Clowning Sim by David Martin

Well, I am back from a month in France and am reading a few more childrens' books. I have just finished this Australian novel written in 1988 which I found in an opportunity shop recently. This Australian novel was made into a television series which aired in 1992 through 1993 which I haven't actually seen. The novel is nothing short of bizarre but I found it improved as I persevered with it. Sim, who is the class clown, fails on stage and finds his new foster home not quite working out, so he simply takes off which is something he is prone to doing when the going gets tough. He joins a rodeo tour as a clown who detracts marauding beasts away from calf ropers, steer wrestlers and bull riders. This job doesn't work out too well for him either as his ideas to change the show downright aggravate the owner, Theo Carter. He then joins a rundown circus where he finally by chance meets Anatole Tolin, the one-armed acrobat who lost his arm in stinky Rotorua, who can take him places, namely France. I didn't find the main character Sim at all endearing or engaging but the strangeness of the plot kept me reading; I have never read a book quite like this one before. The dialogue is stilted and unnatural yet the vivid descriptions and refreshing use of similes keep the text alive. There is not a great deal available on the internet about the author David Martin (1915-1997), but it seems he wrote a variety of novels for teenages dealing with intercultural issues. He was born in Budapest, Hungary and educated in Germany.

Dead Average by Moya Simons

This book is written by Australian author Moya Simons who likes to write about family situations. (I was pleased to find out that we both have something in common; we don't like people who whinge.) It is an easy read for the 9-12 age range and has no pretentions whatsoever. It is a simple plot about twelve year old Danny Thompson, the average boy next door, who lands himself a role in a television commercial for an "essential pharmaceutical product." He thinks he is about to make a fortune, something like between five hundred and a thousand dollars for one day's work... but... of course there wouldn't be a story if things pan out as he he expects. This book is a sequel to Dead Meat which I actually haven't read but it reads well as a stand alone novel. Danny's dad owns a delicatessen just down the road and his mum helps out there when she can. His baby sister whom he calls Bub Tub keeps everyone fairly busy, especially her infatuation with keeping dead cockroaches as pets. You have to love the Australianisms in this novel: "My face is hotter than Bondi Beach.""I'm just an average kind of bloke." Each chapter basically encapsulates a witty story about the family.

McMummy by Betsy Byars

This novel by Betsy Byars is a little bit dated, telephone booths still rule, and there are no mobile phones. Messages from overseas still arrive by telegram and the two main characters ring each other up from home lines; they don't text. There are many elements of the modern day novel missing, but if you like Betsy Byars as an author this book won't disappoint. The main character Mozie has lots of character (his adopted cat which fell out of a plane is called Pine Cone and he calls his house Crumb Castle), and it's fun to follow his adventures when he has to look after the plants in Professor Orloff's greenhouse which is located near a forbidding forest. His best friend, Batty has been grounded and he must make to visits to the spooky greenhouse to water and fertilise the plants there by himself. The scary thing is the huge pod tucked away in the far corner of the garden and it hums; it's downright weird. Mozie is both fascinated by it and scared of what could be inside. The huge thunder storm which wreaks havoc on the town adds to the intensity of the plant drama. There is no cast of thousands, the only two other significant characters are Mozie's mum, who sews dresses for a living and Valvoline, one of her clients. Then there is Richie, whom he babysits and Richie's mum, Mrs Hunter. It is a straightforward read, probably a good book to put between two challenging reads.

The Dark Is Rising by Susan Cooper

This novel comes next after Over Sea, Under Stone, which is also in the Little Library of Rescued Books. This series will get you in once you start reading it...and there is the film which can watch. I have The Seeker: the Dark is Rising DVD for any student who wishes to watch it. You can have a sneak preview by watching the trailer below. In this book the main character is eleven year old Will who is the seventh son of the seventh son, and he learns that he is an Old One whose destiny is to struggle for The Light(the good) against The Dark(evil). It contains elements of realistic fiction as well as fantasy. If you liked Harry Potter series, or books by the author C.S. Lewis, then I imagine you will enjoy this series too.

I Own the Racecourse by Patricia Wrightson

Andy Hoddel is different from other boys but he is well-liked and is very friendly. He is duped into buying a Beecham Park Racecource from a tramp for $3 and firmly believes he owns it and is excited about the prospect of sharing it with his mates. His friends are not quite sure how to break the neews to him that he doesn't own it. This novel was made into a television movie in 1986 but so far I haven't been able to get a copy of it. Patricia Wrightson is an Australian writer who sadly passed away last year.

Pippi Longstocking by Astrid Lindren

This book is a classic and is popular across the world. Eight-year-old Pippi Longstocking (Pippi Långstrump) is somewhat eccentric, knows her rights and has superhuman strength. For example, she can lift a horse without any trouble, and that's only with one hand! She isn’t always respectful of her elders and frequently mocks them, especially those adults who are condescending, unkind or just plain stupid. You know when she’s angry as she turns white around the nose. She never wants to grow up, in many ways she is like Peter Pan. This book has been made into many a movie and television series. You may wonder why the lip-synchronization is so bad in the clip below, it’s because it has been dubbed in English. As always, the original language, Swedish, is the best. There are three full length Pippi Longstocking books.

What Do You Think Feezal? by Elizabeth Honey

There are now two copies of this book in the library so you could read it with a friend. This is a tale about a girl called Bean, a skyscraper called the Blue Boat, big business, some horrible robbers, a Harley-Davidson motor bike, abseiling, family, friends, computers, babysitters and many other things. But mostly it is about a poor little rich girl who outwits her kidnappers. Oh, and she desperately wants a dog. Read about the book in an interview with Elizabeth Honey done at the time of the release of the book.

http://users.tpg.com.au/waldrenm/honey.html