The Protected
By Claire Zorn Reviewed by Margaret McKay-Lowndes Young Adult novels often take the form of sci-fi, fantasy or dystopia, taking us to amazing worlds full of dragons, aliens, or earth-changing catastrophes. Not so The Protected, an award winning novel by Claire Zorn
StoryLinks interviews Claire Zorn
Claire Zorn talked with Margaret McKay-Lowndes about her latest book When We Are Invisible and a writing life. Claire Zorn is the author of three highly acclaimed novels for Young Adults, as well as a picture book for children entitled No
The World Between Blinks
By Amie Kaufman and Ryan Graudin Reviewed by Margaret McKay-Lowndes What do Amelia Earhart, Prime Minister Harold Holt and Queen Nefertiti have in common? Well, they all disappeared without trace and now make an appearance in the World Between Blinks, a world
Pawcasso
By Remy Lai Reviewed by Sarah Custance Remy Lai is the Brisbane based author of the critically acclaimed books Pie in the Sky and Fly on the Wall. Pawcasso is her first full length graphic novel. Jo is looking at a long and
Book Links Award for 2021 Children’s Historical Fiction Longlist announced!
The waiting is over, the longlist is out. Out of sixty entries eighteen titles have been selected as outstanding works of historical fiction for children. Historical fiction is an important way for young readers to engage with our history. It’s also
Shortlist for 2021 Story competition announced.
Four stories were chosen that, in the opinion of the judges, had interesting characters and relevant themes, were well structured, and had child appeal. Pigpen Apples by Annaleise Byrd Abbie plays a trick on her sister Ellie that goes spectacularly awry. Abbie
Interview with Katrina Nannestad
Here is a fascinating YOUTUBE Interview with Katrina where she answers questions about her writing and her book We Are Wolves. Katrina is an Australian author who grew up in New South Wales. Her writing celebrates family, friendship and belonging. Her novels
Hodge Podge: How To Make A Pet Monster #1
By Lili Wilkinson Illustrated by Dustin Spence Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Lili Wilkinson is an award-winning writer of mainly Young Adult novels. Here she has written and amusing and appealing story, the first in a series, for middle grade readers. Artie is an eleven
Sky Dragon #1 Take To The Skies
By Anh Do Illustrated by James Hart Reviewed by Junior Reviewer Leonard Cavallaro Anh Do’s new book is the beginning of a unique and suspenseful series. Anh Do is a skilled author, actor, comedian, and painter, with some of his most famous books
The Schoolmaster’s Daughter
By Jackie French Reviewed by Zewlan Moor Fans of Jackie French will be happy to see another rip-roaring read, once again based on her own family history. The Schoolmaster's Daughter starts with a shipwreck when Hannah Gilbert and her family are sailing to
The Little Pirate Queen
Written and illustrated by Sally Anne Garland Reviewed by Sandy Driessens 'A smooth sea never made a skilled sailor' – Franklin D. Roosevelt. This quotation on the dedication page defines the message of this heartening story. Every week, Lucy sails across the sea
Dragon World
By Tamara Macfarlane Illustrated by Alessandra Fusi Reviewed by Mia Macrossan 'Dragons have captivated the imaginations of people everywhere. They take many forms and represent many things' and this beautifully presented book gives a glimpse into that rich imaginative world that dragons inhabit. It
What We’ll Build: Plans For Our Together Future
By Oliver Jeffers Reviewed by Mia Macrossan The renowned award-winning Oliver Jeffers is a Northern Irish artist, illustrator and writer who now lives and works in Brooklyn. He is perhaps best known for the best selling The Day the Crayons Quit. In his
Mr Tickle
By Roger Hargreaves Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Did you know this has been around for 50 years? It was the first Mr Men book and now there is a handsome gold anniversary edition out now which includes the story of how it
The Quicksand Pony
By Alison Lester Reviewed by Mia Macrossan This book was published 15 years ago and has now been reissued with a gorgeous new cover. The Quicksand Pony, set on a farm near the rugged Australian coastline is mainly about Biddy, devastated at having
Mo and Crow
By Jo Kasch Illustrated by Jonathan Bentley Reviewed by Barbara Braxton Mo lives in a little house high on a hill, protected by a thick stone wall that is stronger than both the wind and the rain. It keep out everything that Mo
Dig! Dig! Dig!
Written by Wenda Shurety Illustrated by Andrea Stegmaier Reviewed by Zewlan Moor Jake starts off in a place many of us are familiar with at this COVID moment. He lives in Grey Street. ‘Glum, gloomy, Grey Street.’ But he fantasizes about being anywhere
The Mummy Smugglers of Crumblin Castle
By Pamela Rushby Illustrated by Nellé May Pierce, Reviewed by Annaleise Byrd With an appealing main character, sinister baddies and a touch of magic, prolific Australian author Pamela Rushby's delightful new middle grade novel is one confident readers can really sink their teeth
The Dog Who Saved the World
By Ross Welford Reviewed by Junior Reviewer Leonard Cavallaro Ross Welford is the English television producer turned children's author of the popular Time Travelling with a Hamster ‘The 1000-year- Old Boy’ and many more. The Dog who saved the World is an inspirational and
When We Are Invisible
By Claire Zorn Reviewed by Margaret McKay-Lowndes I watched a movie once where the world was about to end in six days because the sun was hurtling toward the earth instead of sitting comfortably at the centre of the universe. The screen
52 Mondays
By Anna Ciddor Reviewed by Mia Macrossan Anna Ciddor's previous novel, The Family With Two Front Doors was a CBCA Notable book in 2017. 52 Mondays is a fictionalised account of Anna's own Jewish childhood. . This is a nostalgic look at 1960s Australia,
The Hatmakers
By Tamzin Merchant Illustrated by Paola Escobar Reviewed by Sarah Custance Tamzin Merchant is a British actor best known for playing period roles. The Hatmakers is her first novel and the start of a series with the second book, The Mapmakers, due to
The Golden Tower
By Belinda Murrell Reviewed by Sarah Custance Belinda Murrell is a popular Australian author known for her many middle-grade time-slip novels such as The Ivory Rose, The Ruby Talisman, The Locket of Dreams, The Forgotten Pearl, and many more, as well as
Salih
By Inda Ahmad Zahri Illustrated by Anne Ryan Reviewed by Mia Macrossan In the last decade there have been many stories written for children about people suffering loss and hardships as they flee their war torn country. Each journey is different and Salih's
Hello and Welcome
Written and illustrated by Gregg Dreise Reviewed by Des Crump Gregg Dreise is a proud Kamilaroi and Euahlayi writer and illustrator who shares stories and culture through his colourful books. Younger readers have been engaged with his previous books on birds, e.g.,
The Detective’s Guide to Ocean Travel
By Nicki Greenberg Reviewed by Annaleise Byrd Picture book author Nicki Greenberg's debut middle grade novel, The Detective's Guide to Ocean Travel, is a riveting mystery story set aboard the opulent RMS Aquitania during the golden age of steamships and grand voyages. It's
Punching the Air
By Ibi Zoboi and Yusef Salaam Illustrated by Omar T. Pasha Reviewed by Inda Ahmad Zahri This powerful and emotional verse novel inspired by the experience of co-writer Yusef Salaam of the ‘Exonerated 5.’ 16-year-old Amal Shahid is facing charges of assault, a
With the Fire on High
By Elizabeth Acevedo Reviewed by Inda Ahmad Zahri This delectable novel about a teen mum with an almost supernatural talent for cooking had me hooked from the start, and cheering for the main character until the end. Emoni Santiago is 17 years old.
Blue Flower
By Sonya Hartnett Illustrated by Gabriel Evans Reviewed by Barbara Braxton Each morning when she wakes up, the little girl doesn't want to go to school. There are so many reasons why. She doesn't make friends as easily as you're supposed to; she
Early One Morning
By Mem Fox Illustrated by Christine Davenier Reviewed by Margarite Igras A little boy decides he wants a couple of things for breakfast. What could it be? He waves goodbye to his mother and begins to search the farm. He looks inside the
