Approaches to Learning
Fiction and autobiography
Aquila by Andrew Norriss
When Geoff and Tom discover the skeleton of a Roman centurion and a UFO, it sparks an intense desire to find out more about the centurion and how the machine could work. Their teachers are dumbfounded because neither student has previously ever shown any interest in school work. This book is great fun as the boys discover the wonders of flying a UFO but it is also an exploration of how we learn and what motivates us. (10 – 14 years)
Chinese Cinderella by Adeline Yen Mah
This is the story of Adeline Yen Mah’s childhood up to the age of 14 years. The full story of her determination to overcome the pain of being an unwanted child and to make something of her life was told in the very popular adult novel, Falling Leaves. It was her determination to learn and to do well at school that enabled her to make a different life for herself. This book has been well adapted by the author herself for younger readers. (11 - 14 years)
Daughter of Venice by Donna Jo Napoli
Set in C16th Venice, this is an intriguing portrait of a young girl who is intensely curious about the world and its workings and who longs to know more about everything. As a young noblewoman, her life is very circumscribed until she comes up with an audacious plan that enables her to leave the palazzo and explore the city. It is a novel which succeeds in incorporating fascinating historical detail into the fabric of the story. (11 – 15 years)
Don’t call Me Ishmael! by Michael Bauer
This book is written with a flair and vigour and love of language which is invigorating and very, very funny. Ishmael Leseur is bullied at school but describes his humiliation in a very funny self-deprecating way. He is amazed when James Scobie comes to the school and shows no fear of the class bully but wins encounters time and again through a very clever wit and fast thinking. When Ishmael becomes involved with James Scobie and an attempt to set up a debating team, it looks disastrous but is hilarious as the team attempts to work on a topic from totally different perspectives. However the team does learn to work together and their thinking and communication skills improve greatly. Very enjoyable . (11 - 16 years)
The Goat who sailed the World by Jackie French
This book has two narrators, a young twelve year old boy called Isaac Manley and a much travelled and superior Goat. This is a narrative device which gives us two very different perspectives on Cooks’ voyage around the world from 1768 to 1771. The Goat views the voyage from her position on the high quarterdeck near the officers for whom her milk provided much needed nourishment. She was a remarkable creature as is testified by the honours heaped upon her on her return to England, including a State pension from the Admiralty. Jackie French has taken the story of the voyage from various diaries such as those by Joseph Banks and Captain James Cook where there is much information about the actual voyage but very little on the interesting details of day to day life. These details Jackie has made up herself and they make this voyage of discovery, when Australia was discovered and the ship almost wrecked on the Great Barrier Reef, an extremely interesting story. Jackie also includes notes on the history and websites where journals of the voyage can be accessed. I think this book could inspire much original historical reading by young readers. (8 - 14 years)
Joel and Cat Set the Story Straight by Nick Earls and Rebecca Sparrow This was obviously great fun to write. Nick Earls and Rebecca Sparrow have written this story in tandem and it is about an assignment that Joel and Cat (who have developed a strong antipathy to each other) have to write together. They are in their final year at school and have to write the story writing assignment by alternate emails and without discussion. There have been a number of misunderstandings in the past and Joel and Cat discover to their surprise that they don’t really hate each other. In fact they find themselves increasingly attracted to each other. It is fast moving, witty and enjoyable. (12 – 16 years)
Kelp by Linda Aronson
This is the very funny story of Emily Tait who is only fourteen but longs to be a business tycoon. She can see business opportunities everywhere especially in the family seaweed business that her eccentric family run on an island off the coast of Australia. However she learns that change is not as easy as she had thought as it can have far-reaching impact on people. The story lends itself to wide ranging discussion on many topics such as business and business ethics, family, conservation and so on. (11 – 16 years)
Sing to the Dawn by Minfong Ho
Set in a marginal rice growing area of Thailand this short novel would be an excellent introduction to a discussion of the effect of climate and geography on village life in parts of Asia. Some of the frustrations, difficulties and injustices of village life are revealed in this story of Dawan, a 12 year old girl who strives to continue her education at a high school in Thailand in spite of competition from her brother and opposition from her father. (10 years up)
Aquila by Andrew Norriss
When Geoff and Tom discover the skeleton of a Roman centurion and a UFO, it sparks an intense desire to find out more about the centurion and how the machine could work. Their teachers are dumbfounded because neither student has previously ever shown any interest in school work. This book is great fun as the boys discover the wonders of flying a UFO but it is also an exploration of how we learn and what motivates us. (10 – 14 years)
Chinese Cinderella by Adeline Yen Mah
This is the story of Adeline Yen Mah’s childhood up to the age of 14 years. The full story of her determination to overcome the pain of being an unwanted child and to make something of her life was told in the very popular adult novel, Falling Leaves. It was her determination to learn and to do well at school that enabled her to make a different life for herself. This book has been well adapted by the author herself for younger readers. (11 - 14 years)
Daughter of Venice by Donna Jo Napoli
Set in C16th Venice, this is an intriguing portrait of a young girl who is intensely curious about the world and its workings and who longs to know more about everything. As a young noblewoman, her life is very circumscribed until she comes up with an audacious plan that enables her to leave the palazzo and explore the city. It is a novel which succeeds in incorporating fascinating historical detail into the fabric of the story. (11 – 15 years)
Don’t call Me Ishmael! by Michael Bauer
This book is written with a flair and vigour and love of language which is invigorating and very, very funny. Ishmael Leseur is bullied at school but describes his humiliation in a very funny self-deprecating way. He is amazed when James Scobie comes to the school and shows no fear of the class bully but wins encounters time and again through a very clever wit and fast thinking. When Ishmael becomes involved with James Scobie and an attempt to set up a debating team, it looks disastrous but is hilarious as the team attempts to work on a topic from totally different perspectives. However the team does learn to work together and their thinking and communication skills improve greatly. Very enjoyable . (11 - 16 years)
The Goat who sailed the World by Jackie French
This book has two narrators, a young twelve year old boy called Isaac Manley and a much travelled and superior Goat. This is a narrative device which gives us two very different perspectives on Cooks’ voyage around the world from 1768 to 1771. The Goat views the voyage from her position on the high quarterdeck near the officers for whom her milk provided much needed nourishment. She was a remarkable creature as is testified by the honours heaped upon her on her return to England, including a State pension from the Admiralty. Jackie French has taken the story of the voyage from various diaries such as those by Joseph Banks and Captain James Cook where there is much information about the actual voyage but very little on the interesting details of day to day life. These details Jackie has made up herself and they make this voyage of discovery, when Australia was discovered and the ship almost wrecked on the Great Barrier Reef, an extremely interesting story. Jackie also includes notes on the history and websites where journals of the voyage can be accessed. I think this book could inspire much original historical reading by young readers. (8 - 14 years)
Joel and Cat Set the Story Straight by Nick Earls and Rebecca Sparrow This was obviously great fun to write. Nick Earls and Rebecca Sparrow have written this story in tandem and it is about an assignment that Joel and Cat (who have developed a strong antipathy to each other) have to write together. They are in their final year at school and have to write the story writing assignment by alternate emails and without discussion. There have been a number of misunderstandings in the past and Joel and Cat discover to their surprise that they don’t really hate each other. In fact they find themselves increasingly attracted to each other. It is fast moving, witty and enjoyable. (12 – 16 years)
Kelp by Linda Aronson
This is the very funny story of Emily Tait who is only fourteen but longs to be a business tycoon. She can see business opportunities everywhere especially in the family seaweed business that her eccentric family run on an island off the coast of Australia. However she learns that change is not as easy as she had thought as it can have far-reaching impact on people. The story lends itself to wide ranging discussion on many topics such as business and business ethics, family, conservation and so on. (11 – 16 years)
Sing to the Dawn by Minfong Ho
Set in a marginal rice growing area of Thailand this short novel would be an excellent introduction to a discussion of the effect of climate and geography on village life in parts of Asia. Some of the frustrations, difficulties and injustices of village life are revealed in this story of Dawan, a 12 year old girl who strives to continue her education at a high school in Thailand in spite of competition from her brother and opposition from her father. (10 years up)
