Bookshop

BOOKSHOP

1. THE LORAX

ISBN: 978-0-394-82337-9
Author: Dr. Seuss

“Unless someone like you…cares a whole awful lot…nothing is going to get better…It’s not.”

Review:
Long before saving the earth became a global concern, Dr. Seuss, speaking through his character the Lorax, warned against mindless progress and the danger it posed to the earth’s natural beauty. It was written in 1971 on the heels of forest industry bad press on environmental issues unfolding in the United States’ Pacific Northwest dealing with the Northern spotted owl and the health of coastal redwoods and Douglas firs. It influenced children’s (and parents) environmental perceptions for decades. Possibly Dr. Seuss’ most controversial work, The Lorax has become a popular metaphor for those concerned about the human impact on the environment. The children’s book consists of an argument between two creatures, the tree-loving Lorax and the money-loving Once-ler who makes Thneeds from truffula trees. Several timber industry groups sponsored the creation of a book called The Truax in rebuttal to the Seuss book. The Lorax was actually banned in some schools and libraries in regions with timber economies for its anti-forest industry content. It is a fantastic and colourfull story, with a simple message and I am sure will be loved for generations to come.

SILAS’S REVENGE

ISBN: 978-0-88995-422-9
Author: Jamie Bastedo

Review:
Author, Jamie Bastedo and his family visited Wild Mountains a number of years ago as Wwoofers and have kept in touch, while supporting the work we do, ever since. Jamie has also written a great book, that I have enjoyed reading, although written for teens, called “Sila’s Revenge.”

Sila’s Revenge is about a teenage girl named Ashley, an eco-warrior among other things, who lives in the North Pole. Her icy environment is melting due to global warming where Jamie sets his eco message effectively as a theme to an intriguing plot. Ashley and her drumming group the“Dream Drummers” get invited to play their drums at Carnegie Hall, where the adventure for Ashley and her band really starts to happen. Kidnapping… Wealthy Eccentric’s … Cataclysmic Plans… Embittered Former Environmentalists, the story unravels in Australia at the Scorching Earth concert. This eco book defiantly skips the preachy, over detailed position that can happen in this genre, instead focusing on good character development in what has been called a “mystery-like” novel, against a backdrop of a whole world in environmental crisis.

I agree that this book is bound “to inspire readers into learning more about the biggest crisis facing planet Earth.”The book was played out in various locations reminding me that these problems truly are world wide AND it’s only by working together that we can make a difference.

Highly readable, and well enjoyed – I recommend this book to you and any of your 10-15 year old friends.

By Lizz Hills