Blue Wolf Reviews

Tag: flying

  • The Flying Nurse

    The Flying Nurse

    Inspired by a presentation from a visiting lecturer from Medecins Sans Frontieres, Prudence Wheelwright from the small town of Crookwell in New South Wales, Australia, knew that her destiny was to one-day work for this organisation. Motivated by her Grandma Mardi’s words, “Don’t sell yourself short because you are a woman”, she was determined to not only acquire the necessary skills but also to use them to help people, who were affected by conflicts, disasters, diseases but without access to regular health care.

    In her outstanding debut book, “The Flying Nurse”, she not only recounts her challenging but fulfilling work with this charity but also her fascinating, action packed career in the world’s most remote and inaccessible, far-flung locations as a nurse and midwife. Beginning her career in the isolated area surrounding Alice Springs, Central Australia, later on a contract in Saudi Arabia, then travel, and eventually by completing the necessary training the fulfillment of her dream; Medecins Sans Frontiers’ Paediatric HIV 12 month project in Kulob, Tajikistan.

    Her vivid descriptions of working in refugee camps, on dangerous front lines and in conditions in third world countries, are both confronting and hardly imaginable by readers in more affluent parts of the world.  The reader is left in no doubt that this highly skilled nurse is not only passionate about her patients, as well as improving their healthcare, but also about being the voice ‘amongst thousands of untold stories’; stories of lack of proper, safe, affordable healthcare.

    Prue has certainly packed a great deal into her first 32 years; no doubt her next 32 years will be as fulfilling.

  • Dream Big, Little Mole

    Dream Big, Little Mole

    Little Mole lives in a burrow as all little Moles do, but she has big, big dreams. She often sits and watches her friends do so many things she wants to do, but knows in her heart she simply will not be able to, because after all she is a Mole and Moles can’t fly, or leap or sing out loud.

    She was so sad that her huge sigh was heard by wise old Owl who said something very wise to her. ‘Just be who you are’, he said. ‘Dream big Little Mole, Be brilliant, Be you!’ So she sat and thought and though and thought about what she could possibly do that would make her so clever, so special.

    What did she come up? Well, she realised the one thing Moles do very well was dig and so she decided to dig, to dig the biggest tunnel ever. She set to digging through rocks and clay and lots of other underground things which was terrific, until it was not…………..

    Tom Percival and Little Mole capture perfectly every child’s dream to be special at something, to try to be the best, to discover who they really are and what they enjoy the most. Importantly he has built in the lovely message that even though things did not go quite as Little Mole had planned, because she accepted the setbacks, thought her way through the challenges and along the way, learned so much about what her special talent really was: helping others.

    Lavish illustrations make Little Moles journey something rather special as she learns to Dream Big, Be Brilliant and most importantly never give up, even when the going gets tough.

    Dream Big, Little Mole will captivate and charm every time it is read by children of all ages and of course their adults, who love a good story.

  • The Flying Bushman An Australian Story of Life Above the Land

    The Flying Bushman An Australian Story of Life Above the Land

    In describing his life as a bushman, Greg Keynes gives us a clear insight into how life has changed in the outback. The story of his childhood and early years in Western Australia is one of back breaking hardship for his parents. He had a huge amount of freedom as a child, but gradually he needed to take on more of the workload to help his father. His mother looked after the family home and was always available to help when children from the local tribe were ill.

    Life was routine, with everyday jobs for all, and never much time for resting. Greg’s mother not only looked after the home and cooked, but also schooled all the children. She was a happy and caring person, while the father, perhaps because of continual concerns and pressures, was stern. Growing up with few cares, Greg and his siblings enjoyed their outback easy lifestyle although they worked to help do the endless jobs on the station.

    Running a large cattle station in in the Pilbara meant droving cattle and it took many men to complete the roundup and muster. Times were changing though, and Greg could see that there had to be a better way to cover the vast amount of land that they had. He ultimately gained a pilot’s licence and flew a helicopter to assist in many of the long-haul drives.

    The book begins with Greg’s description of flying his helicopter, and his feelings as the engine cut out. The story then begins with his childhood. His descriptive language and the pictures he paints with words make the reader feel part of the family and understand how they operated in difficult circumstances. The humour which he introduces about the everyday things such as the thrill he got as a kid when examining the local dump, make this a most satisfying read.

     

  • Blunt Force

    Blunt Force

    Jane Tennyson is still smarting badly after being kicked out of the Flying Squad due to a procedural issue; she has been sent to a small station in Knightsbridge to carry out mundane police work which, while it is important is relatively boring after the high octane of the prestigious Flying Squad. Tennyson is working hard but as it is still prominently a ‘man’s world’ as always life is not being made easy for her.

    The horrific killing of big time showbiz agent Charlie Foxley sees the small Knightsbridge force under serious pressure to investigate a crime that is not only horrific, but also high profile as Foxley had as many friends as he had enemies. Tennyson along with long-time friend and mentor DS Spencer Gibbs have the skills to investigate the case, but as both are a under a ‘cloud’, and can’t seem to solve what is fast becoming a seriously complicated crime ‘quickly’, a new DI is bought in placing Tennyson and Gibb in second place.

    As with all La Plante stories there is a second tier counterbalancing the main plot, that of what really happened when Tennyson froze while out on a job and then later during range practice, which balances out what otherwise would be a somewhat gruesome read.

    Many layers form what is a formidable plot as there was far more to the life of Foxley than was at first apparent, involving high levels of prostitution, the elite of the movie industry and political world and as always, money, money, money!

    Details are painstakingly revisited, clues examined and re-examined and every minute piece of the jigsaw carefully placed on the board to eventually trace the killer and discover the reason why such brutality was used. One of the biggest issues the team face, apart from finding the killer with very few clues to help them, is could this be a once only or will the killer strike again!

    Blunt Force is the sixth book in the Jane Tennyson series which is one series that just keeps on getting better and better as Tennyson continues to follow her dream despite the entrenched chauvinism of her counterparts, coming across as a smart operator who does make mistakes and is all too human.

     

  • The Flying Orchestra

    The Flying Orchestra

    The Flying Orchestra is a beautiful, whimsical and totally charming book which is out to impress from several different perspectives. Clare McFadden, not satisfied with creating a fantastical storyline, has capped it off with exquisite illustrations that simply capture the imagination and go straight to the heart of the story.

    ‘Some days are so windy that even the angels lose their balance from the top of City Hall’ begins a story in the round of listening to the varied, everyday sounds of our world as if The Flying Orchestra has arrived in town, to perform just for you.

    The mournful sound of the train leaving the station without you on it, a plane arriving at the airport, bringing travellers, noise, happiness, joy and sorrow, the deafening roar of touchdown and departure adding to the vibrant sounds.

    The wonderful sounds of the ocean at play, the beauty as the dawn breaks, the sound of the of the wind as it roars into town, ducking, diving, twisting and turning; the simple joy found by The Flying Orchestra as they simply stop, play and create wherever and whenever they arrive somewhere else, anywhere else.

    Couched amongst the magic is the very salient reminder to make time to stop and simply listen to the music there in the everyday ordinary, as we rush madly about the world we have created, without stopping for just a minute to appreciate that which is all around.

    Enchanting and immensely enjoyable, this book offers so much for readers of all ages, as it uses an orchestra to carry the message, the angels to attract attention and the wind, the very mischievous wind, that is sent to create disturbance and bring The Flying Orchestra into town, until it is once again time to leave and the sky is filed with peaceful magic once again.

    For music lovers there is a section at the end of the book titled Music to listen too which offers lovely classical piece to illustrate the many reasons why The Flying Orchestra comes to town as well as introducing children to the many and various aspects of classical music

  • Extraordinary Birds

    Extraordinary Birds

    Bitter sweet, poignant and spellbinding Extraordinary Birds from Sandy Stark McGinnes takes a delicate journey into the life of a child growing up with more questions than answers in her life, creating about her a story that will make her world alright, acceptable, allowing a place to dream, to believe, to simply be who she believes she is.

    December is eleven years old and knows heaps about birds. So much so that she often refers to her life as something similar to that of a baby bird, learning how to fly. Although she knows she is not really a baby bird, she truly believes that one day, just like a baby bird, she will be able to find her Mum and fly away with her to a new life. To her the scars on her back are the place where her wings will eventually grow.

    All she knows about her birth mother has been discovered through the book left behind and a photo with a message in her Mums writing; not a lot to build a dream on but in her away of viewing life, a far better choice than simply nothing at all.

    Eventually December is placed with a new foster Mum, Eleanor, who is a very special person, a volunteer at the local wildlife park and has her own taxidermy business. As time moves along December settles into her new home, beginning to make friends and slowly begins to learn that, with Eleanor’s love and care, there can be a safe haven where home is something more than just a word.

    There comes a time when choices need to be made, to live in the today world of love and Eleanor, or to keep trying to fly like a baby bird, even though she knows that to try and fly could be pretty drastic. But it is not until she does try to fly, she realises that what she has with Eleanor is something very wonderful.

    Beautifully written, this is a story of so much more than the journey of one little girl; it is a reflection on the lives of so many foster children in today’s world, who struggle to survive in a life which is constantly changing.

    Beautifully crafted and an unforgettable read.

  • The Flying Optometrist

    The Flying Optometrist

    Written in a celebration of the men and women who take medical assistance to the remote regions of Australia, The Flying Optometrist gives an insight into what is to come, with the cleverly designed front cover showing the wide range of letters similar to the charts used in Optometrists clinics.

    The story focuses on Stephanie, a little girl who lives in a remote part of Australia, on a very large farm, near a very small town. The town is so small they rely on the flying clinics provided by the Royal Flying Doctor Service and the Flying Optometrist to bring in a wide range of medical services and such everyday necessities as health checks and eye checks, as well as organise some much needed new glasses for Stephanie and some of the other people who also live in the town.

    Stephanie has managed to break her one and only pair of glasses and can’t see anything very well through the cracked lenses. She can’t play cricket and no one is interested in letting her play with them at school because she keeps dropping the ball, She is very, very, miserable. There are several other people in town that badly need to visit the optometrist as well.

    The townspeople wait and wait for the arrival of the little red plane, but the weather is closing in, bringing with it a bad storm. They’re all very worried for the safety of the pilot, and his little plane but as a new day arrives, so too does the Flying Optometrist, safe and well.

    He does his work and then fly’s off to go to another town, promising Stephanie and her friends that their new glasses will arrive safely in the post in a few weeks’ time.

    The Flying Optometrist highlights the very real isolation that is a part of everyday life for so many Australians living in the country and the ongoing need to bring medical services to outback and remote towns which is as important today, as it has always been.

    In the back of the book there is a very well-constructed and informative look at the Royal Flying Doctor Service as well as the remote Optometrist Service of which Phil Anderton and his little red plane are an integral component.

    Wonderfully created with bright colourful illustrations used to reach out to children of a wide age range, The Flying Optometrist brings the little known world of remote Australia to life.

  • The Flying Kangaroo Great Untold Stories of Qantas…The Heroic, the Hilarious and the Sometimes Just Plain Strange

    The Flying Kangaroo Great Untold Stories of Qantas…The Heroic, the Hilarious and the Sometimes Just Plain Strange

    Jim was a former Qantas communications director, and has written and researched this book from an insider’s point of view, and with a great deal of knowledge and understanding. The stories vary greatly, from the history of the airline today, to its daily running, and insights into ways Qantas has become such an Australian icon. Included in this recount are photographs taken at various times. In one, sheep are being loaded in a plane, and another is shown flying over New Guinea.

    To begin with, this air operation was founded by Hudson Fysh and Paul McGinness. The Australian public were drawn to this venture and developed a sense of pride and loyalty. The workers and maintenance staff were encouraged to develop this attitude, and the saying, “We’re off to polish the engines,” became their catch phrase. When a plane crashed in America, engineers were asked to check the same model in Australia, as no one knew the cause of the accident. They removed panels and found all the equipment in order, but kept checking further and eventually found the fault. A world first.

    Many stories are told of flying adventures and near mishaps, especially over the mountainous area of New Guinea. The enormous role that Qantas played in evacuating people after cyclone Tracy, in Darwin is heart- warming. At the Anzac march in Sydney in 2002, a group of veterans marched behind a flag titled “Skippy Squadron.” The airline had a long history of war time activity.

    Rather chillingly, the author documents all the known crashes and deaths on the  Qantas airlines. But compared to any other company, it’s safety record is excellent. He goes on to describe split second decision making by the pilot, and highly efficient reactions by the crew to an incident in Mauritius. The plane overran the landing strip, crashed into an embankment, and caught fire. It was carrying a large amount of fuel, and the crew thought it would explode at any moment. With no safety slides, people had to jump down to the embankment. All passengers survived, although sixteen had minor injuries. Many heroic acts were witnessed that day.

    Jim details the business side of the company, with its sales to, and by the Australian Government. This is a thorough and comprehensive look at an Australian icon, told with great pride and accuracy.

     

     

  • Kid Normal

    Kid Normal

    It only took a few words from Murph’s mum to change his life forever! Moving to a new suburb, they were trying to find a school for Murph to attend. His mum said at the last meeting they had at a school, “He is really flying”, which somehow did not seem to help at that school, but seemed to at this one as instantly, the Principal showed a keen degree of interest and, prepared for another rebuttal, Murph and his mum were welcomed into this new school community. They did wonder why!

     From the beginning, Murph was sure there was something very different about this school, this class and these students. It wasn’t until he was asked to, “Show us your cape,” that he really began to sense that something was very different. Many of the students had unusual talents, and many of the classes he attended were quite different to what he had experienced in other schools.

     Murph’s mum was a nurse, and she was having trouble finding a job as she was a casual worker, she could be put off at any time so Murph and his family had moved house often. Because of this and the increasing revelations being uncovered at his new school, he began to figure out that he was surrounded by trainee super heroes, and fitting in was pretty hard. Luckily he found some friends who helped him escape from the teasing and nickname of “Kid Normal,” and tried his best to fit into school life.

     Unfortunately, there was an evil genius, who decided that the entire school community would make a wonderful army if subjected to his total domination. There began some forceful deeds by the evil one, and some of the past super heroes, (who were now teachers), were struggling.

     This story is one of great imagination, and written with the aim of captivating children’s imagination. The author has used a great deal of humour in language, situations and illustrations, to captivate readers. The story includes many topical issues, such as teasing, bullying and problems with single- parent families, as well as imaginary wars between good and evil. This is just the ticket for a child with an interest in Science and one who loves humour, as well as the imaginative reader.

  • The Adventures of Miss Petitfour

    The Adventures of Miss Petitfour

    The five short stories that make up this adventure book are just the right length for a bedtime read or for curl up on the lounge time. As in previous books we know that Miss Petitfour loves baking and playing with her cats, but most of all she loves flying. Her cats always accompany her and fly behind her, paw to tail. She has sixteen very contented cats who know that when Miss Petitfour picks up her favourite tablecloth, it is time to fly. Some of the names of her cats are Minky, Misty, Taffy, Pirate and Hemdela.

     The story begins by introducing us to Miss Petitfour and her cats. For children who have read others of her stories, the illustrations prove to be as familiar as the cats themselves. Gently we are told that adventures don’t need to be big, but can be small or just the right size, as Miss Petitfour’s were. To begin with, there is a particular order that is adhered to when one is about to go flying.

      The cat owner would hold the smallest cat in one hand and the four corners of her favourite tablecloth in the other and face into the wind. As the tablecloth fills with air, the cats wrap their tails around each other and head up into the sky. This mode of transport is a little restrictive as one can only fly in the direction the wind is blowing.

     One of the group’s best loved shops is the book shop. There are many books with large words which the owners wife believes many children love to get their tongue tangled up in.  These words are written in yellow cursive writing, and are quite distinct from the black printed word.  Mrs Collarwaller and Miss Petitfour spend many enjoyable hours making up funny book titles, such as “How to care for the fish in your shoe.”

     For children who enjoy reflecting on the oddities in a story, there will be many moments of joy. Wonderful, wispy illustrations adorn many pages, while pictures of delicious cakes are quite common. No one seems to think it odd to have a flying woman in the village, and one who takes her cats with her. The daring adventures which seem almost catastrophic… such as the wind gusts almost dragging the cats into a passing river are easily solved when by good luck one of the villagers is out for a sail in his boat and calmly rescues the fliers.

     Some books are made for savouring, and this is one of them. The language is challenging, but readable, and it is easy to suspend belief in the immediacy of the story. The book size is just right for small hands and the gentle colours ensure a relaxing and comfortable read.