'The best books, reviewed with insight and charm, but without compromise.'
- author Jackie French

Sunday 13 March 2011

KBR Recommends: New Junior Fiction for Girls, March 2011

There's so many exciting junior fiction books for girls - some part of a series, some stand alone. Here are some books KBR is loving...


EJ12 Girl Hero: Drama Queen by Susannah McFarlane
(Scholastic/Lemon Fizz Media, $12.99, ISBN: 9781921684227, Feb 2011)

Shadow is up to something with the water supply but what it could possibly have to do with the filming of a new action movie?

Special Agent EJ12 needs to keep her eye on the big picture. She needs to infiltrate the movie set and stop Shadow before it is too late.

That's the easy part.

As EJ12, Emma Jacks can do anything.So why is she is getting worked up over little things? Perhaps she isn't, after all.






The Wombles by Elisabeth Beresford
(Bloomsbury, $13.99, ISBN: 9781408808375, December 2010)

The Wombles live in a beautifully snug, well-ordered and cosy burrow underneath Wimbledon Common - the perfect base from which to sort and recycle all the rubbish that unthinking humans constantly drop.

First published over 40 years ago, the Wombles books are back to entertain a whole new generation with their charming characters and environmental themes. This is the first book in the series and introduces us to its cast of delightful characters, from Great Uncle Bulgaria to Orinoco, who is particularly fond of his food and a subsequent forty winks.

We're so happy to see The Wombles re-released. It's childhood flashback time!

thewomblesbooks.com


Diva: It’s a Girl Thing by Sue Lawson
(Black Dog Books, $7.99, ISBN: 9781742031675, January 2011)

Mickey Farrell has a dream - to be the hottest singing sensation in the country. But first she has to survive the gruelling challenge of the Diva competition… This re-released set of books will have rockstar loving girls devouring every page.

"I thought entering the Diva Competition would be the answer to all my dreams. Now I'm sitting in a hall filled with a million other girls. My hands are shaking. My knees feel like rubber. Suddenly I'm not so sure this was a good idea after all..."

Other books in this series:
Diva: Rising Star
Diva: Girls Stuff
Diva: Finale
Diva: Going Solo
Diva: Girls at Sea


Ivy + Bean: Doomed to Dance by Annie Barrows
(Chronicle Books, $9.95, 9780811876667, 2 August 2010)

We've always loved the Ivy + Bean books in our house and this latest instalment - book 6 - is as much fun as ever.

After months of begging their parents for ballet lessons, Ivy and Bean finally get what they want... well, not exactly. Much to their surprise, it turns out ballet lessons do not cover karate chops and roundhouse kicks. The girls have no interest in learning how to dance gracefully, but they promised their parents they would finish the entire ballet course!

When it comes time for Ivy and Bean to participate in the ocean-themed class recital, the girls must figure out a way to get out of it without breaking their promises.


The Pup’s Tale by Darrel and Sally Odgers
(Scholastic, $10.99, ISBN: 9781741697254, 1 February 2011)

Trump tells the stories of the animal patients and their families.

Trump the dog lives in her person Dr Jeanie's quarters behind the veterinary surgery. Trump has the important job of Animal Liaison Officer and travels with Jeanie when she makes house and farm calls.

Because her dog senses are so acute, she often draws conclusions before the humans have even begun to think.


Fairy School Drop-Out: Over the Rainbow by Meredith Badger
(Hardie Grant Egmont, $12.95, ISBN: 9781921759826, 1 February 2011)

Fairies love granting wishes, right? Well, Elly doesn't. But then again, Elly is not exactly your average fairy.

She's hopeless at Extreme Flying, always messes up spells and is constantly getting in trouble. But then Elly's strict grandmother sends her over the rainbow to boarding school.

Will Elly the fairy school drop-out finally become a proper fairy?

See KBR’s review of the first book in this series here

The Friendship Match-Maker by Randa Abdel-Fattah
(Scholastic, $15.99, ISBN: 9781862919204, February 2011)

Lara Zany is Potts Court Primary School's official Friendship Matchmaker. She is certain her Friendship Rules work. She can take the Loneliest Loser (LL) and help them make a best friend.

Until Emily Wong shows up and breaks all the Rules.
Now Emily has challenged Lara to a competition and Lara's Rules are about to be tested.


The Baby-Sitters Club: Dawn and the Impossible Three by Ann M Martin
(Scholastic, $9.99, ISBN: 9780545174794, Re-Issued December 2010)

The Baby-Sitters Club is back with a new cover but still the classic stories inside, inviting a whole new generation of readers to join the adventures.

In this re-issued Book 5, can the Baby-Sitters Club handle another member? Dawn hopes so... she's the new girl, eager to make friends, and ready to show her talent as a baby-sitter.

But when she's assigned to the terrible Barrett kids, Dawn isn't sure she's up to this impossible task!

In this re-issued Book 5, can the Baby-Sitters Club handle another member? Dawn hopes so... she's the new girl, eager to make friends, and ready to show her talent as a baby-sitter.

But when she's assigned to the terrible Barrett kids, Dawn isn't sure she's up to this impossible task!