Danger Road by AL Tait

Twenty-five years ago Corey Armstrong was killed in a hit and run accident on a lonely country road. Grayton is a small town. People who live here know each other and many have lived here their whole life. Corey was a popular kid - good at sports, good at school and he had a charisma about him. A newcomer to the town is in the process of making a podcast about this true crime - no one was ever charged with killing young Corey. The real name of the road is Dangar Road but everyone calls it Danger Road - hence the book title. The nighttime scenes set on this remote road are especially atmospheric.

It feels as though so many people in Alex and Leo's lives have a connection to Corey - their absent dad, the town mayor, the school librarian and a mysterious girl called MJ. Mum has been listening to the podcast in the car. In a moment of impatience with her two sons, she tells them if they can work together and solve the mystery of Corey's death, which is the purported purpose of the podcast, she will give them a reward. She offers this as a way to stop the two boys from their constant bickering but what she doesn't know is, while this does draw the two boys closer, it also means they uncover lots of details about Corey, his friends, and the actual events of that night twenty-five years ago. Luckily the boys also have help from Alex's friend Harry (Harriet). She is a lateral thinker and also very systematic and so she helps them set up a crime board/timeline which helps all three identify the avenues of their investigation.

Here is the blurb from the author page (you will also find a chapter sample): Twenty five years ago, on a dark winter’s night, teenager Corey Armstrong was left to die by a hit and run driver on Danger Road. Now Corey’s the subject of a podcast that’s putting his hometown on the map, but with the series almost over, the case remains unsolved. When brothers Alex and Leo decide to try to find out what happened to Corey, they learn more about his world than they could have imagined. Everyone’s talking about the popular footballer, but the question remains: did anyone really know him? As Alex and Leo sink deeper into the past, they uncover old secrets, ready to resurface, and realise that someone in town must know something which means someone they know might be the killer. Will bringing up the past jeopardise the brothers’ own futures? And could bringing a cold case back to life prove fatal?

In this short video AL Tait talks about her book. 

A.L. Tait has written a ripper of a cold case mystery for middle grade readers. The premise is great, playing off the popularity of cold case true crime podcasts, and I loved the little NCIS references that Alex dropped every now and then. The novel is told in alternating perspectives, going between thirteen-year-old Alex and almost fifteen-year-old Leo. This allows the case to unfold, as each point of view brings different perspectives to the story, and the boys are able to play off their strengths. Including the ones they’re not too keen on everyone knowing about. The Book Muse

This is a great story set in a small country town involving teachers, coaches, the mayor, and many other potential suspects around their parent’s age who were teenagers at the time. It has themes like sibling rivalry, but also sticking up for your sibling when they are in trouble, sporting success and striving to make it big, and uncovering secrets from the past that have been hidden for so long. It is a terrific story that I couldn’t put down that will appeal to all readers aged 11 and older. Lamont Books

Here is a sign that I am enjoying a book. I wake up in the middle of the night unable to get back to sleep. I think I should read for a while - that will calm me down but only if it is a book that I am enjoying. So it was that I read Danger Road at 2.30am and then more the next day on my long train trip and the remaining pages in the library where I volunteer (it was a very quiet afternoon) and so I finished the book in just one day.

Readers aged 10+ are sure to enjoy Danger Road - especially kids who already love to read realistic fiction and mystery stories. For myself I did find the print size a little small and this might put some kids off but in a library I think it would be very easy to book talk this title especially when you mention the words cold case and mystery. The library where I volunteer have put this book into the Young Adult collection, but it is also certain to appeal to primary school readers in Grades 5 and 6. I used to host an evening for senior boys with their dads in my school library. Danger Road is a book that I would have enjoyed showcasing on one of those nights. 

Things I really enjoyed about this book:

• The alternating voices and the contrasts between Alex - he loves art and drawing - and Leo his older brother, who is crazy about sports. There is a subtle change of font as each voice changes.
• There are extracts from the podcast at the beginning of each chapter and this is a terrific device to fill in more details of the events surrounding Corey's death.
• I found it interesting that running is the thing that really gives Leo a sense of peace and not the competitive part of winning at football or his other sports pursuits.
• Leo is also a clever student but like many teens he thinks he should keep this hidden for fear of ridicule by his peer group. 
• I loved the way his younger brother Alex shared his deeper insights into his brother Leo. Alex has very well developed emotional intelligence. 
• There are some really good moments of tension in this story such as when the Mayor picks the boys up and offers to drive them home. Alex know this man is not exactly a stranger but this sure does feel like a dangerous situation. I also held my breath when the boys dive into the deep river - I was sure there was going to be a terrible accident. 
• To some extent the ending is an open one - with a group of students in a book club for example you could raise the issue of the justice or morality of this outcome. 

AL Tait has two sons herself, and I think her understanding of the way brothers interact really shines through in this story. The sports played by her own two boys might also be the reason she can talk so accurately about the way football is played. Readers who play football (is it Rugby or AFL) are sure recognise the tactics and game highlights.

Here are a couple of text quotes from Danger Road:

"I'm sick to death of listening to you two pick at each other. ... I'm also sick at heart about Corey. His death might be a podcast to you and all the gawkers who've come to Grayton since it started, but it's my history, and it's your home town's history. The two of you carry on like you know everything about everything, so prove it."

"Well, yeah, but you're not from around here so why this injustice in particular ... I'm only wondering because the podcast format is so specific and I thought maybe you could tell us a bit about how you decide on the narrative structure. Like, do you make a decision about how to focus on before you begin your interviews or does it evolve?"

This is the fourth book by AL Tait that I have read and probably her best book so far. It is also interesting to see how she is exploring different genres. I know she has an easy chapter book due out next year. It will be part of a series from her Facebook and Podcast Community (Your Kids Next Read). I have my fingers crossed that these will be terrific stories similar to the wonderful series from here in Australia that we had in the past such as Solos; Aussie Nibbles; and Aussie Bites. And hopefully as good as a more recent UK series such as these from Little Tiger. 

Willow Bright's Secret Plot

Race to the end of the world

The Firestar

Frank and Bert book series by Chris Naylor-Ballesteros

 

Chris’s superb colour pencil scenes exude energy, humour and pathos, perfectly capturing the changing emotions of his larger-than-life characters.  Red Reading Hub

Back in 2022 I talked about the first book from this series. This week I spied another and then made the wonderful and surprising discovery that Frank and Bert - the one where Bert plays football - is actually the fourth book. I am a huge fan of Chris Naylor-Ballesteros. 

Here is the blurb for each of these titles:

Frank and Bert: Frank and Bert are the best of friends and they LOVE to play hide and seek. But Bert the bear isn’t quite as good at hiding as he thinks he is . . . and Frank ALWAYS wins! Every. Single. Time.

But when it’s Bert’s turn to hide, and Frank has to decide between winning again OR making his friend happy, Frank learns that friendship is always the true winner. (Read the Kirkus review)

Frank and Bert: The One where Bert Learns to Ride a Bike: Bert isn’t very good at riding a bike. Here’s what happens. It always starts well, but then Bert wibble-wobbles all over the place, until . . . Oops! Whoops! Ouch! Do you see what I mean? Bert is CERTAIN he can ride his bike as well as Frank, but he is very wobbly! And even when they BOTH try riding Frank’s bike . . . it still goes very wrong! Will the best friends make it all the way down from the big hill? Of course! All they need is a little bit of confidence and trust in each other! (Read the Kirkus review)

Frank and Bert: The One with the Missing Biscuits: Frank and Bert are off for a picnic in the countryside. And Bert has brought a delicious surprise! But when he falls asleep, Frank can’t resist taking a peek . . . WOW! Bert has made Frank’s FAVOURITE biscuits! Surely, he won’t mind if Frank eats one . . . or two . . . or three . . . (Read the Kirkus review)

Frank and Bert: The One where Bert Plays Football: Meet Frank and Bert. They LOVE football and Frank is teaching Bert everything he knows . . . until Barbara turns up, the local football legend, and Frank drops everything to play with her. Poor old Bert. But when Frank finds himself in trouble, it’s Bert, his BFF, who is always there for him . . .

The glorious coloured-pencil illustrations are bursting with energy, expression and humour, and perfectly encapsulate the emotions of each character. Funny and heart-warming, this gem of a picture book demonstrates the importance of always being there for your friends. Book Trust

These should all be added to your primary school library. They are perfect discussion starters when you are talking about friends and friendships and kindness. 

The end papers in "The one where Bert plays football" are patterned like footballs (or soccer balls as we might call them here in Australia) in a vibrant hot pink. Frank is trying to teach Bert how to play but Bert either kicks the ball way too far or he trips over it. Then along comes Barbara and we have the classic story trope - twos company threes a crowd. To make matters worse Barbara is a football champion. In fact the book and Frank both say she's "the greatest football player IN THE WORLD." Frank is in heaven - Barbara wants to play with him! but this means he ignores his old friend. In an interesting twist this time it is the famous Barbara who kicks the ball high into a tree. Perhaps even soccer stars can miscalculate their kicking. Frank climbs the tree but:

"I'm a bit scared of heights, and I wish Bert was here, and I wish I hadn't gone off with Barbara, and I wish I hadn't ignored Bert, and if only I'd been a better friend."

At this point it would be good to just pause and let these words sink in. Is there a way for Frank and Bert to find each other again? And what about Barbara should she be allowed to join their game? And does it make any difference that Barbara is a girl soccer player?

I am not a sport fan, but I do love the way Chris Naylor-Ballesteros shows in this book that every position in a team is important. Not in an unkind way, but I cheered when Bert showed Barbara he also has soccer skills - it would be great to have him on your team!

I found an online seller with each of these titles for around AUS$20 each - which is a really good price for a set of books that are sure to be popular with readers and teachers. 

I previously adored this book by Chris Naylor-Ballesteros:

The Suitcase

My Deadly Boots by Carl Merrison and Hakea Hustler illustrated by Samantha Campbell

A young boy has saved his coins and today his package has arrived - glorious shiny new boots:

"Spikes on the bottom boots, my favourite colour boots, making me too deadly."

The people in his community have differing reactions to these bright yellow boots. His sister says the boots make the boy think he is 'high class'.  His teacher says the books are not school shoes. His mate offers to swap. The policeman asks where did the boots come from? - he is suspicious. Notice the power imbalance in the powerful illustration on this page.

Coach says the boots are nothing special - just footy boots. 

"But they are my run faster than my cousin-brother boots, my kick the best torpedo boots, my healthy lifestyle boots, making me too deadly."

His uncle asks why he needs these boots.

"My walking in two worlds boots, my can't feel the sand in my toes boots, my better leave them in this tree boots, making me too deadly."

I gasped - leave them in a tree. Surely, they will be taken. Yes, when the boy returns to the tree his boots are gone. 

Now it is time to listen to the wisdom of his grandfather. The boy does not need the boots to make him a better person. HIs grandfather quietly explains this important life lesson to the young boy. 

Now what about those boots. Yes, there is that all important happy ending. And the boy can love his boots but also know he does belong in the world with or without the boots.

The word 'deadly' has a special meaning in this book. Deadly: An Aboriginal English word for ‘fantastic’, ‘great’ or ‘awesome’. It is used in a positive sense as opposed to something negative. This has important implications for Indigenous healthcare and treatment of chronic diseases where a medical practitioner may refer to something as ‘deadly’ meaning harmful. Awareness of this difference in meaning in the Indigenous context is important.

The Macquarie Dictionary says: The word deadly with its current meaning was originally coined in the 1900s. It was then adopted into Aboriginal English in the 1970s and from then into general use. Excellent, fantastic, cool: That movie was deadly! It is also used as an adverb, as in: he sang deadly.

On Saturday 14th October,2023, Australians will vote for or against The Voice Referendum. This is a book that will raise awareness of modern indigenous life especially for young children. It gently highlights some issues for our first peoples - discrimination by police, the importance of elders, differences in extended family structures, the role of education, and life in a remote community. 

Read more about the YES vote:

Reconciliation Australia

The Voice.gov.au

Behind the News part one

Behind the News part two

Q and A from the ABC

The cover of Deady Boots is so inviting. It is tactile, colourful and will allow readers to easily understand the meaning of the word ‘deadly’ even before reading the text. The end papers are appealing but I do wish the author/illustrator biographical information had been printed on the final page and not over the top of the end paper image. The back cover is fabulous with all of those contrasting forms of footwear and skin tones. The new boots, nestled in their packaging, is the perfect image for the title page. 

The use of colour text throughout the book is a useful reading guide inviting the reader to emphasise each phrase especially when the text, which is rather like a rap song, is read aloud. 

There is a strong emotional arc to this story firstly when the police ask about the boots and later when they are taken. I just gasped. The wisdom of the grandfather is the point in the story when all of the hustle and bustle slows down – it is time to pause and think, reflect and learn. Does he really need these boots to feel confident or can he draw on his own inner strength and sense of self? The way the boots are in shadow and look more “ordinary” on the final page is a powerful image.  

My Deadly Boots is a hopeful and empowering story about understanding where inner-confidence and self-belief truly comes from. Set in an Australian outback community, the story centres around a young indigenous protagonist who believes that the ‘deadly boots’ that he has saved so hard for make him a new person, a person who walks taller, jumps higher, runs faster, kicks betters. But are the deadly boots the source of all his positivity? A Word About Books

This is a story about finding confidence from within, and understanding that connections to family, friends and country are not something you can order in the mail. StoryLinks

You can request teachers notes here. These PETAA notes have suggestions for further read. Here are some teachers notes from the publisher.

Companion reads to explore an indigenous perspective:

Carl Merrison is a Jaru man from Halls Creek. Carl works with young Indigenous boys through the Clontarf Academy focusing in improving engagement with education and providing a positive role model. Carl was nominated for Australian of the Year in 2016.

Hakea Hustler was a high school English teacher at Halls Creek District High School. Hakea is committed to Indigenous education with a particular focus on school engagement, English language and story as learning, understanding and empowerment.

Samantha Campbell grew up in the Northern Territory and lives in Darwin. She is descended from the Dagoman people from Katherine and as a child lived in remote communities across the Top End. Her first book, Alfred's War, written by Rachel Bin Salleh, was short-listed for the Premier's Literary Awards and the Speech Pathology Awards. She is currently illustrating her fifth children's book.

Carl Merrison and Hakea Hustler previously worked together on this short novel:

Here are some books with a similar theme to Deadly boots - the theme of saving money for something a child desperately wants or needs.

Things Seen from Above by Shelley Pearsall

"You can never tell where a simple line may lead."

"I am the artist and no one can tell me what art to make."

One of the best feelings in the world is beginning a wonderful book and then having time to enjoy the whole book,  the whole wonderful story journey, in just one day. I picked up Things Seen from Above this morning to read on the train. I read about 72 pages and then a few more on the way home and then I devoured the remainder of the book (252 pages in total) before dinner.

April is in Grade Six. Her former friend has changed over the summer into someone she no longer recognises. The lunch room feels like a battle ground. To avoid the lunch conflict and the dreadful feeling of not fitting in and having no friends, April volunteers to be a playgound seat friendship buddy. The elementary school in this book is so large that there are several sessions for lunch. April assists the kids from fourth grade during their break while her grade are in the cafeteria. 

There is a new girl in the school called Veena. She has moved to Marshallville from India. The school counsellor suggests Veena and April might work together on the buddy bench.

On her first day in her new role April notices a young boy called Joey Byrd. He is alone and seems to be doing something strange in the playground - drawing patterns and circles using his shoes to scrape the dirt. What is he doing? And why?

"The more I studied Joey, the more things I noticed. I made a mental list of them. How he walked with his hands clenched and his thumbs pointing outward like a hitch-hiker. How his grey sweatpants were way too short and the elastic bunched around his ankles. How his mouth was pressed into such a tight line of concentration, It didn't look like he had lips. What was he concentrating on?"

When the school janitor - the wonderful Mr Ulysses invites the girls to view Joey's work from the school roof they begin to realise the significance and enormity of Joey's art. The three of them agree to keep this a secret but then they accidentally share the information with another student and at this point things begin to spiral out of control.  

"I want to apologise again for what happened. Veena and I think you are a really cool person who does amazing drawings - or tracings, as you call them. You're like ... a star to us."

"Joey's popularity also seemed to pull other forgotten kids out of the shadows. It was as if he shone a bright light on anyone who was hiding in a corner or standing against a wall alone. The outcasts started getting noticed. The excluded were included."

An uplifting story of friendship, kindness, and new ways of seeing. Kirkus

One of the strengths of this book is the beautiful restrained way April approaches Joey. She shows enormous emotional intelligence. She doesn't rush Joey. She listens, observes and waits and then approaches him slowly. I would love to meet April and thank her for her compassion and her wisdom. 

There are alternating chapters in this book where we hear from Joey and are able to experience his different view of the world, his different understandings of human relationships, and his wonderful skill with enormous art pieces. We also glimpse his mother and father and learn a little about their personalities which go some way to explaining Joey's reactions and understandings.  At one point Joey talks about a class reading lesson. Reading is a mystery and a huge effort for Joey and sadly he is regularly expelled from this classroom but in this scene the teacher is reading "The Strange Case Of Origami Yoda".

"It was a very funny story, and Joey really like it. It was the first book he'd every liked - partly because it made him laugh and partly because he didn't have to read it himself. "

You can read the back story for this book on Shelley Pearsall's web page. Things Seen from Above was published in 2020 and it is available in paperback so I highly recommend you add this to your library (and personal) shopping list. Read more of the plot here. 

You can read about another book by Shelley Pearsall The Seventh Most Important Thing:

Here are some companion books to read after Things Seen from Above:

My life as an Alphabet

A Boy Called Bat

Counting by 7s

The Someday Birds

Loser

My March reading pile

Huge thanks to Beachside Bookshop for these advance copies:

Emma Carroll The Week at World's End (Faber)

Publisher blurb: Nothing ever happens in World’s End Close. So when Stevie discovers a runaway girl in her coal shed, the first thing she does is fetch her best friend, Ray. Both are dying for a bit of adventure, and when the girl begs for help, they readily agree. Yet they soon realise they’ve taken on more than they bargained for. The girl, Anna, reveals she’s on the run from people who are trying to poison her. Meanwhile, on the news, the Americans and Russians are arguing over missiles in Cuba. As the threat of war grows, Anna’s behaviour becomes more mysterious. And when Stevie unearths a dark family secret, she wonders if Anna has come to World’s End Close on purpose, with a special message just for her . . .

I have already read this one. I enjoyed previous books by Emma Carroll - Letters from the Lighthouse; The Ghost in the Garden; and In Darkling Wood.  This new book published in September 2021 is very timely as we watch the unfolding events in Ukraine. 

Marion Roberts Mikki and me and the Out-of-tune tree (Allen and Unwin)

Publisher blurb: Eleven-year-old Alberta Bracken is having a terrible summer. After a bike-riding accident, caused by the local bully, her arm's in a cast so she can't do her most favourite holiday activity: boogie boarding at the local beach. And her little sister Clementine is EXTREMELY ANNOYING. To make matters worse, her mum (bestselling author of Tammy Bracken's Guide to Modern Manners) has sent her dad packing - after discovering his behaviour has been far from…well-mannered.So when budding filmmaker Mikki Watanabe suggests they start a YouTube channel about the secret life of trees - Alberta is ALL IN. And when they discover their trees are earmarked for removal by the local council it's suddenly a race against time to save them.

I have already finished this one. It reminded me of A Good Day for Climbing trees by Jaco Jacobs; A field guide to Getting Lost by Joy McCullough;  and The Secret Library of Hummingbird House by Julianne Negri. Mikki and me and the Out-of-tune tree is due in April, 2022.

Hannah Gold The Lost Whale (Harper Collins)

Publisher blurb: What if you could communicate with a whale? Rio has been sent to live with a grandmother he barely knows in California, while his mum is in hospital back home. Alone and adrift, the only thing that makes him smile is joining his new friend Marina on her dad's whale watching trips. That is until an incredible encounter with White Beak, a gentle giant of the sea changes everything. But when White Beak goes missing, Rio must set out on a desperate quest to find his whale and somehow save his mum. Dive into this incredible story about the connection between a boy and a whale and the bond that sets them both free.

This is a second book by Hannah Gold illustrated by Levi Penfold. I read The Last Bear early in 2021 and it went on to be short listed for a number of UK book awards. This book was released last week.

Stuart Wilson How to make a monster: Prometheus High (Puffin)

Publisher blurb: Athena Strange's first semester at Prometheus High starts with a bang. But when her lessons in reanimation, robotics and skulkers move too slowly and she has trouble making friends, Athena decides to take matters into her own hands. On a ship where science and magic collide, and the monster under your bed is probably very real . . . will Athena be able to hold her head above water?

Sounds like I am going to need to brush up on some mythology to enjoy this one. A second book in the series will be released in August, 2022. 

Nat Amoore We run tomorrow (Puffin)

Publisher blurb: Sticks, Maki, Jed and Tommy live on the same street. But the adults around them are making decisions that could tear the four friends apart. When they discover their favourite comic book series is being made into a blockbuster movie, they know what they have to do. Get to the audition. Get the parts. Stay together.

We Run Tomorrow is due our in May, 2022. It is quite a big book with over 300 pages but there are graphic novel pages (by Mike Barry) which I think will add an interesting layer. 

Adam Hills Rock Star detectives (Puffin)

Publisher blurb: When a priceless painting goes missing, Charley - a 12-year-old viral singing sensation - and her best friend George - camera whizz and budding comedian - are shocked to discover they're the prime suspects. Now Charley and George have to prove they're not international criminals - all while nailing a stellar European tour and keeping up with their homework! But as news of high-profile heists hits the headlines wherever they go, Charley and George keep finding themselves in the spotlight for all the wrong reasons. Can they solve these baffling crimes and save themselves, or will their shot for stardom be over almost as soon as it's begun?

I am a little suspicious of books written by celebrities.  Read this post to find out why.  I hope Adam Hills surprises me. This book is already available to buy. 

Felice Arena The Unstoppable flying Flanagan (Puffin)

Publisher blurb: The war seems a long way away to Maggie Flanagan. Her brother is somewhere across the sea, flying to protect England from the Germans and the Italians. But Maggie is more interested in kicking the footy and finding out who's going to play for St Kilda this season. But when the war comes to Australia and Maggie sees what she's sure is a Japanese spy plan in the skies of Melbourne, it all gets very real. The Japanese attack Australia up north, raining bombs on Darwin and Broome, and American soldiers start appearing on the streets. Worst of all, it looks like the football season will be cancelled! When Maggie decides to stage an all-girl football game to raise money for the troops, she's breaking all the rules. Everyone knows that girls can't play footy! But the rules aren't going to stop the unstoppable Flying Flanagan . . .

I enjoyed a previous book by Felice Arena - The Great Escape. I am keen to read this book because it mentions the bombing of Darwin. An old friend of mine (who sadly died a few years ago) was a soldier and stationed in Darwin in WWII. He witnessed the bombing first hand. 

The fox and the ghost King by Michael Morpurgo illustrated by Michael Foreman

I found this book The fox and the ghost King in our last brochure from Scholastic Book Club.  I wonder why they didn't make a bigger feature of it - this is quite an engrossing story and one that will appeal to young soccer fans.  It is a short book with wonderful illustrations by Michael Foreman and it would make a good family read-aloud.

Take a look at this football team logo - Leicester City F.C.  It has a fox in the centre and the nickname for this team is The Foxes.  They were founded in 1884 and by 2008 the were at their lowest ever position. "Then ... in August 2012, King Richard III was found under a Leicester car park, and a right royal turnaround in the Foxes' fortunes began..."

That in essence is the story of The fox and the ghost King.  Narrated by a little fox cub we read that this pair make night visits to watch their beloved team.  Once again Leicester have been defeated but on the way home everything changes.  Our narrator and his dad hear the buried king.  He asks them to dig around his body so the archaeologists working on the site will finally discover his burial ground. Naturally foxes are very good at digging. The rest, as they say, is history!  There is even a touch of Shakespeare woven into the story.

"By his play of Richard III, that vile villain made a  villain of me, a traitor, a murderer... that dastardly dramatist, that William Shakespeare."

Here is a six minute video of Michael Morpurgo reading his book.  At the back of the book you can read about Leicester City FC, King Richard III and "newspaper" article about the change in fortune for this popular team.  You can read a review here.

I was quite excited to discover the London Underground have a series of posters promoting books and one featured The fox and the ghost King."