Holidays Begin

Hi Riverbenders
My teacher friends have reminded me that the September holidays begin today so for them, here are a few holiday reading suggestions.
Our book of the month is Run by Ann Patchett. I thouroughly enjoyed this one. Set in Boston in the depths of winter, it's a story of family. Tip and Teddy are brothers, close in age, both adopted by a well to do politically connected family. As adults they reluctantly accompany their father to an event to hear Jesse Jackson speak. Afterwards on the icy road they are involved in an accident with far reaching ramifications. Read a full synopsis on the homepage of the Riverbend website.

Another good holiday read is Blood Ties by Sam Hayes. This is a compelling mystery - one story with three threads. Beginning with the disappearance of a baby from the back seat of a car and continuing thirteen years later with a mother's reluctance to allow her teenage daughter to accept a scholarship to a prestigious school, this mystery will keep you guessing until the surprising end.

Rose Tremain's new book The Road Home is the story of Lev, a newly arrived immigrant from Eastern Europe. Tremain is well known for her historical fiction but in this book she turns her gaze to the England of here and now as she explores the contemporary migrant experience.

The Last Summer (of you and me) by Ann Brashares has a very "holiday read" cover. Author of The Sisterhood of the Travelling Pantsthis is the story of sisters, Riley and Alice and of the summer in which they leave childhood behind. Anita Shreve describes the book as a very adult novel of love, loss and the beauty of intense family bonds.

And last but not least is Patrick Gale's stunning Notes from an Exhibition. The story of a life told from multiple perspectives, this is a tale of enduring love and of a family which weathers tragedy, mental illness and the intolerable strain of living with genius.

For the younger holiday reader, try these.
Spilled Water by Sally Grindley - When her father dies, leaving Lu Si-Yan's family in poverty, her uncle decides to sell her. Lu Si-Yan is eleven, and regarded as 'spilled water' - a waste. From her idyllic home in the Chinese countryside to the smog-wrapped factories of the big city, Lu Si-Yan's journey is a difficult one. But she refuses to spend her life in servitude and is determined to be reunited with her beloved mother and brother.

The Tapestry 1: The Hound of Rowan by Henry H Neff will delight Harry Potter fans. Max McDaniels lives a quiet life in the suburbs of Chicago, until the day he stumbles upon a mysterious Celtic tapestry depicting the mythic Cattle Raid of Cooley. Now many strange people are interested in Max and his tapestry. His discovery will lead him to Rowan Academy, a secret school where great things await: fantastic creatures, rigorous training, and his very own observatory within a mansion by the sea.
But dark things are waiting, too. When Max learns that priceless artworks and gifted children are disappearing from around the globe, he finds himself in the crossfire of an ancient struggle between good and evil. To survive, he'll have to rely on a shadowy network of agents and mystics, the genius of his roommate, and the frightening power awakening within him. This is a great mix of fantasy, mythology and folklore.

Wendy Harmer's Really Really Pearlie is good value holiday reading - three books in one glittering hot pink cover.

On Monday night we enjoyed meeting Agnes Nieuwenhuizen who introduced us to her book Right Book Right Time 500 Great Reads for Teenagers. This is a great reference for teachers, parents and teenagers looking for tried and true recommendations.
I hope you all manage to find the right book for these holiday times.
Enjoy the Spring sunshine.
Happy holiday reading
Jane

Indigenous Literacy Day

Hi everyone
Today we mark Indigenous Literacy Day when booksellers and publishers around Australia are banding together to raise funds to address illiteracy levels in remote indigenous communities. It is hoped that our combined efforts will raise $100000 which will be used by the Fred Hollows Foundation to purchase books and other literacy resources for remote indigenous communities in the Northern Territory and New South Wales.

We launched Indigenous Literacy Day in the shop this morning with her excellency the Governor of Qld Ms Quentin Bryce, Susie O'Neill, an ambassador for the Fred Hollows Foundation and representatives from local schools. Susie O'Neill was interviewed about her role by one of our student guests and each of the children presented the governor with suggested reading by sharing with her some of their favorite books. We listened attentively to the story of the Crow and the Waterhole by Ambelin Kwaymullina read by another of our student guests before enjoying morning tea. We will be sending some of the students' favourite books to the Northern Territory so that children in the Jawoyn communities can share their enjoyment.

You may be interested in some of the titles the children spoke about. The Girlz Rock! series rated a mention as did perennial favourite The Magic Faraway Tree. Anna, who nominated Skellig had this to say "as the story unfolds you begin to understand the characters lives. It is an emotional journey filled with suspense, joy and fear. Skellig is a heart warming tale that anyone can relate to." Wow...quite a recommendation. Other recommendations were The Book of Lies, the children's edition of Mao's Last Dancer, Dragonkeeper, Captain Underpants and the classic, Alice in Wonderland.

Indigenous Literacy Day will become an annual event.

Jane