Book Review: The Vanishing by Mark Greenwood

 The Vanishing

by

Mark Greenwood

Publisher: Fremantle Press

Publication date: 2nd July 2024

Series: History Hunter

Genre: Middle Grade / Non Fiction 

Pages: 112

RRP: AU$14.99 US$9.95 (softcover)

Source: Courtesy of the publisher

 

Review: The Vanishing

The Vanishing is one of four books written by Mark Greenwood for the History Hunters series.

 

The Vanishing delves into the 1978 unsolved disappearance of a pilot whilst flying across the Bass Strait.

 

Mark Greenwood recounts the disappearance of 20 year old pilot Fred and his plane after radioing the control tower about seeing a UFO. After extensive air and sea searches no sign of the plane has been found.

 

Greenwood sets out the facts and includes Fred's radio conversation, photographs, newspaper articles and the submitted flight plan.

 

It's up to the reader to decide what could have happened in this cold case disappearance.

 

If your child is fascinated by all things extra-terrestrial they will love The Vanishing! 

Fascinating and a little bit eerie.

 

My rating 5 / 5 👽👽👽👽👽

Recommended age: 8 -12 years

 

Teaching notes and activities can be found at Fremantle Press:

 https://fremantlepress.com.au/books/the-vanishing/

Book Review: The Dragon's Treasure by Mark Greenwood

The Dragon's Treasure

by

Mark Greenwood

Publisher: Fremantle Press

Publication date: 2nd July 2024

Series: History Hunter

Genre: Middle Grade / Non Fiction

Pages: 112

RRP: AU$14.99 US$9.95 (softcover)

Source: Courtesy of the publisher

 

Review: The Dragon's Treasure

In his wonderful new history hunter series Mark Greenwood brings the stories of lost explorers, glittering treasure and baffling mysteries to life. Awe filled stories to entice young readers to explore the unimaginable.

 

History Hunters is a four book series with books 1 & 2 out now.

The Dragon's Treasure opens in 1931 Australia when two young boys find ancient coins on a Western Australian beach. However it started long before this with a shipwreck off the coast of WA in 1656.

 

Mark Greenwood recounts the story of the shipwreck and the subsequent search for the ship and survivors but nothing was found. It wasn't until 1963 when divers found the wreck of the Gilt Dragon and it's sunken treasure. To this day no-one knows what became of the survivors.

 

Wonderfully written with the inclusion of photos, illustrations and maps it will ignite the imagination of young readers and hold their attention through the whole story.

The Dragon's Treasure is a fascinating story that will have junior readers searching for more information on the Gilt Dragon and its treasures.

My rating 5 / 5 🪙🪙🪙🪙🪙

Recommended age: 8 -12 years

Teaching notes and activities can be found at Fremantle Press:

https://fremantlepress.com.au/books/the-dragons-treasure/

 

 

Book Review: Fledgewitch by Lian Tanner

Fledgewitch

A Dragons of Hallow book

by

Lian Tanner

Illustrated by Martina Heiduczek

 

Publisher: Allen & Unwin

Publication date: 3rd April 2024

Series: Dragons of Hallow #2

Genre: Middle Grade / Fantasy

Pages: 352

RRP: $17.99AU (paperback)

Source: Courtesy of the publisher

Review: Fledgewitch: A Dragons of Hallow book

I am so glad I read Spellhound first. Although it isn't really necessary. If you have a copy of Fledgewitch and can't wait to read it there is some backstory. So jump right in!!

 

" Here are the Three Laws of Quill, carved in stone outside every town hall, and learnt by every schoolchild:
There shall be No Witches.
There shall be No Dragons.
There shall be NO SECRETS."

 

Our narrator from Spellhound is back with another enchanting tale filled with even more danger, magic and super cute characters than the first book. If that's even possible.

 

The book opens in the mountains of Quill with Brim living with her mum, dad and brother. She is taken away accused of being a fledgewitch and her parents are told she needs to be cured. Brim is sure she is not a witch, even if she has feathers growing from her elbows.

 

A young horned-glob named Snort (like a little calf) jumps in the car with Brim. Horned-globs are easily forgotten so Snort has no trouble venturing around as no-one remembers him. He wants to find the dragon, although he is terribly scared of them, to save his family.

 

This is another fast-paced immersive read. Brim and Snort are the cutest characters, they shake with fear but are courageous when the time comes.

Fledgewitch is a delightful tale of friendship, never giving up and using your powers for good.

 

Brim has her magic power in knitting. I loved this and wouldn't it be wonderful if it encouraged some children to try knitting themselves.

 

Bumbling laugh-out-loud villains and lots of jaw-dropping twists, which is something Lian does so well. I never see them coming.

Fledgewitch is a delightful story of family, love and working together. Championing commonsense, determination and perseverance.

 

My rating 5 / 5 🐮🐮🐮🐮🐮

 

Publisher recommended age 7 - 11 years 

My review of Spellhound

 

 

 

 

Book Review: Spellhound by Lian Tanner

Spellhound

A Dragons of Hallow book 

by

Lian Tanner

Illustrated by Sally Soweol Han

 

Publisher: Allen & Unwin

Publication date: 4th April 2023

Series: Dragons of Hallow #1

Genre: Middle Grade / Fantasy

Pages: 351

RRP: $17.99AU (paperback)

Source: own purchase

Review: Spellhound: A Dragons of Hallow book

"In a quiet corner of Hallow, far from cities and towns, roads and railways, walls and witches, there lived a family of Spellounds.

Of course you have never heard of Spellhounds. They are one of the Three Great Secrets of Hallow, a country that loves secrets almost as much as it loves green jellybabies."

Spellhound is a truly adorable and fun story that will be loved by children and adults alike. Delightfully narrated bringing the reader right into the story.

 

Flaxseed (Flax) is a minch-wiggin, a tiny tree-dwelling creature. She has grown up knowing she is 'the one' destined to save Minchfold from the dragon. Flax is a wonderful character, she is scared and doesn't want to be the one to save everyone. Luckily they hadn't seen a dragon for 100 years. Then she meets a Spellhound pup who says his parents were taken by a dragon and Flax knows she must help him find them. It's her destiny. When the time comes she shows great courage and intelligence. 

 

Spellhound is filled to the brim with adventure, danger and ever so endearing characters. This is a fast-paced novel that I am certain middle-graders will find hard to put down. Short chapters and cliff-hangers make this an engaging read.

There is a crossover into the human world of Harrow when Felicia, the 10 year-old Queen of Harrow, is introduced to the mix as she goes searching for the puppy she could hear crying in the night. The young trio must draw on all their courage to confront the dragon.

 

A giant magical pup, a tiny tree-dwelling animal, a 10 year-old girl and a talking sword take centre stage in this fantastical adventure story with danger at every turn, jaw-dropping twists, magic wielding enemies, nonstop humour and boundless friendship. 

My rating 5/ 5 🐶🐶🐶🐶🐶

 

 

 

Book Review: Team Trouble! by Eddie Woo & Dave Hartley

 Team Trouble!

by

Eddie Woo & Dave Hartley

Illustrated by Mitch Vane

Publisher: Pan Macmillan Australia

Imprint: Pan Australia 

Publication date: 28th June 2022

Series: Whodunnit, Eddie Woo? #2

Genre: Junior fiction / Middle Grade / Mystery

Pages: 204

RRP: $14.99AU (paperback)

Source: Won 

 

Review: Team Trouble!

Eddie Woo Super Sleuth is ready for action and mystery. With a mind for maths and a nose for adventure, he is about to skateboard into ... danger.

Eddie and his friends Rusty and DT are back in Team Trouble with more messages to decipher and codes to crack.

 

In this book Eddie and friends must find a way to stop the nursing home from closing down to make way for a coal seam gas plant. The team uses maths to decipher a coded message left by one of the nursing home residents.

 

Lots of action and plenty of danger as the trio come across a bird smuggling operation run by money hungry developers. When the trio gets kidnapped they are rescued by the most unlikeliest people.

While trying to thwart the baddies the team must also practice for the Triple Threat Quest which involves singing, maths and skateboarding, with the best team being crowned the winners.

Plenty of humour and great sketches by Mitch Vane make Team Trouble an engaging read.

Middle graders will enjoy the team challenge, sense of adventure and danger.

My rating 4 / 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Recommended age: 7+ years