaster. I even know how to make a solar cooker in case the electricity is off for a long period of time!

Heidi - Johanna Spyri

Recommended for all ages.

Heidi is a gorgeous classic kids book. It is written in the old tradition of kids books about sunshine and roses and adventure and friendship, and contains many beautiful messages about thinking of others and trusting in God. I'd always teased my sister for reading it as a child, but since rediscovering it on the library shelves I was pretty impressed. It's very well-written, fast-paced and full of vivid description. It will make you want to go to the Swiss Alps.

A lot of children's fiction today features disfunctional families and disempowered protagonists. It's a relief to read something so uplifting and soul raising. Heidi the girl is an admirable protagonist who makes the best of what she's got and works miracles in the process. If only more kids could aspire to be like Heidi!!!

People of all ages would do well to read Heidi, although it is more geared towards younger readers (say up to year 8).

Ranger's Apprentice: Book One: The Ruins of Gorlan - John Flanagan

Recommended for ages 8-18.

Ranger's Apprentice is a great fantasy series which follows Will as he learns the craft of being a Ranger and then proves his courage hundreds of times. Book One is full of mysterious creatures and sets the reader up for later books in the series by tempting us with snippets of information about Morgarath (the evil guy).

Although the prologue didn't draw me in at all, after the first chapter I was hooked. I didn't want to put the book down at all because it's so fast-paced and interesting! The characters have wonderful depth, the plot is pretty clear (for the most part) and the protagonist (Will) has so many qualities I could relate to.

Grab a copy of Ranger's Apprentice from your local library if you're a fantasy buff in need of some good reading.

PS> It's not as dark as the cover implies.

Recent reads

I've read a few good novels recently but none really deserve a post of their own. They are all young adult fiction and are fairly similar in their construction and writing style (although they concern very different subjects).

Cherub: The Recruit by Robert Muchamore is book one in an exciting series about underage intelligence officers. It's a fast, entertaining read and presents an honest portrayal of young adolescent life.

The Other Side of the Island by Allegra Goodman is a novel set in a new world where everything is controlled by Earth Mother and her minions. Honour's family fight against this usurpation of their rights, pay the ultimate price, and then (of course) join a successful revolution. Quite the entertaining read.

Peak by Roland Smith tells the story of Peak Marcello who has the opportunity to climb and summit Mt Everest with his long-lost father. It's a lovely coming of age story that ends with Peak making a massive sacrifice and learning the real nature of his relationship with his parents.

Each of these books was interesting in content and fast to read, but they are symptoms of our modern literary culture which appreciates pared-down writing, writing devoid of all complexities, the kind of writing that you can read much as you would sit in front of the tv - mindless reading.

The above books would be enjoyed by kids aged 8-18, and are great choices for boys or not-so-avid readers.

The Secret River - Kate Grenville

Recommended for ages 15-adult.

FINALLY! A meaty, complex book that is well-written. Although I'm starting to tire of books about the colonisation of Australia due to overexposure, this novel really is one the best fictional accounts of the subject.

The Secret River follows the story of William Thornhill - sentenced to the colony of NSW for theft. William's wife Sal accompanies him, and over time the family claims their own piece of land in the Hawkesbury. The bulk of the novel, however, explores Thornhill's interaction with the local Aboriginal tribe and the other white settlers. Indeed the power of this novel lies in the complexity of Thornhill's character and the nature of the relationships he forges. His ability to commit atrocities against the local inhabitants is described in a way which highlights the uncertainties of every settler's mind.

This is an engaging and powerful read which will linger with Australian readers long after - a lot of us can claim such characters as ancestors. Because of the infrequent use of dark language and the major themes of this book, it's best to be savoured by kids over 15. Adults will take much more from it.

The White Tiger - Aravind Adiga

Recommended for ages 15-adult.

Normally I don't enjoy reading books with an Indian narrator. There's both personal and stylistic reasons for this which I don't need to go into here.

The White Tiger however, featured a really engaging Indian narrator - "Servant, entrepreneur, philosopher, murderer". It also features a fast-moving, somewhat cynical plot ('Slumdog Millionaire-esque' style). It tells the story of how Munna raised himself out of the poverty and discrimination of his local Indian village and made something of himself (albeit in a non-recommendable way). It tells the stories of corrupt police and politicians, of the confusing modern interpretation of caste, of the relationship between India and the outside world.

It was, in short, more engaging than I had anticipated. It is also very cleverly crafted.

This novel gives the reader a general sense of what it means to live in India today - of the courage, determination and disrespect for ignorant cultural rituals that is necessary to break free of social and familial expectations. Better saved for older readers so they can appreciate Adiga's powerful use of understatements.

Stormbreaker - Anthony Horowitz

Recommended for ages 8-18.

Stormbreaker is an example of an excellent graphic novel: it has a rocketing plot, its characters hold your attention, and the illustrations merge perfectly with the text to tell the story. Like other graphic novels, it's a fast read, and makes a great intro to graphic novels for readers new to the genre.

The story itself focuses around Alex Rider - a regular kid who is suddenly plunged into the dangerous world of spies and secret agencies. I'm not going to say more, other than this: if you want a fast-paced, action-filled story then this book is for you!

Animal Farm - George Orwell

Recommended for all ages.

Animal Farm - A Fairy Story is a classic book. It's politically insightful in its allegorical nature but also enjoyable as a tale about how even the most noble goals can be usurped by a cruel leader. Succinctly written, Orwell has created a timeless story which will make anyone empathise with the (non-pig/dog) animals.

At its most basic plot level Animal Farm tells the story of a bunch of animals who decide to overthrow their cruel human master and rule themselves. After the initial joys of success, the animals are manipulated into giving all power to the pigs - who then abuse that power and re-enslave the animals.

I skipped the introduction, preface and foreward (I hate that so many wreck the story or give away major plot elements like I just did in paragraph 2), though if I had read them I would've learnt that Animal Farm is an allegory about the Russian Revolution (which could have been interesting). Next time.

This is a great book for kids of any age - even young readers will feel a sense of injustice at the treatment of Boxer.

The Invention of Hugo Cabret - Brian Selznick

Recommended for all ages.

The Invention of Hugo Cabret is a really interesting book. It's a beautiful coming-of-age type narrative about Hugo Cabret, an orphan, who becomes involved with a family who run a little toy shop. At the heart of this involvement is the curiously immobile automaton (representative of Hugo's dad) who is somehow connected to the toy shop owner and his goddaughter. After working hard to get the automaton to move again, Hugo and Isabelle (the goddaughter) are amazed and confused by its message and have to do some good old sleuthing themselves to discover its meaning. The message ends up being liberating for everyone.

Mystery and adventure, secret tunnels and compartments, a curious machine - this book has everything to pique your interest. And the best bit? Over half the story is told in pictures! (That's what makes the book so fat!) I'd love to do this book with a junior class (year 7 or 8) - it's got great links to visual literacy and cinema, plus the kids would get just as much kick out of finishing such a long book as I did!

PS. Check out the fan site http://www.theinventionofhugocabret.com/index.htm for some neat behind-the-scenes stuff!

The Boy in Striped Pajamas - John Boyne

Recommended for all ages.

I won't say much about The Boy in Striped Pajamas because I'm a bit behind in my reading of it, but I will say this: for all the hype I expected something more. Sure, it's a poignant read about the two boys and their friendship, and Boyne does a great job of getting you to simultaneously sympathise with and cringe at Bruno's actions, but I expected the ending to make me cry. Or even just tear up. Maybe this book was spoilt for me because I knew so much about it beforehand, or maybe it's just suited to younger readers.

I do find it interesting that this is Boyne's first kids novel - he seems to be able to write effortlessly for this audience which makes me curious to read his adult books.

I really wanted to love this book, but it just didn't work for me. Maybe the film version will be more up my alley.

The Road - Cormac McCarthy

Recommended for ages 14-adult.

After a spate of terrible reading (of which the highlight was Economics in One Lesson) I came across The Road by Cormac McCarthy. Although I didn't really enjoy reading it, I persevered because my writing style is very similar to McCarthy's. My narration is third-person, like his, and I struggle to present the magnitude of key events just like McCarthy seems to. I even use dialogue like him. And guess what? I got pretty bored with this style of writing! It was a good wakeup call to me about how I need to develop my own writing.

The Road itself has an interesting plot. A guy and his son are struggling to survive after some kind of apocalyptic event which has wiped out most of humanity (and turned the survivors into frightening cannibals). The scenery is barren and poisonous and the two figures find their relationship tested and stretched to the limit. McCarthy manages to really explore human nature - the best and worst aspects of it, the things which set us apart from animals etc.

In all I found it a slow read, not particularly gripping but it has an interesting meditative quality if that's more your style. Older readers will appreciate this aspect more than demanding young readers, and kids should be able to handle images of cannibalism before they attempt The Road.

Three Cups of Tea - Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin

Recommended for all ages.

Three Cups of Tea tells the inspirational true story of Greg Mortenson - an American mountain climber who failed to summit K2 (the second highest mountain in the world, located in Pakistan. As he struggled down from his attempt to summit he became lost (twice) and ended up collapsing in a tiny Pakistani village. He remained in Korphe until his health returned and as a result got to know the local people really well. He saw how they crossed the river (in a veggie crate on a rope) and how the kids got an education (sitting outside, teaching themselves) and he decided to do something to repay the village for its kindness. He decided to build a school. Building a school brought such a change to Korphe that Mortenson went on to raise money and build lots more schools, wells, clinics and centres.

Lots of other exciting things happened to Mortenson, including marrying his wife six days after meeting her, being kidnapped by the Taliban and meeting an Afghani warlord. Three Cups of Tea is remarkable because it shows just how much a single person can achieve in this world, and just how much we can help people who are less off than ourselves. In Pakistan a pencil costs one cent, yet so many kids have to do their maths in the dirt with a stick. I don't really like maths, but even I can see that that is unfair.

My favourite line in the book says "Terror doesn't happen because some group of people somewhere like Pakistan or Afghanistan simply decide to hate us. It happens because children aren't offered a bright enough future that they had a reason to choose life over death." If that doesn't sum up the world's problems, then I don't know what can.

I read the Young Readers edition which had handy maps, glossaries and character lists to keep me on track. It was a quick read, but really informative. I learnt so much and although I was left feeling slightly guilty at my own inaction to assist those living in need, I feel empowered to contribute what I can.

This book is recommended for all ages and all types of readers. It is pitched a reading level of about 12 or 13 years of age, but its message has relevance for any reader.

The Bite of the Mango - Mariatu Kamara with Susan McClelland

Recommended for ages 14-adult.

The Bite of the Mango came recommended to me by The Children's Bookshop in Beecroft, and it really is a remarkable book. It tells the harrowing true story of Mariatu Kamara, a twelve year old girl living in Sierra Leone during the civil war.

After rebel forces attacked her village, Mariatu was captured, tortured and had both her hands chopped off with a machete. She miraculously made her way to safety and received medical care which saved her life. The Bite of the Mango goes on to share Mariatu's struggle to overcome depression and build a new life for herself.

Mariatu's book is not full of blame, but it highlights the burdens Sierra Leonean women are subjected to both in and out of war. It is an eye-opening, thought-provoking read. It doesn't dwell on the violence and grittiness of Mariatu's situation, other than what is necessary to tell the reader. And because of her later experiences of living abroad, Mariatu is perfectly poised to explore the cultural gap between developing and developed civilisation.

This book features a strong female narrator, making it more interesting to girls than boys, and would be a great book for teenage girls who want to think about something other than themselves.

Note: This book does reference female genital mutilation, however Mariatu deals with the subject quickly and calmly, without excessive description.

The Polysyllabic Spree - Nick Hornby

Recommended for ages 16-adult.

I wanted to talk about The Polysyllabic Spree not because it's a particularly great or interesting book but because I really like what Hornby has done. The Spree is essentially a month-by-month account of all the books he has bought and read. He rambles a little about each, and I skipped about half of the book because he was reading stuff that wasn't interesting to me.

BUT Hornby also provided me with some deep thinking points about how we choose what to read, how our reading appetites change depending on what's happening in our lives, and the process of writing itself. Of particular interest were his reflections about the current trend for writers to pare their works down, cut superfluous words etc which stands in stark contrast to the likes of Dickens or the Brontes.

So basically I'd recommend this book to older teens who are really into reading and writing, as well as to adults (particularly intellectuals who may have tackled some of Hornby's bigger works).

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian - Sherman Alexie

Recommended for ages 14-adult.

The Absolutely True Diary is a memorable book. It's both hilariously funny and really poignant at times as Junior relates his experiences of living on an Indian reservation while attending a rich white school off the reservation. I was laughing my head off at Junior's descriptions of himself by page two, and then ready to cry with Junior by page thirty. The narration in this book is so great that you basically become Junior - you think and feel like him by the end of the book.

Alexie's descriptions of Indian life are realistic, from the good to the bad and downright ugly aspects of life. The narrative moves swiftly and makes for compelling reading. The cartoons scattered throughout the book are essential for showing Junior's state of mind, making the book almost 20% graphic novel. Alexie's writing style is not forced or distracting - he wants you to look at his characters, not listen to his voice.

The only thing that let me down in this book was a page of references to Junior's genitals, which I know may be part of a boy's experiences but which means I can't teach this book to a class. And I really want to! It deals with the common themes of growing up - love, death, friends, family etc in an absolutely brilliant way. In fact, this book is now one of my favourite young-adult fiction books.

This book is more geared towards boys than girls, with Junior's experiences of love taking centre stage at times in the novel, but girls will find something to love about the book too. Better to wait till you're 14 or so because of its themes (which get heavy at times - although they are very true).

The Lolita Effect - M. Gigi Durham

Recommended for ages 15-adult.

The Lolita Effect is a critical commentary on the "media sexualization of young girls and what we can do about it". Although this is a bit of a hot-button issue right now, Durham uses such a wide range of familiar examples that you can't help but feel aghast at the manipulation and control the media has over all of us. To aid the reader's understanding of this big issue, The Lolita Effect is divided up into sections dealing with five big myths about girls and their sexuality. Each is well-substantiated and utilises current research in a convincing and thought-provoking way.

This book is a must-read for anyone raising girls, teaching girls, or even girls themselves when they are mature enough to start thinking about the construction of their identities.

Teen Inc - Stefan Petrucha

Recommended for ages 8-18.

Teen Inc is the curious tale about Jaiden, son of NECorp. As the first kid to be adopted by a company rather than an individual, Jaiden lives in an office and has a team of lawyers run his life. When he meets Jenny and her family, he learns some pretty disturbing things about his parent-company. Along with Jaiden's best friend, Jenny and Jaiden take on NECorp and risk their lives for truth.

A quick, if not entirely gripping, read. Great for tween readers.

In Cold Blood - Truman Capote

Recommended for ages 16-adult.

I was in two minds about including Capote's famous novel here. On the one hand it is a frightening and at times violent tale which delves into the minds and histories of two cold-blooded murderers. But on the other hand it is a brilliant piece of writing. It is gripping, suspenseful at times (although Capote doesn't overuse the privilege), fast-paced and elegantly written. As one reviewer says it is "as precise as surgery".

If you want to learn to really refine your writing style, read Capote and see how he manages his tale. But make sure that you can distance yourself from crime stories, or you will find In Cold Blood very chilling indeed. As someone who really doesn't enjoy crime fiction, this book was a stretch. Capote's fluid writing style made persevering with his novel worth my while and provided access into the mind of a murderer in the most appropriate ways. Capote doesn't use violence as a tool for manipulating the reader, but the way he writes about it is quite extraordinary.

Best to leave this book to older readers because of its themes, although mature readers 16-ish and up will appreciate its written expression. If you do like crime fiction, then this will blow you away.

The 100 Thing Challenge - Dave Bruno

Recommended for ages 12-adult.

I picked this book up because it looked similar-ish to the 'Six Items or Less' Challenge http://sixitemsorless.com/. The challenge involves picking six items of clothing and wearing only those six items for a month. I figured I couldn't manage six, but Dave Bruno's hundred items would be potentially doable. Then I read that his 100 items included more than clothes. In fact, he got all of his personal possessions down to under 100. I don't know if a girl could get her clothes, shoes, accessories plus all her other personal items under 100, but his book certainly inspired me to do some decluttering when I get home!

Bruno's account of his challenge prompted me to really think about my consumer habits, getting stuff and not always feeling really good about it. Getting stuff that doesn't quite fit you right, but is inexpensive so you just buy it etc. Buying accessories you don't really love. Purchasing clothes you can only wear once (hello formal gown from 2002!) You all know what I'm talking about.

Bruno also accounts for how his mission to declutter gave him room to process his desires and aspirations for himself, to spend time with the people that really matter, to check that he was spiritually on track.

The 100 Thing Challenge  is a quick read, although teen readers might get bored with Bruno's philosophising. It's worth a look.

The Day of the Triffids - John Wyndham

Recommended for ages 13-adult. Not recommended for kids who are afraid of giant human eating plants.

Wyndham's classic novel has been studied by kids at school for the last 50-odd years because of its fast-moving plot and semi-realistic series of events (as far as science fiction can go). The Day of the Triffids explores what happens to the earth when 99.9% of its inhabitants are left blind by a spectacular comet show. As if recognising the limitations of the storyline, Wyndham then adds the crucial element. What if 99.9% of the world turns blind, and then giant carnivorous plants take over, using what little intelligence they have to surround and attack the surviving humans?

Although discredited by a C-grade movie version, I really enjoyed the quick action and thought-provoking drama of The Day of the Triffids.

Best recommended for sci-fi lovers and kids over 13 because of the moral and philosophical questions surrounding the care of the blind.