I have recently completed ‘The Running Man’ by Michael Gerard Bauer and found it to be an excellent novel that keeps you wondering throughout. It oozes mystery and keeps the reader curious and wondering until the end. I like the characters and the perception and vulnerability of the main character.
This book was a winner of the Older Readers CBCA Awards in 2005 as well as a list of other awards received around the country. His latest “Don’t Call Me Ishmael” (Read Chapter One Here), has been shortlisted for the 2007 CBCA Awards again in the Older Readers catagory.
The Winners of 2006 CBCA
When I read the honour books I wondered what could possibly be better and win the Children’s Book Council Awards. I read ‘The Story of Tom Brennan‘ by J.C.Burke recently and it was great. My son also enjoyed it and as a very dear friend of ours has become badly injured from an accident, we could both really relate to parts of the novel, that dealt with the aftermath of a tragic accident. It was almost therapeutic we both felt to read it and discuss it afterwards. The author has captured the numbness well. It is a frightening tale, yet I highly recommend it and feel it was well researched and written.
Families feature in Latest YA reads
I finished reading Chasing Charlie Duskinby Cath Crowley last night. I enjoyed it thoroughly. I like her voice. It is real. She captures the anguish of teenagers well and their realities and realisations, without making it too ‘adult’. It was also about grief and the loss of a parent as with Will by Maria Boyd. I loved her Gracie Faltrain character and recommend The Life and Times of Gracie Faltrain. Cath Crowley went to our school so I am always recommending her books to our kids. They are highly recommended by the students.
Lost Property by James Moloney was another book that was an honour book for the Childrens Book Council awards and it was great. My son (16)has also read it and he loved it too. James Moloney is getting better and better. I still love teaching ‘A Bridge to Wisemans Cove’ to my year 8’s. I think Lost Property is definately as was ‘No Worries’ for older readers.
The thing I loved most about these two books is that they showed how important families are to young people. So often I hear that teenagers are only interested in their friends and that their families are no longer important to them. I know my own children spend a lot less time at home now they have become ‘teenagers’, but young people really value their families. I think that is the biggest lesson I have learnt or realisation I have had becoming a teacher.