The dog stared back at them. Most of the other dogs in the pen were howling and making noises that sounded quite like foreign words. They were rattling and stretching their chains. But this dog in front of them was different. he stood there in the dirty snow, as calm as anything, and looked at the boys, at Tom, and then at Johnny, at Tom, then Johnny.

They weren’t really like dog’s eyes at all. At least they weren’t like the eyes of any dogs the boys knew at home. Lots of their friends had dogs, and their aunt had two of them, but all of those dogs had proper dog eyes. But this dog looking at them had eyes that seemed to belong to a different animal, maybe even a human.

“It’s like there’s someone trapped in there,” said Tom.

Johnny nodded. He knew exactly what his brother meant.

Tom and Johnny are in Lapland on a great adventure with their mother, Sandra. They are about to travel fast across the snow, pulled by a team of these beautiful dogs with the glacial eyes. But in the wilderness anything can happen. Someone can be lost, and how are they to be found?

Their step-sister Grainne (pronounced ‘grow-nya’) is at home in Dublin. She knows what it is like to lose someone. Her mother left when Grainne was six, and now she is eighteen and they are about to meet again. Grainne has always loved her father but right now she doesn’t feel she belongs to anyone, certainly not to Sandra or the boys. She is in a wilderness of her own. But will facing her mother make things better or worse?

The two halves of this book are intertwined throughout the narrative, and bound with tension. This makes for a story based  strongly on the characters of the three siblings. Each has to endure pressures and make vital decisions. The boys are tested physically as well as emotionally, whilst in many ways Grainne is fighting for her very identity.

Doyle honours his young characters and has made a fabulous story which can be enjoyed by readers of all ages.

by Mrs Thomson

If you are interested in some other cool, cold or icy books, take a look at our list here.

Photo credit: husky dog in lapland 01 Originally uploaded by ezioman

Scot Gardner is a magnificent and wonderful author with inspirational thoughts and idea’s who taught hundreds of year 9 students to unlock their true potential in creativity as together they explored many different writing styles.

Scot Gardner was the first writer in residence at The King’s School. He was a hot topic for many of the students, as they were keen to get an idea of how this magnificent author came to be. Throughout his visit at the school he held many writing workshops and spoke at a formal dinner. During his workshops and classes, Scot Gardner taught many students about exploring different ideas, and writing from different angles. He taught us that any two words, which would never make any sense together, could lead to a whole new “other” idea.

 
Through his teachings the Year 9 students discovered that they were able to create a story from just about any event in their childhood. He was able to turn a simple answer to a simple question, such as “If you were a super hero, what would your power be?”, and pull it apart into more depth, to create a story. He taught them to explore deeper into situations and ask questions. For example, “Why would that particular person have chosen that super power? What would they do with it?” Adam

Scot Gardner’s ability to entertain students was put to the test when he was given over 150 students to entertain during a hot 6th period afternoon. He began explaining about his books and how he started his writing career, however he soon had us laughing and interested as he hit us with a story. It was similar to Jack and the Beanstalk. Actually it was the exact same story as Jack and the Beanstalk with a few “teen” modifications. With a slow start to the last period, by the end of his story we had been completely wrapped and entertained by his humour.

I was extremely lucky to have been chosen to attend dinner with Scot. Despite the formal proceedings, the dinner and speeches were very enjoyable. Scott ended the night by telling us another story. This story was about how a small grass seed got stuck behind his left eye for a whole month, with puss and infections; doctors or medical professionals weren’t able to pull it out. But when he was wrestling with his daughter, as she jumped on his body, his whole back shivered, his gut was yelling, and suddenly out came the grass seed.

The session was priceless. It was entertaining and I learned a lot from him. Johnson

by Frickson

 Do you have something to add about our visit from Scot Gardner? Please add your comments below. If you would like to review one of Scot’s books please use the contribute page at the top left.

by John Green

It is almost the end of the last year of high school. Quentin Jacobsen (known as Q) continues to admire his neighbour and classmate, Margo Roth Spiegelman, his best friend from when they were little. But Margo has been beyond him for years. He is a nerd and she is A-list. Then one night she turns up dressed in black ninja gear and convinces him to accompany her on a night of revenge. Okay, nobody dies, but plenty of Margo’s ‘friends’ will be rather pissed-off by morning. Quentin is happy to be Margo’s friend again. Then she disappears.

This novel aimed at older teens is a funny and tender story of friendship and (believe it or not) poetry. For Margo really has gone missing, leaving clues for Quentin and his friends to follow. A major clue is a copy of Walt Whitman’s long poem, Leaves of Grass. Margo has highlighted certain lines, but what do they mean? There is also her record collection. How did none of them know that she was such a fan of Woody Guthrie and Billy Bragg? How do we really know anything about another person?

Paper towns on old maps, abandoned buildings, clues left on archane ‘Omnipedia’ entries, lead to Q. & co missing graduation to try to save a friend. How much do we miss in those around us, and how much of what we think we know is really true?

In Paper Towns John Green takes us on a merry ride across several American states, has us considering the wisdom of lines of poetry we wouldn’t have thought twice about yesterday, and introduces us to some odd, endearing and also some annoying young characters.

And what does John Green have to say about his book?

 Review by Mrs Thomson

by Anthony Eaton, Random House Australia, 2008

In this fabulous book Eaton gives us a new take on the polar adventure. Having recently spent some time at Casey Station with the Australian Antarctic Division, he blurs the boundaries between what is true and what is invented in this account of an ill-fated Antarctic expedition, embarking from Hobart in 1921.

The narrator confesses (in an introduction bearing Eaton’s name) that he removed an expedition journal found secreted in the Casey library, intending to use it for his personal gain. Yet the journal has haunted his dreams ever since.

Eaton has done his homework and makes this expedition, secretly planned by Edward Rourke in 1921, very realistic. Rourke has gone to enormous effort and expense to avoid the pitfalls of his predecessors. The black ship is appropriately named Raven (and if “never more” comes to mind it is probably more than a coincidence). Rourke is wealthy but also driven, having in his youth been rejected by the likes of Scott, Mawson and Shakleton. But he also lacks in empathy for his companions, and even more so as things go on, and go wrong.

But the journal which is the major source of this story is written by Will Downes, a decorated hero of the First World War. Returning to his family property in Victoria and becoming engaged to his sweetheart, Elsie, has not completely cured Will’s restlessness. The expedition is a challenge – the challenge of a lifetime – and he makes a fateful decision to put off the settled life for a bit longer.

Eaton in the language of his narrative uses Downes’ memories of the war as a yardstick upon which to measure many of the occurences on the expedition. Will’s heroic nature and strong sense of conventional responsibility make him both a good leader and a loyal servant. But he is not without his flaws. His loyalty to Rourke may be one of those. Rourke is surely mad, but was he mad from the start, or did he, like other expeditioners, merely respond to the shocking conditions of their fate? But Downes was not the only one who let his better judgement be over ruled by fear of his leader.

Rourke is repeatedly referred to in the book as “the Leader”, recalling another man developing his leadership skills in Eurpoe at that very time .

But in spite of all, Downes is still a sensitive observer of life who is able to note in his journal quite late in the piece:

“It is a stunning place, this frozen world, and despite our ongoing predicament, at times … I cannot imagine that I might have lived my life without ever having experienced it.”

If you haven’t yet read an account of one of the great Antarctic expeditions then you will find some good places to start in Eaton’s bibliography. Bickel’s This Accursed Land recounts the horrors of Mawson’s 1910-1913 journey, for instance, and the TV production Shackleton is also excellent.

Reviewed by Mrs Thomson

Read another review of Into White Silence by a teen reader on the YARA website. If you have read this book please add a comment below.

~The boy who conquered the Nile

by Jackie French, HarperCollins, 2007

This is an excellent adventure about a boy born to be a leader. But Narmer has his birthright taken away in an incident which is physically debilitating and emotionally scarring. The worst part of this terrible ordeal is that it is caused by an act of betrayal.

But Narmer is mentally strong and has a chance to follow a completely different path with solid companions. He grasps this opportunity, and it is surely this decision which saves his life.

Thereafter we are taken on a fascinating journey through Ancient Egypt as this damaged boy regains his spirit and then his place in the world.

You can read a sample from Pharaoh using the publisher’s Browse Inside widget in this post.

Mrs Thomson

Arthur Penhaligon is not supposed to be a hero. He is supposed to die. But then he finds a key, discovers a mysterious house and meets the sinister Mister Monday…
Prepare for seven breathtaking adventures as Arthur fights to save his world.

From the Garth Nix Website

The Keys to the Kingdom is a series of seven books by Garth Nix. I’m going to try to tell you about them without giving too much away.

They are fantasy books about worlds in different dimensions and that involve a bit of adventure as well. The main character is Arthur Penhaligon and he becomes friends with Suzy. Arthur becomes the “Rightful Heir” after Mister Monday gives him half of his key. The Great Architect created everything and made a Will. The Will becomes a woman who calls herself, Dame Primus.

If you are a good reader, or even not that good a reader, I believe you will like this series.

Reviewed by AdrianB

Would you like to share your thoughts on one of the Keys to the Kingdom books? Add comments below, or use the contribution link at the top left of the page to have your review published.

In this new book, Eragon and his dragon, Saphira (the main characters) are thrown into a net of promises he may be able to keep. Promises that will take him all across Alagaisia, through many battles, and confrontations with the most dangerous creatures, each time coming one step closer to the evil King Galbatorix.

This book is perfect for any fantasy lover from 11 and up. Brisingr is rich with both history and mystery, and is complete with everything magical from dragons to dwarves and much more!

It is amazing to see the amount of detail Paolini has put into the races of his fantasy world, creating languages, religions and customs for each one. The reader will be buried in the magical world of Alagaisia and its history and people, and will be reluctant to put it down, even when they have finished!

I recommend the first and second books of the Inheritance Cycle also. They are Eragon and Eldest.

Reviewed by TommyA

Find out more about Brisingr.

Mrs Thomson

Photo: Fairytale Castle Originally uploaded by daytona_k

The poem was was first published in Carroll’s Through the Looking-Glass and What Alice Found There in 1872. But just what does it mean? In storyLines classes we heard a variety of ideas from students and teachers. Stéphane Jorisch immersed himself in the words before coming up with his interpretation.

Click on the eyes above to see a larger version of this book at Lookybook, or find our copy on the picture book shelves to peruse at your leisure.

Jabberwocky was the first book in a series called Visions in Poetry.

by Mrs Thomson