The Paperchaser by Penny Hall

"Hinton could see rows of identical houses, lining neat, well-tended streets. There were children setting off to school, emptied garbage bins being taken off the footpaths, people calling early morning greetings to each other ... 'And there's a price tag. ... This estate is surrounded by an electric fence with surveillance cameras, guards, dogs - the works. so all these little nuclear families can live in the cloud-cuckoo world of their parents, even their grandparents ... And don't kid yourself it's democratically run either!"

Hinton is living in a city, it could be any city really but Australian readers will recognise Sydney, the harbour, the bridge and references to the North Shore. The time is not defined but it is the future and it feels quite dystopian. People live in fear of violent gangs, no one uses the railway system anymore, the suburbs have become gated communities and everyone has to carry some form of identification because there seem to be armed police on every corner. 

Hinton is in his final weeks of school. He just needs to sit his exams. He has a plan to attend university but even this process is now rigorously controlled by the state. The authorities will determine which course he enters based on societal need not student wishes. The years at the university itself will involve being locked away to study with no contact with the outside world. Hinton wants to study law. His idea is that to make change you have to deeply know how the system works. 

"You might think you've been in a controlled environment at school. But at university! A weekly visit from one outsider - with official approval only. The only other contact with people outside through the phone - when it's working - and letters - then there isn't a work-to-regulations ban on ... And for what? A piece of paper covered in curly writing?' Hinton drew himself up and looked down his nose at her. 'I'll have you know ... that paperchasing is an old and highly respected profession ... for me, it's a case of intellectual exercise leading ultimately to intellectual freedom."

Hinton has a part time job at a supermarket but the gangs have been watching him and now they are threatening to hurt him badly if he doesn't leave the store room door open late at night so they can steal the food and other supplies. Luckily just as all of this is happening Hinton is rescued by some young strangers and he enters a whole other world underground in the city. He finds groups of young people who call themselves Miners. They have bases all over the city and beyond and elaborate communication systems. Hinton has so many questions but no one seems willing to answer him.

This book is filled with tension and twists. I am sure it would still be enjoyed today 35 years after it was published - it just needs a fresh cover and a new publisher who is willing to take a risk. The original cover is actually terrific by Arthur Boothroyd (1910-2011) but it does give the book a slightly old fashioned look. Arthur Boothroyd did the covers for other Australian children's books such as Broome dog by Mary Small and So much to Tell you by John Marsden. 

The Paperchaser was written in 1987 and it was shortlisted by the Children's Book Council of Australia in 1988. It is long out of print but I found a vintage copy at a recent charity book sale. I remembered I loved this book and in fact I kept the copy in my former Primary school library although by now I am fairly sure it has been disposed which is a shame. 

This book does stand the test of time and it has a terrific pace. Someone commented about the pace when I mentioned I had a plan to read this book in January. I read the whole book in nearly one sitting (146 pages). I was interested to see the publisher was Walter McVitty Books. That company have disappeared now but they did publish terrific titles. I was always a little bit fascinated about Penny Hall because later in her career she went on to become the Teacher-Librarian in a fairly exclusive girls school here in Sydney, Australia. I think I met her once.

This book reminded me of these:

Taronga

The Last Human

Maurice Saxby said: "It is an extended image of alienation; the mental state when one feels a nobody; the black cloud, the wedge of ice that site close to the heart when one journeys alone. It is also a metaphysical examination of reality and unreality; a speculation ... of what lies beyond the realm of human understanding. It is a tight, tense and gripping story with a poignant and poetic ending."

Catch me if I Fall

The Dog Runner

Need a House? Call Ms Mouse! by George Mendoza illustrated by Doris Susan Smith

This book was first published in 1981 with the title House by Mouse in the UK and Need a House? Call Ms Mouse in the US. The original publisher was Andre Deutsch in the UK and Grosset & Dunlap in the US. This new edition was published in 2022 by the Australian publisher Allen and Unwin. My friend recently lent me her two copies so in this post I plan to compare them. I do need to say I was not familiar with the original book. If you do by chance have the book from 1981 or the paperback from 1983, copies are selling for large amounts of money.

I'm trying to track down the history of this book. I did find this:

The text in the Australian version was much more straightforward, with simple description and no jokes. Interestingly, the gender of several of the animals changed between the two versions; in the American version, the bear became male and the pig became female—a much closer match, it seems to me, to gender stereotypes.  Slate, September 24, 2013.

I don't know how Allen and Unwin came to reprint this US classic book but it gives me heart that other wonderful books that are long out of print could come "back from the dead".  I have a Pinterest of books that are Out of Print and should be republished - hello Allen and Unwin - can you please take a look at this?

Whether simple or grand, Henrietta will find a solution, and she might just inspire future architects and designers to do the same. Kids' Book Review

About George Mendoza: A poet, screenwriter, travel journalist, novelist, and writer of children’s books, George Mendoza (1934–2018) established himself as a top author of his day, publishing over 100 books for children and adults worldwide. In 1968, he was awarded the Lewis Carroll Shelf Award for his book The Hunter I Might Have Been. Ahead of his time in terms of packaging projects, his phenomenal energy, talent, and imagination were reflected in his many collaborations with celebrities such as Carol Burnett and Michel Legrand, renowned artists like Eric Carle and Norman Rockwell. NY Review of Books

None of the illustrations have been changed in the new edition - thank goodness - they are so charming and invite revisiting to explore all their tiny details. You can see nearly every page here. 

The text has been changed, though, on every page and I have to say I wonder why? I would love to read the two versions aloud to a child or group of children to see which one works best. I do prefer the original on some pages if indeed it is the original  - I continue to be confused.  The National Library of Australia list a 1981 edition of this book with Allen and Unwin as the publisher. The British library catalogue list a 1981 edition (House by Mouse) with the publisher Methuen (a Magnet paperback). 

The original UK edition listed each page as a series of 'chapters' but in this new book the page is called Henrietta's Portfolio. Allen and Unwin also changed the dedication!

Opening sentences UK: This is Henrietta sitting at her drawing board and working deep into the night, without even stopping to nibble at a cheese sandwich or drink a cup of coffee. ... All the animals want to live in a house designed by Henrietta, because she is the only mouse in the world who understands exactly what makes a squirrel or a rabbit, a caterpillar or a frog feel at home. In short Henrietta is a genius.

Opening sentences new edition: "Henrietta is a world-famous decorator, which means she is: an artist, a designer, a dreamer, a builder, a creator - all that and more too. You may have heard about Henrietta from your forest friends. Squirrels, rabbits, chipmunks and all kinds of birds know her .... Sometimes she labours far into the night, without even thinking of nibbling on a piece of bread or cheese."

"For music loving Spider, Mouse designed a modern recording studio complete with performing platform. Then she wired his web to the whole thing and joined him in a jazz session certain to catch the ear of any unsuspecting fly or mosquito passing by"

"Spider's web becomes a musical dive with a magical tuned-up beat. 

Beware, flying gnats, moths and flies!

"Squirrel asked for a house in the tree-tops that would make him feel he lived in a space-ship"

"Imagine: Squirrel asks Henrietta to design a spaceship feeling in the branches of a knotty tree."

If you have a budding architect in your family or a child who is fascinated by how our homes are designed I highly recommend this book. I especially love the cross section illustrations, the rabbit's house, frog's pagoda house and the way nearly every house has a set of book shelves crammed full of books. 

Here is a companion book:

If I built a House

You might be lucky and find this book in your school or local library:

The Upside Down River Tomek's Journey by Jean-Claude Mourlevat translated by Ros Schwartz

Tomek runs a small grocery store just as his father and grandfather before him. He sells everything any one could ever want. The store is a treasure trove. One day a young girl enters his store. She asks for a series of odd objects and finally buys a some barley sugar. There is however, one thing Tomek does not have - water from the River Qjar. Listen to this scene here in this audio sample. 

The young girl pays for her purchase and leaves the store but Tomek has so many unanswered questions about this mysterious water. Tomek visits Isham, the old scribe, and Isham tells him about the water and the special place where it is found:

"The river that flows backwards and upside down. ... The water of the river flows uphill instead of down ... The river's source is the ocean. ... Instead of flowing to the sea, it begins there. Rather as if it were sucking up the sea water. At first, it is as wide as a big river. People say that at this point, strange trees grow on its banks. ... Then the River Qjar flows up through the land. Over hundreds of miles, so they say. It becomes narrower and narrower, losing water instead of gaining it."

The river is heading to the Sacred Mountain and if a traveller can collect some of this water it will make him immortal. The girl in the shop had said that too. But Isham explains all of this is completely impossible. No one has ever reached the mountain or bought back any of the water. Tomek knows should go back to his shop and his life but he cannot. He is desperate to find the girl and the River Ojar. He needs to know why she wants the water so early one morning he sets off on the most fantastical journey.

This book is an absolute page turner. It is such a wild ride. You will never guess what will appear around the next corner. It's all a little like The Phantom Toll Booth but without the silliness. There is a forest where you forget everything and everyone forgets you, giant bears who are desperate for meat and who have outstanding hearing, flowers that cause hallucinations, a village of tiny people who make perfume, a dangerous rainbow and even a friendly panda-like creature who offers warmth and comfort.

Mourlevat is very good at creating magical places, ingenious situations promising risk and excitement, and characters with strong qualities such as merriment or courage or thoughtful empathy. Books for Keeps

I can imagine a teacher who really loves this book would enjoy sharing it as a class read aloud book or in a family you might like to listen to the audio version. 

Here is the second book about the upside down river:

Jean-Claude Mourlevat is one of France’s leading children's and young adult authors. With a particular love for fairy tale, fable and fantasy, he draws on literary traditions to create worlds that resemble no other. Since his publishing debut in 1997, his books have been translated into nearly 30 languages. He won the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award in 2021.  I have previously talked about Jefferson.

If you speak French or visit France there are stage productions of The Upside Down River. Here are some other covers for The Upside Down River (2000):

The Great Paper Caper by Oliver Jeffers

Something is happening in the forest. The trees are disappearing. The forest animals are all innocent.

"They all had a solid alibi ... so the tree thief must be someone else."

The animals decide to investigate. Beaver is the detective, deer will be the judge and pig will be the prosecutor. Meanwhile it is time for the 112th biennial paper airplane competition. The animals have not noticed bear who seems to be making and unsuccessfully flying paper airplanes. Is the loss of the trees connected with bear and with this competition?

This is an enjoyable story and there are wonderful extra details in the illustrations but I wish the ecological message was a little stronger. Bear has chopped down so many precious trees and yes it is good to see him making amends and planting replacements but using seeds and tiny saplings mean this process will take many years perhaps even decades. Kirkus agree saying "the story’s message is a bit convoluted, mixing themes of forgiveness, eco-consciousness and teamwork."

You can see a video of this book here. The Great Paper Caper was first published in 2008 but it is still available in paperback. Here are some review comments:

The book doesn’t have quite the same emotional grip of Lost and Found, Jeffers’s best book to date. However, there is much to be said for a picture book as thoroughly amusing and enjoyable as this. If you happen to be in need of a good winter mystery, particularly one that the small tots reading with you will be able to solve on their own, I can’t think of a better title to hand you. Purely enjoyment from start to finish. Fuse8 SLJ Betsy Bird

I really enjoyed this book, and I like the way it is told very seriously, but is very funny. It's best for older toddlers, who will take the time to look properly at all the pictures with you, or better still with older children still who can fully appreciate the humour. The police line up made me laugh out loud, and there are other very funny moments throughout. It's a cleverly thought out, and beautifully drawn story. Definitely recommended! The Book Bag

Here are many different covers plus the little board book edition:

Storm Horse by Jane Elson

Daniel Margate has a very special family treasure. It is a scrap book filled with letters written by his great-grandfather, Cuthbert H. Brown Jr, who was a child during the American Great Depression. The letters are written to the legendary racehorse Seabiscuit, a horse who at the time captured the imagination of the nation. 

Parallel with this, Daniel and three other students in his "bottom" reading group have to meet two challenges. They have to read in front of judges and live television and Daniel has to run in a race. Daniel has great difficulty with running and he always falls over he is also dyslexic. The challenges seem impossible. The Skakespeare group are sure to win the reading challenge and the school bullies seem set to win the race but Daniel has a special gift. He sees things differently. He is a problem solver and this problem can be solved with help from a stray horse that he has befriended. 

In honour of Seabiscuit Daniel names the horse Jammy dodger. Australian children might need to see a picture of this type of biscuit.

This book was on my November and December reading pile. It's taken me until early January to read it. I did enjoy reading this story, especially the included letters from 1936, but it is quite long - perhaps a little too long for the target audience. One strength, though, is from the storytelling which contains just the right amount of tension has Daniel works hard to hide his horse, stay safe from the gang of bullies and master reading which he finds so difficult. Daniel is also a really wonderful friend to the others in his group.  Here is an interview with the author.  If you have a horse fan in your family this could be a good read aloud book to share. 

The Little Girl and the Tiny Doll by Edward and Aingelda Ardizzone

A tiny doll is dropped into the chest freezer in a supermarket. Eventually a young girl sees her:

"The doll looked so cold and lonely, but the girl did not dare pick her up because she had been told not to touch things in the shop. However, she felt she must do something to help the doll and as soon as she got home she set to work to make her some warm clothes."

The kind little girl, with help from her mother, makes the doll a coat, a bonnet, a scarf, a sweater, a petticoat, and knickers with tiny frills. 

Eventually they ask the shop keeper if they can retrieve the little doll and take her home.

Yes, it is a simple little story but it is filled with kindness and wonderful illustrations by the famous UK illustrator Edward Ardizzone.

This year I hope to occasionally talk about old or older books which hopefully are still in print and which have stood the test of time. The Little Girl and the Doll was first published in 1966. I picked up my copy at a charity book sale but this classic is still available. Apart from words like bonnet this book has stood the test of time. I know most frozen food is found in upright freezers in our supermarkets but modern supermarkets do still use chest freezers such as the one in this story. I recommend this as a family read aloud or as a book to share with a young reader aged 6+. 

Mary Underwater by Shannon Doleski

I mentioned this book was on my November and December reading pile. I only just picked it up last night (it is January) and I finished in today - YES it is that good.  This story is confronting but it is also a gentle story of first love and somehow those tender scenes balance out the horrible violence by Mary's father.

Mary's father has been in jail. This means things are slightly less fraught at home but as the story opens he has been released and Mary knows things will soon turn bad - very bad. Her father is a violent man and he takes his anger out on his wife and daughter. Every day, every single day, Mary lives in fear of what this man might do to her. This means her school work is suffering. The nuns in her Catholic school have noticed and social workers are involved but Mary is desperate not to be sent to foster care. 

The science teacher sets a group assignment and a boy in Mary's seventh grade class, Kip Dwyer, asks to be her partner. Together they build a model submarine but that is only the beginning. Mary wants to do something bigger, something more heroic like her personal hero Joan of Arc. Mary also wants to escape from her father.

Interspersed through the book are extracts about Joan of Arc and her amazing life. 

Kip and Mary, with the help of new friends, work together to build a real submarine. This part does seem rather fanciful but I did find it quite fascinating (Ms Yingling agrees). Especially since I recently read another book about life in a submarine. (The Reindeer and the Submarine by Beverley McWilliams)

Here are some text quotes from Mary Underwater:

"He leans over and pulls me up by my hands. He doesn't drop them, and my palm is pressed warm against his. So warm. We are glued together. ... "Can I hold your hand when we walk back?' I nod because I don't trust myself to talk. He can."

"I panic, jumping up. After midnight with the boy I, well, I don't know. The boy I like. That seems dangerous. Handing him my heart, the one beating wildly against my ribs, seems dangerous."

"You deserve kindness, just like everyone else in this world. You're just not used to it ... You are worthy, Mary.' 'Worthy of what?' My heart feels like it's been split open. ... 'Everything , honey. Happiness. Love. You deserve it all. Your parents forgot to tell you that."

A ruggedly heartwarming tale of resilience and romance. Kirkus

The violence balanced against hope and the importance of terrific friends that are explored in this book reminded me of this wonderful Australian book:

Dragon Skin

I do not want you to worry about the domestic violence in Mary Underwater but I do wish the cover was a little less junior looking. I suggest this is a Young Adult book for readers aged 12+. The violence is truly terrible but the tenderness of first love is utterly beautiful. Here is the moment of their first kiss:

"I kiss Kip Dwyer on the mouth. And it is a little messy. But. It is starry nights on a bridge. And fireworks. Warm hugs on porches. It is floating and flying and drifting. It is perfect."

Here is the web site for US author Shannon Doleski. There is a link to hear the author read her first chapter. 

Just a quick note about my blog goals. In 2022 I completed 405 posts. I did have a goal of 4000 posts by the end of 2024 but I think I might need to extend this out to 2025. As of today I have had 896986 hits on my blog (nearly made the million - I am amazed) and 2786 posts. I've been visiting an older lady this week and today she asked me if I was famous - so funny - but I do hope you find my blog musings, and book choices useful what ever your circumstances - teacher, Teacher-Librarian, parent or even perhaps author. Thanks for dipping into my blog from time to time. Huge thanks to the people (including some amazing authors) who drop by with comments - these make my heart sing.