152. Small and Tall Tales of Extinct Animals by Helene Rajcak illustrated by Damien Laverdunt translated by Jen Craddock

Small and Tall Tales of Extinct Animals by Helene Rajcak illustrated by Damien Laverdunt translated by Jen Craddock
Published June 2012 Scholastic Australia


From the publisher:
Country of Origin: France A fascinating journey around the world of extinct animals, combining cartoons with naturalist drawings, and mythology with science. Did you know there was once a beaver that was two metres long? That the elephant-bird really did exist? And that the dodo once had a life beyond the pages of Alice in Wonderland? Have you heard of the megatherium, or the glyptodont or the tratratratra? Through legend and mythology, anecdotes and scientific facts, the authors tell fascinating stories of the strange animals that disappeared before our time. The book is a tragicomedy, and a mind of information for everyone interested in the animal world.


This book really has the WOW factor.  It's only my second non fiction title for this year, but as soon as I saw it, I knew I had to read it.  It's an adventure into the weird an wonderful world of animals that are no longer with us.

151. Au Revoir, Crazy European Chick by Joe Screiber

Au Revoir, Crazy European Chick by Joe Schreiber
Published May 2012 Egmont Books


From the publisher:
It's prom night - and Perry just wants to stick to his own plan and finally play a much-anticipated gig with his band in the Big Apple. But when his mother makes him take Gobija Zaksauskas - their quiet, geeky Lithuanian exchange student - to the prom, he never expects that his ordinary high school guy life will soon turn on its head. Perry finds that Gobi is on a mission, and Perry has no other choice but to go along for a reckless ride through Manhattan's concrete grid with a trained assassin in Dad's red Jag. Infused with capers, car chases, heists, hits, henchmen, and even a bear fight, this story mixes romance, comedy, and tragedy in a true teen coming-of-age adventure - and it's not over until it's 'au revoir'.

One of my favourite books is Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist by David Levithan, and there were a number of similarities with this book. Two teenagers on a night out in New York, their relationship developing as the night unfolds.  Just a few differences...Perry and Gobi hate each other,  and their night is spent with Gobi on a killing spree and Perry trying to escape!

150. Sophie Scott Goes South by Alison Lester

Sophie Scott Goes South by Alison Lester
Published May 2012 Penguin


From the publisher:


Sophie Scott is only nine years old, but she's going to Antarctica on an icebreaker with her dad, the ship's captain. During the voyage to Mawson Station and back, Sophie keeps a diary. She sees icebergs, penguins, seals and whales. She makes new friends, experiences the southern lights and even becomes stranded in a blizzard!


Visit Antarctica without leaving your loungeroom.  Alison Lester visited Mawson Station in Antarctica in 2007, on this trip she emailed schools and families around the world describing her experiences.  Children then drew pictures in response to her stories and sent her copies of their work.  These pictures have been exhibited around Australia, and some of them are included in this book.  The book is a mix of Alison's illustrations, children's art work and photographs.

149. Holier Than Thou by Laura Buzo

Holier Than Thou by Laura Buzo
Published May 2012 Allen & Unwin


From the publisher:
From the author of Good Oil, this extraordinary, bittersweet novel portrays a slice of Australian city life through an unforgettable girl named Holly who is navigating the nuances and complexities of being in her early 20s.


Here we have another example of this new type of teen fiction that focuses on the lives of characters on their early 20s.  There seem to be more novels coming out that look at life after High School and Uni, the years of moving out of home, first jobs and shifts in friendship groups. Australian authors especially are writing about this time of life, authors like Melina Marchetta, Maureen McCarthy and Steven Herrick to name a few.  

148. More Meerkat Madness by Ian Whybrow

More Meerkat Madness by Ian Whybrow
Published April 2012 Harper Collins


From the publisher:


The Really Mad Mob of meerkats is on the move again in another animal antics adventure! Mimi, Skeema and Little Dream are unhappy when Uncle invites a fluffy, stranger to join the Really Mad mob. So when Little Dream dreams that their missing mama is calling him, the kits set off to search for her. But a lost lion cub has other plans for them! Join the meerkat kits on a crazy adventure across the Kalahari desert.


This book is so sweet.  Meet the Meerkats, Mimi Skeema and Little Dream, living their life in the Kalahari desert in their home Far Burrow.  Their mother has left the (presumed dead) and they are under the care of their Uncle Fearless.  This cosy picture of domestic bliss is disturbed when Uncle Fearless brings his lady friend, the lovely Radiant into the mix.  These kits don;t want this new interloper, they want their mum, so they decide to cross the Kalahari and find her.

147. Drive By by Jim Carrington

Drive By by Jim Carrington
Published May 2012 Allen & Unwin

From the publisher:
Johnny and his friends have finished school for the summer. One sweltering day, on their way back from a water fight at the park, they spot an old lady who has wound them up by bursting their football. They make a bad decision.  An incredibly dramatic, pacy novel about getting in over your head, guilt and facing up to your decisions.

The question to consider when reading this book is... What is murder?

Johnny and his mates are teenage boys who are beginning to get bored during their summer holidays. Apart from an average part time job and football training there's not too much to do. When they a see an opportunity to seek revenge on their annoying elderly neighbor nicknamed the Poisoned Dwarf, they shoot her with a water pistol while she sits in a parked car. To Johnny's horror, they find that the seemingly innocent attack resulted in the old woman having a heart attack.

146. Agent 21: Reloaded by Chris Ryan

Agent 21: Reloaded by Chris Ryan
Published May 2012 Random House


From the publisher:


In the year since Zak Darke was approached by a shadowy government agency to become Agent 21, his world has changed completely. But there is no time to reflect on this - the undercover operations go on. Zak is sent to a port in west Africa, a known terrorist stronghold, under the guise of working on a charity volunteer project. But charity work could not be further from Zak's real mission - he must sneak on board an enemy ship, gather information - and then destroy it. Never has Zak's training been more useful: Trust nobody.

18 months ago Zak Darke 'died', he is now living as Agent 21. Zak has been undergoing his gruelling training at St Peter's Crag and he is about to be sent on his first solo mission.  Zak is sent to Africa on a mission to destroy a ship that carries as it;s passengers the terrorist group Black Wolf.  His cover is to work as a volunteer, building a school, but the school building is on hold on account of gun toting thugs. So not only do we have a mission to destroy a terrorist group, Zak takes it upon himself to help the community by dealing with the thugs.  While his escapades on land seem successful. the action really heats up out at sea, when things do not go quite to plan.